Since early February, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW, and many wildlife rehabilitation centers have received increased reports of sick and dead band-tailed pigeons from residents.
Most reports have come from locations along California’s Central Coast, the San Francisco Bay Area and foothill communities in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
CDFW’s Wildlife Health Laboratory has evaluated birds from several locations and determined the cause of death to be avian trichomonosis, a disease caused by a protozoan parasite, typically Trichomonas gallinae.
Statewide, it's estimated that roughly 200 to 300 band-tailed pigeons may have died of this infection so far this winter.
“Avian trichomonosis outbreaks occur periodically in band-tailed pigeons during some winters in California,” said CDFW Senior Environmental Scientist Krysta Rogers, an avian disease specialist. “Historically, larger outbreaks generally have been associated with drier conditions because the pigeons may be more likely to share a reduced number of water sources and the parasite can spread more rapidly among birds in the flock.”
Band-tailed pigeons are native to California and may be unfamiliar to some residents given their mostly secretive and highly nomadic lifestyle.
During winter, nearly the entire Pacific Coast population of band-tailed pigeons congregates in areas of Central to Southern California, sometimes forming relatively large flocks and seeking out acorns, their preferred food in winter.
The parasite that causes avian trichomonosis is primarily spread in water sources such as bird baths, fountains, and horse or cattle troughs where the parasite may become more concentrated.
Once infected, caseous lesions (“cheese-like”) may develop in the bird’s mouth or throat leading to starvation or suffocation.
Sick birds may appear weak, swallow repeatedly, have labored breathing, and may sit for prolonged periods. Severely affected birds may develop neurological signs such as lack of coordination or twisting of the head or neck.
Band-tailed pigeons are especially susceptible to avian trichomonosis. Other bird species also may be susceptible when sharing water sources as are avian predators that may feed on infected birds.
Residents can help reduce disease transmission among birds by removing bird feeders and bird baths and emptying fountains while the pigeons are in their area.
Observations of sick and dead pigeons may be reported to CDFW using the mortality reporting form. These reports are important to help document when and where birds may be impacted.
If there is a need to dispose of a dead bird, CDFW recommends wearing disposable gloves to collect the remains into a plastic bag, which may then be placed in the regular trash collection. Afterward, wash hands with soap and water.
For guidance on orphaned, injured or sick live-wild birds, please contact your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center before collecting the animal.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The East Region Town Hall, or ERTH, will meet on Wednesday, March 1.
The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, located at 15900 Moose Lodge Lane in Clearlake Oaks.
The meeting will be available via Zoom. The meeting ID is 986 3245 2684, pass code is 666827.
On the agenda will be guest speaker Terre Logsdon, Lake County’s chief climate resiliency officer.
Logsdon will give an overview of the new Lake County Office of Climate Resiliency.
She wants to hear the concerns of the community about weather, evacuation routes, emergency shelter needs, transportation to evacuate and vegetation abatement, among other issues.
Other agenda items include the Clearlake Oaks consolidated lighting district, the Lake County Geothermal Project Watchlist, commercial cannabis cultivation projects in Clearlake Oaks, and a report on upcoming proposed commercial and residential project applications requiring use permits within ERTH’s boundaries.
There also will be updates on Spring Valley, the Northshore Fire Protection District, and the Oaks Arm and Keys Restoration projects, a report from Supervisor EJ Crandell and public outreach on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Sulphur Bank Mine Superfund site.
The group’s next meeting will take place on April 5.
ERTH’s members are Denise Loustalot, Jim Burton, Tony Morris and Pamela Kicenski.
For more information visit the group’s Facebook page.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake Police Department is investigating a crash that killed a pedestrian last week and is seeking witnesses of the incident.
The crash occurred on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 22.
The department said that at approximately 7:27 p.m. its officers responded to Old Highway 53 near Clement Avenue for a report of a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.
Upon their arrival, the officers found the collision involved a gray Chevrolet Silverado and a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, a male in his late 50s whose name has so far not been released, was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said.
If you witnessed the collision, please contact Sgt. Michael Perreault by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 707-994-8251.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will consider approval of a local emergency declaration in response to the storms and discuss recruitment for two department heads.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 962 9999 6715, pass code 670830. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,96299996715#,,,,*670830#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
At the start of the meeting, the board will consider adding an extra item to the agenda — ratifying Sheriff Rob Howe’s declaration of a local emergency due to low elevation snow and extreme cold.
Howe made the declaration on Friday, while the county was still largely out of power as a result of last week’s snowstorm.
In untimed items on Tuesday, the board will consider holding special meetings in March to participate in closed session interviews of county counsel candidates.
On Jan. 25 the board received County Counsel Anita Grant's intention to retire on March 24. On Feb. 7, the board approved an open recruitment which closed on Feb. 16, and the county now has four qualified candidates for the board to review.
In another untimed item, the board will consider the recruitment process for another department head job, that of Behavioral Health director.
On Feb. 17, Behavioral Health Director Todd Metcalf notified the board of his resignation.
“Due to the complex nature of this position, staff proposes retaining a recruitment firm that specializes and has experience in Behavioral/Medical Health position recruitments,” according to the report from County Administrative Officer Susan Parker.
Also on Tuesday, the board will consider approving a list of properties to go up for tax sale later this year.
The full agenda follows.
EXTRA ITEM
4.1: a) Consideration of "extra" agenda item, and b) consideration of ratification of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to low elevation snow and extreme cold.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: (a) Approve letter of support for the North Shore Restoration Project Number 22-FH-LNU-46336202 and authorize chair to sign and (b) approve letter of support for the North Shore Restoration Project Number 22-FH-LNU-46336098 and authorize chair to sign.
5.2: Approve letter of support for Department of Energy Funding for CYRQ Energy’s Geothermal Demonstration Project on behalf of the multi-jurisdictional Geothermal Opportunity Zone (GeoZone).
5.3: Approve subordination, nondisturbance, and attornment agreement dated Oct. 22, 2021, by and among Oak Valley Community Bank, a California banking corporation and County of Lake and D. Judd Apartments LLC and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.4: Approve amendment to the agreement between county of Lake and the California Mental Health Services Authority for Behavioral Health Quality Improvement Program for FYs 2022-24 with no change to the contract maximum and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.5: Approve agreement between county of Lake and BHC Heritage Oaks Hospital Inc. for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalization for fiscal year 2022-23 in the amount of $80,000 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.6: Approve Board of Supervisors minutes for Feb. 14, 2023.
5.7: (a) Waive the competitive bid process under section 2-38.2(3) of the Lake County Code because it would produce no economic benefit to the county. (b) Approve first amendment of agreement between county of Lake and TruePoint Solutions for as-needed permitting software services, in the amount of $19,965.00 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.8: Approve request to close Health Services offices from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2023, for all staff training and meeting.
5.9: Approve participation agreement between the county of Lake and the Department of Health Care Services for Medi-Cal Administrative Activities and authorize the director of Health Services to sign.
5.10: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and AirMedCare Network for air ambulance services to the county of Lake Participants listed and amend the total compensation and authorize chair to sign.
5.11: Approve a professional services agreement between the county of Lake and Headway Transportation LLC for consulting services to prepare the Soda Bay Corridor Evacuation Plan and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.
5.12: Approve contract with Guardian RFID for a safety check program in the amount of $40,485 and authorize the chair to sign the contract.
5.13: Approve long distance travel for Teresa Wold, Housing Program coordinator, to attend the Nelrod Consortium Annual Conference Training in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 19 to 21, 2023.
5.14: Approve rescission of tax deed to purchaser of tax defaulted property (APN 040-322-100).
5.15: Approve rescission of tax deed to purchaser of tax defaulted property (APN 044-211-160).
