KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The moon is rising later each day, thus providing a great telescopic opportunity to view three visible planets, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter, plus a host of fascinating deep sky objects – the Great Hercules Star Cluster, the beautiful Ring Nebula and other Messier objects, under very dark skies.

These astronomical wonders can be seen Saturday night as the Friends of Taylor Observatory presents its annual “Fun with Telescopes” night as its June Window to the Universe event.

Local telescope owners are invited to bring their working or non-working telescopes for consultation with Taylor astronomers.

They also can get advice on how to purchase an appropriate sky-viewing device, whether it be a telescope, binoculars or a digital camera, perhaps with an equatorial mount to track star movement.

As a special bonus, there will be two short talks. Local astronomer Tom Schleif, also a Taylor board member, will describe his construction of an artisan Steampunk Dobsonian telescope out of spare parts.

This project combined Schleif's new interest in astronomy with a lifelong talent for fabrication of quality wood structures and furniture. The result will surprise and delight you, and this interesting scope may even see first starlight on Saturday night.

In a second talk, Friends of Taylor President Bill Haddon will present some first thoughts about the new concept of astrotourism for Lake County.

The idea is to designate our location as a recognized Dark Sky Community by obtaining official certification from the Dark Sky Society. 

This project, which has the potential to bring throngs of visitors to Lake County from the light-polluted Bay Area, Sacramento and Santa Rosa population centers, would be aided by our existing astronomy-friendly lighting ordinance passed some years ago in the county.

Such an ordinance, and the means to enforce it, is a prerequisite for a Dark Sky Community designation, thus providing a valuable head start on the project.

Haddon hopes to enlist individuals, local businesses, civic organizations and other interested groups in promoting this kind of tourism for the county. Such a designation, when obtained, will be only the third one in all of Northern California.

For the Saturday Window to the Universe Taylor will open at 6:30 p.m. Through the evening they will  have planetarium shows hosted by Eduardo Alatorre and David Velasquez, the Schleif and Haddon talks, consultations on telescopes, and finally, after dark, views through the Taylor’s various telescopes.

Further information is available from www.taylorobservatory.org , www.friendsoftaylor.org or by calling 415-209-3084 and by visiting the Friends of Taylor Observatory on Facebook.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The public is invited to a celebratory opening reception for EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk, and “Multi Lingual” at the Middletown Art Center Saturday, June 25, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Festivities include musical and spoken word performances by Edgewise and Lake County poets including Poet Laureate Julie Adams, Poet Laureate Emeritus Casey Carney, Sam Flot, Graham Lloyd and Richard Schmidt as well as performance art by Wendy Dalton.

For the past 13 years, local and regional artists have installed artwork “in dialogue with nature” at the Middletown Trailside Park.

Over the years, the Sculpture Walk has featured new work annually, and was open to the public from early June through mid-October. EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk was a popular destination for both local residents and visitors.

The Trailside Park was severely impacted by the Valley fire and is still recovering. Until the park is deemed ready for the public, EcoArts will install artwork at Middletown Art Center’s corner lot, and in the center's more intimate side garden. This year’s exhibit will run through Labor Day weekend.

As in years’ prior, Eco Artists utilize natural and repurposed materials to present a variety of aesthetic and/or ecological-messaging. This 14th year's works are a true “Tribute to our Resiliency.”

While the exhibit is more compact than usual, the artwork installed at the Middletown Art Center once again engages viewers in the longstanding conversation around the relationship between nature, man and art – a conversation that is more poignant now after the fire.
 
“Multi Lingual” is an exploration of open-ended interpretations of language; the works in this exhibition integrate language of all kinds, including text, signifiers and sequenced imagery.

The exhibit will run though Aug. 14. Gallery hours are Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Farmers’ Market outdoors from 9 a.m. to noon); and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

The Middletown Art Center is located at 21456 Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in downtown Middletown. 

To find out more about the exhibits, classes and cultural offerings at the center, visit www.MiddletownArtCenter.org or www.facebook.com/ARTMiddletown , or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Lupoyoma Parlor No. 329 of the Native Daughters of the Golden West will meet on Thursday, July 14, for a membership social and organizational meeting.

The group meets at 5:30 p.m. for social time and 6 p.m. for the business meeting at Round Table Pizza, 821 11th St. in Lakeport.

If you were born in California and are over 16 you are a Native Californian eligible for membership in the Native Daughters of the Golden West organization.

The Native Daughters is a fraternal and patriotic organization founded in 1886 on the principles of:

– Love of home;
– Devotion to the flag;
– Veneration of the pioneers;
– Faith in the existence of God.

All Native Daughters are welcome to attend.

For more information contact Parlor Worthy President Carla Dore, 831-524-5588, or V.P. Dee Cuney, 707-235-2902, or visit the Native Daughters of the Golden West, Lupoyoma Parlor No. 329 Facebook page.

For information about Lake County Konocti No. 159 Chapter of the Native Sons of the Golden West contact Tony Braito at 707-245-7663.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – After being rained out last week, Kelseyville's first “Kickin' in the Country” street dance of the season has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 23.

The Kelseyville Business Association will host the free event with live music from 7 to 10 p.m. on Main Street.

This week's featured band is Beatz Werkin', a lively bunch that plays many fun and popular dance tunes from the 1970s.

