On Tuesday, a bat found near the intersections of Point Lake View Road and Anderson Road in Lower Lake tested positive for the rabies virus, according to Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson.

Davidson said the bat had been in contact with a neighborhood pet and the appropriate rabies treatment protocols are being taken for the family involved.

“We would like to take this opportunity to remind all residents to make certain their family pets are currently vaccinated against rabies and that contact with wild animals should be avoided,” Davidson said.

He said humans can be exposed to rabies carried by bats through direct contact, bites or scratches. Inapparent exposure can occur when a bat is present in a room where people are sleeping.

If a possible exposure has occurred, the bat should be carefully trapped and submitted for testing whenever possible, Davidson said.

Questions about the need for treatment to prevent rabies can be directed to Lake County Public Health at 707-263-1090 or 1-800-794-9291, or if you or your pet comes into contact with a wild animal, please contact the Animal Care and Control Department at 707-263-0278.

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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A 19-year-old Lower Lake woman was arrested last week after she allegedly assaulted a wheelchair-bound woman for whom she had offered care services.

Katie Key was placed under citizens arrest and cited and released at the scene of the fight, according to Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen.

A Lake County News reader reported witnessing the confrontation, which occurred on Old Highway 53 near Highway 53 on Thursday, Dec. 1.

Clausen said the fight was reported to police shortly after 3 p.m. that day.

Key is alleged to have assaulted 46-year-old Christina Warrington of Clearlake, Clausen said.

“I don’t think this was just a random act,” Clausen said. “They definitely knew each other.”

Clausen said Key allegedly confronted Warrington, who was in a wheelchair. Key had worked as Warrington’s In-Home Supportive Services worker, Clausen said.

Warrington, who alleged that Key hit her, placed Key under citizens arrest, and officers then accepted that arrest and cited Key, Clausen said.

Warrington suffered minor injuries as a result of the fight, according to Clausen.

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, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

Shown here are are canned coconut milk for cooking (including organic and light versions), coconut milk in aseptic packaging as a substitute for soy or dairy milk, organic coconut flakes and a white coconut. Photo by Esther Oertel.

One of my favorite childhood memories is of my family huddled on our front porch around a bristly brown coconut with screwdriver and hammer in hand.

After some discussion, the hammer was wielded on the poised screwdriver so that holes were bored in the coconut’s top, allowing us to savor the sweet water within.

Afterwards, the hammer was brandished once again to smash the coconut to bits. Enjoyment of succulent snow white flesh clinging to hard shards of shell then ensued.

I tried to recreate this memory with my own young family, only to find I had no idea how to properly employ hammer and screwdriver to achieve the perfect crack.

Even so, whole coconuts have always represented a bit of exotic family fun to me. I get a little thrill when I see them in the supermarket, the way others might feel at the sight of a Ferris wheel at the carnival.

With winter inching closer and our recent blustery winds, I’m in need of some tropical therapy; perhaps you are, too. Chatting about coconuts might be just what we need.

Coconuts are fruits of the coconut palm, which grow in a wide tropical and subtropical swath encompassing the globe. In the U.S., coconut palms thrive only in Hawaii and South Florida.

There is some disagreement as to the exact origin of the plant, with some scientists theorizing an Indo-Pacific origin and others a South American one.

The English name, coconut, is derived from the Spanish and Portuguese word “coco,” which means “grinning face,” a reference to the three indentations at one end of the coconut that resemble eyes and a mouth.

“Nut” is a misnomer, however, as the fruit of the coconut palm is botanically a drupe, meaning a fruit with flesh around an inner seed. In fact, the coconut is the largest known seed in the world.

Fresh coconut is available throughout the year, with peak season from October through December.

While it takes a year or so for a coconut to mature on the tree, coconut palms flower up to 13 times a year, thus yielding a continuous harvest.

An average tree produces about 60 coconuts per year, but some generate three times that amount.

When on the tree, coconuts are encased in a green husk. The whole coconuts we see in markets have had these removed, so that the fibrous mesocarp, or shell, is exposed.

While most coconuts shells are coffee-colored, I was introduced to a new variety recently, the white coconut. It’s similar to its darker cousin in size, shape, and fibrous coiffure, but ranges in color from pale cream to ivory.

Though it looks like an albino version of the brown coconut, it is, in fact, a subspecies grown in Thailand.

Coconut water, meaning the liquid contained in young coconuts, is currently a very popular beverage. A variety of brands in cans, bottles and pouches have popped up in markets over the last few years, including some from Mexico and Thailand. A number have added flavors, such as lime, and others include a bit of free-floating coconut pulp.

I find it an extremely refreshing thirst quencher, especially in hot weather, but if you’re trying to avoid excess sugar as I am, be sure to read the labels, as many have added sweetener.

This drink has long been popular in the tropics, where young coconuts are packaged and sold so that the water can be drunk directly from the fruit. The green outer husks are removed and the rest is wrapped in plastic for sale in markets, or they’re sold fresh from street vendors’ carts.

Coconut water is full of potassium and contains antioxidants that have been linked to a variety of health benefits, one reason for its popularity.

While in a very young state, coconuts have scant meat and what they have is extremely tender, almost like a gel. As the coconut matures, the water is gradually replaced by coconut meat and air.

The soft gel-like meat from young coconuts is a popular addition to smoothies, as well as in other dishes, and is particularly beloved by those who advocate a raw foods diet.

Coconut milk, not to be confused with coconut water, is a product of the coconut’s flesh, obtained by pressing it or by passing hot water through it when grated.

In countries where fresh coconut milk is available, there are two grades, thick and thin. This distinction is not made here, as coconut milk is typically sold only in cans and is a combination of the two.

Upon opening a can of coconut milk, a thick paste is sometimes found to have risen to the top. This can be used in recipes that require coconut cream, or the can may be shaken before opening so that it blends with the rest of the milk.

Light coconut milk, which has some of the fat removed, typically will not separate like this.

I absolutely love cooking with coconut milk, which adds a creamy richness and coconut taste to both sweet and savory dishes.

It’s a staple in tropical cuisines throughout the world, from all parts of Asia and the South Pacific islands to South America and the Caribbean. It forms the basis of many Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai curries.

Coconut milk is a favorite in vegan cooking because of, in part, its buttery consistency. I developed a vegan risotto with butternut squash, and the addition of coconut milk provided the creamy richness that butter and cheese normally add to most risottos.

It's wonderful when added to creamy soups, such as one where coconut milk, pumpkin and curry combine to make a lovely Asian-inspired soup that’s healthy, as well as flavorful.

The coconut milk that’s packaged in aseptic containers as a substitute for dairy, soy, or rice milk is different from that which is packaged in a can for cooking. Rather, it’s a beverage with very little, if any, coconut taste, and makes a good cereal topping or substitute for milk in a recipe.

Coconut oil is high in saturated fat; even so, it’s considered a healthy oil to consume because of the nature and size of the fat molecules.

Briefly, all fats are comprised of molecules called fatty acids. They’re defined by saturation, such as saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, as well as by molecule size, as in short-, medium- or long-chain fatty acids.

While most fats are of the long-chained variety, coconut oil is comprised of medium-chain fatty acids, which, accordingly to preliminary scientific research, don’t have a negative effect on cholesterol and are said to be protective of the heart.

One of the practical benefits of coconut oil is that it has a higher smoke point than many other oils, so that you can cook with it at normal stovetop temperatures and have less concern about oxidation.

Maile Field, former Lake County resident and enthusiastic coconut aficionado, tells tales of family coconut hunts in Hawaii, where parents and children alike learned to dehusk coconuts and enjoy fresh coconut water in its natural habitat.

According to Field, shaving fresh coconut flesh with a carrot peeler and toasting it was a special family treat. While Field reports using a toaster for this purpose, I recommend utilizing the stovetop or oven, whether toasting fresh coconut or the shredded and packaged variety.

Toasted coconut makes a wonderful topping for anything made with coconut milk, including curries and soups.

Much of the fat in coconuts is in the form of lauric acid, which helps fight bacteria from internal pesticides and wards off infections. It has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Coconut flesh contains protein, manganese, iron, phosphorus and potassium, as well as omega-6 fatty acids, which are beneficial for the body.

