Linda Waterstraat chaired the effort to put the Daffodil Tea together. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club, members of the Mendo-Lake District and California Garden Clubs Inc. and invited guests from other clubs celebrated the coming of spring and friendship with their Annual "Daffodil Tea," which was held on March 18 at the Bachelor Valley Grange in Upper Lake.

Mistress of Ceremonies Joanne Jameson welcomed guests who enjoyed a wonderful luncheon served by 17 hostesses. Beautiful daffodils were displayed in both small arrangements on the tables and larger arrangements around the room by each hostess.

A wall was decorated with daffodil paintings created by the students in a second grade class at Lakeport Elementary School. Member Pat Hopper, serves as a volunteer art instructor in that classroom.

An educational display of more than 35 identified daffodil species was provided by members Sharon Thorne, June Beto, Heide Thomason and Ann Blue. Daffodils were from Sharon Thorne's garden where more than 1,500 bulbs grow on her property.

Many other daffodils for arrangements were provided by Renker Farms in Kelseyville.

Shirley Estrem was recognized for her 4-foot-tall basket arrangements of daffodils, forsythia, and pussy willows. In addition, the Ka-ba-tin Redbud Arrangers provided more beauty with their outstanding floral arranging talents.

Chairperson for the event, Linda Waterstraat, wishes to thank the table hostesses and club members who helped in so many ways to make this event a success.

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SB 1431 seeks to clarify that DPR is allowed to acquire a conservation easement if DPR determines that it is necessary to protect a unit of the state park system from an incompatible use or to preserve and enhance the natural resource, cultural, or historic value of a state park unit.

The Wiggins bill would also enable DPR to make grants to a state or local government agency, or a nonprofit, to purchase and hold a conservation easement with funds that have been appropriated to the department for land acquisitions. Grant recipients would be required to monitor and enforce the easement and agree to restrict the use of the land in perpetuity.

“As the population of our state continues to grow, and urban growth expands into previously undeveloped areas, additional pressures are being placed on the resources of the State Parks and Recreation system,” Wiggins said.

“DPR is authorized to purchase land for the purpose of protecting parks from development and other impending threats, but this solution is not always economically feasible,” Wiggins added. “An easement is a good tool for the department to use to preserve the state park system; it costs less, and also allows the land to remain in the hands of the private land owner. It also defends the land from incompatible use issues, and it relieves the department from incurring maintenance costs."

SB 1431 will next be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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The bill now heads back to the Senate for concurrence on amendments.

Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D – Eureka), who presented the bill on the floor of the Assembly, said SB 562 was “about this legislature taking action to protect California’s $100 million dollar salmon industry.”

The Wiggins bill would allocate $5 million dollars from Proposition 84 bond funds to the Department of Fish and Game’s Fishery Grant Restoration Program, but perhaps more significantly, SB 562 will allow the state to leverage up to $20 million federal dollars for salmon this spring.

“This bill’s small investment has the potential to bring in $20 million in federal funds for salmon and steelhead restoration,” Wiggins said. “The salmon industry is likely to be shut down this year and I appreciate the fact that my colleagues have taken this step toward helping restore the salmon fishery.

“The salmon industry is more than just fishermen – it is tackle shops, processors, ice suppliers, restaurants, and tourism,” Wiggins added. “This is a small investment to help that industry.”

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Kim Clymire (far right) stands with his mighty crew of local heroes from the Lake County Parks Department in front of a packed house at the Northshore Business Association meeting. Courtesy photo.

NORTHSHORE – At a recent meeting of the Northshore Business Association, 12 of Lake County’s unsung heroes were honored in front of a full house.

Kenny Parlet, president of the Northshore Business Association, and the entire membership showed their appreciation to the 12 Lake County Park Department workers who have played such an important part in improving the Northshore.

This entire group of fine young men and women, under the leadership of Public Services Director Kim Clymire and Parks Superintendent Dana Smalley, has literally been everywhere working feverishly to improve the entire Northshore area, but particularly on the new, the existing and the expanded county parks.

This amazing crew has been a dynamic force rushing up and down highway 20 tearing down, removing and replacing playground equipment, pulling up, removing and replacing sod. They have been removing, improving and installing rest rooms, along with irrigation systems and have just finished the latest in a series of artistic and functional lighting systems in Nice and Lucerne.

They have worked in conjunction with the Northshore Business Association to remove the old Lucerne welcome signs and just finished the impressive, permanent new ones. The efficiency of this tiny band of committed workers is heroic indeed, and far exceeds normal expectations.

