LAKEPORT
Council to receive Business Walk results
The Business Walk program in Lakeport is designed to familiarize the business community with city and other resources available to them. City staff and members of the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee (LEDAC) contact local owners and managers, providing them with the opportunity to speak with representatives about issues of concern. The goal is to help local businesses thrive and grow.
Last fall, 16 teams of staff and volunteers, totaling 29 individuals, surveyed 115 businesses in 16 areas of the city. Findings from the visit have been compiled by LEDAC and will be presented to the City Council at its meeting on April 4.
The City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan identified annual in-person visits as an important element in the support and retention of existing local businesses. The walks were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic and were resumed to engage with and hear from the business community.
Denise Combs, chair of the Business Walk subcommittee, notes that “respondents were satisfied with business life in Lakeport, describing it as a laid-back, friendly, cooperative environment” in which to do business.
“Significant challenges have changed since the last survey in 2019, with worries about lack of business declining considerably while the inability to find competent staff has more than doubled, reflecting national trends,” summarized Pam Harpster, another subcommittee member.
The report contains recommendations to the Council for action items to address specific findings. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting in person at City Hall at 6 p.m. or via https://www.cityoflakeport.com/agendas_and_minutes/index.php.
LEDAC is an advocate for a strong and positive Lakeport business community, and serves as a conduit between the City and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs. The Committee meets bi-monthly on the second Wednesday, 7:30 to 9 a.m. All meetings are open to the public.
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MARYSVILLE/WOODLAND/CLEARLAKE
YCCD unveils slate of finalists for new Chancellor. Meet the finalists April 3-5 at public forums.
Yuba Community College District (YCCD)’s Search Committee for the next Chancellor has chosen four finalists for the position. The finalists, listed in alphabetical order, include: Dr. Beatriz Espinoza, Dr. Eugene Giovannini, Dr. Shouan Pan, and Dr. Wei Zhou. More information about each finalist is available on the YCCD website.
As a final step in the selection process, the public, staff and students are invited to attend public forums to be held April 3 to 5 at both Yuba and Woodland Community Colleges. The public forums will give staff, students and community members an opportunity to meet each finalist, learn about his/her/their vision for the District, and answer questions.
After the completion of the forums, attendees may continue to provide feedback on each candidate using the forms located on the Chancellor Search webpage. The feedback forms must be completed by noon on Thursday, April 6.
Community input from the public forums and the feedback forms will be used by the YCCD Board of Trustees in rendering the selection of the new chancellor. The Board of Trustees will conduct finalist interviews April 3 and 5, and anticipates hiring the new chancellor this spring.
Visit the YCCD website at https://www.yccd.edu/board/chancellor-search/ for more information about the public forums and the search process.
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WASHINGTON
Thompson joins Moms Clean Air Force, student leaders for press conference on impact of climate-related disasters on youth mental health
On Wednesday, Reps. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) joined student leaders from California, Florida, and across the country for a press conference on the introduction of a Congressional resolution promoting youth mental health and well-being in a changing climate.
“Last year, I worked with student leaders from our district and Schools for Climate Action to introduce the Congressional resolution in recognition of the impact that the climate crisis has on the mental health of young people. This year, I am proud to again work with Giselle, my colleagues, and Moms Clean Air Force to reintroduce the resolution,” said Thompson. “This resolution was drafted by high school climate advocates from my district with Schools for Climate Action after devastating wildfires robbed them of their homes and forever changed our community in California. The climate crisis is having a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of youth across our country, and I am proud to work with inspiring student leaders to call attention to this growing issue.”
“Last year, I worked with student leaders from our district and Schools for Climate Action to introduce the Congressional resolution in recognition of the impact that the climate crisis has on the mental health of young people. This year, I am proud to again work with Giselle, my colleagues, and Moms Clean Air Force to reintroduce the resolution,” said Thompson. “This resolution was drafted by high school climate advocates from my district with Schools for Climate Action after devastating wildfires robbed them of their homes and forever changed our community in California. The climate crisis is having a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of youth across our country, and I am proud to work with inspiring student leaders to call attention to this growing issue.”
Lesli Munoz-Perez, an 11th-grader at Sonoma Academy, said “I believe that with this climate education bill we could help students from all around the country learn about the importance of climate advocacy and better prepare them for natural disasters that affect their mental health.”
Rebecca Carter, a 12th-grader at the Philadelphia Creative and Performing Arts School, also spoke to the connection between climate education and mental health: “Climate action is a marathon, not a sprint, and unless we empower future generations with climate education and keep current leaders from getting burnout, we have no chance of achieving environmental justice.”
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