Today’s recipe is coconut-orange rice pudding, a comforting dish with a taste of the tropics, perfect, in my opinion for a cold, blustery day.

My recipe below includes almond milk, as I like the taste it adds, but soy or dairy milk would work just as well.

While you enjoy the richness of the coconut milk in the dish, be comforted by the fact that it’s nourishing as well as delicious.

Before I go, here’s a Web site that does a good job of describing how to open a coconut: http://www.howtoopenacoconut.com/.

If you’ve got a hankering for fresh coconut, you can now purchase one with confidence, knowing you’ll be able to open it when you get home.

Enjoy!

Comforting coconut-orange rice pudding

1 cup Arborio or other short grain rice

1 can coconut milk (about 13.5 ounces)

About 3 cups almond milk (enough to combine with coconut milk to make 5 cups liquid)

½ teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons agave syrup (or sugar)

1 teaspoon each vanilla and orange extracts

Zest of one orange

¼ teaspoon cardamom

Toasted coconut and/or toasted slivered almonds for garnish

Combine rice, milks and salt in pot. Bring to a medium simmer, cover and cook for half an hour, stirring occasionally, until the rice pudding is thick, creamy and moist. Remove from heat. It will become thicker as it cools.

Add agave syrup, vanilla, orange extract, orange zest and cardamom. Blend well.

Garnish with toasted coconut, toasted slivered almonds or both. Pudding may be served warm or cold. If pudding becomes thick, add a bit of almond milk to thin it out.

This makes enough for six generous servings.

Recipe by Esther Oertel.

Esther Oertel, the “Veggie Girl,” is a culinary coach and educator and is passionate about local produce. Oertel gives private cooking lessons. She welcomes your questions and comments; e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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“Wreaths Across America” is returning to Lake County again this year.

On Friday, Dec. 9, local volunteers, Boy Scouts Troop 42, Clear Lake High School Interact Club and families of veterans will lay 686 wreaths on the graves of veterans at Hartley and Kelseyville cemeteries.

Formal wreath-laying ceremonies will take place promptly at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at both cemeteries.

Seven specially designated ceremonial wreaths for the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and POW/MIA will be placed on memorials during the local ceremonies, which will be coordinated simultaneously at more than 600 participating locations all across the United States.

The ceremonies will be performed by local youth and veterans organizations, including Boy Scout Troops, Girl Scout Troops, Sea Scouts, Highway Patrol Explorers and Royal Rangers, the United Veterans Council’s Military Funeral Honors Team and Patriotic Guard Riders.

The national anthem and “Amazing Grace” will be sung by Michaela Mahnke and Bianca Torres. Chaplain Woody Hughes, and pastors Gary Zeek and Gary Dromi will officiate at the ceremonies.

This is the fifth year that there has been a wreath laying ceremony at Hartley Cemetery and the first year at Kelseyville Cemetery, according to Toni Funderburg, the effort’s local coordinator. A future goal is to hold events at other county cemeteries.

The second Saturday in December will mark the 20th anniversary of Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, donating wreaths to be placed on headstones at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

The national wreath sponsorship campaign under the guidance of the nonprofit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org will bring the same remembrance wreaths to national and state veterans cemeteries, monuments and community centers all across the nation.

In addition to these ceremonial wreaths, local Boy Scout Troop 42 has joined with Wreaths Across America to promote sponsored wreaths to be placed on veterans’ graves.

Funderburg said the first goal for this year was to place a wreath on every veteran’s gravesite at Hartley Cemetery, and this will happen as a result of the support of the community’s generosity.

The second goal this year was to build wreath stands for all the wreaths at Hartley Cemetery. Thanks to Pam Huebner and her generosity they have wreath stands for all of that cemetery’s veteran gravesites, Funderburg said.

Subsequent to meeting these two goals sponsorships continued from many who value and respect veterans and their families, she said.

With that support they are able to lay approximately 686 wreaths at Hartley Cemetery and Kelseyville Cemetery, according to Funderburg.

The mission of Wreaths Across America is to “Remember (the fallen), Honor (those that serve), Teach (our Children the Value of Freedom).”

Troop 42 and community sponsors want these holiday wreaths to symbolize honor to those who have served and are serving in the armed forces of the United States, as well as to their families, who endure sacrifices every day to preserve freedom, Funderburg said.

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Each year in the United States more than 200,000 people are hospitalized, and as many as 49,000 people die after contracting influenza.

“As this is National Influenza Vaccination Week, it is a perfect time to remind Californians to get a flu shot to protect themselves and others,” said Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). “Since the flu season typically peaks in December and January, I urge people to get immunized now.”

Flu season begins each year in September and ends in March, and influenza vaccination is recommended for all Californians six months and older.

This year’s vaccine will protect against the H1N1 strain, as well as H3N2 and influenza B.

In conjunction with National Influenza Vaccination Week, CDPH released its annual report on vaccination rates among health care employees across the state.

The report found that the employee vaccination rate has increased slightly from 62.6 percent in the 2009-10 flu season to 64.3 percent in 2010-11 for reporting hospitals.

The report also shows that hospital reporting compliance grew to 98 percent in the 2010-11 flu season from 80.9 percent during the 2009-10 season.

In Lake County, the report found that at St. Helena Hospital Clearlake 60.4 percent of employees, 44 percent of nonemployee health care personnel and 68.2 percent of volunteers were vaccinated.

At Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport, 57.5 percent of employees, 62.3 percent of nonemployee health care personnel and 45.1 percent of volunteer received vaccinations, the report showed.

“Vaccination of all health care workers is strongly recommended in order to prevent transmission of the illness to patients, especially those with long-term medical conditions who are at high-risk for serious complications from the flu,” said Dr. Chapman.

Agencies across the state are joining Dr. Chapman in promoting more vaccination of health care workers, through a letter distributed to all hospitals, long-term care facilities and physician groups throughout the state.

Those joining Dr. Chapman including the California Hospital Association, California Association of Health Facilities, California Medical Association and organizations of health care professionals.

The report released by CDPH offers the following recommendations to improve influenza vaccination coverage among health care professionals:

• Hospitals should consider more rigorous influenza vaccination policies, such as mandatory participation or vaccination, to increase influenza vaccination percentages.

• Hospitals should ensure that influenza vaccination status is a requirement of contracts with physician groups, registry organizations, fellowships, and student training programs.

• Hospitals should account for the vaccination status of all non-employee health care personnel, including registry and contract personnel, students, and trainees.

• Hospitals should implement robust data collection and management systems to document the vaccination status of all health care personnel.

The report can be viewed below.

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120511 CDPH Health Care Workers Influenza Vaccination Report

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A head-on collision near Blue Lakes on Saturday evening resulted in minor injuries for the people involved but a horse in a trailer towed by one of the vehicles was treated at the scene by a vet.

The crash occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on Highway 20 at Blue Lakes, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A pickup towing a horse trailer collided with another vehicle. The CHP’s initial reports did not indicate what led to the crash.

The crash blocked the roadway, and one horse was reported to be down shortly after the incident occurred, the CHP said.

Originally the downed horse was reported as dying of its injuries at the scene, however on Sunday the CHP said a vet who responded to the scene treated the animal for shock and it survived.

The two horses involved were later transferred to another trailer and safely removed from the area.

One lane of traffic was open shortly before 7 p.m. The CHP did not report when the rest of the highway was cleared.

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By forging this alliance, California and Nevada will combine investigative resources, including litigation strategies, information and evidence gathered through their respective ongoing investigations, assisting each state as it pursues independent prosecutions.

This alliance will link the offices' civil and criminal enforcement teams, speeding along the full, fair and adequate investigation of wrongdoing in the two states, which have experienced similar foreclosure and mortgage fraud crises.

"The mortgage crisis is a manmade disaster that has taken a heavy toll on the country, but it saved its worst for California and Nevada," said Harris. "The mortgage crisis is a law enforcement matter, and we will prosecute to hold accountable those who are responsible and also protect the homeowners who are targeted for fraud. I am delighted that California and Nevada are entering into this alliance to leverage the best results for our investigations and look forward to forging similar collaboration with other states."

