Energy efficiency improvements such as caulking and sealing the home, improving insulation, installing new windows, water heaters, and heating and air conditioning systems, are just a few of the types of improvements that can be made to a home to significantly decrease energy bills and improve the comfort of the homeowner.

The program helps homeowners to finance home energy efficiency improvements by providing loan interest rate loans and grants to qualifying homeowners.

Qualifications include verification that the homeowner is current on the mortgage, property taxes and have a current source of income within the program limits.

There is no minimum credit score to meet, no appraisal required on the home nor any down payment required from the homeowner.

Up to 100 percent of the approved project can be financed with the CHF Loan. Additional guidelines and terms and conditions on loan financing apply and are available from CHF.

“The program is a win-win for the homeowner and community. Reducing the amount of energy usage in your home, can potentially put a lot of money back in your pocket,” said Carolyn Holmes, CHF marketing director. “Improvements may increase the home’s overall value, and energy upgrade projects can help create jobs in the local area.”

The energy efficiency program is funded through a $16.5 million grant awarded to CHF by the California Energy Commission State Energy Program as part of the federal stimulus American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

CRHMFA (California Rural Home Mortgage Finance Authority) Homebuyers Fund – or CHF – is a California government entity with 30 member counties who are also members of the nonprofit Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC).

CHF has supported affordable home ownership in California for almost two decades, and has helped nearly 37,000 families and individuals to purchase homes.

The above example of 100 percent financing of qualified retrofit projects approved in Lake County under the CHF Residential Energy Retrofit Program is based on a 15-year, zero-percent fixed-rate CHF Loan.

The monthly payment on a $10,000, 15-year fixed-rate CHF Loan at 0.00 percent interest would be $55.56 and the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) would be 0.441 percent.

For more information, or to apply, please contact CHF toll-free at 855-740-8422 or visit www.chfloan.org.

The first recording session, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. April 28, will be with Peggy Berryhill of the Native Media Resource Center.

Berryhill, a member of the Mvskoke tribe, is the founder of the Native Media Resource Center, whose mission is to produce educational materials about Indigenous communities and promote cross cultural understanding and racial harmony.

The NMRC works in partnership with individuals, organizations and institutions such as Native Public Telecommunications Inc., the Smithsonian Institution Office of Telecommunications, National Museum of the American Indian and Northern California Cultural Communications Inc.

NMRC projects include audio, print and digital storytelling, providing an authentic Native voice to public broadcasting and support for the Native radio system for 36 years.

In 2008 the FCC granted the NMRC a license to construct a full power noncommercial community radio station, KGUA 88.3. The new station will serve all the communities of the Mendocino South Coast and the northern tip of Sonoma County.

The press are invited to attend the opening day, with a recommendation to join us no later than 11:15 a.m.

There will be an opportunity to interview Peggy Berryhill about her StoryCorps experience, speak with the StoryCorps staff and the KZYX staff, and tour the StoryCorps recording booth.

The Mobile Studio will be parked in the lot adjacent to the Ukiah Valley Conference Center, at the corner of School and Clay streets in downtown Ukiah.

StoryCorps' MobileBooth interviews are conducted between two people who know and care about each other. A trained StoryCorps facilitator guides participants through the interview process.

At the end of each 40-minute recording session, participants receive a complimentary CD copy of their interview.

With participant permission, a second copy is archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for future generations to hear.

In Ukiah, StoryCorps will partner with KZYX, Mendocino County's Community and NPR station, to collect 120 interviews.

KZYX will air a selection of the local interviews recorded in the StoryCorps MobileBooth and create special programs around the project throughout the next year.

Segments of select interviews may also air nationally on NPR's Morning Edition.

To help offset its operating costs, StoryCorps requests a donation of at least $25 for each MobileBooth interview.

If participants cannot afford to meet the suggested donation, they may participate at no cost to ensure that StoryCorps remains a free public service.

More information about StoryCorps is available at www.storycorps.org.

Information about KZYX is at www.kzyx.org.

The dinner will take place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the club's hall, 2817 Highway 20.

Come and enjoy homemade Italian sauce, garlic bread and salad.

The cost is $8; for $10 you can get sausages or meatballs.

The bar will be open for socializing.

Everyone is welcome.

For more information about the event or renting the hall call 707-274-2244.

Funds also are available for residents in need of move-in costs, such as security deposit, related to a move to new permanent housing.

The last date to submit an application is Sept. 1.

Catholic Charities is administering the Federal Emergency Shelter Grant (FESG) funds, and applicants must qualify and meet state and federal guidelines.

Needs and residency also will be verified.

To see if you qualify, go to www.srcharities.org/services and click on Lake County services to find FESG information.

You also may call 707-528-8712, Extension 126, or pick up an application at Catholic Charities Lake County Office, 21085 Bush St., Middletown.

Federal Emergency Shelter Grant for Lake County is funded by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, via CA Department of Housing & Community Development.

Invite your friends and family members to take advantage of this free shredding service.

You may bring up to three boxes/bags of old documents that you would like to have shredded to the parking lot of Umpqua Bank in Lakeport, 805 11th St., from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 28.

Be sure your documents are free of binders (paper clips and staples are acceptable). They will have workers ready to help you unload your documents and you can even watch them be shredded.

If you can’t make it on April 28, Umpqua Bank in Lakeport and Kelseyville, 4280 Main St., will have shredding bins available after April 28 until they are full (limit of three boxes/bags per drop off, please).

Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville, Calif., will be the scene for the annual Heron Festival, which will take place Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, 2011. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Redbud blossoms along roadsides, golden poppies on the hills, wild yellow mustard blanketing orchards and vineyards, all sure signs that it is almost time for the Wildflower Brunch at Clear Lake State Park.

This year’s date is April 30. It begins at 9 a.m. and continues until noon.

The brunch, sponsored by the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association, features a build-your-own omelet with a choice of fillings. It is served with pastries, fruit and coffee.

Advanced reservations are suggested and may be made online at www.heronfestival.org or by calling 707-263-8030. The cost is $15.

The Wildflower Brunch heralds the opening of the Heron Festival, April 30 to May 1, hosted by Lake County Audubon, a weekend burgeoning with nature-focused activities for the whole family.

The festival has become a signature springtime event in northern California.

Last year more than 1,800 people attended, drawn by the quality of the activities offered, uniquely qualified speakers, a wide variety of vendors and many local organizations who provide information to sustain the welcoming environment of Lake County.

A full schedule of events is listed at www.heronfestival.org.

Reservations for the Wildflower Brunch and pontoon boat tours can be made via this Web site.

Come early and stay late. Bring your camera. There will be many sights, sounds and smells to savor in this event which highlights spring, a time when Lake County is at its best.