The state still owns the spectacular vistas, historic sites, and world-class beaches, but roofs and sewage systems leak, trails are washed out regularly (but not restrooms!), and campgrounds and visitor centers are shuttered.

The repair backlog tops $1 billion, and it keeps on growing.

If that weren't enough, twice in the past two years the parks were held hostage in the budget process, with systemwide shut downs threatened.

Last minute reprieves have kept them open, but many are now operating with reduced hours or calendars, and more reductions are expected next year, while user fees go up and up.

Here in Lake County, both Clear Lake State Park and Anderson Marsh State Historic Park were threatened with closure in 2008, and Anderson Marsh went back on the chopping block again last year. We simply can't afford to lose these precious community assets, which besides providing wonderful recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike, preserve significant natural resources and offer invaluable educational resources for our young people.

It’s time to fix this mess, which is why park supporters want to place a statewide initiative on the November 2010 ballot.

The “California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010” will provide the permanent, stable, long-term funding our parks need by establishing a trust fund to be spent only on state parks, wildlife and marine conservation, and state conservancies.

Funding will come from an $18 surcharge on the registration fee for California vehicles, including motorcycles and recreational vehicles but not larger commercial vehicles, mobile homes, and permanent trailers. Surcharged vehicles will receive free admission to all state parks.

In comparison, park visitors currently pay up to $125 for an annual pass or $10 to 15 per day at most parks. There will still be charges for camping and other special services.

Spending from the trust fund will be subject to oversight by a citizen’s board, full public disclosure, and independent annual audits. Money from the general fund currently spent on parks will be available for other vital needs, including schools, health care, social services, and public safety.

Here’s how we can help.

This initiative proposal has been endorsed by the California State Parks Foundation, Audubon California and the Sierra Club.

Volunteers are helping to gather the 700,000 signatures needed to get the measure on the ballot by tabling outside stores and other places of public assembly, circulating petitions among their neighbors, and so forth.

The campaign kicked off in January and will last until April 17.

If you could donate a little time to this effort please get in touch with Victoria Brandon at 707-994-1931 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The campaign will provide petition forms, tabling signs, full instructions, and try to connect partners so that volunteers don't have to work alone.

The meeting begins at 4:15 p.m. in the city council chambers at 225 Park St. in Lakeport.

Agenda items include reports on Library Park, Westside Park, Westshore Pool, Millberry Park and a Main Street Association report, and a discussion of Proposition 84 park funding.

The commission will set its next regularly scheduled meeting for March 11.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the city of Lakeport will make available to members of the public any special assistance necessary to participate in this meeting. The public should contact the City Clerk’s Office at 707-263-5615 to make such a request.

LOWER LAKE – The Lower Lake Historical School Preservation Committee will present its 16th annual Fashion Festival on Saturday, Feb. 20.

The show will begin at noon at the Lower Lake Museum’s Weaver Auditorium, 16435 Main St. in Lower Lake, and includes a delicious luncheon, live entertainment, a raffle for fine prizes, and a hat contest for most beautiful, most creative and most outrageous bonnets!

This event is the main annual fundraiser for the Committee's efforts to maintain and improve the Historic Schoolhouse Museum.

The Fashion Show itself will feature Lisa’s Sizes 3-60 of Clearlake with six local ladies modeling the latest styles, including prom dresses.

Tickets are $20 and groups may reserve a table for ten. Reservations are required and seating is very limited.

So shake off those winter doldrums and join the fun!

Call 707-995-3565 to reserve your tickets.

The club meets at noon Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center in Lucerne.

The senior center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive (corner of 10^th and Country Club) in Lucerne.

The center serves breakfast from 9 a.m. until noon.

The public is invited. Membership in the Lake County Democratic Club is open to registered members of the Democratic Party.

For more information contact the local Democratic Party at 707-277-0713 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Nine nonprofit finalists will be selected from across the country, eight of which will be awarded $10,000 each.

The title grant of $50,000 will go to one winner, based on a national, public vote.

