LAKEPORT, Calif. – The coveted People’s Choice Award for Celebrity Lip Sync 2013 went to the “Werewolves of London/Thriller” 18-member act, starring Robert Boccabella, president of Business Design Services of Lakeport.  

The Perpetual Trophy will be presented to Robert Boccabella for display in his office until Celebrity Lip Sync 2014.  

First runner-up this year was “Spice Girls.” A “keeper trophy” was awarded at the Sunday 2 p.m. performance to Jennifer Strong of Strong Financial Network for her win in 2012 with “Hero.”

More than 90 people from local businesses and civic organizations in Lake County participated in this year’s theme, “Syncing Around the World,” which packed audiences the weekend of April 20-21 at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport.

This fourth annual fundraiser for the Lake County Chamber of Commerce will assist the Chamber with community outreach.

Highlights of this year’s show included returning veteran master of ceremonies, Tom Lincoln of Lincoln-Leavitt Insurance Agency, accompanied by MC-WannaBe Jennifer Strong of Strong Financial Network, and those crazy knucklehead stage hands, the 3 Stooges (Bert Hutt of Murder Us Productions, Rick Hamilton of RAH Signs & Outdoor Media, and Tony Barthel of Featherbed Railroad B&B).

Red Carpet arrivals included favorites such as Gloria Estefan (Laura Sammels of Hospice Services of Lake County), Elvis (Kenny Parlet of Lakeview Supermarket & Deli), Barry Manilow (John Magee of Clear Lake High School), Julie Andrews (Sandy Robertson of NorCoast Insurance) Carmen Miranda (Lyle Coburn of Your One Stop Party Shop), the B-52s band (Tim Barnes of Cheeze’s Main Street Pizza, Diana Schmidt of MonaVie and Sarah Dutra of  STS, Inc.), and Whoopi Goldberg (Selena Jackson of Behavioral Health)

The program was interrupted by a procession of the Queen of England (Karen Wilson of Sons of Italy), Prince William (Gabe Strong of CLHS), Princess Kate (Alice Crockett of CLHS) and the famous 3 Tenors (Rod Levendusky, Retired; Rod Rehe of Rodric Rehe, DC and Larry Richardson, Dance Instructor) who rallied for a performance of “Wannabe” from Britain’s Spice Girls, ending a weekend-long promotion of  “Spice Girls Wannabe in Lip Sync” (Kristy Weiss of Lincoln-Leavitt Insurance Agency, Beth Havrilla of Lake Event Design, Jennifer Strong of Strong Financial Network, Dena Barron of Lake Village Estates and Ari Lopez of Ceago Vinegarden).  

The chamber would like to especially thank its VIP sponsors: John H. Tomkins Tax Consultants, Lake Parts, G&G Printing Services, Lake Village Estates Manufactured Home Park, Northlake Medical Pharmacy, Gossett Alarm, Lakeview Supermarket & Deli, Lincoln-Leavitt Insurance Agency, Delta Iota Tau Sorority, and Friends of Lip Sync Bill Bain, Sandy McDonald and Sharon Coburn.

Finally, this entire production could not have been done without the following people whose talents, energy and selflessness goes beyond imagination. They have given, given and given more than could be expected from Volunteers at any time, the chamber is deeply indebted to: Kristy Weiss, Diana Schmidt, Sarah Dutra and Larry and Zoe Richardson.   

The idea for lip sync was brought to this chamber by past president Jan Parkinson, who is a backbone of the production.   

The Chamber office staff of Stephanie Codling, Nicole Johnson and wonderful office volunteers Bill Knoll, Alice Richardson, Barbara Conley and Pat Norcio keep everything running smoothly and just make it happen, whatever it takes.  The event could not have been done without them.

For more information on Celebrity Lip Sync and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, please contact Melissa Fulton at 707-263-5092 or www.lakecochamber.com . 

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The annual Earth Day Celebration at Calpine Saturday, April 27, was again educational and fun.  

The Lake County Rockhounds’ gold panning booth for children taught them how to pan for gold and pretty rocks. No gold was detected but it was lots of fun.

Children were introduced to something most of them wouldn’t ever be exposed to otherwise. It gave them something to think about and maybe even dream about.  

Members had a lot of enjoyment watching the children find beautiful Lake County diamonds, rocks and gems. The parents were especially appreciative.

The Rockhounds reported that the Calpine staff was very helpful in getting a kiddie pool filled with buckets of water for the panning. The Rockhound Silent Auction went well too.

