ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) has released its annual online gas price kit (www.nacsonline.com/gaskit2010 ), designed to address common consumer questions about the U.S. petroleum market.

For each of the past nine years, the annual NACS Gas Price Kit has helped explain the complexities of the U.S. motor fuels market.

This year, there are two new elements that provide unique insight into the world of gasoline retailing: a searchable map that provides key state-by-state metrics related to motor fuels and video responses to consumers questions about the industry.

More than a dozen common consumer questions will ultimately be addressed via short videos by experts from NACS and the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) in the latest gas price kit, with new videos posted every week. The initial videos address questions related to ownership of gas stations, the cause of price fluctuations and retail expenses and profits.

The searchable map feature will allow users to examine critical market conditions related to their state.

“When events like hurricanes or refinery breakdowns occur in one region, there is a ripple effect throughout the rest of the country,” said NACS Vice President of Government Relations John Eichberger. “Where fuel is produced and how it is distributed has a significant influence on the price the consumer ultimately pays.”

Founded in 1961 as the National Association of Convenience Stores, NACS is the international association for convenience and petroleum retailing, representing more than 2,200 retail and 1,800 supplier member companies.

The U.S. convenience store industry, with nearly 145,000 stores across the country, posted $624 billion in total sales in 2008, of which $450 billion was motor fuels sales.

Lake county – Attention children ages 5 to 15: Enter the 2010 Beauty Center's Mother's Day Contest by submitting an essay describing how special you’re mother, grandmother or great-grandmother is to you and your family in hopes of winning one of several fabulous prizes you can give to them to honor them for Mother's Day.

Essay needs to be 75 words or less and need to be returned to The Beauty Center in Middletown no later than May 1. The center is located in the Middletown Plaza at 21037 Calistoga St., Suite No. 2, directly across the street from Middletown High School.

Make sure you include your name, your mother, grandmother or great-grandmother’s name, along with your address and phone number for notification if your essay is chosen as the winner.

Entries will be categorized by age group (5-8, 9-12 and 13-15). Four entries from each age category will be chosen and entered into a final random drawing from which prize winners will be chosen and contacted. A total of four prizes are being offered.

First Prizes: Winner wins a gift certificate for facial, chair massage, wash, cut and style, donated by Nora, owner and hairstylist at the Beauty Center. Total value is $100 plus a half dozen vased roses donated by Middletown Florist & Gifts.

Second Prize: Wins a cut and color by Melissa Paik, Hairstylist and color specialist. Total value is $90 plus a half dozen vased roses donated by Middletown Florist & Gifts.

Third Prize: Wins haircut, style and manicure donated by Sheila Paik. Total value is $60 plus a half dozen vased roses from Middletown Florist & Gifts.

Fourth Prize: Wins a wash, cut and style by Melissa Wagner and 20-minute chair massage by Nora. Total value is $50 plus a half dozen vased roses from Middletown Florist & Gifts.

Eight remaining entries will be chosen to win one bottle of hair care product.

All winners need to pick up your mother's, grandmother's or great-grandmother's prize from each participating store. All results are final. No substitutions or cash value offered.

For more information contact The Beauty Center at 707-987-3949 or Middletown Florist at 707-987-9500.

KELSEYVILLE – The Kelseyville Lions Club will hold a benefit dinner on Friday, March. 5.

The dinner, featuring barbecue tri-tip or chicken, will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Kelseyville Lions Club, 4335 Sylar Lane.

Proceeds from the dinner will benefit Kelseyville High School's Sober Grad Grad Night event.

Tickets for the dinner cost $10 for adults, $6 for children 10 and under.

For information or tickets contact Jane Ruggles at 707-279-2129 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or the Kelseyville High School Office, 707-279-4923.

CLEARLAKE – Join the Lake County Community Co-op (LCCC) for a presentation about genetic engineering in agriculture and its impact on our food system.

Co-op members and the general public are invited to attend from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 13, in Room 908 at the Yuba College Clear Lake Campus, 15880 Dam Road Extension in Clearlake.

