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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Time Bank is preparing its relaunch.
Join them on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 5:30 p.m. at Round Table Pizza on 11th Street in Lakeport where you'll learn about some upcoming projects the time bank is considering. Cost is only the price of your pizza.
You'll also hear about a new, mission-based fundraising program for nonprofits designed to make the time bank self-supporting. Plan to attend and bring your friends.
Time bankers exchange time rather than cash for services. Time Bank of Thrive Lake County membership is open to any Lake County resident, worker, business or organization.
For more information about Time Bank of Thrive Lake County, visit http://timebanklakeco.org , email
MERCED, Calif. — The University of California, Merced, has announced the recipients of its Giving Tuesday scholarships.
Giving Tuesday, a global day of philanthropy, takes place annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving.
UC Merced’s campaign is devoted to scholarship donations, which are quadrupled thanks to matching funds provided by Wells Fargo and Foster Poultry Farms.
Senior Lacey O’dell of Lower Lake High School was awarded the Guardian Scholars Scholarship. She is a biological sciences major.
Last year’s Giving Tuesday campaign raised more than $310,000 for undergraduate scholarships, with matching funds included, and led to 116 scholarships being awarded to students for the current academic year.
This year, the drive goes from midnight EST to 11:59 p.m. PST on Nov. 29. Donors can direct their gifts to any of 14 eligible funds.
For information on how to participate in the campaign, visit http://givetue.ucmerced.edu .
NORTH COAST, Calif. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson and Santa Rosa-based national nonprofit Canine Companions for Independence held a press conference on Monday at Canine Companions' Santa Rosa campus.
The event highlighted the recent launch of a pilot program through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that offers service dog benefits to veterans with mental health diagnoses, including post-traumatic stress, or PTS.
In addition to Rep. Thompson, a veteran and co-chair of the bipartisan Military Veterans Caucus, CEO of Canine Companions Paul Mundell also spoke, as did Bay Area Navy veteran Randy Wight who brought along his Service Dog Neo.
Following the speaking program, there was a live demonstration of the PTS service dogs' commands by Canine Companions professional trainer and Army veteran, Chelsey Darrow.
At Rep. Thompson and Canine Companions' request, the VA launched a program that will pair 100 veterans who experience a mental health diagnosis that limits their mobility, including their ability to conduct normal social activities and navigate public spaces, with a highly trained assistance dog.
Until now, the VA had only offered benefits for service dogs to veterans who experienced a physical disability, such as blindness, deafness and loss of limb.
“I’ve seen firsthand the tremendous benefits service dogs provide for our veterans dealing with invisible wounds of war, like PTS and traumatic brain injuries, and I’m so glad that by hosting today’s event, others will be able to see those benefits firsthand too,” said Rep. Thompson. “I’ve been so proud to work with Canine Companions for Independence to make the service dog benefit available through the VA for veterans with mental health conditions, and to significantly reduce the time it takes for veterans to be paired with a service dog. Because I strongly believe that service dogs are not just changing lives, they’re saving lives among our veterans with PTS.”
“The service dog pilot program will provide the opportunity for veterans with PTS to fully engage the numerous benefits of a highly trained assistance dog,” Mundell said. “Thanks to Congressman Thompson and the VA for taking this important step.”
“My Canine Companions Service Dog Neo picks up dropped items, opens and closes doors, can pull my wheelchair and helps me get up from the floor after exercising at the gym,” saidWight. “I can’t imagine life without Neo. He watches over me wherever I go, whatever I do. Neo is the perfect wingman, he has my back.”
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's unemployment rate went up in October while the state's remained flat and nationwide joblessness had a slight decline.
The California Employment Development Department's latest report said Lake County was ranked No. 38 out of 58 counties for its October unemployment rate, which was 6.4 percent, up from a revised 6 percent rate in September, but still improved over the year-ago estimate of 7.3 percent.
California had an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent for October, the fourth month in a row it has registered that rate, according to the report. The state's unemployment rate in October 2015 was 5.9 percent.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said the nationwide unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in October, down from 5 percent in September and 5 percent in October 2015.
Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,586,800 in October, an increase of 389,500 jobs, or a 2.4-percent increase, since October 2015, based on a survey of 58,000 California businesses.
The Employment Development Department said California employers added 31,200 nonfarm payroll jobs in October, bringing the state's job gains since the economic expansion began in February 2010 to a total of 2,400,300.
A federal survey of 5,500 California households showed an increase in the number of employed Californians over both the month and year.
It estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in October was 18,369,000, an increase of 91,000 from September, and up 518,000 from the employment total in October of last year, based on the state report.
The number of unemployed Californian’s was 1,069,000 in October – down by 2,000 over the month, and down by 59,000 compared with October of last year, the Employment Development Department said.
In Lake County, the “total farm” category of jobs dropped by 500 positions, or 34.5 percent, from September to October, according to the report.
The “total nonfarm” category grew by 0.1 percent. Subcategories that showed growth included goods producing, 7 percent; total private, 0.7 percent; and private service providing, 0.2 percent. The subcategory of service providing showed a 0.3 percent decline.
Statewide, in October, eight industries gained jobs: leisure and hospitality; educational and health services; jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities; construction; information; financial activities; professional and business services; and other services. Posting losses were mining and logging, manufacturing and government.
Nine of California’s 11 industry sectors added a total of 409,200 jobs since October 2015: educational and health services; professional and business services; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government.
The two remaining sectors that showed job declines were mining and logging, and manufacturing, the state reported.
San Mateo County continued to hold onto the No. 1 spot for lowest unemployment statewide, 3.1 percent, while Imperial County had the highest joblessness statewide with 22 percent.
The Employment Development Department also reported that there were 323,124 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the October survey week, compared with 362,253 in September and 334,244 in October of last year.
In October, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 44,808, compared with 38,277 in September and 46,203 in October of 2015.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Thanksgiving week promises to be rainy and cool, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.
The agency said there are chances of showers throughout this week, with breaks anticipated on Monday and Wednesday nights, and Tuesday morning and early afternoon.
The only day with specific rainfall amount predictions so far is Tuesday, when less than a tenth of an inch is expected during the daytime.
On Thanksgiving, rain is forecast both during the day and at night, to be followed by chances of rain through the weekend and into next week.
Cool temperatures also are in the forecast, with daytime highs in the upper 50s and nighttime lows in the mid 30s, based on the county forecast.
Light winds are forecast on Monday and Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
Lake County got a dose of rain late Saturday and early Sunday, with rainfall amounts ranging between 0.19 of an inch near Lakeport up to 0.56 of an inch in the Cobb area, based on National Weather Service observations.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has a mix of cats and kittens ready to go to new homes this week.
The available cats include torties, a tuxedo and various tabbies.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
For those looking for a barn cat to keep the rodents at bay, be sure to ask about the barn cat adoption program. Feral barn cats are adopted out for $1 each, which includes altering, ear notching and vaccines.
In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Shelter_Animal_Search.htm .
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Domestic short hair kitten
This domestic short hair kitten has an all-white coat and blue eyes.
She's in cat room kennel No. 15, ID No. 6473.
'Cleo'
“Cleo” is a female domestic short hair cat has a white coat with dilute calico markings and gold eyes.
She's in cat room kennel No. 49, ID No. 6501.
Tuxedo cat
This male tuxedo cat has a medium-length coat and gold eyes.
He is in cat room kennel No. 60a, ID No. 6440.
Domestic medium hair cat
This female domestic medium hair cat has a dilute tortie coat and green eyes.
She's in cat room kennel No. 111, ID No. 6459.
Domestic short hair
This female domestic short hair has a gray tabby coat and gold eyes.
She's in cat room kennel No. 120, ID No. 6416.
Orange tabby kitten
This male orange tabby kitten has a short coat and gold eyes.
He already has been neutered.
He's in cat room kennel No. 122a, ID No. 6483.
Domestic short hair kitten
This male domestic short hair kitten has an all-black coat.
He already has been neutered.
He's in cat room kennel No. 122b, ID No. 6484.
'Dusty'
“Dusty” is a male domestic medium hair kitten.
He has an all-gray coat and green eyes.
He's in foster care, ID No. 6439.
Clayton fire cat
This male domestic medium hair cat was injured during the Clayton fire. He was taken into care on Aug. 18 in Lower Lake.
He has a medium-length gray and white coat and gold eyes, and is recovering from injuries suffered during the Clayton fire. He has been neutered.
He's in the Animal Care and Control clinic, ID No. 5856.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at