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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County residents ventured out by the thousands to events over the Memorial Day weekend, a time that has traditionally been the official beginning of the summer season but this year also marks a return to a more familiar pattern of community life and celebration.
As the transition from full COVID-19 lockdown to reopening continues over the coming weeks, several celebrations that had been canceled last year were back, in modified form, this weekend.
In Lakeport, the Lakeport Main Street Association presented the Memorial Day parade on Saturday.
While the association had encouraged people to watch it online, Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said it was a good turnout, with the crowd size in the hundreds.
“People were spread out well from Martin Street all the way to the end at Clearlake Avenue,” Rasmussen said, adding the event went well with no problems.
One of the changes this year was that there was no Kiwanis and 4-H breakfast before the parade, Rasmussen said.
In Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Daze event came back on Sunday with its parade but changed from a barbecue in the park to a street fair that stretched along the length of Main Street downtown.
It was a change that the event's organizers, members of the Lower Lake Community Action Group, hoped would offer more safety for the sake of social distancing, and community members who visited gave it their approval.
“I have never seen so many people there. We attend every year. I think everyone liked the change. I have only heard positive things about it,” said Clearlake resident Fawn Williams.
She added, “It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying themselves.”
The warm three-day weekend culminated on Monday morning with the Middletown Cemetery District’s Memorial Day service, focusing on the sacrifice that’s at the core of the holiday.
Despite very hot weather — it was around 90 degrees at the time the ceremony started at 9 a.m. — mistress of ceremonies Linda Diehl-Darms said it drew a “wonderful turnout,” estimating between 60 and 75 people were in attendance.
“People are ready to get out,” said Diehl-Darms.
This year’s ceremony featured the Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team, with the 4-H Club carrying out the flag ceremony, and Girl Scouts Troop No. 10403 and Daisy Troop No. 10917 assisting with wreaths, programs and flag placement on the 219 veterans’ graves at the cemetery on Butts Canyon Road.
Supervisor Moke Simon read the names the veterans buried at Middletown Rancheria, his predecessor on the board Jim Comstock read the names of the veterans buried in the Middletown Cemetery, Voris Brumfield gave the benediction, musicians David Neft and Kathleen Escude performed, and the Lions Club once again provided equipment and set up.
A special addition to this year’s ceremony was the dedication of headstones for three Civil War veterans, Hiram Cook, Phillip Maxwell and David Henry Thorne, who are interred at the cemetery. Dean Enderlin, past department commander of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, and Cindy Eddy, past department president of the Auxiliary for three Civil War veterans, performed the dedication.
Diehl-Darms said she heard good comments about the memorial. “It was a really good celebration.”
She said another major summertime event — Middletown Days — will return this year over Father’s Day weekend.
The Middletown Central Park Association will hold the 60th annual event June 18 to 20.
There will be a parade, barbecue, cornhole tournament, dancing, cowboy team races, mutton bustin’, cutest cowboy and girl contest, and more.
“It’s a packed weekend,” Diehl-Darms said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
