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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
NORTH COAST, Calif. – On Wednesday, Mendocino College Career Education instructors provided Adventist Health with 250 3D printed face shields to use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March, the college also delivered 240 N95 masks, and another 5,000 – including ear loop surgical, face shield, and N95 – were given directly from the Mendocino College Nursing Department.
“This is Mendocino College Career Education instructors and students in action, making a difference by responding to the immediate medical equipment needs of our community and our region,” said Dean of Career Education Dennis Aseltyne.
“We have been touched by the outpouring of support from our community for healthcare workers on the front lines. At a time when usual supply chain channels are disrupted, the team from Mendocino College has found a way to address a great need and help keep our staff safe through their creativity. This demonstrates that one does not have to be a front line healthcare
worker to help our community during this challenging time and that everyone can step up and find a way to help,” said Jason Wells, president for Adventist Health in Mendocino County, which operates Adventist Health Howard Memorial and Adventist Health Ukiah Valley.
Theatre Arts/Technical Director Steve Decker and Computer Science instructor David Pai have been running up to five different 3D printers daily for the past several weeks preparing the masks. Between the five machines, approximately 25 masks can be made daily.
Decker and Pai admit that due to the new technology, the machines require a lot of handholding, which can result in slower production at times.
“In times of crisis, we want to leverage technology to provide solutions to problems,” Pai said. “This was one way that we could leverage our 3D printing technology at the college to support our front-line medical workers in this crazy time.”
The type of 3D printing is called fuse deposition modeling, or FDM. FDM is a type of printing that melts the material and pushes it out a small nozzle where material is needed that cools to make the new part. It is much like a hot glue gun, but more controlled and produces little fumes.
The material used is called polylactic acid and is a biodegradable thermoplastic made from plant-based sources such as sugar cane.
“These masks are vital to our first responders on the frontline. It's been great seeing how a new emerging technology can help out,” said Decker.
The college offers a course in 3D Design and Printing (CSC175), where students learn not only the intricacies of FDM printing but also how to design their own parts for printing.
In addition to FDM printing, students also gain experience using a stereolithography printer.
The 3D print lab is available to all students who have previously completed CSC175.
Theatre Arts instructor and professional costume designer Kathy Dingman-Katz has also been busy making free masks for the community and filling requests as they come in.
Two of her former costume construction students are also supplying local nurses with masks.
For more information about Career Education programs at Mendocino College, visit www.mendocino.edu/ce .
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board will meet virtually beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
Because the meeting will be held virtually, members of the public are asked to submit comments on items to
In an untimed item, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson will take to the board a proposed urgency ordinance establishing temporary safety protocols for when county of Lake facilities reopen.
Specifically, the ordinance would require the public to wear masks when in county facilities under the same conditions in which county employees must wear masks as outlined in a temporary policy the board enacted on April 21.
The board also will consider a request to appoint a negotiating team for the sale of a portion of the surplused property located at 7175 S. Center Drive in Clearlake.
Last week, Lake Transit Agency received a $13 million grant for a new transit hub that it proposes to build at that site.
In other business, the board will get its weekly update on COVID-19 from Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace at 9:01 a.m.
At 10 a.m., staff is scheduled to update the board on community choice aggregation, which enables local jurisdictions to pool the electricity demand of participating communities' facilities to purchase and develop power on their behalf.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a resolution recommending that the county treasurer-tax collector immediately implement procedures to facilitate taxpayer applications for penalty waivers and payment plans for property taxes to assist county taxpayers during the ongoing pandemic.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt resolution approving amended Agreement No.18-0689-000-SA with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to provide reimbursement for Industrial Hemp Cultivation Program for agreement term April 30, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
5.2: Sitting as Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, authorize the air pollution control officer to sign the grant agreement, all other state program documents, grant recipient contracts, accept all AB617 Incentive Funds allocated for Lake County, and to implement the program.
5.3: Approve agreement between county of Lake and CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP for Audit Services for fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, Amendment No. 1 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and North Valley Behavioral Health LLC for fiscal year 2019-20 to increase the contract maximum to $362,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.5: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings from March 3, 2020, March 27, 2020, and March 31, 2020.
5.6: Approve the continuation of local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.7: Adopt resolution to amend the budget for FY 2019-2020 by appropriating unanticipated revenue for Public Health Services and authorize the Health Services director to sign necessary documents to secure these funds .
