LAKEPORT, Calif. – Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club donated three trees to Lakeport for the city’s parks.

Tree Chairman Doris Ellsworth selected two ash – raywood (claret ash) and one acer maple (ariseum paperbark maple).

The trees will have good fall color and provide wonderful shade. Thanks goes to Doug Grider and Tina Banuet for all their help with the planting of these trees.

Each year the garden club budgets for civic beautification projects. There are six locations within Lakeport for these projects along with donated trees.

Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year – the club was organized in 1955.

The club meets at noon on the third Tuesday of the month, September through May, at the Scotts Valley Women's Club House, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport.

Members, guests and all those interested in the club are most welcome. President Linda Waterstraat, 707-279-1270, invites interested gardeners to join the club.

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

For more information visit www.clttgc.org.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The monthly meeting of the Green Party of Lake County will be held on Sunday, Aug. 15.

The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. at the Clear Lake Riviera Community Association building, 9689 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.

All independents, nonpartisans and decline-to-state voters are welcome.

Call 707-263-3391 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Ed Luttrell, National Grange president headquartered in Washington, D.C., will be speaking in California in August 2010. Courtesy photo.

The purpose of the meetings is to garner support for Grange activities and the public is invited to attend and learn what the Grange is advocating for their communities.

Luttrell and McFarland will be appearing at Chico Grange, 2775 Nord Ave. in Chico at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11.

On Thursday, Aug. 12, they will be at Aromas Grange located at 361 Rose Ave. in Aromas starting at 6:30 p.m. On Friday, Aug. 13, they will be at Grover City Grange located at 370 S. Manhattan Ave., Grover Beach starting at 6:30 p.m.

Luttrell is on a national tour to rally 200,000 members to get behind legislation that supports rural broadband initiatives.

A recent study by the FCC on broadband adoption shows that rural America still lags behind urban and suburban communities in home, farm and small business broadband connections. Communities stand to benefit from online applications like telemedicine, distance learning and telework.

The entire nation stands to gain from the economic and environmental benefits that full integration of farming, tribal and rural communities into a national, high speed Internet will bring.

In addition to broadband, California Grangers are advocating strong, self-sustaining communities wherein such things as food supplies and services are available within the local community. Everything from farmer’s markets to a strong local business community is included.

The National Grange was founded in 1867 to help Civil War-ravaged farmers recover and has evolved to being one of our nation’s leading rural advocacy organizations.

The National Grange has over 200,000 members in 2,700 communities spread over 40 states.

The California State Grange was formed in 1873 in response to shipping and storage monopolies of California’s agricultural products.

California has more than 200 Granges in local communities which offer such diverse activities as community gardens to theater arts, and offer strong support for local communities through education, legislative advocacy of issues, and social interaction.

For further information, please contact the California State Grange in Sacramento at 916-454-5805 or visit our Web site at www.californiagrange.org.

Featherbed Railroad Bed and Breakfast in Nice, Calif., is the newest drop point for the Lake County Community Co-op. Courtesy photo.

NICE, Calif. – Featherbed Railroad Bed and Breakfast in Nice is the latest addition to the Lake County Community Co-op's growing distribution drop points in the county.

Tony and Peggy Barthel, owners of the Featherbed Railroad B&B in Nice, have offered their unique space and time to host the co-op's weekly CSA (community supported agriculture) boxes and individual item purchases from local organic producers every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Located at 2870 Lakeshore Blvd. in Nice, the drop point began July 29 at one of Lake County's most unique bed and breakfasts, nestled in a shaded lawn area on the shore of Clear Lake.

The Barthels were excited to host the site, supporting the co-op's vision for local food distribution.

For more information on the Featherbed Railroad Bed and Breakfast, contact the Barthels at www.featherbedrailroad.com or call 707-274-8378 or 800-966-6322.

Additionally, the co-op seeks drop points in neighboring Lucerne and the Kit's Corner area near Lower Lake.

The co-op currently has 10 drop points throughout Lake County that serve as pick up sites for members' weekly purchases.

For more information on the co-op's offerings, go to www.lakeco-op.org or call the co-op at 707-993-4270.

Now celebrating almost three years in community, the Lake County Community Co-op (LCCC) envisions cultivating an evolving community by nurturing values of social, economic and environmental responsibility.

The co-op wishes to support our local farmers and producers and provide a forum for community activities.

They also encourage member input and participation for continued successful co-creation in community.

The team, in partnership with Konocti Vista Casino, 2755 Mission Rancheria Road in Lakeport, has planned a special evening with the candidate on Saturday, Aug. 14.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Rivero will share his vision and plan to bring about change in the sheriff's office.

The free event is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about Rivero, as well as supporters and those who might want to get involved with the campaign.

Rivero, the leading vote getter in the three-way sheriff’s race in the June 8 primary election, is now in a run-off election with the incumbent sheriff, Rod Mitchell.

“After taking some time to enjoy my family and reflect on what lies ahead, I am eager to hit the campaign trail again,” said Rivero. “I am stronger than ever in my commitment to bring about needed reforms in an atmosphere of openness and accountability.”

Complimentary appetizers and beverages will be served and there will be some low-key fundraising activities for those who wish to support Rivero's campaign financially.

For more information, contact Rivero's campaign headquarters office, 707-987-4467, send him an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the campaign Web site at www.sheriffrivero.com.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Chef Christina Basor is teaching classes on how to make easy, healthy, delicious raw vegan ice cream from fresh, plant-based ingredients with no dairy, no sugar or artificial ingredients.

Learn to make a raw ice cream sundae with chocolate and raspberry sauces, delicious sorbets, coffee ice cream and cherry chocolate chip ice cream.

Basor will teach classes in two locations in August.

The first class will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, in Lakeport. The cost is $35. Call Basor for information, 707-489-3600.

The second class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at Chic Le Chef on Saturday, Aug. 21. The class costs $25. Sign up at www.chiclechef.com or 707-987-9664.