The tiny Triangle Park in Nice has been entirely stripped of weeds and is pristine in appearance. The new Nylander’s Park in Clearlake Oaks has essentially appeared overnight by the hands of this mighty crew, complete with benches, barbecues, tables and the beautiful new sod. The artistry of the park will soon be complete, as the crew surrounds this project with a handsome, rustic stonewall.

What Dana and his crew have done in such a short time is nothing short of miraculous! These men and woman have not only transformed the Highway 20 corridor, but all the while have continued to maintain and improve the other existing 22 or so parks in our county parks system.

The 12 park workers and their leaders Dana Smalley and Don Walsh were all treated to breakfast, given Awards of Appreciation and a small gift for their outstanding and extraordinary efforts.

It is indeed a pleasure to see inspired workers who seem to love what they do, and take so much pride in their work, and get so much done, in so little time.

The honored group of heroes included Parks Superintendent Dana Smalley, Parks Department lead maintenance worker Don Walsh, Bill Chapin, Vince McIntosh, Michelle Rice, Marc Giberson, Javier Batres, Anthony Borba, Brendon Full, Benjamin De Luna, Jennifer Lyon and Thomas Mihalenko.

All of us in Lake County owe these fine people a great deal of gratitude for their incredible efficiency and passion in doing what is required and much, much more!

Kim Clymire, head of the Public Services Department – which includes Waste Management, Buildings and Grounds, Museum, Parks and Recreation and special projects – is very proud of his great staff, and all of us from the Northshore Business Association salute our local heroes from the Lake County Parks Division!

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The catalog now displays icons that indicate what the format of each item is. The format icons make it easier for patrons to select the formats that they want, such as DVDs, CDs and large type books. For many items, the cover image will also display, much as it does in Amazon.com.

To view the new features, go to the library Web site www.co.lake.ca.us/Page386.aspx and click “Library Catalog.” Enter some search terms, such as a title, author or subject. When a list of results opens, the format icons and the cover images will be visible.

With a valid barcoded library card from any public library in Lake, Sonoma or Mendocino County, a patron can request items online and have them sent to any branch library in the system for pickup. There is no charge to request items from the catalog. Contact your local branch if you have questions about using the online catalog.

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m.; telephone 263-8817.

Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake, is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m.; telephone 994-5115.

Middletown Library, 21267 Calistoga Road, is open Tuesday through Friday, 1 p.m to 6p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., telephone 987-3674.

Upper Lake Library, 310 Second St., is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 1 p.m. to 6 pm, and Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; telephone 275-2049.

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Mark DeMeulenaere, foundation director of development, welcomed the new members and noted that each brings a proven commitment and range of experience that will assist the Foundation in achieving its mission of cultivating support and raising funds to benefit the students of Mendocino-Lake Community College District.

David Geck, superintendent of Schools for Lake County, joins the board committed to seeing that funding targets in priority areas such as career and technical programs are achieved. Geck’s 26 years of professional experience includes holding posts as assistant superintendent/student programs and services for the Lake County Office of Education, high school principal in Konocti Unified School District and high school counselor in several local school districts.

Jerilyn Harris is an award-winning science teacher with over 27 years of public school teaching experience while serving on numerous boards at the local, state and national level, including appointments from three California governors. Harris currently serves as a consultant to the Ukiah Unified School District, where she administers the SERA program, an initiative she created to prepare students for the work world.

Christy Scollin has been part of Mendocino College for the past 25 years. A former student at the college and part-time instructor in the college’s Chemistry Lab, Scollin recognizes the important role the Foundation plays in creating opportunities for student success. Her commitment to community service in education has covered a range of volunteer work from teaching field science labs to training the Eagle Peak Academic Pentathalon Team in chemistry.

The Mendocino College Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation comprised of a dedicated team of volunteer community, education and business leaders who live and work in the Mendocino-Lake Community College District. Its mission is to cultivate support and raise funds for the benefit of the students of Mendocino College. These funds are used to support the college’s vision of delivering innovative educational programs, focusing on student success and contributing to the vitality of the Lake-Mendocino College communities.

The Foundation was formed in 1984 with $5,000 in seed funds. Today, the foundation serves the Mendocino-Lake Community College District with assets of more than $6.8 million. Over $550,000 in scholarships have been distributed to students, and other educational programs and district-wide projects have been supported by the Foundation.

Additional information about the Foundation is available online at www.mendocino.edu.

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