LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County Mediations has announced the dates and location for its first basic mediation training class for 2012.

The training consists of 32 hours of classroom instruction. A certificate of completion will be awarded to participants that complete all of the training.

Attorneys who complete the training will receive 32 hours of mandatory continuing education credit including one hour of elimination of bias credit.

The classes will be held at the Kelseyville United Methodist Church (corner of First and Main streets) for four consecutive Saturdays beginning on March 31.

Class sessions will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Saturday and will provide the participants with the basic skills necessary to work in both the community and court mediation programs operated by Lake County Mediations.

Students will be on their own for lunch each day. A reception will be held following the final session (April 21) to provide an opportunity for students to network with current mediators, volunteers and members of the legal community.

The cost of the training is $250, however a sliding-scale fee for the training is available based on demonstrated need and a commitment to provide volunteer hours to the organization as either a mediator or volunteer. The fee includes a training manual.

Nancy Ryan, esquire, is the lead instructor. Ryan is an attorney and renowned mediator who combines her mediation skills with her private law practice. In recent years her practice has been focused on issues involving the developmentally disabled and regional center matters.

Ryan is a dynamic and lively trainer who incorporates real-life experiences and lessons into the training, making each session relevant and applicable to everyday life.

She has extensive experience providing leadership and training to regional mediation programs in Sonoma County and at Santa Rosa State University.

Mediators from the organization’s mediator pool will participate in the training modules and assist with role-play and other class exercises.

Participants will receive training in communication and active listening skills; the role, value, types and history of mediation; the mediation process and dealing with dispute resolution in culturally diverse populations.

More information about Lake County Mediations and the upcoming training is available at http://www.lakecountymediations.org or by contacting Barbara Johnson, the executive director of Lake County Mediations, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone at 707-263-6800.

SACRAMENTO – Speaker of the state Assembly John A. Pérez has appointed Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) to a California legislative delegation to meet with representatives from the Nevada Legislature regarding future management of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

“Lake Tahoe is an incomparable natural resource,” said Chesbro, who chairs the Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over a range of Lake Tahoe issues, including the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). “Tahoe's environmental and economic value to both states can't be overstated, and its worldwide appeal depends on preserving the lake's clarity and surrounding environment. Nevada and California must work together to protect it.”

The California delegation, consisting of three members each from the Senate and Assembly, will meet with delegates appointed by the Nevada Legislature to discuss environmental and development policies for the Tahoe basin and oversight of the TRPA.

“Assemblymember Chesbro has a long history of working with all sides to find solutions to vexing environmental problems,” Pérez said. “As chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, it is essential for him to serve on this delegation and I appreciate that he agreed to do so.”

Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, straddling California and Nevada in the High Sierra, and serves as habitat for a great diversity of plants and wildlife.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Redbud Audubon Society will host its monthly program at the Lower Lake Historical Schoolhouse Museum on Thursday, March 15, starting at 7 p.m.

The speaker is State Parks Environmental Scientist Angela Liebenberg who will give a presentation on how Mendocino Coast Audubon society (MCAS) has helped shorebirds that were in decline on local area beaches.

The shorebirds’ main threats were identified as human disturbance and invasive, non-native plant species in critical habitat.

In 2007, MCAS started Save Our shorebirds with the help of Audubon’s David and Lucille Packard Grant.

Liebenberg will be accompanied at the Redbud presentation by MCAS board member Becky Bowen.

Liebenberg and Bowen have worked together since 2006 to create and expand the shorebirds conservation and outreach programs.

Bowan is an award-winning journalist, TV production manager, and art illustrator with a certificate in natural history from Mendocino’s College of the Redwoods.

The public is invited to this free presentation.

Please visit www.redbudaudubon.org for more information about the society.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Registrar Of Voters Office will hold a county random alphabet drawing at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 15.

The drawing will take place in the Lake County Registrar of Voters office, located on the second floor in Room 209 of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes., Lakeport.

The drawing is pursuant to Elections Code Section 13111(i), following the procedures set forth in Elections Code Section 13112.  

The results of the drawing will be used to arrange the names of candidates on the June 5, 2012 Presidential Primary Election ballot for the office of member of the State Assembly, District 4.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Library will host a comedy routine presented by a local performer on Wednesday, April 4.

Flipper the clown, also known as Phil Mathewson, will present a family-friendly comedy routine at Lakeport Library beginning at 6 p.m.

The public is invited to this free show.

The Lakeport Library is located at 1425 N. High St.

For more information call the library at 707-263-8817.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Genealogical Society will hold its general meeting following the weekly Tuesday afternoon genealogy class on Tuesday, March 20.

The meeting will take place beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 16th and Hartley in Lakeport.

The release of the 1940 census is just a few weeks away. When the 1940 census debuts in April it will be made available as free digital images, but not immediately be searchable with a name index.

Researchers will be forced to locate family using Enumeration Districts (EDs).

The group will exploring a Web site which contains numerous tools for obtaining EDs.

Another major focus of discussion will be the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project, how local volunteers can help index these records to make them searchable online with free and open access.

The Tuesday classes – which start at 1:15 p.m. – and the Lake County Genealogical Society is free for everyone, and participation does not require membership in either the Lake County Genealogical Society or the LDS church.

For more information contact genealogical society President Rose Davidson, 707-263-5874.