Lakeport
Alvord, Buffalo, Hanson Community Mixer Event
Lakeport School Board candidates – Carly Alvord, Dan Buffalo, and Jen Hanson – invite the public to a community mixer event on October 5th, from 5pm to 8pm at the Lakeport Yacht Club. Parents, teachers, staff, and concerned citizens are encouraged to come meet the three candidates and ask questions in an informal setting. Admission and appetizers are free. Local microbrew and Lake County wines will be available for purchase. In addition, the event will feature a silent auction. All proceeds go to help fund the school board campaign.
Questions? Email us at contact@fixlusd.com. Learn more about the three candidates at www.fixLUSD.com.
—Submitted
Hidden Valley Lake
Lake County Republican Women, Federated – October 10 Meeting
Allison Olson, professional advocate for Republican policies at the California State Capitol, will give an “Update on Current Legislation in California” at the Lake County Republican Women, Federated (LCRWF) October 10 luncheon meeting at Greenview Restaurant, 19210 Hartmann Road, Hidden Valley Lake.
Olson joined the California Federation of Republican Women (CFRW) as a Legislative Advocate in 2009. She tracks and analyzes California state legislation, lobbies on behalf of the CFRW, and keeps the members of the Federation informed on what is happening in the capitol.
Attendees should arrive by 11:15 for the October 10 luncheon meeting, as call to order is at 11:30, followed by specific agenda, lunch and featured speaker. Act now to make your reservation for this informational meeting by calling 998-3280. Reservations must be placed by October 3. For further information on LCRWF, please also call 707-998-3280.
—Submitted by Leona M. Butts, Publicity Chair
Hopland
Post Fire Recovery Volunteer Day in Hopland
Over two-thirds of the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) was burned on July 27 and 28 as the River Fire moved through the 5,358 acre ranch. All homes and structures were saved alongside the ranch animals thanks to the efforts of staff, neighbors, CALFIRE and the Hopland Fire Protection District. Now, the site and it’s team are working towards recovery and aim to learn as much as possible from the wildfire.
On Tuesday, September 25 HREC will welcome volunteers to support post-fire recovery and data collection. “We really appreciate the time and support of volunteers as we work to clean up some of the damaged areas left behind by the fires and to begin to collect important data on how our landscape is recovering from the fire. This data can be useful to help others manage and prepare for wildfire.” commented Hannah Bird, Community Educator at HREC.
“We appreciate that not everyone can make it on a week day and hope to have another weekend volunteer effort soon. For those who would like to help, but do not have the time to volunteer, we also appreciate donations to support our recovery at http://bit.ly/SupportHREC” concluded Bird.
—Submitted
Sacramento
Legislation
When the Legislature finally gaveled down earlier this year, it had approved about 900 bills. Here’s a look at some of the most interesting or consequential ones heading to Gov. Brown’s desk. He has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto all bills—or he could do neither, in which case a bill would become law without his signature.
We’ll keep presenting them as the governor makes his last pass at deciding which will become law in California.
Rehab Centers
WHAT THE BILLS WOULD DO
In an effort to put some “sober” into sober-living homes, the Legislature passed three bills to rein in some of the unregulated drug-rehab houses across the state, particularly in the “Rehab Riviera” along the Orange County coast. Hundreds of sober-living homes have been set up in tony coastal communities, many of them reported to be cash cows for their owners and doing little to promote rehabilitation.
SB 992 would establish a voluntary registry for unlicensed sober-living homes and give a stick to the state Department of Health Care Services: It could revoke the license of a drug-recovery facility for any abuses by an unlicensed sober-living home affiliated with the facility.
SB 1228 would bar licensed drug-rehab facilities from making money through patient referrals, including referrals to sober-living homes.
AB 3162 would make new rehab licenses provisional for a year, increase fines for noncompliance and let the state pull rehab facilities’ licenses for “good cause.”
WHO SUPPORTS THEM
Cities along the Rehab Riviera and the Orange County Board of Supervisors have endorsed the three bills.
WHO OPPOSES THEM
An association of emergency-room physicians raised concerns that California needs more drug-rehabilitation centers, not fewer, and that giving in to neighbor complaints about the facilities further stigmatizes recovery.
WHY IT MATTERS
It has been difficult to regulate sober-living centers because they’re homes, with six or fewer residents, and protected under the federal Fair Housing Act. But neighbors say many of them are party houses, not rehabilitation centers. This trio of bills would take a few steps toward keeping tabs on sober-living homes, possibly curtailing some inappropriate practices.
—David Gorn
