The plan sets forth goals and objectives to address needs of seniors and people with disabilities in Lake and Mendocino counties.

The AAA is interested in receiving input from older adults, persons with disabilities, family and volunteer caregivers, agencies and advocacy groups serving these individuals, and other interested community members. AAA also will share information about the services available to seniors throughout Lake and Mendocino Counties.

The following is a schedule of the forums.

• Wednesday, Sept. 10, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Middletown Senior Center, 15299 Central Park Road.

• Wednesday, Sept. 10, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Highlands Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Road, Clearlake.

• Wednesday, Sept. 17, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Willits Seniors Inc., 1501 Baechtel Road, Willits.

• Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Ukiah Senior Center, 499 Leslie St., Ukiah.

• Thursday, Sept. 25, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Lucerne Alpine Seniors, 3985 Country Club Drive.

• Thursday, Sept. 25, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave.

• Wednesday, Oct. 1, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., South Coast Seniors, 140 Main St., Point Arena.

• Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Redwood Coast Seniors, 490 North Harold St., Fort Bragg.

For more information, please contact the AAA at 463-7775.

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Kathy Fowler gets in the dunk tank to raise money for a new domestic violence shelter. Courtesy photo.

The event, which ran from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., featured several wineries from Lake County which poured their wines, along with food vendors, local artisans and music.

There also were games and a dunk tank. The resort's owners, John and Colleen McDonald, tried to convince businesswoman Kathy Fowler to go into the tank, an idea Fowler didn't take to at first.

But after the McDonalds went in, Fowler offered to follow if she could raise $500 for the Lake County Resource Center's Freedom House domestic violence shelter project.

The challenge proved irresistible to those attending the event, who pitched in to raise the $500, and Fowler went in.

It was the resort's chef who finally hit the paddle and sent Fowler into the water.

Kathy Fowler and Jeff Smith, winemaker at Napa Valley's Dusinberre Cellars, which was on hand to pour wine at the event. Courtesy photo.

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As a result, the bill next heads to the desk of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his consideration.

Existing law (the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989) required cities and counties to divert 25 percent of their solid waste from landfill disposal or transformation (through source reduction, recycling and composting activities) by Jan. 1, 1995 – and to divert 50 percent of their solid waste after Jan. 1, 2000.

The law also requires each city, county, or regional agency to submit annual reports to the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) summarizing their progress in reducing solid waste, and requires those reports to include calculations of annual disposal reduction, information on changes in waste generated or disposed, progress in diverting construction and demolition waste material.

Wiggins, who was a member of the CIWMB prior to her election to the Senate in 2006, said SB 1016 shifts the focus, from 50 percent diversion to 50 percent disposal reduction, of the current requirement that a local jurisdiction reduce its solid waste disposal over what it would have been given local growth factors.

“The benefits of moving to a disposal-based system include increased timeliness and accuracy, and a streamlining of the review process by allowing jurisdictions that are in compliance to be reviewed every four years instead of every two,” Wiggins said.

According to the CIWMB, California diverted more than 46 million tons of solid waste away from landfills into recycling, composting and transformation programs in 2005, for an estimated statewide diversion rate of 52 percent.

Diversion has increased nine-fold since the Integrated Waste Management Act was passed in 1989. The CIWMB notes that almost 70 percent of jurisdictions have received approval for their diversion rates while 30 percent have either been granted a time extension or are on compliance orders.

Among other things, the Wiggins bill:

• Requires that beginning Jan. 1, 2009, CIWMB will determine compliance with the diversion goals established by the 1989 act by comparing each jurisdiction's "per capita disposal rate" with the jurisdiction's "50 percent percent equivalent" per capital disposal rate on Jan. 1, 2007;

• Specifies that CIWMB consider the per capita disposal rate when determining compliance with the act (but also that the rate is not the only factor). Also requires the waste management board to evaluate the need for a review of a jurisdiction's program implementation should the rate exceed the 50 percent equivalent;

• Authorizes CIWMB to use an alternative per capita factor for developing the per capita disposal rate if a representative rate cannot be determined using the specified factors;

• Specifies how CIWMB determines the 50 percent equivalent disposal rate using years 2003-2007 waste generation information;

• Retains the waste management board's authority to establish an alternative per capita disposal rate for rural jurisdictions;

• Revises the 10 percent diversion "credit" for transformation to reflect the per capita disposal rate.

