A controlled burn at Quercus Ranch could be seen Wednesday around the lake. Photo by Harold La Bonte.

LAKE COUNTY – Residents around the county spotted smoke and ash in the Kelseyville and Cobb areas on Wednesday, but there was nothing to worry about because the conditions resulted from controlled burns.

Cal Fire spokesman Eric Hoffman said that a controlled burns took place in the Boggs Mountain State Forest, burning about 45 acres of understory.

Hoffman said the burn would continue on Thursday.

Another controlled fire, this one said to be an annual tule burning, took place at the Quercus Ranch on Soda Bay Road near Kelseyville. It was permitted by the Lake County Air Quality Management District and was scheduled only to take place on day, according to the Kelsyville Fire Protection District.

The second fire was responsible for smoke that blew out across the lake, said Hoffman.

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CLEARLAKE – The Lake County Stonewall Democratic Club will meet on Monday, Jan. 26.

The meeting will commence at 7 p.m. at the Redbud Library, Community Room, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

There will be a potluck before the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

The election of officers will be the main business of the January meeting.

There also will be focus on the next year's activities, the July 4 parade, support of CCHAP (the HIV drop-in center) and fundraising.

The club, organized around the LGBT community is open to the all registered Democrats, straight or gay.

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Brad Barnwell, photographer and naturalist, and a board member of the Lake County Land Trust, will present a Power Point program on the birds of Rodman and discuss the common birds that are found on the property, including residents and common migrants that visitors to the preserve will see now and during the next few months.

The Rodman Slough Preserve is owned and operated by the Lake County Land Trust. Guided walks are held every Saturday morning throughout the year. Walks usually start at 9 a.m. but on Saturday, Jan. 24, the talk will be held first, followed by a guided walk on the property.

The public is invited to attend; for more information call Roberta Lyons at 994-2024.

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Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first game begins at 6:30 pm. The bar and snack bar start serving at 6 p.m.; they offer hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos and an assortment of other treats.

Admission is $5 per person and it includes two bingo cards; extra cards are available for $2 each.

Bingo Night features 10 games, eight games of different style bingo for $20 pots and two blackouts with jackpots of $100 each.

This has become a very popular event, and the Lion invite community members to come and join the fun.

As with all Cobb Mountain Lion events, bingo is held at the Little Red School House at 15780 Bottle Rock Road on Cobb.

Call Toni DeHaven at 928-02258 or Jon Meyer at 928-5200 for details.

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Mendocino County’s Crab and Wine Days has been named one of the top ten seafood festivals in the nation by Coastal Living magazine and this spectacular festival is practically in your own backyard.

Come join the festivities surrounding the arrival of this succulent crustacean and enjoy crab feeds, winemaker dinners, wine competitions, crabbing demonstrations, crab cruises, cooking classes, cioppino feeds, a crab cake cook off with celebrity judges and so much more including 22 wineries participating in “Passport” during the festival.

A full event calendar is available at www.goMendo.com or by calling 1-866-GoMendo for additional information.

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HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE – Residents of Hidden Valley Lake are encouraged to come to the Greenview Restaurant on Tuesday, Jan. 20, for more than just breakfast.

They are encouraged to come to eat breakfast and watch history being made – the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

Regardless of one's political affiliation, this is without a doubt a historical event for all Americans. And, like the Super Bowl, it takes on more significance when you watch it with a group of folks than it does at home alone on your TV set.

In the Greenview's Mulligan Lounge you have the choice of viewing the inauguration from three large TV sets.

For more information regarding this event, contact the Greenview Restaurant at 987-3146.

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