LOWER LAKE, Calif. – On Saturday, Dec. 13, many gathered at the Lower Lake Cemetery to participate in the annual Wreaths Across America Ceremony to honor veterans.

Wreaths Across America was started in Arlington Cemetery to remember the fallen, honor those that serve, and teach the value of freedom to youth.

The Lake County 4-H Citizenship and Leadership Project (Lake County 4H C&L) has worked closely with community members for the last three years to lay wreaths at the Lower Lake Cemetery.

We would like to thank all those who sponsored Lower Lake wreaths including: Jen’s Little Bit of Everything, Clearlake Grocery Outlet, Gail Lombard, Judy Fletcher, Ledra Lance, The Wright Look, Kerrie’s Quilting, Sharon Vizena, Lisa Tinkler, Kim Harris, Cynthia Ott, Joe Madrid, Jan Peterson, Doreen Walstadt, Marie Sager, Melissa Pack, The Carpet Man, Mark Cann, B&G Tires, Nottingham Nursery, Chatoff Properties, Jenny Lynn, Lisa McDonald, Copy Cat, Four Corners Builder’s Supply, David Hughes, Lakeside Appliance, Cindy Pina, Rotary Club of Clearlake, Ed Zander, Russ Perdock, Dr. Mark Cooper, Pepe Mendoza, Hank Montgomery, Elaine Tracy, Gary and Bethany Rose, Peggy Browning, Mary Woodward, Anne Garner-Austin, Charlotte Schlink, Century 21 North Bay Alliance, Sally David, Carol Whittingslow, Mark and Nancy Conrad, Betty Painter, Shannon Ollenberger, Shari & Dennis Sawle, Dorrie Walker, Suzanne Freeman, Angela Laws, Suzanne Robinson, Boy Scouts of America Troop No. 44, Jonnette Moffet, Dan Bergmen, Carol Whittington, Rick and Vicki Iversen, Janet Button, Dr. Debra Sally, Carey Hayes, Rowland Mosser, Stephen Hayes, Clearlake Automotive, Southlake Rentals-Greg Evans, Jones and Lewis Funeral Home, Lisa Nowak, Carolynn Michaels, Kyle Forti, Meredith Wiser and DJ’s Pizza.

The final wreath county for 2014 was 185, up from 150 for 2013 and 100 in 2012.

Special thank you to DJ’s Pizza for letting 4-H C&L host a pizza fundraiser last October – all proceeds were used to sponsor wreaths.

Thank you to Castle Donuts and Konocti American Legion Auxiliary for helping provide refreshments for after the ceremony; Bethany Rose for bringing Wreaths Across America to Lower Lake; Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard for presenting the colors; to Penny and Dave for opening the House of Flags and helping set up the flags and refreshments; to Dennis Alexander and the Konocti Legion 40-08 for allowing the use of the Locomotive to deliver ceremonial wreaths.

Thank you to Dennis Alexander for providing his truck and teaching our children about veterans laid to rest in the Lower Lake Cemetery; Chaplain TC Cara for officiating our ceremony; Eric Pearson, cemetery manager, for helping to facilitate the ceremony and wreath lying; and Joanna Parker for lending her beautiful voice to sing Amazing Grace and the National Anthem during the ceremony. 

Thank you to the Lake County Fire Department for joining the ceremony; and to Middletown FFA members, Anderson Marsh 4-H, Lake County C&L 4H members and community members for placing wreaths.

Katy Evans is a local 4-H leader.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Amateur Radio Society will meet on Thursday, Jan. 29.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the conference room at the Lakeport McDonald's, 1077 Lakeport Blvd.

For more information about the group visit http://lcarsofca.yolasite.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/LCARSOFCA .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Chi Council for the Clear Lake Hitch will hold its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

The group will meet at 3:30 p.m. at the Lake County Agriculture Center, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

The draft minutes from the Dec. 3 meeting are available at http://www.lakelive.info/chicouncil/pdffiles/12.3.14minutes.pdf .

For more information about the group visit http://www.lakelive.info/chicouncil .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sons In Retirement (SIR) started the New Year with a new location for their monthly luncheon meetings.

The 2015 meetings will be held at noon on the second Friday of the month at T-N-T’s new facility at 2599 Lakeshore Drive in Lakeport.

At the Jan. 9 meeting the guest speaker was Jeff Cramer, representing Main Street Bicycles.

He was invited because some members had expressed an interest in establishing a bicycling group.

Cramer explained where bike paths were in Lake County and answered people’s questions. Bob Rumfelt volunteered to help establish a bicycling group.    

The membership chair, Larry Powers, introduced four new members, bringing the total number of members to 99. The new members are Richard Shaw, Bryce Smith, Jim Cary and Gary Faulker.

Frank West volunteered to take over the special events function and announced that the first special event will be the Valentine’s Day luncheon on Feb. 13. Wives and significant others are the guests and will not be charged for their meal.

West also announced that the annual picnic will be held on Oct. 9 at the county park.

The golf chairman, Jim Cary, distributed handy reference cards that show the full schedule of biweekly tournaments starting on April 8. Most tournaments are played on Wednesdays.

Travel chairman Bob Specht reported that he was arranging a two-night trip to Reno in early March to see the show “Madame Houdini.” The cost will be $168 per person. Anyone interested should call Specht at 707-279-0187.

Sons In Retirement is a social organization for men of retirement age who are pursuing the goal of enjoying their later years.

It has 142 branches with 18,000 members throughout California.

Branch 168 holds a luncheon on the second Friday of each month.

Anyone interested in learning more about Sons In Retirement is encouraged to contact Larry Powers, chair of the membership committee, at 707-263-3403, or visit the state Web site at www.sirinc.org .

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Soroptimist International of Clear Lake held its awards luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 22, at the Greenview Room in Hidden Valley Lake. 

“Live Your Dream” cash awards were given to three women who head of household or the sole providers for their families. 

They are currently enrolled in college courses to reach  their career goals.

Kristen Perkins received $500; Alisa Burris, $1,000; and the first-place winner, Jennifer Allen Malinowski, received $2,500.

This money can be used for tuition, books, transportation, childcare, or any expense to help ease the costs of attending college. 

The Ruby Award was given to Barbara Christwitz for her volunteer efforts to help women and girls in Lake County. 

Along with her Ruby Award, she received $300, which she is donating to the Freedom House domestic violence shelter run by Lake Family Resource Center.

All these women had inspiring stories and Soroptimist International of Clear Lake wishes them success in obtaining their goals.

Invited guests at the event were Mari Valdez, Healthy Start coordinator at Lower Lake High School, and Jolene Chappel, coordinator of The Nest in Lakeport. 

SACRAMENTO – At its Friday meeting, the California Transportation Commission unanimously approved the appointments of Lucy Dunn as the chair and Robert Alvarado as the vice chair, effective March 1.

Dunn and Alvarado will serve in their respective positions for one year.

Dunn, of Orange County, is president and chief executive officer of the Orange County Business Council.

Before joining the council, Dunn was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in 2004, to serve as director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

In June 2008, Gov. Schwarzenegger appointed Dunn to the California Transportation Commission, and in March 2012, Gov. Jerry Brown reappointed Dunn to serve a second term.

In 2012, she was appointed by the Ontario City Council to the board of the newly created Ontario International Airport Authority.

Dunn is an attorney admitted to practice before the California State Bar, the federal bar and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Alvarado, of Contra Costa County, has served as the executive officer and central district manager for the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council since 1997.

Previously, Alvarado was an administrative officer and business representative for the Bay Counties District Council of Carpenters from 1986 to 1997.

He previously has served as a member of the California Contractors State License Board, the Commission on Health Safety and Workers Compensation and the Board of Directors of the State Compensation Insurance Fund.

Alvarado was appointed to the commission by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2006, and in February 2014 Gov. Jerry Brown reappointed him to serve a third term.

The California Transportation Commission is an independent commission charged with responsibility for making project-specific and location-specific decisions in the programming and allocation of state transportation funds.

The commission is also charged with advising and assisting the California State Transportation Agency, California Department of Transportation, and the Legislature in formulating and evaluating state transportation policies and programs.