The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on Wednesday reduced its estimate of the amount of water the State Water Project will deliver this year.  

DWR dropped its projected delivery total, or allocation, from 60 percent to 50 percent of the requested amount of slightly more than 4 million acre-feet.

“Stubbornly dry conditions this winter give us no choice but to roll back our water supply estimate,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin. “We continue to hope, however, that wetter conditions in the remaining winter weeks will allow us to boost deliveries back up.”

DWR noted that precipitation so far this winter has been only about half of normal and the mountain snowpack is less than a third of normal.

Water Year (Oct. 1-Sept. 30) runoff from rain and snow is forecasted to be far below average in both the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River systems.

The median runoff forecast of 9.4 million acre-feet for the Sacramento River system would be the 16th driest in 106 years.

The February 1 median water year runoff forecast of 3.2 million acre-feet for the San Joaquin River system would be the 21st driest in 111 years.

Average runoff is 18.3 million acre-feet for the Sacramento system, and 5.9 million acre-feet for the San Joaquin.

Much of California’s water comes from the mountainous country from Shasta Lake in the north to the American River basin in the south.

DWR’s eight precipitation gages covering this area recorded an impressive 130 percent of average rainfall and snow in October, but only 43 percent in November, four percent of average in December, 84 percent of average in January, and 18 percent of a normal February total to date this month.

Overall, this “Eight-Station Index” area to date is at 51percent of its seasonal precipitation average.  Records go back to 1920.

Similarly, precipitation gages in the San Joaquin basin recorded 125 percent of the average monthly precipitation for October, 32 percent for November, zero percent for December, 80 percent for January, and 20 percent of a normal February to date.

This “San Joaquin Five-Station Index” to date is at 47 percent of its seasonal average.  San Joaquin Basin records go back to 1904.

Initial State Water Project allocations have seldom been reduced. Previous times were in 2001 (from 40 percent to a final allocation of 39 percent of requests); 1991(85 percent to 30 percent), and 1977 (100 percent to 90 percent).

In 2000, the initial Allocation of 50 percent was increased to 100 percent, but finally dropped to 90 percent.

All allocations, or supply estimates, are conservative, based on factors including reservoir storage, pessimistic weather projections, and projected runoff into streams, reservoirs and aquifers.

Carryover reservoir storage from last winter remains high (110 percent of normal for the date), but a high pressure ridge this winter has diverted most storms to the north of California.

The Sierra snowpack graphically shows how California has been shortchanged this winter.  Water content in the statewide snowpack is only 30 percent of normal for the date, a mere 25 percent of the average April 1 measurement, when the snowpack is normally at its peak before the spring runoff.

Mountain snow normally provides approximately one-third of the water used in California as it melts in spring and early summer.

The large differences in snowfall totals in the 2010-2011 snow season and thus far this season, demonstrate the variability that is possible in California’s precipitation and water storage.

Models of California’s future climate indicate that rain and snowfall is likely to become even less predictable. This variability makes it critically important that California continue to invest in water conservation and water recycling, as well as improve the flexibility and adaptability of our statewide water systems.

It is still possible – though statistically unlikely – that late-season storms could salvage the water year, similar to the “Miracle March” of 1991, which recorded three times that month’s average precipitation at the conclusion of an otherwise desperately dry winter in the fifth year of a drought.

The 50 percent State Water Project allocation announced today is not severely low.  Last year, an unusually wet year, the final allocation was 80 percent of the slightly more than 4 million acre-feet requested by the 29 public agencies that distribute SWP water to more than 25 million Californians and nearly a million acres of irrigated farmland.

The final allocation was 50 percent in 2010, 40 percent in 2009, 35 percent in 2008, and 60 percent in 2007.

The last 100 percent allocation – difficult to achieve even in wet years because of fishery agency restrictions on Delta pumping to protect threatened and endangered fish – was in 2006.

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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A community forum on Thursday will discuss preserving the region including Berryessa and Snow Mountain.

The meeting will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Highlands Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Ave. in Clearlake.

The environmental action group Tuleyome will host the forum on the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area.

Congressman Mike Thompson will attend as a special guest, and will be part of a diverse local panel discussing the area.

