Under Assembly Bill 811, California property owners in special assessment districts may enter into voluntary contractual assessments against their properties to finance a range of authorized energy and water efficiency products.

FIGtree Energy Resource Company of San Diego will administer California PACE financing throughout Lake County.

California PACE utilizes bond financing to provide property owners fixed-rate, property value based, no credit check, no-money-down financing.

The financed amount is repaid over time through annual property tax assessments with the charge appearing as a line item on the property tax bill.

Energy efficient products can greatly reduce a property owners cost of energy and water. Products covered under California PACE financing include solar panels, high-efficiency windows and doors, HVAC systems, furnaces and boilers, lighting, insulated roofs and walls, water and pool pumps, water efficient irrigation systems, fuel cells and small wind turbines.

Industrial and commercial properties and residential properties greater than 4 units are eligible at this time.

Residential properties of four units or less with no mortgage liens or with loans not governed by the Federal Housing Finance Agencies (i.e. “Fannie Mae” and “Freddie Mac”) may also be eligible.

The primary goal of the PACE program is to lower energy consumption in the county and reduce the utility bills for property owners. The second goal is to create construction projects that can keep private contractors busy and their employees working.

To encourage the use of local contractors and vendors, the Board of Supervisors has approved waiving all or a portion of the County building permit fees if the work is performed by a local contractor or the equipment is furnished by a local vendor.

Only California PACETM approved contractors may be used. However, any contractor is eligible to become a California PACETM approved contractor on the condition they are licensed and in good standing, insured and agree to the terms of the California PACE Program.

To apply for financing or to become an approved contractor, contact FIGtree at 877-577-7373 or www.figtreecompany.com.

Coinciding with Lake County's Sesquicentennial, entry in the registry book and frameable certificates honor these early ancestors and carry their memories forward to the next generation.

Stop by the group's booth in Lewis Hall at this year's Lake County Fair, which takes place Thursday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 4, at the fairgrounds, located at 401 Martin St.

The society will again share space as part of the Lake County Historical Network. Society members will be present to explain the program and hand out applications.

Three categories of certificates will be issued to qualifying direct descendants of the early residents of Lake County:

• PIONEER: Prior to county formation on May 20, 1861.

• SETTLER: May 21, 1861, through Dec. 31, 1899.

• EARLY FAMILY: Jan. 1, 1900, through Dec. 31, 1940.

Stop by the group's fair booth to see enlarged samples of the certificates, completed applications and samples of document proofs.

If you miss them at the fair, the group's next general meeting will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Lake County Genealogy Library, inside the Visitor's Center, 6110 E. Highway 20, Lucerne.

Konocti Art Society displays artsy gourds at Westamerica Bank in Kelseyville, Calif., to benefit Lake Family Resource Center. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Westamerica Bank in Kelseyville is displaying artsy gourds that are designed, decorated and painted by artists of the Konocti Art Society.

Thanks to bank manager Rhiannon Mitchell the gourds will be on display all of September.

Raffle tickets may be purchased from tellers – one for $1 or six for $5.

The tickets also will be sold at the Dave Stamey concert and barbecue on Friday, Sept. 23; for Dave Stamey concert and barbecue information call the Wildhurst tasting room at 707-279-4302.

Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Lake Family Resource Center in Kelseyville.

Winning tickets of the artsy gourds will be drawn at 3 p.m. inside Westamerica Bank at the Kelseyville Pear Festival on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge. Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear foot), and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.

Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

HazMobile services are provided to residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, (CalRecycle).

Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this taxpayer-funded service and first make an appointment.

Business appointments can be made by calling the Mendocino County Solid Waste Authority, the contracted agency that provides this service in Lake County at 707-468-9786.

Free recycling options for residents and businesses:

• Recycled paint is available to both residents and businesses at Lake County Waste Solutions on first-come, first-served basis in five gallon containers. Colors include tan, brown, gray, and pink.

• Used cooking oil can be dropped-off by businesses and residents, which will be recycled into BioDiesel by Yokayo BioFuels. Drop-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the North Shore Fire Protection District station at 6257 7th Avenue in Lucerne.

• Used motor oil can be dropped-off by residents for recycling year round at a number of sites in the county. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for locations.

• Electronics (E-Waste) can be dropped-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and monthly at the Goodwill E-Waste collection held in Lakeport.

Lake County Waste Solutions

230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport

888-718-4888 or 234-6400

Monday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

www.candswaste.com

South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center

16015 Davis St., Clearlake

Open daily 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

707-994-8614

www.southlakerefuse.com

The HazMobile program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County residents.

For more information about recycling, reusing, and reducing, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or call the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

Jim Haggett, CASA's case manager, with the recently awarded national certificate. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Mendocino and Lake Counties has just been awarded certification by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association.

This certification recognizes that CASA of Mendocino and Lake Counties is in compliance with the high standards for quality child advocacy set by National CASA.

According to Michael Piraino, chief executive officer of the National CASA Association, “The National CASA quality assurance process is very rigorous, and reflects our commitment to ensure every child we serve has the most powerful volunteer advocate working on their behalf. This certification says CASA of Mendocino and Lake Counties has demonstrated to us a strong capacity to provide excellent services to the abused and neglected children within their community.”

CASA of Mendocino and Lake Counties, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), was established in 1994 and graduated their first volunteer advocates in 1995.

In 2010, CASA expanded their program into Lake County.

CASA volunteers are community members of all backgrounds, and educational levels working with the judicial system, with supporters, with policy makers and with the local CASA program to assure that every child has a voice.

One person can be the difference. We are accepting applications now for our fall training beginning late September.

Make a difference in a Mendocino or Lake County abused, neglected or delinquent child’s life.

For more information, contact Kimberly Smith at 707-463-6503, Extension 11 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The event will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, in Fritch Hall at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St., Lakeport.

The extravaganza will provide direct financial assistance to the sports teams of Clear Lake High School just in time for the new school year.

Yummy food will be provided by Chic le Chef, with live music by the LC Diamonds, fun and unique sports themed games (with some fantastic prizes by the way), a silent and live auction and a new and exciting basket raffle.

Your favorite Clear Lake High School sporting teams are taking an active role in the event by providing the silent auction items – of which they keep 100 percent of everything their items bring – and they will be competing for your raffle tickets in the basket raffle showdown.

Tickets, which cost $20 presale and $25 at the door, are available at Linda’s Hallmark, Strong Financial Network and Plaza Paints.

If you have a son or daughter playing a sport this year, the school could really use your help.

Please contact Jennifer Strong at 707-349-0815 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.