UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a wine release party and artist show event with Obsidian Ridge Vineyards and Molnar Family Wines and painter, Ruth Morgan, on Friday, March 1, and Saturday, March 2.

The event takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the wine studio, located 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake.

March will mark the first month of 2013 that the Saturday event will include an optional progressive three-course winemaker dinner series at the Tallman Hotel following the appetizer course at the studio.   

Winegrape grower Peter Molnar and founding winemaker Michael Terrien will be at the studio and Tallman Hotel for the Saturday event.

Featuring releases from the Tricycle Wine Company trio of vineyards: Obsidian Ridge (Red Hills, Lake County), Molnar Family and the Kazmer & Blaise vineyards (Carneros, Napa County) the $12.50 ($10/ per person for studio club members) wine sampler presented at the studio will showcase the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, and will include the 2010 vintages of Molnar Family Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with paired appetizers.

The wines and menu prepared by guest chef Mark Linback at the Tallman Hotel on March 2 will showcase the Kazmer & Blaise 2009 Chardonnay (Boon Fly’s Hill Vineyard) and starter of blue crab ravioli with a creamy herb Beurre Blanc, 2009 Obsidian Ridge Half Mile blend and entrée of pepper crusted roast filet mignon with Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese and roast shallot confit, potato gratin and mushroom spinach sauté, followed by dessert course pairing Kazmer & Blaise 2009 Pinot Noir (Primo’s Hill Vineyard) with plum and berry filled doughnuts with berry coulis.   

The all-inclusive price (with appetizer course at the wine studio) for the Saturday four-course progressive event is $75 plus tax. Special hotel rates will be available for those traveling some distance.  For more information and reservations visit www.tallmanhotel.com/winemaker-dinner or call 707-275-2244.

Obsidian Ridge Vineyard is planted at 2,640’ atop the Mayacamas range in the Red Hills appellation of Lake County.  

This is one of the newest American Viticultural Areas with distinctive volcanic soils that define the appellation. The vineyard’s red soils are shot through with obsidian rock. The unrestricted drainage and meager soil fertility produce wines with great tannic structure.   

Poseidon’s Vineyard is a seaside vineyard in Carneros, Napa. Within the 86-acre vineyard lies Primo’s Hill, a 7-acre block. The Carneros vineyards were developed by Molnar’s father Nicholas 40 years ago and are the source vineyards for the Molnar Family and Kazmer & Blaise wines. The barrels used for aging the wines are made exclusively of Hungarian oak from the forests of Tokaj.

The artist for March is Ruth Morgan. Morgan was born and raised in Detroit, Mich., and earned her bachelor of fine arts degree from Eastern Michigan University. She moved to the Bay Area in 1975.  

“When I married and had children a sense of humor became especially important for me in dealing with life in general,” she said. “This is when the funny cat paintings started, and the narrative paintings.  When I paint a painting I like to be entertained by it … I like it to tell a story. Painting supplies a type of richness and satisfaction in my life. It is a ballast.”

Morgan’s predominant painting style is Gouache on heavy watercolor paper.  Gouache is an opaque watercolor that has a permanent, rich color.  The paint consists of a pigment and a binding agent (usually gum Arabic). Also included in Morgan’s artistic repertoire are acrylics on canvas, fanciful hand sewn cats, vases, ornaments and whimsical 3 dimensional mixed media dioramas and sculptures.

Morgan lives on five acres in Jerusalem Valley with her family, an abundant garden, and an assortment of wild and tame creatures.

Lake County Wine Studio is a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County. Artist’s 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 open Mondays, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Fridays, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Morgan art show will be on display for the full month of March.  

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The search for the 2013 grand marshal for the 84th annual Lake County Rodeo is under way.  

The all-volunteer Lake County Rodeo Association is seeking nominations for this years' grand marshal.  

The nominee should have a longstanding interest in supporting the rodeo way of life and be a person who exhibits a lifestyle that reflects respect for others and his/her community; promotes the same through their lifestyle and supports rodeo activities in Lake County; and is someone who has encouraged future generations to become involved in rodeo style events.  

Every nomination should contain as much information as possible on the nominee to provide the committee with sufficient facts to make an informed decision in determining who the grand marshal should be for 2013.

Nominations should be submitted to: Grand Marshall, Lake County Rodeo, P.O. Box 63, Lakeport CA 95453.  

Deadline for nominations is March 15, 2013 and will be accepted with a postmark of that date.  

The review committee are members of the Lake County Rodeo Association Board of Directors.  

Their choice will be announced at the fourth annual Rodeo Kick-Off Dance being held on Saturday, April 27, at the fairgrounds in Lakeport.  

Nominations may also be submitted via www.lakecountyrodeo.com .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Transition Lake County and the East Lake Grange invite the community to the Fourth Saturday Potluck with a Purpose, a monthly moveable feast that brings people together for conscious sharing and working to co-create a healthier, happier, more resilient community and local economy.

The event – which includes a potluck, seed exchange and free film screening – will take place beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the East Lake Grange in Clearlake Oaks, 12982 E. Highway 20. The movie will begin at 6 p.m.

As always, this event is free and open to all. Donations will benefit the Grange. Please bring a healthy dish to share, as well as your own reusable plate, silverware, etc.

Transition Lake County is a grassroots movement and network of citizen-leaders working together to co-create a healthier, happier, more resilient community and local economy.

Visit them on the web at www.transitionlakecounty.org or join the TLC Facebook group at  www.facebook.com/pages/Transition-Lake-County/109444825799610 .

RSVP to the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/604332126260153/ .

For more information call 707-279-1989 or 415-646-5630.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The community is being asked to help locate a poodle that went missing from a grooming business on Thursday.

The chocolate male standard poodle was missing as of around 9 a.m. Thursday from Fancy Paws grooming on Main Street in Lower Lake.

He is 9 months old and has not been neutered.

If you have information about the dog's whereabouts please call Dena Isaacs at 707-295-2708 or Fancy Paws at 707-994-7297.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the junction of Routes 29/281 (Kit's Corner) and Cruikshank Road beginning Monday, Feb. 25. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs 0.5 mile south of Lighthouse Road on Tuesday, Feb. 26. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Replacement of the Greenwood Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Golden State Bridge Inc. of Martinez.

– Slipout repairs 1.6 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Green Right O'Way Constructors of Willits.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the Navarro River Bridge on Tuesday, Feb. 26, and Wednesday, Feb. 27. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Blue Slide Gulch to the junction of Routes 101/271 will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Comminsky Station Road to just south of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge on Friday, February 22. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from La Franchi Road to the Feliz Creek Bridges beginning Monday, Feb. 25. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 175

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from 0.3 mile east of Harrison Street to 0.3 mile west of Old Toll Road beginning Monday, Feb. 25. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 253

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from 0.2 mile to 4.7 miles east of Cattle Pass through Friday, Feb. 22. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 271

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from the southern junction of Routes 101/271 to the Humboldt/Mendocino County line will continue through Friday, Feb. 22. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

Work on all these projects is weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans advises motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to be prepared to stop at traffic control stations.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Lower Lake resident Erin Evans has been selected by People to People Ambassador Program to be a student ambassador to France, Italy, and Spain for 19 days in July.  

People to People was founded by President Dwight Eisenhower to help children from the United States learn about other cultures around the world.  

Erin is in the seventh grade and attends California Virtual Academies. She is active in the Anderson Marsh 4-H Club and is the club vice president.   

As a 4-Her Erin raises sheep, horses, goats and pigs, as well as learning to sew and hone her leadership skills in the leadership and citizenship project.  

Erin also rides and competes with her horse, Cleo, in California Junior Rodeo for District 2.  

While in Europe she is looking forward to seeing and learning more about the history she has read about in school.  

In Italy, Erin will be learning firsthand about the Roman Coliseum, Vatican City, Tuscany and Pisa.  

In France she will visit Cannes, swim in the Mediterranean Sea and rappel down a 70 foot castle.  

In Spain, Erin will be staying with a host family to learn more about Spanish culture. She also will visit Monaco, Madrid and Barcelona.  

This will be a tremendous opportunity for Erin to grow and learn about other cultures, explore her family roots and travel.  

From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, Erin will host an all you can eat pizza fundraiser at D.J.’s Pizza in Lower Lake. Cost is $8 per person. All proceeds from the pizza fundraiser will help offset the cost of Erin’s People to People adventure.

Erin also will be collecting old cell phones and print cartridges (must fit in the palm of one’s hand) for Phoneraiser.  Phoneraiser is an organization that recycles used cell phones and print cartridges.  Phoneraiser will pay Erin to collect phones and print cartridges.  

Erin will have a collection box at D.J.’s Pizza during the Pizza Feed. Collection boxes are located at Century 21 House of Realty in Hidden Valley, Century 21 NorthBay Alliance in Lower Lake, Lower Lake Coffee Co. and Clear Lake Internet computer repair in Lower Lake, or call her at 707-994-3114 to arrange for pick up.

Erin would like to announce she will be raffling one grain fed, pasture raised Lake County lamb donated by Clayton Creek Farms. Tickets are $1 each or 25 for $20. Winner will receive a freezer ready lamb custom cut and wrapped. Raffle drawing will be held prior to her trip and the lamb will be available in September.

Tickets will be available at the Pizza Fundraiser or by calling Erin at 707-994-3114.