Thompson and the panel members want to hear from the community about why the region is special, why designation as a National Conservation Area is appropriate, and why it will bring economic as well as ecological benefits to Lake County and the rest of the region.

There will be a short panel presentation and discussion, along with a question and answer period.

The proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area encompasses over 321,000 acres of federal public land, Tuleyome reported.

The federal land within the proposed National Conservation Area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the National Forest Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation.

The Berryessa Snow Mountain Region stretches more than 100 miles, and encompasses four counties – Yolo, Napa, Lake, and Mendocino counties.

The region begins at Lake Berryessa in the south and extends through the Snow Mountain Wilderness in the north.

There are three existing wilderness areas within the proposed National Conservation Area: Snow Mountain, Cache Creek, and Cedar Roughs.

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A tony Brooklyn newspaper says that 2012 is the year of the Brussels sprout, and I’m inclined to believe them.

These “miniature cabbages” are finally gaining the respect they deserve. They’ve become the darling of urban chefs, and home cooks are buying them in record quantities.

And it’s no wonder. Not only are they amazingly nutritious, we’ve at long last grown beyond the bitter boiled versions served up on the dinner tables of our childhoods.

These compact little balls of leaves are, not surprisingly, members of the cabbage family, and are related to other cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, collards, and cauliflower.

While we know that the ancient Romans cultivated Brussels sprouts, their exact origin is unknown. The first written reference to them is from the 16th century in what is now Belgium, and they may have been cultivated there as early as the 13th century. Their name is a reference to the capital of this country.

When the main head of a cabbage plant is removed, smaller heads appear along the stem, and Brussels sprouts are a result of selecting and breeding those plants that best display this quality.

Brussels sprouts were introduced to the U.S. in the 1700s by French settlers in Louisiana, but weren’t cultivated here until the early 20th century. Prior to that, they were the purview of home gardeners, including Thomas Jefferson, who grew them at Monticello.

Fall, winter and early spring are harvest time for Brussels sprouts in California.

They enjoy cool weather and are at their best when temperatures are between 59 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit. For this reason, the foggy coastal counties of San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey in California are a perfect environment for them, and most of the U.S. crop is grown there.

Like all cabbage family members, Brussels sprouts contain sulfur in the form of sulforaphane, which causes an unpleasant smell if they’re old or overcooked.

When shopping for Brussels sprouts, look for heads that are tightly-formed and have a lively green color, whether blue-green, light green or dark green.

The smaller and younger the sprout, the more pleasing the taste. Any yellowing on the leaves or stem ends is an indication of age, with consequent bitterness and toughness.

If possible, choose heads that are no more than one inch in diameter. This can be difficult, however, as most supermarkets stock sprouts which are larger than this.

In addition to avoiding those which are yellowed, stay away from any that are puffy or soft in texture.

At times, sprouts are sold on the thick stalks on which they’ve formed and grown. If purchased this way, store in a cool place with the sprouts intact on the stem, and they should keep for a couple of weeks or more.

If off the stalk, store unwashed and untrimmed sprouts in a plastic bag in the produce drawer of your fridge, where they should keep for up to 10 days, depending on their freshness when purchased.

Brussels sprouts are at their best when cooked quickly and may be boiled, steamed, sautéed, stir-fried, and even deep-fried. Roasting is one of the few successful long-cooking techniques with this vegetable.

The secret of preventing characteristic bitterness is to cook the freshest sprouts available and to avoid overcooking, which can also cause them to become mushy and unpalatable.

When steaming or boiling Brussels sprouts, five minutes should do the trick. A bit of time may be added if they’re cooked whole. They should retain their green color and be just tender.

Brussels sprouts are often paired with foods rich in fat and flavor, such as butter, cream, bacon, pancetta and cheese. Cheeses such as blue, cheddar, goat, Parmesan, provolone, ricotta, or Swiss are recommended as accompaniments in gratin and other dishes.

Other flavor companions are garlic, lemon, cider or white wine vinegar, thyme, and nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, and chestnuts.

The leaves may be separated from the head and cooked, if desired, either by quickly sautéing with butter or olive oil and garlic or shallots, or by incorporating them into casserole-style dishes with pasta or rice.

Author, restaurant critic and organic gardener Jeff Cox recommends boiling Brussels sprouts till just tender and finishing in a sauté pan with olive oil and garlic.

Deborah Madison, acclaimed vegetarian chef, suggests boiling them until tender with bite-sized pieces of broccoli and cauliflower (which should be added after the sprouts have cooked for three minutes or so) and serving the medley with mustard-caper butter.

Though two other recipes are offered today, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share with you below how to make this wonderful butter.

The sulforaphane which creates overcooked Brussels sprouts’ sulfur-like smell and bitterness is also a cancer-fighting agent and one of the vegetable’s most healthful components. The level of its anticancer compounds is reduced, however, when Brussels sprouts are boiled. Thankfully, steaming, microwaving, and stir-frying don’t seem to diminish it.

Brussels sprouts are a good source of fiber and antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, and A. They also contain stores of potassium, folic acid, iron, vitamin B6, and thiamine.

Scientific studies have shown them to be effective in detoxifying the body, supporting the cardiovascular and digestive systems, acting as an anti-inflammatory agent, and, as mentioned above, reducing the risk of cancer.

In addition to the various methods of cooking Brussels sprouts, they are fantastic raw in a salad. One of today’s recipes is a simple and delicious salad utilizing this nutritious veggie.

The other recipe, also simply executed, is for a bright and tasty side dish. The recipe includes basic instructions for roasting Brussels sprouts.

And before I go, here’s something that can likely be put into the tried but failed file.

For a few days around Christmas 2010, the Burger King restaurants in the United Kingdom offered something they called a “Sprout Surprise Whopper,” which contained Brussels sprouts and Emmental cheese.

As much as I love Brussels sprouts, I don’t think I’d have the stomach for that combo!

Brussels sprouts salad

24 Brussels sprouts, washed and dried, woody ends cut off
8 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated fine
6 ounces walnuts, broken into small pieces
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
9 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)
Kosher salt and cracked black pepper

Slice the Brussels sprouts thin on the slicing disc of the food processor, with a mandolin, or with a sharp knife.

Put the thinly-sliced sprouts in a large bowl. Add the cheese and walnuts.

Put the vinegar, olive oil, mustard, maple syrup (if using), salt and pepper into a small jar. Put on the lid and shake until the vinaigrette has come together. (Alternatively, place ingredients except olive oil in a bowl. Drizzle olive oil into mixture while whisking with a wire whisk.)

Dress the salad with the vinaigrette. Toss and serve.

This recipe makes eight servings and is courtesy of www.glutenfreegirl.com. It’s a favorite at the restaurant Picnic in Seattle.

Brussels sprouts with balsamic and cranberries

3 pounds Brussels sprouts
½ cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 cup balsamic vinegar
½ cup sugar (optional)
1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Trim and clean Brussels sprouts and cut them in half. (You may leave them whole, if desired.)

Arrange on two baking sheets and toss with olive oil. Sprinkle with plenty of salt and pepper.

Roast in preheated oven until tender and brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. (This may take longer if Brussels sprouts are left whole.)

Meanwhile, combine balsamic vinegar and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until liquid is reduced and thick, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Drizzle the balsamic reduction over the roasted sprouts, then sprinkle on the dried cranberries; toss to coat and mix. Serve immediately.

Note: The sugar adds a pleasant sweetness to the dish, but is not necessary for the balsamic vinegar to thicken and reduce.

This recipe has been featured on The Food Network and is courtesy of www.thepioneerwoman.com.

Mustard-caper butter

2 garlic cloves
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard, more or less
¼ cup drained small capers, rinsed
Grated zest of one lemon
3 tablespoons chopped fresh marjoram

Pound the garlic with ½ teaspoon salt in a mortar until smooth, and then stir it into the butter with the mustard, capers, lemon zest, and marjoram. Season with pepper. The butter may be made a day ahead and refrigerated. Bring it back to room temperature before serving.

Esther’s note: If a mortar is not available, coarsely chop the garlic and combine all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until smooth.

This recipe by Deborah Madison is from “Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America’s Farmers’ Markets.”

