MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Art Center, or MAC, is pleased to present kAz Winery and Smiling Dogs Ranch for the second in the 2017 series of Palette to Palate – an intimate pairing of wine and art.

Join them on Saturday, April 8, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Enjoy the wine tastings of Richard Kasmier, the kAz of kAz Winery and Scott Simkover of Smiling Dogs Ranch for MAC’s newest exhibit "A Labor of Love."

Your $10 cover fee provides wine tastings from both wineries. Additional glasses of wine will be available for $5 per glass.

Enjoy a great experience sipping wine, viewing art, enjoying light refreshments, and be immersed in the labors of love from our winemakers and participating artists.

Palette to Palate is a new series recognizing that wine makers and artists share the same creative impulse.

A vine is planted and nurtured, a concept composed; harvest and crush, forms blocked in; varietals are blended and seasoned, col ors and textures stroked onto canvas; through creative alchemy a uniquely flavorful elixir, or work of art, comes into being.

kAz Winery is a very small, family owned Winery located in Lakeport. It produces a number of varietals and blends using Lake County grown grapes. All of the kAz wines and ports are sulfite free.

He began his winemaking career in Sonoma and moved to Lake County in 2015. kAz and his wife Sandi, an artist, both love wine and art. 

Smiling Dogs Ranch, located in Kelseyville, is the love of Scott Simkover. Smiling Dogs’ growing fields are located in the shadows of Mount Konocti. Scott’s Smiling Dogs wines are not only consumer friendly but they are produced and generated by 100-percent renewable solar /wind energy.

Palette to Palate helps to support educational and community programs at MAC, a nonprofit dedicated to creating art opportunities, art education, cultural enrichment, and ecological awareness contributing to the social and economic well-being of Lake County. All donations to MAC are tax deductible.

MAC is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in the heart of Middletown.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org to learn more about exhibitions, classes, events, volunteer opportunities and membership.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The senior centers in Lakeport and Kelseyville have released their menus for the week of April 9 through 14.

The centers serve lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with Lakeport also serving breakfast on the second Sunday of the month from 8 to 11 a.m.

This week's menu – which is subject to changes or substitutions – is as follows:

• Sunday: Breakfast in Lakeport, 8 to 11 a.m.
• Monday: Barbecue chicken with roasted potatoes.
• Tuesday: Jambalaya with sausage, red rice and shrimp with Cajun seasonings.
• Wednesday: Beef tips and sautéed onions with mushrooms in a brown sauce over mashed potatoes.
• Thursday: Smothered chicken burrito with rice and beans topped with red sauce and sour cream.
• Friday: Beef soft taco with Spanish rice.

The weekday luncheons include soup of the day, salad bar, entrée, dessert and beverage. Non-seniors pay $6 and seniors 60 and older pay a suggested donation of $5.

Soup of the day and salad bar – which includes two to three types of salads plus toppings and fruit – is $4.

The Kelseyville Senior Center is located at 5245 Third St., telephone 707-279-2175.

The Lakeport Senior Activity Center is located at 527 Konocti Ave., 707-263-4218.

John ‘Jack’ Leonard Prete
April 10, 1940 - April 01, 2017

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Beloved by all, Jack was a kind, delightful and generous man. His enthusiastic love of life and adventure was endless.

Everywhere he went, he made your day better. His smile, humor and joy touched our hearts. He loved to travel, play new golf courses, and always on the quest for the best meatball sandwich and pizza in any town while stopping at every cowboy landmark along the way.

We hope there is a golf course in heaven, Dad. Memories of you will always be in our lives. We love you.

Jack is survived by his five children, Deborah, Diane (Ron), Suzanne (Dennis), Kenny (Jessie) and Beth (Ron); six grandchildren; and Charlie (the cat).

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

Question: A buddy of mine got two lobsters in San Diego Bay right before the season closed.

While he was cleaning them, he noticed green algae on their shells and then found the meat to be white, looking like it was already cooked. Both lobsters were still alive when detailing them.

Have you heard any other stories like this? Would they have still been okay to cook and eat? (Ray C., San Diego)

Answer: When you find a lobster with algae on its shell (exoskeleton) it usually means it hasn’t molted in quite a while. This should be nothing to worry about, though.

An animal getting ready to molt pulls salts out of its existing shell and creates a soft exoskeleton underneath that will expand with water and salts once the animal molts.

Our best guess is that the old exoskeleton may have been overgrown and what your friend encountered (white, cooked-looking meat) could have been the new exoskeleton just under the old.

As long as the animal was acting normally and was still alive before it was cooked, there was likely no problem with the meat.

One test seafood businesses use when cooking whole lobsters is whether they curl. The shell should turn to a darker red color and the tail tends to curl (not tightly, but it’s difficult to lay the animal flat). If there’s no curl, discard the animal.

Trapping opossums?

Question: My city neighbor is now renting a home and has taken it upon himself to trap local opossums and release them elsewhere. He says he is taking them to a county road (Dry Creek) but there is no way to verify this.

We have lived in our home for 15 years and so we, along with our neighbors, are concerned. We have lived with the possums and raccoons for a lot of years without issues. This tenant intends to exterminate them. Is there anything we can do? (Tyler)

Answer: “All furbearing and nongame mammals that are legal to trap must be immediately euthanized or released” (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 465.5(g)(1)). So it is not legal to transport opossums elsewhere for release.

Possums should not be “relocated” from where they were trapped for many reasons, the most important being to prevent the spread of disease, and immediately releasing the opossums would not take care of the “pest” problem that your neighbor probably wants to solve.

There are other options that you could inform your neighbor about though. “Keep Me Wild” is a campaign that strives to limit conflicts between wild animals and humans. More information about how your neighbor can avoid problems with opossums may be found at the Keep Me Wild Web site.

Python skins to make leather goods?

Question: I’m a fashion designer located in New Jersey and I am looking to move my business to California.

I’ve heard and read things about Python skin being illegal in California. I was looking for more information on this and whether this is 100 percent true?

I currently make leather goods, but with exotic skins. (Michael S.)

Answer: Pythons are on the list of animals, or parts or products thereof, that are illegal to import into this state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within the state (see California Penal Code, section 653o).

Prohibited species include: polar bears, leopards, ocelots, tigers, cheetahs, jaguars, sable antelope, wolves (Canis lupus), zebras, whales, cobras, pythons, sea turtles, colobus monkeys, kangaroos, vicunas, sea otters, free-roaming feral horses, dolphins or porpoises (Delphinidae), Spanish lynxes or elephants.

Fishing with kids and friends

Question: I am taking my daughter and a couple of friends and their dads on our boat this weekend. The girls are all under 16. I have a license but do all of the dads need them, too? Or, can I be the only adult angler? (Eric N.)

Answer: As long as the non-licensed adults on the boat do not assist in any way with fishing, they do not need to have a sport fishing license to ride along with you on your fishing trip.

“Every person 16 years of age or older who takes any fish, reptile or amphibian for any purpose other than profit shall first obtain a valid license for that purpose and shall have that license on his or her person or in his or her immediate possession or where otherwise specifically required by law or regulation to be kept when engaged in carrying out any activity authorized by the license” (Fish and Game Code, section 7145).

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

This week, Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Pete King (NY-02) led 167 bipartisan Members of Congress in calling on appropriators to provide funds to strengthen our criminal background check system.

Thompson and King requested funding to implement the National Instant Background Checks Systems (NICS) Improvement Amendments Act, which gives grants to states seeking to upgrade their electronic databases.

“The safety of Americans relies on keeping guns out of the hands of people who should not have them – and we do that by making sure their names are in our background check system,” said Thompson. “Studies have shown there are huge backlogs of names still waiting to be entered into NICS. These people are criminals and domestic abusers whom the law has found should not have a gun – but they may still be able to get one if they can pass a background check. We must make sure states have the resources needed to keep our background check system current.”

“When background checks are used, they keep guns out of the hands of people we all agree shouldn’t have guns. It is estimated that four out of ten gun buyers do not go through a background check when purchasing a firearm – meaning those with criminal records can easily bypass the system. As government officials it is our responsibility to protect our citizens, and when it comes to gun violence we must do more. I will continue to push for action and support efforts to reduce gun violence which includes keeping our background databases current,” said King.

Background checks have prevented more than 2.4 million gun sales since they began in 1994, keeping firearms out of the hands of felons, fugitives, the dangerously mentally ill, and domestic abusers.

Unfortunately, NICS – the database used to determine whether a prospective buyer is eligible to purchase a gun – is missing information. Because of this, people who otherwise should not be able to pass a background check can slip through the cracks and buy a firearm.

The full text of Thompson and King’s letter can be found here: https://mikethompson.house.gov/sites/mikethompson.house.gov/files/NICS_FY18.pdf .

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Russ passed away on April 1, 2017, at the age of 77.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan McKee; seven children; 17 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary in Lakeport on Friday, April 21, at 1 p.m.

For further information, please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Local mindfulness teacher, consultant and author JoAnn Saccato will present “Mindfulness for Stress Reduction,” a free 90-minute workshop, on Saturday, April 15.

The workshop will take place beginning at 2 p.m. at Lake County Jazzercise, located at 15642 Armstrong St. in Middletown.

The event is free and open to the public.

The workshop includes a brief history of mindfulness, recent scientific findings with emphasis on stress reduction, and simple guided mindfulness exercises including breath awareness, gentle movement and loving kindness.

