LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A winning combination of wonderful wines, locally produced food and an exciting atmosphere inspired people from all over the region at the 15th annual Lake County Wine Auction, which took place Saturday at the Cole Creek Equestrian Center in Kelseyville.

The bidding was fast and furious as auctioneers Shaun Hornby and Matt Hughes racked up some impressive totals during the live auction part of the program.

John Clarke's 2014 painting, which featured a red-headed woman riding through a vineyard on horseback earned a top bid of $6,000. Seven other items went for $2,000 or more, making for some impressive numbers.

A preliminary tabulation indicates that the evening's activities brought in more than $62,000, which includes both the live and silent auctions, organizers reported.

Over the next few weeks, figures figures will be combined with numbers from ticket sales and sponsorships, to provide a final accounting.

Last year the Lake County Wine Auction raised enough money to cover expenses and then donate $90,000 to local charities and community organizations.

Based on preliminary figures, the Wine Auction Board expects to meet or beat last year's figures.

During the auction, the sold-out crowd dined on a farm to fork meal inspired by the magical tastes that abound in our community.

The meal was complemented by a pair of Cuvee wines blended by Six Sigma winemaker Matt Hughes and appetizers from eight local farms and restaurants.

The Lake County Wine Alliance, producer of this event, thanked the more than 450 volunteers, sponsors and participants who made the evening possible.

“To build a strong community, we need to help the next generation respect Lake County’s agricultural tradition and improve their educational skills. With our grants, the Wine Alliance is working towards those goals,” said Wine Alliance President Kaj Ahlmann in announcing this year's beneficiaries.

This year's beneficiaries are the five comprehensive high schools of Lake County for their arts programs, Catholic Charities for its Food and Benefits Outreach Project, United Christian Parish for its food pantry, Hospice Services of Lake County for bereavement support groups, Sponsoring Survivorship for assistance to residents with breast cancer, the Yuba College Culinary Club for scholarships, Lake County Symphony Association for beginning string instruction, Lower Lake High School Culinary Club, Lake County Church Women United for the shoes and socks program, the Lake County Office of Education for the student mock trial team, the Lake Community Pride Foundation for it teen shelter, Lake County Channel Cats, Lower Lake School House Museum for student field trips, the Lake County Literacy Coalition for the adult literacy program, the Lake County Senior Centers for its Meals on Wheels program, Operation Tango Mike for support of local soldiers overseas and Habitat for Humanity new projects to create affordable housing.

Sponsors of the 2014 Lake County Wine Auction include Beckstoffer Vineyards, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Six Sigma Ranch, Brassfield Estate Winery, Mendo Lake Credit Union, Kelseyville Pharmacy, Bella Vista Farming & Alienor Wines, Southern Smiles Dental Practice, Umpqua Bank, St Helena Hospital, Shannon Ridge Winery, Trinchero Family Estates, Savings Bank of Mendocino, C-Line Trucking and the Lake County Winegrape commission.

Members of the all volunteer Wine Alliance Board are President Kaj Ahlmann, Vice President Dr. Judy Luchsinger, Secretary Sharron Zoller, Treasurer Rob Roumiguiere, and directors Marie Beery and Bill Groody.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Among the planes buzzing over Lakeport this weekend as part of the annual  Clear Lake Splash will be a US Coast Guard HC-130H, making a trip to Lake County from Sacramento for a special appearance.

The 35th annual Clear Lake Splash In will be held this Friday and Saturday at the Natural High property at 650 N. Main St. in Lakeport.

In addition to several unique float planes and amphibians, this year’s event will feature an exciting aerial performance by a HC-130H Hercules airplane from U.S. Coast Guard Station, Sacramento, at 1 p.m. on Saturday. 

The HC-130H is a mainstay of the United States Coast Guard air fleet.

It is flown by a crew of seven and it can carry up to 50,000 pounds of cargo, or up to 92 passengers, and has a range of 2,400 miles.

Coast Guard C130s fly in support of a wide range of missions including search and rescue, counter-drug smuggling, fisheries patrols, med-evac and cargo transport.

The HC-130H serves at four air stations throughout the U.S. to include: Sacramento; Clearwater-St. Petersburg, Florida; Kodiak Island, Alaska; and Barbers Point, Oahu, Hawaii.

Also on display at the Splash In will be an air medical helicopter from REACH Air Medical Services, based at Lampson Airport.

Saturday’s activities kick off at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Lakeport Kiwanis Club, benefiting the local Channel Cats Swim Club.  Access to the seaplane parking ramp begins at 8 a.m.

Admissions is $3 per person or $10 for a family of four. Children under age 10 are admitted free. 

