UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Upper Lake will celebrate its Western heritage at the annual Wild West Day on Saturday, June 2.

In its 19th year, the celebration features barbecue, Western wear contests, antique tractors, a parade, street dancing and even an opportunity to ride “Rocky” the mechanical bull.  

The Blue Canyon Gang will perform their gunslinging Western show at high noon and again on the hour until 4 p.m.

Upper Lake is noted for its authentic Western feel with covered sidewalks, antique stores and a hotel that was a stage stop in the 1800s.

The festival is popular with the community and visitors thanks to the wide array of merchants, as well as the tri-tip barbecue and pancake breakfast by the Northshore Fire Support and the Upper Lake Community Council.   

The Upper Lake FFA will have strawberry shortcake dessert and root beer floats crafted by the members of the North Shore Business Association.

Wild West Day was started in 1993 by a group of merchants and community members to help the volunteer fire department with the purchase of the jaws of life while concurrently celebrating the Upper Lake post office’s 135th anniversary.

The event has continued and is now sponsored by the Northshore Fire Protection District, the Upper Lake Community Council and the Northshore Business Association.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The county's animal shelter has a group of new dogs of all different breeds available to join your family.

If you like small dogs, you can find them; there are Chihuahua, Boston Terrier and miniature pinscher mixes. There also are larger canine friends with Labrador Retriever, shepherd and husky heritage.

Thanks to Lake County Animal Care and Control’s new veterinary clinic, many of the animals offered for adoption already are spayed or neutered and ready to go home with their new families.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

Male Jack Russell mix

This male Jack Russell terrier mix is 6 years old.

He has tricolor markings and a short coat, weighs 19 pounds and has not yet been neutered.

He is in kennel No. 24, ID No. 32483.

Female Jack Russell mix

This female Jack Russell terrier mix is 3 years old.

She has a short tan and white coat, weighs nearly 26 pounds and has not yet been spayed.

Find her in kennel No. 22, ID No. 32482.

Male Chihuahua mix

This male Chihuahua mix is 10 months old.

He weighs 11 pounds, has been neutered and has a short coat.

He is in kennel No. 28, ID No. 32746.

Male husky mix

This male husky mix is 4 years old.

He has red and tan coloring, weighs 56 pounds and has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 30, ID No. 32738.

Male miniature pinscher mix

This male miniature pinscher mix is 2 years old.

He weighs 11 pounds, has a short black coat with brindle markings, and a docked tail. He has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 32, ID No. 32744.

Pointer-pit bull terrier mix

This male pointer-pit bull terrier is 11 months old.

He weighs nearly 50 pounds, has a short black and white coat, and has been neutered.

He is in kennel No. 20, ID No. 32696.

'Aramis'

“Aramis” is a 2-year-old shepherd-greyhound mix.

He has been neutered, weighs nearly 62 pounds, and has a short coat with brown brindle markings.

Find him in kennel No. 27, ID No. 32594.

Labrador Retriever mix

This female Labrador Retriever mix is 1 year old.

She has a short black coat, weighs 44 pounds and has been spayed.

She is in kennel No. 26, ID No. 32639.

Male Chihuahua mix

This male Chihuahua mix is 2 years old.

He has a short black and white spotted coat, weighs just under 10 pounds and has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 29, ID No. 32732.

Boston Terrier mix

This male Boston Terrier mix is 10 months old.

He has a short black and white coat, weighs nearly 18 pounds, and has been neutered.

He is in kennel No. 31, ID No. 32745.

'Boss'

Boss is a 10-month-old male boxer-shepherd mix.

He weighs 66 pounds, has a short tan and white coat, and has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 34, ID No. 32721.

Adoptable dogs also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dogs_and_Puppies.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Dogs listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Along with millions of others, Lake County residents were looking up on Sunday thanks to the annular eclipse.

For just over an hour – from about 5:30 p.m. to a little after 6:30 p.m. – the Moon passed in front of the sun, coving up to 94 percent of it.

While it wasn't safe to look directly at the eclipse, resourceful sky watchers used welding masks and special glasses to capture images of the event.

The effects of the eclipse also were noticeable in the crescent-shaped sunbeams on the sides of homes and on the ground, and an eerie dimming sky.

I didn’t realize cilantro was controversial until I did research for today’s column.
 
Apparently, cilantro haters abound. Blogs are devoted to their herbal disdain, as well as a Facebook page that boasts more than 10,000 members.
 
But I love the stuff. I even went to the cilantro fan page on Facebook and “liked” it, just to counteract the negatives.
 
I have to admit, though, that it was not love at first bite for me. My initial experience with cilantro was unexpected, a not-so-welcome twist to a restaurant salad.
 
Not being raised with its taste on our table, it took a while for me to acclimate to cilantro’s unique flavor. But now that I have, I use it broadly in my cooking.
 
This pungent herb grows freely in such a wide swath of territory (from southern Europe to North Africa and southwestern Asia) that experts have said it’s hard to define where the plant is native and where it recently established itself.
 
While most of us call it by its Spanish name, cilantro (pronounced sih-LAN-troh), this leafy green herb is also known as coriander and Chinese parsley.
 
As one of its monikers suggests, coriander seeds, and the corresponding ground version of the spice, are products of the same plant.
 
Ancient Egyptians cultivated coriander, as evidenced by remnants of the plant found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen, as did the ancient Greeks, who did so from at least the second millennium B.C., according to archaeological records.
 
Like us, these cultures consumed the leaves and seeds of the plants; however, unlike us, there is evidence the herb was also used for perfume, at least in Greece. As much as I like its taste, I can’t imagine desiring it as a fragrance for my body.
 
One of the things that draws me back to cilantro (the green, leafy herb) and coriander (the spicy seeds) time and time as I cook is that it influences so many world cuisines.
 
Mexico (and throughout all of Latin America), Portugal, Southeast Asia (Thailand, for example), India, China, parts of Africa, central Asia (places like Afghanistan and Mongolia), and the Caribbean islands are a diverse group of places where these flavors make themselves at home.
 
And while we don’t normally associate cilantro with Europe – other than, say, Portugal and Spain  – European cooks used the leaves and seeds in cooking well into medieval times. Cilantro pesto, for example, has deeper roots in the Mediterranean region than those made with basil.
 
Coriander seeds are generally toasted before being ground to bring out their flavor. They’re a prime component of Indian curries, and are one of the five ingredients of the spice blend known as “Chinese Five Spice.”
 
All parts of the coriander plant are edible: leaves, stems, seeds, and even roots, which are sometimes used as a replacement for garlic in cuisine.
 
Smart supermarket produce managers typically stock bundles of fresh cilantro well away from the Italian parsley, as the two can be confused based on sight.
 
There is no confusion with its smell, however. Cilantro should have a pungent aroma, and I always do a “smell test” when shopping to be sure my cilantro is fresh.
 
In addition to a flavorful smell, fresh cilantro should have bright, evenly-colored green leaves, with no evidence of yellowing.
 
Cilantro is best stored in the fridge. Place stems in a glass of water (including root, if attached) and cover the top loosely with a plastic bag. Change the water every two to three days. To use, snip off leaves as needed.
 
I don’t recommend washing cilantro prior to its use, as excess moisture can turn the leaves to slime.
 
While I haven’t tried this, I’ve been told that fresh cilantro can be frozen, either whole or chopped in an airtight container. It’s said that it shouldn’t be thawed until just before use to preserve its texture.
 
Another method is to put fresh chopped cilantro in ice cube trays with just enough water or broth to cover. These frozen herbal cubes can then be added to soups or stews for flavor.
 
As to the seeds or ground spice, store in an air-tight container away from light and heat. Its flavor will begin to diminish in about six months, so be sure to use it within a year.
 
Coriander has long held a health-supporting reputation. For example, in Europe, it’s been traditionally referred to as an “anti-diabetic” plant, and in India the seeds have been used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory.
 
Cilantro in herb and seed form contains an impressive array of beneficial phytonutrients, health-supporting plant compounds, which modern research has shown to be effective in controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, as well as cell-damaging free radicals.
 