"I am pleased to join forces with General Harris to fight against fraudulent mortgage and foreclosure practices that continue to devastate lives, homes, and the economy in Nevada and California," said Masto. "This strong partnership will allow our states to make an even more concerted effort to hold fraud perpetrators accountable and ensure law-abiding homeowners receive justice."

By most objective measures, California and Nevada have been the states hardest hit by the nation's foreclosure crisis.

In October 2011, Nevada and California ranked first and second, respectively, for the percentage of their housing units that entered the foreclosure process, reflecting a parallel surge in foreclosures in the two states.

One in every 180 Nevada properties entered the foreclosure process in October, and one in every 243 California homes received a filing that month.

In 2010, California led the nation with a total of 546,669 foreclosure filings – 4 percent of the state's housing units – while Nevada led the nation with 9.4 percent of its homes receiving a foreclosure filing, totaling 106,160 units.

The crisis in these Western states is similar because both states share a foreclosure system in which a bank can foreclose on a borrower's home without court oversight, also called "nonjudicial foreclosure." The collective result has created a rich opportunity for predators, leading both states to make mortgage-related law enforcement action a top priority.

In May 2011, Attorney General Harris formed a Mortgage Fraud Strike Force, now composed of nearly 40 attorneys and investigators, that has launched a wide series of investigations and litigation.

The Mortgage Fraud Strike Force has instigated legal actions in cases including a fraudulent multi-million dollar "mass joinder" lawsuit operated by the law firm Kramer and Kaslow, and the arrests earlier this month of three top officers of a Stockton real estate company who took thousands of dollars in up-front loan modification fees and made false promises to assist struggling Central Valley homeowners with lowering their mortgage payments.

In 2007, Attorney General Masto formed the Nevada Mortgage Fraud Strike Force that launched a wide series of investigations and litigation into areas including violations of the law related to mortgage lending, servicing, and foreclosure practices and the creation, rating, marketing, sale and management of mortgage backed securities.

The Nevada Mortgage Fraud Strike Force has taken action against predatory "mortgage rescue" companies and individuals claiming to offer services to stop foreclosures.

Last month, the Strike Force announced the indictments of Gerri Sheppard and Gary Trafford, who led a massive robo-signing scheme which resulted in the filing of tens of thousands of fraudulent documents.

Nevada is also suing Bank of America and its subsidiaries, including Countrywide, for violations of a Consent Judgment for mortgage servicing and mortgage origination irregularities.

The Mortgage Investigation Alliance is the product of weeks of discussion between Attorneys General Harris and Masto regarding the most effective and efficient means of achieving justice for their respective states.

Tuesday's announcement formalizes an agreement reached between the two officials last week.

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Gov. Jerry Brown released the following open letter to California’s residents that explains the plan.

“When I became governor again – 28 years after my last term ended in 1983 – California was facing a $26.6 billion budget deficit. It was the result of years of failing to match spending with tax revenues as budget gimmicks instead of honest budgeting became the norm.

“In January, I proposed a budget that combined deep cuts with a temporary extension of some existing taxes. It was a balanced approach that would have finally closed our budget gap.

“I asked the Legislature to enact this plan and to allow you, the people of California, to vote on it. I believed that you had the right to weigh in on this important choice: should we decently fund our schools or lower our taxes? I don’t know how you would have voted, but we will never know. The Republicans refused to provide the four votes needed to put this measure on the ballot.

“Forced to act alone, Democrats went ahead and enacted massive cuts and the first honest, on-time budget in a decade. But without the tax extensions, it was simply not possible to eliminate the state’s structural deficit.

“The good news is that our financial condition is much better than a year ago. We cut the ongoing budget deficit by more than half, reduced the state’s workforce by about 5,500 positions and cut unnecessary expenses like cell phones and state cars. We actually cut state expenses by over $10 billion. Spending is now at levels not seen since the seventies. Our state’s credit rating has moved from ‘negative’ to ‘stable,’ laying the foundation for job creation and a stronger economic recovery.

“Unfortunately, the deep cuts we made came at a huge cost. Schools have been hurt and state funding for our universities has been reduced by 25 percent. Support for the elderly and the disabled has fallen to where it was in 1983. Our courts suffered debilitating reductions.

“The stark truth is that without new tax revenues, we will have no other choice but to make deeper and more damaging cuts to schools, universities, public safety and our courts.

