UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The family of Vanessa Niko, muralist Shane Grammer and the Hope Through Art Foundation are conducting a mural project for young artists in Upper Lake.
The Young Artist Intern Mural Project began Friday, April 30, and will continue through Wednesday, May 5.
The mural will be of Vanessa Niko, who was a member of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake as well as being of Samoan descent.
Niko died in June 2017 after being severely injured in a domestic violence assault by the father of her children, as Lake County News has reported.
Organizers reported that Niko is a missing and murdered indigenous women “sister” because of being a victim of domestic violence.
Young artists from around Lake County have been invited to participate in this event to promote awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women like Niko.
The Hope Through Art Foundation is a nonprofit entity devoted to broadening public awareness and education of social issues such as missing and murdered indigenous women through art.
The mural will be dedicated in honor of Niko’s life on National MMIW Day, Wednesday, May 5.
The dedication will take place at 12:30 p.m. at 9460 Main St. in Upper Lake.
To honor Niko’s Pomo and Samoan heritage there will be a Pomo dance group and Kumu Hula Mikilani Young, a representative of United Pillars of Aloha, will be in attendance.
Following the dedication ceremony, there will be a dinner and they will close out with a song and prayer.
For further information on this national epidemic of violence against indigenous women, go to www.mmiwusa.org.
In medieval times strawberries were associated with love, so it’s appropriate that they arrive at local farmers’ markets close to Mother’s Day.
My heart skips a beat or two when I see their luscious red color in the stalls and – joy of all joys! – taste their sweetness.
Strawberries grown close to home – with their fresh, delicate flavor and burst of lush juiciness – are so unlike their supermarket counterparts that it’s worth a trip (or two or three) to the farmers’ market during the brief season that they’re available.
I have it on good authority that the season is now, so don’t hesitate!
Strawberries are actually not berries at all, at least not by botanists’ standards. True berries have their seeds on the inside (think blueberries or cranberries) and, as you know, strawberry seeds are on the outside.
The yellowish seeds covering the outside of the berry are considered individual fruits, with the sweet, fleshy part of the strawberry being the receptacle for the roughly 200 tiny fruits that cover it.
They’re members of the same family tree as the rose, another connection to Mother’s Day. In Italian strawberries are known as “fragola,” derived from the Latin word for fragrant.
Speaking of Mother’s Day, strawberries can be elevated in a variety of celebratory ways – dipped in chocolate, floated in champagne, skewered for a fruit bouquet, or incorporated whole in a centerpiece-worthy fresh strawberry pie.
Quite a few years ago (11, to be exact), I taught an early May cooking class where mothers and their young sons or daughters made one of these strawberry-themed items together.
The focus of the class was strawberry pie-making and the end result – glistening whole strawberries shining bright red in handmade crusts – was a testament to the beauty of this fruit.
The loveliness of these take-home masterpieces was eclipsed only by the joy I witnessed as family teams worked together to create them. (I have such a soft spot in my heart for parents and children cooking cooperatively!)
The strawberry pie recipe from this class is below so you can create your own maternal bonding experience, whatever the age of your mother or children.
In addition to being tasty and visually delightful, strawberries are surprisingly nutritious. Only eight medium-sized berries provide 140% of our daily requirement for Vitamin C. They contain high amounts of antioxidants, which account for their bright red color.
And they’re not just great in pies! As we all know, they’re wonderful eaten out of hand, sliced on cold cereal or yogurt, or tossed into fruit smoothies.
You can also serve them sliced on a sandwich with cream cheese and fresh mint, pair them with a nice balsamic vinegar and freshly ground black pepper, chop them and add to port wine to reduce for a sweet sauce, or toss them on a spinach salad (for which I’d recommend a poppy seed dressing or balsamic vinaigrette).
And now for some practical tips to keep your berry bounty fresh.
Strawberries should be stored in a cool, humid place; namely, your refrigerator with some special precautions. They’ll dry out without moisture but will go bad when sitting in too much dampness.
To store your strawberries, place them unwashed in a tightly covered plastic container or zipper sealed plastic bag with layers of paper towel between the berries. Make sure to remove any bruised or moldy berries first.
The sealed container provides a humid environment and protects them from the drying effects of the fridge, while the paper towel soaks up excess moisture.
I learned this method years ago from a strawberry grower at a farmers’ market and it hasn’t failed me yet!
If you’re not going to use your berries within a day or two, they should be frozen.
To do this, stem, wash and dry the berries. Line a baking tray with waxed or parchment paper and place the strawberries on it with some space between them. Cover with plastic wrap and pop the tray in the freezer till the strawberries are frozen solid, then store them in zipper sealed plastic bags.
Some folks roughly chop the berries and freeze in plastic tubs. That works well, too.
Frozen berries are fantastic in icy smoothies or pureed to make healthy popsicles for the kids. I like to make a fruity topping for pancakes or waffles by cooking frozen berries with a bit of water and sugar till it liquefies and then thickens into a syrupy consistency.
Whether or not they’re able to influence human love, tasty, healthy strawberries are well worth your affection! I hope you have a chance to enjoy them while the enjoying is good.
Fresh strawberry pie
Pastry crust:
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour ¼ cup sugar ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon Pinch of salt 1/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces About 2 (or more) tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Combine the dry ingredients (through salt) in a bowl.
Cut the butter in using a pastry blender or two knives (even your fingers will do!) until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
With a fork, stir in just enough lemon juice for the dough to form a mass.
Gather the dough into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
When your dough has chilled, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Then sprinkle flour on a surface, like a cutting board or countertop.
Using a floured rolling pin, roll out the pie crust to an 11-inch circle and transfer it to a 9 inch pie plate.
Trim the dough so it has a 1-inch overhang. Fold the overhang back toward the inside and crimp the edge decoratively.
Prick the bottom and sides with a fork and line it with aluminum foil (shiny side down). Fill the pie plate with dried beans or pie weights.
Bake the pastry for 15 minutes or until fully baked.
Pie filling:
6 cups (about 3 pints) fresh strawberries 1 cup sugar 3 tablespoons cornstarch ½ cup water Grated zest of ½ orange Optional flavorings: fresh lemon juice to taste, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon vanilla
Optional for the bottom of the crust (to prevent sogginess):
3 oz. cream cheese mixed with 1 or 2 tablespoons milk OR 3 oz. melted chocolate
Wash and stem strawberries.
Crush enough berries to make 1 cup of puree and mix with water and orange zest in a pan.
Mix sugar and cornstarch together and mix with liquid ingredients in the pan.
Add fresh lemon juice and/or cinnamon (or not) to taste. If berries are overly tart, leave out lemon juice. If using vanilla, add at the end when removed from heat.
Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil, stirring, for one minute, then remove from heat and allow mixture to cool.
If using optional cream cheese mixture, spread on bottom of baked pastry crust. If using melted chocolate, spread on the bottom of the baked crust and allow chocolate to cool and harden.
While the mixture is cooling, cut tops off remaining strawberries and arrange cut side down in pastry crust.
Spoon cooked mixture over the berries, covering them and dispersing it evenly.
Refrigerate pie for several hours and garnish with lightly sweetened whipped cream.
Esther Oertel is a writer and passionate home cook from a family of chefs. She grew up in a restaurant, where she began creating recipes from a young age. She’s taught culinary classes in a variety of venues in Lake County and previously wrote “The Veggie Girl” column for Lake County News. Most recently she’s taught culinary classes at Sur La Table in Santa Rosa. She lives in Middletown, California.
Another “super full moon” is coming May 26, 2021, and coastal cities like Miami know that means one thing: a heightened risk of tidal flooding.
Exceptionally high tides are common when the moon is closest to the Earth, known as perigee, and when it’s either full or new. In the case of what’s informally known as a super full moon, it’s both full and at perigee.
But something else is going on with the way the moon orbits the Earth that people should be aware of. It’s called the lunar nodal cycle, and it’s presently hiding a looming risk that can’t be ignored.
Right now, we’re in the phase of an 18.6-year lunar cycle that lessens the moon’s influence on the oceans. The result can make it seem like the coastal flooding risk has leveled off, and that can make sea level rise less obvious.
But communities shouldn’t get complacent. Global sea level is still rising with the warming planet, and that 18.6-year cycle will soon be working against us.
I am an atmospheric scientist at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science who keeps a close eye on sea level rise in Miami. Here’s what you need to know.
What the moon has to do with coastal flooding
The moon’s gravitational pull is the dominant reason we have tides on Earth. More specifically, Earth rotating beneath the moon once per day and the moon orbiting around Earth once per month are the big reasons that the ocean is constantly sloshing around.
In the simplest terms, the moon’s gravitational pull creates a bulge in the ocean water that is closest to it. There’s a similar bulge on the opposite side of the planet due to inertia of the water. As Earth rotates through these bulges, high tides appear in each coastal area every 12 hours and 25 minutes. Some tides are higher than others, depending on geography.
The sun plays a role too: Earth’s rotation, as well as its elliptic orbit around the sun, generates tides that vary throughout the day and the year. But that impact is less than half of what the moon contributes.
This gravitational tug-of-war on our water was discovered nearly 450 years ago, though it’s been happening for nearly four billion years. In short, the moon has very strong control over how we experience sea level. It doesn’t affect sea level rise, but it can hide or exaggerate it.
So, what is the lunar nodal cycle?
To begin, we need to think about orbits.
Earth orbits the sun in a certain plane – it’s called the ecliptic plane. Let’s imagine that plane being level for simplicity. Now picture the moon orbiting Earth. That orbit also lies on a plane, but it’s slightly tilted, about 5 degrees relative to the ecliptic plane.
That means that the moon’s orbital plane intersects Earth’s orbital plane at two points, called nodes.
The moon’s orbital plane precesses, or wobbles, to a maximum and minimum of +/- 5 degrees over a period of about 18.6 years. This natural cycle of orbits is called the lunar nodal cycle. When the lunar plane is more closely aligned with the plane of Earth’s equator, tides on Earth are exaggerated. Conversely, when the lunar plane tilts further away from the equatorial plane, tides on Earth are muted, relatively.
The lunar nodal cycle was first formally documented in 1728 but has been known to keen astronomical observers for thousands of years.
What effect does that have on sea level?
The effect of the nodal cycle is gradual – it’s not anything that people would notice unless they pay ridiculously close attention to the precise movement of the moon and the tides for decades.
But when it comes to predictions of tides, dozens of astronomical factors are accounted for, including the lunar nodal cycle.
It’s worth being aware of this influence, and even taking advantage of it. During the most rapid downward phase of the lunar nodal cycle – like we’re in right now – we have a bit of a reprieve in the observed rate of sea level rise, all other things being equal.
Once we reach the bottom of the cycle around 2025 and start the upward phase, the lunar nodal cycle begins to contribute more and more to the perceived rate of sea level rise. During those years, the rate of sea level rise is effectively doubled in places like Miami. The impact varies from place to place since the rate of sea level rise and the details of the lunar nodal cycle’s contribution vary.
Like the “supermoon” in late April, the one on May 26 is a perigean full moon. Even with the lunar nodal cycle in its current phase, cities like Miami should expect some coastal flooding.
This story is part of Oceans 21 Our series on the global ocean opened with five in depth profiles. Look out for new articles on the state of our oceans in the lead up to the UN’s next climate conference, COP26. The series is brought to you by The Conversation’s international network.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will consider updating a county vision document, look at separating out the Community Development director’s job and offer several proclamations.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 4, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 933 8613 0854, passcode 715750. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,93386130854#,,,,*715750# US.
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 passcode information above.
On the agenda is consideration of an update to the county’s document, “Vision 2028: Reimagining Lake County, Ten Key Priorities to Build a Brighter Future.”
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson’s report to the board for the item explains that during the board’s April 16 governance workshop, Supervisor Jessica Pyska raised concern that disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery is not specifically stated in the plan, originally adopted on April 10, 2018, and amended on May 22, 2018.
The board will hold a discussion to update the document’s goals for public safety, as Pyska suggested.
Also on Tuesday, in another untimed item, the board will consider forming a roadmap task force committee, which came out of the board’s April 16 special governance workshop.
The task force will focus on four goals: developing and maintaining a high standard of disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery, including an applicable update to Vision 2028; create a community revitalization pilot project; continue to support the efforts of the Economic Development Task Force; and continue to support efforts to invest in and develop the workforce as necessary to accomplish the board's goals.
Membership is recommended to include Supervisor Jessica Pyska and Supervisor Bruno Sabatier; the Community Development director; the Animal Care and Control director; Sheriff Brian Martin; and County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a resolution to establish positional allocations for the current fiscal year for the planning budget unit in order to separate out the Community Development director job.
Huchingson’s report to the board explains that, historically, the Community Development director classification has been allocated as part of the Planning Budget Unit 2702.
“In February 2020, your Board combined the Community Development Department with the Departments of Public Works and Water Resources, and in the next Fiscal Year budget cycle, said classification was eliminated from BU 2702,” Huchingson said.
Noting that Community Development “deals with a very high volume of complex work, essential to residents needing the services and vital to the local economy,” Huchingson said the resolution would reallocate the Community Development Director classification as a separate classification within the Planning Budget Unit 2702, and so return to the long-time model with a director focused 100-percent of the time on the department.
Scott De Leon has held the job of Public Works, Water Resources and Community Development director since February 2020, as Lake County News has reported.
Board Chair Bruno Sabatier told Lake County News that the county is going to begin advertising the separate Community Development director job this week.
On Tuesday, from 9:06 to 9:14 a.m., the board will present several proclamations, including one to commend Operation Tango Mike for 18 years of support for military personnel and their families, and to designate May 2021 as Mental Health Month and Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, and May 3 to 8 as Wildfire Preparedness Week.
The board also is scheduled to have another closed session to conduct interviews for the Public Health officer position.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation designating May 3 to 8, 2021, as Wildfire Preparedness Week.
5.2: Adopt proclamation commending Operation Tango Mike for 18 years of support for military personnel and their families.
5.3: Approve the County of Lake COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Worksite Protocol.
5.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve contract between the Lake County Assessor-Recorder's Office and Kofile Technologies Inc. for redaction services in the amount of $99,570.55 and authorize assessor-recorder to sign.
5.5: (a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve Amendment 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Social Solutions Global Inc. for the Service and Coordination of Activities Involved With the Lake County Continuum of Care Homeless Management Integration System Software for Fiscal Years 2020-21 through 2023-24 to allow for an increase to the total number of licenses provided and an increase to the contract maximum of $137,670.00 for a total of $253,570 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.6: Adopt proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as Mental Health Month.
5.7: Adopt proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in Lake County.
5.8: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 13, 2021.
5.9: Adopt resolution authorizing the 2021-2022 Grant Project-Lake County Victim Witness Assistance Program and authorize the chair to sign the certification of compliance.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.11: Approve the continuation of resolution ratifying the declaration of local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transport, and disposal of fire debris for the LNU Complex wildfire.
5.12: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.13: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.14: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.15: Approve the continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.16: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.4, Cooperative Purchases; (b) approve purchase of a 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 Regular Cab 4x4; and (c) authorize the Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue and sign a purchase order not to exceed $30,000 to Matt Mazzei Chevrolet-Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram of Lakeport.
5.17: Adopt proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as CalFresh Awareness Month.
5.18: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of the goods and services, and (b) approve and sign the agreement between county of Lake and Clean Lakes Inc. for the Aquatic Vegetation Management Program for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 in the amount of $197,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:05 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation commending Operation Tango Mike for 18 years of support for military personnel and their families.
6.3, 9:08 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as CalFresh Awareness Month.
6.4, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as Mental Health Month.
6.5, 9:12 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of May 2021 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in Lake County.
6.6, 9:14 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating May 3 to 8, 2021, Wildfire Preparedness Week.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of recommendations for formation of roadmap task force.
7.3: Consideration of update to “Vision 2028: Reimagining Lake County, Ten Key Priorities to Build a Brighter Future.”
7.4: Consideration of resolution amending Resolution No. 2020-134 Establishing Position Allocations For Fiscal Year 2020-2021, Budget Unit No. 2702, Planning.
7.5: Consideration of Change Order No.’s 4, 5, 6, & 7 FEMA FMAG Culvert Replacement No. 1 & No. 2 Project, Federal Project No.’s FMAG DR 5093-1-1R & FMAG DR 5112-1-1R, Bid No. 19-01, for an increase of $19, 528.66, and a revised contract amount of $667,369.93.
