LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Nonprofit organizations, agencies and programs based in Lake County are reminded of the March 1 deadline to apply for a share of the proceeds from the 2012 Lake County Wine Auction.

Applications must be postmarked or submitted via email.

Applications for funding may be obtained from the Lake County Wine Alliance Web site, www.winealliance.org, or by contacting Judy Luchsinger, chair of the beneficiaries committee, at 707-263-3280, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Wine Alliance may be contacted by phone, 866-279-9463, or by mail to P.O. Box 530, Kelseyville, CA 95451.

The 13th annual benefit, presented by the Wine Alliance, will be held on Sat., Sept. 15 at Brassfield Estate Winery in High Valley.

The Wine Alliance has contributed $896,765 in proceeds to Lake County groups since the inception of the annual charity event in 2000.

Awards are made in the fields of the arts, health services and the community.
 
Eighteen nonprofit organizations, including agencies, programs, senior centers and high schools, received $65,000 from the proceeds of the 2011 Wine Auction held last September at Ceago Vinegarden.

Proceeds include ticket sales, donations from sponsorships, live and silent auction income, purchases of reserve wines at the event, and sales of special edition, commemorative fine art posters by Lake County artist John R. Clarke.

Lake County wineries, wine grape growers, restaurants, and other businesses and individuals are generous supporters through their donations to the live and silent auctions and to the food and beverages served at the gala affair.

Local and regional businesses provide support through sponsorships.

Jerry Brassfield, proprietor of Brassfield Estate Winery and Vineyard, High Valley, is the honorary chair for the 2012 event.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Tickets are now on sale for the Lower Lake Historical School Preservation Committee’s 18th annual Fashion Festival, to be held on Saturday, March 24.

The fun begins at noon in the Schoolhouse Museum’s Weaver Auditorium, 16435 Main St. in Lower Lake.

This year’s theme is “Swing into Spring,” so wear your finest hats and come on down.

A delicious luncheon will be served and there will be entertainment, a hat contest, a raffle with many fine prizes, and fashions by Lisa’s Sizes 3-60 of Clearlake.

Seating is limited and reservations are required.

Tickets are $20 each and groups may reserve a table for 10.

For more information or tickets call the museum at 707-995-3565.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The ninth annual crab feed and auction fundraiser to benefit St. Mary’s Parish Youth Group will be held on Saturday, March 3.

The event will take place at the St. Mary Immaculate Church Hall at 801 N. Main St. in Lakeport.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 7 p.m.

The $40 ticket price includes salad, bread, pasta and all-you-can-eat crab. There will be a no host bar.

Enjoy an evening with friends while joining in our silent auction, 50/50 raffle and live dessert auction.

One hundred percent of the funds raised will benefit the St. Mary’s Parish High School Youth Ministry and their Vacation Bible School.
 
Tickets are pre-sale only and on sale after Mass at the following times: Saturday (St. Mary’s, 5:45 p.m.) and Sunday (St. Peter’s, 9:15 a.m., and St. Mary’s, 11:30 a.m.).
 
You also may buy tickets or contribute auction items by contacting Pat Lambert at 707-245-7280.  Please make checks payable to St. Mary Immaculate Religious Education.

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – “Gala on the Green,” the Mendocino College Foundation’s annual fundraiser to benefit Mendocino College students and programs, is scheduled for Saturday, June 23, at Campovida, 13601 Old River Road, Hopland.

The foundation’s Special Events Committee is working to confirm details for the event.

“Planning is under way for the 2012 Gala on the Green, and we have several wonderful ideas for this year’s event,” said Richard Cooper, chair of the Foundation’s Special Events Committee. “Our goal is to continue to grow participation from people in and outside our community. We plan to use more of the Campovida location to enhance both the guest experience as well as grow the fund development side of the event. As always, we are looking for contributions for the silent and live auctions and will be working with local wineries and caterers to provide an amazing experience for our guests and contributors!”

Proceeds from the yearly event are used to fund scholarships for students who attend Mendocino College in Ukiah, Lakeport and Willits. Additionally, profits from the gala provide support for College programs.

Last year’s Gala on the Green raised more than $66,000 in revenue for scholarships and educational programs.

The Mendocino College Foundation’s past Gala on the Green events have featured garden tours, gourmet food, wine, live music, dancing, and auctions.

Special Events Committee members are working to confirm details for this year’s Gala festivities. George Husaruk and his band are scheduled to play for gala guests, providing the event’s live music for the second consecutive year.

Ticket prices and availability will be posted on the Foundation’s Web site, http://foundation.mendocino.edu, when the information is available.

“We hope our loyal supporters will join us for a very fun, lively party that will benefit the Mendocino College students. Mark your calendar now,” said Cooper.

To inquire about the Mendocino College Foundation, its scholarships and funding opportunities, call the foundation office at 707-467-1018 or visit the Web site, http://foundation.mendocino.edu.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – When Zachary Kimbell-Auth was 7 years old he witnessed his first Polar Plunge. Now, at age 9, he is the highest fundraising team captain in Lake County.

What is a Polar Plunge? At a very basic level it’s a bunch of crazy, but inspired, people jumping into the lake in midwinter (last year the water was only 10 degrees above freezing – so emphasis on the crazy).

Why would anyone do this? To raise money for the Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics provides year round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

But it is so much more than a sports program. It is training for life, empowering these individuals with self-confidence and self-esteem that carries over into their everyday lives.

What is most amazing is that Special Olympics is free to all, for over 13,000 Special Olympics athletes in Northern California alone; but it costs approximately $500 to support one athlete's participation in Special Olympics for an entire year.  

Last year Zach recruited his first-ever fundraising team, convinced four other crazy people to join him and raised close to $2,000.

This year Zack set a personal goal of $2,000 and a team goal of $5,000 to support 10 athletes.

As of Wednesday, Feb. 22, he was close to his personal goal (he has raised $1,700 so far, but the team is still short about $2,500).

To help young Captain Zach, and make a difference in the lives of our local Special Olympians, Calpine Geothermal has announced that they will match every donation made to the Special Olympics through The Whackadoodle Dragons – that’s the name of the team Captain Zach started – this week.

Zach is leading a community team and believes that the community can work together to hit that $5,000 goal; Calpine Geothermal believes Captain Zach can lead in the charge.

To help make a difference in the life of Special Olympic athletes in Lake County, and to enable a charming 9-year-old captain to make his goal, please visit the Lake County Special Olympic Web site and make a donation through the Whackadoodle Dragons.

Donations can be made at http://lake2012.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=994085&;lis=1&kntae994085=B20485CBD30F418A8F124AFC7ADF6261&supId=316077864.

Online donations must be made by Friday, Feb. 24. Checks can be brought to the event and delivered to Captain Zachary at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the county park in Kelseyville. Checks should be made to “Lake County Special Olympics.”

All are welcome to come out to the park and join the festivities: at 11:15 a.m. all community members who have supported the Whackadoodle Dragons will be invited to join in on our team photo.

At 11:45 a.m. there will be a parade of all Lake County teams who have committed to “Freezin for Reason!” At 12:15 p.m. all teams will jump into the chilly waters of Clear Lake.

Can a Lake County 9-year-old make a difference? Yes he can.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson’s office on Wednesday received reports that a Sept. 29, 2010, e-newsletter sent from Thompson titled “Wine E-News from Congressman Mike Thompson” is being used in conjunction with an electronic and financial scam.

The email comes from an individual claiming to be a U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and asks for people to send money to a fraudulent email address.

Please be advised not to send money or give out any personal information.

Thompson’s office is working with authorities to address the situation.