“Halloween on the Silver Screen,” an evening of food, wine pairings, and “frightful” black and white movies, will take place Saturday, Oct. 30, from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Hidden Valley Lake County Club.

Wines from Guenoc Winery, Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery, and the Moore Family Winery will be featured, and the menu includes goat cheese and olive tapenade crostini; “devilish” chicken wings (which are wine braised with blackened Cajun spices); lamb meatballs with yogurt sauce and “poison sumac” (sumac is a traditional Middle Eastern flavoring); stuffed “magic mushrooms;” Transylvanian garlic and apple chutney cups; and Cabernet and chocolate mini cupcakes with dark chocolate ganache.

There will be a silent auction, and guests are encouraged to come in costume to be eligible for door prizes.

Julie Hoskins, owner of Chic Le Chef, and Tina Stewart, proprietor of Middletown Florist and Gifts, wanted to create an event that was fun as well as worthwhile.

“So many families in Lake County have been helped by Hospice services that we felt it was important to give back,” said Hoskins.

Hospice Services of Lake County supports a home-like setting for individuals who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

According to the group's Web site, it is “committed to the dignity of the human experience by serving the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals and their loved ones through the end of life’s journey.”

To learn more about their services, visit www.lakecountyhospice.org.

Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Middletown Florist and Gifts in the Middletown Plaza or at Chic Le Chef in the Hidden Valley Lake Hardester’s Plaza.

The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the center, 527 Konocti Ave.

There is no cover charge to attend, but donations will be accepted.

The fun will include the play “Boris and Elsa's Shotgun Wedding,” which features funny adult situations.

The play will be followed by a reception dinner and dance, with a salad bar, ghoul-ash chili and finger foods. Bring your own beverage to share.

There also will be a costume contest and 50/50 raffle.

For more information call the center, 707-263-4218.

A challenge was issued by the Lake Transit Authority drivers to the members of the Lake County Office of Education's AmeriCorps Program to see who can collect the most non-perishable food items.

The event takes place on Saturday, Oct. 23.

Any rider who contributes at least one nonperishable food item can ride the bus for free, and the drivers will try to collect more food than the AmeriCorps Members, who will be standing in front of local supermarkets throughout the county.

They will be at Hardester's Market in Middletown and Cobb, Red and White in Clearlake Oaks, Riviera Foods in the Clear Lake Riviera, Bruno's Foods, Safeway and Grocery Outlet in Lakeport, and Safeway, Foods Etc, and Grocery Outlet in Clearlake from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lake Transit will park a bus at the Grocery Outlet in Lakeport, and the food will be stuffed on to try to fill the bus at 3 p.m.

All food donated will be distributed to senior centers, food banks and food cupboards in Lake County.

Make A Difference Day is a nationwide day of volunteering, sponsored by Newman's Own and the USA Weekend magazine.

The Lake County Hunger Task Force and AmeriCorps Members have participated annually since 2000 by holding a food drive for this event. This year, they are thrilled to be joined by Lake Transit Authority for this food drive. Please join in trying to stuff a bus!

For more information, please call 707-279-1269.

This program is a telescope award contest for Lake County students in the fourth through 10th grades.

“With the addition of this contest to the list of our programs, we hope to encourage the students to study hard and enjoy the benefits that the study of science can bring,” said Barbara McIntyre the observatory's coordinator.

The observatory and nonprofit will hold a Nov. 6 fundraiser with the goal of raising enough funds to be able to award a telescope to at least one child per school district.

The event will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the observatory, 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville.

The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for students under age 12.

Support Lake County students while enjoying an evening under the stars with decadent desserts, mulled cider, hot cocoa, a planetarium show, telescope viewing, a silent auction and more.

For tickets and more information about sponsorships for the program call 707-262-4121.

Visit the Taylor Observatory online at www.taylorobservatory.org .

The gathering will begin at 10 a.m. at Common Grounds Coffee Shop in the Clear Lake Riviera shopping center, 9730 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.

“Coffee with Cops” is a program of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, which invites community members to interact with local law enforcement officers to voice comments and concerns, and pose questions.

The informal get-togethers take place on the third Tuesday of each month. Each meeting is held at a different county coffee shop or restaurant.

For more information contact Sgt. Dave Perry at the sheriff's Northshore Regional Office, 707-274-6713.

The meeting will take place in the small conference room at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The group will meet to discuss and take possible action regarding available park grants.