From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, people will gather with their brothers and sisters on the shoreline all around Clear Lake, coming together as one, touching the water, and blessing the lake, the land and people as they heal in community.

Everyone is welcome to join in this sacred healing ceremony, which is nondenominational and open to people of all spiritual backgrounds.

Everyone shares this land and these precious resources – and all are participants in the healing that is taking place here. On Sept. 10 the community will come together through all of its differences, to honor that which unites everyone.

Meeting locations for the 10 a.m. ceremony include Library Park in Lakeport, Austin Park in Clearlake, Alpine Park in Lucerne, Keeling Park in Nice, Shi-Kom Village in Nice, Clarks Island in Clearlake Oaks, Ancient Lake Gardens in Kelseyville, Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville, the Bluegrass Festival at Anderson Marsh State Park in Lower Lake and more.

For a full listing with directions to each site, or to start your own gathering, visit www.HandsAroundClearLake.com or find “Hands Around Clear Lake” on Facebook.

There will be people at each gathering site leading the ceremonies, and you are invited to be one of them.

Participants will be welcome to share words, or participate in silence – whatever is most healing and most true for each individual. Dance your prayers. Drum your prayers. Touch the water or don't. Be free. Every person has their our own ways of observing the sacred, and each must do what they are personally called to do.

The lake is listening, and "Hands Around Clear Lake" is a chance for the whole tribe to come together and speak our message to her. People everywhere are waking up to their sacred responsibilities, and coming together to build healthier communities and keep our environment clean and safe for all. This event is intended to unite the community for a brighter tomorrow.

The Sept. 10 healing ceremony is sponsored by three local nonprofits that are serving in this movement toward a healthier and more honest way of life: Transition Lake County, the Lucy Moore Foundation and the Clarks Island Sustainability Initiative.

The “Hands Around Clear Lake” event on Saturday will be preceded by a 6 a.m. sunrise ceremony at Shi-kom Pomo Village in Nice (follow signs from Highway 20 and Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road).

Also, at the same location, on Friday, Sept. 9, there will be an all-night event entitled, “Campout on Clear Lake: Tribal Gathering, Concert and Celebration of Life.”

Folks will be gathering on the north end of the lake, at Shi-kom Pomo Village on the shore in Nice, starting at 3 p.m. on Friday. All are invited to share in a night of music, dancing, drumming, fire, food and camping, under the stars, as One People.

Beautiful music and art and storytelling and energy exchange with amazing people -- featuring music by The Human Revolution. Families and pets are welcome.

A $25 suggested donation benefits nonprofit sponsors. Pay what you can; no one turned away for lack of funds. Optional second night of camping Saturday.

For more information about these events, call 415-646-5630, find us on Facebook, or visit www.handsaroundclearlake.com.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Hunger Task Force will offer canning lessons on Thursday, Sept. 8.

The canning of fruits and vegetables will be taught from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, located at Third and Church streets in Kelseyville. Call 707-277-9227 to register.

Pears and tomatoes will be featured, as that is the most abundant crop in Lake County at this time of year, and offer a well-rounded learning experience.

The Hunger Task Force feels that canning is one of the best ways to prepare healthy, nutritious food for your family.

All participants should come dressed for a hands-on experience in each step of the process.

Upon completion of the lessons, each participating household will be given a water bath canner, a book, a jar lifter and a case of canning jars to take home.

Participants must be preregistered, and space is limited to 12 per session.

The cost is $20, half of which will be refunded upon attendance.

Please call as soon as possible to register.

The bubble tub is a popular attraction for children at the Old Time Bluegrass Festival in Lower Lake, Calif. Courtesy photo.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – This year’s Old Time Bluegrass Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lower Lake.

In addition to great non-stop musical performances on two stages, great food, arts and crafts vendors, Art-in-the-Barn and Musician’s Workshops, kids of all ages will enjoy the Children’s Activity Area.

The bubble tub and materials to make bean art, two activities which have enjoyed great popularity in past years, will be available all day.

There also will be activities scheduled for specific times throughout the day, with the schedule being posted both at the gate and at the Children’s Activity Area near the main stage.

These activities include making and decorating paper hats, making a sock puppet, participating in a sing-a-long with former Park Rangers Val and Tom Nixon and local musician Scott Sommers (sing-along will be 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.), dissecting owl pellets with Shula Stroup and Kinene Barzin and playing a Native American guessing game with Lori Anthony and Sarah Fred.

Volunteers from the Children’s Museum of Art and Science (CMAS) and the community will be presenting the children’s activities.

Children 12 and under get in free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Tickets for the event are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate.

Locations to buy tickets: in Clearlake, Bob’s Vacuum, Marie’s Lakeshore Feed; in Lakeport, Bandbox Music, Strings & Things and Watershed Books; in Lucerne, Lakeview Supermarket & Deli; in Middletown, at Earth Goods (formerly Moontide); in Santa Rosa, at The Last Record Store; in Sebastopol, at People’s Music; and in Ukiah, at Dig! Music.

Tickets also may be purchased online at www.andersonmarsh.org/Bluegrass/tickets.htm.

Senior tickets (60+) may be purchased in advance for $12 at the Highlands Senior Center in Clearlake and the Lakeport Senior Center in Lakeport.

For more information visit www.andersonmarsh.org or 707-995-2658.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – It just wouldn't be the Lake County Fair without a barn full of livestock raised by local youth, shown in fierce competition to see who has raised the best lamb, hog or steer, and then sold to the rhythmic patter of the auctioneers and the roar of the crowd on a warm Saturday afternoon.

The auction is sponsored by Umpqua Bank, which provides immediate payment to the youthful sellers, then collects from the buyers in the days just following the sale.

The annual Junior Livestock Auction kicks off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, and is expected to offer around 230 lots of prize winning livestock, poultry and rabbits for potential buyers from throughout Northern California.

A registered buyer's luncheon immediately precedes the sale at 10:30 a.m., offering a tri-tip barbecue to all registered buyers under the auspices of the Kelseyville FFA boosters.

The luncheon is provided in part by Sentry Market of Upper Lake and Foods Etc of Clearlake, and ends when the sale starts at 1 p.m.

In recent years, the sale has been split into two sales rings which operate at the same time, making for a total sale length of around three and a half hours and providing buyers with plenty of time to visit the rest of the Lake County Fair. An average of around 230 lots have been offered for a number of years.

“It's a real indication that the community supports youth programs like 4-H and the Future Farmers of America,” said Fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Persons.

He added, “Those programs teach kids about agriculture, which is Lake County's largest economic sector, and about teamwork, sportsmanship, honor and responsibility. We're hoping the community continues to support these programs, and we'd like to set a new record sale this year. Many of these kids save the money for college or other educational efforts, and eventually return to Lake County to become farmers and ranchers, so in the long run the whole community benefits.”

Steers, lambs, hogs, meat goats, turkeys, rabbits and chickens are offered during the auction, with grand champion winners crossing the auction block at the start of the program.

Two buyers are allowed to join together for the purchase of one lot, and buyers who are unable to attend can arrange for a proxy to buy on their behalf.

People who don't have enough space in their freezer to purchase at the auction may still have a chance to purchase prize winning meats, as a number of local grocers purchase at the sale and then offer the prime cuts at the meat counter in their stores.

Regular admission prices for the 2011 Lake County Fair are $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a senior over age 60 and $6 for children ages 6 through 11.

Children under 6 years old are admitted free every day. Children through age 11 are admitted for $3 only on Thursday, Sept. 1, for “Kid's Day.”

The Lake County Fair traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport. The 2011 fair dates are Thursday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 4.

Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year. The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, and livestock shows.

The fair theme for 2011 is “Make Some Magic!”

AgVenture, organized by the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture (CWA), has selected its 2011 class members.

Members of the second class include Gaye Allen, board member of the Lake County Land Trust; District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock; Lisa Davey-Bates, executive director of the Lake Area Planning Council; Elizabeth Davis, independent real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Towne & Country Realty; Mark Dellinger, Lake County Special Districts administrator; and Lars Ewing, assistant director of the Lake County Public Works Department.

The class also includes Brock Falkenberg, senior director for student programs and human resources, Lake County Office of Education; Mandy Feder, managing editor of the Lake County Record-Bee; Alan Flora, administrative analyst with the Lake County Administrative Office; Lorrie Gray, Lake County Hunger Task Force; Patty Schapiro, executive assistant to California assemblywoman Fiona Ma; and Margaret Silveira, Lakeport city manager.

AgVenture is an innovative concept in agricultural education designed for non-farming community leaders and others who wish to understand more fully the workings of the local agricultural industry.

Modeled after successful programs in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, AgVenture in its second year will consist of once-a-month, day-long seminars held over a period of three months.

Each day’s session will focus on a different major commercial crop grown in Lake County and feature speakers and site visits.