The event is free to Lake County Co-op members and to the public.

Local resident and organic farmer, Thurston Williams of Clover Creek Farm in Upper Lake, will discuss the implications of genetically engineered agriculture on our food system, the environment, our local farmers, consumers and society as a whole. After his presentation there will be time for questions from the audience.

You won't want to miss the discussion on this very important topic that could affect all of us. For more information, contact Lori Patotzka at 707-994-1618.

Now celebrating over two years in existence, the Lake County Community Co-op (LCCC) envisions cultivating an evolving community by nurturing values of social, economic and environmental responsibility. The Co-op wishes to support our local farmers and producers and provide a forum for community activities.

For more information or to become a member of the LCCC, follow the links at www.lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270.

Should you prune your trees in the spring? How deep must fertilizer be applied to reach the roots of your trees? Which species of trees should be topped to keep them from falling on your house?

Most homeowners treasure the trees on their property but know little about how to care for them. Much of what you may have heard about tree care is actually incorrect, based on myths and misconceptions.

Here are the International Society of Arboriculture's top 10 myths of tree care:

Myth No. 1: When a tree is planted, it should be securely staked to ensure the development of a stable root system and a strong trunk.

Although it is sometimes necessary to stake trees to keep them upright and allow establishment, there are some adverse effects of staking.

Compared to staked trees, unstaked trees tend to develop a more extensive root system and better trunk taper. Allowing a small amount of movement can help root and trunk development.

Of course, the worst effect of staking is the possibility of trunk damage from the staking wires or ties. Staking materials usually should be removed after one year to avoid "girdling" the tree.

Myth No. 2: Newly planted trees should have their trunks wrapped with tree wrap to prevent sunscald and insect entry.

Studies using most common tree wraps have shown that they do not prevent extreme fluctuations in temperature on the bark. In some cases, the temperature extremes are worse. Also, tree wraps have proven quite ineffective in preventing insect entry. In fact, some insects like to burrow under it.

Myth No. 3: Trees should be pruned back heavily when they are planted to compensate for the loss of roots.

Tree establishment is best with unpruned trees. Although pruning the top can reduce the amount of water that evaporates from the leaves, the tree needs a full crown to produce the much-needed food and the plant hormones that induce root growth.

The tree will develop a stronger, more extensive root system if it has a fuller crown. Limit pruning at the time of planting to structural training and the removal of damaged branches.

Myth No. 4: When removing a branch from a tree, the final cut should be flush with the stem to optimize healing.

First of all, trees don't "heal" in the sense that wounds on people heal. Our bodies regenerate tissues in much the same form of the tissues that were removed (to a limited extent). Trees compartmentalize wounds, generating woundwood over the wounded area.

Flush cutting removes the "branch collar," creating a larger wound than if the branch were removed outside the collar. Also, it is likely that some of the parent branch tissue will be removed. The spread of decay inside the tree is greater with flush cuts.

Myth No. 5: Pruning wounds greater than 3 inches in diameter should be painted with a wound dressing.

Research has shown that the common wound dressings do not inhibit decay, do not prevent insect entry, and do not bring about faster wound closure. In fact, many of the commonly used dressings slow wound closure.

Myth No. 6: Certain fast-growing, weak-wooded trees, such as silver maple and Siberian elm, should be "topped" to make them less hazardous in the landscape.

While topping these trees may reduce the potential hazard at first, they will likely be more dangerous in the future.

Topping stimulates growth of twigs below the cuts. Growth of many vigorous shoots leads to branches with weak attachments.

Also, decay spreads inside the stubs and branches that were topped. Within two to five years after topping, the tree will have regained its height, but will be more hazardous than before the topping. Besides, topping makes trees ugly.

Alternatives to topping include thinning, cabling, or removal and replacement with a more suitable species.

Myth No. 7: If certain species of trees are pruned early in the spring, they will "bleed," stressing the tree and causing health problems.

