Tuesday, 10 December 2024

News

An Oakland lumber company has reached an agreement to purchase the Oakland branch of Piedmont Lumber.


Economy Lumber Co., founded in 1935, has purchased the Oakland Piedmont store and lumberyard, which is about the size of a city block and has seven employees, said John Bacon Jr., Economy Lumber's president.


Bacon said he approached Piedmont about buying the store. “This is the one that was available.”


He said the deal became effective March 22 following about three weeks of negotiations.


“We're very excited about it,” Bacon said. “It will work great for us.”


The store was purchased for cash and other considerations, but Economy Lumber officials would not disclose a purchase price.


Piedmont Lumber has several Bay Area stores as well as a store in Lakeport, located at 2465 S. Main St.


“The official word is that Piedmont continues to explore all of its options,” Piedmont spokesman James Simmons told Lake County News on Monday.


Over the past month and a half Piedmont has been hit by several challenges, including judicial foreclosures on its properties – including the Lakeport store – a federal lawsuit over benefits for union-represented employees, a fire that destroyed its Walnut Creek store on March 13 and the closure of its Calpella truss plant on March 31, as Lake County News has reported.


The inventory at the Calpella facility was moved to the Lakeport store, which Simmons said previously will remain in operation.


The Walnut Creek store also had been considered for purchase. Bacon said he went out to look at that property on March 12, the day before it burned. “That ended the conversations.”


Bacon said the Oakland store is a great, well-run operation, and will bring the total number of Economy Lumber stores to four, including the company's seven-acre facility on Interstate 880.


He said the entire staff will be retained, and the only thing that will change is the store's name.


Bacon said it was a pleasure dealing with Piedmont owner Bill Myer and Ed Smith, the company's chief financial officer.


“They've done what they said they were going to do,” Bacon said. “It was an easy transition.”


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Image
Tom Lincoln served as master of ceremonies for the 13th annual Stars of Lake County Awards, held Saturday, April 10, 2010, at Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino in Nice, Calif. Photo by Tera DeVroede.

NICE – Those who truly care do memorable things to better Lake County and many were honored at the Stars of Lake County 13th annual Community Awards Celebration Saturday evening.

This year, in the wake of last November's closure of Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa – the home to the awards since the program's inception – the awards ceremony was held at Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino in Nice.

The reception began at 5 p.m., with well-known local musician David Neft providing lively keyboard music for the audience, which stood beneath an ocean of golden star balloons attached to the assigned chair of each nominee.

The casino’s bingo room was transformed into a ceremonial space, including a dance floor in the front center next to the stage. New at this year’s celebration was a dance after the awards were presented.

Master of Ceremonies Tom Lincoln opened the evening, asking those who have served the country in the military to stand and be honored with a round of applause.

Lincoln then gave the audience a bit of background about himself – that he, too, served in the Army and he moved to Lake County in 1975 from San Francisco.

“I never had a second thought of moving elsewhere. We, the people of Lake County, are the luckiest in the world in that we get to enjoy this god-given beauty,” he said.

Lincoln read a quote by former Connecticut State Legislator Pauline R. Kezer: “When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless, But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.”

Following dinner, the awards presentation began. Congressman Mike Thompson was on stage to hand-deliver the sparkling trophies, which Lake County Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton said were made by the same company that makes the Oscar awards.

Each Star was played a song as they walked off stage with their award. DJ Tony Barthel, who donated his time to the event, arranged the music to match each person and their accomplishments.

The 2010 Stars of Lake County Awards winners are as follows.

