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Veterans
- Details
- Written by: Ginny Craven
LAKEPORT – Operation Tango Mike volunteers showed up in a force – 32 strong – for the most recent packing party. Sixty care packages were assembled and packaged for shipment to U.S troops serving in Iraq.
The event took place at Umpqua Bank in Lakeport, the new “headquarters” for Operation Tango Mike.
A generous donation of space for storage and for packing parties has made life much easier for the group. Donations are now sorted and stored at the bank and care packages are assembled there as well. Since 2003, goods had been stored in the home and garage of this author and transported to separate locations for packing parties.
Round Table Pizza and Umpqua Bank also generously provided pizza and beverages for the dedicated volunteers. Families of deployed troops, Lake County Sheriff’s Office volunteers, Vietnam Veterans of America members and many wonderful Lake County citizens volunteered their time for the labor of love.
The next packing party will take place near the end of September. Operation Tango Mike strives to give the troops a “touch of home” and in that regard will send Halloween themed boxes at the next shipping. Anyone wishing to volunteer, to contribute goods or monetary donations is welcome to do so.
“Drop Zone” donation barrels can be found at the following locations:
Kelseyville: Riviera Foods, 9730 Soda Bay Road; Riviera Hills Golf and Recreation Club, 10200 Fairway Drive.
Middletown: Hardester’s Markets; Highway 29 in Middletown, Hidden Valley at 29843 Hartman Road and 16295 Highway 175, Cobb.
Clearlake: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2237, 3980 Veterans Lane; American Legion Post No. 437, 14770 Austin Road; Foods, Etc. at 15290 Lakeshore Drive.
Clearlake Oaks: Red and White Store, 12580 East Highway 20; Tower Mart 12583 East Highway 20.
Lucerne: Lakeview Market, 6068 East Highway 20.
Nice: Sentry Market, 2265 East Highway 20; Boathouse Bar & BBQ, 2685 Lakeshore Blvd.
Upper Lake: Country Carpets, 9465 Main St.; Judy’s Junction, 375 East Highway 20.
Lakeport: Mackey Tires & Spas, 2102 S. Main St.; The Inks Spot, 95 Third St.; Kerrie’s Quilting, 1853 N. High St.; The Iron Worker Gym, 325 20th St.; Safeway, 1071 11th St.; Bruno’s Shop Smart, 355 Lakeport Bldv; and Umpqua Bank, 805 11th St.
Monetary donations are always a tremendous help in covering the monthly shipping costs, which average $550.
Donations can be in the form of checks made payable to Operation Tango Mike, are tax-deductible and may be sent to P.O. Box 1313, Lakeport, CA 95453.
If you wish to make a cash donation or desire further information, please contact Ginny Craven at 707-349-2838 or
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- Details
- Written by: Editor
Enjoy a beautiful ride around the county and enjoy a steak barbecue and a band afterward. A no-host bar will be available.
The cost is $25 for one rider, $40 for those ridin' two up, and $40 for automobiles, street rods or other vehicles.
The proceeds go to the chapter's memorial scholarship fund.
Register between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sept. 15 at Ironhorse Creations, 1190 S. Main St., Lakeport.
For more information, call Dave or Patty, 995-1742.
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- Details
- Written by: Genevieve Snow
LAKEPORT – vietnam Vets Chapter 951 President, Dean Gotham, decided to liven up a monthly meeting with a luau theme, which evolved into a successful social.
The vets met at the usual location, St. Mary’s Church Hall in Lakeport Aug. 14. It was the traditional spread of scrumptious food (without the roast pig, however) with authentic Hawaiian chants resounding as background music. Genevieve Snow, VVA member, danced the hula.
Chris Caravayo, retired U.S. Army of Kelseyville, won the prize for the best Hawaiian shirt while Ms. Snow, former Navy Wave, claimed a prize for her Hawaiian attire.
Gotham presented a certificate of appreciation to Don and Peg McCown, retired Navy vets actively participating in Avenue of the Flag preparations on Memorial and Veterans Day for five consecutive years.
The North Bay Veterans Resource Center of Santa Rosa gave Gotham special recognition, an award for his long hours in assisting a returning Iraqi soldier who needed medical treatment.
Ginny Craven from Operation Tango Mike updated the group on the last packing party; 60 boxes were shipped overseas.
The chapter members donated three Patriot Guard Rider flags, signed by chapter members. At the request of soldiers, these flags will be flown in Iraq, then returned to Lakeport.
The Patriot Guard Riders, a nationwide group of more than 100,000, ride together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services. Whenever physically possible, the bikers will shield the mourning family from interruptions created by protesters.
Marlene Kurowski, executive director of Lake County Hospice, was the featured speaker that evening. Kurowski informed chapter members about hospice and the need for volunteers.
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- Details
- Written by: Editor
The meeting begins with a potluck dinner and is followed by a business meeting of Post 2015 and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
All honorably discharged veterans of foreign wars of the United States are welcome to join.
For further information about the post and activities please visit their Web site at www.vfwpost2015.com.
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- Details
- Written by: Editor
Potluck starts at 6 p.m., with the meeting to follow at 7 p.m.
The group will meet at its usual location at Saint Mary Immaculate Parish Hall, 801 N. Main St., Lakeport.
Topic of discussion will be the upcoming second annual memorial scholarship poker run scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15, which coincides with the National POW/MIA Day.
The fundraiser/poker run commences at the IronHorse Creation and Lakeport Garage and ends at Richmond Park. All vehicles will be welcomed.
Operation Tango Mike activities are also on the meeting agenda.
For more information contact Genevieve Snow at 263-3740 or send an email to VVA951pr@
yahoo.com.
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- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY – A group of veterans supporters are launching an effort to boost the morale of troops overseas.
The Patriot Guard Riders is a nationwide group of motorcycle riders who honor our nation's fallen heros by attending the funerals of US soldiers and offering protection and comfort to their families. The group also welcomes home troops who are returning from service abroad, said Slick Hultquist of Scotts Valley, a local Patriot Guard member.
The group formed in 2005, in response to an effort by a group that was protesting at soldiers' funerals and harassing family members of the fallen.
Hultquist said there are more than 104,000 Patriot Guard members nationwide, and he hopes to see more motorcyclists join. However, he said you don't have to be a motorcyclist to join.
The group, Hultquist said, is “all about respect” for the sacrifices of the nation's soldiers.
Hultquist said the Patriot Guard Riders flag has become a morale booster for US troops overseas. The flag has a yellow background with dark blue lettering that says “Patriot Guard Riders, Standing For Those Who Stood For Us” surrounding a triangle of stars.
He recently attended a meeting of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter No. 951 in Lakeport where he shared the Patriot Guard Riders' mission and presented an idea to send the flags over to US troops.
Hultquist said there have so far been 318 requests from troops for the flags, but they have only been able to send 274.
“That is still quite a few, but these guys and gals get all pumped up when they receive these flags knowing that there are people over here that DO care about them and what they are doing,” Hultquist said.
The Vietnam Veterans of America donated enough money on the spot at the recent meeting to send over two additional flags, which cost $38 plus $2 for shipping, said Hultquist. The group is going to purchase a third flag to display at its meetings.
Hultquist asked the vets to sign the flags, because the signatures give the flags “a little more of a personal touch.” However, signing is not necessary, as some troops prefer them unsigned.
He said he's ordered seven flags himself so far and is taking them around to his neighbors to sign. In turn, his neighbors have been chipping in donations to help support the flag purchases.
For more information about the Patriot Guard Riders, call Hultquist at 263-8105 or
For more information you can visit the Patriot Guard Riders Web site at www.patriotguard.org. However, only Patriot Guard Riders members can order flags from that site.
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- Details
- Written by: Ginny Craven
KELSEYVILLE – On July 31, 28 volunteers came together with one goal: They aimed to pack boxes containing food, snacks, hygiene items, entertainment and, most of all, love and support.
The volunteers supporting Operation Tango Mike packed 60 care packages for US troops in under two hours. The Riviera Hills Golf & Recreation Club played host to the packing party, offering use of the lounge facilities.
Riviera Hills manager and troop supporter Valerie Davison jumped in and worked at a fever pitch to help keep things running smoothly. Pogo's Pizza donated pizzas for the hungry workers and everyone left the evening satisfied they had done a good deed for our troops.
Among the volunteers were Paula Bryant, Denise Wilson and Mike Curran, all parents of deployed troops. Several siblings of those deployed troops were busy packing boxes as well.
The local Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter, the Women of the Clear Lake Riviera and the Lake County Sheriff's Office came out in force too.
Each box packed also includes handwritten correspondence in some form. That added touch helps to make the care package more personal for the military men and women on the receiving end.
If you have the time and inclination, consider writing notes or cards to be included. Surprisingly, correspondence, in any form, is the most requested item from the deployed troops. They do long to hear from folks back home.
Care packages are boxed and shipped monthly. Anyone wishing to learn more about Operation Tango Mike can do so by visiting the Web site at http://home.mchsi.com/~operationtangomike.
If you'd like to contribute goods they may be deposited at "drop zones" throughout Lake County, which are listed on the Web site.
If you would like to donate monies to help cover the shipping costs, which average $540 per month, donations can be cash or checks made payable to Operation Tango Mike. These can be mailed to P.O. Box 1313, Lakeport, CA 95453.
If you'd like to make a donation or desire more information, please contact Ginny Craven at 349-2838 or by e-mail at
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- Details
- Written by: Editor
KELSEYVILLE – This month's Operation Tango Mike box packing party will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31.
Packing party members will meet in the lounge of Riviera Hills Golf & Recreation Club, 10200 Fairway Drive, Kelseyville.
Riviera Hills has hosted fundraisers for Operation Tango Mike and have asked to host the packing party.
To get to Riviera Hills: Turn on Soda Bay Road at Kit's Corner (Highway 29). Proceed until you come to the shopping center where Riviera Foods and Soda Bay Coffee Co. are located. At the end of that shopping center is Fairway Drive and a sign for Riviera Hills. Turn right and proceed about 6/10 of a mile up the hill. 10200 will be on your left.
For more information contact Operation Tango Mike organizer Ginny Craven, 349-2838.
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- Details
- Written by: Editor
CLEARLAKE OAKS – On Monday, Clay Shannon, proprietor of Shannon Ridge Winery in Lake County, donated $1,000 to Operation Tango Mike, a community effort that sends care packages and support to United States troops.
Operation Tango Mike accomplishes its mission through the support of Lake County veterans, community organizations and volunteers.
Shannon Ridge recently completed renovations on a historic one-room school house building and held a grand opening event at the new tasting room and retail sales facility earlier this month.
As a commitment to give back to the community, Shannon promised that a portion of the proceeds from the sales generated at the event would be presented to the Operation Tango Mike group.
On Monday, Shannon presented Ginny Craven of Operation Tango Mike with the check.
“Clay’s generous donation will cover shipping costs for care packages for US troops overseas for the next three months,” said Craven.
Shannon said he's proud to be a supporter of this important cause.
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