LUCERNE, Calif. – The Northshore Community Center, formerly the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, is hosting its monthly gathering of North Shore Poets and Song Writers on Wednesday, Ot. 14.

This is a monthly event on the second Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the center, 3985 Country Club Drive.

All poets and songwriters from Lake County are welcome. Coffee, tea and refreshments are provided but feel free to bring other snacks to share. 

This is a free community event with all present having an opportunity to read and/or sing. An audience is appreciated. If you want to accompany your shared writing, feel free to bring your instrument.

If you are a poet or songwriter, you are invited to join them. Everyone over age 18 and all styles of presentation are invited to the gathering.

For more information about services or the North Shore Poetry and Song Writer Gathering, call the Northshore Community Center at 707-274-8779.

The center continues to be a not-for-profit that serves Northshore seniors and other community populations with on-site lunches, Meals on Wheels, activities and advocacy. 

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Department of Social Services wants Valley fire survivors to know the enrollment period for Disaster CalFresh assistance has been extended two days and will be available through Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Disaster CalFresh is assistance to meet the temporary nutritional needs of disaster victims within a 30-day period following a natural disaster such as the Valley fire.

The program provides a month's worth of benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which can be used to purchase food at authorized retailers. Purchase of hot food may be available.

You may be eligible for Disaster CalFresh if your family:

– Lived in or worked in the disaster area at the time of the Valley fire;
– Had a disruption in income;
– Has damage to your home or self-employment property;
– Has disaster-related expenses;
– Has inaccessible liquid resources.

Apply for Disaster CalFresh through Oct. 7 at these two locations:

Lake County Department of Social Services
15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway, Lower Lake
707-995-4200
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Local Assistance Center (LAC)
Middletown Senior Center
21256 Washington St., Middletown
707-987-3113
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Saturday, Sept. 12, as the Valley fire roared toward Middletown and with smoke already a dominant backdrop, the Middletown High School Lady Mustangs were hosting the Saint Bernard’s Academy Crusaders of Eureka in a non-league soccer matchup.

The match was suspended midway through the second half as the fire approached Middletown.

Nearby, tankers laid down a barrier of fire retardant which likely saved the schools and much of Middletown’s commercial sector.

On Oct. 3, representatives of Saint Bernard’s Academy and the Eureka community arrived to present the Middletown team members with gift bags, cash and hugs.

Mustang players who lost their homes were gifted with $350 cash, bedding and other much-needed items.

Similar efforts are under way by various teams in Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties to support the student-athletes and families, many of whom simply lost everything.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The SPCA of Clear Lake is planning its second annual fundraiser, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. at Cole Creek Equestrian Center,  4965 Steelhead Dr. in Kelseyville.

The theme this year is “Spay-ghetti and No Balls,” where a dinner of spaghetti, meatballs, salad and garlic bread will be served.

There will be a silent auction, live auction and dessert auction taking place during the event.

Tickets are just $20 each and can be purchased on the SPCA Web site; by mailing a check to SPCA of Clear Lake, 8025 Highway 29, Kelseyville, CA 95451; by calling Fawn Williams, 707-350-5866, or Reiko Hattori, 707-295-0820.

The SPCA of Clear Lake is a nonprofit organization committed to serving the entire county of Lake in furthering it's mission of preventing cruelty to animals. The SPCA is also your place to go for low cost spay or neuter, as well as vaccinations.

The SPCA is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is located at 8025 Highway 29 in Kelseyville.

For more information call the SPCA at 707-279-1400.

Brenda Crandall is public information officer and board president for the SPCA of Clear Lake.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The next free household hazardous waste dropoff event will be held Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, at Lake County Waste Solutions Transfer Station and Recycling Yard, 230, Soda Bay Road in Lakeport.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge. Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks (empty), pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear feet) and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.

Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the recycling hotline at 707-263-1980.

Household hazardous waste dropoff services are provided to Lake County residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this county-funded service and first make an appointment. Business appointments can be made by calling Lake County Waste Solutions at 707-234-6400.

Beginning in June, ask about receiving a free puncture-proof sharps container at one of these events to use for free sharps disposal.

Free recycling options for residents and businesses:

· Recycled paint is available to both residents and businesses at Lake County Waste Solutions and South Lake Refuse and Recycling Center first-come, first-served basis in five gallon containers. Colors include tan, brown, gray and pink.

· Used motor oil and cooking oil can be dropped off by businesses and residents, at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the North Shore Fire Protection District station at 6257 Seventh Ave. in Lucerne. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for more locations.

· Electronics (e-waste) can be dropped off at Lake County Waste Solutions and at South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center.

Lake County Waste Solutions
230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport
888-718-4888 or 707-234-6400
Monday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
www.candswaste.com

South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center
16015 Davis St., Clearlake
Open daily, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
707-994-8614
www.southlakerefuse.com

The free Household Hazardous Waste drop off program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County households.

For more information about recycling, reusing and reducing, visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us , call the recycling hotline at 707-263-1980 or like Lake County Public Services on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LCPublicServices?fref=ts .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County Republican Women Federated will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 14, to discuss overturning Proposition 47.

The group's meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. with lunch and the speaker to follow at noon at TNT Bar & Grill, 2599 Lakeshore Blvd. In Lakeport.

The guest speaker is Lynne M. Brown, director of Advocates for Public Safety.

Brown started her career in crime prevention in 1982. After five years and four promotions with a top-notch security company, she left the crime prevention industry but always stayed in touch with the latest crime and personal safety trends.

In the early 1990s, Brown began a career of “helping parents raise their children.” For the next 16 years, she operated a full-time daycare business then moved to the position of program director for an elementary school.

While managing both the daycare and the two school programs, she brought her expertise of personal safety training and crime prevention tactics to her students and their families.

In 2009, after leaving the school, Brown decided it was time to get back into her first love, teaching people to stay safe. She and her husband began teaching people how to keep themselves and their loved ones safer in an increasingly interesting dynamic, the “empty the prisons” culture.

In 2011, Brown started a coalition of experts to combat Assembly Bill 109, prison realignment. Her ongoing role in the coalition was to educate the public on what they have not been told about AB109 and just who was being let back into our neighborhoods under the classification of “low level offender.”

In 2014, Brown became the co-manager of the Overturn Prop 47 campaign and continues to raise awareness and develop strategic relationships to try and restore public safety.

Guests are welcome to the luncheon. The cost is $20 per person, which includes the main dish, ice/hot tea or coffee. All other beverages are no-host.
    
Menu choices this month at the TNT low-cal salad (crisp tortilla shell with lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese and grilled chicken with choice of dressing), or combo plate, which your choice of any two of the following: enchilada (chicken, beef or cheese), chili relleno, tamale, mini tostada, taco (beef or chicken) comes with rice, beans and garnish.
    
Reservations are required. For club information or lunch reservations contact Marcia Chauvin, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-994-3543, and leave your order.