UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Shannon Michele of Cache Creek Catering and Lake County Wine Studio are presenting a monthly food and wine series featuring gourmet appetizers paired with select Lake County wines.

Locally produced foods are proudly featured as key ingredients in recipes created by Cache Creek Catering.

The series is held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second Friday of each month.

The per person cost is $25 and $20 for Wine Studio club members. Reservations are required.

Aug. 9 will feature a vegetarian summer menu with wines from Thorn Hill Vineyards.

The opening course will pair zucchini and feta turnovers with 2011 Lake County Sauvignon Blanc, followed by an heirloom walnut burger slider with aged white cheddar, heirloom tomatoes and rosemary aioli paired with 2008 Lake County Red Rock Cabernet Sauvignon.

The final course will be an apricot and citrus Madeleine with lemon mousse paired with the 2010 “Ice” Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc – Semillon blend.

For reservations and additional information, contact Susan Feiler at 707-293-8752.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Community Care HIV/AIDS Program will host its sixth annual Lake County AIDS Walk this September and is seeking participants.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, in Austin Park in Clearlake.

Organizers are looking for local agencies, organizations and businesses to put together walking groups, and/or join the event for the day with a booth or table.

The minimum pledge for a walker is $5. There is a suggested donation of $35 for having a booth or a table at the event; this donation can be waived for qualified nonprofits.

They also are accepting donations for the silent auction or opportunity drawing.

If you are interested in walking, volunteering, donating or setting up a table, contact them at 707-995-1606 by Sept. 2.

Visit the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyAidsWalk .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Time Bank of Thrive Lake County reached its 300th member on Monday, July 29.

“We’re really excited by this achievement,” said John Saare, North Lake and Technical Coordinator for the Time Bank of Thrive Lake County. “People all over the county are exchanging time rather than cash for services they absolutely need, or for services they otherwise wouldn’t have received if they had to pay cash for them. Office help, work around the house and yard, transportation, Santa Rosa ‘Trader Joe’ runs are all services people can and have benefited from.”

Carol Cole-Lewis, Thrive Lake County coordinator and Time Bank Project coordinator explained why this number is so important.

“We are finally reaching a critical mass where the momentum we’ve established will begin to sustain itself,” she said. “In the beginning, it was more difficult to get your needs met because of the limited number of people in the system. With more members, there’s a greater possibility of being helped, and of finding someone to help.”

Cole-Lewis continued, “More importantly, we have noticed a marked improvement of the percentage of Time Bankers doing trades every month. The month of July saw close to 20 percent of our members making a transaction. The Time Bank really works when people participate!”

The Time Bank is open to any Lake County resident, business or organization. The next free orientation brunch for new and prospective members is on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Kelseyville Methodist/Unitarian Universalist Church at 3810 Main St., Kelseyville (across from the Saw Shop).

The Time Bank Lakeport office on 307 N. Main St. is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Clearlake office at the Clearlake Food Pantry (14832 Lakeshore, Clearlake) is open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays.

For more information about Time Bank of Thrive Lake County, visit http://timebanklakeco.org or call 707-413-0220.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Rockhounds club will meet on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

The group's meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

They will hear from Rolfe Erickson, professor emeritus of geology at Sonoma State University, who will give a presentation on tektites.

What are tektites? Come to the meeting to find out.

Interested members of the public are welcome to attend.

Those who would like to join the club are welcome; annual club dues are $15.

Contact J. Anderson at 707-995-1189 for more information.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Sean Rudden, a member of the Anderson Marsh 4-H Club, has been awarded the 4-H Emerald Star, a special honor in recognition of his ability to plan, organize, present and execute a project.

Last April Sean organized and carried out a Countywide Dog Exposition. The exposition was held at the Lake County Kennel Club and was open to all 4-H and FFA members. It was reported to be a great success.

4-H Youth Development is a program of the University of California Cooperative Extension.

For more information on the 4-H program contact U.C. Cooperative Extension, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-6838.

Nicole Gentry is 4-H Youth Development secretary.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The group leading the recall effort of Sheriff Frank Rivero said they will be gathering signatures this Saturday, Aug. 3, and Sunday, Aug. 4.

Volunteers will be manning tables from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:

The Red and White Market in Clearlake Oaks;
Foods Etc. in Clearlake;
The Riviera Market;
The Grocery Outlet in Lakeport;
Safeway in Lakeport;
Kmart in Lakeport;
Walmart in Clearlake;
Bruno's Foods in Lakeport;
The Dollar Tree in Clearlake.

Petitions also have been mailed out to voters across the county in an effort to complete signature gathering by the Aug. 15 deadline.

For more information, contact the Committee to Restore Integrity and Recall Rivero, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-671-5569, or visit its Web site, www.recallrivero.com .