The sessions will cover such topics as economics, labor, history, marketing, water and land use, ag tourism and sustainability.

Class members will gain a broad knowledge about agriculture and farming in general, and more specifically about the heritage, culture, economy and business of local agriculture.

Community leaders were invited to participate and the members of the class were selected based on their interest in the program and being in a professional position to help maintain a viable agricultural industry in Lake County.

The first in the series of seminars on Aug. 19 focused on the pear industry in Lake County, with orchard and packing house tours.

Speakers included Debra Sommerfield, deputy county administrative officer for economic development and a graduate of AgVenture’s first class; Broc Zoller, The Pear Doctor; Paula Bryant, vice president and commercial relationship manager for Umpqua Bank; Jack King, manager of the National Affairs Division of the California Farm Bureau Federation; Diane Henderson of Henderson Orchards, Kelseyville; Toni Scully of Scully Packing Co., Finley; and Pat Scully, general manager of Scully Packing.

The second session on Sept. 30 will focus on the winegrape industry and include presentations by Kris Eutenier, deputy Lake County agricultural commissioner; Scott DeLeon, director of the Lake County Department of Public Works and an AgVenture graduate; Glenn McGourty, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor for Lake and Mendocino counties; Eric Seely, deputy director of the Lake County Redevelopment Agency; Randy Krag, viticulturist with Beckstoffer Vineyards; and Shannon Gunier, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

The day will include luncheon at Vigilance Vineyards and a tour of the Gregory Graham Winery to demonstrate a small winery operation and compliance with regulations.

The final session of this year’s program on Oct. 21 will feature a talk by Karen Ross, California secretary of agriculture, who will discuss the challenges she faces in protecting agriculture in the state, along with the regulatory, legislative and budgetary challenges to keep the California Department of Food and Agriculture operational.

Other presenters will be Myron Holdenried, owner of Holdenried Ranches and Wildhurst Vineyards, who will discuss the history and evolution of agriculture in Lake County; Colleen Seely Rentsch, the Farm to School program; and Emilio dela Cruz, mill master for Chacewater Inc. Wine Co. and Olive Mill.

Rick Coel, Lake County Community Development Director, will review land use issues, the ag element of the county’s general plan, urban/ag interface, the Right to Farm ordinance, and value-added agricultural uses.

Marc Hooper, pest control adviser for Ag Unlimited, will address the cultivation of conventional and organic crops, specifically pears, wine grapes and walnuts in Lake County.

A tour of the Suchan Valadez Farm and Nursery, Upper Lake, and an overview of the walnut industry, including nursery, orchards, and dehydrator operation by Alex Suchan and Rafael Valadez will conclude the formal instruction.

Generous sponsors for the 2011 series of seminars include the Lake County Winegrape Commission, Adobe Creek Packing, Umpqua Bank, Scully Packing Company, The Pear Doctor, Bengard Marketing, Lake County Farm Bureau, Lake County Winery Association, Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon.

Additional support has been provided by Saw Shop Gallery Bistro, Gregory Graham Winery, Vigilance Vineyards, Kelseyville Pear Festival Committee, Lake County Pear Association and the Lake County Marketing Program.

Transportation for the field trips and site visits is being provided by the Military Funeral Honors Team van with support from Economy Propane and Lake Parts.

The AgVenture program coordinator is Annette Hopkins, a graduate of the Santa Cruz County “Focus Agriculture” program. Members of her steering committee are Toni Scully, president of Lake County CWA, and Paula Bryant, Terry Dereniuk, Margaret Eutenier, Shannon Gunier, Diane Henderson and Wilda Shock.

More information about California Women for Agriculture is available by writing to P.O. Box 279, Finley, CA 95435.

The meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. at the HVL Administration Building, 18174 Hidden Valley Road.

Following a presentation by a master gardener, attendees will tour a few of the member’s gardens to collect seeds.

Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club, representing all of South Lake County, is open to the public.

Anyone interested is welcome to attend meetings which are held in the administration building of the Hidden Valley Lake Association, 18174 Hidden Valley Road.

Meetings are held the second Monday of each month with a social gathering with refreshments at 9:30a.m., business meeting and program 10 a.m.

The mission of the HVL Garden Club is to provide members a greater sense of appreciation, pride and knowledge about our private and public gardens and for the study and enjoyment of amateur gardening in various aspects and applications.

For further information please contact Angela Birk at 707-987-0195 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..