The first of four readings will be held on Saturday, June 25, at 2 p.m.

Curator Linda Lake will read from the book, “Ranch Life in California,” a fascinating account of three young adventurers who, in 1885, travel across the Atlantic from England and then across the United States, and finally to Lake County to begin their new life.

The story of their travels, life in the English Colony in Burns Valley, and the harrowing experiences and hardships they encounter is told in great detail through letters written home to relatives.

Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

Mark your calendars for future readings to take place on July 23, Aug. 20 and Sept. 17.

For more information, please call the Courthouse Museum at 707-263-4555.

The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cal Expo building No. 5, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento.

Officials report there will be 850 different wine entries judged in the competition.

The art of winemaking is a long and fascinating chapter of California’s agricultural, economic and social history.

While techniques have changed and improved over the course of this history, the State Fair has planned an especially innovative Home Wine Competition this year.

This event offers competitors a chance to benefit from suggestions from top notch expertise to ensure continual improvement of their winemaking skills.

It’s a unique and creative judging system that offers a variety of advantages to each of the participants, not just the winners.

According to G.M. “Pooch” Pucilowski, chief judge of the Home Wine Competition since 2006, this year’s judging process includes features designed to enhance home winemaking skills.

“Each of the 850 wines will receive at least three formal critiques developed by the judges and in conjunction with other home winemakers, offering invaluable professional insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the entry,” said Pucilowski. If the wine receives a Bronze Medal from the judges this year, the job of each judge on the panel is to advise the home winemaker how to make it a Silver Medal winner next year.

To help educate the judges, a Technology Advisory Team, consisting of highly professional advisors, will participate in the event to assist and educate the core judging group.

Pucilowski said this year’s judges will be tasting between 47 – 50 wines, enabling them more precise assessment of the entries compared to previous years when judges had to rate as may as 80 different wines.

He also explained a judging “mentoring” program will enable the transfer of valuable expertise between seasoned judges and those aspiring to become professional tasters.

The State Fair’s Annual Home Wine Competition is open to persons 21 years of age or older. Entries are limited to wines produced by amateur winemakers who are residents of California. An "amateur" is considered to be 1) a person who does not work in a professional wine producing capacity, or 2) a person who is not an owner of a commercial winery.

Last year, winners of the Home Wine Competition included Richard Valentine of Saratoga won Best of Show (red) for his 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon and Rex Johnston and Barbara Bentley of Walnut Creek won Best of Show (white) for their 2004 Voignier.

The competition is headed by Pucilowski, with the assistance of 110 volunteers who donate their time, enthusiasm and expertise to the State Fair’s annual wine competition.

Winners of the Home Wine Competition will be recognized at a ceremony on Thursday, July 21, at the California State Fair.

For more information about the Home Wine Competition, visit www.bigfun.org.

If you feel like you have fallen through the medical cracks plan to listen to this interview.

Lyme disease and chronic fatigue will be among the topics covered on this show.

Tina Tidmore from Pandora will be calling in to ask Dr. Nathan about chronic fatigue diagnosis and treatment.

The call-in number is 707-263-3435. Email your questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so they can ask Dr. Nathan.

A video of one of Dr. Nathan's workshops on Lyme disease can be seen on the public access station Mendocino County Television, http://mendocoasttv.org/VOD10.html .

Any combination of CPR (Adult and Child), AED and First Aid training is available on this date.

The class components include:

• Adult CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) with AED (automated external defibrillator). Certificate: Adult CPR/AED, valid two years.

• Child and Infant CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) with AED (automated external defibrillator). Certificate: Child and infant CPR, valid two years.

• First aid. Certificate: First aid, valid two years.

The classes take place on Saturday, July 16, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 527 Konocti Ave.

Costs range from $70 to $110 per person depending on the components chosen. In CPR classes, students learn how to respond to adult or child and infant emergencies by providing CPR and using an

automated external defibrillator (AED).

In first aid classes, students learn how to deal with cuts, bruises, bone and muscle injuries, shock,

bleeding and other first aid emergencies.

Fees from classes put on by the Red Cross help disaster victims recover, support members of the armed forces and their families, and help keep communities safe and prepared for disasters.

For more information or to register for classes, participants can:

• Go online at www.arcsm.org (click on “Course Registration”).

• Call 707-577-7600 for exact times (to register, have credit card ready).

• Fax registration information to 707-543-8523 (include date and time of class desired, VISA/MasterCard information, phone and all contact information).

• Mail check or credit card information (include same information as for fax).

• Visit the chapter location (5297 Aero Drive, Santa Rosa) Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

American Red Cross, Sonoma, Mendocino & Lake Counties is a neutral, humanitarian organization that provides relief to victims of disasters, and prepares people to prevent and respond to emergencies.

Like all Red Cross chapters, the local chapter is self-sustaining and is funded by local contributions. All assistance to disaster victims and to members of the armed forces provided by the chapter is free and made possible by voluntary donations of time and money by the people of Sonoma, Mendocino

and Lake Counties.

Donations can be made at www.arcsm.org, www.redcross.org, via mail to American Red Cross, 5297 Aero Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, or by phone at 707-577-7627 (Sonoma and Lake Counties), 707-463-0112 (Mendocino County).

Kour Thai will offer attendees 15 percent off of any dish.

The pregathering starts at 11 a.m. The public is welcome.

The next meeting is Sunday, Sept. 18.

Meetings are held at the Clear Lake Riviera Community Association building, 9689 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville, at 1 p.m.

The group is seeking candidates for the 2012 Board of Supervisors elections since candidates have to register in December 2011.

For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit the state party's Web site at www.cagreens.org, the national party's Web site at www.gpus.org or call 707-263-3391.