LAKE COUNTY
What is SB 1383 and why does it matter?
California’s Senate Bill 1383 isn’t just about recycling – it’s also focused on reducing edible food waste. This part of the law helps divert surplus food to those who need it most, rather than letting it end up in landfills. Through food recovery programs, we can ensure that good food is rescued and given a second life.
In 2024, we’re proud to share that our three City of Lakeport local supermarkets donated an incredible 187,534 lbs of food to the Clear Lake Gleaners Organization in Finley, CA, where it is distributed to individuals and families in need county wide. That’s a HUGE win for both our community and the environment!
Mark your calendar:
The Clearlake Gleaners’ Next USDA Food Distribution is scheduled for:
Thursday, January 16. Distribution: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Locations:
– Clearlake – The Crossroads Church, 6039 Crawford Ave.
– Cobb – Cobb Mountain Lions, Little Red School House
– Finley – Clear Lake Gleaners, 1896 Big Valley Rd.
– Middletown – Middletown Lions Club, 15399 Central Park Rd.
– Nice – 2817 Hwy. 20 (Cross St. Lakeview Dr.)
– Spring Valley – Community Center, 2975/3005 Wolf Creek Rd.
By participating in SB 1383, we’re all contributing to:
- Reducing food waste and hunger.
- Creating a sustainable food system.
- Keeping organic waste out of landfills.
Together, we can make a lasting impact
—Submitted
CLEARLAKE
11th annual MLK Unity Day event
Praises of Zion Church and The United Methodist Church of Clearlake are presenting the 11th Annual Martin Luther King “Unity Day” event on Monday January 20, 2025. This is a county-wide program and they will have representation from all areas of the Lake County.
The event will feature prayers by the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Koi Nation and ministers from both churches. There will be a variety of special musical guests, dancers, and guest speakers. In attendance will be representatives from local and state governments, law enforcement, social agencies, and community groups.
There will be a diverse group of people on the program from various cultures, ethnicities, and gender identities to make it inclusive and represent our entire county. The purpose is to build unity throughout our community with this yearly event. They are encouraging everyone in our county to come to be a part of this “Unity Day”. It is vitally important for the well-being of our community and our country. This event is more important than ever as the political climate has created a huge division among all Americans.
MLK Unity Day is at the United Methodist Church at 14501 Pearl Street in Clearlake on Monday January 20, 2025 from 1 pm to 3 pm.
—Submitted
WOODLAND
Yuba Community College District ratifies contract agreement
At their Jan. 9, 2025, regular meeting, the Board of Trustees of the Yuba Community College District (District) ratified the contract agreement between the District and the Faculty Association of the Yuba Community College District (FAYCCD).
Negotiations have been ongoing for several years, and the agreement with FAYCCD, who represents the District’s full-time faculty, covers the 2022-23 through 2025-26 academic years.
“This agreement represents a significant step forward for our institution, our faculty, and, most importantly, our students,” said Chancellor Shouan Pan. “It reflects the shared commitment of both parties to fostering excellence in education, advancing equity, and ensuring the success of every student we serve.”
Richard Teagarden, District Board President, further commented, “My fellow Board members and I are very pleased that the District and the Faculty Union Leadership finally reached an agreement after a lengthy negotiation process. The approved agreement recognizes the important roles the full-time faculty plays in serving the District mission of student and community success and reinforces our shared commitment to pay equity and system sustainability.”
This agreement, which was also ratified by the FAYCCD membership, lays the foundation for continued partnership, collaboration, and progress together as 2025-26 contract negotiations get underway.
—Submitted
SACRAMENTO
January 2025 Fire Summary
More than 8,000 personnel, including firefighters, law enforcement and other emergency support personnel, continue to respond to ongoing historic wildfires in Southern California. In the first 10 days of the year, there have been 35,999 acres burned, from 98 fires across the state.
Damage inspections continue with the initial assessment of destroyed structure being 5,316 for the Palisades Fire and an estimated over 5,000 structures destroyed from the Eaton Fire. These current numbers still need to be validated but will likely make the Palisades and Eaton fires the third and fourth most destructive fires in California’s history respectively.
On Thursday, an air tanker flying in the Palisades Fire area was struck by a civilian uncrewed aircraft system (UAS). The aircraft sustained damage and will remain grounded and out of service. There were no injuries reported. This is a reminder that if you fly we cannot! Flying a UAS amidst firefighting efforts is a federal offence punishable by up to 12 month of incarceration and a fine of up to $75,000. This incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
CAL FIRE’s aviation fleet continue to prove a valuable resource in the response to Southern California fires. Since January 7, 2025, CAL FIRE’s aviation fleet has dropped over 59,000 gallons of retardant, over 72,000 gallons of water, and logged over 75 flight hours including 8 hours of nighttime operations as weather has allowed. CAL FIRE’s new C130 Air Tanker, T122 has also flown over ten hours, dropping over 30,000 gallons of retardant.
California National Guard has activated additional resources with ten water dropping helicopters supporting firefighting operations.
—Submitted
