Motorcyclists in California are fortunate to enjoy near-perfect riding conditions year round, and that beautiful weather is just one of several reasons why more than 1.2 million people in this state are licensed to ride.

As a result, it’s important to remember these motorcyclists are sharing California’s road with millions of other motorists.

“Regardless of your mode of travel, it is imperative that motorists are aware of their surroundings, abide by the state’s traffic laws, and safely share the road with others,” said California Highway Patrol (CHP) Commissioner Joe Farrow.

During the next several months, the CHP will use a federal grant to assist in reducing the number of people killed and injured in motorcycle-involved collision.

The Department continues to improve safety for everyone by placing an emphasis on the concept of sharing the road.  

Enforcement and education efforts through the California Motorcycle Safety Enforcement and Education grant will continue through September 30, 2012.

Motorcycle-involved collisions have decreased significantly in California.  

Statistical data retrieved from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System list the number of people killed in motorcycle-involved collisions dropped 28 percent, and the number of people injured decreased by nearly 11 percent.  

The most current final figures available are from 2009.

“It’s encouraging to see so many lives have been saved, but there is more work to be done,” added Commissioner Farrow.  “Without a continued focus on motorcycle safety education and enforcement, these numbers could rise as more Californians choose to use motorcycles as their vehicle of choice.”

To help get the word out and continue to reduce the number of people killed and injured annually in motorcycle-involved collisions, CHP personnel are appearing at public outreach events throughout the state, distributing informational brochures and providing traffic safety tips.

In addition, motorcycle safety and road-sharing presentations are being conducted statewide.

The CHP will also launch a media campaign to highlight the motorcycle safety message.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest's new supervisor has been named.

Sherry Tune, who previously was the Monterey District ranger on the Los Padres National Forest, arrived on the forest Feb. 14.

Tune has the distinction of being the first woman selected to serve as forest supervisor for the Mendocino in its 103-year history.

She replaces former Forest Supervisor Tom Contreras, who was detailed to the Angeles National Forest last spring before accepting the assignment permanently in September 2011.

Tune has spent the past few weeks getting oriented, meeting employees and touring the forest.

“The past few weeks learning about the Mendocino and meeting the employees has been a tremendous and overwhelmingly positive experience,” Tune said.  “I am very excited to be here and look forward to working with our partners and public who enjoy the many benefits from this remarkable forest.”

Forest staff is working to schedule meetings to introduce Tune to area partners and governmental agencies that work with the Forest Service.

The Mendocino National Forest will host an open house from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Willows, located at 825 N. Humboldt Ave., to introduce the community to Tune and new Ecosystem Staff Officer Ken Wysocki.

“The open house is just the first step for me and our new Ecosystem Staff Officer Ken Wysocki to begin engaging local communities to improve the overall health and sustainability of the resources on the Mendocino National Forest,” Tune said.

Prior to her experience on the Los Padres, Tune served as a deputy district ranger for the Coronado National Forest in Arizona.

Her career started as a clerk-typist in 1978 before transitioning to fire where she has extensive experience, including working on hotshot crews, leading a handcrew, serving as assistant forest fire management officer, an emergency center manager, fire planner, fuels program manager and fire ecologist.

Tune’s Forest Service experience also includes work as a certified timber cruiser, law enforcement officer, national training coordinator, and union steward.

Her educational background includes studying landscape ecology at the University of Arizona.

Wysocki, who comes to the Forest from the Pacific Southwest Regional Office in Vallejo, Calif., arrived on the forest on Feb. 27.

He served as supervisor of program development, budget and accountability, spearheading various initiatives to include a business continuity solution.

Prior to joining for the Forest Service, Wysocki served in several different capacities in both public and private entities focused on strategic management, environmental protection, technology and business transformation.  

He holds a doctorate in management from University of Phoenix, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in agronomy from Iowa State University and University of Wisconsin, respectively.

 
Rosemary is in bloom everywhere, and bees have been out in droves to take advantage of the plethora of florets.
 
Even when sunshine is not as abundant in the wintertime as it has been this year, rosemary’s blossoms come forth beginning in December, enticing these sweet-producing insects.
 
Flowers continue blooming until the height of spring, giving honey bees plenty of time to gather stores of treasured nectar.
 
A member of the mint family, rosemary is native to the Mediterranean region, particularly along the coastal hills of Spain and Portugal.
 
