LAKEPORT, Calif. – Branch 168 of the Sons In Retirement (SIRs) held their monthly luncheon in the Conference Center of Konocti Vista Casino on Friday Oct. 11.

The guest speaker was Jessica Windrem, a community health educator working under a Community Transformation Grant, with the goal of promoting Lake County's “Climb to the Peak of Health.”

The grant was awarded to St. Helena Hospital in Clearlake by the Center for Disease Control.

Windrem presented a handful of compelling health statistics, including the fact that of the 58 counties in the state, Lake County was at the bottom with the poorest health due to death from all causes. These include deaths due to lung cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, liver disease and cirrhosis, drug overdoses and suicide.

The statistics have been age-adjusted, which means they cannot be attributed to the fact that Lake County has a higher senior population.

She also explained that “Climb to the Peak of Health” is addressing four key areas: decreasing tobacco use; increasing emotional well-being; increasing access to healthy school menus and increasing physical activity.

Windrem went on to say that they plan to launch a physical activity challenge in January to take advantage of new year resolutions.

She encouraged SIRs members to form walking groups or, at the minimum, just routinely take a walk around the block.

Windrem also encouraged them to work with senior centers to provide more physical activity opportunities.

Turning to regular business, Jim Carey, the Golf Chairman, reported that the tournament at Teal Bend was a big success with 35 members participating.

Carey also reminded members that there are only two tournaments remaining: Arbuckle, Oct. 23, and the turkey shoot at Hidden Valley Lake on Nov. 6.

Bob Specht, the chair of the travel committee, announced that more than half the seats for the Christmas shopping “Safari” have been filled. This is a bus trip on Nov. 19 to the Vacaville outlet stores and the cost is $25 per person.

Pickups are at the Riviera Hills Country Club and the McDonalds in Clearlake. Special discounts are available to seniors on that date.

Specht also reported that Branch 133 is sponsoring a three-day, two-night Yuletide experience, Dec. 4-6.

For $172 per person double occupancy ($207 single), the trip includes bus transportation, a two-night stay at the Eldorado Hotel in Reno, two breakfast buffets, a Christmas cocktail party and the dinner show “Ice Fantasy” in the Eldorado showroom. The show combines the excitement of championship figure skating with the thrill of cirque acts.

For more information about either of these events call Bob at 707-279-0187, Bill at 707-277-8846 or Dick at 707-994-5381.

Dean Faris, the “Big SIR” announced that the Christmas party will be held on Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. in the conference room of the Konocti Vista Casino.

Sons In Retirement is a social organization for men of retirement age who are pursuing the goal of enjoying their later years. It has 142 branches with 18,000 members throughout the state.

Branch 168 holds a Luncheon on the second Friday of each month at the conference room at Konocti Vista Casino.

Anyone interested in learning more about Sons In Retirement is encouraged to contact Larry Powers, chair of the Membership committee, at 707-263-3403, or to visit the state Web site at www.sirinc.org .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Do you know a woman who supports her household, is going to school and needs a hand?

Perhaps she is someone you work with, or whom you know through volunteer work, friends or your place of worship?

Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is giving three cash grant awards – $1,500, $1,000 and a $500 grant – for the Women’s Opportunity Award early next year.

Eligible women must have the primary financial responsibility for family members (children, spouse, and/or parents), and can be either married or single.

She must be attending, or accepted into, college or a vocational skills training program of some kind, and she must demonstrate financial need.

The application process is straightforward: fill out an application, submit a list of annual living expenses and educational expenses, and provide two written references.

Applications must be submitted by Dec. 15.

A committee will interview each applicant in January and select the recipient of the award. Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is happy to help applicants with the paperwork.

For more information or to apply, contact Kathy Freeborn at 707-994-3509.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Screams, spiders and costumes let you know Halloween is finally here.

The students at Lower Lake High School are putting on a huge haunted house inside the multipurpose room at Lower Lake High from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.

The haunted house is open to the community.

All are welcomed to come to this event but they suggest that visitors are at least 13 years of age.

Admission is free, but donations are welcomed and appreciated.

Come get scared, get spooked and get ready for Halloween.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Green Party of Lake County has a new meeting place for its monthly meetings.

