LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Kelseyville High School Drama Club is bringing a creative fundraiser to yards around Lake County.

If, during the month of January, you see a new tree in your yard that you didn't notice before, then you know the “prop game” has struck.

Similar to the pink flamingos and purple toilets that have graced yards to raise money, the prop game instead uses a tree prop the drama club built.

If someone finds the prop tree in their yard, they have the option of donating $30, $20 or $10.

A $30 donation allows them to choose the next yard the prop tree will go to and it will guarantee that they will not get the prop tree back.

A $20 donation allows them to choose the next yard the prop tree will go to, but there is a possibility that they will get the prop tree back.

If they donate $10, the club will remove the prop tree from their yard, but they don't get to choose who it will go to next.

The Kelseyville High School Drama Club formed just last year, according to President Megan Barnes.

The funds raised will assist the fledging group on projects and productions.

For more information, call the club's advisor, John Tomlinson, at 707-355-2211.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A free educational seminar titled, “Why a trust and not a will?" will be held at the Middletown Senior Center on Friday, Jan. 24.

The seminar will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Oak Room at the center, located at 12156 Washington St.

Dennis A. Fordham, a State Bar-certified specialist, will give the presentation.

Refreshments will be offered.

An RSVP is appreciated; please call 707-263-3235.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Ringing in the new year should not include a visit to the hospital or ending up behind bars for drunk driving.

If you’ve been drinking during end of the year celebrations, AAA Northern California will take you and your car home for free.

AAA’s Tipsy Tow program is open to everyone. You do not need to be a AAA member to take advantage of this service to the community.

AAA will offer the service to drinking drivers from 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31, to 6 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, in Northern California.

Drivers, potential passengers, party hosts, bartenders and restaurant managers can call 800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for a free tow home of up to 10 miles.

Just tell the AAA operator, “I need a Tipsy Tow,” and a truck will be on its way.
      
The service will provide a one-way ride for the driver and vehicle to the driver’s home. If there are additional passengers who need a ride, they will be taken to the driver’s home as long as there is room for them to be transported safely in the tow truck. You cannot make a reservation.

“Everybody wants to have fun at a New Year’s party,” said Cynthia Harris, spokesperson for AAA Northern California. “But if you’ve been drinking, don’t get behind the wheel. Give AAA a call and we’ll make sure you get home safely.”

According to 2010 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired crashes. That is one death every 51 minutes. As little as one drink can impair vision, steering, braking, judgment and reaction time.

During New Year’s Eve in 2009 the California Highway Patrol reported that 11 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. That’s three times the daily average in California. An additional 163 people were injured in crashes involving alcohol. The same year, the CHP also arrested 488 people for drunk driving.

According to 2008 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk-driving crashes account for about 36 percent of highway deaths of young people age 16 to 24. As little as one drink can impair vision, steering, braking, judgment, and reaction time.

AAA estimates that a first time DUI conviction in California can cost up to $12,000 in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and added insurance expenses. You can’t put a price tag on a crash that causes an injury or death.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Horse Council offered up its second poker ride of the year on the beautiful trails of the Highland Springs Recreation Area Saturday, Nov. 16.

The group's first poker ride, "Save The Trails, Ride The Roads," which took place this past February, was held on the Old Toll Road to encourage staying off the trails during the wet season and was a tremendous success.

With the recent trail signage and map provided by the Highland Springs Trails Volunteers,
navigation of the trail system is now much easier for those not familiar with the trails, so why not hold another poker ride? But with a little twist ...

How about solving clues and navigating a map like a road rally, searching for items like a scavenger hunt, and then turning in the items to exchange for playing cards like a poker ride. Game on!

Thirty-four riders turned out for the event and met up at the Horse Staging Area at Highland Springs.

Participants were encouraged to team up to pool resources in solving clues, map reading and
following directions.

They were allowed three hours to decipher nine sets of clues leading to nine different trail junctions with baskets of tokens.

Each basket was filled with a different token to turn in at the end of the ride for a playing card to build their poker hand. Depending on routes taken, distance traveled for the event covered approximately 10 miles.

Local businesses donated prizes for the winning hands including Rainbow Ag, Konocti Vista Casino, Kelsey Creek Brewery, Appaloosa Tile, Blingy Kelly & Tacky Nancy, and items donated by Mike and Kim Riley.

Groups of riders filtered in at the three hour mark and turned in their tokens for playing cards. Then everyone gathered together for a potluck feast while the poker dudes tallied up the winners.

The average number of tokens found was five, with only four riders coming in with the full nine tokens.

The fun and excitement generated by this event will keep it on the annual Lake County Horse Council calendar for years to come.

For more information about the Lake County Horse Council go to www.lakecountyhorsecouncil.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County 29ers Cribbage Club holds weekly meetings and invites community members to join.

The group meets every Monday from 5:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – or later if there is a tournament – at Cheese's Main Street Pizza, 145 N Main St., Lakeport.

Currently Lake County's only club devoted to the game, the Lake County 29ers Cribbage Club is affiliated with national and international clubs, including the American Cribbage Congress.

For more information contact David Long at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Rockhounds club will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

The group will meet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road in Clearlake.

Club President Neal Petrie will give a presentation on glacier gold in Lake County.

Annual membership is $15. Visitors are welcome.