LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Samaritan’s Purse, an international, nondenominational Christian disaster relief organization, has set up headquarters in Clearlake, ready to help victims of the Valley fire, which recently destroyed hundreds of homes in south Lake County.

Volunteers, many of whom have travel across the country to join the relief effort, are organized and prepared to help victims sift through the ashes and recover from the worst fire disaster in county history.

“We are here to help victims sift through their belongs and salvage anything they can from this fire,” Jonathan Blevins, Samaritan’s Purse program manager. “We've found grandma's jewelry before, wedding rings, war medal Purple Hearts. Sometimes we even salvage some of the dishes so they can something to start with in their recovery.”

Blevins said the most important task at hand is reaching homeowners who may need the help of the organization.

“That’s who we really need to reach now. If someone's home was burned down, we would love for our teams to come out and help them,” he said.

Volunteers assist with personal property recovery and packing, placing tarps on fire-damaged homes, cutting down burnt trees and cleaning up debris, according to Blevins.

Blevins said the service is provided, at no charge, to homeowners who have little to no insurance as well as those who may have damage not covered by the homeowner's policies.

Requests are handled on a first-come, first-served basis depending on need and volunteer availability.

Blevins said site leadership teams will direct each operation. He said the leadership teams consist of a core group of volunteers from across the country who have been specially trained in recovery and safety procedures.

Additionally, all local volunteers will be provided with a safety orientation course, he said.

“A lot of our volunteers do this because it gives them an opportunity to give back. It gives local volunteers an opportunity to give back as well,” Blevins said. “Other volunteers do this because we are commanded by Jesus to help people in need.”

Blevins said Samaritan’s Purse will remain in the community as long as the need and requests for assistance exist.

“People are hurting spiritually. People are hurting emotionally and we can kind of help them see there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “We will be here as long as we have work orders to fill.”

Samaritan’s Purse has established its headquarters at Harvest Fellowship Church, 6201 Bay St. in Clearlake.

Those needing assistance and those who would like to volunteer are encouraged to call 707-239-1723; or contact Blevins directly at 828-358-0386.

Visit the Samaritan's Purse Web site or Facebook page for more information about the organization.

Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Real estate prices in August dropped slightly compared to July but still showed improvement over 2014.

The Lake County Association of Realtors reported that the August median sales price was $200,000, which was a 5.2-percent drop when compared to the July 2015 median sales price of $211,000.

Year-over-year the median sales price increased 16.3 percent, up from $172,000 in August 2014.

“The number of sales was also down a small amount,” said LCAOR President Yvette Sloan. “However, we did see a number of sales over $500,000 indicating that high end buyers were entering the market.”

The number of sales for August came in at 79 units down from 82 units in July. In August of 2014, 73 units sold making the year over year comparison an 8.2 percent gain.

The percentage of distressed sales rose from an adjusted 8.5 percent of the sales in July to 15.2 percent of the sales in August.

On the financing front, cash buyers accounted for nearly 33 percent of the deals after dipping to 21 percent in July.

The percentage of buyers using conventional loans dropped from 44 percent in July to 34 percent in August. FHA loans financed 13.9 percent of the deals.

Inventory levels were at six months of inventory for August 2015, July 2015 and August 2015. This is considered a normal level in the real estate industry and means that at the current rate of selling it would take six months to sell all the active listings in the multiple listing service.

On a countywide basis it did not appear that the Rocky and Jerusalem fires impacted sales, however the Valley fire may have an effect because a much larger number of homes have been affected.

NUMBERS AT A GLANCE

Lake County – August 2015
Median price: $200,000
Median days to sell: 89
Units Sold: 79

Lake County – July 2015
Median price: $211,000
Median days to sell: 90
Units Sold: 82

Lake County – August 2014
Median price: $172,000
Median days to sell: 102
Units Sold: 73

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is conducting a “walkabout” survey of “Marathon Valley,” where the rover's operators plan to use the vehicle through the upcoming Martian winter, and beyond, to study the context for outcrops bearing clay minerals.

Marathon Valley slices downhill from west to east for about 300 yards or meters through the western rim of Endeavour Crater.

