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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Churches around Lake County are planning special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
The following is a roundup of services around Lake County on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If a church's event isn't represented, post it in the comments below or email it to
CHRISTMAS EVE
CLEARLAKE
Calvary Chapel of Clearlake
Calvary Chapel of Clearlake will hold its annual Christmas dinner and toy giveaway from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Donations of unwrapped toys for boys and girls are still being accepted and can be dropped off at the church office.
The family candlelight service will be held at 7 p.m.
The church is located at 14330 Memory Lane; telephone 707-995-5683; Web, http://www.calvarychapelofclearlake.com/ .
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church will hold its Christmas Eve Mass beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The church is located at 14435 Uhl Ave.; telephone 707-994-6618.
Church of the Nazarene
The Clearlake Church of the Nazarene will host its annual candlelight Christmas Eve at 7 p.m.
Christmas music, scripture reading and special performances will be presented to add to the holiday celebration.
The church is located at 15917 Olympic Drive; telephone 707-994-4008.
CLEARLAKE OAKS
Clearlake Oaks First Baptist Church
Clearlake Oaks First Baptist Church will hold a candlelight service beginning at 6 p.m.
The church is located at 12821 First St.; telephone 707-998-3632; Web, https://sites.google.com/site/mendolakebaptistassociation/directory/clearlake-oaks-first-baptist-church .
KELSEYVILLE
Kelseyville Methodist Church
The Kelseyville Methodist Church will hold a 4 p.m. Christmas Eve service.
The church is located at 3810 Main St.
Grace Church
Grace Church will hold two Christmas Eve candlelight celebrations.
The services will take place at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The church is located at 6716 Live Oak Drive; telephone 707-279-8448; Web, http://www.gracechurchkelseyville.org/ .
Galilee Lutheran Church
Galilee Lutheran Church will hold its candlelight service beginning at 7 p.m.
The church is located at 8860 Soda Bay Road; telephone 707-279-4832; Web, http://www.galileekelseyville.org/ .
Kelseyville Presbyterian Church
Kelseyville Presbyterian Church will hold its Christmas Eve candlelight service at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24.
Come join your friends and neighbors in celebration of Christ's birth, ending with an outdoor singing of “Silent Night,” weather permitting.
The church is located at 5340 Third St.; telephone 707-279-1104.
LAKEPORT
St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church
St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church will hold three Christmas Eve services.
Masses will be held at 5 p.m., which will include the children's pageant; at 8 p.m., in Spanish; and at midnight.
The church is located at 801 N. Main St.; telephone 707-263-4401; Web, www.stmaryslakeport.org .
Lake County Bible Fellowship
Lake County Bible Fellowship will hold a candlelight service beginning at 6 p.m.
The church is located at 775 N. Forbes St.; telephone 707-263-4327; Web, http://lakecountybible.com/ .
United Christian Parish
United Christian Parish's candlelight service will take place beginning at 7 p.m.
Candles will be provided for you to light and there will be a special time for the young and young at heart.
The church is located at 745 N Brush St.; telephone 707-263-4788; Web, http://www.lakeportucp.org .
St. John's Episcopal Church
St. John's Episcopal Church will hold its service beginning at 10:30 p.m.
Father Jamie Knutsen will be with them to preach and celebrate midnight Mass.
The church is located at 1190 N. Forbes St.; telephone 707-263-4785; Web, http://www.saintjohnslakeport.org/ .
LUCERNE
The Lucerne Community Church
The Lucerne Community Church will celebrate the season with a candlelight Christmas Eve service from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The church is located at 5870 E. Highway 20; telephone 707-274-8326; Web, http://www.lucernecommunitychurch.com/ .
MIDDLETOWN
Middletown Bible Church
Middletown Bible Church's Christmas Eve service will begin at 6 p.m.
The church is located at 20800 Highway 29; telephone 707-987-2556; Web, http://www.middletownbible.org/ .
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
St. Joseph's Catholic Church will host a Christmas Eve Mass beginning at 6 p.m.
The church is located at 21396 Highway 175; telephone 707-987-3676.
Middletown Community United Methodist Church
The Middletown Community United Methodist Church will host an ecumenical Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m.
The church is located at 15851 Armstrong St. For more information contact Pastor Voris Brumfield at 707-295-7174 or
UPPER LAKE
Upper Lake Community United Methodist Church
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Upper Lake Community United Methodist Church will hold a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 7 p.m.
The Chancel Choir, directed by Nick Reid and accompanied by pianist Michelle Wells Trigger, will lead them in the celebration on this holy night. Pastor Wanda Celli’s inspiring meditation is followed by candle lighting.
The church is located on the corner of First Street and Clover Valley Road.
CHRISTMAS DAY
LAKEPORT
St. John's Episcopal Church
St. John's Episcopal Church will celebrate Christmas morning Mass beginning at 10 a.m.
Father Leo Joseph will lead the service.
The church is located at 1190 N. Forbes St.; telephone 707-263-4785; Web, http://www.saintjohnslakeport.org/ .
St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church
St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church will hold Christmas Mass beginning at 10:30 a.m.
The church is located at 801 N. Main St.; telephone 707-263-4401; Web, www.stmaryslakeport.org .
KELSEYVILLE
St. Peter Mission Catholic Church
St. Peter Mission Catholic Church will hold two Christmas day services.
Mass will be held at 8:30 a.m., with a Spanish Mass to be held at 12:30 p.m.
The church is located at 4085 Main St.; telephone 707-263-4401.
California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones has granted a 24-hour permit clearing all brand inspection and health requirements for nine reindeer slated to visit California on the evening of Dec. 24 and in the early morning hours of Dec. 25.
The permit application was filed in person by a rotund, jolly man with a red suit and a white beard, according to state officials. The signature on the paperwork reads “K. Kringle.”
Brand inspections and health requirements help veterinarians prevent the spread of animal disease. The law also mandates that all animals entering California be individually identified.
The nine reindeer named on the permit are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen and Rudolph.
The permit was granted with two conditions: the nine reindeer may not co-mingle with other reindeer in the state of California, and the visiting reindeer may not be used for breeding purposes while in the state.
“It is our pleasure to issue the permit to Mr. Kringle and do our part to ensure another successful trip,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We wish him safe travels, clear skies and plenty of milk and cookies as he and his reindeer make deliveries to the good children of California.”
In other news, NORAD is once again this year tracking Santa's progress as he visits the homes of boys and girls across the globe.
Keep up with Santa online at http://www.noradsanta.org/ .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's unemployment numbers rose in November, according to a new report from the state.
The California Employment Development Department reported that Lake County's November unemployment rate was 12.2 percent, up from 11.6 percent in October but down from 14.2 percent in November 2012.
The statewide unemployment rate for November was 8.5 percent, compared to 8.7 percent in October and 9.9 percent in November 2012, the Employment Development Department reported.
Nationwide, unemployment in November was 7 percent, down from 7.3 percent in October and 7.8 percent the previous November, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Employment Development Department said nonfarm jobs in California totaled 14,748,200 in November, an increase of 44,300 jobs, and showed a year-over increase of 226,200 jobs.
In Lake County in November, modest job growth of 0.8 percent occurred in trade, transportation and utilities, and local government, based on the report.
The remaining Lake County industry sectors reported either no growth or job losses, including a seasonal drop of jobs in the farm industry, -34.8 percent; federal government, -12.5 percent; state government, -5.9 percent; leisure and hospitality, -4 percent.
The lowest unemployment rate in the state in November, 4.6 percent, was reported in Marin County, while Imperial had the highest rate, 23.8 percent.
Lake County's November unemployment rate gained it a ranking of No. 50 out of the state's 58 counties.
Lake's neighboring counties ranked as follows in November, according to the Employment Development Department: Colusa, No. 57, 17.8 percent; Glenn, No. 42, 10.9 percent; Mendocino, No. 16, 7.4 percent; Napa and Sonoma tied for No. 5, 6 percent; and Yolo, No. 30, 9.4 percent.
The Employment Development Department reported that there were 465,581 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the November survey week, compared with 405,761 last month and 391,870 last year.
New claims for unemployment insurance were 72,642 in November 2013, compared with 72,737 in October and 39,879 in November of last year, the agency said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Unemployed Californians with federal benefit extension claims are facing the loss of that income, with Congress and the president having yet to approve renewing the extensions.
The California Employment Development Department said it has notified 222,000 long-term unemployed individuals with extension claims in California that they will lose their federally funded extended unemployment benefits by year's end unless Congress and President Obama take action.
The budget currently being considered in Congress does not include an extension of federal unemployment benefits, which are scheduled to end on Dec. 28, according to the state.
