THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED

NORTH COAST, Calif. – A tree that fell early Monday morning and knocked down power lines across Highway 29 on Mount St. Helena led to a brief highway shutdown near Calistoga, with the roadway reopened shortly before 6 a.m.

The large tree – said to be 3 feet in diameter – was reported across the roadway at Highway 29 near the Old Lawley Toll Road shortly before 3 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP reported that the tree also took down some power lines, causing a small fire. Fire units were on scene to respond to the blaze.

The highway was blocked in both directions at the toll road, about 5 miles north of Calistoga, for about three hours as firefighters and emergency personnel worked at the scene, the CHP reported.

Calistoga Police Department shut down the highway at Tubbs Lane and Lake County officials were asked to close the highway on their side, according to the CHP.

An extended highway closure was anticipated, and just after 5:30 a.m. it was reported that Caltrans crews were trying to clear the roadway.

At 5:50 a.m. the CHP and Caltrans reported that the roadway was open once again. At that point radio reports indicated that firefighters were being released from the scene.

Steady rains had arrived in the area overnight, which may have been a contributor to the fallen tree.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Due to unforeseen circumstances and safety concerns, school officials are moving this Friday’s football game between Clear Lake High and Kelseyville High.

The game, also called the “Bass Bowl,” originally was set to take place at the Kelseyville High School football field on Friday, Oct. 26.

However, Kelseyville High Principal Matt Cockerton said that due to problems with the field’s bleachers, which posed a potential safety hazard for students and fans, the game was being moved to the field at Clear Lake High School, located at 350 Lange St.

“The decision to change the venue was not easy and came after it was discovered that home bleachers at the Kelseyville stadium were compromised and the safety of fans were in question,” Cockerton said in a written statement. “The district has investigated numerous short-term solutions including bleacher rental to no avail due to short notice and cost prohibitiveness.”

On Friday, the junior varsity contest will begin at 5:30 p.m., to be followed by the varsity game at 7:30 p.m.

Lakeport residents should be aware that the game will bring with it more than the usual game noise.

Bass Bowl organizers announced that they were partnering with the California Historical Artillery Society to bring a Civil War style cannon to the event.

The cannon will be shot off at every score, and it was reported that those living within a mile of the stadium will be able to hear it.

Although the game will be held in Lakeport, Cockerton reported that Kelseyville High will host the event.

Cockerton said that Clear Lake High School season passes will not be honored at the Friday game, and all proceeds with the exception of the Clear Lake High snack bar will go to Kelseyville High.

Cockerton said that the Kelseyville district and high school appreciate the community’s support in the wake of the decision to move the game.

“We have contacted the necessary state officials and will pursue all avenues to correct this situation as quickly as possible,” Cockerton said.

He added, “We also extend a ‘thank you’ to the Lakeport Unified School District and Clear Lake High School for again helping in a time of need.”

 
My guess is that most adults have a peanut butter and jelly loving child inside them. I admit that I do, and every once in a while I have to indulge its whims.
 
Whether your version of this iconic sandwich includes white bread and grape jelly or whole wheat, bananas and honey, it’s a good thing to give in now and then. Of course, such food always tastes best in a blanket fort on the living room floor.
 
Though they’re enjoyed in places like Asia and Africa, peanuts originated in the New World; the Andean lowlands of South America, to be specific. They were likely first domesticated in Bolivia or Paraguay, where the wildest strains exist today.
 
The ancient peoples from that continent and northward to Central American and Mexico depended on the peanut as a food staple. Many pre-Columbian cultures depicted peanuts in their art.
 
The oldest peanut specimens, found in Peru, date back 7,600 years.
 
There are copious nicknames for this legume (yes, it’s a bean, not a nut), including groundnut, goober peas, earth nuts, monkey nuts, pygmy nuts, and pig nuts.
 
Peanuts grow in an interesting and unique way. It’s quite possible that it’s the only plant to reproduce in this manner, with both aerial and subterranean components.
 
The peanut bush is an herbaceous plant that produces bright yellow flowers. As they fade, a shoot (called a “peg”) develops at each flower’s base, which elongates and reaches toward the ground.
 
Upon touching the soil, the pegs burrow under the surface, where they grow their seeds, the peanuts. These are encased in a shell, each of which holds two to three “nuts.”
 
This unusual plant reached our shores in a very circuitous manner.
 
Spanish and Portuguese explorers brought peanuts from the New World to Africa, where they flourished and were incorporated into local food cultures.
 
Eventually considered sacred in some areas, they were placed in African boats to travel across the Atlantic to North America at the beginning of the slave trade.
 
As to their popularity in Asia, one variety of peanut was introduced to China in the 17th century by Portuguese traders, and another in the 18th century by American missionaries, and their use spread throughout the Asian continent.
 
In addition to China, they enjoy particular favor in Southeast Asia and India.
 
Though they became a garden crop in Colonial America, peanuts were used mostly as fodder for livestock until the 1930s.
 
The change was largely due to a U. S. Department of Agriculture campaign in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to encourage human consumption of peanuts and greater agricultural production of the crop.
 
George Washington Carver, who did extensive research on the peanut and is credited for coming up with more than 300 ways to use it (both in industry and as food), was one of the scientists who encouraged farmers in the American South to plant peanuts instead of or in addition to cotton.
 
Not only had the cotton crop been severely damaged by the boll weevil, its production had depleted the soil of much-needed nitrogen. Peanuts, like other legumes, replenish nitrogen levels in the soil.
 
And so peanuts became a popular part of our food culture.
 
In addition to peanut butter (which, by the way, was not invented by George Washington Carver as popularly believed), there are a variety of other culinary products derived from peanuts.
 
Peanut oil has a relatively high smoke point so is used in high-heat cooking applications. Due to its monounsaturated content, it’s considered healthier than saturated oils; as well, it’s resistant to rancidity.
 
It has a mild flavor in its refined form, but I prefer the unrefined version, which has a rich, nutty taste and is particularly wonderful in Asian dishes.
 
Peanut flour, which is gluten-free, is high in protein and adds pleasant flavor to baked goods.
 
Boiled peanuts are a tradition in the American South, and are a popular snack in India, China, and West Africa. Immature peanuts (full size, but green) in their shell are boiled in highly salted water. The result is a salty nut made soft by the cooking process.
 
Dry roasted peanuts, a well-known nosh, may be made at home by spreading shelled raw peanuts on a baking sheet and roasting them in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Add salt as desired.
 
Throughout the world, peanuts are used in soups, stews, sauces, for snacking, and in desserts. Peanut butter on toast or swirled into oatmeal is a wonderful way to add protein to your morning meal without depending on animal products.
 
Peanuts are a nutritionally rich food, providing over 30 essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. They’re a good source of niacin, which is good for brain health and blood flow, as well as folate, fiber, magnesium, vitamin E, manganese, and phosphorus.
 
Peanuts are high in disease-fighting antioxidants, and new research shows that they rival the amounts in blackberries and strawberries. They have richer stores of antioxidants than carrots or beets.
 
Peanuts are so nutritious, in fact, that products made from them are being used to fight malnutrition throughout the world.
 
Peanut-based high energy, high protein, high nutrient pastes are being used by organizations such as UNICEF, the World Food Bank, and Doctors without Borders to aid in famine relief.
 
Despite its amazing versatility and uber nutritious nature, there are a couple of caveats where peanuts are concerned.
 
First, many people are allergic to peanuts (some 1 to 2 percent in the U.S.), and the symptoms can range from mild to severe. In the most extreme cases death can result.
 
Second, as a high fat bean, peanuts are susceptible to a mold which produces a potent carcinogen called aflatoxin. This can occur when peanuts are stored in hot, humid conditions. Producers of peanuts must be vigilant against such contamination.
 
When purchasing peanuts, be sure there is no rancid smell (if in bulk bins) and avoid any that have evidence of moisture in the packaging.
 
Shelled peanuts should preferably be stored in the fridge, where they’ll keep for three months, or in the freezer, where they’ll keep for six.
 
Those in the shell should be kept in a cool, dark, dry place.
 
I feel in love with peanuts in Asian applications the first time I tasted chicken satay in a Thai restaurant more than two decades ago, and today’s recipe is my version of peanut Asian noodles.
 
Enjoy, and happy Sunday!

Peanut Asian noodles
1 cup tofu cubes or cooked cubed or shredded chicken
4 cups of cooked Asian noodles (rice, bean, or wheat)
2 cups of lightly steamed veggies, like carrots, squash, and broccoli
Peanut oil for pan
Toasted coconut, chopped peanuts, chopped fresh cilantro, chopped scallions and lime quarters for garnish
 
Dressing
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about one lime’s worth)
2 tablespoons dark roasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons unrefined peanut oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar, honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup
1 teaspoon dried red chili flakes (optional, to taste)
2 tablespoons peanut butter
½ cup canned coconut milk
Fresh grated ginger to taste
 
Whisk together sauce ingredients except ginger in medium bowl. Peel fresh ginger and grate to taste over bowl of sauce. Start with a small amount, whisk, and taste. Repeat until desired flavor is achieved.
 
If using tofu, marinate tofu in sauce for about ½ hour.
 
Heat oil in pan; remove tofu from sauce (reserve sauce), add to pan and allow it to crisp up a bit.
 
Add sauce, noodles and veggies to pan; mix and warm through. If using chicken, add along with these ingredients.
 
Garnish with any combination of coconut, peanuts, cilantro, and scallions. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over noodles.
 
Note: If Asian noodles are not available at your market, spaghetti, vermicelli, linguine, or fettuccine may be substituted.
 
Recipe by Esther Oertel.

Esther Oertel, a freelance writer, cooking teacher, and speaker, is passionate about local produce and all foods in the vegetable kingdom. She welcomes your questions and comments and may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Oct. 27 community members have the chance to make a difference in their community by helping to feed the hungry.

The Lake County Hunger Task Force, Lake County Office of Education AmeriCorps program, North Coast Opportunities Community Action and Lake Transit are collaborating to collect nonperishable food for five senior centers and 13 food pantries in Lake County.

The main collection will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, on Make A Difference Day, a nationwide day of volunteering.

This is the 13th year in a row that this project has been carried out for Make A Difference Day. All food donated will be distributed in Lake County.

Lake County Office of Education AmeriCorps members will be in front of seven markets on that Saturday collecting food. Look for them at Hardester’s Market in Middletown, Foods Etc. IGA in Clearlake, Red & White Store in Clearlake Oaks, Riviera Foods in the Clear Lake Riviera, Sentry Market in Nice, Safeway in Lakeport and Clearlake Grocery Outlet.

Members of the Lake County Hunger Task Force will be at two additional locations, Hardester’s on Cobb and Lakeport Grocery Outlet.

For the third year in a row, Lake Transit will park one of their buses in front of Lakeport Grocery Outlet where participants will Stuff-A-Bus full of food. Anyone wishing to help stuff the bus can come down at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, and help.

New this year is a precollection of food, accomplished by placing collection bins throughout the county.

Bins are now located at the Lake County Court House, Lakeport Grocery Outlet, Lake County Office of Education, Kelseyville Food Center, Riviera Foods, Rosales Market, Hardester’s Middletown, Hardester’s Hidden Valley Lake, Hardester’s Cobb, Hidden Valley Food Mart, Lakeport Library, Lake County Record-Bee, Redbud Library, Lower Lake Coffee, Ray’s Food Place, Foods Etc. IGA, Clearlake Grocery Outlet, Indian Beach, Lakeview Market, North Shore Sentry, Upper Lake High School, Hi Way Grocery, Bruno’s Shop Smart, Kelseyville High School, Red & White, John’s Market, Middletown High School, Clear Lake High School, Mendo Lake Credit Union in Lakeport and Clearlake, Tower Mart in Lucerne, Marina Market, Meadowbrook Head Start, Lower Lake High School, Kelseyville Primary School, Konocti Christian Academy, St. Helena Hospital Clearlake, Clearlake Family Health Clinic, Carlé High School and NCO offices in Ukiah.

For anyone who will not be shopping on Oct. 27, please make donations at these schools or businesses. All nonperishable items would be welcome.

If you have donations to make and cannot get to one of these places, please call and the groups will arrange for pick up.

The donations will be distributed to Lakeport Senior Center, Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, Live Oak Senior Center, Middletown Senior Center, Highlands Senior Center, Helping Hand, One Step Away, NCO Community Action, The Bridge, Lake Family Resource Center, CCHAP, Free Kitchen Project, Yvonne Cox, Healthy Start, Cookhouse free dinner, Catholic Charities Rural Food Project, Gleaners and United Christian Parish pantry.

For anyone who wishes to help either collect food, or stuff-a-bus, please call Tammy Alakszay at 707-994-4647, Extension 123, or Lorrie Gray at 707-277-9227.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Thousands of children in California travel daily by school bus. With their safety in mind, the California Highway Patrol joins with schools throughout the country in recognition of National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 22-26.  

The week is designed to promote school bus safety; this year’s theme is “I see the driver – the driver sees me.”

“School bus drivers carry the most precious cargo,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “The safety of our children lies in the hands of not only the bus driver who is transporting them, but every single motorist on the road.”

According to statistics from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System for 2010, the most recent year in which finalized figures are available, eight people were killed in school bus-involved collisions.  However, none were school pupils.

Studies prove that the most dangerous part of the school bus ride for children is when they get on and off the bus.  

To help keep students safe, motorists are encouraged to pay close attention to school buses on local roads and be aware of their flashing lights.  

In California, flashing yellow lights on a school bus are a warning to slow down and prepare to stop, while flashing red lights require all motorists to stop.

“Although drivers of all vehicles are required to stop for a school bus when it is stopped to load or unload passengers, children should not rely on them to do so,” added Commissioner Farrow. “Children should always wait on the sidewalk, and when it is time to cross the street they should wait for the bus driver to guide them safely across the road.”

The CHP plays an active role in the safe transportation of the state’s students by inspecting and certifying more than 23,500 buses in California.  

National School Bus Safety Week is observed annually the third week in October.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A group of dogs including mixes of dachshund, pit bull and chow chows are at the county’s animal shelter awaiting adoption this week.

The dogs range in size from about 15 pounds to more than 100 pounds, with different length coats and colors.

Thanks to Lake County Animal Care and Control’s new veterinary clinic, many of the animals offered for adoption already are spayed or neutered and ready to go home with their new families.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

Female pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix is 2 years old.

She has a short blue and white coat. It was not reported if she was altered.

She’s in kennel No. 18, ID No. 34644.

Dachshund-Chihuahua mix

This male dachshund-Chihuahua mix is just over 2 years old.

He has a short black coat and weighs around 15 pounds. Shelter staff did not report if he was altered.

Find him in kennel No. 24, ID No. 34206.

Shepherd-chow chow mix

This male shepherd-chow chow is a big fellow.

He’s 4 years old, has a long red coat and weighs 106 pounds. He also has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 31, ID No. 34651.

Female pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix is 1 year old.

She has a short brown and white coat, weighs nearly 37 pounds and has not been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 32, ID No. 34588.

Male pit bull terrier mix

This gold-eyed male pit bull terrier mix is 6 years old.

He is not yet neutered, weighs 43 pounds and has a short tan coat.

Shelter staff said has a an injury to his right ear, so he’ll need a little extra tender loving care.

Find him in kennel No. 34, ID No. 34586.

Please note: Dogs listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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. – A host of more mature, friendly and fluffy felines needing good homes are offered this week at Lake County Animal Care and Control.

While some of the cats are under a year old, many are older, more relaxed cats, who showed very sweet and mellow personalities during a recent visit.

Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

‘Dessarie’

Perky eared Dessarie is a domestic medium hair mix.

At 9 years old, she is the oldest of the cats at the shelter currently.

She is a well-mannered older lady with a soft black and white coat and charming green eyes.

Shelter staff did not report if she has been spayed at this point.

She can be found in cat room kennel No. 8, ID No. 34639.

Gray male tabby

This handsome gray male tabby is 2 years old.

He has a fluffy medium-length coat, weighs nearly 9 pounds and has been neutered, so he’s all ready to join a new home.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 11a, ID No. 34357.

Orange male tabby

This male orange tabby is 6 months old.

He weighs 4 pounds, has a short coat and has been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 15a, ID No. 34145.

Male orange tabby

This male orange tabby is 6 months old.

He has not yet been neutered, weighs 3.5 pounds and has a short coat.

He’s in cat room kennel 15b, ID No. 34146.

Domestic short hair mix

This female domestic short hair mix is of undetermined age.

She has a short coat and is not yet spayed.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 15c, ID No. 34147.

Male gray tabby

This male gray tabby is 7 months old.

He has a short coat, weighs 4 pounds and has been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 33a, ID No. 34485.

Black domestic short hair mix

This male black domestic short hair mix is 6 months old.

He has gold eyes, weighs 4 pounds and has been altered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 33b, ID No. 34465.

Domestic short hair mix

This pretty and sweet female domestic short hair mix is 6 years old.

She has blues eyes and a short white coat, and has been spayed. She enjoys interaction with people.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 46, ID No. 34385.

Domestic long hair mix

This black and white female domestic long hair mix cat is 3 years old.

She has green eyes, is of medium size and has been spayed.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 52, ID No. 34632.

Gray female tabby

This female gray tabby is 4 years old.

She has a short cat, is quite friendly and personable, and has been spayed.

She’s in cat room kennel No. 63, ID No. 34571.

Male gray tabby

This male gray tabby is 14 weeks old.

He has a short coat, weighs nearly 3 pounds and has been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 90b, ID No. 34511.

Male gray tabby

This male gray tabby is 1 year old.

He has a short coat and green eyes, and has been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 100, ID No. 34479.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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. – The Lake Family Resource Center is commemorating Domestic Violence Awareness Month throughout October.

Among the events the center is hosting to raise community awareness this month is a candlelight vigil, which will take place beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, in Library Park on Park Street in Lakeport.

The vigil is held each year to raise awareness of domestic violence, recognize those who have made a difference in the fight against domestic violence and remember those who are no longer with us because of domestic violence.

The public is encouraged to come out and hear guest speakers talk about domestic violence within the area. Candles and refreshments will be provided.

Lake Family Resource Center is determined to call awareness to the tragedy of domestic violence in the hope of ending it in Lake County.

The center provides a multitude of services to build family stability and strength, including the Freedom House domestic violence shelter.

The agency supports Lake County residents in achieving stable, self-sufficient and healthy families and communities. Call them at 707-279-0563 to find out more about what they offer.

NICE, Calif. – The Lake County Public Services Department is asking for community members to take part in a survey that will support the department’s effort to develop Nice’s Hammond Avenue Park.

Public Services reported that it’s in the process of preparing a grant application to construct a sports field and restrooms at the park.

That grant funding is critical to development of Hammond Avenue Park, and it will be strengthened by community members’ responses on the survey, the department reported.

The survey can be found at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/PublicServices/2012RecSurvey.htm . Completing the survey shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.

The online survey needs to be submitted no later than Wednesday, Oct. 24, as the grant deadline is Nov. 1.

Scoring for this Land and Water Conservation grant is based on the results of a statewide California Outdoor Recreation Plan survey conducted in a 2008. Proposals addressing urban priorities – open space, access to nature – will earn the most points.

Community members also are asked to forward the link for the survey to their friends to help expand the response as much as possible.

For more information about the grant contact Jan Campbell at Public Services, 707-262-1618, or Jackie Armstrong at 707-274-2459.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County Live! Returns to the Soper-Reese Community Theatre this Sunday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. for the 10th show.

This will be a special Halloween fest, featuring the Ladies of the Lake, an interview with a vampire and a special musical guest.

Join the continuing cast in the theater and live on the air on KPFZ 88.1 FM, Lake County Community radio, in a celebration of Halloween, the fall and all things good about Lake County.

“This will be a very special show, as we will be featuring a few things we’ve never done before,” said show creator and host Doug Rhoades. “I think all of the local talent we present will find this is a unique program that fits the fall, the season, the community and our sense of humor.”
 
As this is a Halloween show, the audience is encouraged to come in costume, and who knows what fun may ensue?

Dress up and come down to the Soper-Reese Community Theatre at 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport on Oct. 28.

Tickets for the show are available at the box office, open Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Travel Center at 1265 S. Main in Lakeport and online at www.soperreesetheatre.com .

The show is made possible by the support of KPFZ, Lake County News ( www.lakeconews.com ), the Soper-Reese and Lake County Community Co-Op.

More information is available online at www.facebook.com/lakecountylive and at www.lakecountylive.com .

Questions or comments may be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As Halloween approaches, there are plenty of opportunities for fun for ghosts and goblins of all ages, including planned events, pumpkin patches and a corn maze.

Local farmers are offering homegrown pumpkins and other produce, a corn maze and pumpkin patches; a local church is holding a fall celebration; Middletown High School is offering its own pumpkin patch; and there are many other parties and trick-or-treat events planned for children and adults.

The following list of events and activities is organized according to dates, with proprietors of pumpkins and produce listed in alphabetical order.

If there is a pumpkin patch or other Halloween or harvest event we’ve missed, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

FRIDAY, OCT. 26

Animal Coalition Halloween Costume Dinner Dance

The Animal Coalition of Lake County will hold a Halloween Costume Dinner Dance from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, 15900 E. Highway 20.

There will be a costume contest, raffle, silent auction, dancing and dinner by Chef Andy Scopazzi. Tickets in advance cost $25, with proceeds going to benefit the coalition’s efforts to help local animals.

For tickets or information call 707-995-0552 or 707-994-5398.

Thorn Hill Vineyards Halloween Bash

Thorn Hill Vineyards’ Red Hill Tasting Room, located at 8170 S. Highway 29 in Lower Lake, will host its Halloween Bash from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There is no cover charge.

Enjoy a night of spooks and fun along with festive Halloween music, decor and yummy mummy treats. Have your future predicted by a real fortune teller and tarot card readings. Everyone is encouraged to come in costume or a mask.

RSVP at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=nz6up9dab&;oeidk=a07e6hrvam780172647&oseq=a022sxh3xfesrw .

SATURDAY, OCT. 27

Middletown High School pumpkin patch

From Monday, Oct. 22, through Friday, Oct. 26, the Middletown High School ROP Agriculture Department will host a pumpkin patch for hundreds of local elementary school students at the school, 20932 Big Canyon Road.

Then, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, the school will open the patch to the general public. The proceeds from the patch benefit the school farm and agriculture program.

For more information call the Middletown High School Agriculture Department, 707-987-4140, Extension 4040.

Fall Fest 2012

Lakeport Christian Center is hosting its Fall Fest 2012 from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the church, 455 S. Forbes St.

The free family event will include music, a barbecue, crafts, jumpy house, clothes closet, pumpkin/cookie decorating, pumpkin patch, face painting, game booths and much more. The public is invited.

For more information call 707-263-4514 or visit the church’s Web site, www.lcchub.com .

Pet costume contest

The Lakeport Rainbow Ag, 1975 Argonaut Road, will hold a pet Halloween costume contest at 12:30 p.m. Photographers will be on hand to get a great photo of your pet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The costume contest will have four categories this year: small dogs, 25 pounds and under; large dogs, more than 25 pounds; most unique pet (non-dog) and best trick. The first 50 pets in costume will receive free trick or treat bags too; there also will be a sale at the store.

Call 707-279-0550 for more information.

Spook Fest

Hidden Valley Lake Association will host the Spook Fest from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 18174 Hidden Valley Road.

There will be a costume contest, hayride, games, crafts and haunted teen center. Admission is free.

For more information call the association at 707-987-3138 or visit www.hvla.com .
    
NCRA Halloween Rock Crawler Challenge

The Lakeport Speedway will present a car derby, rock crawlers and boat from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the racetrack, 401 Martin St., Lakeport.

There is an admission fee. Contact the speedway at 707-279-9577 or visit www.lakeportspeedway.com .

Brassfield Murder Mystery Dinner

Brassfield Estate Winery, 10915 High Valley Road in Clearlake Oaks, will host a murder mystery dinner from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Professional actors from Janet A. Rudolph-Murder on the Menu will help you solve the mystery while enjoying a sumptuous feast prepared by Piper Johnson Catering.

The cost is $125 per person. RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-998-1895.

Sons of Italy Halloween dinner, dance

The community is invited to a Halloween dinner and dance at the Sons of Italy Lodge, located at 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

Doors open at 5 p.m. with a no-host bar. Dinner, served at 6 p.m., will include lasagna, vegetables, salad, bread and dessert. The High Note Band will provide music for the after-dinner dancing.

Dress in your favorite costume. There will a raffle and door prizes, too. Dinner costs $15 for adults and $9 for children. Please RSVP with Roberta, 707-274-2431.

Scary Night Under the Stars

The Taylor Observatory and Planetarium, 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville, will host the “Scary Night Under the Stars” from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Enjoy a “spook-tacular evening” with refreshments, Halloween decorations and a showing in the full dome planetarium of the “Scary Nights” show, playing once an hour.

Costumes are encouraged. Children under 12 years will leave with a treat. Ticket prices: $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12 years. Call 707-262-4121 for more information.

Harvest Moon Costume Party

KFPZ 88.1 FM will host the Harvest Moon Costume Party from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Rancho De La Fuente, 2290 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport.

There will be food and beverages, prizes for the best costumes and music provided by “Compound Fracture.”

The cost is $15 for nonmembers and $12 for KPFZ members. For information or tickets call 707-263-3640.

Teen Fright Night

Hidden Valley Lake Association will host the Teen Fright Night and costume contest from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the community center, 18677 Lakeridge Circle.

For more information call the association at 707-987-3138 or visit www.hvla.com .

SUNDAY, OCT. 28

Cheers Party & Halloween

Lake County Wine Studio will host its Cheers Party & Halloween event from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the studio, 9505 Main St., Upper Lake. The event is for those over 21 only.

Come dressed as your favorite character from the long-running TV show (or come in your favorite Halloween costume). Test your memory with a trivia game. There will be prizes for best in-character participation and for other best costumes.

Appetizers and non-alcohol beverages offered at cost. No cover for entry, $1 for wine taste, complimentary for studio club members.

TUESDAY, OCT. 30

Downtown Lakeport Trick-or-Treat

The Lakeport Main Street Association will host trick-or-treating for youngsters in costume from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30. The event is free of charge and goes rain or shine.

Families are invited to enjoy a safe and fun Halloween on Main Street, concluding at 4 p.m. with a costume contest on Museum Square.

Trophies and prizes will be awarded to winners of the costume contest in these categories: 0-4 years; 5-7 years; 8-12 years; 13-17 years, 18+ (adult) and family.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31

Lakeport Kiwanis Halloween party

The Lakeport Kiwanis Club will hold a Halloween party for children from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the Clear Lake High School gym, 350 Lange St. Admission is free.

Children up to 14 years old are invited to participate in the game booths and collect candy.

There will be a costume contest beginning at 7:15 p.m. for all age groups, including best family costume, and a guess the weight of the giant pumpkin contest.

PUMPKINS, PRODUCE, PATCHES, MAZES

Leonardis Organics
1010 Argonaut Road, Lakeport
Telephone 707-263-4245 or 707-483-4004
Call for reservations

Certified organic farmer Jim Leonardis’ 40-acre farm has both jack-o-lantern and eating pumpkins available. Visitors should call and reserve a time to drop by the farm, which can be reached from Highway 29 by turning south onto Highland Springs Road, towards Lampson Airport, then left onto Argonaut Road. The farm is the first drive on the left; at the “T” turn left.

Renker Farms
2297 Argonaut Road, Kelseyville
Telephone 707-279-4409
Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Renker Farms offers fall vegetables, pumpkins for sale in it produce stand. There also is a corn maze which is free to visit. The corn maze continues until Oct. 31. It is not open after dark. The farm is located one-quarter mile east of Steele Wines, east on Argonaut Road, off of Highway 29.

Scotts Valley Road pumpkin patch
2999 Scotts Valley Road, Lakeport
No phone number/no website/no set hours

Visitors are invited to drop by the patch any time. There are no set hours. Lights are available, so picking can take place after dark.

Seely’s Farm Stand
80 E. Highway 20, Upper Lake
Telephone: 707-275-0525
Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through second week of November

Pumpkins and decorative gourds, flowers, winter squash and other locally grown produce include pears, apples, peaches, walnuts, tomatoes, melons, and more.

