LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The First 5 Lake County Commission will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 22.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. on Zoom. The meeting ID is 993 6064 3741, pass code is 229186. Participants also can join the meeting by phone at 669-900-6833.

Meeting documents can be found here.

Agenda items include approval of the Aug. 25 regular meeting minutes, the August 2021 financial statements, an update and discussion on the family ownership wraparound, and the ad hoc committee update on the executive director recruitment and recommendation.

In other business, the commission will consider approval of an $800 funding request from the Lake County Heroes of Health Safety Fair Planning Committee from Sutter Lakeside Hospital, approval of the 2021-2022 Title IV-E grant contract with Chabot-Las Positas Community College District for up to $100,000 and a presentation on Head Start enrollment.

There also will be executive director and commissioner reports, public comment and announcements.

The commission will meet next month on Oct. 27.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Continuum of Care has announced the availability of two grant opportunities through the California Department of Housing and Community Development Emergency Solutions Grant, or ESG, Program.

These Balance of State ESG funds are available in two grants:

· a $123,969 Formula Allocation Grant for Rapid Rehousing Programs only; and

· a $123,969 Regional Competition Grant for Emergency Shelter or Rapid Rehousing programs.

Agencies applying must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, government agency including housing authority, or a state or federally recognized tribe/tribal entity that serves those struggling with homelessness or at-risk of becoming homeless in Lake County.

Agencies may apply for both grant opportunities; however, the programs must meet the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, definition of Rapid Rehousing or Emergency Shelter.

Local applicants must meet the 100% match funding requirements outlined in the ESG NOFA for the full grant allotment, which can be found here.

The Lake County Continuum of Care will make recommendations to Housing and Community Development, or HCD, for both grants. Recommended applicants will then apply online and contract directly with HCD for funding.

In making funding recommendations to HCD, Lake County Continuum of Care shall use a process which is:

· Fair and open and avoids conflicts of interest in project selection, implementation, and the administration of funds;

· Considers selection criteria reasonably consistent with the criteria used by the department in section 8407;

· Complies with the requirements of sections 8408 and 8409;

· Incorporates reasonable performance standards as set forth in the Action Plan based on HUD requirements and guidance. If the applicant has not implemented the proposed activity or similar activity within the past three years, the Continuum of Care shall work with the funded applicant to ensure it meets reasonable performance standards specified in the action plan in the contract year;

· Complies with federal ESG requirements; and

· Considers any other practices promoted or required by HUD.

For more information and a BoS application and governing board resolution template, visit this website.

Applications must be received by the LCCoC no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Monday, Sept. 27.

Applications should be sent by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

A funding panel consisting of Lake County Continuum of Care Grants Selection Committee volunteers shall decide which two applications will be submitted to HCD by Friday, Oct. 8. Appeals will be due by Oct. 15, 2021. Following that, applicants will be able to submit applications online via HCD’s website.

The Lake County Continuum of Care is a HUD-designated organization that promotes communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provides funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and state and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promotes access to and effects utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimizes self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Technical assistance is available. For more information, contact Scott Abbott on behalf of Lake County Continuum of Care, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-274-9101.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Hospice Services of Lake County is beginning another series of meetings to help adults who have experienced the death of a loved one, either recently or in the past.

Recognizing there is not just a single way through grief, Hospice Services’ bereavement program will present “The Journey of Grief,” a free, educational series.

The grief and loss group will meet once a week for eight weeks starting Sept. 23.

Hospice Services invites interested individuals to attend either in person from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursdays at the bereavement center in Lakeport or through Zoom from 5 to 7 p.m. the same day. Assistance in the use of Zoom will be provided to enrolled participants.

In-person participants are encouraged to wear masks during the meetings to reduce the spread of COVID.

To register for the group meetings or obtain additional information, call Kathleen Bradley at 707-263-6222, Extension 123, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Group sessions are structured with combined instruction and discussion in a safe environment, facilitated by Bereavement Services Manager Kathleen Bradley and retired Pastor Margaret Flick.

“In our world today, we are being challenged by losses of all kinds. In addition to these, many of us are trying to also navigate grief due to the death of a loved one. In our groups, we companion and support each other as we attempt to find our footing and a new normal,” said Bradley. “During the weekly group sessions, education will be provided about grief, mourning, and what is ‘normal’ as well as support toward healing.”

Weekly topics are presented in a meaningful sequence, so attendance at all sessions is essential. Examples of topics covered in groups include setting intentions to heal, dispelling misconceptions about grief, exploring personal feelings of loss, seeking resolution, and self-care.

Hospice Services reminds individuals they do not have to navigate grief and loss alone.

“Often, when we lose a loved one, we don’t know where to turn for emotional support,” said Bradley. “Additionally, during these uncertain times, Lake County residents are coping with multiple losses and stress related to natural disasters and COVID-19, topped off by the sense of isolation as we refrain from our normal social rituals. The ‘Journey of Grief’ sessions are designed to help individuals through the loss.”

Hospice Services of Lake County provides high quality medical, emotional and spiritual care to help patients and their families navigate their end-of-life journeys.

For more information, call Hospice Services of Lake County, 707-263-6222. Visit the organization’s website at www.lakecountyhospice.org.

Janine Smith-Citron is director of development for Hospice Services of Lake County.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s team of meteorologists are forecasting stormy and windy weather this weekend in parts of Northern California.

