Many people responded to the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce's Residential Holiday Decoration Contest. It was a tough choice this year to award one winner – they were all beautiful.

Thomas and Tonya Biasotti at 3025 Sylvia Court were declared the winner of this year's decorating contest. They will be awarded a $10 gift card provided by Wal-Mart.

If you wish to view this year's Christmas lights, take a look at these wonderfully decorated homes:

• 14965 Putnam;

• 2815 Robin Lane;

• 6125 Spruce Ave.;

• 3644 McKinley Drive;

• 3268 Bowers;

• 14925 Laguna;

• Most of Cottonwood Street also is decorated very nicely.

The chamber would like to thank all of the participants and even those who decorated and didn't get their name into the contest for all of their hard work. They gave everyone the opportunity to slow down and enjoy our beautiful town in lights. What a gift! Christmas is best enjoyed one special moment at a time.

The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce wishes everyone all the best this holiday season.

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Members will be reviewing the survey results setting budget and action priorities for 2009.

The Senior Center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive (corner of 10^th and Country Club) in Lucerne.

The Senior Center serves breakfast from 9 a.m. until noon.

The public is invited. Membership in the Lake County Democratic Club is open to registered members of the Democratic Party.

For more information contact the Lake County Democratic Club at 263.4529 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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PawPAC, created in 1980, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to the protection of animals.

In a recently-released report, Paw Pac scored California’s 40 State Senators and 80 Assembly members on their votes on eight pieces of legislation introduced this year.

According to PawPAC, Wiggins voted correctly on all eight of those measures, as did Assemblywoman Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), former Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D-Eureka) and former Assemblywoman and now Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis).

The targeted pieces of legislation were:

• AB 2098, strengthening existing law to prohibit auctions and slaughterhouses from accepting and abusing animals that cannot walk;

• AB 2291, adding a check-off donation on state income tax forms to fund low-cost spay/neuter programs;

• AB 2427, prohibiting cities/counties from banning any act that falls within the regulatory definition of that business, such as de-clawing of cats;

• AB 2785, requiring the state Wildlife Conservation Board to designate and protect wildlife corridors;

• AB 2911, strengthening protections against oil spills and calling for better use of volunteers to rehabilitate injured wildlife;

• AJR 41, asking U.S. Fish and Wildlife to extend the Endangered Species Act to cover polar bears and penguins that are affected by global warming;

• AJR 62, asking the National Marine Fisheries Service to deny long-line swordfish permits off the California coast (the method often kills sea turtles);

• SB 908, requiring environmental education to include climate change.

Wiggins represents California’s Second Senate District, which includes portions or all of six counties: Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma.

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The contest was begun as a way to encourage businesses in the downtown to decorate their windows and encourage local holiday shopping. From there it evolved into including residences as well.

This year 14 businesses and five residences chose to participate.

First place in the business category went to Flowers by Jackie at 108 S. Main St. Second prize went to The Kitchen Gallery at 302 N. Main St.

In the residential category, first place went to Della Hance at 1320 N. Forbes St., and second place went to Tiffany and Jared Bussard at 842 Central Park.

The winners were recognized at the Lakeport City Council meeting on Dec. 16.

The first place winners in each category took home a certificate and $300 in prize money. The second place winners took home a certificate and $100 in prize money.

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This was followed by a very fun and hyperactive classroom session all about light speeds and distances in the universe.

Astronomer Vic Stryker – The Olde Stargeezer – helped lead the wonderful fun and interactive session, with all enjoying pointing at Orion the Hunter, aka the Bart Simpson constellation.

The Norton Planetarium was all decked out in merry red Christmas lights with a lovely illuminated fat penguin and three candles display, with rocking Christmas music in the star theater.

Because it was cloudy there was a sign on the telescope dome door which said, “Tonight you may look at instead of through the telescope because ... It's cloudy.”

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MIDDLETOWN – Eat, have fun, do good. The Rotary Club of Middletown’s 17th annual Crab Feed and Auctions happens on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, at the Lions Clubhouse, Central Park Road, Middletown.

Doors open at 5 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m.

Dinner is fresh green salad, pasta with Chef Duane’s homemade sauce, crispy French bread with dipping oil, lots of crab (of course), dessert and coffee

This year there is reduced seating in order to give participants more elbow room, plus group discounts and reserved seating.

Tickets are $50 per person, which includes two drink tickets and a door prize chance. For groups of 10 or more, there’s a 10-percent discount to $45 per person.

Tickets must be pre-paid by Jan. 15 for group reserved seating. Give the names of the people in your group and a group name, so you can be seated together.

This is a sell-out event every year, so don’t be disappointed by waiting until the last minute. Get your checks and reservations in early. Make checks payable to RC of Middletown and mail to P.O. Box 981, Middletown, CA 95461. Pre-paid tickets can be mailed or held at the door.

Silent and live auction items include wine and wine tastings, airplane rides, original art and jewelry, live music, overnight accommodations and shows, a time-share in Mexico, ski lift passes, Disneyland tickets, canoe rides and much more.

Auction donations will be received until Jan. 15. Sponsorships are also available.

For more information, tickets, auction donations or sponsorships, call Helen Whitney at 928-9812 or Terry Hoberg at 987-3446. Tickets are also available from any Middletown Rotarian, or at Tri-Counties Bank, Westamerica Bank or Middletown Florist and Gifts in Middletown.

All proceeds from this fundraiser go to local and international humanitarian projects and programs. Rotary is a world-wide all-volunteer service organization. “Service Above Self” is its motto.

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