LOWER LAKE
New Year’s Day Hike at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park attracts a large crowd
On New Year’s Day, over one hundred visitors decided to get a healthy start to 2024 by participating in the tenth annual First Day Hike held at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. Hikers of all ages enjoyed a beautiful, sunny day in the park, and ranged from “old timers” who regularly hike in the park to first time visitors.
According to Henry Bornstein, one of the State Parks volunteer hike leaders, “the First Day Hike has become a Lake County tradition. With the exception of 2021, which was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the First Day Hikes at the park have attracted over 100 attendees for each of the past ten years. To allow folks to “sleep in” on New Year’s Day, we always begin the hikes at noon.”
The hike this year covered a three-mile loop on the park’s trail system and was led by an all-volunteer team of State Park Docents. The hikers were divided into two groups to accommodate the large number of visitors, with each group starting in a different direction and passing each other in the middle of the hike.
Each group stopped periodically to allow the hike leaders to discuss the flora and fauna that was encountered on the trail. The recent rains created a good opportunity to identify the animal tracks on the trails and the sunny day was made brighter by Western Bluebirds finding perches in the trees and shrubs.
According to Bornstein, “State Park staff and volunteers at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park are looking forward to the start of another year of guided nature walks at the park, culminating with next year’s First Day Hike.”
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CLEARLAKE
10th Annual Martin Luther King Unity Day program
Praises of Zion Church and the Clearlake United Methodist Church have united to present the 10th Annual Martin Luther King Unity Day to be held Monday January 15 from 12 pm to 2 pm at the Clearlake Methodist Church. The program includes Unity speeches from a diverse group of people from different cultures, ethnicities, colors, socioeconomic backgrounds, and gender identifications. Local political leaders, churches, law enforcement, social agencies, and our state representatives have been invited. There will be music and performances by local musicians and the African Drum group. Everyone in our county is encouraged to come to be a part of this “Unity Day”. This unity is vitally important for the well-being of our community and our country in these times of division from the current political climate and social media influences.
The event is open to the entire county. The 10thth Annual MLK Unity Day is at the Clearlake United Methodist Church on Monday January 15 from 12 pm to 2 pm, 14521 Pearle Ave., Clearlake.
Please contact Lynette Kirkwood, organizer, if you want to participate or would like more information (707) 461-9409.
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LUCERNE
January Crafts program at Lucerne Alpine Senior Center
Seniors 55+ are invited to a pre-Valentine’s Day crafts program at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center on Thursday, January 18 at 10 a.m. Amy Patton, the Lakeport Library’s crafts specialist, will be showing us how to create handmade jewelry with clear resin and small colorful items like beads, foil flakes, glitter, and flower petals. The finished pieces can be used to make necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry for yourself or for that special person in your life.
Amy offers a different crafts program every month on the third Thursday at 10 a.m. The Lakeport Library supplies all the materials for the program free to participants. All you need to bring is your imagination! Amy is also happy to answer your questions about the variety of services offered through the Library. And after the program, you are welcome to join us for a hot, fresh-cooked lunch, served 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
Other activities for Seniors at LASC include a weekly guitar and ukulele group led by local musician and teacher Craig Wilczewski, held every Thursday at noon, with special emphasis on beginning players and former players who would like to brush up on their skills. Please bring your own instrument, a digital tuner, and a folder to hold music. LASC also continues to host Paul Samberg’s Tai Chi classes from 2:30 to 3:30 every Friday.
We’re looking for volunteers to lead more activities! If you have interests and skills you’d like to share with seniors, LASC offers a community venue in our newly renovated building. Exercise, yoga, arts and crafts, music, creative writing, gardening — anything seniors enjoy that can be hosted at our facility — would be welcome. If you’re willing to organize and lead an activity, please call our office weekdays between 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 707 274-8779.
The Lucerne Alpine Senior Center is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, for seniors 55+ and caregivers accompanying them. Lunch is served from from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $5 per person for lunch. Your donations help us to buy fresh, tasty food and keep our kitchen running.
We’re located at 3985 Country Club Drive in Lucerne, between 9th and 10th Avenues. Our Thrift Shop, located on 9th Avenue around the corner from the main building, is now open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., accepting donations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We welcome volunteers of all ages so that we can offer more services and open our Thrift Shop for longer hours.
For more information, see our website, lucernealpineseniorcenter.org and go to our Facebook page, Lucerne Alpine Senior Center 2021, or call 707 274-8779 during office hours, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. weekdays.
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