UKIAH, Calif. – On the evening of May 10 in the Mendocino College Center Theatre, the Human Services (HUS) Programs held their inaugural Student Awards Ceremony.

Guests, faculty, and honorees were welcomed with an array of food and coffee, very generously donated by local businesses.

William Feather began the celebration with a heartfelt welcome and offered appreciation for the families and the many supporters of HUS students and faculty.

The student honorees at this inaugural awards event included Otaka Redhawk, Amanda Coggins and Devi Kirsch.

Otaka Redhawk was presented with the Student Choice Award and was recognized for her support of other students and her dedication to her family, community and her education.

Well-respected HUS faculty, Christine Price, presented Amanda Coggins with the Academic Excellence Award.

Dan Jenkins emphasized Coggins’ interpersonal perceptiveness, advanced skill-level, academic rigor and dedication to her education in the face of extreme adversity.

Hillary James, supervisor with Substance Use Disorder Treatment programs at Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency, presented Devi Kirsch with the Excellence in Service Award. 

James expressed her deep appreciation for Kirsch’s contributions as an intern with SUDT and her congratulations for Kirsch’s recent employment with the agency.

Kirsch described her experience at the ceremony. “I listened to everyone speak on behalf of the program, students, teachers and mentors, I noticed a theme: each person was faced with adversity, and overcame it, arriving at the conclusion that they must face it again and again alongside their fellow man.  I saw the faces of many people who offered me guidance and inspiration throughout my life.” 

She went on to say many of her role models started out in the HUS/Alcohol and Other Drug Services programs at Mendocino College which has inspired her to continue her education, working toward her bachelor’s degree this fall, with the intention to continue on to obtain her master’s degree.

Special acknowledgement was made to Darletta Fulwider, an administrative assistance in the college’s Students Services department and an invaluable support for many Mendocino College students, but especially American Indian students.

American Indian students make up 33 percent f the HUS scholarship students, and 24 percent of the college’s total HUS students – compared to 5.5 percent of the students college-wide.

The unprecedentedly large proportion of American Indian students in the HUS programs, can, in part, be attributed to Fulwider.

“Human service workers address the needs of people with behavioral health issues, substance use disorders, mental illness, homelessness, unemployment, poverty,” said Professor Jenkins, director of Cooperative Work Experience Education and founder of the Human Services programs at Mendocino College. “They are the ones who provide the help to the marginalized, oppressed and disenfranchised, the victims of endemic racism and violence. They are the ones who fight for social justice every day, one person and one family at a time.”

In 2014 Mendocino College received a three-year, $300,000 grant to provide access to education in HUS.

Scholarship applications are being accepted for the 2016-17 school year. Many of the students recognized at this event are the beneficiaries of that grant.

“It takes many people to make a program like this work,” Jenkins said. “We have wonderful faculty, who deserve continued acknowledgement, but I also want to acknowledge the dedication and support of Dawn Banks, administrative assistant, who has been the glue holding this grant program together.” 

The awards event was organized by student ambassadors and program graduates Diana Billy-Elliott, Paul Murguia, William Feather and Corinna Avila, each of whom dedicated substantial time and energy to this program.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown’s own murder mystery, unsolved after 50 years, will be explored by Gibson Museum’s Fireside Chat speaker, Sandra Hoberg Fox, on Sunday, June 26.

Fireside Chats are free of charge and begin at 3 p.m. at the Gibson Museum,  21267 Calistoga Road.

Joan Hamann Dole’s body was found in her Anderson Springs home on Nov. 20, 1966, riddled with five carefully directed shots.

Dole's murder was an ongoing topic of conversation for many years after her death.

Was Dole killed by the Pacific Gas and Electric meter reader? Or by her fiancé, editor of the local newspaper? A case can be made for either of those headlines.

Or … many local citizens who lived here at the time have their own ideas about what happened to Joan Dole on that rainy night. Dole had reported break-in burglaries of her home twice in the preceding months.

It was not simply the murder itself that captured the attention of everyone in and around Middletown. It was the victim. The murdered woman was the Hamanns’ daughter.

Huck and Skee Hamann had become popular personalities in Middletown as soon as they retired and returned to Lake County from Los Altos in the early 1950s.

The couple welcomed and befriended practically every child in the area. Both of them loved nature, and went out of their way to help children learn to appreciate its marvels.

They were early proponents of environmental considerations and the premise of living with the earth, and preserving its bounty.

Each summer they took a group of kids backpacking in the Sierra. Year-round they identified local flora and played educational games with local children.

Huck Hamann fashioned rings from the semi-precious local stones that he or the children found and gave one to each child as an incentive to learning.

Joan Hamann Dole, recently returned from a career in New York City, was their only child.

Hoberg Fox has collected information about Dole’s murder over the years since it happened.

With help from the late Judge Bill Harpham and from her cousin John Flynn, an investigator in the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Hoberg Fox was able to track down the only existing copies of the court records of the murder trial.

Leal Grupp of Napa, son of the defense attorney in the lengthy trial, loaned photos and paperwork from his father's old case files.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Considered by many film critics to be the most perfect film noir ever made, “Chinatown,” starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, screens at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport on Tuesday, July 12, at 1 and 6 p.m.

Made in 1974, this was the last film that director Roman Polanski made in America, and features a Robert Towne script set in 1930s Los Angeles.

It stars Nicholson as the cynical cop turned private eye, and Dunaway as the mysterious lady in distress.

The film won six Academy Awards including best picture, actor, actress and director.

The movie is sponsored by Westside Park Grillin’ On The Green. Rated R with run time of 2 hours 10 minutes.

Entry to the film is by donation.

The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, 707-263-0577, www.soperreesetheatre.com .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Paving operations between Blue Lakes Road and Oasis Motocross Trails, began Monday, June 13. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Pavement repairs from Manzanita Road to Pingree Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect during nighttime paving, which will take place between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday night through Thursday night. One-way traffic control will also be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 29

– The Middletown Days Parade has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for an event taking place between Central Park Road and Wardlaw Street on Saturday, June 18. A full highway closure will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A detour will be provided, and motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Paving operations between Old Coast Highway and Glennen Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work between Fish Rock Road and Haven Neck Drive on Monday, June 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Geotechnical core drilling near Pudding Creek will begin Monday, June 6. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Highway repairs a quarter-mile north of Ocean Meadows Circle will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Paving operations between Abalobadiah Creek and Blue Side Gulch began Monday, June 13. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 20

– Paving operations between Harmon Lane and the Wildwood Campground will begin Monday, June 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Highway construction from 0.6 mile south of Upp Creek to the north Willits railroad crossing will continue. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Pavement repairs from Sherwood Road to Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– The Kate Wolf Music Festival has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold a special event at the Black Oaks Ranch beginning Thursday, June 23. Northbound traffic will notice the addition of a temporary left-turn lane to access the event, and through traffic will detour around the temporary lane. These traffic conditions will be in place until 3 p.m. Monday, June 27.

– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162

– Turnout construction between the Outlet Creek Bridge and Poonkiny-Fairbanks began Monday, June 6. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 253

– Highway repairs from Cattle Pass to Butler Ranch will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. LC#C253DA

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The University of California Master Gardeners group will host Dr. Harry Lyons at its monthly meeting in July.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will take place beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at the Hartley Masonic Lodge, 375 N. Main St. in Lakeport. The entrance is on Fourth Street.

Lyons' topic will be “Lessons from Green Water.”

Lyons, a retired biology professor, weaves the stories of two nutrient-rich aquatic ecosystems, the Hudson River and Clear Lake, in addressing the problems and promises of such rich biological communities.

Although differing in their geological and hydrologic histories, the two systems face similar problems with over-enrichment and point-source contamination.

Most feel the biological condition of the Hudson has improved; some feel the biological condition of Clear Lake has not.

Can the political action taken on behalf of the Hudson River serve as a model for pushing improvement of water quality in Clear Lake? How is the chance of success through political action dependent on the type of pollution and its causes?

Dr. Lyons grew up swimming and fishing in the Hudson. His lifelong interest in water led him to pursue his PhD in oceanography from the Scripps Institution of the University of California after academic work at Rutgers and Stanford.

He has lived by, sampled from, and swum in Clear Lake for more than 35 years. His talks are always peppered with the spirit of relevant songs.

To RSVP call 707-263-6838 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino College Men’s Soccer team is off to a strong start, after just two years of offering the program the team can say they’ve sustained their winning record.

Thirteen sophomores played their final season for the Mendocino Eagles in the fall of 2015, after being part of the inaugural men’s team, and now four of them can say they are moving on and continuing to pursue their dream.

Fabian Carlon, Felipe Chavez and Victor Hernandez will all be joining the University of St. Mary athletic program while Oswaldo Segura Diaz will continue his dream of playing soccer at Indiana Tech.

All four of these young athletes were recruited from Ukiah for the Mendocino College Men’s Soccer Team’s inaugural season.

Their commitment and dedication to the program and their academic success are just a few reasons they were all chosen to sign letters of intent at four-year universities.

“Mendocino College has helped me grow more as a person and as an athlete. My best memory of my time here was tying our game versus Napa to clinch the Conference Championship at their field,” Carlon said.

Coach Shane Huff described Fabian as a hardworking athlete who always has a smile on his face. “I’m really proud of him, he is our most improved player in these first two years, by far. He put in the hard work and made it happen.”

Chavez said playing for Mendocino College was his dream. “I finally became the athlete and person I always wanted to be. Every second of my time here was worth the experience. My favorite memory was the very first day of fitness training, I remember wondering what in the world I was doing here and that was the moment I knew I had to stay and I had to be a part of the program.”

