LAKEPORT, Calif. – Officials at the Lake County Fairgrounds announced that the building rental calendar for 2011 and 2012 is rapidly filling, and encouraged would-be event promoters to contact them soon to reserve dates for all types of events.

"It's been really gratifying to see the level of community support since the State's budget issues became widely known," said fair CEO Richard Persons.

He added, "People have been calling to check on their rental dates and on spaces for the Lake County Fair, to the point that the calendar is getting crowded."

When not in use for the annual Lake County Fair, the buildings and grounds are available to rent for a wide variety of gatherings. Lake County Fairgrounds has five event halls varying in capacity from 40 people to 1,400 people.

All five buildings offer air conditioning in the summer. Three of the buildings have commercial kitchens, which were upgraded in 2009 with new stoves and refrigerators.

In addition, there are a number of park-like outdoor areas, one 25,000 square foot pavilion used for used for a variety of events including equestrian and other animal activities. In addition to auto races, the racetrack grandstand is also used for rodeos, monster truck shows, and occasional concerts.

The facility can supply tables, chairs, stages, and various other equipment for events. Facilities at the fairgrounds are rented by the day, with fees starting as low as $240 for a day in a building with a commercial kitchen.

Lake County's largest indoor event facility, the Phil Lewis Hall, is a prominent feature of the fairgrounds. Named for the first fairgrounds manager, the free-span building is ten thousand square feet in size and can hold events with up to 1,400 people.

Spring events in the building include several quinceneras, a Lakeport Enhanced Education Foundation dinner, a day long carnival in support of the local Boy Scouts, and a pasta feed put on by Congressman Mike Thompson.

The fairgrounds hosts local activities nearly every single day of the year, often with several events in a single day. Ninety six percent of the activities are produced by Lake County individuals or organizations. Persons said 64 percent are produced by non-profit organizations, mostly for fundraising.

Spaces are available at the Lake County Fair for many types of vendors and business displays.

Applications for fairtime spaces can be found on the fair's Web site at www.lakecountyfair.com.

Space rental fees range in price from $150 to $475 for a 10 foot wide by 10 foot deep space.

"Fairtime space is all about foot traffic, with the highest priced spaces getting the highest foot traffic," said Persons.

During the county fair event, more than 85 percent of the commercial spaces are filled by organizations from Lake and Mendocino counties. More than 90 percent of the thousands of competitive exhibits that fill the buildings and barns during the Lake County Fair come from Lake County residents.

The Lake County Fair traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport.

The 2011 fair dates are Thursday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 4, with a theme of "Make Some Magic!" Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year.

The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, and livestock shows. "Let's face it," said Persons, "there's no other place in Lake County where business managers can get direct, face-to-face exposure to forty thousand people in four days."

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The second annual Who’s Who Star Revue Celebrity Lip Sync takes place at the Soper Reese Theater on Saturday, April 9, and Sunday, April 10.

The theme for 2011's event is “Syncing Through The Decades,” with emcee Tom Lincoln introducing each decade in the guise of a very recognizable entertainer for that specific decade. For instance, for the 1950s, Lincoln will be portraying the irascible Jackie Gleason.

Once again this year there will be two full hours of entertainment by a variety of well-known “Stars” from Tiny Tim to Elvis, the Supremes, Barbra Streisand, Sister Sledge, Liza Minnelli, Steve Martin, Madonna, Billy Rae Cyrus and J-Lo, to name a few.

Ten very brave ladies will be performing “A Chorus Line” from the Broadway musical, and oh, don’t forget Dolly Parton, Lady Ga Ga and Clearlake High School performing ‘Glee’! More include ZZ Top, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ethel Merman and finally, “Robin Hood-Men in Tights.”

The evening of entertainment costs $20 per person for adults and $15 for ages 12 and under. For premiere seating, there are four stage-front tables, seating six persons each, where you will receive appetizers and champagne. Each table is $350.

There will be two performances on Saturday, April 9, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on Sunday, April 10, a matinee will take place at 2 p.m.

You won’t want to miss the red carpet arrival of the stars in beautiful classic cars, just prior to the start of each of the performances.

Lip Sync Chair Jan Parkinson said that the community has come together again with entertainers coming from around the county to act/perform in this year’s show.

“We have over 70 people in the acts and they’ve all been spending lots of time in rehearsals,” Parkinson said.