“That is why I am filing today an initiative with the Attorney General’s office that would generate nearly $7 billion in dedicated funding to protect education and public safety. I am going directly to the voters because I don’t want to get bogged down in partisan gridlock as happened this year. The stakes are too high.

“My proposal is straightforward and fair. It proposes a temporary tax increase on the wealthy, a modest and temporary increase in the sales tax, and guarantees that the new revenues be spent only on education. Here are the details:

“Millionaires and high-income earners will pay up to 2 percent higher income taxes for five years. No family making less than $500,000 a year will see their income taxes rise. In fact, fewer than 2 percent of California taxpayers will be affected by this increase.

“There will be a temporary ½ cent increase in the sales tax. Even with this temporary increase, sales taxes will still be lower than what they were less than six months ago.

This initiative dedicates funding only to education and public safety – not on other programs that we simply cannot afford.

“This initiative will not solve all of our fiscal problems. But it will stop further cuts to education and public safety.

“I ask you to join with me to get our state back on track,” Brown concluded.

Republican leaders in the state Legislature didn’t appear to welcome the proposal.

In responding to the initiative, on Monday Senate Republican Leader Bob Dutton (Rancho Cucamonga) put the emphasis on the need for reform.

“Clearly the governor has put tax hikes ahead of job creation,” Dutton said in a brief written statement released by his office. “Californians have consistently voted down tax-only proposals. Senate Republicans continue a call to action on reforms first. Only with reforms can we put Californians back to work and restore the people’s confidence in state government.”

Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway of Tulare was similarly critical, calling the new taxes “reckless.”

She said Brown was “once again relying on his failed budget playbook in proposing a massive $35 billion tax increase on hard-working Californians and job creators.”

Conway said voters have rejected similar tax increases in the past.

"Despite their rhetoric, it is clear that our state's projected $13 billion budget shortfall is not the result of a lack of revenue, but rather that Democrats want to grow government spending by $10 billion next year,” she said. “The majority party's budget priorities are clear – sock working families with a painful tax increase to pay for more health and welfare spending and unsustainable public employee pensions, while education continues to take a massive hit.”

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Waking up before sunrise can be tough to do, especially on a weekend.

However, on Saturday, Dec. 10, you might be glad you did. A total eclipse of the Moon will be visible in the early morning skies of western Northern America.

The action begins around 4:45 a.m. Pacific Standard Time when the red shadow of Earth first falls across the lunar disk.

By 6:05 a.m. Pacific Time, the Moon will be fully engulfed in red light.

This event – the last total lunar eclipse until 2014 – is visible from the Pacific side of North America, across the entire Pacific Ocean to Asia and Eastern Europe.

For people in the western United States the eclipse is deepest just before local dawn. Face west to see the red Moon sinking into the horizon as the sun rises behind your back. It’s a rare way to begin the day.

Not only will the Moon be beautifully red, it also will be inflated by the Moon illusion.

For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, low-hanging Moons look unnaturally large when they beam through trees, buildings and other foreground objects.

In fact, a low Moon is no wider than any other Moon (cameras prove it) but the human brain insists otherwise. To observers in the western USA, therefore, the eclipse will appear super-sized.

It might seem puzzling that the Moon turns red when it enters the shadow of the Earth – aren’t shadows supposed to be dark?

In this case, the delicate layer of dusty air surrounding our planet reddens and redirects the light of the sun, filling the dark behind Earth with a sunset-red glow.

The exact hue (anything from bright orange to blood red is possible) depends on the unpredictable state of the atmosphere at the time of the eclipse.

As Jack Horkheimer (1938-2010) of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium loved to say, "Only the shadow knows."

Atmospheric scientist Richard Keen of the University of Colorado might know, too. For years he has studied lunar eclipses as a means of monitoring conditions in Earth's upper atmosphere, and he has become skilled at forecasting these events.

"I expect this eclipse to be bright orange, or even copper-colored, with a possible hint of turquoise at the edge," he predicted.

