LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has new kittens and cats at the shelter this week waiting for new homes.

The available cats include tabbies in a variety of colors and torties.

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

For those looking for a barn cat to keep the rodents at bay, be sure to ask about the barn cat adoption program. Feral barn cats are adopted out for $1 each, which includes altering, ear notching and vaccines. 

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Shelter_Animal_Search.htm .

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”).

Gray tabby kitten

This female gray tabby kitten has a short coat and gold eyes.

She's in cat room No. 1b, ID No. 6446.

Orange tabby

This male orange tabby has a short coat and gold eyes.

He's in cat room kennel No. 43, ID No. 6513.

'Cleo'

“Cleo” is a female domestic short hair cat has a white coat with dilute calico markings and gold eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 49, ID No. 6501.

'Cosmo'

“Cosmo” is a male domestic short hair kitten with a buff and white coat and gold eyes.

He's in cat room kennel No. 101b, ID No. 6502.

'Wanda'

“Wanda” is a female domestic short hair mix kitten with a gray tabby and white coat and gold eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 101c, ID No. 6503.

'Nikki'

“Nikki” is a female domestic short hair mix kitten with a gray and white coat and gold eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 101d, ID No. 6504.

Domestic medium hair cat

This female domestic medium hair cat has a dilute tortie coat and green eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 111, ID No. 6459.

Domestic short hair

This young female domestic short hair cat has a gray tabby coat and gold eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 112, ID No. 6555.

Domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair has a gray tabby coat and gold eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 120, ID No. 6416.

Clayton fire cat

This male domestic medium hair cat was injured during the Clayton fire. He was taken into care on Aug. 18 in Lower Lake.

He has a medium-length gray and white coat and gold eyes, and is recovering from injuries suffered during the Clayton fire. He has been neutered.

He's in the Animal Care and Control clinic, ID No. 5856.

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

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

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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

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

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.

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“When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us.”– Arapaho

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – More than 100 years ago the land comprising California was home to over 100 distinct tribal groups of Indians who spoke different languages, and held different customs.

Many of the tribal groups had a common food staple, that of acorns. The Indians who lived in what is now Lake County, the Pomo, Miwok, Wappo, Patwin and Yuki were hunter-gatherers.

Much of the land of California and Lake County was bountiful and gave richly of waterfowl, great herds of elk and deer, and an abundance of fish in the rivers and streams.

Fall was, then, as it is now, a time of thanks for this abundance. Historical writer and archaeologist Robert Heizer indicated that there were over 500 varieties of flora and fauna garnered by the California Indians.

Conservation land practices were in place then, so as to assure that the rich quality and quantities of these resources would continue. The landscape was often control-burned to keep the understory of the oak woodlands cleared.

The fall season was a harvest time; it was a time to gather acorns. There was a cadenced rhythm to the season for generations.

In California we have about 20 different species of oaks which produce edible acorns. According to Heizer, one healthy oak tree was capable of netting 500 to 1,000 pounds of acorns in a good fall season.

Tanoak was considered a premier, tasty variety. Acorns were frequently gathered by climbing the oak and hitting the branches with a pole.

After a shower of acorns fell to earth, nets and burden baskets were put to use then to collect the tan nuggets. The acorns were often left to dry prior to shelling. The drying process usually took a few weeks.

Acorns provided bread, mush and more. One ounce of acorn meal contains about 140 calories, 9 or more grams of fat, about 6 percent protein, some calcium and iron among other nutrients.

To begin the acorn meal process a keen eye was needed to gather only the acorns with no insect holes or rot. Then, acorns were ground up with a mortar and pestle.

Some women used basket hoppers to keep the acorn meal from spilling while they pounded and ground the nuts. A sand bowl could be devised, by a stream, for the next step which was leaching.

The leaching process involved the pouring of water over the meal to rid it of bitter tannins. After the leaching process the meal could be cooked into a variety of products, such as soup or mush.

The Pomo Indians were expert basket weavers and cooked the mush inside a basket through the use of hot rocks. The rocks were stirred frequently to keep the basket and meal from burning.

For an in-depth look at the process of acorn preparation view this excellent UC Berkeley video below.

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control is once again filled with many dogs needing new homes for the holidays.

This week's dogs include mixes of Australian Cattle Dog, beagle, border collie, Chihuahua, dachshund, hound, husky, Labrador Retriever, pointer, pit bull, Rottweiler, Shih Tzu, terrier and Viszla.

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”).

Chihuahua-dachshund mix

This male Chihuahua-dachshund mix has a long white coat with tan markings, gold eyes and floppy ears.

He's in kennel No. 2, ID no. 6519.

'Buddy'

“Buddy” is a little male Shih Tzu with a white coat and some gray and black markings.

