LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Mirella sounds like many parents when she describes ongoing friction with her daughter.

Arguments happen over homework, household chores and bickering with siblings.

Mirella is a mother of six and she found it difficult to take care of her own needs, which left little empathy for her family.

Then her local school, through Healthy Start, invited her to the Nurturing Parenting program.

She attended every class offered, bringing her adult daughters and their young children as well. And things began to change.

The Nurturing Parenting program began in Lake County in 2005 with support from First 5 Lake.

First 5 is celebrating its 15-year anniversary this year, serving families with young children from birth to 5 years old.

The Nurturing Parenting program is now offered through many agencies and organizations in Lake County.

To date, 1,608 parents and 1,840 children have attended local Nurturing Parenting classes.

The Nurturing Parenting program is a nationally recognized program developed by Dr. Stephen Bavolek.

Recently three Lake County facilitators – Tom Jordan, Ana Santana and Socorro Padilla – were invited to Train as Trainers for the program.

Participants in the recent training traveled from all over the United States to attend the training in Chico. Now local trainings for new facilitators can be offered on a regular basis.

Local classes are offered for all parents, in English and Spanish, at school sites, in preschool settings, at the Lake Family Resource Center, the Legacy School, community centers, churches and even at the local jail.

One parent commented, “I am making myself a better person by being able to understand my kids more.” And “I am learning new tools; striving for improvements now in all areas of my life.”

“Many families struggle with discipline issues in the home” said Ana Santana, a class facilitator. “Fights with their teenagers, struggles over curfews, rules and chores. Families with small children can begin learning strategies for setting limits, improving family communication and how to care for each other that will last a lifetime. Families can find ways to move forward together, to help kids to get their homework done and attend school and for more laughter than tears at home.”

Nurturing Parenting classes are currently being held in Upper Lake and Clearlake, with additional classes scheduled to begin next month in Kelseyville.

For more information on current and upcoming Nurturing Parenting classes, please call the Nurturing Parenting program hotline at 707-262-4116 or Gina Dickson, program coordinator at 707-994-2272, Extension 2548.

This article is being published in celebration of First 5’s 15th anniversary celebration and as a longtime funded program through the local First 5 Lake Commission.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Saturday, April 5, come and enjoy the first “Lake's List Unplugged” event.

It will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Clearlake's Redbud Park.

Lake's List Unplugged will be a countywide yard sale where local businesses and residents will fill up tables full of treasures for others to find and purchase.  

The group plans on having food available, live music from Borrowed Time and a bouncy house for the kids to have fun.

If you are interested in a table, the tables are $15 each and $20 if someone is selling a vehicle and requires a parking space. To find an application online please go to http://tinyurl.com/unpluggedDL .

Lake's List started as a small Facebook group to offer an alternative to Craig's List which did not feature a section for Lake County.

Within three years, Lake's List now has grown to more than 15,500 members and the group is still continuing to grow.  

People have sold, bought, traded and given away so many items from cars, to computers, to clothing and so much more. It is frequented by people all around the county and is moderated by those around the county and even some admins reside outside of the county too.  

Lake's List was nominated in 2013 for the Volunteer Group of the year at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Stars of Lake County.

Everyone is invited to take part. Please call 707-695-0834 and ask for Bruno Sabatier or call 707-701-3254. and ask for James Ortega and either one will be happy to help answer any of your questions.  

You also can email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will hold its regular meeting on Thursday, April 3.
 
The monthly meeting will take place in Lakeport at 1210 S. Main Street at 6 p.m.
 
The group wants to get public feedback on the propositions coming to the local ballots in June, including Measure N, the referendum on the marijuana grow ordinance proposed by the Board of Supervisors as a guide to enforcement in order to eliminate or at least reduce complaints and protect communities, and Measure L, the half-percent “Healthy Lake Tax” ordinance proposed by the Board of Supervisors to be used for prevention and abatement of invasive aquatic species (plant and animal) in our lake and tributaries.
 
The agenda for the April meeting also includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada and State Sen. Noreen Evans, as well as reports from the Stonewall Democratic Club Chair Essie Coons and representative from the Lake County Democratic Club Paula Mune.
 
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. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The North Coast Opportunities Governing Board will meet on Wednesday, March 26.

The board meeting will take place from 3 to 4:15 p.m. at North Coast Opportunities, 850 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport.
            
Agenda items include the Head Start COLA and sequestration restoration application that is due April 25, volunteer network update, February financials, personnel update, information on the Human Race and the membership committee report.

For information, or if you need disability modification or accommodation in order to participate in this meeting, please contact the NCO executive secretary 48 hours before the meeting at 707-462-3200, Extension 201.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – First Assembly of God Church in Clearlake will once again host the annual Community Easter Egg Hunt in Austin Park.

This year the popular family event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19.

The hunt starts at 11 a.m.

There will be raffles, games, face painting and, of course, the hunt.

The event is free and everyone is invited and really encouraged to come and bring their families.

For more information contact the church at 707-994-3122.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Kelseyville Presbyterian Women will hold their annual rummage sale on Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, at the church, located at 5340 Third St. in Kelseyville.

Don't miss this sale. There will be lots of clothes, toys, furniture and household items, as well as Granny's Attic of treasures all gathered together under one roof.

The sale will be held both Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., with a bag sale all day Saturday.

Homemade chili and chili dogs are on the menu for lunch, so bring the family and find great bargains for everyone.

Donations are happily accepted. Call 707-279-4415 to arrange pickup.

For more information, call the church office at 707-279-1104.