LUCERNE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Thursday, Sept. 5.

The group meets at the First Lutheran Church, 3863 Country Club Drive across from the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Social worker Jenny Johnson is the facilitator.

The group is sponsored by Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (1-800-834-1636) and the Social Day Programs in Lake County.

For more information call Jenny Johnson at 707-350-3030 or Caroline Denny at 707-263-9481.

Respite is provided by the centers at no charge.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Nonprofit leaders from across the North Coast region will connect, learn and engage in strategies to strengthen their work at the sixth annual Strong as Redwoods conference hosted by Northern California Association of Nonprofits (NorCAN) scheduled to take place on Thursday, Oct. 10.

The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fortuna River Lodge.

The theme for this year’s conference, “Unlocking the Potential of People and Place,” will focus on identifying ways to strengthen individual initiatives by weaving regional networks.

Early registration for the conference ends Sept. 10. General registration is open through Oct. 1.

This year’s conference will bring several nationally renowned experts to the region, including keynote June Holley, who will encourage participants to use inter-organizational, cross sector networks for transformative community problem solving.

Holley will also lead a closing plenary session to provide participants with an opportunity to strengthen their cross sector collaborative work.

June Holley provides consulting, training and coaching to organizations around the world who are interested in creating healthier networks through a better understanding of self-organization, collaboration, innovation and learning.

She has developed face-to-face and virtual training programs and communities of practice for Network Weavers, pioneering in the use of the social web to support network efforts.

“This year’s conference is an exciting event, one we think highlights the value in our regional nonprofit sector, but also helps to address the growing changes and needs within the region,” said NorCAN Program Manager Amy Jester.

Leslie Castellano, conference organizing committee chair and Artistic Director of Synapsis, adds, “We have a really great team with a diversity of skills contributing to make this amazing event. Using feedback from past conferences and new insights from our organizing committee and staff, we hope the day event meets the needs of the local sector.”

Further details and registration for Unlocking the Potential of People and Place is available at www.northerncalifornianonprofits.org or by calling 707-442-2993.

NorCAN, established in 1999 as a professional membership association, provides opportunities for networking, training, and leadership support to its members and the larger community as a means to strengthen the regional nonprofit sector.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Community Care HIV/AIDS Program will host its sixth annual Lake County AIDS Walk on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Austin Park in Clearlake.

Event organizers are looking for local agencies, organizations and businesses to put together walking groups, and/or join them for the day with a booth or table.

The minimum pledge for a walker is $5. There is a suggested donation of $35 for having a booth or a table at the event (this donation can be waived for qualified nonprofits).

If you are interested in joining them by walking, volunteering or setting up a table, please let them know by Friday, Sept. 13.

If you have a donation for their silent auction or opportunity drawing, please call their office and they would be happy to come pick it up.

All contributions are tax-deductible; the group's nonprofit tax ID number is 68-0046074.

Visit the group's page at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyAidsWalk .

NICE, Calif. – An asphalt rehabilitation project that is taking place on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff through the end of September won't necessitate a one-day closure of the road, as officials previously had expected.

The Lake County Department of Public Works said that the contractor performing asphalt overlay on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff has made arrangements to avoid the closure, which originally was planned for Wednesday, Sept. 4.

The cutoff, the area from Highway 20 to Lakeshore Boulevard, and Lakeshore Boulevard from Hill Road East to will Park Way, are subject to single-lane controlled traffic, which began this past Monday and will continue through Sept. 30.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, holidays excluded, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The public should expect delays of up to 15 minutes at either location.

Public Works officials urge drivers to use alternative routes one possible. Motorists also are asked to travel with caution in the area.

The Department of Public Works thanked community members in advance for their patience and understanding while the work takes place.

For more information, contact the Lake County Department of Public Works at telephone 707-263-2341.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sutter Lakeside Hospital gave the Lakeport Fire Protection District $20,000 in February 2012 to help them purchase an ambulance.

The Lakeport Fire District’s Board of Directors started a fund with this seed money to replace a 1988 model that had accrued 180,000 miles.

The district was able to purchase a refurbished ambulance from Iowa in September 2012.

“Our newly-acquired ambulance received a complete safety check and was given a green light to be placed into service,” said Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells. “You can hardly tell that it’s been refurbished. We’re real pleased with it. If not for Sutter Lakeside helping the fire district with funding, we wouldn’t have the quality of ambulance we have now.”

The Lakeport Fire Protection District now operates two front-line 911 ambulances and two inter-facility ambulances.

In 2012, the District answered 1,127 emergency calls and 975 inter-facility transports.

To date in 2013, the Fire District has responded to 741 emergency calls and 608 inter-facility transports.

“Sutter Lakeside Hospital works so closely with the Lakeport Fire District year-round,” said Siri Nelson, chief administrative officer at Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “Our hospital offers basic emergency services to the county, which means that we have a physician available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We know how much our community depends on us to be there when they need us – and how crucial emergency transportation is in our county. We’re pleased that the Lakeport Fire District approached us about this investment opportunity.”

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The upcoming three-day Labor Day holiday is predicted to reflect a significant increase from last year’s holiday, according to AAA Northern California’s most recent travel survey.

AAA’s latest travel forecast predicts that more than 3.9 million Californians will travel 50 miles or more from their homes this upcoming three-day Labor Day weekend. This represents an overall increase of 6 percent compared to last year.

“This resurgence of travel is partly due to improved consumer confidence, which is at a much higher level than 2012,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Cynthia Harris. “Although there are lingering budgetary concerns, Californians will not let this last opportunity to celebrate summer go back without a quick holiday getaway.”

This year Labor Day trips by automobile will be the preferred mode of transportation with more than 3.1 million Californians driving to reach their destinations.

This represents a 6.2 percent increase compared to 2012. More than 514,000 Californians are planning to travel by air, an increase of 4.4 percent compared to last year.

Approximately 300,000 state residents are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, such as rail, bus and watercraft. This represents an increase of 6.1 percent over 2012.

Nationally, AAA projects just over 34 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the Labor Day weekend, representing a 4.2 percent increase compared to 2012.

The AAA Leisure Travel Index shows that airfares over Labor Day weekend are expected to increase by 4.0 percent, with an average cost of $214 per ticket.

Hotel rates at AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to average $161 per night, an increase of 4.0 percent from a year ago. Weekend car rentals are expected to increase 32 percent, with a new average daily rate of $51.

The expenditures for a West Coast family of four are expected to average $622 over the weekend, and the average road trip is predicted to cover 666 miles.

AAA’s survey shows that visiting family and friends, dining, shopping, and visiting beach/waterfront areas will be the preferred leisure activities for West Coast families. Other favorite activities over the weekend are expected to be biking, hiking and sightseeing.

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will be closed in both directions Labor Day Weekend in order to take the original East Span out of service and to open the new East Span to traffic. The closure will begin Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 8 p.m. and the new East Span is scheduled to open on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 5 a.m.

AAA tips for stress-free road travel

• Plan ahead. Carefully consider your route to determine departure and arrival times, taking into account the expected higher level of congestion on the roads.
• Take transit, telecommute or carpool. If possible, avoid driving between the East Bay and San Francisco during the closure. Instead, take public transit or try telecommuting. Several transit operators will provide enhanced or augmented services during the closure.
• Form a carpool. Take advantage of HOV lanes (High Occupancy Vehicle lanes).
• Use detour routes. For those who must drive, use alternate bridges as detour routes for transbay travel.
• Get current traffic conditions. Stay up-to-date on current traffic conditions and driving times by visiting the 511 Traffic page or call 511 and say either "traffic conditions" or "driving times" from the Main Menu. During the closure, 511 will automatically exclude the Bay Bridge and instead provide driving times for the fastest alternative routes.

The free AAA Mobile app for iPhone and Android devices uses GPS navigation to help travelers map a route, find current gas prices and nearby member discounts and access AAA roadside assistance. Travelers can learn about the AAA Mobile app and AAA Mobile Web at www.AAA.com/mobile .

AAA projections are based economic research and research by HIS Global Insight. The Colorado-based firm teamed up with AAA in 2009 as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.