UKIAH, Calif. – Thursday, Dec. 6, marks the third in the Friends of the Mendocino College Library fall reading series with a reading and talk by author Mark Rawitsch.

He will present on his recently released book, “The House on Lemon Street: Japanese Pioneers and the American Dream.”

The event will take place at 7 p.m. in Room 4210 in the new library building at the Mendocino College Ukiah campus.
 
In 1915, Jukichi and Ken Harada purchased a house on Lemon Street in Riverside, Calif. Close to their restaurant, church and children’s school, the house should have been a safe and healthy family home.

Before the purchase, white neighbors objected because of the Haradas’ Japanese ancestry, and the California Alien Land Law denied them real-estate ownership because they were not citizens.

To bypass the law Mr. Harada bought the house in the names of his three youngest children, who were American-born citizens. Neighbors protested again, and the first Japanese American court test of the California Alien Land Law of 1913 – The People of California v. Jukichi Harada – was the result.

Bringing this little-known story to light, “The House on Lemon Street” details the Haradas’ decision to fight for the American dream.

Chronicling their experiences from their immigration to the United States through their legal battle over their home, their incarceration during World War II, and their lives after the war, this book tells the story of the family’s participation in the struggle for human and civil rights, social justice, property and legal rights, and fair treatment of immigrants in the United States.

Sandra Dallas of The Denver Post has called the book “[A] highly engaging history of the California Japanese.”

Susan Hasegawa of San Diego City College has said of the author, “Rawitsch teaches that history, the creation of history, and preserving our history occurs in our backyard, not in some far-off place.”

Rawitsch is currently the dean of instruction at the Willits Center and the Lake County Center for Mendocino College where he has worked for the last 25 years.

“The House on Lemon Street” is the first book in the new Nikkei in the Americas Series developed by the Asian American Studies Department at University of California, Los Angeles, and the University Press of Colorado.

Because of Rawitsch’s research, the Harada House in Riverside is now a National Historic Landmark.

The reading is sponsored by the Friends of the Mendocino College Library, an affiliate group of the Mendocino College Foundation.

For more information, call 707-468-3051 or visit www.mendocino.edu .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Join the Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium on Saturday, Nov. 17, for an understanding of supernovi, pulsars and black holes.

The “Window on the Universe” presentation will take place from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the planetarium, Taylor Observatory, 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville.

Observatory assistant Edward Giannelli will present the behavior of stars at the end of their lives.

Lake County's Window to the Universe is held on the third Saturday of each month.

The evening's event includes a science topic presentation, a full dome theater experience and astronomical viewing.

Public events are held regardless of weather.

Ticket prices are $5 adults and $3 child under 12 years of age.

For more information about the facility, visit www.taylorobservatory.org or call 707-262-4121.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Community Co-op will close its online ordering sales for the week of Nov. 18 through Nov. 24 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The co-op also will suspend sales and delivery for the week of Dec. 23 through Dec. 29 in observance of the Christmas holiday.

Customers are encouraged to stock up for the holidays in the weeks prior to the closing by going to www.lake.coop during the regular open order cycle of Sunday, 12:01 a.m. through Tuesday, 12:30 p.m.

Lake Co-op offers organic produce and other locally produced products through their online ordering system and delivers to over 12 local business locations in Lake County, as well as offers home/office delivery.

Customers without access to the Internet and their Web site can place orders by phone by calling 707-513-5226.

For more information about where the co-op delivery (drop) points are, visit www.lake.coop .

The co-op will be celebrating five years in community at its upcoming gratitude gathering at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Riviera Home Owners club house at the Clearlake Riviera Community Association, 9689 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road across from the Riviera Market).

The community is invited to share a potluck meal, live music, worker-owner and drop point host recognition at the event as well as meet Lake Co-op owners and customers.

For more information on the gathering, contact Janine Smith-Citron at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-513-5226.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – It was a rainy evening, but the Clear Lake High School gym was filled to capacity on Halloween night as more than 1,200 children and adults enjoyed the game booths, costume contests and people watching at the annual Lakeport Kiwanis Halloween Party.

A big thank you goes to the Lakeport School District and Clear Lake High School for the use of the facility, and David Norris and staff for all the extra help they provided.

The games were fun for all thanks to the energy of the Clear Lake High School CSF and Kelseyville High School Interact members who worked the booths, and a thank you goes to advisors Jim Rogers and Laurie Loumena for coordinating their efforts.

Local farmers shared their abundance for decorations and treats, so a special thanks goes to Seely Orchards for the donation of apples, Renker Farm for pumpkins and corn stalks, and Mark Burch for the giant pumpkin.

Thank you to Lakeport McDonald’s for the donation of cups, Lakeport AAA for candy bags, and Lake County 4-H for the use of tables.

A special thanks also goes to local artist Bonnie Ewing for sharing her talent by creating signs and posters for the event.

Lakeport Kiwanis is currently selling raffle tickets with 15 winners receiving $25 Bruno’s Shop Smart gift certificates.

All proceeds from this fundraiser are donated back to the community, so look for Kiwanis members at Kmart on Saturday, Nov. 17, and at Bruno’s on Saturday, Dec. 1, to get your tickets.

Another upcoming event is a pancake breakfast at Terrace Middle School on Saturday, Dec. 8, benefiting the Clear Lake High School Band. Tickets are available from band members, the Clear Lake Booster Club or at the door.

If anyone is interested in becoming involved in the community through Lakeport Kiwanis Club, meetings are every Wednesday at 7 a.m. at the Lakeport Senior Activity Center, 527 Konocti Ave. in Lakeport.

More information is available at www.kiwanislakeport.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Meals On Wheels Thrift Store will be open Friday, Nov. 23, and Saturday, Nov. 24.

The store will offer 25-percent off the entire inventory both days.

The deals will last through the “Very Merry Main Street” event Saturday in downtown Lakeport until 8 p.m.

The thrift store is located at 120 N. Main St., Lakeport, and can be called at 707-263-6174.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Have gas prices kept you from giving back to others in this recession?

Good news – a special grant has allowed the Senior Peer Counseling and Friendly Visitor programs to reimburse you for your gas as you travel to lend a listening ear to a senior in need.

If you are 55-plus and would like to give back, make new friends and learn the secrets of aging gracefully, please call now for the Senior Peer Counseling volunteer training, now with classes year-round, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for four successive Tuesdays.

Learn to help seniors talk through a discouraging time, access services, cope with losses and learn the emotional benefits of aging.

Volunteers will learn skills such as compassionate listening, conflict resolution and clear communicating.

Volunteers will share their experiences with other inspirational volunteers, engage in lively discussions about senior issues, and receive weekly training in the gifts and challenges of aging.

You will learn the keys to increasing peace of mind, reducing stress, recovering from a loss, building healthy relationships and exploring the spiritual advantages of later life.

As a volunteer, you will spend a total of about four hours a week between work with clients and a Tuesday morning group supervision session.

This free training facilitated by psychotherapist and Program Director Kim Baughan Young MFT, includes experiential practice, movie clips, lively group discussion and even free lunches.

Call Konocti Senior Support now for your application at 707-995-1417 or visit www.KonoctiSeniorSupport.com .