SPRING VALLEY >> The race is on to see which of three local charities benefits from a Christmas tree decorating contest hosted by Cache Creek Vineyards and Winery, with the winners receiving cash donations.
The second annual Holiday Craft and Charity Faire Sunday featured a tree decorating contest between three local non-profit groups: Operation Tango Mike, Lake Family Resource Center and People Services. The contest was to be for one day but event spokesperson Linda Glover announced voting will be extended through Christmas.
Donations will be awarded for first, second and third place based on public voting at the tasting room. Last year, Operation Tango Mike won first place and $700. The other two charities received lesser amounts.
The faire coincided with the Holiday Open House Weekend that nearly 30 Lake County wineries participated in Friday through Sunday.
“This is a fine event and a great place to meet new people, eat food and drink wine,” said Fred Kicenski of Oakley and Clearlake Oaks. Cache Creek was the last stop on a five-winery tour with his wife, Pam. “It helps get us into the spirit of the holidays,” he added.
“We like doing the wine events for the holidays,” Pam Kicenski said. “It’s a fun and festive time of the year to be out.”
Cache Creek wine club member Debi Sally of Clearlake came to the fair for both the wine and the crafts for sale by about 15 local vendors.
“I like coming to see and support the local arts and crafts people,” she said. “I’ve already found a few things here for gifts.”
Among the items offered for sale at the fair included handmade soaps, jewelry, art work, gift baskets and handmade Christmas tree ornaments, including ones made from the bottoms of soda cans.
The fair’s silent auction featured jewelry, gift baskets, an origami owl jewelry box and a grape wood lighted chandelier.
Clearlake resident Earl Paden said he did the open house tour of wineries last year but this year came with his wife specifically to Cache Creek.
“We’re interested in the crafts and are looking for handmade and homemade gift items,” he said.
The People Services’ tree is a live pine that will be planted in Cobb after Christmas. It’s a more minimalist tree, decorated with a few hand-crafted ornaments.
Lake Family Resource Center’s tree features red and green balls, snowmen in top hats and is topped with a large stuffed mouse.
Patriotism and service to country are the themes of the tree decorated by the volunteers of Operation Tango Mike, with features lots of American flags. But the highlight is three handmade gold ornaments dedicated to three local servicemen who lost their lives in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, made by the group’s founder, Ginny Craven.
“I made them this week and it was a very personal experience,” she said. “I felt very emotional when I made them. I just want people to remember the sacrifices being made for their freedom.”
Craven said she knew the three fallen warriors and can recite details of their lives off the top of her head.
One of those memorialized, Lance Corporal Ivan Wilson, was killed in Afghanistan on July 21, 2008 by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on a foot patrol.
“He was our first one (to die),” Craven said.”I knew Ivan. He was a real character.”
Tango Mike will hold its annual pancake breakfast fundraiser 8-11 a.m. Sunday at the Kelseyville Lions Club, 4335 Sylar Lane. Craven urged area residents to come out and support both the breakfast and the Christmas tree decorating contest.
The Cache Creek tasting room is at 250 New Long Valley Road and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. People are encouraged by Glover to come in, view the trees and then vote for their favorite.