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of the Dec. 31, 2022, report of Lake County pooled investments.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of draft ordinance amending Chapter 5 of the Lake County Code and adopting by reference the 2022 California Building Standards Code, known as the California Code Of Regulations, Title 24, Parts 1 through 6, 8 through 12, incorporating the 2022 Edition of the California Administrative Code, Title 24 Part 1; the 2022 Edition of the California Building Code, Title 24 Part 2; The 2022 Edition of the California Residential Code, Title 24 Part 2.5; the 2022 Edition of the California Electrical Code, Title 24 Part 3; the 2022 Edition of the California Mechanical Code, Title 24 Part 4; the 2022 Edition of the California Plumbing Code, Title 24 Part 5; the 2022 Edition of the California Energy Code, Title 24 Part 6; the 2022 Edition of the California Historical Building Code, Title 24 Part 8; the 2022 Edition of the California Fire Code, Title 24 Part 9; The 2022 Edition of the California Existing Building Code, Title 24 Part 10; the 2022 Edition of the California Green Building Code, Title 24 Part 11; the 2022 Edition of the California Referenced Standards Code, Title 24, Part 12; the 2021 Edition of the International Property Maintenance Code; The 2021 Edition Of The International Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
6.4, 9:45 a.m.: Presentation of report on the Road Map Task Force 2022 activities.
6.5, 10:30 a.m. : Presentation on progress of the county-wide wildland fire fuels crew program by the Northshore Fire Protection District.
6.6, 11:30 a.m.: Presentation and Acceptance of Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency charter document.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of an informational report on a Cal Fire grant application currently being prepared by Lake County Resource Conservation District.
7.3: Consideration of American Rescue Act funding request for senior center support form to provide up to $50,000 for each senior center’s capital expenditures.
7.4: (a) Consideration of increasing the cannabis equity grants funds from a maximum of $50,000 to up to $150,000 per applicant; and (b) consideration of resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors authorizing state of California Cannabis Equity Act Grant funding.
7.5: Discussion and consideration to hold special meetings in March 2023 to participate in county counsel interviews in closed session and select a date.
7.6: Consideration and discussion involving the recruitment process for filling the vacancy created by the Behavioral Health director's resignation.
7.7: Consideration of agreement between county of Lake and Kings View Professional Services for support services for state mandated cost reporting in the amount of $122,900.00 for fiscal year 2022-24 and authorize the board chair to sign.
7.8: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Community Visioning Forum, Emergency Medical Care Committee, Fish & Wildlife Committee.
7.9: Consideration of the Classification, Compensation, Recruitment and Retention Committee approval of the 2022-2023 Reclassification Cycle findings and recommendations.
7.10: Consideration of resolution authorizing the chair of the board to approve and direct the tax collector to sell, at public auction via internet, tax defaulted property which is subject to the power to sell in accordance with Chapter 7 of part 6 of Division 1, of the California Revenue and Taxation Code and approving sales below minimum price in specified cases.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation: Public Services Director Lars Ewing.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Registrar of Voters Maria Valadez.
8.3: Conference with county negotiators regarding the purchase of property located at 5245 Third St., Kelseyville; price and terms of payment; (a) county negotiators: S. Parker and S. Carter and (b) Kelseyville Senior Center Inc. Negotiator: Karlene Ellis.
8.4: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(1) - City of Clearlake v. Testate and Intestate Successors of Bailey Lumber Co, et al.
8.5: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(1) – John Doe 1, et al. v. Humboldt County, et al.
8.6: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(1) – Penhall v. Lake County Probation Department, et al. and related Public Employees Relations Board claim Not available Not available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s interim Public Health officer, Dr. Karl Sporer, has issued a countywide health alert due to the National Weather Service’s Eureka Office forecast of future winter storm activity.
Lake County Health Services’ Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, has activated its’ Department Operations Center in response to this severe weather event.
