LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – For one in six Americans, hunger is a reality.

Grocery Outlet is hosting the Independence from Hunger campaign, a month-long, company-wide campaign throughout July, which will bring together Grocery Outlet stores and their customers to help feed people in their local communities who are facing hunger and food insecurity.

According to the USDA, 4.8 percent of all U.S. households have accessed emergency food from a food pantry one or more times (USDA. Mark Nord, M. Andrews, S. Carlson. Household Food Security in the United States, 2009).

Throughout July, Grocery Outlet will encourage their customers and employees to donate food and cash to support local food assistance agencies. Stores are located both in Lakeport and Clearlake.

“We are proud to launch the Independence from Hunger campaign to help people who don't always know where they will find their next meal,” said Eric Lindberg, co-chief executive officer of, Grocery Outlet Inc. “Our team of independent owners and operators are committed to supporting their local communities.”

Grocery Outlet's 152 stores have partnered with local food assistance agencies to help feed the need in their own towns.

Stores will also be hosting an array of events – from educational seminars about local food assistance agencies to family-friendly festivals – to drive donations and participation.

Grocery Outlet has made it simple for their customers to join the cause with these in-store options:

• Look for specially-marked food items. These are items that the local food assistance agencies currently need. Purchase those items and place them in the collection bin at the front of the store.

• Tell a Grocery Outlet cashier that you'd like to make a cash donation at the register. Donations will go directly to the designated local food assistance agency.

• Grocery Outlet stores will provide information about hunger, food insecurity and local/national resources for people in need, inspiring their customers to be informed and helpful.

Grocery Outlet is also hosting the “Feed the Need” Facebook contest to reward five charitable customers with a $100 donation to the non-profit charity of their choice, plus a $100 Grocery Outlet gift card for the customer to use.

The contest ends July 31; visit www.facebook.com/GroceryOutletInc.

For more information about Grocery Outlet's Independence from Hunger campaign, visit http://groceryoutlet.com/default/bargainistablog/11-06-21/Help_Us_Fight_Hunger.aspx.

The meeting will take place at the Clearlake Oaks United Methodist Church at 7 p.m.

The group will hear reports from Chair Becky Curry and member Wanda Harris about the activities at the State Executive Board meeting they are attending July 29-31 in Anaheim.

Also, on the agenda, reports from Peter Windrem, representative for Congressman Mike Thompson; Joey Luiz, representative for Assemblyman Wes Chesbro; and a report from state Sen. Noreen Evans by Sunol Westergren.

Stonewall and Lake County Democratic Club representatives Mark Wickhamshire and Paula Mune, respectively, will provide updates on club activities, particularly the annual harvest festival slated for Aug. 21 at Lakeport Yacht Club.

The ad hoc committee appointed to review the annual barbecue fundraiser scheduled this year on Oct. 16 at Clearlake Senior Center with State Controller John Chiang will share suggestions to enhance the event.

Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.

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 707-277-0713 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The committee's Web site is www.lakecountydemocrats.org.

UKIAH, Calif. – In an effort to raise money for local organizations, volunteers are hosting a quarter auction Thursday, July 28, at Yokayo Bowling Center in Ukiah.

All proceeds will benefit local charities such as The Bartley Family Memorial Fund, The Humane Society of Inland Mendocino County, Rising Stars Music Competition, People For People Student Ambassador Program and more.

The evening will start at 5:30 p.m. with registration.

Those wishing to bid on any of the more than 100 items that have been donated by the community may do so by purchasing a bidding paddle for $5. Items up for auction will be available for preview at 5:45 p.m. with the bidding to begin promptly at 6 p.m.

Bidders choose the items they wish to bid upon and pay the amount of quarters specified to bid upon the item. No item will sell for more than $1, including the brand new washing machine that has been donated to benefit The Bartley Family.

Once all of the quarters have been collected, numbers are drawn and when one of the numbers of a bidder holding up a paddle has been drawn, the item is awarded to the bidder.

Organizers are looking forward to a fun evening for the whole family. Donations of auction items of any value are still being accepted at Creative Workshop in Ukiah.

Bring your quarters and enjoy a fun evening of supporting local organizations July 28 at Yokayo Bowling Center. Contact Dana Froneberger at 707-972-2235 for more information.

Board member Bill Koehler leads a discussion about Lake County Mediations programs and the people involved in the program. Also pictured is Board Member Gladys Rosehill. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Directors of Lake County Mediations held a strategic planning meeting on July 16 in the meeting space at the Featherbed Railroad Company in Nice.

Lake County Mediations last updated its strategic plan in 2008 and Saturday’s session was designed to review and critique the 2008 plan and to chart the organization’s primary goals and strategies for the next three years.

Board President Mary Heare Amodio and Executive Director Barbara Johnson led the group through a series of activities that helped define and shape the final plan.

After identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that affect Lake County Mediations, the board identified the steps it must take to maintain its current, successful activities and the steps that must be taken to focus on ways the organization can better serve the needs of Lake County residents.

Lake County Mediations provides mediation services for the public and at the Lake County Superior Court; training for mediators and business and professional groups, as well as election monitoring for homeowner and other common interest development groups.

Mediation is an informal process where the parties of a dispute work out their own solution with the help of a trained, impartial mediator.

The mediation process is a less costly alternative to going to court to resolve conflicts, in that mediation will save the parties time, money, and, in many cases, will allow the parties to maintain their previous relationship .

For more information about mediation or Lake County Mediations call 707-263-6800, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the organization’s Web site at www.lakecountymediations.org.

The Lake County volunteers that helped with Civil War Days in Duncan Mills, Calif., rest after cleaning the battlefield. From left to right, Rebecca Baker, Tyler Beets, Anne Baker, Aleck Snyder, Geno Peloni, Cody Beets, Rob Ishihara, Stephen O'Neill, Anthony Melero, Cindy Campman, Marty Klier, Leon Fred (not pictured are Zane Jensen, Catherine Quistgard, Don Edwards, Phil Smoley, Boone Bridges, Steve Shaw and Kim Shaw). This group traded labor for bringing a Civil War Artillery unit to Lake County's Bass Bowl on Nov. 4, 2011.

DUNCANS MILLS, Calif. – A group of Lake County volunteers were on hand last weekend to witness and assist with Civil War Days, a battlefield reenactment in Sonoma County.

The event, put on by the California Historical Artillery Society (CHAS), featured more than 600 reenactors, 30 horses and 13 cannon.

The group from Lake County was honoring their end of a trade; 30 man-days of labor at Civil War Days in return for CHAS bringing a Civil War artillery unit to The Bass Bowl football game between Kelseyville High and Clear Lake High on Nov. 4.

“We are trying to create a big game experience for this year’s Bass Bowl, and having a cannon fire after each touchdown will be one of the special elements we will be doing this year,” said Bass Bowl Commissioner Boone Bridges. “They worked us pretty hard, but they were pleased with our efforts and they are looking forward to coming up to Lake County in November.”

A total of 17 volunteers from Lake County assisted as event staff, plus two others as reenactors (Steve Shaw and his daughter Kim Shaw reenact with the 72nd New York Volunteer Infantry).

Event staff jobs included clearing the fields of debris, rope lines, trash duty, snack shack, moving straw bales, and keeping paper supplies up at the various locations around the field.

More than 3,000 people visited Civil War Days to watch the battles, visit the camps and shop at the suttleries.

“The weather was great, once it warmed up,” Bridges said. “The crowds were very enthusiastic, and it was great to have so many families bringing their kids to experience a living history event.”

Students from both Kelseyville and Clear High volunteered. Kelseyville Varsity Coach Rob Ishihara brought three of his players, and there were three volunteers from Clear Lake High.

“We had a mini-Bass Bowl in camp,” according to Ishihara. “Clear Lake won that one, but our guys are going to win the real one.” The Clear Lake side did not agree.

Realtor Cindy Campman was so impressed with the event, she signed up to join CHAS. “I love horses, and they use rescued horses in their unit,” Campman explained. “And this got my interest in history piqued, so the combination was too much for me to resist.”

Local Realtor Anne Baker also was impressed with the event. “It was very well organized,” Baker said. “The battles brought tears to my eyes as I could see how horrible it must have been on the soldiers and their families. It was a tragic part of our history I hope we never experience again.”

Boy Scout leader Marty Klier brought two scouts for the effort, and created an authentic old time camp site, using only equipment, tools and kitchen utensils that would have been available during the Civil War. “I have accumulated quite a bit of mountain man odds and ends over the years,” Klier said. “I enjoy having our scouts experience real camping. They learned about history while helping with fundraising for local athletics. It was a great experience for them.”

There will be many elements to this year’s Bass Bowl in addition to the Civil War cannon, according to Bridges. There are plans for an extravagant half time show, jumbo trons, even a fly over. “We are throwing a lot of ideas on the wall and hope that some of them stick. Many have been confirmed. It will be memorable,” Bridges said.

California Board of Equalization Member Betty Yee will be the keynote speaker at the Lake County Democratic Club's fourth annual Summer Harvest Celebration fundraiser on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011, in Lakeport, Calif.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Club is hosting its fourth annual Summer Harvest Celebration fundraiser on Sunday, Aug. 21.

The event will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lakeport Yacht Club located at 15 Fifth St., Lakeport.

The Lake County Democratic Club is very honored to host Betty Yee, a member of the California State Board of Equalization, as its keynote speaker.

State Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro will be attendance and State Sen. Noreen Evans has been invited. There will be time to talk with the speakers before and after their addresses.

Event sponsors include Chesbro and Evans, Congressman Mike Thompson, California United Health Care Workers, North Bay Labor Council, Mendo-Lake Building and Trades Council, SEIU Local 1021 and IBEW Local 551.

Music will be by Lake County’s own fabulous “Blue Collar” band with Carl Stewart, lead voice, guitar and harmonica; Sue Condit on fiddle, mandolin and voice; Bill Bordisso on accordion, banjo, percussion and voice; Clovice Lewis on cello; and Bill MacDougall on double bass.

The Quitiquit family will prepare a classic summer dinner of chicken on a skewer, assorted fabulous summer salads and desserts.

Wines will be available from the following Lake County wineries; Konocti Growers, Steele Wines, Langtry Estates, Ployez Winery, Vigilance and Noggle Winery.

There will also be beer and other beverages available.

A silent auction with some great stuff and works of art by local artists will be held.

Reservations paid in advance are $15; admission at the door is $20.

For reservations and more information, call 707-533-4885

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or e-mail checks to the Lake County Democratic Club, P.O. Box 1586, Lucerne, CA 95458.