Friday, 29 March 2024

Community

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Children took part in the effort to beautify Gas Hill on Sunday, November 15, 2009. Photo by Susan Stout.




 
KELSEYVILLE – The prominent landmark in Kelseyville known as Gas Hill has a long and colorful history that includes fact, folklore, and Native American legends.

Occupying a few acres near the present-day intersection of Main and State streets, this bare, rolling mound rises about 20 feet above the surrounding area.

In recent years the property has been graced with little more than a sign noting its name, “Gas Hill,” with no additional information.

About 15 years ago, a community effort resulted in the planting of daffodil bulbs that bloomed for a few years, until the current practice of burning the hill annually commenced.

This year, on a sunny Sunday afternoon in mid-November, a group of community members partnered to transform this barren plot into a “welcome to Kelseyville” greeting for the Lake Family Resource Center, now located in new administrative offices adjacent to Gas Hill.

When wildflowers and bulbs bloom next spring, the welcome and beautification will be complete.

Contributing to the recent effort were Lola Helms, owner of the Gas Hill property; Marilyn Holdenried and Wilda Shock, who conceived the idea and coordinated the logistics, funding and volunteers; Kelseyville Business Association with insurance coverage; donations of seed from Rainbow Ag, Big Valley 4-H Club, Brent and Debbi Holdenried, John Puccetti, Wilda Shock, Myron and Marilyn Holdenried; soil conditioning by Holdenried Ranches; Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture with bulb donations; and rice straw bales contributed by the Kelseyville Pear Festival.

Volunteers to plant the wildflower seeds and spring bulbs came from the Lake Family Resource Center staff and families, Big Valley 4-H Club members and families, Kelseyville Business Association and Lake County Chapter of CWA.
 
“Stories of Gas Hill,” from the files of Henry Mauldin, Lake County Historian, written in 1967, include the following mentions.

– Of all the curiosities in the county, or in the state, this takes precedence. In 1868, John Gard, who chose Gas Hill for a building site, proceeded to dig a well. When they got down about twelve feet, the man at the bottom complained of a queer feeling. When he came up out of the well, a doctor at the site lit a match, attempting to hold it down into the body of the well. To his surprise, an immense volume of methane gas was lighted and a suffocating blaze enveloped his head and shoulders, singeing almost every hair off his head and shoulders. Thus was discovered Gas Hill.

– During the 1870s and 1880s an experimental steam engine ran off the ignited gas.

– John Kelsey set up a chicken hatchery using the gas from one of the natural openings for heat. In dry weather there was considerable cracking of the ground which allowed a very low pressure of gas to escape. When it rained the soil would run together forcing more gas through the natural outlet. One rainy day the force of the gas was greatly increased, cooking his eggs and burning the hatchery down.

– About 1888, W.G. Young had a well bored. It went through blue clay and some gravel. At 157 feet a sandstone formation was encountered which gave forth gas under a fairly high pressure. After a day or so water started to come up with the gas and of such volume to be thrown some 30 to 40 feet in the air. This was methane and carbon dioxide gas mixed with carbonated water and had a temperature of 78 degrees. Young set up a small bathhouse which he tried to commercialize, but it did not succeed.

The gas makes a non-luminous flame in daylight and a pale blue flame at night. In order to sell the gas, Young installed purifiers and ran it through slaked lime. A gas line was laid down Main Street to some of the businesses and houses. Many problems arose. Some complained that the gas burned out the mantles; the pressure control was poor; as moisture had not been not been removed, acid corroded the lines. Part of the gas works burned down; Young died and the project stopped.

– Other enterprises were attempted over the years: water was piped from Gas Hill to Young’s home in Kelseyville, for the first water works system; it was also a failure. A company was formed to go into gas production on a large scale; a number of wells were bored, but problems were found with both shallow and deep wells; finally some of the gas works burned and this project was ceased. A Chinese man once tried to raise a commercial garden with water from Gas Hill, but it was not successful. It was thought that the mineral content of the water was too great. In the late 1940s William Benson heated his upholstery shop from gas collected in a pit alongside Gas Hill.

– In the early 1950s water showed up and started flowing some 300 gallons a minute. Subterranean pressure eased and the flow stopped.

