CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Soroptimist International of Clear Lake will gather for its monthly luncheon business meeting on Thursday Sept. 8.

The group will meet at noon at Howard's Grotto, 14732 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

Everyone is welcome. Lunch costs $13 per person.

The agenda includes putting the finishing touches on the upcoming mystery dinner fundraiser “Sour Grapes of Wrath,” a report on the recent baby shower at The Nest and the Oct. 1 district meeting in Vallejo.

Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is part of Soroptimist International, which includes Soroptimist International of the Americas, Soroptimist International of Great Britain & Ireland, Soroptimist International of Europe and Soroptimist International of South West Pacific. It is a global volunteer movement working together to transform the lives of women and girls.

The network of around 80,000 club members in 132 countries and territories works at a local, national and international level to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women and girls.

Projects take place all over the world focusing on issues such as violence against women, safe sanitation, displacement, education, leadership – anything that effects the lives of women and girls.

To learn more about Soroptimist International of Clear Lake and the group's activities contact Membership Chair Wanda Harris 707-225-5800 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or President Olga Martin Steele at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 916-849-8170 (cell) or 707-998-1302 (home).

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The newly remodeled Walmart store located at 15960 Dam Road in Clearlake will host a grand reopening celebration Friday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m.

The company said the project represents its reinvestment in the store, its customers and the community. 

The remodel includes an expanded deli, more bakery options and touch-screen self-check-out registers also have been added for an enhanced customer experience.

Customers can also expect a new and improved customer service center with Money Services and Walmart Pickup. Clearlake residents also can shop millions of items on Walmart.com, many of which can be shipped for free to any Walmart store through Walmart Pickup.

The store includes a pharmacy with a full range of products, immunizations and services. Walmart pharmacists are ready to assist customers with product and prescription questions. Clearlake residents can easily transfer prescriptions and order refills on the go with the Walmart mobile app.

Local associates will provide a special welcome to members of the Clearlake community with a grand reopening celebration. 

A brief ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Friday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m., followed by family activities and free BBQ in the parking lot.

As part of Walmart’s commitment to the Clearlake community, a check for $65,000 will be presented to the Redwood Empire Food Bank to support its Farm to Family School Pantry program which provides nutritious food to low-income families with children.

The grant will support the program’s launch in Lake County schools and will also help sustain eight existing sites in Sonoma County.

“Our Farm to Family School Pantry program has proven to be a vital nutritional resource for vulnerable children, allowing us to alleviate childhood hunger by providing essential nutrition to nourish their growing bodies and minds,” said David Goodman, REFB’s chief executive officer. “Thanks to the Walmart Foundation, we’ll be able to provide up to 25 pounds of food – including fresh produce, healthy staple foods and perishable/ non-perishable protein – to children at nine sites. Because of Walmart’s generosity, we will reach an average of 800 families, including 2,000 children at eight sites in Sonoma County. We’ll also be able to open one new site in Lake County which will serve approximately 100 families, including 250 children.”

Editor's note: Originally the company had referred to this as a “supercenter.” It has since issued a correction, as the Clearlake store is not a supercenter.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Wine Wednesday took on a new meaning for Melania Ciapponi of Oakland on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

The winner of the 2016 Lake County Wine Adventure raffle, she and her husband Steve made the trip from Oakland to Boatique Winery in Kelseyville to pick up the prize package.
 
Karissa Gutierrez, community manager for Relay For Life, American Cancer Society, and Madi Mount, owner of Boatique Winery, joined Lake County Winery Association (LCWA) Director Terry Dereniuk gathered at Boatique Winery to present the prize.
 
The trip was well worth it. They went home with three and a half cases of award-winning Lake County wine and a certificate for a two-hour cruise for eight in an authentic Venetian water taxi on beautiful Clear Lake.
 
Melania Ciapponi has joined a group of girlfriends for the Lake County Wine Adventure for several years, starting in 2006.

This year, she purchased five raffle tickets for the Wine and Water package to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

The charity has special meaning for her as both she and her sister are cancer survivors.
 
When asked about winning, Ciapponi said, “A big thank you to the wineries that donated the wines for my 'instant' wine cellar and to Boatique Winery for the Venetian water taxi cruise on Clear Lake. I have enjoyed the Wine Adventure Passport Weekends. They are a great way to spend time with friends and enjoy the delicious wines and hospitality of Lake County wineries. A special thank you to Relay For Life and their ongoing efforts to save lives from cancer. I look forward to more wine adventures in Lake County.”
 
This is the third year that LCWA has partnered with the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Lake County, as beneficiary for the Wine Adventure raffle.

The 2016 raffle raised $1,045 for the American Cancer Society’s fight to end cancer. Relay for Life Lake County volunteers set up tables at several of the Wine Adventure locations to sell raffle tickets.
 
“We selected the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life as our charity partner for Wine Adventure to help with the fight against this devastating disease. We are proud that we have helped to raise over $7,000 since 2014 with our Wine Adventure raffles,” said LCWA Director Terry Dereniuk.
 
“We appreciate the partnership between the American Cancer Society and the Lake County Wine Association and what is allows us to do as an organization. The funds raised by our Relay For Life participants and partners help us provide the free programs and services to cancer patients in our community,” said Gutierrez.
 
The 2016 raffle package, called Wine and Water, included three and a half cases of wines donated by passport wineries plus a two-hour cruise for eight on Clear Lake in an authentic Venetian water taxi, complete with wine and gourmet snacks.
 
Robert and Madi Mount, owners of Boatique Winery in Kelseyville and a collection of restored antique wooden boats, donated the cruise for the prize package.

The water taxi is the most recent addition to the Mounts’ boat collection. Boatique Winery is located in the Red Hills AVA in Lake County. The winery sits at 2,266 feet above sea level amidst alpine and oak forests and 47 acres of rolling vineyards. Visitors can tour their boat showroom while enjoying Boatique’s award-winning wines.
 
Wine Adventure weekend, organized by LCWA, was held the third weekend in May, 2016. Twenty-five Lake County wineries opened their doors, offering wine tasting, special food pairings, music, and warm hospitality. More than 1,500 guests explored the region to discover new wines or enjoy old favorites.
 
The 2017 Wine Adventure weekend is planned for May 20 and 21. Tickets will go on sale on Black Friday for next year’s event. Details and more information will be available at www.lakecountywineries.org/adventure .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Chapter of the California Dressage Society will present the second annual “Dancing Horses: A Dressage Festival” on Saturday, Sept. 10.

The event will take place at the Highland Springs Equestrian Center at 8900 Wight Way in Kelseyville.

Doors open at 3 p.m., with the performances beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Admission is free.

The event will feature entertaining, talented horses and their riders performing dressage to music.

Delight in the many different breeds of horses as well as the adorable miniature horses showing off their driven dressage skills.

There will be wine tasting and barbecue for purchase to enjoy while watching the show, as well as a silent auction.

For more information call 415-350-1540.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The members of the Konocti Art Society have created many fine art pieces with the theme of “Faces”

They are currently on display at the WestAmerica Bank on Main Street in Kelseyville.
 
All art is original and has been done in several medias such as painting or sculpture.

The display will remain throughout September.

An opportunity drawing will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, during the 24th annual Kelseyville Pear Festival.

Tickets are on sale in the bank for $1 each or six for $5.
 
Proceeds will go to the Summer Youth Art Camp sponsored by the Lake County Arts Council in Lakeport.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Friends of the Middletown Library's mini book sales have been so successful that the group will hold them on a monthly basis on the third Saturday of each month. 

The next one will take place on Saturday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the front hallway at the Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St.

There will be lots of hardcover, paperback and special price books for sale.

Prices range from $1 for hardcover and $.50 for paperback. All proceeds are for the purchase of new books and supplies for the Middletown Library.
 
Show your support of the local library by joining them for the sale on Saturday, Sept. 17.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Northshore Community Center will host its Open Mic Lucerne event from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17.

There is no charge for attending or performing.

Performers are on stage with house band FOGG starting the evening at 6 p.m. with classic, heavy metal rock and roll with original numbers and covers of your favorites. FOGG and other entertainers will wrap up the evening by 11 p.m. Assistance is available with amplification. 

Bands and individuals are already signing up for scheduled 20-minute set-up and performance slots. Past events have seen full venues, so sign up early. Call the center at 707-274-8779, text Peter at 707-295-5076 for your reserved time, or come and sign up beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your talent. Being in the audience is great fun and free too. Music, comedy, mime, readings, and any other activity that is family-oriented is appreciated.

Room also is available for dancing and relaxing.

A spaghetti feed also is offered with traditional and vegetarian full meals available for $5.

There also will be a 50/50 raffle (you need not be present to win), fresh-popped popcorn and ice-cold beverages.

Bring the whole family. All proceeds benefit Northshore Community Center, a not-for-profit serving the Northshore's families and senior populations with on-site lunches, Meals on Wheels, personal advocacy, activities, food pantry and other services.

For more information about events, call Northshore Community Center at 707-274-8779 or stop by at 3985 Country Club Drive, Lucerne.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will hold its regular monthly business meeting on Thursday, Sept. 8.
 
The meeting takes place at the Democratic Campaign Headquarters at 390 N. Main St. in Lakeport at 6:30 p.m. A map can be found at https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=390+N.+Main+St.+Lakeport+Ca .

The agenda for the meeting includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblyman Bill Dodd and State Senator Mike McGuire, as well as reports from the representative of the Lake County Democratic Club.
 
Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.
 
The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body for the Democratic Party in Lake County.
 
For more information about the Democratic Party in Lake County visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org or www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDemocrats .
 
Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College presents Dr. Ruby Payne at the Konocti Education Center Cornelison Event Center on Friday, Sept. 9.

The event will take place from 3:45 to 6:30 p.m. at the event center, located at 15850 Dam Road Extension in the back of the Konocti Education Center. 

Admission is free to everyone. Lake County Campus obtained an Adult Ed Grant which has helped fund this workshop.

Dr. Payne’s presentation topic will be “Understanding and Engaging Under-Resourced College Students.”

She is well known for her books such as “A Framework for Understanding Poverty” and “Bridges Out of Poverty.”

This workshop will address the needs of the under-resourced college student and provides a wealth of resources for post-secondary education.

The professional development moves faculty and staff through a transformational process by first building understanding of the “what and why” of under-resourced college students, to developing the “how-to” teaching and program design strategies to help students succeed.

Participants will learn to use teaching strategies to build cognitive ability, develop high-impact community engagement strategies, redesign programs to better serve students in poverty, and much more.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn new ways to break the barriers that poverty creates for many of our adult students.

For more information please contact Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College at 707-995-7900, visit us on our campus at 15880 Dam Road Extension, or visit Web site at http://lcc.yccd.edu .