For eleven years now, students at Clear Lake High School and around the community have helped with an excellent program titled Christmas 4 Kids (C4K).

Teachers in the Lakeport Unified School District discreetly identify children in their classrooms who appear to be from either low-income families, are foster kids or just don't appear to dress for the season.

These kids are then anonymously adopted by caring high school students and community members from clubs like the Lakeport Rotary Club and Kiwanis who purchase things that they both need and want. The wrapped gifts are then distributed by the student organizers of the program, along with the help from some adult advocates.

Each year, C4K helps tons of kids get at least one brightly wrapped present on Christmas. This could never be done, however, without the gracious help of Lakeport and even Lake County businesses, organizations, and individuals.

Here is where you come in. If you would like to directly sponsor a child, you will receive a card that contains information about your child including size information, needs and wants. Your gift is due back to Clear Lake High School by Dec. 10 before 4 p.m. (when the office closes).

They would prefer the gift to be wrapped but if you either are not blessed with that ability or simply do not have the time, their expert wrappers will work their magic on your gift.

If you would prefer to donate financially, the group can always use the money to help fund wrapping supplies, cards and large-ticket items that some kids want or need (you'd be surprised).

Helping the cause and getting into the Christmas spirit of giving are easy. Just contact Bob Mayer or Chris Buehnerkemper at Clear Lake High School (707-262-3010) and let them know that you would like to help either financially or by sponsoring a child directly.

This year, senior Chris Buehnerkemper and Sophomore Eric Hagberg have run in at full speed to get the program off to a great start. Chris will be making the program into his senior project to expand and allow other schools in the area and beyond to pick up Christmas 4 Kids and carry on the tradition.

They would like to thank the citizens of Lakeport and Lake County for their continued support of the program. Without you, it simply would not work.

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The group will meet at the Northshore Fire Protection District's Upper Lake station on Main Street, which is the team headquarters, at 7 p.m. Training will follow the meeting.

Everyone is welcome to attend, from divers to non-divers. If you like the water, come and join the team.

For more information call Capt. John Rodriguez, the team leader, at the Upper Lake station, 275-2446, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Currently, residential electric utility customers can participate in the state’s solar program, known as the California Solar Initiative (CSI), and receive subsidies for the installation of photovoltaic panels to produce solar power.

Residents may also participate in “net-energy metering,” a program that allows electrical customers to receive credits for the amount of solar power they produce against their electric bills; however, any solar power they produce beyond their use is returned to their respective utility providers for free.

“At a time when the state has enacted landmark legislation aimed at significantly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and requiring 33 percent of our energy to be provided by renewable energy, we also need to encourage as many clean-power producers as possible to put this power on the electrical grid,” Wiggins said in introducing her legislation, Senate Bill 7.

SB 7 would not only allow residential utility customers to continue to receive credits for the solar power produced for their own use, it would also allow them to contribute even more solar-based power to the electrical grid.

Any power produced beyond a customer’s own use would be compensated (either by credit or payment) at the same rate a utility provider would pay for power from any other source, referred to as the “Market Price Referents.”

“My bill offers a fair and reasonable path to increased production of solar power, and it constitutes a win-win-win for solar power producers, utility providers and our environment,” Wiggins said.

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The event, sponsored by the Kelseyville Business Association, takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Main Street.

The evening will include an old-fashioned parade of lights, tree lighting at the firehouse and merchant open house on Main Street. Start your holiday season right in Kelseyville.

For more information call 349-6633 or visit www.visitkelseyville.com.

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Members and guests are invited to gather at 10 a.m. at the Lucerne Senior Center, 10^th and Country Club, for breakfast. Cost of the breakfast is $6.

The group will adjourn to the senior center's Rose Room at noon for a dessert potluck. Bring a favorite dessert to share. Tea, coffee and other beverages will be served.

The holiday program will include music, the election of 2009 club officers and an award ceremony honoring our many Democratic volunteers who worked so tirelessly during this past election cycle.

Members also will be collecting cash donations for two Lake County organizations. Beneficiaries of the donations are the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center and HotSpot Youth Center in Clearlake.

For more information contact the Lake County Democratic Club at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 263-4529.

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The meeting will take place at Loconoma Valley High School on Washington Street.

The public is encouraged to attend.

Agenda items include and amendment to the MATH bylaws, which include staggered terms of office, and amending the group's bylaws to provide for alternate board members.

MATH is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley – including Hidden Valley Lake – Long Valley and Middletown.

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