UKIAH, Calif. – The Mendocino College Foundation’s annual Gala on the Green fundraiser was held on Saturday, June 23, to a large crowd of more than 340 guests at Campovida in Hopland.

Richard Cooper, Special Events/Marketing Committee chair, and Katherine Elliott, Special Events/Marketing Committee vice chair, announced the foundation exceeded last year’s revenue in sponsorships from $12,000 to this year’s $33,000.  

The live auction earned more than $25,000, up from last year’s $18,000 and similarly the silent auction and wine raffle are up in overall revenue.

Proceeds from the gala fund student scholarships, book awards and provide much needed financial support to instructional programs at Mendocino College.

Mendocino College student speakers were Trevor Mockel, Hailey Young and Scott Wilson, who thanked the gala attendees for their support and encouragement.  

All three students recently received three of the most prestigious foundation scholarships.

This year’s live auction got off to a great start with emcee Sheriff Tom Allman auctioning off a trip to Mazatlan, followed by three Skunk Train packages which earned over $9,000 thanks to the generosity of Mr. Robert Pinoli.  

Other auction items included two sets of original John Bogner ties, Safari West package, two Westside Progressive Dinners, Condo at Squaw Valley, Jaxon Keys Getaway, and Tasting with Influence kindly donated by Sheriff Allman, Tour Mendocino Wines and District Attorney David Eyster.

Foundation Executive Director Katie Fairbairn and Event Coordinator Travis Scott expressed their gratitude to the Special Events Committee members, event sponsors, auction item donors, winning bidders, foundation board members, volunteers, participating wineries and all of the gala attendees for their wonderful support.

According to Cooper, this year’s sponsors included Campovida, Mendo Lake Credit Union, Skunk Train, TLCD Architecture, Wright Contracting, Richard Cooper, Lake County Friends of Mendocino College, Gary & Edelgard Smith, Jay and Lisa Epstein of State Farm Insurance, Frank R. Howard Hospital, Gary Nix, Midstate Construction, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Ukiah Valley Medical Center, SHN Consulting Engineers, Weibel Winery, Stan’s Maple Café, Caito Fisheries, TJ Elton, Huffman for Congress, Wells Fargo Advisors John Goldsmith and Rand Rodgers, John Fetzer and Patty Rock of Saracina, Dandelion Floral, Diane Daubeneck and Lee Parker, Nicholas Petti, Coro Mendocino, Katherine Elliott and George Husaruk.  

Beer for the event was donated by Robert Pinoli and wineries that provided donations were Wildhurst Vineyards, Steele Wines, Parducci Winery, Lula Cellars, Barra of Mendocino, Truett Hurst, Rivino, Kendall Jackson, Vice Versa, Testa Vineyards and Weibel Family Vineyards & Winery.

The gala is one of many ways the Mendocino College Foundation obtains funding to support students and programs at Mendocino College.

For more information, please contact the foundation office at 707-467-1018.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Adrianna Guardado, a junior at Clear Lake High School and teen leader for the Blue Heron 4-H Club, has been awarded the 4-H Emerald Star.

The award is a special honor in recognition of her ability to plan, organize, present and execute a project.  

Last March she raised $600 for the local Meals on Wheels program with the support of local businesses who housed her coin collection jars, and generous donations by the Lakeport Kiwanis and the Scotts Valley 4-H Club.

The Lake County Historical Society thanks its members and guests for attending and helping with the annual picnic at the Ely Stage Station and Country Museum.

In the shade of the oak grove there the crowd enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs and chili as well as an abundance of delicious potluck dishes.  

Special thanks go to Bruno’s Shop Smart, which provided the hamburgers, hot dogs and buns. Also thanks to Abid Hussain, 3 Brothers Travel Plaza, for ice; University of California, Cooperative Extension of Lake County for the loan of 15 tables; and Bud Boyce for the use of his huge barbecue cooker.

Thanks to John Parker who led a delightful skit about the Cole Creek Gang, Lake County bandits who were busy robbing on the roads during the heyday of the Ely Stage Stop.  

His cast included himself, Bent Nose John Parker, Big Gun Greg Blinn, Gangly Greg Dills, Rebel Phil Smoley and Rattlesnake Randy Ridgel.

They represented the gangs of real Lake County robbers, Buck English and Charles Boles, also known as Black Bart.

The group’s next meeting is on Sunday, Sept. 23. They hope to hold their picnic next year near the top of Konocti.

Lake County has a captivating history and the historical society’s meetings are informative and fun.

If you wish to join them call Nick Voegtly at 707-349-7233. Annual membership dues are $15 a person or $20 a family.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Soper-Reese Community Theatre’s Classic Movie Series continues in July with the film version of the Broadway musical comedy of the same name, “1776.”

This 1972, award-winning film will be shown Tuesday, July 10, at the Soper-Reese Theatre, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the film starting at 6 p.m. Donations are graciously accepted for the classic movie series.

In the days leading up to July 4, 1776, Continental Congressmen John Adams and Benjamin Franklin coerce Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence as a delaying tactic as they try to persuade the American colonies to support a resolution on independence.

As George Washington sends depressing messages describing one military disaster after another, the businessmen, landowners and slave holders in Congress all stand in the way of the Declaration, and a single “nay” vote will forever end the question of independence.

Large portions of spoken and sung dialog are taken directly from the letters and memoirs of the actual participants.

This special Lake County showing is part of a new Classic Movie Series recently debuted at the theater that runs on the second Tuesday of every month through December of 2012.  

Check the theater’s Web site, www.soperreesetheatre.com , or call 707-263-0577 to see what other classics are coming up.

The Soper-Reese Community Theatre is a restored, historic performing arts venue established in 1949 and seating 300 patrons.  

Run by an all-volunteer organization, the theater operates under the guidance of the nonprofit Lake County Arts Council.  

The Soper-Reese brings dance, music, plays and poetry to all members of the Lake County community and to visiting tourists.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 88 of Lake County will meet on Saturday, July 21.

The meeting will take place beginning at 9 a.m. at the Konocti Bay Sailing Club building, located at Braito's Marina at the end of the Buckingham Peninsula in Kelseyville.

The meeting is open to anyone 17 years or older who would like to join this active group.  

For additional information, call the flotilla's information line at 707-513-5122.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Phones have been buzzing and emails keep coming in, all about robots.

The Taylor Facility hosted Robotics workshops Feb. 18, June 23 and June 30.

The response was overwhelming and because the interest is strong, the Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium is looking at initiating Lego robotics clubs starting in September 2012.

Robotics promotes team building, problem solving, creativity, and analytical thinking with a hands-on philosophy that incorporates the Lego Mindstorms technology.

Depending on response and support, participation in FIRST Lego League (FLL) is an option (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/) .

Teams of six to eight students strategize, design, build, program, experiment, test and refine a fully autonomous robot capable of completing pre-assigned missions.

Teams research a predefined scientific subject and develop a presentation on a specific topic in that field.

No prior experience is necessary. The clubs will be open to Lake County students 9 to 14 years old. Coaches, mentors, parent volunteers and sponsors are needed. Training will be provided.

Provide your child a foundation for learning Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fundamentals using Lego Robots.

Contact Barbara McIntyre, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , for more information.