The public is invited to hear storyteller/author/entrepreneur Tedde McMillen of Hidden Valley Lake at the Middletown Luncheon Club on Wednesday, June 17, at noon at the Social Hall of the United Methodist Church on Armstrong Street in Middletown.

How McMillen’s daughter discovered an ancient beverage in India after a harrowing experience in China and how those experiences led them to starting the Oregon Chai company is an exciting and well-told story.

Samples of chai tea will be available to round out the lunch served by Oro Fino Rebekah Lodge. And there will be door prizes. Lunch is $5, payable at the door. Reservations are not required.

McMillen and her daughter started making chai tea in their kitchen, and in three years developed Oregon Chai into a million-dollar annual sales company. They sold the company less than a decade later for $75 million.

McMillen’s book, “Million Dollar Cup of Tea” is out on the market plus her workbook, “How to Take Your Food Product to Market.”

If you don’t know about the Middletown Luncheon Club (MLC), here is the perfect opportunity to tap into the 108-year continuum of community and fun.

MLC meets every third Wednesday of the month from January through November. A nonprofit organization is selected to provide lunch, and there is a different program each time to keep things lively and informative.

For more info on the MLC, contact Helen Whitney 707-928-9812.

The deadline for entry in most categories is Friday, Aug. 7. Late entries will not be accepted.

Exhibitor Contest Handbooks are available in a variety of locations around Lake County, including the Greater Lakeport Chamber of Commerce, the 4-H office, senior centers, the Farm Bureau office, Kelseyville Drug, Rainbow Ag, Hardester's Markets, Middletown Feed, Lakeshore Feed, Riviera Foods, the Clearlake Chamber of Commerce, Pet Acres and the Redwood Empire Fair.

Lake County Fair contest entry forms must be filled out on the Internet. Contestants can access the forms from any computer with Internet access at the Fair's Web site, www.lakecountyfair.com .

A high speed Internet connect is required. Computers are available in a variety of places, including schools, libraries and the fairgrounds office. Fairgrounds staff will be happy to assist contestants who visit the fairgrounds office during regular business hours. Contestants are well advised to avoid the last minute rush and get their entries completed early.

The Lake County Fair Board has chosen "Fun in the Sun!" for the theme of the 2009 Fair.

A number of new contests are offered for 2009, including decorated cupcakes, decorated gourds, sugarless cooking, melon painting, t-shirt decorating, hats, jewelry, and clothing made from duct tape, and family feature booths.

In addition, clothing and textiles has been moved to a new building, and a local volunteer group is working to enhance demonstrations and displays of fiber arts entries. Many special awards in the clothing and textiles area now include cash prizes that are sponsored by the Konocti Quilters Guild.

The Lake County Fair traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport.

The 2009 fair dates are Sept. 3 through Sept. 6.

The fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events enjoyed by more than 37,000 people each year.

For more information please call the fair office at 707-263-6181, or visit the fair on the Internet at www.lakecountyfair.com .

Rob Roy golf pro Bob McDonald with the winning quilt raffle ticket. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – The Acme Foundation has announced the winner of its quilt raffle.

The winning ticket was drawn on June 1st by Bob McDonald, golf pro of Rob Roy Golf Club, which is where the Acme Foundation will hold its annual fundraiser on Sept. 20.

The winner is Debbie Baker of Novato.

Pat Meyer, president of The Acme Foundation, thanked all who participated in the raffle and helped sell tickets for this event.

As previously stated in Lake County News, 100 percent of all net proceeds from this raffle and all Acme Foundation events and donations received go toward helping pay the veterinary expenses of seriously ill cats and dogs belonging to Lake County low income seniors and disabled persons.

For more information about attending the foundation's September fundraiser or to donate an auction items call 707-928-5200.

Visit the Acme Foundation's Web site at www.acmefoundation.org .

Our new place is McDonald's, 1400 Todd Road, Lakeport. Thanks to Nick for letting us use their meeting room.

The time is changed to 1 p.m.

The date is the same, the last Saturday of every month.

June 27 is the next meeting. Food and drinks can be purchased from McDonald's but no purchase is necessary to use the room.

All information is on the club website: http://meetup.com/lcflyingsaucerclub . Membership and meetings are always free.

Sign up on the Web site to receive updates. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-263-3391.

Closures:

Holdenreid Road: In the Kelseyville/Finley area, effective immediately Holdenreid Road at Hill Creek is closed to all traffic due to bridge failure. The public is urged to use alternate routes.

Highland Springs Road: Highland Springs Road, between Highway 29 and Big Valley Road, is subject to full road closure – which began June 1 – and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Wednesday, June 10, for necessary road reconstruction. Access to Helms will be open during this time.

Soda Bay Road: Through Aug. 28, Soda Bay Road, between Blower Road and Cal Packing Road, will be closed to through traffic Monday through Thursday (weekends excluded) between the hours of 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in order to construct the realignment of two sharp curves in this section of roadway. The road will be open to all traffic during nights and weekends, and access to local residents will be made available at all times during construction. Signs and barriers will be in place to notify the public of the need to use alternate routes.

Bridge Arbor Road: Effective immediately, Bridge Arbor Road, four-tenths of a mile from Highway 29, is closed to all traffic due to bridge failure. Please use alternate routes.

Mathews Road: Effective immediately and until further notice, Mathews Road at Manning Creek (approximately 0.15 miles from Highway 175) will be closed to all traffic due to bridge failure. Signs and barricades are in place to alert the traveling public and emergency services of the need to use alternate routes.

Construction:

Lake Street: On Lake Street in Clearlake Oaks construction began Tuesday and will continue until July 17. Construction will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, holidays and weekends excluded. During this time single-lane controlled traffic is expected with delays of up to 20 minutes. Motorists are requested to use alternate routes during construction days and times.

Road conditions are subject to change. Please use extreme caution driving on all county roads.

For more information call the Public Works Department at 707-263-2341.

This year the co-sponsors for the contest are the Clear Lake Junior Horsemen and the Scotts Valley 4H Horse Group.

“It's really appropriate that these groups are sponsoring,” said Rodeo President John Fulton. “Many of them and their alumni have participated in the contest over the past many years.”

A current rodeo director, Nick Moranda, was a winner in the early 1990s.

The contest is open to boys and girls, ages 4 to 8. The deadline to enter is Friday, June 26. The actual competition will be held at the Narley Dude Ranch at noon on Saturday, June 27.

Participants are encouraged to dress in their best western gear (no live props) and they will be asked a few questions during a short interview.

The winners, one boy and one girl, will be announced as they are introduced in the arena on Friday evening, July 10, at the 80th Annual Lake County Rodeo at the Fairgrounds in Lakeport.

Each winner receives three passes to the rodeo for that evening. During their introduction on Friday, they will be awarded a special silver buckle.

Applications can be printed off the official rodeo Web site at www.lakecountyrodeo.com ; picked up at the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, 875 Lakeport Blvd., in Lakeport or call 707-263-5092 to have an application mailed to you.