LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Continuing in its effort to offer more local products and services, the Lake County Community Co-op announced inclusion of nonfood items for its members.

The goal is to offer members household products, such as candles, soaps, beauty products, milled and spun wares, household cleansers, and more, that are locally produced, enhance lives and are environmentally friendly.
 
By providing another market for Lake County created goods, the co-op seeks to strengthen the local economy through supporting local small-scale businesses.

The group encourages local producers to offer their wares through their online ordering and distribution system (FOODS), which has nine drop points throughout Lake County.
 
As well, they encourage local organic growers and value-added producers to use the co-op’s existing infrastructure (online ordering and delivering) to increase market options for local sales.

The co-op’s recently expanded products and services include a larger variety of products available from local and regional producers.

Members may now find organic produce such as broccoli, celery, potatoes, carrots, bananas and organic herbs like garlic, cilantro and parsley as well as regionally grown organic grains like triticale, wheat berries, and rice.  

Locally baked organic goods from Main Street Bakery in Kelseyville, including hearty boulles (daily bread rounds), intriguing dessert breads, delicious cakes and cookies continue to be offered every week. Value added products, such as locally produced olive oil from Villa Barone and regional “sea veggies” (kelp products), can also be purchased.

Other new services co-op members may now enjoy include weekly home/business delivery for $5 and monthly delivery of Azure Standard (an online natural goods store) purchases to a drop point or home/business.

For more information on becoming a member for the co-op visit www.lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270.

Producers wishing to market their goods through the co-op are encouraged to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Follow the co-op on Facebook at Lake County Community Co-op.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Want to get lifeguard certified?

Lifeguard training is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The class space is limited, depending on registrations the class may only be Saturday, May 5.

Those who are interested will need to do the following to register and be prepared for the course.

It is strongly advised that interested candidates who haven’t been swimming in a while to avail themselves of a pool and train a little. If you don’t, the test although not timed can still come a shock.

If any candidates can’t do it, they will not be able to continue the class. Candidates must be 15 years old to participate.

Requirements to become a lifeguard:

• $137 payment payable to Matthew Reid.
• 300 yard swim (12 lengths of a 25 yard pool). This is not timed. Trainees must swim front- crawl, breaststroke or both, mixing it up how they see fit, in a continual forward motion, demonstrating controlled breathing.
• A new prerequisite addition is that trainees must be able to tread water for two minutes w/their hands under their armpits. Legs only.
• Pick up a 10 pound object off the pool bottom and swim it some distance.

All text material is available on the ARC Website, www.americanredcross.org . Anyone can go on this site, type in “Lifeguarding Manual” in the search engine and review chapter 6, water rescue skills, and chapter 11 – spinal injury management. Review and know these chapters.

All candidates need to bring one to two swim suits and a big towel, a change of dry cloths, and lunch or money for lunch.

To register for this course please contact Tina Banuet at 707-263-0751, or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." data-mce-href="mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Registering for this course does not guarantee a summer job with the city of Lakeport.

The class space is limited, depending on registrations the class may only be Saturday, May 5.

Those who are interested will need to do the following to register and be prepared for the course.

It is strongly advised that interested candidates who haven’t been swimming in a while to avail themselves of a pool and train a little. If you don’t, the test although not timed can still come a shock.

If any candidates can’t do it, they will not be able to continue the class. Candidates must be 15 years old to participate.

Requirements to become a lifeguard:

• $137 payment payable to Matthew Reid.
• 300 yard swim (12 lengths of a 25 yard pool). This is not timed. Trainees must swim front- crawl, breaststroke or both, mixing it up how they see fit, in a continual forward motion, demonstrating controlled breathing.
• A new prerequisite addition is that trainees must be able to tread water for two minutes w/their hands under their armpits. Legs only.
• Pick up a 10 pound object off the pool bottom and swim it some distance.

All text material is available on the ARC Web site, www.americanredcross.org . Anyone can go on this site, type in “Lifeguarding Manual” in the search engine and review chapter 6, water rescue skills, and chapter 11 – spinal injury management. Review and know these chapters.

All candidates need to bring one to two swim suits and a big towel, a change of dry cloths, and lunch or money for lunch.

To register for this course please contact Tina Banuet at 707-263-0751, or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Registering for this course does not guarantee a summer job with the city of Lakeport.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Monday, May14, program of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club will include visits to members’ gardens.

Attendees will have the opportunity to view the landscaping of Hidden Valley Lake residents.  

Experienced members including master gardeners will share their knowledge and assist members looking for methods to create and develop their own gardens.

The May 14 meeting is an example of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club’s mission.

By touring members’ gardens, each attendee is provided with a greater sense of appreciation of the work of gardeners.

Every gardener takes pride in cultivating a beautiful landscape and it is a pleasure to share with others the enjoyment of amateur gardening in various aspects and applications.

To attend the May 14 meeting guests and members will meet in the activities room of the HVLA administration office, 18174 Hidden Valley Road, for a social gathering with refreshments at 9:30 a.m., and a brief meeting at 10 a.m., followed by the tour.

All meetings of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden club are open to the public.

The organization meets on the second Monday of each month.

For further information please contact Angela Birk at 707-987-0195 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

SACRAMENTO – Two bills authored by Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) intended to bolster the California State Park system in the wake of pending park closures and budget cuts, were approved Tuesday by the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

The bills, SB 974 and SB 1078, address the 70 California State Parks slated for closure July 1, 2012—20 of those parks are in her Second Senatorial District along the North Coast of California.

“State Parks are an integral part of California’s environmental and historic legacy,” said Senator Evans. “These bills provide assurance that despite today's budget cuts, our parks will be made whole and economically sustainable.”

SB 974 (State Parks Closures) would require the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to annually and formally review state park closures and revise the closure list if closures are unwarranted, unnecessary or counter to deed restrictions.

Economic impacts on local communities would have to be considered and there would be opportunity for public input.

Importantly, the bill requires DPR to develop a plan to reopen each park closed that takes into account the involvement of the local community and the potential for the reduction of environmental and economic costs.

The bill passed with a 7-2 vote and will next be heard in Senate Appropriations.

SB 1078 (Parks Revenue Generation) would sharpen the DPRs’ focus on expanding revenue opportunities.

The bill establishes within DPR a system-wide Innovation Team charged with evaluating and implementing new revenue generation programs for parks.

The team will examine many proposals including new marketing programs for park passes, which could include selling passes at retail outlets and cooperative agreements with FasTrak.

SB 1078 also localizes revenue generation with the creation of local Innovation Working Groups who, working with community advisory boards, would develop five-year business plans for individual parks or park districts.

The bill passed with a unanimous vote (8-0) and will next be heard in Senate Appropriations.

The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee also approved two other Evans’ bills intended to improve the state’s response to oil spills and invasive species.

SB 1192 (Oiled Wildlife Care Network ) would give the state’s renowned volunteer-driven Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) more flexible funding by allowing the state’s existing Oil Spill and Administration Fund to cover volunteer training and preparedness.

This bill will help ensure that the OWCN would continue to be ready to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an oil spill.

The bill passed with a 6-2 vote and will next be heard in Senate Appropriations.

SB 1251 (Invasive Species) would convene a statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Task Working Group of Stakeholders to develop recommendations to the Legislature and the Department of Fish and Game to set invasive species control priorities, develop a reliable revenue stream, and  improve coordination among agencies.

The invasion of quagga mussels, the ludwigia plant  and many other exotic organisms clog the state’s drinking water delivery pipelines and threaten Lake Tahoe, Clear Lake the Russian River and other natural waterways.

The bill passed with a 7-2 vote and will next be heard in Senate Appropriations.

“Our natural resources in California are of critical importance to protect,” continued Evans. “Without plans in place that address our vulnerabilities, California could endure disasters in our ecosystems that would take many lifetimes to remedy.”

State Senator Noreen Evans represents the Second Senatorial District, including all or portions of the Counties of Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma. Evans chairs the Legislative Women’s Caucus and the Committee on Judiciary.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Latinos United of Lake County and Bruno’s Shop Smart will sponsor the 15th annual Cinco de Mayo cultural celebration on Sunday, May 6, in Lakeport's Library Park, located at Third and Park streets.

The day will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a Mass and Padre Juan's blessing, to be followed by the celebration from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Musical entertainment will include DJ Super Laser 2000 de Chuy Tapia, local singer Irma Lopez and the group Cautivo Musical.

There will be dance performances by Ukiah Folklore Dancers and SSU Aztec dancers, plus karaoke, folklore dress contest, Zumba dancing for everyone, tasty food, family activities, games and informational booths from local service agencies.                     

This is an alcohol and tobacco free event.

For more information or for vendor and agency booth applications please call Shushan at 707-279-4152 or Ana at 707-994-6447, Extension 2915.

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

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 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday May 3, at Umpqua Bank, 805 11th St., Lakeport.

Please be sure documents are free of binders, although staples and paper clips are acceptable.

Workers will assist in unloading your delivery and you are welcome to watch the actual shredding of your documents.

Immediately following, there will be an identity theft workshop from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Umpqua Bank by reservation only.

To RSVP, please call 707-262-1880. Seating is limited.

If you are unable to participate on May 3, Umpqua Bank at the Lakeport and its location at 4280 Main St. in Kelseyville will have shred bins available in the month of May until they are filled.

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