FINLEY – A dance fundraiser for Wally Holbrook, a candidate for Lake County's superintendent of schools, will be held on Saturday, April 17.

The fundraiser will take place from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Finley Grange Hall, 1510 Big Valley Road.

Offerings will include raffle tickets, beer, wine and desserts, all of which will be available for purchase.

Music will be provided by the group “Without A Net.”

The cost is $15 per person.

Tickets are available at Guido's in Kelseyville, 707-279-1568; Lakeport Hair Designs, 707-263-7300; Java Express in Clearlake, 707-995-1065; and Neft and Neft in Middletown, 707-987-3630.

For more information visit www.electwallyholbrook.com.

KELSEYVILLE – “Cookin' for a Cure,” an event to raise funds to fight cancer, will take place on Friday, April 30.

It will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Kelseyville Lions Club, 4335 Sylar Lane.

There will be a tri-tip and chicken barbecue with all the sides, plus a no-host bar, no-host dessert bar and raffle prizes.

The cost is only $10.

Pre-sale tickets are available at Umpqua Bank locations in Kelseyville and Lakeport.

Proceeds benefit the Quick Steppers Relay for Life Team in the fight against cancer and Kelseyville Lions community projects.

LOWER LAKE – Get your suspenders and sunbonnets ready! The fifth annual Old Time Bluegrass Festival will be held rain or shine on the second Saturday this coming September at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

The festival is presented by the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA), the Children’s Museum of Art and Science (CMAS) and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.

The Bluegrass Festival supports the preservation and educational work of AMIA as well as local schools and service groups and cannot happen without community backing and involvement.

This year, the event is on Sept. 11. Some of the proceeds from the 2010 festival will go to local fire and rescue organizations.

“In 2009, the business community as well as individuals really stepped up to the plate and helped with financial and in-kind sponsorships,” said Henry Bornstein, AMIA treasurer. “We look forward to that support continuing and working with all the sponsors, raffle supporters and volunteers who are needed to make the 5th Annual Old Time Bluegrass Festival another successful major Lake County event.”

“Last year’s Old time Bluegrass Festival went off without a hitch,” said Gae Henry, AMIA secretary. “The music was the best ever and the food was, without a doubt, the most varied and best quality so far. We hear over and over again from attendees how much they enjoy the food, music, vendors, and children’s activities. We also hear how much they appreciate the organization and cleanliness of the park and how friendly everyone is – this indeed feels like a home town event with our best foot forward.”

More information about the Bluegrass Festival can be found at www.andersonmarsh.org.

For information about volunteering, becoming a festival sponsor, making a donation to the festival raffle or becoming an AMIA member, please contact AMIA at 707-995-2658 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

NICE – Most property owners protected by the Northshore Fire Protection District's Nice fire station were the unfortunate recipients of two tax bills this year.

Due to a billing error, the annual Nice fire fee was not included on their regular tax bill.

Approximately 3,969 property owners were notified by the Lake County Tax Collector in November and received an additional bill for the fire fee. Fire protection services at the station depend directly on the parcel tax to operate.

Nearly half of the bills remain unpaid and there is concern that recipients may have forgotten or are unaware of the charge which is due on April 12, 2010, according to Lake County Treasurer-Tax Collector Sandra Kacharos.

If unpaid, the bills will incur penalties on April 13 in excess of $20.

Property owners in the Nice fire protection area should consider if the fee is applicable to them and whether it was included on their original tax bill. They are responsible for payment of the fire fee even if their regular property taxes are paid by their lender.

A list of properties affected can be found on the tax collector’s Web site at http://tax.co.lake.ca.us and at the Northshore Fire District office 707-274-3100.

Duplicate bills can be obtained from the tax collector, or can be viewed and paid from the tax Web site.

Dry hot summers in rural areas like Lake County create extremely hazardous fire conditions. Firefighting is dangerous, costly and public safety often depends on a swift and skilled response from the fire station.

Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters are the first responders to most emergencies on the Northshore. The annual parcel tax provides critical funding for the department, funding that is particularly important as the fire season approaches.

LAKEPORT – The Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health Advisory Board (MCAH) will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, April 8, at 8:30 a.m. at the Lake Family Resource Center Community Meeting Room at 890 Bevins Street in Lakeport.

Agenda items include reports about the Dental Disease Prevention Program, First Five Lake Projects, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Adverse Childhood Experience Survey (ACES) Program, Dr. Ira Chasnoff’s Perinatal Prevention Program, Mother-Wise Program as well as current issues affecting children and families in Lake County.

Mother-Wise, the Postpartum Mood Disorder Prevention Program, has recently offered a two and a half day comprehensive training for volunteers and professionals.

On March 31 and April 1, potential Mother-Wise volunteers received valuable information preparing them to be matched to provide support to new moms who may be at risk or experiencing some perinatal mood disorder such as postpartum depression.

On April 2, professionals such as counselors and medical providers who work with women and families received continuing education credits for attending the half-day training offered by Sonoma State University instructor Allison Murphy. The trainings were held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Clearlake. Mother-Wise program coordinator, Jaclyn Ley, can be reached at 707-349-1210 to get more information about the program.

Anyone is welcome to attend MCAH monthly meetings to learn more about many important local health matters. For more information call Tom Jordan at 707-263-6169 or Catherine Rose at 707-263-3949.

LAKE COUNTY – Doug Rhoades, who is a candidate in this year's district attorney's race, reported that he has received the endorsement of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee.

Rebecca Curry of the LCDCC provided information about the endorsement on April 2.

"I am very pleased to receive this endorsement,” said Rhoades. “The DCC heard from both non-incumbent candidates, and gave me their support by vote this past week. They studied the issues and are convinced that my candidacy will help Lake County achieve the proper balance and advocacy in the administration of justice that I have advocated for the past 13 years.”

He added, “I am very happy with their endorsement, and am grateful for their confidence and show of support."

Doug Rhoades can be reached via his campaign at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or voters can gather more information by visiting www.dougrhoadesforda.com.