CLEARLAKE— The Lake County Chamber of Commerce promoted a Health Expo event on Saturday with the support of Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Adventist Health Clear Lake. The event started at 8 a.m. with a marathon called 5K Fun Run, starting and ending in Austin Park. The community enjoyed fun activities, featuring 25 vendors offering food and health-related goods, information booths and demonstrations, including three fitness classes.
The Expo took place in Clearlake, which closed road access between Olympic Drive and Division Avenue, allowing expo-goers direct access to the event. Food vendors included Dave the Taco Guy, The Noodle Bowl, Mother Lovin’ from the Oven and Living Being Farms. Teas, juices and small muffins were available. The spin wheel drawing offered small prizes such as beach towels, Frisbees, pens, shirts, toiletries and other miscellaneous items.
The Children’s Museum of Art and Science, Blue Zones Project, Lake County Parks & Trails, NorCal 4 Health and the State on Developmental Disabilities were among the information booths in attendance. Konocti Bicycles, Dew Diligence Skin Company and BlueCooper Permanent Jewelry were a few of the vendors in attendance.
“We’d like to incorporate more music in the community. We’d like to teach the children how to read music, be able to get ready for their future musical careers and (teach them) how to do it,” said Stephanie Figueroa, president of the Children’s Museum of Art and Science, while entertaining the small visitors with a soapy tank for giant bubbles and other playful activities.
The museum suffered from a fire at its facility last month located at the strip mall by the Adventist Health Clearlake Clinic. The Music teacher Victor Hall, vice president of the Children’s Museum of Art and Science, said that, temporarily, classes are being administered at the campground by Walmart. More information via phone available by calling (707)295-1030 or e-mail cmaslakecounty@gmail.com.
The Lake County Behavioral Health Services (LCBHS) booth offered counseling and advice for people struggling with the use and abuse of tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs. “We’ve been distributing pamphlets on how to talk to your kids about how to not use substances or how to resist when people ask you if you ‘hey, you want to come hit my vape pen?’ and how to actually say no, in a good way. We want to be present in the community that way that people see us and then they gain our trust so that when they do want to get help, it’ll be easy for them to want to come,” said LCBHS Prevention Specialist, Richard Occhino.
The sociologist and psychologist visits schools, along with Chelsea Wetzel, the LCBHS Outreach & Prevention Specialist. She said the targeted age for their classes is between 11 and 15 years old – middle and early high school students. She added that they teach brain science, the consequences of drug usage, substance use prevention and how to deal with people offering things that will bring harm to physical and mental health.
Sutter Lakeside Hospital brought attention to its Family Birth Center, in Lakeport, their phone number is (707) 262-5085.
“We have nurses that are certified in inpatient obstetrics. We have private rooms. We offer wireless fetal monitoring, so moms can get up and walk around while they’re in labor. We have nice furniture that our support person partner can relax in while they’re there helping out. We have certified lactation counselors, water therapy, birthing balls, labor tubs, a great welcoming environment and the unit is beautiful. We have antepartum testing, epidural services and a dedicated C-section suit,” said Women’s Health nursing director, Tandie Garland. “We also have a gourmet celebration dinner that we provide once our parents have delivered. It’s something we just started, less than a year ago. We just want people to know that we’re still there delivering babies and we want people to come and have their babies with us.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit programs and activities that support the local economy such as the Certified Tourism Ambassador Program, according to the Chamber of Commerce.
