MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Sacramento River Watershed Program will host a watershed workshop in Middletown on Friday, Feb. 18.

The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to noon in the conference room at Middletown Rancheria's Twin Pine Casino, 22223 Highway 29.

There is no charge to attend, but those attending are asked to RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The agenda follows.

10 a.m.: Welcome and introductions.

10:10 a.m.: Local watershed presentation – California Indian Environmental Alliance, Cache Creek Watershed Sampling and Mapping Project.

10:40 a.m. “Sacramento River Basin: A Roadmap to Watershed Management,” presented by Mary Lee Knecht, Sacramento River Watershed Program.

11:40 a.m.: “Developing Watershed Health Indicators for the Sacramento River Basin and Feather River Basin Pilot Report Card,” presented by Fraser Shilling, UC Davis.

Noon: Watershed updates and next steps.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – There is still time for interested city residents to apply for the Clearlake Planning Commission.

The city is currently welcoming applications for two seats on the commission.

The Clearlake Planning Commission hears and acts upon land use applications, and also acts in an advisory capacity to the Clearlake City Council on zoning, general plan and other land use matters.

The commission holds regular meetings at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month, and may hold additional meetings as necessary.

Commissioners are required to file, as public record, periodic statements of economic interest disclosing interest in real property, business and investment, and sources of income in compliance with requirements of the Political Reform Act.

Interested individuals may obtain application forms during normal business hours at Clearlake City Hall.

Applications must be filed with the city clerk no later that 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3.

The Clearlake City Council will consider all applicants and make the appointments at the regular council meeting on Thursday, Feb. 10.

For more information call City Clerk Melissa Swanson at 707-994-8201, Extension 106.

New officers for the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., at their installation. Courtesy photo.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club has installed new officers this year.

Officers include President Angela Birk, Vice President Inge Rankin, Secretary Pat Berry and Treasurer Anita Engberg.

The Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club was the first club Birk joined when she moved to HVL in 1998. Birk loves living in HVL and says she considers garden work “green therapy.”

Rankin and her husband Mike, also a garden club member, moved to HVL a little over one year ago from Pennsylvania to be closer to their children and granddaughter.

“Gardening has been a fun activity for me since I was a toddler and helped my grandmother plant her vegetable garden,” she said. “We are continually amazed at the long growing season here and the great variety of plants that thrive in this area.”

Berry, in her second term as garden club secretary, has been interested in gardening since Girl Scouts' "Victory Gardens" during WWII.

She belonged to the Paradise, Calif., Garden Club for 22 years. She joined the HVL Garden Club 3 years ago and enjoys the pleasant associations and sense of purpose in various areas such as the plantings in the community, education of members, the Garden Sale, Adopt-a-Road, conservation and the general interest in making our world more beautiful.

Engberg has gardened in Nebraska, Iowa, Montana and Santa Rosa and is now learning to do so in Middletown where she settled two years ago. She and her late husband were active in the Santa Rosa Garden Club.

“It was a natural to join the HVL Garden Club,” Engberg said. “Sharing knowledge and ideas with fellow gardeners is always a joy.”

The mission of the HVL Garden Club is to provide members a greater sense of appreciation, pride and knowledge about our private and public gardens and for the study and enjoyment of amateur gardening in various aspects and applications.

Membership is open to all interested persons.

Meetings are held the second Monday of each month with a social gathering at 9:30 a.m. followed by the business meeting at 10 a.m. in the administrative office of the Hidden Valley Lake Association, 18174 Hidden Valley Road.

For further information please contact Angela Birk at 707-987-0195, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Penny Leff from UC Davis' Small Farms Program will discuss agritourism and an upcoming workshop on the subject in Ukiah for local farmers this week on “Earth Wise.”

Tune in to “Earth Wise” on KPFZ 88.1 FM from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4.

Email your questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call in to to the show at 707-263-3435.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Help hardworking Lake County families receive the tax refunds they deserve by volunteering today for the Earn It! Keep It! Save It program.

Last year, volunteers helped bring $1.3 million in refunds back into the Lake/Mendocino/Sonoma community at free tax preparation sites throughout our counties.

Two new locations are opening at Lake Family Resource offices located in Clearlake and Kelseyville.

No experience is necessary and training sessions, in person or online, will be held for tax preparer volunteers.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Tax preparers – receive free IRS training and certification;

• Greeters – welcome taxpayers to the sites;

• Interpreters – interpret between the taxpayer and the tax preparer, when needed;

• Community resource coaches – connect individuals and families to resources that can make a difference.

No experience is required. Training can be completed online 24 hours a day, seven days a week or at the Clearlake site between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. You set your hours to fit your schedule.

Learn more about the program and how to volunteer, by calling Joy Swetnam, Lake Family Resource Center, at 707-995-2958 or 707-272-2660, or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Law Library is now offering some new services to the community.

The library has updated its Web site to include many more links, and also now are subscribing to Lexis Online as well as CEB OnLaw, with limited access to WestLaw.

The Lake County Law Library is open to all residents of Lake County. Come to the law library to research federal, state, and local laws, statutes and ordinances.

On site visitors will find two public computers with Internet, connected to a printer, a copier, a typewriter and study space.

Another great resource is a wide selection of self-help books on a variety of subjects such as real estate, bankruptcy, divorce, small claims, guardianship and more. They also have access to many common forms.

“We are the major source for forms of all kinds for the community and legal referrals to other agencies,” said librarian Kathleen O'Connor. “We are here to help all residents of Lake County.”

The library is located at 175 Third St. in Lakeport, across from the Lake County Courthouse. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is closed on holidays.

Call 707-263-2205, e-mail O'Connor at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the library online at www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Law_Library.htm .