If you saw last year’s show, we know you won’t want to miss out on the 2011 production.

Tickets can be purchased through the Lake County Chamber office at 875 Lakeport Blvd., in Lakeport or through the Soper-Reese box office, 275 S. Main St.

Tickets may be mailed or held at the box office for will call.

The chamber thanks the sponsors to date: AGM Properties, Anna Girod; Clearlake Tire Professionals; McDonald’s Lakeport; Strong Financial Services; Delta Iota Tau; Bob Bartley Pumps and Barry D. Parkinson.

Act sponsorships are $300, a great opportunity for marketing your business.

All sponsors will receive two tickets to the Saturday or Sunday matinee performances, be listed in the official lip sync program and all media releases. Call the chamber office at 707-263-5092 for more information and tickets.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Donna D'Terra of Motherland Botanical Sanctuary in Willits will be the guest on “Earth Wise,” on Friday, March 11, at 5 p.m.

The show airs on KPFZ, 88.1 FM, Lake County Community Radio.

Local Herbalist Catherine Hammond will join D'Terra in discussion of cultivation and therapeutic uses of herbs, including flower essences, essential oils and culinary preparations.

D'Terra is founder of the Mendocino County Herb Association and has been teaching classes for over 20 years. She is also a craftswoman and storyteller.

Hammond recently taught a reskilling seminar on herbs for Transition Lake County.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Kelseyville resident is asking for the community's help in finding a lost dog.

The dog, which answers to Brutus, is 5 month only Boston terrier and Chihuahua mix, according to owner Izzy Madison.

He was lost in the Pawnee Trail area of Kelseyville. He has a red collar on with a white flea collar. He has brindle markings with a white belly and legs.

If the dog is spotted, please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Kitchen Gallery presents its culinary class schedule for the remainder of March featuring Esther Oertel, the “Veggie Girl,” columnist for Lake County News, culinary educator and owner of “The Sage Coach” and Ming-Chao Chang, an area resident versed in Asian cuisine.

Students will receive recipes and generous tastes of the dishes presented.

On Sunday, March 13, Oertel will present her take on Irish cooking.

Opening the menu is leek and parsnip soup with horseradish and frizzled carrots. This creamy soup is made with traditional Irish vegetables, and the “frizzled carrots” present an interesting garnish.

A shepherd’s pie made with Guinness (rich Irish stout) and lamb, one of Ireland’s most popular meats, also will be presented. To round out the meal, Irish burnt oranges, a flambéed dessert that hearkens back to the 18th century (and a favorite of poet Jonathan Swift) will be enjoyed. This class starts at 2 p.m.

On Saturday, March 26, you're invited to Ming-Chao Chang's demonstration of authentic Asian Cuisine.

Her class will include potstickers (dumpling), pork buns, Vietnamese rolls and green onion pancakes. Bring your appetites as this class is filling up fast and will start at 3 p.m.

To sign up, contact The Kitchen Gallery at 707-262-0422. The class fee of $25 includes the demonstration, servings of dishes presented and complete recipe booklet.

Sign up soon as spaces are limited and classes fill quickly. A vegetarian version of shepherd’s pie is available with advanced notice.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs at Gladys Street beginning Thursday, March 17. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Metal beam guardrail repair at the Coyote Creek Bridge will continue through Friday, March 11. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at the Kelsey Creek Bridge will begin Thursday, March 17. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

Highway 175

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the junction of Route29/175 near Kelseyville to the junction of Route 29/175 in Middletown beginning Monday, March 14. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at the Putah Creek Bridge will begin Monday, March 14. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 101

– A pavement repair project from the Robinson Creek Bridge to Uva Drive will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 4 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Northbound ramps at Lake Mendocino Drive (Exit 552), Calpella (Exit 555A), and Route 20 (Exit 555B) as well as southbound r a.m. ps at West Road (Exit 557), Route 20 (Exit 555B), and Calpella (Exit 555A) will be intermittently closed. Motorists will be advised to use an alternate route and may experience minor delays. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for an aerial crossing 0.2 mile north of the Forsyth Creek Bridge on Sunday, March 13. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Repair of a slipout from 3.4 to 1.2 miles south of Ridgewood Ranch Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

Highway 222

– Replacement of the Russian River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays during work hours and five-minute delays at other times. Contractor – CC Myers of Rancho Cordova.

Projects are weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans advises motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to be prepared to stop at traffic control stations.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).