LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County 29ers Cribbage Club will be starting their 2013-14 tournament season on Monday, Sept. 9, at 5:15 p.m.

They meet at Cheese’s Main Street Pizza, 145 N. Main St., Lakeport, in the upstairs meeting room.

New players – no matter the skill level, from first time, beginner to hardcore – can join this grass roots club any time during the season.

The club meets every Monday night. Come by to visit this club with character.

LUCERNE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Thursday, Sept. 5.

The group meets at the First Lutheran Church, 3863 Country Club Drive across from the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Social worker Jenny Johnson is the facilitator.

The group is sponsored by Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (1-800-834-1636) and the Social Day Programs in Lake County.

For more information call Jenny Johnson at 707-350-3030 or Caroline Denny at 707-263-9481.

Respite is provided by the centers at no charge.

NICE, Calif. – An asphalt rehabilitation project that is taking place on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff through the end of September won't necessitate a one-day closure of the road, as officials previously had expected.

The Lake County Department of Public Works said that the contractor performing asphalt overlay on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff has made arrangements to avoid the closure, which originally was planned for Wednesday, Sept. 4.

The cutoff, the area from Highway 20 to Lakeshore Boulevard, and Lakeshore Boulevard from Hill Road East to will Park Way, are subject to single-lane controlled traffic, which began this past Monday and will continue through Sept. 30.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, holidays excluded, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The public should expect delays of up to 15 minutes at either location.

Public Works officials urge drivers to use alternative routes one possible. Motorists also are asked to travel with caution in the area.

The Department of Public Works thanked community members in advance for their patience and understanding while the work takes place.

For more information, contact the Lake County Department of Public Works at telephone 707-263-2341.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Nonprofit leaders from across the North Coast region will connect, learn and engage in strategies to strengthen their work at the sixth annual Strong as Redwoods conference hosted by Northern California Association of Nonprofits (NorCAN) scheduled to take place on Thursday, Oct. 10.

The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fortuna River Lodge.

The theme for this year’s conference, “Unlocking the Potential of People and Place,” will focus on identifying ways to strengthen individual initiatives by weaving regional networks.

Early registration for the conference ends Sept. 10. General registration is open through Oct. 1.

This year’s conference will bring several nationally renowned experts to the region, including keynote June Holley, who will encourage participants to use inter-organizational, cross sector networks for transformative community problem solving.

Holley will also lead a closing plenary session to provide participants with an opportunity to strengthen their cross sector collaborative work.

June Holley provides consulting, training and coaching to organizations around the world who are interested in creating healthier networks through a better understanding of self-organization, collaboration, innovation and learning.

She has developed face-to-face and virtual training programs and communities of practice for Network Weavers, pioneering in the use of the social web to support network efforts.

“This year’s conference is an exciting event, one we think highlights the value in our regional nonprofit sector, but also helps to address the growing changes and needs within the region,” said NorCAN Program Manager Amy Jester.

Leslie Castellano, conference organizing committee chair and Artistic Director of Synapsis, adds, “We have a really great team with a diversity of skills contributing to make this amazing event. Using feedback from past conferences and new insights from our organizing committee and staff, we hope the day event meets the needs of the local sector.”

Further details and registration for Unlocking the Potential of People and Place is available at www.northerncalifornianonprofits.org or by calling 707-442-2993.

NorCAN, established in 1999 as a professional membership association, provides opportunities for networking, training, and leadership support to its members and the larger community as a means to strengthen the regional nonprofit sector.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sutter Lakeside Hospital gave the Lakeport Fire Protection District $20,000 in February 2012 to help them purchase an ambulance.

The Lakeport Fire District’s Board of Directors started a fund with this seed money to replace a 1988 model that had accrued 180,000 miles.

The district was able to purchase a refurbished ambulance from Iowa in September 2012.

“Our newly-acquired ambulance received a complete safety check and was given a green light to be placed into service,” said Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells. “You can hardly tell that it’s been refurbished. We’re real pleased with it. If not for Sutter Lakeside helping the fire district with funding, we wouldn’t have the quality of ambulance we have now.”

The Lakeport Fire Protection District now operates two front-line 911 ambulances and two inter-facility ambulances.

In 2012, the District answered 1,127 emergency calls and 975 inter-facility transports.

To date in 2013, the Fire District has responded to 741 emergency calls and 608 inter-facility transports.

“Sutter Lakeside Hospital works so closely with the Lakeport Fire District year-round,” said Siri Nelson, chief administrative officer at Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “Our hospital offers basic emergency services to the county, which means that we have a physician available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We know how much our community depends on us to be there when they need us – and how crucial emergency transportation is in our county. We’re pleased that the Lakeport Fire District approached us about this investment opportunity.”

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Community Care HIV/AIDS Program will host its sixth annual Lake County AIDS Walk on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Austin Park in Clearlake.

Event organizers are looking for local agencies, organizations and businesses to put together walking groups, and/or join them for the day with a booth or table.

The minimum pledge for a walker is $5. There is a suggested donation of $35 for having a booth or a table at the event (this donation can be waived for qualified nonprofits).

If you are interested in joining them by walking, volunteering or setting up a table, please let them know by Friday, Sept. 13.

If you have a donation for their silent auction or opportunity drawing, please call their office and they would be happy to come pick it up.

All contributions are tax-deductible; the group's nonprofit tax ID number is 68-0046074.

Visit the group's page at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyAidsWalk .