HOPLAND, Calif. – Have you ever wondered where your wool sweater came from? Or just how to keep a 160-pound sheep still enough to shear it?

Join the Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) team and friends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 23, to get the answers to these and many more questions.

Expert shearer Matt Gilbert will be offering demonstrations with a few of HREC’s flock of more than 800 western whiteface sheep working as his models.

Visitors also will have the chance to see different kinds of wool from the fine, soft merino to the long, coarse Navajo-churros and to learn how they are graded.

Throughout the day Leslie Jensen, program coordinator from Elkus Ranch Environmental Education Center, will be giving a new use for Kool-Aid – using it to dye wool.

To complete the process there will be spinning demonstrations, workshops for children making simple spindles and even the chance to watch local weavers in action.

The day will provide opportunities for sheep farmers, fiber enthusiasts and families to get involved and learn more about every step of the process from sheep to sweater.

Visitors will be welcomed to the HREC new conference hall, The Rod Shippey Building, and will have chance to picnic on the grounds of the 5,300-acre center.

“We can’t wait to welcome the community to our beautiful site and to raise awareness of just one of the areas of research and education that we conduct up here. Our sheep are not only vital for the UC Cooperative Extension sheep shearing school but also for research into best management practices for rangelands and animal science,” said Hannah Bird, HREC community educator.

Admission is $5 for adults, children under 12 are welcomed for free (online registration or checks preferred).

HREC asks visitors to leave their pets at home to protect the site and the sheep resident there. Bring your own picnic and all utensils; some light food will be available from Mendocino 4-H.

Visit http://hrec.ucanr.edu/ to find out more and purchase your ticket.

Barn to Yarn will be held at the Rod Shippey Hall, 4070 University Road, Hopland.

For more information contact Hannah Bird, 707-744-1424, Extension 105, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Ever wonder what to do with used carpet? Compact fluorescent light bulbs? Used motor oil or vegetable cooking oil?

You want to do the right thing – recycle used oil, take materials to the monthly hazardous waste events, put beverage containers in your blue cart, and more – but on occasion, you’re just not sure whether something can be recycled or must go in the trash.

Fortunately, the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department announced that the recycling Web site with information specific to Lake County, www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us , has now been updated and we have added a Facebook for easy following of the most up to date information.

The Web site is divided into five main sections including Curbside Service, Facilities, Hours & Fees, Recycling & Composting, Hazardous waste drop-off events, and What can I do with...?

Curbside Service describes services available to residents and businesses of Lake County, and which services are specific to residents in the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport. The Facilities, Hours & Fees section lists recycling centers, the landfill and more.

The Recycling & Composting section shows residents where to drop-off recycling and e-waste, as well as recycling buy-back center locations.

There are tips on how to compost and where to purchase it, a list of thrift stores, and locations to recycle used motor, oil filters, and cooking oil.

A section also has been created for household hazardous waste drop off events, including the schedule.

A comprehensive list also has been created in the “What can I do with…?” section, which covers everything from aerosol cans to yard waste and what to do with those items.

For information on all recycling and disposal programs in Lake County, such as the monthly hazardous waste drop off events, bulky item pick-up, or to receive a copy of the current Recycling handbook, please call the recycling hotline at 707-263-1980 or visit the new and improved Web site at www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or receive up-to-date information by following the agency on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LCPublicServices?fref=ts .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Diamonds All-Star Cheerleading will hold its Spring Open Enrollment Day at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 17.

All children ages 3 to 18 are welcome.

There will be no tryouts and no cuts.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the program, do not miss this fun event.

For more information, visit www.nobodysbiz.wix.com/lcdc or https://www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDiamondsCheer?fref=ts .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – In an effort to better serve all Lake County residents, the SPCA of Clear Lake will be holding its monthly vaccination clinic in the city of Clearlake on Saturday, May 16.

The clinic will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. in the lobby of Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

Participants are reminded that all dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in carriers when brought to the event.

The vaccination clinic will not be held at the SPCA shelter in Kelseyville during the month of May, but will return to the shelter location on the third Saturday in June.

The SPCA of Clear Lake is a nonprofit society for the prevention of cruelty to animals serving Lake County.

For more information call the SPCA of Clear Lake at 707-279-1400. 

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The 10th annual Kelseyville Kids’ Garden Club Mother’s Day weekend spring plant sale will take place on Saturday, May 9.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kelseyville Elementary School garden, 5065 Konocti Road.

The children of the club have filled their cell packs, planted their seeds and transplanted a wide variety of heirloom tomatoes and various herbs into 4-inch pots.

They have gathered seeds from many of  their plants and packaged them for sale. 

There will be a selection of freshly picked produce available as well. 

Bring Mom out to enjoy the gardens and help support your local school garden project and after school enrichment program.

For more information call Helen Finch at 707-279-9400.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Artist Anna Sabalone and Lake County Wine Studio are presenting a series of monthly art classes.

The next class will be held on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

During the two-and-a-half-hour class, Sabalone will demonstrate with acrylic paints and participants will then paint a poppy flower.
 
All supplies will be provided along with a glass of wine for sipping for $40 each class.

Each class in the following months will focus specifically on a different art medium.

The June 21 class will focus on ink drawing.

Sabalone was born and raised in Lake County. She has been involved in the Lake County Arts Council since her teen years.

She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of Leeds, England for her undergraduate degree in English, history and anthropology.

She earned her teaching credential and Masters of Education from UCSB and has been teaching art, English, history and Academic Decathlon at Upper Lake High School since 2008.

For class schedule, reservations and additional information, contact Susan at 707-293-8752.
 
Lake County Wine Studio is both a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County.

Artists' shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.
 
The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake. It is open Monday, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m.; and Friday from 1 to 8 p.m.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030.