LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will meet Wednesday, Aug. 5.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room at the Lakeport Senior Activity Center, 527 Konocti Ave.

This is not the group's usual first Thursday of the month meeting. They are changing the date to Aug. 5 to accommodate State Sen. Mike McGuire, who is holding a town hall from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Clear Lake High School MAC Building, 350 Lange St. in Lakeport.

The agenda for the Aug. 5 meeting includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblyman Bill Dodd and State Senator Mike McGuire, as well as reports from the Stonewall Democratic Club Chair and the representative from the Lake County Democratic Club.

Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.
 
The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.
 
For more information about the Democratic Party in Lake County visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org or www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDemocrats .
 
Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – When 11 southern states seceded to form the Confederate States of America in 1861, one hope that they held out to preserve their independence was that Great Britain would intercede on their behalf.

Few Americans today realize just how close Great Britain came to declaring war on the US during the Civil War, which if they did would likely have insured southern independence.

The August Redwood Empire Civil War Roundtable will be exploring the topic "King Cotton, Queen Victoria, Lord Palmerston and John Bull" on Monday, Aug. 3, 6:15 pm, at the Tallman Hotel in historic Upper Lake.

William Eaton, a native of England, and a local amateur historian, will lead the presentation by use of a multimedia slide presentation.

In addition to Eaton's presentation, a brief discussion on the early Reconstruction period will be held and how the Nation transitioned from war to peace.

The Civil War Roundtable meets once a month to discuss topics related to that war, and is attempting to review the war month by month.

The group was founded to coincide with the Sesquicentennial of the conflict. Topics are presented in a manner that can be enjoyed by novice and expert alike. 

Future topics will expand to include some topics related to World War 1, as the centennial of that conflict is commemorated.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

For more information, contact Phil Smoley, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-264-4905, or Zane Jensen, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-349-6390.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Hunger Task Force will offer canning lessons on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

The canning of fruits and vegetables will be taught from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, located at Third and Church streets.

The cost is $20, half of which will be refunded upon attendance. Please call 707-277-9227 to register.
 
Pears and tomatoes will be featured, as they are the most abundant crops in Lake County likely to be canned at home, and offer a well rounded learning experience.

The classes will be hands-on, with all participants experiencing each step of the process.

Please come dressed appropriately, removing all rings, and no open-toed shoes or sandals.

The Hunger Task Force believes that home canning is one of the best ways to prepare healthy, nutritious food for your family.

Upon completion of the lesson each participating household will be given a water bath canner, a book, a jar lifter, and a case of canning jars to take home.

Participants must be preregistered, and space is limited to 12.

Please call as soon as possible to register.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Due to the Rocky fire causing the quality of air to dramatically decrease in the downtown Clearlake area, the Power to the Youth festival – which was scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1 – has been postponed.

Organizers said they were very disappointed to make this decision, but believe it to be in the best interests of the health of the attendees.

It also will keep the focus on protecting families and properties as the wildland fire continues burning near the city.

A new date for the event will be announced as soon as it is arranged.

SACRAMENTO – As the nation and California commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Caltrans celebrates the progress that has been made and recommits to its efforts to allocate $1.1 billion over thirty years to improve access on its sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities for persons with disabilities.

“Caltrans is committed to addressing the mobility needs of all Californians and has even made that pledge of providing reliable and accessible mobility one of our department’s main goals,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “The ADA has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers and, here at Caltrans, we will continue to work to do the same.”                                                            

Since the early 1990s, Caltrans has been improving sidewalk access through its roadway and bridge rehabilitation programs. In 2010, Caltrans committed to:

· Developing and designing projects totaling $1.1 billion over the next 30 years to improve pedestrian access. Caltrans’ goal is to remove more than 1,500 pedestrian access barriers each year.

· Ensuring that each new construction or rehabilitation project addresses access barriers as part of that project.

· Revising design guidance to ensure that any maintenance projects performed by Caltrans adjacent to pedestrian facilities, such as sidewalks, include the installation or upgrade of curb ramps. Additionally, in cases where projects include work on lanes and shoulders that would be used by pedestrians, Caltrans must ensure they comply with accessibility requirements.

Caltrans also created the ADA Infrastructure Program in 2010 as a single statewide focal point for infrastructure-related ADA compliance issues.

This program’s primary functions are to develop and coordinate guidelines and policy improvements. For example:

· Starting in 2011, Caltrans made it easier for people with disabilities and the public to let it know which access barriers are of greatest concern through Caltrans’ online access request form. As a result, the department has removed more than 400 access barriers based on public requests.

· Caltrans also formed the Caltrans Access Advisory Committee (CTAAC), which includes members from various ADA organizations statewide, to provide input on the department's policies, practices, procedures, project priorities and methods of communications with departmental divisions and community advocates.

Caltrans operates and maintains an extensive statewide pedestrian system with more than 4,000 miles of sidewalk, 2,190 on- and off-ramps, 300 pedestrian under-crossings and overcrossings, 336 park-and-rides and more than 300 rest areas and vista points – all with pedestrian paths.

The majority of this pedestrian infrastructure is also located on routes that pass through urban centers and regular maintenance and upgrades are required to keep the system functioning and accessible.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990 and is the “Bill of Rights” for people with disabilities, covering employment, public accommodations, government services and telecommunications. The ADA forbids any discrimination on the basis of disability, by both public and private entities.

California’s laws guaranteeing individuals with disabilities the right to assess publicly funded facilities and privately funded public accommodations have been on the books for more than 30 years.

Under these laws, people with disabilities have a right to accessible public transportation, including properly designed facilities.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County Republican Women Federated will host Marty Kelso Brookman, regent of the Caymus Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at its next meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

The group will gather at 11:30 a.m. for its business meeting before lunch is served at noon at TNT Bar & Grill, 2599 Lakeshore Blvd., Lakeport.

Brookman will speak about the purposes of DAR, who can join and what DAR does.

She just attended the 124th Continental Congress held in the DAR Constitution Hall. This building is dedicated to the Constitution and is the only building erected as a tribute to the Constitution of the United States of America. It sits at 1776 D St NW, Washington DC.      

Guests are welcome to the Aug. 12 meeting.

The cost of lunch is $20, which includes a main dish – TNT's low-cal salad, honey mustard chicken sandwich or cheeseburger – along with ice/hot tea or coffee. All other beverages are no-host.
 
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, to leave your order.

Visit the group's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lake.rwf?fref=ts .