LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A county resident won big in the California State Fair this year for his baking skills.

Warren Massie, a six-year Lake County resident, won four first places, two best of class and best of division.

His pies competed against pies that from all over the state, including Los Angeles, San Mateo, Redding, Sacramento and San Francisco.

“I think there were over 40 pies entered, and they were all perfect,” he said. “When I won best of division I had a hard time controlling myself.”

He said he loves baking pies, and was inspired by his grandmother when he was 8 years old to begin pie baking.

“My desire is to bake the best and most creative pies ever,” he said.

Massie said he entered the California State Fair because he wanted his pies to be judged by professionals. “Your pies are openly judged, and you will know what they like or dislike about your pies.”

He entered seven pies and eight pastries in the state fair: coconut cream pie, crème brulee custard pie, key lime pie, apple designer pie, Baked Kelseyville Pear Pie, citrus pear pie, nectarine pie and Taste-Of-Lake-County Pear Dumpling.

Massie said his Taste-Of-Lake-County Pear Dumpling includes three of the most locally grown ingredients in Lake County: wine, pears and walnuts.

He said he wanted to bring a unique dessert to Lake County that included ingredients that can only be found in Lake County.

“The State Fair judges asked where is Lake County? Now because of my pie entries they know,” he said.

The judges said Massie's Baked Kelseyville Pear Pie and Taste-Of-Lake-County Pear Dumpling were wonderful and both got perfect scores. The Baked Kelseyville won best of division in the State Fair.

Massie offers some of his pie secrets at his Web site, www.everythingpies.com.

Hallie Sullivan of Lower Lake High School in Lower Lake, Calif., submitted this winning entry, chosen by the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association's 2010 Old Time Bluegrass Festival Logo Contest.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Hallie Sullivan, a sophomore at Lower Lake High School, is not only a gifted artist but also shines as a budding entrepreneur.

She has used the $100 she won for designing this year’s Bluegrass Festival poster to invest in craft materials.

She plans to sell her buttons, original art prints, and painted wooden animal figures at the Oldtime Bluegrass Festival at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park on Saturday, Sept. 11.

Hallie loves to explore all areas of art. She created the playground mural at Lower Lake Elementary School. She also plays the piano, guitar and ukulele. After high school, she would like to travel and “learn as much as I can.”

Hallie would like to thank Perfect Printers in Clearlake for all their help and advice with her prints. She plans to invest any profits from her Bluegrass Festival sales in a professional button making machine.

The annual Oldtime Bluegrass Festival is an opportunity for local non-profits, school groups, and local food and craft vendors to raise funds.

It also provides a family-oriented, fun day of great music, free children’s activities, ranch house tours and free musician’s jam sessions. It’s a wonderful day to be in the park, so mark your calendar! Saturday, September 11, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Be sure to get your tickets for the Old Time Bluegrass Festival which will be held rain or shine on Saturday, Sept. 11, at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. Presented by the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA), the Children’s Museum of Art and Science (CMAS) and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, the event is a fundraiser for AMIA, CMAS & other local service groups & schools.

This year’s festival also will raise funds for our local first-responders.

Gates open at 9:30 a.m. and the music will be nonstop from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

There will be activities for children all day; craft, food and art vendors; a beer & wine garden; musician’s workshops; Art-in-the-Barn and raffles throughout the day.

Come and enjoy a wonderful day and support your community.

Advance tickets cost $15 and will be available until the day of the event. The day of the event tickets will cost $20 at the gate. Advanced tickets can be purchased in three different ways – use pay-pal on-line, mail a check to AMIA or at specific businesses or senior centers.

Advanced tickets can be purchased from one of the following businesses or organizations: in Clearlake at Marie’s Lakeshore Feed, Bob’s Vacuum and Highlands Senior Center; in Lower Lake at 2 Goomba’s Deli; in Middletown at Earth Goods (formerly Moontide); in Lucerne, Lakeview Supermarket & Deli; in Lakeport at Strings & Things, The Band Box, Watershed Books and the Lakeport Senior Center; in Ukiah at Dig! Music; in Sebastopol at People’s Music; and in Santa Rosa at The Last Record Store.

Seniors (60+) can get 20 percent off ($12 for each ticket) if purchasing advance tickets from either the Lakeport Senior Center, Lakeport, the Highlands Senior Center, Clearlake or from the Lakeview Supermarket & Deli in Lucerne.

To get advance tickets on line, go to www.andersonmarsh.org and follow the bluegrass link to purchase tickets. If ordering advance tickets by mail, be sure to include your mailing address and phone number and send your check made out to AMIA to PO Box 672, Lower Lake, CA 95457. There is an additional $3 service charge (per total order) if tickets are purchased on-line or by mail.

For more information about the Bluegrass Festival visit www.andersonmarsh.org, call 707-995-2658 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

The monthly meeting will take place beginning at 7 p.m. at Lake County Tax Services Office, 1210 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Agenda items will include the final schedule and plans for the Lake County Fair, the group's participation in the second annual AIDSWalk, and plans for the opening of the United Democratic Campaign Headquarters at 1210 S. Main St. in Lakeport and further discussion of the annual legislators barbecue set for Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Highlands Senior Center in Clearlake.

The agenda also will include details of a number of house parties scheduled throughout the county to support the reelection of Sen. Barbara Boxer. All Democrats are encouraged to join the Barbara Boxer Committee and can obtain information and membership forms at the meeting.

Several members who traveled to Santa Rosa on Aug. 15 to see gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown in his only Northern California appearance prior to the November election will share their experience with the group.

Also, on the agenda, reports from representatives for Congressman Mike Thompson, Assemblyman Wes Chesbro and Sen. Patricia Wiggins, details on the committee's participation in the campaigns of endorsed candidates Doug Rhoades for Lake County district attorney and Francisco Rivero for Lake County sheriff, and ongoing voter registration at local farmers' markets.

Committee Chair Becky Curry encourages all registered Democrats to come to the meeting and get involved with the many activities sponsored by the group.

Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats. The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-277-0713 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The committee's Web site is www.lakecountydemocrats.org.

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

– AT&T of Sacramento has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance near Government Street on Monday, Aug. 30, and Tuesday, Aug. 31. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs between 13th Street and 14th Street on Monday, Aug. 30, and Tuesday, Aug. 31. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Gerald Underwood of Sebastopol has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for an aerial crossing 0.2 mile east of Linden Street on Wednesday, Sept. 1. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Installation of a radar feedback sign near Philo Greenwood Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Mike Brown Electric of Cotati.

– California Department of Parks and Recreation has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for sewer line repairs 0.3 mile south of Larkin Road beginning Monday, August 30. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 20

– Comcast of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for an aerial crossing 0.1 mile east of Noyo Acres Drive on Monday, Aug. 30. Work hours are 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 101

– A metal be a.m. guardrail repair project at various locations from 0.1 mile north of the Mendocino/Sonoma County line to 0.3 mile south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– A metal be a.m. guardrail repair project from Mill Company Road to 0.6 mile north of Carpenter Lane will continue. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– A pavement repair project from the Robinson Creek Overcrossing to the Forsyth Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 5 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction, Incorporated, of Ukiah.

– Installation of rock slope protection from Reeves Canyon Road to Black Bart Drive will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction, Incorporated, of Ukiah.

Highway 162

– Storm damage repair east of Sand Bank Creek will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction 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.

Highway 271

– Culvert repair near Piercy will begin Monday, Aug. 30. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Van Meter Logging Inc. of Garberville.

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).

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Would you like to give back to other seniors and help oversee two outstanding programs, Senior Peer Counseling and the Friendly Visitor Program?

Konocti Senior Support, Inc. is accepting applications for board members.

They encourage anyone who has a good business sense or a keen to desire to help senior citizens to apply.

With the numerous cuts in government programs, these programs are vital to the safety and well being of Lake County seniors.

By attending the board of directors meeting once a month, you will help make decisions and suggestions regarding the programs' staffing, fund-raising and financial needs.

You will get to know the staff and volunteers in the various programs as well as the present board members.

Senior Peer Counseling and Friendly Visitor's programs have helped hundreds of Lake County seniors and is rapidly expanding.

If you or someone you know would be interesting in serving the community in this gratifying way, please call Konocti Senior Support Inc. now for your application at 707-995-1417.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Quagga Ranger Volunteers will hold a training and meeting on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 10 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes, Lakeport.

The Lake County Quagga Rangers are gearing up for the Labor Day holiday, Sept. 3 through 6.

If you have some free time and would like to help please join them.

Please contact Tobie Edmonds, volunteer coordinator, Lake County Quagga Rangers, at 707-533-3641 if you have questions or cannot attend this session, but are interested in participating in the Volunteer Quagga Ranger Program.