LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club recently honored Member Jim Harvey with the highest honor presented by the club – a Penny Pines Certificate.

The Penny Pines Reforestation Program, which issues the certificates, was started in 1940 by the California National Forest Service to help raise funds to replant forests devastated by fires or other natural disasters.

According to CLT&TGC Penny Pines Chairman Ann Blue, who has served in this role for more than seven years, a certificate can be purchased by anyone for $65 through the LCT&TCG, then federal funds are added to this donation and a one acre Mendocino National Forest “plantation” will be planted with up to 350 seedlings in the honoree’s name.

The plantation will be marked with a Forest Service sign that names the honored individual or group. Sixteen National Forests in California participate in the Penny Pines Program, accepting donations from local garden clubs.

The CLT&TGC collects donations at every meeting which are used throughout the year to purchase Penny Pines certificates in a deserving member’s name.

During the October meeting, Lakeport resident and member Jim Harvey was presented with a certificate to honor his commitment to our local forests and to honor his recent retirement after a 45-year career with the Forest Service as a silvaculturalist, or tree specialist.

Harvey, who during the course of his career oversaw the planting of more than seven million trees, also gave a lively presentation with some interesting information, including the fact that when the Penny Pines Program was started in 1940, each seedling cost a penny each, and now that cost is anywhere from 80 cents to around $4 each.

He also mentioned that a good tree seedling planter can correctly plant 2,000 trees per day, or one about every 14 seconds; in fact, any contracted employee who cannot plant at least 1,000 per day – or one every 30 seconds – would be fired.

These certificates make an unusually unique and meaningful gift; any group or individual can purchase a “plantation” in someone’s name.

For more information about how to do this, contact new CLT&TGC Penny Pines Chair Joyce Porterfield at 707-279-8646.

The CLT&TGC meets at noon the third Tuesday of every month – except July and August – at the Scott’s Valley Clubhouse, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport. Anyone interested in gardening and civic beautification and philanthropic projects is invited to attend.

Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club is a member of the Mendo-Lake District, California Garden Club Inc., Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The First 5 Lake Commission was pleased to host a recent visit from Camille Maben, the new executive director of First 5 California, and her guest, Carmen Padilla, one of their child development consultants.

The local commission were able to provide a comprehensive overview of some of the programs First 5 Lake funds, such as Nurturing Parenting, Easter Seals, Oral Health and CARES.

There also was a very well-attended reception held in Maben's honor at Legacy Court in Lakeport by some of the commissioners and program grant recipients.

The local commission reported that it believed Maben received a very thorough understanding of its goals and objectives and how it is are collaborating with many different agencies to make a real difference in the lives of children and their families in the Lake County community.

First 5 Lake is a state-funded agency funded by the tobacco tax (Proposition 10) which was passed in 1998. They help to fund several local agencies that are providing services to the birth to age 5 population in Lake County.

For more information visit www.firstfivelake.org .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Lioness Club is seeking vendors for its holiday craft boutique.

The sixth annual boutique will take place on Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7.

Vendors are selected by first-come, first-chosen basis for this juried show.

For information and an application email Teri Beagan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 707-295-0535.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Senior Activity Center hosts free movies every Thursday.

The movies take place beginning at 1 p.m.

The Lakeport Senior Activity Center is located at 527 Konocti Ave.

For more information call 707-263-4218.

LUCERNE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Thursday, Nov. 7.

The group meets at the First Lutheran Church, 3863 Country Club Drive across from the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Social worker Jenny Johnson is the facilitator.

The group is sponsored by Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (1-800-834-1636) and the Social Day Programs in Lake County.

For more information call Jenny Johnson at 707-350-3030 or Caroline Denny at 707-263-9481.

Respite is provided by the centers at no charge.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The next meeting of the Chi Council for the Clear Lake Hitch will take place at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec 4.

The council will not meet in November, as its usual gathering on the fourth Wednesday will fall on the day before Thanksgiving.

The December meeting will take place in the group's usual meeting place at the Lake County Agriculture Center, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

For more information about the group visit http://www.lakelive.info/chicouncil .