Esther Oertel, a freelance writer, cooking teacher, and speaker, is passionate about local produce and all foods in the vegetable kingdom. She welcomes your questions and comments and may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport man arrested over the weekend on outstanding warrants also allegedly was found to be in possession of property that police say was stolen during the burglary of a Red Cross ambulance.

Joshua Weidemann, 23, was arrested shortly after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, according to a report from Sgt. Kevin Odom of the Lakeport Police Department.

Odom said Lakeport Police Officer Joe Eastham was on patrol in the area of Lakeport Boulevard and Larrecou Lane last Saturday night when he saw two subjects to the rear of a business in the 500 block of Lakeport Boulevard and contacted them to determine what they were doing behind the business at such a late hour.

Eastham contacted Weidemann and a 16-year-old male juvenile from Lakeport, Odom said.

A warrant check of Weidemann revealed he had two outstanding felony drug warrants from Tehama County, according to Odom.

Eastham took Weidemann into custody and a search of his person located a ski mask, bolt cutters and other burglary type tools, along with a large bag of items including first aid kits, Odom said.

Odom said Eastham requested another officer conduct an area check the next morning for possible victims of theft.

That second officer located a broken window to the back of the Red Cross ambulance parked at the Lakeport Senior Center at 527 Konocti Ave, Odom said.

Eastham contacted the Red Cross coordinator responsible for the ambulance and positively identified the first aid kits and other items in the bag as having been taken from the ambulance, according to Odom.

Weidemann was booked for the outstanding warrants, charges for the burglary to the Red Cross ambulance are being sought and the investigation is on going, Odom said.

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport's Inspirations Fine Arts Gallery is closing its doors.

Owner and artist Gail Salituri said she will shutter the gallery and frame shop, located at 165 N. Main St., at month's end.

Salituri said the charming Victorian-style building – filled with art and memories – is very difficult to leave.

The business has provided a “14-year span of creativity, fun, sorrow, friends and clients,” Salituri said.

“I could have stayed, but I'm moving on into different directions,” she said, adding the decision has been difficult.

During that 14 years Salituri also endured the death of her good friend, Barbara LaForge, who was murdered in the frame shop in October 2002. The murder remains Lakeport's only unsolved homicide.

“The challenges of dealing with the tragic events regarding my friend Barbara LaForge’s murder have always been an emotional difficulty for me while remaining in this location, Salituri said. “I continually hope life, fate and the Lakeport Police Department one day reveal the answers to the constant and lingering questions of who took her life.”

She said the unsolved mystery is a great disappointment and frustration for her, but added that from it she's developed a mystery novel that she intends to finish and publish in the future.

Several years ago Salituri created the Barbara LaForge memorial to raise funds for the Freedom House, the county's domestic violence shelter.

She said she received the assistance and support of many people in that effort, and she found herself appointed to the Lake Family Resource Center Board of Directors, where she said she hopes to positively impact the center and those who pass through the shelter.

Inspirations Gallery and frame shop will now move online, with Salituri seeing opportunities to reach clients worldwide along with reopening her home studio in Kelseyville.

“Painting for national juried art competitions has been something I have missed while running a Lakeport business and opportunities to paint with a master artist, are before me,” she said.

Main Line Art and Design recently contacted Salituri for her vineyard and wine country art creations, along with commission pieces for several wineries in the works.

Salituri’s work is currently exhibited in the Lee Youngman Gallery in Calistoga.

Salituri is looking forward to what she calls “semi retirement,” which along with writing and painting will include time with her 16-month-old granddaughter.

She said Inspirations Gallery has been a wonderful and successful venture, and one that she'll miss very much.

“All my wonderful clients who have keep our gallery in business my heartfelt 'thank you' for your patronage,” she said.

The gallery is scheduled to close at the end of February and currently is selling various artworks until then.

If for some reason anyone has left behind a custom framed print or image, please contact Salituri’s home studio at 707-367-2934.

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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A property that was the location of an early morning fire on Saturday had another fire occur there early Sunday morning.

Kelseyville firefighters were dispatched to the fire in the 2900 block of Bell Hill Road in Kelseyville just after 1:20 a.m. Sunday, according to radio reports.

Dispatch stated that it received reports from a person who lived in another structure on the property that he saw flames in the vacant structure.

A battalion chief arriving on the scene confirmed over the radio that the fire was in the same residence as Saturday’s fire.

The fire was reported to be contained at 1:32 a.m. and controlled at 1:45 a.m. Incoming resources that had been called to the scene were canceled, and the scene was cleared at around 3 a.m.

Additional information on the fire and its cause was not available early Sunday.

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Becoming homeless. Losing everything, including their children. Doing something desperate. Facing continued, life-threatening abuse.

That is what victims of domestic violence who received help from shelters say their fate would have been if those shelters did not exist, according to Meeting Survivors’ Needs: A Multi-State Study of Domestic Violence Shelter Experiences.

Released this week, the groundbreaking study is based on a survey of 3,410 people served by domestic violence shelters in eight states during a six-month period in 2007 and 2008.

It finds that three-quarters of domestic violence victims (74 percent) rate the assistance they received at a shelter as “very helpful” and another 18 percent say it was “helpful.”

“The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, is proud to have administered this study, which will help us better understand
the challenges facing domestic violence survivors,” said NIJ Acting Director Kristina Rose. “Domestic violence shelters are a critical resource for keeping victims and their children safe. The data from this study will be instrumental in enhancing the coordinated community response to violence against women.”

“Meeting Survivors’ Needs” finds that the most victims staying at domestic violence shelters are 18 to 34 years old, and have children under age 18. One in four (24 percent) had stayed at a
shelter before the visit during which they took this survey.

Ninety-two percent say they “know more ways to plan for my safety” because of the shelter, 85 percent know more about community resources, and 84 percent of those who are mothers say “my children feel more supported” as a result of their shelter stay.

“This study shows conclusively that the nation’s domestic violence shelters are meeting both the urgent and longer-term needs of victims of violence, and helping them protect themselves and their children,” said Dr. Eleanor Lyon of the University of Connecticut, Institute for Violence Prevention and Reduction at the School of Social Work, who was the primary researcher for the study. “Victims attribute meaningful change to the help they received at the shelter – but they also see areas where there is room for improvement.”

One-quarter of shelter residents (24 percent) faced transportation challenges, and 54 of those challenges were resolved. One-third (32 percent) say they had conflicts with other residents, and 73 percent of those conflicts were resolved, Meeting Survivors’ Needs finds.

Some victims say that the shelter was unable to fully meet their needs related to housing, education and finance, as well as their emotional, mental health and physical health needs.

The study is based on surveys of residents of 215 domestic violence shelters in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Washington, which researchers say provide a “reasonable reflection” of shelters across the nation. It is the most comprehensive study of its kind ever done. The survey was available in 11 languages.

“This study is a goldmine of valuable information,” said Anne Menard, director of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. “It validates many of the approaches that programs around the country are using, and the hard work of staff members who work tirelessly to help victims. We take very seriously the areas where victims say improvement is needed. During these grim economic times, when shelters are struggling mightily to do more with less and serve a population in great need, maintaining and expanding core state and federal funding for these emergency shelters becomes even more essential.”

Other findings from “Meeting Survivors’ Needs”:

• More than three in four survivors (78 percent) reported that they had children under the age of 18, and 68 percent had minor children with them at the shelter.
• Nearly all survivors (99 percent) reported they got the help they wanted with their own safety and safety planning (95 percent).
• Four in five of those who needed it (81 percent) got help finding affordable housing, and three in four got help with a job or job training.
• Nearly all mothers who needed it got help with their children’s safety (98 percent) and schooling (92 percent).
• Nine in 10 survivors (91 percent) who needed it got help with a protective or restraining order, more than four in five with divorce issues (82 percent), immigration issues (84 percent), and custody/visitation issues (83 percent).
• Four in five shelters (82 percent) allow survivors to stay more than 30 days and 34 percent allow a stay of more than 60 days.
• Nearly all shelters in the study (98 percent) have the capacity to accommodate residents with disabilities. Four in five (82 percent) have staff members who speak at least one language other than English.
• The most common types of advocacy offered by shelters are: housing (offered by 95 percent of shelters in the survey), civil court (82 percent), criminal court (81 percent), health (81 percent), TANF/welfare (80 percent), child protection (79 percent), job training (78 percent), immigration issues (76 percent) and divorce/custody/visitation issues (73 percent).
• The most common types of shelter services are: support groups (offered by 97 percent of shelters in the survey), crisis counseling (96 percent), individual counseling (92 percent), parenting classes (55 percent), counseling for children (54 percent) and child care (50 percent).