Earth's stratosphere is the key: "During a lunar eclipse, most of the light illuminating the moon passes through the stratosphere where it is reddened by scattering," he explained. "If the stratosphere is loaded with dust from volcanic eruptions, the eclipse will be dark; a clear stratosphere, on the other hand, produces a brighter eclipse. At the moment, the stratosphere is mostly clear with little input from recent volcanoes."

That explains the brightness of the eclipse, but what about the "hint of turquoise"?

"Light passing through the upper stratosphere penetrates the ozone layer, which absorbs red light and actually makes the passing light ray bluer,” said Richard Keen. “This can be seen as a soft blue fringe around the red core of Earth's shadow."

Look for the turquoise near the beginning of the eclipse when the edge of Earth's shadow is sweeping across the lunar terrain, he advised.

A bright red, soft turquoise, super-sized lunar eclipse: It’s coming on Saturday, Dec. 10. Wake up and enjoy the show.

For an interactive visibility map, visit http://shadowandsubstance.com/.

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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121011 Lunar Eclipse Global Visibility Map

The plume of smoke from a tule fire near Upper Lake on Sunday, December 4, 2011. Photo by Terre Logsdon.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Sunday tule fire near Upper Lake appears to be a case of arson, according to Northshore Fire’s chief.

The fire, which was reported after 4 p.m. on Sunday, occurred in a 15- to 18-acre field in the reclamation area near Bridge Arbor North, not far from Upper Lake, according to Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos.

He said the fire was located behind Robinson Rancheria, but that it occurred on private, not tribal, property.

Lake County News readers reported seeing the fire’s large black plumes of smoke on Sunday evening.

It’s similar to other fires lit a few weeks earlier in essentially the same place, said Beristianos.

“The fire last night was lit in three separate places,” said Beristianos, adding there is no reason for the fires to burn where they do unless they’re being intentionally set.

“They’re arson fires,” he said.

The fires can be difficult to fight, since the burning tules – which Beristianos said are as high as 12 feet tall – are located in a swampy area, making it dangerous to send in fire equipment.

On Sunday evening, Beristianos, who himself oversaw the fire response, said his firefighters burned control lines to contain the fire.

Although the fires put out a lot of black smoke, he said they generally burn out when night falls, which was the case with Sunday’s fire.

He said such fires are generally set every few years.

“This has been going on for as many years as I can remember,” said Beristianos, who grew up in Upper Lake.

Beristianos said he’s trying to find out who may be responsible. If it’s being done due to concerns over vegetation growth, he said the fire district can help set up control burns.

Beristianos is concerned about the time and resources responding to such nuisance fires take. There’s also the chance they could become more serious.

Anyone with information about the tule fires can contact Beristianos at the Northshore Fire Protection District, 707-274-3100.

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, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

“Bountiful, A Celebration of Abundance” is marking its second year raising funds for the Lake County Hunger Task Force.

Last year, the fundraiser’s sale of gift boxes featuring local produce and wine brought in approximately $4,766 to benefit the task force, according to Michelle Scully, one of the fundraiser's organizers.

The nonprofit Lake County Hunger Task Force was founded in 2001 and pursues the goal of making sure Lake County’s hungry are fed.

It provides fresh produce and nutritionally sound food to needy local residents through creation of community gardens, education such as canning lessons and equipment donation, regular food distribution, and also advocates for the needs of those in poverty.

Because of the recession and the rise of local poverty levels, as well as the loss of two local food pantries this year, needs have increased dramatically, and the all-volunteer Lake County Hunger Task Force’s work has become even more important.

“Lake County has a greater need than ever for food to help those on fixed incomes make their budgets stretch to the end of each month,” said task force volunteer Lorrie Gray.

“The elderly have been especially hit hard by the economy, with many making the choice between medications, rent and food,” Gray explained. “They have no safety net, and we would like to help provide them with as much healthy food as we possibly can. They are less likely to take advantage of the Cal Fresh program, when eligible, than other age groups.”

The task force reported that 22 percent of Lake County's population is over age 65 and may not be eligible for food assistance. Only 10 percent of those eligible do apply, for many it is fear of the process or the ethic of a generation unused to asking for assistance.

Sixty-nine percent of the school-aged children in Lake County are eligible for school lunches due to the limited economic resources of their families, the group reported.

The Bountiful gift boxes contain Comice pears, wine, walnuts and apples from Lake County producers. One hundred percent of the proceeds are donated directly to the Lake County Hunger Task Force.

“The Bountiful Gift box project was such a beautiful effort to be involved with,” said Scully. “The generosity of the local producers was so great and the response by both gift box purchasers and receivers was overwhelmingly positive. It was really awesome to be part of such a win-win project.”

She added, “The gift givers felt like they were giving a truly thoughtful and meaningful gift, the recipients loved being able to experience the wonderful products we produce here in Lake County, and the Hunger Task Force received over $5,000 to continue all of the great work they do for our community. It’s hard to beat something like that!”

Gift boxes are $43 and purchasers may request red or white wine and requests will be honored as supply dictates.

A new feature this year is a very limited number of boxes available with olive oil rather than wine. Asian pears also will be substituted for apples in these boxes.

Also available this year is the opportunity to purchase a grocery holiday gift card for a senior citizen.

“This allows the seniors to purchase the food that they prefer and in the quantities they need over time rather receive more food than they can eat all at once,” said Gray.

These gift cards may be given in a recipient's name and a card specifying the donation will be provided.

“Last year the gift box idea came together really quickly and we made do with what we had in terms of packaging,” said Scully. “This year we are very excited by the generous donation of specially designed gift boxes from the company International Paper. I couldn’t be more pleased with their generosity and how wonderfully the new gift box turned out. It is a package that people will be proud to give and to receive. I hope that everyone who donated products, purchased a box, and received a gift box will be just as happy with its presentation.”

Anyone interested in purchasing a gift box may contact either Michelle Scully at 707-263-1121 or Lorrie Gray at 707-277-9227 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Boxes are $43, which includes tax and numbers are limited.

Distribution is scheduled for Dec. 15 in Kelseyville. Bountiful Gift Box purchasers will be given complete details.

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An international team of scientists who monitor the rapid changes in the Earth’s northern polar region say that the Arctic is entering a new state – one with warmer air and water temperatures, less summer sea ice and snow cover, and a changed ocean chemistry.

This shift also is causing changes in the region’s life, both on land and in the sea, including less habitat for polar bears and walruses, but increased access to feeding areas for whales.

Changes to the Arctic are chronicled annually in the Arctic Report Card, which was released Thursday, Dec. 1.

The report is prepared by an international team of scientists from 14 different countries.

“This report, by a team of 121 scientists from around the globe, concludes that the Arctic region continues to warm, with less sea ice and greater green vegetation,” said Monica Medina, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration principal deputy under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere.

“With a greener and warmer Arctic, more development is likely,” said Medina. “Reports like this one help us to prepare for increasing demands on Arctic resources so that better decisions can be made about how to manage and protect these more valuable and increasingly available resources.”

Among the 2011 highlights are:

• Atmosphere: In 2011, the average annual near-surface air temperatures over much of the Arctic Ocean were approximately 2.5° F (1.5° C) greater than the 1981-2010 baseline period.

• Sea ice: Minimum Arctic sea ice area in September 2011 was the second lowest recorded by satellite since 1979.

• Ocean: Arctic Ocean temperature and salinity may be stabilizing after a period of warming and freshening. Acidification of sea water (“ocean acidification”) as a result of carbon dioxide absorption has also been documented in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.

• Land: Arctic tundra vegetation continues to increase and is associated with higher air temperatures over most of the Arctic land mass.

In 2006, NOAA’s Climate Program Office introduced the State of the Arctic Report which established a baseline of conditions at the beginning of the 21st century.

It is updated annually as the Arctic Report Card to monitor the often-quickly changing conditions in the Arctic. Peer-review of the scientific content of the report card was facilitated by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program.

The Report Card tracks the Arctic atmosphere, sea ice, biology, ocean, land and Greenland.

This year, new sections were added, including, greenhouse gases, ozone and ultraviolet radiation, ocean acidification, Arctic Ocean primary productivity and lake ice.

The Arctic Report Card can be found at www.arctic.noaa.gov/reportcard/.

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Breaking up Arctic ice, pictured from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship. Credit: NOAA.

A view of the Arctic from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Web cam. Credit: NOAA.