The National Weather Service (NWS) in Sacramento will be conducting online Weather Spotter Training on Thursday, Feb. 2, Groundhog Day.

This training will enable interested adults to be become volunteers for Project SKYWARN, which helps keep local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

The training is free and will take place between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. by online webinar through www.gotomeeting.com.

Residents of Lake County are encouraged to attend, as the agency is looking for more weather spotters in the area.

If you or know someone you know would like to learn how to be a National Weather Service Weather Spotter, please join them online Thursday.

If you are already a weather spotter and would like some additional training, you are also welcome to attend.

To register, visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/405783081.

Storm spotters play a valuable role in the severe weather warning process.

The National Weather Service relies on visual observations from spotters to provide critical information that would otherwise not be available to forecasters.

Spotter reports are combined with data from Doppler radar and satellite pictures to provide a complete understanding of severe storms and their impact on the public. 

The training will begin with a review of severe weather safety tips and severe weather operations at the National Weather Service.

Basic storm spotter training will include visual indicators of strong winds, hail, tornadoes, lightning, fire weather, flooding and thunderstorm formation.

They will discuss how your reports are used in the weather warning process and identify some critical elements we need to know.

The presentation will also discuss the forecast process and how you can help the NWS to issue the best possible warnings to protect the public from severe weather. 

This training will help attendees learn about the severe weather that we experience in the area.  The development of storms will be discussed, along with visual clues which may indicate that the weather is about to turn severe.

They also will go over safety tips to allow citizens to be well-prepared for the occurrence of storms.

Communication of weather reports to the National Weather Service will be explained.  Your spotter reports will help your community be better prepared when severe weather occurs.

Spotter guides, cloud charts and severe weather pamphlets will be provided to potential new weather spotters.

Applications will be made available to become a volunteer weather spotter. Once they receive your application at the National Weather Service, you will be assigned a spotter number and we will send you an information packet.

There will also be an opportunity to discuss and join CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network).

CoCoRaHS is a unique, nonprofit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow) across the U.S.

For more information, contact Eric Kurth at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 916-979-3051.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Club will meet on Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Rose Room at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center.

The center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive, at the corner of 10th and Country Club Drive, in Lucerne.

The new officers elected for the 2012 term are: Wanda Harris, Hidden Valley Lake, chair; Louis Rigod, Nice, vice chair; Paula Mune, Lakeport, secretary; James Evans, Clerlake Oaks, treasurer; John Sheehy Nice, assistant treasurer; Adckinjo Esutoki, Kelseyville, parliamentarian; Carlene Leskar, Clearlake Oaks, voter registration; Johnnie and Wil Flato, Lower Lake, membership co-chairs.

The Club Parliamentarian Edckinjo Esutoki will be the featured speaker and will lead the group in several scenarios and role play on the subject of proper protocol for running an effective meeting using Robert’s Rules of Order.

Also on the agenda will be discussion of support for local Democratic Candidates for Judge & Board of Supervisors. Volunteers for fundraising events planned for the year and the voter registration drive.

All meetings are open to the general public and everyone is invited to attend. Membership in the Club is open to all registered Democrats.

Attendees are invited to come early and support the Senior Center by enjoying their $6.00 full breakfast.

Lake County Democratic Club meetings are held on the second Saturday of the month at noon in the Rose Room of the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center.

This month the meeting is taking place the first Saturday due to the California Democratic Convention being held in San Diego Feb. 10-12.

Contact the Democratic Club of Lake County by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This surpasses California’s original goal of weatherizing 43,150 homes by the end of March 2012.

“I am pleased to announce today that California has surpassed our goal – three months ahead of schedule – and can now reach even more families in need,” said CSD Interim Director John A. Wagner. “I appreciate the commitment of our local service providers to the successful implementation of this program and working to ensure as many low-income Californians as possible benefit from the availability of these resources during these challenging times.”

Funded under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), weatherization is a long-term solution to reduce the high energy burden faced by low-income families, who can pay more than 14 percent of their income on energy, where moderate-income families only spend 3.3 percent.

