The meeting will take place in the City Council chambers at City Hall, 225 Park St.

The commission will present an Outstanding Planning Commission Service Award to Chairman Walter Schlicher, who is retiring.

Agenda items include a public hearing and consideration of Eel River Fuels' application for a use permit to allow outdoor storage of products such as propane tanks, barbecues and wood stove pellets in a C-2 Major Retail Zoning District. The subject property is located at 2190 S. Main St.

The commission also will hold a public hearing and consider applicant Tino Gamber's request for a tentative parcel map to create one parcel and a remainder parcel from a 2.02 acre parcel of land in an R-1 Low Density Residential Zoning District and an Environmental Review of the project. The subject property is located at 1601 Mellor Drive.

Also up for discussion is amending Lakeport Municipal Code Section 17.04.050 A. to prohibit bed and breakfast inns in the R-1 Low Density Residential Zoning District, and review of the requirement for bed and breakfast inns to have a minimum 10,000 SF of land area unless a smaller parcel is approved by the Planning Commission.

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This month, the Buyer’s Club will take their first order.

Treasurer Patrick Kenna encourages all members to join the group for this historic event. “First, we will learn the open source software and then volunteers will help members make their first order,” Kenna said.

The meeting is at the Hot Spot, the youth activity center in Clearlake, 4750 Golf Ave.

California Certified Organic Farmers Inspector Lars Crail will be the guest speaker at this month’s meeting.

Crail, raised in Lake County, is an organic pear and grape farmer and a board member of the Lake County Farm Bureau.

His talk will include helping members wend their way through the various definitions used in organic food production.

“Food safety and food security are very prominent topics, and helping our members get educated about these important issues is a top priority right now,” said Co-op Chair JoAnn Saccato.

For more information about the meeting and the co-op, the group hosts a wikispace at http://lakecountycommunityco-op.wikispaces.com/ or you can reach JoAnn at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 350-1719.

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The theme is "Celebrate America's Heroes" and the chamber plans on featuring members of our Armed Forces as Grand Marshals.

The parade route will begin at the fairgrounds on Martin Street, travel east to Main Street and north to Ninth Street before returning to the fairgrounds. Entry forms are available by calling 263-5092 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Also in Lakeport on Saturday and Sunday at the Natural High School grounds will be the Kiwanis Craft Faire with more than 30 quality vendors. On Saturday morning, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., the Lakeport Kiwanis Club will host its traditional pancake breakfast for the benefit of Lake County 4-H.

On Sunday, May 25, the Lower Lake Daze Parade and Pet Parade takes place at 11 a.m. on Main Street in Lower Lake. Festivities go on all day until 4 p.m. with pony rides, petting zoo, kids games and vendors. Call 995-2515 for more information.

On Monday, May 26, there will be the annual Memorial Day Wreath Ceremony with prayers and taps at 9 a.m. at the Middletown Cemetery at 16357 Butts Canyon Road. Call 987-0511 for more information.

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The meeting will take place at the at Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road in Clearlake.

The potluck starts at 6:30 p.m. All LGBTs are welcome.

The Lake County Stonewall Democratic Club is a newly formed group made up primarily of (but not limited to) gays and lesbians.

The Lake County chapter joins the internationally acclaimed Stonewall Democratic Clubs which were named in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots which took place in New York City in 1969, beginning the gay liberation movement.

The chapter is a group of like-minded citizens who are working together as a political force focusing their attention not only on LGBT issues, but human and civil rights, equality for all and local community involvement and activism.

Meetings, which take place on the fourth Monday of each month, are open to the public, but membership is for registered Democrats only.

For more information please call 987-8939.

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By completing two short surveys, the first 500 participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of 10 Lake County Fair admission prize packages, including two free tickets to the fair and two all day carnival ride wristbands!

To answer the surveys, go to www.lakecountyfair.com. 

"Public participation is vital in helping attain our goal,” said Cal Poly agribusiness marketing student Kelsea Melicia. “Help from the public will allow us to incorporate local interest and improve everyone's experience at the Lake County Fair."

The students are working closely with fair CEO, Richard Persons, a Cal Poly graduate, who said, "The Learn-By-Doing educational method embraced by Cal Poly has aided me in my success as a fair manager. We've invited these students to apply their classroom skills to a real life marketing plan and a new visual brand to enhance the Lake County Fair. The experience will help both the Fair and the Cal Poly students."

Lake County's premiere family event, the Lake County Fair, opens Thursday, Aug. 28, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 31.

Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by more than 37,000 people each year. The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, and livestock shows.

The fair theme for 2008 is "Let the Good Time's Roll!"

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Many of our children suffer some degree of hunger in the summer because 72 percent of all school-age children here are eligible for reduced-rate or free lunches during the school year. When they are out of school, they have no access to this extra nutrition.

To help with this problem, several agencies have come together to hold a food drive called “Cans For Our Kids” in conjunction with Konocti Kids Day.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at Austin Park in Clearlake.

The food drive is being sponsored by Bicoastal Media, which will do a live broadcast from the park. The goal for the day is 10,000 items, and a running count will be kept and announced.

Volunteers from AmeriCorps, Lake County Community Action Agency, Girl Scouts, Healthy Start and First Five will all collect food at a drive by location on the corner of Austin and Uhl, directly across the street from the skate park. Drive west on Olympic and follow the signs to the drop off location. You may either hand the donations to volunteers as you drive through, or they will assist with unloading your vehicle. All nonperishable food will be appreciated.

The Lake County Office of Education AmeriCorps program, working with Healthy Start and First Five will discreetly distribute the food to those families most in need. If you cannot deliver the food and still want to donate, or if you have any questions about this event, please call Lorrie at 277-9227.

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