This program is funded with newly available federal stimulus funds with the goal is to place qualifying participants in jobs and to stimulate the local economy.

If you are unemployed, have a child and your income is below the 200 percent federal poverty level, then this program may be able to assist you.

Informational meetings for potential employees will be held at The Job Zone, located at 9055 Highway 53, Lower Lake.

The dates for the informational meetings will be on Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. and Jan. 12 at 11 a.m.

This is an exciting new program that will assist many unemployed parents. Space is limited, so please, RSVP to Jeremiah at 707-995-9015.

The event begins at 7 p.m.

The dinner will be served in the Special Events Center by the stone fireplace and will feature blue cheese-stuffed figs with walnuts, seasonal greens with rosemary walnut vinaigrette and whole grain croutons, pork roast with winter fruits and port sauce, gruyere potato gratin, moscato roasted parsnips and sweet potato coconut cheesecake with dark chocolate crust for $35 per person.

The Lodge also is offering a special one night, all-inclusive room package, which will include dinner and champagne brunch.

Advance reservations are required; call Sylvia at 707-275- 2181.

Lake County Democratic Club Chair Sunol Westergren, right, and Lake Family Resource Center Chief Operations Officer Rae Eby-Carl at the club's meeting on Saturday, December 12, 2009. Photo by Richard Hoyt.

LUCERNE – The Lake County Democratic Club has made a donation to support the local domestic violence shelter.

On Dec. 12, Lake County Democratic Club members and their guests, met for the group's annual holiday party.

Attendees generously donated over $200 to benefit the Freedom House Domestic Violence Shelter, located in Kelseyville.

Lake County Democratic Club Chair Sunol Westergren presented Lake Family Resource Center Chief Operations Officer Rae Eby-Carl with a check for the donation at the Dec. 12 meeting.

The goal is to create a report that is useful for prioritizing and planning community health interventions that improve the quality of life in Lake County and for identifying future areas for research.

A copy of the RFP can be obtained by contacting Linda Schulz, community services director, St. Helena Hospital Clearlake, at 707-963-6419 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

You can also view and download the report by clicking on this link: www.shhclearlake.org/news/SHC_Community_Needs_Assessment_RFP.pdf .

Master gardeners will discuss and demonstrate pruning and other cultural practices that help produce large, healthy rose displays.

Workshop participants should bring heavy gloves and pruning shears for hands-on practice. The Master Gardener Mobile Help Desk will be there and handouts will be available. A $5 donation is encouraged to help defray expenses. The meeting site is wheelchair accessible.

UCCE Master Gardener President Richard Nodine encourages home gardeners to attend the workshop, especially if they've ever thought that pruning roses is hard.

The Lucerne Alpine Senior Center is home to the Memorial Rose Garden, an impressive collection of roses that the whole community can enjoy.

Workshop participants will help the senior center with their roses, and the site provides a wonderful opportunity for home gardeners to get hands-on training through U.C. Cooperative Extension.

Master gardeners are a group of selected, trained residents who work as volunteer staff for the UC Cooperative Extension.

Master gardeners provide accurate horticultural information on vegetable gardening, trees, soils, lawns, ornamental horticulture, insects, diseases, use of pesticides and other related topics based on research of the University of California and other recognized research institutions.

Information about the rose pruning workshop can be obtained by calling UC Cooperative Extension at 263-6838, or on the web at http://celake.ucdavis.edu .

CARE is a community-based program that works with county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities to help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources.

EPA will award CARE cooperative agreements in two levels. Level I awards range from $75,000 to $100,000 and will help establish community-based partnerships to develop local environmental priorities.

Level II awards, ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 each, will support communities that have established broad-based partnerships, have identified the priority toxic risks in the community, and are prepared to measure results, implement risk-reduction activities and become self-sustaining.

In 2009, EPA’s CARE program distributed $2 million to nine communities. Examples of projects that received grants include addressing waste and storm water issues in Kennett, Mo.; reducing air and water pollution in Holyoke, Mass.; addressing water pollution from coal slurry in Wheeling, W.Va.; reducing radon and other indoor air pollutants in Pueblo, Colo.; and tackling the problem of hazardous waste materials and open dumping in Toksook Bay, Alaska. Since 2005, the grants have reached 68 communities in 34 states and territories. A recent evaluation by the National Association of Public Administrators (NAPA) recognized the CARE program as a solid tested framework for engaging communities and other stakeholders.

Applications for the CARE grants are due March 9, 2010.

EPA will conduct three Webcasts to answer questions from prospective applicants about the application process on Feb. 2, 23 and 26 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

More information about the grants is available at www.epa.gov/care .