LAKE COUNTY — The second annual “Wine and Chocolate” fundraiser Saturday drew more than 600 people. Mt. Konocti Growers cold storage shed was transformed to the elegant venue?Mt. Konocti Growers cold storage shed. Chocolate mousse, dipped strawberries, ?clairs and chocolate morsels were paired with red and white wine and champagne. All to benefit the Lake Family Resource Center (LFRC) domestic violence shelter project.
An acoustic guitar duo?area favorites Austin and Owens?played in a corner next to wine barrels and wine racks displaying flickering candles. Antique wine corks were on display, as well as classic cars and Chris Craft boats outside in the sunny weather. Guests could choose to taste wine from 28 different Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma County wineries, all of which use grapes grown in Lake County.
Nearly twice the number of the more than 400 attendees last year showed up Saturday. 650 wine glasses had been sold by 3 p.m. on the day of the event, which ran from 12 to 4 p.m.
U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson was present to greet patrons as they entered the large cold storage center, which was cleared of all traces of cold air and pears?the typical purpose of the shed. “I think it”s really great work they do (Lake Family Resource Center. The fact this many people are here shows the community supports a new shelter for the county,” Thompson said as he poured organic Bonterra wine, a winery based in Mendocino County.
Lake County District Attorney Jon Hopkins said the DA”s office and Victim Witness Program works closely with LFRC to meet the needs of women and children suffering from domestic violence. “This is a crucial time period?when domestic violence occurs?woman and children immediately need a safe place to go,” Hopkins said.
He said the Victim Witness program acts as a liaison by referring victims to LFRC. With only one temporary center in Clearlake run by LFRC for women and children, there is a great need for another shelter in the county, LFRC Executive Director Gloria Flaherty said. She said the county averages 12 people in need of shelter each night, up from last year”s average of 11 and 10 per night two years ago. More than 4,000 beds are needed in the county each year.
Hopkins said early prevention in domestic violence is key. “When a police officer is called to a problem, the woman is referred to the victim witness program. We try to get the abuser on probation, and get the abuser to know that there”s someone else in the relationship?the judge, the police and us,” Hopkins said, referring to the DA”s office and LFRC.
While the majority of attendees Saturday were Lake County residents, including public figures such as City of Lakeport officials and county supervisors, some traveled from out-of-county and even from out-of-state to attend the event.
Deci Taylor and Kevin Lipscomb of Seattle, Washington flew in for the weekend to taste wine, chocolate and help support a shelter for domestic violence victims.
“We saw the area in a magazine. I went online and saw this event was going on. We go wine tasting in Oregon and Washington, but we”ve never been to this area before,” Taylor said. “There are really great wines, and it”s a beautiful place. We”re really having a great time.” The couple stayed at the Skylark Hotel and planned to visit Sonoma and Napa Valley as well.
The next step for LFRC is to determine how much in funds is needed to construct a shelter. The first wine and chocolate event raised $17,000. The amount raised Saturday was not available Monday at press time. But both last year”s event and this year”s proceeds will go entirely to fund the shelter project, Flaherty said. A property has been located for the future shelter and in the coming weeks Flaherty said she hopes to announce its location.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com