Color souvenir programs will be on sale for $2.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Monday the Park Study Club held a ceremony to lower the community flag at Austin Park.

Members of the Lake County Fire Protection District, Clearlake Public Works, Clearlake Police Department, representatives of city staff and government, as well as first and second grade students from Burns Valley Elementary School joined the club for the event.

Many of the second graders also were present for the flag raising ceremony last spring, “coming full-circle,” according to Healthy Start Site Supervisor Gina Fortino-Dickson, who is also the city's vice mayor.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lake County Regional Economic Development Committee announces the inaugural Lake Leadership Summit at Marymount California University’s Lucerne campus on Friday, Oct. 10.

Limited to 100 participants, the summit runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.

The event is crafted for local business leaders, owners and entrepreneurs who are interested in developing their business and in growing Lake County.

The summit offers an audacious program featuring speakers who will share practical information that participants can use immediately.

Summit participants also will have access to experts who can help them long after the event is over.

The cost is $35 per person or $50 for two.

“The Economic Development Committee really wanted to do something different than the usual booth-space-networking-event to help our existing businesses thrive,” said Alan Flora, deputy administrator for the county of Lake and summit co-creator. “We intentionally aimed to shake things up with the Summit format. We looked to TedTalks for inspiration and kept the speakers’ presentations short and provocative.

“One of our breakout sessions is called ‘Arranged Marriages’ and highlights ways that businesses can partner to cross-market; it even includes a speed dating kind of exercise,” Flora said. “Ultimately, we want Lake County to become a magnet for outside investors and industries to consider when they’re expanding or starting a new business.”

Michelle Scully, executive director of Marymount California University’s Lakeside Campus and summit co-creator, added, “We’re excited about the potential for Lake County with the addition of the first four-year college right here in Lucerne and looking forward to more positive opportunities and new beginnings for our community. The Lake Leadership Summit was developed to give our existing businesses some real-time tools to add to their toolboxes and to encourage our residents to embrace who we are.

“We’re offering completely optional afternoon activities to Summit participants to urge them to see Lake County with new eyes,” Scully said. “They can choose between the Pirate’s BootyCycle Tour of Kelseyville, the Haunted Walking Tour of Lakeport, or the Lake County Scavenger Hunt by bus. Bottom line: we know that we’re not Napa, we’re not Sonoma, and we can’t compete with the Bay Area. We’re Lake County, and we want to focus on doing what we can to make Lake County the very best it can be.”

The summit’s keynote speaker is David Woolson, chief executive officer and president of Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce, whose presentation is entitled “How a Sleepy Ag Community Changed Its Rep and Became a World-Class Destination for Wine Drinkers.”

Other speakers include Robert Freedman, marketing director for Focus Financial Partners, who will present: “Google+, Vine, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Etc. – and Why the Hell They Matter,” and Maureen “Mo” McElroy, Certified Tourism Ambassador for Sonoma County, with the session, “More Than an ‘Open’ Sign: The Art of Customer Service.”

The O’Meara Brothers and Mendo Lake SUP will be featured during the “Arranged Marriages” portion of the summit.

“The ‘What I Love About Lake County Is …' chalkboard walls going up around the county and the summit are just the beginning,” said Rebecca Southwick, development and public relations officer with Sutter Lakeside Hospital and one of the Summit’s co-creators.

“Early next year, we would like to have Peter Kageyama, the author of ‘For the Love of Cities,’ conduct a community workshop in Lake County to help us recognize all that’s great about our community and to form an attainable revitalization plan,” Southwick said. “We all live here in Lake County on purpose with purpose. The Regional Economic Development Committee wants to ensure that our established businesses have what they need to grow, while also doing everything that we can to be a viable place for new businesses to consider for investment.”

The Lake Leadership Summit is sponsored by PG&E and St. Helena Clearlake. It is generously supported by Marymount California University, the county of Lake, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, CalRecycle, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, and the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport. Additional sponsors are welcome.

To register online for the event, go to www.EmbracetheLake.com . Limited seating is available.

If you have questions, please call Rebecca Southwick at 707-349-8105 or write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Firefighters were able to contain a Monday night fire before it damaged the Lake County Waste Solutions transfer station.

The fire at the waste and recycling facility, located at 230 Soda Bay Road, was first reported shortly before 9 p.m. Monday.

Lakeport and Kelseyville Fire personnel responded, with Northshore Fire sending a water tender from its Upper Lake station after receiving a mutual aid request, according to radio reports.

Rose Davidson, who was visiting her parents a few doors down on Soda Bay Road, said she saw the fire glowing in the building and then heard several explosions coming from the fire.

She said a neighbor called 911 to report the fire after initially hearing the explosions and thinking they were gunshots.

