CLEARLAKE, Calif. – In the year determined by the United Nations to be the International Year of the Co-op, Lake County's own local food co-op, the Lake County Community Co-op, continues expansion efforts including the launch of a new website and freshened logo, new online shopping software, owner-share purchasing, sales to the public and subscription sales.

Shopping through the co-op will not be interrupted during the launch.
 
The first phase of recent expansion included home/office delivery, telephone ordering, expanded product offerings and extended shopping hours.
 
Started in 2008 as a grassroots effort by local citizens to acquire fresh, affordable organic and local food, the co-op started an online ordering and distribution system (FOODS) which has expanded to include ten pick up sites (drop points) throughout Lake County.
 
The new Web site and ordering software, due to launch in June, offer a more user friendly ordering system and nonmember purchasing opportunities.

In addition, a subscription option where customers can order any item, such as a fruit and veggie box, and automatically receive it on a weekly basis will be available.
 
In conjunction with the new launch, the co-op will begin offering owner shares, a distinctive feature of cooperative enterprises.

Rather than be charged an annual user fee to shop through the co-op, customers will now be able to choose between three levels of membership: non-owner, owner and owner-worker.
 
Non-owners will be able to enjoy the vast array of local, regional and distributed products offered through the co-op on a weekly basis. Owners will be those who work towards the purchase of 12 shares over time at $25 per share, totaling a $300 investment.

Owners will receive a discount on purchases made through the co-op, as well as be eligible to receive patronage refunds when the co-op generates surpluses.

Owner-workers, those owners that work a minimum number of hours throughout the year at the co-op, will be eligible to receive additional discounts.
 
While readying for the launch, the co-op continues to offer their weekly online ordering and distribution services and encourages residents to visit the co-op Web site at www.lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270 for more information.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Calpine is sponsoring the Middletown Days Rodeo and parade and will be offering free guided bus tours to The Geysers on Saturday, June 16.

The tours will take place from noon to 3 p.m.

Please visit www.geysers.com for reservations or call 707-987-4270 for more information.

The Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center is located at 15500 Central Park Road, Middletown.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Some special landscaping fixtures have been created for the Ely Stage Stop Museum in Kelseyville.

Jerry Shaul Sr. built three large planter boxes to be used at the Ely Stage Stop Museum.

Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club also is donating native plants for this project.  

The club meets at noon on the third Tuesday of the month, except July and August, at the Scotts Valley Women's Clubhouse, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport.

Members, guests and all interested are most welcome. President Helen Turley, 707-262-1721, invites interested gardeners to join them.

Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club is a member of Mendo-Lake District, California Garden Club Inc., Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

For more information visit www.clttgc.org .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The public is invited to the 24th annual meeting of the Lower Lake Historical School Preservation Committee on Saturday, June 30.

The meeting begins at noon in the Weaver Auditorium of the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum, 16435 Main St.

A light luncheon will be served, followed by a short meeting for the presentation of the annual report and election of officers to the board.

Participation on the museum board offers a rewarding volunteer opportunity for those interested in the history of Lower Lake and environs.

Please contact the museum office at 707-995-3565 for more information.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Cinema 5 is launching its inaugural free Summer Kids Movie Series on Thursday, June 21.

The nine-week series will be each Thursday at 10 a.m. through August 16.

Admission is free for everyone, not just children.

All the movies in the series are rated PG. There will even be a $4 drink and popcorn special at the snack bar.

The first week the movie is “How to Train your Dragon.”

Doors will open at 9 a.m. each Thursday morning. The movie will show in as many theaters as needed, as each auditorium fills up, the movie will be started in that auditorium until the final auditoriums start at 10 a.m.

Paradise Cinemas Inc., which owns the cinema, wanted an opportunity to give back to the community and provide a fun activity for children when they are out of school, as well as help families out that have had to cut their fun and entertainment budget.

For company president Scott Lotter it takes him full circle to his start in the movie theater business 40 years ago as an usher at summer children's matinées at the 800 seat Varsity Theatre in his hometown of
Davis.

The opportunity to run movies in multiple theaters had not been financially possible until recently with the full conversion of the Lakeport Cinema's 5 screens to digital projection from the old 35 millimeter film projectors.

Previously the licensed rental of a movie was for a 35 millimeter film print that was costly – with shipping costs on the reels that weigh in at around 80 pounds – and which could only be shown in one or two auditoriums at a time. Often the physical condition of the reels had deteriorated from age and use.

Lakeport Cinema completed their conversion to all digital projection in August 2011, and upgraded the sound system to 5.1 and 7.1 digital surround sound with 3D in 2 theaters. Customers notice the brighter, sharper picture and crisp clear sound.

The cost of the new digital projection set up which uses 3,000 and 4,000 watt xenon lamps and Texas Instruments DLP technology is over $80,000 per screen, and even more for 3D auditoriums which required new silver screens and additional equipment.

Now with digital system the movie arrives on a digital hard drive that can be run on every screen for the same rental price as a single 35 millimeter film print, and the shipping is far cheaper on the hard drive that arrives in small plastic box not much bigger than a lunch box.

The digital picture is perfect every showing and the availability of older movie titles is much
better and growing all the time.

Other titles in the weekly series are “Kung Fu Panda,” “Shrek,” “Puss in Boots,” “Over the Hedge,” “The Lorax,” “Tale of Despereaux,” “Happy Feet 2” and “Yogi Bear.”

None of the movies will be shown in 3D.

Additional information about the series, including running times, rating information and a printable schedule, is available at the theater Web site, www.lakeportcinema.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Effective Monday, June 11, Saint Helena Creek Road – from Wardlaw to Highway 29 – will be one-way, northbound traffic only.

Signs will be in place to notify the traveling public.

Please drive with caution in this area.

For more information, contact the Lake County Department of Public Works, 707-263-2341.