Opportunity has been investigating rock targets in the western portion of the valley since late July, working its way eastward in a thorough reconnaissance of the area.

The rover's panoramic camera has captured a scene dominated by a summit called “Hinners Point,” forming part of the valley's northern edge. The image, show above, also shows a portion of the valley floor with swirling reddish zones that have been a target for study.

For several months starting in mid- to late October, the rover team plans to operate Opportunity on the southern side of the valley to take advantage of the sun-facing slope. The site is in Mars' southern hemisphere, so the sun is to the north during fall and winter days.

Tilting the rover toward the sun increases power output from its solar panels. The shortest-daylight period of this seventh Martian winter for Opportunity will come in January 2016.

“Our expectation is that Opportunity will be able to remain mobile through the winter,” said Mars Exploration Rover Project Manager John Callas of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

The walkabout is identifying investigation targets in and near the valley floor. Rocks in reddish zones there contain more silica and less iron than most rocks in the area.

“We have detective work to do in Marathon Valley for many months ahead,” said Opportunity Deputy Principal Investigator Ray Arvidson, of Washington University in St. Louis. “During the Martian late fall and winter seasons Opportunity will conduct its measurements and traverses on the southern side of the valley. When spring arrives the rover will return to the valley floor for detailed measurements of outcrops that may host the clay minerals.”

Endeavour Crater spans about 14 miles in diameter. Opportunity has been studying its western rim since 2011.

Marathon Valley became a high priority destination after a concentration of clay minerals called smectites was mapped there based on observations by the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Smectites form under wetter, milder conditions than most rocks at the Opportunity site. Opportunity is investigating relationships among clay-bearing and neighboring deposits for clues about the history of environmental changes.

The rover team has been dealing for more than a year with Opportunity's tendency to undergo unplanned computer resets when using the type of onboard memory that retains information when power is off: flash memory.

For three months until mid-September, operators fully avoided use of flash memory. In this mode, images and other data cannot be stored overnight, when the rover is powered off to conserve energy. To gain operational flexibility in a trade-off with possible “lost” days from resets, the team has resumed occasional use of flash memory.

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Project landed twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity on Mars in 2004 to begin missions planned to last three months. Both rovers far exceeded those plans. Spirit worked for six years, and Opportunity is still active. Findings about ancient wet environments on Mars have come from both rovers.

The project is one element of NASA's ongoing and future Mars missions preparing for a human mission to the planet in the 2030s.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Lit-Fest on Saturday, Oct. 3, will kick off the Lake County Big Read.

Lit-Fest will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Mendocino College Lake Center, 2565 Parallel Drive in Lakeport.

The Lake County Lit-Fest is a reading festival featuring local authors, artists and organizations gathered in celebration of reading and literature.

Lit-Fest attendees will be able to receive a copy of this year’s Big Read novel selection, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” while supplies last. Light refreshments will be available.

Two local authors, Waights Taylor Jr. and Anna Fiorina Hess, are the featured speakers for Lit-Fest.

Waights Taylor Jr. will be presenting "The Author's Journey" at 1 p.m. to start the event.

He will explain how the long unpublished manuscript of Harper Lee’s newly-published “Go Set a Watchman” came to be found and published, and its relationship to “Mockingbird.” What does all this tell us, and what are we to make of it?

Waights Taylor Jr. is the author of award winning book “Our Southern Home: Scottsboro to Montgomery to Birmingham – The Transformation of the South in the Twentieth Century.”

Anna Fiorina Hess’ presentation, “Atticus, an American Hero” will talk about the metaphor of the mockingbird, a father's relationship with his children and the value of life in the 1930s.

Hess lives with her husband and her dog in the Riviera. They moved here permanently only two years ago after many years of vacations on the water.

“From my writing desk I see all the way up the lake which reminds me of Scotland where I am from,” she said.

Hess also has written and published a book entitled "Born in Internment," the story of an Italian/Scottish family united in love but slashed apart by the ambitions of Mussolini and Hitler.

Attendees can meet local authors and purchase their works. More than 20 authors will be present, including Steve Bartholomew, Hal Zina Bennett, Nicki Brandon, Steve Davis, Kit DeCanti, Sunny Franson, John Freedom, Linda Guebert, Robin C. Harris, Anna Fiorina Hess, Peter MacRae, Loretta McCarthy, Heather McIntosh, Nathan McQueen, Connel Murray, Gene Paleno, Denise Rushing, R. V. Schmidt, Hank Smith, Letitia Ursa Solomon, Dean Sparks, Waights Taylor Jr., and Vicky Werkley.

Local organizations that promote reading and literacy will be on hand at Lit-Fest.

The Lake County Literacy Coalition will be attending and promoting the Vineyard Run for Literacy, which takes place Oct. 11.

The Lake County Big Read will attend and hand out free copies of “To Kill a Mockingbird” while supplies last.

The Friends of the Lake County Library will be hosting a book exchange at Lit-Fest. They will be accepting donations of books in good condition for those affected by the Valley fire, only one bag per donor, and handing out books for free. 

People can sign up to join a book club at the Big Read booth, or sign up to lead a pop-up discussion group about “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Guests can attend a writing workshop.

The Lake Center of Mendocino College is located at 2565 Parallel Drive in Lakeport. From Lakeport and north take Highway 29 south to the Highway 175 exit at the south end of Lakeport. Turn right on Highway 175 and immediately right on Parallel Drive. Drive about one-third of a mile and the Lake Center will be on the left.

From south of Lakeport, take Highway 29 north to the Highway 175 intersection at the south end of Lakeport. Turn left on Highway 175 and immediately right on Parallel Drive. Drive about one-third of a mile and the Lake Center will be on the left.

The Lake County Library thanks the Lake County Friends of Mendocino College and Friends of Mendocino College Library for sponsoring Lit-Fest.

The Lake County Library along with the Lake County Office of Education’s Literacy Task Force will present the Lake County Big Read during the program month of October 2015.

The Big Read is a community-wide reading program that promotes literature and brings people together through reading and discussing a common book.

For more information about the Lake County Big Read and Lit-Fest call the Lake County Library at 707-263-8817.

The Lake County Big Read is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LakeCountyBigRead .

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Saturday command of the two-week-old Valley fire was transitioned to new leadership and the roads through Cobb – closed to the public since the fire began – were reopened.

Firefighters raised containment to 95 percent on the 76,067-acre fire, officials reported.

On Saturday, Cal Fire Incident Management Team 3 issued its final report on the incident, transitioning command of the fire to the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit of Cal Fire.

Officials estimate that the fire, which began Sept. 12 in Cobb, will be fully contained by Oct. 5.

Approximately 1,668 personnel, 101 engines, 47 hand crews, 16 dozers, 14 water tenders and three helicopters remained assigned to the incident on Saturday, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said firefighters are continuing to do mop up and rehabilitation of the landscape.

At 5 p.m., authorities lifted all traffic restrictions denying access into the community of Cobb.

The California Highway Patrol reported Saturday evening that traffic was flowing smoothly through the area as the roads reopened.

Sheriff Brian Martin had cautioned Friday that the lifting of traffic restrictions shouldn't be considered a repopulation, as many people wouldn't be able to return home for a long time because of the amount of destruction.

Martin has estimated more than 3,600 people have been displaced due to the destructive path of the fire, which burned 1,958 structures – including 1,280 homes – and has killed four people.

The fire is the third most damage in California's history, according to Cal Fire.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – After a two-week closure due to the Valley fire, Middletown Unified School District's schools will reopen on Monday.

“The schools are now physically ready to open,” Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg told Lake County News.

“All of the primary school sites survived,” said Falkenberg.

The district overall survived with minimal serious damage, a fact that Falkenberg himself confirmed in the initial days after the fire, when he toured the school sites to see how they had fared.

Falkenberg said the only district facilities that burned in the fire were a portable building that housed the Loconoma Valley High School classroom and a maintenance facility next door that were located near the high school football field on the back side of the school.

He said an inspector has gone through the south county facilities and determined there was no structural damage, but extensive cleaning has been required to ensure the facilities are safe. A contractor has been carrying out that work for the last week.

The opening of school for the new school year – which took place Aug. 18 – had been delayed by a week in the Middletown District and three days in the Konocti Unified School District in large part due to use of the facilities for evacuation centers and a Red Cross command center because of the Rocky fire, Falkenberg said.

This time, however, school was interrupted due to the Valley fire burning through Middletown.

Falkenberg said he's not aware of a previous event that impacted local schools this significantly.

Catherine Stone took over as the new Middletown Unified superintendent July 1, just weeks before the Rocky fire – the first of Lake County's devastating wildfire trio – began.

Stone has had the task of getting district facilities ready to receive students once again as the third and most devastating fire winds down.

“I think we have finalized things,” she said Friday afternoon.

The Lake County Office of Education has been “tremendously helpful” to Middletown Unified, Stone said, adding that they have offered assistance and outreach, and provided office space for some district staffers. That included the district payroll employee who needed to get paychecks out to employees.

While it didn't burn, Cobb Elementary School had some damage from infiltration of smoke, soot and ash, she said.

Because of the school's peaked roofs, Stone said ash and soot concentrated in the attics, which will need to be thoroughly cleaned in order to make it safe for students, faculty and staff. Other repairs will include replacement of ceiling tiles, cleaning carpets and all surfaces, and using air purifiers.

While it originally had looked like it could take up to two months to get the school facility ready to reopen, Stone said Friday that time frame could be shortened thanks to the rapid cleanup that the school's contractor has carried out elsewhere in the district.

In the meantime, Cobb Elementary will operate out of portables on the back side of the middle school on the Middletown Unified campus on Big Canyon Road.

She said the Loconoma Valley High School program will start up again in Room 1 at Middletown High School while rebuilding takes place.

Even before the Federal Emergency Management Agency came to Lake County, it contacted Stone to find out about damages, she said.

She said she walked FEMA officials around the facilities to give them an idea of the situation. However, she said the district has very good insurance so she doesn't think the federal assistance will apply for the most part.

All of the school sites that will reopen on Monday have had in-depth cleanup, Stone said.

On Friday afternoon, she got word from the contractor that the district will be able to use the high school gym starting on Monday, less of a wait than anticipated. “We thought it was going to be two weeks,” she said.

It also means that Cobb Elementary could be back up earlier, too, she said.

“The contractor we have has been incredibly efficient,” bringing in a huge crew to clean the school facilities, said Stone.

In the gym, the contractor put down thick plywood to protect the floors so scissor lifts could be used to reach the ceiling, the beams and walls. Stone said everything has been cleaned – from the ceiling down to the bleachers and floor.

Stone guessed the gym hasn't been cleaned so thoroughly since it was built, adding, “We've got a squeaky clean campus everywhere.”

All of the facilities have been cleaned with HEPA vacuums and wiped down with a special solution that will remove soot and ash, she said.

Stone said the well and sewer system is back up for the main campuses, but the lift station for the sewer at the Middletown High School football field is still offline and being repaired.

The first home high school game for the football team is set for Oct. 9. “We'll be ready by then,” Stone said.

On Monday there may still be some existing issues with phones, which were not working late Friday after some technical problems, Stone said.

She reported that AT&T placed an emergency communication satellite and generator on the Cobb field while lines are repaired so the community has 911 access.

The district's buses also are fine after having been checked out, and will be on the road Monday to pick up students, Stone said.

The updated schedule is posted on the district's Web site at http://www.middletownusd.org/transportation-2 .

The district's bus service will run up into the Kelseyville and Konocti districts, where many students are now staying since being displaced, she said.

Stone said Konocti Unified is doing a bus run for Middletown Unified, and will pick up students and bring them to the schools each morning, with Middletown returning them in the afternoons.

“It's really generous of Konocti to do that for us,” she said.

Due to the expenses for the expanded bus coverage, Stone said she is considering asking if that is one area where FEMA could offer financial help.

Stone said that while the district has had quite a few reports of students who are displaced, it doesn't yet have a definitive count, adding it will be a “wait and see” situation.

“I'm sure the first couple of weeks, it's going to be a bit in flux,” she said.

As for the impact of missed school days on the district, whether additional time will need to be added at year's end remains to be seen, according to Stone.

“I think the state will give us a waiver for those days,” she said, adding that trying to make up the days may create more hardships for families.

