Wiggins, who represents the state’s 2nd Senate District, was recognized for her authorship of two telecommunications bills that were signed into law this year: SB 1149, extending the Rural Telecommunications Infrastructure Grant Program, which provides grants for the development and improvement of telecommunication services in rural communities; and SB 780, extending California’s High-Cost Funds A and B, which are utilized by companies that provide telecommunications in high-cost-of-services areas and communities.

The 2nd Senate District is comprised of portions or all of six counties: Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma.

Both of the bills authored by Wiggins impact residents of those counties – SB 1149, because it allows phone lines and cellular providers to receive grants and build infrastructure in rural and high-cost areas, and SB 780, because nearly the entire 2nd Senate District receives subsidies by ratepayers enabling telecommunications companies to provide affordable phone services.

“Telecommunications providers rely on subsidies paid by all ratepayers to continue providing basic phone service to rural areas of my district and elsewhere in California,” Wiggins said after receiving her award. “Had we not been able to extend the high-cost funds, rural residents across the state would have been with astronomically-high phone bills.”

SB 1149 extends the Rural Telecommunications Infrastructure Grant Program to January 2013. SB 780 extends the California High-Cost Fund A & B to 2012, and 2013, respectively. The latter bill also requires the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to report to the Legislature on the affordability of basic phone services in rural areas of the state that are subsidized by the B-Fund by July 1, 2010. Wiggins said the purpose of the report is “to ensure that residents in such areas have access to reliable and affordable telephone service.”

CalCom is a statewide trade association, representing 21 companies (including AT&T, Surewest and Verizon, along smaller telephone companies such as Foresthill and Sierra) that provide telecommunications services to nearly every corner of California. The association was founded in 1917.

Today’s CalCom members range from small high-tech, high-investment communications companies bringing reliable, high-quality service to the most rural and remote areas of the state, to medium and large providers serving diverse rural, urban and suburban markets. Together, CalCom members employ over 61,000 Californians.

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The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. with recently installed Commander Harry De Lope presiding.

Anyone 17 or older with an interest in joining this active flotilla is encouraged to attend the meeting.

For additional information, please call the Flotilla's information line at 513-5122.

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The group will meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 221 South Lenore Ave.

AIRRO was founded to educate and assist all individuals regarding basic human and civil rights issues.

For membership application or more information contact AIRRO at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the group online at www.AIRRO.org.

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Board member Allen Markowski, will share his pruning knowledge and skills at a residence in Clearlake. Participants can take part in pruning on a variety of fruit trees and other shrubs.

Please bring pruning tools to use and to share if you have them.

This is a great no-cost opportunity to become more knowledgeable in pruning existing plants and trees in order to provide a more productive local and sustainable harvest. The public is welcome!

Carpooling is available by meeting at the regular co-op location at 14773 Lakeshore Drive at 9:30 a.m.

For more information contact Lori Patotzka at 994-1618.

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The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Loconoma High School located on Washington Street.

Agenda items include a final call for nominations to the MATH Board, an opportunity to meet the candidates, election of the MATH Board of Directors, a welcome for newly elected District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock and board reports.

Also up for action is an amendment to the MATH Bylaws, providing for two at-large alternate board members, and discussion and consideration of MATH marketing materials and mission statement.

MATH meetings are subject to videotaping. Meeting proceedings may be available for viewing on public access television and/or the Internet.

MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (includes HVL), Long Valley and Middletown.

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Winners of the Lake County Community Co-op Gratitude Raffle include, from left, Vice-Chair Ann Breen, Myra Sherman, Roger Pooleand Director Allen Markowski. Photo by Lori Patotska.

LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Community Co-op celebrated its first anniversary with a potluck and free raffle on Dec. 13.

The Gratitude 2008 gathering hosted more than 30 co-op members and friends. The winners of the raffle received donated items from the co-op community including organic wine, cheese, bread, fresh produce and gift certificates for locally grown produce, as well as gift certificates for advertising with the co-op, all enclosed in the co-op’s newly designed recycled-canvas bags.

Co-op member and marketing communications designer, Kathy Wolden, expressed what a joy it was to give away the bags as gifts of gratitude.

The co-op had its first organizing meeting in January of 2008, from which arose a farmers’ market, buying club, monthly educational series, newsletter and the upcoming community garden at the senior center in Clearlake.

Co-founder JoAnn Saccato expressed wonder and delight at the gathering and quoted Meister Eckhart’s familiar saying, "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was 'thank you,' that would suffice."

The co-op, in celebration of their first anniversary, is launching a month-long membership drive in January for the buying club that includes their canvas bag ($11 retail value) free with a fully paid annual membership of $24.

For more information call 707-993-4270 or go to http://lakeco-op.org.

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