On Tuesday the State Water Resources Control Board renewed a statewide storm water permit intended to decrease the amount of pollution entering waterways during storm water events.
The permit, required by state and federal laws to be renewed every five years, is called a Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.
The permit is issued consistent with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations issued by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
During a permit renewal cycle, best management practices to control storm water pollution are specified to better stop pollutants from entering area waterways during storm events.
The MS4 permit regulates storm water discharges from municipalities that serve populations of less than 100,000 persons by requiring additional efforts to keep contaminants, refuse and trash from entering storm water drains, canals and other conveyances that discharge in lakes, streams and the ocean.
The cities of Lakeport and Clearlake, and the county of Lake are covered by the permit, according to state records.
“A permit of this magnitude affects so many people in different geographic areas and addresses such important issues,” said State Water Board Chair Charles Hoppin. “The high degree of collaboration that was necessary to get us to this point was very evident in today’s proceeding. The board looks forward to working with the permittees on effective implementation of this permit.”
The MS4 permit requirements focus on implementing post-construction standards and low-impact development principles to new or redevelopments in California and focus implementation efforts on areas in California identified as a priority to protect such as, Areas of Biological Significance (ASBS), waterbodies listed as impaired.
Clear Lake is listed as an impaired waterbody, according to the State Water Resources Control Board.
The MS4 permit will provide coverage to approximately 200 traditional (municipal governments) and non-traditional (state, federal facilities such as military bases and state colleges) MS4s.
For nearly two decades, the State Water Resources Control Board has regulated runoff and treatment of storm water from industrial and municipal sources in California.
Both the US EPA and the water boards have determined that storm water and urban runoff are significant sources of water pollution that can threaten aquatic life and public health.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Konocti Unified School District successfully refinanced a portion of its outstanding Measure “G” General Obligation bonds last month to take advantage of historically low interest rates in the bond market.
District officials said the bond refinancing will save taxpayers in the district approximately $625,000 over the remaining term of the bonds.
These savings will be passed along directly to local taxpayers in the form of reduced property tax bills, the district reported.
“For some time now, the district has been monitoring interest rate trends, waiting for a good opportunity to refinance the debt. After due consideration, the district determined that the timing was now appropriate to lock in a new, low interest rate and to capture significant taxpayer savings,” said district Business Manager Laurie Desimone.
Refinancing local school bonds is similar to refinancing a home mortgage – replacing existing high interest rate debt with low interest rate debt.
The bonds were originally issued in December 2004 following the successful passage of Measure “G” by local voters.
The proceeds from the 2004 issuance were used to improve classrooms and school facilities, increase student access to computers and modern technology, and to make the district eligible to receive additional state grants.
“The board of trustees and district staff greatly value the strong support we receive from our community, and we are very pleased to complete this refinancing and to pass along these substantial savings to our local taxpayers” said Superintendent Donna Becnel.
Officials said the district will continue to monitor opportunities to refinance bond debt in the future, and will pursue opportunities that will result in a benefit to local taxpayers.
Most astronomers suspect that a massive black hole lurks at the center of most if not all galaxies, but only a few dozen examples are known out of billions of galaxies in the cosmos.
Now astronomers have developed a quick technique that could potentially uncover and weigh 10 times more massive black holes than are now known.
Using the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) in California’s Owens Valley, UC Berkeley and European astronomers tracked carbon monoxide gas swirling around the center of a galaxy 53 million light years from Earth.
Based on the gas’s motion, they concluded that the galaxy, NGC4526, harbored a massive black hole about 450 million times the mass of the sun – 100 times larger than the black hole at the center of our Milky Way Galaxy.
“Because almost all spiral galaxies like the Milky Way and about one-quarter of large galaxies of the type we observed have molecular gas, this interferometry technique applies broadly, and raises the real probability of getting a large sample of black holes from all sorts of galaxies at much greater distances,” said Leo Blitz, UC Berkeley professor of astronomy and coauthor of a paper describing the procedure that appeared in the Jan. 31 issue of Nature.
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) now nearing completion in Chile could potentially measure black hole masses at the centers of hundreds of galaxies in as little as 10 minutes each, “shedding light on the mysterious co-evolution of black holes and galaxies,” added team leader Timothy A. Davis of the European Southern Observatory, which is based in Germany.