To top it off, cilantro has antimicrobial properties, including, according to research, as an effective antibiotic against the Salmonella bacteria.
 
Whether you buy cilantro at the farmers’ market, grow it in your garden, or find it at your local supermarket, the two simple recipes offered today are delicious ways to add this herb to your culinary arsenal.
 
The first, cilantro-lime rice, is a wonderful accompaniment for Mexican or Thai-inspired dishes. Its spicy tang adds interest to an otherwise everyday side dish.
 
The second, cilantro pesto, may be used to dress up pasta, to spread on a pizza crust as a base for grilled prawns or chicken, or dropped into soups or sauces for a burst of flavor.
 
Before I go, I’d like to address the issue of why cilantro in its leafy form is so avidly hated by some. (If you’ve got a weak stomach, please avoid the next paragraph.)
 
I’ve seen aversion to cilantro’s taste described in terribly strong terms. One blogger said it tasted like “a decomposing armpit sprayed with liberal amounts of Brut,” and another “the acrid sweetness of death.”
 
Even in the ancient world there were cilantro haters.
 
The word coriander is derived from a Greek word for bedbug, purportedly because its smell was reminiscent of bug-infested bedclothes, though modern “cilantrophobes” would describe its smell as soapy, rather than buggy.
 
There’s a reason for this. Flavor chemists have determined that much of cilantro’s aroma is due to fragments of fat molecules called aldehydes, similar to those found – surprise! – in soap and the bug family of insects.
 
Some people are more sensitive to this smell than others, including, believe it or not, Julia Child, who was an avid cilantro hater.
 
There is a remedy, however. A Japanese study published a couple of years ago revealed that crushing the leaves will allow enzymes a chance to gradually convert aldehydes into other aroma-less substances, making dishes which utilize chopped or crushed cilantro (such as those below) more palatable than cilantro in its whole form.
 
Otherwise, you could hold your nose when eating this otherwise wonderful herb. Or not, if you’re a cilantro lover like me.
 
Cilantro-lime rice

1 cup long grain white rice
Coarse salt
½ cup fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove
 
In a medium saucepan, bring 1½ cups water to a boil. Add rice and ¼ teaspoon salt; cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook until water is absorbed and rice is just tender, 16 to 18 minutes.
 
Meanwhile, in a blender, combine cilantro, lime juice, oil, garlic, and 2 tablespoons water; blend until smooth. Stir into cooked rice and fluff with a fork.
 
Esther’s note: Nearly every lime I’ve squeezed has contained about three tablespoons of juice, so it’s a safe bet that you can get all the juice you need from one plump lime.
 
Recipe by Martha Stewart and courtesy of www.marthastewart.com .
 
Cilantro pesto

¾ cup fresh cilantro leaves
¼ cup parsley leaves
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons pine nuts
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
 
Put all ingredients through olive oil in a bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
 
Esther’s note: Walnuts may be substituted for the pine nuts in the recipe, and if a food processor is not available, a blender may be used.
 
Recipe by Bobby Flay and courtesy of www.foodnetwork.com .

Esther Oertel, a freelance writer, cooking teacher, and speaker, is passionate about local produce and all foods in the vegetable kingdom. She welcomes your questions and comments and may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Greg Cole, Traci Dutton, Ken Frank, and Peggy King will judge the second annual Cattails & Tules Wine & Food Pairing Festival, a major fundraiser for the Konocti Regional Trails and Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association.

The event, which pairs food from local restaurants with award-winning wines from Lake County, will be held Saturday, June 16, at Gregory Graham Winery and Vigilance Winery & Vineyards in Lower Lake.

Greg Cole is the executive chef and owner of Celadon and Cole's Chop House, both located in historic downtown Napa.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, Greg and his wife and business partner, Beth Fairbairn, opened the award-winning Celadon in 1996, and Cole’s Chop House in 2000. In 1998 Greg was selected as one of the 24 "hottest young chefs" in America by the Wine Spectator magazine.

Traci Dutton is the sommelier and beverage manager for The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, located in St. Helena.