Additionally, the department’s Medical Health Operational Area Coordination, or MHOAC, is actively managing medical resources and coordinating a thorough response among multiple jurisdictions.
The MHOAC is available for residents and community partners at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and directly via phone at 707-263-1090.
Taking additional precautions amid cold weather events is especially important for children, the elderly, those with disabilities, and those with special medical needs.
If you or someone you know is homebound and unable to access critical services, please call 707-262-4431 for information on available resources and emergency needs.
Shelters and other public facilities are open for those who have no access to a warm space at the following locations:
• Lower Lake Town Hall, 16195 Main St., will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Tuesday, Feb. 28. • Sunrise Special Services Foundation’s warming center at 1111 Whalen Way in Lakeport will be open throughout this severe weather event. For more information, please contact the warming center directly at 707-349-5022. • Little Red Schoolhouse at 15780 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb expects to be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Tuesday. If you or someone you know is in need of transportation to this location, please call 707-715-7008. • Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Community Room at 9470 Main St. will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, please contact Rudy Brown at 707-533-9956. • Lucerne Alpine Senior Center at 3985 Country Club Drive. For more information, please contact Charlie Behne at 707-391-6348.
During these cold weather conditions, you can do several things to help yourself and others in our community remain safe:
• Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by making sure our community is staying warm safely — never heat a home with a gas stovetop, gas oven, or barbeque as this could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Additionally, never use a generator inside a home, shed or garage even if doors and windows are open. Keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors and vents. • Never use charcoal grills or camp stoves indoors. Deaths have occurred after people burned charcoal or used camp stoves in enclosed spaces, which produced lethal levels of carbon monoxide. • Do not touch or approach a downed power line; call 9-1-1 if you see a downed or damaged electrical line. • Avoid using candles. If possible, use flashlights instead. If you must use candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire. Never leave burning candles unattended or near children or bedding. Extinguish candles when you leave the room. • Have a plan for back-up power if you or someone in your family is dependent on electricity for medical devices. • Wear layers and have blankets available to add additional warmth. Layers will keep you warmer than a bulky sweater. Stay dry to avoid hypothermia. • If it is safe, check on neighbors who may need assistance — older adults, people with disabilities and young children are more at risk in extreme cold.
It’s also important to be aware of the following health risks due to the extreme cold:
Hypothermia
People exposed to cold weather for prolonged periods can lose body heat and develop hypothermia.
Symptoms vary depending on how long you are exposed to cold temperatures. Early symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, fatigue, loss of coordination, and confusion and disorientation.
Late symptoms of hypothermia include no shivering, blue skin, dilated pupils, slowed pulse and breathing, and loss of consciousness.
Frostbite
People exposed to extremely cold weather conditions with snow and freezing temperatures may be at risk of frostbite.
Frostbite is a bodily injury caused by freezing that results in loss of feeling and color in affected areas.
The most common affected areas are the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Gently warm the person and seek immediate medical care if you believe someone is showing signs of hypothermia or frostbite.
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill you. It is found in fumes produced any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces. Carbon monoxide can build up indoors and poison people and animals who breathe it.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and nausea. Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide can lead to death within minutes.
Those suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning should be immediately taken outside, into fresh air, and should be rushed to the emergency room for immediate medical treatment.
Stunning as it may sound, nearly half of Americans ages 20 years and up – or more than 122 million people – have high blood pressure, according to a 2023 report from the American Heart Association. And even if your numbers are normal right now, they are likely to increase as you age; more than three-quarters of Americans age 65 and older have high blood pressure.
Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Our research has found that most Americans don’t know the normal or healthy range for blood pressure – yet strikingly, they think they do. And that is cause for serious concern.
Such false confidence can be harmful because it may prevent people from seeking care for high blood pressure. After all, if you think it’s normal, why bother talking to your doctor about your blood pressure?
Part of the reason for this overconfidence begins in the doctor’s office. Typically, a nurse brings over a blood pressure cuff, straps it on your upper arm and takes a reading. The nurse may announce the result, remove the cuff and record it for the doctor.
When the doctor arrives, the session may well move on to other matters without a word about the blood pressure reading. This likely happens because your doctor wants to focus on how you’re feeling and why you’re there. But as a result, you may leave your appointment thinking your blood pressure is fine, even if it’s not.
To lower your risk of heart attacks and strokes, it’s critical to understand your blood pressure readings. This is especially true for patients with conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
Normal or healthy blood pressure is less than 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for adults. This is a unit of measurement that stems from early blood pressure monitors, which looked at how far your blood pressure could push a column of liquid mercury. For most patients, lower tends to be better.
Stage 1 hypertension, which is the lower stage of high blood pressure, begins at 130/80. Stage 2 hypertension, which is the more severe stage of high blood pressure, begins at 140/90. Both numbers are critically important, because every increase of 20 millimeters of mercury in systolic blood pressure, or 10 in diastolic blood pressure, doubles a person’s chances of dying from a heart attack or stroke.
10 tips for healthier blood pressure
To avoid false confidence, ask about your blood pressure at every doctor’s visit, and find out what the numbers mean. If your blood pressure is above the normal or healthy range, then the American Heart Association recommends the following 10 tips.
Talk with your doctor. If your blood pressure is high, ask your doctor about strategies for lowering it, and how you can track your blood pressure at home.
Eat a heart-healthy diet. Vegetables, fruit, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, skinless poultry and fish, nuts and legumes, and olive oil are all good for your heart. Red meat, saturated and trans fats and ultraprocessed foods are unhealthy for your heart.
Limit your alcohol use. Whether it’s beer, wine or spirits, alcohol increases your blood pressure. It’s better to not drink alcohol, but if you do, observe the limits recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. For women, that’s one drink per day at the very most. For men, it’s two drinks per day at most. One drink is 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits or 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits.
Be more physically active. Just two and a half hours per week of physical activity can help lower blood pressure. For example, that’s a 30-minute walk five days a week. You might also switch up your physical activity by swimming, lifting weights, doing yoga or going dancing.
Manage stress, which is bad for your blood pressure. While stress relief doesn’t always lower blood pressure, bringing down your stress level can help you feel better. The Mayo Clinic recommends several ways to manage stress, including learning to say no sometimes, spending time with family and friends and meditating.
Take medication, which is often recommended for people with stage 2 hypertension, and for some with stage 1 hypertension, including those who also have heart disease, kidney disease or diabetes. Most patients need two to three medications to lower blood pressure to normal or healthy levels. A recent meta-analysis demonstrated that lowering systolic blood pressure by 5 mm Hg through medication reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events by about 10%, irrespective of baseline blood pressure or previous diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.
Track your blood pressure at home. The American Heart Association recommends an automatic, validated cuff-style monitor that goes on your upper arm. A record of readings taken over time can help your doctor adjust your treatments as needed.
High blood pressure is a silent killer. Being proactive and knowing your numbers can be a lifesaver.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — County leaders and officials are aware the ongoing severe cold weather event may present additional challenges to homebound residents, particularly those with intensive medical needs and/or a lack of transportation.
A hotline has been made available for homebound individuals.
If you or someone you know is homebound and unable to access critical services, please call 707-262-4431 for information on available resources, and emergency needs.
As previously announced, the county of Lake is providing a warming center at Lower Lake Town Hall located at 16195 Main St., Lower Lake.
The Lower Lake Warming Center will open during evening hours Monday, Feb. 27, and Tuesday, Feb. 28. Visitors must register, and no pets, weapons, alcohol or drugs are allowed. Hours of operation are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County Department of Social Services and Lake County Behavioral Health are working together to provide cots, blankets, light food and snacks to those in need.
