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School board members, educators, parents and community members are invited to a presentation Monday on the prospects for school finance reform. The talk by Margaret Weston and Heather Rose, analysts for the Public Policy Institute of California, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Yolo County Office of Education, 1280 Santa Anita Court, Woodland.

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Given California\’s budget challenges, such reform is not likely to happen overnight, but incremental changes over time could result in a much-improved system, Weston and Rose say. Drawing on two PPIC reports, “At Issue: School Finance Reform” and “Pathways for School Finance in California,” they will discuss the system\’s key challenges and outline pathways toward a more equitable, adequately funded and transparent system.

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For more information, contact Susan Lovenburg, a Davis Board of Education member, at [email protected] or (530) 304-6360.

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Project Linus meets Wednesday

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Project Linus members will meet from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A St., to sew labels on blankets handmade by volunteers. The finished work is given to organizations in Yolo County that serve children in need.

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Do you want to make a quilt for Project Linus? Pick up a quilt package with fabric cut for a specific pattern that can be sewn at home. Those who want to help cut quilt blocks Wednesday should bring a rotary cutter, ruler and cutting board.

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Time and talent will allow demonstrations of quilting ideas and techniques.

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Completed blankets, material or yarn donations also will be accepted Wednesday or may be dropped off at Diane McGee\’s home in Davis. For the location, e-mail [email protected] or call (530) 753-3436.

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County offices close for training

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The offices of the Yolo County Department of Employment & Social Services in Woodland and West Sacramento will be closed for part of Wednesday for staff training.

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The West Sacramento office, 500-A Jefferson Blvd., will be closed from 8 a.m. to noon. The Woodland office, 25 N. Cottonwood St., will be closed from noon to 4 p.m.

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Regular business hours, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., will resume at both offices the following day. For more information, call (530) 661-2750 or (916) 375-6200.

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Bombs-for-teachers group gathers

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Local residents who support trading bombs for teachers will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Stonegate Video and Coffee in the Westlake Plaza shopping center, 1260 Lake Blvd. in West Davis.

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The group will discuss its upcoming presentation to the Davis Board of Education. For more information, call (530) 753-1247 or visit http://25teacherssalaries.org.

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Recycle your Christmas tree

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The holidays are over, and it\’s time to get the house back in order. Christmas trees may be placed in the gutter for pickup by Davis Waste Removal crews. The tree stand, lights, ornaments and tinsel must be removed, and flocked trees are not accepted.

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Trees over 5 feet tall should be cut in pieces and placed with yard material in front of your home for recycling.

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“Please be courteous and do not place trees or yard waste around the corner or across the street from your house,” a city of Davis spokeswoman said. Trees also cannot block bike lanes.

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For more information about recycling and holiday waste reduction, visit http://www.davisrecycling.org, call (530) 757-5686 or e-mail [email protected]

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Jewish community solidarity event set

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One Shabbat, One World, a global project being organized by the international Chabad-Lubavitch movement, will take place next weekend. The massive initiative will unite Jewish participants worldwide in the observance of the Jewish Saturday Sabbath, with women and girls lighting the traditional Shabbat candles.

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Men, women and children will mark their participation by attending Chabad synagogues and enjoying the time-honored Friday night dinners, complete with classic Jewish cuisine like challah and chicken soup.

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The event will use the Jewish outreach organization\’s hundreds of worldwide branches to “unite Jewish communities and individuals everywhere,” says Rabbi Shmary Brownstein, director of Chabad of Davis. “The point is, everyone can make a difference in making the world a better place, and this is one easy way to do so.”

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For more information or to request a free participation kit, contact Brownstein at (530) 756-3727 or [email protected]

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Electronics may be recycled for free

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If Santa brought you some new electronic gadgets for Christmas, you may want to dispose of your old stuff this month.

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Davis residents can safely get rid of their unwanted items at a free electronics recycling event Saturday, Jan. 15, courtesy of Davis Waste Removal and the city of Davis. The event will take place rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DWR office, 2727 Second St.

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Davis Waste Removal will partner with California Electronic Asset Recovery, recognized for its efficient recycling program, to recycle the electronics and give the proceeds to Davis Community Meals. The nonprofit agency helps people who are homeless or low-income rebuild their lives.

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For more information, visit http://www.dwrco.com or call (530) 756-4646.

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Military families group dines together

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Yolo Military Families will hold its first meeting of the year at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, at Black Bear Diner, 255 Second St. in downtown Davis. The group welcomes all who have loved ones in the military.

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For more information, e-mail [email protected]

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Winter cooking class offered

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Register now for a class on “Cooking in Season in the Winter,” offered from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A St.

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What can you do with all those greens and root vegetables? Instructor Adrienne Capps will share several tasty recipes using beets, turnips, winter squash, chard and kale.

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The cost is $20, plus a $15 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Registration is accepted at the city of Davis Community Services Department at City Hall, 23 Russell Blvd., or online at http://www.cityofdavis.org.

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For more information, call (530) 757-5626.

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St. Clair teaches acting in Woodland

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Woodland Community College is rekindling its drama program by offering an introductory acting class, taught by veteran teacher and director Russell St. Clair. The class is not limited to full-time WCC students. Anyone may sign up, even if they already have a degree.

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The class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 8:50 p.m. starting Jan. 18.

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The course will explore the basics of acting for the stage, including voice and diction, movement, improvisational technique, characterization and scene study. Several monologues and scenes will be presented in class.

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For more information, visit http://wcc.yccd.edu or call the college at (530) 661-5700. The college is at 2300 E. Gibson Road, Woodland.

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Learn how to talk to kids about death

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Amy Medovoy, Child Life Program coordinator for Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, will visit Davis Parent Nursery School\’s Danbury site on Wednesday, Jan. 19, to speak about “How to Talk to Children About Death and Grief.”

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The class will run from 7 to 9 p.m. at DPNS, 1447 Danbury St. in South Davis. It is free and open to the public.

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With her background in helping families deal with loss and grief, Medovoy is attuned to the way young children perceive and respond to tragic or life-changing events. She gives simple, practical advice on how to respond to questions children may have.

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A good part of the class is a question-and-answer session, and also allows parents to share their personal experiences.

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Give the gift of life at blood drive

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A blood drive is planned from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23, in the Memorial Center gym at St. James Parish, 1275 B St. The donation process usually takes about an hour.

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Those who donate in January will be able to donate six times this year. Since each blood donation can save up to two lives, those who give blood the maximum six times may be able to save up to 12 lives in 2011, a news release said.

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Participants on Jan. 23 will receive a free BloodSource T-shirt. The parish will not provide child care during this event.

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Donors must be generally healthy, weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old or 16 with a signed BloodSource parental consent form available online at http://www.bloodsource.org/HowYouCanHelp/HighSchoolProgram. There is no upper age limit for blood donations.

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For more information, call (866) 822-5663.

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UC plans agritourism workshops

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The University of California Cooperative Extension\’s small farm program has scheduled five upcoming workshops for farmers, tourism professionals and community leaders aimed at growing agritourism.

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The Sacramento area event is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 2, at the Veterans Memorial Building in Rio Vista.

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The workshops will address challenges related to permits, regulations, planning, marketing and risk management.

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For registration and more information, see http://ucanr.org/2011agtour.

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\’Kids in the Kitchen\’ classes slated

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There\’s something magical that draws kids into the kitchen. Remember watching at your mom\’s side just hoping for the chance to do anything, even if it was simply to stir a little flour into the batter?

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The kitchen still holds the same intrigue today for budding young cooks, who may be introduced to cooking via the city\’s “Kids in the Kitchen” class. The class runs from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 3 through March 17. The cost is $69.

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To register for classes 5631 S1 or 5631 S2, stop by the Community Services Department at City Hall, 23 Russell Blvd., or visit http://www.cityofdavis.org. For more information, call (530) 757-5626.

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Pancake breakfast benefits VFW post

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The Davis Veterans of Foreign War Post 6949 invites everyone to its annual Valentine\’s Day Sweetheart Breakfast, from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Veterans\’ Memorial Center, 203 E. 14th St.

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The menu includes eggs, sausage, pancakes, fruit, milk, juice and coffee. Tickets are $7 each.

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The breakfast is the post\’s biggest fundraiser. Proceeds support the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Davis Cemetery, Veterans Day activities, high school scholarships, and installation of flag poles and flag replacements around Davis.

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The post also supports the veterans community with visits to veterans and their dependents in assisted living facilities, nursing homes and hospitals. Post members also host an annual recognition of local firefighters and police officers and honor an ROTC Cadet of the Year.

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Tickets will be available from any VFW member and at the door.

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