LAKE COUNTY — With restrictions on travel and the closure of many services due to the coronavirus still impacting Lake County, many residents are unsure how some of their normal activities will be disrupted.
Below is a compilation of information regarding meals for seniors and children, insurance payments, vehicle registration, rent and more in Lake County.
I am a senior. Can I still get meals from the senior center?
Yes. As social restrictions amid the coronavirus emergency began to come down on Lake County residents in mid-March, local senior centers closed their dining halls but began providing meals for pickup. In general, the centers are taking meal orders in the morning for pickup at lunchtime.
Center directors have noted an uptick in the number of meals they are serving to seniors during the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s gotten to the point where we’ve…probably almost doubled our meals, just for our routes,” said Clearlake Highlands Senior Center Director Joyce Overton.
Meals are available to anyone 60 years or older, but others may qualify. Through Meals on Wheels programs, the centers have continued to deliver food to homebound seniors. To find accurate information on how to get a meal, contact your nearest meal provider.
If you live in:
- Lakeport, Kelseyville, Upper Lake, Blue Lakes, Nice or Lucerne, your local senior meal provider is the Lakeport Senior Center (527 Konocti Avenue, Lakeport; (707) 263-4218).
- Clearlake, Lower Lake or Twin Lakes, your local meal provider is the Clearlake Highlands Senior Center (3245 Bowers Ave, Clearlake; (707) 994-3051).
- Clearlake Oaks, your local meal provider is the Live Oak Senior Center (12502 Foot Hill Blvd., Clearlake Oaks; (707) 998-1950).
- Middletown, Hidden Valley Lake or Cobb, your local meal provider is the Middletown Senior Center (21256 Washington St., Middletown; (707) 987-3113).
Note: Local senior centers’ service areas are difficult to accurately summarize. If you’re unsure which center applies to you, call the nearest one to clarify.
The schools are closed. Can my kids still get meals?
Yes. The Lake County Office of Education announced on Friday that local districts had decided to extend school closures through the end of the current academic year, following a recommendation from California Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond that districts statewide enact such closures.
Lake County residents should check with their local districts to find out more about how to obtain school meals during the closure. During the coronavirus pandemic, access to meals has been expanded in Lake County to include every child under the age of 18, a representative for the district said on Monday. All school districts here are offering meals for pickup; some are also doing delivery.
Resources for schools and families related to COVID-19 can be found at the following websites:
- Kelseyville Unified School District: kvusd.org
- Konocti Unified School District: konoctiusd.org
- Lake County International Charter School: lcics.org
- Lake County Office of Education: lakecoe.org
- Lakeport Unified School District: lakeport.k12.ca.us
- Lucerne Elementary School District: lucerne.k12.ca.us
- Middletown Unified School District: middletownusd.org
- Upper Lake Unified School District: ulusd.org
Can I still get things done at the DMV?
In some cases, yes. While the California Department of Motor Vehicles closed its locations to the public on March 27, it has expanded the scope of online services to include title transfers, registration renewals and more.
You can visit virtual.dmv.ca.gov to find what options are available.
Any appointments you may have made with the DMV before the coronavirus restrictions has been cancelled, but the department has said it plans to begin accepting new appointments in the near future. At least one office in each reason will be opened for such visits, the DMV has said, but the specifics of that plan have not yet been released.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the deadline to get a Real ID has been extended by about a year, to Oct. 1, 2021.
The DMV has also extended all driver licenses for people over the age of 70 for 120 days.
Additionally, the DMV has asked California law enforcement to exercise discretion during the 60-day period beginning on March 16, before issuing citations for driving with a recently expired license or vehicle registration.
What if I can’t pay my insurance premiums?
Many insurance companies have extended their grace periods for late payments and waived late fees. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on March 18 ordered that insurance companies must offer at least 60-day grace periods for late insurance payments on auto, homeowners, life and other types of insurance. Check with your insurance companies for accurate information.
Do I still have to pay rent?
Yes, but you may have time to spare. Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statewide ban on evictions on March 27, prohibiting renters from being forced out of their homes until May 31. The ban requires tenants to declare in writing, within a week after their rent comes due, that they cannot pay all or part of it due to the coronavirus. However, the ban has been interpreted in varying ways regarding when rent must be paid, and has seen criticism from both landlords and tenants.
Just before the statewide ban, on March 24 the Lake County Board of Supervisors adopted an urgency ordinance of its own to prevent price gouging and unlawful evictions during the coronavirus emergency. That ordinance allows eviction proceedings that were begun prior to the statewide emergency to continue, but prohibits new evictions and rent increases as long as the declared emergency lasts.
