Fran Ransley (right) shows off some lovely winter greens during the Lake Co Community Co-op's free home gardening talk and tour. Photo by Lori Patotzka.

LOWER LAKE – Building a home garden was the main focus at the Lake County Community Co-op's monthly general meeting for members and the public on Saturday, March 14.

Fran Ransley, Lake County Co-op member and volunteer, shared her gardening experience, tips and stories with a group of more than 20 enraptured listeners who attended from around the county.

Participants shared their own gardening tips as well and others took home ideas on how to start their own garden, raised bed and container gardening, and dealing with non-human garden critters who also have a taste for fine dining.

It was a mostly sunny but chilly March morning, but those who came out for this free talk and garden tour went home enriched with new ideas to perhaps start their own garden this spring.

The group’s April 11 meeting will take place at Barber’s Country Farm in Kelseyville, where we will focus on learning about building good soil for gardens and planters and tour their fabulous greenhouses. The public is welcome to attend so watch in the future for more information.

Celebrating over one year in community, the Lake County Community Cooperative envisions cultivating an evolving community by nurturing values of social, economic and environmental responsibility.

The co-op wishes to support our local farmers and producers and provide a forum for community activities. For more information or to become a member of the LCCC, follow the links at http://lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270.

Local County residents tour Fran Ransley's winter garden. Photo by Lori Patotzka.

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Gloria De La Cruz works on the new mural of the Lucerne Hotel on the side of the restroom facility at Lucerne Harbor Park. Photo by Linda Kelly.

LUCERNE – Gloria De La Cruz has been hard at work creating the mural of Lucerne’s landmark, the Lucerne Hotel – also known as “the Castle” – on the wall of the Harbor Village Artists’ side of the rest area at the Lucerne Harbor Park's boat launch.

Easily recognizable, this beautiful reproduction can be viewed as you drive along E. Highway 20 on the lake side of Lucerne.

Watch the castle and the talent of Gloria De La Cruz as the mural progresses.

De La Cruz, who has done various murals around the county, began work on the mural earlier this month. Photo by Linda Kelly.

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SACRAMENTO – The State Assembly voted Monday to approve Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 15, a measure by North Coast Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D – Santa Rosa) designed to raise awareness of global climate change and energy efficiency.

SCR 15 declares the hour of 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday in March to be "Earth Hour" throughout the state. SCR 15 also encourages city, county, and state employees, and businesses, to turn off non-essential lights in government buildings, public schools, public landmarks, and other buildings for that hour on Saturday, March 28.

“By promoting the worldwide event and calling on all Californians to participate, we can further contribute to reducing green house gases and help bring awareness to over 35 million Californians on how they can contribute to fighting global warming,” Wiggins said. “I encourage everyone to join me in this effort and do all you can to promote this important, worldwide event.

Climate change is a global problem, requiring a multitude of solutions that must be implemented by the entire global community,” she added. “Earth Hour symbolizes a commitment towards that goal.”

Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour.

In 2008, the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of one billion people switching off their lights as part of a global action.

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County Public Services Director Kim K. Clymire hosted the first of a series of meetings on March 11 to begin developing a Mt. Konocti Master Plan.

An impressive group of more than 50 individuals, with varied recreational interests attended and a spirited, interactive discussion was held that allowed everyone present to discuss and list their ideas for the development of the mountain’s master management plan.

Representatives from the Lake County Sierra Club, Redbud Audubon Society, Lake County Land Trust, local schools, the Elem Tribe and the general public were in attendance.

When complete – which will probably take one to two years – the plan will govern the park’s use, conservation and preservation.

Types of use, policies and procedures, resource and fire management plans and more were discussed, as well as, restrictions that come with the sell of the property, including day use only, except by special arrangements, no motorized vehicles, except by authorized use, and preservation and conservation of the mountain.

County staff anticipates having the basics of the master plan decided on prior to opening the trails to the public late this year or early next year.

The second meeting is scheduled to take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, in the Board of Supervisors chambers at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes.

Future meetings are anticipated at the Lower Lake Museum in late May.

For more information contact the Public Services Department at 262-1618.

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The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Redbud Library Community Room, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

Guest speakers will be:

• Lake County Superintendent of Schools Dave Geck who will discuss the impacts of the new state budget on our local schools;

• George Young, California Teachers Association regional staff for Lake and Mendocino counties, who will address the May 19 ballot propositions affecting education funding.

Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-277-0713 or by email

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

The Committee's Web site is www.lakecountydemocrats.org.

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