5.8: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex Fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.9: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee Fire incident.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.11: (a) Waive the competitive bidding process in accordance with County Code Section 2-38.2 because it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve agreement between the county of Lake and SHN Engineers & Geologists Inc. for technical support services for Eastlake Sanitary Landfill 2020 waste discharge requirements and authorize the chair to sign; and (c) approve agreement between the county of Lake and SHN Engineers & Geologists Inc. for technical support services for Eastlake Sanitary Landfill 2020 Monitoring and Reporting Program and authorize the chair to sign.
5.12: (a) Waive the normal sealed bid process under Ordinance No. 2406, Section 38.4 for the purchase of a Central Garage pool vehicle; and (b) authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract to Downtown Ford in the amount of $34,872.69.
5.13: Approve waiver of the 900 hour extra help limit for Facilities Maintenance Worker James Adam, Deputy Sheriff Michael Moore, Marine Patrol Deputy Sheriff’s Brenndon Bosse, Kevin Odom, Emil Devincenzi, Lloyd Wells and Dennis Ostini.
5.14: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; (b) approve the customer price quote from AMS.NET for the purchase of VOIP phone and licensing for the sheriff’s facilities in the amount of $25,524.32 and authorize the sheriff/coroner and director of information technology to issue a purchase order.
5.15: (a) Approve agreement between the Lake County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Forest Service for FY 20/21 annual operating and financial plan in the amount of $11,000 for Pillsbury Patrol; (b) approve grant modification agreement in the amount of $52,420 for the purchase of equipment for the Goat Mountain joint repeater project, (c) adopt the resolution to allocate unanticipated revenue and authorize the sheriff and the chairman to sign.
5.16: Approve Waiver of the 900 hour limit for certain janitorial positions within the Department of Social Services.
5.17: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of the goods and services; and (b) approve the agreement between county of Lake and Clean Lakes Inc. for the Aquatic Vegetation Management Program for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 in the amount of $205,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Consideration of Update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transportation and disposal of fire debris for the Mendocino Complex fire.
6.4, 10 a.m.: Consideration of an update on community choice aggregation and direction to staff for future efforts.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors recommending that the county treasurer-tax collector immediately implement procedures to facilitate taxpayer applications for penalty waivers and payment plans for property taxes to assist county taxpayers during the ongoing pandemic.
7.3: Consideration of request to appoint negotiating team for the sale of a portion of the surplused property located at 7175 S. Center Drive, Clearlake, CA (APN: 010-043-52).
7.4: Consideration of (a) resolution authorizing cannabis equity grant funding; and (b) discussion of equity assessment and program development .
7.5: Consideration of an urgency ordinance establishing temporary safety protocols upon the reopening of county facilities to the public during the ongoing COVID-19 State of emergency.
7.6: Addendum, consideration of letter to the board of barbering and cosmetology requesting restrictions be lifted temporarily to allow local barbers and hairstylists to go into the homes of their clients to provide services during the COVID-19 crisis.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with real property negotiator pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.8: Property: APN: 010-043-052; 7175 S. Center Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422. Negotiating parties: Lake County Administrative Office and Lake County Transit Authority. Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment.
8.2: Conference with Legal Counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1): EEOC Charge of C. McCormick.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport reported that Library Park has not been reopened, but another city-owned lakeshore property, Dutch Harbor, is available for public use.
Updated health orders Issued last week by Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace now allow some activities including fishing from shore, hiking and jogging in areas where public parks are open, as Lake County News has reported.
However, the city of Lakeport reported that Library Park remains fully closed and these activities will not be allowed there.
While the city reported that it does desire to open Library Park as soon as it can, “We must be able to fully provide for public health and safety and there are additional reasons that we can not yet allow any activities,” officials said in a Sunday statement.
Major construction is still in progress at Library Park, and to protect employees from the spread of COVID-19 the city has limited park staff available and it does not have any open public restrooms available.
“We will continually assess our ability to allow public access as we understand the people’s desire to use their public parklands,” city officials said.
While Library Park remains closed, the city-owned land known as Dutch Harbor in the 900 block of North Main Street is open for public access, the city said.
Dutch Harbor has parking and the shore of Clear Lake can be reached for fishing or walking.
- Details
- Written by: Erin Baker, Wayne State University
With most U.S. schools closed for the rest of the school year due to the COVID-19 outbreak – and uncertainty surrounding the decision to reopen them in the fall – parents may be tempted to try out home-schooling.
As a sociologist who has interviewed dozens of home-schooling parents to learn which practices work best, I know that first-timers can quickly find themselves feeling unprepared and overwhelmed. With that in mind, here are six tips for parents who educate their children at home.