Steele Wines Saturday Farmers’ Market
Thomas Drive and Highway 29
8:30 a.m. to noon, rain or shine, through Saturday, Oct. 27
Information: www.lakecountyfarmersfinest.org or Cornelia Sieber-Davis, 707-263-6076

Pumpkins and other fall produce, including squash, figs, grapes, cucumbers and many other locally grown products, can be found at the markets, which run through Saturday, Oct. 27.

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.

Among the oddities of the outer solar system are the middle-sized moons of Saturn, a half-dozen icy bodies dwarfed by Saturn’s massive moon Titan.

According to a new model for the origin of the Saturn system, these middle-sized moons were spawned during giant impacts in which several major satellites merged to form Titan.

Erik Asphaug, professor of Earth and planetary sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, presented this new hypothesis Oct. 19 at the annual meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society in Reno, Nevada.

Asphaug and his coauthor, Andreas Reufer of the University of Bern, Switzerland, also describe their model in detail in a paper to be published in Icarus.

Asphaug and Reufer propose that the Saturn system started with a family of major satellites comparable to the four large moons of Jupiter (known as the Galilean moons, discovered by Galileo in 1610).

The Galilean moons account for 99.998 percent of the mass in Jupiter’s satellite system; although it has dozens of small satellites, Jupiter has no middle-sized moons. The new model may explain why the two systems are so different.

“We think that the giant planets got their satellites kind of like the Sun got its planets, growing like miniature solar systems and ending with a stage of final collisions,” Asphaug said. “In our model for the Saturn system, we propose that Titan grew in a couple of giant impacts, each one combining the masses of the colliding bodies, while shedding a small family of middle-sized moons.”

Earth is thought to have undergone a similar kind of giant impact, in which our planet gained the last ten percent of its mass and spawned the moon.

Just as our moon is thought to be made out of material similar to Earth’s rocky mantle, the middle-sized moons of Saturn are made of material similar to Titan’s icy mantle, Asphaug said.

“Our model explains the diversity of these ice-rich moons and the evidence for their very active geology and dynamics,” he said. “It also explains a puzzling fact about Titan, in that a giant impact would give it a high orbital eccentricity.”

Asphaug and Reufer used computer simulations to study the giant impact scenario, and they found that mergers of satellites the size of the Galilean moons can liberate ice-rich spiral arms, mostly from the outer layers of the smaller of the colliding moons.

 Gravitational clumping of the spiral arms then leads to the formation of clumps with sizes and compositions that resemble Saturn’s middle-sized moons.

“These satellite collisions are a regime that is not very well understood, so the modeling opens up new possibilities in general for planet formation,” Reufer said.

The proposed mergers might have occurred as the final act in the process of satellite formation.

Alternatively, Saturn may have had a stable system of Galilean-like satellites that was later disrupted by the possibly chaotic migration of the giant planets, as described in the popular “Nice model” of the solar system. A late origin has the advantage of explaining some of the most striking features of the Saturn system.

“What makes the Saturn system so beautiful and unique could be its youth,” Asphaug said. “While we don’t have a preferred timeframe for this origin scenario to play out, it could have happened recently if something came along to destabilize the Saturn system, triggering the collisional mergers that formed Titan. This ‘something’ could have been the close passage of a marauding Uranus and Neptune, which is part of the Nice model.”

Asphaug acknowledged a couple of dynamical issues raised by the new model.

The clumps spawned from the giant impacts might get swept up into the accretion of Titan, rather than evolving into separate moons with their own stable orbits.

Additional simulations of the dynamical evolution of the complicated, accreting system are needed to further explore and validate the model.

But Asphaug said new data from NASA’s Cassini mission on the geophysics of Saturn’s moons will provide the ultimate tests.

“Our model makes strong predictions for how Titan was assembled, what the middle-sized moons are made of, and how they started out as rapidly spinning clumps of ice-rich material,” he said. “So it’s testable. These little moons could provide the clues telling us what happened, and when.”

This research was funded by NASA, the University of California, and the Swiss National Science Foundation.