LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Homeownership Program of Habitat for Humanity Lake County is actively seeking qualified candidates.

Habitat for Humanity has received a CalHome grant which will enable them to build several new homes but they need qualifying applicants.
 
In order to qualify, you must be a “first time buyer” in need of a decent place to live and be a low-income household. 

A family of four, for example, would require a gross household annual income between $28,650 and $46,300.

Applicants will be considered on a first come, first serve basis.  Military veterans are encouraged to apply.
 
For full qualification information and homeowner participation requirements, or to receive an application, visit Habitat for Humanity’s website at www.lakehabitat.org , call the office at 707-994-1100, or come by 16285A Main St. in Lower Lake.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Town Hall (MATH) group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11.

The meeting will take place in the activity room at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.

The public is invited to attend.

Agenda items include nominations for the board, a discussion of moving the Middletown welcome sign closer to town, Christmas decorations in the park, the naming of the new Middletown park, Dollar General's plans for a store in the town and a chili cookoff planned for May 22, 2015.

MATH meetings are subject to videotaping. Meeting proceedings may be available for viewing on public access television and/or the Internet.

MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.

The group’s current board of directors include Chairman Fletcher Thornton, Vice Chair Claude Brown, Secretary Ken Gonzales, and members Laura Helton and Mike Tabacci.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Soper Reese Theatre Classic Movie Series will feature 'The Manchurian Candidate' on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Show times are at 1 and 6 p.m.

The 1962 political thriller stars Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey and Janet Leigh.

“The Manchurian Candidate” is a classic blend of satire and suspense that was uncomfortably prescient in its own time and distressingly relevant today. It's rated PG-13.

For the matinée showings, doors open at 12:30 p.m., with the shows starting at 1 p.m.

For the evening showings, doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the films starting at 6 p.m.

Admission to the film is by donation.

Popcorn, candy, soda, water and coffee will be available for purchase.

The Soper Reese Theatre, located at 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport, is a restored, historic, performing arts venue established in 1949 and seating 300 patrons.

Check the theater's Web site, www.soperreesetheatre.com , its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Soper-Reese-Theatre/117392951610902 or call 707-263-0577 to find out about other upcoming events. 

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Christmas Wish Trees at the Umpqua Banks in Lakeport and Kelseyville, to benefit children in care at Child Welfare Services, still have many tags with wishes that remain to be filled.

With Christmas only two weeks away, the need for donations is urgent.

Every year, Umpqua Bank helps to bring each Lake County child under the supervision of Child Welfare Services a holiday gift. 

This year, the gift requests are less specific, making it even easier to sponsor the holiday for a child.  Gift cards to local retailers are a great option. 

If you are not able to shop, donations are gladly accepted and we will do the shopping for you. 

Experience the joy of giving and brighten the holiday of a child in need. Stop by your local Umpqua Bank or call to see how you can be a part of this tradition of giving.

Umpqua Banks are located at 805 11th St. in Lakeport and 4280 Main St. in Kelseyville.

If you have questions, feel free to call 707-262-3342 or 707-262-3389.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – At the Jan. 12 meeting of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club, members are asked to bring their favorite gardening tool and share “why you can’t garden without it.”

In addition, there will be a video shown on how to sharpen garden tools.

The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m.

This should be a fun and informative meeting with lots of group participation, so come and join in as a member or as a guest.

Meetings of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club are free and open to the public.

The group gathers on the second Monday of each month in the activities room of the Hidden Valley Lake Association administration building, 18174 Hidden Valley Road.

For further information, contact Cheryl Crawford at 707-987-8254 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Services Director Caroline Chavez, announced that the Eastlake Landfill in Clearlake and the Public Services office in Lakeport will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Thursday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday.

The Lake County Waste Solutions Transfer Station at 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25, and will reopen Friday, Dec. 26.

Residential and commercial collection for Thursday and Friday for that week will occur one day after your normal pick up day.

The landfill and the Public Services office will reopen Friday, Dec. 26.

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

The Public Services office's normal operational hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Normal operational hours for the Lake County Waste Solutions Transfer Station in Lakeport are Monday through Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Christmas trees can be dropped off at Lake County Waste Solution, 230 Soda Bay Road, in Lakeport and at the Southlake Refuse Recycling drop off located at the Eastlake Landfill, 16015 Davis St. in Clearlake and Quackenbush at 16520 Davis St., from Monday, Dec. 29, through Saturday, Jan. 10.

South Lake Refuse and Recycling center is open from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily and Quackenbrush Buyback/Drop off is open Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lake County Waste Solutions in Lakeport Buyback/Drop off center is open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and accepts many other recyclable materials.

Lake County Waste Solutions and South Lake Refuse & Recycling will be providing for their customers free curbside Christmas tree recycling.

Cut trees into 3-foot pieces, place your tree in to your green waste container on your regular pick up day make sure the lid will shut.

Please remove all ornaments, lights and tinsel for all Christmas tree recycling. No flocked trees will be accepted.

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