MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The annual “Christmas in Middletown” celebration will take place on Saturday, Dec. 8.

The fun will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Middletown.

Shops will be open late and Santa Claus will arrive in the plaza on a fire truck at 5:30 p.m.

Hospice Services of Lake County will hold a “Light Up a Life Celebration” at 6:30 p.m.

There will be Dutch oven goodness at Studio 175, a walking Christmas tree, craft vendors at the multipurpose, carolers and more.

For more information visit www.christmasinmiddletown.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Service’s Director Caroline C. Chavez has announced that the Eastlake Landfill and the Lakeport Public Services office will be closed Thursday, Nov. 22, and Friday, Nov. 23, for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

The landfill will reopen on Saturday, Nov. 24, and the Public Services office will reopen on Monday, Nov. 26. Normal operating hours at the landfill are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., daily.

The Public Services office is normally open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding this subject or any of the solid waste issues in Lake County, please call 707-262-1760.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 88 of Lake County, will meet on Saturday, Nov. 17.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the Konocti Bay Sailing Club building, located at Braito’s Marina at the end of the Buckingham Peninsula in Kelseyville.

The meeting is open to anyone 17 years or older who are interested in joining.

For additional information, call the Flotilla’s information line at 707-513-5122.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – You’ve cleaned up your yard, composted the remains of the summer vegetable garden.

Now you’re looking forward to perusing seed catalogs by the fireplace, sipping a cup of your favorite hot beverage and fantasizing about next years’ gardening successes.

Wait a minute – you just realized there’s one thing you forgot.

This year you really wanted to learn about how to properly care for your garden tools. Remember being embarrassed about having the rustiest, bluntest pruners at last year’s pruning demo? Well, you’re not going to have that happen again, ever.

This year you’re going to be in good shape because you’ll be attending UC Master Gardener Jim Harrell’s care and maintenance of garden tools workshop.

The workshop will be held beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Lake County Agricultural Center, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

Harrell is a veteran UC Master Gardener who has been writing and lecturing on tool care for his fellow Master Gardeners for many years.

This year he will share his considerable expertise on the subject with you. You’ll not only save money by keeping your tools in good working order longer, you also will promote the health of your plants by using well maintained cutting tools and you’ll enjoy the empowering feeling of being a more knowledgeable and well-rounded gardener.

Handouts will be provided. A $5 donation is suggested for cost recovery.

For additional information or directions, please call 707-263-6838.

As people upgrade, trade in, sell to a dealer, or donate their used vehicles, getting rid of their used car can be challenging.

Statistics show that more than 33 million used cars are sold annually. In 2011, research showed that 33 percent of these cars were sold directly by the owner.                 

“Sellers need to be extra savvy as there are many ways to buy and sell older vehicles,” says Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Pricing your vehicle, and preparing it for sale, is the key to a quick sale at the price you want.”
      
AAA recommends the following tips when preparing to sell your own vehicle:

• Prepare your vehicle for sale. Prepare your vehicle by having it professionally detailed. Remove any personal items from your vehicle, including any stickers you have placed on the exterior. Have your vehicle inspected by a repair shop prior to the sale and ask for a detailed report, which can be shared with perspective buyers. AAA Approved Auto Repair shops can complete this task and can be located by searching online at www.AAA.com/Repair .
• Determine a price. Determining the appropriate selling price is a critical step to selling your vehicle independently. Be realistic about the condition of your vehicle, very few vehicles are in “excellent” condition. Do your homework and keep a list of comparable prices from various vehicle pricing sources for any potential buyers to take with them.
• Spread the word.  Marketing your vehicle for sale is another important step to successfully selling your vehicle independently. Use today’s social media technology and online websites to let others know you are selling your vehicle. Colorful photos and diverse images can help support the description and features of the vehicle. Be sure to include important details pertaining to the sale.
• Showing perspective buyers the vehicle. Use common sense and caution when showing your vehicle. Meet potential buyers in a public location and do not let them test drive the vehicle by themselves. Be ready for questions, have detailed information readily available, include a CARFAX vehicle history report and keep repair and maintenance documents compiled and organized.
• Securing a payment. Once you have found a buyer for your vehicle, AAA recommends creating a bill of sale that both parties can sign and have it notarized. Notaries can be located at a bank or any AAA office. Always secure payment before you transfer ownership. Options for payment include certified checks, cash or money order. AAA suggests completing a transaction at a bank to verify the payment is legitimate.  If a buyer is uncomfortable with any part of the agreement, be cautious and use good judgment to avoid the possibility of being scammed.

AAA’s tips for selling your vehicle independently are provided by AAA Auto Buying experts who test drive and evaluate hundreds of vehicles each year. AAA provides free vehicle reviews, localized pricing information and more for consumers online at www.AAA.com/AutoMaker .

Additional information on AAA Auto Buying is available at www.AAA.com/AutoBuying . 

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Green Party of Lake County will hold its next meeting on Sunday, Nov. 18.

The meeting will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Lakeport Lagoons, 1800 S. Main, Lakeport.

They will hold a Thanksgiving potluck and discuss the election results.

All are welcome; you don’t have to be a member to attend.

For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-263-3391.