On his Web site Davis explained the technique remains “tricky,” adding, “It took over a hundred hours of observing time to measure the black hole mass in this object.”
He said the array will be able to repeat the NGC 4526 measurement in about 10 minutes, or make the same observation in a galaxy seven times farther away in just five hours.
“The technique therefore holds the promise of being able to determine black hole masses across a range of galaxy types and masses using a single instrument,” he said.
Robert Sanders writes for the UC Berkeley News Center.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – A North Coast man led California Highway Patrol officers and Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies on a high speed chase from Ukiah to Potter Valley Monday night.
William Jackson IV, 33, of Potter Valley eventually was arrested after driving his vehicle into the Eel River and then attempting to flee on foot, according to Sgt. Greg VanPatten of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
Shortly before 11 p.m. Monday Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies were on routine patrol near the 100 block of Talmage Road when they observed a green Honda Accord fail to stop at a posted stop sign, VanPatten said.
He said the deputies attempted to make a traffic stop but the vehicle's driver – later identified as Jackson – sped away from them. The deputies activated their emergency lights with siren and pursued the vehicle.
CHP officers and Ukiah Police Department officers joined the pursuit as the vehicle entered onto northbound Highway 101 from Talmage Road, VanPatten said.
Jackson fled from the deputies at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour, with deputies and CHP officers following the vehicle northbound on Highway 101 and then eastbound onto Highway 20, he said.
VanPatten said Jackson passed other vehicles by crossing into an oncoming lane of traffic and also weaved unsafely at times.
The vehicle later turned northbound onto Potter Valley Road and reached speeds of 65 miles per hour while still evading law enforcement personnel, according to VanPatten.
The vehicle later turned northbound onto Eel River Road and continued until it reached Van Arsdale Road and then turned onto Old Logging Road, VanPatten said.
A short time later the vehicle turned onto a riverbank access road and drove into the water of the Eel River. VanPatten said Jackson jumped from the vehicle and ran through the river, attempting to escape the pursuing deputies and CHP officers.
VanPatten said CHP officers were able to apprehend Jackson after a short foot pursuit and arrested him without further incident.
Jackson was wanted on an outstanding Mendocino County felony arrest warrant for kidnapping and domestic battery and also was on formal felony probation out of Santa Clara County for domestic battery, VanPatten said.
Jackson was transported and booked into the Mendocino County Jail for the outstanding arrest warrant, violation of his probation and felony evading of law enforcement, VanPatten said.
He said Jackson was being held on a no bail status because of the probation violation charge.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The coroner’s office has released the name of a Middletown man who died in a single vehicle crash last week near Clearlake Oaks.
Robert Allen Harris, 59, died at the scene of the wreck, which occurred last Thursday, Jan. 31, on Highway 20 near Beryl Way west of Clearlake Oaks, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Harris was driving his 1992 Ford van eastbound on Highway 20 shortly before 6 p.m. that day when witnesses reported that he passed another vehicle on a blind curve, the CHP reported.
The CHP said Harris lost control of his van and slid sideways into a tree, receiving fatal injuries in the wreck.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the county's animal shelter has several dogs from the working breeds available for adoption.
Labrador Retrievers, hounds and border collies, as well as boxers and pit bulls are ready to go to new homes.
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”).
Hound mix
This male hound mix is 4 years old.
He has a short tricolor coat and is not yet neutered.
He's in kennel No. 5, ID No. 35381.
Boxer mix
This male boxer mix is 8 months old.
He has a short brown and white coat, and is neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 6, ID No. 35380.
'Sasha'
“Sasha” is a 10-year-old border collie mix.
She has a short black and tan coat, weighs 81 pounds and has been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 12, ID No. 35388.
'Brave Heart'
“Brave Heart,” as he's been dubbed by shelter staff, is a 5-month-old male pit bull terrier mix.
He weighs 30 pounds, has a short blue and white coat, and he's been neutered.
Visit with him in kennel No. 18, ID No. 35164.
Labrador Retriever mix
This female Labrador Retriever mix is 9 months old.
She has a short chocolate-colored coat and has not yet been spayed.
She's in kennel No. 21, ID No. 35408.
