President Linda Waterstraat has the garden club doors open to provide opportunities for all to reap the benefits of gardening.

Whether you’re new to Lake County or a “native,” we can all learn so much from one another while enjoying the bonds of friendship.

Waterstraat chose the theme “Grow Along with Us” because not only would she like to attract new members, but hopes all the members continue to work together, take advantage of the programs and activities planned for this year and grow immensely from the experience.

In September, 1955, Ruth Miller, Carol Kesey, Jenny Grothe (Carol Kesey’s mother), Lousie Bossert, and Alda Nordyke (Louise’s sister) were going to enter a garden in the Lake County Fair.

Ann Stewart (Phil Lewis’ secretary) came out and told them if they wanted to enter a garden they had to have a name. Bossert said “trowel” and Kesey said “trellis” – and from there the name of the garden club was Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club.

The club meets at noon on the third Tuesday of the month, except in July and August.

Members, guests and all interested are most welcome. President Linda Waterstraat, 707-245-4731, invites interested gardeners to join the group.

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

For more information visit www.clttgc.org.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, city of Clearlake and Hospice Services of Lake County will host the annual Clearlake Christmas Light Parade on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m.

Join the community at Austin Park for this family-friendly event featuring a parade of lights, a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Lakeshore Lions and Lioness providing cocoa and cookies, and a very special Christmas tree lighting by Hospice Services of Lake County.

This year's parade theme is “Christmas in Clearlake Toyland.”

This year's event is going to be taped live by TV8 and Carlé Continuation High School so it can be viewed on Dec. 4. The show also will be rerun several times throughout the month of December.

If you are interested in helping to plan this year's event, volunteering, entering a float or having a booth during this Christmas Light Parade, please contact the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce at 707-994-3600.

The hours on Saturday are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Two hundred and nine quilts, on loan from guild members and from the community at large, will hang in Lewis Hall.

A stroll through the aisles brings a new vista at every turn, with quilts from minis to king size, in styles ranging from traditional to innovative, presenting a full spectrum of color.

Old quilts, new quilts, quilts pieced, appliquéd and embroidered will dazzle the eye.

The work of Sandy Turner, this year’s featured quilter, offers a visual treat for show guests.

Turner’s quilts vibrate with color and pattern, incorporating tropical flowers and beachscapes. Turner designs quilts, and teaches, lectures and writes about quilts and quiltmaking. Her website, www.sandyturner.com, features a gallery of her splendorous works.

Vendors of quilt-related merchandise will display their wares. Fabric, books, patterns, notions and sewing machines will all be available to buy in the vendor mall.

At the Country Store boutique, quilt guild members will sell a variety of quilt and craft merchandise, a good place for some holiday shopping. Show guests can take their chances at an opportunity quilt and a selection of gift baskets, and can bid on the silent auction items.

Angelina’s Bakery and Espresso of Lakeport will cater lunch in Barty’s Café at the fairgrounds, conveniently located near the quilt show.

LLQG welcomes all quilters, prospective quilters and quilt lovers to its meetings and events. The guild members make and donate a baby quilt to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for every baby born there.

For more information about the Falling Leaves Quilt Show, contact Julie Nodine at 349-0846 or visit the Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild Web site at www.LLQG.org.

Snoopy joins in for a past 'Buddy Walk' in Santa Rosa, Calif. Courtesy photo.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – The Sonoma County Down Syndrome Support Group will host its sixth annual Buddy Walk and Motorcycle Run at Howarth Memorial Park in Santa Rosa on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine.

The event draws participants from around the region, including Lake County, according to organizers.

This year's theme is “Going to the Island,” so get your Hawaiian outfits and your walking shoes for a one mile walk or for motorcycle enthusiasts a run to Occidental.

Registration includes lunch and entertainment from Taimalietane Islands of Polynesia dance troop, games, music, a resource fair for nonprofits, and a Talent Show featuring our children with Down syndrome.

Registration is $12 pre-registration, $15 the day of the event and $7 for ages 12 and under.

The group is an affiliate of National Down Syndrome Society, managed entirely by volunteers, working hard to assist genetic counselors and new parents as they first hear news about Down syndrome during pre-pregnancy, after the birth of their child and throughout life.

Buddy Walk brings the community together and renews the financial support they need to do their work throughout the year.

The group shares informational presentations, small group sessions for new parents and social occasions that focus on family participation.

Becoming Independent – serving to promote advocacy, raise awareness, further educational pursuits, and support research for people with Down syndrome and their families – supports the group.

For more information and registration form visit www.sonomacountydownsyndromesupport.org/buddywalk.htm.

The unexpected bonus shipment will soon arrive at food banks and soup kitchens throughout California.

In Lake County, the Clearlake Gleaners will receive 8,656 pounds of the chicken.

“It’s unusual for food banks to receive high-quality meat commodities such as chicken, so we are especially pleased to make this protein-rich food available to needy Californians,” said John Wagner, director of the department.

Forty-seven truckloads of 10-pound packages are ready for distribution to large households, 37 truckloads of 4-pound packages will go to smaller households, and the remaining 22 truckloads of 33-pound cartons will be shipped to soup kitchens.

The chicken will be processed into smaller packages prior to delivery to the food banks. Food banks will receive a steady flow of chicken over the next two months. In all, this chicken will provide more than eleven million meals to California’s needy families.

In addition to the bonus chicken, California also receives other types of bonus food throughout the year such as fresh fruit and vegetables, fruit juices, canned and dried fruit, canned meat, fish, and milk. Bonus commodities are provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from purchasing domestic surplus food to help supplement the diets of low-income Americans and to provide price support to farmers and growers.

The bonus foods will help to ensure food security for needy Californians during this economic downturn.

The food will be delivered to California’s 49 food banks for distribution to more than 1.5 million needy Californians.

To qualify for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, a household’s income cannot exceed 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For example, a family of three can make up to $27,465 in annual income to qualify for food assistance.

To find out if you qualify, contact your local authorized Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) distribution agency. A list of EFAP agencies can be found at www.dss.cahwnet.gov/efap/PG1910.htm, or call 916-229-3344.

For a list of Food Banks and their chicken allocations, please visit www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/entres/pdf/PressRelease/ChickenAllocationByFoodBank.pdf.