Huff said Chavez is nicknamed “Mr. Consistent.”

“He wasn’t flashy in his play, but always consistent, he was a steadfast starter in his sophomore year from the beginning. He’s a very respectful and well-rounded young man, and a joy to have on the team,” Huff said.

Coach Huff described Hernandez as a talented goalkeeper. “He is great for team camaraderie, a wonderful young man, and has the potential do really excel as a goal keeper!”

Hernandez explained how much Mendocino College means to him. “It allowed me to play the sport I love and also gave me a chance to go to school and study what I enjoy. If it wasn’t for Mendocino College, I wouldn’t have been able to meet the people I have, and I also wouldn’t have been able to meet my teammates who I now consider my family. Mendocino College means a lot to me for all that it has done for me in my life and what it has given me. For that, I will always be thankful.”

He added, “My time playing soccer for Mendocino College gave me my best memories, and they were all the times and experiences I had with my teammates and coaches. Whether it was on road trips or at practice, we always had a laugh and enjoyed each other’s company. Those are the best experiences I had because those are the memories I will keep with me for the rest of my life, to always look back on with a smile on my face.”

“Mendocino College has done so much for me,” said Segura Diaz. “It allowed me to settle in and figure out what I wanted to do in life all while allowing me to play the game I love. The school and the community has shaped me into a better person and I am very thankful for these last two years. I am especially thankful for the coaches and my instructors along the way. My favorite thing about MC is the soccer community support, it may not be a big school, but the support is strong. I really enjoyed playing with the team and creating new friendships and memories.”

Coach Huff described Segura Diaz as, “overall, our most impactful player – just pure talent. Quick, fast, tenacious, an incredible athlete.”

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Arts Center is once again offering its fun-filled and creative summer art camp for children aged 5 to 13.

This year’s theme, “Adventures in Art with Animals,” will engage your child’s imagination, creativity and curiosity through animal-related projects in painting, drawing, ceramics, mask making, performance art, paper mache and more.

“Adventures in Art with Animals” will take place Monday, June 20, through Friday, July 1, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The cost is $250 for 10 days of awesome creative fun, plus healthy snacks. There is a 10-percent discount for Middletown Art Center members or multiple siblings.

Scholarships for those who lost their home in the Valley fire or are otherwise in need are available through generous donations from the Lake Area Rotary Club Association Fire Relief Fund, Lake County Rising and Middletown Art Center benefactors.

Download a scholarship application from the Web site at www.middletownartcenter.com/classes.html , or email or call to ask about the center’s scholarships. They encourage people in need to reach out to them as they want every child to have an opportunity to experience the arts.

Advance registration is requested as spaces are filling up.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org and click “classes” to easily register online and pay via Pay Pal, send a check to P.O. Box 1616, Middletown, CA 95461, call 707-809-8118 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve your child’s spot. Advance payment is preferred.

In California, a tightening supply, combined with a strong gasoline demand, is contributing to pump prices moving higher.

But although state retail fuel prices are moving up and register as the highest in the nation, they are stabilizing.

Gas prices on the AAA Fuel Gauge Report this week shows the state pump price of unleaded regular is $2.86 per gallon, which is a modest increase of $0.06 higher than a month ago.

The least expensive fuel can be found in Marysville, where the average price for a gallon of regular is $2.57.

The highest price is in San Francisco where the average price is $3.02 a gallon, up $0.18 from last month’s AAA gas survey.

A year ago, the California average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline reached $3.54, $0.68 more expensive than today’s average.

“The state average retail price of fuel is relatively steady and have moved by three cents or less over the past week,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “But continual overall decrease of fuel costs marks the fourth consecutive year of lower gas prices, spelling a prolonged period of relief for pocketbooks.”

Conditions at the ExxonMobil Torrance refinery are reportedly improving and two units previously offline are scheduled to be start this week.

The latest data from the U.S. EIA points to gasoline inventories shrinking in the region; however, gasoline production is growing which could help balance the scale and keep gas prices relatively steady over the near term.
            
The national average price of gas reached a new 2016 high over the weekend, and today’s average of $2.37 per gallon is the most expensive average since September 2015.

Although pump prices have increased for 28 of the past 33 days, consumers continue to benefit from yearly savings and prices are down 42 cents per gallon compared to a year ago.
 
After reaching new 2016 highs, crude oil prices retreated to close out the week due to news of a strengthening U.S. dollar and data showing an uptick in the number of U.S. drilling rigs in operation.

Both benchmarks opened the week by extending this trend of sliding prices, as concerns of revived production out of the U.S. and global demand concerns begin to resurface.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, WTI closed down $1.49 and settled at $49.07 per barrel.

To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the recommended pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair.

The way you drive can also impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening a vehicle’s load also help to conserve gasoline.

AAA Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.