LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Chamber is continuing its campaign to raise funds for the annual Lakeport Fireworks Display offshore of Library Park.

The donations listed below have been raised from our solicitation letter that was mailed a couple of weeks ago. Approximately $3,712 has been raised to date.

The chamber’s Add A Dollar campaign is also in full force with locations from the Rivieras, Kelseyville, Lakeport and the Northshore.

Miscellaneous amounts:

Sharon Higgins, $20

Law Offices of Mary Heare Amodio, $40

Clover Hydroponics & Garden Supply, $50

Ewing & Associates, $50

Keystone Lake House, $50

William C. Kranz, Attorney at Law, $50

LaMonica Signs, $50

Douglas Reams, DDS, $97

Thomas Jefferson level ($100):

Bob Bartley Pump Inc.

Law Offices of Alvord And Conard

Lakeport Womens Civic Club

Twin Pine Casino

Shoreline Self-Storage

Vietnam Veterans of America, Lake County Chapter 951

Economy Heating & Air Conditioning

Holder Ford Mercury

Lake County News

Lakeport Yacht Club

Northport Trailer Resort

Beauty, Health & Wellness

Lakeview Supermarket & Deli

Abraham Lincoln level ($250):

Early Lake Lions Club

Reynolds Truck

George Washington level ($500):

North Lake Medical Pharmacy No. 2

Uncle Sam level ($1,000):

Gossett Alarm Corporation

For more information or to donate, call the Lake County Chamber of Commerce at 707-263-5092.

CLEARLAKE – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will meet on Thursday, July 1.

The monthly meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the Redbud Library Community Room, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

Agenda items will include guest speaker Victoria Brandon, Lake County's liaison to the Barbara Boxer for U.S. Senate Campaign, who will outline how local Democrats can participate and support Sen. Boxer's reelection.

Also, on the agenda are reports from representatives for Congressman Mike Thompson, Assemblyman Wes Chesbro and Sen. Patricia Wiggins, details on the committee's participation in the Independence Day parade, farmers' markets and the fall fundraiser barbecue as well as ongoing voter registration efforts.

Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.

The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-277-0713 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Visit the committee's Web site at www.lakecountydemocrats.org.

SACRAMENTO – The California League of Conservation Voters and Green California honored First District Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) for his outstanding environmental voting record at a reception Tuesday night in Sacramento.

In presenting the award, the League of Conservation Voters cited Chesbro’s record of pro-environment votes on bills during the 2009 legislative session and his overall environmental leadership encompassing his entire legislative career that includes his eight years in the state Senate (1998-2006).

In 2009 Chesbro voted for the environment on 22 bills the League tracked. He was one of just 12 members of the 80-member Assembly to be so honored.

Among the legislation that Chesbro was honored for supporting were bills that:

Protect fisheries. Chesbro voted for SB 670, which places a moratorium on the destructive practice of suction dredge mining until the Department of Fish & Game can conduct an environmental impact review, and subjects any future suction dredge permits to the California Environmental Quality Act. Suction dredge mining destroys the aquatic environment by disrupting streambeds, killing fish eggs and immature eels, and churning up mercury left over from the gold mining era. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed this bill into law.

Preserve state parks. Chesbro voted for SB 372, which sought to protect state parks by requiring the State Parks and Recreation Commission to approve modifications or adjustments to the boundaries or the uses of a state park, and SB 679, which would have safeguarded state parks by ensuring that land acquired for state parks is not used for any other purpose unless authorized by the Legislature. Both bills passed the Legislature but were vetoed by the governor.

Expand recycling. Chesbro voted for AB 473, which would have required owners of apartments and other multifamily dwellings to provide access to recycling services for tenants. Multifamily residences such as apartments have a meager 15 percent household recycling rate, compared to the statewide average of 50 percent. Chesbro also voted for AB 402, which would have expanded California’s successful bottle bill and provided funding for the California Conservation Corps. Both bills passed the Legislature but were vetoed by the governor.

The California League of Conservation Voters is a nonpartisan political action organization whose mission is to protect the environmental quality of the state by increasing public awareness of the environmental performance of all elected officials.

Green California is a coalition of more than 70 environmental, health and justice organizations working collaboratively to speak to the Legislature with a single voice.

LAKE COUNTY – Lake County Public Services Director Kim K. Clymire has announced that the Eastlake Landfill will be closed Sunday, July 4, and the Lakeport Public Services office will be closed on Monday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day.

The Eastlake Landfill will reopen on Monday, July 5, and the Public Services office will reopen Tuesday, July 6.

Normal operating hours at the landfill are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The Public Services office is normally open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding this subject or any of the solid waste issues in Lake County, please call 707-262-1760.

LAKEPORT – Join local UFO investigators at their monthly meeting of the Lake County Flying Saucer Club this Saturday, June 26, at 1 p.m.

The free meeting will be held in the McDonald's meeting room on Todd Road in Lakeport.

For more information call Chip at 707-263-3391 or visit http://meetup.com/lcflyingsaucerclub.

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday the US House of Representatives passed HR 5241, which grants subpoena power to the commission investigating the British Petroleum oil spill.

North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson is an original co-author of this bill.

The commission, which was established by executive order and based on legislation introduced in the House in early May, will investigate the causes of the devastating oil spill and report back to the president with recommendations for how to prevent and mitigate the impact of any future spills that result from offshore drilling.

“It is essential that the commission be given subpoena power to ensure that BP and other oil companies are held accountable and that the commission has the tools it needs to make sure this type of spill does not happen again, “ said Thompson. “I have always opposed drilling off the coast of northern California and will continue to support legislation to help the gulf and the oil spill clean up efforts.”

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate (S. 3462).