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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A special event for young women, the Girls in Careers Workshop, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15.
The workshop, open to students in grades seventh through 12th throughout Lake and Mendocino Counties, will take place at Lower Lake High School from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Register online at http://www.lakecoe.org .
The purpose is to encourage girls to explore nontraditional careers with the theme being, “Never underestimate the power of a woman.”
Girls will participate in multiple hands-on sessions including “CSI Lake County” on forensic science; “Chemistry is Beautiful” on the making of cosmetics, “A is for Animals” with a veterinarian from the SPCA of Clear Lake and “Girls on the Mic,” where participants will learn about the recording industry from a couple of the guys with Cheating Daylight.
All workshops will include a local high school teacher and a person from the industry.
Girls also will have the opportunity to work with Quanisha Smith, an international speaker, to explore how to live their desired lives.
The Lake County Office of Education has offered to pay for buses or vans from every middle and high school to get girls to the event. Students should check with their school to see if they are taking advantage of the transportation option.
Lunch and snacks will be provided as well as a free drawing for prizes including a Chromebook, GoPro, Nook tablet, Dr Dre Beats High Def headphones and more.
This energetic and exciting workshop is fully funded by SB70 funds from Mendocino College and the Lake County Office of Education.
Also, parents, teachers and other community members that work with youth are invited to attend an event on Friday, Nov. 14, at Lower Lake High.
Smith will lead a free workshop starting at 5 p.m. Titled, “How to Talk So Youth Will Listen.”
Participation will include a catered meal by the LLHS culinary department.
For more information contact Norma Cromwell or Tammy Serpa at 707-994-9001.
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UKIAH, Calif. – A perpetual scholarship has been established for Mendocino College Nursing Program students in memory of LaRue Kobrin of Fort Bragg, who died in September.
Kobrin spent her entire life in service to helping others. She was a loving, caring and giving person who truly believed in doing everything possible to make the world a better place.
She was raised on the family farm in Palsade, Neb., while her father served in the United States Navy. The family would later move to San Diego where her father began his career in education and instilled an intellectual curiosity in his daughter.
Her educational career included a bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Diego State in 1964 and completion of a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Colorado in 1968.
“She had a natural curiosity about people and their behavior which led her into the field of psychology. LaRue’s true life passion was that she gave of herself, without prejudice or judgment in an attempt to help those less fortunate,” said Frank Bender, Kobrin’s husband and life partner for the past 44 years.
Kobrin and Bender met in 1970 and according to him, “the first day we met, we became best friends, lovers and soulmates.”
Their extraordinary love story would bring them to beautiful Fort Bragg in 1974 where they would live for the rest of Kobrin's life.
A teacher at heart, Kobrin began her teaching career at College of the Redwoods in 1981 as the psychology professor for the Fort Bragg Campus.
Her career spanned 24 years and included helping so many people reach their full potential. Many of her former students still remain in the area, and their faces light up at the mention of her name.
One former student of Kobrin’s is Terri Ebrey, RN, hospice coordinator at Mendocino Coast Home Health.
“My early association with LaRue was as a student at College of the Redwoods in the 1990s,” said Ebrey. “She always seemed joyous and compassionate. LaRue arrived to class early. Those of us who did the same were greeted by that smile of hers and were able to pick her marvelous brain. She never told me 'no' … she was patient and eager to share her knowledge. In the collegiate setting, LaRue was a student advocate.
“At the end of her life LaRue was fairly nonverbal from the time I became involved in her care until the time she passed. However, and here comes the special part, she still managed to exude joy and compassion. Without ever saying a word. All she had to work with were her smile and loving eyes. She was generous to the very end; generous of spirit. It seemed to me that she felt peaceful acceptance in regard to her prognosis, examples of a life lived fully and lovingly,” Ebrey said.
While at College of the Redwoods, Kobrin met and became close friends with her math colleague Deborah White.
“I met LaRue in 1985 and began working with her at College of the Redwoods in 1990. Our relationship lasted 15 years and gave us both the camaraderie and support that professors working at a small rural satellite campus desperately needed,” said White.
“LaRue identified with ordinary people. Here she was, this incredibly smart woman with a PhD from the University of Colorado who not only taught, but was a longtime manager at Captain Flints Restaurant. LaRue Kobrin was 'of the people' … She was very laid back but had a brain of steel. She was also incredibly loyal and family oriented. She treated everyone she met with dignity and care,” according to White.
Kobrin died on Sept. 22, 2014. However, the impact of her work and that passionate belief in helping others will live on in perpetuity.
Bender has generously created the LaRue Kobrin Memorial Scholarship in her memory.
These perpetual scholarships will be distributed annually to Mendocino College students enrolled in the Nursing Program with an emphasis given to those students residing on the Mendocino County Coast.
“LaRue Kobrin touched countless people’s lives because she was a loving, caring, and giving human being. These scholarships will continue to touch lives and remind us all what it means to make a difference in a life. On behalf of the Mendocino College Foundation, we are honored to be the steward of this gift,” said Katie Fairbairn, Mendocino College Foundation executive director.
Recently, the Anderson Valley Advertiser’s Bruce Anderson stated this about Kobrin, “mere words and condolences aren’t nearly enough to describe this woman’s life ...”
For more information about or to contribute to the LaRue Kobrin Memorial Scholarships, email
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Congratulations to the recent graduates of the Certified Nurse Assistant Program offered through the Lake County Office of Education.
On Thursday, Oct. 30, students, families and staff gathered at Meadowood Nursing Center in Clearlake to celebrate the course completion of 10 students.
Meadowood Administrator Cheryl Cole welcomed the crowd and instructor Christine Barnes praised the students' dedication and compassion in their quest to become CNAs.
Graduate Liberty Justice shared her words of wisdom followed by the presentation of certificates by Lake County Office of Education Coordinator Norma Cromwell.
Upon completion of the state board exams on Nov. 8, all graduates will be Certified Nurse Assistants and eligible to enter the work force in their profession.
A new CNA class will be starting on Feb. 16, 2015.
The 13-week course will take place at the Lake County Office of Education Training & Career Center located at 14092 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturdays.
Clinical hours will take place at Meadowood Nursing Center.
For more information, contact Norma Cromwell at 707-994-9001, email
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UKIAH, Calif. – The Mendocino College Board of Trustees will convene for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m.
This meeting will be held in Room 4210 of the Library Building on the Mendocino College Ukiah Campus, 1000 Hensley Creek Road.
Please note, the public comments portion of the meeting is a time certain item and will take place at 6 p.m.
Action Item 6.2 specifically addresses the Point Arena Field Station and will be discussed by the Board of Trustees at that time during the meeting.
Please see the agenda below for more information.
CALL TO ORDER /PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES
1.1. Agenda Approval
1.2. Approval of minutes for the regular meeting held on Oct. 1 the board workshop held on Oct. 15 and the special meeting held on Oct. 15.
2. CLOSED SESSION
2.1. Collective Bargaining/Meet and Confer - GC 54957.6. Designated Representatives: Reyes, Guleff, Cichocki, Pegan. Employee Organizations: MCFT, MPFA, Management/Supervisory/Confidential, MLCCCBU
2.2. Conference with real property negotiator – GC 54956.8. Price and term of payment
2.3. Conference with legal counsel – anticipated litigation – GC 54956.9(d) one case. Case names unspecified: Disclosure would jeopardize anticipated settlement negotiations
2.4. Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release – GC 54957. Case names unspecified: Disclosure would jeopardize existing settlement negotiations
PUBLIC COMMENTS – TIME CERTAIN ITEM 6 P.M.
This time is set aside for general public comments. Additionally, comments may be made at time of discussion of any item.
After being recognized by the chair, those wishing to make comments are asked to stand at the podium, give their name, place of residence and affiliation, if any, and address their comments to the Board President. Trustees may ask questions of the speaker for clarification but will not discuss items that are not on the agenda. If appropriate, the Board may choose to refer the subject to College staff for research or for the item to be placed on a subsequent agenda.
3. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
3.1. A report from Superintendent/President Reyes is presented as information.
CONSENT AGENDA
4. Personnel
4.1. Employment – short-term employees. Recommendation to ratify a list of short-term employees.
4.2. Volunteers. Recommendation to approve the list of volunteers as presented.
4.3. Retirement – classified employee. Recommendation to accept the retirement of Johnny Smith.
4.4. Retirement – supervisory employee. Recommendation to accept the retirement of Arlene Peters.
4.5. Resignations. Recommendation to accept the resignation of Gregory Byard and Aeron Ives.
4.6. Employment – classified/approval of reclassification. Recommendation to approve reclassification of Susan Orozco to alt media/assistive technology technician.
5. Other Items
5.1. Fiscal Report as of September 30, 2014. Recommendation to accept the report as presented.
5.2. Donation of automobile. Recommendation to accept a donation of an automobile from Sunshine Georgantis.
5.3. Donation of compost. Recommendation to accept a donation of compost from Cold Creek Compost.
5.4. Academic calendar for 2015-16. Recommendation to adopt the revised calendar as presented.
5.5. Sale and/or disposal of surplus property. Recommendation to authorize the sale and/or disposal of surplus property.
6. ACTION ITEMS
6.1. Quarterly fiscal status report – AB 2910. Recommendation to accept the report as presented.
6.2. Point Arena Field Station. Disposition of the Point Arena property.
7. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
7.1. Education and Student Services Report. Education and Student Services Department informational report.
7.2. Administrative Services Report. Administrative Services Department informational report
7.3. Mendocino College Foundation Inc. Mendocino College Foundation informational report.
7.4. Constituent groups reports. Reports from constituent groups are presented as information.
7.5. Health Benefits Report. Health Benefits report is presented as information.
7.6. Board policy additions and revisions. Revisions to board policies presented as information for review.
8. TRUSTEE COMMUNICATIONS
8.1. Trustee reports. Written and oral reports from trustees are presented as information.
8.2. Trustee self-evaluation. Summary analysis of the board’s self-evaluation will be presented at the meeting.
9. ADJOURNMENT
ADA Compliance: Persons with disabilities needing assistance, please notify the Superintendent/President's Office at 468-3071 no later than 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Meetings are held in locations which are wheelchair accessible.
The agenda packet and supporting materials can be viewed in the President’s Office, Room 1070, Mendocino College, 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah, or on the College’s Web site at www.mendocino.edu .