MAN OF THE YEAR: Thomas Hewlett, DDS, Clearlake

WOMAN OF THE YEAR: Cheri Johnson, Hidden Valley Lake

LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Lakeport Grocery Outlet

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: A&B Collision, Clearlake

YOUTH ADVOCATE/VOLUNTEER: Darren Brookshire, Hidden Valley Lake

YOUTH ADVOCATE/PROFESSIONAL: Jill Hoeffer, Lakeport

STUDENT OF THE YEAR, MALE: Benjamin Mullin, Lucerne

STUDENT OF THE YEAR, FEMALE: Cylinda Neidenbach, Kelseyville

AGRICULTURE AWARD: Renker Farms, Lakeport

ARTS AWARD/AMATEUR: Bert Hutt, Lakeport

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Denise Johnson, Kelseyville

MARLA RUZICKA HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR: Debra Rodrique, Middletown

SENIOR OF THE YEAR: Jean Welch, Lakeport

BEST IDEA OF THE YEAR: Woody’s Café (at Kelseyville Lumber), Kelseyville

ORGANIZATION, VOLUNTEER: AARP volunteer tax preparers

ORGANIZATION, NONPROFIT: Mt. Konocti Facilitation, Lakeport

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Mildred Pickersgill, Lakeport

NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: LuLu’s Ice Cream & Desserts, Kelseyville

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD: Roberta Lyons, Lower Lake

SPIRIT OF LAKE COUNTY: Harry Graves, Clearlake

The event was sponsored by Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and the Lake County Record-Bee.

Awards sponsors included Cliff and Nancy Ruzicka, Westamerica Bank, Barry Parkinson, McDonald’s Lakeport, Polestar Computers, Umpqua Bank, Gossett Alarm Corp., Strong Financial Network, Lake County Land Trust, Kelseyville Lumber, Foods Etc., Bruno’s Shop Smart, Kathy Fowler Dealerships, Congressman Mike Thompson, Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery, John Tomkins, North Lake Medical Pharmacy, Lakeview Supermarket and Deli, Lake County Record-Bee and St. Helena Hospital Clearlake.

E-mail Tera deVroede at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Image
For the first time this year, a dance floor was set up so attendees could stay and enjoy themselves after the ceremonies. Photo by Tera DeVroede.
 

LAKE COUNTY – An Indiana woman who was traveling with her family to the Sacramento airport to fly home was the victim of a fatal two-car collision outside of Nice on Friday.


The California Highway Patrol reported Saturday that the investigation is continuing into the cause of the crash, which claimed the life of the 65-year-old woman from Noblesville, Ind., and injured six of her family members when they were hit head-on by another vehicle driven by a local woman.


The CHP did not release the crash victim's name, however, a neighbor from Indiana confirmed to Lake County News that the person in question was Sandra K. Thomas.


She and her husband, James G. Thomas, 64, were returning home to Noblesville, located north of Indianapolis, according to family and friends.


The Thomases were riding with their daughter, 33-year-old Sarah Noguera of Ukiah, and her husband, Adonis Noguera, 37, in the Nogueras' 2001 Ford Escape.


The CHP said Sarah Noguera was driving, James Thomas was sitting in the front passenger seat, with the Nogueras' 5-year-old daughter riding in the right rear passenger seat, Sandra Thomas sitting in the center of the rear passenger seat, the Nogueras' 4-year-old son in the left rear passenger seat and Adonis Noguera seated in the vehicle's cargo compartment.


The CHP said Sarah Noguera was traveling at an undetermined speed eastbound on Highway 20, west of Bartlett Springs Road at the Tulip Hill Winery, when the collision occurred at 2:35 p.m. Friday. Conditions at the time of the crash were clear and dry.


Driving westbound in a 2005 Dodge Caravan was Maria Felix Prado, 47, of Clearlake, according to the CHP.


The CHP said Prado, who also was driving at a speed investigators haven't determined, went off the roadway's north edge and up an embankment before veering back to the left and traveling back onto the roadway, where it entered the eastbound lane.


Prado's minivan hit the Nogueras' vehicle head-on, causing major damage to the vehicles, both of which came to rest off the highway's south edge, the CHP reported.


The front of Prado's minivan was caved in following the crash, but the CHP said she was able to get out of her vehicle unaided.


Adonis Noguera was able to get out of the Escape, the CHP said; he also was able to take his two young children out of the wreckage.


Sandra Thomas, who the CHP said was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, was declared dead at the scene by deputy coroner Sgt. Gary Basor of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.


Northshore Fire paramedics had to extricate Sarah Noguera and James Thomas, both of whom where driven by ambulance to nearby Ceago Vinegarden, where REACH Air Ambulance picked them up for transport. Both were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries, the CHP reported.


Cal-Star Air Ambulance transported the Nogueras' 4-year-old son to Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland for treatment of major injuries, according to the report. Adonis Noguera and his 5-year-old daughter were taken by Northshore Fire ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport with moderate injuries.


The CHP said Prado was treated and released at the scene, and a CHP officer later transported her to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake as a precaution for minor injuries.


CHP Officer Jake Bushey is leading the investigation into the incident.


Alcohol and drugs aren't considered contributing factors to the crash, the CHP said.


Both vehicles had extensive damage and were retained by the CHP pending comprehensive inspections.


The roadway remained closed between the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff and Foothill Drive in Lucerne for two hours and 40 minutes, reopening to one-way traffic at 5:30 p.m. with both lanes reopened at 6 p.m., the CHP said.


During that time, emergency personnel tended to the injured, investigators reviewed the scene and tow companies removed the vehicles.


In addition to the CHP, Lake County Sheriff's Office and Northshore Fire, Caltrans and the California Department of Fish and Game also were involved in handling the scene.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .


MENDOCINO COUNTY – A Lakeport man has pleaded guilty to several felonies in connection to a series of bank robberies he is alleged to have committed around the North Coast last spring.


On Monday, as his trial was scheduled to get under way, Rick William Robison, 56, pleaded guilty to seven charges, according to a report from the office of Mendocino County District Attorney Meredith Lintott.


In Judge Rick Henderson's court Robison pleaded guilty to robbing Ukiah's Bank of America on March 24, 2009; a March 31, 2009, robbery at the Willits Chase Bank; an attempted robbery at Safeway in Willits on April 11, 2009; a robbery at the Hopland branch of the Savings Bank of Mendocino on May 20; and three burglaries in connection with the robberies of those banks.


The Mendocino County District Attorney's Office said that Robison also admitted all of the special allegations against him, including that he had suffered a prior strike for a bank robbery in Marin County in 2000; that he was charged with a "serious felony" with the prior "serious felony" conviction; and he had been to prison and not remained free from prison custody for a period of five years, based on going to prison for the Marin bank robbery as well as a felony reckless evading.


He's due in Mendocino County's Department A for judgment and sentencing on June 4.


The case against him was based on an extensive multi-agency investigation by the Ukiah Police Department, Mendocino County Sheriff's Office and Willits Police Department, officials reported.


In all but the Hopland robbery, the amount taken was under $2,000. Hopland, where Robison was apprehended, briefly netted him close to $6,000, according to the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office.


Robison was cooperative with law enforcement, providing statements to each agency. Detectives from both Sonoma and Napa counties came and questioned him about similar robberies in their jurisdictions.


Currently, Robison has a $100,000 warrant out of Napa County for a robbery from the Safeway there. After sentencing, he, most likely, will be taken to Napa to answer to those charges.


In carrying out the bank robberies Robison had a variety of things that he would use in order to disguise himself, according to the investigation.


Sometimes he had makeup and a cowboy's hat. Other times he would wear sunglasses and a baseball cap. Robison often wore boots that contained women's shoes that were cut in half, in order to make himself appear taller. He referred to these as "elevators."


When law enforcement was in pursuit, after the Savings Bank robbery, he was changing his clothes while he fled from the crime.


Though Robison never was armed, he would always use a demand note that stated he was. On one occasion, he referred to a friend that had a gun trained on the clerk. There was no such friend, but he allegedly caused fear in each of the teller's that he robbed.


Robison's plea constitutes three strikes, though it does not subject him to the state's Three Strike sentencing law, district attorney's officials reported. Those 25-to-life provisions would be available should Robison be convicted of any subsequent felony in the future.


Depending on some arguments to be made at sentencing, Robison's exposure in state prison is approximately 21 years, four months. He is not eligible for probation because he admitted his prior strike, the Marin robbery. His prison time will be served with only 15 percent credits, meaning that he will serve 85 percent of any sentence.


Prosecutor Steve Jackson handled the case, and public defender Linda Thompson represented Robison.


Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

LAKE COUNTY – Lake County is invited to join KPFZ, 88.1 FM on Saturday, April 24, to celebrate the station’s second year of being a full-power station on the air – and to raise funds for tripling the power of the station’s signal.


The public is invited to come to the studio at 149 S. Main St., where hot dogs and other refreshments will be available, along with opportunities for new and current members to purchase CDs, KPFZ baseball hats and other premiums.


Listeners who tune in from their living rooms and cars will enjoy a 17-hour membership drive – from 7 a.m. to midnight – an on-air party when programmers will share stories, play music, jockey with each other and solicit memberships; and volunteers will answer the phones.


KPFZ’S goal for the day is to sign up 100 new listener-members, as well as to renew the current members.


Memberships will support the costs of running the station as well as building a tower and purchasing equipment for a new signal.


The new tower will triple the power of the station’s signal.


Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

LAKE COUNTY – Candidates in this year's race for the office of district attorney will appear in the second televised debate of the election season this Thursday, April 15.


Don Anderson, Jon Hopkins and Doug Rhoades will take part in the debate beginning at 7 p.m. at the Calpine Visitor Center, 15500 Central Park Road, Middletown.


The debate is expected to last an hour and a half.


The candidates previously debated in Lakeport on March 30. That debate is being rebroadcast on TV8 and also is available for viewing here: www.velocityvideoonline.com/video-040110-001.html .


The debates are sponsored by Lake County News, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and Calpine.


McKenzie Paine of Velocity Video Online, www.velocityvideoonline.com, will record the Thursday debate for broadcast on TV8.


The public is invited to submit questions to Lake County News via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; fax, 707-274-8650; mail, P.O. Box 305, Lakeport, CA 95453-0305; or via Lake County News' Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf.


Questions also may be submitted to the Lake County Chamber via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; fax, 707-263-5194; mail, P.O. Box 295, Lakeport, CA 95453; or drop them off at the chamber office, 875 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport. The chamber can be reached by telephone at 707-263-5092.


The format used for the debates will put the same questions to all candidates, so as much as possible questions should be broadly applicable.


A small number of questions will be taken via note cards at the debates themselves.


Questions about the debates may be directed to debate moderator Elizabeth Larson, 707-274-9904, or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

LAKEPORT – At 6:15 a.m. Sunday, Clear Lake officially surpassed the “full” mark and continued to rise throughout the day as the low pressure system with heavy rains and strong winds moved across Lake County.


On Sunday morning, the US Geological Survey gauge for Clear Lake showed the lake's level at 7.57 feet Rumsey, the special measure used for Clear Lake.


A full lake is 7.56 feet Rumsey, according to Lake County's Water Resources Division.


Three months ago in January, the level of Clear Lake was less than 1.0 Rumsey, as previously reported, which means that Clear Lake, encompassing nearly 42,000 acres with 100 mile of shoreline, increased almost eight feet in depth since that time.


According to Lake County Water Resources, the Rumsey level is the natural level of Clear Lake which has been maintained by the Grigsby Riffle, a rock sill located at the confluence of Cache and Seigler Creeks near Lower Lake.


The natural low water level of Clear Lake was established as "Zero Rumsey" and all subsequent lake measurements are based on this elevation, which is equivalent to 1318.256 feet above sea level, according to the Lake County Water Resources Web site.


By 5 p.m. Sunday, Clear Lake had risen to 7.70 feet Rumsey according to the USGS gauge, although the rains had ended for the afternoon but more rain is forecast for overnight. It edged slightly higher before midnight.


The National Weather Service in Sacramento predicted more rain overnight with an 80 percent chance of rain Monday, and winds kicking back up throughout the day.


But the winds and rain will taper off in the evening, as the storm system moves out of Lake County, according to the National Weather Service's forecast.


Skies should clear somewhat, with the National Weather Service predicting high temperatures near 60 on Tuesday, with temperatures in the mid- to upper 30s at lake-level.


Partly cloudy skies with a small chance of rain will remain throughout the week, according to the National Weather Service, with highs below 60 and overnight temperatures remaining above the freezing mark at lower elevations.


For up-to-the-minute weather information, please visit the home page.


