The showings will begin at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Cartwright (Calpine) Geothermal Visitors Center, 15500 Central Park Road, Middletown.

The facility offers parking, restrooms, a large screening room, air conditioning and concessions are available. The cost is $10 at the door for adults, $5 for kids 16 and under.

Parental discretion is advised due to language/content.

Coyote Film Festival teases with the following multi award winning shorts and animation.

“Stuff” by Karl R. Hearne (comedy short). “Stuff” is the story of the woman who has everything and the man who has nothing – and what happens when they move in together. (6:03 minutes)

“Frog Crossing” by Ari Gold (comedy short). The tale of a fervent environmentalist who sets out to help mating frogs cross a remote stretch of highway but ends up finding love himself. Ari was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 Faces to Watch” after having an unprecedented three short films in a row at Sundance. (7:30 minutes)

“Il Destino” by Fanny Veliz (short fiction). If your present is not what you expected, and you get one chance to relive your past … Is it meant to be? “Il Destino” is based on the true story of a newly divorced single father who reconnects with a past love for a meeting that forever changes his life. (16:02 minutes)

“Shortstop' by Latina film team Fanny Veliz and Risa Machuca (comedy short). Two women find out they’re not so different after all when they discover they are both in love with the same man. (17 minutes)

Animation ‘nstaCharge by Igor Choromanski. An outdated, quirky little robot falls for his sexy friend's latest rechargeable batteries. This film is meant to elicit no more than a smile or two as it sets about accomplishing its true motive – that of pleasing its maker. It is here that you will find his childhood dreams, his nephews' toys, the motorcycles he once rode and one day will crash again, and his virtual Galatea, steel cold and full of grace. (1:56 minutes)

“One Rat Short” by Alex Weil (Animation). A modern tale of “star-crossed” love that is set in dual worlds of dark and light. The hero follows a discarded food wrapper from his dirty black urban world into an unfamiliar blinding-white laboratory world. Alex Weil creates a beguiling adventure of unrequited love within an unorthodox context. (10 minutes)

Plus there will be an additional surprise or two. See you Saturday!

Contact the nonprofit EcoArts of Lake County at 707-928-0323 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Join respected local musician Jim Williams for an evening of music on Saturday, Aug. 21.

Williams will host an open microphone event from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Kelsey Creek Coffee Co. in Lakeport.

Bring your guitar or other instrument and have some fun.

Kelsey Creek Coffee Co. is located at 930 N. Main St. Visit the business on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/Kelsey-Creek-Coffee-Co/144886771325#!/pages/Kelsey-Creek-Coffee-Co/144886771325?v=wall.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Join the Moore Family Winery on Saturday, Aug. 21, for a concert and wine tasting.

The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The concert in the vineyard will feature Lightning Hand and Blind Monkey Band.

Formed in 2004, lightning hand has been one of Northern California's premier classic/rock, blues and Americana roots bands.

Tickets are $15.

Moore Family Winery is located at 11990 Bottle Rock Road.

For more information visit http://www.moorefamilywinery.com or call 707-279-9279.

BOONVILLE – Author Valerie Miner will hold a reading of her newest novel on Saturday, Aug. 21.

The reading will begin at 4 p.m. at Laughing Dog Books, 14125 Highway 128, Boonville.

Following the reading there will be a chance for discussion with the author.

Miner will read three brief selections from a novel set in Mendocino County, a collection of short fiction and a memoir.

She is the award-winning author of 13 books.

Her new novel, “After Eden,” is published in the “Literature of the American West Series” by the University of Oklahoma Press.

Other novels include “Range of Light,” “A Walking Fire,” “Winter's Edge,” “Blood Sisters,” “All Good Women,” “Movement: A Novel in Stories” and “Murder in the English Department.”

Her short fiction books include “Abundant Light,” “The Night Singers” and “Trespassing.” Her collection of essays is “Rumors from the Cauldron: Selected Essays, Reviews and Reportage.” Miner's work has been translated into eight languages.

She has won fellowships and awards from The Rockefeller Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, The NEA, The Jerome Foundation, The Heinz Foundation, The Australia Council Literary Arts Board and numerous other sources. She has had Fulbright Fellowships to Tunisia, India and Indonesia.

Winner of a Distinguished Teaching Award, she has taught for more than 25 years and is now artist-in-residence and professor at Stanford University.

She travels internationally giving readings, lectures and workshops. She and her partner live in San Francisco and Mendocino County.

Visit her Web site at www.valerieminer.com.

Laughing Dog Books can be reached at 707-272-7323.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Dance Alliance will hold auditions for “The Nutcracker” on Saturday, Aug. 21.

The auditions will take place at the PACK Community Arts Academy, 21055 Bush St., Middletown.

Auditions will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Those wanting to audition can arrive anytime within those hours.

Ages 6 to adult may audition. Parts for ages 4 to 5 are only open to current PACK families.

All levels of experience and styles of dance are welcome – tumbling, ballet, modern, jazz, pointe, contemporary and theatrical pantomime.

For more information call 707-987-8230 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Visit the PACK Community Arts Academy online at www.packcaa.org.

Mark Rudiger, Austin Ison, Jeanine Mullen, Sue Condit (hidden, Eleanor Cook and Andi Skelton), members of the Konocti Fiddle Club performing at Lakeport Library last summer in the summer of 2009. The fiddlers will perform Friday, Aug. 20, 2010, at Lakeport Library, Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Jan Cook.

The library and the musicians invite the public to this family-friendly event at 1425 N. High St.

Classic fiddle tunes resonate whenever these musicians, ranging in age from kindergarten to grandparent, perform.

An old saying states that “the violin sings, but the fiddle dances.” The Konocti Fiddlers do indeed make their fiddles dance, and sometimes the fiddles cluck like hens, moo like cows and whistle like trains.

Miss Barbara the story lady will read music-themed books to the children.

Lakeport Library is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday noon to 8 p.m. The phone number is 707-263-8817.