Visitors in full Victorian dress enjoy an English High Tea. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – This holiday season find yourself indulging in another place and time, even if for only a day or two.

Between Nov. 20 and Dec. 19, visitors to the Lakeport English Inn, 675 N. Main St., Lakeport, will delight in the sights of Christmas, sounds of carolers, and the tastes and smell of delicious edible creations as innkeepers Karan Mackey and her sisters Jill and Marlene present their annual Victorian Christmas Fair including a traditional English High Tea.

Common rooms and halls of the inn are filled with holiday ornaments and colorful decorations, garland, tinsel, lighted trees, wreaths, and varieties of gifts available for purchase.

They include handmade candy canes, soaps, candles, tea pots, saucers and cups, table decorations, wall hangings, yard enhancements, and holiday ornaments hanging on trees and displayed among many decorative settings.

During the Victorian Christmas Fair, the Lakeport English Inn is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving Day.

Innkeepers and tea servers help transport you to a different era as they appear in full Victorian costume.

Carolers, too, dress in the theme of the day and stroll throughout the inn’s Christmas Fair and Tea Room to serenade visitors.

English Victorian High Tea is served to the public every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday during the Christmas Fair. Seatings are at noon and 2:30 p.m.

However, groups of more than 15 people may schedule tea on other days during the Christmas Fair.

For reservations, call the inn at 707-263-4317.

A world class, traditional English High Tea is presented by the three sisters and staff.

Delicious scones, tarts, tiny sandwiches, Devonshire cream, desserts, shortbread cookies, all prepared with care and attention to detail, complement the tea.

“It is like having tea at the London Ritz,” said Marlene.

“Come enjoy a glimpse of England,” said Karan, who takes pride in presenting her English High Teas in traditional fashion.

She has visited many tea rooms in England, and she is unrelenting in making her tea experiences as true to the English tea as possible. Only a few tea rooms exist in Northern California, and she visits those when she has the opportunity.

A variety of wonderful treats are served at an English High Tea. Courtesy photo.

The Mackeys’ Lakeport English Inn is a bed-and-breakfast located in the downtown area along Main Street in Lakeport. While guests are invited to stay longer than a day in one of the inn’s comfortable rooms, visitors may enjoy a day trip to the Lakeport and Lake County area located within two hours driving time of north Bay Area regions. Shopping, lakeside parks, wildlife viewing, boating and lake views, wineries, casinos, and dining can be enjoyed in Lakeport and the surrounding areas.

On Nov. 27, complete your trip in time with a tour of downtown Lakeport as the city becomes an old English village celebrating the eighth annual Dickens’ Christmas Market.

Individuals attending the market are encouraged to join merchants and townsfolk who will be dressed in costume to give the streets the look of the 1800s.

The day’s festivities will include musical entertainment, carolers and strolling minstrels, and free sleigh rides provided by Eleven Roses Ranch.

Santa Claus will greet youngsters at the Santa’s Workshop, and the annual Christmas Lighted Parade will start at 6 p.m.

SACRAMENTO – The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) $171 million to improve service on its highly successful intercity passenger rail service.

"The federal funding for intercity rail provides the impetus to expand and greatly improve passenger rail service statewide," said Caltrans Director Cindy McKim.

The largest component of the grant, $100 million, is targeted for the purchase of 40 new rail cars and six locomotives for the San Joaquin, Pacific Surfliner and Capitol Corridor routes.

The Pacific Surfliner route received more than $28 million for track and signal upgrades, bridge work,

curve realignments, and other infrastructure enhancements.

Additionally, more than $38 million will fund safety improvements through the installation of Positive Train Control technology, which reduces the risk of train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments and injuries to railway maintenance workers.

The funding was part of more than $901 million awarded to the state that included $731 million for the California High Speed Rail Authority's projects in the Central Valley and San Francisco.

"Amtrak stands ready to offer our expertise to our state partners to help implement these important projects to improve our national intercity passenger rail network," said Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boardman.

California is home to the second (Pacific Surfliner), third (Capitol Corridor), and fifth (San Joaquin) busiest intercity passenger rail corridors in the nation.

With five million annual passengers, California has more than 20 percent of all Amtrak riders.

Since 1990, the state has invested more than $1.3 billion in infrastructure and equipment for intercity passenger rail and about $1 billion in operating support.

The responses may be found on the county of Lake's Web site at www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Grand_Jury/responses.htm .

The 2009-10 report, along with reports going back to 2001-02, are available online at www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Grand_Jury/FinalReports.htm .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Rotary's free community Christmas dinner this year will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11, at the multipurpose room at Burns Valley School from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

They will serve baked ham, cranberry sauce, cooked sweet yams, vegetables, pumpkin pie, egg nog, milk, tea and coffee to drink.

There will also be a special guest: Santa Claus will be there to take pictures with the children, all of whom will receive a free gift.

A choir will sing Christmas Carols.

Everyone is welcome to come.

Rotary is an international organization of more than 125 million members, mostly business people and community leaders who live by the ideals of Rotary, which is to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

The basic principle of Rotary is “Service Above Self.”

For more information about Rotary or the Rotary Club of Clearlake, contact Carl Webb at 707-994-3336.

The meeting will be held beginning at 7 p.m. at Northshore Fire Protection District's Station 90 on Main Street in Upper Lake.

All interested personnel are encouraged to attend.

The training will follow.

The team, which operates through community donations, also is seeking help in updating its dive gear. Donations can be sent to the team at P. O. Box 61, Upper Lake, CA 95485.

For more information, call team leader Capt. John Rodriguez at 707-275-9007 or 707-349-3367, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the team's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Upper-Lake-CA/Northshore-Dive-Team/289897949089?ref=ts.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is free.

Organizers said that there will be something for everyone, from gardening and healthy eating booths for children, and demonstrations on tripping stones and flower design. There also will be a silent auction and many drawings.

For more about the North Lake Garden Club, visit http://sites.google.com/site/northlakegardenclubgroup/ .