Dutton is responsible for selecting and purchasing wine, creating wine lists, menus, and food and wine pairings, and staff training for all components of the CIA Greystone campus, including the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, the Professional Wine Studies Program, and Special Events. Her imaginative wine lists at the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant have won numerous awards.

Ken Frank, the executive chef and owner of La Toque in Napa, is entirely self-taught. He began his career at age 16 with a dishwashing job in France, and quickly worked his way through the kitchen ranks to become a successful chef at a very young age.

In 1979 he opened the original La Toque on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood at age 23. In 1998 Ken decided to pursue his dream of moving to Napa Valley, where he opened a new La Toque in Rutherford. In 2008, La Toque moved to the new Westin Verasa in downtown Napa.

Cookbook author Peggie King joined the healthy food revolution with her first cookbook, entitled “Fit Food for Foodies.” Her simple recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. Peggie has prepared her unique recipes for local community winery events featuring healthy lifestyle foods paired with local wines. Peggie’s “day job” is in environmental consulting.

Cattails & Tules will be held on June 16th from noon to 3 p.m. and will showcase local restaurants and chefs as they pair Vigilance and Gregory Graham wines with their creative cuisines.

The panel of judges will evaluate the pairings in four different categories: best presentation, most creative, best of show and best use of local products. Guests will vote on a special fifth category, "Consumers’ Favorite Wine & Food Pairing."

Tickets may be purchased at Shannon Ridge, Vigilance, and Gregory Graham Tasting Rooms, online at www.cattailsandtules.com or by calling 707-998-9656.

The price for the event is $40 per person, and proceeds will go towards the Konocti Regional Trails and Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – It was another big year for the annual Catfish Derby, with a record turnout and participants coming from nine states to take part.

The 29th annual derby – billed as the biggest event of its kind west of the Mississippi – took place this past Friday through Sunday, sponsored by the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association.

Dennis Locke, a member of the organizing team, said the derby was “a huge success,” with near-perfect weather and fishing conditions, and more than $8,500 in cash and merchandise awarded to derby contestants.

Carla Meza of Yuba City won the adult division and took home a $4,000 cash prize, according to Locke.

She brought in a 23.82-pound fish she caught at Clear Lake State Park using cut mackerel as bait, Locke said.

Meza would later return her fish to Clear Lake, according to derby records.

Triton Marlowe of Clearlake Oaks won the children's division – and took home a Nintendo Wii gaming system – for bringing in a 16.26-pound fish that he caught in the Clear Lake Keys using chicken livers, Locke reported.

Locke said there were 693 entries – 580 for the adult event and 113 for the children's derby – which he said was easily a record turnout.

This year's contestants weighed 276 fish totaling approximately 3,574.10 pounds, which Locke said also was a derby record.

He said some contestants reported catching and releasing as many as 10 to 15 smaller catfish in one day.

Visitors made up the largest number of participants, with 419 out-of-county entries – or 60 percent – coming from nine different states, and as far away as Massachusetts and Mississippi, to fish in Clear Lake, Locke said. Approximately 274 entries came from Lake County.

The annual catfish derby is the major fundraiser for the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association.

All proceeds are given back to the community in the form of donations, scholarships, grants and funding for the annual July 4 fireworks.

The list of winners in the two divisions follows.

ADULT DIVISION

1. Carla Meza, Yuba City; fish caught May 18 at 11:07 p.m., weighed 23.82 pounds
2. Joel Giusti, Yuba City; fish caught May 20 at 8:52 a.m., weighed 23.10 pounds
3. John Bybee, Yuba City; fish caught May 19 at 2:43 p.m., weighed 21.80 pounds
4. Bryan Van Lingen, Kelseyville; fish caught May 20 at 11:02 a.m., weighed 20.44 pounds
5. Joe Anderson, San Pablo; fish caught May 18 at 7:37 p.m., weighed 20.07 pounds
6. Matthew Ross, Clearlake; fish caught May 20 at 11:44 a.m., weighed 19.62 pounds
7. Tim Zanolini, Santa Rosa; fish caught May 19 at 1:25 p.m., weighed 19.42 pounds
8. Owen Sunke, Forestville; fish caught May 20 at 9:10 a.m., weighed 19.21 pounds
9. Cory West, Yuba City; fish caught May 20 at 8:03 a.m., weighed 18.46 pounds
10. Brandon Holt, Elk Grove; fish caught May 20 at 8:02 a.m., weighed 18.39 pounds
11. Jack Scott, Gerber; fish caught May 18 at 2:40 p.m., weighed 18.14 pounds
12. Kristal Harris, Clearlake; fish caught May 20 at 11:44 a.m., weighed 18.10 pounds
13. Tim G Bybee, Yuba City; fish caught May 19 at 9:49 a.m., weighed 18.01 pounds
14. Gregory Walker, Richmond; fish caught May 19 at 5:34 p.m., weighed 17.93 pounds
15. Alan Brobst, Napa; fish caught May 19 at 1:13 p.m., weighed 17.73 pounds
16. Frederick Stewart, West Sacramento; fish caught May 19 at 12:14 p.m., weighed 17.41 pounds
17. Mathew Reed, Taylorsville; fish caught May 18 at 10:26 p.m., weighed 17.20 pounds
18. Edward Black, Clearlake; fish caught May 20 at 11:44 a.m., weighed 17.18 pounds
19. Zack Zanolini, Santa Rosa; fish caught May 18 at 9:07 p.m., weighed 17.02 pounds
20. Robert Cummings, Lakeport; fish caught May 18 at 2:41 p.m., weighed 16.99 pounds

CHILDREN'S DIVISION

1. Triton Marlowe, Clearlake Oaks; fish caught May 19 at 9:41 p.m., weighed 16.36 pounds
2. Kaya Albrecht, Santa Rosa; fish caught May 20 at 12:10 p.m., weighed 15.89 pounds
3. Jason Meza, Yuba City; fish caught May 18 at 11:07 p.m., weighed 15.72 pounds
4. Parker Kenner, Lakeport; fish caught May 19 at 3:57 p.m., weighed 15.71 pounds
5. Dominic Lane, Hood River, Ore.; fish caught May 19 at 2:30 p.m., weighed 15.68 pounds

FISH STATISTICS

Friday, May 18

Total fish caught: 60
Total fish kept: 30
Total weight of fish caught: 768.80 pounds
Total weight of fish kept: 372.28 pounds
Largest fish released: 23.82 pounds (derby winning fish)
Largest fish kept: 17.93 pounds

Saturday, May 19

Total fish caught: 90
Total fish kept: 23
Total weight of fish caught: 1159.8 pounds
Total weight of fish kept: 287.64 pounds
Largest fish released: 19.42 pounds
Largest fish kept: 21.80 pounds

Sunday, May 20

Total fish caught: 53
Total fish kept: 20
Total weight of fish caught: 737.71 pounds
Total weight of fish kept: 247.82 pounds
Largest fish released: 23.10 pounds
Largest fish kept: 16.60 pounds

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The cause of a fire that damaged a Clearlake Oaks home early Saturday morning has been traced to a barbecue.

The fire was first dispatched shortly after 2:30 a.m. in the 12000 block of The Plaza, as Lake County News has reported.

Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Pat Brown said firefighters found that a barbecue had overturned, igniting the rear porch area of the doublewide mobile home.

He said the fire did damage underneath the home and then ran the attic area and the laundry room.

Brown and Battalion Chief Steve Hart were the responding chief officers.

When Brown and the first Northshore Fire engine from the Clearlake Oaks station arrived, they found the home's occupants safely outside.

He said the first engine in made entry to the home, knocked down the interior fire and did a primary search, rescuing four kittens from the home.

The second engine from the Clearlake Oaks engine, along with a Cal Fire, arrived, with personnel tearing into the rear exterior of the home to extinguish the fire, Brown said.

An engine also came from Lucerne, with that team of firefighters placing salvage covers and pulling ceilings to stop the fire running the attack, according to Brown.

Brown estimated the damage the fire did to the home at $40,000.

He said the fire was checked throughout the day by personnel from Northshore Fire's Clearlake Oaks station.

