If you must travel during winter storms, be prepared and use caution as well as common sense.

Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition. In particular, check the antifreeze, tire pressure and tread, brakes, windshield wipers, heater, defroster and exhaust system.

When traveling through snow country, motorists should carry tire chains that are the proper type and size, and are in good condition. Chains must be installed on the drive wheels, so make sure you know if your vehicle is front or rear wheel drive.

Other useful items to take are a flashlight, chain repair links, ice scraper or spray deicer, and a shovel.

Taking along water, food, warm blankets and extra clothing will make you more comfortable if you experience a lengthy delay.

And before you leave, put an extra door key in your pocket; a number of motorists have locked themselves out of their cars when putting on chains.

“A prepared motorist is a safer motorist to themselves, other travelers, and our highway workers,” said Caltrans District 1 Director Charlie Fielder.

Don’t be rushed; get an early start to allow more time to reach your destination safely.

Let someone know your travel plans, the route you plan to take and when you expect to arrive, and update them if things change.

Keep your fuel tank full in case it’s necessary to change routes or you get caught in a traffic delay.

Above all, be more observant and slow down. A highway speed of 55 or 65 miles an hour may be safe in dry weather, but is an invitation for trouble on snow or ice.

Snow and ice make stopping distances much longer, so leave more distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.

Bridge decks and shady spots can be icy when other areas are not. Remember to avoid sudden stops and quick direction changes.

Before traveling and during your trip, be sure to check current road conditions.

Call the California Highway Information Network at 1-800-427-7623, or go online to www.dot.ca.gov.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m at the Lucerne Community Church, 5870 E. Highway 20, in Lucerne.

Come at 6:30 p.m. to visit and have coffee and snacks.

The featured speaker will be Wil Gonzalez, who will provide a workshop on flower arranging.

This is a hands-on workshop. He will show members and guests how to arrange flowers for a dramatic effect in decorating. Guests please bring a vase and frog and your hidden talents, plus your enthusiasm.

Gonzalez is a San Francisco native and resident of Ukiah. He works for Rain Forest Fantasy Garden Shop, is a member of The American Institute of Floral Designers and the “Hey Flower Guy” in the Ukiah Daily Journal.

He also is a Tournament of Roses Parade floral designer for Fiesta Parade Floats, most recently heading up the team of designers on the Natural Balance Float, which featured snowboarding bulldogs. The float is the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the longest single chassis float.

His home in the mountains give inspiration to his personal design style. He was induced into AIFD in 2007, Sun Valley Cup 2007.

He is currently president of the Northwest Region, is on the Teleflora Education Unit Nor Cal/Nev. Gonzalez also is the president of the Ukiah Garden Club.

North Lake Garden Club is a member of California Garden Clubs Inc., National Garden Clubs Inc. and the Mendo-Lake District.

A quilt made of the quilt blocks installed around Lake County, Calif., in 2010 as the first phase of the Lake County Quilt Trail will be raffled off on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, during the Kelseyville Christmas in the Country celebration. Photo courtesy of Vicky Parish Smith.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Friday, Dec. 3, during the Kelseyville Christmas in the Country celebration, the Lake County Quilt Trail (LCQT) Committee will hold the long-awaited raffle drawing at the WestAmerica Bank, Main Street. Winning ticket holders do not have to be present.

The winner of the drawing takes ownership of a hand-made cloth quilt comprised of all the quilt squares that were used in phase one of the LCQT.

The quilt was designed and machine quilted by Kerrie Hershey. Quilters Nancy Carpenter, Bethany Rose, Kerrie Hershey and Patti-Cox Frankenfield hand-pieced the cloth blocks.

The quilt block names are (in order of installation) Square in a Square, Martha’s Vineyard, Big Oak Ranch Blazing Star (a variation), Peace and Plenty, Lady of the Lake, 54 40 or Fight, Rising Star, Monkey Wrench, Bear’s Paw, County Fair, Tulip Time, Ohio Star and Squash Blossom.

Lake County is the first location in California to create a quilt trail. This past spring, with seed money from the Kelseyville Pear Festival, 13 vibrantly colored quilt blocks inaugurated the first phase of the project.

Each block, specifically designed and painted entirely by volunteers onto 8-foot by 8-foot wooden panels, was hung on pioneer barns, pear packing sheds, winery tasting rooms, an orchard ladder manufacturing facility and even an exhibit hall at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

Each unique quilt block on the Lake County Quilt Trail was selected to connect with the history of the building, honor farming or celebrate the family, as well as pay tribute to the generational history of beautiful quilts.

