Don't miss the last chance to fish for free this year.

Free Fishing Day in California is being offered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Saturday, Sept. 3, during Labor Day weekend.
 
"One of the greatest things about Free Fishing Day is that it provides an opportunity to open a door for someone who's never tried it," said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. "If you're already an experienced angler, bring a friend or family member out with you and show them the excitement of landing a fish. It's a great way to make memories."
 
A basic annual resident sport fishing license in California currently costs $47.01, but CDFW offers two Free Fishing Days each year – usually around the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend – when it's legal to fish without one.

If you would like to fish the rest of the year, go to CDFW's Web site for information about purchasing a license.
 
All fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect on Free Fishing Day.

Every angler must also have an appropriate report card if they are fishing for abalone, steelhead or sturgeon anywhere in the state, or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity river systems.
 
Before you head out to your favorite lake or stream, please review the fishing rules and regulations at www.wildlife.ca.gov/regulations .

OAKLAND, Calif. – Hundreds of community college representatives from around the state are in Oakland on Tuesday to share effective models for strengthening and expanding the California College Promise, a bold effort to offer two years of tuition-free community college to hard-working students.

The day-long event – which features remarks from Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, incoming California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley and national College Promise Campaign Executive Director Martha Kanter – highlights College Promise programs already in place and offers ideas to college leaders looking to start their own programs.

College Promise programs are community-based partnerships that address the problem of college affordability by offering higher education funding for students.

“California is on-track to produce 1.1 million fewer college graduates than our economy demands in 2030. There is an imminent need for a workforce with an appropriate level of advanced education. California’s Community Colleges are a critical point of access to higher education, and one of our most effective tools for upward mobility,” Newsom said. “Moreover, robust cradle-to-career initiatives like the Promise Programs in Oakland and Long Beach reveal the power of communities rallying to lift up their young people. We must double down on these efforts and launch a statewide California Promise, allowing all of our state's regions to rise together.”

Over the last 15 years, there has been a steady rise in the number of College Promise programs across the United States.

The trend gained momentum in 2015, when President Barack Obama announced the America’s College Promise proposal during his State of the Union address.

That same year, the College Promise Campaign, a national non-partisan, non-profit organization, was established to develop a network of support for College Promise efforts.

“The jobs of today and tomorrow require college educated workers, and community colleges are in the best position to help remedy the skills gap that exists in California’s economy and attack income inequality,’’ said Oakley, who takes over as statewide chancellor in December. “These innovative partnerships lower the cost of college and help students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, earn a certificate or degree and find good paying jobs.”

As president of Long Beach City College, Oakley helped form the nationally recognized Long Beach College Promise (College Promise) in a partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) and California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Through the College Promise, students are guaranteed a tuition-free year at LBCC and preferred admission status to CSULB after completing the minimum transfer requirements.

California is a leader in the development and implementation of these programs with 23 programs in place as of August 2016.

The state is primed to develop more College Promise programs because community colleges can leverage the program’s financial and partnership supports with the existing California Board of Governors Fee Waiver Program, which pays enrollment fees for low-income students.

Promise programs bring together partners from K–12 schools, universities, college foundations and the private sector to increase college access to California’s students.

Key goals of the conference for faculty, staff, administrators and trustees in attendance include:

• Gaining an understanding of the national and state-wide College Promise movement.
• Learning how to design, implement, and improve program elements such as financing, student support services, community partnerships, measurement   and community outreach.
• Connecting with and build a community of College Promise colleagues across the state.

“The California Community Colleges is the largest higher education system in the nation, and to see the interest and excitement about creating College Promise programs is wonderful,” said California College Promise Chair Helen Benjamin, chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District. “For more than 30 years, California, with its Board of Governors Fee Waiver program, has offered free tuition for qualified students unable to afford it. By raising funds and providing financial help for other college costs associated, we are removing a major barrier for potential students to obtain the education they need to qualify for good paying jobs or transfer to a four-year university.”

The Regional Educational Laboratory West at WestEd gathered background and program details on all 23 California College Promise programs and compiled the information in a booklet for the event participants. It can be found at https://relwest.wested.org/resources/221

Teaming up to sponsor the event are the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, the Community College League of California, the College Promise Campaign, the California College Promise Campaign Leadership Team and the Regional Educational Laboratory West at WestEd. For more information, visit www.calcollegepromise.org .

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation composed of 72 districts and 113 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year.

For more information about the community colleges, please visit http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/ , https://www.facebook.com/CACommColleges or https://twitter.com/CalCommColleges .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Chapter of the California Retired Teachers Association will hold its quarterly meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

This luncheon meeting will be held at the Riviera Hills Restaurant, 10200 Fairway Drive, Kelseyville. 

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. A business meeting will be called to order by President Joyce Anderson at 10 a.m.

Following the business meeting Joan Reynolds, program coordinator for North Coast Opportunities’ Volunteer Network, will speak on the Schools of Hope.

The Schools of Hope is a reading tutoring program that connects volunteers with struggling readers in first through third grades. This national program has been proven successful at raising reading scores to proficient level.

All CalRTA members are invited to attend as well as recently retired teachers, family members or other interested individuals. 

This is an opportunity to learn how the California Retired Teachers Association is working to protect the retirement and pensions of California teachers. 

In addition the Lake County Chapter provides scholarships to students, grants to local teachers and supports education in Lake County in numerous other ways.

At the conclusion of the program, lunch will be served. The menu consists of spaghetti with choice of meat sauce or vegetarian marinara sauce, salad, slaw, garlic toast and ice cream. Beverages are included.  

The cost of lunch is $15 including tax and gratuity.  

Reservations may be made by calling Julie at 707-279-2625. Transportation can be arranged for those in need by contacting Julie at the above number.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Adult Literacy Program will host a tutor training on Monday, Sept. 19.

The training will take place from noon to 5 p.m. at the Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St.

It is free, however the group requests a $20 donation to cover materials.

No experience is needed and there will be ongoing support and workshops.

Becoming a tutor can help someone to a better future.

For more information or to register, call 707-263-7633.

Colin Kaepernick sat down this weekend, something he has been doing with greater consistency since his breakout season.
 
Mr. Kaepernick made headlines this time because he chose to take a seat during the playing of our national anthem. His protest was nonviolent and completely within his rights, and we would protect him from those who think differently.

Mr. Kaepernick explained that he will not stand up again during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner until this country stops oppressing people of color.
 
His particular target was law enforcement, and in the hope of putting legitimacy to his protest he chose to use such words as lynching, murdered unjustly, police brutality, paid leave for killing people, and circumstances that he has seen of military personnel returning and being murdered by the country they fought for.

He also says that “lots of things and lots of issues” need to be addressed and changed before he stands during the national anthem. He decided not to mention the killings and the attacks on police officers.
 
Mr. Kaepernick’s rant against law enforcement is not new. He proves once again that it is easy to be incendiary and one-sided in your assessment of a situation.

His assertion that law enforcement is not held to particular scrutiny and subject to intense investigation both internally and with the public is just plain wrong.

Those of us who have spent our lives working our neighborhoods understand that the relationships we have in our communities have been changed inalterably over a series of tragic deaths.
 
We understand that an open dialogue also includes listening to those who can sound the alarm yet feign ignorance when asked about solutions.

We have a different challenge in law enforcement. We are talking about our workplace; communities that we care about, people we want to serve and protect, and we need to find resolution.

The Peace Officers Research Association of California, or PORAC, has taken the lead in advancing training, particularly in the use-of-force and de-escalation requirements; encouraging greater community outreach, finding the funding for body cameras, and working with stakeholders for greater transparency.

The problems are real. Our commitment to solving them is also real.
 
Perhaps in December after he watches his team play the Chicago Bears, the noisy Mr. Kaepernick will accept an invitation to ride along with the police officers through streets that border on anarchy and understand that name calling and grandstanding are not the course to honest conversation and the resolution of this national crisis.
 
I don’t know if Colin Kaepernick will ever stand again for the national anthem. I do know that I will not be standing for him.

Mike Durant is president of the Peace Officers Research Association of California, PORAC, which was incorporated in 1953 as a professional federation of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Today, PORAC represents more than 66,000 public safety members and over 900 associations, making it the largest law enforcement organization in California and the largest statewide association in the nation.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Services reported that its offices and the county's waste collection facilities will be closed for Labor Day.

The Eastlake Landfill in Clearlake, Lake County Waste Solutions at 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport and the Public Services office in Lakeport will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5.

Residential and commercial collection will occur one day after your normal pickup day.

Normal collection schedules will resume the week following the holiday.

All facilities will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

Normal operating hours at the facilities are as follows: Lake County Waste Solutions' transfer station on Soda Bay Road, Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Eastlake Landfill, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily; Public Services office, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information visit the county Web site at www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or call 707-262-1618.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – September and October promise to be very exciting months for the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum.

The monthly Fiddlers’ Jam returns on Sept. 4. Musicians will meet in the Ely barn to perform their wonderful Americana music from noon until 2 p.m.

The event is free, but donations made during the event benefit both the Ely Stage Stop, helping to fund the blacksmith shop, and the Old Time Fiddlers Association, helping to fund their scholarship programs.

Come early and enjoy the exhibit in the main house showcasing the first five years of museum activities. Take a hayride or stroll the barn trail. Enjoy the music with beverages and tasty treats provided by the Ely volunteers. Enjoy a picnic in the oak grove. Bring your own wine and sip it in Ely Stage Stop wine glasses that are available for purchase.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, Ely hosts Spotlight on Productions for Blues Benefit  No. 3 Concert at the Ely outdoor stage. This is a benefit for Hope City to rebuild homes lost to the Valley and Clayton fires. 

The tribute concert will open with Dave Broida & Blues Farm from Lake County. Mighty Mike Schermer from Austin, Texas, will be backed by friends from Sonoma County and vocalist Miz Dee from the Bay Area.

Since this will be the anniversary weekend of the Valley fire, several special guests have been invited to speak.

Tickets are $15 cash at the gate, 12 and under are free. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. Music will run from 2 to 6 p.m.

Carpooling is recommended. There will be golf cart and ATV transport to the field from the parking areas. ADA accommodations will be available.

For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or leave a message at 707-278-7126.

The Stage Stop will be closed Saturday, Sept. 24, due to its presence in the Pear Pavilion at the 24th anniversary of the Kelseyville Pear Festival.

Come by the Pear Pavilion instead that day to talk to museum docents about their current displays and activities. See our stage coach replica up close. Ask about the progress being made on the blacksmith shop, the current all-volunteer museum project. The museum will be open as usual Sunday, Sept. 25.

The Oct. 2 Fiddlers’ Jam at the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum welcomes the return of the Ely Stage Stop Marketplace.

This free, family friendly, fun-packed day can be enjoyed by all, young and old alike. The Marketplace, just outside the Ely barn, will feature local handcrafted goods and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

As usual, musicians will jam from noon to 2 p.m. inside the barn. Enjoy music, refreshments, and the opportunity to browse and purchase the wares of local craftsmen and artists. Food will be available for purchase on site.

The Lake County Historical Society’s Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near the Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29-Kit's Corner. Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Visit www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.