Its name derives from the Latin word “rosmarinus,” which translates to “dew of the sea,” a reference to its needing no more water than the humidity from the sea to survive in many areas.
 
And it’s true that rosemary thrives in dry conditions. It does well in California’s Mediterranean-like climate, even in times of drought.
 
Its pine needle-like foliage, gray-green in color, grows abundantly on woody stalks, and its small, colorful flowers (white, pink, blue or purple in hue) add a robust beauty to the garden, as well as to the plate.
 
Rosemary’s hardiness and its ability to hang in pots, crawl along the ground, and be used in a hedgerow, make it a favorite landscaping plant.
 
The somewhat pine-like, pungent scent of rosemary has long been valued for its aromatic properties. Wealthy folk in the 16th century paid perfumers to heat rosemary sprigs and sugar over hot coals to fill their homes with its fragrance.
 
Just a century or two earlier, the smoke of rosemary sprigs was used to deter the black death, or bubonic plague, in Europe.
 
In more modern times (as recent as World War II), a mixture of juniper berries and rosemary was burned in French hospital wards to kill germs.
 
As it turns out, scientific research has revealed that rosemary does have some antibacterial properties.  
 
Rosemary has long been known as a symbol of remembrance, friendship and love, which is why brides at one time adorned themselves with the herb, either entwined in a wreath for their hair or as part of their bouquet.
 
Rosemary was tossed into the graves of departed loved ones by mourners as a symbol that they would not be forgotten.
 
Rosemary has a strong flavor, so is best used with a bit of caution in culinary applications, since it doesn’t take much to overpower a dish with its flavor.
 
Having said that, rosemary is absolutely beautiful paired with foods that hold their own against this powerful herb, such as lamb, for which rosemary is a classic seasoning.
 
If using it with fish, be sure it’s a strongly flavored, assertive fish, such as fresh swordfish or tuna. The same is true of shellfish, with mussels being a good match.
 
Pork braised with rosemary and sherry is delightful, and the herb marries well with anchovies and garlic.
 
The latter combination is especially good with a tomato-based pasta sauce, since rosemary also pairs well with tomatoes.
 
Rosemary is a nice flavoring for baked or grilled chicken. Rosemary can be thrown right on the coals in a barbecue to bathe the chicken in flavorful smoke.
 
Creative grill masters use rosemary sprigs to apply barbecue sauce or the woody stems to skewer items for grilling. (Soaking the stems first to prevent burning is recommended.)
 
Rosemary is a key component in bouquet garni, a cluster of fresh herbs tied with kitchen string or in cheese cloth that’s used to flavor soups, stews and bean dishes.
 
Sage, thyme, parsley, sweet marjoram and summer savory round out the herb blend. Since rosemary’s flavor is strong and doesn’t diminish much with cooking, tread lightly with its use.
 
The same grouping of herbs may be chopped and added to braising liquid.
 
Rosemary has a special affinity for beans, particularly fava beans and white beans. Throw one or more sprigs into the pot when cooking.
 
In addition to beans, rosemary romances potatoes with its flavor. Adding rosemary, along with its friend, garlic, to potatoes before oven roasting makes for a flavorful dish.
 
Creamy potato soup also benefits from the addition of rosemary, as does soup made with sweet potatoes.

Chopped dried or fresh rosemary is a fantastic addition to home-baked breads, focaccia, or crackers. It can be sprinkled over the top prior to baking or added to the dough.
 
Combine rosemary with Parmesan cheese in a savory scone recipe. The same combination is also wonderful with polenta.
 
Since rosemary works well with apples and pears, try sprinkling a small amount of finely chopped rosemary into an apple pie or cobbler.
 
Interestingly, adding rosemary to fruit salad heightens the sweet taste of the fruit. Its flowers add color and flavor when sprinkled atop soups, salads, and the like.

Rosemary works well with egg dishes, so throw it into quiches, frittatas and even scrambled eggs.
 
And what about the work of those industrious bees?
 
Bees which have feasted on rosemary’s nectar make a fragrant, delicious honey. For that matter, honey from any source usually pairs well with rosemary.
 
Rosemary provides us with fiber, iron and calcium and, most importantly, has been shown to have a wide range of health benefits.
 
It contains substances which stimulate the immune system, increase circulation and improve digestion. In addition, its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the severity of asthma attacks.
 
If you’re lucky enough to have a rosemary bush outside your home, cut sprigs as they’re needed. Otherwise, rosemary may be stored in the fridge wrapped in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag.
 
Rosemary may also be frozen. Put whole sprigs in a zipper-sealed bag or use ice cube trays to freeze leaves in broth for use in recipes.
 
Today’s recipe, rosemary walnuts, is the result of an experimental marriage between a bag of Lake County walnuts and the abundance of rosemary growing in my backyard. It has since become one of my favorite quick snacks, and it makes for great munching with a local Cabernet. Other than the salt and pepper, everything in the pan can be sourced locally.
 
I’m also sharing a recipe for rosemary pesto by author, gardener and restaurant critic Jeff Cox. This highly flavored sauce is a great topping for pasta.
 
And before I go, did you know that rosemary has long been thought to improve the memory? Students in ancient Greece believed this, so wore rosemary garlands while studying for exams.
 
As it turns out, modern science has shown that rosemary increases the blood flow to the head and brain, thereby improving concentration.
 
It might not be a bad idea to tuck a rosemary sprig behind your ear the next time you take a test!
 
Rosemary walnuts
 
A drizzle of local olive oil for the pan
A couple cups of local walnuts
A handful of fresh rosemary, roughly chopped
Salt & pepper to taste
 
Heat the oil in the pan for a few seconds, and then add the walnuts, tossing them as they cook (for about 20 seconds, just to begin the process).
 
Add the chopped rosemary and allow the walnuts to finish toasting. Watch the plan closely and continue to toss the walnuts as they cook.
 
Once the walnuts are toasted to your liking, add salt and pepper to taste. This entire process will take no more than a few minutes.
 
Recipe is by Esther Oertel.
 
Rosemary pesto
 
3 tablespoons pine nuts (or walnuts, which are local and less expensive)
2 cups lightly packed chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
1 cup lightly packed rosemary leaves
2 cloves garlic
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
 
Toss the pine nuts in a small dry skillet over medium heat until toasted light brown. Set aside.
 
Place the parsley, rosemary, pine nuts, and garlic in a blender. Whiz to make a smooth paste.
 
Add the oil in a very slow, steady stream until the paste is creamy.
 
Pour the mixture into a bowl and add the grated cheese, then salt and pepper to taste.
 
Transfer the pesto to a jar and cover the surface with a thin layer of olive oil. Seal the jar with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to two months, or freeze indefinitely.
 
This recipe by Jeff Cox is courtesy of “The Organic Cook’s Bible.”

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. .

A Willows woman has been arrested along with a Covelo man for allegedly taking part in the abduction of two small children last week.

Melissa Fay Britton, 45, was arrested late last week along with Leonard Dale Tuttle Jr., 30, for the abductions on Friday, March 9, of 2-year-old Randi Martinez and 5-year-old Vanessa Martinez, according to the Willows Police Department.

The girls' mother, 29-year-old Nancy Martinez, reported the girls had been taken shortly before 11 a.m. by Tuttle, her former boyfriend, police said.

Martinez and Tuttle had been in a relationship and living in Covelo until Martinez fled the week before the abductions, going to be with her family in Willows, according to police.

An Amber Alert was issued for the girls early on the afternoon of March 9. Just before 2:30 p.m. the California Highway Patrol contacted the Willows Police Department to report that as a result of the Amber Alert they had contacted Tuttle and had him in custody near Covelo.

According to police, because of the Amber Alert a motorist spotted Tuttle's white Mitsubishi Lancer  northbound on Highway 101. This motorist notified CHP, whose officers contacted Tuttle, who surrendered without any resistance.

Police said the girls were recovered unharmed and later reunited with their mother.

Tuttle was transported to the Mendocino County Jail and later was picked up by a police detective who took him back to Glenn County, according to the Willows Police Department.

On Friday just after 8 p.m. the Willows Police Department arrested Britton in Willows.

Both Britton and Tuttle both were booked on felony charges of child stealing, kidnapping and conspiracy. Tuttle's bail was set at $400,000 and Britton's at $280,000.

The Willows Police Department called the Amber Alert “a prime example of law enforcement and the general public working hand in hand” to protect the community.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two new cats are ready for adoption at the county’s animal shelter this week.

“Flower” and a male Maine coon are waiting to make your acquaintance.

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”).

‘Flower’

“Flower” is an 8-year-old female domestic short hair mix.

She is a brown tabby with white markings, and has lovely green eyes.

Flower is residing in cat room kennel No. 17, ID No. 31965.

Male Maine Coon

This handsome fellow is a 1-year-old Maine Coon mix.

He has gold eyes, a long gray coat and fantastic whiskers.

As a bonus, he already has been neutered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 63, ID No. 31991.

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The week starts off with seven dogs cleared for adoption at the county’s animal shelter.

A poodle, and dogs whose breeds include mixes of American bulldog, Rhodesian Ridgeback, heeler, boxer, Labrador Retriever, shepherd and pit bull are ready and waiting to meet you.

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”).

‘Luck’

“Luck” is a female shepherd mix.

She is 4 months old, and has a short, tan-colored coat. She is not yet spayed.

Find her in kennel No. 11, ID No. 31982.

Male poodle mix

This male poodle mix is 6 years old.

He has gold eyes and a white curly coat which recently was cut short but is normally long. He has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 14, ID No. 31968.

‘Delilah’

“Delilah” is a 2-year-old female Labrador Retriever-boxer mix.

She has black coloring and a short coat, and is spayed.

Shelter staff said she’s is super sweet, affectionate and housebroken.

She is in kennel No. 16, ID No. 31916.

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.

Female lab mix

This female Labrador Retriever mix is ready for a new home.

She has a short brown coat and brown eyes.

Find her in kennel No. 3, ID No. 31902.

Heeler-pit bull mix

This male heeler-pit bull mix is 1 year old.

He has tan and white coloring and a short coat, and is not yet neutered.

He is in kennel No. 5, ID No. 31954.

Rhodesian Ridgeback-boxer mix

This male Rhodesian Ridgeback-boxer mix is 10 months old.

He has a short, white and black spotted coat, and is neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 6, ID No. 31955.

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.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A late-night fire damaged a Middletown home Sunday night.

The fire – which occurred at a residence in the 14000 block of Big Canyon Road near the intersection with Ettawa Springs Road – was dispatched at about 10:45 p.m., said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Rob Daugherty.

Firefighters arriving at the scene found the structure well involved, according to radio traffic.

Three engines, a rescue unit, two water tenders and 12 firefighters responded to the fire, Daugherty said.

Daugherty said the structure was a single story, 1,000-square-foot, wood-framed building.

It was a second residence on the property, and Daugherty said there was no one in the home at the time the fire occurred.

No injuries were reported to civilians or firefighters, Daugherty said.

Daugherty said the fire was knocked down within 20 minutes, and mop up was completed within three hours, with firefighters clearing the scene at about 2 a.m.

He credited South Lake County firefighters for their aggressive effort to save the home.

Two-thirds of the structure was destroyed, and the other one-third was heavily smoke damaged, he said.

Daugherty said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NASA has completed commissioning of the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite (NPP), which is now making global environmental observations.

The satellite will provide scientists with critical insight into the dynamics of the entire Earth system, including climate, clouds, oceans, and vegetation.

It also will gather enhanced data for improving our nation's weather forecasting system.

The mission, launched in October 2011, is the result of a partnership between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Defense. All five of the satellite's instruments now have been activated for science data collection.

“By providing cutting-edge measurements of important Earth system processes, the Suomi NPP mission will increase researchers' knowledge of our home planet, and provide direct societal benefit through more accurate predictions,” said Michael Freilich, director, Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “This satellite mission, which could only have come to fruition through a close interagency partnership, is multifaceted and its data will be used by a multitude of stakeholders in the U.S. and worldwide.”

With the completion of commissioning activities, operation of the Suomi NPP has now been turned over to a Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) team.

NOAA's JPSS Program provided three of the five instruments and the ground segment for Suomi NPP.

A government team from the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Md., will operate the satellite.

“NOAA is thrilled with the performance of Suomi NPP,” said Mary Kicza, assistant administrator for NOAA's Satellite and Information Service in Silver Spring, Md. “NOAA will be using the advanced data NPP provides to improve life-saving weather forecasts and track volcanic eruptions, and to improve our understanding of long-term weather and climate patterns. Suomi NPP is an important mission for the nation.”

The Suomi NPP mission is a bridge between NOAA and NASA legacy Earth observing missions and NOAA's next-generation JPSS.