To see the LCQT Phase One cloth quilt visit Kerrie’s Quilting, 1853 N. High St., Lakeport. Tickets may be purchased at the shop and are priced at six for $5.

Phase Two is currently in production. By Sept. 2011, another 12 quilt blocks will be added to the Lake County Quilt Trail.

Information about the Lake County Quilt Trail can be found at www.kelseyvillepearfestival.com ; click on the “Quilt Trail” button.

The next class will take place at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Lake County Assessor-Recorder Doug Wacker will be the featured speaker. He will speak on the various documents available for genealogical research.

The Lake County Genealogical Society members meet Tuesday afternoons to share information and tips related to genealogy. They invite anyone who is interested to join the class whether a beginning or advanced researcher.

These sessions are held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS church) 16th and Hartley in Lakeport.

Classes are free for everyone, and participation does not require membership in either the Lake County Genealogical Society or the LDS Church.

The holiday community outreach provides Christmas to our neighbors in need.

Should you choose to give a gift to a child this Christmas, visit one of the local businesses where wish trees are located, pick out a red bell and follow the instructions posted near the wish tree.

Gifts are requested through letters to Santa written by children from families who have applied to the program.

The letters are read and each child’s wishes (infants through eighth grade) are transferred to a bell that is then hung on a wish tree throughout the community.

All high school-aged youngsters will receive a Walmart Gift Card as listed on their bells allowing each student to select their own gift.

Wish trees in Middletown are located at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Middletown Florist and Gifts, Tri-Counties Bank and Westamerica Bank.

The wish trees in Hidden Valley can be found at Century 21 House of Realty and Hidden Valley Lake Realty. The wish trees on Cobb can be found at Mountain High Coffee and Cobb Cuts beauty salon.

If you have more questions about the wish tree program contact Sandy Tucker at 707-987-0263 for Middletown and Hidden Valley or in Cobb contact Christine Bougas at 707-928-6461.

Already, there are more than 120 families registered for Spirit of the Season this year.

For the program to provide food and gifts it requires approximately $70 per family. To date, approximately $3,000 has been generously donated.

If you can make a donation to offset the costs of the program, make your check payable to: Spirit of the Season and mail to P. O. Box 1468, Middletown, CA 95461.

Volunteers have been helping sort food donations which folks are placing into the SOS receptacles around town. You will find these at the Catholic Charities office in Middletown near the library, as well as the post office in Middletown. Nonperishable items such as juice, canned pineapple, Jello and jelly are especially needed.

Recently they received 2,000 pounds of food from AmeriCorps and the Hunger Task Force from their “Make A Difference Day” efforts, which helped with Thanksgiving food distribution.

As more food is given to our program, they will need volunteers to help pick up donations and sort food.

If you can be of assistance, please contact volunteer coordinator Christine Bougas at 707-928-6461.

For more information about the program contact Hedy Montoya at 707-987-8139.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 88 Commander Dane Hayward cooking the Thanksgiving turkey for the U.S. Coast Guard Station's personnel at Noyo River in Fort Bragg, Calif., on Wednesday, November 17, 2010. Courtesy photo.

FORT BRAGG, Calif. – On Wednesday, Nov. 17, nine members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 88 of Lake County traveled to the United States Coast Guard Station at Noyo River in Fort Bragg to prepare and serve an early Thanksgiving turkey dinner for the Coast Guard personnel.

Several members from Flotilla 87 of Mendocino County also participated.

At the station, two turkeys were cooked by Flotilla Commander Dane Hayward.

Flotilla 88 members Gary Dromi, Harry and Bunny De Lope, John McEwen, Dan Fish and Betty Strach brought dressing, mashed potatoes, yams and sweet potatoes, gravy, three salads, cranberries, dinner rolls and soft drinks, with Nita and Jerry Collins providing two Thanksgiving sheet cakes decorated for the occasion.

More than 30 U.S. Coast Guard members enjoyed the sumptuous meal and were encouraged to go back for seconds and some even went for thirds.

It was a great event and the Flotilla members were delighted to provide some home cooking for the service personnel, many of whom will be away from home on Thanksgiving Day.

These men and women give us so much by patrolling our shores, answering calls for help and assistance, and much more. They stand by their motto: Semper Paratus!

Personnel at the U.S. Coast Guard Noyo River Station in Fort Bragg, Calif., chow down in an early Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday, November 17, 2010. Courtesy photo.