LAKEPORT, Calif. – The next free household hazardous waste dropoff event will be held Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16, at Lake County Waste Solutions Transfer Station and Recycling Yard, 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport.

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 (empty), 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.

Household hazardous waste dropoff services are provided to Lake County 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 county-funded service and first make an appointment. Business appointments can be made by calling Lake County Waste Solutions at 707-234-6400.

Beginning in June, ask about receiving a free puncture-proof sharps container at one of these events to use for free sharps disposal.

Free recycling options for residents and businesses:

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

· Used motor oil and cooking oil can be dropped off by businesses and residents, at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the North Shore Fire Protection District station at 6257 Seventh Ave. in Lucerne. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for more locations.

· Electronics (e-waste) can be dropped off at Lake County Waste Solutions and at South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center.

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 St., Clearlake
Open daily, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
707-994-8614
www.southlakerefuse.com

The free Household Hazardous Waste drop off program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County households.

For more information about recycling, reusing and reducing, visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us , call the recycling hotline at 707-263-1980 or like Lake County Public Services on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LCPublicServices?fref=ts .

COBB, Calif. – The Acme Foundation celebrated its 18th anniversary in March with a “Jazzy Cats” quilt raffle.

The drawing was March 31 and Smokey the Bear drew the lucky winner’s ticket. The winner was Sarah Silva of Pleasanton.

Acme Foundation Founder and President Pat Meyer extended her gratitude to Jacque Spiker who designed, created and donated the whimsical 60-inch by 67-inch quilt and to all the volunteers who helped sell raffle tickets: Acme Foundation Secretary Ann Aldridge of Berkeley, Advisory Board Member Yvonne Scott from Clearlake Veterinary Clinic, Advisory Board Member Jan Woycheshin of San Leandro and Dr. Debra Sally from Clearlake Veterinary Clinic.   

One hundred percent of the $760 in proceeds will go to qualifying grant recipients to help with the veterinary costs of their seriously ill cats and dogs.

The foundation’s annual fundraiser had to be canceled last year due to the Valley fire. This year the event is scheduled for Sept. 18 at Twin Pine Casino and Hotel Event Center.

The Acme Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

To learn more about The Acme Foundation their Web site is at www.AcmeFoundation.org .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Mark your calendar for the second annual Lake County Trowel & Trellis Garden Club's “Hidden Gardens of Lake County” garden tour Saturday, May 14.

Last year's tour was a terrific success with garden enthusiasts attending from Lake, Sacramento, San Francisco, Sonoma, Humboldt and Mendocino counties.

According to CLT&TGC President Ginny Cline, “Our 2015 tour had different gardens, from the Tallman Hotel's professional landscape, to a non-irrigated indigenous property, to a hilltop Tuscan estate landscaped with many different types of palm trees. Many of the attendees from out of the area marveled at the creativity and diversity of the gardens and the beauty of Lake County.”

This year's tour will feature a wide range of different gardens, including a gardener's creekside cottage garden; an olive orchard and historic olive mill tour, olive oil tasting and plant sale at Chacewater Winery; a fabulous hilltop Moroccan-style property developed as a wild life sanctuary; and an extensive raised beds garden with professional gardeners on hand to answer questions about building, planting and irrigating.

Ticket are $25 each, and will be available beginning April 13 at Main Street Nursery and Flowers by Jackie in Lakeport and Bird Brain Designs in Kelseyville.

In addition to supporting the CLT&TGC and it's ongoing education and beautification services to the community, fund raised by the Tour will go to Lake County middle and high school farm-to-school gardening programs and scholarships.

Last year the tour proceeds awarded more than $5,000 to student gardens and scholarships.

For information, please contact tour Chairperson Debra Watson O'Dell, 707-367-0815. To purchase tickets by mail, call Nora Gerrard 707 263-5803.

Visit www.clttgc.org for information about the club.

The CLT&TGC is a member of the Mendo-Lake District of the California Garden Club Inc.-Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A local chapter of The Compassionate Friends has just been organized. 

The group will be known as TCF On The Lake.  

The Compassionate Friends is a nonprofit self-help bereavement support organization for families that have experienced the death of a child.

When a child dies, at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and isolated.

The Compassionate Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family. 

Today more than 640 chapters, serving all 50 states, offer friendship, understanding and hope to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents during the natural grieving process after a child has died. 

Up until now, the nearest chapter could only be found in Sonoma or Napa counties.

The first official meeting of TCF On The Lake will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, in the Hospice Services of Lake County location at 1862 Parallel Drive, Lakeport. 

Monthly meetings are planned at this location for the first Thursday of each consecutive month.

For more information, call 707-874-8232 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee holds its regular monthly business  meeting on Thursday, April 7.
 
The meeting takes place at the Kelseyville Senior Center, 5245 Third St. in Kelseyville at 6:30 p.m. A map can be found here: https://goo.gl/maps/peEZFK7ZP7z .
 
The group's guest will be Monica Rosenthal, candidate for Lake County Board of Supervisors, District 1.
 
The agenda for the meeting includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblyman Bill Dodd and State Senator Mike McGuire, as well as reports from the representative of  the Lake County Democratic Club.
 
Committee members will also be finalizing plans for the April 23 Democratic Candidate event. More information is available at https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/demgotvjune72016 .
 
Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.
 
The Lake County Democratic Central Committee  is the official governing body for the Democratic Party in Lake County.
 
For more information about the Democratic Party in Lake County visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org or www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDemocrats .
 
Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Road maintenance in a section of Lakeport is likely to cause delays over the coming week.

The Lakeport Public Works Department said work will be taking place along 11th Street from Highway 29 to North Main Street from Tuesday, April 5, to Wednesday, April 13.

Up to 10-minute delays will be possible as Public Works crews work along the route, the city reported.

The public is asked to use caution when driving through the area.