LAKEPORT, Calif. – Konocti Vista Casino, in conjunction with the California BBQ Association, will host a Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned professional barbecue event at the casino this Saturday, Aug. 24.

They will have 19 professional teams competing for $8,500 in cash prizes with additional trophies.

The event opens to the public at 1:30 p.m.

Featured at the event will be four Northern California microbreweries, including Lake County's own Kelsey Creek Brewery, as well as Mendocino Brewing Co., Lagunitas and Feather Falls Casino Brewing Co.

The No Name Car Club will hold an antique and classic car show at 50/50 raffle.

There is no gate fee for this event.

Visitors can come, purchase food and beer tickets, and taste professional barbecue either in samples or full meals of pulled pork or brisket sandwiches with side orders. They can vote for their favorite beer and car or truck.

The event ends at 5:30 p.m. with trophies given out for the Best Beer, The Smokin' BBQ Best of Best Car or Truck, Jalapeño Madness Best Custom Car/Truck, and Micro Brewers Choice-Pale Ale or Stout-Best Stock or Original Car/Truck.

Then at 6 p.m. the awards move indoors with the trophies and cash prizes for the professional barbecue teams.

Proceeds from the food sales, 50/50 raffle and donations from the car show attendees go to Lake County schools.

Last year Konocti Vista gave $1,000 each to the math and science classrooms at Mt. Vista Middle School in Kelseyville and the Terrace School in Lakeport.

Konocti Vista Casino is located at 2755 Mission Rancheria Road in Lakeport.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The next Lake County Rockhounds meeting will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

The presenter will be Sandy Thuet, rockhound extraordinaire. She was the owner of Sandy's Rock Shop in Lower Lake.

Interested members of the public are welcome to attend. Club dues are $15 annually.

Contact Joyce Anderson for more information at 707-995-1189.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Longtime Lakeport resident Tom O’Rourke has taken on the role of president of the Lakeport Rotary Club.

He grew up skiing and boating on Clear Lake and he has shared his love of water sports with family and friends.

O'Rourke and his wife, Barbara, have three grown children and being out on Clear Lake during the summer months has been a family tradition since their kids were infants.

He has lived in Lakeport since he was 9 years old and has deep roots in the county.  

As a lifelong lover of water sports his goal for his year as president is to complete a project that will help revitalize the Lakeport waterfront and reestablish Library Park as a place where boaters not only want to tie up, but also to take a walk, have a meal and do a little shopping before heading home.

Other plans include two international projects: a shoe drive and helping to support a hospital in Belize, as well as joining forces with the Elks Club to better serve the needs of Lakeport.

He will be assisted in his duties this year by Treasurer Clara Dykema, Secretary Ilene Dumont and Rotary Board of Directors members Mark Buehnerkemper, Brock Faulkenberg, Carlos Fagundes, Jim Rotheberg, Art Mann and Margaret Silveira.

Lakeport Rotary meets on Wednesdays at 12:10 p.m. at the Elks Lodge at 3775 Lakeshore Blvd.  

For more information please call Elizabeth Davis at 707-350-0090.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Hunger Task Force will offer canning lessons on Wednesday, Sept. 4, in Kelseyville.

The techniques of water bath canning will be taught from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, located on the corner of Church and Third streets.

Pears and tomatoes will be featured, as those are the most abundant crops in Lake County at this time of year.

The Hunger Task Force believes that canning is one of the best ways to utilize the crops, but is becoming a lost art.

All participants should come dressed for a hands-on experience in each step of the process.

Upon completion of the lessons, each participating household will be given a water bath canner, a book, a jar lifter and a case of canning jars to keep.

Space in the class will be limited to 12 and please, no children.

Preregistration is required. Please call 707-277-9227 as soon as possible to register.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

The group meets at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 14310 Memory Lane in Clearlake from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Social worker Jenny Johnson is the facilitator.  

The groups are sponsored by Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (1-800-834-1636) and the Social Day Programs in Lake County.  

For more information call Jenny Johnson at 707-350-3030 or Caroline Denny at 707-263-9481.

Respite is provided by the centers at no charge.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will hold its regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 5.
 
The monthly meeting will take place in Clearlake Oaks at the United Methodist Church Community Room at 6 p.m.
 
The agenda includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada and state Sen. Noreen Evans, as well as reports from the Stonewall Democratic Club Chair Mark Wickhamshire and the Lake County Democratic Club representative Paula Mune.
 
Guest speaker for the September meeting will be Anne Rubin, the director of Planned Parenthood's Clearlake Center.  

Rubin will be addressing the services offered at the Clearlake Center, the impact of ACA on Planned Parenthood and the ongoing effort to protect and enhance reproductive health.

For more information on the Clearlake Center visit their site at http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/centerDetails.asp?f=406 .
 
There will be an update from the issues committee on the recall of Sheriff Frank Rivero and the senior/mobile home park rent control initiative.
 
Remember the annual LCDCC Legislators Barbecue will be Sunday, Oct. 6, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Clearlake Senior Center.

Tickets can be purchased in advance via Actblue, https://secure.actblue.com/page/bbq2013 .

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson will be the keynote speaker at the barbecue. Volunteers are still being accepted.
 
As always public participation is welcome at meetings. Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.
 
The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.
 
For more information about the Democratic party in Lake County visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org .
 
Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .