CLEARLAKE
16th annual ‘Warm for the Winter’ effort collects warm clothing
The annual “Warm for the Winter” clothing drive for those in need is once again under way in Clearlake.
Warm for the Winter will distribute warm winter clothing once again at the Clearlake Rotary Club ‘s annual Christmas community dinner from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, in the courtyard next to the dining hall at Burns Valley School, 3620 Pine St. in Clearlake.
Warm for the Winter is celebrating its 16th year of giving warm clothing to those in need. This is strictly the community at whole giving back to those in the community that need help.
Started in 2006 by Joyce Overton to collect sleeping bags and tents to help the homeless survive the winter weather. As several years went on Joyce saw the need was more than just the homeless and has turn it into a community giving program. She takes no monetary donations but relies on donations of blankets, gloves, shoes, hats and any winter clothing, either new or used but in good repair and clean. If you would like to make a monetary donation you may do that through the Clearlake Rotary Club and specify Warm for the Winter program.
Overton thanked the community for its donations and support over the past 16 years, and with the hardship of the pandemic warm attire are in great demand this year.
Donations are being collected till Dec. 7, 2022. Donations can be dropped off at the following location:
• Highlands Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Road, Clearlake, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For more information contact Joyce Overton at the Clearlake Senior Center at 707-994-3051 or text her at 707-350-2898.
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LAKE COUNTY
Nov. 8, 2022, General Election official canvass – Ballots to be counted remaining
Please be aware that the Nov. 8, 2022 General Election Results ARE NOT FINAL. Below please find the number of ballots remaining to be counted as of November 9, 2022 during the 30-day Official Canvass period:
Vote-by-Mail ballots: 11,123
Provisional/Conditional ballots: 1,132
Vote-by-Mail ballots that require further review for various reasons: 142
GRAND TOTAL: 12,397
NOTE: The deadline for elections officials to receive vote-by-mail ballots returned by mail for the November 8, 2022, General Election is Nov.15, 2022 if it is POSTMARKED on or before Election Day and delivered to the elections office by the US Postal Service or a private mail delivery company no later than seven days after Election Day.
There are many checks and balances when certifying the election results. The process of certifying election results, also known as the official canvass, is mandated by state law to make sure the public can have confidence in the integrity of the final results. Staff members are working very diligently on completing all tasks required to certify the election.
“Vote by Mail ballots”, must be examined by staff to see if the signature compares with the voter’s signature on file. After the vote-by-mail voter’s information has been entered and proofed; the vote-by-mail envelopes have to be sorted by voting precinct. Staff must verify the number of vote-by-mail processed by voting precinct before the envelopes can be opened. Once staff balances, the envelopes can be opened.
“Polls Provisional Ballots” are cast at the Polling Places on Election Day. Some of the reasons a voter is issued a Provisional Ballot:
- The voter’s name is listed on the Active Voter Roster List as a Vote-by-Mail Voter and the voter is unable to surrender his/her vote-by-mail ballot in order to be issued a polls ballot.
- The voter’s name is not printed in the Roster-Index, has moved and did not re-register to vote at his/her new residence address.
- A voter is voting in the wrong voting precinct and not his/her assigned voting precinct.
- A first time voter who is required to provide ID, but is unable to do so.
- The voter’s eligibility to vote cannot be determined by the poll worker.
“Conditional Voter Ballots” issued to a person who missed the regular voter registration deadline of October 24 but they still have the option to vote in an Election by conditionally registering to vote and casting a conditional ballot (same day voter registration).
Voters that were allowed to sign the Roster-Index and issued a ballot at their assigned polling place, their voted ballot was counted at the Registrar of Voters office, on Election Night.
In addition, all of the Roster-Indexes must also be examined for errors or omissions. Staff checks the Ballot Statement including the number of returned voted ballots against the number of voters who signed the Roster-Index. Provisional and Conditional voter signatures also need to match the number of voter Provisional and Conditional Ballots. Once this done, staff must enter voter history from each of the Roster-Indexes and record it into the voting system as voter history.
For additional information phone (707)-263-2372 or toll free at (888)-235-6730 Contact: Maria Valadez, Registrar of Voters or Lourdes Pantaleon, Deputy Registrar of Voters.
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WASHINGTON
Rep.Thompson announces $9 Million for wildfire prevention research
On Friday at press time, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced $9 million in new grant opportunities from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to advance research into wildfire prevention and post-fire restoration on federal lands. The Joint Fire Science Program is accepting applications for grants to research innovative fuels treatments and post-fire rehabilitation efforts through Dec. 20, 2022, for fiscal year 2023.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is bringing much-needed support to communities across the country to increase the resilience of lands facing the threat of wildland fires and to better support federal wildland firefighters.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering much needed funding to assist our communities in combatting the impact of climate change,” said Thompson. “As California remains on the frontlines of the climate crisis, wildfires pose a significant risk and it remains a top priority to provide the funding we need to mitigate the risk of wildfires and protect our communities.”
This funding is in addition to $3.4 billion in wildfire suppression and mitigation included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This includes investments such as:
- $600 million to increase federal firefighter salaries by up to $20,000/year and convert at least 1,000 seasonal firefighters to year-round positions.
- $500 million for hazardous fuels mitigation
- $500 million for prescribed fires
- $500 million for communities to implement their community wildfire defense plan, a collaborative plan to address local hazards and risks from wildfire.
- $500 million for developing control locations and installing fuel breaks
- $100 million for preplanning fire response workshops and workforce training
- $40 million for radio frequency interoperability and to create Reverse-911 systems.
- $20 million for NOAA to create a satellite that rapidly detect fires in areas the federal government has financial responsibility
- $10 million to procure real-time wildfire detection and monitoring equipment in high-risk or post-burn areas.
Funding opportunities for wildland fire research priorities are posted on the Joint Fire Science Program’s website at https://www.firescience.gov/JFSP_funding_announcements.cfm.
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