Members of the North Lake Garden Club at a recent meeting. Courtesy photo.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The North Lake Garden Club will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at Lucerne Community Church, 5870 E. Highway 20, Lucerne.

At 6:30 p.m. there will be refreshments and sharing plants.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and will focus on organic pest control presented by Gregg Gompper, general manager of Olivia's Organics in Upper Lake. He will lecture on controlling pests naturally in the garden with products from his store.

Last month a wonderful presentation on terrariums was presented by club secretary Jackie Hodges. Members brought their own glass planters or bought one for the project provided by the officers.

Plants, charcoal, sand, rocks, soil and decor were available for creating lovely mini gardens in a jar biosphere.

These plantings were very popular in the 1960s and 1970s but are making a comeback for small living environments or to dress up an area in the home.

North Lake Garden Club is beginning its sixth year and welcomes new members. It is a member of California Garden Clubs Inc., National Garden Clubs Inc. and Mendo-Lake District.

The club meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

The March meeting will cover rhododendrons with speaker Jim Celesi of Fort Bragg.

For more information call club President Don Smith, 707-972-6023.

Don't forget the deadline for buying tickets for the Eleven Roses Ranch Tour in Spring Valley is Feb. 18.

The event, which costs $50, starts at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, and includes a tour of wild flowers, a hay ride, barbecue and much more.

Call Norma Bethel for reservations, 707-274-2381.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The next HazMobile event will be held Friday, Feb. 25, and Saturday, Feb. 26, at Highlands Senior Service/Community Center, 3245 Bowers Avenue, Clearlake.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge.

Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear feet), and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.

Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

HazMobile services are provided to residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, (CalRecycle).

Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this taxpayer-funded service and first make an appointment.

Business appointments can be made by calling the Mendocino County Solid Waste Authority, the contracted agency that provides this service in Lake County at 707-468-9786.

Free recycling options for residents and businesses:

• Recycled paint is available to both residents and businesses at Lake County Waste Solutions on first-come, first-served basis in five gallon containers. Colors include tan, brown, gray and pink.

• Used cooking oil can be dropped-off by businesses and residents, which will be recycled into BioDiesel by Yokayo BioFuels. Drop-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the North Shore Fire Protection District station at 6257 7th Ave. in Lucerne.

• Used motor oil can be dropped-off by residents for recycling year round at a number of sites in the county. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for locations.

• Electronics (E-waste) can be dropped-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and monthly at the Goodwill E-Waste collection held in Lakeport.

Lake County Waste Solutions

230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport

888-718-4888 or 707-234-6400

Monday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

www.candswaste.com

South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center

16015 Davis Street, Clearlake

Open daily 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

707-994-8614

www.southlakerefuse.com

The HazMobile program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County residents.

For more information about recycling, reusing, and reducing, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or call the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

A seasonal soup of sausage, kale and white beans paired with Pinot Grigio from Robledo Family Winery, and Zinfandel and Syrah wines from Big Valley Winery, offered during the January 2011 cuisine scene. Photo courtesy of Lake County Wine Studio.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Shannon Michele of Cache Creek Catering and Lake County Wine Studio are presenting a monthly food and wine series featuring locally produced foods paired with select Lake County Wines.

The series is held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. It takes place this month on Feb. 11.

The per person cost is $15 and reservations are recommended.

January’s event featured a seasonal soup of sausage, kale and white beans (a vegetarian version was also offered) paired with Pinot Grigio from Robledo Family Winery, and Zinfandel and Syrah wines from Big Valley Winery.

A selection of delicious breads was offered by Cheryl Welch of Main Street Bakery in Kelseyville for sampling with the soup. The soup recipe was made with sausage from Inland Farms in Redwood Valley and kale from Full Moon Farm in Lakeport.

February’s event will feature sweet and savory appetizers made with locally grown and produced olive oils from Rosa D’Oro and Kelseyville Olive Mill.

Organic white popcorn popped in Kelseyville Olive Mill’s California Blend will present a delightful spiciness without any other seasonings.

Baguettes from Main Street Bakery in Kelseyille will become crostinis topped with roasted eggplant and cherry tomato made with Rosa D’Oro Tuscan Blend Olive Oil.

The wine pairing will be Rosa D’Oro’s Sangiovese. Citrus Cake made with Kelseyville Olive Mill’s Sevillano Oil that has a buttery flavor, will be paired with Rosa D’Oro’s Moscato.

For additional event information contact Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Cache Creek Catering at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Konocti Lioness Club will meet Thursday, Feb. 17.

The group will gather at noon at Riviera Hills Restaurant, 10200 Fairway Drive, in the Clear Lake Riviera.

Plans for a Mother's Day gift basket raffle will be on the agenda.

Proceeds from this fundraiser are for the campership fund and other projects which benefit the youngsters of Lake County.

The Konocti Lioness Club encourages anyone interested in becoming a member of this active group and wish to attend the meeting to call Lioness Elizabeth at 707-279-8562.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Delight your sweetheart this Valentine's Day with tickets to the fifth annual Wine & Chocolate Festival.

This year’s event, a benefit for Lake Family Resource Center, takes place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at Mt. Konocti Growers, 2550 Big Valley Road, Lakeport.

The fundraiser is presented by Kathy Fowler Auto Center, Mt. Konocti Growers, Bruno’s Shop Smart, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Mendo Lake Credit Union, Konocti Vista Casino, Savings Bank of Mendocino County and other donors and sponsors.

More than 25 Lake County wineries are participating, and are pouring award-winning, premium Lake County wines, including sparkling wines, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, Grenache and ports.

Luscious chocolates have been paired by Certified Sommelier Stephanie Green from Focused on Wine in Kelseyville.

Green, currently pursuing her master's in wine sponsored by Gina Gallo, said Wine & Chocolate is one of her favorite local wine events.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for local wineries to present premium wines to a wide audience,” Green said.

In addition to tasting wine and chocolate, entertainment will include raffles, a silent auction, workshops, conversations with winemakers, a new “Best Pairing, Best Wine, Best Food” contest, and an antique car show (weather permitting).

New this year is participation by several local restaurants offering tastes of savory gourmet foods paired with local wines.

The silent auction and raffle includes trips, wine baskets, special dinners at local wineries, and many other unique items and opportunities.

Proceeds from the Wine & Chocolate Festival benefit the programs and services of Lake Family Resource Center.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door and are available at the following locations:

• Hillside Honda, Lakeport;

• Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Lakeport;

• Lake Family Resource Center, Kelseyville offices;

• Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery, Clearlake Oaks;

• Six Sigma Ranch, Vineyards & Winery, Lower Lake;

• Wildhurst Vineyards, Kelseyville;

• Kitchen Gallery, Lakeport;

• Saw Shop Gallery & Bistro, Kelseyville;

• Judy Conard Law Office, Lakeport;

• Steele Winery, Kelseyville;

• Tulip Hill, Nice.

For more information, call 707-279-0563 or 888-775-8336.