Are you a compassionate person who wants to make a difference in the community? If you are willing to make a commitment as a volunteer counselor, The Lake Family Resource Center domestic violence responder training is free.

Learn the psychological aspects of domestic violence/abuse, effective counseling techniques, and how to use crisis intervention skills to assist survivors of domestic violence and their families.

Gain an insider's view of the criminal justice system (court), which prosecutes domestic violence perpetrators.

As a volunteer you will provide crisis counseling to survivors of domestic violence, give information to the public and make referrals, meet domestic violence victims at the emergency room and/or law enforcement and accompany them to court when advocacy as requested. Domestic violence responders are required by the state of California to complete 40-hours of training, which is provided free of charge.

Upon graduation, volunteer responders receive a certificate of completion and are eligible to volunteer to help adult and child victims.

Lake Family Resource Center is currently taking class reservations. If you are interested in domestic violence responder training, please contact Sherri Boelter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 707-279-0563, Extension 183.

Lake Family Resource Center provides a multitude of services to build family stability and strength. The agency supports Lake County residents in achieving stable, self-sufficient, and healthy families and communities.

Call them at 707-279-0563 to find out more about what the group offers.

The event will be held from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St., Lakeport.

There will be bull riding, mutton bustin', good fun for the whole family and great Mexican food. A dance will follow.

The league will have a free “open” scrimmage game on Saturday, Oct. 8.

The game will begin at 11 a.m. in Austin Park, 14077 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake.

For more information call League Director Bob Hopkins at 707-994-4720 or visit the league’s Web site, www.HTOsports.com/?GDFFL1.

Habitat for Humanity Lake County Building Team is looking for new members. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Openings are now available to join the Habitat for Humanity Lake County Builders Team.

The team will blaze the way to building homes for those local families in need of a decent place to live.

No experience is necessary.

Team memberships are open for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each week.

Membership is free; all you need to bring is your desire to contribute your time to help others.

With all of this comes a wonderful lunch provided by local restaurants or from the Habitat kitchen.

Individuals, business teams, church congregations, civic groups and more are urged to sign up.

Call 707-994-1100 for further information.

The classes will be held on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. for beginning students, 7:30 p.m. for intermediate students and 9 p.m. for the advanced cloggers.

The cost is $5 per person per class and you may register at the first class.

Clogging is a lively American Folk Dance originating in the Appalachian Mountains. It is a blend of English, Irish and German dances, along with African-American “Buck Dancing,” American Indian dancing and other ethnic dances.

It was originally done as a solo dance and in large groups known as “big circle dancing” where the dancers performed “called patterns” as they kept up with the rhythmic stomping to the beat of the music.

If you have any questions or need further information concerning these classes please feel to contact the Public Services Department at 707-262-1618 or call clogging instructor Michelle John-Smith at 707-277-9317.

Bringing home a new baby changes a woman’s whole world. While every mom has struggles, sometimes it feels worse than it should.

When mom suffers, the whole family suffers, and the baby can be affected the most.

Mother-Wise wants to prevent perinatal mood disorders by helping moms and their babies get off to the best possible start.

The group's trained volunteers offer their personal experiences and shared wisdom through home visits with moms in their community.

If you have some time to spend and experience to share, one-on-one with a mom, join Mother-Wise for the next volunteer training.

The training is spread over three days, with the first two sessions in the evening on Thursday, Sept. 22, and Friday, Sept. 23, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The third session will be on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with lunch included.

Attendance at all three sessions is required to become a volunteer.

The next training will be held in Lake Family Resource Center’s Lakeport center located at 890 Lakeport Blvd. Registration isn’t required but is helpful.

Please call Jaclyn Ley, 707-349-1210, or Vicki Hays, 707-263-6169, to register for the training.