LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Library is happy to announce the immediate availability of its new digital newspaper collection.

Titled “America’s News,” this collection is available to all library patrons and is updated daily.

America’s News provides online access to current and archived issues of over 3,000 full-text newspapers, including the Lake County Record-Bee, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee and USA Today.

America’s News enables library patrons to easily search and browse current and archived news articles, editorials, reviews, birth and marriage announcements, obituaries and a variety of special sections.

Patrons can use this resource for general reference or to research local and national issues, events, people, government, education, arts, business, sports, real estate and much more.

In addition to using America’s News at the library, patrons can access the collection from home at the library’s website under Resources.

America’s News complements other newspaper resources offered by the Lake County Library.

The Lakeport Library has an extensive microfilm collection of local historical newspapers that dates back to 1865.

Online access to the New York Times is also provided on the Lake County Library website thanks to the California State Library.

America’s News is a resource offered by NewsBank, the world’s premier provider of newspapers and other news sources online.

Serving public libraries for more than 45 years, NewsBank offers online access to more than 12,000 titles from the U.S. and other countries around the globe.

For more information, contact the Lake County Library by calling the main branch in Lakeport at 707-263-8817, emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit http://library.lakecountyca.gov.

NORTH COAST, Calif. — Community First Credit Union took part in the Redwood Empire Food Bank’s first-ever “Food BANKing” campaign in October.

Local credit unions, banks and other financial institutions are participating in a friendly competition to see who can raise the most funds, collect the most food, and volunteer the most hours for Redwood Empire Food Bank.

On Monday, Oct. 10, the entire Community First team spent the morning volunteering with the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

As a team they helped pack 3,168 pounds of bread, 3,190 pounds of apples, 4,320 pounds of donated items, and 7,550 pounds of sweet potatoes, squash, and cucumbers. The group packed 18,138 pounds which is equivalent to 15,189 total meals for neighbors in need.

As a not-for-profit financial institution, Community First Credit Union not only reinvests their profits to their members through high deposit rates, low loan rates, and supporting local community events and organizations, but they also like to roll their sleeves up and give back to the communities they serve.

“Our motto is ‘Here for Good’ and events like this help us live out that message alongside great partners like the Redwood Empire Food Bank. We had a great time for a great cause,” said Scott Johnson, CEO of Community First.

Community First encourages their team to volunteer throughout the year with company-wide events and local community events. In 2022, Community First volunteered over 1,000 hours.

If you’d like to learn more about the Redwood Empire Food Bank’s “Food BANKing” campaign or to donate directly visit: refb.org.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — Come and join the Square Dance in the Barn at Ely Stage Stop on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 3 p.m.

They welcome first-time square dancers into this friendly fun activity. And if there are dancers who have moved here and missed the activity from their previous clubs — come and join them.

Lawrence Johnstone will be calling this dance.

Ely Stage Stop will be a fun and busy place this Sunday afternoon. The Fiddlers Jam is from noon to 2 p.m. and the Ely folks will have the barbecue going to serve hamburgers — and usually there are huge pieces of pie to enjoy.

The Ely Stage Stop is located on Soda Bay Road about a mile off Highway 29 between Kelseyville and Lower Lake.

For more information call Dee at 707-900-8089, Cynthia at 707-485-2768 or Belle at 707-279-2057.

State Controller Betty T. Yee reminded Californians you do not need to go door to door in search of treats. Your surprise may be just a few clicks away.

No trick: California has more than 70.4 million unclaimed properties worth a total of $11.9 billion waiting to be claimed this Halloween.

“Nearly one in three visitors to our website finds property in their name, the average payout was $433 last year,” said Controller Yee, California’s chief fiscal officer. “It is well worth the few minutes it takes to check if we are safeguarding any property for you.”

California’s Unclaimed Property Program is a consumer protection program in existence since 1959.

Designed to keep businesses and other entities from keeping properties belonging to a customer with whom they have lost contact.

Common types of unclaimed property include bank accounts, wages, stocks, bonds, uncashed checks, insurance benefits and safe deposit box contents.

People who find property at www.claimit.ca.gov can submit claims for their long-lost money or valuables online at any time, or call 800-992-4647 for assistance Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. PT, excluding holidays.

In September, the State Controller’s Office reunited approximately 22,000 people with about $41 million.