He already has been neutered.

He's in kennel No. 3, ID No. 6599.

Female Chihuahua

This adult female Chihuahua has a short black coat.

She's in quarantine kennel No. 5, ID No. 6567.

Chihuahua-dachshund pup

This male Chihuahua-dachshund mix puppy has a short black coat with white and brown markings.

He's in quarantine kennel No. 5a, ID No. 6569.

Chihuahua-dachshund pup

This female Chihuahua-dachshund mix puppy has a short black coat with white and brown markings.

She's in quarantine kennel No. 5b, ID No. 6570.

Terrier mix

This male terrier mix has a short red coat.

He's in kennel No. 5, ID No. 6568.

Labrador Retriever-pit bull mix

This female Labrador Retriever-pit bull mix puppy has a short black coat with white markings.

She's in kennel No. 6, ID No. 6576.

'Lucy'

“Lucy” is a terrier mix with a short tricolor coat.

She's in kennel No. 7a, ID No. 6597.

'Cappi'

“Cappi” is a male terrier mix with a short black and gray coats.

He already has been neutered.

He's in kennel No. 6598, ID No. 7b.

Shepherd-beagle mix

This female shepherd-beagle mix has a short tricolor coat.

She's in kennel No. 9, ID No. 6517.

Terrier mix

This male terrier mix has a short black coat with white markings and floppy ears.

He's in kennel No. 11, ID No. 6505.

Labrador Retriever-pit bull terrier

This young female Labrador Retriever-pit bull terrier has a short tan and white coat.

She's in kennel No. 12, ID No. 6581.

Labrador Retriever

This male Labrador Retriever has a short black coat and brown eyes.

He's in kennel No. 15, ID No. 6463.

Australian Cattle Dog

This female Australian Cattle Dog has a short black and white coat.

She's in kennel No. 16, ID No. 6529.

Australian Cattle Dog

This female Australian Cattle Dog has a short blue and tan coat.

She's in kennel No. 17, ID No. 6511.

Vizsla mix

This female Vizsla mix has a short black and brown coat.

She's in kennel No. 6537, ID No. 22a.

Vizsla mix

This male Vizsla mix has a short black coat with white markings.

He's in kennel No. 22b, ID No. 6538.

Pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier has a short black and brown coat.

Staff said she is very scared in the shelter and needs some tender loving care.

She's in kennel No. 24, ID No. 6506.

Labrador Retriever-border collie mix

This male Labrador Retriever-border collie mix has a short black and white coat and brown eyes.

He's in kennel No. 26, ID No. 6438.

'Kali'

“Kali” is a female pit bull terrier mix.

She has a short blue and white coat, brown eyes and cropped ears.

She's in kennel No. 27, ID No. 6424.

Labrador Retriever

This male Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat and brown eyes.

Shelter staff said he is a sweet, energetic boy who would do wonderfully with an active family. He has been introduced to several dogs at the shelter, with all of those encounters ending playfully and happily.

He has typical lab energy and would be a great running companion. While he pulls on the leash he responds appropriately with correction.

He's in kennel No. 28, ID No. 6415.

Dachshund-terrier mix

This female dachshund-terrier mix has a short red and white coat.

She's in kennel No. 30a, ID No. 6531.

Cattle dog-boxer mix

This female cattle dog-boxer mix has a short black and white coat.

She's in kennel No. 30b, ID No. 6532.

Husky mix

This male husky mix has a medium-length tricolor coat.

He's in kennel No. 31, ID no. 6582.

Rottweiler mix

This male Rottweiler mix has a short tricolor coat.

He's in kennel No. 33a, ID No. 6571.

Rottweiler-hound mix

This female Rottweiler-hound mix has a short brindle and white coat.

She's in kennel No. 33b, ID No. 6580.

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

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

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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

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

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.

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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol on Saturday released some additional details about an early morning solo-vehicle wreck that killed two local men.

The crash at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 29 took the lives of a 27-year-old Lakeport man and a 21-year-old man from Kelseyville, the CHP said.

On Saturday, the CHP did not release their names pending family notification.

The Saturday report from CHP Officer Ryan Erickson said that just before 12:15 a.m. the Lakeport man was driving his 2009 Chevy Malibu northbound on Highway 29 at an unknown rate of speed with the Kelseyville man riding as his passenger in the right front seat.

For reasons that Erickson said are yet to be determined, the driver was unable to negotiate the roundabout and allowed his vehicle to run into the roundabout head-on.

The crash caused the Chevrolet to become airborne, and it came to rest on its roof in a walnut orchard just to the north of Highway 20, Erickson said.

Radio reports that came in shortly after the crash indicated that an off-duty paramedic arrived at the scene and found both the driver and passenger trapped and unresponsive in the overturned vehicle.