PG&E is prepared and has a plan to address any outage the storm system may cause and reminds customers to take the necessary steps to be prepared and stay safe.

An early season weather system is forecasted to move across Northern California Saturday morning and into Sunday resulting in rain and breezy/gusty winds. Slight thunderstorm risk across Sacramento Valley Sunday morning is also possible.

“This storm has the potential to cause power outages due to rain and gusty winds. We’re urging our customers to have a plan to keep themselves and their families safe. Our meteorology team is closely tracking the dynamic weather conditions and are working with our operations teams in the field to ensure we’re ready to restore outages safely and as quickly as possible,” said PG&E principal meteorologist Scott Strenfel.

In addition, PG&E is prepared for the possibility of flashovers, a phenomenon that occurs with the first light rain or mist after the summer that can lead to pole fires and outages.

PG&E’s meteorology team has developed a Storm Outage Prediction Model that incorporates real-time weather forecasts, coupled with 30-years of historical storm data and system knowledge to accurately show where and when storm impacts will be most severe.

This model enables the company to pre-stage crews and equipment as storms approach to enable rapid response to outages.

Storm safety tips

— Never touch downed wires: If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 9-1-1 and by calling PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.

— Use generators safely: Customers with standby electric generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to customers, as well as crews working on power lines. If using portable generators, be sure they are in a well-ventilated area.

— Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. And keep extra batteries on hand. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, animals and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.

— Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup. Having a portable charging device helps to keep your cell phone running.

— Have fresh drinking water, ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer during an outage to prevent foods from spoiling. Blue Ice from your picnic cooler also works well in the freezer.

— Secure outdoor furniture: Deck furniture, lightweight yard structures and decorative lawn items should be secured as they can be blown by high winds and damage overhead power lines and property.

— Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.

— Safely clean up: After the storm has passed, be sure to safely clean up. Never touch downed wires and always call 8-1-1 or visit www.811express.com at least two full business days before digging to have all underground utilities safely marked.

Other tips can be found at www.pge.com/beprepared.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Public Works Department issued an update about the upcoming construction projects affecting the lakefront public parking lots, the Fifth Street boat ramp and a portion of North Main Street.

The boat and trailer parking areas between Third Street and the Fifth Street ramp will be upgraded with new paving and drainage facilities.

This work begins on Monday, Sept. 20, and will continue through the end of next week.

Parking will be available to the north at the site of the future Lakefront Park, formerly known as the Natural High property.

The Fifth Street boat ramp will remain open, but ramp access will be subject to delays due to the construction work.

On Sunday, Sept. 26, beginning at 8 p.m., and continuing until 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27. North Main Street between First and Fifth streets will be closed with a detour provided.

Fourth and Fifth streets will be closed from North Main Street to the parking areas near the lake. The Fifth Street boat ramp and all lakefront parking lots will also be closed.

The department said it will issue its next construction update before additional work scheduled for Sept. 28 through Oct. 1 begins.

Please contact the Public Works office at 707-263-3578 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.

LUCERNE, Calif. — As the drought intensifies, local water utility California Water Service is helping customers save water every day through expanded water conservation programs and educational resources.

These programs and resources include newly launched lawn-to-garden and spray-to-drip rebates, which offer incentives for Cal Water customers to make their landscaping and irrigation systems as efficient as possible.

Cal Water’s lawn-to-garden program offers a rebate of $3 per square foot of lawn removed and replaced with low-water-use landscaping.

The spray-to-drip program provides a rebate of $0.50 per square foot of landscaping converted from a standard spray irrigation system to a drip system, as drip irrigation uses 20 to 50 percent less water compared to sprinklers.

“We partnered with Lucerne customers and businesses to achieve impressive water savings during the last drought,” said Tavis Beynon, interim district manager. “Now, we are offering even more support for Redwood Valley customers to reduce their water use as we face increasingly serious drought conditions.”

These incentives are in addition to Cal Water’s existing industry-leading conservation programs to help save water every day, including:

· Rebates on high-efficiency appliances and devices, with certain rebates recently doubled

· A smart landscape tuneup program that includes an irrigation system evaluation along with installation of efficient devices and repair of most irrigation leaks at no cost to customers

· A free conservation kit that includes a garden hose nozzle with shut-off valve, high-efficiency shower heads, faucet aerators and more for residential customers

Additionally, Cal Water encourages customers to follow its easy do's and don’ts of water conservation.

DO:

· Check for broken sprinkler heads and hidden leaks once per month;

· Install a smart irrigation controller that automatically adjusts to weather conditions;

· Check if your lawn is thirsty before watering;

· Repair leaks within five days of notification.

DON’T:

· Use water on outdoor landscaping that causes runoff onto adjacent properties or paved areas.

· Use a hose to wash vehicles unless the hose has a shut-off nozzle or similar device.

· Irrigate outdoors between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., unless local ordinances state otherwise.

· Use water in a fountain or other decorative water feature, except where part of a recirculating system.

Cal Water is here to help customers save water every day. Program details and additional information can be found on www.calwater.com/conservation.

The utility will continue to monitor conditions in Lucerne and implement any additional actions based on ongoing supply and demand assessments, according to Beynon.

Cal Water’s Redwood Valley District serves approximately 3,200 people through 1,900 service connections in Lucerne, Duncans Mills, Guerneville, Dillon Beach, and a portion of Santa Rosa area and about 2 million people through 492,600 service connections in California. The utility has provided water service in the area since 2000. Additional information may be obtained online at www.calwater.com.