LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Have a talent you want to show off?

Each year the Lake County Fair offers the chance to show off your creativity in a variety of competitive exhibits from baking, quilting, photography, art and more.

You can win the bragging rights and cash prizes by entering your masterpiece in one of the fair's many competitive departments.

All entries into the Lake County Fair are made online at www.lakecountyfair.com/participate/enter-now/online-entries .

The Lake County Fair office at 401 Martin St. in Lakeport has computers that are open to the public during regular business hours through Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Internet access also can be found in a number of other public places, including libraries and at Umpqua Bank branches.

Exhibitor Contest Handbooks are available on the Lake County Fair’s Web site and in a variety of locations around Lake County, including Lake County and Clearlake Chambers of Commerce, the 4-H Office, CVS, Kelseyville Drug, Bird Brain Designs, Cobb Mountain Hardesters, Red and White Market and Tower Mart in Clearlake Oaks, Riviera Foods, Rainbow Ag, CJS Ranch Supply, Lakeshore Feed, Barreda’s Lower Lake Feed, Pet Acres, Sentry Market and various senior centers. 

Contest deadlines are 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.

More than 3,000 entries were displayed last year at the Lake County Fair with winners receiving $13,090 in premiums.

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

The 2015 fair dates are Sept. 3 through Sept. 6.

The Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year.

For more information visit the fair online at www.lakecountyfair.com or at its Facebook page.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – With only seven teams confirmed for this year’s “Grillin’ on the Green” cookoff, the Westside Community Park Committee is urging interested grillers to sign up before Friday, July 24.

Call Cindy Ustrud at 707-263-7091 to add a team.

This year’s “Grillin’ on the Green” barbecue cookoff is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The event takes place at Westside Community Park, 1401 Westside Park Road.

The fundraiser features food, drink and entertainment for all ages.

Local organizations, individuals and professionals go head-to-head in the cookoff, preparing their best barbecue recipes for attendees who then cast Peoples’ Choice votes for the favorites.

New this year is the addition of three “celebrity” judges who will select their favorite griller. Michelle Malm, food services director for the Kelseyville Unified School District; Dave Faries, managing editor of the Lake County Record-Bee; and Michael Lunas, a Superior Court judge in real life, have agreed to put their “foodie” reputations on the line.

Sponsors of the event are sought and will be recognized at the Grillin’ on the Green event. Levels of sponsor recognition are $100, $300, $500, $1,000, $3,000, and $5,000.

Information about the event can be found on the park’s Web site, www.westsidecommunitypark.org , or on Westside Community Park’s Facebook page.

Additionally, people may call Dennis Rollins, 707-349-0969, for information.

Westside Community Park is a city of Lakeport recreational facility that has been in development for 15 years.

The nonprofit park committee is developing the park in conjunction with the city of Lakeport, volunteers, and numerous contributions by individuals and businesses dedicated to constructing a recreational facility for the youth and adults of Lake County.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Chacewater Winery and Olive Mill’s inaugural “Black Label Wine Release & Music will take place on Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26.

The festival will focus primarily on bringing people to Lake County to experience two days of wine, music, food and fun.

Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Doors open at 11 a.m. on both days.

The two-day pass sells for only $45 with a $5 discount for Chacewater’s new and existing club members. Wine club members also get four free wine tasting tickets and a food voucher for a plate of Chacewater’s famous carnitas.

Tickets are available at the Chacewater tasting room in Kelseyville, or they can be purchased online at www.chacewaterwine.com .

Chacewater will be releasing four “Black Label Reserve” Lake County wines: 2010 Petite Sirah, 2012 Red Blend, 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2013 Chardonnay.

Tastings for each of the wines will be available at the event. Chacewater also will offer tastings for its other high quality wines.

A portion of the event profits will benefit the Lake County Family Resource Center, according to Chacewater’s owner, Paul Manuel.

The event will be held at Chacewater Winery & Olive Mill located at 5625 Gaddy Lane in Kelseyville.

For more information please contact Chacewater at 707-279-2995 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

COBB, Calif. – The Lake-Mendo unit of Backcountry Horsemen of California (BCHC) invites the community to a Leave No Trace presentation, followed by a hike/ride on Boggs trails.

This free event will take place on Saturday, July 25, beginning at 9 a.m.

They will meet at the clearing adjacent to the start of Gail's Trail across the main parking lot.

“Leave No Trace” refers to a set of outdoor ethics promoting conservation in the outdoors, www.lnt.org .

It is built on seven principles: plan and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife and be considerate of others.

Lisa Daes, a Kelseyville resident and her pal “Miss Muley,” will be leading the informative and entertaining talk.

Daes has been a BCHC member for over 10 years, and previously served as state co-vice president of education. She is a certified Leave No Trace trainer through the Center of Outdoor Ethics, a Wilderness Rider educator with Backcountry Horsemen, and Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with the Los Padres Forest Service.

A moderate hike on Boggs trails led by Friends of Boggs Mountain board member, Karen Rhoads, will follow immediately after the talk.

Please bring water and wear sturdy shoes. Bike and horseback riders are also encouraged to attend, but are free to explore the trails on their own after the presentation.

For more information, please contact Rhoads at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-321-4964.

COBB, Calif. – The Clear Lake Callayomi Masonic Lodge F.&A.M. will hold the 12th annual Masonic Scholarship Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The event will take place beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at Adams Springs Golf Course, 14347 Snead Court, Cobb.

The cost is $70 for participants who walk the course, $80 for entrants who use a golf cart. The cost includes lunch, tee prizes, raffle, and more. The cost for golf only is $50 per person.

The field is limited to 60 golfers, with the cutoff date set for Sept. 4.

Please make checks payable to Clear Lake Callayomi Masonic Scholarship Fund and mail to P.O. Box 3590, Clearlake, CA 95422-3590.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Rotary began its new Rotary year this past Wednesday with a bang. 

Jennifer Strong, the new president of the club, unveiled a new and innovative approach to the leadership of the club this coming year. Instead of just one president, the club is actually going to be run by all of the club’s past presidents – 16 in total.

It’s going to be fast-paced, fun and filled with a tremendous amount of variety, according to Strong, who also unveiled the ambitious club goals for the year which include growth of the membership, community service projects and international projects. 

The Rotary Club of Lakeport meets every Wednesday at noon at the Lakeport Elks Lodge.

Interested in becoming a member? They would love to see you.

For more information visit www.lakeportrotary.org .