Lake County Energy Watch, which was launched in November 2010, has programs available for qualified residential and non-residential customers.

Most recently, Lake County Energy Watch has partnered with Richard Heath and Associates (RHA) who oversees the Energy Fitness Program, an energy efficiency program available to all nonresidential PG&E customers in Lake County whose electrical demand is 200 kW or less including city, state and federal facilities located in Lake County – as well as nonprofit organizations, small businesses and special districts.

The Energy Fitness Program offers lighting retrofits (remove and replace existing lighting for high energy efficient lighting) at no- or low-cost.

The retrofits include four and eight foot linear fixtures, high bay fixtures, Energy Star compact fluorescent lamps, LED exit signs or retro kits, occupancy sensors, vending machine controllers, faucet aerators, as well as additional LED and other cost effective savings measures.

Most of these measures are at absolutely no cost – including removal and installation – with just a few of the options requiring a nominal surcharge.

Lake County Energy Watch was awarded $10,000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to assist 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Lake County with paying any applicable surcharge for lighting retrofits.

When a 501(c)(3) nonprofit receives services from RHA through the Lake County Energy Watch program, RHA will invoice Lake County Energy Watch on behalf of the eligible organization.

For residential customers, Lake County Energy Watch is helping to promote A.B.S, an Energy Savings Assistance Program contractor previously known as the Energy Partner Contractor with PG&E that can provide qualified residents with free energy education and weatherization on homes, apartments or mobile homes which can include attic insulation, weather stripping, caulking, energy-efficient lighting and refrigerators, window repair and more.

Lake County Energy Watch is administered by PG&E using funding from California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

Energy Watch partnerships are designed to help local governments and their communities lower their energy bills and enjoy a cleaner environment.

For more information about the Lake County Energy Watch program, contact Michalyn DelValle at 707-263-2221 or visit www.energy.co.lake.ca.us.

Republican Party of Lake County members enjoying a short break from registering voters. Pictured are, from left, Eldena Russell of Middletown; Janeane Bogner and Penny Lunt, both of Clearlake Oaks; Betty Mueller of Kelseyville; Robert Lanfranco of Upper Lake; and John Mueller of Kelseyville. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Republican Party of Lake County Central Committee's next general meeting will be held on Monday, July 25.

The meeting will be held at the Lodge at Blue Lakes, 5135 W. Highway 20 in Upper Lake. It will be open to the public.

Dinner will start at 5 p.m. with the meeting to follow at 6 p.m. The cost is $20 per person.

Reports will be given on the group's successful registration of voters for June.

Committee membership is open to all registered Republicans.

The central committee is the official governing body of the Lake County Republican Party.

RSVP for the dinner by contacting committee Chair Mark Cabaniss, 707-391-3637 or Vice Chair Walt Christensen at 707-489-6180.

Time Bankers meet at the Time Bank table at the Clearlake Friday Night Farmer's Market. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Members of the Time Bank of Lake County gathered at the Clearlake Farmers' Market on Friday, July 9, where they got to know each other better and learned more about how they could help each other through the Time Bank.

“Time banking is a social movement in 22 countries and six continents,” said Carol Cole-Lewis, one of the co-coordinators of the Time Bank.

“Every hour is worth the same, whether you're providing legal help or doing someone's dishes,” Cole-Lewis explained. “And, for every hour you spend doing something for someone, you earn one Time Dollar in return. Then you have a Time Dollar to spend on having someone do something for you. It's that simple. Yet it also has profound effects. Time Banks change neighborhoods and whole communities.”

Col-Lewis continued, “The Time Bank keeps track of the time used in giving and receiving services. This means the time trades are not one to one – that is, I can get gardening help from Kathy and then give piano lessons to Joe.”

Time Bank members have used the time bank to get and give services like yard work, runs to the dump, houses painted, electrical work done, child care, business brochures made and more.

The Time Bank of Lake County began in January of this year. It is currently at 103 members and performing roughly 25 hours of trade a month. The Time Bank of Lake County is a member of Timebanks USA.

The Time Bank's next meetup will be at the Steele Winery Farmers' Market in Finley on Saturday, July 30, at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited.

To find out more about the Time Bank and to join, visit its Web site at http://timebanklakeco.com.

The party will be held at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, located at the corner of Highway 20 and Highway 53.

Hospitality will begin at 3 p.m., with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and presentations and desserts at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 each; purchase them from Lucerne's Station 80 or from fire personnel of the Northshore Fire Protection District.

For more info call 707-274-3100.

Please note that previously published dates of July 19 or July 21 for this meeting have been changed to July 24.

Starting at 3 p.m. in the horse staging area, there will be a potluck (please bring a potluck dish and beverages to share), followed by a brief meeting, followed by an optional trail ride which will be guided by Kim Riley, one of the Highland Springs trail masters.

A barbecue will be available for those who wish to use a grill.

The horse staging area is to the left as you approach the public picnic area by the reservoir. Other great activities you can enjoy at Highland Springs are swimming and kayaking or paddling a nonmotorized boat.

Reservations are not necessary.

For more information contact Juliana at 707-279-1903 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..