KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Kelseyville Presbyterian Church will hold a “Blue Christmas” service this Saturday, Dec. 17, beginning at 5 p.m.

The church recognizes that this season can be difficult for people who are dealing with loss, stress or sadness, and this service gives a chance for some quiet meditation and prayer.

A simple supper will be served in the church hall after.

The church invites the community to join in the service.

Kelseyville Presbyterian Church is located at 5340 Third St. in downtown Kelseyville.

If you have questions, please call the church office at 707-279-1104.

Shirley was born on April 10, 1948, in Santa Rosa, Calif., and passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, in Santa Rosa.

Shirley was raised and lived in Lake County, Calif., all of her life, graduating from Kelseyville High School in 1966.

She married Ricardo C. Cortez and they were married for 44 years. She enjoyed taking care of her family and making everyone laugh.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Ricardo Cortez; brother, Charlie Cruz; children, Rick Cortez, Jorge Cortez and Elisha Aguirre; grandchildren, Alondra Aguirre, Erube Aguirre, Antonio Aguirre, Felisa Cortez, Aryana Cortez and Jorge Cortez Jr.; and many nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her parents Jose and Vivian Cruz and brothers, Richard L. Cruz, Jose Luis “Skip” Cruz, Frank Cruz and Jess Cruz.

She will be deeply missed by her family and friends and will always be in our hearts.

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary on Friday, Dec. 16, from 2 to 6 p.m., with a Rosary service at 6 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Kelseyville on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. with interment to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.

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

The Lake County Sons In Retirement would like to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the following 17 sponsors of the Robert Lettus Memorial Bowling Tournament.

The sponsors' support made this a very successful event.

They include Aetna Springs Golf Course, BP Diddy, Cooper Tire Shop, Hong Kong Restaurant, Jimmy’s Deli, Lakeport Transmission, Mendo Mill, Napa Auto Parts, O’Mearas Brewery, Sanducci’s Café, Schurdell’s Drafting Service, Shoreline Coffee Shop, Smiley’s Realestate Office, Susie Q’s Donuts, Strong Financial, Guy Strohmeier's Auto Center and TNT on the Lake restaurant.

Bob Smart is “Big Sir” of Sons in Retirement Branch 168 serving Lakeport, Calif.

SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith reminded holiday travelers to protect themselves from mosquito bites when traveling to areas with known transmission of Zika virus, including Mexico.

“Pregnant women and couples considering pregnancy need to be particularly cautious because Zika virus can cause severe birth defects,” said Dr. Smith. “Pregnant women are urged to avoid travel to areas with known Zika transmission if at all possible. If travel is necessary, it is extremely important to take steps to prevent mosquito bites.”

Many areas of Mexico continue to experience transmission of the Zika virus, particularly popular tourist destinations, including Cancun, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa and Mazatlan.

The states of Baja California Sur, where Cabo San Lucas is located, and Sonora, which borders Arizona, have recently reported local Zika virus transmission.

While the state of Baja California bordering California has not reported local Zika virus transmission, the mosquitoes that transmit the virus are present along the border. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers any travel to Mexico to be a potential risk for Zika virus infection.

While there has been no local transmission of Zika virus in California to date, CDPH has confirmed 443 cases of travel-associated infections in the state. Florida and Texas have experienced locally transmitted cases of Zika.

Zika virus can spread through mosquito bites and can also be transmitted by both men and women during sex.

Most people who are infected with Zika do not experience any symptoms, but should take precautions to avoid sexual transmission, even if they never had symptoms.

All individuals, particularly women of childbearing age, should take steps to protect themselves against mosquito bites while traveling and when they return home.

Sexually active people who travel to areas with Zika transmission should use condoms or other barriers to avoid getting or passing Zika during sex.

Couples planning pregnancy when either partner has been exposed to Zika virus should speak with a health care provider about a safe time to try to get pregnant. Men should wait six months to conceive after Zika exposure. Women who have been exposed should wait a minimum of eight weeks before becoming pregnant.

“The mosquitoes that can carry Zika virus and infect people live in many areas of California,” said Dr. Smith. “If one of these mosquitoes bites an infected person, it can spread the virus by biting another person. That is why we ask people traveling to Mexico, or any other place where Zika exists, to take steps to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks after a trip, even if you don’t feel sick.”

To prevent mosquito bites, apply repellents containing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label).

When used as directed, these repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Individuals should wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes when outdoors. Be sure window and door screens are in good condition to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.

Though most people who are infected with Zika do not experience any symptoms, symptoms of infection can include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes).

The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for Zika other than rest, fluids and fever relief.

More information about Zika can be found in the December 2016 CDPH Health and Travel Advisory, and on the CDPH and Centers for Disease Control Web sites. In addition, the Mexico Ministry of Health Web site contains more Zika-related information.

SACRAMENTO – California revenues of almost $7.98 billion for November topped projections in the 2016‑17 Budget Act that Gov. Jerry Brown signed in June by $556.9 million, or 7.5 percent, State Controller Betty T. Yee reported.

The fiscal year-to-date total of nearly $38.87 billion in revenues is now 0.5 percent above estimates.

November personal income tax (PIT) receipts of $4.55 billion outpaced budget projections by $559.7 million, or 14.0 percent.

Five months into the new fiscal year, California has collected total PIT receipts of $26.00 billion, beating estimates by $560.7 million.

Gross corporation tax collections of $294.6 million for November beat projections by $53.6 million. However, corporation tax refunds of $399.7 million were $110.7 million higher than expected.

In total, corporation tax receipts for November were in the red by $105.1 million.

For the first five months of the fiscal year, total corporation tax receipts of $1.46 billion are $318.2 million lower than anticipated in the 2016-17 Budget Act – a shortfall of 17.9 percent.

Retail sales and use tax receipts of $3.10 billion for November missed expectations by $73.4 million. For the fiscal year-to-date, sales tax receipts of $9.92 billion are $238.3 million below estimates. For both the month and the fiscal year-to-date, sales tax receipts are 2.3 percent shy of budget projections.

The state ended the month of November with unused borrowable resources of just under $22.96 billion, which was $2.40 billion more than predicted in the 2016-17 Budget Act.

Outstanding loans of $16.23 billion were $708.2 million lower than projected. This loan balance consists of borrowing from the state’s internal special funds.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Christian Center is planning several Christmas events this month.

The events are as follows:

• Thursday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m.: LCC Preschool Christmas Program.

• Sunday, Dec. 18, 10:30 a.m.: Christmas concert featuring world-famous musician, Bob Kilpatrick, composer of the popular gospel song “Be Glorified” and many more.

• Sunday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m.: Christmas communion and carols.

• Sunday, Dec. 25, 10:30 a.m.: Casual Christmas morning service.

The church is located at 455 S. Forbes St. Visit the church online at http://www.lcchub.com/ .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Soroptimist International of Clear Lake last week responded to a request from Konocti Education Center Music Department to financially support three students to attend a band and choir trip to Disneyland to work with the Disney director, choreographer and conductor.  

The group made a donation so that three students who lost their homes in the Clayton fire would be able to attend and participate.

Soroptimist International of Clear Lake members Ami Landrum and Julie Moyer presented a check for $1,350 to Cydney Dixon, the Konocti Education Center music teacher, at the school's vocal performance on Dec. 8.

The cost for each student to take the trip is $450 and each student is responsible for raising the funds. 

The Konocti Education Center Music Department has held a couple of vocal performances to help raise funds for the students.

Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global organization that works to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

Clear Lake members join with almost 80,000 Soroptimists in about 120 countries and territories to contribute time and financial support to community-based projects benefiting women and girls.

Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs, also powers www.LiveYourDream.org, an online community offering offline volunteer opportunities in support of women and girls.

For more information about how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, and about other programs, awards and fun activities the group on the groups agenda. 

Contact Membership Chair Wanda Harris at 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 707-998-1302.

Membership is open to women and men who have a desire to help improve the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and Internationally. 

The next meeting of the group is Thursday, Jan. 12, at 11:45 a.m. at Howard's Grotto, 14732 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Save the date of Saturday, Dec. 17, for the Ely Christmas Marketplace with Santa.

Local artists will be selling their handcrafted goods in the barn from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day.

Crafted items for sale will include handmade jewelry, cards, poetry books, cutting boards, handbags, up-cycled and re-purposed items, bath and beauty products, reclaimed furniture and crafts, toys, pencil art, outdoor wood furniture, honey and wax products, and pickles from the Pickle Man. Snacks will be available for purchase from A Passion for Food.
 
Join the museum volunteers and docents for a wonderful day on the museum grounds with Santa. He will be taking a much-needed break from the North Pole to roam the grounds and join hayrides with the kids - weather permitting. Bring your cameras.

The Lake County Historical Society’s Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29-Kit's Corner. Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. Private tours can be arranged by appointment.

Facilities are available to support events, conferences, or family gatherings. Celebrate a wedding, reception, special anniversary, or family reunion.

Note that the museum will be closed both Saturday, Dec. 24, and Sunday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas Holiday.

The Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum welcomes more docents to greet visitors and share information on our history, our current displays, and our planned events. Volunteers for maintenance and construction projects are also needed.

Visit www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.

Linda Drake is a volunteer with the Ely Stage Stop.

AMERICAN CANYON, Calif. – On Saturday, Dec. 10, the Clear Lake Cardinal wrestlers has a strong performance at a tournament at American Canyon High School, with the girls wrestlers placing third as a team.

That day the Cardinal wrestlers headed out early – at 4:15 a.m. to be exact – with 12 wrestlers, six boys and six girls, to participate in the wrestling tournament.

Gold medal winners were Mavis Pyorre (Girls 111 lbs.) with one pin and Ashley Vasquez (189 lbs.).

Silver medal winners were Mia Miller (126 lbs.), Madi Ferguson (131 lbs.) with one pin and Kally Vinson (235 lbs.).

Isaac Lewis (Boys 170 lbs.) won a bronze medal with two pins, Justin Cantrell (Boys 152 lb.) took sixth place with two pins and Roman Uribe (Boys 113 lbs.) took seventh place with three pins.

Also wrestling some hard-fought matches for the Cardinals was Thomas Lairson (boys 126 lbs.), Ozod Ermatov (boys 138 lbs.), Merari Alvarez (birls 160 lbs.) and Frank Weiler (boys 220 lbs.)

“There is no quit in any of them, they all will fight to the end,” said Head Coach Aiden Pierson.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Economy Propane has provided propane service to homes, farms, and businesses to the communities it serves for many years. With the help of local residents, Economy Propane plans to deliver more than just propane this holiday season.

Economy Propane is collecting new and gently used costs, hats, scarves, and gloves this year and putting them into the hands of less fortunate members of our community.

Donations can be given to Economy Propane deliverymen or brought to the Economy Propane office at 2305 S. Main St. in Lakeport through Dec. 30.

At the end of the coat drive, Economy Propane will donate items collected to one or more local charities.

“Economy Propane is proud to provide a product that helps keep people in our community warm and provides some comfort in their lives,” said Andy Fellman, Economy Propane’s local director of operations. “But we realize that too many local residents will struggle to stay warm this winter because they don’t have an adequate coat. Our goal is to help provide one to as many people here as possible. Thanks to the generous members of our community, we look forward to doing just that.”

Fellman said local residents do not have to be customers of Economy Propane to participate in the coat drive.

More information about Economy Propane can be found at www.EconomyPropaneGas.com .