SACRAMENTO –Three measures authored by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) in 2013 are now awaiting action from Governor Jerry Brown.

“I’m pleased that AB 1006, a bill proposed by a local Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer to support at-risk youth, has reached the Governor’s desk,” said Assemblymember Yamada. “Two other modest measures – AB 394 and AB 776 – reflect my ongoing interest in bolstering Alzheimer’s research funding and planning efforts already underway to support our aging population,” she continued.

The bills awaiting Gov. Brown’s signature are:

• AB 394 – Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders research fund tax check-off. This bill allows the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Research Fund income tax check-off to remain on the state income tax form for five additional years by extending the sunset date for the check-off from Jan. 1, 2015 to Jan. 1, 2020.
• AB 776 – Coordinated care initiative stakeholders. This legislation would ensure that Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and Independent Living Centers (ILC) are included as stakeholders as the Department of Health Care Services begins the process of integrating medical and long-term care services for “dual-eligible” Californians under the terms of the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI).
• AB 1006 – Sealing juvenile records. This bill would help reformed juvenile offenders start adulthood with a clean slate by standardizing the process for informing juvenile offenders of their right to seal their juvenile records. Courts and probation officers would be required to provide this information when the youth has fulfilled the requirements of the court or probation.

Another Yamada bill, AB 602, that would address the ongoing problems of resident safety at State Developmental Centers, will be heard in the Senate in the next few weeks.

NICE, Calif. – In honoring Labor Day, the Sons of Italy will have a pasta feed at the club hall on Sunday, Sept.8, instead of the first Sunday as always.

The club will be changing a few things but the food will be the same home-cooked, Italian-style meal.

It will run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the hall, located at 2817 E. Highway 20, Nice.

Come and enjoy a buffet of red meat sauce spaghetti, freshly made parmasian cheese garlic butter pasta or green pesto linguini, garlic bread, salad plus dessert, coffee or tea for $8. Add $2 for meatballs and/or sausages.

There will be Karaoke for those who would like to practice with Roland. The bar is open for socializing.

Take out is also available, just call in advance at 707-274-2244 or order at the hall and have a beverage while you wait.

Everyone, including children are welcome.

For more information, call the day of the event after 10 a.m.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County First 5 Lake Commission will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

The meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Mendocino College Lake Center campus, 1005 Parallel Drive, Lakeport.

Commission committee updates will include revision of vision and mission statements, and a report from Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook on the task force.

The commission will consider approving the Lake County Office of Education's proposal for a parent engagement initiative in the amount of $20,000, review and adopt First 5 Association’s legislative policy and view a presentation fo the DVD “Daddy’s Tool Bag.”

There also will be commissioners' reports and the report from Executive Director Tom Jordan, and public comment and announcements.

For more information call the Lake County First 5 Lake Commission at 707-263-6169 or visit www.firstfivelake.org .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – This year Sheila O'Hara and her weaving students dedicated their section of the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum's annual quilt and textile exhibition to Laura Simms.

Simms, a longtime Lake County resident and one of O'Hara's students, died at age 50 on Feb. 3.

“I am very grateful to Laura Simms,” O'Hara said. “She was the person who got me started on teaching weaving classes here in my studio in 2001 in Lake County. With her encouragement I started buying secondhand looms for my classes.

“I met Laura thanks to Holly Brackmann who taught textile art and art history classes at Mendocino Community College in Ukiah for 36 years,” O'Hara recalled. “Holly introduced me to Laura and all her students. Laura found out that I had taught weaving classes at San Francisco State University and College of Marin from 1996-1999 before I moved to Lake County in 2000. She then called me every week for 6 months to ask when I was starting class so she didn't have to drive 75 miles one way to Ukiah.”

