LAKEPORT, Calif. — Rotarians and community members gathered in Lakeport on Wednesday evening to build a bridge between the present and the future.

The Lakeport Rotary Club celebrated the burial of a community time capsule at Lakeport's Xabatin Park.

The time capsule, to be covered by a layer of concrete, is located near the park’s North Main Street entrance next to the curfew bell, a project Lakeport Rotary finished last fall.

With the time capsule, the club — celebrating its 100th anniversary this year — is looking toward 2050. That’s the year that the time capsule will be reopened.

Rotary President Pam Harpster credited numerous individuals for their help in the project, including city of Lakeport staff Jim Kennedy, Ron Ladd and Kevin Ingram, and many Rotarians.

“It’s been a group effort,” she said. 

Harpster also explained the reason for a time capsule.

“Why a time capsule? What the heck?” she asked.

For one, it will say hello to the future, and will preserve a bridge between now and 2050, Harpster said.

The time capsule will contain numerous items that she said represent the community, including letters, mementos and objects with sacred importance, such as a medicine bag gifted to the effort by Les Miller of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, containing soil from the grave of his grandmother, a tribal matriarch.

Miller called the time capsule a “super idea,” adding he is proud of Lakeport, the city where he grew up.

Harpster said a 5-foot-tall eagle statue also is planned to be located near the time capsule.

She said she and the club are looking forward to working with the city more.

Rotarian Jennifer Strong said being a Rotary president during a centennial is a tall order, but Harpster, who has had health challenges in the midst of it, met the moment.

“This park is a gift,” said Strong, who also grew up in Lake County. 

The park represents the past, present and future, Strong added.

Rotary has clubs in Kelseyville, Clearlake and Lakeport, with a satellite in Middletown. Strong said the club’s mission is to give back, and leave things better than they found them.

Strong said it’s overwhelming to think about all that volunteers do, and it’s a gift to be part of it. 

Rotary welcomes new members with the motto, “Service Above Self.” However, Strong said she thinks it’s more accurate to say “service feeds self.”

“We get more out of it than we give,” Strong said.

Rotary invites the community to take part in their centennial celebration, set for Saturday, Aug. 9, at 5:30 p.m. at the Soper Reese Theatre, 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport.  

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Rotary Club of Lakeport's website at www.lakeportrotary.org. 

Below is the list of items included in the time capsule.

*Rotary Club of Lakeport
Polo shirt with logo
Polo shirt — Centennial logo 1925-2025
Tote bag — Rotary Youth Exchange 2024 (Strong Financial Network)
District Conference Lake County 1952
Membership Classification List
Sources of Revenue 1992-1993
Polio Plus Society Certificate x2
District 5130 Newsletter June 2025

Packet from Pam Harpster – President
Letter to Future Presidents
Power Point Prez of last meeting, June 18, 2025
Time Travel – Capsule Invitation
District Grant Proposal for Time Capsule
District 5130 Letter from Governor
Sample of Rotogram

Letters to People (from Pam Harpster)
City of Lakeport
Jacob Glenn Thomsen
Clara Luchsinger
Kennedy and Quin Karkin
Colton and Connor Todd
Future Community Members

Letters from Rotary Members
April Leiferman
Dennis Fordham
Greg Scott
John Lawson
Faith Hornby
Pam Harpster

Club Brochure
Meeting Attendance List n.d.
Invocation
Songs-Lyric Book
A History of 57 Years of Service (booklet)
Manual of Information for Presidents and Secretaries
Banner
Golf Ball with Rotary logo
Wine Bottle-Crab Feed 2025
Time Capsule Flier

Rotary packet
Flag, pin, badge, magazine

Rotary Projects-Photos
Crab Feed 2025
Christmas Basket
Easter Egg Coloring 225
Hospice Lending Closet

Letters from Students
Upper Lake Elementary School-Teachers
Fourth Grade Classes:  Heather Hunt, Payton Conrad, Kathy Verstoppen, LanaVanBuskirk
Fifth Grade Classes:  Chelsie Gracia, Morgan Psalmonds, Allison Pivniska-Clouse

Book of Why
Thank You Letters from Upper Lake Elementary School Third Grade Class of Jasmin Harwell

*Rotary Club of Kelseyville Sunrise
-Membership -Projects    -Challenges
Banner x2
Rotary Pin – The Magic of Rotary + Thumb Drive
2024 Lincoln Penny
Gold Bell with Mount Konocti “K”

*Pins
City of Lakeport
Lake County Fair
Mendocino College
Mendocino College Foundation
Lake County Office of Education

*Assorted Items
Back Stage (magazine) May-June 2025
Belt buckle, city of Lakeport centennial, gifted by Lakeport Kiwanis Club
Best of Lake & Mendocino 2025 Magazine
Big Valley Rancheria – Medicine Bag; Sealed Envelope with Contents
Business Design Services
Brochures of service, Lake County Tribal Health
Certified Tourism Ambassador – Pin, Brochure; Welcome Anglers Sign
County of Lake – Business cards – Board of Supervisors, Administrators
Cub Scouts
Ganoung,Tom – CD, Laughter in the River
General Aviation News – May 22, 2025 - Clear Lake Splash In  
Habematolel (Pomo of Upper Lake) – Arrow March 2025 Magazine
Lake County Land Trust – Newsletter Spring 2025; Magnet; Brochure
Lake County Theatre Company – Shows for 2024-2
Lakeport Events 2025
Lake Family Resource Center – Services
Lake County Tourism Improvement District – Official Visitors Map, LAKELife 2024 
Lakeport Unified School District – Spring/Summer 2025 Reports to Community
Luchsinger, Clara – News Clippings, Sealed Envelope, Lake County Record-Bee, 4/4/2025
Mendocino College – 2024-25 Catalog, Fall 2025 Class Schedule, Degrees & Certificates,  
 Assorted Brochures; Dual Enrollment Stole
Shakespeare at the Lake 2025
Soper Reese Theatre – Shows, Classic Cinema
Strong Financial Network
That Ranch – Packet
The Ripe Choice Farm
Walk Through Time – CD, The Story of Anderson Marsh
100+ Women Strong Lake County
One-Team One Dream 
Silver Foundation
Sutter Health/Sutter Lakeside Hospital
Skylark Shores Resort
Lake County Fair – Lake County Rodeo 2025 poster
Lake County Library & Bookmobile – services, summer reading program
CLERC – Clear Lake Environment Research Center
Lake County Winegrape Commission – reports
Lake County Economic Development Corporation – rack card with services
Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians – medicine bag

*City of Lakeport
Xabatin Park – Big Water, Bold Vision – background on park planning/funding
Guide to Doing Business in Lakeport
Postcards – 7 City scenes
Movement Moai April 2025 - flier
Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee Members – rack card
Tote Bag with City seal
Public Works/Utilities – group photo plus accomplishments 2024-2025
City Manager’s Message; Budget Book FY 2024/2025