SACRAMENTO – The California State Fair is calling all home bakers and canning enthusiasts to participate in the annual California’s Kitchen food competition and specialty contests.

The deadline to enter is May 31.
 
Specialty contests have been generously contributed by national companies and include: Guittard’s Chocolate Passion Contest, with cash awards up to $500; King Arthur Flour Company’s Big Adventure Cakes Contest and new Gluten-Free Baking Contest, with prizes up to $250 in King Arthur Flour gift cards; the Ghirardelli Chocolate Championship, with cash awards up to $500; and Fleischmann’s Yeast Best Baking Contest, with a special class for Dessert Pizzas, with prizes up to $125.
 
In addition to the range of items eligible for entry in these specialty contests, the regular food competition has a variety of categories for preserved foods and baked goods: jam and jelly, soft spreads and fruit, pickle, relish, sauce and salsa, bread (yeast, non-yeast, and quick breads), cake (frosted, unfrosted, refrigerated and specialty), pie and pastry, and confections and cookie.

Entries are evaluated during live judging in front of an audience of fair-goers. Award-winning entries will be displayed during the Fair for as long as they have visual appeal.
 
All adult California amateur cooks are invited to enter this competition. Entrants may visit the California State Fair website at http://www.bigfun.org/participate-in-the-fair/compete-at-the-fair/adult/ to consult the California’s Kitchen Competition Handbook, which details the important information on entry rules. Entry fees vary by contest.
 
For more information on the California’s Kitchen Competition, visit www.bigfun.org or contact Stephanie Jurkowski, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 916-263-3194.
 
The California State Fair will run July 12-28 at Cal Expo in Sacramento.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – “Women’s Voices” will feature wildlife rehab center creator Ronnie James on the show airing Monday, June 3.

The show begins at 7 p.m. on www.kzyx.org .

Host Janie Rezner will interview James, who created Mendocino County’s only wildlife rehab center, Woodlands Wildlife, 26 years ago.

Woodlands Wildlife rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured and orphaned wildlife and provides education programs for schools, nonprofits or agencies throughout coastal Mendocino.

James’ book, “Touching Wings, Touching Wild,” is  a collection of touching true stories of rescue and return to the wild.

The show can be heard live at www.kzyx.org and will be archived at http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/contributor/4206 .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Rockhounds will meet on Wednesday, June 5.

The meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., will take place at the Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

Barbara White with the Mendocino National Forest will give a PowerPoint presentation on how archaeological research is planned and carried out.

Items from the group’s last field trip will be on display.

Interested members of the public are welcome to attend. For those who wish to join, annual club dues are $15.

Contact J. Anderson at 707-995-1189 for more information.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Redbud Library will hold a book sale on Saturday, June 1.

The sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The library is located at 14785 Burns Valley Road in Clearlake.

For more information call 707-994-5115.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Konocti Lioness Club has made a donation to Lake County Healthy Start’s “Shoes for Kids” program.

The donated was given during a fundraiser at Richmond Park Bar & Grill in Kelseyville on May 4.

Konocti Lioness Club President Anna Jones presented the check to Richmond Park’s owner Donna Streckfus.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Rotary Club of Clearlake recently made a donation to the Lake County Veterans Memorial Avenue of the Flags Association.

Rotary President Bill McDougall presented to the association a $250 check.

The Avenue of the Flags has 1,600 burial flags that are flown on veterans’ holidays at Lower Lake Cemetery, Hartley Cemetery, Kelseyville Cemetery and Upper Lake Cemetery.