When Northshore Fire paramedics arrived a short time later, they determined that the two men had died, the CHP said.

Erickson's Saturday report said speed was a factor, but it was not known at that point if drugs or alcohol had contributed to the wreck. Both crash victims were using their seat belts.

The collision remains under investigation by Officer Erickson.

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.

A thrilling ride is about to begin for NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Engineers have been pumping up the spacecraft's orbit around Saturn this year to increase its tilt with respect to the planet's equator and rings.

And on Nov. 30, following a gravitational nudge from Saturn's moon Titan, Cassini will enter the first phase of the mission's dramatic endgame.

Launched in 1997, Cassini has been touring the Saturn system since arriving there in 2004 for an up-close study of the planet, its rings and moons.

During its journey, Cassini has made numerous dramatic discoveries, including a global ocean within Enceladus and liquid methane seas on Titan.

Between Nov. 30 and April 22, Cassini will circle high over and under the poles of Saturn, diving every seven days – a total of 20 times – through the unexplored region at the outer edge of the main rings.

"We're calling this phase of the mission Cassini's Ring-Grazing Orbits, because we'll be skimming past the outer edge of the rings," said Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California. "In addition, we have two instruments that can sample particles and gases as we cross the ringplane, so in a sense Cassini is also 'grazing' on the rings."

On many of these passes, Cassini's instruments will attempt to directly sample ring particles and molecules of faint gases that are found close to the rings.

During the first two orbits, the spacecraft will pass directly through an extremely faint ring produced by tiny meteors striking the two small moons Janus and Epimetheus. Ring crossings in March and April will send the spacecraft through the dusty outer reaches of the F ring.

"Even though we're flying closer to the F ring than we ever have, we'll still be more than 4,850 miles distant. There’s very little concern over dust hazard at that range," said Earl Maize, Cassini project manager at JPL.

The F ring marks the outer boundary of the main ring system; Saturn has several other, much fainter rings that lie farther from the planet.

The F ring is complex and constantly changing: Cassini images have shown structures like bright streamers, wispy filaments and dark channels that appear and develop over mere hours. The ring is also quite narrow – only about 500 miles wide. At its core is a denser region about 30 miles wide.

So many sights to see

Cassini's ring-grazing orbits offer unprecedented opportunities to observe the menagerie of small moons that orbit in or near the edges of the rings, including best-ever looks at the moons Pandora, Atlas, Pan and Daphnis.

Grazing the edges of the rings also will provide some of the closest-ever studies of the outer portions of Saturn's main rings (the A, B and F rings).

Some of Cassini's views will have a level of detail not seen since the spacecraft glided just above them during its arrival in 2004.

The mission will begin imaging the rings in December along their entire width, resolving details smaller than 0.6 mile per pixel and building up Cassini's highest-quality complete scan of the rings' intricate structure.

The mission will continue investigating small-scale features in the A ring called "propellers," which reveal the presence of unseen moonlets. Because of their airplane propeller-like shapes, scientists have given some of the more persistent features informal names inspired by famous aviators, including "Earhart." Observing propellers at high resolution will likely reveal new details about their origin and structure.

And in March, while coasting through Saturn's shadow, Cassini will observe the rings backlit by the sun, in the hope of catching clouds of dust ejected by meteor impacts.

Preparing for the finale

During these orbits, Cassini will pass as close as about 56,000 miles above Saturn's cloud tops. But even with all their exciting science, these orbits are merely a prelude to the planet-grazing passes that lie ahead. In April 2017, the spacecraft will begin its Grand Finale phase.

After nearly 20 years in space, the mission is drawing near its end because the spacecraft is running low on fuel.

The Cassini team carefully designed the finale to conduct an extraordinary science investigation before sending the spacecraft into Saturn to protect its potentially habitable moons.

During its grand finale, Cassini will pass as close as 1,012 miles above the clouds as it dives repeatedly through the narrow gap between Saturn and its rings, before making its mission-ending plunge into the planet’s atmosphere on Sept. 15. But before the spacecraft can leap over the rings to begin its finale, some preparatory work remains.

To begin with, Cassini is scheduled to perform a brief burn of its main engine during the first super-close approach to the rings on Dec. 4. This maneuver is important for fine-tuning the orbit and setting the correct course to enable the remainder of the mission.

"This will be the 183rd and last currently planned firing of our main engine. Although we could still decide to use the engine again, the plan is to complete the remaining maneuvers using thrusters," said Maize.

To further prepare, Cassini will observe Saturn's atmosphere during the ring-grazing phase of the mission to more precisely determine how far it extends above the planet.

Scientists have observed Saturn's outermost atmosphere to expand and contract slightly with the seasons since Cassini's arrival.

