Wednesday, Sept. 15, saw a festive evening as ladies entered the Seventh-day Adventist Church with well-mannered children and potluck dishes in hand.

The mood was light as they all gathered around a big table to share food, friendship, historical facts and stories; they were celebrating Mexican Independence Day with some friends from south of the border.

This year is the 200^th anniversary of the war of independence of Mexico from Spain. The struggle began on Sept. 16, 1810, with the cry of Delores (“El Grito de Delores”), a town in Mexico where the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla incited people to fight – he is now known as father of the nation.

Mexico did not actually receive independence until 1921, but celebrate this event every year starting on the evening of Sept. 15 when the president of Mexico addresses the people in Mexico City’s square or Zocalo. The president waves the Mexican flag and rings the liberty bell once used by priest Miguel.

You can join our group anytime on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 21640 Hwy 29 at the Seventh-day Adventist church at 6 p.m.

They share food (a healthy cooking class) and healthy lifestyle information including sound nutritional advice, and of course, friendship.

A special thanks to the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the support and a good place to meet. They also thank Earth Goods Health foods, Middletown Hardester’s Market, Linda Barton and Diane Leon, along with Maria Sanchez for working with the precious children.

Annie Barnes, Suzanne Abel, Veronica McGee and Jacque Felber are part of the Sunrise Special Services Reach Out program, which promotes preventive health classes all around Lake County.

For more information call Sunrise Special Services at 707-274-9121.

The nonprofits can preserve their nonexempt by complying with a one-time relief program being offered by the IRS.

Some of the local organizations appearing on the IRS list include mutual water companies, peace officer associations, grange patron groups, business associations, food cupboards, community radio stations and booster clubs.

“Attaining 'tax-exempt' status is a big event in the life of a nonprofit organization,” said Mary Heare Amodio, president of the Lake County Bar Association. “Because of the huge impact this may have on local nonprofits, the Lake County Bar Association has compiled a list of affected Lake County organizations.”

She said members of the community who would like to review the list can request a copy from by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; use the words “IRS list” in the subject line.

The current situation arose when Congress passed the Pension Protection Act of 2006. In it are two important changes affecting tax-exempt organizations, effective the beginning of 2007.

First, it mandated that all tax-exempt organizations, other than churches and church-related organizations, must file an annual return with the IRS. The Form 990-N was created for small tax-exempt organizations that had not previously had a filing requirement.

Second, the law also required that any tax-exempt organization that fails to file for three consecutive years automatically loses its federal tax-exempt status.

The IRS said it conducted an extensive outreach effort about the new legal requirement but, even so, many organizations have not filed returns on time.

If an organization loses its exemption, it will have to reapply with the IRS to regain its tax-exempt status. Any income received between the revocation date and renewed exemption may be taxable.

Organizations can check their status on the IRS.gov Web site at the following link: http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=225889,00.html.

For donors, once an organization has its exempt status revoked, their contributions are no longer tax-deductible.

Two types of relief are available for small exempt organizations — a filing extension for the smallest organizations required to file Form 990-N, Electronic Notice (e-Postcard), and a voluntary compliance program (VCP) for small organizations eligible to file Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax.

Small organizations required to file Form 990-N simply need to go to the IRS website, supply the eight information items called for on the form, and electronically file it by Oct. 15. That will bring them back into compliance.

Details about the VCP are on the IRS Web site, along with frequently asked questions.

“If you do not have your filings up to date, now's the time to take action and get back on track,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.

The IRS will keep today’s list of at-risk organizations on IRS.gov until Oct. 15, 2010.

Organizations that have not filed the required information returns by that date will have their tax-exempt status revoked, and the IRS will publish a list of these revoked organizations in early 2011.

The first, in English, will be held on the first two Tuesdays and Thursdays (Oct. 5, 7, 12 and 14) from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

The second, in Spanish, will take place on the third and fourth Tuesdays and Thursdays (Oct. 19, 21, 26 and 28) from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

The church is located at the corner of Park and Hill, right off Highway 29.

The cost of the class is $20. For further information please call Sheri at 707-349-5016.

That means keeping the cell phone locked in the trunk, skipping the drive-thru, and not playing DJ with the radio.

AAA’s Heads Up Driving Week is from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2.

“It only takes an instant for a crash to occur. In fact, a study by AAA found that the odds of being involved in a crash, or a near crash, double when drivers look away from the road in front of them for two seconds or longer,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja. “We hope that by driving distraction-free for a week, which allows people to have their heads up and focused on the road, drivers will end up picking up the habit for life.”

A new study by AAA shows that 52 percent of drivers say they feel less safe on the roads now than they did five years ago.

The leading reason for that sense of unease is distracted driving. Eighty-eight percent of motorists rate drivers who text and email as a very serious threat to their safety.

AAA offers the following tips to minimize distractions:

• Stow electronic devices. Turn off your phone before you drive so you won’t be tempted to use it while on the road. You could also pull over to a safe place to talk on the phone or to send and receive text messages or emails.

• Prepare kids and pets for the trip. Get the kids safely buckled in and situated with snacks and entertainment before you start driving. If needed, pull off the road to safely care for them or pets.

• Satisfy that craving off the road. Eat meals and snacks before driving, or stop for an eating break.

• Get your vehicle road-ready. Adjust seat positions, climate controls, sound systems and other devices before you leave, or while your vehicle is stopped, and store loose gear. Make sure your headlights are spotless so you can see everything on the road and other drivers can see you properly.

• Dress for success before you get in the car. Your car isn’t a dressing room. Brush your hair, shave, put on make-up, and tie your necktie before you leave or once you reach your destination.

• Enlist passengers. Ask a passenger to help you with activities that may be distracting.

If you have considered tracing your family's history, this beginner's class will provide ideas about where to start and what resources to use.

Local genealogists meet every Tuesday afternoon to share information and tips with each other. They invite anyone who is interested to join the class whether beginning or advanced researchers.

Topics covered include: researching your family through sources that can be found in your home, courthouses, libraries, and Internet; overcoming research "brick-walls" and organizing your findings.

The LDS Family History Center is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays at the LDS church, Lakeport.

Classes are free for everyone, and participation does not require membership in either the Lake County Genealogical Society or the LDS church.

Everyone has ancestors, why not find yours?

The public is invited to attend the event that is being sponsored by the Lake County Bar Association.

Lakeport attorney Judy Conard will moderate the forum.

“The actions of the district attorney and sheriff can have a major impact on the local legal community,” said Mary Heare Amodio, president of the Lake County Bar Association. “Members felt we should host a forum that would allow local attorneys to ask questions about issue that effect the members and their clients.”

The association chose to have the event at the Soper Reese Theatre in order to accommodate public attendance at the event.

“We didn't want the event to be an 'attorney-only' event,” said Amodio. “The Soper-Reese will allow plenty of seating for both members of the legal community and the public, and will allow the local, community radio station, KPFZ, to broadcast the event live from the venue.”

The Lake County Bar Association is an unincorporated business association comprised of active members of the California State Bar Association who live or work in Lake County.

For questions about the Bar Association or the Candidates forum, contact Mary Heare Amodio at 707-263-5759.