LAKEPORT, Calif. – There is an urgent need for blood in the area and critical treatments have recently been postponed due to these shortages. 

Umpqua Bank and Blood Centers of the Pacific along with the SF Giants have joined forces to promote the upcoming blood drive on Thursday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The Blood Mobile will be in the parking lot of the Lakeport Umpqua Bank at 805 11th St. 

Donate blood and receive a one-of-a-kind SF Giants t-shirt as well as free ice cream and the knowledge that you have given lifesaving support.

To schedule your lifesaving appointment please visit www.bloodheroes.com and click “Donate Blood,” then enter the sponsor code “UmpquaLP” or call 707-280-2563. 

The schedule is already filling up so make your appointment today.

Donors must have ID to donate. Please come well-hydrated and nourished.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Habitat for Humanity Lake County announces the planned submittal of a request for funding from the USDA Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant.
 
Funds awarded will be used to assist very low and low income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in Lake County.
 
The public is invited to comment by contacting Habitat for Humanity Lake County President Richard Birk at 707-994-1100 or by mail, P.O. Box 1830, Lower Lake, CA 95457, within 15 days of this announcement.
 
The statements of activities for this grant is available at Habitat for Humanity Lake County, 16285 A Main St., Lower Lake.
 
The goal of housing preservation funding is to support the Lake County homeowners who need home repairs in order to preserve a safe and healthy household.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Join docents and friends on Saturday, June 13, when the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum hosts its annual “Picnic on the Porch” fundraiser event.

Don’t miss this food and fun-filled day on the beautiful wraparound stage stop porch looking out on Mount Konocti.

The day will be filled with entertainment and living history. Professional Harpist Linda Brown will offer a range of Celtic, classical and other melodies.

Fashions “then and now” will be featured during the event. Barbara White, local specialist in period clothing, will model fashions popular in the Stage Coach Era.

Anna Jones of Anna’s Boutique and friends will model local contemporary women’s fashions.

A delicious seasonal box lunch from Rosey Cooks, local gourmet catering owned by Rosemary Martin, will be provided at noon. Rosey’s lunch is always a big hit.

Bring your own wine to sip in beautiful Ely Stage Stop wine glasses that are always available for purchase. Games, basket raffles and silent auction items will round out the afternoon.

Although the action that day is “on the porch,” a visit inside the main house affords the viewing of the current display on the history of the dairy industry in Lake County.

In addition to the stage coach and retired San Francisco cable car, pieces of historic farm equipment can be viewed in the barn and on the grounds. Come see the progress being made on the blacksmith complex.

Lunch is typically served at noon but the fun will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. Event cost is $30/per person.

For tickets, call Ely’s message line at 707-533-9990 and a docent will call you back, or visit the museum and ask the docents for tickets during museum hours, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tickets must be purchased by June 8. Seating is limited so get your tickets now.

The Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum, home to the Lake County Historical Society, is located at 9921 Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville.

Visit www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org or check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The next free household hazardous waste dropoff event will be held Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20, 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, please 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 .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The June 10 meeting of the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee has been canceled.

The next meeting will take place at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Until late July, visitors to Middletown’s Gibson Museum and Cultural Center can get a closeup view of a genuine Pomo tule boat.

This example is recent rather than historic, constructed by Big Valley tribal members for their annual heritage races.

Racing boats are somewhat more shallow than some traditional tule boats.

The boats are crafted from reeds of tule (the “e” is sounded as a second syllable) rushes that grow along the shores of Clear Lake and other waterways.

Tule rushes themselves are falling prey to the onslaught of civilization, crowded out by piers and pollution.

Tule reeds are approximately eight feet tall when cut. They are tied together in bundles, which are then bound together to form the boat.

Traditionally, the bindings were tule reeds; for the boat on display at Gibson Museum plastic rope has been used.

Usually, one boatsman – sometimes two – kneels atop the craft and uses a paddle to propel it across the water.

Historically, most Northern California natives used tule craft. Today the Big Valley tribe may be the only group doing so.

They make the boats only for the Tule Boat Festival, which the tribe started a dozen years ago for the specific purpose of maintaining the art of making the boats and using them.

The Heritage Festival typically takes place in July. For information, contact the Big Valley Rancheria: 707-263-3924 or send email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Gibson Museum is located on the corner of Calistoga (Highway 29) and Callayomi streets in Middletown.

The gallery is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m.

The tule boat, however, is positioned in the garden and may be seen at any time in the next eight weeks.

Call 707-809-8009 or write This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.