SACRAMENTO – The Resources Agency will adopt a new name, the California Natural Resources Agency, on Jan. 1, 2009, to better reflect its primary mission.

Since 1961, the Resources Agency has been responsible for the safeguarding and stewardship of California’s precious natural resources.

From water and wildlife management and conservation to wildland fire protection, energy, ocean and coastal policy, land stewardship, climate change adaptation, sustainable living, and the promotion of outdoor recreation, the agency oversees most all of the state’s functions designed to protect California’s natural resources.

In July, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 1464 (Maldonado) authorizing the Resources Agency to change its name to the California Natural Resources Agency.

The new agency logo will remain largely the same and the change will be phased in gradually as new supplies are ordered. In this way there will be little or no cost to the agency or any of its departments, boards or commissions save for any replacement costs that would normally be incurred.

The names of state agencies have been changed occasionally to better reflect their missions.

For example, California’s Business and Transportation Agency was changed to the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, and the state’s Health and Welfare Agency was changed to the Health and Human Services Agency.

Similarly, in 2007 the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection changed its primary identification from CDF to CAL FIRE.

Many other states also have natural resources departments or agencies. The state of Washington has a Department of Natural Resources, which has responsibilities similar to California’s. This is also true in Wisconsin, Maryland, Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, Illinois, Alaska, Utah, and Michigan.

Pennsylvania and Nevada have Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources that house departments and programs much like those within California’s Natural Resources Agency.

California’s Natural Resources Agency is responsible for the state’s natural resource policies, programs and activities. It has 17,000 employees and oversees 25 departments, commissions, boards and conservancies. Visit the agency online at www.resources.ca.gov.

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The contest was begun as a way to encourage businesses in the downtown to decorate their windows and encourage local holiday shopping. From there it evolved into including residences as well.

This year 14 businesses and five residences chose to participate.

First place in the business category went to Flowers by Jackie at 108 S. Main St. Second prize went to The Kitchen Gallery at 302 N. Main St.

In the residential category, first place went to Della Hance at 1320 N. Forbes St., and second place went to Tiffany and Jared Bussard at 842 Central Park.

The winners were recognized at the Lakeport City Council meeting on Dec. 16.

The first place winners in each category took home a certificate and $300 in prize money. The second place winners took home a certificate and $100 in prize money.

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This was followed by a very fun and hyperactive classroom session all about light speeds and distances in the universe.

Astronomer Vic Stryker – The Olde Stargeezer – helped lead the wonderful fun and interactive session, with all enjoying pointing at Orion the Hunter, aka the Bart Simpson constellation.

The Norton Planetarium was all decked out in merry red Christmas lights with a lovely illuminated fat penguin and three candles display, with rocking Christmas music in the star theater.

Because it was cloudy there was a sign on the telescope dome door which said, “Tonight you may look at instead of through the telescope because ... It's cloudy.”

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Many people responded to the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce's Residential Holiday Decoration Contest. It was a tough choice this year to award one winner – they were all beautiful.

Thomas and Tonya Biasotti at 3025 Sylvia Court were declared the winner of this year's decorating contest. They will be awarded a $10 gift card provided by Wal-Mart.

If you wish to view this year's Christmas lights, take a look at these wonderfully decorated homes:

• 14965 Putnam;

• 2815 Robin Lane;

• 6125 Spruce Ave.;

• 3644 McKinley Drive;

• 3268 Bowers;

• 14925 Laguna;

• Most of Cottonwood Street also is decorated very nicely.

The chamber would like to thank all of the participants and even those who decorated and didn't get their name into the contest for all of their hard work. They gave everyone the opportunity to slow down and enjoy our beautiful town in lights. What a gift! Christmas is best enjoyed one special moment at a time.

The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce wishes everyone all the best this holiday season.

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Members will be reviewing the survey results setting budget and action priorities for 2009.

The Senior Center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive (corner of 10^th and Country Club) in Lucerne.

The Senior Center serves breakfast from 9 a.m. until noon.

The public is invited. Membership in the Lake County Democratic Club is open to registered members of the Democratic Party.

For more information contact the Lake County Democratic Club at 263.4529 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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PawPAC, created in 1980, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to the protection of animals.

In a recently-released report, Paw Pac scored California’s 40 State Senators and 80 Assembly members on their votes on eight pieces of legislation introduced this year.

According to PawPAC, Wiggins voted correctly on all eight of those measures, as did Assemblywoman Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), former Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D-Eureka) and former Assemblywoman and now Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis).

The targeted pieces of legislation were:

• AB 2098, strengthening existing law to prohibit auctions and slaughterhouses from accepting and abusing animals that cannot walk;

• AB 2291, adding a check-off donation on state income tax forms to fund low-cost spay/neuter programs;

• AB 2427, prohibiting cities/counties from banning any act that falls within the regulatory definition of that business, such as de-clawing of cats;

• AB 2785, requiring the state Wildlife Conservation Board to designate and protect wildlife corridors;

• AB 2911, strengthening protections against oil spills and calling for better use of volunteers to rehabilitate injured wildlife;

• AJR 41, asking U.S. Fish and Wildlife to extend the Endangered Species Act to cover polar bears and penguins that are affected by global warming;

• AJR 62, asking the National Marine Fisheries Service to deny long-line swordfish permits off the California coast (the method often kills sea turtles);

• SB 908, requiring environmental education to include climate change.

Wiggins represents California’s Second Senate District, which includes portions or all of six counties: Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma.

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