SAN FRANCISCO – Letter carriers care about the people in the communities they serve, and on the second Saturday in May for the past 20 years they have done a lot more than collect and deliver mail.

They have picked up nonperishable food donations left at mailboxes as they visit every home in the nation.

This year will be the 21st annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food Drive — the largest one-day food drive in the USA.

The U.S. Postal Service and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association join NALC as official sponsors in this effort to “Stamp Out Hunger.” Other sponsors include Campbell Soup Co., Feeding America, Valpak, AFL-CIO and United Way of America.

It is a very simple and easy concept: the public is asked to leave non-perishable food in a sturdy bag by their mailbox on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

That food will be collected by letter carriers and distributed to local charities that provide it to people who need it – right in the same community.

Hunger and under-nutrition in America are much more serious problems than most people realize. With current economic conditions and high food prices, more families than ever struggle to keep food on the table.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, the number of Americans living in food insecure homes is more than 50 million, with approximately one in every three food-insecure Americans being a child (17.2 million).

Through a lot of hard work, dedication and compassion, and the support of customers in the communities they serve, letter carriers collected over 70 million pounds of food last year – the ninth consecutive drive surpassing 70 million pounds collected.

The total donations received since the drive began in 1993 now stand at nearly 1.2 billion pounds of food. They are counting on the public’s generosity once again to help feed the hungry this year.

FORT BRAGG, Calif. – On March 27, five members of the U.S. Coast Auxiliary, Flotilla 88 of Lake County traveled to Fort Bragg to prepare a belated St. Patrick's Day lunch for the Coast Guard personnel at Station Noyo River.

Flotilla 88 was joined by members of Flotilla 87 of Mendocino County at the event.

In lieu of the traditional corned beef and cabbage lunch, pulled pork sandwiches on buns were served accompanied by sauce, beans, green salad, cold drinks and cake.

This was the 14th year that Flotilla 88 has prepared a St. Patrick's Day lunch for Station Noyo River and it has become a tradition that the Coast Guard personnel look forward to each year. They thanked all of the Flotilla members for their efforts in providing lunch.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Star Chapter 442 motorcycle club will hold a ride on Saturday, April 27.

The group will meet at the Northshore Fire Protection District Clearlake Oaks station, 12655 Highway 20, at 9 a.m. Kickstands go up at 10 a.m.

They will enjoy the “Granzella” run this time around, driving up Highway 20 east to Williams, stopping at charming Granzella’s Inn for lunch, then riding out Interstate 5 to 505 through Winters and around Lake Berryessa before returning to Lake County.

As always, all licensed and insured riders and all makes and models of motorcycles are welcome.

Visit the chapter on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Star-Chapter-442/146399068773126 .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Lake County Historical Society will hold its general membership meeting at the Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center, 15500 Central Park Road in Middletown, on Sunday, April 28.

President Phil Smoley invites all of Lake County Historical Society members and guests to join them at 2 p.m. to relax and enjoy listening to speaker Nina Bouska, speaking on the fascinating topic, “Early Ranches and Land Grants of the South County.”

Refreshments will be served in the lobby area. Join them and bring your friends; everyone is invited. Donated cookies and cake to share would be appreciated.

Calpine Visitor Center is located off Highway 29 at the south end of Middletown. Turn on Central Park Road; the center is on your right after the first street (Pine Street).

If you have any questions please call Catherine Quistgard at 707-279-4775 or Bonnie Skee at 707-263-7142.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association presents the annual Wildflower Brunch on Saturday, April 27.

The brunch will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at Clear Lake State Park, 5300 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville.

Come and have the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association (CLSPIA) members and state park staff cook your custom-made omelet.

Events will include a nature walk with Glenn Smith at 9 a.m. (meet at the visitor center steps) and a 10 a.m. presentation inside the visitor center by Peter Windrem on the native hitch.  

The visitor center will be open and all gift items will be 50 percent off.

The Vector Control District will have a display on all local insects and the county of Lake will have an information booth on the quagga mussel.  

Your ticket includes free entry to the park and all events.

Call or go online to purchase your tickets: $17.50 by phone, 707-279-4395, or online to www.clearlakestatepark.org . Tickets are $20 if purchased at the event.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will hold its regular meeting on Thursday, May 2.

This month, the monthly meeting will take place beginning at 6 p.m. at the Clearlake Oaks United Methodist Church, 12487 Plaza Drive.

The guest speaker this month will be Nelson Strasser, who will be discussing the move to place a mobile home rent stabilization ordinance within the city of Lakeport on the ballot.

They also will hear reports from delegates who attended the recent California Democratic Party convention in Sacramento.

The agenda includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada and state Sen. Noreen Evans, as well as reports from the Stonewall Democratic Club Chair Mark Wickhamshire and the representative from the Lake County Democratic Club, Paula Mune.

The members also will be organizing the voter registration drive for the 2013-14 election cycle and continuing the planning for the Oct. 6 barbecue fundraiser.

Meetings are open to the public. Committee membership is open to all registered Democrats and participation is encouraged.

The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .