FINLEY, Calif. — Plans are underway to get the long-awaited project to restore the Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse off the ground early next year.

The 151-year-old schoolhouse is located on Finley Road East in Finley.

The Lucerne Area Revitalization Association, or LARA, is a 501c(3) nonprofit formed in 2018 by John Jensen and Elizabeth Larson, owners of Lake County News, in order to work on important projects around the community.

Despite its name, LARA isn’t limited to work just in Lucerne, but was created to pursue a countywide mission and was conceived while the founders were hiking the hills picking up trash.

In 2021, the Kelseyville Unified School District granted LARA the Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse at the end of a process that began before the pandemic with a request for proposals.

LARA and the school district also have entered into a 50-year lease for the property where the schoolhouse sits in Finley.

The organization is now launching a fundraising campaign as part of #GivingTuesday in order to begin the renovation and restoration in 2023.

Priority work will include the expensive process of removing the decades of lead paint that coat the interior and exterior of the building, which is important in order to make the building safe and available for use to the community, especially for children and into the future.

Other aspects of the restoration will include fixing the windows, making critical repairs to the interior and exterior, including repairing water damage to the floor; conducting well and septic tank testing; rewiring; and stabilizing the building.

Tax-deductible donations can be made through LARA’s online donation platform or mailed to LARA, P.O. Box 1792, Lucerne, CA 95458-1792.

In addition to funding, LARA also is looking for people with expertise about historical buildings willing to share their knowledge and time volunteering during the restoration project.

For more information, contact LARA at 707-200-4709, or email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or John Jensen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..