1. Don’t copy a regular classroom
When many of the parents I interviewed first started home-schooling, they tried to make their homes look and feel like a traditional school environment. They set up desks and decorated the walls with the kinds of things you’d see in a classroom. They set a schedule and positioned themselves as teacher. But they soon came to see this as a rookie mistake that causes a lot of stress and pressure.
A woman I’ll call Beth, a 37-year-old mother who has been home-schooling her four children for four years, warns parents not do “public school at home” because “it doesn’t really work.”
“Don’t make it look like public school at your kitchen table,” Beth says. “Just have more conversations with kids and see who they are and that will help you develop how you want to do school because you’ll know what speaks to them.”
2. Don’t spend much on curriculum
You might feel the urge to rush to buy a “boxed curriculum,” a set of grade-level materials that can cost more than US$1,000. Before you do that, try to find free educational lessons on websites such as Khan Academy and Learning Games for Kids. Additionally, these home-schooling parents often used their local libraries for books and programming, although during the pandemic they are now using libraries’ online and e-book resources only. They also use documentaries found online and through TV streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime.
Also, most home-schooling parents that I interviewed didn’t subscribe to just one method or program. Instead, they piece together lessons that were unique to their child using a blend of commercial and free materials.
3. Be mindful of your time
The parents in my study, which is forthcoming, spent an average of 3.5 hours a day home-schooling. At first, this might seem like much less than the average of six to seven hours a day spent in the traditional public school classroom. However, one key difference is that at home, your child is receiving a one-on-one education instead of splitting one teacher’s attention with 25 or so other students. Instead of trying to have school all day, focus on quality over quantity.
“Megan,” a home-schooling mother of three, said she has often seen home-schooling parents “freaking out” because they want to give their children four or five hours of schooling a day. “One-on-one instruction is way more efficient than in a class of 20 to 30 kids,” Megan says. “And you don’t need to be schooling from nine to three every day solid.”
4. Be flexible
Many of the parents I spoke with stressed the importance of being flexible and doing what works for your family. Because children are now learning at home, an environment in which they are used to being relaxed, it could be beneficial to allow them to sit on the floor, to do their work in the evening, or to do school work on Saturdays instead of Wednesdays. Maybe your child will fare better completing all of their math on Tuesdays but spreading science lessons out over the week. Be willing to try new things if something isn’t working for your family.
“Be flexible. Give yourself a lot of grace because there’s definitely a learning period for everybody,” says “Gayle,” 36, a home-schooling mother of five. “And it takes a while to get the hang of it. And just figure out what works for you.”
5. Hire experts
Home-schooling parents don’t always take on the full burden of their child’s education themselves, particularly when their children get older and into tough subjects. Many hire online tutors. Sometimes children have an interest in something that their parent doesn’t know much about, such as a foreign language or astrophysics or organic chemistry. These parents turn to tutors and specialized classes to make sure their child gets the knowledge they need to succeed and can pursue subjects that spark their curiosity.
One such place to find tutors is Outschool, which offers classes, some with certified teachers and experts. The classes can cost anywhere from $10 for a one-time class to $200 to $300 for an entire semester. If your child needs more one-on-one instruction, the average cost of a personal tutor can range from $20 to $80 per hour, depending on the subject. Another good resource for tutoring is to tap into your local university to find both undergraduate and graduate students who may be looking to make some extra cash teaching children. Due to the closure of the majority of universities and music venues, online tutoring is becoming even easier to find, as many people have turned to the internet, using platforms such as Zoom, to continue to share their knowledge. Some are even offering their services for free.
6. Join support groups
Many parents in my research turned to Facebook and Google to find local and virtual home-schooling support groups. These groups are places where parents go to air their frustrations, seek playdates (even of the online, social distancing variety), review curriculum, ask questions and find resources. This would be particularly helpful before making decisions on curriculum or outsourcing. Cast a wide net when looking for support. If you’re nervous about joining because you feel as if you aren’t truly home-schooling, reach out to the admins of the group to see if it’s a good fit.
For many of these home-schooling parents, it was very helpful to have a group of like-minded people to turn to during tough times. “That’s one of things I like about the co-op … there’s other moms,” says “Brianna,” home-schooling mother of two. “So, during lunchtime, we can say, ‘I had a horrible day.‘ 'How do you do this or how do you do that?’ And a lot of things have come about just talking to people and in forming a community, because I don’t think you can home-school on your own without some type of support network.”
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Erin Baker, Ph.D. Candidate, Sociology, Wayne State University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.