With the Clearlake Oaks station serving as headquarters for this weekend's Catfish Derby, firefighters instead took the hose used to put out the fire to the Cal Fire station to be cleaned, Brown said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

On Tuesday, June 5, 2012, Venus will pass across the face of the sun, producing a silhouette that no one alive today will likely see again.

Transits of Venus are very rare, coming in pairs separated by more than 100 years.

This June's transit, the bookend of a 2004-2012 pair, won't be repeated until the year 2117. Fortunately, the event is widely visible. Observers on seven continents, even a sliver of Antarctica, will be in position to see it.

The nearly seven-hour transit begins at 3:09 pm Pacific Daylight Time (22:09 UT) on June 5. The timing favors observers in the mid-Pacific where the sun is high overhead during the crossing.  

In the USA, the transit will at its best around sunset. That's good, too. Creative photographers will have a field day imaging the swollen red sun "punctured" by the circular disk of Venus.

Observing tip: Do not stare at the sun. Venus covers too little of the solar disk to block the blinding glare. Instead, use some type of projection technique or a solar filter. A No. 14 welder's glass is a good choice. Many astronomy clubs will have solar telescopes set up to observe the event; contact your local club for details.

Transits of Venus first gained worldwide attention in the 18th century. In those days, the size of the solar system was one of the biggest mysteries of science.   

The relative spacing of planets was known, but not their absolute distances. How many miles would you have to travel to reach another world? The answer was as mysterious then as the nature of dark energy is now.

Venus was the key, according to astronomer Sir Edmund Halley. He realized that by observing transits from widely-spaced locations on Earth it should be possible to triangulate the distance to Venus using the principles of parallax.

The idea galvanized scientists who set off on expeditions around the world to view a pair of transits in the 1760s.  

The great explorer James Cook himself was dispatched to observe one from Tahiti, a place as alien to 18th-century Europeans as the Moon or Mars might seem to us now. Some historians have called the international effort the "the Apollo program of the 18th century."

In retrospect, the experiment falls into the category of things that sound better than they actually are.  Bad weather, primitive optics, and the natural "fuzziness" of Venus’s atmosphere prevented those early observers from gathering the data they needed.  

Proper timing of a transit would have to wait for the invention of photography in the century after Cook’s voyage. In the late 1800s, astronomers armed with cameras finally measured the size of the Solar System as Edmund Halley had suggested.

This year’s transit is the second of an eight-year pair. Anticipation was high in June 2004 as Venus approached the sun. No one alive at the time had seen a Transit of Venus with their own eyes, and the hand-drawn sketches and grainy photos of previous centuries scarcely prepared them for what was about to happen.  

Modern solar telescopes captured unprecedented view of Venus’ atmosphere backlit by solar fire. They saw Venus transiting the sun’s ghostly corona, and gliding past magnetic filaments big enough to swallow the planet whole. One photographer even caught a spaceship, the International Space Station, transiting the sun alongside Venus.

This year should be even better as cameras and solar telescopes have improved. Moreover, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory is going to be watching too. SDO will produce Hubble-quality images of this rare event.

For more news and information as the date of transit approaches, stay tuned to http://science.nasa.gov .

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The latest reports on unemployment show some good news for Lake County, California and the nation.

The California Employment Development Department's Friday report showed that California’s unemployment rate decreased to 10.9 percent in April from 11 percent in March and 11.8 percent in April 2011.

The report also showed that nonfarm payroll jobs decreased by 4,200 in California in April for a total gain of 385,600 jobs since the recovery began in September 2009.

Lake County's April unemployment rate was 15.6 percent, down 1.3 percentage points from the revised March rate of 16.9 percent and down 1.7 percentage points from the year-ago April 2011 rate, according to Dennis Mullins of the Employment Development Department's North Coast Region Labor Market Information Division.

The April rate earned Lake County a ranking of No. 43 out of the state's 58 counties, the same ranking as in March.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the United States' unemployment rate decreased in April to 8.1 percent from 8.2 percent in March and was down from 9 percent in April 2011.