Labrador Retriever mix
This male Labrador Retriever mix is 9 months old.
He has a short buff-colored coat and has not yet been neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 22, ID No. 35407.
Boxer mix
This male boxer mix is 1 year old.
He's got a short brown and white coat, a docked tail and weighs nearly 70 pounds. He has not yet been altered.
He's in kennel No. 26, ID No. 35415.
Please note: Dogs listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
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.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Three people were stabbed during a fight that occurred early Monday evening in Clearlake.
Sgt. Rodd Joseph of the Clearlake Police Department said the incident occurred at about 5 p.m. near the baseball fields at Redbud Park.
“It appears to be a mutual combat involving a group of subjects,” Joseph said.
Joseph said three people were stabbed, with all taken to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake for treatment.
One of the stabbing victims, an adult male, suffered a laceration to the stomach and was in intensive care early Tuesday morning, Joseph said.
While another of the victims was uncooperative and wouldn’t provide accurate information, Joseph said detectives have identified all of the parties involved.
No arrests had been made shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday, he said.
Joseph said the police department’s detective division was continuing to work the case, with additional details expected to be released later on Tuesday.
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.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The family and friends of a Clearlake teen are seeking information about his whereabouts after he went missing early Sunday morning.
Jesse Meldrum, 18, was last seen at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday when he left his mother Tina Meldrum's Clearlake home, according to information provided by his friends.
Meldrum, who according to his Facebook page attended Lower Lake High School, was last seen walking alone and did not tell anyone where he was going.
He left his car at his mother's home. Family and friends have not heard from him, and he's not responded to numerous posts left on his Facebook page or to calls placed to his cell phone.
At the time he was last seen, he was wearing a long sleeved black short and blue jeans. He is described as being about 6 feet tall.
Anyone with information about him is asked to call Kirsten Contreras at 707-889-6796.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – In only its second year back in the competition, Kelseyville High School won the Lake County Academic Decathlon Saturday, topping defending champion Upper Lake High.
Kelseyville had not taken part in the competition for a few years, and when it returned last year came in second to Upper Lake, which has won most of the competitions over the last decade.
Kelseyville's Team A – Eduardo Alatorre, Blair Brookes, Jennifer Johnson, Daniel Lucas, Caitlin Meisle, Onnivin Pelzel, Maeve Rixen, David Robinson, Helen Ryan, Amanda Spitzer, Tatiana Taranenko, Maxwell Whitaker – took top honors in this year's competition, which saw all five county high schools participating. Clear Lake High School took third place.
The topic of this year's Academic Decathlon is Russia – its history, culture, literature and scientific achievements.
The competition includes 10 categories of academic discipline – speech, interview, essay, science, economics, music, mathematics, social science, arts, and language and literature. The local competition also has two additional contests in poetry and poster production.
There are three student competition categories determined by grade point average – varsity, scholastic and honors.
In a weekend event last month and continuing in a grueling daylong session on Saturday, students engaged in testing that was not open to the public.
It was the Saturday afternoon Super Quiz – held this year in the Upper Lake High School gym – where the community got the chance to watch students put their year of study and knowledge to the test in the various subject areas.
As quiz master Shelly Mascari of the Lake County Office of Education read off 36 questions, students had just seconds to put down answers about everything from Russian space discoveries to well-loved Russian novels.
State competition rules forbid the printing of specific questions, but suffice it to say, the questions are hard.
Coming out of the Super Quiz, Upper Lake High School Team A placed first, followed by Lower Lake High School in second place and Kelseyville High School Team A in third.
The competition then took a break while the final results were tallied, with the Super Quiz scores combined with the rest of the subjects.
During the awards presentation, Kelseyville High School Team A member Onnivin Pelzel, who received a perfect score in the speech competition, gave his short speech on the amazing qualities of dogs.
Most individual medals – 10 – went to David Robinson, a senior on Kelseyville High School Team A who is in his second year of Academic Decathlon competition. His career goal is to be a cryptographer.
Upper Lake High School Team A's top individual medalist, with eight awards, was Christine Randall, a third year academic decathlete who wants to be a biomedical researcher.
Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook noted during the event that many community members give their time to making the annual event possible.