7.6: Consideration of Contract Change Order No. 1 with Storesund Construction, Inc. for the Soda Bay CSA-20 Redwood Water Tanks Replacement Project, CalOES Disaster #4240 and Project Number 4240-40-36R, for an increase of $30,055.09 and a revised contract amount of $655,139.54.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): (a) Interviews of Public Health officer; (b) appointment of Public Health officer.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(2), (e)(1) – One potential case.
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. – Rising above a field of grass or on rocky outcrops on slender stalks waving in the breeze in deep shades of violet (Foothill Larkspur, Delphinium hesperium) or red (Red Larkspur, Delphinium nudicaule) is commonly just called larkspur and both varieties are native to Lake County.
Often grown and used as cut flowers (but don’t pick the wildflowers if not in your own yard), both varieties of these larkspur are classified within the genus Delphinium because the flower buds on the plant look a lot like a dolphin.
Regardless of the genus classification, the plant earned the common name of larkspur because the elongated petals on each bloom look like spurs- typically, the hind claws of a lark.
Foothill larkspur, or also called western or coastal larkspur, is endemic to California, where it grows in woodland and grassland in the northern half of the state including Lake County.
It is well adapted to serpentine soils and grassy areas, and rises like a banner of deep violet above the surrounding grasses but can sometimes be found with lighter pinkish to white flowers.
Red larkspur, or also orange larkspur and canyon delphinium, sends up long, stringy thin stems with the flowers in shades of red and orange towering above the leaves near the ground.
Native to the lower elevation canyons, foothills, and slopes, it is often found along the banks of streams and roadsides in Lake County.
Both red and foothill larkspur attract hummingbirds in droves; so if you want more hummers in your yard, larkspur is a great choice of wildflower, with both larkspur varieties reaching up to three or four foot tall, blooming mid-spring, and can grow in full sun to part shade.
Red larkspur prefers moist, heavy clay soils with some shade while foothill larkspur prefers open, grassy areas with full sun; both are well adapted to Lake County in the right spot and will bring joy to your garden – as well as the bees and hummingbirds.
Terre Logsdon is an environmentalist, certified master composter, and advocate for agroecology solutions to farming. An avid fan and protector of California wildflowers, plants, natural resources, and the environment, she seeks collaborative solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. Kim Riley is retired, an avid hiker at Highland Springs, and has lived in Lake County since 1985. After 15 years of trail recovery and maintenance on the Highland Springs trails, she is now focused on native plants, including a native plant and pollinator garden on her property as well as promoting and preserving the beauty of the Highland Springs Recreation Area. Karen Sullivan has operated two nurseries to propagate and cultivate native plants and wildflowers, has lived in Kelseyville for the past 30 years, rides horses far and wide to see as many flowers as possible, and offers native plants and wildflowers for sale to the public. You can check her nursery stock here. They are collaborating on a book, Highland Springs Recreation Area: A Field Guide, which will be published in the future. In the meanwhile, please visit https://www.facebook.com/HighlandSpringsNaturalists and https://www.facebook.com/HighlandSpringsRecreationArea.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Redbud Audubon Society is celebrating 47 years of conservation work in Lake County.
The month of April was declared Bird Appreciation Month in Lake County by the Board of Supervisors.
The Redbud Audubon Society requested the proclamation to celebrate Earth Day on April 22 and to recognize the value of birds to the residents, visitors and businesses in Lake County.
The Redbud Audubon Society is the oldest conservation organization in the county. It was founded in 1974 by Evelyn Thompson of Kelseyville and a group of friends who recognized the need for an active environmental group here.
Redbud Audubon is a chapter of the National Audubon Society and functions under its umbrella which includes filing activities and fiscal reports every year, shared memberships and following the lead of the national organization’s bird conservation recommendations.
As a nationally recognized Audubon chapter, Redbud must conduct activities each year, provide educational birding field trips, and follow the standards and best practices for a nonprofit organization. Redbud is a charitable 501c(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax-deductible.
As part of its obligations to the community and as part of its mission, Redbud holds monthly speaker meetings from September through April, and conducts field trips, both in and out of the county, concluding with its annual Heron Days boat tours on Clear Lake at the end of April and beginning of May.
The chapter holds a yearly Christmas Bird Count and reports the data collected from that event to the National organization. Redbud also facilitates the placement of Osprey nesting poles.
Over the last year, Redbud programs and field trips have been curtailed because of COVID-19.
The chapter was able to conduct its annual Christmas Bird Count and offered five Zoom speaker programs and is hoping to start in-person meetings in the fall, along with resuming monthly field trips and Heron Days in the spring of 2022.
Other activities carried out by Redbud Audubon include commenting on proposed development projects that require California Environmental Quality Act review, providing educational materials to local schools and creating and monitoring a Blue Bird Trail of nest boxes.
The chapter is also available to answer questions about birds and wildlife, maintains a website, and is active on Facebook.
If you would like to join in the efforts of Redbud Audubon Society you can either volunteer, become a member, or do both.
For information on how to become a member, go to the chapter’s website at www.redbudaudubon.org.
For other inquiries email the chapter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-263-8030.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will hear an update from Pacific Gas and Electric and also consider grant agreements and projects.
The council will meet in closed session at 5:15 p.m. for an evaluation of City Manager Kevin Ingram before the open portion of the council meeting begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 4.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799. The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments prior to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4.
Indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that read to the council will be subject to the three-minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council prior to the meeting.
Tuesday’s agenda includes a presentation by PG&E about its Community Wildfire Safety Program and a proclamation recognizing May 9 to 15 as Police Week.
Ingram will ask the council to approve a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Lakeport Main Street Association for the period of July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.
Finance Director Nick Walker will present an update on the utility rate study and seek direction to staff on next steps.
The council also will consider a waiver request for accrued interest in the amount of $9,041.57 for the parcel located at 2403 Hartley St. in exchange for the full payment of the parcel’s base assessment in escrow, and the denial of a reduction in the AB1600 water expansion fee for that same parcel.
Community Development Director Jenni Byers will present a resolution approving an allocation of funding and the execution of a grant agreement and any amendments from the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief.
Byers also will take to the council a draft resolution authorizing the city manager to sign the statement of assurances and submit an application for the State Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Rounds 2 and 3.
Public Works Director Doug Grider will discuss with the council items regarding the 2021 Sewer Main Rehabilitation Project.
Councilmembers will be asked to terminate the construction contract with AFelix General Engineering, Inc. dba WestPac Construction under Section 6-5 of the contract’s standard specifications, and award a construction contract to Ghilotti Construction for the 2021 Sewer Main Rehabilitation Project subject to the previously-approved budget adjustment.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances, minutes of the special council meetings on April 15 and 20, and the regular meeting on April 20; approval of event application 2021-004, with staff recommendations, for the 2021 Home Amateur Winemakers Winefest on Sept. 18; approval of event application 2021-008, with staff recommendations, for the 2021 Memorial Day Parade on May 29, 2021; approval of a resolution authorizing examination of sales or transactions and use tax records and authorize the city manager to sign an amendment and novation agreement.
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 several new dogs waiting to be adopted.
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Belgian Malinois, boxer, German Shepherd and pit bull.
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.
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”).
“Sophie” is a female boxer-pit bull mix in kennel No. 18, ID No. 14356. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Sophie’
“Sophie” is a female boxer-pit bull mix with a short red coat.
She is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 14356.
“Rocky” is a male pit bull terrier in kennel No. 19, ID No. 14506. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Rocky’
“Rocky” is a male pit bull terrier with a short black coat.
He has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 19, ID No. 14506.
This young male Belgian Malinois is in kennel No. 20, ID No. 14521. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male Belgian Malinois
This young male Belgian Malinois has a short black and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 20, ID No. 14521.
This female pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 14486. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female pit bull terrier
This female pit bull terrier has a short blue and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 14486.
“Ella” is a female German Shepherd in kennel No. 25, ID No. 14510. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Ella’
“Ella” is a female German Shepherd with a medium-length tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 25, ID No. 14510.
“Brutus” is a male pit bull terrier in kennel No. 28, ID No. 14507. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Brutus’
“Brutus” is a male pit bull terrier with a short gray and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 28, ID No. 14507.
This male pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 32, ID No. 14509. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male pit bull terrier
This male pit bull terrier has a short brown and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 32, ID No. 14509.
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.
Edenberry Farm at the Tuesday Market in Library Park in Lakeport, California. Courtesy photo. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Farmers’ Finest will open its seasonal market in Lakeport’s Library Park on Tuesday, May 4.
The Lakeport City Council voted in late April to give the downtown markets the go-ahead.
Lake County Farmers’ Finest operates a year-round market on Saturdays at the Lake County Fair’s Floriculture Building and a seasonal one on Tuesdays at Library Park from May to October.
Both are in Lakeport and are open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine.
“Shopping at a Certified Farmers’ Market provides you with healthy, fresh food, a sense of well-being and hope, and a connection to your community,” said Market Manager Cornelia Sieber-Davis. “Farmers have faith in the future. Is there anything that requires more faith than putting a seed in a bit of dirt and having it grow into a tomato, in spite of unpredictable weather, hornworms, and yes, disease?”
Certified Farmers Markets offer fruits and vegetables grown in season in the same geographical area, not thousands of miles away or in another country.
Shopping at farmers markets also supports local farmers and keeps the money you spend on food closer to your neighborhood.
Fresh and healthy produce grown by Rafael Garcia year-round. Courtesy photo.
The word “certified” does not denote a growing practice such as “organic.” Rather, it certifies that the produce being sold is grown by the farmers selling it, Sieber-Davis said.
She said this is important as it allows customers to create a relationship with the person producing their food. Shoppers can ask the farmers about their growing practices and find out what they use on their farms.
Shoppers also will find beautiful handmade crafts, honey, olive oil, artisan foods, live music and information booths.
The markets accept WIC and CalFresh/EBT and offer Market Match at both markets. When customers use their federal nutrition benefits, they match them dollar for dollar, up to a daily limit per card.
Market Match supports job creation, local economic development and civic engagement by leveraging the benefits of farmers markets for a broader community.
To apply for CalFresh anytime visit www.getcalfresh.org or call 707-995-4200 for information on other ways to apply.
For more information or to order online for curbside pickup, visit www.lakecountyfarmersfinest.org or call the manager at 707 263-6076.
David Neft playing at The Market Square at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport, California. Courtesy photo.
“Ruby” is a female domestic long hair in cat room kennel No. 120, ID No. 14475. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Ruby’
“Ruby” is a female domestic long hair with a brown coat and gold eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 120, ID No. 14475.
“Moxi” is a female domestic longhair in cat room kennel No. 133, ID No. 14483. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Moxi’
“Moxi” is a female domestic longhair with a calico coat and blue eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 133, ID No. 14483.
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.
Warmer weather brings the emergence of rattlesnakes. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Spring is here, and with it comes warm weather and hot, dry conditions in many areas of California that create an ideal atmosphere for rattlesnakes.
Human encounters with snakes are more likely as these elusive animals become more active this time of year. Most native snakes are harmless.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends avoiding the rattlesnake, a venomous species, and knowing what to do in the rare event of a bite.
Rattlesnakes may be found in diverse habitats, from coastal to desert, and are widespread in California. They can be attracted to areas around homes with heavy brush or vegetation, under woodpiles where rodents may hide, as well as well-manicured landscapes to bask in the sun.
Rattlesnakes are not generally aggressive, unless provoked or threatened, and will likely retreat if given space.
“Snakes are often misunderstood. They provide significant ecosystem benefits, such as rodent control, and are an important part of California’s unique biodiversity,” said CDFW’s Conflict Programs Coordinator Vicky Monroe. “Snakes prefer to avoid people or pets and are not naturally aggressive. We encourage people to be rattlesnake safe, take time to learn about their local wildlife and take appropriate safety precautions when enjoying the outdoors.”
Most bites occur when a rattlesnake is handled or accidentally brushed against by someone walking or climbing.
Most bites occur between the months of April and October when snakes and humans are most active outdoors.
On occasion, rattlesnake bites have caused severe injury – even death.
The California Poison Control System notes that the chances of being bitten are small compared to the risk of other environmental injuries. The potential of encountering a rattlesnake should not deter anyone from venturing outdoors.
In 2019, CDFW confirmed the state’s first case of Snake Fungal Disease, or SFD, a newly emerging disease in snakes. SFD can cause significant mortalities in species of conservation concern. There is no evidence that SFD is transmittable from snakes to humans.
You may assist CDFW’s efforts by reporting sightings of snakes with skin sores or unusual behavior. Do not attempt to touch or handle.
Karen D. Holl, University of California, Santa Cruz and Pedro Brancalion, Universidade de São Paulo
As ecologists who study forestrestoration, we know that trees store carbon, provide habitat for animals and plants, prevent erosion and create shade in cities. But as we have explained elsewhere in detail, planting trees is not a silver bullet for solving complex environmental and social problems. And for trees to produce benefits, they need to be planted correctly – which often is not the case.
Planting trees can have both positive and negative effects, depending on how projects are planned and managed and where they are done.Vanessa Sontag, modified from Holl and Brancalion 2020., CC BY-ND
A monoculture of exotic eucalyptus trees (background) planted into a a native grassland within the Brazilian Cerrado, a global hot spot for conservation priorities. Transforming an open ecosystem into a shaded monoculture plantation harms native plant and animal species and reduces the water supply for local people and aquatic creatures.Robin Chazdon, CC BY-ND
Planting fast-growing, nonnative trees in arid areas may also reduce water supplies. And some top-down tree-planting programs implemented by international organizations or national governments displace farmers and lead them to clear forests elsewhere.
Large-scale tree-planting initiatives have failed in locations from Sri Lanka to Turkey to Canada. In some places, the tree species were not well suited to local soil and climate conditions. Elsewhere, the trees were not watered or fertilized. In some cases local people removed trees that were planted on their land without permission. And when trees die or are cut down, any carbon they have taken up returns to the atmosphere, negating benefits from planting them.
To achieve benefits from tree-planting, the trees need to grow for a decade or more. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that reforested areas are often recleared within a decade or two. We recommend that tree-growing efforts set targets for the area of forest restored after 10, 20 or 50 years, rather than focusing on numbers of seedlings planted.
And it may not even be necessary to actively plant trees. For example, much of the eastern U.S. was logged in the 18th and 19th centuries. But for the past century, where nature has been left to take its course, large areas of forests have regrown without people planting trees.
This forest in southwestern Virginia was logged in the 1800s and has since regrown naturally, like most forests in the eastern United States.Leighton Reid, CC BY-ND
Helping tree-growing campaigns succeed
Tree-growing is expected to receive unprecedented financial, political and societal support in the coming years as part of the U.N. Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and ambitious initiatives such as the Bonn Challenge and World Economic Forum 1t.org campaign to conserve, restore and grow 1 trillion trees. It would be an enormous waste to squander this unique opportunity.
Protecting existing forests often requires providing alternative income for people who maintain trees on their land rather than logging them or growing crops. It also is important to strengthen enforcement of protected areas, and to promote supply chains for timber and agricultural products that do not involve forest-clearing.
Include nearby communities in tree-growing projects. International organizations and national governments fund many tree-growing projects, but their goals may be quite different from those of local residents who are actually growing the trees on their land. Study after study has shown that involving local farmers and communities in the process, from planning through monitoring, is key to tree-growing success.
A farmer and representatives from an international NGO and a restoration company. discuss where to plant native trees on a cattle ranch in the Brazilian Amazon.Pedro Brancalion, CC BY-ND
Start with careful planning. Which species are most likely to grow well given local site conditions? Which species will best achieve the project’s goals? And who will take care of the trees after they are planted?
It is important to plant in areas where trees have grown historically, and to consider whether future climatic conditions are likely to support trees. Planting in areas that are less productive for agriculture reduces the risk that the land will be recleared or existing forests will be cut down to compensate for lost productive areas.
Plan for the long term. Most tree seedlings need care to survive and grow. This may include multi-year commitments to water, fertilize, weed and protect them from grazing or fire and monitor whether the venture achieves its goals.
We encourage people who support tree-growing efforts to ask where the money is going – to the organization’s managers, or to landowners who are actually growing the trees? Who is monitoring the effort and how long will they track it?
Growing trees can help solve some of the most pressing challenges of our time. But it is important to understand that planting seedlings is just the first step.