“Many Americans are trying to make more environmentally conscious decisions, and that is especially at the top of their minds this week, as we near Earth Day 2011,” explained AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja. “There are a lot of things a driver can do to lessen his or her environmental impact while behind the wheel, and those things will also save them some money.”

Go easy on the pedals

The easiest and most effective way to drive “greener” is to simply change one’s driving style.

Instead of making quick starts and sudden stops, go easy on the gas and brake pedals.

If there is a red light ahead, ease off the gas and coast up to it rather than waiting until the last second to brake.

Once the light turns green, accelerate gently rather than making a “jack rabbit” start.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, aggressive driving can reduce a car’s fuel economy up to 33 percent.

Slow down

The fuel efficiency of most vehicles decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour. Each five miles per hour driven over 60 miles per hour is like paying an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas, reports the U.S. Department of Energy.

Keep your car in shape

A car that’s not properly maintained can produce more exhaust emissions and consume more fuel than necessary.

Minor adjustments and repairs can effect emissions and fuel economy by up to four percent.

More serious problems, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can reduce gas mileage as much as 40 percent.

Choose a ‘greener’ car

When shopping for a new car, consider the wide variety of “green” vehicle options now available.

Also, if a household has more than one car, use the “greener” one for errands.\

For more tips on greener driving visit www.aaa.com/greenerdriving.

Think and plan ahead

Try to combine multiple trips into one. Several short trips starting with a cold engine each time can use twice as much gas as a single longer trip when the engine is warm.

Also, plan the route in advance to drive the fewest miles, eliminate backtracking and avoid heavy traffic times and areas.

The free AAA TripTik Mobile iPhone app can help by giving motorists turn-by-turn navigation with audible directions. In addition, the app lists daily fuel costs at gas stations near a user’s location.

The event, in honor of ailing Farm Bureau Executive Director Chuck March, will be held at Mt. Konocti Winery, 2550 Big Valley Road in Kelseyville.

Contact Teresa at 707-279-4213 to sign up.

Please have a good meal a couple of hours prior to the donation, come well hydrated, set aside at least an hour and bring an identification with date of birth.

John Linden, Joe Simoni and club Vice President Karen Wilson play the accordion at the Sons of Italy anniversary celebration on Thursday, April 14, 2011, in Nice, Calif. Photo courtesy of Debbie Clarke.

NICE, Calif. – We often yearn for yesteryear, when we enjoyed family dinners and listened to relatives sing songs or tell stories from their youth. We learned so many things and made great memories to share with our family.

Many of us had a taste of that experience on Thursday, April 14, at the anniversary party for Lake County Lodge No. 2537 Order of Sons of Italy Nice, at TJ's Bar and Grill in Lakeport.

The club celebrated 28 years with 40 guests from the community and club members.

Our surviving founding member, Angela Staiti, attended along with longtime past officers John Gustavino and Sue Lewis.

Newly elected Vice President Karen Wilson joined John Linden and Joe Simoni who traveled from San Mateo to play classics on their accordions.

Wilson has played the accordion since she was a child and quickly remembered many songs from her days in San Francisco's Italian district.

Anita Wienke, board member, and mother of member Glenn Wienke, owner of the restaurant, planned the event which included antipasto with bread, a fantastic dinner, wine and dessert.

Past President Rosalie Sonnenburg was honored with flowers by President Rick Ferretti.

Italian flag-colored table arrangements were donated by Flowers by Jackie in memory of Fran Staiti, one of the founders of the club.

Order of Sons of Italy in Nice has become a popular venue for their family-style pasta feed, dinner dances twice a month and rental hall.

Everyone is welcome to join in our fun and memory making.

Please call us anytime at 707-274-2244 for more information.

Board Member Anita Wienke, Glen Wienke with President Rick Ferretti at the Sons of Italy anniversary celebration on Thursday, April 14, 2011, in Nice, Calif. Photo courtesy of Debbie Clarke.

The sale will take place from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum, 16435 Main St. in Lower Lake.

This event will occur rain or shine.

Items are being accepted for the sale during the museum’s regular business hours, 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

Please, no large appliances or clothing.

