HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – At the July 13 meeting of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club, Sherrye Schwarz will give a presentation on irises.

The talk will include a hands-on presentation of dividing irises for replanting as well as a description of the components of irises and some of the different types or irises, such as the differences between bearded and nonbearded varieties.

There will be some divisions available for attendees to take home with them at the conclusion of the presentation

Meetings of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club are free and open to the public on the second Monday of each month.

They are held in the activities room of the administration building of the HVL Association, 18174 Hidden Valley Road.

A social gathering with refreshments begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by a business meeting and program at 10 a.m.

For further information, contact Cheryl Crawford at 707-987-8254 or e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Main Street Association will host a dedication for three lamp posts on Saturday, May 23.

The dedication event will take place at 3 p.m. at 290 S. Main St.

The lamp posts will honor Audrey Seiler and the founders of the Savings Bank of Mendocino.

Rev. Diana Green will be present for the dedication.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Local mindfulness teacher, author and life coach, JoAnn Saccato, will present a free workshop based on her eight-week Compassion-based Mindfulness for Peace, Clarity and Freedom course.

The workshop will be held at Harbin Hot Springs, 18424 Harbin Springs Road, Middletown, on Sunday, May 24, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the Temple.

The event is free, though attendees must be registered as a guest at Harbin.
 
At the free workshop, Saccato will provide information on the history and stress reducing benefits of a mindfulness practice, as well as guide participants through two mindfulness exercises.
 
Mindfulness is a body-based practice that invites one to pay kind, non-judgmental attention to direct experience of the senses, thoughts and emotions.

Studies indicate that mindfulness can help reduce stress and stress-related illnesses; increase focus and attention; decrease incidences of, and relapses with, depression; help reduce anxiety; aid the immune system; and aid in sleep and digestive disorders.

As well, mindfulness has been shown to help with addictive and compulsive disorders.
 
"Besides reducing stress, mindfulness helps participants gain deeper clarity, a new vitality and sense of freedom in their lives,” Saccato said.

Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and be ready for gentle movement exercises.
 
Saccato is author of “Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice” and her forthcoming book, “Compassion-based Mindfulness for Peace, Clarity and Freedom.”

For more information on Saccato and Compassion-based Mindfulness for Stress Reduction, Personal Clarity and Emotional Freedom courses, visit www.Compassion-basedMindfulness.com or call 707-350-1719.

For more information on visiting Harbin Hot Springs, visit www.harbin.org .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County Library director Christopher Veach invites the public to “come play with an Ipad, Galaxy Tab, Kindle Fire, and Nexus 7 tablet and learn how to download free ebooks from the Library!”

Library staff will conduct a free Technology Petting Zoo at Middletown Library 21256 Washington Street in Middletown from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, to introduce people to an array of small electronic devices.

Patrons can try out the various devices in the library and can bring in their own devices to get help with them.

People can use their Lake County Library cards to borrow electronic books through the library’s website for free. Library staff will demonstrate how to download ebooks at the Technology Petting Zoo.

For more information about the Technology Petting Zoo call Lakeport Library at 707-263-8817.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

Library events are posted on the calendar at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library/Calendar.htm .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A free tire amnesty event will be held on Wednesday, May 20, at Big Valley Rancheria.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of Konocti Vista Casino, 2755 Mission Rancheria Road.

There will be free dropoff of passenger vehicle and pickup truck tires, with or without rims, from anywhere in Lake County or with prior approval from tribal lands.

No split rims, no tires from tire businesses, no ag or tractor trailer tires.

Bicycle or motorcycle tires are OK.

Tires with rims must be smaller than 25 inches.

Only nine tires per transport will be accepted unless you have an exemption from the Lake County Environmental Health Division.

For an exemption, call Environmental Health at 707-263-1164.

For general questions about the event, contact Big Valley Environmental Director Sarah Ryan at 707-349-4040 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The event is funded by Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and CalRecycle.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Celebrate summer on Saturday, June 13, when the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum hosts its annual “Picnic on the Porch” fundraiser event.

It’s always a food and fun-filled day on the beautiful wrap-around stage stop porch looking out on Mt. Konocti. 

The day will be filled with entertainment and living history.

Professional harpist Linda Brown will offer a range of Celtic, classical and other melodies. 

Fashions “Then and Now” will be featured during the event. Barbara White, local specialist in period clothing, will model fashions popular in the Stage Coach Era. Anna Jones of Anna’s Boutique and friends will model local contemporary women’s fashions. 

Although the action that day is “on the porch,” a visit inside the main house affords the viewing of the current display on the history of the dairy industry in Lake County.

In addition to the stage coach and retired San Francisco cable car, pieces of historic farm equipment can be viewed in the barn and on the grounds. Come see the progress being made on the blacksmith complex.

A delicious seasonal box lunch from Rosey Cooks, local gourmet catering owned by Rosemary Martin, will be provided at noon. Rosey’s lunch is always a big hit.

Bring your own wine to sip in beautiful Ely Stage Stop wine glasses that are always available for purchase. Games, basket raffles and silent auction items will round out the afternoon.

Although lunch is typically served at noon, the fun will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. 

Event cost is $30/per person. For tickets, call Ely’s message line at 707-533-9990 and a docent will call you back, or visit the museum and ask the docents for tickets during museum hours, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tickets must be purchased by June 8. Seating is limited so get your tickets now.

The Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum, home to the Lake County Historical Society, is located at 9921 Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville.

Visit www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org , or check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop .