LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Owners, customers and the public are invited to Lake Co-op's annual Gratitude Gathering on Sunday, Dec. 15.

The gathering will be held at the Clear Lake Riviera Community Association Room, 9689 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road), Kelseyville from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The potluck event includes live music by Lake Co-op farmer and fiddler Teale Love, a free raffle, introduction of the new board and a brief presentation on the co-op's activities for 2013.

With more than 21 producers, Lake Co-op celebrates six years as Lake County's premier retail online ordering and distribution for local and regional organic products including food, household and personal care products.

Lake Co-op is California's only cooperatively owned online food ordering and distribution system.

“Lake County is at the forefront of local food systems with the co-op and our robust Farm to School programs,” said farmer and Lake Co-op Board President Jim Leonardis. “We are looked to as a model of what is possible.”

This is the co-op's fifth annual Gratitude Gathering.

“It's a time when our farmers can take a breath and meet up with their customers and friends for a cherished reflection of all that has transpired throughout the year,” added interim Manager JoAnn Saccato. “If someone is curious about the co-op and meeting some of our producers, this is a perfect event.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share and their own plate, bowl, cup and cutlery. Some beverages will be provided.

The co-op also offers organic produce and products that are not offered in our region, like tropical and citrus fruits, specialty teas and herbs.

Shoppers can enjoy ordering individual items from the producers or opt for the co-op's signature Organic Fruit N' Veggie box that is designed to fit the produce needs of a one- to two-person household for a week. The all-organic boxes are sourced local first and regional second.

For more information about the co-op and further details on the Gratitude Gathering, visit www.lake.coop or call 707-513-5226.

BOGGS MOUNTAIN, Calif. – The Friends of Boggs Mountain will hold a cleanup of the shooting area at Boggs Mountain State Demonstration Forest from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 7.

Boggs Forest management will close the shooting area from dawn until noon for the cleanup.

All volunteers are welcome.

The forest entrance is located off Highway 175 just one and a half miles north of Cobb Village. Turn at the blue state fire station/Boggs Mountain Forest sign.

For more information contact the forest office at 707-928-4378.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Christmas Parade “Winter Wonderland” will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, on Lakeshore Drive.

The parade begins at Redbud Park and proceeds down Lakeshore Drive to Austin Park where Santa will be waiting in the gazebo to take pictures with all the good boys and girls, courtesy of Colorsplash Photography.

The event will culminate with the city's annual tree lighting ceremony.

For participation information, contact Jessie Boyd at 707-350-7485 or Chuck Davis at 707-357-4813.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – With less than a week to collect gifts for local children in need, the Umpqua Bank “wish tree” effort still has a lot of gift tags on the tree and is asking for the community's help.

Umpqua Bank's Lakeport and Kelseyville branches are collecting gifts for 150 children – ranging in age from 2 months to 17 years – under the care of Child Protective Services in Lake County.

Community members can visit either bank branch, pick a child’s tag and sign the register. Then return your gift by Dec. 10, wrapped and with the tag on it. If you don’t have the time to purchase a gift, you can make a monetary donation and the bank will be happy to do the shopping for you.

Umpqua Bank is located in Lakeport at 805 11th St. and in Kelseyville at 4280 Main St.

For more information call the Lakeport bank branch at 707-262-3342.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Team Family Ties, a team in the annual Relay for Life, is hosting “Shop for a Cure” on Sunday, Dec. 15.

The sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Clearlake Youth Center, 4750 Golf Ave.

Take care of all of your shopping needs, buy local and support Relay For Life of Lake County.

Contact Liberty Perry at 707-367-0193 if you have any questions or would like to rent a booth.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Nov. 4, Scotts Valley and Blue Heron 4-H joined forces to undertake a community service times two.

The leadership team created a plan to rake yards and undertake a food drive.

Notices were distributed to 60 houses in the North Forbes/Clearlake Avenue neighborhood a week before asking homeowners if they wished to participate and donate canned goods.

In the dark of the evening, 12 members from the two clubs quietly raked and bagged leaves in the designated yards.

The trick was to do the job silently without being discovered.

By evening's end, 30 bags of leaves were gathered and 15 bags of groceries were collected for local food pantries.

Afterward, the work crew enjoyed the warmth of a fire pit, hot cocoa and cookies.

4-H Youth Development is a program of the University of California Cooperative Extension.

For more information on the 4-H program contact U.C. Cooperative Extension, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, CA 95453, telephone 707-263-6838.

Peggy Alexander is community club leader for the Blue Heron 4-H.