Data were collected from October 2007 to March 2008. Researchers chose these states to maximize geographical, population, rural/ urban and economic diversity.

The large sample size, the inclusion of shelter programs from eight diverse states, the variety of communities in which the shelters are located and the diverse needs of those they serve make this a reasonable reflection of shelters across the nation.

Shelter residents were asked to complete a written survey at or near entrance, and again at or near exit. Materials were translated into eleven languages to increase accessibility; most were completed in English or Spanish.

Both surveys asked about 38 different possible needs, probing survivors’ entry experiences, their needs, the extent to which their needs were met, any conflicts or problems with rules they encountered, changes they attributed to their shelter stay, and their ratings of the help they received.

The first survey also addressed initial impressions and concerns, and the second addressed immediate outcomes, difficulties experienced during the stay, and the respect and support survivors had received from shelter staff.

The full report, “Meeting Survivors’ Needs: A Multi-State Study of Domestic Violence Shelter Experiences,” as well as a summary of findings, are available online at www.vawnet.org.

The study was conducted by Eleanor Lyon and Shannon Lane of the University of Connecticut’s Institute for Violence Prevention and Reduction at the School of Social Work in collaboration with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, a project of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

It was funded by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and administered by the National Institute of Justice.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Three cats are available for adoption this week at the county’s animal shelter.

Two males – one white, one gray – and a female calico are hoping to trade their cages for a more comfortable environment, like your couch.
             
Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake .

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Long-haired calico

This female calico is a year and a half old.

She has a long coat and is not yet spayed.

She is in cat room kennel No. 17, ID No. 31786.

Gray gentleman

This dignified fellow is a domestic long hair.

Shelter staff has not given an estimated age for him, but he is neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 5, ID No. 31753.

Male domestic short hair

This male domestic short hair mix is 4 years old.

He has a lovely white coat and is not yet altered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 82, ID No. 31738.
        
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com.

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm.

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It’s another week of interesting and varied canines available for adoption at the Lake County animal shelter.

Border collies, little terriers, bulldog mixes and other interesting and lively companions are hoping you’ll stop in and decide to take them home.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

American bulldog mix

This female American bulldog mix is 2 years old.

She has brown and brindle coloring, weighs 80 pounds and has been spayed.

She is in kennel No. 13, ID No. 31784.

“Scout”                 

“Scout” is a 1-year-old border collie mix.

He has the typical black and white border collie coloring, with a long coat. He has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 18, ID No. 31639.

“Ralph”

“Ralph” is a 15-week-old Labrador retriever mix.

He weighs 30 pounds and is not yet altered.

Find him in kennel No. 10, ID No. 31718.

“Dutchess”

Dutchess is a female flat-coated retriever mix.

She is 2 years old and has a short, black coat.

Shelter staff said she is great with other dogs and children, and would make a great family dog.

Find her in kennel No. 7, ID No. 31653.

Corgi mix

This 10-month-old female is a Corgi mix.

She has a short coat, tricolor markings and brown eyes.

Find her in kennel No. 5b, ID No. 31651.

Chihuahua mix

This 9-month-old male is a Chihuahua mix.

He has a short coat and brown eyes.

Find him in kennel No. 6, ID No. 31650.

Cairn terrier mix

This little lady is a Cairn terrier mix.

She is 6 years old, with a medium-length black coat, and weighs 13.6 pounds.

Find her in kennel No. 27, ID No. 31683.

Male shepherd mix

This 16-week-old male pup is a shepherd mix.

He is not yet neutered, and has black, tan and white coloring, with a long coat.

Find him in kennel No. 26, ID No. 31706.

Australian terrier mix

This 6-year-old male is an Australian terrier mix.