True, some trees such as maples and birches will "bleed" or lose sap from pruning cuts made early in the spring. This bleeding does not hurt the tree, and the loss of sap is inconsequential. With a few exceptions, most routine pruning can be done any time of year.

The worst time is just as the tree has leafed out in the spring. The best time is when the tree is dormant. To maximize flowering for the following year, prune just after bloom this year.

Myth No. 8: The root system of a tree is a mirror image of the top.

Many people envision a large, branching taproot growing deep into the soil. Actually, taproots are very uncommon in mature trees. If taproots do develop, they usually will be forced into horizontal growth when they encounter hard subsoils beneath the surface.

The entire root systems of most trees can be found within three feet of soil. The spread of the root system however, can be very extensive, often extending two to thre times the spread of the crown.

Myth No. 9: Trees require "deep root fertilization" to reach their root system.

In most U.S. soils, the vast majority of trees' fibrous, absorbing roots are in the top 8 inches of soil. Roots grow where conditions are best for root growth, where water and oxygen are available. When we place fertilizer 12 to 18 inches deep in the soil, we are putting it too deep.

Myth No. 10: When a tree has lost a significant portion of its root system such as in construction damage, the crown should be cut back to compensate for root loss.

While this is a common recommendation, research has not supported it.

Following root loss, unpruned trees seem to respond better than pruned trees. Obviously, any removal of branches will reduce the capacity of the tree to produce food in the leaves.

Although the tree will probably lose some branches as a result of the root damage (if the tree survives the trauma), it is best to let the tree decide which ones. Thus, pruning should be limited to hazard reduction at first. Later, after the tree has responded to the damage, further pruning would be in order.

Get advice from an arborist – a professional in the care of trees. A qualified arborist can give you sound advice and can provide the services your trees may need. Good arborists will perform only accepted practices.

When choosing an arborist, look for ISA Certification and membership in professional associations and ask for proof of insurance. Be wary of individuals who go door-to-door offering bargains for doing tree work. Don't be afraid to check references.

To find an ISA-certified arborist, along with more tree care information, visit www.treesaregood.org .

Be an informed consumer – one of the best ways to be assured you are making wise decisions regarding your trees is to educate yourself on some of the basic principles of tree care.

The International Society of Arboriculture offers a number of brochures designed to inform consumers about trees. To order a set or to view them online, check out www.treesaregood.org .

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), headquartered in Champaign, Ill., is a nonprofit organization supporting tree care research and education around the world. As part of ISA's dedication to the care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees, it offers the only internationally-recognized certification program in the industry.

For more information, contact a local ISA-certified arborist or visit www.isa-arbor.com .

LAKEPORT – Wally Holbrook, candidate for Lake County superintendent of schools, invites voters to join him for a wine and hors d’oeuvres fundraiser on Friday, March 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Lakeport Yacht Club, 15 Fifth St.

Individuals attending the event will have an opportunity to meet Holbrook, speak with him about concerns, and ask him about his campaign. Holbrook is interested in sharing his ideas for dealing with the education challenges in Lake County.

“I want to talk with residents about how students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the community can be active partners for students’ success,” said Holbrook. “Working together we can get things done.”

The fundraiser will include several wine choices, a wide selection of hors d’oeuvres, wine raffles, and music. The $15 donation entitles the attendee to a glass of wine, hors d’oeuvres, and one raffle entry. Additional tickets will be sold for raffle chances and wine.

Holbrook brings 35 years of education experience to his campaign, with many years as principal and then superintendent in Kelseyville.

He has worked 16 years as a superintendent, spending five or more years in districts in three counties. He has been a teacher and coach and currently serves as a leadership coach for educators in Northern California.

Using the phrase “Together We Thrive” in his campaign, Holbrook says one of his goals is to see every high school student graduate with a sense of purpose and the skills to succeed. “I look forward to working with you as we resolve the challenges that we face.”

Tickets are $15 per person. For information or to purchase tickets, call Cathy Brennan at 707-262-1776.

For more information about Holbrook and his campaign, visit his Web site, http://electwallyholbrook.com .