NICE – The newly chartered Northshore Lions Club is looking for new members.

Please come to find out more about the exciting new club this Thursday, June 17.

Meetings take place the third Thursday of each month. Social hour begins at 6:30 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. and the program at 7:30 p.m.

The group meets at the Marina Grill in Nice.

For more information call 707-274-9952.

MIDDLETOWN – It’s fun for the whole family in Middletown on Father’s Day weekend with a “Spirit of the Old West” parade, barbecue, dance, merchant specials, and rodeo events in Central Park.

The fun begins on Saturday, June 19, with the 49th annual Middletown Days parade on Highway 29 in downtown Middletown.

The parade starts at 10 a.m., but you must be in town by 9:30 a.m. to find parking because the detour route cuts off most of the parking downtown.

Parking is available along side streets to the east of the highway, unless posted.

Get to town early to enjoy the pancake breakfast at the Middletown fire station from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cost is $7 for adults, $5 for kids under 12 for eggs and pancakes and all the trimmings.

The Fire Sirens will also hold a rummage sale next door to the fire station all day.

When you get back to town, check out the fabulous deals on used books at the Middletown Library, located at Highway 29 and Callayomi Street, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

After the parade, Middletown merchants will host a street fair on Bush Street, and many businesses will be offering Middletown Days specials.

The fun moves to Central Park just south of Middletown for a traditional barbecue, karaoke contest, parade awards, vendors, and lots of rodeo action in the arena.

The chicken and tri-tip barbecue with all the trimmings is served from noon until it’s gone. Cost is $8 for adults, $5 for kids under 12.

Grab your partner for dancing under the stars beginning at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night in the park. Enjoy music by the Dave Russell Band, drinks from the Lions Club bar, and delicious carnitas all evening long. Cost is $8 for adults, $5 for kids under 12.

On Sunday, take dad to breakfast at the annual Father’s Day breakfast hosted by the Middletown Lioness Club.

Enjoy ham, eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Lions Clubhouse in Central Park for only $7 for adults and for children.

Then it’s on to the arena for fast action at the gymkhana beginning at 10 a.m. The Cowboy Cafe and beer booth will be open all day.

The day ends with the Queen’s drawing for the beef raffle, followed by the exciting rescue race and hide ride to close out another fun weekend in the Spirit of the Old West.

LUCERNE – The Lucerne Friends of Locally Owned Water (Lucerne FLOW) will host their monthly meeting on Saturday, June 19.

The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 10^th and Country Club.

The center offers breakfast that is available to all.

The public is welcome to the meeting.

CLEARLAKE – The Clearlake Planning Commission will meet this Tuesday, June 15.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The first item of business on the agenda is Calvary Chapel's use permit application to construct a new church sanctuary at 14330 Olympic Drive.

The commission will then hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of a negative declaration of environmental impact and the approval of a subdivision application from Superior Acquisitions Inc. that proposes to create two commercial lots at 15895 Dam Road Extension.

There also will be a director's report.

Copies of maps and other information for the agenda items are available for review at the Clearlake Community Development Department at Clearlake City Hall between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Members of the public are invited to come to the meeting and comment on any item under discussion.

LAKE COUNTY – Organizers of the annual Lake County Home Wine Makers and Home Brewers Festival, taking place on June 26 in Lakeport, have extended the deadline for persons interested in submitting their products for judging.

The new cutoff date for entries is Friday, June 18.

Participants will have their wines, beers and ales judged by not only panels of experts, but also members of the public attending the event.

This year's festival will take place at Lakeport's Library Park between the hours of 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

It is sponsored as a fundraiser by nonprofit Clear Lake Performing Arts, Lake County's fine music support group.

Information on the Winefest – now in its eighth year – may be obtained at www.homewinemakersfestival.com.

Wines will be judged in a broad variety of reds, whites and pinks.

Those interested in submitting their wines for judging and for sampling to the public may contact Connel Murray at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-277-7076. Home brewers should contact Scott Simkover at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-279-2762.

Discounted advance ticket sales were introduced June 7 at most Lake County wineries as well as many retail and civic outlets including both the Lakeport and Clearlake Chambers of Commerce and members of the Lakeport Main Street Association.

An addition to the list is the Kitchen Gallery, now in a new location at 341 N. Main St. in Lakeport.

Advance tickets are $15, while those purchased the day of the event are $20.

LAKEPORT – The Lake County Rodeo returns next month for its 81^st annual event.

The rodeo will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, July 9, and Saturday, July 10, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport.

On Saturday, July 10, the Lake County Rodeo Parade – formerly the All Horse Parade – will commence at 11 a.m. at the baseball fields at the fairgrounds in Lakeport, traveling on Martin to Main Street, north on Main Street to Ninth Street, and returning on Main and then to the fairgrounds.

This year the parade will feature antique tractors and farm equipment, plus a pet parade, in addition to many equestrian entries.

Applications for the parade are available at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce in Lakeport, 707-263-5092, CJS Ranch Supply in Middletown and Marie’s Feed in Clearlake.

This is a CSHA sanctioned parade and all CSHA (California State Horsemen’s Association) members will receive points for participating.

The parade is open to all equestrians, not just CSHA members.

Prizes will be awarded immediately following the parade and there will be a raffle for the participants.

Lonne Sloan is the chair of the parade and she has many years experience of organizing parades and knows horses, so she is the perfect person for the job. Sloan is ably assisted by Kirsten Spraktes and Teresa Harborth.

The Rodeo Association wishes to thank Lonne Sloan, CSHA judge Kim Cipro and all the volunteers for bringing this important piece of rodeo tradition to this 81st Annual Lake County Rodeo.

Sloan can be reached at 707-995-2515 or 707-349-0820.