KELSEYVILLE – The Republican Party of Lake County Central Committee will meet on Monday, Oct. 26.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Riviera Country Club, located at 10200 Fairway Drive, Kelseyville.

For more information contact Chairman Randy Ridgel at 707-262-1217.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – This year’s Northern California Ride for Kids was held on Oct. 4 with 450 motorcyclists and supporters gathered at Solano Community College in Fairfield for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation fundraiser.

Twenty members of Clear Lake Road Riders attended for a ride in clear, chilly and sunny weather as a California Highway Patrol escort took the riders on a tour of wine country, complete with views of vineyards, mountains and farmland.

This year Clear Lake Road Riders and Hillside Honda were recognized for raising the second highest contributions for the Northern California Ride For Kids.

In addition to attending the ride many Clear Lake Road Riders volunteer on the day of the event.

Some members arrive on the day before the ride to attend training for registration, accounting and host duties. On the day of the ride members also act as escorts for family members who are living with children afflicted with pediatric brain tumors.

When the riders returned to the college, the Celebration of Life program recognized top fundraisers as well as 12 local brain tumor survivors.

For information about the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation go to http://www.pbtfus.org/ .

LAKE COUNTY – Lake Family Resource Center (Lake FRC) has announced that it is recruiting for volunteers to assist in its domestic violence program, including working at Freedom House.

Freedom House shelters families who are rebuilding their lives after having experienced domestic violence.

Lake FRC has always depended on dedicated volunteers and this year it is especially important.

“The State cut 100-percent of our domestic violence shelter funding this year, totaling one-half of all our domestic violence funding,” said Executive Director Gloria Flaherty. “This resulted in the elimination of several positions that staffed the shelter, plus other cuts. You can imagine the difficulty of covering shifts 24/7 with less than four full-time remaining staff members.”

The agency is hopeful that community members will be willing to help provide the comprehensive services necessary in the program.

Volunteering provides valuable experience as well as contributing to bettering your community. If you are unemployed or underemployed volunteering can help improve your resume, provide new contacts, and add new job skills, all while providing community service.

If you are retired, or looking for a constructive way to provide community service, volunteering will provide valuable experience, new friends, and help your community.

Domestic violence responders are required by the state to complete 40-hours of training.

Upon graduation, volunteer responders receive a certificate of completion and are eligible to volunteer.

Types of jobs include staffing shifts at the shelter, answering the crisis line, transporting clients if necessary, helping with support groups and children’s activities and paperwork.

Rae Eby-Carl, senior deputy director at Lake FRC and in charge of the domestic violence programs, is excited at the prospect of attracting couples to volunteer together.

“I am thinking that couples, or sets of two friends, might volunteer together to help us cover shifts at the shelter – especially at night,” Eby-Carl said. “They can stand together against domestic violence, and provide positive male role models for residents and their children.”

The training is scheduled for Oct. 19 through Oct. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 4325 Main St., Kelseyville.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Rae Eby-Carl at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-279-0563, Extension 103.

Lake Family Resource Center provides a multitude of services to build family stability and strength. The agency supports Lake County residents in achieving stable, self-sufficient, and healthy families and communities.

NORTHSHORE – The Northshore Lions will accept donations for White Cane projects at numerous locations in Lucerne, Nice and Upper Lake on Saturday, Oct. 17.

The donations will go toward the eye screening of elementary school children to assure their proper vision for all students.

One hundred percent of donations will be returned to the community for eye screening, exams and glasses as needed for those having no other way to pay for the necessary procedures.

The new Lions Club is seeking input for service opportunities along the Northshore.

Please send any information or mailed donations to the P. O. Box 924, Lucerne, CA. 95458

Look for the “White Cane” locations and please greet the new Lions – you will recognize them as they are your neighbors.

MIDDLETOWN – Friends of the Middletown Library are having their semi-annual book fair on Saturday, Oct. 17.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. am to 4 p.m. on the front lawn of the Middletown Library, located on the corner of Calistoga and Callayomi Streets in downtown Middletown.

Books will be sold by the bag at a bargain price of $5 per bag.

A special sale of paperbacks will be held, with a bag of the books cost $3.

Books for sale include best sellers, children’s, mysteries, spy intrigue, romance, cookbooks, self help, reference, audio tapes and CDs – and some surprise offerings.

All proceeds are for the purchase of new books and supplies for the library and the new library building fund.

Please show your support of the local library by visiting the book fair on Saturday.

LAKE COUNTY – The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners of Lake County are very pleased to announce the release of their 2010 Lake County Master Gardener Calendar.

The calendar was produced with Lake County home gardeners in mind.

The 2010 calendar theme is "Integrated Pest Management," commonly referred to as IPM, and contains management information produced by the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program for some of the most common pests found in Lake County gardens.

The calendar also includes a month-by-month gardening guide.

All information in the Master Gardener calendar has been written with Lake County growing conditions in mind, which makes it a unique, as well as useful gift for local home gardeners.

The calendar is now available for $10 if purchased at the UCCE office, or $12 if mailed.

For further information, or to order the calendar, contact UC Cooperative Extension, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, 707-263-6838, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .