LAKEPORT, Calif. – O'Meara Bros. Brewing Co. in Lakeport is saying a fond farewell and big thank you to retiring chef Roy Iversen, who has been with them since 2014, even before the popular restaurant and brewery opened.

The brothers, Alex and Tim O'Meara, said that Iversen has been invaluable to them and has become like family.

Opening a restaurant is no small task, and Iversen rose to the occasion again and again, tackling every challenge and keeping each dish consistent and delicious during the most challenging time for any restaurant.

The whole crew at O'Meara Bros. Brewing Co. wishes Iversen the best in retirement and are sorry to see him go.

Taking over for Iversen is Chef Jerry Phillips, a veteran chef who has more than 30 years’ experience and is bringing new and exciting dishes to O'Meara Bros.

Phillips has run many successful (and sometimes famous) kitchens throughout his career, including overseeing food service for the Chicago Cubs at their spring training facility and working as a personal chef for celebrities in Hollywood.

The O’Mearas are thrilled to have him and say customers are already praising his unique specials, which will rotate weekly from now on, offering new and unique choices for O'Meara Bros. customers.

Over the coming weeks they’ll introduce lemon-ginger crusted salmon, grilled pork loin with bacon-onion jam, country fried Cornish game hen and many more.

O'Meara Bros. released a new menu in early spring, and the O’Mearas said having Chef Phillips heading up the kitchen is the cherry on top.

SAN ANTONIO – U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Monika L. Hanreich has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Hanreich is the daughter of Pamela J. Hanreich of Kelseyville, Calif., and Mark D. Hanreich of Tomales, Calif., and sister of Kaede B. Hanreich of California City, Calif.

She is a 2011 graduate of Kelseyville High School.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST – The Mendocino National Forest is seeking qualified applicants to fill temporary, full-time fire positions for the 2017 season.

The vacancy announcement is open through May 18.

These are forestry technician positions for fire crew members within the fire management organization. The grades range from GS-03 to GS-05. The number and location of positions to be filled is determined by individual unit needs.

The work locations include Covelo, Elk Creek, Paskenta, Stonyford and Upper Lake. 

Vacancy announcements are posted on the USAJOBS Web site.

Applicants can find contact information for each duty station within the vacancy announcement.

The only one of California's 18 national forests not crossed by a paved road or highway, the Mendocino National Forest offers nearly one million acres and is especially attractive to people seeking an outdoor experience of tranquility and solitude.

Elevations in the forest range from 750 feet in the Grindstone Creek Canyon in the Sacramento Valley foothills on the forest's eastern edge to the 8,092 feet of South Yolla Bolly Mountain in the northern part.

The vacancy announcement flier is posted on the forest Web site at http://www.tinyurl.com/mcs4jy9 .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The community is invited to join the Soroptimist International of Clear Lake at its May 25 lunch meeting for an insightful and thought provoking presentation by Patty Ayala, ASW, a case manager working with substance abusing and incarcerated women. 

The meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. at Howard’s Grotto on 14732 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

In 2015, Ayala received a governor’s pardon.

Pardons reward people who have gone on to live honest and law-abiding lives after completing their criminal sentence.

As a formerly incarcerated woman, Ayala’s experience and insights allow her to reach incarcerated women, giving them the opportunity to gain the tools they will need to help them find their inherent dignity, self-confidence, and worth. 

Currently she works for the Solano County Sheriff’s Office in the Women’s Reentry Achievement Program.

Seating is limited so please call Ami Landrum at 707-350-7419 by Tuesday, May 23, to R.S.V.P.  The cost of lunch is $14.

Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is a nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.

For information on how you can join the local club or support our work, call 707-998-1302.

SACRAMENTO – Expanding on her proposed reforms to the State Board of Equalization, or BOE, California State Controller Betty T. Yee on Monday announced plans to establish a board governance policy.

She will introduce a draft policy at the May 23 BOE meeting in Sacramento.

“Clearly, a governance policy is urgently needed to create board member oversight, accountability, and efficiency,” said Controller Yee, the state’s chief fiscal officer and ex-officio member of BOE. “While I continue to work with the legislature and the governor to craft comprehensive BOE reforms, a new governance policy will help guide the board towards more ethical decision-making.”

In November 2015, the Controller’s review of BOE accounting and administrative controls showed the agency had misallocated $47.8 million in sales tax revenue, among other widespread deficiencies. The review’s recommended reforms have not been fully implemented.

The California Department of Finance released their own evaluation in March, raising additional concerns about the challenges BOE staff face in carrying out the agency’s mission.

In response, the controller immediately called for major reform including stripping board members of all statutory functions and permanently moving these duties to a separate new department under the governor. BOE would be relieved of their tax administration, audit, and compliance functions under Controller Yee’s proposal.

Due to ongoing issues, on April 13 Gov. Brown notified BOE that its delegated authority for personnel, contracting, and technology is indefinitely suspended. Brown called on legislative leaders to identify and enact changes by June 2017 to address the problems at BOE.