She said she contacted state officials on Friday to begin the process of seeking an emergency waiver for the time that's been lost due to wildland fire, adding she believed the district should stick to the schedule for the remainder of the year.

Falkenberg said once school reopens, they will have mental health professionals on campus to help students and staff who are adjusting to life after the fire.

He said the Valley fire has impacted staff and teachers serving in school districts around the county.

More than 30 Middletown Unified employees have been impacted by the Valley fire, Falkenberg said, along with nine from Konocti Unified; four from the Lake County Office of Education, including three preschool teachers and a school secretary; three from Kelseyville; and one from Upper Elementary.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After more than two weeks, firefighters have nearly contained the Valley fire.

The fire remained at 76,067 acres on Sunday night, with containment up to 97 percent, Cal Fire reported.

Cal Fire said firefighters continue to mop up hot spots, conduct patrol and carry out landscape rehabilitation in the vast fire perimeter.

Total resources assigned Sunday night included 893 firefighters, 35 fire engines, 24 fire crews, nine dozers and six water tenders, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire said residents are being allowed back into all communities affected by the Valley fire, although utilities in some of the fire area haven't yet been restored. For information regarding utility services, call 888-565-2787.

Damage inspection teams have completed primary and secondary assessments of the structures destroyed by the Valley fire, reporting that approximately 1,958 structures – including 1,280 homes and 27 multi-family structures – were destroyed and 93 structures, among them 41 homes, were damaged, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said that due to so many structures being destroyed, damage assessment teams are continuing to collect information in the areas affected by the fire.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two weeks after the historically destructive Valley fire started, Lake County fire survivors are starting down what, for many, may be a long road to recovery.

To help, Lake County and dozens of organizations are poised to provide immediate and ongoing resources to make recovery easier.

Access restrictions for all roads were lifted on Saturday after 5 p.m.

As people reenter their communities, Lake County wants to remind residents to proceed with extreme caution. Safety is the first priority, and many hazards still exist. Tips for re-entering your property safely can be found at http://www.lakecountylac.com/safety.html .

The following key resources are available to assist fire survivors.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, is in Lake County assisting residents impacted by ‪the Valley fire‬.

Register at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), visit www.disasterassistance.gov or go to the Local Assistance Center in Middletown.

The Local Assistance Center, or LAC, has more than 25 companies and agencies representing local, state and federal government and non-profit resources available to answer questions and assist with rebuilding, debris removal, housing, and the replacement of vital records and basic needs.

The LAC is located at the Middletown Senior Center at 21256 Washington St. seven days a week until further notice.

Mental health needs: When disaster strikes, people react with increased anxiety, worry and anger. With community and family support, some of us bounce back. Others may need extra assistance.

If you are having trouble coping, trained counselors are available to help you 24 hours a day. For phone numbers and other resources visit http://www.lakecountylac.com/mental-health-support.html .  

Temporary housing: A shelter phone line has been established to assist people with locating temporary housing. Call 707-262-1090 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to request assistance.

Debris removal: Free debris removal is available through the Environmental Health Department. Sign up to receive assistance through the LAC or contact Environmental Health at 707-263-1164.

For the latest news and information from the Emergency Operation Center, please visit www.lakecountylac.com or Lake County OES’s social media sites.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sutter Lakeside Hospital has partnered with Sutter Health and North Coast Opportunities by donating $25,000 to provide support and relief to the victims of the Valley fire.

Sutter Health’s donation to NCO will go directly to Lake County wildfire victims through NCO’s Lake County Wildfire Relief Fund.

The Lake County Wildfire Relief Fund has raised more than $300,000 to date to help meet the significant needs of those whose homes have been ravaged by the fire.

The goal of the partnership is to assist with needs such as insurance deductibles, short-term living expenses and general out-of-pocket expenses that accompany displacement.

Besides a small PayPal fee, 100-percent of proceeds directly aid victims; NCO donates all staff time and administrative fees.

“Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s mission is to enhance the well-being of people in the communities we serve. During emergency situations, we are proud to partner with initiatives that provide relief beyond the walls of our hospital,” said Siri Nelson, chief administrative officer of Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “It is through collaboration and partnership that we are at our strongest. I have never been more proud to serve Lake County.”

NCO is a well-established non-profit that primarily serves Lake and Mendocino counties by providing programs such as Foster Grandparents, Rural Community Child Care, the Clearlake Food Pantry, Head Start Child Development and Redwood Caregivers Resource Center, as well as numerous local food projects like Farm-to-School and a Food Hub.

During the Rocky and Jerusalem fires, NCO set up an account for fire victims to provide financial assistance for people in need.

The organization distributed more than $24,000 to Rocky and Jerusalem fire victims and anticipates greater need for Valley Fire victims.

“We continue to receive applications for relief funds on a daily basis and see no end to the need. Donations like this from Sutter mean more people will get meaningful help during this terrible time,” said Carolyn Welch, NCO’s chief financial officer and member of the fund committee. “We hope we speak for the community when we say we are so very grateful for the support and generosity.”

For more information or to donate, visit www.ncoinc.org .

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lake Leadership Summit 2015, a bold event designed for Lake County small businesses, entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders, will take over Marymount California University’s Lakeside campus on Friday, Oct. 9.

The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. at the campus, 3700 Country Club Drive, Lucerne.

The summit is for individuals who crave fresh ideas, practical, apply-it-right-now information, and for those who want to collaborate and grow.

The Lake County Regional Economic Development Committee, the engine behind Summit 2014 and 2015, is passionate about helping Lake County attract new industry and aims to offer new tools to our existing businesses.

Limited to 100 participants, Summit 2015 tickets are $35 per person and $50 for two. Tickets are available at www.Embracethelake.com .

Summit 2015 is a mash-up of captivating speakers and intriguing break-out sessions intended to challenge the status quo.

“Last year’s summit highlighted how a community similar to Lake County turned their economy around to thrive. The response to the summit was overwhelming and we saw so many conversations begin between people who’d never really sat down with each other before,” said summit co-creator and executive director of Marymount’s Lakeside campus, Michelle Scully.

“This year, those collaborations and conversations are more important than ever; our community has been devastated by the Valley fire and we are all grieving for each other,” Scully said. “Our hope is that Summit 2015 will offer opportunities for our community to come together to share, collaborate and envision our recovery. We believe that entrepreneurs and our small businesses are vital to our recovery and we know that Lake County is overflowing with people who have the creativity and the resilience to make huge things happen.”

Amy Kaherl, executive director of Detroit SOUP, keynotes Summit 2015. Kaherl’s crowdfunding microgrant program, Detroit SOUP, has received international acclaim, appearing on NBC News, ABC News, the BBC, “Good Morning, America,” and the Huffington Post among others.

Kaherl is a recent recipient of the White House’s “Champion of Change” award.

“SOUP has real potential to work right here in Lake County. The enormity of our losses caused by the Valley fire leaves us speechless. As we help our families, friends, and neighbors rebuild and recover from their losses we believe that we’ll see new businesses and entrepreneurs rise up to fill needs created by the Valley fire – and these entrepreneurs are going to need help fast. SOUP provides instant microgrants to local entrepreneurs so that they can launch their ideas quickly,” said summit co-creator Rebecca Southwick.

“Lake County’s heart is bigger than any wildfire. Our area has always been full of fantastic, irrepressible, resilient people. We are honored and so excited to listen to what Amy’s been cooking up in Detroit to see if it can apply in our community,” Southwick said.

Other Summit 2015 presentations include “Business Jeopardy: Show Me the Money!” featuring Paula Bryant of Umpqua Bank, Stephanie Ashworth of Wells Fargo Bank, Pete Dodson of Savings Bank of Mendocino County and Jeff Lucas of Community Development Services; a session called “Your (Website) Storefront Looks Like Hell: Websites 099” by Rob Freedman, director of marketing and communications at Congregation Emanu-El; and a session entitled “Us Against the World: North Bay Made” presented by Kelley Rajala and Pam Dale who will talk about the maker movement, its burgeoning popularity, and how North Bay Made is marketing Lake County products to northern California and beyond.

Breakout sessions include “Speed Date Your Business” and “Our Town: The Power of You and Placemaking in Our Destiny.”

