Pilot Rick Long repairs the wind sock at Lampson Field near Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Saturday was cleanup day at Lampson Field, Lake County’s airport.

Local pilots volunteered to give the airport grounds a general pick-up and to repair the damage to the approach fence and wind sock.

The Highland Springs Road fence got some much needed new slats replaced and a fresh coat of bright red and white paint.

The wind sock, a casualty of recent wind storms, required a more delicate touch – some time at the sewing machine – and it is once again flying to provide valuable wind direction information to departing and arriving pilots.

The paint and other supplies for the repairs were generously donated by Mendo-Mill of Lakeport.

The wind sock is a vital tool used by approaching pilots to help judge the winds near the runway. Courtesy photo.

The volunteer crew representing the Lake County Airmen’s Association were Lee Beery, Rick Coel, Rick Long, Russ Porterfield, Damon Trimble and Art Williams.

Lampson Field, Lake County’s only airport, brings valuable tourism revenue to the county and provides a highly skilled work force through the aviation businesses located at the airport.

Local pilot Rick Long helps paint the approach fence at Lampson Field near Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Courtesy photo.

The newly painted approach fence at Lampson Field near Lakeport, Calif.

Doris Eraldi will be one of the featured writers at LitFest at Mendocino College in Ukiah, Calif., on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Photo by Terrence Anthon.

UKIAH, Calif. – Fans of poetry and fiction are invited to celebrate local writers and poets in a one-day festival Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Lowery Library at Mendocino College, 1000 Hensley Creek Road.

“LitFest 2011” will feature readings, talks, and workshops by more than 20 contemporary authors and poetic artists, and book vendors such as Tenacity Press will be present to sell books.

Admission to the event activities, including workshops, is free and the public is invited. New to the event this year will be a round robin “Grand Poetry Reading” that will run from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“The Mendocino College Literary Festival is a full day dedicated to appreciation of works by very talented artists, writers and poets from our communities. It will be enjoyed by students, faculty, staff, and the general public,” said John Koetzner, head librarian at Mendocino College.

“Cultural and literary events such as ‘LitFest’ and our annual readers series enrich students’ lives and invite everyone to discover all the great ways the college contributes to the community,” added Koetzner.

Jody Gehrman will offer a workshop at LitFest at Mendocino College in Ukiah, Calif., on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Courtesy photo.

The Mendocino College Foundation and its affiliate organization, the Friends of the Mendocino College Library, plus several additional supporters are making it possible to hold the one-day festival this year, Koetzner said.

The celebration will feature workshops by fiction writers and poets Armand Brint, Doris Eraldi, Jean Hegland, Jody Gehrman, Terena Scott, Natasha Yim and Molly Dwyer, and readings by poets Armand Brint, Dan Barth, C.E. Chaffin, Steve Hellman, Blake More, Ethel Mays, Bill Churchill, Ricardo Stocker, Sandra Wade, Theresa Whitehill and others will conclude the day.

Additionally, aspiring writers, students and fans of the written word will be able to meet featured guest authors and participate in writing workshops.

Topics include “From Picture Book to Young Adult: The Nuts & Bolts of Writing and Publishing for Children,” “Give Your Great Characters Something to Do,” “Framing the Dream: Making Your Publishing Dream a Reality,” “Dialogue as a Story-Telling Tool,” “Spontaneous & Collaborative Writing,” “Cross-Cultural Poetry” and more.

Individuals who want to attend the writing workshops should sign up in advance by registering online at www.mendocino.edu/litfest. For additional information, call 707-468-3051.

This year’s LitFest celebration is the fourth time the event has taken place. The first festival in 2007 was made possible by funding from the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, Mendocino College Foundation, and the Friends of the Mendocino College Library along with a number of community sponsors.

“We are seeking additional community sponsorship to help make LitFest an annual event,” said Koetzner.

For more information about LitFest 2011, call the Mendocino College Library at 707-468-3051 or visit the event Web site, www.mendocino.edu/litfest.

This program offers temporary assistance to horse owners who find themselves in a financial

crisis, unable to provide adequate feed for their horses.

As horse owners lose their jobs, and homes fall into foreclosure, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to hang on to the family horses.