The group meets from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. the third Sunday of the month at Round Table Pizza on 11th Street in the Safeway Plaza.

Membership is not required.

The next meeting is Oct. 20.

If anyone would like to be on the group's meeting agenda please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please indicate how long you want to speak and your subject matter.

You also can call Joanne at 707-263-3391 or visit www.lakecountygreenparty.bravesites.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – An estimated 770 people attended the 12th annual Falling Leaves Quilt Show, held Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.

Viewers strolled through aisle after aisle of quilts, 200 of them in styles from traditional to modern and in colors ranging from delicate to bold.

Cara Gulati, the show’s featured artist, brought her vivid, crowd-pleasing quilts and chatted with guests both days. Trish Williams was thrilled to meet Gulati who “quilts like I paint.”

The 3D underwater quilts by Donna Hodges and Lyn Nunn drew crowds who used 3D glasses to experience the illusion of fish swimming through the sea.

Each year local VIP judges select their favorites, quilts “that you would go home with.”

Rich Hinchcliff of the District Attorney’s Office chose “Happy Hunting, Fishing, Etc.” for its outdoor themes.

Mandy Feder of the Record-Bee chose “Tree of Life by the “Op-Quilt Team” because it reminds her of her Hungarian heritage, and Stephanie Wayment, Office of Education, liked Martha De Leon’s “Irish Double Chain” for its colors and beauty.

Steve Estrada of the Chapel of the Lakes chose Claire Grieve’s “Oh Christmas Tree” with its holiday theme. Paula Bryant from Umpqua Bank chose Carolyn McLaren’s “Garden Trellis” that brought back memories of her grandmother.

Quepha Arnold won the “Little Baskets” opportunity quilt. The Viewers’ Choice award went to “Grand Finale” by Tami Benevedes-Graeber.

Some quilters entered their quilts to be judged. Quilts were entered in 24 categories.

First place winners were Wansley Adam, Jane Alameda, Tami Benevedes-Graeber, Lisa Bowles, Patti Cox-Frankenfield, Pat Dandy, Martha De Leon, Carolyn Dexter, Dee Goodrich, Donna Hodges, Suzen Ingle, Toni Jordan, Carolyn McLaren, Elsa Meyer, Judy Oliver, Marilyn Schoefer, Raychell Sumner, Jo Syphax, Betty Upchurch, Nancy Walker and Beverly White.

Second place awards went to Wansley Adam, Shelley Aldrich, Tami Benevedes-Graeber, Martha De Leon, Carolyn Dexter, Marian Drain, Dee Goodrich, Kerry Hansing, Carole Hildebrand, Donna Hodges, Suzen Ingle, Nit Lemley, Carolyn McLaren, Shari Sawle, Raychell Sumner, Sandy Walker and Lydia Wells.

Wansley Adam, Betsy Brown, Patti Cox-Frankenfield, Connie Cracraft, Martha De Leon, Christine Duncan, Jean Elsa, Linda Franklin, Kerrie Hershey, Donna Hodges, Linda Lowman, Martha Showers, Marj Sweeney, Jo Syphax and Sandy Walker took home third place ribbons.

Quilts by Jane Alameda, Shelley Aldrich, Betsey Brown, Connie Cracraft, Martha De Leon, Carolyn Dexter, Marian Drain, Linda Franklin, Dee Goodrich, Carole Hildebrand, Donna Hodges, Suzen Ingle DeeDee Long and Gretchen Moore received honorable mentions.

A special display featured Wounded Warrior quilts by Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild members. The stretcher-sized quilts will be donated to service members wounded in combat when they arrive in hospitals. Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild members have participated in this project for several years.

The Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild welcomes all quilters and quilt lovers, and invites everyone to the13th annual Falling Leaves Quilt Show in 2014.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Traffic Safety Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the front conference room at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The committee will hold a discussion with a Neighborhood Watch group about safety concerns including traffic control issues at the intersection of N. Main Street and Clearlake Avenue.

Citizen members include Ann Blue, Vicki Cole, Wally Cox, Steve Jones, Kermit Knudson and Suzanne Russell. City staffers who sit on the commission include City Engineer Scott Harter, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen, City Clerk Janel Chapman and Engineering Technician Brian Everhart.