LAKEPORT, Calif. – There are still some reservations available for the Lake County Land Trust’s Annual Dinner this Saturday at Rancho de la Fuente on Soda Bay Road outside of Lakeport.

The event includes music by Tom Nixon and Doug Kauffman, a great silent auction with local art and other items and a guest presentation by retiring Lake County Winegrape Commission President Shannon Gunier.

The public is cordially invited to attend this fun event that will include music starting at 5 p.m. a silent auction, and delicious dinner, including wine, for $65.

For information about reservations, call the Lake County Land Trust at 707-262-0707 to arrange reservations and payment.

For more information about the Lake County Land Trust and the upcoming dinner, go to www.lakecountylandtrust.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The “Kiss My Bass Pageant” fundraiser for local high school athletics is this Sunday, Oct. 14, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Konocti Vista Casino on Mission Rancheria Road outside of Lakeport.  

This is the first of four events of the Bass Bowl fundraising series that culminates in the Servpro Bass Bowl game on Friday, Oct. 26, between Clear Lake High and Kelseyville High.

The Kiss My Bass Pageant is actually two events in one.

First, it is a pageant, with students from each school vying to become their schools Bass Bowl King and Queen.  

There will be a total of four winners, a king and queen from each of the two schools. Each will receive a $250 scholarship.  

The pageant will have the students show off sports wear, evening wear and answer an onstage question.

“This is the first year we have included guys into the pageant,” said Bass Bowl Executive Director Phil Smoley. “This year’s kings will be the first ever for the Bass Bowl.”

The “Kiss My Bass” portion of the event is patterned after the “Kiss a Pig” fundraiser, where people vote for local celebrities at a dollar a vote, and the winners get to kiss a live bass.

There will be three each from Lakeport and Kelseyville competing against each other to kiss the bass.

“You can vote as many times as you can afford throughout the event, so you can literally buy the election, just like the real thing,” Smoley quipped.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students, and kids under 12 are free.

The Bass Bowl Fundraiser Series is four events that raise money for the athletic departments of Clear Lake High and Kelseyville High.  

“There are hardly any funds available for things like helmets, uniforms, or transportation, so it is up to the community to keep high school sports alive,” said Smoley. “If the community does not step up, high school sports will go away.”

Following the Kiss My Bass Pageant, there will be Bass Bowl Bowling at the Lakside Family Fun and Event Center on Sunday, Oct. 21, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This event pits students from each school in bowling, lazer tag and dodge ball competition.  

The school that has the most students attend will receive $500 from John and Charlie Richardson, the owners of Lakeside Family Fun and Event Center.  

“Last year over 400 students participated, and Kelseyville High edge out the victory and took home the cash,” said Smoley.

The event is free to students from both schools.

The day of the big game, Lyndall’s Sports Stop will be hosting a tailgate party. Located just 2 blocks from the stadium, Lyndall’s is planning a barbecue, music and other festivities.  

The tailgate party will start at 3 p.m. and go until 6:30 p.m. The cost is $15 per person, with have the proceeds going to the schools.

“Lyndall’s knows how to put on a tail gate party. It will be a great way to get in the mood for the game,” Smoley predicted.

The big event is the Servpro Bass Bowl itself, which highlights Lake County’s most intense football rivalry: Clear Lake High vs. Kelseyville High.  

The winning team is awarded the Bass Bowl Trophy, a large wood carved bass that sits on a totem pole.

Clear Lake High is the current Bass Bowl Champion, winning last year’s game, 7-3.    

This year, the California Historical Artillery Society will return with a Civil War era cannon that will fire after every score.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Club will hold its regular meeting at noon on Saturday, Oct. 8, in the Rose Room of the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center.

A special guest speaker at the meeting will be Lakeport City Councilwoman Suzanne Lyons, who is seeking reelection this fall.

Lake County Democratic Club meetings are held on the second Saturday of the month at noon in the Rose Room of the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center.

The public is always welcome at the Lake County Democratic Club meetings.

The senior center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive, corner of 10th and Country Club Drive, in Lucerne.

Contact the Democratic Club of Lake County by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Several area farms are planning U-Pick opportunities this upcoming weekend.

Ancient Lake Gardens in Soda Bay, Bio Farm in Kelseyville and Leonardis Organics in Lakeport will feature summer and fall produce at their respective farms.
 
On Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Leonardis Organics, 1010 Argonaut Road, Lakeport, will offer end of season bargains on summer crops, including tomatoes (slicers and Heirloom varieties), potatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini and pimiento and nardello peppers.

