BLUE LAKES – The Northshore Dive Team will hold a dive training this Sunday, March 21.

The training will begin at 9 a.m. at the wall at Blue Lakes.

Everyone is welcome to attend, from divers to non-divers. If you like the water, come and join the team.

For more information call Capt. John Rodriguez, the team leader, at the Upper Lake station, 275-2446, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The latest info and updates can be found at team's new page on Facebook. Sign up to become a fan at www.facebook.com/pages/Upper-Lake-CA/Northshore-Dive-Team/289897949089?ref=search&sid=1085177429.2719030155..1&v=wall .

LAKE COUNTY – In the midst of this recession, Lake County employers and employees alike have to get creative and find new, innovative ways to keep businesses running and paychecks in their pockets.

Lake One-Stop Inc. recently hosted two workshops. The first was designed specifically for employers and was Thursday, Feb. 25. Job seekers attended their version on Wednesday, March 3.

Lake County Department of Social Services and Arbor Education presented their various programs along with the Business and Workforce Center within Lake One-Stop Inc.

Nine interested employers attended the employer workshop, which was hosted at the Lake One-Stop office on 55 First St. in Lakeport. They learned many important facts such as how subsidized employment programs work and what benefits they offer.

For example, employers learned that these subsidized employment programs are funded using federal stimulus monies, such as money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

As a result of the workshop, several employers are corresponding with Lake One-Stop Inc. representatives and are considering utilizing their services.

The workshop only lasted about an hour, but that one hour may have broadened the horizons for several local businesses.

Employers are welcome to call or visit the Lake One-Stop Inc. Business and Workforce Center for more information. The main office is the Lakeport location and their phone number is 707-263-0630.

The Clearlake office address is 4477 Moss Ave. and the phone number is 707-994-0633, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Job seekers also are encouraged to call or visit either office and enroll in our services. The job seeker workshop was a big success, attracting 22 audience members. There was a mixture of nonenrolled and currently enrolled clients.

Job seekers also spent about one hour learning about the various different programs and services that Lake One-Stop and other agencies have to offer.

For example, The Business and Workforce Center runs weekly workshops for basic computer skills, resume tips, software tutorials and GED preparation.

If anyone is interested in these no cost services, call or visit the office nearest you to enroll. Visit the One-Stop Web site, www.lakeonestop.org , for more general information.

Second through third graders at Konocti Christian Academy show off their Pi Day awards. Courtesy photo.

“What is Pi Day?” you ask. Pi Day is a celebration of the number Pi. For those who don’t remember back to their Geometry classes long ago – p is the representation of the irrational, transcendental number that is the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle. Super computers have figured the number of pi into the trillions, but most folks simply remember 3.14.

The first known celebration of Pi Day was held at the San Francisco Exploratorium on March 14, 1988. This year was their 22nd consecutive celebration and now Pi Day is celebrated all around (Get it? ‘ROUND) the world. Here in Lake County, Konocti Christian Academy (KCA) has just celebrated its 3rd Annual Pi Day.

Students up through seventh and eighth grade took part. Courtesy photo.

How does one celebrate Pi Day? As you might guess, there are frequently pies involved. In the case of KCA the students vote all week on the teacher they would most like to see “pied.” The student who recited the most digits of pi had the honor of throwing a pie in the teacher’s face.

This year’s winner, with a total recitation of 126 digits of pi, was Nick Rein. Who was the lucky teacher? The students chose the after school enrichment teacher Mrs. Gomes.

Other aspects of the celebration included singing songs of Pi, and one enterprising student, Andy Scott, even wrote an original song “Thinking About Pi.” There was a competition for those who dressed the nerdiest and a competition for those who could make the best presentation of Pi (this ranged from Bible verses including the number Pi to historical trivia about pi and even some free verse).

Without further ado, we are now pleased to announce the 2010 Pi Day Winners:

For Accurately Reciting the Most Digits of Pi

Kindergarten through first grade:

First place, Bella Schlange (8 digits)

Grades second through third:

First place, Anna DelBosco (62 digits)

Second place, Tyler Vanderwall (24 digits)

Third place, Zachary Kimbell-Auth and Autumn Hampton (tie, 15 digits)

Grades fourth through sixth:

First place, Nick Rein (126 digits)

Second place, Cameron Borg (49 digits)

Third place, Jon Vanderwall (36 digits)

Grades seventh through eighth:

First place, Christopher Vincent (59 digits)

Second place, Kimber Bridges (24 digits)

Third place, John Meek (11 digits)

For dressing the math-nerdiest

Kindergarten through first grade:

First place, Bella Schlange

Grades second through third:

First place, Parker Noonster

Grades fourth through sixth:

First place, Nick Rein

Grades seventh through eighth:

First place, Christopher Vincent

For the Most creative presentation of Pi (In song, verse, lesson, use etc …)

Kindergarten through first grade:

First place: Five students received first place together – Allison, Bella, Benjamin, Lilla & Luke

Grades second through third:

First place, Jason Beorgerson

Grades fourth through sixth:

First place, Andy Scott

Grades seventh through eighth:

First place, Claire Plante

In honor of this year’s overall winner, Nick Rein, who successfully recited 126 digits of pi, we close with this thought:

3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944592307816406286208998628034825342117067982148086513282306647093844.

Student Bella Schlange shows off her nerdy best for the Pi Day celebration. Courtesy photo.

SACRAMENTO – April 8 through 11 marks the debut of the statewide-focused flower and garden show at Cal Expo in Sacramento.

The all new California State Flower & Garden Show, produced by Cal State Shows, is designed to capture the diversity of California's horticultural and gardening community, showcasing plants, techniques and products representative of the state's numerous micro-climates.

More than 600 vendors, seminars, workshops, plant bazaar, floral photography contest, farmers market and more will all be featured at this spectacular show for gardeners.

Cal State Shows is committed to making this the most comprehensive show of its kind.

Monrovia and Pacific Horticulture Foundation are sponsors of two seminar stages and are providing well-know horticulture speakers including Dan Bifano, master rosarian, judge and professional garden designer for A-list clients who include Barbra Streisand, Oprah Winfrey, and Michael and Jane Eisner; Amy Stewart, well-known author of the popular book “Wicked Plants”; Gary Gragg, nurseryman, creator and host of HGTV's popular “Superscapes”; Rene Van Rems, internationally recognized master floral designer, author and speaker.

Topics include organic gardening, growing wine and table grapes, herb gardening, old roses, native landscapes and winter gardens to name a few.

The California Garden Clubs Inc. (CGCI), the statewide federation of California garden clubs and plant societies representing more than 22,000 California gardeners are presenting “A Walk Through California” a Standard Flower Show competition.

Entries are open to the public and there will also be a category for youth. Accredited flower show judges will judge the show entries. Advanced registration is required for all entries, and the deadline for entries is March 30.

Visit www.californiagardenclubs.org to download an entry form and competition rules. General admission to the competition is included with a purchased ticket to the California State Flower & Garden Show.

CGCI is also offering the Fiftieth CGCI Judges Symposium April 7 through 9 at the Sacramento Double Tree Hotel. Interested gardeners are welcome to attend the Symposium and membership in CGCI is not required.

The show is also offering a variety of activities that will attract kids into the garden.

The California Garden Clubs Inc. will feature their "Kids Growing Strong" exhibit which offers multistation hands-on activities geared for kids from 3 to 10. The activities include making a pot from newspaper; learning how to plant a salad in a take-out tray; making a grass-head from nylons, grass seeds and potting soil; and for the younger student there will be butterfly masks, painting a ladybug rock and much more.

The show will be located in the Pavilion Building directly through the East Gate entry at Cal Expo located at 1600 Exposition Blvd. in Sacramento. The show opens everyday at 10 a.m.

Admission for adults is $15; ages 13-17 $5; children 12 and under are free.

For more information visit www.CalStateGardenShow.com or call 877-696-6668 ext. 4.

For information on exhibiting please contact Cal State Shows at 877-696-6668.

KELSEYVILLE – A brunch for Wally Holbrook, candidate for Lake County superintendent of schools, will be held on Saturday, March 20.

From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. people are invited to stop in to enjoy brunch at the Kelseyville Senior Center, on Third Street in Kelseyville.

The menu will be prepared by local caterer Madelene Lyon, and will include frittata, fruit and breads. Coffee, tea and juice are included. The cost is $10 per person. A raffle will be held during the brunch.

At the brunch, Holbrook will share his goals and vision for maximizing the educational opportunities for Lake County’s children.

He also will answer questions people may have about his proposals for the Lake County Office of Education.

For more information, please call 707-279-4387.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around the North Coast in the coming week.

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

LAKE COUNTY

There is no major roadwork scheduled for Lake County from through Thursday, March 18.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Construction of a retaining wall about three miles north of Elk will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 20

– A culvert replacement project from 2.6 miles west of Little Lake Road to the James Creek Bridge will continue. 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. Contractor – Kapel Construction of Willow Creek.

– Construction of a retaining wall 0.4 mile east of Three Chop Road will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 128

– PG&E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance 0.4 mile west of Philo Greenwood Road on Wednesday, March 17. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

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).