NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa announced Monday that Len Marabella has been named as executive director by a unanimous vote.

The decision came after an exhaustive national search to fill the position left vacant in April and filled by Board member Marabella on an interim basis. He assumes the position immediately.

“Len had not put his hat in the ring for the position until he had been on the job for several months,” said Board of Directors President Joan Maxwell commented. “At that point we were midway through the search process. It quickly became clear that Len was the most qualified person for the role, possessing a passion and dedication to the works of Catholic Charities that dwarfed all other candidates. Len has the perfect blend of dedication to our mission and the business acumen and leadership to bring the organization to the next level.”

Marabella has a background in strategic management and marketing, including several years with JDSU as director of marketing for laser products.

He has a PhD in Chemical Physics from Indiana University and was a post-doctoral research associate at MIT. 

He and his wife Pat were honored as Catholic Charities Volunteers of the Year in 2013.

During his tenure as interim executive director, Marabella saw the expansion of the agency’s homeless outreach efforts, Alzheimer’s Respite services, immigration and citizenship work, parish outreach, and health and wellness programs. 

“I am so impressed by the caliber of people who work at Catholic Charities and the work that is being done for the most vulnerable in our communities,” said Marabella. “I just couldn’t walk away. I am honored to be working with our board, our staff, and our community partners in one day ending the cycle of poverty, hopelessness, and fear that our clients experience. This is not just our mission – it is our duty.”

Annually, Catholic Charities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by community partnerships, grants, and individual donations, serves 15,000 men, women, and children in its 20 programs from Sonoma to the Oregon border. 

The agency was accredited in 2013 by the Council on Accreditation, and is the only accredited nonprofit in Sonoma County.

For more information, please contact Catholic Charities at 707-528-8712.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Chi Council for the Clear Lake Hitch will meet at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24.

The meeting will take place at the Lake County Agriculture Center, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

The group will discuss streambed restoration projects and the implications of the recent listing of the hitch as “threatened” under the California Endangered Species Act.

The draft minutes from the July 23 meeting are available at http://www.lakelive.info/chicouncil/pdffiles/7.23.14minutes.pdf .

For more information about the group visit http://www.lakelive.info/chicouncil .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Lake Family Resource Center is recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month throughout October with a variety of activities, including a 40-hour domestic violence volunteer and response training.  
 
Beginning Thursday, Oct. 2, through Saturday, Nov. 1, the training will be every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lake Family Resource Center is pleased to announce that Big Valley Rancheria will be hosting the training again this year at Konocti Vista Casino’s banquet room, located at 2755 Mission Rancheria Road in Lakeport.

This training is free and open to the public.

Persons who successfully complete the training will be considered certified domestic violence counselors and will have the opportunity to volunteer for Lake Family Resource Center’s Domestic Violence Program.

Volunteer responsibilities can include working at the shelter, answering the community crisis line, supervising children during adult activities, co-facilitating support groups; accompanying domestic violence victims to court and much more.

This training is only offered once a year so call today to reserve your spot for this exciting opportunity.

Other activities during October include the “Because We Have Daughters” Advocacy Walk on Oct. 10 and the Purple Power Walk and Open House on Oct. 11.

If you would like more information about any of these activities please call Lake Family Resource Center at 707-279-0563.

Lake Family Resource Center is determined to raise awareness of the devastation that domestic violence has had in our community and will continue to provide education, information, advocacy and support to those who have suffered. 

Lake Family Resource Center provides a multitude of services to build family stability and strength.

The agency supports Lake County residents in achieving stable, self-sufficient, and healthy families and communities. 

Call today at 707-279-0563 to find out more about what they offer.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a presentation titled “California's Golden Era and the (Real) Californios” by local historian Deb Baumann of Upper Lake on Oct. 6 at 6:30 pm.

Fine wine tasting will be available for purchase by the taste, glass and bottle, and complimentary rancho snacks will be offered to those attending while learning about the diverse culture that defined California during the prosperous “Golden Era” of the 1820s and 1830s.

There is no admission charge.

Baumann has been lecturing on this topic for nearly 20 years, giving countless presentations to schools, libraries and historical societies across the state.

Her expertise has been sought by organizations as diverse as the Smithsonian Institute, the Autry Museum of the American West, and the Santa Ynez Historical Society's huge annual Vaquero Show.

For years, her authentic 1820s-era mounted color guard enjoyed a prominent role in the front ranks of Santa Barbara's Old Spanish Days Desfile Historico (history parade).  

For the readers who are wondering why the word “real” in the lecture title is in parentheses, per Baumann, that is a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of a modern group called Los Californios, located in the central valley, which hosts a popular ranch-roping gathering every year.

“Most people, if they've heard of the Californios at all, they think of the modern roping people,” said Baumann.

The renewed interest in Old California that gave birth to the modern movement dates back to the early 1900s, which is also when Santa Barbara began celebrating that era with Old Spanish Days.

On Oct. 6, Baumann will explain who the original Californios were, why the Golden Era is so-called, the dark period in the mid-late 1800's when history was rewritten to cast the Californios in negative light, and the “Californio renaissance” that followed in the 1900s.

Doors will open at 6 p.m., lecture starts at 6:30 p.m. Space is limited. 

For reservations and additional information, contact Susan at 707-293-8752.

The Lake County Wine Studio is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The monthly meeting of the Green Party of Lake County will be held on Sunday, Sept. 21.

The group will gather from 4 to 7 p.m. at Round Table Pizza, 821 11th St. in Lakeport.

The guest speaker will by John Brosnan, candidate for the District 3 seat on the Lake County Board of Supervisors.

Come and get your questions answered.

There also will be no host food and drink.

Party membership is not required, meetings are free and open to everyone.

Visit the party's Web site at www.cagreens.org and click on Lake County.

For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-263-3391 and ask for Joanne.

The statewide campaign to put the world’s most beloved beagle on an official California license plate has been under way eight months, and is helping generate needed funds for the state’s museums at the same time.

Since late January, more than 4,300 Californians have pre-ordered an official Snoopy license plate—which is 56 percent of the 7,500 applications required by the state before the new plates go into production.

The license plate features a reproduction of an iconic original Snoopy drawing by Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz and the phrase “museums are for everyone.”

“The outpouring of interest and support has been fantastic,” said Celeste DeWald, executive director of the California Association of Museums. “Although we still have time to sell 3,300, we would like to reach the required number of pre-sold plates as soon as possible. The sooner we reach that number, the sooner DMV will start producing Snoopy plates and California museums will have a new funding source.”

Snoopy was chosen as an ambassador for museums because his well-rounded life and interests exemplify the kind of life-long learning that museums make possible.

Snoopy’s multiple guises in the strip (e.g. WWI Flying Ace, “Joe Cool”, Olympic athlete, scout leader, writer, the first dog to fly solo across the Atlantic) often relate to 20th century history and culture, a key subject in many museums.

Snoopy is also a real life mascot for aviation and space, with a lunar module in the United States Apollo space program named after him.

The Snoopy plate also is an opportunity to commemorate Santa Rosa cartoonist and cultural icon Charles Schulz. Jean Schulz, the widow of Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz and founder of the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, the Schulz family, and Peanuts Worldwide are generously allowing access to the original drawing for this special license plate.

Proceeds from sales of the Snoopy license plate will establish a competitive grant program to support California museums.

California has more than 1,400 museums devoted to history, art, science and natural history, in addition to zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums.

The program will be administered by the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE), a state entity tasked with preserving and protecting California’s cultural heritage.

The Department of Motor Vehicles will begin issuing the Snoopy license plates upon receipt of 7,500 paid applications.

If the Snoopy plate does not receive 7,500 pre-paid orders by late January 2015, the CCHE will either fully refund plate orders or, with the permission of the plate purchasers, retain funds to extend the campaign for a second year.

Snoopy license plates are $50 initially and then $40 per year to renew. Purchasers also may choose to have the plate personalized for $98 the first year and $78 to renew. A portion may be considered a charitable contribution that is tax deductible.

Snoopy and museums fans are encouraged to visit www.snoopyplate.com to pre-order their Snoopy license plates and support California’s museums.

The California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) was established in 2003. CCHE grants have helped to preserve the many historic treasures that are California's cultural legacy.

Current funding for CCHE projects is from voter-approved Proposition 40 bonds from the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002.

Approximately $122 million was appropriated to CCHE to distribute competitively for the acquisition, restoration, preservation and interpretation of historical and cultural resources. http://resources.ca.gov/cche/ .

The California Association of Museums (CAM) is a nonprofit service organization representing the interests of California’s 1,400 museums, including art and history museums, aquariums, natural history museums, science centers, children's museums, zoos, cultural centers and botanical gardens.

CAM assists California museums in fulfilling their missions as educational and research institutions that interpret and preserve art and cultural and scientific collections for public benefit.

Visit the association online at www.calmuseums.org .