Weatherization includes installing energy efficiency upgrades to a home such as adding insulation, sealing ducts, and installing more efficient appliances, windows, heaters, and cooling systems.

On average, weatherization reduces energy consumption for low-income families by up to 35 percent, saving families more than $400 on their heating and cooling bills in the first year.

“This program made a big difference in my life,” said Steve Morgan, a resident of North Sacramento who benefited from the DOE ARRA weatherization program last summer. “I haven’t had a working heater in my home for many years, and my grandchildren could never come visit me in the winter because my house was too cold. Now that I have a working heater, I’m so excited that they can come to my home this year. I want to thank the Community Resource Project for the phenomenal work they did to my home. They not only increased my comfort level, but my self esteem as well.”

CSD partners with 39 local nonprofit and public service providers throughout the state to deliver weatherization services to low-income households under ARRA. The Community Resource Project (CRP) provides weatherization services in Sacramento, San Mateo, Sutter and Yuba counties.

“The weatherization program not only increases the comfort of the clients we serve, but it also helps struggling families keep more of their hard-earned money, by making their homes more energy efficient,” said CRP Acting Director Joan Graham. “We’ve seen the immense impact this program can have on people who are stretching their dollars as far as they can in this economy. We’ve even had an elderly client who is on a fixed income tell us that she’s now able to pay for her medicines because she’s saving money on her heating bill.”

ARRA provided $5 billion nationally for the weatherization program, of which California was awarded $185.8 million. Production under the DOE ARRA WAP grant was originally scheduled to end on March 31, 2012.

However, with the help of California’s leadership, DOE recently announced it will grant states a production extension unique to each state’s production and expenditure levels.

California first requested an extension on the DOE ARRA grant last July. In addition to seeking an extension, CSD has undertaken several efforts to ensure California is successful in fully implementing the ARRA weatherization program.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Highland Springs Trails Volunteers are planning a work day on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Group members will meet at 9 a.m. at the Highland Springs Dam parking area.

They may be on foot or horseback, depending on weather.

All volunteers must bring and pack in their own gear.

RSVP to Highland Springs Trails Volunteers by sending a message or leaving a comment on the Highland Springs Trails Volunteers Facebook page or by contacting Karen Sullivan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-349-1559; or Kim Riley, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (this is a new email address), 707-245-7468 or 707-279-0343.

This free 90-minute webinar will take place beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, and will feature social marketing expert George Kao.

Kao has been building communities online for more than 10 years. In the past few years, he has specifically been developing a system for marketing one's expertise and passion online that has proven to be highly successful.

He now focuses on serving those who deeply value integrity, service and sustainability – so that heart-centered businesses can thrive online.

“I'm convinced that if we are to achieve our dreams of transforming our world, we need to transform our economy – and to do so, we need to help each other to seek 'True Livelihood' – where individuals make a living doing what they love,” said Rushing, who is hosting the series. “Fortunately, new online tools can enable us to serve one another, support one another and create a livelihood for ourselves at the same time. I’m excited to be involved in the grassroots movement – and hosting George is an honor.”

There is absolutely no obligation of any kind except that participants must sign up ahead of time to gain access to the call.

To learn more about the webinar and to sign up, visit www.deniserushing.net/event.html.

For more information, contact Denise Rushing at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The training consists of 32 hours of classroom instruction.

The classes will be held at the Kelseyville United Methodist Church 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 served by Lake County Mediations.

The cost of the training is $250.

Lake County Mediations offers a sliding-scale fee for the training based on demonstrated need and a commitment to provide volunteer hours to the organization as either a mediator or volunteer. The fee includes the materials provided to participants.

A certificate of completion will be awarded to the participants who complete all of the classes at a reception held following the final training session on April 21.

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.

The training uses a combination of class room instruction and role playing to enhance student’s skills.

Attorney’s who participate in the training will receive 32 hours of mandatory continuing education credit for their participation.

Other professional continuing education credit for participation in the training may be sought by the participant.

More information about Lake County Mediations and the upcoming training can be found on its website at www.lakecountymediations.org or by contacting Barbara Johnson, executive director of Lake County Mediations, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 707-263-6800.