BOE was established by a state constitutional amendment in 1879 to ensure uniformity of property tax assessments throughout California.

Today, the five-member board collects the retail sales and use tax, property taxes, and special taxes, as well as handling appeals of Franchise Tax Board cases.

As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Yee is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The controller also safeguards many types of property until claimed by the rightful owners, and has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds.

She is a member of numerous financing authorities, and fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board. She also serves on the boards for the nation's two largest public pension funds.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A local man landed a big fish during a fishing trip last week.

Phil Kleyn-Schoorel of Lower Lake caught the trophy bluefin in Mexican waters on May 9.

Kleyn-Schoorel said he traveled to San Diego and went into Mexican waters aboard Excel Sportfishing with famous UFC fighters Uriah Faber, Chad Mendes, Clay Guida and 16 wounded vets from the Veteran Sportsmans Alliance, a group based in San Jose.

“On May 9, the last day of our three-day trip, I hooked into, and eventually landed, a trophy bluefin, which was the jackpot fish of the trip, a 111-pounder,” he said. “It was the only one caught on the trip.”

Kleyn-Schoorel said he hooked the fish on light tackle, and spooled his reel six times until the fish finally gave in after two hours and they were able to land it.

“I'm used to bass fishing Clear Lake, so this thing really wore me out,” Kleyn-Schoorel said.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 8-8 of Lake County will hold its annual complimentary life jacket giveaway for children on Sunday, May 21.

The giveaway will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Redbud Park gazebo in Clearlake.

This life jacket giveaway is a project made possible by a grant from the local Walmart in Clearlake. 

The event will include the weighing, fitting and distribution of the jackets for children 12 years of age or younger.

A parent or guardian must accompany the child and complete an information slip to be eligible to receive the free life jacket.

The event will end at 1 p.m. or whenever the supply of life jackets are gone.

On the same day, the flotilla will also hold a complimentary vessel safety check for boat owners and will be held at the Redbud Marina staring s 9:30 a.m.

Boats can be on a trailer or in the water at the docks. This vessel safety check is free of charge and takes only a few minutes to complete.

Redbud Park and Marina is located at 14655 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

Flotilla 8-8 encourages boat owners and especially those with children to stay safe on the water by utilizing these complimentary services offered. Play it safe and wear your life jacket.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – As Peter MacRae spoke to Lake County Republican Women, Federated on May 10, he honed in on the many phases of terrorism taking place throughout the world today and brought it right home to Lake County.

“See something, say something” should resonate with all, MacRae said.

Locally, he said we have had schools and the courthouse closed to be what we call “be on the safe side.” Police appreciate that call and they do need the help of everyone.

A number of veterans were in attendance and MacRae was appreciative of their questions and had a good exchange of information with them from which all learned.

Terrorism is not going away and we are in danger, he said. There are the groups under the organized command of al Qaeda and ISIS and others.

Then there are the cells of small groups, MacRae explained. But how is the “lone wolf” detected?

MacRae said the lone wolf is without supervision from any group, but learns from the online messages. It is so easy for him to learn how to make bombs and destructive devices from simple things that can be purchased in hardware stores and even grocery stores. Sales people need to be aware of who and how much is being purchased by a person or a combination of people.

In conclusion, MacRae suggested his listeners keep the thought, “Yes, we are in danger. There has always been terrorism, but the best the United States can do is to take the fight to them. So, again, if you see something, say something.”

Soon to join his other published books is an analytical work “Do the Muslims have an Argument?” As with all studies, MacRae believes that one should understand both sides of the equation and that is just” what his new book will cause people to do.

The meeting closed by honoring special ladies prior to Mother's Day, with pink roses presented to Mrs. MacRae, a red rose to President Marcia Chauvin and roses to Mothers in attendance, ages 80 to 93, with the top honor going to Patty Patten.

Membership in Lake County Republican Women, Federated is open to any registered Republican woman, 18 years or older. Associate membership is available to men and members of other County Republican Women, Federated Unit clubs.

The group will hold its next luncheon meeting on June 14 when Supervisor Rob Brown will discuss Lake County issues.

For more information contact 707-994-3543.

Leona Butts is a member of Lake County Republican Women, Federated.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Christian Center announces several educational opportunities coming up at its facility in May and June.

The “War Room Bible Study” will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays for six weeks beginning on May 18 in the Hope Café at the church. The study is facilitated by Irene Fox.

The New Discovery Group will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays in the Hope Café entitled for a study entitled “Living Life with a Purpose" based on Rick Warren's book, "What on Earth Am I Here For?"

The Lakeport Christian Center Preschool Summer Program takes place from June 19 through Aug. 25 for ages 2 to 6. It is available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Themes are health and safety, camping, beach, space and much more.

Lakeport Christian Center is located at 455 S. Forbes St. in Lakeport, telephone 707-263-4514.