Here is a snapshot of claims paid last month:

• 2,424 properties valued at $2.7 million in Los Angeles;

• 471 properties valued at $368,656 in Fresno;

• 2,647 properties valued at $956,379 in Sacramento;

• 728 properties valued at $170,996 in Bakersfield;

• 129 properties valued at $75,218 in Chico;

• 122 properties valued at $183,986 in Redding;

• 49 properties valued at $60,648 in Monterey; and

• 12 properties valued at $3,777 in Barstow.

Anyone can download the unclaimed property database for free and see if people in their community or organization have items being safeguarded by the State Controller’s Office.

If your business or organization needs help ensuring you understand and meet reporting obligations under California’s unclaimed property law, please take advantage of the reporting resources available to you through the State Controller’s Office.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Community Radio Inc. is seeking volunteers to serve on the board of directors.

The board’s principal function is policy and budget setting and fund development.

“Making sure we have the funding needed to keep the air waves flowing on KPFZ, 88.1 FM — in normal times and in times of crisis — is our most important role,” said Board President Olga Martin Steele.

Currently there are two vacancies on the board. Individuals with financial skills; experience in fundraising, marketing, social media and web design; and anyone with leadership, management and problem-solving skills is encouraged to apply.

To apply, download a blank application from the station website, www.kpfz.org and mail to LCCR, Inc., PO Box 466, Lakeport, CA 95453.

If you need help with the application, call the station and leave a message at 707-263-3640, a board member will promptly return your call.

KPFZ, 88.1 is noncommercial community radio, serving listeners countywide on air and through live streaming.

“Our talk programs tackle local issues from a variety of perspectives and our music programmers offer an eclectic array of multi-generational and cultural music to suit all palates,” Steele said. “We exist to serve the community through information, education and music.”

If serving as a board member isn’t for you, consider volunteering in some other capacity.

To learn more about how you can support one-of-a-kind community radio, attend a board meeting.

The board meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month at 6:15 p.m.

Agendas and the zoom invitations are posted on the website, www.kpfz.org.

For more information about the role of a board member, how you can volunteer or support KPFZ, call 916-849-8170.

What says “October” more than the sight of a beautiful orange pumpkin?

A central element in many fall festivals, the pumpkin is a beloved symbol of autumn.

Fittingly then, National Pumpkin Day is celebrated every year on Oct. 26, a holiday designed to give thanks to this popular squash native to North America. And, of course, pumpkins have become a symbol inseparable from Oct. 31's Halloween.

So, how much do you know about pumpkins? Test your knowledge below.

10 things you probably didn't know about pumpkins:

• The word “pumpkin” originates from “peopon,” which means “large melon” in Greek. It then evolved to “pompon” in French and “pumpion” in Britain. The Americans later changed it to “pumpkin,” the name we still use today.
• Every year, the US produces 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkin. 80 percent of this crop (around 800 million pumpkins) are ripe for picking in one single month of the year — October.
• Over 45 different varieties of pumpkin exist. They range in color including orange, red, yellow and green, and they boast names like Hooligan, Cotton Candy, and Orange Smoothie.
• Technically a fruit, the pumpkin is a winter squash in the family Cucurbitaceae which includes cucumbers and melons.
• Every single part of a pumpkin is edible: the skin, leaves, flowers, pulp, seeds, and stems.
Interestingly, pumpkins are 92 percent water.
• Naturally low in energy density, pumpkins are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin A and beta-carotene, the powerful antioxidant that gives orange vegetables and fruits their color.
Scientists believe that pumpkins originated in North America about 9000 years ago. The oldest pumpkin seeds have been found in Mexico and date back to somewhere between 7000-5550 B.C..
• Pumpkins (along with other forms of squash) were a historically important food staple among Native Americans. They would grow the squash along river banks next to maize and beans, a planting technique that was called the “Three Sisters Method,” which allowed the three crops to sustain each other. Corn served as the trellis upon which the beans could climb; beans were nourished by the sunlight and kept the corn stalks stable on windy days, while also nourishing their soil; and pumpkins sheltered the corn’s shallow roots and prevented weeds from taking hold.
• The practice of carving Jack-O’-Lanterns was brought to America by Irish immigrants. In their homeland, the Irish used to carve Jack-O’-Lanterns out of potatoes or turnips, but upon arrival in America, they began to use pumpkins instead because they were far easier to carve. The tradition of the “Jack-O’-Lantern” stems from an Irish legend about a man named Stingy Jack who was a somewhat unpleasant character famous for playing tricks on people.

Regardless of how much you know about pumpkins, this much is sure: one of the best ways to enjoy one is to eat one!