Redwood Creek wines is calling on outdoor organizations nationwide to apply for this year's grant to fund a specific outdoor project unique to that group.

Interested organizations must apply by Feb. 28 at www.RedwoodCreekWine.com .

Redwood Creek established the Greater Outdoors Project in 2008 to recognize and support nonprofit organizations that share its commitment to preserve, protect and provide access to America's great outdoors.

"The Sierra Nevada mountain snowmelt nurtures our vineyards, making them rich and fertile grounds for grape production," says Cal Dennison, Redwood Creek winemaker and outdoor enthusiast. "Because nature directly influences our craft and the quality of our wines, we should do our part to give back to the outdoors."

A panel of judges made up of active members of the outdoor community, including Dennison, will review applications from hiking, water conservation and energy preservation groups, to name a few. Redwood Creek wines encourages applicants to be creative in their project submissions.

Whether clearing pollution from Lake Erie, collecting litter from the trails of the Redwood Forests or sprucing up the appearance of the Everglades, any project dedicated to improving the outdoors is deemed appropriate.

From April 1 through Aug. 31, outdoor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite nonprofit at www.RedwoodCreekWine.com . The winning organization will be announced in September.

Last year's Greater Outdoors Project grant was presented to Friends of New Orleans City Park, after a nationwide vote of more than 38,000. The $50,000 grant is currently being used to reestablish 19 acres of ecosystems in the Couturie Forest, a popular woodland nestled at the center of the park's 1,300 acres, that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

To enter this year's Greater Outdoors Project, participants must complete the online application at www.RedwoodCreekWine.com , which includes a statement of purpose, detailed budget, timeline and photographs of the proposed project.

All project work must be completed by December 2011. Only one application per organization will be considered and all submissions must be dedicated to a specific project.

The grant applicant must be 21 years of age or older and a legal U.S. citizen. Only members or representatives of registered 501(c )(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.

For complete rules and additional information, visit www.RedwoodCreekWine.com .

The meeting will be followed by a screening of the film, “Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up,” produced by GroundSpark, a Bay Area-based nonprofit that creates visionary films and educational campaigns.

The Lake County Respect For All Task Force, a group of local individuals, is striving to increase awareness about safe and inclusive learning environments.

Working to identify possible actions to help the Lake County community, the task force will discuss updates to its action plans and possible next steps.

Individuals interested in attending the meeting should notify coordinator Cristy Chung in advance by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling 415-641-4616, Extension 307.

The Respect For All Project, a program of GroundSpark (www.groundspark.org), in cooperation with Lake County Healthy Start and Lake County Family Resource Center, is collaborating with local educators, high school students, community leaders, and representatives from a variety of organizations. Lake County was chosen as one of three California counties for the pilot project.

The task force has been meeting periodically over the last 14 months. Respect For All Project coordinators Chung and Barry Chersky have traveled from the Bay Area on several occasions to facilitate meetings of the group.

GroundSpark’s newest film, “Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up,” will be shown between 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., according to Chung.

Task force members who attended the November meeting of the group previewed a screening of the movie and agreed that it should be shown again to allow more members to see it.

The task force discussed presenting the film at future community screenings to help raise funds to assist the group and schools present Challenge Day and other awareness events.

A proposal for the Lake County project explains that GroundSpark, The Respect for All Project (RFAP) “is a nonprofit organization that seeks to create safe, hate-free schools and communities by providing youth and the adults who guide their development the tools they need to talk openly about diversity in all of its forms.”

As part of its work toward safe and inclusive learning environments, the task force used GroundSpark’s Community Readiness Assessment tool to interview community members.

GroundSpark compiled the results of the assessment, and a draft report was distributed to the task force members. Using the report, the group is focusing now on strategies for its next steps.

Individuals interested in helping the task force in its efforts to assist youth and their families in assuring safe and inclusive learning environments are invited to attend the meetings.

More information about the Respect For All Task Force is available on the GroundSpark website, www.groundspark.org .