LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Nov. 2, Habitat for Humanity Lake County held its annual benefit dinner at the Saw Shop Bistro in Kelseyville. 

Sponsored by the Saw Shop, Grocery Outlet, Pacific Gas and Electric, Westamerica Bank and the Rocky Point Care Center, this year’s sell-out event raised more than $20,000.

In attendance as special guests were representatives of the San Francisco Sheriffs and You Foundation and members of the Military Funeral Honor Team of Lake County. 

All funds raised will go directly into the Wildfire Rebuild Fund to address the housing issues raised by the Valley, Jerusalem and Rocky fires. 

Habitat for Humanity Lake County is grateful to the sponsors and to everyone who made this year’s dinner a success.
 
With an estimated 20 percent of those affected by the fire having been uninsured or renters, the needs for rebuild funds is great.

If you would like to donate to Habitat for Humanity Lake County’s Fire Home Rebuild and Repair Fund, you may do so with a credit card on the group's Web site at http://www.lakehabitat.org/?page_id=415 or by mail to Habitat for Humanity Lake County, P.O. Box 1830, Lower Lake, CA 95457. 

For more information regarding donations, or for the tax ID number, please call 707-994-1100, Extension 104.

SACRAMENTO – Decisions made now in rebuilding homes destroyed or damaged in the September wildfires can pay big dividends by minimizing future fire and flood damage.

Free publications from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will explain how. They are available at the Disaster Recovery Centers, at FEMA display locations listed below and online by searching for the titles at www.FEMA.gov .

Flood after Fire Risks – FloodSmart.gov describes the importance of buying flood insurance. The insurance is available to both homeowners and renters. 

Standard homeowner and rental insurance may not cover flood damage. Charred, barren ground increases the risk of flash flooding because it is less able to absorb rainfall. Forecasters are predicting above average rainfall this coming rainy season because of an El Niño weather pattern.

Rebuilding After a Wildfire Fact Sheet presents many ways to rebuild safer, stronger and more resilient to wildfires.

FEMA displays are at the following locations:

– Mendo Mill & Lumber Co., 5255 Old Highway 53, Clearlake;

– Four Corners Builders Supply, 14918 Olympic Drive, Clearlake.

These sites have all the information that is provided at the Disaster Recovery Centers about rebuilding and protecting your property and also information about flood insurance. 

To locate the nearest Disaster Recovery Center, go to www.fema.gov/DRC . The publications listed above also are available online for download at www.fema.gov . Click on Search and type in the full title shown above.

Survivors can register for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. The deadline to register is Nov. 23, 2015.

For more information on California’s wildfire recovery, visit www.caloes.ca.gov or www.fema.gov/disaster/4240 .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lakeshore Lioness Club will hold its annual turkey raffle on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Raffle prizes include 15 turkey dinner packages, with each including a turkey up to 15 pounds plus all the trimmings.

Tickets cost $1 each or six for $5, and will be available at Foods, Etc., located at 15290 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. Look for the ladies in the Lakeshore Lioness Club gold vests.

The raffle will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Foods, Etc. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win.

Proceeds benefit the community.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Friday, Nov. 6, the community of Middletown will come together to “stand strong” and thank firefighters and other first responders for their bravery during the terrible Valley fire that hit the area Sept. 12.

A highlight of the event will be a barbecue at 3:30 p.m. hosted by the Middletown Boosters Club preceding the Middletown High School homecoming football game on Friday.

The fire destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in Middletown, dispersing residents and students to other areas to find temporary housing. The disaster also postponed the homecoming game that was scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18.

This is the first time many of the residents have had a chance to personally thank the valiant men and women who put their lives on the line to stop the raging inferno.

California Casualty is providing game tickets, a commemorative t-shirt and complimentary food and soda to first responders.

Come see how Middletown is recovering after fire; the public and the media are invited to help celebrate this “community homecoming.”

Middletown High School is located at 20932 Big Canyon Road.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Services Interim Director Kim Clymire announced that the Eastlake Landfill and the Lakeport Public Services office will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.

Residential pickup will occur on the regularly scheduled day.

Both facilities will reopen on Thursday, Nov. 12.                          

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 707-262-1618.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Hospice Services of Lake County will host a special remembrance ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 7, followed by the dedication of a memory garden.

The celebration will take place at Hospice Services of Lake County’s property at 1862 Parallel Drive in Lakeport at 6:30 p.m.

This year’s annual “Light Up A Life” candle lighting ceremony features several highly talented, local musicians. 

Accomplished harpist, Linda Brown, will engage the audience through the clear, clean sounds of her restful music. 

Anna and Briana Mix will play guitars and sing a selection of meaningful songs; Luke and Karen Steely will perform a signature duet on flute, and Hospice’s own versatile and committed board member, David Neft, will delight the audience with his remarkable talent on keyboards.

“Light Up A Life” is a candle lighting ceremony of remembrance that celebrates the memories of family, friends and loved ones who have passed. 

An original poem written and spoken by local author, Bill Gottlieb, will be part of the brief program, concluding with the lighting of candles. 

Keepsake candles will be available at the event for a suggested donation of $10 or may be pre-ordered by calling 707-263-6270, Extension 111. 

The dedication of the new memory garden will take place immediately following the “Light Up A Life” ceremony. 

This garden was generously funded by the Rotary Club of Lakeport as a place of peace and serenity for people to walk or sit and remember their loved ones. There is no charge to attend.

For more information call 707-263-6270, Extension 111.