SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Bill Dodd (D-Napa) has authored a resolution proclaiming June as Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Awareness Month.

The resolution passed the Assembly with bipartisan support and is now scheduled to be heard in the state Senate.

“Seniors are unfortunately often targets for abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It’s critical that we provide our seniors with the resources and protection they need and deserve,” said Dodd. “We need to support and respect our seniors year round, and this resolution helps provide a statewide recognition of this issue and gives advocates around the state a perfect opportunity to work collaboratively to help end this abuse.”

Each year, millions of vulnerable and older adults are victims of physical and financial abuse and neglect.

One in 10 Americans over 60 years of age suffer abuse each year, and the National Center on Elder Abuse concluded in a recent study that 11 percent of all the elder abuse cases in America occur in California. Adults with developmental disabilities are also victimized at shocking levels. California also has the fastest growing senior population in the nation.

The designation of June as a month to reflect and take action to help end abuse coincides with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is June 15. 

“The state of California needs to do a better job serving and protecting seniors and vulnerable adults. Providing a better state for our residents is a top priority for me, and I will continue to work to address these problems.” Dodd said.
 
The passage of this resolution comes on the heels of the Assembly passing Assemblymember Dodd’s legislation that would identify better ways to help seniors access critical state resources.

Dodd also has been scheduling free fraud prevention town halls throughout his district in conjunction with the State Bar to provide constituents with practical tips to protect themselves and their families.

Dodd represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Yolo, Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Solano and Colusa counties.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The First Lutheran Church of Lucerne is holding its annual yard sale and free barbecue on Saturday, June 13.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church, located at 10th and Country Club.

The barbecue will continue until supplies last.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Service’s Director Caroline Chavez announced that there will be closures of the Lakeport Public Services office as well as the landfill and transfer station for the Independence Day holiday.

The Public Services off will be closed Friday, July 3.

The Eastlake Landfill in Clearlake and Lake County Waste Solutions, 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport, will be closed Saturday, July 4.

Residential pickup will be on the regularly scheduled day.                                              

The Eastlake Landfill will reopen Sunday, July 5.

Lake County Waste Solutions and the Public Services office will reopen Monday, July 6. Normal operating hours at the landfill are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Normal operating hours at Lake County Waste Solutions Transfer Station on Soda Bay Road in Lakeport is open Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Public Services office is normally open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information visit the county Web site at www.recycling.co.ca.us or call 707-262-1618.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio and artist Diana Liebe will present a "Wine and Watercolors" class from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 13.
 
The class fee of $40 covers all of the painting supplies needed along with Leibe’s step-by-step guidance and a glass of fine Lake County wine. 

Liebe is a former art teacher at both the high school and college levels.

She has been very involved in the Lake County arts community since moving here from Mendocino County 11 years ago, and actively teaches art workshops around the county.

Reservations are required for each month’s class as participation is limited to 12 people.  

A schedule of class dates and time is available at www.lakecountywinestudio.com/events.html or by contacting Susan Feiler at 707-293-8752.
 
The Lake County Wine Studio is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake and is open Monday 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m.; and Friday from 1 to 8 p.m.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Land Trust is pleased to announce the first of its summer children’s nature education programs at the Rodman Preserve starting on Saturday, June 20.

The program will feature biologists from the Lake County Vector Control and will be held from 9 a.m. until noon, with drop-ins welcome.

The program is designed for children ages 6 through 12, but all are welcome with adult accompaniment encouraged.

Helping to lead the program will be Elaine Mansell, a local naturalist and remembered by many as the leader of Junior Rangers at the Clear Lake State Park for many years.

Also on hand will be retired state park ranger and Lake County Land Trust board member, Val Nixon and Lakeport resident and Land Trust volunteer, Karen Weston.

The biologists from Vector Control, including Brittany Nelms, an entomologist, technician Brady Hayes and intern Danielle Bridges will work with kids showing them live specimens like gnat larvae, mosquito larvae and mosquito fish. 

The program also gives children an opportunity to look through microscopes, check out Vector Control’s mosquito tower, and new this year is an interactive mosquito larval habitat display.

The program is free and open to the public.

Rodman Preserve and Nature Education Center is located at 6350 Westlake Road.

Take the Nice-Lucerne Cut-off off of Highway 29, between Lakeport and Upper Lake. Turn east onto the cut-off, then left on to Westlake Road. The preserve entry is to the immediate right after turning on to Westlake.

The Lake County Land Trust is a nonprofit local organization dedicated to the preservation of natural habitat and open space in Lake County.

For information about the Land Trust, go to www.lakecountylandtrust.org .

For information about the children’s program, you may call Roberta Lyons at 707-994-2024 or Elaine Mansell at 707-263-1637. 

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Local mindfulness teacher, author and life coach, JoAnn Saccato, will present a free workshop based on her eight-week “Compassion-based Mindfulness for Peace, Clarity and Freedom” course.

The workshop will be held at Harbin Hot Springs, 18424 Harbin Springs Road, Middletown, on Sunday, June 14, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the Temple.

The event is free, though attendees must be registered as a guest at Harbin.
 
At the free workshop, Saccato will provide information on the history and stress reducing benefits of a mindfulness practice, as well as guide participants through two mindfulness exercises.
 
Mindfulness is a body-based practice that invites one to pay kind, nonjudgmental attention to direct experience of senses, thoughts and emotions.

Studies indicate that mindfulness can help reduce stress and stress-related illnesses; increase focus and attention; decrease incidences of, and relapses with, depression; help reduce anxiety; aid the immune system; and aid in sleep and digestive disorders. As well, mindfulness has been shown to help with addictive and compulsive disorders.
 
“Besides reducing stress, mindfulness helps participants gain deeper clarity, a new vitality and sense of freedom in their lives,” said Saccato.

Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and be ready for gentle movement exercises.
 
Saccato is author of “Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice” and her forthcoming book, “Compassion-based Mindfulness for Peace, Clarity and Freedom.”

For more information on Saccato and Compassion-based Mindfulness for Stress Reduction, Personal Clarity and Emotional Freedom courses, visit www.Compassion-basedMindfulness.com or call 707-350-1719.

For more information on visiting Harbin Hot Springs, visit www.harbin.org .