For more information or to arrange for a free pick up of items, please call the museum at 707-995-3565.

Pilot Rick Long repairs the wind sock at Lampson Field near Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Saturday was cleanup day at Lampson Field, Lake County’s airport.

Local pilots volunteered to give the airport grounds a general pick-up and to repair the damage to the approach fence and wind sock.

The Highland Springs Road fence got some much needed new slats replaced and a fresh coat of bright red and white paint.

The wind sock, a casualty of recent wind storms, required a more delicate touch – some time at the sewing machine – and it is once again flying to provide valuable wind direction information to departing and arriving pilots.

The paint and other supplies for the repairs were generously donated by Mendo-Mill of Lakeport.

The wind sock is a vital tool used by approaching pilots to help judge the winds near the runway. Courtesy photo.

The volunteer crew representing the Lake County Airmen’s Association were Lee Beery, Rick Coel, Rick Long, Russ Porterfield, Damon Trimble and Art Williams.

Lampson Field, Lake County’s only airport, brings valuable tourism revenue to the county and provides a highly skilled work force through the aviation businesses located at the airport.

Local pilot Rick Long helps paint the approach fence at Lampson Field near Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, April 16, 2011. Courtesy photo.

The newly painted approach fence at Lampson Field near Lakeport, Calif.

Doris Eraldi will be one of the featured writers at LitFest at Mendocino College in Ukiah, Calif., on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Photo by Terrence Anthon.

UKIAH, Calif. – Fans of poetry and fiction are invited to celebrate local writers and poets in a one-day festival Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Lowery Library at Mendocino College, 1000 Hensley Creek Road.

“LitFest 2011” will feature readings, talks, and workshops by more than 20 contemporary authors and poetic artists, and book vendors such as Tenacity Press will be present to sell books.

Admission to the event activities, including workshops, is free and the public is invited. New to the event this year will be a round robin “Grand Poetry Reading” that will run from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“The Mendocino College Literary Festival is a full day dedicated to appreciation of works by very talented artists, writers and poets from our communities. It will be enjoyed by students, faculty, staff, and the general public,” said John Koetzner, head librarian at Mendocino College.

“Cultural and literary events such as ‘LitFest’ and our annual readers series enrich students’ lives and invite everyone to discover all the great ways the college contributes to the community,” added Koetzner.

Jody Gehrman will offer a workshop at LitFest at Mendocino College in Ukiah, Calif., on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Courtesy photo.

The Mendocino College Foundation and its affiliate organization, the Friends of the Mendocino College Library, plus several additional supporters are making it possible to hold the one-day festival this year, Koetzner said.

The celebration will feature workshops by fiction writers and poets Armand Brint, Doris Eraldi, Jean Hegland, Jody Gehrman, Terena Scott, Natasha Yim and Molly Dwyer, and readings by poets Armand Brint, Dan Barth, C.E. Chaffin, Steve Hellman, Blake More, Ethel Mays, Bill Churchill, Ricardo Stocker, Sandra Wade, Theresa Whitehill and others will conclude the day.

Additionally, aspiring writers, students and fans of the written word will be able to meet featured guest authors and participate in writing workshops.

Topics include “From Picture Book to Young Adult: The Nuts & Bolts of Writing and Publishing for Children,” “Give Your Great Characters Something to Do,” “Framing the Dream: Making Your Publishing Dream a Reality,” “Dialogue as a Story-Telling Tool,” “Spontaneous & Collaborative Writing,” “Cross-Cultural Poetry” and more.

Individuals who want to attend the writing workshops should sign up in advance by registering online at www.mendocino.edu/litfest. For additional information, call 707-468-3051.

This year’s LitFest celebration is the fourth time the event has taken place. The first festival in 2007 was made possible by funding from the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, Mendocino College Foundation, and the Friends of the Mendocino College Library along with a number of community sponsors.

“We are seeking additional community sponsorship to help make LitFest an annual event,” said Koetzner.

For more information about LitFest 2011, call the Mendocino College Library at 707-468-3051 or visit the event Web site, www.mendocino.edu/litfest.