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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A wellness center that aims to provide culturally relevant wellness-oriented services to Latinos of all ages is now open in Clearlake.
“La Voz De la Esperanza” – which means “voice of hope” – will focus on education, prevention and development of the Latino community in Lake County.
Located at 14585 Olympic Drive, Suite B, it's open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The center is a program of Lake County Behavioral Health, and funded through the Mental Health Services Act, Proposition 63.
Clearlake Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson said she thinks the center addresses an important need in the community and will provide a service the city has been lacking.
“It's important that we support all facets of our community and this is a start to doing just that,” she said.
Center Supervisor Edgar Ontiveros said the main goal is to connect the Latino community with mental health services in Lake County.
It will focus on identifying several social and emotional challenges that Latinos may face in Lake County, including suicide, incarceration, domestic violence, school failure or drop out, removal of children from their homes and mental health.
“The biggest problem in our county is you don't know where to go or what to do when you need services,” Ontiveros said, recognizing often unnecessary utilization of hospital emergency rooms.
“If you educate the community in how to research the resources, it's going to be less expensive, not only for the client, but for the county, too,” he said.
Ontiveros said the center will provide an opportunity to educate people about the variety of resources and agencies available to them, and fill the gap caused by language barriers that sometimes prevent people from accessing the services they need.
Services will be provided via peer support and volunteers by focusing on individual needs to help Latino families reach their goals and succeed, he said.
Available services include English as a Second Language and parenting classes, a children's book club provided through Lake County Office of Education, cooking classes provided by the members of the Latino community, nutrition classes and no-cost flu shots and Tdap vaccinations provided by Lake County Public Health; and mental health services.
The center also offers computer access, support groups, Zumba classes, cultural tradition events, peer support and mental health education and information.
Those who meet eligibility will be referred to Lake County Behavioral Health.
For more information, call the center at 707-994-4261.
Email Denise Rockenstein at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It's mortarboard and tassel time, as high school seniors prepare for the graduation ceremonies to be held around Lake County over the coming weeks.
Between May 28 and June 13, seniors and their families will celebrate graduations at the county's four main high schools, as well as continuation and community schools.
The following is the list of upcoming graduation ceremonies, listed in chronological order.
Wednesday, May 28
– Carlé Continuation High School: 6 p.m., Sadler Field, 9430 Lake St., Lower Lake.
Thursday, May 29
– Hance Community School: 11:30 a.m., 1510 Argonaut Road, Lakeport.
– Konocti Adult School: 6 p.m., Sadler Field, 9430 Lake St., Lower Lake.
Friday, May 30
– Upper Lake High School: 7 p.m., football field, 675 Clover Valley Road.
– Clear Lake High School: 7:30 p.m., Don Owens Field, 350 Lange St., Lakeport.
– Lower Lake High School: 7:30 p.m., Sadler Field, 9430 Lake St.
– Middletown High School: 7:45 p.m., Bill Foltmer Field, 20932 Big Canyon Road.
Friday, June 13
– Kelseyville High School: 8 p.m., football field, 5480 Main St.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A wildland fire burning east of Clearlake Oaks is nearly out, according to fire officials.
The Indian Fire began Sunday afternoon near the Indian Valley Reservoir, burning both in state-managed lands and into the Mendocino National Forest, as Lake County News has reported.
Firefighters had increased containment on the 175-acre fire to the 95-percent mark by Monday evening, according to the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, which is in joint command with the US Forest Service on the fire.
The Memorial Day weekend saw wildfire action elsewhere around the state as well, with the Hunters Fire sparked in Mariposa County shortly after 3:30 p.m. Monday.
That blaze had burned 500 acres by around 8 p.m., with evacuations in progress in the Hunters Valley area, Cal Fire reported.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday the Lake County Chamber of Commerce was pleased to present the annual Lakeport Memorial Day Parade.
The event had great crowds and beautiful weather.
The 2014 parade theme was “Honor the Red, White and Blue,” a tribute to all the Armed Forces and their families for all they have given and continue to give to keep freedom alive.
It takes a great many “hands” to put the annual parade together, and the chamber thanked the following for their assistance in bringing this traditional welcome to summer for Lakeport and Lake County: Lakeport Public Works and Police Department; Lake County Fairgrounds; Mendo Mill Lumber & Home Center for providing the judges' stage; and announcer Paul Reading.
In addition, the chamber extended its appreciation to this year's parade judges: Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira; Savings Bank of Mendocino Vice President Pete Dodson; and Diana Schmidt, member of Lake County Chamber Board of Directors. The equestrian judge was Kim Cipro of Lower Lake, representing the California State Horsemen’s Association.
Assisting the Judges were tallyers, Mary Ann McQueen, Northport Trailer Resort; Shelby Posada, Lake County Arts Council; and John Burke, board member for Mendo Lake Credit Union.
Stage setup was done by John and Melissa Fulton; Ginny Clinton, chair for the parade lineup for the 23rd year in a row was assisted by Mike Gomes of The Office Spot, Chamber member Randy Marsh, Mike Riley of Riley’s Cabs and Jack Buell of Sutter Lakeside Hospital. Equestrian Sanitation Chair was Ray Pato.
Judge Pete Dodson and family members Frances Dodson, Ben, Mel and Cindy Trousdale were a great help in packing up the “stage” and loading all the gear.
The results for the Lakeport Memorial Day Parade are as follows.