Suomi NPP flies for the first time the groundbreaking new Earth observing instruments that JPSS will use operationally.

The first satellite in the JPSS series, JPSS-1, is targeted for launch in 2016.

NASA scientists have already begun creating consistent, multi-decade Earth science data sets by combining the new NPP observations with measurements from many of the legacy NASA and NOAA missions.

These long-term observations are critical to improving our understanding of the Earth system and quantifying any changes.

“With the successful completion of commissioning, Suomi NPP is now ready to provide the world with remarkable Earth observations,” said Ken Schwer, NPP project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Goddard managed the Suomi NPP mission for the Science Mission Directorate's Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

For more information about the Suomi NPP mission, visit www.nasa.gov/npp .Suomi NPP data will be available at www.class.noaa.gov .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and the resulting tsunami that devastated Japan and sent shock waves across the Pacific.

A 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck at 2:46 p.m. March 11, 2011, 80 miles east of Honshu, with a 7.9-magnitude quake occurring at 3:15 p.m. 36 miles east of Honshu, according to U.S. Geological Survey records.

The larger quake triggered a tsunami that left destruction in three Japanese districts. The earthquake also led to a nuclear disaster for the country when the Fukushima Daiichi facility was damaged, resulting in meltdowns and explosions.

Japan suffered the loss of nearly 16,000 people, with half a million estimated to be homeless, according to the aid organization ShelterBox.

Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan described it as the worst crisis the country had faced since World War II. “This earthquake and tsunami and also the situation concerning the nuclear power stations are perhaps the hardest hardship that we have experienced after World War II,” Kan said.

The video above by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows the tsunami's path and power.

The video below, also by NOAA, shows the path of debris from the tsunami, expected to arrive on California's coast by next March, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The tsunami came across the Pacific, slamming into the West Coast, and resulting in one death and nearly $100 million in public and private-sector property losses up and down California.

The tsunami led to state and federal disaster declarations for the hardest hit areas, including neighboring Mendocino County.

Other areas damaged by the tsunami included coastal portions of Del Norte, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

On Friday officials from the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), the California Geological Survey (CGS) and the Federal Emergency Agency (FEMA) viewed progress by the Santa Cruz Port District in its efforts to recover from the impacts of the tsunami wave surge generated by the Tohoku earthquake.

“Sunday's anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami is a reminder that events thousands of miles away can have an impact on California and other parts of the United States,” said Cal EMA Secretary Mark Ghilarducci. “Our thoughts are with those in Japan and the United States whose lives were affected by last year's earthquake and tsunami.”

Dozens of tsunamis have hit California's coast since 1800, and a number of them caused damage. Most notably, a tsunami generated by a huge earthquake in Alaska killed 11 people in Crescent City in 1964.

“Tsunamis are relatively rare events, but we have been reminded time and again of the need to be prepared at the state, local and individual level,” said Mark Nechodom, director of the California Department of Conservation, CGS' parent organization. “The most recent reminder came last year, and it has not gone ignored.”

Californians can obtain information about tsunami preparedness by contacting their local office of emergency services or at www.tsunami.ca.gov .

LUCERNE, Calif. – Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters spent Saturday training with a unique piece of fire equipment.

For the first time, Northshore Fire personnel were able to train with a specially constructed mobile Fireblast trailer owned by Kelseyville Fire Department.

Northshore Battalion Chief Jamie Crabtree said Kelseyville Fire purchased the trailer with a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The trailer was set up at Northshore Fire’s Nice Fire Station for the daylong training, in which about 20 firefighters took part, said Northshore Fire Capt. Dave Emmel.

The Fireblast unit is a simulator that allows firefighters to train in a realistic but safe environment.

An operator directs the action from a computer panel inside a small booth in the trailer. The trailer has two other rooms, much like the rooms inside a residence.

“This is about the safest you can make any live fire exercise,” said Emmel.

While one team of firefighters made their way through the trailer – where flames crawled across the ceiling and the walls – another group was on the roof of the unit working on creating roof vents, which Emmel said is a common plan of attack for structure fires.

Firefighters have numerous requirements that they must fulfill in order to keep current on necessary certifications, and they participate in weekly trainings, Emmel said.

He said Saturday’s training fulfilled a number of requirements involving skills such as nozzle and ventilation work, and chainsaw use.

