LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Once again, the outpouring of generosity from the citizens of Lake County was overwhelming in support of the Child Protective Services Wish Tree at Umpqua Bank in Lakeport and Kelseyville.  

More than 180 children benefited from this program this holiday season.

A thank you to Clearlake Bassmasters is in order; the group donates $500 annually towards the purchase of gifts.  

The associates at Umpqua Bank also thanked Allen and Donna Thomas, Becky Ornellas, Linda Andersen and many others for their very generous monetary donations, which allowed the bank’s associates to finish the shopping. Without those generous donors, this would not have been possible.

There will be many happy children this holiday season thanks to the kindness of so many in the community. Lake County is truly a very special place to live.

The associates wished everyone a wonderful holiday season and a safe, happy, and prosperous new year.

Blood Centers of the Pacific reported that fire departments in Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties are joining together to participate in the seventh annual Bucket Brigade Challenge.

The event began Dec. 10 and is continuing through Jan. 26.

Participating fire departments recruit community members, colleagues, friends and family to donate lifesaving blood in an effort to win the Bucket Brigade Trophy and bragging rights for the year.

Last year several fire departments participated and recruited nearly 1,000 blood donors – a huge boost for the community blood supply.  

Windsor Fire Protection District prevailed the last three years, but not without heat from Lakeport Fire Department and Geyserville Fire Protection District.

The notion of a bucket brigade originates from the Great London Fire of 1666, where lines of townspeople created “brigades,” passing buckets of water from the town’s water source to the fires that threatened their community.  

This contemporary Bucket Brigade brings our community together in the same way - not to fight fire, but to save lives through blood donation.

“The Bucket Brigade was designed to boost the blood supply in December and January when donations are traditionally low due to weather, holidays and the flu season,” said Andrea Casson, Blood Centers of the Pacific senior account representative. “Over the years, nearly 7,000 donors have participated. We are grateful for the strong community spirit of our local firefighters and residents.”

Blood drives will be held in Lake County as follows:

• Saturday, Jan. 5: Middletown Fire Department, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., fire station meeting room, 21095 Highway 175.
• Saturday, Jan. 12: Lakeport Fire Department, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., truck bay and lounge, 445 N. Main St.

To make an appointment, visit www.bloodheroes.com or call 888-393-GIVE (4483).

Blood Centers of the Pacific (formerly Blood Bank of the Redwoods) supports more than 45 hospitals in Northern California including all hospitals in Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport’s community holiday tree is alive with lights in downtown Museum Park.

The beautiful blue spruce tree nearest the museum will remain lit throughout the holiday season until the first week in January.

Volunteers decorated the tree with more than 2,700 sparkling white lights; each light symbolizing the life, hopes and dreams of loved ones present and past.

The tree provides the perfect picturesque setting for holiday family photographs and is a cheery sight during the night hours and seasonal rainy weather.

This little blue spruce has survived its two predecessors and under the diligent care of the Lake County Parks and Recreation Department, the tree has grown to its current height of 14 feet and has the shape of a traditional holiday tree.

Being such a robust survivor, a characteristic it shares with Lake County residents, the tree is worthy of recognition as Lakeport’s official community holiday tree.  

In past years the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport has decorated the tree with ornaments and garlands. This year, Hospice Services of Lake County organized volunteers to decorate the tree with thousands of sparkling white lights with a cluster of red lights in the heart of the tree to symbolize the heart of the holidays.

The tree was officially lighted during the annual Light Up A Life candle lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 24, which immediately followed the Holiday Lighted Parade and the Very Merry Main Street family and children’s fair in the afternoon.

The success of the combined event and subsequent appreciation from the community has resolved sponsors to continue lighting the blue spruce tree each year.

In past years one of the large deodar cedars was traditionally lighted in the park for the holidays. Because of the height of the trees, bucket trucks like those used by Pacific Gas and Electric were needed to string the lights.

The cedars have finally outgrown the reach of the bucket trucks, making the tops of the trees impossible to decorate.

While many people in the community will miss seeing the larger trees adorned with lights, event sponsors have embraced the blue spruce in front of the museum as Lakeport’s official community holiday tree.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Nov. 11, 1998, the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club sponsored the installation of the beautiful Blue Star Memorial Marker located on the north side of the Veteran’s Building in Lakeport.  

The club also installed a lovely garden beneath the memorial which it continues to maintain. Every year the club donates a beautiful handmade wreath during the Christmas season to display on the marker.

The Blue Star Memorial Marker Program of the National Council of State Garden Clubs Inc. (now the National Garden Clubs Inc.) was adopted in 1946 to establish living memorials to all those who have, or are now serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces.  

The markers are placed in public gardens, parks, aside flagpoles, fountains, picnic areas, viewpoints, historical or civic buildings, national cemeteries or veteran medical centers across the country.  

The placement of the markers and the continuing upkeep of surrounding landscaping is done by local garden clubs across the county to show their deep appreciation for the Armed Forces’ sacrifices towards the freedom and peace we enjoy in the United States of America.

The CLT&TGC 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, and welcomes new members.

For more information see www.CLTTGC.org or contact Club President Leanne Harvey, 707-263-0850.  

CLT&TGC is a member of the Mendo-Lake District, California Garden Club Inc., Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 26.

The group meets at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 14310 Memory Lane in Clearlake from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Social worker Jenny Johnson is the facilitator.  

The groups are sponsored by Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (1-800-834-1636) and the Social Day Programs in Lake County.  

For more information call Jenny Johnson at 707-350-3030 or Caroline Denny at 707-263-9481.

Respite is provided by the centers at no charge.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lakeport Lions Clubs this month made a donation to help support the work of the Lake County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission.

Club member Kandee Stolesen presented commission Chair Valerie La Bonte with a check on Friday, Dec. 21.

The Lions Club has made such donations for several years, just in time for Christmas gifts to be purchased. Those gifts help make time spent at Lake County Juvenile Hall facility a bit more tolerable.

During a special surprise visit, for a few hours one evening near Christmas, members of the commission visit the facility near dinner hour with both hi-tech and conventional gifts as well as a variety of treats generously donated by Nick Norcio and crew at the Lakeport McDonald's.

Caring citizens have contributed gifts for the juveniles, game consoles needed to play the games that the youngsters are allowed have been acquired through the Game Shop in downtown Lakeport, and other items and basic supplies such as holiday cards and postage stamps are delivered ahead of the planned dinner.

Persons interested in learning more about the Lions Club may call Stolesen at 707-263-1352.

For more information about the commission call 707-533-4070.