Given this variability, the forthcoming data will be important for helping mission engineers determine how close they can safely fly the spacecraft.

For details about Cassini's Ring-Grazing Orbits, including timing, closest approach distances and highlights, visit https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/2966/ring-grazing-orbits .

The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Italian Space Agency. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. JPL designed, developed and assembled the Cassini orbiter.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – This past summer, Justin Hingston, Boatswain and crew member of Lake County’s Sea Scout Ship Konocti Phoenix, checked off one of his bucket list items: Sail aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, also known as “America’s Tall Ship.”

Most Sea Scouts can only dream of the experience. Of the 6,500-plus registered Sea Scouts in the US, few would qualify for the program, and only six Sea Scout applicants per year are considered for three week-long cruises each summer aboard the 295-foot long tall ship.

Sea Scouts work alongside 60 assigned enlisted year-round crew members, and 150 US Coast Guard cadets who train on the ship the summer prior to commencing their first year at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.

Sixteen-year-old Hingston went through a demanding, competitive screening process: attainment of the Sea Scout “Able” rank (second to the highest Sea Scout rank of quartermaster); completion of the Sea Scout Experience Advanced Leadership, or “SEAL” training; an essay on his personal motivation to join the program; another essay on how he would utilize what he learned; and a school résumé, scouting résumé and community service résumé.

Being an active crew member and leader with the Konocti Phoenix Sea Scouts over the last four years gave Hingston the experience, leadership, and seamanship skills to work with confidence alongside seasoned Coast Guard crew members and “swabs” (first year cadets).

Dressed in his Sea Scout uniform with ticket in hand, the young man flew to Boston and set sail on the tall ship from Salem, Mass., on July 30.

“I had a lot of different duties on the ship,” said Hingston. “Engine duty, polishing brass and metal, working the helm, navigation, trimming sails, and washing dishes in the scullery which was the most efficient dishwashing operation I’ve ever seen.”

Among his many duties, Hingston operated the main (center) mast along with 6-8 crew members. One of his memorable experiences was having to raise a 6-ton yard (a pole on which sails are set) just 5 feet higher. It took 150 cadets to work the sophisticated pulley system to accomplish the task.

The physically demanding duties also challenged the Sea Scout to step up his leadership abilities.

“One evening, I was on the 8-to-midnight watch, and we needed to trim the sails to go faster. The officers looked for someone to lead the crew. I was thinking, I’ll do it, I know the commands, I can do it and I have people willing to work with me. And so I just did it,” said the scout.

After a week of fair weather, Hingston and his crewmates docked the tall ship next to the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid on the Hudson River by New York City’s West side. He flew back home, energized by life-changing, unforgettable experiences aboard a phenomenal sailing vessel.

Hingston’s confidence and abilities grew from years of experience working on Konocti Phoenix’s sailboats and “flagship” vessel – a decommissioned 40-foot US Navy Liberty Launch boat moored at Braito’s Marina in Buckingham.

Several times a year, Konocti Phoenix Sea Scouts also cruise with neighboring Sea Scout Ships such as the SSS Chaser out of Napa with its 90-foot long steel-hull boat formerly used by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In addition, Sea Scout “regattas” or competitions between Sea Scout units in the region take place throughout the year, allowing crew members to hone their skills. Working with other crews and officers exposes local Sea Scouts to a wide pool of maritime experts, as well as different ship cultures and leadership styles.

Konocti Phoenix Skipper Bob Penny emphasized that Sea Scouts need to develop abilities to work as part of a team. This means that leaders need to learn how to delegate.

“Justin is one of the best all-around leaders I’ve had in a long time. He’s really taken over the ship in directing and training the crew. It’s much easier to do things yourself rather than delegate to make the work a team effort, but over the years, Justin has caught on and lives the concept,” he commented.

Hingston, currently a senior at Middletown High School, wants to design and build ships. He has applied for admission at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, renowned for its Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering program. But he is also considering the Coast Guard Academy in New London as well as CAL Maritime Academy in Vallejo where two of his fellow Sea Scout crew members are currently attending.

To prepare for a career in the maritime industry, Hingston also plans on achieving the highest Sea Scout rank, Quartermaster, by the time he graduates high school in June 2017. Only 0.5 percent of registered Sea Scouts achieve this rank.

The Sea Scout Ship Konocti Phoenix is a unit of the Sea Scouts program under the Boy Scouts of America. The ship invites young men and women ages 13 to 21 to come to their meetings to learn about Sea Scouting.

The Scouts meet from 7 to 9 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Kelseyville in the fall-winter months, and at Braito’s Marina from spring to early fall.

For more information contact Skipper Bob Penny at 707-263-5235 and visit the Ship’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SeaScoutKonoctiPhoenix .

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