Dances this summer also will take place on July 21, Aug. 18 and Sept. 15.

For more information contact the Kelseyville Business Association at 707-279-9022, or visit the association's Web site at http://www.visitkelseyville.com/ or its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/visitKelseyville .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Due to the creative work and dedication of a handful of individuals in the community and the financial support of local businesses, two exciting nights of racing and fireworks will be happening at the Ukiah and Lakeport Speedways Independence Day weekend.

Thanks to the generous contributions from Factory Pipe, Friedman’s Home Improvement and Mendo Lake Credit Union, with support from Kelseyville Lumber, Furia Construction, Max 93.5 FM, 94.5 Kwine, The Cost Cutter and Bicoastal Media fireworks will be taking place at dusk at the Lakeport Speedway, Saturday, July 2, and at Ukiah Speedway on Sunday, July 3.

Engines will be revving Friday in Lakeport for the Kelseyville Lumber Deake Lyndall Memorial Race featuring the Taco Bell Bombers, Jammers, California Vintage, Modifieds, Pro Drifters and Northern California Modifieds.

Then the cars will head over the hill Saturday to Ukiah where the “Lakeport Ukiah Challenge” continues featuring the Bandoleros, Taco Bell Bombers, Jammers, Legends, Modifieds and Northern California Modifieds.

Gates will open at each track at 3:30 p.m. and racing will begin at 5 p.m., with the exciting ground show fireworks happening at dusk both nights.

Race promoter David Furia has been the mastermind behind bringing the fireworks to the speedways. It is thanks to his dedication to patriotism that Ukiah has had fireworks for the last five years.

Furia is excited about this year's show. “The show is an incredible in your face display of fireworks and pyrotechnics. The style of fireworks that will be presented will astound and amaze every person in the grandstands. This will be the fireworks show that will make people wish they had been there. The crew puts on a great show and we have never been disappointed.”

Tickets can be purchased in advance from Ukiah Lions Cheerleaders by calling 707-671-2689. The cheerleading team will also be selling fireworks tickets at Subway in the Raleys Crossroads Shopping Center Friday, July 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Every ticket sale raises much needed funds for the cheer team and the community is encouraged to purchase their tickets early and support local youth.

Tickets to either race are $15 for adults, seniors and students $13, children 6 to 11 $10 and children 5 and under are admitted free.

There will be a $5 fee for parking in the Ukiah fairgrounds parking lot. However, the parking stub is redeemable at the ticket gate for $5 off one gate entry for the race and fireworks show.

Also, the Ukiah Pit gate will be opened at 8:30 p.m. to allow parking inside the fairgrounds. There will be a $20 per car charge to park inside the fairgrounds and watch the fireworks.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Highland Springs Picnic Area, from the horseshoe pits to the bathroom facilities, will be closed this weekend due to a special event.

The area will be closed from 5 p.m. Friday, June 24; all day Saturday, June 25; and will reopen at noon on Sunday, June 26.

For more information please call the Lake County Department of Water Resources at 707-263-2344.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Historical Society has awarded a $500 scholarship to Kelseyville High School graduating senior Juliann Totorica.

Totorica will attend Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo, Calif., and plans to obtain her bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine.

While in college she will apply for part-time work at Disneyland and apply for the Disney College Program internship. Upon graduation she will become a Disney employee.

Totorica ranked second in her class and maintained a 4.33 grade point average.

She was active in Future Farmers of America and student government, holding various offices in both organizations, including president of each in her senior year.

Tony Marchese, the scholarship chairman for the Lake County Historical Society, announced that Totorica’s winning essay on Lake County history is titled “A Historical Essay for Hoberg’s Resort.”

This year, Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are asking thousands of Californians how they get around.

Surveys are being distributed now through April 2017 and Caltrans is asking the public to take part and help plan for future transportation needs.

“The data from this survey helps us build a complete picture of how, when and why we travel in our daily lives,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “This information helps policymakers and transportation planners decide how to best invest and spend transportation dollars, now and in the future.”

The National Household Travel Survey is a study conducted by the FHWA that provides characteristics of travelers, trip activities and travel habits. It is a nationwide survey mailed to randomly selected households.

The year-long data collection effort will help Caltrans and the FHWA better understand and plan for the future of transportation.

This information is also used by air quality agencies to better understand how vehicles contribute to the types and amount of emissions.

Improving air quality by reducing vehicle emissions is an important part of transportation planning and decision making.

Learning about the public’s walking, biking, driving and public transit use will help planners understand the impact of travel on air quality and plan for policy and infrastructure improvements that would support more non-motorized trips to reduce carbon emissions.

Selected households that participate in the survey will be assigned a specific “travel day.” On the assigned day, every member of the household will keep track of all the trips they take – whether by car, public transit, walking or biking.

The household will submit the results of their travel log online or by phone, a process that takes about 25 minutes.

This important survey is conducted every five to seven years by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Caltrans has joined FHWA to include additional survey questions related to transportation issues specific to California.

Caltrans and the FHWA have put in place numerous safeguards to ensure that all personal information and survey data is kept secure, and all information collected will be used for travel data analysis and research purposes only.

For more information about the National Household Travel Survey, visit www.NationalHouseholdTravelSurvey.com .