KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Stop by the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum for some old time American fiddle music on Sunday, July 5. 

The place will be decked out in red, white, and blue and the musicians promise to add some patriotic tunes to the round robin jam session. Musicians will play in the Ely barn from noon until 2 p.m.

Donations made during the jam benefit both the Ely Stage Stop, helping to fund the construction of the blacksmith complex, and the Old Time Fiddlers Association District 10, who uses it to partially fund their scholarship programs.

Come early to picnic and check out the latest museum acquisitions and displays. In the main house you can tip your hat to a newly loaned display of ladies’ Victorian era hats, hat boxes and hat pins, complements of Barbara White, local specialist in period clothing. You can also still enjoy the Lake County dairy history display in case you haven’t caught that one yet.

This free, family friendly event can be enjoyed by all, young and old alike.  Enjoy the music with beverages and tasty treats provided by the docents. Bring your own wine and sip it in Ely Stage Stop wine glasses that are available for purchase. 

Up for heartier fare? This Sunday local Pogo’s Pizza will be on site offering pizza, burgers, hot dogs and beer for purchase. 

There will be the regular monthly raffle near the end of the jam and more chances to purchase raffle tickets for the “Barns, Birds and Quilts” raffle that will celebrate a winner later in the year. Those items will be on display in the barn during the jam. 

Home to the Lake County Historical Society, the stage stop is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near Clearlake Riviera, just north of Highway 29-Kit's Corner. Current 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.

The August jam will take place on Aug. 2.

Living history events featuring local historians are held on the fourth Saturday of every month, again, from noon to 2 p.m. Catch the next one on July 25.

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.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. The “First Wednesday Artist Reception” will take place July 1 at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The featured artist for July is Lake County painter Lynne Wagner.

For $10 you can enjoy fine wine by the glass, delicious appetizers and friendly conversation as you appreciate new acrylic on canvas paintings and limited edition giclee reproductions of Wagner’s original art work. 

Those who attend will receive $20 in Saw Shop Bucks to use whenever it’s convenient. 

The Saw Shop is located at 3825 Main St., Kelseyville. 

Call 707-278-0129 to make dinner reservations. Visit www.sawshopbistro.com .

A poem whose subject needs no introduction! Melissa Balmain lives in New York State, and her most recent book is Walking in on People, from Able Muse Press.

Nightmare

Your TV cable’s on the fritz.

Your Xbox is corroded.

Your iPod sits in useless bits.

Your Game Boy just imploded.

Your cell phone? Static’s off the scale.

Your land line? Disconnected.

You’ve got no mail—E, junk or snail.

Your hard drive is infected.

So here you idle, dumb and blue,

with children, spouse and mother—

and wish you knew what people do

to entertain each other.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright 2014 by Melissa Balmain, “Nightmare,” from Walking in on People, (Able Muse Press, 2014). Poem reprinted by permission of Melissa Balmain and Able Muse Press. Introduction copyright 2015 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. 

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The summer showings of free movies in Middletown Square Park will begin on Saturday, July 11.

The showing will begin at sundown at the park, located in front of the Middletown Library and Senior Center at 21256 Washington St.

The featured film will be “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”

The Middletown Merchants Association, Hardester's Market and Star Gardens is hosting the event.

The Boy Scouts will offer a concession stand.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The opening event of the Summer Poetry Series takes place Wednesday, June 24, at 6 p.m. at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro, 3825 Main St. in Kelseyville, hosted by Lake County Poet Laureate Casey Carney. 

The June 24 reading features poets Richard Schmidt and Lourdes Thuesen, and special guest musician Mike Wilhelm. 

Open mic signups start at 6 p.m. Poets are invited to share up to five minutes of poetry.

The three readings will take place on the last Wednesday of the month, June 24, July 29 and Aug. 26, at 6 p.m., on the back patio of the restaurant.

Each reading will feature local poets, musicians and an open mic. 

The $10 admission includes a glass of wine, an appetizer and $20 in Saw Shop bucks, to be redeemed at the patron’s convenience. 

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Art Center (MAC) is pleased to invite the public to attend its third opening reception, “Sum of its Parts,” on Saturday, June 27.

The opening will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the center's gallery, 21456 State Hwy 175, located at the junction of Highway 29 and Highway 175.

The exhibit features works made by combining found or unrelated objects or compositing parts into an aesthetic and cohesive whole. Work on view by local artists is curious, humorous, meaningful and aesthetically pleasing.

Compelling artwork, friends old and new, harmonic music provided by Kay Ashley, and organic and biodynamic wine poured by Beaver Creek Vineyards promise a delightful evening of art, culture and community not to be missed.

MAC is open Thursday through Saturday, from noon to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 12:30 to 6:00 p.m.

The gallery will be closed Thursday, June 25, and Friday, June 26, for installation.

To learn more about classes and events, to become a member or support MAC with a donation, please visit www.middletownartcenter.org or call 707-809-8118.