O'Hara continued, “She took 149 classes in my home studio over a 10-year period. She was in my first home studio class in Lake County on Feb. 15, 2001, and ended with her last class on April 15, 2010. On May 14, 2010, I went over to her home to help her put her manual dobby loom together, peg up a pattern, put on a warp and thread it to weave. True to Laura's style she soon moved on to other different looms after a short while. Laura had more looms go through her hands since 2001 than any one I know. We affectionately called her Laura 'Loomatic' Simms. She is most likely now up in heaven happily weaving away on a magical loom of some sort. Her energetic, happy, generous, fun loving spirit is surely missed but we are carrying on with her enthusiasm in mind."

O'Hara is an internationally known weaver who has been teaching weaving classes in her home studio in Lower Lake since 2001. This year one of her tapestries was purchased by the Denver Art Museum.

She also gave lectures at the de Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and in Squaw Valley at the Conference of the Northern California Handweavers.

Starting in 2003, O'Hara and her students have included their weavings along with the quilts in the annual Quilt and Textile Exhibition at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum.

They are pleased to have such a great museum to display their work and be able to meet with the public at their receptions for the past 11 years.

Aug. 10 was no exception. A crowd of people enjoyed seeing spinning demonstrations along with beautiful tapestries, tablecloths, dish towel, shawls and scarves all woven with a great care and attention to details, colors and textures.

Featured artists include members of the Clear Lake Quilt Guild and Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild, weaver Sheila O'Hara and her weaving class students (Janis Eckert, Pam Perry, Suzanne Britz, Ellen Hardenburger, Sylvia Anderson, Shellie Taylor, Goldie Pitre, Hana Musgrove, Lorna Rochmann and Nancy Nestegard).

Don't miss the 20th annual Quilt And Textile Exhibition, which continues through Aug. 31 in the Weaver Auditorium of the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum.

For more information, contact the museum at 707-995-3565 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or O'Hara at 707-994-0790, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.sheilaohara.com .

Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visit the museum online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Museums/LowerLake.htm .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Konocti Senior Support Inc. hosted an appreciation party for the volunteers of Senior Peer Counseling, one of its two programs.

They have supported seniors in the community through one-on-one counseling relationships with the homebound, whether helping with emotional problems, paperwork or assisting in relationships to other agencies.

They have donated up to four hours per week, one to two hours with a client, also one hour supervision and one hour training. This is a wonderful sharing in these times.

The Adult Day Program at the First Lutheran Church was invited to attend the party as guests.

Director Supervisor Kim Baughan-Young provides training and supervision of Senior Peer Counselor’s volunteers. They had delicious food prepared by Baughan-Young also.

Lake County representative Sarah Deng presented pins that say Mental Health Services Act Lake County Behavioral Health to the volunteers.

Toni Baker of the Konocti Support Services Board of Directors helped provide entertainment by “The Angel Lights and the Harmony Boys.” They have Vaudeville Acts with singing, dancing and comedy skits performed by seniors in the community. Fun, enjoyment and laughter were shared by all.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – On Aug. 10, visitors to the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum were treated to living history and an artist’s reception for the 20th annual Quilt and Textile Exhibition.

Curtis Fair, archaeologist for the Mendocino National Forest, demonstrated flintknapping (arrowhead making) and he and fellow archaeologist, Barbara White, answered many questions from the crowd.

The 1906 player piano provided music, and kids of all ages played Victorian era games, wrote with pen and ink, and sent a Morse code message via telegraph.

Upstairs, spinning and weaving demonstrations took place which delighted and educated adults and children about textile arts.

Featured artists included members of the Clear Lake Quilt Guild and Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild, and weaver Sheila O'Hara and her weaving class students. Artwork included quilts, weavings, tapestries and bags made of handspun and hand knitted yarn.

The 20th annual Quilt and Textile Exhibition will continue through Aug. 31 in the Weaver Auditorium of the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum.

Hours are from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

For more information, call the museum at 707-995-3565.

And don’t forget to mark your calendar for the next Living History Day at the museum which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 26.