LUCERNE, Calif. – A Lucerne man died Sunday night of injuries he sustained in a pickup crash on Highway 20, and authorities want to speak with a woman who drove the man and another crash victim to a gas station before leaving.

The 50-year-old man crash victim’s name was not released by the California Highway Patrol Sunday night.

The man was riding with 24-year-old River Denning, also of Lucerne, in a white 2002 Toyota pickup when the crash occurred at 7:20 p.m. Sunday, the CHP reported.

The CHP said Denning was driving eastbound on Highway 20, east of Rosemont Drive near Lucerne at an unknown speed when Denning lost control of the vehicle, with the pickup rolling over.

At the scene, the vehicle was sitting on its wheels, off the road, with debris remaining on the highway. The CHP closed the westbound lane while the investigation was under way.

The roadway evidenced damage as far as 20 yards west of the crash location, where portions of the asphalt had been gouged out.

Authorities are continuing to try to find out just what happened following the crash, when the men were transported from the scene to the Tower Mart at the corner of 13th Avenue and Highway 20 in Lucerne.

Local resident Gena Greenup said she was in the convenience store when a woman came in asking for water and napkins to clean up blood in her car.

Greenup said she went back out to her own car and saw the woman with a young man who was bleeding from the head, with another man in the vehicle.

She said the injured man and the female subject flagged down a Northshore Fire ambulance that was en route to the crash scene.

Greenup said the ambulance pulled into the gas station and paramedics removed the second injured man from the car and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on him.

Radio reports indicated that, even before paramedics pulled the injured man from inside the vehicle, they were concerned he already had succumbed to his injuries.

Greenup said they couldn’t save the man and he was placed in the ambulance.

A short time later, the deceased man’s elderly mother arrived at the scene, where she was informed of her son's death by a firefighter.

Denning was transported by Northshore Fire ambulance to a landing zone at Lucerne Harbor Park, where he was picked up by a REACH air ambulance.

He was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with complaints of pain to his chest and minor injuries, the CHP reported.

The CHP said Denning was wearing his seatbelt, but his passenger was not.

At about the time that the two crash victims were being attended to by paramedics, Greenup said the woman who drove them to Tower Mart left the scene.

CHP was trying to identify the woman to get additional information about the crash.

A CHP sergeant, assisted by Tower Mart staff, looked at surveillance video in an attempt to identify the woman but was unsuccessful.

Authorities are hoping the woman will come forward to help them with the crash investigation.

Alcohol also does not appear to have been a factor in the collision, the CHP said.

Anyone with information about the crash should call the California Highway Patrol at 707-279-0103.

John Jensen contributed to this report.

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I was fascinated by Popeye the Sailor’s spinach-loving persona as a child. This classic cartoon character downed a can of spinach for its nutritional kick whenever he needed a dose of strength.

Popeye may have done more for the reputation of this veggie than dozens of marketing campaigns since.

With all respect to Popeye, I’m not sure canned spinach is the wisest culinary choice. If you’ve ever tasted it, you’ll know why spinach got a bad flavor rap. Fresh spinach, as well as frozen, is a completely different animal.

Beautiful, bright green spinach is amazingly versatile. Fresh or frozen, I throw it into almost everything – sauces, soups, pasta, salads and egg dishes such as omelets, quiches and frittatas – for flavor, color and an extra boost of nutrition.

I find that it’s a simple way to sneak something healthy into everyday meals.

Spinach is a member of an interestingly named family of plants called “goosefoot” after the shape of the leaves, which resemble the feet of this fowl.

It’s related to amaranth, a genus of plants that includes the ancient high-protein grain native to South America.

Spinach originated in ancient Persia, which includes modern-day Iran, and wild species are still extant there, growing throughout the country.

Arab traders introduced it to India, where it remains popular today. From there it made its way to seventh century China, a gift from the king of Nepal. In China it was known as “Persia vegetable.”

Spinach has a much more recent history in Europe than many other vegetables, not appearing there until the 11th century, when the Moors introduced it to Spain.

Just as it was known as “Persia vegetable” in China, it was known as “the Spanish vegetable” after it made its way to England. It appeared in Britain’s first cookbook, the Forme of Cury, which was published in 1390.

There are three main varieties of spinach. Flat or smooth-leaved spinach is most common, sold in markets and used in products made with spinach.

Savoy spinach has dark green, curly leaves. Semi-savoy, as its name implies, has leaves that are less curly than savoy spinach.

I made a tasty spinach salad last night with sliced mushrooms, Gorgonzola cheese, dried cranberries and toasted hazelnuts and served it with a balsamic-olive oil vinaigrette.

Other nice additions to a spinach salad are chopped hard-cooked eggs, thinly sliced red onions (soak them in cold water for 10 – 20 minutes first to mellow their flavor), walnuts or pecans, and the classic ingredient for a spinach salad, crumbled bacon.

I enjoy mixing fresh or thawed frozen spinach into ricotta cheese as a filling for lasagna, and I finely chop it to add to spaghetti sauce or rice in the last stages of cooking.

It’s a mouth-watering companion for mushrooms and shallots in omelets, and it’s a favorite for me with a Swiss cheese in frittatas and quiches.

Spinach may be steamed or boiled as a simple side dish. It’s lovely with a squeeze of lemon and, if you wish, a dollop of sweet butter. Some people shake a little vinegar over it, usually the red wine or malt variety, but this has never caught on with me.

Spinach shrinks by an amazing 90 percent when cooked. One pound of fresh spinach equals about 10 cups; however, when cooked, the same 10 cups of spinach becomes roughly one and a half cups. This should be taken into consideration when serving it as a side dish.

When choosing spinach, look for bunches with vibrant, deep green leaves and stems with no signs of yellowing. The leaves should look fresh and tender, and not be wilted, bruised, or with a slimy coating, as this is an indication of decay.

The sandy soil in which spinach is grown will often cling to the leaves, so a thorough washing is necessary. I usually soak spinach in a large bowl filled with cold water, pull it out, rinse the bowl, and soak it again as often as needed.

Once there is no dirt settled to the bottom of the bowl, the spinach is clean.

If spinach has been grown hydroponically (and it often is these days), it won’t have dirt layered in its leaves.

It’s recommended that spinach not be washed prior to storing as it will spoil more quickly. It’s best stored in a plastic bag with as much of the air squeezed out as possible.

Spinach is a nutrient dense food. Like other dark leafy greens, the nutritional benefit per calorie is the highest in the vegetable kingdom.

It’s extremely high in antioxidants, especially when fresh, steamed or quickly boiled, and rich in vitamin A (and especially high in lutein), as well as vitamins C, E and K.

It contains stores of magnesium, manganese, folate, iron, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, folic acid, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids.

In addition to all this, it contains a high level of iron. Because of the oxalic acid in spinach, however, our bodies may have difficulty absorbing the iron and calcium in spinach.

This may be remedied by consuming spinach with a food high in vitamin C, such as tomatoes or citrus fruits. For example, add tomatoes to your spinach salad or omelet or down a glass of orange juice when eating spinach-filled dishes.

Gremolata, a mixture of lemon zest, garlic and parsley – ingredients high in vitamin C - is delicious when mixed in with cooked spinach.

Today’s recipe is a classic and a favorite of many, including me: creamed spinach. I’ve combined the best of a number of recipes to come up with my own version.

The recipe includes heavy cream, so if a lower fat version is desired, substitute whole or 2 percent milk. Low-fat evaporated milk may also be used.

Before I go, have you ever wondered why Eggs Benedict served with spinach in place of ham is called Eggs Florentine? It stems from a centuries old royal marriage.

In 1533, Catherine de’ Medici left her native Florence to marry the king of France. She brought her own cooks with her so they could prepare her favorite vegetable, spinach, in a variety of ways. The tradition of calling dishes on a bed of spinach “Florentine” stems from her enthusiasm for it carried from her Italian hometown.

And finally, if you’re watching the Super Bowl today, perhaps a hearty spinach dip is in order.

Bon appétit!

Esther’s creamed spinach

2 bunches fresh spinach, washed, stemmed and chopped

2 tablespoons sweet butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 white or yellow onion, finely chopped (if a sweet variety is available, all the better)

1 – 2 cloves garlic, minced

¼ teaspoon fresh nutmeg (more to taste)

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

¼ cup heavy cream

Melt butter in a pan; add olive oil.

Sauté onion for several minutes in butter and olive oil until softened. Add garlic and sauté for a minute or so more, being careful not to scorch it.

Add the chopped spinach and warm through, allowing it to wilt a bit.

Add the salt, pepper, nutmeg and heavy cream and mix well.

Cook until the liquid has reduced by half and spinach is cooked through.

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.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Due to energy upgrades completed at two city buildings and the retrofit of street and parking lights, the city of Clearlake will begin to see cost savings in its energy usage.

The city also is expected to score big energy efficiency-wise and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Using a $86,138 federal block grant from the U.S. Department of Energy under the American Recovery Assistance Act (ARRA) – and administered by the California Energy Commission – the city installed cool-roofing at its facility housing both Clearlake City Hall and the Clearlake Police Department.

Because of the energy upgrade, most of which was completed late last year, Clearlake expects to save 130,600 kilowatt hours or $16,730 in energy costs, and reduce greenhouse emissions by almost 40 tons every year.

White roofs clad in solar-reflective thermal plastic are an inexpensive way to prevent buildings from absorbing heat on hot days, and keep them cooler when the temperature rises.

About 1,000 lighting fixtures at these buildings and the Highlands Senior Center were retrofitted with bulbs that use less energy, but glow brighter.

More than 25 occupancy sensors also were installed to turn lights off when offices are not in use.

The city’s energy makeover likewise targeted the replacement of 56 traffic signal lights on Old Highway 53 and Lakeshore Drive with energy-saving and longer-lasting light emitting diodes (LEDs).

To cap the upgrade, 27 high-sodium vapor street lights at various locations were replaced with LEDs.

Federal stimulus funds to small cities and counties awarded under the ARRA's Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants and administered by the Energy Commission are providing more than $33 million to 201 to eligible localities throughout California.

Large cities and counties are receiving funding directly from the U.S. Department of Energy.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Tabbies are the top kitty at the animal shelter this week.

Three tabbies – two adults and a kitten – plus one little black kitten are cleared to join your family, if you have the space in your heart and home.

Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and 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”).

Stripes and emerald eyes

This female domestic short hair is interested in finding a new place to nap and her lovely stripes will complement most any decor.

Another unique feature of this 9-month-old feline – her emerald eyes. She may remind you of Ireland.

She’s waiting in cat room kennel No. 11, ID No. 31690.

Young and fun

When asked why he's sticking his tongue out for the camera this 8-month-old male tabby murmured something unintelligible.

What he may have been trying to convey is that his theory on cat adoption is that people are more likely to be attracted to cats with a sense of humor.

Clearly this cat has a sense of humor.

He may or may not be sticking out his tongue when you visit him in cat room kennel No. 17, ID No. 31707.

Keeping an eye on things

Scooter, as we like to call this 9-month-old domestic short hair mix, appears to be an attentive and caring chap.

With his perky ears and thoughtful golden eyes he'll pay attention to what's going on so you don't have to.

He’s keeping an eye out for a new home in cat room kennel No. 64, ID No. 31632.

Two kittens, lots of toes

These kittens are a real bargain and they are going fast; only two of these polydactile cats are left.

They aren't like pterodactyls – cats don't fly – so have no fear adopting these cuddly pals. Plus, these kittens have extra toes so it’s more cat for the buck.

The little tabby and his handsome black litter mate are in cat room kennel No. 77a-b, ID No. 31633.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com.

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

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, 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.

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.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It's a baker's dozen available for adoption this week from Lake County Animal Care and Control, with 13 dogs of all types and breeds hoping a new home is waiting for them.

Small terriers and toy breeds to border collie mixes, and canines that are part Corgi, greyhound and beagle are waiting at the shelter.

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”).

Pit bull mix

This male pit bull mix is just a pup at 4 months of age.

He has blue brindle and white markings, brown eyes, floppy ears and a short coat.

He can be found in kennel No. 12, ID No. 31641.

“Masie”

“Masie” is a 4-year-old female beagle-terrier mix.

She is altered and weighs just over 26 pounds.

Shelter staff said she is microchipped.

She is in kennel No. 16, ID No. 31277.

“Copper”

“Copper” is a 5-year-old female beagle mix.

She has white and brown brindle coloring, weighs 28 pounds and is not yet spayed.

Find her in kennel No. 9, ID No. 31704.

Collie mix

This female collie mix is ready for a new home.

She has a short coat and brown eyes.

Find her in kennel No. 7, ID No. 31653.

Corgi mix

This 9-month-old female is a Corgi mix.

She has a short coat, tricolor markings and brown eyes.

Find her in kennel No. 5b, ID No. 31651.

Chihuahua mix

This 9-month-old male is a Chihuahua mix.

He has a short coat and brown eyes.

Find him in kennel No. 5a, ID No. 31650.

“Jingo”

“Jingo” is a male greyhound-shepherd mix.

He is 3 years old, has been neutered and has brown brindle coloring with a short coat.

Jingo is in kennel No. 4, ID No. 31686.

Shepherd mix

This male shepherd mix is 1 year old.

He has a short yellow coat, and has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 28, ID No. 31670.

Cairn terrier mix

This little lady is a Cairn terrier mix.

She is 6 years old, with a medium-length black coat, and weighs 13.6 pounds.

Find her in kennel No. 27, ID No. 31683.

Male shepherd mix

This 14-week-old male pup is a shepherd mix.

He is not yet neutered, and has black, tan and white coloring, with a long coat.

Find him in kennel No. 26, ID No. 31706.

Australian terrier mix

This 6-year-old male is an Australian terrier mix.

He has a deep gold-colored, medium-length coat.

He weighs approximately 9.4 pounds and is not yet altered.

Find him in kennel No. 25b, ID No. ID: 31668.

“Thunder”

“Thunder” is a 5-year-old male Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix.

He has a medium-length brown-gold coat.

Find him in kennel No. 25a, ID No. 31598.

Border collie mix puppies

These 8-week-old border collie mix puppies are all males.

They have short coats and black and white coloring.

The puppies can be found in kennel No. 15a-d, ID No. 31657.

Adoptable dogs also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dogs_and_Puppies.htm or at www.petfinder.com.

Please note: Dogs listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

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, 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.

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.

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Europe’s Rosetta spacecraft is en route to intercept a comet – and to make history.

In 2014, Rosetta will enter orbit around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and land a probe on it, two firsts.

Rosetta’s goal is to learn the primordial story a comet tells as it gloriously falls to pieces.

Comets are primitive leftovers from our solar system's 'construction' about 4.5 billion years ago.

Because they spend much of their time in the deep freeze of the outer solar system, comets are well preserved – a gold mine for astronomers who want to know what conditions were like back “in the beginning.”

As their elongated orbits swing them closer to the sun, comets transform into the most breathtaking bodies in the night sky.

A European Space Agency mission launched in 2004 with U.S. instruments on board, Rosetta will have a front-row seat for the metamorphosis.

What we know of comets so far comes from a handful of flyby missions.

"In some ways, a flyby is just a tantalizing glimpse of a comet at one stage in its evolution," said Claudia Alexander, project scientist for the U.S. Rosetta Project at JPL. "Rosetta is different. It will orbit 67P for 17 months. We'll see this comet evolve right before our eyes as we accompany it toward the sun and back out again."

Fierce solar heat will have a profound effect on Rosetta’s target. "We'll watch the comet start as just a little nugget in space and then become something poetic and beautiful, trailing a vast tail."

At the moment, Rosetta is "resting up" for the challenges ahead. It's hibernating, engaged in its high-speed chase while fast asleep.

Reveille is on or around New Year's Day 2014, when the spacecraft begins a months-long program of self-checkups.

If all goes well, in August of the same year, Rosetta will enter orbit around 67P's nucleus and begin scanning its surface for a landing site.

Once a site is chosen, the spacecraft will descend as low as 1 kilometer to deploy the lander.

The lander’s name is “Philae” after an island in the Nile, the site of an obelisk that helped decipher – you guessed it – the Rosetta Stone.

Touchdown is scheduled for November 2014, when Philae will make the first ever controlled landing on a comet's nucleus.

"When we land, the comet could already be active!" said Alexander.

Because a comet has little gravity, the lander will anchor itself with harpoons. “The feet may drill into something crunchy like permafrost, or maybe into something rock solid,” she speculated.

Once it is fastened, the lander will commence an unprecedented first-hand study of a comet’s nucleus.

Among other things, it will gather samples for examination by automatic onboard microscopes and take panoramic images of the comet’s terrain from ground level.

Meanwhile, orbiting overhead, the Rosetta spacecraft will be busy, too.

Onboard sensors will map the comet’s surface and magnetic field, monitor the comet’s erupting jets and geysers, measure outflow rates, and much more.

Together, the orbiter and lander will build up the first 3D picture of the layers and pockets under the surface of a comet.

The results should tell quite a story indeed.

Dauna Coulter works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Rain is forecast to arrive in Lake County as early as Monday evening.

The National Weather Service issued a report on Sunday that predicted a 40 percent chance of rain beginning Monday night, mainly after 10 p.m., with between a tenth and a quarter of an inch expected to fall.

Rain is forecast to continue throughout Tuesday, when up to half an inch is anticipated, according to the National Weather Service.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are forecast to be sunny, with daytime temperatures in the 60s. Saturday is expected to be partly sunny and a slight chance of rain in the forecast on Sunday, according to the agency’s latest report.

The National Weather Service also issued a high wind watch for the San Francisco Bay Area that’s in effect through Tuesday morning.

The agency warned of southerly winds between 25 and 40 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 65 miles per hour above 1,000 feet in the hills in coast Sonoma and Marin counties.

That watch also extends to the Mount St. Helena area in Napa County, just over the Lake County border, according to the National Weather Service.

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WASHINGTON, DC – A camera aboard one of NASA's twin Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) lunar spacecraft has returned its first unique view of the far side of the moon.

MoonKAM, or Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students, will be used by students nationwide to select lunar images for study.

GRAIL consists of two identical spacecraft, recently named Ebb and Flow, each of which is equipped with a MoonKAM.

The images were taken as part of a test of Ebb's MoonKAM on Jan. 19. The GRAIL project plans to test the MoonKAM aboard Flow at a later date.

In the video, the north pole of the moon is visible at the top of the screen as the spacecraft flies toward the lunar south pole.

One of the first prominent geological features seen on the lower third of the moon is the Mare Orientale, a 560 mile-wide (900 kilometer) impact basin that straddles both the moon's near and far side.

The clip ends with rugged terrain just short of the lunar south pole. To the left of center, near the bottom of the screen, is the 93 mile-wide (149 kilometer) Drygalski crater with a distinctive star-shaped formation in the middle. The formation is a central peak, created many billions of years ago by a comet or asteroid impact.

"The quality of the video is excellent and should energize our MoonKAM students as they prepare to explore the moon," said Maria Zuber, GRAIL principal investigator from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.

The twin spacecraft successfully achieved lunar orbit last New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Previously named GRAIL-A and -B, the washing machine-sized spacecraft received their new names from fourth graders at the Emily Dickinson Elementary School in Bozeman, Mont., following a nationwide student-naming contest.

Thousands of fourth- to eighth-grade students will select target areas on the lunar surface and send requests to the GRAIL MoonKAM Mission Operations Center in San Diego. Photos of the target areas will be sent back by the satellites for students to study.

The MoonKAM program is led by Sally Ride, America's first woman in space. Her team at Sally Ride Science and undergraduate students at the University of California in San Diego will engage middle schools across the country in the GRAIL mission and lunar exploration. GRAIL is NASA's first planetary mission carrying instruments fully dedicated to education and public outreach.

"We have had great response from schools around the country, more than 2,500 signed up to participate so far," Ride said. "In mid-March, the first pictures of the moon will be taken by students using MoonKAM. I expect this will excite many students about possible careers in science and engineering."

Launched in September 2011, Ebb and Flow periodically perform trajectory correction maneuvers that, over time, will lower their orbits to near-circular ones with an altitude of about 34 miles (55 kilometers).

During their science mission, the duo will answer longstanding questions about the moon and give scientists a better understanding of how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., manages the GRAIL mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The GRAIL mission is part of the Discovery Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver built the spacecraft.

For more information about GRAIL, visit www.nasa.gov/grail.

Information about MoonKAM is available at https://moonkam.ucsd.edu/.

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MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will begin planting rainbow trout in Lake Mendocino for the first time this February.

Approximately 15,000 pounds of trout will be put into the lake throughout the winter and early spring, giving anglers an opportunity to enjoy one of the state’s most popular activities.

“There are very few trout fishing opportunities in Mendocino County,” said DFG Environmental Scientist Scott Harris. “We are pleased that we can add Lake Mendocino to the annual allotment list as a winter trout fishery.”

This is the first time that Lake Mendocino has been stocked by DFG. Historically, only the Mill Creek ponds east of Talmage have been stocked during winter and early winter months in Mendocino County.

The triploids will be put in the lake several times during the winter and early spring, the agency said.

To ensure there is a constant supply of fish in the upper East Branch Russian River area, fish will be planted in the East Branch Russian River in Potter Valley from late April to October.

The planted fish are between a half and three-quarter pounds each and are raised at the Darrah Springs Hatchery in Paynes Creek.

Other popular fish species inhabiting the lake include large and smallmouth bass, striped bass, channel catfish and black crappie.

DFG sells approximately 1 million fishing licenses a year. Anyone over the age of 16 must have a valid fishing license in their possession while fishing.

To buy a California fishing license, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/.

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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – At the end of a tough two-day competition of the county’s brightest students, Upper Lake High School emerged for the fourth straight year as champion of the Lake County Academic Decathlon.

The long-running favorite’s team No. 1 was named the winner following the Super Quiz, held before a full crowd at Kelseyville High School’s multipurpose room Saturday afternoon.

Winning Upper Lake team members include Jaqueline Estrada, Jordan Austin, Shayla Wyman, Byron Garcia, Christine Randall, Carlos Valencia, Oscar Nieves, Farhad Hussain, Justine Moran, Jamie Maddock and Krista Coleman.

Putting up a strong challenge to Upper Lake this year was competition newcomer Kelseyville High School, which like Upper Lake also had two teams. Its team No. 2 placed second to Upper Lake.

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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – An exceptional Lower Lake High School student has received a scholarship to help her pursue her goal of working in the culinary arts field.

At the Konocti Unified School District Board of Trustee meeting on Wednesday, Destiny Purdum received a $1,000 check from the Caldwell Flores Winters Foundation.

The CFW Foundation Scholarship Program, now in its fifth year, focuses on students who have overcome challenges, do well in school and want to continue their education and training once high school is complete.

The district reported that Purdum has overcome considerable adversity in the pursuit of her career goals while maintaining a standard of academic excellence.

She is a leader in the high school’s culinary arts program, works a part-time job, plays in the jazz band and maintains a 3.67 grade point average while also pursuing many extracurricular activities.

Purdum is one of more than 120 students who have been selected for the award over the past five years.

Many of the scholarship recipients have gone on to success in universities, colleges or in vocational/technical programs.

Purdum plans to continue her studies of culinary arts, opening her own restaurant in the future.

When asked what her favorite menu item would be, she smiled and responded, "Cheesecake!"

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A cardinal rule of trust administration is that the intentions of the settlor(s) – the person(s) who created the trust – are to be given effect. A second cardinal rule is that a trust must be strictly administered according to its stated terms.

What happens, then, when the stated terms of an executed trust no longer give the same effect as a settlor’s intention at the time of signing the trust instrument? All is not necessarily lost.

Let us examine some possible scenarios and how the situation may be salvaged.

In the easiest situation, when the settlor is still alive and competent, the settlor can always amend his/her revocable trust to correct any inadequacy or drafting error.

What, however, if the settlor is not competent, or, if the trust is an irrevocable trust (e.g., a special needs trust) or it became irrevocable upon the settlor’s own death?

If the settlor is incapacitated – as that term is defined in the trust instrument or as adjudicated by a court – then we must see whether the trust grants someone else power to amend the trust that are sufficient to correct the error.

Perhaps the trust allows the incapacitated person’s agent acting under a durable power of attorney, or a trust protector, the authority to amend the trust.

If so, we must further examine whether the powers of amendment granted are sufficient to fix the problem.

For example, an agent who can amend the trust to change who becomes successor trustee might not also be authorized to amend the distribution of trust assets, and if the latter is the problem the agent cannot correct it.

In that case, another solution would be to amend the incapacitated settlor’s revocable trust by means of a court order using a petition for substituted judgment. Such a petition can only be brought by the conservator of the settlor’s estate. A temporary conservatorship could suffice and be terminated after the court order is obtained.

A substituted judgment proceeding, amongst other things, allows the conservator to petition the court to exercise the incapacitated settlor’s own reserved authority to amend the trust.

The conservator must first convince the court that what is proposed is justified under the circumstances and the law. Moreover, substituted judgment petitions can be contested and result in trials.

If the settlor is deceased and their living trust is now irrevocable, or if the trust was irrevocable at the outset, then a court proceeding either to reform or to modify the trust or for instructions to the trustee are all options.

Reformation and modification of a trust are completely different approaches.

In a reformation action, an aggrieved party petitions the court to rewrite the terms of a trust to correct an inaccuracy due to a mistake or fraud. Evidence outside of the trust may be allowed to show its inaccuracy. Once reformed, it is as if the trust were written as reformed from the start.

In a modification action, on the other hand, a beneficiary, trustee or settlor petitions the court to modify the trust on a go forward basis in order to address a problem involving an ambiguity or changed circumstances, i.e., circumstances that did not exist at the time the trust was established.

When the settlor is deceased and an ambiguity is involved, all beneficiaries must consent to the modification.

Lastly, instructions to the trustee may solve problems where interpretation of existing language is at issue.

It is very important to a successful outcome that the correct approach be taken. It is also important to consider the implications of any no contest clause before proceeding with any action.

Obviously, court proceedings should be undertaken with the assistance of a qualified attorney.

Dennis A. Fordham, attorney (LL.M. tax studies), is a State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law. His office is at 55 First St., Lakeport, California. Dennis can be reached by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 707-263-3235. Visit his Web site at www.dennisfordhamlaw.com.

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