The workshop is based on Ms. Saccato's courses and forthcoming book, “Mindful and Intentional Living: A Path to Peace, Clarity and Freedom.”

Mindfulness is a popular practice that invites one to pay kind, nonjudgmental attention to their experience.

The scientifically supported approach helps reduce stress and stress-related illnesses, increase focus and attention, decrease incidences of and relapses with depression, reduce anxiety, and aid in sleep and digestive disorders.

Beth Rudiger of Lake County Jazzercise is hosting the event. "I took this workshop with JoAnn last year and realized that being mindful is just being present and acknowledging what my body is telling me. We actually encourage our clients to practice mindfulness at every Jazzercise class when we tell them to engage their muscles and pay attention to how hard they’re working."

Lake County Jazzercise is dedicated to helping women and men of all fitness levels reduce stress, feel good, and maintain strength and balance. One 60-minute dance exercise class includes all three exercise types needed for a complete workout: cardio, strength and stretching. They offer 23 classes a week, have childcare services, and offer personal training sessions.

In honor of National Fitness Month, Lake County Jazzercise will be offering free classes the whole month of May.

"After taking this workshop, I knew I wanted to share this with my Jazzercise family. I know it can help improve life on so many levels: diet, sleep, health, relationships, and energy," Rudiger said. "And, I can tell JoAnn only wants to help people be more happy and healthy through mindfulness, just as I do with Jazzercise."

For more information on Lake County Jazzercise, visit www.lcjazz.com or call Rudiger at 707-502-3389.

For more information on the workshop, Saccato or compassion-based mindfulness, visit www.Compassion-basedMindfulness.com or call 707-350-1719.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – For the Upper Lake Community United Methodist Church, 604 Clover Valley Road in the town of Upper Lake, the week preceding Easter is known as Holy week.

It begins on Palm Sunday, April 9, and is traditionally a week of somber reflection on the events that lead up to Jesus’ death.

On Palm Sunday at 11 a.m. they celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where the people laid palm branches on the road to welcome Him as He rode a donkey into the city. Palm branches will be prevalent in the sanctuary on this day.

On April 13 at 6 p.m. they celebrate the next event of Holy week, Maundy Thursday (also called Holy Thursday) when we commemorate the Last Supper – a Passover meal that Jesus shared with his disciples the night before his death.

At the meal, Jesus broke the bread and offered his followers wine, saying, “This is my body, given for you. During the Last Super Jesus predicted the events that would follow, including his betrayal, the denial of Peter, and his death and resurrection. Communion will be served at this service which will be held in the church fellowship hall.”

Friday April 14, Good Friday, is a day of mourning for the church. During this brief but moving evening service (7 p.m.) they meditate on Jesus’ suffering and death.

This service is based on the seven last words of Jesus on the cross which begins with “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” and ends with “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

On Easter Sunday, April 16, they will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. The SONrise service is scheduled to start at 6 a.m. Breakfast will be served after the service. They return again at 11 a.m. for the regular Easter Day service and the flowering of the cross.

Learn to love the Bible and Jesus through Pastor Bob’s inspirational sermons whose thoughts, actions and messages to the congregation always come from the heart.

All are welcome to attend any of the Holy week services or the regular Sunday worship service at 11 a.m.

The United Methodist Church motto is “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors,” and “Passion for Christ, Compassion for all.”

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Savings Bank and Integrity Shred have teamed up to help prevent identity theft by offering the public an opportunity to shred outdated confidential documents.

The Lakeport shred event will take place on Thursday, April 27, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Savings Bank, 290 S. Main St.

Bring up to three 35-pound boxes of documents for safe, secure on-site shredding. Hours and number of customers accommodated may be limited to truck capacity.

Other dates and locations include:

– Ukiah on April 21, 9 to 11 a.m. at the Pear Tree Center on East Perkins Street;
– Fort Bragg on May 5, 9 to 11 a.m., across the street from the Bank at Sport Chrysler Jeep Dodge;
– Willits on May 5, 1 to 3 p.m. in the Humboldt Street parking lot behind the Bank.

Details are available at www.savingsbank.com .

Shredding confidential financial documents and paperwork is one way to deter criminals from stealing personal information. Identity theft is a serious crime that can wreak havoc with your finances, credit history, reputation, and can take time, money and patience to resolve.

“Savings Bank also encourages customers to protect their identity by switching from paper account statements to eStatements,” said Katie Kight, Savings Bank marketing officer. “With eStatements, customers reduce the risk of confidential account information getting into the wrong hands through tampering of mail and paper records that are stored at home.”

Savings Bank representatives will be available at the shred events to supply information about preventing identity theft and what to do if your identity is stolen.