The unexpected bonus shipment will soon arrive at food banks and soup kitchens throughout California.

In Lake County, the Clearlake Gleaners will receive 8,656 pounds of the chicken.

“It’s unusual for food banks to receive high-quality meat commodities such as chicken, so we are especially pleased to make this protein-rich food available to needy Californians,” said John Wagner, director of the department.

Forty-seven truckloads of 10-pound packages are ready for distribution to large households, 37 truckloads of 4-pound packages will go to smaller households, and the remaining 22 truckloads of 33-pound cartons will be shipped to soup kitchens.

The chicken will be processed into smaller packages prior to delivery to the food banks. Food banks will receive a steady flow of chicken over the next two months. In all, this chicken will provide more than eleven million meals to California’s needy families.

In addition to the bonus chicken, California also receives other types of bonus food throughout the year such as fresh fruit and vegetables, fruit juices, canned and dried fruit, canned meat, fish, and milk. Bonus commodities are provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from purchasing domestic surplus food to help supplement the diets of low-income Americans and to provide price support to farmers and growers.

The bonus foods will help to ensure food security for needy Californians during this economic downturn.

The food will be delivered to California’s 49 food banks for distribution to more than 1.5 million needy Californians.

To qualify for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, a household’s income cannot exceed 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For example, a family of three can make up to $27,465 in annual income to qualify for food assistance.

To find out if you qualify, contact your local authorized Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) distribution agency. A list of EFAP agencies can be found at www.dss.cahwnet.gov/efap/PG1910.htm, or call 916-229-3344.

For a list of Food Banks and their chicken allocations, please visit www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/entres/pdf/PressRelease/ChickenAllocationByFoodBank.pdf.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club will hold its general meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 21.

The meeting will be held at the Scotts Valley Women's Club House, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport.

The board will gather at 11 a.m. prior to the meeting.

Social time starts at noon, with the flower roll call at 12:30 p.m.

The meeting will start at 1 p.m. to be followed by a program, “Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club, Then and Now,” as the club is celebrating its 55^th anniversary.

The club meets at noon on the third Tuesday of the month, except in July and August.

Members, guests and all interested are most welcome. President Linda Waterstraat, 707-245-4731, invites interested gardeners to join the group.

Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club is a member of Mendo-Lake District, Calif. Garden Club Inc., Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

For more information visit www.clttgc.org.

The library is on the corner of Calistoga and Callayomi Streets in downtown Middletown.

Books will be sold by the bag at a bargain price of $5 per bag.

There will be a special sale of paperbacks, which will go for $3 per bag.

Books for sale include will include bestsellers, children’s stories, mysteries, spy intrigue, romance, cookbooks, self help, reference, audio tapes and CDs – and some surprise offerings.

All proceeds are for the purchase of new books and supplies for the library and the new library building fund.

Tinkerbell is one of the entries in the inaugural Dachshund Derby, set to take place on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, in Lakeport, Calif. Courtesy photo.

Tinkerbell is one of the entries in the inaugural Dachshund Derby, set to take place on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, in Lakeport, Calif. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Oktoberfest-Lakeport is happening on Saturday, Oct. 2, in historic downtown Lakeport from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Planned festivities for this daylong event include a Dachshund Derby (yes, live dachshunds!) sponsored by Mediacom for which there currently are nine entries; entertainment all day on the stage at Third and Main streets; three live bands; contests including pretzel making, pretzel eating, Macho Parent (balloon contest), Dirndl/Lederhosen contest, Waist Basketball; and more.

A contest for the best authentic beer stein will be held at The Kitchen Gallery. Stop by their windows on the Third Street side of the building, pick the number of your favorite stein and cast your ballot in the store.

A German car show on Second Street and a beer and wine garden on Third Street opposite the stage area are some more of the fun activities that will be available.

The street dance from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. will feature the LC Diamonds.

Downtown merchants will be participating in Oktoberfest and you may see many of them in costume when the day comes as well as the vendors along Main Street.

Vendor spaces are still available by calling the Lake County Chamber at 707-263-5092. Visit the chamber online at www.lakecochamber.com or www.oktoberfest-lakeport.com to download an application for food/arts/crafts vendors and applications to enter your Dachshund in the Derby.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The First 5 Lake County Commission will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 22.

The meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m. in the Lake One-Stop/EDD conference room, 55 First St., Lakeport.

Among the agenda items will be a review of a conflict of interest policy, the executive director's report and reports from commissioners.

For more information call First 5 Lake County, 707-263-6169.