How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Opinion
A lot of adrenalin pumps through your system when your home is faced with destruction by wildfire.
It was astonishing how fast the Saratoga Fire went from “Hmm, that's the third siren I've heard go by, maybe I should step outside to see what's happening...” to “Get ready to evacuate!”
The crash that started the fire occurred around 4 p.m., when a drunk driver veered off the road. By 5 p.m., both sides of Highway 20 were ablaze all the way to the ridgetops.
Although we spent anxious hours in “evacuation standby” mode, ultimately, Cal Fire knocked the fire down with airplanes, helicopters, bulldozers and lots of boots on the ground.
The gratitude I feel for the efficiency and dedication of these incredibly brave, hard-working individuals cannot be adequately put into words, so I will just say a heartfelt “Thank you!”
I am always happy to write that check for the wildland fire protection fee, because I don't have the money myself to buy a DC-10 like they used on the Scotts Fire two years ago.
I cannot afford smaller chemical-dispersing airplanes or water-dropping helicopters. Heck, I cannot afford even a single bull-dozer.
Fortunately, we have Cal Fire. (Thank you, thank you, thank you!)
I was very sad to see the ruins of my neighbor's home, very close to the vehicle crash that started the fire.
Across the highway, I found another casualty of the fire: A sign urging drivers to call 911 to report drunk drivers.
Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Deb Baumann
Due to the accelerated sales of our wines and the depletion of our tasting room inventory, Ceago Vinegarden’s closing date has advanced from Sept. 14 to Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Also, our dock is being removed due to the low lake level. Our front gate will close to the public at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Wine club activities will take place as planned, and members can call 707-274-1462, Extension 111, for more information or send an email to
With sincere appreciation and gratitude, all of us at Ceago want to thank you for your support over the past ten years.
Jim Fetzer owns Ceago Vinegarden in Nice, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: JIM FETZER
I want to thank those who supported Lakeport Library’s summer reading program for sixth through 12th graders: Christy Luis, Deloris Moore, Ana Goff, Rita Davis, Gail Gomes of Lifestyle Obedience, Gina O’Dell, Sue Jensen, Carolyn Skylstad of The Twinkle Box; and everyone who donated pet items for Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Amy Patton works for the Lake County Library in Lakeport, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Amy Patton
This past weekend I discovered what has to be one of the best kept secrets in Lake County and that is the Fiddlers’ Jam at the Ely Stage Stop.
I had heard about it in the past but had not attended before and boy was I surprised by what I found when I got there.
First, when I got to the stage stop I was transported to another place in time. I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere when actually I was just off Soda Bay Road less than a mile from Highway 29 and Kit's Corner.
I drove up the driveway to the main building and found myself surrounded by old (antique?) farm implements which immediately transported me back in time. All the machinery is fascinating and there is even an authentic San Francisco cable car there. And a real stage coach too. How cool is that?!
So anyway, I parked in the shade under the oak trees and walked across to this big old red barn – with a very modern quilt square on the front. I found out that the barn isn’t really old at all but rather that volunteers built it of wood from barns that were old and it has only been there for a year or so. There was music coming out of the barn and the fiddlers were inside.
I said fiddlers and that’s what I expected to find but while there were several fiddlers that day there were also some guitars, a bass player, a mandolin, an accordion, and an autoharp or zither, and a drummer.
I recognized some of the musicians from the Lake County Symphony but there were also some with white hair and one of the fiddlers was a young girl who looked like she wasn’t even 10 years old yet.
They played music that ranged from “old timey” (as their leader, a man named Don Coffin, put it) tunes to Zydeco to songs everyone knew the words to. People were singing and dancing and there was magic in the air. There were also free cold drinks and homemade cookies.
I couldn’t believe all of this has going on for months now and I hadn’t been there before. I can assure you I will be there again – and again after that. And I encourage everyone who reads this to go check it out for an exceptionally good time on a Sunday afternoon.
And then – as if the music and magic in the barn weren’t enough – the main building houses a museum of local history with a gorgeous old-time bar and some really cool exhibits. Plus a big wraparound porch with comfy chairs and binoculars for a close-up view of the backside of Mt. Konocti.
I can’t say enough good things about this treasure that I found that has been here all along without my really knowing anything about it.
I had such a good time that I felt compelled to shout it from the rooftops (so to speak) and let everyone else know about it too.
I hope you go visit this treasure as soon as you can and that your time there is as much fun and as joyful as mine was.
Sally Fraser lives in Glenhaven, Calif. For more information about the Ely Stage Stop, visit http://elystagestop.com/ or check out the museum's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ElyStageStop .
- Details
- Written by: Sally Fraser