DIVISION I
FLOATS/GROUPS
Best of Division: North Lake Medical Pharmacy
COMMERCIAL
First place: North Lake Medical Pharmacy
Second place: Mendo Lake Credit Union
Third place: The Beat Fitness Studio
ORGANIZATIONS
First place: Operation Tango Mike
Second place: Lakeport Lions Club
Third place: Lakeport Elks Lodge No. 2704
MILITARY
First place: Lake County Pearl Harbor Survivors
Second place: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 951
Third place: 40 & 8 Voiture 912 of Lake County
SENIOR/ADULT
First place: Lakeport Senior Activity Center
DIVISION II
VEHICLES
Best of Division: Corvettes of Lake County
CLUBS
First place: Corvettes of Lake County No. 1
Second place: Lake County Model A Club
Third place: Corvettes of Lake County No. 2
CARS
First place: Pat Sperling
Second place: Bob Lininger, Lakeport
Third place: Lakeport Speedway Pro Jammers
DIVISION IV
JUNIOR
Best of Division: Lakeport Cub Scout Pack 142
SPORTS
First Place: Junior Giants
CLUBS/GROUPS
First place: Lakeport Cub Scout Pack 142
DIVISION V
MUSIC
Best of Division: Clear Lake High School Band
BANDS
First place: Clear Lake High School Band
DIVISION VI
EQUESTRIAN
Best of Division: Lake County Rodeo Royalty
MATCHED PAIR
First place: Lake County Rodeo Royalty
NOVELTY MOUNTED GROUP
First place: Rancho Californio
NOVELTY COSTUME
First place: Lonne Sloan
GRAND SWEEPSTAKES AND THEME WINNER: North Lake Medical Pharmacy
JUDGES CHOICE: Lakeport Senior Activity Center
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Firefighters made good progress on a wildland fire burning east of Clearlake Oaks on Sunday, closing in on full containment by nightfall.
The Indian Fire was estimated to be 175 acres and 75-percent contained Sunday night, according to Cal Fire.
Officials said the fire started at 12:20 p.m. near the Indian Valley Reservoir.
Cal Fire is in unified command on the incident with the Mendocino National Forest.
The fire started in the state responsibility area, which is in Cal Fire's jurisdiction, before moving into the Mendocino National Forest Grindstone Ranger District, officials said.
The firefighting effort utilized Cal Fire air tankers and helicopters to battle the blaze from the air, along with handcrews, bulldozers and engines on the ground.
Officials said the cause of the Indian Fire currently is under investigation.
On Sunday evening, the Mendocino National Forest issued an advisory, asking that visitors be careful with fire in the forest, where conditions are indicating an earlier-than-usual start to fire season due to a dry winter and only a few spring showers.
“Typically the earliest the Mendocino has wildland fire activity is mid-June, with a more active fire season from mid-summer to early fall,” said Forest Fire Management Officer Curtis Coots. “This year things are so dry, that we are already seeing an increased risk for wildfires.”
Although the Mendocino National Forest currently is not in fire restrictions, officials are closely monitoring fuel conditions.
At the same time, forest visitors are asked to take extra precautions when using fire on the forest this summer recreation season.
“Whether it’s a gas stove, campfire or ensuring that you aren’t creating a spark, paying attention can help dramatically reduce the risk of human-caused fires on the Forest,” Coots said. “By doing this we can help preserve not only public and firefighter safety, but also the areas of the forest we all enjoy.”
Over the past week, there have already been a handful of smoke checks on the forest, some the result of recent lightning in the area, forest officials said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The 12th annual EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk will mark its grant opening and “Arts Happening” on Sunday, June 8.
The event, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is free and open to the public.
The 2014 theme is “In Dialog with Nature.”
Each year the EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk puts nature and art together for a free-to-the-public, ecology-themed walk-in-the-park displayed at the Middletown Trailside Park off of Highway 175.
It attracts dozens of exhibiting artists and thousands of viewers annually.
Last summer more than 3,000 people enjoyed 20-plus original sculptures along the park trail, in the quiet of the pristine woodlands and meadows, and the fresh air rated as being the nation’s cleanest in 2013.
Right now artists are preparing and installing work for this year’s exhibit. Twenty-eight wildly different creations by award-winning artists, community groups and schools will extol, enhance and utilize the park’s oak-forested trailsides to provoke a deeper appreciation of nature’s fragility, resiliency, beauty and magic.
Visitors may encounter strange hobbit holes and mossy habitats peeking through the leaves in a grotto, while around the next turn fish rendered from discarded plastic bottles choke in a dried-up creek bed.
Elsewhere you might discover giant balls comprised of dead twigs that look like mutated porcupines rolling across a dry field, a rusted kid’s bike poking out of hardened mud, or wind-chimes from natural materials hanging from branches and blending wind and sound in a combination that creates both art and music at the same time.
Most sculptures are too sublime to be described in words, but all add up to a profound experience.
The EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk is organized by volunteer artists and art appreciators, and lasts all summer until Oct. 13.
EcoArts' organizers and artists hope the community will join them at the grand opening to stroll the trail and meet the artists, enjoy poetry readings by local poets including Lake County Poet Laureates past and present.
There also will be music and dance performances featuring Shawn SanNicolas of Sound Barn Studio, Sheamus Kennedy and Friends, the children of Lake County International Charter School, the Lake County School of Performing Arts and A Silk Road Groove and the W’Nac’di Drum Circle.
Other offerings will include an art-making tent, and crafts and snack vendors.
Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. Parking is plentiful and picnic tables are available.
For more information please contact
Find EcoArts on Facebook or visit www.EcoArtsofLakeCounty.org .
