Judy Cardinale has joined Konocti Art Gallery & Studio. Courtesy photo.

LUCERNE – Konocti Art Gallery & Studio welcomes Judy Cardinale to its group of plein air artists.

Cardinale moved to Lake County in 1990 and has been painting for more than 35 years.

Many of her animal portraits and seascapes grace the walls of homes throughout the United States as well as many of our Lake County residents.

Cardinale's recent work is inspired by the ever-changing vistas of Lake County. Her paintings reflect the soft, serene beauty of the county's wildlife, water and sunsets.

Viewing her work, one is often transported to that “special moment.”

Visit Judy Cardinale at Konocti Art Gallery & Studio, located in the Harbor Village Artists colony in Lucerne, at 6199 E. Highway 20.

Artist and natural builder Massey Burke will hold an informational session about methods and techniques of low-cost, low impact natural building and specifically discuss the Lucerne Creek Park community art project – which begins in early May – at 4 p.m.

Refreshments will be served.

The Lucerne Alpine Senior Center is located at 10^th and Country Club in Lucerne.

“Money as Debt”: This is a 47-minute animated educational documentary by filmmaker Paul Grignon with the help of financial experts. Normal money systems are based on hard assets (such as gold and silver, as our own constitution demands). In contrast, our current non-functional system is based solely on debt and "fiat" or intrinsically worthless currency. The purpose of our current system is to enrich a small cartel of financial controllers at the expense of the rest of the population. It seems to be working.

True “economic democracy” would mandate that our financial system be responsive to and serve the average citizen. Under our current system, the very opposite is true. OUR hard-earned cash goes into the pockets of the already rich. See the mechanism explained, and understand the necessity of returning to a real money system if we are to save what is left of America.

“FIAT EMPIRE: Why the Federal Reserve Violates the US Constitution”: This film explains what the Federal Reserve actually is – not a part of the Federal Government,as many of us believe, but in many ways actually taking from the federal government its Constitutional mandate to issue and control the nation's money.

Since President Woodrow Wilson reluctantly signed The Fed into law in 1913, our money has lost over over 95 percent of its purchasing power. In our current financial crisis, not one person in 1,000 understands what is actually taking place, and why. This film explains the reasons.

See these two films, and understand exactly why and how the "financial crisis" has been created, and what America needs to do to regain her financial health.

Second Sunday Cinema exists to bring important information to the people of Lake County. Information is empowering. It allows us to make decisions that benefit us, not the rich and powerful. Our films are always free, and the atmosphere is warm and supportive.

Our doors open at 5:30 p.m. for snacks and socializing. The films will start at 6 p.m. Our venue is the Clearlake United Methodist Church at 14521 Pearl Ave. in Clearlake. Time will be made for discussions between the two films.

For more information call 707-279-2957.

Bring your poems to read, songs to sing or jokes to tell. Acoustic instruments are welcome. Original material will be videotaped by Channel 8 TV for later showing.

If you have always wanted to be on TV here is your chance so don't miss out. All ages are welcome.

Call DJ Phil for details, 263-3391, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Cafe Victoria is located at 301 Main St.

Beth Aiken performed on the oboe at the concert on Friday, March 27, 2009. Photo by Bernie Butcher.

UPPER LAKE – The Lake Wind Ensemble, consisting of Beth Aiken on oboe, Ann Hubbard on bassoon and Nick Biondo on clarinet, totally enthralled an appreciative soldout audience Friday, March 27, in the third of the 2009 Concerts with Conversation Series at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.

All members of both the Lake and Mendocino County Symphonies, these are three of the most accomplished wind instrument players in Northern California. They presented a diverse program with verve and lively audience interaction.

After a wine and small plates reception in the Tallman parlor, the trio began the program with five short pieces by Jacques Ibert. This was followed by a "Pastoral" by Darius Milhaud, whose long compositional career included a stint at Mills College in Oakland, where he was fondly remembered by a member of the audience.

Aiken then performed a lovely solo piece by Benjamin Brittan and explained such technical details as how to clean an oboe and how the reeds of the various wind instruments are constructed.

A highlight of the evening was the “world premier” of a piece called “When Time Expands” by Ukiah composer David Smith, who spoke briefly about his composition. For this piece, Aiken switched to the English horn and Biondo to the bass clarinet, demonstrating the rich tones of these instruments in the lower octaves.

The evening concluded with a long, difficult, but beautifully performed “Trio” by French Composer George Auric – no relation to the vacuum cleaner Orrick, explained Aiken.

The perfect encore was a lively rendition of Scott Joplin’s “Solace” to a tango beat laid down by Hubbard on her bassoon.

The Tallman “Concerts with Conversation” series continues on April 24 when the globe-trotting “Queen of Boogie Woogie,” pianist and vocalist Wendy DeWitt, comes to Lake County. The series concludes on May 29 with the virtuoso finger-style guitarist Alex De Grassi.

Details can be found at www.tallmanhotel.com or by calling the hotel at 707-275-2244.

Ensemble member Nick Biondo performed on the clarinet. Photo by Bernie Butcher.

Ann Hubbard performed on the bassoon. Photo by Bernie Butcher.