Emmel said the district hopes to hold annual trainings with the trailer.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As one of the driest and warmest winters on record winds down – with Clear Lake at one of its lowest levels in nearly two decades – Northern California could see significant rainfall and snow in the coming week.

The National Weather Service is warning that this week could bring the most rainfall of the winter season so far, with several “waves” of weather expected to move through interior Northern California beginning late Sunday and extending through Friday.

Forecasters also are expecting snow levels beginning at the 4,000 elevation and rising as the week progresses.

A winter storm watch has been issued for northern Lake County, specifically covering areas above 5,000 feet from Monday evening through Tuesday night.

In those areas, snowfall could be moderate to heavy during that time period, with south to southwest winds between 20 and 35 miles per hours, and gusts as high as 60 miles per hour over mountain ridges.

In the county's lower elevations, showers are expected from Sunday through Saturday. Snow levels are expected to drop to around 2,900 feet at one point early in the week, with south southwest winds as high as 31 miles per hour Monday night, according to the National Weather Service's forecast.

Daytime highs will be in the high 40s and low 50s, and in the 30s at night, forecasters predicted.

The anticipated late weather precipitation is needed in California, which has had a relatively dry, warm winter.

The state Department of Water Resources' snowpack tracking data showed that on Saturday evening the statewide snowpack summary was at 34 percent of normal.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that this winter so far has been rated the fourth warmest on record for the contiguous United States and drier than average for the lower 48 states and across the West and Southeast.

In Lake County, lake levels also are low just a year after the lake was at flood stage for the first time in more than a decade.

Early Sunday, readings of Clear Lake showed it was at 3.05 feet Rumsey, Rumsey being the special measure for the lake.

A full lake is 7.56 feet Rumsey, and that was Clear Lake's depth on March 11, 2011, according to data from the Lake County Department of Water Resources.

Sunday's reading for the lake was the lowest for that date from 1994 to 2011, years for which lake depth data reports were available on the U.S. Geological Survey and Lake County Department of Water Services Web sites.

For comparison, on March 11 the lake was at 6.39 feet Rumsey in 2010, 4.03 feet Rumsey in 2009, 7.05 feet Rumsey in 2008, 6.05 feet Rumsey in 2007, 8.23 feet Rumsey in 2006, 6.87 feet Rumsey in 2005, 7.72 feet Rumsey in 2004 and 7.08 feet Rumsey in 2003, US Geological Survey water data showed.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

 

NASA's Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft orbiting the moon officially have begun their science collection phase.

During the next 84 days, scientists will obtain a high-resolution map of the lunar gravitational field to learn about the moon's internal structure and composition in unprecedented detail.

The data also will provide a better understanding of how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed and evolved.

“The initiation of science data collection is a time when the team lets out a collective sigh of relief because we are finally doing what we came to do,” said Maria Zuber, principal investigator for the GRAIL mission at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. “But it is also a time where we have to put the coffee pot on, roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

The GRAIL mission's twin, washing-machine-sized spacecraft, named Ebb and Flow, entered lunar orbit on New Year's Eve and New Years Day. GRAIL's science phase began on Tuesday, March 6, at 5:15 p.m. PST.

During this mission phase, the spacecraft will transmit radio signals precisely defining the distance between them.

As they fly over areas of greater and lesser gravity caused by visible features such as mountains, craters and masses hidden beneath the lunar surface, the distance between the two spacecraft will change slightly.

Science activities are expected to conclude on May 29, after GRAIL maps the gravity field of the moon three times.

“We are in a near-polar, near-circular orbit with an average altitude of about 34 miles (55 kilometers) right now,” said David Lehman, GRAIL project manager from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif. “During the science phase, our spacecraft will orbit the moon as high as 31 miles (51 kilometers) and as low as 10 miles (16 kilometers). They will get as close to each other as 40 miles (65 kilometers) and as far apart as 140 miles (225 kilometers).”

Previously named GRAIL A and B, the names Ebb and Flow were the result of a nation-wide student contest to choose new names for the spacecraft.

The winning entry was submitted by fourth graders from the Emily Dickinson Elementary School in Bozeman, Mont.

Nearly 900 classrooms with more than 11,000 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, participated in the contest.

JPL manages the GRAIL mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

The GRAIL mission is part of the Discovery Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver built the spacecraft.

For more information about GRAIL, visit http://www.nasa.gov/grail .