LAKE COUNTY
Deadline approaching for Small Business Competition
There’s still time to apply for the 4th Annual Small Business Competition, Hands Up Lake County. The deadline to apply for a chance to win from $5,000 to $30,000 is May 31.
From the total pool of applicants, twenty will be selected to attend a 1-day workshop and mini competition. Eight will be selected to advance to the final competition on Oct. 15, 2023, at the Soper Reese Theatre where cash prizes totaling $120,000 will be awarded in two categories, startup and established businesses.
Building the local economy a few small businesses at a time is the goal of 1Team 1Dream, the nonprofit that puts on the annual business competition. The competition is part of Maryann Schmid and Olga Martin Steele’s vision to help develop strong, local businesses in rural Lake County.
“We are volunteers working to raise the economic outlook of the county by supporting small businesses and local entrepreneurs with a cash boost,” Steele, Chair of the nonprofit, says. “Small businesses are the backbone of rural economies, local small businesses or business hopefuls are encouraged to apply.”
Maryann Schmid likes to remind those who have applied in the past, but did not make it, to apply again.
“I love to tell the story of “Grillagan’s Island owners Nick and Nicole Gentry. They applied and did not make it on their first try. The next year, they applied again and won,” said Schmid. “The Gentry’s are a prime example of the kind of commitment it takes to make it in business.”
In 2022 Grillagan’s Island won a 3rd place cash award of $15,000 plus the fan favorite award of $1,000.
“The Gentry’s overcame obstacles most of us can’t imagine,” said Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora – one of the first supporters of the non-profit. “They started with a tent based out of Clearlake and are now serving their signature grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup – and more – from a prime location on highway 20 in Lucerne.”
Although the cash prizes are generous, the competition focuses on more than just awards. The training focuses on how to develop a business plan with an emphasis on financials, marketing, management, and contingencies to weather the inevitable ups and downs in the marketplace.
“The competition was an amazing experience and journey for me,” says Valerie Ann Stallings, owner of Send Rover on Over, the 2nd place and fan favorite award winner in 2021. “It’s amazing how they help small businesses and lift them up, she said. Today, I have more business than I can manage.”
“You may not win first time around,” says Schmid. “But you’ll learn a great deal in the process and who knows – you may well win the next time around – like Nick and Nicole of Grillagan’s Island.”
Apply online at 1team1dream.net and for more information contact Olga Steele at 916-849-8170.
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MIDDLETOWN
Middletown Cemetery honors veterans on Memorial Day
Middletown Cemetery, located at 16357 Butts Canyon Rd. is proud to once again host our Memorial Day Veterans remembrance service on Monday, May 29, beginning at 9 A.M. There will be a presentation of wreaths purchased by local merchants and service organizations in honor of our Veterans. For 21 years, the students enrolled in the Middletown High School Floral Design class have designed the wreaths.
The Military Funeral Honors Team of Lake County will begin the ceremonies. A veteran Chaplin will do the Invocation and Taps will be played. The Military Funeral Honors Team of Lake County will perform the three-volley salute. They will be ushered in by Bill Weeks and the Patriot Guard Riders.
4H is in charge of the flag ceremony. Girl Scout Troops 10536 and 10403 will help with wreath placement and programs and they will place a flag on each of the 227 Veteran’s graves. District 1 Supervisor Jose (Moke) Simon III, Tribal Chair of the Middletown Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians will be the guest speaker and he will read the names of the Veterans buried at Middletown Rancheria. Jim Comstock, former District One Supervisor will read the names of the Veterans buried in the Middletown Cemetery. Linda Diehl-Darms will act as Mistress of Ceremonies. The Benediction will be given by Voris Brumfield, Pastor of the Middletown Methodist Church. David Neft will provide the music and Annette Lee will sing the national Anthem. The Middletown Lion’s Club faithfully provides the chairs and helps with many set up items on this special day.
Please join us for this important event to remember and honor our Veterans.
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SACRAMENTO
More than 500 union nurses to march and rally in Sacramento for Lobby Day
Hundreds of registered nurses will rally, march, and lobby state lawmakers in Sacramento, Calif., on May 16, announced the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) Friday. The Lobby Day events will bring CNA nurses from across the state to the California State Capitol building, where they’ll arrive by march and then rally outside before meetings with legislators about nurses’ key issues and priority legislation. CNA represents over 100,000 nurses across California.
A nurses march will step off at 10:15 a.m. from the Crest Theatre at 1013 K St. in Sacramento. Nurses will then rally at the California State Capitol at 11 a.m., where they will speak out about key legislation. They will be joined by elected officials.
Nurses serve as patient advocates at every level, from the bedside to the strike line to the halls of the state legislature. They’ll bring their advocacy to lawmakers to show their support for essential legislation to improve patient care and California’s entire health care system, including proposals on single-payer CalCare, behavioral health reforms, surgical plume protections, workers’ compensation equity, and employer-driven debt bans.
For more information about CNA’s supported legislation, visit our website at https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/california-legislation or check out our fact sheets on the issues.
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