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- Written by: Editor
LAKE COUNTY – On March 10, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger launched Microsoft’s Elevate America program in California.
Elevate America has been implemented across the nation for over a year and aims to prepare America for jobs in the 21st Century.
Microsoft provided California with 166,500 vouchers for a variety of trainings. There are vouchers for e-learning for Microsoft programs such as Windows, Word, Excel and PowerPoint; vouchers for IT professionals such as computer technicians and systems engineers; and exam vouchers for Microsoft certification. Certifications are for Microsoft Office 2003 and 2007.
Basic digital literacy is needed to complete these e-learning courses For a free computer skills assessment and free digital literacy tutorials, visit www.microsoft.com/elevateamerica.
Then, to claim a voucher, participants are recommended to visit their local Lake One-Stop so additional information can be given. Lake One-Stop offices are located at 55 First St., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-0630, or 4477 Moss Ave. Suite A in Clearlake, telephone 707-994-0633.
For a detailed breakdown of jobs associated with this type of training, visit www.microsoft.com/learning/education/roadmap/.
For assistance, those interested may call Microsoft at 800-636-7544 from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. An “MCP” number will be requested, but ignore that request; you don’t need this number. Or, send an e-mail to
All vouchers must be activated by June 8, 2010. If a participant has claimed an exam voucher, they must take the exam on or before June 8.
Call or visit a Lake One-Stop office nearest you for the details and to find out how to claim your free technology training voucher.
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- Written by: Editor
SACRAMENTO – The state Board of Equalization (BOE) has received the Bronze Award in the Governor's State Agency Recognition Awards (SARA) for 2009.
The SARA award honors California departments and employees for their best practices, creativity and outstanding achievements to advance the State's Small Business (SB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) programs.
The award was discussed by the board at Thursday's public meeting in Sacramento.
The BOE was recognized for its hard work toward the State's SB/DVBE goals. In addition to increasing business with SB/DVBEs whenever possible, the BOE has also endeavored to identify SB/DVBE vendors within leveraged procurement agreements.
The BOE increased its SB participation by 16.6 percent and its DVBE participation by 4.48 percent.
The Governor's Executive Order S-09-06 requires state agencies to award at least 25 percent of their annual contracting dollars to SBs and at least 3 percent to be awarded to certified DVBEs in order to further participation in state contracting, promote competition, and encourage greater economic opportunity.
BOE achieved a 36 percent SB and 8 percent DVBE participation level in their annual contracting. Every year state agencies must report to the governor and the legislature their total contracting participation.
Chairwoman Betty T. Yee was elected to her post in November 2006. Her district includes many of California’s coastal counties, from Del Norte to Santa Barbara, and includes the entire San Francisco Bay Area.
The five-member California State Board of Equalization is a publicly elected tax board.
The BOE collects more than $53 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.
For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov .
For more information on the SARA visit www.pd.dgs.ca.gov/smbus/SARA2009.htm .
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SACRAMENTO – The final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) project has been certified and a notice of determination filed with the State Office of Planning and Research.
The notice and other EIR documents may be viewed by visiting www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PDEP/lbam/envimpactrpt.html .
When certifying the EIR, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) issued a clarification that aerial treatment with moth pheromones is not a management tool in the program.
Additionally, CDFA concurs with the USDA’s recent announcement that the program has shifted from eradication to suppression and control.
The EIR determined that it was unlikely that the approaches in the LBAM program would cause human harm or environmental damage, and found that greater potential for human and environmental harm would come from widespread pesticide use by private parties and organizations in the absence of an LBAM program.
Groups opposed to the spraying, including Stop the Spray East Bay and Mothers of Marin Against Spray disputed the EIR's findings and pointed to nine significant defects in the document, which they outlined in a letter sent earlier this month to US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and CDFA Secretary AG Kawamura.
In addition, the groups asked for an end to the multi-year, multimillion-dollar program.
The approaches evaluated include the use of moth pheromone, organically-approved materials, and sterile moths.
The only two treatment methods being considered currently are the placement of pheromone twist ties on trees and plants, and the release of sterile moths.
The LBAM program will now move forward to evaluate treatment options.
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- Written by: Lake County Chamber of Commerce
LAKEPORT – The Lake County Chamber of Commerce's member of the month for March is Cliff Ruzicka of Ruzicka Associates in Lakeport.
Ruzicka has lived in Lake County for 40 years. As a young person, he was intrigued with the great advances in technology and the investments of the U.S. in large infrastructure projects such as the dams, freeway systems, large water projects and airports.
Having an entrepreneurial spirit, Ruzicka chose to open his own civil engineering business. He selected Lake County because it appealed to his Midwest, rural background. He also appreciated the abundance of activities for the outdoorsman, and thought Lake County would be a great place to raise a family.
Thirty five years ago Nancy came to visit Lake County and met Cliff. Between them Cliff and Nancy Ruzicka have raised five children here and currently have five grandchildren and a sixth is on the way.
Ruzicka Associates is a full-service civil engineering and land surveying firm offering services which include: boundary surveys, lot line adjustments, flood certificates, land surveying, engineering services during construction and engineering investigations.
They also offer design services for: site improvement for residential and commercial development, public works projects, roads, water and sewer systems, and grading and drainage.
In addition to these services, Ruzicka Associates has the only soils lab in Lake County.
Nancy and Cliff Ruzicka are very involved in making their community a better place. Recently Ruzicka Associates donated engineering and surveying services for Lakeport’s new Westside Community Park and the Mt. Konocti acquisition.
The Ruzickas also support local sports teams, host shadow days for high school students interested in learning about engineering and offer internships for college students.
They have been long-term supporters of economic development projects, the Chamber of Commerce, the Miss Lake County Pageant, the development of Sutter Lakeside Hospital and many other local businesses, churches and nonprofit organizations.
They employ 10 to 20 people depending on internships and economic times.
They are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and after hours and weekends by appointment.
Ruzicka Associates is located at 2495 Parallel Drive in Lakeport, telephone 707-263-6155 or contact them via e-mail at
Visit the company's Web site at www.ruzicka-engineering.com/contact.html .