He has a deep gold-colored, medium-length coat.

He weighs approximately 9.4 pounds and is not yet altered.

Find him in kennel No. 25b, ID No. ID: 31668.

“Thunder”

“Thunder” is a 5-year-old male Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix.

He has a medium-length brown-gold coat.

Find him in kennel No. 25a, ID No. 31598.

Border collie mix puppies

These 9-week-old border collie mix puppies are all males.

They have short coats and black and white coloring.

The puppies can be found in kennel No. 15a-d, ID No. 31657.

Adoptable dogs also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dogs_and_Puppies.htm or at www.petfinder.com.

Please note: Dogs listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm.

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Sunday, Feb. 26, Lake County Live! returns to the Soper-Reese Community Theatre, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Broadcast takes place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on KPFZ 88.1 FM and is streamed live over the Internet at www.kpfz.org.
 
Hearkening back to live radio of a bygone era, Lake County Live! is entertainment for the entire family.  The program gives a nod and wink to those who follow local news, and hopefully to those who think “outside the box.”
 
The musical lineup for February is stellar.

Travis Rinker is a phenomenal guitarist, who takes his inspiration from flamenco, jazz, new age, classical and more to produce singularly incredible sounds.
 
Vim Natura begins with artistry of Clovice Lewis on cello and produces the smooth finish of a fine wine. Artistry from Keely Smith and Erica Call provides vocal and instrumental support.
 
Michael Barrish with Scott Sommers have been playing some of the best local country music around.  Their guitar duo and joined voices produces harmonies to delight every audience.
 
Admission is free and tickets to the show are available at the theater box office or at the Travel Center in Lakeport. Seating by 5:45 p.m.

For more information, visit www.lakecountylive.com.

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The U.S. Forest Service has distributed more than $307 million to 41 states and Puerto Rico for public schools and roads and specific county programs.

"The annual revenue sharing payments are part of the Department of Agriculture's long-standing commitment to rural communities, schools and American youth," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Our century-long support of America's public schools and roads is one of many ways in which the Forest Service, as a good neighbor and partner, contributes to rural communities becoming self-sustaining and prosperous."

Oregon received the most money of any state, $64,259,824, with California, in second place, receiving approximately $39,325,918, with $594,214.26 of that going to Lake County, the Forest Service reported.

The Mendocino National Forest brought a total of $2.3 million to the seven counties that it stretches across, with Lake receiving the largest amount.

Other counties sharing in payments from the Mendocino National Forest include Tehama,  $462,927.39; Glenn, $430,115.85; Mendocino, $414,257.60; Trinity, $248,569.52; Colusa, $151,060.80; and Tehama, $869.13.

Since 1908, 25 percent of Forest Service revenues from timber sales, mineral leases, recreation, grazing and other sources have been shared with states and counties in which national forest lands are located.

In the 1980s, Forest Service revenues began to decline, largely as a result of changes in social values and diminished timber sales volume.

The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 authorized enhanced and gradually declining payments to ease the transition to reduced federal revenues. Counties received more than $2.5 billion over seven years until the Act expired in September 2007.

In 2008, the Congress extended the program four more years, through 2011.

This new distribution marks final payments under the extended Act. The four years of payments will total $1.5 billion of support to rural schools and roads and $87 million paid to counties for wildfire preparedness and to reimburse counties for emergency services provided on national forests.

In addition to payments for schools and roads, the Secure Rural Schools Act supports Firewise Communities programs, reimburses counties for emergency services on national forests and funds development of community wildfire protection plans.

“These projects were reviewed and recommended by resource advisory committees made up of local residents working together to improve the environment and help provide jobs in rural communities,” Vilsack said.

Since 2008, across the country, 118 resource advisory committees recommended 4,100 projects valued at more than $172 million in more than 300 counties.

2011 Forest Service payments to states

Alabama $1,901,060
Alaska $15,551,811
Arizona $13,289,827
Arkansas $7,153,250
California $39,325,918
Colorado $13,955,904
Florida $2,424,878
Georgia $1,534,435
Idaho $27,404,336
Illinois $92,150
Indiana $282,223
Kentucky $1,862,267
Louisiana $1,716,772
Maine $76,634
Michigan $3,790,134
Minnesota $8,775,741
Mississippi $6,147,508
Missouri $3,438,634
Montana $20,486,737
Nebraska $248,916
Nevada $4,534,786
New Hampshire $563,763
New Mexico $11,823,591
New York $22,734
North Carolina $1,897,848
North Dakota $589
Ohio $277,619
Oklahoma $983,612
Oregon $64,259,824
Pennsylvania $3,451,714
Puerto Rico $159,100
South Carolina $1,868,282
South Dakota $1,834,152
Tennessee $1,267,614
Texas $2,261,484
Utah $11,141,393
Vermont $339,626
Virginia $1,731,853
Washington $21,298,322
West Virginia $1,863,052
Wisconsin $2,112,581
Wyoming $4,469,293
Total $307,621,969

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For the first half of this year's winter, the big news was warm temperatures and lack of snow. Ski resorts were covered in bare dirt, while January temperatures in southern California topped July highs.

Then, out of the blue, Europe got clobbered: Over the past two weeks, temperatures in Eastern Europe have nose-dived to -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit).

Blizzards and the bone-chilling cold have resulted in the deaths of more than 550 people so far, with rooftop-high snow drifts trapping tens of thousands of villagers in their homes and cutting off access to entire towns. It has even snowed as far south as North Africa.

NASA climatologist Bill Patzert of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory explains what happened. “A couple of weeks ago, Mother Nature did an about face,” he said. “The tight polar vortex that had bottled up the cold arctic air in the beginning of winter suddenly weakened. Cold air swept out of Siberia and invaded Europe and the Far East.”

The “tight polar vortex” is caused by the arctic oscillation, a see-sawing pressure difference between the Arctic and lower latitudes. When the pressure difference is high, a whirlpool of air forms around the North Pole.

That’s what happened earlier this winter: the whirlpool was more forceful, corralling the cold air and keeping it nearer the pole.

Now the vortex is weakening. With “the Arctic Oscillation Index going negative,” as an expert or weather-nerd might put it, cold air escapes from that whirlpool and heads southward, resulting in the killing extremes now plaguing the other half of the planet.

However, even the breakdown of the vortex cannot completely account for the severity of the winter Europe is suddenly experiencing.

As strange as it sounds, some climatologists, among them Judah Cohen of Atmospheric and Environmental Research in Massachusetts, attribute the unusual cold to global warming.

Cohen contends that since sea ice is being melted by warmer temperatures in the Arctic, more moisture is available for the atmosphere to pick up – and drop as snow.

As a result, Siberian snow cover has increased, and this snow cover has a cooling effect which reaches East Asia and Europe.

“Cohen's research is cutting edge and could bring important improvements to forecasting climate and weather over North America and Europe,” said Patzert. “Cohen and others are on the threshold of understanding of how climate change affects the behavior of the Arctic Oscillation.”

Patzert added, however, that this winter is just one of many severe winters that have changed European history. “Looking back, Mother Nature has taken us on some very wild rides.”

He cited the winter of 1683/84, when the Thames River in England stayed frozen with a thick layer of ice for nearly two months, as an example.

“And let’s not forget the frigid winter of 1812, when Napoleon's Grande Armee was decimated by the extreme cold in Western Russia,” he said.

Patzert noted that European history would have been much different if Napoleon had had a good meteorologist on his staff and some NASA satellites to warn him about what he was marching into.

“And the turning point of World War II occurred in 1941, when Germany’s forces were nearly frozen in place,” he added.

There are many other examples, and climate change can't be blamed for all of them.

“There's always going to be some natural variability,” he said. “Every episode of high temperatures or extreme cold isn't climate change. Sometimes it's just weather!”

The weakening arctic oscillation could soon bring a return of winter to North America as well, although Patzert doesn't expect it to be as severe as what's happening on the other side of the Atlantic.

Is there any relief in sight for Europe?

“The good news is that this crippling cold snap arrived mid-winter,” he said. “With the vernal equinox less than six weeks away, this arctic oscillation episode will become muted – hopefully.”

Hang on till spring.

Dauna Coulter writes for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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