The Employment Development Department said it sent out notices advising affected claimants that the week ending Dec. 28 will be the last week any federal extension benefits can be paid, even if someone is still unemployed and/or has a remaining balance on their extension.
That means that unless Congress acts there will be no phase-out of these benefits – all federal extension payments will come to an end at the same time, the agency said.
The state said approximately one-third of the more than 712,000 people currently certifying for unemployment benefits in California are long-term unemployed who receive federal extensions.
On Dec. 12, Gov. Jerry Brown wrote to Congress, asking that the federal unemployment benefits be extended, noting that they “have provided much needed financial relief to Californians during and since the Great Recession.”
Brown added, “There are more than 214,000 Californians and 1.3 million Americans that are currently collecting federal extension benefits. These workers will suffer irreparable harm if these federal benefits are allowed to expire.”
The U.S Senate has indicated there may be some interest in reauthorizing federal extension benefits early in January, and the Obama Administration has released information about federal extensions in a report prepared by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Council of Economic Advisers entitled “The Economic Benefits of Extending Unemployment Insurance.”
Late last year, the fate of the extensions also was in doubt until Congress reached a last-minute agreement on renewing the four-tiers of federal extension benefits until the end of 2013.
That legislation eventually reduced the maximum federal extension benefits currently available in California to 37 weeks and extended the benefits only until the end of 2013.
Federal extensions of unemployment benefits first became available in California in June 2008 and since then a total of more than $41 billion in extension benefits have been paid in the state.
Once offering up to 73 additional weeks of unemployment after someone ran out of their regular up to 26 weeks of state-provide benefits, federal extensions will now provide up to 37 additional weeks of benefits.
In the event Congress does enact legislation within a reasonable time, the Employment Development Department said it will automatically file and send out the forms to those who have been collecting the benefits so claimants would not need to contact the department.
For updates on the federal unemployment insurance extensions issue, visit http://www.edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Federal_Unemployment_Insurance_Extensions.htm .
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – In collaboration with Lake County Vet Connect, there will be a Lake County Veterans Housing Fair held on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at American Legion Post 437, located at 14770 Austin Road in Clearlake.
Lake County veterans may partake of the following services and information offered at the housing fair: Free lunch, low-income housing information; county social services (food stamps and general information); education benefits for veterans; employment assistance; information about free legal services; Lake County Food Bank; and free sleeping bags, coats, boots, tents and personal hygiene kits provided by the United Veterans Council of Lake County.
“We’re also looking for volunteers to help with the event, and any donations are graciously accepted,” said event coordinator Frank Parker. “We especially need female hygiene items, white athletic socks, coats, and men's T-shirts. Call us and we’ll pick up your donations.”
The number to reach Parker is 707-274-9512.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Lakeport Lions Club, VFW 2015 Auxiliary in Lakeport, the Ukiah Rotary Club, and our anonymous donors for their continued support,” said Parker.
For homeless Lake County veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless, this event can help Veterans find housing.
Women and minority veterans are encouraged to attend.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County boat owners can now purchase their 2014 mussel stickers.
The stickers can be purchased at a variety of screening locations around the lake and the cost is $10.
A list of those locations can be found at www.nomussels.com . A downloadable mussel screening application also is available on the Web site.
Since 2008, the county of Lake has taken a positive, proactive and aggressive approach to the threat of an invasive mussel infestation because of the huge impact it could have on the ecosystem of Clear Lake and the local economy.
This approach has been funded largely by the fees received from the county’s sticker program.
This year, boat owners will see an additional fee on their California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) vessel registration.
This fee is a result of AB2443 that was signed into law by Gov. Brown in 2012.
“The money collected by the DMV will go to California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways to make grants available to local agencies to fund Quagga and Zebra mussel prevention plans,” said Lake County Public Works Director Scott De Leon.
Continue to support the Lake County program by showing your current mussel sticker and remember to check in with a participating screener when you return from an out-of-county trip with your boat. Rescreening and any necessary decontamination are free.
The Lake County program is the reason Clear Lake is still free of quagga and zebra mussels. Officials ask for the public's help in keeping it that way.
The county also thanked all of its mussel screeners for the success they have helped achieved in keeping the area's water bodies mussel-free.
For the latest list of screeners see www.nomussels.com or call 707-263-2344.