With few viable options, these horses often end up at the auction yard and are then sent to Mexico slaughter houses.

This recession will end but many horses may be lost forever.

The Saferhorse Hay Assistance Program, funded by public donations can help a family through tough times.

To make a donation to this program, visit Rainbow Ag, Mendocino Farm Supply, J.D. Redhouse or Highway 20 Feed and tell them you want to contribute to the Donate a Bale Program.

Guidelines and application forms for the hay assistance program can be found on the home page of www.saferhorse.com.

John Linden, Joe Simoni and club Vice President Karen Wilson play the accordion at the Sons of Italy anniversary celebration on Thursday, April 14, 2011, in Nice, Calif. Photo courtesy of Debbie Clarke.

NICE, Calif. – We often yearn for yesteryear, when we enjoyed family dinners and listened to relatives sing songs or tell stories from their youth. We learned so many things and made great memories to share with our family.

Many of us had a taste of that experience on Thursday, April 14, at the anniversary party for Lake County Lodge No. 2537 Order of Sons of Italy Nice, at TJ's Bar and Grill in Lakeport.

The club celebrated 28 years with 40 guests from the community and club members.

Our surviving founding member, Angela Staiti, attended along with longtime past officers John Gustavino and Sue Lewis.

Newly elected Vice President Karen Wilson joined John Linden and Joe Simoni who traveled from San Mateo to play classics on their accordions.

Wilson has played the accordion since she was a child and quickly remembered many songs from her days in San Francisco's Italian district.

Anita Wienke, board member, and mother of member Glenn Wienke, owner of the restaurant, planned the event which included antipasto with bread, a fantastic dinner, wine and dessert.

Past President Rosalie Sonnenburg was honored with flowers by President Rick Ferretti.

Italian flag-colored table arrangements were donated by Flowers by Jackie in memory of Fran Staiti, one of the founders of the club.

Order of Sons of Italy in Nice has become a popular venue for their family-style pasta feed, dinner dances twice a month and rental hall.

Everyone is welcome to join in our fun and memory making.

Please call us anytime at 707-274-2244 for more information.

Board Member Anita Wienke, Glen Wienke with President Rick Ferretti at the Sons of Italy anniversary celebration on Thursday, April 14, 2011, in Nice, Calif. Photo courtesy of Debbie Clarke.

The coordinator will be at Lake Family Resource Center, 5350 Main St. in Kelseyville, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Clients must prequalify.

Those seeking services also must make an appointment; call 707-995-1128.

The Salvation Army thanked Lake Family Resource Center for the continuous support and use of their facility to assist the Salvation Army's efforts.

Back row, from left to right: Peter Windrem, Wendy White, James Evans, Evan Willig, Johnnie Hathcock, Harold Riley, Bill Berkey and Shirley Howland; front row, left to right, Becky Curry, Wanda Quitiquit, Secretary and Wanda Harris. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee convention delegates will head for Sacramento on Thursday, April 28, for the three-day State Democratic Convention taking place at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Local delegates are Harold Riley of Clearlake; Democratic Central Committee Chair Becky Curry of Kelseyville; Wanda Harris of Hidden Valley Lake; Johnnie Hathcock and Wil Flato of Lower Lake; Laurel Groschong and Paula Mune of Lakeport; and Luisa Acosta of Finley.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon on Saturday. The Saturday night dinner speaker former U.S. Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich.

During the general session led by party chair, former U.S. Congressman John Burton, Bernie Sanders, U.S, Senator from Vermont will address the delegates.

In addition to the speakers the delegates will elect regional directors and vote on a number of resolutions proposed by central committees across the state.

The Saturday night after hours party will feature Ozomatli, a 10-piece band playing primarily Latin, hip hop and rock music, the group was formed in 1995 in Los Angeles.

Ozomatli, in its 15 years as a band, described as “Los Angeles culture-mashers,” have gone from being hometown heroes to being named U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassadors. The group has spent 15 years working diligently to spread its message of peace, communication and understanding through music.

Meetings of the Democrats of Lake County are held on the First Thursday of every month, rotating between Lakeport and Clearlake and are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.

The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-277-0713 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The committee's Web site is www.lakecountydemocrats.org.