CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Members and the public are invited to the Sierra Club Lake Group's upcoming forum focusing on invasive species in our watershed in general and quagga and zebra mussels in particular.

The group will meet beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at the Clearlake United Methodist Church, 14521 Pearl St., Clearlake.

Leading the discussion will be Scott DecLeon, director of the Lake County Water Resources Department.

He will be joined by Sierra Club Executive Committee member and independent environmental consultant, Jim Steele, and Victoria Brandon, who is taking part in a statewide effort dealing with invasive species.

Attendance, as always, is free.

For more information contact Sierra Club Lake Group Chair Cheri Holden at 707-263-5787 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Horse Council President Carol Biggs at the Lake County Horse Council's meeting on Tuesday, January 18, 2011. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Up to 50 people attended the third public meeting of the Lake County Horse Council on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at the Fairgrounds in Lakeport.

Before the meeting, delectable homemade treats were provided by Barbara Claiche, the hospitality chairperson. President Carol Biggs conducted the meeting.

Plans were announced for fundraisers, including a poker run, barn dance, barbeque, tack sale and raffle.

Also announced were a USRider insurance offer, a group campout and ride at Pt. Reyes, the Konocti Regional Trails plan and a Highland Springs management plan.

The government relations and disaster rescue committees summarized their progress and the meeting ended with some exciting door prizes being won.

Treasurer Maureen Brasier announced a poker run fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 13. This fun event will start at Barreda's Feed Store, at 16345 Main St. in Lower Lake. There will be a raffle and presentation of prizes at Six Sigma at the end of the Poker Run.

The event fee is $20 for the first poker hand and $10 for any additional hands. RSVPs are not required, just show up at Barreda's Feed Store at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 13 to sign up for the poker run.

Marty Brookman described USRider insurance, which is like AAA for horse owners and provides roadside assistance for members traveling with or without horses. It guarantees coverage for horse trailers, tow vehicles, and horse vans.

For any Lake County Horse Council member who joins USRider during the month of February, USRider will rebate $10 to the horse council to use for education.

Karen Sullivan made several announcements – a group ride and campout at Point Reyes in early May; the recent approval of the Konocti Regional Trails Master Plan, which includes equestrian trails; an idea for training mountain bikers and riders to have safe encounters on the trails; and a promised Highland Springs master plan.

Mary Jane Fagalde was introduced as a new horse council board member and chairperson of the newly combined government relations and land use and permits committees. Her extensive experience in Lake County government is a huge asset to the horse council and we greatly appreciate her assistance.

John Gay reported on meetings that the disaster rescue committee members have attended with the Office of Emergency Services (OES). Gay pointed out a need for more horse trailers and boarding during emergencies in Upper Lake, Clearlake Oaks and Lucerne. Call him at 707-987-9310 for information about a free workshop on disaster rescue on April 30 and May 1 in Butte County.

Dr. Jerri Waddington DVM generously offered to donate to the horse council a raffle prize of a ranch call for dental work or other veterinary services for horses, dogs or cats, worth $350. Please contact Maureen at 707-279-1409 to buy tickets.

The next public meeting of the Lake County Horse Council will be Tuesday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m. at a location to be announced.

Briefly, the mission of the Lake County Horse Council is to promote and preserve the horse as agriculture, industry and recreation. Memberships are available for only $10.

For more information, call Paul Marchand at 707-279-1903 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The audience at the horse council meeting on Tuesday, January 18, 2011. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – Lakeport Library’s teen volunteer Christy Zurcher invites all “Twilight” fans to a screening of “Eclipse,” third in the “Twilight” series, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 5:30 p.m., at the library, 1425 N. High St.

Love and danger mix in “Eclipse,” when Bella Swann (Kristen Stewart), must choose between the vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Jacob the werewolf (Taylor Lautner).

What will happen when Bella makes her decision, when a wrong move could trigger disaster for all concerned?

All vampire fans are welcome to attend. Admission and snacks are free.

As a bonus “Twilight” feature, the library’s traveling exhibit “A Forks Scrapbook” will return to the library.

The exhibit, which has traveled to libraries in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties, displays photographs and other materials from Bella Swann’s hometown Forks, Wash.

“Twilight” fans will see the locations that Stephenie Meyer’s books made famous, locations that legions of ‘Twilight” fans flock to see.

For more information, the library’s phone number is 707-263-8817.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club will hold a general meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

The board meeting begins at 11 a.m. with social time at noon.

At 12:30 p.m. there is flower roll call at 1 p.m. the meeting followed by a program on the National Garden Club Landscape Design lecture and slide show.

The club meets at noon on the third Tuesday of the month (except July and Aug) at the Scotts Valley Women's Club House, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport.

Members, guests, and all interested are most welcome. President Linda Waterstraat, 707-245-4731, invites interested gardeners to join the group.

Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club is a member of Mendo-Lake District, California Garden Club Inc., Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

For more information see www.clttgc.org .

LAKEPORT — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will host two upcoming SmartMeter Education Centers in Lake County in preparation for the local installations of the devices.

Customers with questions about PG&E's SmartMeter program can come to PG&E’s office at 14730 Olympic Drive, Clearlake from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8, or to the company's Lakeport office at 325 N Forbes St., Lakeport from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9.

PG&E will have a SmartMeter expert available for customers to speak with individually. Customers can drop in anytime during the educational center hours to ask questions one-on-one.

The SmartMeter program provides customers with more information about their energy usage and more rate options to help them reduce their energy use and bills.

SmartMeter technology will also help the state meet its renewable energy goals and provide the foundation for a future smart grid which will make the power grid more reliable, efficient and sustainable.

For more information about PG&E’s SmartMeter program, visit www.pge.com/smartmeter or call PG&E’s 24-hour SmartMeter Hotline at 1-866-743-0263. Information also is available at www.pge.com/smartmeter or call PG&E’s SmartMeter Hotline, 1-866-743-0263.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Dennis A. Fordham, State Bar certified specialist, will present a free educational seminar titled “Why a Trust and Not a Will?” on Wednesday, Feb. 9.

The seminar, which starts at 7 p.m., will take place at the Clearlake Riviera Community Association at 9689 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville, CA 95451.

Refreshments will be offered.

To RSVP call 707-263-3235 or visit www.DennisFordhamLaw.com.