KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The public and Lake County Community Co-op members alike are invited to Ancient Lake Gardens to meet a beekeeping expert to learn a broad overview of the benefits of bees in our community – what’s good for them and why they are good for us.

The gathering will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 23, at Ancient Lake Gardens, 8993 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.

The tour is free and open to co-op members and the public. No reservations required.

They will tour the property to see what kinds of bee habitats exist – in the form of plants and in the form of the different hives that exist there.

The discussion will include an exploration of the biodynamic approach to beekeeping and the difficulties bees are experiencing in general and why.

Different toxins will be discussed in the form of common harmful chemicals that affect bees.

They will see how bees construct their homes in nature and what the bees need to have the kind of home they require to live happily and in harmony with others.

To get to Ancient Lake Gardens, from Kit's Corner on Highway 29, take Soda Bay Road for about three miles. Park across the road from the farm’s property entrance and meet at the gate of the entrance.

One of the Lake County Community Co-op’s goals is to educate Lake Co residents on how to live more healthfully and sustainably by keeping it local.

For more information on this event, contact Lori Patotzka at 707-994-1618.

Visit the co-op online at www.lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The prescribed fire that was planned for Tuesday, June 12, on the Grindstone Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest, has been canceled due to weather conditions.

Visitors are encouraged to contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 for more information or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .

Confirmation and updates on forest and fire activities can also be found on Twitter, @MendocinoNF.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Flotilla 88 of Lake County once again hosted the annual “tie out” Friday, June 1, and Saturday, June 2, which was held at the Konocti Bay Sailing Club building at Braito’s Marina on the Buckingham peninsula in Kelseyville.  

Attending were flotilla members from Ft. Bragg, McKinleyville, Crescent City, North Lake Tahoe, Redding and Silicon Valley.  

Auxiliary Commodores Angelo Perata and Gail Ramsey from District 11 of Northern California were in attendance and U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Curtis Bartel from Group Humboldt Bay Coast Guard Station.  

The purpose of the tie out is to test flotilla members who have been in training for boat crew and for coxswain qualifications.

Current active members who have previously obtained their crew and/or coxswain positions were also re-tested for their three and five year re-qualification.  

Ten members were involved in the qualification testing.

The qualification examiners (QE) were CWO Bartel, Ramsey and Perata. The testing was performed during the day on the water as well as night maneuvers. Oral exams completed the testing.

One  members qualified for coxswain status and one for boat crew with eight member passing their re-qualifications.

On Friday night, the group enjoyed a barbecue ribs and chicken dinner and the following night a barbecued steak and chicken dinner.

The meals were prepared by Flotilla 88 members Gary Dromi and Rich Thomas who had previously completed the Auxiliary Chefs (AuxChef) program. The flotilla has six AuxChefs who are qualified to serve aboard a USCG vessel as cooks.  

In 2011, Flotilla 88 volunteered 3,367 hours toward training, safety patrols, public education, vessel exams and recruiting new members.  

Now that the 2012 boating season is  in full swing, the flotilla is ready once again to help make recreational boating safer for individuals and their families.

Lake County can be proud of its flotilla whose members are known nationwide as America's volunteer life savers.

Dorothy De Lope is public affairs officer for Flotilla 88 of Lake County, Calif.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Robinson Rancheria Education Center will conduct its second annual medication emancipation – or pill drop – beginning on Wednesday, June 13.

The center's goal is to educate youth on the dangers of prescription drugs and to let the community know they can dispose of them with no questions asked, rather than flushing them into the sewer system or throwing them in the landfill.

Last year the center collected 44,550 pills and is aiming for 50,000 this year.

They ask that all pills be bagged up and dropped off; no prescription bottles, please. Veterinary medications also will be accepted.

The first collection center will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 13 at Lakeport Fire Protection District, 445 N. Main St.

Kelseyville Fire will host a collection from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 20. Other collection sites will be set up on Wednesdays around the county.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Historical Society will hold its membership picnic on Sunday, June 24.

The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum, 9921 Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road), Kelseyville.

The society will supply hamburgers, hot dogs, buns and light refreshments. Please bring a dish to share, a plate, utensils and a chair for each person with you. Please, if your dish needs to be cold keep it on ice.

Speakers will be announced.

There is a $5 donation for guests 18 and older to defray expenses. The $5 will go toward membership if you join at the picnic.
 
Come, relax and enjoy. Bring your friends. If you have any questions please call Bonnie Skee at 707-262-1432 or Jackie Ridgel at 707-279-4062.

Directions: Going north on Highway 29 towards Kelseyville; turn right on Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road at Kit's Corner); go about one mile and turn left into driveway to the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum. Follow the driveway to the parking area.

Going South on Highway 29 towards Lower Lake; turn left on Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road at Kit's Corner); go about one mile and turn left into driveway to the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum. Follow the driveway to the parking area.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Calpine Corp. will hold the next public informational meeting to report progress on construction of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geysers Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) Project on Saturday, June 16.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center, 15500 Central Park Road, Middletown.

The EGS Demonstration Project currently is under way at The Geysers.

A tour to the EGS site will follow the meeting.

Please call for tour reservations.

For more information about the public meetings call 707-987-4270 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

For more information on the EGS program visit www.geothermal.energy.gov .