“SB 1016 creates a paradigm shift in the way California will identify its waste stream in the future by measuring disposal, because it is a real number that can be decreased with greater implementation of diversion programs,” Wiggins said. My goal is to ensure that recycling, reuse and reduction are the guiding principles of California’s future integrated waste management plan.”

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The fundraiser takes place at the Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave, Lakeport.

Doors open at noon.

Packs are $5 each, specials are $1 or 3 for $2.50. Snacks are available.

For more information call Pam Plank, 272-3665.

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Volunteers and farmers unite for the Lake County Community Co-op's first locally sourced Community Supported Agriculture box. Pictured left to right: Kenneth Breen, Lars Crail, Yukiko Sato, Dante DeAmicis, Adele Elwood and Chance Crail. Photo by JoAnn Saccato.

LAKE COUNTY – A milestone was reached last week when Lake County Community Co-op created their farm fresh Purist Community Supported Agriculture box from produce grown exclusively in Lake County.

The Co-op’s Community Supported Agriculture boxes are intended to support small local farmers. The Buying Club has been offering regionally supplied boxes for a few months with the goal of becoming more local as soon as possible.

“Localization of our food supply is vital to our overall vision of food security. By providing locally grown food to the community we are strengthening the local economy, protecting the small farmer, and helping to build a sustainable community,” said JoAnn Saccato, co-op chair.

Organic produce is provided by local farms and suppliers including Yoxagoi, Elderbroc, Barber's Country Farm, Leonardis Organics and Lake County Walnuts, all from Kelseyville, and Irene Farms in Lower Lake.

This week's Purist Community Supported Agriculture box included cantaloupes, pears, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, squash and "edible bouquets" of herbs and flowers.

"This is such a critical time for our future, and anytime we can meet our food needs locally, we save not only money (this week's box was the best value we've had so far for our members), but we save valuable resources by not having our food trucked in,” said Saccato. “Foods purchased in local grocery stores travels, on average, 1,200 miles to reach the shelves. By keeping our food supply local, we reduce pollution and provide more local jobs. Also, we get more nutrition and flavor in our food, because it is picked at its absolute peak.”

For those interested in participating in the buying club, and particularly in the Community Supported Agriculture boxes, contact Ann Breen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information about Lake County Community Co-op and its visions, go to www.lakeco-op.org.

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The AmeriCorps group which collected the most food during a food drive. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County AmeriCorps program has started it annual recruiting for members.

The AmeriCorps Program engages its members in direct service and capacity-building to address unmet community needs.

The program exists in partnership with our county’s schools, preschools and Healthy Start to assist with the compelling educational needs of literacy tutoring, mentoring, preventive health screenings and and school readiness.

AmeriCorps members also mobilize community volunteers and strengthen the capacity of the organizations where they serve.

During the 2007-08 school year, AmeriCorps members logged an incredible 17,500 hours of service within Lake County “Getting Things Done.”

Members tutored/mentored 300 students, helped prepared 250 preschoolers to enter kindergarten, delivered over 200 Second Step (violence prevention curriculum) and 190 health curriculum lessons.

When not in a classroom near you, members are busy participating in community events. Members logged more than 3,500 hours of community service at events such as Konocti Kids Day, Lake County Office of Education Preschool Picnic, Ceaser Chavez Day, Make a Difference Day, Mock Disaster Drill held in Upper Lake, food drives and several bicycle helmet/infant car seat fittings held around Lake County.

Like helping your community wasn’t enough, members receive a modest living allowance to offset living expenses and an education award upon completion of their service.

Visit the local AmeriCorps on the web at www.lakecountyamericorps.org for more information on how you can become a part of our team and make Lake County a better place!

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