The temporary Clearlake Senior Center warming center closed at noon Sunday.
The Clearlake Senior Center has a need to host prescheduled events and provide for enhanced needs of the seniors they serve.
Moving the location of the warming center was necessary to ensure services could be sustainably and continuously provided over this period, and the county apologized for any inconvenience.
For more information on this warming center, call 707-533-3599.
Sunrise Special Services’ warming center at 1111 Whalen Way in Lakeport likewise remains open 24 hours at this time due to severe winter weather.
That Lake County Behavioral Health Services-funded facility is providing shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness, and they can be directly reached at 707-349-5022.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — With more snow in the forecast — and already arriving in some parts of Lake County on Sunday — all of the county’s public schools will start the week with another snow day.
The closure will be in effect on Monday, Feb. 27, said Rob Young, the Lake County Office of Education’s director of operations and emergency services.
The National Weather Service is projecting further winter storm activity, with light mountain snow expected on Sunday in some portions of Lake County, and heavier snowfall down to 1,000 feet Sunday night into Tuesday, a forecast Young referred to in his report.
Gusty winds are also anticipated Monday, forecasters said.
Due to the weather activity and school power outages, Young said all Lake County public schools will be closed Monday.
The Office of Education will give its next update on conditions at 7 p.m. Monday, Young said.
In the meantime, he urged families to check their school's website or social media pages for more information.
In the summer of 1954, a young chemist named Albert Antoine was visiting Cleveland to interview for a job with a rayon manufacturer, when a former university classmate recommended that he apply at the NACA Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory (today, NASA Glenn).
Antoine took the advice and soon began a career at the center that spanned over four decades and multiple fields of research.
While attending City College in New York City during World War II Antoine was drafted into the military. He qualified for the Army Specialized Training Program and was sent to Ohio State University to study civil engineering.
He completed his Bachelor of Science degree after the war and went on to earn his doctorate in chemistry at Ohio State in 1953.
When Antoine joined the NACA in August 1954, the Lewis laboratory was examining new high-energy propellant combinations that could dramatically increase the performance of military aircraft and missiles. He was assigned to a small group that analyzed boron and hydrazine-based compounds. Although these chemicals did increase energy levels, the toxicity and combustion byproducts ultimately made their use impractical.
Lewis began phasing out its exotic propellants work in the early 1960s, as the clean-burning hydrogen-oxygen combination was selected for NASA’s new upper-stage rockets. Antoine applied his expertise to the study of electrical power systems for spacecraft.
At the time, little was known about the properties of liquid metals being considered as the working fluid for some of the proposed high-efficiency systems. Antoine provided the basic thermodynamic data for mercury paired with either cesium or sodium.
During this period, Antoine joined forces with five Black colleagues to encourage underrepresented and minority students to pursue careers in space. The group’s weekly science club meetings led to NASA-sponsored events at local high schools.
In addition, Antoine’s visits to historically Black universities in southwestern Ohio led to the center’s enduring affiliations with the institutions. Antoine’s mentoring activities continued in various forms throughout his career.
In the 1970s, Lewis began applying its technical expertise to problems on Earth. As a member of the new Combustion and Pollution Research Branch, Antoine helped develop new instruments to accurately measure airborne particulate matter. These tools were used to study pollution in the Cleveland area and in air lanes across the country.
In response to the energy crisis of the 1970s, the center studied both renewable energy sources and alternative fossil fuel sources such as coal and oil shale. Antoine and his colleagues analyzed the composition of these non-petroleum fuels and assessed their storage, stability, and emissions characteristics.
Antoine authored the summary report in 1982, just before the stabilization of global energy resources led to the cancellation of the program.
Antoine retired from government service in 1983, but immediately returned to his work at Lewis as a research associate through a cooperative agreement with Cleveland State University, or CSU.
Over the next 13 years he managed NASA-sponsored research in batteries and fuel cells. Antoine and his CSU colleagues were an integral part of the NASA team that advanced the phosphoric acid fuel cell technology to the point of commercialization.
