CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Redevelopment Oversight Board will meet on Thursday, Sept. 25.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The single item of business on the board's agenda is the approval of a resolution authorizing the submission of Recognized Obligation Payments Schedule 14-15 B for Jan. 1 to June 30, 2015.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Continuing its pursuit of positive change at the SPCA of Clear Lake since being voted into office during May of this year, the SPCA of Clear Lake Board of Directors recently posted the job opening for the SPCA executive director.

Board Secretary Brenda Crandall reported that many highly qualified applicants applied prior to the Aug. 22 deadline.

Following a review of applications and a qualifying interview conducted by a three-person oral board, local resident Mary Jane Montana was hired to fill the position.

Montana brings with her more othan 20 years experience in working with government and nonprofit organizations.

She has extensive management experience including the selection, training, and supervision of diverse groups of employees and volunteers.

Additionally, has has grant writing experience, having successfully applied for and obtained grants for other organizations.

A longtime animal lover herself, Montana has raised, shown and cared for a variety of ranch animals in addition to household pets for more than 35 years.

She is familiar with the challenges of working with a nonprofit organization such as the SPCA of Clear Lake and she looks forward to building relationships within the community in order to fulfill the mission of the SPCA, as well as achieve new goals.

If you would like to know more about the SPCA of Clear Lake, volunteer your time, or adopt one of the friendly dogs and cats located there, you can call 707-279-1400, or stop on by 8025 Highway 29 in Kelseyville.

Adoption hours are daily, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the SPCA of Clear Lake online at http://spcaofclearlake.org/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/SPCA-of-Clear-Lake/408416852586913 .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Volunteer Firefighter's Association is firing up for its fifth annual dinner, dance and auction on Saturday, Oct. 18.

The fundraiser will be held at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The association reported that it already is sold out of tickets – all of the tickets were gone in a week and a half – and is now seeking donations for both the live and silent auctions, as well as the raffle.

Donations of all types are welcome, event organizers said – including products, services and handmade items.

The Lakeport Volunteer Firefighter's Association is a nonprofit group that focuses on helping and giving back to the community.

Its annual fundraiser is made possible thanks to generous support of the community.

Proceeds from the fun-filled event help provide funding for life-saving equipment and training for the district's volunteer firefighters, and also helps fund the Matt Black Memorial Scholarship Fund.

If you have donation items that need to be picked up please call the Lakeport Fire Department at 707-263-4396 or you can drop them off at the main station at 445 N. Main St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Cash donations – which can be dropped off or mailed to the main station address – also are welcome.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Redevelopment Agency Oversight Board will meet on Friday, Sept. 26.

The board meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the city council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

Agenda items include approval of the board's Feb. 19 meeting minutes and adoption of the resolution approving Recognized Obligation Payments Schedule 14-5B for the period covering June 1 to June 30, 2015.

The board also will consider approving the revised long range management plan originally approved on Oct. 16, 2013.

LAKEPORT, Calif – The Lake County First 5 Lake Commission will hold a regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24.

The meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m. in the Child Welfare Services Conference Room, 1222 S. Main St. in Lakeport.

On the agenda is a proclamation to be presented to Gloria Flaherty, and a public hearing to consider approval of First 5 Lake’s 2013-19 long-range financial plan.

Dr. Doug Lewis of the Lakeside Health Clinic will make a presentation on children’s oral health services.

Also on the agenda are the executive director's report, commissioners' reports, public comment and announcements.

For more information call the Lake County First 5 Lake Commission at 707-263-6169 or visit www.firstfivelake.org .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The September Window to the Universe program at Taylor Observatory is titled "Future Missions - Juno, Mars 2020, Earth-based Missions, and Webb."

It's scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the observatory, 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville.

Popular local astronomer Stephen Kane will present the program.

In his final summer lecture at the Taylor Observatory,Kane will describe these future missions in detail, including an update on Hubble's replacement, the spectacular Webb orbiting telescope.

Kane notes that for 50 years space probes and landing craft, most recently Mars Curiosity, all launched by NASA, have provided a wealth of scientific information on the solar system. 

The stunning images of planets and asteroids from these probes have provided visual information going far beyond the views from terrestrial telescopes. The deep space information from the Hubble orbiting telescope is legendary.

The NASA program continues with renewed vigor, promising to enhanced scientific information only dreamed of a few years ago. 

Admission for the talk, a planetarium show and night sky viewing through the Taylor telescopes is $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under, and free to observatory members. 

For further information visit www.taylorobservatory.org or call 707-262-4121. 

Friends of Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium organizes the Taylor Lecture series.