This month’s speaker for Redbud Audubon is Ron LeValley, a wildlife biologist and photographer who will present a program on the Farallon Islands, home to the largest colony of breeding seabirds in the continental United States – sometimes up to 250,000 birds comprising 12 species.

Three kinds of whales ply the nearby waters and five species of seals and sea lions come ashore on the islands, in some cases to breed. The large population of seals and sea lions is no doubt responsible for the great white shark population in the vicinity.

LeValley has been photographing nature for over 40 years. He is a founding member of the Mendocino Coast Photographer Guild and Gallery in Fort Bragg where his work can be seen.

As a professional photographer, LeValley has compiled an impressive collection (over 70,000 images) of wildlife photographs that he uses for presentations and publications.

Forty years ago when Point Reyes bird Observatory established the Farallon Island Research Station, LeValley was a young biologist who had volunteered as a bird bander for a number of years. In August of 1968 he spent a month on the islands, a month that was instrumental in focusing his career.

This past summer, 29 years after his last visit, he returned to the beginning of his career and participated in current research activities.

LeValley will share some of his experiences, both old and new, on the islands, providing an interesting perspective on the changes on the islands and in the ecosystems that the Farallones are a part of. His outstanding photographs will illustrate his talk.

The public is invited to enjoy this excellent program. For information, go the Audubon Web site at www.redbudaudubon.org.

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This nationwide series of events will actually take place on three days, Jan. 17 through Jan. 19, with the idea of enabling diverse teams of volunteers to perform useful services for their communities and the nation under a common umbrella, and in a mood of hope and celebration.

The Sierra Club Lake Group could not resist this opportunity, and has organized a special trash pickup on their adopted stretch of Highway 29 north of Lakeport starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18.

Volunteers will gather on the frontage road at Mockingbird Lane to collect gear and run through a few simple instructions, then form teams and fan out to pick up as much litter as possible during the next two hours.

A free 2009 Sierra Club calendar is offered as a prize for the most fascinating bit of trash, and good exercise and a good time are both promised, along with free cappuccino afterwards for all volunteers.

Everyone is welcome, but asked to sign up ahead of time with Lars Crail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 279-4949.

Check out our local event on the Inauguration Web site at www.pic2009.org/page/event/detail/wrsr.

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“With members located in Hidden Valley Lake, Middletown, Cobb, Anderson Springs, Clearlake Oaks and Lower Lake, our club decided that ‘Lake County Milers’ better represents our current demographics,” said Milers President Jeanine Burnett.

“We also believe our new name reflects our plans to expand in Lake County, including a satellite running group for the Kelseyville/Lakeport area,” Burnett added.

The name change, approved by nearly 4-to-1 among members present at a Jan. 3 meeting, is effective immediately. It will also change the club’s Web site to www.lakecountymilers.com.

The Lake County Milers will continue to sponsor the club’s annual Spring Has Sprung run (which drew about 130 participants last year for the challenging event) as well as its one-of-a-kind Crazy Creek 5K beer-and-bratwurst Run in the fall. Additionally, the club hosts an annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.

Founded in 2003, the Lake County Milers promotes fitness and health in the Lake County region. The Milers invite all runners and walkers throughout Lake County to join.

Located in Hidden Valley Lake (four miles north of Middletown on Highway 29), the Milers offer a social running and walking club, running clinics for beginners, information on upcoming race events, and training opportunities with fellow club members of varying speed and distance levels.

Whether you're a beginner or a veteran, the Milers have something for everyone.

For more details, see the group’s Web site: www.lakecountymilers.com.

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NORTH COAST – According to recent data released by the Census Bureau, times are tough all over the country. However, job prospects are bright at the Santa Rosa Early Local Census Office (ELCO), where staffs are preparing for 2010 Census operations.

The Santa Rosa ELCO is gearing up for its first major 2010 Census operation — address canvassing.

Starting in early 2009, hundreds of census workers will check and verify addresses for the Census Bureau’s Master Address File, which will be used to mail out the census questionnaires in 2010.

Santa Rosa ELCO manager Ford Carlberg pointed out that, in an economic downturn, many people are looking for work, either to pay their bills and keep food on the table, or just for some extra family income.