“Each year our volunteers grow and grow,” he said. “It would be impossible to have a competition like this without the support of our volunteers.”
Teams are listed below, followed by the list of awards.
Clear Lake High School
Superintendent Erin Smith-Hagberg, Principal Steve Gentry, Coach Jim Rogers
Team members: Shao-Jia Chang, Alice Crockett, Joseph Faustino, Carissa Guiling, Asia Jones, Abby Labar, Philip Leighton, Melissa Thibeau, Alyssa Vargo
Kelseyville High School
Superintendent Dave McQueen, Principal Matt Cockerton, coaches Erick Larsen and Heather Koschik
Team A: Eduardo Alatorre, Blair Brookes, Jennifer Johnson, Daniel Lucas, Caitlin Meisle, Onnivin Pelzel, Maeve Rixen, David Robinson, Helen Ryan, Amanda Spitzer, Tatiana Taranenko, Maxwell Whitaker
Team B: Elisa Borg, Preston Herdt, Brandon Huber, Justin Lombardo, Erik Miller, Luiz Perez, Jafeth Silva, Stacy Solgat, Andrew Vonwall
Lower Lake High School
Superintendent Donna Becnel, Principal Jeff Dixon, Coach Nancy Harby
Team: Charles Burk, Ashely Chandler, David Gray, Jimmy Haddan, Ian Lambert, Cinthya Madrigal, Colton Markley, Brian Miller, Laura Onate, Michelle Page, Analy Rincon, Joseph Schofield, Travis Woodland
Middletown High School
Superintendent Korby Olson; Principal Bill Roderick; coaches Patti Jimenez, Jennifer Pyzer and Robin Cara
Team: Taryn Barker, Monique Gibbs, Katy Huggins, BriAnne Nelson, Rebecca Pachie, Mailea Pane, Samuel Peters, Nicholas Santos, Ashley Thompson
Upper Lake High School
Superintendent/Principal Patrick Iaccino; coaches Anna Sabalone and Angel Hayenga
Team A: Krista Coleman, Savanah Fecht, Jamie Henry, Adrien Malicay, Jesus Martinez, Christine Randall, Thomas Santana, Jordin Simons, Arthur Wilkie, Shayla Wyaman
Team B: Anthony Arroyo, David Corter, Byron Garcia, Heather Hankins, Savannah Koppenhaver, David Lopez, Theresa Lopez, Jamie Maddock, Gabriel Ramos, Juan Ruiz, Lyla Seevers
AWARDS
Team awards First place: Kelseyville High School Team A Second place: Upper Lake High School Team A Third place: Clear Lake High School
Poster contest First place: Travis Woodland, Lower Lake High School Second place: Laura Onate, Lower Lake High School Third place: Eduardo Alatorre, Kelseyville High School Team A
Poetry contest First place: David Robinson, Kelseyville High School Team A Second place: Tatiana Taranenko, Kelseyville High School Team A Third place: Onnivin Pelzel, Kelseyville High School Team A
Super quiz team awards First place: Upper Lake High School Team A Second place: Lower Lake High School Third place: Kelseyville High School Team A
Language and literature First place: Christine Randall, Upper Lake High School Team A Second place: Helen Ryan, Kelseyville High School Team A Third place: David Robinson, Kelseyville High School Team A
Arts First place: Jordin Simons, Upper Lake High School Team A Second place: two-way tie, Savanah Fecht, Upper Lake High School Team A, and Asia Jones, Clear Lake High School Third place: Four-way tie, Christine Randall, Upper Lake High School Team A; Alyssa Vargo, Clear Lake High School; Eduardo Alatorre, Kelseyville High School Team A; David Robinson, Kelseyville High School Team A
Social science First place: Christine Randall, Upper Lake High School Team A Second Place: Michelle Page, Lower Lake High School Third Place: Arthur Wilkie, Upper Lake High School Team A
Mathematics First place: David Robinson, Kelseyville High School Team A Second place: Asia Jones, Clear Lake High School Third place: Taryn Barker, Middletown High School
Music First place: David Robinson, Kelseyville High School Team A Second place: Christine Randall, Upper Lake High School Team A Third place: two-way tie, Shao-Jia Chang, Clear Lake High School, and Jimmy Haddan, Lower Lake High School
Economics First place: Shao-Jia Chang, Clear Lake High School Second place: two-way tie, Jordin Simons, Upper Lake High School Team A, and David Robinson, Kelseyville High School Team A Third place: Jesus Martinez, Upper Lake High School Team A
Science First place: Eduardo Alatorre, Kelseyville High School Team A Second place: Jesus Martinez, Upper Lake High School Team A Third place: David Robinson, Kelseyville High School Team A
Essay First place: Christine Randall, Upper Lake High School Team A Second place: David Robinson, Kelseyville High School Team A Third place: Joseph Faustino, Clear Lake High School
Interview First place: Two-way tie, both with perfect scores – Monique Gibbs, Middletown High School, and Onnivin Pelzel, Kelseyville High School Team A Second place: Philip Leighton, Clear Lake High School Third place: Shao-Jia Chang, Clear Lake High School
Speech First place: Onnivin Pelzel, Kelseyville High School Team A (perfect score) Second place: Jimmy Haddan, Lower Lake High School Third place: Philip Leighton, Clear Lake High School
Speech scholarships
The student with the highest score from each school receives a $250 scholarship.
