UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Association of Realtors Scholarship Committee will host its annual yard sale fundraiser Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13.

It will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at Noble Realty, 375 Highway 20 in Upper Lake.

Every year, the Lake County Association of Realtors raises money to award scholarships to graduating, high school seniors, from each high school in our county, to help assist them with their college education.  

To donate items contact Jacie Casteel at 707-263-5142 or Kalyn Noble at 707-349-0636.

FINLEY, Calif. – Big Valley Grange will hold its monthly breakfast this Sunday, April 6.

The meal will be served from 8 a.m. to noon at the Grange Hall, 1510 Big Valley Road, Finley.

The grange will serve up eggs your way, pancakes or French toast (homemade bread, homemade syrup) ham or bacon or sausage, home-cooked fried potatoes, with juice and coffee.

The breakfast costs $7 per person. Children age 8 and under eat for free.

Big Valley Grange hosts breakfasts on the first Sunday of every month.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The second installment of the 2013-14 secured property tax payment for Lake County property owners is due Thursday, April 10.

Payments should be mailed or dropped off at the Lake County Tax Collector's Office at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Room 215, Lakeport, 95453.

Please include the payment coupon from the bottom of your bill with your payment.

If you do not have a coupon please write your parcel number on your check and/or include a note that identifies your payment.

Payments also can be made online at http://tax.lakecountyca.gov or via phone, 866-506-8035.

When the earth starts shaking, it may be too late. Don’t let another month go by without taking the basic steps needed to prepare your family for a major earthquake.

April is Earthquake Preparedness Month and AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah (AAA NCNU) reminds residents that the best way to recover from a quake is to plan for it in advance.

“One of the most important steps homeowners can take is to document their belongings before tragedy strikes,” advised AAA NCNU spokesperson Cynthia Harris. “Take the time to do an inventory of your home, either with photographs or a video camera. Then, store those records in an off-site location like a safe deposit box.”

AAA earthquake safety tips

• Create an earthquake survival kit. This is one of the most important steps you can take. The kit should include canned goods and can opener, two to four quarts of water per person per day, battery operated or hand crank radio, sanitary supplies, a camp stove, portable radio, flashlight and spare batteries, and tools to turn off utilities.
• Know how to shut off your home’s gas, water and electricity. You should also make sure your water heater is securely fastened to a wall or post with two metal straps.
• Conduct family earthquake drills. Make sure everyone knows which areas in a room are the safest. This may be underneath a table or against a wall. Stay away from windows, fireplaces and tall furniture.
• Decide where your family will reunite if you're separated. Choose a friend or relative you can call after an earthquake to let them know your location and condition. Phone lines are often overloaded or damaged in an earthquake and specifying one point of contact for your entire family will help avoid a strain on the system.
• Childproof your cabinet doors. It may seem like an annoyance initially, but installing latches on your cabinet doors can prevent them from flying open in an earthquake. By properly securing the doors you can keep precious belongings from spilling out and breaking.
• Check your insurance for earthquake coverage. Knowing what coverage you have can help speed up your recovery after a big quake. Most homeowners policies do NOT cover damage resulting from an earthquake, and in most cases a separate earthquake endorsement or policy is needed. You can find out more at www.AAA.com/insurance .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Worldwide Healing Hands will host a fundraiser hike on Saturday, May 3, on Mt. Konocti.

How far would you walk to get medical care?  

Women in Nepal traveled an average of 100 miles over difficult terrain to access health care from Kelseyville-based Worldwide Healing Hands' surgical and medical team in 2013.  They waited for hours, often days until they were able to see them.  

Sadly, many women often are left behind despite the fact that the team works long hours under difficult circumstances, often performing surgeries for 12 hours a day.

The organization challenges the Lake County community to join in its efforts to offer medical care to women and children globally.  

Its work is sustainable as it trains local midwives to give obstetrical care and local physicians to offer surgical services.  

The organization reports that 287,000 women a year – or 800 women a day – die from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. Nearly 90 percent of those deaths are preventable.

To help reduce those deaths, Worldwide Healing Hands is planning the May 3 fundraiser.

It will lead a climb of the Wright Peak Summit Trail, a six-plus mile round-trip hike up Mt. Konocti.

The entrance fee for the walk is $25 per person; children under age 12 may participate for free.

Sponsorships also are available. Gold-level sponsors are $500, with silver sponsors at $250. Any donation is gratefully accepted.

Signups and more information is available online at www.worldwidehealinghands.org/hike .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Protect yourself from identity theft by safely and securely destroying documents in the “Info-Shred” truck sponsored by Umpqua Bank and Strong Financial Network on Monday, April 28.

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

You may bring up to three boxes/bags of documents for destruction. The service will be provided from 4 to 6 p.m at Umpqua Bank, 805 11th St. in Lakeport.

Please be sure documents are free from binders. Staples and paper clips are acceptable.

Assistance to unload your documents will be available and you are welcome to stay and watch the actual shredding of your documents.

Immediately following the shredding, there will be an identity theft workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. inside Umpqua Bank.

Seating for the workshop is limited and reservations are required; please call 707-262-1880.

If you are unable to attend on April 28, Umpqua Bank locations in Lakeport and Kelseyville, 4280 Main St., will have shred bins available during the month of April until they are filled.

Please limit your deposit to three boxes/bags per drop off.