LUCERNE – The Mendo-Lake District of California Garden Clubs Inc. will hold a general meeting on Wednesday, June 23.

The North Lake Garden Club will host the meeting at the Lucerne Community Church, 5870 E. Highway 20.

The meeting will include the annual picnic meeting and awards presentation.

Registration and coffee hour begins at 9:30 a.m., with the meeting starting at 10:30 a.m.

Bring a box lunch to be exchanged. Anyone having special dietary needs please bring your own box lunch with no exchange necessary. The host club will provide beverage and dessert. A donation jar will be available.

A 50/50 State Parks drawing (replaces white elephant drawing) and potted plants will be for sale.

During the awards ceremony, club presidents will receive their clubs’ awards presented from California Garden Clubs Inc.

All club members and guests are welcome.

Please RSVP Sharon Thorne, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-274-2165

The California Garden Clubs Inc. promotes gardening, floral design, civic beautification, environmental responsibility and the exchange of information and ideas.

There are six garden clubs all within the Mendo-Lake District (www.mendolakedistrict.org).

All the districts in California are under the Calif. Garden Club Inc. www.CaliforniaGardenClubs.org), then within the Pacific Region (www.PacificregionGardenClubs.org) and then the National Garden Clubs Inc. (www.gardenclub.org). These Web sites contain a wealth of information – check them out.

GinaBelle Smith is the Mendo-Lake District director. For further information check out any of the above Web sites or call 707-964-3798.

All are welcome to visit the garden clubs. The district meets quarterly and the public is invited to attend any of the meetings. Watch for future announcements of meetings and activities.

LAKE COUNTY – The Area Agency on Aging of Lake & Mendocino Counties (AAA) Governing Board is currently recruiting for Advisory Council members.

The group is currently seeking one member from Lake County and one member from Mendocino County.

The Advisory Council advises the Governing Board on issues such as developing the Area four-year plan and developing and coordination of community policies and programs throughout both counties dealing with issues important to older adults.

Council members must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Be an older adult person 60 years or older;

• An advocate of older persons;

• A representative of a health care agency or organization serving older adults;

• A person providing leadership in the private and volunteer sectors;

• A local elected official;

• A member of the general public residing in Lake or Mendocino County.

Fifty percent of membership shall be older persons.

Applications must be submitted by June 30, 2010.

Anyone interested in serving on the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council can get an application on the Web site www.co.mendocino.ca.us/hhsa/adult/aaa.htm or by contacting Loretta Houck at 707-463-7775.

KELSEYVILLE – The organizing committee of the Lake County Green Party is having its first organizing meeting on June 13 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the Clear Lake Riviera Community Association building at 9689 Soda Bay Road, Highway 281, Kelseyville, across the street from Pogo's Pizza and next to the Grapevine Bistro. Look for balloons.

All Green Party voters are invited to attend and become officers and members of the new chapter. Organizers from the California Green Party will be there.

This is a potluck meeting so please RSVP if possible.

Go to the Web site, http://lakecountygreenparty.bravehost.com, call 707-263-3391 for more information or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The stunning photography of Lyle and Deanna Madeson will be featured at the Lake County Wine Studio in Upper Lake, Calif., on Friday, June 4, and Saturday, June 5, 2010.

UPPER LAKE – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a wine release party and artist show event with McDermaid Family Vineyard and Madeson Photography on Friday, June 4, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, June 5, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Some Lake County wines are so popular that they are sold out before the wine studio has an opportunity to bring them into inventory.

The good news is that those who attend the June reception evenings will still have the opportunity to try the sold out 2007 McDermaid Family Vineyards Petite Verdot, Petite Sirah and Ranch Blend wines as part of the $10 wine and appetizer sampler, which will also include their Malbec.

Steve and Sara McDermaid began planting their vines in the Red Hills appellation in 1997. Their vineyards are on the eastern side of the Mayacamas at an altitude of 2200-2300 feet.

The McDermaid wines have been receiving awards in competition and high compliments from customers, wine critics and bloggers from the west coast to Texas and beyond. The Wine Studio is pleased to have the opportunity to present the wines from this vintage before they have completely disappeared. For more information visit www.mcdermaidfamilyvineyard.com.

The wine studio's June artists are Lyle and Deanna Madeson. If you have ever perused any of the promotional literature produced in Lake County “for” Lake County, then you have probably already enjoyed viewing many beautiful photographs that are among the works of Lyle and Deanna Madeson.

The Madesons moved to Lake County in 1976. Lyle first started taking pictures while photographing his gladiola hybrids for identification. He was soon capturing more than the glads on film. He branched out to the hummingbirds that frequented the gladiolas in the field, then on to a wider variety of birds.

Lyle Madeson has continued to expand his interests to macro photography and landscape photography, with a special interest in sunrises and sunsets. Deanna joined him in his photography adventure with her main interest in birds.

Together, they spend many hours capturing the birds, wildlife, vineyards, and natural beauty of Lake County. They have attended photo workshops with George Lepp and Arthur Morris.

The Madesons' interest in photography has taken them to Alaska, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, the Amazon Jungle, and southwestern and southeastern United States, with plans to visit Africa in the near future.

Always looking to see things in a new perspective, they love to experiment with light, zooms, blurs, silhouettes and fish eye lenses. For more information visit www.madesonphotography.com.

Lake County Wine Studio is located on the corner of First and Main Streets in historic Upper Lake, across from the famous Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon & Café.

To RSVP, or for more information, call Susan Feiler at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

Caltrans will suspend work on Northern California highways through Monday, May 31, in observance of the Memorial Day weekend. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary for Caltrans maintenance forces to respond to emergency situations.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 29

– Lower Lake Community Action Group has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for the annual Lower Lake Parade and barbecue in Middletown from Central Avenue to Wardlaw Park Road on Sunday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A full road closure will be in effect. A detour will be provided.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Wardlaw Street to Spruce Grove Road beginning Tuesday, June 1. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– AT&T of Sacramento has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance from 0.1 mile east of Forest Lake Drive to 1.5 miles west of Socrates Mine Road. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 20

– A drainage repair project 0.6 mile west of Forestry Station Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Kapel Construction of Willow Creek.

Highway 101

– Slide repair from the Pieta Creek Bridge to the Russian River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction of Arcata.

Highway 128

– Pavement sampling 0.2 mile west of the Anderson Creek Bridge will continue on Wednesday, June 2. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Mactech Engineering and Consulting Inc. of San Diego.

Highway 162

– A bridge widening project at Outlet Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

Highway 222

– Replacement of the Russian River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays during work hours and five-minute delays at other times. Contractor – CC Myers of Rancho Cordova.

Highway 253

– Construction of a retaining wall from Singley Cattlepass to the Soda Creek Bridge will begin Tuesday, June 1. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

– A bridge widening project at Soda Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

Marian Malugani received the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club's monthly landscape design award on Monday, May 24, 2010. Photo by Claire Grieve.

LAKE COUNTY – On Monday, Marian and Dan Malugani were greeted with a knock on their door by three Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club members who told Marian Malugani that her garden has been chosen to receive the Monthly Landscape Design Award certificate and sign to be placed in her garden/yard for the month of June.

This award is to recognize beauty in our community. CLTTGC members recommend gardens, front yards only, and submit them to the committee. Garden Club members’ yards are not eligible.

Yards will be judged on best design, trees and shrubs are acceptable, and colorful blooms are not necessary. Water-wise designs are also welcome.

The winner of that month will be asked to display a special sign in their yard. Jerry Shaul created the sign. It will be owned by the club and passed on each month to the next winner.

The committee consisting of Claire Grieve, Linda Pyers and Ann Blue will judge gardens in the County of Lake.

CLTTGC members enjoy these gardens and want to award/recognize people who work very hard to create beautiful landscapes.

A gardener's beautiful garden is his/her gift to the neighborhood.

The club meets at noon on the third Tuesday of the month, September through May, at the Scotts Valley Women's Club House, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport.

Members, guests and all interested are most welcome. President Jo Jameson, 707-263-4039 and President-elect Linda Waterstraat, 707-279-1270, invites interested gardeners to join us.

Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club is a member of Mendo-Lake District, California Garden Club Inc., Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

For more information see www.clttgc.org.