LAKEPORT – Local author, KitDee DeCanti will share her newest mystery, “Secret of Cobb Mountain,” on Friday, Jan. 8.

The reading will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Watershed Books, 305 N. Main St. in Lakeport.

DeCanti's newest book is an engrossing novel about the mysterious death of a young woman.

When a new sheriff's deputy thinks it may have been other than suicide, he undertakes an investigation which leads him into danger, romance and the answer to more than one mystery.

This novel is a good mystery with lots of interesting twists and local color.

For more information call 707-263-5787 or visit Watershed Books' Web site, www.watershedbookco.com .

The show will air premiere at 10:05 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, as well as several additional times during January.

For the first time on National television, American Indian comedians come together to bring the healing power of humor to all people throughout the Four Directions.

Yaffee (www.trailoflaughs.com), joins six other Indian comedians for the show. A Kelseyville resident, Yaffee has toured professionally since 1999.

A co-star of the Pow Wow Comedy Jam, Yaffee is a former writer for the late George Carlin’s laugh.com and he has performed overseas five times entertaining US troops.

Yaffee’s previous television credits include Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, The Latino Laugh Festival and the PBS Special and Crossing the Line.

For information on additional airings in January, visit www.sho.com .

New to the Main Street Gallery is the unique wall sculptures of Ted Kirby executed in mixed medium.

Also, showing for the first time at the Gallery is Richard Hoyt with his work in figurative photography.

Ginger Ingersoll returns to the gallery demonstrating her talent in sketching and in oils.

Diana Liebe once again delights us with her charming work in watercolors.

Meredith Gambrel shows her distinctive style in acrylics, while Richard Seisser continues to amaze us with his broad spectrum of work in pastels.

Continuing in the January show are Bruce Vandariss, exhibiting his vivid paintings done in colored pencil; Toni Stewart's one-of-a-kind handcrafted hats; popular artist Ray Farrow is showing a new side of his talent with his abstracts while Elaine Lewis displays her flair with acrylics.

Each of Bill Blum's miniature wooden gnome homes hold a surprise and to accompany them, Chris Schreier has fashioned wee folk art gnomes. Phil Mathewson gives a new dimension to the show with his bold and provocative abstracts. Jo Bergeson presents an eclectic show in oils with subject matter ranging from nudes to abstracts; while Shelby Posada hangs a collection of her work in pastels.

We are pleased to welcome back the students from Upper Lake under the instruction of Anna and Jennifer Sabalone. Last year this students delighted us with their miniature clay creations, and we look forward to new surprises in this show.

We invite you to join us in a celebration of the New Year and our featured artists while sampling the wide variety of wines available in Lake County. Adding to the festivities of the evening will be the "blue velvet" voice and percussion stylings of Neon who will be accompanied by guitarist and vocalist Mike Wilhelm.

The Main Street Gallery and Gift Shop is located at 325 N. Main St. in Lakeport. More information can be obtained by calling 707-263-6658.

Shelby Posada is executive director of the Lake County Arts Council.

The fun will take place from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1.

The Southern Comfort Band – which includes Jerry Toler, Dennis Miliken and Terry Terrant – plays a wide variety of country and old time rock & roll music.

Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

For more information call 707-274-8779 or 707-995-9602.

This year’s theme, “State of the Art,” invites young people ages 5–15 with and without disabilities to create art that shows the role they play within their communities.

All artwork submitted before the Feb. 5, 2010, deadline will be included in an online art gallery and considered for a national touring exhibition that will debut in Washington, D.C. in June 2010.

“Kids of all abilities can participate side by side in the process of creating art. This is a truly inclusive activity that invites young artists to express their engagement with their communities, and then to share their artwork in the online gallery,” said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts. “The focus of this program is on creativity and inclusivity.”

The submissions received for the “State of the Art” call will be included within this exhibition in an interactive kiosk. In addition, teachers who submit their students’ artwork are eligible to receive one of five $1,000 cash awards for use in their classroom.

This exhibition will feature artwork selected from every state and the District of Columbia. The 51 featured artists will be invited to an opening reception in Washington, D.C. and will have a chance to join in the largest celebration of the arts and disability in the world: the 2010 International VSA arts Festival.

“Each year our partnership with VSA arts gets better and better as we engage more and more young people on the value of creative expression. Now in its third year, our ‘State of the Art’ program’s promotion of inclusion in our classrooms and communities has helped thousands of children of all abilities reach their goal of creating and expressing their artistic vision,” says Eileen Howard Dunn, senior vice president of Community Relations for CVS Caremark. “We continue to be passionate advocates for this program and are thrilled to be a part of the enthusiasm and excitement the children bring to the process each year.”

This call for art is part of VSA arts’ and CVS Caremark’s yearlong campaign, All Kids Can…CREATE!, which promotes inclusive learning and community engagement through artist-in-residence programs in schools and through community volunteer activities with CVS Caremark employees.

To find out more, please visit www.vsarts.org/allkidscancreate or call 202-628-2800.