Due to “Stars” we have been able to acknowledge more than 1,300 individuals, organizations and businesses throughout the county.

That recognition has been made possible by the nominations that have come from the communities of Lake County.

Recognition from people taking time to write a nomination letter informing us of someone (person, business or organization) that gives to our communities without regard for recognition, but because they want to make life better in Lake County.

This year we have moved Stars to April 10, and it will be held in the large concert room at Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino.

We will have a special “Stars Entrance” directly into the concert room from the north parking lot area, with the event beginning at 5 p.m.

Greg Bennett and Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa were integral components to the presentation of Stars since its inception twelve years ago, providing the Chamber with a more than supportive venue. We have been able to help the many hundreds of nominee’s experience their well deserved “Star” status through the assistance afforded us by Greg and Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa.

The Stars nomination form is available now on our Web site www.lakecochamber.com , so please begin now to think about who should be nominated.

Category descriptions are included in the nomination form, which will also be printed in the newspapers, both print and online.

Don’t wait for someone else to make the nomination, if you feel someone is deserving, take time to write out the information on why you feel they deserve recognition.

Remember, it is not the number of letters for each nominee, but rather the details provided for the Selection Committee to review which enables them to make their choices.

The Selection Committee comes from various communities throughout the county, people who know their communities and who cast their votes based upon the substance of information provided on each and every nominee.

This year the categories are:

• Man of the year;

• Woman of the year;

• Large business (20+ employees);

• Small business (less than 20 employees);

• Youth advocate professional (paid);

• Youth advocate volunteer;

• Student of the year, male;

• Student of the year, female;

• Agriculture award;

• Arts award professional (paid);

• Arts award amateur;

• Volunteer of the year;

• Marla Ruzicka Humanitarian Award;

• Senior of the year;

• Best idea of the year;

• Organization, nonprofit;

• Organization, all volunteer;

• Life time achievement;

• Local hero of the year;

• New business of the year;

• Environmental award.

Nominations must be received no later than 5 p.m. Friday, March 12.

The Selection Committee will be provided with a copy of every nomination in every category, to review for approximately one week.

They will then meet for approximately four to five hours, discuss all the nominees and cast secret ballots on each category.

The results of those votes will be known only to the Awards Production Committee until the presentation.

The Stars will be announced on the evening of April 10 at the Stars of Lake County Community Awards Program.

For more information, contact the Lake County Chamber of Commerce office at 707-263-5092.

Melissa Fulton is chief executive officer of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.

Nicholas Moberg (left, second grade) and Isabelle Moberg (right, kindergarten) were two of the LCICS students that helped raise funds for Haitian relief efforts. Photo courtesy of Valerie Moberg.

MIDDLETOWN – On Saturday, Jan. 23, the Lake County International Charter School (LCICS) held a bake sale fundraiser to help support Doctors Without Borders and their lifesaving efforts in Haiti.

LCICS students, teachers and parents baked all of the goodies and worked together to sell them to area residents at tables outside both the Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake Hardester’s, raising $400 to send to this world-respected organization.

The effort fit both the school’s international focus as well as its desire for community outreach.

PTC President Gina Kerr said, “It is hard for us to express how grateful we are to our school community and the communities of Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake for the many donations we received in such a short time this past Saturday. One hundred percent of the funds raised will be sent to Doctors Without Borders for Haitian relief efforts.”

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. Today, the organization provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters.

LCICS is a tuition-free, K-8th grade public, school that is an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World school™ and WASC accredited, providing students with an inquiry-based, enriched education in a nurturing environment. At LCICS, students are taught to become competent and self-motivated individuals with a commitment to life-long learning, enabling them to reach their full potentials as literate, knowledgeable, principled and responsible global citizens of the 21st century.

For more information about LCICS call 707-987-3063 or go online to www.lcics.org .

LAKE COUNTY – The last day for residents of Lake County to take advantage of the current Waste Tire Amnesty program will be Saturday, Feb. 27.

Up to nine passenger or light pickup tires, with or without rims, will be accepted at no charge. The charge for oversized passenger tires during the amnesty is $5 without rims and $7.50 with rims. The amnesty does not apply to commercial, farm or heavy equipment tires.

Tires can be delivered to either South Lake Refuse & Recycling at the entrance to the Eastlake Landfill on Davis Street or to Lake County Waste Solutions at 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport. The Department of Resources Recovery and Recycling provides the funding for the amnesty program.

California law prohibits anyone from hauling more than nine tires without a permit. If you have tires bigger than 8R19.5 or more than nine tires, please call 707-263-1980 for additional information.

Customers are asked to show proof of residency and sign a form showing the number and origin of the tires. No commercial tire, auto repair or salvage businesses are allowed.

Beginning March 1, 2010, the recycling centers will resume charging $2 for passenger tires without a rim and $3 with a rim. Recycling fees for oversized passenger tires are $10 without a rim and $150 with a rim.

KELSEYVILLE – On Feb. 27 Lake County Special Olympics is hosting a “Polar Plunge” at the county park in Kelseyville.

At noon individuals and teams will be dressed up to take the cold plunge into Clear Lake.

These special people have been been collecting pledges to support Lake County Special Olympics. All Lake County sports are funded by donations made to Lake County Special Olympics.

The group must raise $20,000 a year to support over 100 athletes who participate in sports such as basketball, track and field, golf, weight lifting and bowling.

All money raised will support local athletes by purchasing uniforms, equipment and transportation.

This event will help keep our county wide Special Olympics program going strong.

Special Olympics helps developmentally disabled athletes learn about healthy habits and social skills while developing athletic ability. The program is offered to participants at no cost. This year round program cannot exist without the financial support of our community.

For more information or to make a donation go to www.sonc.org/polarplunge , be sure to click on Kelseyville to make a local donation. Donations may also be sent to Lake County Special Olympics, P.O. Box 94, Lakeport CA 95453.

For additional information phone Steve or Peggy Buchholz at 707-279-4280.

While no projects in Lake County are planned, several projects in Mendocino County that may impact Lake County commuters are included here.

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

– 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 101

– An emergency culvert replacement project at the northbound 101 onramp of the junction of Routes 101/271 has begun. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A full ramp closure will be in effect. A detour is available. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Service of Willits.

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).