E-mail Terre Logsdon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

THE GEYSERS – A 3.1-magnitude earthquake was reported near The Geysers geothermal steamfield early Saturday.


The quake, which was reported at 5:26 a.m., occurred at a depth of 1.8 miles, according to the US Geological Survey.


Its epicenter was located two miles north of The Geysers, four miles west of Cobb and seven miles west northwest of Anderson Springs, the agency reported.


Shake reports were made to the US Geological Survey from seven zip codes, ranging from Calistoga to Fortuna and even to distant San Jacinto, 761 miles away.


A 3.7-magnitude earthquake occurred near The Geysers on March 28, as Lake County News has reported.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .


MENDOCINO COUNTY – Two Mendocino animal control officers responding to a report of vicious pit bull dogs chasing people last week were themselves victims of an attack by the animals, one of which was killed.


Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office reported that last Friday at 11 a.m. Mendocino County Sheriff's Dispatch Center received a 911 telephone call regarding vicious pit dogs chasing people in the area of Laughlin Way and North State Street in Redwood Valley.


Senior Animal Control Officer George Hodgson and Torsten Werner, a reserve officer with the agency, responded to the location and encountered two blue nose pit bulls behind the Blacklocks Building in Redwood Valley.


Smallcomb said the two dogs immediately attacked Hodgson and Werner. Werner was injured when he was bitten on the hands and in the groin area.


Hodgson had to use his service weapon and strike one of the pit bulls to prevent any further injury to either officers or the people in the area, Smallcomb said. The second dog was captured and taken to the Mendocino County Animal Shelter.


Werner was transported to Ukiah Valley Medical Center for dog bite injuries. He was treated at the hospital and eventually released, Smallcomb said.


Numerous neighbors in the area were frightened by the animals and were in fear of their safety, Smallcomb said. Several witnesses advised that if the officers had not responded they would have had to shoot the dogs.


Smallcomb said it was the first time in nine years that Hodgson had to use his authorized duty weapon to incapacitate a vicious dog.


He said Hodgson has been employed as a animal control officer for Mendocino County for the past nine years. He recently was brought in to conduct an investigation into a Lake County Animal Care and Control officer's horse neglect case, as Lake County News has reported.


Werner is a reserve animal control officer for the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. Smallcomb said Werner has volunteered over 250 hours.


Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

LAKE COUNTY – With just five days left for households to mail back their 2010 Census forms, the U.S. Census Bureau wants to remind people that it's not too late to return their completed questionnaires and be counted.


Personal visits to nonresponding households begin May 1.


Households have until April 16 to mail back their form, as the Census Bureau must begin preparing to train temporary census workers to gather census responses in person from households that did not mail back their forms.


In Lake County, some areas – notably Clearlake – have not received US Census forms yet. To find out where to pick up a 2010 Census form, click here: Census 2010: Local questionnaire assistance centers open .


As of Sunday, April 11, the national mail back participation rate was 65 percent. California was slightly behind the national average with 63 percent.


The Northern California counties with the highest participation rates were San Mateo, Santa Clara and Shasta counties, which each were at 68 percent. Lagging behind were Mono County, with 25 percent, and Alpine County, with 20 percent.


Lake County remained at 53 percent on Sunday, just one percentage point below its 2000 mail back participation rate, according to US Census data.


The Census Bureau’s Northern California region stretches from Santa Cruz County, to the south, and the Oregon border, to the north.


For the first time, the Census Bureau has mailed replacement forms to areas with historically lower mail-response rates. Research shows that the replacement forms will help increase mail response in those areas, which will save a significant amount of money.


The Census Bureau saves about $85 million in operational costs for every percentage point increase in the nation's mail-participation rate. It costs the government just the price of a postage stamp when a household mails back the form. However, it costs the Census Bureau $57 to follow up with a non-responsive household.


If you did not receive a Census form or have misplaced it, visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ to find a “Be Counted” or questionnaire assistance center site in your neighborhood, where forms are available.


Both the questionnaire assistance centers and the “Be Counted” sites are operational until April 19 and can be found in public areas, such as libraries and community centers donated by businesses and organizations.


Or, call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center hotlines for assistance seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time. The phone numbers are: English: 1-866-872-6868, Spanish: 1-866-928-2010, Chinese: 1-866-935-2010, Korean: 1-866-955-2010, Russian: 1-866-965-2010, Vietnamese: 1-866-945-2010, TDD (hearing impaired): 1-866-783-2010.


All US Census responses are confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' individually identifiable answers with anyone, including tribal housing authorities, other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.


The Census Bureau also has created tools to help communities track their census participation.


The Take 10 Challenge Map shows the latest participation rates, giving users the option to download and embed a local rate tracker “widget” on their own Web site.


The participation rates are posted at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time each weekday. Anyone can visit the 2010 Census Web site at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ to track their state, county or neighborhood's progress.


The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.


Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to tribal, state and local governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide.


The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in U.S. history, consisting of 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete.


Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.


Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Image


 


It’s been suggested to me that I should write an in-depth book about Lake County and its wine industry. I’m very interested in the subject and the idea of taking on the project excited me.


The idea was placed in my head over a year ago, and I just haven't been able to act on it. The problem with getting started on it is that I spend so much time on the Foodie Freak columns that I don’t have time to write anything else.


I literally spend almost the same amount of time as a full-time job researching for my columns. At this moment I have about 40 columns in different levels of completion on my computer.


I’m also working on my own signature line of specialty foods, made locally with local ingredients, and hopefully you will see them in stores soon.


While juggling all of these projects keeps me busy and provides me with a steady stream of things to do, I can’t possibly work on a book at the same time.


Since this is what I’d like to do, I’ve decided that I am going to take what I’ll call “a sabbatical” from the Foodie Freak columns, to pursue writing a book about the Lake County wine industry.


I want to chronicle everything anyone could ever want to know about wine in Lake County. I’m going to find the ruins of old wineries, discover lost vineyards and define who currently owns what vineyard

where. This book will eventually be available on Lake County News.


When I am finished writing the book, my wife and I will look into continuing the Foodie Freak series. In the mean time, you will most likely still see my name pop up in Lake County News if and when I report on an events I attend, if a new food venue opens or telling about a class I’ll be teaching, but the weekly columns will be on hold until further notice.


In the event that I do decide to continue the Foodie Freak columns at a later time, I don’t believe I’ll continue doing restaurant reviews anymore. I have become too widely recognized around the community to conduct the reviews anonymously.


Several times now when I have walked into a restaurant, I see the staff group together, start whispering

and pointing at me, and I just know I will be getting special treatment. If I can’t get treated like the general public then I can’t do an accurate review.


So if anyone wants to take those reins and try to keep their anonymity they are welcome to it. Contact Elizabeth Larson, editor of Lakeconews.com and discuss your interest with her.


Thank you to everyone who tells me how much they enjoy my writing. Please feel free to introduce yourself if you see me around the county. Also, if you have any information about old wineries, new

wineries, lost vineyards, and Lake County history, I would love to hear from you. I’ll be spending the next month at the museum.


Good Things,

Ross A. Christensen “The Foodie Freak”

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


Ross A. Christensen is an award-winning gardener and gourmet cook. He is the author of "Sushi A to Z, The Ultimate Guide" and is currently working on a new book. He has been a public speaker for many years and enjoys being involved in the community. Follow him on Twitter, http://twitter.com/Foodiefreak .


Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Upcoming Calendar

10Dec
12.10.2024 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Board of Supervisors
10Dec
12.10.2024 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Lakeport City Council special meeting
11Dec
12.11.2024 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Lakeport Planning Commission
12Dec
14Dec
12.14.2024 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Christmas Bird Count
14Dec
12.14.2024 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Wreaths Across America
14Dec
12.14.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
19Dec
12.19.2024 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
General plan agricultural focus group meeting
21Dec
12.21.2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market at the Mercantile
24Dec
12.24.2024
Christmas Eve

Mini Calendar

loader

LCNews

Award winning journalism on the shores of Clear Lake. 

 

Newsletter

Enter your email here to make sure you get the daily headlines.

You'll receive one daily headline email and breaking news alerts.
No spam.