KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Kelseyville Presbyterian Church will host a special communion and worship song service to celebrate Jewish Passover on Friday, April 22.

The service will begin at 6 p.m. at the church, 5340 Third St.

Pastor Steve Nesheim will be serving communion with matzo, an unleavened flatbread that forms a central part of the Passover festival.

According to the Old Testament, the Israelites were told to eat unleavened bread, “the bread of affliction,” as part of the Passover feast in commemoration of escaping bondage in Egypt, when they had to leave Egypt so hastily that they did not have the time for their bread to rise.

In addition to the communion service, Carolyn Wing Greenlee will lead 20 minutes of praise and worship in the church's Fireside Room.

Greenlee said the service is meant to “nourish the spirit and calm the heart, reconnecting people with their Savior in a sweet, safe place.”

For more information contact Kelseyville Presbyterian Church at 707-279-1104.

Follow the church on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Kelseyville-Presbyterian-Church-115524678457648/?fref=ts .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Napa Valley Cricket Club will again host its “World Series” this coming Sunday from 10 a.m. at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga to kick off its 2016 season.

As ever the game will be hotly contested as the Rest of the World team of members look to wrestle the trophy back from the American / Australian team who won in 2015.

Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world after soccer and The Napa Valley Cricket Club (NVCC) is now a firmly established member of that community.

Cricket is played in over 100 countries worldwide and close to home the game has a strong and passionate following in the South Bay area.

“We open our season each year with this event and as the club boasts members from 8 countries,” said Club President Phil Bourke, “and it has turned into a great day out not just for the players but also for their families, friends, kids, and those curious about the game. We’ve had up to 200 attend the game in previous years and we’re looking forward to a similar attendance this Sunday at the Calistoga Fairgrounds.”

He added, “It’s a fun day out for the family with supervised activities for the kids, food from Compadres and beverages from our sponsors Clos du Val, Chandon, and Anchor Steam Brewing.”

While Bourke, an Australian, will be lining up in his familiar wicket-keeper (think baseball catcher) position Irishman Andrew Healy will be part of the Rest of the World team looking to take back the trophy they last won in 2014.

“We have a Rest of the World team made up of members from six countries” said Healy, NVCC vice president. “New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, England and of course Ireland and we’ll be playing hard to take the trophy back from the Australia / America team. The game highlights the international diversity of the game of cricket right here in our own community with all of the members working or living in the Napa Valley. One of the highlights of the game for us is the fact that we have a number of American members in the club of couple of who have become cricket converts and will be key participants in the game particularly with their fielding.”

The toss for the game, to decide who bats or bowls first, will take place at 10:15 a.m. with Calistoga Mayor Chris Canning performing the task.

Commentary on the game will be provided by Radio Calistoga’s Dennis DeVilbiss and the game will be umpired by Milpitas-based umpire Barry Manogaran.

Club members will take part in a short ANZAC Day commemoration service during the innings lunch break and during drinks breaks explanations of the game and its rules will take place at the “pitch” area in the middle of the ground. Admission is free for the day with food and refreshments on sale and an instant cellar drawing.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Evelyn was born in Upper Lake, Calif., and passed away after a long year of health issues.

In her life she had 10 children, always pushing for peace, unity and happiness.

She worked in banking for 10 years, retiring from tribal enrollment at Robinson Rancheria.

She is survived by her children, Jimmy, Susie, Louise, Gwen, Troy, Julie, Joyce, Jolene and Lisa; her sister, Freeda; many grandchildren and great grandchildren; and many other family members.

She is predeceased by her parents, George and Hazel; sisters, Colleen and Mildred; her husband, Joseph; and her son, Myron.

We will miss her sense of humor and her quiet strength in difficult times.

Visitation will start on Thursday, April 21, at 2008 Flicker Circle in Nice at 11 a.m.

A funeral service will held at the Robinson Rancheria Gymnasium on Sunday, April 24, at 11 a.m. with graveside committal to follow at the Robinson Rancheria Cemetery on Mockingbird Lane in Upper Lake.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is presenting an interactive exploration of Lake County varietals, appellations and wine making styles co-hosted by Shannon Michele. 

The series aims to help participants advance their sensory evaluation and wine tasting skills with specially selected varietals, flights and verticals paired with "snackatizers" to compliment the wine tasting experience.

The first session in the series beginning April 24 will focus on Sauvignon Blancs with a comparison from the Big Valley AVA, and an AVA vertical tasting of Red Hills, High Valley and Guenoc.

Dates and featured wines to follow are: June 25 (White and Rosé Rhone wines); Aug. 21 (Pinot Noir, Grenache and Sangiovese); Oct. 23 (Rhone Red Wines).

Seating is limited. For reservations and additional information, contact Susan Feiler at 707-293-8752.

Lake County Wine Studio is both a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County. 

Artists’ shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month except in January.
 
The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake. It is open Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m. and Friday from 1 to 8 p.m.

The art show on display for the month of April is by Sunny Franson.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or www.lakecountywinestudio.com .

SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith is reminding consumers not to eat recreationally harvested razor clams from Humboldt or Del Norte counties.

CDPH issued news releases in August 2015 and December 2015 warning against eating razor clams, and recent testing shows that dangerous levels of the domoic acid toxin continue to be present in these clams.

“CDPH is aware that people may have forgotten about this warning over the winter, and are anxious to take advantage of good weather and good clamming tides,” said Dr. Smith. “However, these toxins are still present so it’s very important that people pay attention to this warning.”

Razor clams are known to retain domoic acid for long periods of time, in some cases more than a year.

The toxin concentration found in razor clams from Humboldt County late last year was the highest ever recorded on the West Coast, and was more than 10 times the federal action level.

Domoic acid, also known as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP), can cause illness or death in humans. No cases of human poisoning from domoic acid are known to have occurred in California.

Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood.

In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness.

These symptoms disappear within several days. In severe cases, the victim may experience trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short term memory, coma or death.

These warnings do not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops or oysters from approved sources.

State law permits only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters or dealers to sell these products.

Shellfish sold by certified harvesters and dealers are subject to frequent mandatory testing to monitor for toxins.

For the most current information about shellfish poisoning and health advisories, call CDPH’s toll-free “Shellfish Information Line” at 800-553-4133.

For additional information visit CDPH’s Preharvest Shellfish Protection and Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program Web Page at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/environhealth/water/Pages/Shellfish.aspx .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a book signing with local author Gene Paleno on Saturday, April 23, to celebrate the release of his self-published book, “Lake County History: A Mystical Adventure in Time.”

The signing event will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. at the studio, 9505 Main St., Upper Lake.

Paleno's nonfiction book contains true stories of Lake County and its people that span the centuries, from millions of years ago when Mount Konocti and Clear Lake were formed to the present day. 

The book is a large format – 8.5 by 11 inches – with more than 400 pages of easy-to-read type and 120 photographs.
 
A master storyteller, Paleno will give a 20-minute talk on “The Lady Hermit of Upper Lake (1800s).”

Wine tasting during the signing will feature the studio's newest releases of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Dancing Crow Vineyards.

Refreshments will be served and wine will be available for sale by the taste or by the glass.
 
Artwork on display for the month of April is by Sunny Franson.
 
Lake County Wine Studio is a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County. 

Artists' shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The North Coast Opportunities Governing Board will meet on Wednesday, April 27.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. at 850 Lakeport Blvd.

Unless otherwise indicated, the times listed are approximate, and are intended for time management purposes only.

The discussion of any item may begin prior to the designated time, and may be considered in a different order.
                  
Timed items are as follows:

2:15 p.m.: Board member applicants Desiree Perez and Jennifer Wright.
2:20 p.m.: California Department of Education resolution for RCCC.
2:25 p.m.: Approval of personnel policy changes.
2:40 p.m.: NCO employee survey update.
3 p.m.: Team Lake County/Valley fire recovery presentation.
3:15 p.m.: Gardens Project Lake County presentation.
3:25 p.m.: NCO Emergency Succession Plan.
3:35 p.m.: Executive director report.
3:45 p.m.: Human resources/finance meeting report.
3:50 p.m.: Brief reports and announcements.
3:55 p.m.: Parking lot (presentation of topics for consideration/future agenda item).
4 p.m.: Adjourn to closed session.

For information, or if you need disability modification or accommodation in order to participate in this meeting, please contact the NCO executive assistant 48 hours before the meeting at 707-467-3210.

UKIAH, Calif. – The Devil Pups Youth Summer Camp tryouts will take place at noon on Sunday, April 24.

The parent/applicant orientation and tryouts will be held at Ukiah Karate Studio, 3001 South State St.

Tryouts are open to boys and girls ages 14 through 17 at the time of this year’s encampment.

Wear running shoes and clothing appropriate for the physical fitness testing that will immediately follow the meeting.

Devil Pups Inc. is sponsoring its 2016 Youth Summer Camp to be held at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. The youth camp will be held from July 21 to 30.

This program was first developed in 1954 and is a youth-citizenship development program where youth will learn leadership and team building skills. Attendees will meet with other youth from all over California and Nevada and learn how to live, work, and have fun with others, in a military setting. 

Under the guidance of Marines who have volunteered to chaperone the youth, boys and girls ages 14 through 17 will experience a variety of exciting activities that are designed to build self-confidence and their ability to work with others.

The local Ukiah Devil Pups Liaison Representative is David Silvers, a former U.S. Marine and instructor/owner of Ukiah Karate Studio.

Silvers said that when he was an active duty Marine he had been assigned as a Devil Pups instructor during one of the youth program’s Camp Pendleton training sessions.

He explained that the Devil Pups adventure can be a very positive influence in shaping a young person’s character.

Applicants must be healthy, non-delinquent boys or girls ages of 14 and 17 at the time they depart for the camp in July.

The tryouts will consist of a competitive physical fitness test and an interview.

At present there are a few openings for Lake and Mendocino county youth. Candidates will be ranked in order of their fitness test scores and their level of involvement in the training process. Most of the costs of food, lodging, and travel are paid for by Devil Pups Inc.

Call David Silvers at 707-463-1347 for more information on the orientation meeting as well as the encampment.