LAKEPORT – The Lakeport Planning Commission has issued a notice that it has adjourned its regular meeting of Wednesday, March 10.

The commission's next regular meeting is scheduled to take place beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 14.

MIDDLETOWN – The Middletown Area Town Hall (MATH) will hold its next meeting on Thursday, March 11.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the multiuse room at Coyote Valley Elementary School, 18950 Coyote Valley Road, Hidden Valley Lake.

Items on the agenda include, under unfinished business, approval of bylaws amendments, a presentation on invasive species in Upper Putah Creek by water engineer Tom Smythe of Lake County's Water Resources Division, discussion and consideration of a Lake County candidates forum and discussion and consideration of a park design meeting.

Under new business, they will receive information on a soap box derby, consider U.S. Department of Agriculture grants for a town hall and discuss a MATH booth at Earth Day.

LAKE COUNTY – April is nationally recognized Child Abuse Prevention month and Month of the Young Child.

This year, Lake County agencies are joining forces to proclaim April as “Lake County Cares for Our Kids” month.

Several special events and programs are scheduled to take place throughout the entire month.

The goals of this campaign are:

• Remind our communities that taking care of our children is everyone’s business,

• Raise awareness of how to recognize and prevent child abuse,

• Make a county-wide commitment to making our children our top priority,

• Raise awareness in Lake County that quality early childhood education helps kids succeed in school and in life, raises high school graduation rates and reduces future dependence on public assistance.

There are several opportunities for the community to be involved.

Child Abuse Awareness Flag Raising Ceremony, beginning at noon on Tuesday, March 23: Lake will join with counties all across California in proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and Month of the Young Child. The Board of Supervisors' proclamations will be followed by a special ceremony in Library Park, during which we honor the children who have suffered, and commit to preventing abuse in Lake County. A special presentation and lunch is included.

Advocacy Walk in Lakeport beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 10: Register to join the fun in a special advocacy walk beginning at Natural High at 10 a.m. in Lakeport and concluding at Library Park. Children, families, teachers, groups, agencies and community members are welcome to show your public commitment to children. Registration is free. Call 707-994-4795 for more information.

Children’s Art Festival, Library Park in Lakeport begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 10: Join a day of celebration. Admission is free. There will be art activities for all kids, jump house, music, information about family resources, advocacy and child abuse prevention. Children’s artwork will also be for sale. If you are an organization or agency, please contact us for information about booths and participation. Call 707-994-4795 for more information.

If you would like more information on any of these programs, or more information on child abuse prevention or the importance of quality early childhood education, please contact the Lake County Child Care Planning Council, 707-994-4795, www.lakecountychildcareplanning.com , or the Lake County Children’s Council at 707-262-4146.

CLEARLAKE – The Lake County Community Co-op's efforts to expand drop points in the county where members can pick up weekly boxes of fresh produce has resulted in a strong response and two new sites.

Just one week after launching sites in Cobb, Middletown and Lucerne, Lake Family Resource Center in Kelseyville and Olivia's Organics in Upper Lake will bring the countywide drop point total for the co-op to seven.

Residents may now pick up weekly boxes in Clearlake, Lucerne, Upper Lake, Lakeport, Kelseyville, Cobb and Middletown.

The co-op reported that response has been overwhelmingly positive as CSA signups increased by almost 40 percent in the first week.

Board member and Treasurer Hileri Shand was excited at the positive and quick response.

“We knew that there were a lot of co-op members and members of the public wanting to receive our CSA boxes who found making the trip to Clearlake each week challenging and not environmentally responsible,” Shand said.

The new drop points, open between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursdays, began March 4.

For more information on how to order from the co-op, or become a drop point, go to www.lakeco-op.org or call Hileri Shand at 707-995-9054.

Annual membership in the Co-op is $24 and the CSA boxes are $15 each, paid on a monthly basis. The co-op sources the all-organic CSA boxes first from local farmers, then regionally and beyond from farmers and distributors. In addition, members can purchase locally baked organic breads from Main Street Bakery in Kelseyville.

The co-op's intention is to help support a more sustainable food system through local and organic food sourcing. The co-op is celebrating over two years in existence and envisions cultivating an evolving community by nurturing values of social, economic and environmental responsibility.

For more information go to www.lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270.

LUCERNE – Lucerne Friends of Locally Owned Water (FLOW) will meet at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center on Saturday, March 20.

Breakfast will take place at 11 a.m. and costs $6.

The meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m.

The public is welcome.

LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Department of Social Services has issued a notice to all In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers in Lake County pertaining to the new state mandated provider enrollment.

Recent changes in state law affects IHSS providers, requiring all current providers to complete the following enrollment steps.

Step 1: Complete and sign the IHSS Program Provider Enrollment Form (SOC 426).

Step 2: Call the IHSS office at 707-995-4640 to schedule an appointment for fingerprinting, which will be completed at the office at no cost to providers.

Step 3: Once fingerprinting has been completed, providers will be notified of the day and time of their orientation.

Please complete all the steps by May 31.

State law requires the enrollment process to be completed by July 1 or providers will no longer be eligible to receive payment from IHSS for providing services.

If providers have any questions they are urged to call the IHSS/Public Authority office at 707-995-4680 and ask to speak with a public authority specialist.