CLEARLAKE
Clearlake Woodland College welding instructor retires next week
David Hubbard, Clearlake Woodland College welding instructor is retiring May 27, 2021 after teaching part-time there for 35 years. He also worked full-time for Homestake Mining 15 years, and Lower Lake High School as a wood/metal shop teacher for 14 years. Dave Hubbard was born in Riverton, Wyoming, graduating from the University of Wyoming in Education and Industrial Arts and began his teaching career in the 70s. He moved his family to Lake County in 1984 to work for Homestake Mining, Lower Lake. While working for Homestake, Dave asked the mining company if they would build a welding shop for Clearlake College Campus. Homestake gladly built the shop to hire students who took the welding class. Dave was hired to teach the class and has continued to this day.
Dave the past two years has helped in renovating the new welding classroom/shop for future students and teachers. Dave also taught home maintenance and repair at Lake County Tribal Health and admired the students willingness to learn and find jobs in their community. For the past 13 years Dave has been Lake County Toys for Tots Distributor under the United States Marines working closely with community businesses to assure no child goes without having a new toy during the Holidays. Dave Hubbard and his wife Pat are relocating to Idaho Falls, Idaho to be closer to family members who live in the area. If you would like to contact Dave please write him at 1925 Eagle Drive, Ammon, Idaho 83406. He would enjoy hearing from past students and friends he has known throughout his career in Lake County. Congratulations Dave, “Catch the BIG one!”
—Submitted
MENDOCINO COUNTY
May is Child Care Provider Appreciation Month
In recognition of the essential role of early learning and care in the development of children and appreciation of the essential role of all childcare providers, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors recently proclaimed May 2021 to be Child Care Provider Appreciation Month in Mendocino County.
Early learning advocates are encouraged by President Biden’s recent announcement that he wants to extend free public schooling in the United States to include preschool. Kristin Hills, M.Ed., Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE) Director of Early Learning and Care, said, “The truth is, people in the early learning and care field have been working tirelessly for more than a decade to get folks from outside the field to understand that care and education for the 0-5 set are completely intertwined with children’s future success.”
During the pandemic, childcare workers of school-aged children helped children attend distance learning education, provided homework assistance, and offered educational enrichment activities that augmented school-based education.
MCOE’s Kristin Hills noted the important economic impact of high-quality childcare and free preschool education locally.
Hills hopes more people will consider devoting their careers to the care and education of young children. Requirements to be a childcare provider vary. Head Start is a federal program locally administered through North Coast Opportunities and by three local Tribes that provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family involvement services to low-income children and families.
—Submitted
—Compiled by Ariel Carmona Jr.
