Jon Rogers, Susan Schenck and David Rogers under the Taylor Observatory dome. Photo by Barbara McIntyre.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Taylor Observatory is offering its sincere appreciation to Coastal Mountain Electric for their donation of time and materials to move one step closer to realizing the vision of a fully automated dome and telescope.

Converting a mechanically operated dome to electronic operation required some innovative creativity.

The computerized telescope was installed in 2004. One of the original visions of automation was to allow students half way around the world to view the night skies of Lake County, in their classrooms, in real time.

Also, students in Lake County, with reciprocal arrangements, would be able to receive live telescope transmissions from other countries around the world.

David Rogers has shared his philosophy that local business should support local efforts to improve our community.

Jon Rogers, David’s son, has recently acquired his contractor’s license and has become the president of the corporation. He plans to support community improvement efforts while he continues the family tradition as a third generation electrical contractor.

David Rogers has indicated that other staff members assisted in this effort, Jonathon and Michael McAloon, donated equipment and time to help with the project while Susan Schenck assisted in locating materials and equipment needed to complete this phase of improving our observatory.

The observatory thanked Rogers and his team for their efforts.

Previous dome operation entailed climbing up and down a ladder to pull a switch. The observatory now has push button control right next to the telescope control.

The students and the general public can enjoy viewing more solar system and deep sky objects in less time.

Visit the observatory online at http://www.lake-coe.k12.ca.us/apps/comm.asp?

David Rogers working on the electrical system in the Taylor Observatory. Photo by Barbara McIntyre.

The event will take place from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the observatory and planetarium, 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville.

Presenter Fred Veio has been studying the sun for many years and has built his own spectrohelioscope. He will discuss solar spectroscopes and the technical details. Amateurs can actually make their own spectroscope.

The evening event includes the lecture, a planetarium show and telescope viewing.

The suggested donation is $3 per person.

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

The luncheon will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the center, 5245 Third St.

Luncheon menu items will include sauerbraten, red cabbage with apples, and potato pancakes.

This luncheon is free to all seniors. Attendees may bring a small side dish.

During the luncheon/meeting Paul Breunig, president of the Clear Lake Road Riders, will present a brief history of the organization and also a donation of $300 to the senior center.

For more information, call Eileen at 707-279-1757.

Visitors are invited to tour the historic Stone House Museum in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif. Courtesy photo.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Stone House Historical Society invites visitors to come and tour the historic Stone House Museum.

The building, which the society says is the county's oldest, was built in 1854 and became a California State Historical Monument in 1950.

The Stone House Museum is located at 18174 Hidden Valley Road, Hidden Valley Lake.

The museum is preserved and maintained by the Stone House Historical Society, www.lakecountystonehouse.com/.

Docent-led tours take place by reservation.

Call 707-987-7370 to set up a tour or for more information.

The clinic will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This teen car clinic will show young drivers how to control a skid, demonstrate just what ABS and traction control does for a car while needing to make rapid turns under braking.

It also will show young drivers how to recover from inadvertent dropping of two wheels while driving these local two lane roads. They also will do some backing drills and parallel parking exercises.

The clinic costs $99 a student with scholarships available for those that qualify.

The Clear Lake High Athletic Association will offer lunch; for $5 students can purchase a burger, chips and soft drink.

Applications can be obtained through Officer Kory Reynolds at the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Office, 707-279-0103.

Those interested in sponsoring a teen driver for the $99 fee can make a tax-deductible donation to NASA Car Control Clinic, P.O. Box 1611, Kelseyville, CA 95451.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Green Party has canceled its October meeting.

Party members may wish instead to attend the meeting of the Napa County Green Party, which will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Napa Library.

For more information contact the Napa Green Party, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Meetings for the Lake County Green Party will resume in November on the third Sunday.

Contact the Lake County Green Party at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..