REDDING, Calif. – Federal natural resource management agencies in the North State will host a job fair in Redding Saturday, Jan. 29, and Sunday, Jan. 30.

The fair will be held at the Mt. Shasta Mall, 900 Dana Drive, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Representatives from the Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service will be on hand to answer questions, help with job applications and provide assistance with the federal hiring process.

Positions being filled include permanent, temporary and student.

Featured professions include wildland firefighting, recreation, forestry, biology, earth sciences, cultural sciences and administrative programs.

Job seekers are encouraged to bring application materials, including resumes and reference materials, to the fair to start the application process.

Most federal applications are submitted electronically for consideration. Work stations with computers and agency staff will be provided to help job seekers start navigating the process.

Applicants are encouraged to bring materials digitally to help streamline the application process.

“This is an excellent opportunity for people interested in starting a career with the federal government, or even those looking for a summer job, to talk to current employees about what a career in natural resource management has to offer and get their application in,” said Joe Sean Kennedy, a wildland firefighter with the Mendocino National Forest who is serving as this year’s event coordinator. “We will have some of the gear and equipment on site, too, as well as activities for children attending the fair.”

The Mendocino National Forest, based in Willows, has been tasked with leading the job fair this year, in cooperation with the National Forests in Northern California, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.

For more information, please contact the Shasta-Trinity National Forest at 530-226-2500, the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino.

REDWOOD VALLEY, Calif. – Like mom and apple pie, wine and chocolate go together.

Redwood Valley’s wine and spirit makers will celebrate this winning combination and Valentine’s Day with the event “In Love with Redwood Valley: A Day of Wine, Spirits & Chocolate.”

On Saturday, Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., nine Redwood Valley wineries and distilleries will feature professional chocolatiers pairing their delectable confections with select wines, liqueurs and brandies.

Among the chocolatiers at this second annual Valentine’s event is local chef Linas Kesminas of Fort Bragg’s Living Light Culinary Institute. He’ll be in the wine cellar at Frey Vineyards preparing batches of unique organic chocolates flavored with Frey wines.

Germain-Robin Craft Distillers also will offer locally made confections – assorted fudges, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and heart-shaped cakes coated in rich chocolate ganache, all from Schat’s Bakery in Ukiah.

Barra of Mendocino will feature scrumptious organic and fair trade chocolates from Tcho of San Francisco and truffles hand made by “Young Emily.” These sweets will be paired with Bella Dolce vintage port, a muscat canelli and “Sweet Thang,” an organically grown chardonnay and muscat canelli blend. Local singer Paula Samonte will perform from noon to 4 p.m.

Lolonis Winery will present a selection of Belgian chocolates from Leonidas Chocolates. Other hosts for “In Love with Redwood Valley” are Oster Wine Cellars, Cole Bailey, Giuseppe/Neese Vineyards, Silversmith Vineyards and Graziano Family of Wines.

Admission for this special tasting event is $20 and includes an embossed wine glass. Designated drivers are admitted free.

For information, see www.atasteofredwoodvalley.com , call 800-760-3739 or 707-485-0322 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

EUREKA – Friday morning’s hearing by the Joint Legislative Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture on the Marine Life Protection Act, chaired by Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast), will be televised by Access Humboldt and streamed live on the Web.

“I want to thank Access Humboldt for making this hearing available to everyone who has an interest in the Marine Life Protection Act but can’t travel to Eureka Friday,” Chesbro said. “We want to make this process as open and accessible as possible. Access Humboldt has stepped up to help us achieve this goal.”

The hearing, which starts 10 a.m. Friday in the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers in Eureka, will focus on the North Coast Study Area of the MLPA Initiative and include testimony from MLPA Initiative staff, regional stakeholder groups, tribal representatives, environmentalists and local resource users.

The hearing can be viewed as it happens at www.accesshumboldt.net and The California Channel http://www.calchannel.com/)

There will be links to the live stream on the homepage of these two Web sites Friday morning. The hearing is expected to last several hours.

Access Humboldt also will archive the broadcast on its Web site, said Executive Director Sean McLaughlin.

To find the archived broadcast, click the “Watch” button on the homepage and choose the first selection from the drop-down menu, “Archive.”

The archived broadcast should be posted about 24 hours after the meeting is over, McLaughlin said.

The cost of televising the hearing is underwritten, in part, by the McLean Foundation in Fortuna.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County seniors and low income residents can turn to a number of local senior centers to receive assistance with filing their taxes.

Senior centers in Lakeport, Lucerne, Clearlake Oaks and Middletown are now scheduled for AARP tax returns.

These are free for seniors and other low-income Lake County families.

Please call your senior center of choice as soon as possible to schedule your return: Lakeport, 707-263-4218; Lucerne, 707-274-8779; Clearlake Oaks, 707-998-1950; and Middletown, 707-987-3113.

This year, if you are planning to itemize deductions, you cannot schedule your appointment before Feb. 21.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Celebrating its third year, the Lake County Stonewall Democratic Club will hold its first meeting of the New Year on Monday, Jan. 24.

The meeting will be held in the Friendship Hall of the Clearlake Oaks United Methodist Church, 12487 The Plaza. The potluck starts at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting to commence at 7 p.m.

The members will elect new officers and discuss their plans for 2011.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Learn the truth about Social Security from an expert on the subject.

Tune in to “Earth Wise” on KPFZ 88.1 FM from 5 p.m. To 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21.

Email your questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call in to to the show at 707-263-3435.

For more information visit the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare's Web site at www.ncpssm.org .