Antoine retired for good in 1996 after 42 years of work at NASA. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 92.
Robert S. Arrighi works for the NASA Glenn Research Center.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The National Weather Service’s Eureka Office is projecting further winter storm activity, including snowfall down to the 1,000 foot elevation level through Tuesday.
Officials said this next wave of severe winter weather may bring further power outages to portions of Lake County.
Residents are encouraged to prepare now. Steps may include:
• Filling your gas tanks, in case gas stations are temporarily inaccessible; • Having drinking water and non-perishable food items on hand; • Ensuring you have appropriate access to medications; • Charging phones and other electronic devices; and • Getting cash, as electronic payment systems may go down.
PG&E’s tips to prepare for power outages can be found here.
For updates on road conditions, residents are encouraged to access the following resources:
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The National Weather Service’s latest forecast for the coming week describes incoming storm systems, one of which has the potential to bring more heavy snow, wind and power outages.
Lake County is under a winter storm warning that goes into effect at 10 p.m. Sunday and will remain active until 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Forecasters said a series of two storm systems will bring widespread precipitation to the North Coast region Sunday through Tuesday night, and heavy snow is expected in the mountains along with some interior valley locations.
Further to the east, the Sierras are under a blizzard warning, from early Monday through early Wednesday.
Back on the North Coast, the National Weather Service said the heaviest snow is expected Monday through Tuesday night, along with potential for isolated thunderstorms with small hail.
The forecast said the first of the two systems was expected to arrive overnight, bringing several inches of snow above the 3,000 foot elevation level in Lake County.
What forecasters call “a much more notable system” will begin to impact the North Coast region on Sunday night as strong southerly winds increase ahead of an advancing weather front.
The forecast said the second system “is looking quite potent,” and thunderstorms may be possible.
Gusty winds of 30 to 50 miles per hour will be possible on exposed ridges in Lake County. The forecast explains that the winds will still be ongoing as precipitation begins, and at elevations above the snow level, there will be a brief window of time — two to six hours — where near blizzard conditions could develop.
Early Monday could see heavy snowfall in elevations over 2,000 to 2,500 feet, with snow dropping to above 1,000 and 2,000 feet in elevation later in the day.
“There is still uncertainty as to how low snow levels go, but right now the greatest impacts are expected to be at elevations over 1,500 feet in all counties except Trinity where snow levels will likely remain around 1,000 feet,” the forecast said.
The forecast said showers will continue through Tuesday and into Tuesday night.
“This storm system has the potential to be very high impact for the region with numerous power outages caused from the heavy snow load and gusty winds,” the forecast noted.
Forecasters expect the showers to taper off late Tuesday night into Wednesday, adding that “the next storm of note may arrive late in the week into next weekend.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — With thousands of Lake County residents remaining out of power due to this week’s snowstorm, and as another storm is anticipated to arrive on Sunday, officials are extending warming hours and urging community members to be prepared.
The National Weather Service’s Eureka office is forecasting rain during the day on Sunday in Lake County and the potential for more rain and snow on Sunday night.
That is expected to be followed by gusty winds along with more snow falling at the 1,000 foot elevation level on Monday night and into Tuesday.
Forecasters said heavy mountain snow could fall above 2,000 feet from Sunday through Tuesday across the North Coast.
On Friday, Sheriff Rob Howe declared a local emergency in response to the storm that hit earlier this week, bringing low elevation snow that knocked out power across a large swath of Lake County, as Lake County News has reported.
In a Facebook message on Saturday, Howe urged people to be cautious and prepared, and to take care of each other, as the forecast calls for the weather event to continue through the early part of this coming week.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Saturday afternoon that its crews are continuing to assess damage and restore service to the 33,600 customers in Lake County whose power was knocked out by the low elevation storm, which dropped several inches of snow across the county.
