UPPER LAKE – Community members who want to show their support for a new town clock for Upper Lake are invited to come out and enjoy good food on Wednesday.

The Blue Wing Saloon & Cafe will host the fundraiser between 11:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. Wednesday, and will offer low-cost specials.

An estimated $2,200 of the community's $4,000 contribution toward the clock already has been raised.

Donations received for the clock will be matched up to $250, with the goal being to raise $500 for the day.

The Women's Protective Club, the group which purchased the original clock erected in 1914, will make a special presentation at 6 p.m.

The Blue Wing Saloon & Cafe is located at 9520 Main St., Upper Lake, telephone 707-275-2233.

The meeting's new date is Tuesday, Feb. 16.

The Clearlake Planning Commission meets in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

Joe Fernandez shows some of the money he's gathered to help purchase a town clock for Upper Lake. Photo by Shalean Smith.

UPPER LAKE – The community has shown support of the purchase of the Upper Lake town clock in different ways. Some have donated money, others their time or emotional support.

And then there’s Joe Fernandez, who’s doing it all.

On Wednesday, Jan. 13, Fernandez took it upon himself to help the town clock fundraising effort.

When my husband and I drove past Joe we could hear him talking with motorists in English and Spanish asking for whatever they could afford.

“Hey, even a dollar will help,” he said.

I first came to know Joe Fernandez as “Egg Man Joe,” when buying farm fresh eggs sold from his truck on Main Street.

In December, Fernandez donated $100 of his own money and told me, “Darlin’, that’s just the beginning. We’re gonna get our clock.”

Sure enough, he spent one Wednesday standing in the middle of Main Street soliciting funds for the town clock and by day's end Joe had collected $1,100.

Last month, Lynne and Bernie Butcher committed to hosting a fundraiser on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the Blue Wing Saloon & Café.

Because of Fernandez’s undertaking the fundraiser will surely mark the completion of the town’s fundraising endeavor and become a day of celebration.

Please stop by and show your support, enjoy a great meal and meet some of the women who make up the Upper Lake Women’s Protective Club.

I say “only in Upper Lake,” but in reality, I know the world and specifically our county is full of good-hearted people with good intentions.

When a community pools its resources and energy there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.

The workshop will begin at 6 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The board of the Public, Education and Government (PEG) channel called the meeting last week following a lengthy discussion of issues associated with how the channel is being administered.

The discussion will continue Wednesday, and the community is invited to attend.

Registration and coffee hour start at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch. The cost is $12 by reservation only, make checks to Ukiah Garden Club, PO Box 447, Ukiah, Calif. 95482. Menu is a variety of soups and salads.

California Garden Clubs Inc. President Maryanne Lucas will make a special trip to attend the district meeting to meet the Northern California and Mendo-Lake District garden club members. There are 28 Districts in the State of California.

The fundraiser is a 50-50 drawing; potted and named plants, and books and items will also be sold.

Jo Jameson, president of the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club, is scheduled to present her garden therapy projects. You’ll have a chance to create a pressed flower mini “stand-up” card that she did with participants in the Adult Respite Program and they found it to be very enjoyable. Samples of other projects will be on display.

There are six garden clubs all within the Mendo-Lake District (www.mendolakedistrict.org ). All the districts in California are under the California 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.