KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A whole new flavor is coming to the 2016 Pear Festival Dessert Contest which will be held on Friday, Sept. 23, at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church social hall.

New this year, all contestants will be photographed with their dessert entry and will be showcased on a display at the Pear Pavilion for all attendees of the Pear Festival to see.

In addition, this year’s winners will be driven in a decorated convertible car during the parade, and their names and dessert entries will be announced, giving much more notoriety to this event. 

The top five winners will receive gift certificates from local eateries.

This year’s chairperson, Martha Rose, is a former winner from the past four years and wanted to step down and give back to the festival by bringing fresh new ideas to the contest to help it grow.

“With the contest being held on Friday, very few festival attendees were even aware of it,” Rose said. “I felt it was important to feature these wonderful cooks and bakers who work so hard on all these delicious and creative desserts and to encourage more participation.”

Rose added, “Since the desserts are taste tested and judged the day before the festival, the public will now get to see all who participated and their yummy desserts through the photo display.”

Submit your favorite pear dessert to the Kelseyville  Pear Festival’s annual Pear Dessert Contest. Experienced cooks and beginners alike are encouraged to compete. The desserts may contain any variety of pears that are fresh, canned, frozen or dried.

The entries must be accompanied with a legible copy of the recipe that includes the name of the dessert and the entrant with a contact phone number.

The entries must be ready to eat and in a disposable container.

To be considered in the judging, desserts must be delivered to the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church Friendship Hall, 5340 Third St., between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23. Judging will follow at 2 p.m.

Judges this year are Madeline Lyons, Marcie Cadora and Chris Mansell.

Lake Parts in Lakeport is the contest sponsor and grand prizes are gift certificates to local restaurants.

All recipes become the property of the Kelseyville Business Association and the Pear Festival Committee for future publication and promotion.

For an application go to www.kelseyvillepearfestival.com/events/contests .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Community members receiving CalFresh/EBT, formally known as “food stamps,” can now receive up to $30 free in fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets in Mendocino and Lake counties, this is up from a previous $15 match.

The program is a win-win-win situation because our neediest community members can access more fresh, local food.

Farmers are able to sell more produce and our tax dollars return to the community.

The Market Match Program increases food security in the community by providing a dollar for dollar match for CalFresh users at local farmers' markets.

For example, when you spend $15 of CalFresh at the market on eligible food items, you can receive $15 of Market Match to spend on fruits and vegetables. 

Up until now, the maximum match amount has been $15 and $20 depending on the market.

However, just in time for the peak season at the farmers' markets the maximum match has been increased to $30 for the months of September and October.

“Mendocino and Lake county markets have over $25,000 in fresh fruits and vegetable incentives to distribute to CalFresh customers before April 2017,” said Stephanie Logsdon, Market Match coordinator at North Coast Opportunities. “This abundance of incentive money from a federal grant and local funds is giving new CalFresh shoppers the opportunity to come experience the farmers’ market and get twice as much healthy food for their family, as well as give a boost to those already using the program.”

CalFresh customers are encouraged to take full advantage of the $30 match by purchasing in bulk to preserve the bounty for the winter months.

Canning classes for CalFresh recipients are being planned to teach the skills of food preservation with produce purchased with Market Match.

“The market match program at the farmers' market has helped me make sure that I have enough food to feed my family,” said Connie Suarez. “CalFresh only goes so far, the match allows me to breathe a little easier. And I love serving my family fresh fruits and vegetables.”

For more information on farmers’ market locations and dates, visit www.mcfarm.org for Mendocino markets and www.lakecountyfarmersfinest.org for the Lake market participating in Market Match.

For questions about the Market Match program or to express interest in the food preservation workshops, please call 707-462-1958 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum, operated by the Lake County Historical Society, will be closed Saturday, Sept. 24, due to its presence in the Pear Pavilion at the 24th anniversary of the Kelseyville Pear Festival.

Come by the Pear Pavilion instead that day to talk to museum docents about their current displays and activities. See our stage coach replica up close.

Ask about the progress being made on the Blacksmith Shop, the current all-volunteer museum project.

Due to the Saturday closure, September’s Living History Day, usually held the fourth Saturday of each month, will be canceled. The museum will be open as usual Sunday, Sept. 25.

Save the Oct. 2 date when the Ely Stage Stop Marketplace will join the Fiddlers’ Jam. This free, family friendly, fun-packed day can be enjoyed by all, young and old alike.

The marketplace, just outside the Ely barn, will feature local handcrafted goods and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

As usual, musicians will jam from noon to 2 p.m. inside the barn. Enjoy music, refreshments, and the opportunity to browse and purchase the wares of local craftsmen and artists. Food will be available for purchase on site.

