The meeting will be held at the Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

A potluck will be held at 6:30 p.m., to be followed by the meeting at 7 p.m.

The end of year events will be discussed including the upcome elections and the Christmas party.

All LGBT people, and their friends and allies are are invited come and meet new friends, and help make a difference in our community.

For more information contact Harold Riley, 707-995-3905.

POTTER VALLEY – The Mendo-Lake District of the California Garden Club will hold its fall general meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

The meeting will be held at Spotswood Estate in Potter Valley.

Registration and coffee hour start at 9:30 a.m., the meeting starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by the lunch ($15 by reservation only).

Opportunity drawing, potted and named plants, books and items will take place at the White Elephant table.

Featured speaker Tricia Smith will discuss the “Essence of the Tree.”

There are six garden clubs all within the Mendo-Lake District (www.mendolakedistrict.org ). All the districts in California are under the Calif. Garden Club Inc. (www.CaliforniaGardenClubs.org ), then within the Pacific Region (www.PacificregionGardenClubs.org ), and then the National Garden Clubs, Inc. (www.gardenclub.org ). These Web sites contain a wealth of information – check them out.

GinaBelle Smith is the Mendo-Lake district director. For further information check out any of the above Web sites or call 707-964-3798.

All are welcome to visit the garden clubs. The district meets quarterly and the public is invited to attend any of the meetings. Watch for future announcements of meetings and activities.

LAKE COUNTY – To encourage participation by the public, local merchants and vendors in the Dickens' Christmas Market theme, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a costume workshop.

The workshop, “Dickens On A Dime,” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Lyle Colburn and David Green of C&G Enterprises, along with Bert Hutt, artistic director for the Soper-Reese, will present ideas on how you can dress in a Dickens costume by using clothing already in your closet to create your own costume.

You are encouraged to bring articles from your closet that you think may work and the presenters will advise on how to proceed.

You also can find “treasures” at such shops as People Services Thrift Store at 395 N. Main in Lakeport or Hospice of Lake County Thrift Stores, 1701 S. Main, Lakeport, or 14290 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

A costume contest is being held during the Dickens Christmas Market with $100 prize for best costume by an individual, couple and vendor/merchant.

The show – which is free to both participants and spectators – will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Bruno’s parking lot, located at 355 Lakeport Blvd.

Cars and trucks of all vintage and origin are welcome to participate at no cost – simply show-up during the show.

With hundreds of dollars in raffle prizes sponsored by Bruno’s, this free public event promises to be a fun way to spend the day.

Raffle tickets will be available all day for only $1 each with prizes including three $50 gift certificates to Bruno’s, a whole New York strip steak, surf n’ turf for two and two bottles of wine. The purchaser of any raffle ticket will be entitled to free coffee at Bruno’s as well.

Automotive-themed music will be provided as well to set the tone for the event as provided by the Curbside Car Show Calendar and Web Site (www.curbside.tv ).

All proceeds from this event will be donated to local charities so participation in the raffle isn’t just fun, it’s doing good for the community as well.

This Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. volunteers will be collecting donations to give to the Lake County Community Action Agency, Catholic Charities and Lake County Senior Centers.

Over the past nine events they have donated more than 25,000 pounds of food.

Please donate at one of the following stores: Hardester’s Markets in Middletown, Cobb and Hidden Valley Lake; Riviera Market, Clearlake Riviera; Safeway, Clearlake; Ray's Food Place, Clearlake; Red & White Market, Clearlake Oaks; Sentry Market, Nice; Bruno’s Shop Smart, Lakeport; Grocery Outlet, Lakeport; Safeway, Lakeport.

If you are interested in volunteering for this or one of the many other opportunities available please register at www.1800volunteers.org.

If you have any problems or no Internet access, please call Debbie at 707-995-8010 or Tammy at 707-263-6291.

The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.

There will be beer, brats and fun.

Orchard Park Assisted Living and Memory Care Community is located at 14789 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

To RSVP call 707-995-1900.