LAKE COUNTY, CA – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a wine tasting event featuring wines from Thorn Hill with winemaker Amy Thorn, and artist reception with a collection of paintings by Alana Clearlake Tanner.

The reception will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3.

The $12.50 ($10/pp for Studio club members) wine sampler and appetizers presented at the studio will showcase the 2011 Brut Cuvée de Prestige, 2011 Pinot Grigio with zucchini, eggplant and olive tapenade, the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc with House made hummus with flatbread, 2008 Red Hills Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon with an aged cheddar, red walnut and rosemary cheese ball with crackers, and the 2010 late harvest Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon dessert wine. Appetizer pairings are by Cache Creek Catering.

Located in the diverse micro climate of the Red Hills, Thorn Hill Vineyards covers 50 gently sloping acres within a mountainous terrain where elevations range from 1,400 to 3,000 feet above sea level with cooling afternoon breezes.

Owners Jack and Amy Thorn searched for more than a decade to find the perfect location for the Thorn’s family winery before choosing the Red Hills in Lake County.

The Thorns were attracted to the Red Hills Appellation because of its ideal conditions for growing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes – rich, shallow volcanic soils from neighboring Mt. Konocti produce compact berries with powerful flavor.

The trace minerals apparent in the volcanic soils lend earthy or flinty notes that add complexity to the wine.

The Red Hills appellation benefits from a unique diurnal temperature pattern, with hot days tempered by afternoon winds that can cool nighttime temperatures by as much as 50 degrees.

During the growing season daytime temperatures easily reach 90 degrees and above, but cool down each afternoon from breezes created by the sloping elevation changes around Mount Konocti and offshore winds from Clear Lake.

The hot days nudge grapes to achieve full flavor and optimal ripeness, whereas the cool nights help preserve the acidity of the grapes and enhance the balance and complexity of the fruit.

Winemaker Amy Thorn focuses on small production, single vineyard wines from properties that are the most distinctive in their appellation.

The grapes are harvested and sorted by hand and Thorn personally oversees each varietal’s production, striving to create full bodied, intensely flavored, richly textured wines of structure, depth and balance that reflect the specific qualities of each vineyard site.

“The greatest gift you can give as a winemaker is to create a bottle of wine that is the purest expression of each varietal, a wine that is a combination of nature and nurture, resulting in a vintage which represents a union between the fruit of the vine, richness of the earth and the passion of the winemaker,” she said.

The artist for August is Alana Clearlake Tanner. Tanner has been expressing her creative drive since she was toddler.

She took art classes in high school and when in college she happily changed her major from psychology to art during the junior year, which resulted in most of her classes being some type of art for the last two years of formal education.

Interested in the human form for years, Tanner took life drawing in college, but was not satisfied with the results. So, when her children were young, she began taking night classes to improve her skills. The human anatomy for the artist class was the most helpful to her, as she could then understand things from the inside out.

Tanner has participated in numerous solo and invitational shows as well as juried exhibitions, receiving a plethora of medals and awards for her works.

The imagery of Tanner’s mixed media paintings often come directly from her dreams or visions, but at times she will simply snatch up pencil and paper to see what will appear.

At times she will begin with watercolors and then add prismacolor and/or ink detail. When asked what one of her pieces means, she replies, “what does it mean to you?”

Lake County Wine Studio is a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County. Artist’s shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.

The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake and is open Monday 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Tanner art show will be on display for the full month of August.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Soaring temperatures take a toll on vehicles and their occupants and with temperatures reaching record highs this summer, AAA cautions motorists not to underestimate the ways in which extreme heat can wreak havoc on vehicles.

“Prolonged exposure to high temperatures is not only a threat to passengers, but a vehicle concern as well,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California Spokesperson. “Knowing the dangers and preparing your vehicle for extreme heat can help keep your vehicle running smoothly and your family safe during the hot summer months.”

AAA tips for common heat-related car problems

– Overheated engine: Replace coolant as recommended. Over time, engine coolant becomes contaminated and its protective additives are depleted. That’s why the system should be flushed and the coolant replaced periodically as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Older coolants required changing every two years or 24,000 miles, but most modern formulations are good for at least five years and 50,000 miles, and many do not require replacement until approximately 100,000 miles. See the owner’s manual or maintenance booklet to determine the service interval appropriate for your vehicle.

– Heat and vibration failure – secure and test battery. Heat and vibration are a battery’s two worst enemies, leading to internal breakdown and eventual failure. Make sure your battery is securely mounted in place to minimize vibration. If a battery is more than three years old, have it tested by a trained technician to determine how much longer it will last. AAA members can request a AAA Mobile Battery Service technician come to them and test their battery free of charge. For more information on the AAA Mobile Battery Service visit AAA.com/Battery.

– Blown tire – check tire pressure. Driving on under-inflated tires affects the handling and braking of a vehicle, and can cause tires to overheat and increases the likelihood of a blowout. This problem becomes even more of a concern when road temperatures are extremely high. Tires should be checked when the car has not been driven recently, and they should be inflated to the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer—not the number molded into the tire sidewall. Recommended tire pressures can be found in the owner’s manual or on a tire information sticker normally located on the driver’s door jamb. Drivers should also inspect the tire treads for adequate depth and any signs of uneven wear that might indicate a suspension or alignment problem.