The museum is located at 9921 Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville (near Clear Lake Riviera). Normal hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Fiddlers’ Jams occur the first Sunday of every month from noon until 2 p.m. Living History events featuring local historians are held on the fourth Saturday of every month, again, from noon to 2 p.m.

Visit www.elystagestop.com or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990. Contact the museum for questions about volunteer work, donations of old wood for barn construction or docent applications.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Native Daughters of the Golden West Lupoyoma Parlor No. 329 will have booth number 159 at the Kelseyville Pear Festival on Saturday, Sept 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The group invites community members to stop by and say hi.

The will have free children's identification kits for parents and guardians.

Come learn more about Native Daughters and purchase a ticket for a chance to win one of their wonderful gift baskets or a chance to win the grand prize, a cord of walnut fire wood.

For more information contact Parlor Worthy President Carla Dore, 831-524-5588, or V.P. Dee Cuney, 707-235-2902, or visit the Native Daughters of the Golden West, Lupoyoma Parlor No. 329 Facebook page.

SACRAMENTO – The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will be addressing issues impacting rural areas at its upcoming meeting on Sept. 6 in Sacramento. 

The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Main Auditorium, 1220 N St.

“Rural communities are the foundation of California’s agricultural sector,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “While California’s farm and ranch lands do not reside in statistically rural areas, a majority are ‘rural in character’, struggling with issues related to unemployment and housing. How we celebrate these communities and provide greater access to needed services will be part of our discussion.”

California’s rural population ranges between 2-12 percent of the population depending on the definition of rural being used.

Federal agencies from the U.S. Census Bureau to the U.S. Department of Agriculture calculate the rural definition differently, based on population density or other factors such as metro or non-metro areas. 

This has a direct impact on federal program eligibility (housing, community development, and telecommunication programs) for rural areas in the state, often making California communities ineligible.  The board will be discussing this item along with other key issues impacting rural communities.

Invited speakers include: Lorin Kusmin USDA Economic Research Service (via teleconference); Janice Waddell, USDA Rural Development; Stanley Keasling, Rural Community Assistance Corporation; Shelby Gonzales, San Joaquin Valley Regional Broadband Initiative; Eric Brown, California Telehealth Network; Rob Wiener, California Coalition for Rural Housing; Angela Avery, Sierra Nevada Conservancy; Mike Dozier, California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley; Shermain Hardesty and Penny Leff, University of California Small Farm Program.

“In rural communities, a larger percentage of employment is in farming, forestry and other natural resources,” said Craig McNamara, president of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. “Better understanding the local challenges and opportunities in these communities is essential as we continue to work on statewide issues related to water, agricultural labor and the regulatory environment.”

All meetings are open to the public and attendance is welcome.

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and the CDFA secretary on agricultural issues and consumer needs.

The state board conducts forums that bring together local, state and federal government officials, agricultural representatives and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.

This meeting will be streamed online at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/LiveMediaStream.html .

Follow the board on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/Cafood_agboard .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross will be the guest speaker at the Lake County Land Trust’s annual fundraising dinner. 

The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Lodge at Blue Lakes, 5135 State Highway 20, Upper Lake.
 
Secretary Ross has deep leadership experience in agricultural issues both nationally and internationally. 

Since her appointment in 2011, she has strengthened partnerships across government, academia and the non-profit sector in the drive to maintain and improve environmental stewardship and to develop adaptation strategies for the specific impacts of climate change.
 
She is passionate about fostering the reconnection of consumers to the land and the people who produce their food, and to improving the access of all California citizens to healthy, nutritious California-grown agricultural products, celebrated for their diversity and abundance in serving local, national and global markets.
 
Having served for 13 years as the president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers, Secretary Ross also has extensive knowledge of all aspects of the wine industry and its impact on the community.
 
“We are deeply honored that Secretary Ross has agreed to speak at our event,” said Val Nixon, president of the Lake County Land Trust. “She has such relevant expertise on so many issues that are important to this county and its future growth.”

Tickets cost $75 per person and include dinner, wine, appetizers and dessert.

During the social hour starting at 4 p.m. guests will also be able to peruse and bid on the silent auction featuring Lake County artwork and other items.

You can purchase your tickets online at www.lakecountylandtrust.org by clicking on the donate button, and choosing the annual dinner.  Please indicate your desire for meat or vegetarian in the notes section.  You may also send a check to the Lake County Land Trust, PO Box 1017, Lakeport, CA 95453.

Sponsorships are available. For further information about tickets/sponsorships, call the Lake County Land Trust at 707-262-0707 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .