CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The inaugural fundraiser dinner for the Frank Toney Memorial Scholarship will take place on Saturday, April 9.

The steak dinner, with live and silent auctions and a 50/50 raffle, will be held at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, 15900 Highway 20, at the “Y” intersection with Highway 53.

A no host cocktail hour will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by the auctions.

Tickets cost $15 per person.

For more information or tickets, call 707-350-7601.

The highway, hit by a major landslide last week, was partially cleared by Caltrans crews and set to be reopened at 2 a.m. Monday, April 4, the agency said.

One-way controlled traffic will be in effect, according to Caltrans. Motorists should expect 30-minute delays.

No further closures will occur unless significant slide activity resumes. Crews continue to work 24 hours a day to complete slide removal, repair the roadway and monitor the slide.

The highway was closed on the morning of Wednesday, March 30, due to a large mudslide approximately one mile north of Dean Creek, approximately 60 miles south of Eureka.

Caltrans will issue another update by noon on Monday, April 4.

All work is weather-dependent. For the most current road information on all State highways, please call 1-800-427-7623 (1-800-GAS-ROAD) or visit www.dot.ca.gov.

The display at the Golden Lopper Awards, held on Saturday, March 19, 2011, in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo courtesy of Kim Riley.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – An evening of music, pizza, cake, drinks and boisterous fun was held on Saturday, March 19, at Guido's Pizza Parlor in Kelseyville.

The inaugural Golden Lopper Awards was presented by the Highland Springs Trails Volunteers.

This event honored all the hard work and hours contributed by many community members at Highland Springs Recreational Area over the past year.

More than 50 volunteers were given personalized awards consisting of am individualized framed photo and funny quip, along with further good-humored testimonial of their meritorious service.

Live music was provided by “The Bogtrotters,” a last minute, impromptu guitar/ukulele group comprised of Katie Riley, Brenna and Connor Sullivan, who sang popular songs and an original composition written for the occasion.

The event was hosted by Kim Riley and Karen Sullivan, the co-founders of Highland Springs Trails Volunteers.

This group organized more than 22 public work days last year totaling over 1,270 volunteer hours.

The majority of work days offer a catered lunch, courtesy of Quincy Andrus, after a morning of work.

During the hot summer months, they offer a weekly Trail Work and Happy Hour which consists of a couple of evening hours of work followed by potluck gourmet snacks and drinks.

Volunteers include members of Sierra Club, Audubon, California Native Plant Society, Hooves and Wheels Carriage Club, Back County Horsemen, Clearlake Horsemen and the Lake County Dressage Society.

Over the past year, downed trees and brush have been cleared from trails, trail surfaces improved and leveled, and damaged trails repaired, along with cutting back vegetation on overgrown trails.

Highland Springs Trails Volunteers also hosted several Sierra Club hikes, a historical presentation on the history of the former resort, and a Wildflower walk, as well as a continued photo file of native plants and wildflowers.

A new kiosk was erected in the parking area by the dam recently to provide information regarding trail conditions, placement of an upcoming printed trail map, and photos of native plants to the area.

For additional information on Highland Springs Trails Volunteers go to http://ruralvalues.org/highlandspringstrails.html .

To volunteer for their next trail work day on Saturday, April 16, please contact Karen Sullivan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-349-1559, or Kim Riley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-245-7468.

Community members enjoy dinner at the Golden Lopper Awards, held on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at Guido's Pizza in Kelseyville, Calif. Photo courtesy of Kim Riley.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Want to run or volunteer in a disaster shelter? Free Red Cross classes in Lakeport teach you how.

American Red Cross is offering two free classes on how to run a disaster shelter.

Shelter Operations and Shelter Simulation will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, April 11, and Tuesday, April 12, at the Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave., Lakeport.

All interested people are invited to attend.

The shelter operations class, held on April 11, teaches how to effectively and sensitively operate emergency shelters while meeting the needs of people displaced by disasters.

Shelter simulation provides practice using the knowledge and skills needed to run a successful shelter.

The prerequisite for shelter simulation, held on April 12, is shelter operations.

Registration is required. To register, individuals should go to www.arcsm.org (click on “Take a Class”) or contact Joyce with name, address and phone at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-577-7603.

The March 2011 Local Cuisine Scene featured guest Chef Kathy Suzuki's sushi creations. Courtesy photo.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Shannon Michele of Cache Creek Catering and Lake County Wine Studio are presenting a monthly food and wine series featuring locally produced foods paired with select Lake County Wines.

The series is held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. The per person cost is $15 and reservations are required.

The next event will be held on April 8.

March’s event was designed and prepared by guest chef Kathy Suzuki. The menu opened with Edamame followed by a seaweed cabbage salad.

The first pairing was Masago Gunkan Sushi with Dunsinberré Cellars Sparkling Cuveé Rouge followed by an assortment of sushi paired with Lake County Riesling [Devoto Vineyards] made by Hagafen Cellars. A ginger pear shooter followed as a dessert paired with Robledo Family Moscato.

April’s event will feature Rhone varietals opening with Shannon Ridge 2008 Roussanne paired with an arugula / mozzarella salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Main Street Bakery crouton.

Sol Rouge’s Gypsy Rouge (a red blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Petite Sirah) will be paired with Shannon Ranch Clover-fed Lamb kebobs with rosemary, garlic and balsamic drizzle.

For additional event information and to make reservations, contact Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Lake County Wine Studio is located at 9505 Main St., Upper Lake.