– Air conditioning failure – check system and replace filter as needed. If a car’s air conditioning is not maintaining the interior temperature as well as it did in the past, it may mean the refrigerant level is low or there is another problem. Have the air conditioning system checked by a certified technician. Many automotive climate control systems today are equipped with a cabin filter that prevents outside debris from entering. If present, this filter should be inspected and replaced as needed to ensure maximum airflow and cooling during the summer months.

If you think your vehicle is experiencing problems due to the extreme summer heat, have it checked out by a trained automotive technician.

The AAA Approved Auto Repair program is a free public service that helps motorists identify high-quality auto repair facilities they can trust to work on their vehicle.

AAA Approved Auto Repair shops must meet stringent professional standards and maintain an ongoing customer satisfaction rating of 90 percent or better.

To locate a nearby AAA-approved repair shop visit www.AAA.com/Repair .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Friends of the Middletown Library will host a book clearance sale on Saturday, Aug. 3.

The sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the old Middletown Library site – soon to be the Gibson Museum & Cultural Center – on the corner of Calistoga and Callayomi Streets.

All books must go.

The cost is $1 to $2 per bag. There will be lots of best sellers, mysteries, children’s, self-help, cookbooks and reference.

All proceeds are for the purchase of new books and supplies for the new library.

Show your support of the local library by joining them for the sale Aug. 3.

DUNCANS MILLS, Calif. – It was July 1863 all over again during Civil War Days last weekend in Duncans Mills.

Hundreds of reenactors and thousands of spectators relived the Civil War and participated in living history over the two-day event.

Fifteen Lake County residents volunteered as event staff as part of an agreement where 30 “man” days of labor is traded for a Civil War artillery team coming to the Bass Bowl, the rivalry football game between Kelseyville High and Clear Lake High, later this year.

The Lake County contingent helped with the snack and drink shacks, crowd control, trash pickup, bathroom supplies, and a variety of other tasks that were needed during the event that was attended by over 3,000 people.

Civil War Days is an annual event put on by the California Historical Artillery Society and the Casini Ranch Family Campground.

It is Northern California's largest Civil War reenactment and one of the largest reenactments west of the Mississippi.

Besides battle reenactments, there were living history presentations in the Union, Confederate and civilian camps.

This year the number of reenactors was down a bit due to so many having attended the huge 150th Anniversary Reenactment at Gettysburg earlier in the month. As usual, the South lost, but promised to rise again next year.

The Lake County group included Phil Smoley (project coordinator), Rob Ishihara (Bass Bowl creator), Rob Christian, Steve Stetzer, and Jim Steele (Civil War Roundtable), CJ Epperson, Mario Villalobos, Noah Finch and Asa Peters (Kelseyville High football), Ray Perry, Sloan Reynolds and Jennigan Foster (CPS Country Air Properties), and local volunteers David Petty, Danielle Petty, Charles Epperson and Lisa Epperson.

“This will be the third year of this relationship where we trade labor for them sending a full horse drawn artillery team to the Bass Bowl,” said Smoley. “They fire the cannon after every score, which definitely livens up the game and draws bigger crowds.”

This years Bass Bowl is scheduled for Friday night, Oct. 25.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Glory Days Flag Football League will hold a fundraiser car and boat wash on Saturday, July 27.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. at the Clearlake Youth Center, 4750 Golf Ave. in Clearlake.

The car and boat wash benefit Lake County Youth Services.

All those who are willing to come by and volunteer will quality for a car wash and lunch.

The event is taking place in affiliation with the Best Bass Tournament aat Redbud Park.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 29

– Paving from Coyote Creek to 1.1 miles south of the junction of Routes 29/53 will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Windsor Fuel Co. of Pittsburg.

Highway 53

– Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work just south of Stonebord Road beginning Thursday, Aug. 1. Extended work hours are 11:30 p.m. Thursday through 9:30 p.m. Friday. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Replacement of the Greenwood Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Golden State Bridge Inc. of Martinez.

– Bridge painting at the Salmon Creek Bridge and the Albion River Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor ‐ Jeffco Painting and Coating of Vallejo.

– Charles and Bonnie Eagleton of Hidden Valley have been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit to remove a well near Abalone Street Monday, July 29, through Wednesday, July 31. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Replacement of a culvert with a bridge at Dunn Creek will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Shasta Construction of Redding.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Replacement of crash cushions will occur from the South Ukiah Overhead to the Orr Creek Bridge Monday, July 29, through Wednesday, July 31. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Ash Creek Bridge will continue. Nighttime work hours are 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. One way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga.

Highway 128

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Navarro Ridge Road to the Robinson Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor ‐ Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

Highway 253

– Road stabilization 2.6 miles east of Cattle Pass will begin Wednesday, July 31. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Exaro Technologies Corporation of Burlingame.

Work on all these projects is weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans advises motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to be prepared to stop at traffic control stations.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).