KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Grace Church will hold a yard sale this week to fund a summer church camp trip for children.

The sale will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the church, 6716 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville.

Church youth (grades sixth through 12th) are raising money to go to summer camp.

The church's entire basketball court will be covered in items for sale.

Items for sale include:

• Exercise equipment: Dumbbells, treadmill, weights, ski machine, weight bench and rack, weights and bars.
• Furniture: Bedroom set, desks, bakers cooling rack, air hockey table, foosball table, grandfather clock, coffee tables, entertainment center, china hutch, recliner, couches, dressers, large chair, kitchen table and a roll top desk.
• Home décor items: Lamps, pictures and frames, candles, candle holders, lots of wreaths, and Christmas decorations, book shelves, large framed art, clocks and picture frames.
• Kitchen items: Coffee maker, coffee grinder, pots, pans, Tupperware, Cuisinart, cups, plates, bowls, silverware and tablecloths.
• Vintage items: Old clothes iron, teas sets, china and lamps.
• Camping and outdoor equipment: Tents, stakes, backpacking gear, ice chests, lanterns and a camp stove.
• Miscellaneous tools: Ladders and 44-gallon trash cans.
• For children: Crib, pack n’ play, puzzles, stroller, board games, toys, baby clothes and a child's backpack.
• Health care-related equipment: Multiple walkers, bath chairs, pillows, bed equipment, chair lift and wheelchair.
• Clothing: Apparel for men, women and children, old and new, different styles and sizes, and appropriate for all seasons, hats, jackets, backpacks and purses.
• Books/DVDs/VHS: Old and new, a lot of complete series and home school curriculum.
• Electronics: TVs, DVD player, VHS player, CB radio and other electronics.
• Musical instruments: Guitar and mini piano.
• Pets: Cat towers, dog crates, food and water bowls.

Follow the bright pink signs to the sale.

Visit the church online at http://www.gracechurchkelseyville.org/ .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list has reopened.

The Lake County Housing Commission will accept preapplications from 100 extremely low-income households.

Household qualifications, income guidelines and preapplication forms may be picked up at 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway, Lower Lake or at most Social Services agencies.

Forms can be mailed upon request.

For additional information call 707-995-4649

NICE, Calif. – The Sons of Italy Lodge in Nice wants community members to know that the pasta feed on Sunday, Feb. 2, will be canceled due to the Super Bowl.

The lodge's pasta feeds will resume the first Sunday in March.

In response to the ongoing wildfire threat across California, the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is offering guidelines to protect homes and prepare families at risk.

The alliance offers the following prevention tips.

Protect your home

Clean your gutters, eaves and roof to make sure they are clear of debris.

Make sure your street number is legible and clearly marked for emergency responders.

Remove fuels that can lead flames to your home or that can become ignited from windblown embers, including:

• Dead grass, leaves, etc. (fine fuels) and dead twigs, branches, etc. (coarse fuels) within 30 feet of buildings;
• Dry leaf/pine litter from roofs, rain gutters, decks and walkways;
• Dead and dry litter at the base of plants;
• Tree branches (ladder fuels) within 6-10 feet of the ground;
• Firewood within 30 feet of buildings;
• Continuous beds of combustible vegetation (on the ground or in tree tops) that can bring large flames within 100 feet of your home.

Identify an emergency water supply for firefighting within 1,000 feet of your home through one of the following:

• Community water/hydrant system; and/or
• Drafting site on a lake;
• Cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors;
• Swimming pool.

Prepare your family

Have a fire disaster plan including at least two, predetermined evacuation routes, a NOAA Weather Radio and disaster kit for your family.

Finally, follow any and all evacuation orders immediately

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes is a nonprofit organization that is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters.

Learn more about FLASH and gain access to its free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org or calling 877-221- SAFE (7233).

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The holidays for the residents of Evergreen Lakeport Healthcare were brightened considerably by several local angels this season.

Grocery Outlet in Lakeport hosted an “angel tree” again this year. Shoppers were able to choose an “angel” tag from the tree and provide a gift for residents of the local skilled nursing facility.

The Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary donated several boxes of gifts. A number of other anonymous gift donations received. Residents received calendars, notebooks, perfume, clothing and other items.

Dean Gotham, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America along with other members of the organization joined residents during the annual Christmas party on Christmas Eve and sang Christmas carols.

“We are so grateful for the support of our community,” said Teri Appleberry, activities director for Evergreen Lakeport. “The support we receive each year from Grocery Outlet and the others groups make the holidays brighter for our residents.”

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This year marks the 15th anniversary of First 5 in Lake County.

The anniversary offers the opportunity to celebrate young children and remember what a difference we can make in their lives.

First 5 Lake funds local programs that educate parents, grandparents, caregivers and teachers about the critical role they play during a child’s first 5 years.

Here in Lake County, First 5 Lake provides matching funds to support the Steps to Quality Program with the CARES Plus grant, a quality improvement/leadership development program for Lake County’s early childhood educators.

The Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards (CARES) Program is First 5 California's Teacher Signature program.

Launched in 2000, CARES Plus serves as a way to increase teacher/child interactions and retain the highest qualified early education teachers, therefore increasing the quality of student education.

Researchers, educators and economists agree that early childhood development drives success in school and life.

A critical time to shape productivity is from birth to age five, when the brain develops rapidly to build the foundation of cognitive and character skills necessary for success in school, health, career and life.

Early childhood education fosters cognitive skills along with attentiveness, motivation, self-control and social ability – the character skills that turn knowledge into know-how and people into productive citizens.

First 5 Lake’s investment in early childhood education is a significant contributor to a strong and positive future for Lake County.

In Lake County the CARES Plus grant is focused on the Steps to Quality program, which is dedicated to increasing the quality of early learning programs for children ages 0 to 5 and their families.

Those aims are accomplished by supporting the early childhood educators in pursuing higher education, quality professional growth, and providing focused mentoring and coaching to improve the quality of the care and education provided to young children in Lake County.

Over the past decade, First 5 Lake has assisted hundreds of early childhood educators in continuing both their education and professional growth.

For more information on Steps to Quality visit www.lakecountychildcareplanning.com or call 707-262-4162.