– According to an old Indian legend, Gas Hill was the home of Koyote, the God. This was his home and Mt. Konocti was his place or land. The mountain was considered holy ground and had much power. If one wished to increase his luck or to be blessed, it was first necessary to fast. Then a trip was made to the mountain where the visitor could talk to it as if it were another being. This was a prayer to Koyote, the Indian God. One old Indian, in telling the legend of Gas Hill, voiced his opinion that as it was the home of Koyote, it should be left alone. He was sure that anyone attempting to make anything of the Gas Hill would have only bad luck

With the Native American admonition in mind, it seems appropriate that flowers will be the only current activity on Gas Hill.

 

 

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Wildflower seeds were planted by the volunteers during the Gas Hill beautification project on Sunday, November 15, 2009. Photo by Susan Stout.
 

 

 

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Volunteers put down straw on the site to protect the seeds and bulbs on Sunday, November 15, 2009. Photo by Susan Stout.
 

LAKEPORT – The popular Lake County Home Wine Makers Festival will shift its venue from Kelseyville's Main Street to Library Park in Lakeport starting next June 26.


The announcement came from Connel Murray, vice president of Clear Lake Performing Arts, the nonprofit group that sponsors the event.


The home winefest has attracted hundreds of amateur wine makers and attendees from all over Northern California since its inception in 2002.


It has become the major fundraising event for CLPA, which supports good music activities in Lake County including the symphony and youth orchestras.


Jim Perry, event chair, says triple-digit heat at last year's festival led to the decision to shift locations.


"We actually loved Kelseyville, and the Kelseyville Business Association couldn't have been more cooperative," he said.


The KBA also was a festival sponsor.


"We had planned to pattern our event after some of the village-based wine festivals in Europe, where they close the town center," he continued, "but I guess they don't get 103 degree temperatures in June like we did this year. Some of our volunteers actually dropped out with heat exhaustion."


Festival organizers are certain that the shaded park and lakeside breezes will do much to moderate Lake County's summer warmth.


The Lakeport City Council recently approved CLPA's application to hold its event in the park, including the closure of Park Street in order to accommodate the many arts and crafts exhibitors and food vendors who are a part of the festival.


Ed Bublitz, who has responsibility for soliciting the participation of amateur wine makers, says his committee will continue to provide participants with necessities, including canopies if needed, even though they might be under the trees.


"We think this new venue will make things a lot more comfortable for everyone." he said.


For the second year home brewers will also compete for ribbons.


Those seeking further information can contact Murray at 707-277-7076, or e-mail him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CLEARLAKE OAKS – The fifth annual Christmas in the Oaks holiday bazaar will be held on Sunday, Dec. 13.


The event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. in Eastlake Elementary's gym, next door to the Eastlake Grange.


There will be handcrafts, art, gifts, live music, food and fun.


Come and get into the spirit of the season.

SAN FRANCISCO – If you regularly find yourself stuck in stop and go commute traffic there’s a good chance you’re driving your vehicle under “severe” conditions, and your car could be suffering for it.
 
AAA Northern California is warning drivers that more than half of them aren't properly scheduling vehicle maintenance based on their driving behavior.

To improve reliability and longevity of their vehicles, AAA has always advised motorists to follow the automobile manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule.

However, owner’s manuals usually contain two different maintenance schedules – one for normal service and one for severe service, depending on how the vehicle is driven.
 
In a new study from AAA, only six percent of motorists felt they did most of their driving under severe conditions. But when asked about the actual driving behaviors that create severe operating conditions, 62 percent of motorists admitted they drive their vehicle that way all or most of the time.
 
“Driving in severe conditions has become the new norm when you account for traffic congestion and longer commutes,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja. “Manufacturers provide differing sets of recommendations for severe driving conditions because of the increased wear they put on vehicle components and fluids, yet many motorists do not realize what they think of as normal driving is actually severe when it comes to wear and tear on their vehicle.”
 
Vehicle manufacturers vary slightly on how they identify severe service driving, but AAA’s study asked motorists if they frequently:

Drive on short trips of less than five miles in normal temperatures or less than 10 miles in freezing temperatures.
Drive in hot weather, stop-and-go traffic.
Drive at low speeds of less than 50 miles per hour for long distances.

 For additional assistance in evaluating whether they drive under severe conditions and determining the proper maintenance intervals for their vehicles, motorists can visit any of the more than 8,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America.

These shops have undergone an extensive inspection and meet stringent AAA standards for quality, ability, integrity and professionalism in auto repair. Shops can be located online at www.aaa.com/repair .

LAKEPORT – Lake County Water Resources Division staff will introduce the Clear Lake Integrated Watershed Management Plan (CLIWMP) at a public meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14.

The meeting will take place in the Lake County Board of Supervisors’ chambers, at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The meeting initiates a four week public review period that will end Jan. 11, 2010.

The CLIWMP is being prepared by the Water Resources Division of the Lake County Department of Public Works.

The need for a guidance document to manage Clear Lake and its watershed has long been recognized, and the plan is being completed under a CALFED Watershed Program grant awarded to the
Westlake Resource Conservation District.

The CLIWMP provides background on existing lake and watershed conditions and management.

It uses a systemic approach to multiple watershed issues including water quality and the land use practices that affect it; natural habitats and ecosystem restoration; floodplain, lakeshore, and lakebed management; climate change; and economic uses such as tourism, recreation, and water supply.

This background information is used to identify opportunities to improve watershed conditions and provide guidance for continuing watershed planning efforts.

A series of actions are recommended for each resource or management topic.

These actions take the form of either recommended policies for adoption by the county and/or specific projects or programs that should be undertaken by watershed stakeholders.

The CLIWMP will be available on the Lake County Water Resources Division Web site, http://watershed.co.lake.ca.us .

If you have any questions, please call Erica Lundquist at 707-263-2341.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Peace Corps has announced the top Peace Corps volunteer-producing states and metropolitan areas.


In 2009, the largest number of Peace Corps volunteers called California (920), New York (432) and Illinois (378) home. The greatest number of volunteers per capita came from Vermont (9.7/100k residents), the District of Columbia (7.8/100k residents) and Maine (5.7/100k residents).


The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area (339) produced the greatest number of volunteers, followed by the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (334) and the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (271) metropolitan areas. The Ithaca, N.Y. (12.9/100k residents); Corvallis, Ore. (11.0/100k residents); and Boulder, Colo. (9.9/100k residents) metropolitan areas led the nation in the per capita volunteer ratings.


Peace Corps’ nine regional recruiting offices across the United States work to recruit and provide information and guidance to prospective Peace Corps volunteers. Over 15,000 Americans applied to the Peace Corps this year – an increase of 18 percent over last year. Individuals can connect with a local recruiter and locate their local regional recruiting office by visiting the Peace Corps Web site at www.peacecorps.gov/ .


The following are the top-ten volunteer producing states and Metropolitan areas:


2009 Top Ten Metropolitan Areas (Volunteers, 2009):

1. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (339)

2. New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (334)

3. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (271)

4. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet (245)

5. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue (199)

6. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy (170)

7. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont (169)

8. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington (164)

9. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (159)

10. Denver-Aurora (130)


2009 Top Ten Metropolitan Areas per capita (Volunteers per 100,000 residents):

1. Ithaca, N.Y. (12.85)

2. Corvallis, Ore. (11.0)

3. Boulder, Colo. (9.89)

4. Longview, Wash. (9.88)

5. Charlottesville, Va. (9.77)

6. Cheyenne, Wyo. (9.14)

7. Burlington-South Burlington, Vt. (9.11)

8. Olympia, Wash. (8.57)

9. Columbia, Mo. (8.52)

10. Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine (7.78)

 

2009 Top Ten States (Volunteers, 2009):

1. California (920)

2. New York (432)

3. Illinois (378)

4. Washington (343)

5. Virginia (335)

6. Texas (318)

7. Ohio (317)

8. Michigan (309)

9. Pennsylvania (294)

10. Colorado (275)

 

2009 Top Ten States per capita (Volunteers per 100,000 residents):

1. Vermont (9.66)

2. District of Columbia (7.77)

3. Maine (5.70)

4. Colorado (5.57)

5. Oregon (5.54)

6. Montana (5.38)

7. Washington (5.24)

8. Alaska (4.52)

9. Minnesota (4.33)

10. Virginia (4.31)

 

Peace Corps also releases its “Top College” rankings annually. The list will be released in early 2010.


As Peace Corps approaches its 50th anniversary, its service legacy continues to promote peace and friendship around the world with over 7,600 volunteers serving in 75 host countries.


Historically, nearly 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps to promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age.


Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment. To learn more about the Peace Corps, please visit our website: www.peacecorps.gov .

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Lakeport Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
1Apr
10Apr
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

Mini Calendar

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