LAKEPORT, Calif. – The board of Branch 168 of Sons In Retirement spent most of its September meeting discussing plans for the remainder of the year with special emphasis on how to attract new members.

The plans include participating in the Kelseyville Pear Festival. Several members marched in the parade and others manned the booth, passing out fliers and answering questions about the SIR group. This was accomplished and considered a success.

Frank West reported that planning for the picnic on Oct. 10 at Lakeside County Park was just about complete. Later in the month it came to Big Sir Ed Brook’s, attention that Branch 133 had to cancel it picnic because of the Valley fire so he extended an invitation to them to attend Branch 168’s picnic.

Jim Cary reported that the three remaining golf tournaments are Colusa on Oct. 7, Teal Bend on Oct. 21 and Adam Springs on Nov. 4.

Now that the weather is cooling off Bob Rumfelt intends to get the bike riding group off to a start with some short bike rides.

Gary Schurdell volunteered to work on plans to resurrect the bowling group. Anyone interested in joining the group should contact him at 707-263-2911 or via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Bob Specht announced a holiday bus trip to Reno to see “Ebenezer – A Musical Christmas Carol” Dec. 7, 8 and 9.

The package includes a two-night stay at the Eldorado, a cocktail party, two breakfast buffets and the dinner show. If interested call Bob at 707-279-0187, Dick at 707-994-5381 or Bill at 707-277-8846.

The final item on this year’s plans is the Christmas dinner dance on Friday, Dec. 11, at the new TNT Restaurant (TNT Bar & Grill). Cocktails are at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. The menu includes prime rib or salmon.

Sons In Retirement is a social organization for men of retirement age who are pursuing the goal of enjoying their later years. It has 142 branches with 18,000 members throughout the state.

Branch 168 holds a luncheon on the second Friday of each month at the TNT Restaurant in Lakeport. 

Branch 133 holds its luncheon on the third Friday of the month in the Greenview Room at Hidden Valleyl Lake.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Sons In Retirement is encouraged to contact Larry Powers, chair of the membership committee of Branch 168, at 707-263-3403, or John P. Jones, chair of the membership committee of Branch 133, or visit the state Web site at http://sirinc.org/sirhappenings/ .

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Upper Lake and Covelo Ranger Districts on the Mendocino National Forest are proposing a tamarisk removal project.

The tamarisk plant is extremely competitive against native vegetation because they aggressively consume water.

The proposed tamarisk removal site is in the riparian area of Rice Creek and is an isolated group of plants, providing an opportunity to eliminate tamarisk expansion in this area through the proposed treatment.

The project area is approximately a half acre and is located on the Forest in Section 25 T18N R10W.

An environmental assessment for the Rice Creek Tamarisk Removal Project will be prepared and is anticipated to be available in early spring 2016.

To better assist with the planning process, the public is invited to participate in the planning process and provide comments on the project proposal by Oct. 30, 2015.

Comments regarding this proposed action will be reviewed to determine major issues and develop alternatives relating to the project.

Detailed information about the proposal is available at www.fs.usda.gov/projects/mendocino/landmanagement/projects .

For additional information regarding this project, please contact Upper Lake and Covelo Ranger District Implementation Officer Michelle Zuro-Kreimer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 707-275-1409.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A new Lake County Disaster Recovery Center has opened in Clearlake to help survivors impacted by the Valley fire.

Disaster Recovery Centers are operated by the California Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in partnership with the county and local agencies.

The new center is located in the old Apria Health Care building, 14848 Olympic Drive.

Hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to to 4 p.m.

A Disaster Recovery Center also is open at the Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St.

Hours of operation are Monday through 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state of California, the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies are among those represented to explain assistance programs and help survivors register.

Two other DRCs are operational to assist California wildfire survivors. To find the nearest location they may visit www.fema.gov/drc .

Survivors with losses are encouraged to register for assistance before going to the disaster recovery center by calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register.

Online registration is also available at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by using a web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov.

Businesses and residents can go to www.sba.gov/disaster or call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (Deaf or hard of hearing may call 800-877-8339).

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property.

SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property.

These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.SBA.gov . Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission's regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 6, has been canceled while another meeting takes place.

Rather than the commission meeting, the city will hold an open house scoping meeting for the proposed Walmart expansion project.

The open house will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Do you like to garden? Are you interested in helping other gardeners in Lake County?

If so, consider applying to become a University of California Master Gardener.

Master Gardeners are volunteer staff of the University of California who have been trained and certified to extend research-based horticultural information to the public.

Upcoming orientation meetings will provide an overview of the UCCE Master Gardener Program and what is expected of a UC Master Gardener volunteer.

The information will be presented by current UC Master Gardener volunteers and the Master Gardener Program Coordinator Gabriele O’Neill.

The presentation will be followed by a question and answer period.

Two orientation meetings are being offered:

– Wednesday, Oct. 28, 5:30 p.m.;
– Friday, Oct. 30, 5:30 p.m.

Both meetings will be held in the conference room of the Agricultural Center, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

Please RSVP to one orientation date by calling 707-263-6838 or by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Only one orientation meeting is necessary for you to attend, not both.

To become eligible for the training it is mandatory to attend this orientation meeting.

If you are unable to attend, call the UCCE office at 707-263-6838 so they can arrange an alternative time for your orientation.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Service Director Caroline C. Chavez announced that the Lake County Public Services office and the Eastlake Landfill will be closed Monday, Oct. 12, in observance of the Columbus Day holiday.

Both facilities will reopen Tuesday, Oct. 13.     

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.