LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Club will hold a regular meeting on Saturday, April 9, at noon in the Rose Room of the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center.

The public is always invited to the Democratic Club meetings.

Regular Lake County Democratic Club meetings are held on the second Saturday of the month at noon in the Rose Room of the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center.

The Senior Center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive, at the corner of 10th and Country Club Drive, in Lucerne.

Contact the Democratic Club of Lake County by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The next HazMobile event will be held Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16, at Upper Lake Community Park, 575 E. Highway 20, Upper Lake.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge.

Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear feet) and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.

Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

HazMobile services are provided to residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, (CalRecycle).

Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this taxpayer-funded service and first make an appointment.

Business appointments can be made by calling the Mendocino County Solid Waste Authority, the contracted agency that provides this service in Lake County at 707-468-9786.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Due to unforeseen circumstances, the second annual “We Love Tules Four Minute Films Festival,” scheduled for Thursday, April 7, has been postponed.

They will continue accepting film submissions through May 15, and look forward to rescheduling the premiere event.

For more information call Cheri Holden at 707-263-5787 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

WILLOWS, Calif. – Starting Monday, April 4, personal use firewood permits will be available for purchase from the Mendocino National Forest.

Permits are $5 per cord of wood, with a minimum purchase of four cords for $20.

The permits are good through Dec. 31, 2011.

Use of firewood permits on the Covelo Ranger District is permitted through Nov. 30, 2011. The wood does not have to be cut at the same time.

All firewood removed must be dead and down. It is illegal to remove firewood from the National Forest without a valid permit, which must be purchased in person from one of the Mendocino National Forest offices.

If a person is unable to cut the wood themselves, they can obtain a third party authorization that will allow someone else to cut or gather the wood. However, the permittee must still purchase the permit in person.

The Mendocino National Forest only accepts cash or check as payment for firewood permits and sales are final, with no refunds. Permittees will receive tags and a map of the Forest.

Permit holders should be aware that federal and state quarantines to prevent the spread of sudden oak death are in effect for Lake and Mendocino Counties.

Any firewood cut in these counties can only be transported into other SOD quarantine counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma.

Firewood permits can be purchased from the following offices:

Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s Office/Grindstone Ranger District Office

825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, CA 95988

530-934-3316

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Stonyford Work Center

5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Road, Stonyford, CA, 95979

530-963-3128

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1- 4:30 p.m.

Covelo Ranger Station

78150 Covelo Road, Covelo, CA 95428

707-983-6118

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Upper Lake Ranger Station

10025 Elk Mountain Road, Upper Lake, CA 95485

707-275-2361

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Gathering firewood is important to many individuals and families surrounding the Mendocino National Forest. Following are some tips for a safer experience.

Plan your trip – check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes for spring and fall through winter cutting, water, emergency food, and the appropriate gear for the season when you are gathering firewood.

Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains. Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.

Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources.

If there are puddles in the road, mud flipping off the tires or you can see your ruts in the rearview mirror, consider pulling over and taking a hike to look for wood, or turning around and finding a different area to cut your firewood.

As we enter fire season, be aware of fire restrictions or closure order than may be in place restricting where you can go. Make sure you have a spark arrester on chainsaws and any other mechanical equipment being used.

Make sure you are cutting firewood on the Mendocino National Forest and not from other federal, state or private lands.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Mendo Lake District Garden Club welcomes members and guests to attend the District Spring General Meeting.

Hosting club is Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club (www.clttgc.org), which will host the event at the Scotts Valley Women’s Clubhouse, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport on Wednesday, April 27.

Registration and coffee hour starts at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting time is 10:30 a.m. Lunch will be at 12:30 p.m.

For reservations mail $15 checks to CLTTGC, c/o Rena Clifton, 211 Mariah Way, Lakeport, deadline is Monday, April 18.

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 websites 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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Channel Cats are teaming up with Sober Grad and the freshman class at Clear Lake High School to bring the community Family Bingo Night.

The event will be held on Friday, April 15.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave.

The cost is $15 for a 12-pack or $5 for additional packs.

Children under 12 with a paying adult can play for $5 for a 12-pack.

There will be great prizes, food and games.

The community’s support is needed to help with raising funds to cover the propane cost at the pool.

Come on out and enjoy a family night of fun.