Additionally, their large array of pumpkins (Cinderella, Sugar Pie and Halloween) and specialty winter squash (Banana, Buttercup, Butternut, Carnival, Acorn, Delicata, Stella Blue and Uchiki Kuri) will be available.

These squash will store well throughout the season, so customers can stock up. Other items, such as basil, chard and kale will be available for sale.

For more information, contact Jim Leonardis at 707-483-4004.
 
Also on Saturday, Ancient Lake Gardens, 8993 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville, will host their U-Pick from from noon to 6 p.m. and feature their signature sweet Zinfandel table grapes.

Though winegrapes, these red grapes are more full bodied than the common seedless table grapes, according to Dave Piotrowski.

Lake Co-op, which offers these grapes through their weekly online ordering and distribution system, has had a positive response from their customers.

For more information or for setting an appointment to pick another time, contact Dave Piotrowski at 414-234-1991.
 
On Sunday, Oct. 14, Bio Farm, 3020 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville, continues with their ongoing U-Picks from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

They will feature potatoes (Nicola and Bintje), eggplants, hot and sweet peppers, tomatoes (slicer and Roma), tomatillos, bush and soy beans, melons, pears, apples and grapes, zucchini and fresh picked winter squash.

They also have available their Sonora wheat berries, which can be cooked up as a warm cereal or added to soups. Contact Judith at 707-695-7705.
 
U-Picks are an ideal opportunity to get to know your farmer while enjoying an on-the-farm experience. Children particularly enjoy the experience as do families that stock up and preserve food. It offers seasonal abundance at a usually reduced rate.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Konocti Lioness Club is in final preparations for its Fall Fantasy Fashion Show, which takes place this Saturday, Oct. 13.

The show will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Buckingham Homeowners Association building,  2850 Eastlake Drive, Kelseyville.

There will be fashions provided by Accents on the Lake, gourmet appetizers by Rosie, local wines, a silent auction, raffles and more.

The proceeds will benefit in-need and disadvantaged Lake County children.

Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance.

Call 707-277-0867 for your tickets, purchase them from any Konocti Lioness or at Accents on the Lake, 9738 Highway 281 in the Riviera Shopping Center in Kelseyville, no later than Thursday, Oct. 11.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Visitors to Stone House Museum this Saturday, Oct. 13, will see the china cabinet and buffet donated by Madeline Hartmann, daughter of Frank and Elly Hartmann for whom Hartmann Road and bridge are named.

The couple received the furniture as wedding gifts in 1927.

Docent tours are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the museum in Hidden Valley Lake on 18174 Hidden Valley Road. Visitors enter via Hartmann Road gate.

Frank Hartmann immigrated to California from Germany in 1902 with his parents, Anton and Helen. Frank was 4 years old.

The family first settled near relatives in Marysville, then moved to San Francisco where Anton set up business as a wagon maker.

After the great 1906 quake and fire they moved to Watsonville and farmed on property that had been owned by John Lawley of Lawley Toll Road.

In 1923, Hartmanns purchased 640 acres south of the trail that became known as Hartmann Road. They subsequently added an adjoining 80 acres between their property and Grange Road. Together, their property constituted all of the land that is now Hidden Valley Lake’s Mountain Meadow neighborhood.

After the deaths of his parents in 1942, Frank Hartmann purchased the Young place, which included the Stone House and about 950 acres. Stone House was a rental property.

The Hartmanns lived in a newly constructed home, which still exists just inside the Mountain Meadow gate of Hidden Valley Lake community.

U.S. Land Corp., a subsidiary of Boise-Cascade, purchased the Hartmann property in 1968. Boise-Cascade elected to dispose of all their real estate holdings in the early 1970s and Hidden Valley Lake was transferred to a homeowners association.

A photo of Madeline Hartmann, at about age 7, is on the fireplace mantle in Stone House. She is pictured with “the day’s kill.”

Hartmann said she was raised by her grandfather, as her parents were too busy with daily chores, and much of young Madeline’s time was spent “tromping the fields” with him.

Venison and other wild game were very important sources of food during the depression years of the 1930s, and many children were taught to hunt to help feed their families. Hartmann is an occasional guest speaker at historical society gatherings.

Docent tours of Stone House Museum are the second Saturday of each month.

The Stone House Historical Society meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Activities Center next to Hidden Valley Lake Association offices. All are welcome. Refreshments are served. Dues for membership are $5 per person.

For more information visit www.lakecountystonehouse.com .