KELSEYVILLE
Second annual Westfest Concert is an all day affair
The second annual Westfest Concert took place Aug. 2, 2025 at Buckingham Golf Club with seven bands playing all day long. The stage was set up on the first fairway. The bands that performed were Ian Fleming and the Secret Agents, Beau LePaige, Jake Nielsen, Soul Circus, Gas Money, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Ariel Jean and Sol Horizon. A percentage of the tickets sold will go to various Lake County schools for their Music Departments and instruction. (More photos by Minenna Photography can be found by visiting our Facebook page)
LAKE COUNTY
National Recognition: Sutter Lakeside shines in CMS quality ratings
When choosing where to receive care, today’s consumers have hundreds of options. They read reviews, compare ratings and look for hospitals recognized by trusted sources. Sometimes, a single extra star can be the deciding factor.
This year, four Sutter hospitals, including Sutter Lakeside Hospital, earned the highest possible five-star rating for overall hospital quality from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. These ratings reflect Sutter’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, safe care for all.
“Our five-star rating is a direct reflection of the people who make Sutter Lakeside special,” said Tim Stephens, Sutter Lakeside Hospital CEO. “From our nurses and physicians to environmental services and support staff, every team member plays a role in delivering the safe, high-quality care our community deserves.”
Only 10% of hospitals nationwide received a five-star rating. Sutter’s top performing hospitals include:
Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Summit Campus (upgrade from four stars in 2024)
Sutter Lakeside Hospital
Sutter’s Mills-Peninsula Medical Center (five stars for seven consecutive years)
Sutter’s Novato Community Hospital (five stars for five consecutive years)
Several Sutter hospitals also earned five-star recognition in individual quality measures, including cleanliness, and low rates of Clostridioides difficile, central line associated bloodstream infections and catheter associated urinary tract infections, that contribute to the overall CMS rating. Eight Sutter locations ranked among the top recommended hospitals in California based on patient surveys.
Behind the stars: How Sutter delivers excellence
Sutter’s high CMS scores are the result of systemwide efforts to build a culture of continuous improvement in patient care:
Consistent Communication: Standardizing nursing bundles, rounding communications and bedside shift reports improve consistency and transparency — so shift changes are seamless.
Smarter Documentation: New AI tools have saved clinicians and physicians over 1 million hours, freeing up more time for patient care, and improving the clarity and usefulness of clinical notes in after-visit summaries, and easier scheduling.
—Submitted
LAKE COUNTY
Lake County celebrates youth graduation
The Lake County Office of Education celebrates the completion of its first Youth Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program, with fourteen students prepared to take their certification exam and launch their careers in healthcare.
The graduation ceremony took place on Friday, August 1, 2025, at the Kelseyville High School Student Service Center.
The CNA graduates, who are all current high school students or recent graduates, completed an intensive seven-week summer program that prepared them to take the state CNA exam.
During the seven weeks, participants received hands-on clinical training, classroom instruction, and mentorship from experienced healthcare professionals. Now that each is certified, students are eligible to work in a variety of healthcare settings including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, and hospitals.
“This program gave students a fantastic opportunity to explore a career in the medical field and develop real-world skills before they graduate,” said Brock Falkenberg, Lake County Superintendent of Schools. “By preparing them for the workforce while they’re still in high school, we’re helping students take confident steps toward their future, and supporting the needs of our community.”
The Youth CNA Program reflects LCOE’s commitment to helping students succeed by connecting their education to real career opportunities.
“This program gives students a head start on their careers,” said Matt Russell, Director of Adult Education & Career and College Readiness. “It helps them build confidence, earn credentials, and take real steps toward their future.”
To learn more about the CNA Youth Program and other Medical Training Programs offered by the Lake County Office of Education, visit lakecoe.org/
—Submitted