“We offer great pay, flexible hours, paid training and a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the community,” Carlberg said. “We also want to hire local people to work right in their own neighborhoods, especially in Northern California counties, where the number of applicants has been low.”

For Northern California, the Santa Rosa ELCO manages 2010 Census operations in the counties of Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Napa, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba.

The U.S. Constitution mandates that, every 10 years, we count every man, woman and child living in the United States on April 1, 2010, Census Day. To do that, the government needs to mobilize the largest nonmilitary workforce in U.S. History.

The Santa Rosa ELCO will need to hire approximately 1,100 workers required to carry out census operations between now and 2010.

Priority is given to U.S. citizens and employees must be at least 18 years old. They need to take a brief basic skills test as well as clear an FBI background check.

Residents of Northern California counties, as well as bilingual applicants, are strongly encouraged to apply.

All 2010 Census jobs are temporary, from field jobs lasting a few weeks to office jobs extending to 2010.

“Right now we need to hire people for these positions,” added Carlberg.

Salaries range from $11.50 per hour for address listers, crew leader assistants at $11.50 per hour, crew leaders at $13 per hour and $14.50 per hour for field operations supervisors.

Interested applicants can get more information by calling toll-free 1-866-861-2010 or online at www.2010censusjobs.gov.

Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution mandates an actual enumeration of the U.S. population for the purpose of the apportionment of congressional seats. Each year, more than $300 billion in federal funds are disbursed to communities based solely on census population figures.

In addition, state and local government agencies, tribal governments, businesses, academia, nonprofit organizations and members of the general public rely on census data to make informed decisions.

As with all 2010 Census information, the address information collected by the Census Bureau is confidential by law (Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9).

All Census Bureau employees, including the census workers who collect the address information, have taken an oath to protect confidentiality and are subject to jail term, a fine — or both — for disclosing any information that could identify a respondent or household.

For more information on the 2010 Census, visit http://www.census.gov/2010census/.

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Kid’s Plate staff has announced that it is allocating 55 car seats to Lake County and First 5 Lake is committed to matching that number. Thus 110 children’s car seats will be available to low- or moderate-income families until the inventory runs out.

First 5 Lake through its partner, AmeriCorps, has established a safety car seat inspection station network throughout Lake County. Each station has trained, experienced Child Passenger Safety Technicians.

Families can bring their auto, car seat and child to an inspection station to receive instructions on how to properly fit a child’s safety seat in the car and their child in the seat.

While this may sound easy to do, in fact most seats are installed incorrectly, thus increasing the chance of injury to the child in case of an accident.

Incorrect installations occur because of the multiple types of car seats and models of cars on the market. “A one size fits all” approach simply does not work.

There is no fee for the inspection and instruction. A new car seat will be provided, if required, with the understanding that the supply is limited.

Inspection stations can be found at Middletown Fire Station on Highway 175, 987-3089, Extension 1; Lake County Fire Protection District's Clearlake Fire Station on Olympic Drive, 994-2170; California Highway Patrol, Kelseyville, 279-0103; and Northshore Fire Protection District's Upper Lake Fire Station on Main Street, 275-2446.

Kids’ Plate of California was established by the California legislature in 1992. It receives its funds from the sale of Kids’ Plates motor vehicle license plates. The funds collected through the Department of Motor Vehicles are in turn made available to local communities to help prevent childhood injuries, and child abuse while at the same time supporting child care licensing.

More than 600 grants have been awarded to local communities to date. Every automobile owner can support this program by purchasing a Kids’ Plate. For more information please visit the Kids’ Plate Web site at www.kidsplates.org.

First 5 Lake is dedicated to Early Healthy Childhood Development. Established in 2001, First 5 Lake funds a series of programs that offer services to improve child development, strengthen families and provide better health care. More information on First 5 programs can be found at www.first5lake.org.

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The group will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Lucerne Community Church, 5870 E. Highway 20.

Coffee and visiting begins at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting beginning at 7 p.m.

Jim Xerogeanes of Mendocino College Agriculture Department will speak to the group.

Visitors are welcome.

Membership dues to join the club are $23 per person.

The North Lake Garden Club meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Lucerne Community Church.

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