Firefighters had to cut through the gate to gain entry, said Davidson, adding that fire personnel were able to contain the fire to the building – located nearest to the road – keeping the blaze from spreading into nearby vegetation.

The fire was reported to be contained just after 10:20 p.m., with some of the units released shortly afterward, according to reports from the scene.

Bruce McCracken, contacted by Lake County News as he was on his way to the transfer station, suggested that the fire probably started from someone dumping hot ashes into garbage.

He said that only a large pile of garbage in the building burned, with no damage to equipment or the building itself.

C&S Waste Solutions, as Lake County Waste Solutions, is the franchise hauler for county of Lake. It also serves as the franchise hauler for the city of Clearlake under the name Clearlake Waste Solutions.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – One of the most colorful characters in San Francisco's storied history is the inspiration for a new event that is unfolding ahead of the annual 'Shipwreck Day' in downtown Lakeport.

“The Emperor Norton Lost Ransom Treasure Hunt” is now under way, and it's meant to be a fun addition to the Shipwreck Day merriment planned for Saturday, Oct. 18.

The Lakeport Main Street Association will host Shipwreck Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Library Park.

The day will feature folks decked out in pirate garb, with vendors offering grub, grog and other wares, and activities for the entire family, including a pirates bazaar, pirate school and pirate costume contest and music.

There also is the new “illustrated pirate strut,” with more than $300 in prize ink from Prestige and Relentless Tattoo parlors for the “best” and the “worst” tattoos. Swimsuit rules apply; if you can't see the tattoo when you sport your swimsuit, you can't show it.

The new treasure hunt component is named for English-born San Francisco resident Joshua Norton, who in 1859 declared himself emperor of the United States and protector of Mexico.

Norton went so far as to create his own currency – which fellow San Franciscans honored – and even issued proclamations calling for a bridge crossing and a tunnel to be built under San Francisco Bay, projects which indeed took place long after his death at age 61 in 1880.

There is even a petition now circulating to name the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge for Norton. The petition can be found at https://www.change.org/p/name-the-bay-bridge-for-emperor-norton .

Norton's Lakeport treasure hunt story begins with the raising of the Egret, the flagship of the Lakeport Yacht Club, from the bottom of the lake, according to Suzanne Lyons, one of the Shipwreck Day organizers.

As the fictional background for the treasure hunt goes, a bottle with a message was found relating to Emperor Norton's reported capture by pirates; a ransom was paid but lost and never recovered.

That “ransom” – consisting of at least $300 – is the focus of the treasure hunt.

To begin gathering the clues, go to www.facebook.com/shipwreckday or  http://www.secondtimearond1855.com/emperor-norton-treasure-hunt , or visit downtown stores.

The first clue is free, and the subsequent nine clues each cost $1, Lyons said.

All of the money collected for clues will be added to the treasure trove, she said.

Treasure hunters cannot move ahead before each clue is available, but they can start from the beginning at any time, Lyons explained.

Lyons said treasure hunters need to go where the clues direct them and ask if the shopkeeper has a clue. If they are in the right place the shop owner will stamp their clue and send them back to get the next clue.

For more information about Shipwreck Day or the Emperor Norton treasure hunt, visit http://www.secondtimearond1855.com/pirates-shipwreck-day or call 707-262-1967

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Applications to host the new Lake County visitor information electronic, touch screen kiosks are now available. 

Tourist-oriented businesses in the communities of Blue Lakes, Upper Lake, Lucerne, Middletown and Kelseyville are encouraged to apply.

The selected sites will be identified by street signs provide by the county and the kiosks will be connected to the county’s visitor Web site, www.lakecounty.com .

In exchange the business would agree to stay open during certain hours, provide friendly and knowledge staff, provide Internet and electrical service, public parking, clean public bathrooms, etc.

The partnership should result in increased traffic to the existing business and a more cost efficient way to provide visitor information throughout Lake County.

The county is very excited about the opportunity to create partnerships with a number of Lake County tourist related business.

Applications can be found on the www.co.lake.ca.us Web site on the Administrative Office page or by calling 707-263-2580.

Applications will need to be completed and returned to the Administrative Office at the Lake County Courthouse by the end of the day Thursday, Oct. 2.

Kiosks currently are scheduled to be installed in the selected sites starting on Oct. 13.

For more information contact Jill Ruzicka at 707-263-1580 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Main Street in Lower Lake was overflowing with blue and white last Friday when Lower Lake High School hosted it inaugural homecoming parade.

The event featured athletes from various sports teams including youth leagues, equine competitors, Trojan race car drivers and elementary students.

Performing arts students also joined in the procession, which was supported with the participation of area car and motorcycle clubs, Lake County Fire Protection District, Clearlake Police Department, Lake County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol and several local businesses.

Students and floats made their way through Lower Lake ahead of the junior varsity and varsity football games with Upper Lake High. Both Lower Lake teams won their games.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office is looking for community members interested in serving as poll workers for the general election on Nov. 4.

A report from Registrar Diane Fridley's office said there is a shortage of poll workers in some areas of Lake County, with a particular need for volunteer poll workers at the Middletown Lions Club and the
Hidden Valley Community Church.

The Registrar of Voters Office is trying to build a permanent corps of polling officials.

Anyone who is interested in community service and has the time to serve as a poll worker is urged to apply.

The workday is from 6 a.m. to about 10 p.m., with breaks for lunch and dinner.

Workers are compensated for their time at the following rates: inspectors – $10.50 per hour; judges – $9.25 per hour; and clerks – $9 per hour.

Each poll worker is asked to attend a special class of instruction for election officers prior to each election.

Registered voters who are interested in this important work are encouraged to apply at the Lake County Registrar of Voters office at the Courthouse, second floor, Room 209 in Lakeport, or phone 707-263-2372 for information.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Fire Protection District has added to its fleet the first new fire engine in nearly a decade.

The district took delivery of the truck – a type three engine used primarily for fires in wildland areas – on Saturday, according to Chief Doug Hutchison.

Hutchison said the district was notified on July 4 that it had received an Assistance to Firefighters grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The federal grant is for approximately $296,852 and required a 5-percent match, which came out to $15,623 for the district, for a total of $312,475, he said.

The grant amount covers not just the new engine but also the equipment needed to outfit it, Hutchison said. The equipment alone is estimated at $26,000.

Hutchison – who took over as chief in June – said the grant was submitted before he arrived, under the leadership of his predecessor, retired Chief Ken Wells.

After receiving word that it had the grant, the district went out to bid for a new truck, Hutchison said.

Four companies submitted bids, proposing six different trucks, three of which were demonstration models, he said.

The district ultimately purchased the truck offered in the lowest bid, which Hutchison said came from Hi-TECH Fire Apparatus Inc. of Oakdale.

Hutchison said the truck – which has an eight-cylinder, 330-horsepower engine – was built by Crimson Fire Inc., a custom fire truck manufacturing company based in Brandon, South Dakota. Hi-TECH Fire Apparatus is one of Crimson Fire's two California dealers.

Hutchison said the 2012 truck was being used as a demonstration model, and therefore hadn't been used on incidents. It has about 9,000 highway miles on it, meets all Cal Fire specifications and has a 10-year warranty.

The engine is the tallest of the district's fire trucks, and barely fits into the bay, said Hutchison.

He's driven the truck, which he said has a quiet ride, with a roomy five-person cab. “You feel like you're sitting way up in the air.”

The new engine will be the district's only type three vehicle. Hutchison said it will replace a 1975 International truck.

Including the shiny new truck, the district has a total of 13 pieces of equipment, including its engines, water tender, ladder truck and five ambulances, Hutchison said.

Looking at the new truck, Hutchison added, “This is people's tax money at work.”

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service's forecast for Lake County includes chances of rain several days this week.

Lake County received just trace amounts of rain during brief showers last week, with no noticeable impact on Clear Lake, the level of which was at -0.39 feet Rumsey – the special gauge for measuring the lake – on Monday night.

However, chances of more rain – and, therefore, more water in the lake – appear better this week, based on the National Weather Service forecast.

Forecasters are predicting that rain could arrive as early as Tuesday night in the mountains above Upper Lake.

The chances of rain across the entire county on Wednesday range between 20 and 40 percent, increasing to the range of 50 to 60 percent on Wednesday night, according to the forecast.

On Thursday, forecasters predict up to a 60-percent chance of showers, tapering off on Friday and Saturday.

Daytime temperatures will hover in the 70s and 80s, dropping as low as the 50s at night, with some light winds also forecast, the National Weather Service said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – A fire that broke out Sunday afternoon between Ukiah and Hopland has been fully contained.

The Nelson Fire burned a total of 62 acres, according to a Monday afternoon report from Cal Fire's Mendocino Unit.

The fire was first reported shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday on Nelson Ranch Road, north of the junction of Highway 101 and Highway 175 at Hopland, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said there were no injuries and no damage to structures.

The cause is under investigation, Cal Fire said.

On Monday afternoon, 42 firefighting personnel remained assigned to the incident, along with two fire crews and two fire engines, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire said firefighters are continuing mop up and patrol operations on the incident.

Cooperating agencies working on the incident along with Cal Fire included the fire districts from Hopland, Potter Valley, Redwood Valley-Calpella and Ukiah, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.