NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans will activate a temporary signal on Route 253 about 7 miles east of Boonville on Monday, May 9, in order to begin roadway repairs.

Work will include constructing a retaining wall, followed by reconstructing and repaving the roadway.

One-way traffic control will be in effect with a temporary signal 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

Permitted loads will be restricted to 12-foot in width due to concrete barriers.

The signal is anticipated to be removed in October, and final work is anticipated to be completed by November.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Supervisorial Candidate Voris Brumfield will kick off a series of districtwide “Coffee N Chats” on Tuesday, May 3, at Mountain High Coffee & Books in Hidden Valley Lake on Hartmann Road from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

“Meeting throughout District 1 on a weekly basis to speak with constituents is an important communication tool,” Brumfield stated.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Hidden Valley Lake

– Tuesday, May 3, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Mountain High Coffee & Books, 18983 Hartman Road Hidden Valley.

– Monday, May 9, noon to 1:30 p.m., Mountain High Coffee & Books.

– Friday, May 13, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Mountain High Coffee & Books.

Middletown

– Friday, May 6, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Cowpoke Cafe, 21118 Calistoga Road.

– Tuesday, May 10, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Cowpoke Cafe.

– Wednesday, May 18, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Cowpoke Cafe.

Lower Lake

– Tuesday, May 10, 10 a.m. to noon, Lower Lake Coffee Co., 16187 Main St.

– Monday, May 16, 10 a.m. to noon, Lower Lake Coffee Co.

– Monday, May 23, 10 a.m. to noon, Lower Lake Coffee Co.

Everyone is encouraged to bring questions or issues and join Brumfield for coffee and conversation about the community.

For those who are available in the evenings, Brumfield will host a gathering at Hidden Valley Lake's Greenview Room at 19210 Hartmann Road from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 7.

If your schedule does not coincide with any of the districtwide “chats,” please email or text your questions and or comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-355-4401.

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith has lifted the health advisory regarding Dungeness crabs caught in state waters between the California / Oregon border and 41° 17.60' N Latitude (near the mouth of Redwood Creek in Humboldt County).

Tests of Dungeness crabs caught in the area show that traces of domoic acid have declined to low or undetectable levels.

This partial lifting of the advisory for Dungeness crabs comes after the April 22, 2016 announcement lifting the advisory for Dungeness crab caught in ocean waters south of 40°46.15′ N Latitude (a line extending due west from the west end of the north jetty at the entrance of Humboldt Bay), including all ocean waters of Humboldt Bay.

The advisory remains in effect for Dungeness crab caught in ocean waters north of 40°46.15′ N Latitude (a line extending due west from the west end of the north jetty at the entrance of Humboldt Bay) and south of 41° 17.60' N Latitude (a line extending due west from the mouth of Redwood Creek, Humboldt County).

CDPH and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concur that meat from Dungeness crabs caught in areas where the advisory has been lifted is safe to consume.

However, consumers are advised to not eat the viscera (internal organs, also known as “butter” or “guts”) of crabs. The viscera usually contain much higher levels of domoic acid than crab body meat.

When whole crabs are cooked in liquid, domoic acid may leach from the viscera into the cooking liquid.

Water or broth used to cook whole crabs should be discarded and not used to prepare dishes such as sauces, broths, soups or stews (for example, cioppino or gumbo), stocks, roux, dressings or dips.

The best ways to reduce risk are:

1)    Remove the crab viscera and rinse out the body cavity prior to cooking, or

2)    Boil or steam whole crabs, instead of frying or broiling, and discard cooking liquids.

Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood.

In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness. These symptoms disappear within several days.

In severe cases, the victim may experience trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular problems, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory (a condition known as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma or death. There have been no confirmed illnesses associated with this year’s domoic acid event.

Domoic acid accumulation in seafood is a natural occurrence that is related to a “bloom” of a particular single-celled plant.

The conditions that support the growth of this plant are impossible to predict. While the bloom that occurred last year has dissipated, it takes a period of time for the organisms feeding on the phytoplankton to eliminate the domoic acid from their bodies.

To receive updated information about shellfish poisoning and quarantines, call CDPH’s toll-free Shellfish Information Line at 800-553-4133. For additional information, visit CDPH’s Natural Marine Toxins: PSP and Domoic Acid Web page at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/environhealth/water/Documents/Shellfish/Natural_Marine_Toxins_2015.pdf and CDPH’s Domoic Acid health information Web page at http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/Pages/fdbDomoicAcidInfo.aspx .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On April 8, the security officers at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake were recognized as the AlliedBarton Northwest Region’s 2015 Security Officers of the Year for their service during the Rocky and Valley fires.

St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake partners with AlliedBarton for security services.

The officers were selected for the award from nearly 8,000 AlliedBarton employees across the region.

The AlliedBarton security officers who serve at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake and the St. Helena Family Health Center-Clearlake are known for service.

From helping patients in and out of their cars to calming those in stress or crisis, the team handles an incredible range of situations with courtesy and compassion each day.

During the fires of 2015 – some of which came close to threatening the hospital – the team responded to extra challenges with the same dedication and service.

“AlliedBarton is incredibly proud of these officers, who demonstrated great leadership and courage during each event,” said Eric Casner, account manager for AlliedBarton. “During the Rocky fire, they worked tirelessly to make sure the patients, visitors, staff and facility were safe from danger.”

Casner and Kelly Murcray, AlliedBarton Northwest Region vice president of operations, presented the awards to site supervisor Tiffany Piehler and officers Arsen Barbeau, Matthew Holt, Cyril Romberg, Michael Russell and William Stiles.

Daniel Dudley, site supervisor at St. Helena Hospital Behavioral Health in Vallejo, and Mario Mojica, a security officer at Alta Bates Medical Center, also received the award.

Dudley and Mojica offered pivotal assistance during the Rocky fire by coming to relieve the Clearlake officers who were working 12-hour shifts with three officers on duty and sleeping at the hospital so all shifts could be covered.

The Rocky fire came within miles of St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, which was inside the advisory evacuation zone.

Even so, the hospital stayed open and the AlliedBarton security team made sure the hospital operations went on safely while frequently braving the dark, smoky air to prevent spot fires and monitor smoking debris blown on to hospital grounds by the flames.

“We see these men and women as ‘first impression officers’ – the entire hospital campus is their office,” shared David Santos, president and chief executive officer of St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. “We are incredibly thankful for this team, and are proud that they have received this much deserved recognition.”

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Have you ever wanted to see California’s official state grass?

Did you know that California even has an official state grass? Well, it does, and it is called purple needle grass.

Join the walk on Saturday, May 7, at the Lake County Land Trust’s Rodman Preserve, 6350 Westlake Road (off of the Nice-Lucerne Cut-off) starting at 9 a.m. to enjoy a spring view of purple needle grass (Stipa Pulchra) along with other native California bunch grasses that are fairly prevalent on the property.

After taking a two-month hiatus, the Saturday morning walks at the preserve have resumed.

Leading this Saturday’s walk will be Lake County Land Trust board member, Roberta Lyons.

It should be an enjoyable morning with not only views of interesting botanical species, but many songbirds as well, including red-tailed hawks, acorn woodpeckers, tree swallows, possibly violet-green swallows, western bluebirds and more.

For more information, call Roberta Lyons at 707-994-2024. Directions to the preserve are located on the Land Trust’s web page.

Don’t confuse Rodman Preserve with the county Rodman Slough Park, which is located on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff near the bridge.

The Lake County Land Trust is a private, nonprofit local organizations that preserves open space and natural habitat in Lake County.

For more information go to www.lakecountylandtrust.org .

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Hidden Valley Lake Men's Niners golf club held a stroke play tournament on the back nine at HVL Golf Course on April 28.

The results were as follows:

– First flight winners: first place, Dennis Bero, net 29; second place, Scott McAllister, 31; third place, Fred Figg, 32.

– Second flight: first place, Paul Peterson, 32; second place, Mike Higman, 33; third place, Bill Surber, 35.

– Third flight: first place, Carl Dennis, 31; second place, Ed Brooks, 34; third place, Doug Carter, 36.

Dennis Bero and Fred Figg were closest to the par three pins. Jim Dovark and Joe Vallee had chip-ins.

Thirty-six golfers participated.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – It has been six months since Kellee Bussard received a loan through the city of Lakeport’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Business Loan Program to expand The Shoe Box, a shoe and accessory store located at 997 11th St.

The loan is helping the business create one new job and expand its inventory of shoes, boots, handbags and accessories.

The Shoe Box has established itself as the local go-to for quality footwear and accessories, exceeding the expectations and projections identified prior to the loan application.
 
A lifetime member of the community, Bussard plans to continue to grow The Shoe Box by cultivating a feel for her customers’ desire.

She excels in assisting her clientèle with the discovery of new, high-quality items.

“Footwear has been my passion for a very long time and after years of experience in the industry, I was poised to open my own business and provide a service in my home town. The city of Lakeport’s CDBG Business Loan Program helped me do that,” Bussard said.

For more information about the city of Lakeport’s Business Loan Program, please contact Jeff Lucas or Andy Lucas with Community Development Services at 707-279-1540 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport tradition is one again planned for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

The Lakeport Kiwanis/4-H pancake breakfast will be served on Saturday, May 28, from 7 to 11 a.m. at 810 N. Main St.

Pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham, sausage and drinks will be served, with proceeds benefiting the 4-H County-wide Citizenship/Leadership Project.

The craft fair, held at the same location, will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 28, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 29.

There will be fun for the whole family, including craft booths, prize drawings, face painting, food vendors, kettle corn, live music and more.

The craft fair supports the Lakeport Kiwanis High School Scholarship Fund and Community Projects.

The Westside Community Park Fun Walk Fundraiser begins at the craft fair location Sunday, May 29, at 8 a.m.

Lakeport Kiwanis Club is a group of volunteers dedicated to supporting youth and serving the community.

More information about the organization is available at www.kiwanislakeport.org .

Early each spring, Nebraska hosts, along a section of the Platte River, several hundred thousand sandhill cranes. It's something I wish everyone could see.

Don Welch, one of the state's finest poets, lives under the flyway, and here's his take on the migration.

His most recent book is “Gnomes” (Stephen F. Austin State Univ. Press, 2013).

With Spring In Our Flesh

With spring in our flesh
the cranes come back,
funneling into a north
cold and black.

And we go out to them,
go out into the town,
welcoming them with shouts,
asking them down.

The winter flies away
when the cranes cross.
It falls into the north,
homeward and lost.

Let no one call it back
when the cranes fly,
silver birds, red-capped,
down the long sky.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They do not accept unsolicited submissions. Poem copyright ©2015 by Don Welch, “With Spring In Our Flesh.” Poem reprinted by permission of Don Welch. Introduction copyright © 2016 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.