Clear Lake High School: Philip Leighton (sponsored by Lakeport Lions) Upper Lake High School: Jordin Simons (sponsored by Lakeport Rotary) Lower Lake High School: Jimmy Haddan (sponsored by Lakeshore Lioness) Middletown High School: Ashley Thompson (sponsored by Mendo Lake Credit Union and Mike Carillo Concrete) Kelseyville High School: Onnivin Pelzel, Lake County Friends of Mendocino College
TOP FINISHERS FOR EACH ACADEMIC LEVEL
Alternates First place: Nicholas Santos, Middletown High School Second place: Caitlin Meisle, Kelseyville High School Team A Third place: Maeve Rixon, Kelseyville High School Team A
Varsity First place: Onnivin Pelzel, Kelseyville High School Team A Second place: Philip Leighton, Clear Lake High School Third place: Eduardo Alatorre, Kelseyville High School Team A
Scholastic First place: David Robinson, Kelseyville High School Team A Second place: Christine Randall, Upper Lake High School Team A Third place: Jesus Martinez, Upper Lake High School Team A
Honors First place: Asia Jones, Clear Lake High School Second place: Shao-Jia Chang, Clear Lake High School Third place: Jordin Simons, Upper Lake High School Team A
SECOND HIGHEST SCORING STUDENTS, PER SCHOOL
Upper Lake High School Team A: Jordin Simons Middletown High School: Ashley Thompson Lower Lake High School: Jimmy Haddan Kelseyville High School Team A: Onnivin Pelzel Clear Lake High School: Shao-Jia Chang
HIGHEST SCORING STUDENTS, PER SCHOOL
Each of the highest scoring students received a $100 scholarship from the Lodge at Blue Lakes.
Upper Lake High School Team A: Christine Randall Middletown High School: Monique Gibbs Lower Lake High School: Michelle Page Kelseyville High School Team A: David Robinson Clear Lake High School: Asia Jones
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.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Updates from law enforcement leaders, proposed community safety measures and tips for what residents can do to guard against crime will be discussion topics at a special Kelseyville town hall this week.
The town hall will take place beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Kelseyville High School Student Center, 5480 Main St.
Supervisor Rob Brown organized the town hall following the fatal Jan. 18 shooting of 33-year-old Forrest Seagrave, who was shot during a robbery at Mt. Konocti Gas and Mart in downtown Kelseyville, where he had worked for several years.
Brown said he has invited members from the California Highway Patrol, Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Probation and State Parole to give an update to community members.
Some of the proposals Brown said will be discussed include putting up traffic cameras and establishing a benefit zone to pay for a deputy to exclusively serve the Kelseyville area.
There also are things that Kelseyville residents can do to increase safety, including following basic precautions of keeping homes and vehicles locked, and not giving the opportunity for thefts and break-ins to occur, Brown said.
“We can’t rely on law enforcement to protect us,” he said.
Brown added, “Some of it we’ve got to do on our own.”
While the county has spent a lot of money to upgrade roads and improve the conditions of the lake, Brown said if the communities aren’t safe, none of those improvement efforts matter.