Neighboring Colusa County ranked No. 57 with 22.6 percent, while Glenn came in at No. 45 with 15.7 percent; Mendocino, No. 19, 10.5 percent; Napa, No. 8, 8.3 percent; Sonoma, No. 9, 8.6 percent; and Yolo, No. 30, 12.3 percent.

In April Marin County continued to hold onto its No. 1 ranking for lowest unemployment, 6.4 percent. Imperial County had the highest unemployment, 26.8 percent, according to the report.

Mullins said Lake County's total wage and salary employment increased by 10 jobs between March and April.

Lake is up 490 jobs over the year with eight industry sectors gaining or unchanged and three declining, he said.

Year-over job growth occurred in farm, 410; trade, transportation and utilities, 100; professional and business services, 10; other services, 20; government, 40, according to Mullins.

He said the information, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality had no change over the year.

Industry sectors that saw decline over the year included mining, logging and construction, and private educational and health services, which lost 40 jobs, and manufacturing, which was 10 jobs down, Mullins said.

The Employment Development Department said in its Friday report that there were 552,163 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the April survey week, compared with 570,089 in March and 584,141 in April 2011.

New claims for unemployment insurance were 63,212 in April, compared with 55,393 in March and 63,739 in April of last year, the agency said.

State, federal surveys offer unemployment pictures

Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 14,237,000 in April, a decrease of 4,200 jobs over the month, according to a survey of 42,000 California businesses.

That state survey showed a year-over-year change – from April 2011 to April 2012 – of 175,600 jobs, up 1.2 percent.

A federal survey of 5,500 California households showed an increase in the number of employed people.

It estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in April was 16,476,000, an increase of 20,000 from March, and up 296,000 from the employment total in April of last year, the Employment Development Department said.

The number of people unemployed in California was 2,007,000 – down by 24,000 over the month, and down by 164,000 compared with April of last year, based on the survey findings.

The Employment Development Department's report on payroll employment – wage and salary jobs – showed that jobs in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 14,237,000 in April, a net loss of 4,200 jobs since the March survey, following a gain of 22,100 jobs in March.

The report showed that four categories – mining and logging; trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; and other services – added jobs over the month, gaining 19,100 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 12,700 jobs.

Seven categories – construction; manufacturing; information; financial activities; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and government – reported job declines over the month, down 23,300 jobs, the report showed. Construction posted the largest decrease over the month, down 6,700 jobs.

In a year-over-year comparison – April 2011 to April 2012 – nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 175,600 jobs, up 1.2 percent, the report showed.

Other findings in the report: Eight categories – mining and logging; construction; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality – posted job gains over the year, adding 231,100 jobs.

Professional and business services posted the largest gain on both a numerical and percentage basis, adding 80,600 jobs, up 3.8 percent, according to the report.

Three categories – manufacturing; other services; and government – posted job declines over the year, down 55,500 jobs, the report said. Government posted the largest decline on both a numerical and percentage basis, down by 43,200 jobs, a 1.8 percent decrease.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Sunday marks the 151st anniversary of the creation of Lake County, and brings the yearlong sesquicentennial celebration to an official end.

On May 20, 1861, California Governor John D. Downey signed an Act of Incorporation into law that formed Lake County, which had been carved from Napa County's northern section.

When the county was created, Abraham Lincoln was president and the Civil War was about to begin.

The first county election to organize the local government was held on the first Monday in June 1861, according to county histories.

On May 20, 2011, a celebration kicking off the sesquicentennial was held in downtown Lakeport, featuring a number of local dignitaries.

Video of that event can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/velocityvideo .

For a great assortment of stories and videos about Lake County's history, visit www.LC150.org or www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lake-County-Sesquicentennial/171845856177015 .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters were called to a structure fire in Clearlake Oaks early Saturday morning.

The fire was first dispatched shortly after 2:30 a.m. in the 12000 block of The Plaza, according to radio reports.               

Firefighters arriving at the scene reported finding a mobile home on fire.

The fire was located in the rear of the home, radio reports indicated.

The fire was reported contained at approximately 3:19 a.m.

The cause of the fire and details about the resources on scene were not immediately available early Saturday morning.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .