LAKEPORT
Rotary Club of Lakeport announces notable speakers for January 2024 luncheons
The Rotary Club of Lakeport is pleased to unveil an exciting lineup of distinguished speakers for its January 2024 luncheons. The Rotary Club, known for its commitment to community service, invites members and the public to join these engaging sessions held at O’Meara Brothers Brewing Company in Lakeport every Wednesday at noon.
January 10, 2024: Tim Stephens, CEO, Sutter Lakeside Hospital
Kicking off the month on January 10th, the Rotary Club welcomes Tim Stephens, the Chief Executive Officer of Sutter Lakeside Hospital. Mr. Stephens will share insights into the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, discussing innovations, challenges, and the hospital’s role in serving the Lakeport community.
On January 17th, Mireya Turner, Director of Lake County Community Development, will take the stage to discuss the critical role of community development in shaping the future of Lakeport. Ms. Turner’s presentation will cover ongoing projects, economic strategies, and the importance of community collaboration for sustainable growth.
Wrapping up the month on January 31st, Carolyn Ruttan, Co-founder of the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center, will share her expertise on environmental conservation and the center’s efforts to promote ecological awareness. Attendees will gain valuable insights into preserving the natural beauty of Clear Lake.
Event Details:
Dates: January 10, 17, and 31, 2024
Time: Wednesdays at Noon
Location: O’Meara Brothers Brewing Company, 901 Bevins Street, Lakeport
Cost: FREE if invited by a Rotarian, otherwise $17
The Rotary Club of Lakeport extends an open invitation to community members and local businesses to attend these informative luncheons, fostering a spirit of collaboration and shared knowledge.
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LAKE COUNTY
Apply to be the next Poet Laureate of Lake County for 2024-2026
Lakeport Applications are now being accepted for the 12th Poet Laureate of Lake County. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2024.
The role of a Poet Laureate is to represent and promote poetry and literacy in the community they represent. This is a volunteer position with a two-year term.
Officiated by the Lake County Board of Supervisors, the Lake County Poet Laureate role was inducted in 1998 by inaugural Poet Laureate Jim Lyle. Between 1998 and 2023, a total of 11 Poets Laureate have been appointed in Lake County with diverse backgrounds and visions for this role.
The most recent Poet Laureate, Georgina Marie Guardado, was appointed for two consecutive terms during the COVID pandemic, 2020-2024, a first in the local laureate lineage.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and a Lake County resident for at least two consecutive years. Qualifications include having literary works published, including self-publishing, and a proven track record of literary-based community engagement and collaboration.
Applicants are asked to submit a mission statement, four original poems, two letters of recommendations, and a resume of literary involvement in the community, publications, and public readings.
Application and full guidelines can be found online at https://forms.bettercollected.com/lakecountypoetlaureate/forms/apply
Questions can be directed to georgina.marie@hotmail.com.
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WASHINGTON
States and tribes partner with USDA to kick off new summer EBT program
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service has started receiving official notices from states and tribal nations that intend to operate the new, permanent summer nutrition assistance program for children, known as Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer — one of many strategies the department is leveraging to tackle child hunger when schools are closed. California, Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia are among the first to confirm their plans to implement Summer EBT in 2024, the program’s inaugural year, and many more are expected to follow.
Through Summer EBT, states, territories, and certain tribal nations can provide grocery benefits to families with eligible school-aged children during the summer months. Once implemented nationwide, Summer EBT is expected to benefit more than 29 million children, reducing food insecurity and helping kids get the nutrition they need to grow, learn, and thrive.
“Summer EBT provides an unprecedented opportunity to reduce child hunger during the summer months,” said Cindy Long, administrator of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.“ FNS is thrilled to see trailblazing states and tribes step up and make early commitments to expanding summer nutrition benefits for children in their communities. We look forward to working with all states and eligible tribal nations on this important effort — helping ensure children across our nation get the nutrition they need year-round.”
Millions of children participate in USDA’s school breakfast and lunch programs during the school year. However, when schools are closed, kids lose access to these healthy meals and are at higher risk of food and nutrition insecurity. Reflecting a bipartisan effort to close the summer hunger gap, Congress passed legislation in late 2022 making Summer EBT the first new federal nutrition program in decades.
Summer EBT will support families with $40 each summer month per eligible child to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets, or other authorized retailers, similar to how SNAP benefits are used. USDA tested Summer EBT as a demonstration project in select states and tribal nations over multiple years. Rigorous evaluations showed that providing these benefits decreased the number of kids with very low food security by about one-third and supported healthier diets.
This new program will work hand-in-hand with other USDA nutrition programs to connect every eligible child with nutritious food during the summer. In addition to Summer EBT, USDA summer nutrition programs include group meal service at central locations, such as schools, camps, and community centers, as well as the option to provide grab-n-go or home-delivered meals in many rural communities. Summer EBT is an additional benefit and does not replace these summer meal programs. Families are encouraged to participate in all summer nutrition programs available to them.
To offer Summer EBT benefits in 2024, states and tribal nations should submit their notice of intent by Jan. 1, 2024. USDA is committed to supporting states and tribal nations with resources, technical assistance, and more as they work to implement Summer EBT.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service works to end hunger and improve food and nutrition security through a suite of 16 nutrition assistance programs, such as the school breakfast and lunch programs, WIC and SNAP. Together, these programs serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year, promoting consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable food essential to optimal health and well-being. FNS also provides science-based nutrition recommendations through the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FNS’s report, “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service,” highlights ways the agency will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. To learn more about FNS, visit www.fns.usda.gov and follow @USDANutrition.
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