LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Courthouse Museum will present the last reading in this series of historic readings on Saturday, April 21.

The readings take place in the historic courtroom on the second floor and will begin at 2 p.m.

This month Joan Cox will read a story entitled “Two School-Marms in California’s Switzerland,” written by Katherine M. Douglas.

It is a detailed account of the adventures encountered by two ladies who walked from their home in Cloverdale to Lakeport and back in 1910.

There is no admission charge and refreshments will be served.  

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

NICE, Calif. – The Sons of Italy club will host a dinner dance on Saturday, April 14.  

The meal will include chicken Parmesan, polenta, salad, veggies, French bread, dessert, coffee or tea.  

The bar is open for socializing at 5 pm, dinner starts at 6 pm then dancing to Jim Williams starts after the meal.

The cost will be $15 for everything.

Everyone is welcome, no need to be a member.  

Please call to reserve a table so you can sit with your friends or if you plan on bringing a lot of people.

The club is located at 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

For information about this event or renting the hall for your own, call 707-274-9952. 

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Free docent-led tours of Stone House Museum will take place Saturday, April 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Located at 18174 Hidden Valley Road in Hidden Valley Lake, the house is a California State Historical Monument.

Docents are Stone House Historical Society members Marilyn and Andy Anderson, Nina Bouska, Jean Bundy, Hilde DeFemines, Georgeann Tintorri and Babe Vecellio,

For entrance to HVL’s gated community, visitors should enter at the Hartmann Road gate and say they’re touring Stone House.

For more information see www.lakecountystonehouse.com .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The annual Spring Dinner to benefit the Lake County Land Trust will be held on Monday, May 14, starting at 6 p.m. at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro, 3825 Main St. in Kelseyville.

Land Trust supporters are urged to attend and enjoy a delicious four-course meal generously donated by Marie Beery and her staff at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro.

Thanks is extended to Dennis Darling of Foods Etc. of Clearlake, for helping to sponsor the event.

“Tickets are going fast, so be sure to call right away,” a land trust spokesperson noted.

The Lake County Land Trust is a private, nonprofit local organization dedicated to preserving valuable natural habitats and open space in Lake County.

The Land Trust owns and operates the Rodman Preserve near Upper Lake, presenting weekly Saturday walks there as well as a children’s nature education program on the third Saturday starting on May 19 and continuing through September.

To make your reservations, call the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro at 707-278-0129. Payment of $70 is taken at the door.

All proceeds go to support projects of the Lake County Land Trust and the public is cordially invited to this event.

If you have any questions, call Roberta Lyons at 707-994-2024.

For information about the Lake County Land Trust go to www.lakecountylandtrust.org .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – For her senior project, Caitlin Flynn of the Middletown High School Interact Club raised $125 and donated the proceeds to Rotary International’s 15-year campaign to completely eradicate polio throughout the world.  

Flynn’s Pennies for Polio check was received by Pete McGee, president of the Rotary Club of Middletown, and will be matched by the club.

On Wednesday the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection adopted policy that will allow the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to help prevent the continued spread of the Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB).

The policy will allow Cal Fire to enter into agreements with both public and private landowners and governmental agencies, including the federal government, for the purpose of controlling or eradicating forest insects, specifically the GSOB, or plant diseases that damage or threaten destruction to timber or forest growth.

The GSOB was first identified in 2002 in San Diego County and thus far does not appear to have expanded its occupation elsewhere in the state.

The insect is causing mortality in healthy, mature coast live oak, canyon live oak and California black oak trees.

Believed to have been transported into the San Diego County area on firewood, the GSOB continues to spread within the county causing significant devastation to the area.

"This invasive pest is particularly important, as our native oaks are much less resistant to it than those in Arizona, its point of origin”, said George Gentry, executive officer to the board.

To date, the GSOB is responsible for killing 80,000 trees throughout San Diego County, and if they continue to spread beyond the county, mortality rates will increase.

“The implications for financial loss are quite high,” said Gentry.

There are several recommended prevention and suppression steps that can be taken to help reduce the spread of such invasive insects that include:

• Firewood and cut wood should not be moved outside the county.
• Covering cut oak with plastic tarpaulins can contain insects.
• Removing infested trees, and properly managing the woods disposal, can reduce localized infestation and help minimize the spread.
• Mulching, soil aerations, and fertilizing may increase oak health and delay tree mortality.

For more information on the Goldspotted Oak Borer and the new policy adopted by the board, visit the website at www.bof.fire.ca.gov .