LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Fair Board will hold a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Oct. 22.

The board will meet beginning at 4:45 p.m. in the administration office at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St., Lakeport.

Action items include the 2013 facility rental rates, approval of entry fee refund for Jennifer Crowhurst, committee and chief executive officer’s reports, and correspondence from community members.

 
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County has launched its inaugural “FIRST Lego League.”

FIRST LEGO League ( http://www.usfirst.org ) is a partnership between FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the LEGO Group to inspire future scientists and engineers. This elementary/middle school program features more than 20,000 teams worldwide.

The Lake County league of elementary and middle school students has begun with two teams, The Planeteers and The Watts, coached by Barbara McIntyre, Michael Schenck and Stephen Stangland, who meet at the Taylor Observatory.

The teams have a total of eight weeks to find a solution to the FIRST Lego League challenge, then design, build and program their robot missions. T

his year’s FIRST Lego League challenge is “Senior Solutions.” Each team interviews senior citizens and identifies problems or handicaps that might apply to all seniors. Then they will research solutions, talk with experts and present their solution to the community and judges at tournaments, compete in the Robot Game missions and be judged on Core Values.

The FIRST Lego League gives young people outstanding learning experience and develops teamwork and problem solving skills.

FIRST’s goals are to inspire young people around the world to become interested in science and technology, and to become heroes in the “sport of the mind.” FIRST values are Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition.

Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. Coopertition is founded on the concept and a philosophy that teams can and should help and cooperate with each other even as they compete.

Approximately 205,000 children participating in 20,500 teams from over 60 countries will participate in the FIRST Lego League during the 2012-13 school year. The Senior Solutions Challenge will be supported by over 50,000 volunteers and more than 1,000 sponsors around the world. Students worldwide will be competing in 814 qualifying tournaments, 124 championship tournaments and 1 world festival.

The FIRST Lego League Teams appreciate the temporary loan of two robots from the Special Programs Department of the Lakeport Unified School District and two laptops from the Konocti Unified School District.

Local sponsorships are needed for our Lake County students to participate, purchase the necessary materials, robots, laptops, and for tournament and travel costs. The teams are grateful for the sponsorships already received from: Lakeport Lions; Paula Dhanda, MD; Stephen Stangland; Edward Giannelli and Mr. and Mrs. Call.

If you or your organization is interested in supporting this important opportunity for Lake County students to gain experience in team work, problem solving, professionalism and cooperation, please contact Barbara McIntyre at 707-972-1905.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Tickling the keys and trying to stump listeners musically at the next Middletown Luncheon Club program on Wednesday, October 17, will be that funny, talented piano man David Neft.     

The program takes place at the Middletown Methodist Church Social Hall, 15155 Armstrong at Washington, Middletown, starting at noon.

Lunch costs only $5 per person and will be served by Girl Scouts.

Reservations are not necessary, just show up and enjoy.

For more information about the Middletown Luncheon Club, or to be a speaker, contact Linda Darms at 707-987-3494.  

The Renaissance Pageant preview takes place at the Nov. 14 meeting.

The Middletown Luncheon Club is open to all, meets every third Wednesday of the month from January through November, providing informative speakers and presentations to the community.

Different local nonprofit organizations provide lunch each month and receive a donation.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District will hold special and regular meetings on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

The meetings will be held in the boardroom at the district’s administration office, 19400 Hartmann Road.

A special meeting will begin at 6 p.m. During that first meeting, the district board will hold a closed session to discuss the general manager position.

The regular meeting will convene at 7 p.m. in the same location.

Items on the regular meeting agenda include the annual water conservation t-shirt contest awards, board committee and staff reports, a resolution approving and adopting a revised investment policy for fiscal year 2012-13, recommended elements of an agreement between the HVLCSD and Hidden Valley Lake Association for construction and maintenance of a levee trail, an agreement for base salary surveys, and documenting and cataloging district policies.

Another closed session on the general manager position also is planned during the regular meeting.

The board’s next regular meeting is set for Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Public records are available upon request. Board packets are posted on the district’s Web site at www.hiddenvalleylakecsd.com ; click on the “board packet” link on the agenda tab.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The person who discovered a pit bull wandering on Highway 20 is trying to find the dog’s owners.

The animal was found on Thursday afternoon in an area of Highway 20 between Clearlake and Interstate 5.

He had no collar, is neutered and very sweet tempered.

The owners are asked to call Star at 707-223-5900.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Community Co-op is in the process of recruiting board members.

The co-op, which began in 2008, is a member-owned and operated enterprise that operates an online ordering and distribution system for local, regional and beyond Lake County organic produce, value-added and household products.
 
The co-op’s sister organization, CREATE, operates the Friday Night Farmers’ Market in Clearlake, a community garden effort with the Highlands Senior Service Center and “LCCC Presents …,” a televised educational series on food and farming in Lake County.

Co-op board members serve the dual role of sitting on both organization’s boards.
 
Co-op’s are unlike any other business because they’re designed to serve the needs of their membership.

Owners can participate in the unique democracy of a co-op by serving as a member of the board of directors.

The responsibilities of the board are to uphold the mission of the co-op, oversee the financial viability of the business and help build community and cohesiveness among the co-op owners and customers.

The board is not responsible for day-to-day operations of the Co-op or CREATE, though they are encouraged to participate as much as possible.
 
The deadline for applications is Oct. 17, 2012.
 
For more information on becoming a board member of the Lake County Community Co-op and CREATE, visit the co-op’s Web site at www.lake.coop and select “Our Board” under the “About Us” section of the site, or by calling 707-513-5226.