More than 50,000 lights make up the 10 displays lining the main thoroughfare of the Lake County Fairgrounds for the huge nonprofit fundraiser. The Avenue of Lights is open every evening through Sunday, Dec. 21, except for Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 15 and 16.

An eclectic mix of eight nonprofit groups from throughout Lake County are helping to put together the Avenue of Lights by building 10 large holiday light displays between them. Lake County Fair has added building accents and some smaller features as well.

The groups include Hospice of Lake County, Scotts Valley 4-H Club, Lakeport Women’s Civic Club, Clearlake Church of the Nazarene, Knights of Columbus, Konocti Christian Academy, Kelseyville High School's Future Farmers of America and a new group this year, Wiloth Equine Therapy Riding Center.

Each organization has put up at least one display, and is providing volunteers to operate the event by directing traffic. The organizations will all share in the revenues from the entire event.

In addition, each car load of patrons which enters the "Avenue of Lights" receives a ballot with which to vote on the "People's Choice" for favorite displays. The top three displays will earn an extra financial prize for the organization that built the display.

The competitive nature of the "People's Choice" awards provided the nonprofit organizations with incentive to be as creative as possible with their displays, and gave them incentive to market the fundraiser to as many of their supporters as possible.

The Avenue of Lights opened Dec. 10 and runs through Dec. 21 at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

As of Thursday, Dec. 11, the Kelseyville Future Farmers of America were the clear favorite in the People's Choice balloting, with 36 percent of the votes.

The display, a huge holiday scene celebrating agricultural education, includes a large menagerie of lighted farm animal cutouts, a babbling brook and a student working on a welding project.

"Kelseyville FFA won the people's choice award in 2007, and they clearly aren't resting on their laurels this year," said Lake County Fair CEO Richard Persons. "I think they've doubled the size of the display this year, and just Kelseyville FFA's display is larger than any other display that I've seen in Lake County. When you add in the other nine displays, the avenue is pretty cool."

Other displays include one from Konocti Christian Academy, titled "The Reason For The Season," which features traditional manger scene. Konocti Christian Academy is in second place in the "People's Choice" balloting with 23 percent of the votes cast.

Scott's Valley 4-H Club's "Holiday Carousel" and Lakeport Women's Civic Club's "Holiday Home Scene" are tied for third, each with 18 percent of the votes.

Other notable displays include an animated carousel from Scotts Valley 4-H, a pastoral display of a shepherd and his flock, a nativity scene from the Knights of Columbus and the patriotic "Home for the Holidays" scene from the Lakeport Women's Civic Club, which features a soldier returning home to his family.

Vehicles are admitted to the Avenue of Lights starting at 5:30 p.m. each evening through Sunday, Dec. 21, with the exception of Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 15 and 16. The grounds close at 9 p.m.

Most cars take about one half hour to tour all of the displays and vote on the "People's Choice" award. The admission price is $10 per car. A concession stand operated by the nonprofits and offering hot chocolate, mulled cider, coffee and other snacks is available at the entrance gate.

A low power FM broadcast plays continuous holiday music on 87.9 FM, and can even be heard a short distance from the fairgrounds. Patrons can tune in their car radios and sip a hot drink while enjoying the lighting spectacle. Vehicles should enter the fairgrounds through the main entrance gate on Martin Street, and will be directed through the fairgrounds by volunteers.

The lighting displays were provided by a grant for new activity programs at county fairgrounds in California, and will remain for use in future years.

The Lake County Fairgrounds are located at 401 Martin St., Lakeport.

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WILLOWS – Over the past weekend, Eric Wheaton, president of the local Kiwanis Club of Lakeport, drove in a fog-shortened endurance road race at Thunderhill Park Raceway, just west of Willows.

A 25-hour endurance race sponsored by the United States Air Force and sanctioned by the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) was shortened to an 18-hour endurance race due to the infamous Sacramento Valley ground fog.

The race started with nearly 70 cars on the track when the green flag fell on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m., and a majority were still running at race end on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. after 18 hours.

Wheaton was at the wheel during his second stint in the car Saturday evening when they suspended the race at 7 p.m. for fog.

He reported he couldn’t see more than about 10 feet in front of the car, having to use the little reflectors on the edge of the track just to find his way around the three-mile course.

Finally, the visibility was too limited to safely race so the cars were parked on the track (no maintenance allowed please), and they waited for the fog to lift. It finally lifted about 4:30 Sunday morning and the race resumed at 5 a.m. again with Wheaton at the wheel of their No. 33 Mazda Miata.

He shared the car with his son David and another driver Saturday and then on Sunday, father and son drove the remaining 10 hours of the total 18 hours of racing spelling each other throughout the day.

They started 22nd in class, 59th overall and finished nine in class and 35th overall. And at the finish of the race, the No. 33 car drove up onto the trailer under its own power, demonstrating a racer’s definition of a successful race weekend.

Eric and David Wheaton are both volunteer driving instructors with NASA and were the only father-son driving team during this endurance road race. They’ve been sharing rides on race tracks such as Thunderhill Racepark at Willows, Infineon Raceway at Sonoma, Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey and Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow near Bakersfield for over a decade.

They’ve shared a Sunbeam Tiger, vintage Mustangs and Subarus on the track and raced a Spec Miata racecar in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and NASA events.

They started their track time together over 10 years ago when David was a teenager. They raced their first endurance race (a three-hour race at Infineon Raceway in the fall of 2006) and this endurance race completes their 2008 season.

The Wheatons are looking forward to instructing track novices together during the start up of the 2009 NASA road course season at Infineon Raceway in February.

Eric is retired (and a member of Kiwanis for nearly 18 years) and David is an instructor for the Russell Racing School at Infineon Raceway.

Eric and his wife Penny moved to Lake County in 2006 and Eric joined the Lakeport Kiwanis. He was installed as the President of the Lakeport Kiwanis this September.

Eric Wheaton in his racing suit. Courtesy photo.

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The tree lot returns this year at 1950 Parallel Drive in Lakeport, south of Hamburger Hill.

The lot is opened every day through Dec. 21 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Drop in and check out their great trees, and don't forget to pick up a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider before choosing your tree.

They have noble firs, Douglas firs, grand firs and, for the first time, have the beautiful silver tip trees.

Don’t forget to check out the gift shop with items such as lazy Susans, tables made from wine barrels and more.

All proceeds are used to further develop Legacy School.

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Individuals who must take required minimum distributions from their IRAs may want to consider making a tax-free donation to Mendocino College Foundation, says Mark DeMeulenaere, director of development for the Foundation. Contributions will fulfill all or part of the IRA requirement.

“The IRA Charitable Rollover is a unique opportunity for individuals to take advantage of reducing their taxable income while supporting their favorite charities,” said DeMeulenaere. “We encourage individuals to contact their financial advisors quickly to arrange the transfer of funds before the end of the year.

“It’s a great opportunity to give to the College Foundation or any charity,” he added. “The foundation would be very appreciative of such a gift.”

Monetary gifts help the Foundation in its efforts to support Mendocino College students and programs. The foundation provides student scholarships, funds improvements to educational programs and staff development at the college district’s campuses in Mendocino and Lake counties, and works to cultivate additional backing for the college.

Originally established as a provision of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, an IRA charitable rollover allows an individual at age 70 ½ or older to withdraw up to $100,000 from an IRA and donate it to a qualified nonprofit charity, school, or organization.

The allowance is back as a bonus of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, according to information distributed by certified financial planner Jennifer Strong of Lakeport.

The donation will reduce the individual’s taxable income for the year and must be done as a transfer, either by the individual’s financial advisor or by working with the IRA custodian, notes Strong.

DeMeulenaere suggests consulting personal, legal, and financial advisors to obtain additional details before making a gift. For more information about contributing to the Mendocino College Foundation, call the Foundation Office at 707.467.1018 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– PG&E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for an aerial crossing just east of the junction of Route 20/29 on Thursday, Dec. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Mohammed Hussain of Nice has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for paving near the Middle Creek Bridge. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– A highway widening project from Main Street to Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– A roadway realignment project from 1.4 miles east of the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge to 1.6 miles west of Walker Ridge Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 29

– A slide repair project from the Lupiyoma Creek Bridge to Bar X Ranch will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– Mohammed Hussain of Nice has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for paving at the junction of Route 20/29. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 281

– Caltrans will continue routine maintenance from Tenaya Way to the junction of Route 29/281. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– AT&T of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility installations between Philo Greenwood Road and Navarro Bluff Road. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Caltrans will continue geotechnical drilling at Ocean Meadows Circle (south) through Friday, December 12. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 101

– A pavement repair project from 0.1 miles north to 1.5 miles north of Comminsky Station Road will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Roadway repair due to pavement deterioration from 3.6 miles south of Ridgewood Ranch Road to 1.9 miles south of Ridgewood Ranch Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Majajo, LLC of Willits has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility installation between Oak Avenue and San Francisco Avenue. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the railroad crossing on Friday, Dec. 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162

– A bridge widening project at Outlet Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

Highway 253

– A bridge widening project at Anderson Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

– A bridge widening project at Soda Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

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).

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The Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review features five committees in all.

Wiggins said the subcommittee to which she was named considers funding and spending priorities for services and programs of importance to people across the state. They are also of keen interest, she noted, to residents of the North Coast district she represents in the California Senate.

“We are fortunate to live in a state rich in natural beauty, blessed with natural resources, and committed to the pursuit of alternative sources of energy, which will help slow the advance of global warming,” Wiggins said.

“We must find ways to preserve, protect and progress,” she said. “The challenge of the current economic crisis is great, the decisions we make are likely to be difficult, but we must find ways to solve our pressing fiscal problems without abandoning our commitment to the future.”

Visit Wiggins' Web site at http://dist02.casen.govoffice.com/.

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