LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Kindness and Generosity Scholarship Fund applications period is open for the upcoming eight week Compassion-based Mindfulness for Stress Reduction, Personal Clarity and Emotional Freedom courses, which begin in Lakeport on Tuesday, May 19, at Main Street Gallery and on Thursdays, May 21, at the Unity Clearlake Center in Lower Lake.
 
Applications will be accepted through May 10 and can be found at http://www.compassion-basedmindfulness.com/courses.html .
 
Local mindfulness teacher and life coach, JoAnn Saccato, MA, offers the scholarships for those wishing to take the eight-week course who may not otherwise be able to attend.

“The prices of the course have recently been lowered to help increase opportunities for Lake County residents to participate, but the scholarships are invaluable to some. We've had over eight full scholarships and many partial scholarships awarded since the fund started,” noted Saccato. "Some course attendees have had life-changing transformations in just the first few sessions, and certainly most all have by the end."
 
The eight week compassion-based mindfulness courses are intended to help attendees learn the various formal practices of mindfulness and create a personally designed daily practice.

Empirical based research indicates mindfulness helps reduce stress and stress related illnesses, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, digestive disorders and sleep disorders.

Mindfulness also helps with weight gain, inflammation and immune disorders. It has been shown to improve concentration, focus and present moment living and research indicates mindfulness can help with anxiety, depression and recurrences of depression, sometimes becoming as effective as medication.
 
The course includes work with journaling and setting intentions, "giving a well-rounded set of tools to help navigate life, increase satisfaction, reduce stress and gain resiliency," added Saccato, who is the author of Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice and her forthcoming book, Compassion-based Mindfulness for Peace, Clarity and Freedom.
 
Early application for the scholarships, awarded on a first come, first serve basis, is encouraged.

Full information on the course and links to the scholarship application can be found at  http://www.compassion-basedmindfulness.com/courses.html or by calling 707-350-1719.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Fourth of July is fast approaching and Lakeshore Lions Club of Clearlake will host its 58th annual Redbud Parade and Festival on that very day, Saturday, July 4.

The parade leaves Clearlake’s Redbud Park at 11 a.m., follows Lakeshore Drive north, and arrives a mile away at Austin Park … eventually.

With an artistic theme like “Cartoon Time,” there is no telling when the parade will arrive at Austin Park.

But it better get there soon, because that’s where the carnival, and the car show, the food, beverages, music, arts and crafts, worm races, and whatnot else takes place the rest of the day.

Then you stay into the evening for fireworks, co-sponsored by PG&E and countless local businesses.

Parade participants are invited to decorate and dress as cartoon characters, and even build cartoon cars, but this is not required. Of course, there will be prizes and trophies.

The Show & Shine car show is in its 16th year and is open to all vehicles of special interest.

The International Worm Races are perpetrated by the Clearlake Chamber of Commerce.

The carnival, with rides, games and concessions provided by Schoeppner Shows, opens Thursday, July 2, and runs through Sunday, July 5.

Throughout it all, there will be free parking at Haverty Field, just east of the park.

The Redbud Parade is the largest annual fundraiser for the Lakeshore Lions and Lioness Clubs. Lions support the local community by paying for eye-glasses, high school sports and arts equipment, scholarships, fire and police equipment, senior center expenses, community patrol, Boy Scouts, South Shore Little League, Meals On Wheels, and many other worthy causes.

Please show your community spirit by supporting their all-volunteer efforts. They are even accepting new members. Learn more at www.lakeshorelions.org .

Parade and car show applications can be picked up from Clearlake Automotive, Kevin Ness Jewelers and Tatonka Trading, all on Lakeshore Drive; and from Bob’s Vacuums at Mullen and Pearl; and from the Chamber of Commerce office in the Senior Center on Burns Valley at Bowers.

Arts and crafts vendors should telephone Bob Kiel at 707-994-9752.

Car show questions will be answered by Kevin Ness at 707-994-2307.

Parade Chairman Ray Bridges can be reached at 707-994-3070.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from Manzanita Road to Island Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Pavement repairs from Main Street in Kelseyville to the Manning Creek Bridge will begin Monday, May 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– California State Parks has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility repairs 0.3 mile north of Pudding Creek on Friday, May 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Highway repairs just north of Ocean Meadows Circle will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility repairs 0.6 mile north of Ocean Meadows Circle on Monday, May 4. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Abalobadiah Creek to Blue Slide Gulch through Friday, May 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Highway construction from Casteel Lane to Reynolds Highway will continue. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 128

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility repairs 1.4 miles west of Big Oaks Drive on Wednesday, May 6. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Clark Anderson has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit to construct a private road approach 1.0 mile north of Buchman Drive beginning Wednesday, May 6. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Caltrans advises motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to be prepared to stop at traffic control stations.
 
The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The next HazMobile event will be held Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16, at South Lake County Fire Station, 21095  Highway 175.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge.

Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear feet), and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.

Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

Hazmobile services are provided to residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this taxpayer-funded service and first make an appointment.

Business appointments can be made by calling the Mendocino County Solid Waste Authority, the contracted agency that provides this service in Lake County at 707-468-9786.

Free recycling options for residents and businesses:

Recycled paint is available to both residents and businesses at Lake County Waste Solutions on first-come, first-served basis in five gallon containers. Colors include tan, brown, gray and pink.

Used cooking oil can be dropped-off by businesses and residents, which will be recycled into BioDiesel by Yokayo BioFuels. Drop-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the Northshore Fire Protection District station at 6257 Seventh Ave. in Lucerne.

Used motor oil can be dropped-off by residents for recycling year round at a number of sites in the county. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for locations.

Electronics (E-waste) can be dropped-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and monthly at the Goodwill E-Waste collection held in Lakeport.

Lake County Waste Solutions
230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport
888-718-4888 or 707-234-6400
Monday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
www.candswaste.com

South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center
16015 Davis Street, Clearlake
Open daily 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
707-994-8614
www.southlakerefuse.com

The Hazmobile program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County residents.

For more information about recycling, reusing, and reducing, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or call the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Cache Creek Vineyards will host its “Boots, Wine and BBQ” event on Saturday, May 2.

The event will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. at the winery, 250 New Long Valley Road.

The winery will serve dinner at 5 p.m. and then kick off its summer concert series with Chad Bushnell at 6 p.m.

Enjoy a down home country barbecue prepared by Running Creek Casino.

The cost is $30 per person for dinner and the concert, or $15 per person for the concert only.

For more information call Cache Creek Vineyards at 707-998-1200 or visit http://www.cachecreekvineyards.com/ to purchase tickets.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County A’s, a Chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America, will hold its Spring Opener on Friday, May 1, through Sunday, May 3.

The Lake County A’s invite Northern California Chapters of the Model A Ford Club of America to this annual event.

Model years of the Model A Ford were 1928 to 1931.

The event will be headquartered at the Lodge at Blue Lakes, located at 5135 Highway 20, west of Upper Lake.

Owners will drive their Model A’s to the Lodge and begin arriving on Friday afternoon.

All participating Model A’s will line up at Upper Lake Park for the Grand Tour starting at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2.

The Model A’s will depart at 9 a.m. and take a drive around Clear Lake.

The first stop on the tour will be the Lower Lake High School Auto Shop. Model Aer’s will check on the restoration progress of a 1930 Model A pickup that was donated to the Auto Shop Program by the Lake County A’s.

The grand tour will then proceed to the Rivera Golf & Country Club for a buffet lunch. The Saturday night banquet will be held at the Lodge at Blue Lakes.

The Model A’s can be viewed by the general public at the Lodge at Blue Lakes and Upper Lake Park. 

Do not hesitate to wave “hello” should you see the Model A’s driving around Lake County. Your response just might be an “ahhooogaah” from the Model A horn.