Brown said he also has invited local self defense instructors and representatives from alarm companies to come and be available to speak with community members about safety measures.
Sheriff’s officials have not yet made an arrest in Seagrave murder case, and on Monday Lt. Steve Brooks said he had no new information on the investigation.
A $10,000 reward – raised through community donations in an effort Brown spearheaded – is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.
The male suspect wore a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and gloves. He was described as being approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall, with a thin build.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-263-2690.
John Jensen contributed to this report.
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 Animal Care and Control has a full house of adult cats waiting for adoption this week.
Many of them are Siamese, brought in after the death of their owner.
The cats range in age from 7 months to 7 years old. All have been altered and are ready to go to new homes.
In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are 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”).
Female Siamese mix
This female Siamese is 7 months old.
She has lynx point markings, weighs 3.5 pounds, has been spayed and is very friendly.
She's in cat room kennel No. 2a, ID No. 35367.
Siamese mix
This male Siamese mix is 2 years old.
He weighs 9 pounds, has blue eyes and flame point coloring, and has been altered.
He also has blue eyes and a docked tail.
Visit with him in cat room kennel No. 4, ID No. 35361.
Gray tabby
This male gray tabby is 4 years old.
He has a short striped coat and green eyes, weighs 11 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 10, ID No. 35371.
'Arrow'
“Arrow” is a 10 month old male Siamese mix.
He has unique markings and blue eyes, and has been altered.
Arrow is in cat room kennel No. 22, ID No. 35395.
Brown male tabby
This brown male tabby is 7 years old.
He has a short brown striped coat, and he’s been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 35, ID No. 35292.
Dilute tortie
This female calico is 2 years old.
She has dilute tortie coloring, weighs 7 pounds, has a short coat and has been spayed.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 45a, ID No. 35362.
Female Siamese mix
This female Siamese mix is 2 years old.
She has seal point coloring and a short coat, weighs 7 pounds and has been spayed.
Visit with her in cat room kennel No. 45b, ID No. 35360.
Siamese mix
This male Siamese mix is 3 years old.
He weighs 10 pounds, has lynx point coloring and a short coat, and has been altered.
He's in cat room kennel No. 48, ID No. 35372.
Male Siamese mix
This male Siamese mix is 2 years old.
He weighs 9 pounds, has a short coat and has been altered.
He's in cat room kennel No. 95, ID No. 35359.
Siamese mix
This female Siamese mix is 5 years old.
She has a long luxurious coat, is large in size and has been spayed. In addition, she has beautiful, jewel-blue eyes.
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.
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
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.
What better time than February to explore this tasty member of the vegetable kingdom? In just over a week, vast quantities of the confection will be distributed to loved ones in honor of Valentine’s Day, so let’s get the skinny on this rich treat.
Chocolate comes from a pineapple-sized, melon-like fruit that grows in the tropics on the cacao tree. The fruits are also known as pods, and each one holds about 40 cacao (also known as cocoa) beans.
The simple brown seeds that reside within the pods (cocoon-like, in a sweet, sticky white pulp) contain all the ingredients needed to make one of our most beloved food products, chocolate.
Chocolate has been used as a drink for thousands of years, perhaps dating as far back as 1400 B.C.
The Mayans and Aztecs used the beans to produce a fermented, frothy, bitter drink that was used in religious ceremonies, often flavored with chili peppers.
It wasn’t until 1847 that chocolate was made into a solid form.
As with coffee and wine, the area in which cacao beans are harvested, as well as the type of tree on which they’re grown, contribute greatly to their flavor profile. In other words, there’s a terroir associated with chocolate.
Cacao is harvested in Africa, Mexico, Central America, Asia, and in the Caribbean, and areas within each locale offer their own differences in flavor.
For example, beans grown in Madagascar are said to have citrus overtones, in Panama roasted nut flavors, in Trinidad cinnamon spiciness, and in Jamaica subtle notes of pineapple.
Two of the three main types of cacao trees grown in the world, the criollo and the trinitario, are considered to be flavor bean producers. The other type, the forastero, produces what are known as bulk beans, which account for 90 per cent of all cacao beans harvested.
Beans from the forestero tree have a clean, consistent chocolate flavor and provide the basis for most chocolate products. They’re sometimes combined with flavor beans to provide a unique tasting note.
After harvesting the pods and removing the beans, the beans are left in piles to ferment and then dry before going to the factory. It’s the fermentation process that produces the rich cocoa flavor in the beans.
At the factory, the beans are roasted (either quick and hot or low and slow, depending on the flavor desired) and then hulled to remove the “nib” inside, which is what’s used to make chocolate.
The nib is milled to make chocolate liquor, a rich (non-alcoholic) paste that is the base for any chocolate product.
Some of the chocolate liquor is pressed to extract cocoa butter, the ingredient that makes chocolate taste so rich.
Cocoa butter, with a melting point of about 97 degrees, also causes the chocolate to melt on our tongue. We have Swiss confectioner Rodolphe Lindt to thank for pioneering the use of this ingredient back in 1879.
Finally, cocoa powder is ground from what’s left after extracting the cocoa butter.
To make the confection we know as chocolate, these simple ingredients – chocolate liquor and cocoa butter, as well as sugar and a minor ingredient or two, such as vanilla – go through a series of processes (such as conching, which is extensive kneading to develop flavor, and tempering, which is heating and cooling to make chocolate glossy and break with a snap) and become the sweet treat that nearly all of us love.
Milk chocolate has a creamier texture and lighter taste than dark chocolate, which has a more intense chocolate flavor.
Because of the health benefits associated with chocolate – particularly dark chocolate – many chocolate manufacturers are listing the percentage of chocolate liquor on their dark chocolate products now. I’ve seen some as high as 88 per cent chocolate liquor.
While more chocolate liquor means greater health benefits, it also means less sugar, so as the percentage increases, the sweetness of the chocolate decreases.
Bittersweet and semisweet chocolate (of which there is no official difference) must contain at least 35 per cent chocolate liquor.
If you’re cooking with bitter or semisweet chocolate, staying below 60 per cent chocolate liquor is a good idea, unless your recipe calls for a chocolate with a higher percentage, as the dish may turn out more bitter than intended.
Couverture is a term used for chocolates that are extra rich in cocoa butter, such as the brands used by pastry chefs and sold in specialty stores.
White chocolate is so named because it contains cocoa butter but no chocolate liquor. Be cautious if you want the real stuff – there are products such as “white baking chips” that don’t contain a drop of cocoa butter and you can taste the difference!
Cocoa nibs are sold in natural food or specialty stores and they make for a crunchy little treat, full of intense chocolate flavor. (They’re unsweetened, so be prepared!) They can be tossed in salads, added to breads, or even mixed with asparagus and prosciutto for a delicious and interesting side dish.
As to its health benefits, studies indicate that the antioxidant flavonoids in chocolate protect against heart disease, help relax blood pressure, and lower LDL cholesterol.
The consumption of chocolate may subtlety improve cognitive performance. Experiments with chocolate-fed mice suggest that flavanol-rich cocoa stimulates neurovascular activity, enhancing memory and alertness.
Because chocolate stimulates endorphin production, giving a feeling of pleasure, its effects are often compared to being in love.
Chocolate contains serotonin, an anti-depressant, and theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants.
It would seem chocolate can both relax and energize those who consume it.
Chocolate can be paired with so many things – from fruits such as raspberries or oranges to chicken when used in a mole sauce – that it’s really quite a versatile food.
The recipe below is from a holiday culinary class where lavender was featured. Though lavender season is in early summer, culinary lavender may be purchased at spice stores, specialty food markets, and even online.
Bon appétit! And happy Valentine’s Day, just a little bit early.
Chocolate lavender truffles
1 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon dried lavender florets 12 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate 1 cup unsweetened cocoa
Grate or roughly chop chocolate and put in heat proof bowl.
Bring cream and lavender to a simmer and simmer for one minute; strain.
Add hot lavender-infused cream to chocolate and stir to melt. Mix well.
Chill at least three hours. You may spread on parchment paper on a baking sheet.
Roll into 1 inch balls and then roll in cocoa.
This recipe makes about 25 truffles, which should be refrigerated until ready to be served.
Recipe by Esther Oertel.
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. .