LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport branch of Lake County Library will host a program about local grains and using them to make bread on Saturday, Jan. 9.

The program will take place from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the library, 1425 N. High St.

Local farmer Thurston Williams will talk about local grains.

Williams and his wife Annelle Durham have owned and operated Clover Creek Farm in Upper Lake for more than 20 years.

Amy Patton of the library staff will demonstrate grinding grain and making whole-grain bread.

The free program is open to the public and no library card is needed to attend.

Call 707-263-8817 for details.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

SACRAMENTO – The State Water Resources Control Board on Wednesday adopted an innovative statewide Storm Water Strategy that advances storm water management in California as a resource for present and future water needs.  

Historically, unmanaged storm water runoff has been viewed as a threat to human life and property, and as a significant source of water quality pollution.

The Storm Water Strategy promotes the value of storm water for multiple benefits such as groundwater replenishment and habitat improvement.

The goal is to use storm water to improve water quality and supply for local communities and long term state water supply needs.

“The drought, and the specter of more frequent droughts due to climate change, requires us to dramatically rethink how we manage storm water in California,” said State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus. “Storm water should no longer be viewed as a nuisance, but instead embraced as an immediate and future water resource.  With the right planning to capture it rather than shunting it away, local communities can improve local flood control, water quality, and water supply, including groundwater recharge, while contributing to urban greening – all of which will benefit current and future generations of Californians.”

The California Water Action Plan, released in January 2014, called for multiple benefit storm water management solutions and more efficient permitting programs.

The California Water Boards support local partnerships and collaboration to identify effective ways to further integrate watershed management, multiple-benefit solutions, and source control for storm water management efficiency and effectiveness.

The Storm Water Strategy identifies the goals, objectives, and actions for the State Water Board and Regional Water Boards to continue to improve the regulation, management, and utilization of California’s storm water resources.

For more information visit the Storm Water Program Web page. Background information on the development of the Storm Water Strategy Plan is found here. 

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Library in partnership with RBdigital is pleased to offer Zinio for Libraries.

Awarded Best New Database of 2012 by Library Journal, Zinio is the world’s largest newsstand, offering multi-user access to popular publications.

Through the library’s Web site, patrons of the Lake County Library have unlimited multi-user access to complete digital magazines, which can easily be viewed on most Internet-enabled devices inside or outside of the library.

Zinio’s unique technology digitally recreates a magazine page for page, including full color pictures, intuitive navigation, key word article search and interactive elements such as audio and video.

National Geographic, Better Homes and Gardens, The Atlantic, Car and Driver, Bon Appetit, Reader’s Digest and Mother Jones are among the more than 100 titles available for Lake County Library patrons.

“I’m very excited to be able to offer such a wide variety of magazine titles through Zinio,” said Christopher Veach, director of the Lake County Library. “Our partnership with Northnet Library System really made this possible.”

Please see a library staff member at any branch of the Lake County Library for more information on how to access this service, or go to http://library.lakecountyca.gov .

Creating an account is easy with a Lake County Library card.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Rotary Club has changed its popular January annual fundraiser from a crab feast to “Turf Not Surf: A Prime Rib Feast.”

The event takes place on Saturday, Jan. 23, at Twin Pine Event Center, south of Middletown on Highway 29.

Auction items this year include “Throw Yourself a Special Celebration,” a perfect way to celebrate a special event.

The Rotary Club of Sebastopol provides appetizers, finger food, wine, beer, soda, live music and appropriate decorations for up to 60 people at your Lake County venue.

Other auction items include a studio condo in Cabo, golf clubs, golfing packages, Oakland A’s tickets and a guided kayak tour and lunch. And there’s many more exciting items to bid on.

This year, a portion of each ticket is designated for the club’s special fire recovery fund. All proceeds always go to local projects and scholarships plus a few international projects, such as the eradication of polio in the world.

In addition to open seating, reserved seating is available for six or more prepaid by Jan. 13.

Tickets are $60 per person, which includes a complete prime rib dinner, dessert and coffee or tea, plus one limited edition engraved wine glass. A vegetarian option is available if requested in advance by calling 707-696-9201.

Doors open at 5 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres and auction viewing. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. No outside alcohol may be brought in to the event center. A full no-host bar opens at 5 p.m.

In addition to the silent and live auctions, there will be drawings to win wine and other prizes.

For more information and tickets, contact event coordinator Kathey Crothers, 707-355-0393.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Helen Whitney, 707-928-9812 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Tickets also are available at Morgan Lane Realtors in Hidden Valley Lake and The Bunkhouse in Middletown.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Saturday, Jan. 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. there will be a swap meet for fire survivors, Lake County residents and time bank members sponsored by the Time Bank of Thrive Lake County.

The swap will be held at the Middletown Methodist Church at 15851 Armstrong St., near the Middletown Senior Center. 

Current and prospective time bank members will earn time bank hOurs by bringing new or gently used household items, movies, music, books and clothing to swap with each other. Fire survivors can just come with empty hands and will have first pick.

The nonprofit Tzu Chi Foundation of Santa Rosa will return to bring items requested at the wishing table during their event at the church and senior center on Dec. 9. 

The Time Bank of Thrive Lake County is a network of people helping people, who get necessary services by exchanging time instead of cash. Time banking creates connections that strengthen the community and its local economy. 

For more information online check out Time Bank of Thrive Lake County at www.timebanklakeco.com or call 707-413-0220.

SACRAMENTO – The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) adopted a resolution today authorizing the sale of $1.2 billion in revenue bonds for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (Clean Water Fund) to meet financing demands for water projects.

With nearly a 40 percent increase in commitments in fiscal year 2014-15, and a greater demand expected in fiscal year 2015-16 and beyond, the Clean Water Fund will need additional capital in 2016 and 2017.

To meet the increased demand, the State Water Board plans to sell revenue bonds to meet current and near-term funding commitments.

The Clean Water Fund is a financial assistance program associated with the federal Clean Water Act and state water quality laws.

The fund provides financial assistance for construction or implementation of projects that address water quality problems and prevent water pollution.

The program provides low-interest loans and other financing tools for construction of publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities, local sewers, sewer interceptors, water recycling facilities, storm water treatment facilities, as well as implementation of nonpoint source projects, and the development and implementation of estuary comprehensive conservation and management plans.

The State Water Board’s Division of Financial Assistance has been working with a financial advisor, the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank), and the State Water Board’s Division of Administrative Services to determine the need for additional bonds; I-Bank has the authority to sell Clean Water Fund bonds on behalf of the State Water Board.