Time Bankers meet at the Time Bank table at the Clearlake Friday Night Farmer's Market. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Members of the Time Bank of Lake County gathered at the Clearlake Farmers' Market on Friday, July 9, where they got to know each other better and learned more about how they could help each other through the Time Bank.

“Time banking is a social movement in 22 countries and six continents,” said Carol Cole-Lewis, one of the co-coordinators of the Time Bank.

“Every hour is worth the same, whether you're providing legal help or doing someone's dishes,” Cole-Lewis explained. “And, for every hour you spend doing something for someone, you earn one Time Dollar in return. Then you have a Time Dollar to spend on having someone do something for you. It's that simple. Yet it also has profound effects. Time Banks change neighborhoods and whole communities.”

Col-Lewis continued, “The Time Bank keeps track of the time used in giving and receiving services. This means the time trades are not one to one – that is, I can get gardening help from Kathy and then give piano lessons to Joe.”

Time Bank members have used the time bank to get and give services like yard work, runs to the dump, houses painted, electrical work done, child care, business brochures made and more.

The Time Bank of Lake County began in January of this year. It is currently at 103 members and performing roughly 25 hours of trade a month. The Time Bank of Lake County is a member of Timebanks USA.

The Time Bank's next meetup will be at the Steele Winery Farmers' Market in Finley on Saturday, July 30, at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited.

To find out more about the Time Bank and to join, visit its Web site at http://timebanklakeco.com.

The party will be held at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, located at the corner of Highway 20 and Highway 53.

Hospitality will begin at 3 p.m., with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and presentations and desserts at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 each; purchase them from Lucerne's Station 80 or from fire personnel of the Northshore Fire Protection District.

For more info call 707-274-3100.

Please note that previously published dates of July 19 or July 21 for this meeting have been changed to July 24.

Starting at 3 p.m. in the horse staging area, there will be a potluck (please bring a potluck dish and beverages to share), followed by a brief meeting, followed by an optional trail ride which will be guided by Kim Riley, one of the Highland Springs trail masters.

A barbecue will be available for those who wish to use a grill.

The horse staging area is to the left as you approach the public picnic area by the reservoir. Other great activities you can enjoy at Highland Springs are swimming and kayaking or paddling a nonmotorized boat.

Reservations are not necessary.

For more information contact Juliana at 707-279-1903 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Available for free at area senior centers, libraries and social services offices, online at www.SeniorResourceDirectory.org – or downloaded below – this 89-page guide is a helpful tool in knowing local supports for our aging community.

The guide also is available in Spanish.

Sometimes it takes more than a directory to understand an elder’s options or to make the connection to a service provider.

For those times, the Senior Information & Assistance program is available to respond to questions by seniors or their caring families and friends by calling Monday through Friday at 707-468-5132 (or toll-free 1-800-510-2020 from anywhere in Lake and Mendocino counties).

2011 Lake and Mendo Senior and Disabled Resource Directory

The department reported Tuesday that the county will close a portion of Big Valley Road – between the intersection of Finley East Road/Big Valley Road and Renfro Road – from 7 a.m. on Thursday, July 14, through 5 p.m. on Friday, July 15, in order to complete necessary road repairs. Detours will be in place.

County road crews and Cal Fire are teaming up on a fuel load reduction project on Soda Bay Road, from Buckingham area to Gaddy Lane.

Work starts Tuesday, July 19, and will continue Tuesdays through Fridays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., until the project is complete.

During working hours, one-way traffic control will be in effect in the work zone area. Minimal delays of no more that 10 minutes are to be expected.

For additional information contact the Lake County Public Works Road Division, 707-263-2341