MIDDLETOWN – Twin Pine Casino & Hotel will celebrate its premier wine country location and the new “crush” season by hosting their “Harvest Grape Stomp” event at the casino on Saturday, Oct. 10.

The event will take place from noon to 5 p.m.

Guests will enjoy a special barbecue lunch prepared by Twin Pine’s Manzanita Restaurant, an old-fashioned grape stomp and the opportunity to sample Twin Pine wines.

Participants will be automatically entered into a contest to determine who can stomp out the most juice and prizes will be awarded.

A Bay Area group, “The Dadz,” also will play music outside during the event.

The day includes a grape-stomping Lucy look-alike costume contest with prizes for the “best Lucy.”

There will be a silent auction of items donated by local merchants, and income from the silent auction will be donated by Twin Pine to “Operation Tango Mike” in Kelseyville, a nonprofit organization that sends local care packages and other support materials to U.S. troops stationed overseas.

To facilitate weekend stays in the area, Twin Pine Hotel is offering a special overnight grape stomp hotel package, which includes discounts on rooms and meals, a complimentary wine tasting and casino free play.

The event cost is $30 per person, $25 for designated drivers.

Reservations are suggested by calling 707-987-1255. Twin Pine Casino & Hotel is located one mile south of Middletown on Highway 29. For more details call 800-564-4872 or visit Twin Pine’s Web site at www.TwinPine.com .

Twin Pine Casino and Hotel is owned by the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians. The casino has operated a Las Vegas-style gaming facility of state-of-the-art slot machines and table games in Lake County for the past 15 years.

 

 

 

KELSEYVILLE – Fall is here and it is fast approaching the end of car show season but not before Grace Church in Kelseyville puts on their first annual motorcycle and car show on Saturday, Oct. 10.

The event will take place at 6716 Live Oak Drive, Kelseyville, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“This is something new for Grace,” said Ray Perry, one of the organizers. “This is a way to reach out to the community and provide an opportunity for an exciting local event.”

The car show is open to a variety of vehicles this first year, including stock motorcycles and custom bikes of all years, 1979 or older restored or original automobiles, customs, street rods, rat rods, sports cars and foreign vehicles.

Dash plaques will be given out to the first 100 vehicles who register and there will be lots of award plaques and a best-of-show trophy for the favorite vehicle.

A playground and activities will be provided for the children.

A barbecue at a reasonable price offers hamburgers, hot dogs or a yummy tri-tip sandwich. Snow cones, water and soft drinks also will be available.

Two different bands are scheduled to play during the event.

“We are attempting to do something different by creating custom shirts with vehicles that are at the show,” said Perry. “Depending on the type of shirt, prices are very reasonable and shirts can be made on the spot. We are anticipating that everyone will have a great time.”

Registration applications may be picked up at the Grace Church office at 6716 Live Oak Drive from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday; at Catfish Books on 11^th Street in Lakeport, or download a packet at http://HarvestCarShow.com .

For more information call Ray Perry at 707-245-8376, email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to http://HarvestCarShow.com .

 

LOWER LAKE – Lake County wines will be the exclusive vintages served during a prestigious American Wine Society (AWS) banquet in November, the Lake County Winegrape Commission has announced.

In addition, Lake County representatives will participate in program seminars with three separate presentations on the Lake County winegrape growing region.

This year’s national conference of the American Wine Society is scheduled for Nov. 5-7 and will take place in Destin, Fla.

During the event’s awards banquet, the Lake County Winegrape Commission will pour Lake County wines to more than 600 attendees, according to Shannon Gunier, executive director of the commission. Lake County’s Winegrape Commission is the only sponsor pouring at the banquet, according to Gunier.

Lake County Winegrape Commission Chair Peter Molnar and Wildhurst Vineyards winemaker Mark Burch will join Gunier in giving seminar presentations on Lake County and offering tastes of Lake County wine.

The Lake County contingent will be among winery owners, pioneers in the various aspects of the wine industry, and renowned winemakers who are selected to present sessions during the event, Gunier said. The conference also includes a program educating members to become AWS trained wine judges.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the commission to showcase Lake County wines at a national event,” said Molnar, who will be giving a presentation on “A Taste of Lake County.”

Gunier will be on hand to pour tastes for seminar attendees.

In another session, Burch will be speaking about “Lake County Sauvignon Blanc, the Right Grape in the Right Place,” and guests will be able to “taste for themselves,” states the event brochure.

To prepare for the conference, the Winegrape Commission arranged for over 30 cases of Lake County wine to be shipped to Florida, said Gunier.

She said she looks forward to promoting and pouring the area’s fine wines at the AWS conference.

For further information about the Lake County Winegrape Commission and its programs, call the commission office at 707-995-3421 or visit its Web site, www.lakecountywinegrape.org .

SACRAMENTO – The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced that biomass conversion facilities may begin to apply for qualification under the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).

This allows farm producers or owners of eligible material who sell to these facilities to apply for matching payments under the collection, harvest, storage and transportation (CHST) component of BCAP, which provides financial assistance to owners of eligible material who deliver the material to qualified biomass conversion facilities that use biomass to produce heat, power, biobased products or advanced biofuels.

An eligible material owner may be eligible for a matching CHST payment for eligible material delivered to a qualified biomass conversion facility which will be paid at a rate of $1 for $1 per dry-ton equivalent received from a qualified biomass conversion facility, not to exceed $45 per dry-ton equivalent. An eligible material owner may receive payments for a period of two years. The purpose of the matching payments is to assist biomass producers with the CHST cost of delivering biomass to a qualified biomass conversion facility.

For example, if a qualified biomass conversion facility pays a producer $30 per dry ton for biomass, the eligible material owner or producer would be able to apply for a matching payment of $30 per dry ton from FSA.

“We applaud the USDA for providing more biomass incentives,” said California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “This is a progressive option for power generation and waste management, and I urge all who may benefit to strongly consider this program.”

Biomass conversion facilities may become “qualified” by signing an agreement with FSA state offices. The agreement generally provides the framework that facilitates the making of CHST matching payments to eligible material owners or producers who plan to deliver biomass to that facility.

After a biomass conversion facility becomes “qualified” by signing an agreement with FSA, eligible material owners or producers, who market eligible material to that biomass conversion facility, must apply for the CHST matching payment program at their nearest FSA county office before the eligible material is delivered.

Eligible material owners must also provide a copy of their delivery agreement with the qualified biomass conversion facility as part of the application for a CHST matching payment. After the product is delivered, a producer must provide FSA with documentation of product quantity, quality, and payment rate. County offices will verify payment request information with the qualified biomass conversion facilities.

Interested biomass conversion facilities should contact their FSA state offices for further information and can visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/energy to download and review the agreement.

 

 

 

KELSEYVILLE – The 17th annual Pear Festival drew a large crowd despite scorching temperatures that hit as high as 102 degrees Saturday in downtown Kelseyville.

Attendees didn’t let the heat deter them from celebrating the pear and visiting with friends.

The day kicked off at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the Kelseyville Firehouse that raises money for their scholarship fund.

The parade hit Main Street at 9:30 a.m. and featured a variety of floats from class floats for homecoming to the Kelseyville Lions Club, Chiefs football and Shriner’s Hospital to name a few.

People of all ages lined the streets to enjoy the traditional, creative, entertaining and meaningful floats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spectators were also treated to a fly by of a Navy airplane and REACH helicopter during the parade.

Vendor booths lined the length of Main Street from the Saw Shop to the Catholic church. People purchased everything from pears to jewelry and clothing to art, Peruvian decorative pieces, pottery and much more.

The main stage featured performances by Sax O’Rama and Blue Collar while the Oak Tree Stage hosted the Konocti Fiddlers, Gordie the Banjologist and Michael Barrish.

Children had plenty to keep them busy over by the Presbyterian Church. They enjoyed taking a trip down the slide and watching a puppet show performed by Tony Borders, as well as a juggling performance by Ian Smith and a presentation on guide dogs by Anne Barquist.

Attendees enjoyed copious varieties of food, from the Kelseyville FFA tri-tip sandwiches to traditional tamales and many pear treats. They cooled off with bottled water sold by many booths, pear shakes and snow cones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They went to the Pear Pavilion to check out old relics of the pear harvesting business that had been collected throughout Big Valley.

The energy of the festival was palpable, with everyone appearing to be enjoying the festivities. There were people of all ages filling the street and many dogs accompanying their owners. People caught up with old friends and made new ones.

With the economy struggling, it was clear that people appreciated the free festival and the opportunity to come out and mingle, purchase products, enjoy the performances and parade, learn about the history of pear farming in Kelseyville and support the local community.

Local businesses appreciated the opportunity for more customers, as many Pear Festival attendees perused the stores and enjoyed food and drink at the Saw Shop, Johns Market, LuLu’s Ice Cream and Dessert, Brix, Studebaker’s, Focused on Wine and Lyndall’s Sports Stop Grill.

 

 

 

KELSEYVILLE – The 13^th annual Steele Wines Harvest Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, featuring wine, food, art, entertainment and more.

Famous for its grape-stomping competition for kids and adults, the two-day festival will offer a chicken barbecue served by the local 4-H Club, as well as several vendor booths with plentiful food, fine art,

arts and crafts, and other unique souvenirs and gifts.

Live music during the festival will be provided by Sax-O-Rama, Cal Alumni Big Band, Bill Noteman & the Rockets, David Neft and more.

Tasting of the Steele wine collection from Lake County vineyards also will be available throughout the weekend, and tasters will go home with a Steele Wines logo glass.

Children are welcomed to attend the event and hang out in the kids’ corner, featuring face painting, storytelling, kids’ crafts, and more. A pancake breakfast with the Boy Scouts will be offered on Sunday

morning.

Sponsored by Steele Wines and held in conjunction with the Harvest Festival, the 20^th annual Vineyard Run for Literacy will take place Sunday, Oct. 11.

A benefit for the Lake County Literacy Coalition, the 5K/10K run and 5K walk begin at Steele Wines, taking participants through autumn-colored vineyards and orchards. Registration is at 8 a.m. Sunday, and the race follows at 9 a.m. The entry donation is $15 per person and $25 per family.

Steele Wines is located at 4350 Thomas Drive at Highway 29 in Kelseyville. The tasting room is open Sunday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information about Steele Wines or the Steele Wines Harvest Festival, call 707-279-9475 or visit www.steelewines.com .

For more information on the Vineyard Run for Literacy, call 707-263-7633.