As of 1:30 p.m., PG&E said approximately 19,300 customers remained without power in Lake County.
In the previous 24 hours, PG&E reported that it had restored service to approximately 12,000 Lake County customers.
PG&E said hundreds of PG&E personnel and contractors are on the ground restoring customers in PG&E’s Humboldt Division, which includes Lake, Mendocino and Humboldt counties.
Those crews include 88 four-person electric crews, 26 Tmen — PG&E’s first responders — as well as 45 inspectors and 53 personnel. There also are 138 vegetation-management workers removing trees and limbs from power lines on duty in the Humboldt Division.
Offering a respite from the weather are two warming centers that are now open in Lake County to offer shelter during the winter weather.
The Lakeport warming center, located at 1111 Whalen Way in Lakeport, opened earlier this month to serve individuals experiencing homelessness. It has now extended its hours to seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
In response to the unprecedented snowfall, life-threatening temperatures and the additional weather event on the way, on Friday the city of Clearlake partnered with the county of Lake to open a warming center at the Clearlake Senior Center, located at 3245 Bowers Road.
Initially, the weather event was expected to end on Feb. 26, at which point officials planned to close the Clearlake warming center.
However, with the National Weather Service reporting that another weather event is inbound and could continue until Tuesday, the county said the Clearlake facility’s operation as a warming center will be extended.
The temporary Clearlake Senior Center warming center will close at noon on Sunday, Feb. 26, for maintenance purposes, and will reopen during new evening hours beginning Monday, Feb. 27, and Tuesday, Feb. 28. It will be open from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. both days.
Visitors must register and no pets, weapons, alcohol, or drugs are allowed.
The city of Clearlake, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, the Lake County Department of Social Services and Lake County Behavioral Health are working together to provide cots, blankets, light food and snacks to those in need at the center.
PG&E said it has provided 500 grab-and-go bags that include a blanket, water, snacks and a portable cellphone charger which are being distributed at the Clearlake and Lakeport warming centers. The company said it also has provided a generator at the Lakeport warming center.
PG&E also partners with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, including 16 centers in 36 counties, to offer support for older adults and people with disabilities. Customers who are reliant on a medical device or assistive technology for independent living can find resources by contacting 2-1-1. So far, approximately 31 Lake County customers have reached out to PG&E or 2-1-1 for additional support.
The company said it also has been reaching out to Medical Baseline program customers to provide 2-1-1 as a support line and referring customers to available resources based on their needs.
Sheriff Howe reported the county is working to get generators up and running at additional locations, including the Little Red Schoolhouse in Cobb, 15780 Bottle Rock Road; the Kelseyville Senior Center, 5245 Third St.; Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 3985 Country Club Drive; and the Habematolel Community Center, 9470 Main St. in Upper Lake.
In Lakeport, city officials reported that its personnel are continuing to respond to storm related issues.
The city said that frozen snow continues to cover roadway shoulders and sidewalks in many areas of the city. As such, motorists are asked to drive slowly and watch for pedestrians.
Public Works crews will be clearing downed trees on the city right of way along roads on Monday, the city of Lakeport reported.
Also on Saturday, the Lake County Department of Public Works said crews were making their way through areas including Cobb and Kelseyville to plow snow from the roads.
The agency reported on its Facebook page that a small crew was running a plow and sanding truck through Riviera Heights, Riviera West and Buckingham areas, with more personnel on Cobb trying to open up the remainder of Harrington Flat Road and replowing Gifford Springs Road.
“Secondary roadways in the Cobb area will be scheduled for this coming week,” Public Works reported.
Lake County Public Works said requests for immediate help for road clearing must go through the California Highway Patrol’s dispatch.
PG&E customers who are reliant on a medical device or assistive technology for independent living can find resources by contacting 2-1-1. As of Saturday, approximately 31 Lake County customers have reached out to PG&E or 2-1-1 for additional support.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.