Three Red Carpet Awards will be presented to local businesses during the event and lunch will be served by Fresh & Bangin’.

“City Hall in Lakeport is proud to be the site of the ‘What I Love About Lake County Is…’ chalkboard wall this year,” said Margaret Silveira, summit co-creator and Lakeport city manager. “Several of our council members attended Summit 2014, and, like so many people in Lake County, the city is a big proponent of economic development.”

She added, “Particularly in the aftermath of the Valley fire, we urge all of Lake County’s residents to take a moment and add what they love most about where we live to the wall. We’re convinced that our positive energy is what will make us a magnet for outside investors and new businesses.”

Lake Leadership Summit 2015 is sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric, Savings Bank of Mendocino County and the city of Lakeport. It is graciously supported by Marymount California University Lakeside and MPIC/WorkforceLake.

To register for the event, go to www.EmbracetheLake.com . Limited seating is available.

If you have questions, please call Rebecca Southwick at 707-349-8105 or write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

FINLEY, Calif. – The 26th annual Vineyard Run for Literacy will take place on Sunday, Oct. 11, in conjunction with the annual Steele Wines Harvest Festival.

Race participants can choose to compete in either a 5K or 10K run or a 5K walk. Online registration is available at: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Kelseyville/VRFL .

On-site registration begins at 8 a.m. at Steele Wines, located at the corner of Highway 29 and Thomas Drive, south of Finley. The race begins at 9 a.m.

Early registration deadline is Oct. 5. The cost for adults is $15; ages 6 to 18, $5; and age 5 and under are free.

Registration from Oct. 6 through race day costs $25 for adults, $10 for ages 6 to 18; and age 5 and under are free. Race T-shirts are available for $15.

All proceeds from the event go to the Lake County Literacy Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting reading and writing skills in the community and to support literacy tutoring activities throughout Lake County.

The coalition purchases books and supplies and provides tutor training and workshops. The families program provides books for children under the age of 6 so that the parents can read to their children and break the cycle of illiteracy.

The Vineyard Run for Literacy is a great opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the autumn weather amid the agricultural beauty of Finley. 

Encourage coworkers, friends and family members to make donations to sponsor your walk/run. Bring $100 in sponsor contributions on race day and your registration fee is waived.

Sponsor sheets are available at Lake County Library, online at http://rdysetgo.com/vineyard-run-for-literacy-10-11-15.html or by calling 707-263-7633.

Registration forms are available at all branches of the Lake County Library, the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, West America Bank and Lake County Visitor Information Center as well as at Steele Wines on the morning of the run.

Winners in each category receive both ribbons and prizes. Additionally all participants are entered in a drawing for prizes donated by local merchants. 

For additional information write This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-263-7633.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – For the first time in decades, Lake County will have a legislative district office to assist residents with statewide issues and work collaboratively as active partners with county and city officials throughout Lake County.

Both state Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblyman Bill Dodd, who represent Lake County in the state Legislature, made a commitment to open up a local office to ensure residents receive the services they need to thrive.

“Lake County is a top priority for both of us, and Sen. McGuire and I are following through with a commitment we made to the residents of Lake County. We're excited to be opening up our joint district office on Tuesday. We're grateful for the County providing us the office space, and we look forward to everything we can accomplish in Lake County in the years to come,” Dodd said.

“Assemblymember Dodd and I promised to be active and engaged in Lake County and we are following through on that promise, working hard for Lake every day. It has been a difficult past few months for the County with the Rocky and Jerusalem Fires and now the Valley Fire – but we are here for the long haul to ensure the amazing people of Lake can rebuild and thrive in the years to come,”
McGuire said.

The State Senate and Assembly are partnering to open up a joint district office, located in Lakeport at 885 Lakeport Blvd., next door to the Lake County Department of Agriculture office and below the Lake County Chamber of Commerce's Vista Point location.

At the grand opening – which will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 – Dodd and McGuire will focus their remarks on the coordinated recovery efforts related to the devastating Valley fire as well as important legislative issues.

County, state and federal officials will also be on hand to discuss and provide updates on recovery efforts in the weeks and months to come.

The event is free and residents are encouraged to attend. There will be a hot dog barbecue, along with other treats and refreshments.