The group reported that it was a fun day for its members, who had a great time meeting old friends, making new ones, and getting children and adults excited about the diversity of rocks in Lake County and areas beyond.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On March 23, while on patrol on Clear Lake near the entrance to the State Park, Wayne and Anita Farnholtz,  members of Flotilla 88 of Lake County, heard a call on Channel 16 to the Sheriff’s Lake Patrol from the Sea Scout vessel.

Farnholtz approached the vessel to inquire if they needed help. The Sea Scouts pointed out a large “deadhead” – a partially submerged tree stump or log – with about 12 inches showing above the surface about 30 yards before the entrance to the park and were waiting for a response from the sheriff’s patrol.  

With the Sea Scouts’ assistance, the Farnholtzs were able to mark the hazard with an orange flag to warn other boaters of the danger.

They then called their radio guard, Flotilla member John Fox, who notified the appropriate personnel.  

The sheriff’s patrol came to the hazard and towed the dead head to the county park. Good team work with the Sea Scouts, Flotilla 88 members and the sheriff’s patrol.

On April 6, Flotilla 88 member Corey Jones, while in his boat fishing on Clear Lake, spied a large dead head in the water. Jones being a trained crew member but not on official duty, recognized this as a definite boating hazard.

So as a private citizen, Jones secured the dead head with a line and towed it into Redbud Harbor.  Another good deed which may have saved an unsuspecting boater from a dangerous situation causing serious damage or injury.

Dorothy De Lope is public affairs officer for Flotilla 88 of Lake County, Calif.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The next HazMobile event will be held Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, at South Lake County Fire Station, 21095 Highway 175, Middletown.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge. Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear foot) and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.

Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the recycling hotline at 707-263-1980.

HazMobile services are provided to residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this taxpayer-funded service and first make an appointment.

Business appointments can be made by calling the Mendocino County Solid Waste Authority, the contracted agency that provides this service in Lake County at 707-468-9786.

Free recycling options for residents and businesses:

• Recycled paint is available to both residents and businesses at Lake County Waste Solutions on first-come, first-served basis in five gallon containers. Colors include tan, brown, gray and pink.

• Used cooking oil can be dropped off by businesses and residents, which will be recycled into biodiesel by Yokayo BioFuels. Drop off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the North Shore Fire Protection District station at 6257 Seventh Ave. in Lucerne.

• Used motor oil can be dropped off by residents for recycling year round at a number of sites in the county. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for locations.

• Electronics (E-Waste) can be dropped-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and monthly at the Goodwill E-Waste collection held in Lakeport.

Lake County Waste Solutions
230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport
888-718-4888 or 234-6400
Monday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
www.candswaste.com

South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center
16015 Davis St., Clearlake
Open daily 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
707-994-8614
www.southlakerefuse.com

The HazMobile program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County residents.

For more information about recycling, reusing, and reducing, visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or call the recycling hotline at 707-263-1980.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County International Charter School will host its annual yard and heirloom plant sale Saturday, May 11.

It will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 15850 Armstrong St., Middletown.

Come find some treasures and all the plants you need for your summer garden. All the plants are started from organic, heirloom seeds from the Petaluma Seed Bank.

All proceeds benefit educational programs at LCICS, which is a free, public charter school open to all K-7 students in Lake County.

It provides students with an inquiry/project-based enriched education in a nurturing environment, and is the only site-based public charter school in Lake County.

For more information or to arrange donation of items, please call the LCICS office at 707-987-3063, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , go to www.lcics.org or “Like” the Lake County International Charter School on Facebook.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – This month 150 years ago, the outcome of the Civil War hung in the balance.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s army was outnumbered more than two to one, and was about to be squashed in a giant pincer movement by General Hooker’s overpowering Union army.

When the dust settled, more than 30,000 men were casualties, and the Union army was in retreat.

The amazing story of what happened in the titanic Battle of Chancellorsville will be the topic of this month’s Civil War Roundtable at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake this coming Monday, May 6, at 6:15 p.m.

Zane Jensen will be leading the discussion on the battle and its impact on the war and on our history. Jensen is a local history teacher and has been to the site of the battlefield, giving him a unique perspective into the events of the first week of May 1863.

Dr. Bill Cornelison, professor of history at Yuba College, will open the roundtable with a short slide presentation of some battle related sites he has recently visited, that will segue into Jensen’s presentation.

The Redwood Empire Civil War Roundtable meets the first Monday of the month, and typically reviews events that occurred that month 150 years ago, in recognition of the Civil War’s Sesquicentennial.

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.

For more information, contact Phil Smoley at 707-264-4905 or Zane Jensen at 707-349-6390.