NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Saturday, May 13, the Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers, or NALC, will once again do their part to help feed the hungry, just as they’ve done for the past 24 years.

Literally, “The Postman Rings Twice” that day, once to deliver the mail, and once to deliver food to the hungry.

The USPS and the NALC ask that customers who want to donate non-perishable food items, such as peanut butter, pasta, rice, and canned food like vegetables, soups and meat, leave their donations in a bag next to their mailbox on Saturday, May 13. Your postal letter carrier will take care of the rest.

The “Stamp out Hunger” food drive is the largest one-day food collection effort in the nation.

Since the campaign began in 1993, the NALC has collected a total of 1.5 billion pounds of food that has kept the shelves of many food banks across the country from becoming bare.

Last year, USPS employees set a new record and collected more than 80 million pounds of food during the Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

However, nearly one in six Americans don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and our children and seniors are the most vulnerable.

Summer becomes critical for all food banks because many pantries are at their lowest levels that directly affect children and families who may not have access to school breakfast and lunch programs.

According to the California Association of Food Banks, one in four children in California, more than two million, go to bed hungry every day.

Food collected by letter carriers goes directly to local food banks and organizations.

Faith groups, grocery outlets and other businesses help process these donations and volunteer groups assist in organizing and distributing the food to hundreds of agencies that help your local community.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lake County Republican Women, Federated, or LCRWF, will hear Peter MacRae, researcher on national and international terrorism and terrorist organizations, at the membership drive luncheon meeting on Wednesday, May 10.

Arrive early for the luncheon meeting at Howard's Grotto, 14732 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake. Call to order is at 11:30 a.m., followed by specific agenda, lunch and featured speaker.

MacRae holds a master's degree in international relations from San Diego State University. His area of special interest is in international relations with an emphasis on the control of violent conflict.

MacRae is the author of “A Measured Response: The United Global Security Partnership” and fact-based novel “The Poppies of Mohammed.”

He has written numerous essays including: “Do We Have Cause to Fear Islam,” “Foreign Policy is an Inexact Science” and “Why They Didn’t Support Us,” among others.

His master’s thesis, “Twenty-First Century Violent Conflict: The Insufficiency of International Law,” was published by Montezuma Press in 2005. He is the author of “Do The Muslims Have An Argument?”

MacRae's essay, "ISIS and the Lone Wolf," Oct. 31, 2014, can be found on the Web site of The Hill, a publication in Washington, DC. Interested parties may visit Peter MacRae’s Web site at www.prmacrae.com .

He and his wife of more than 30 years, Patricia “Pat,” reside in the Wine Country of Northern California.

All Republicans, men and women, are welcome at LCRWF meetings whether to hear a specific speaker or become a member to join with us for a Better America. Men are welcome to join as associate members.

Please make your luncheon reservation at 707-994-3543.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
AND NOTICE OF PROPOSED MINOR USE PERMIT
BY THE LAKE COUNTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Lake County Zoning Administrator of the County of Lake, State of California, will consider approving Minor Use Permit, 17-09 with no public hearing if no written request for a public hearing is submitted by 5:00 P.M., May 24, 2017 to the Community Development Department, Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, California.

Should a timely request for hearing be filed, a public hearing will be held on May 31, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in Conference Room C, 3rd Floor of the Courthouse.

Minor Use Permit 17-09. Owner: Edward Alany. Project: To allow a 25 percent reduction of the front yard setback along Anderson Spring Road from 20 feet to 15 feet to allow the installation of a 26’8” X 44’ Manufactured Home. Location: 12020 Mead Road, Middletown, APN 050-411-02. Project Planner: Mark Roberts, (707) 263-2221 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Copies of the application, environmental documents, all reference documents, and staff reports associated with each project are available for review through the Community Development Department, Planning Division; Telephone (707) 263-2221.


COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Robert Massarelli, Director


By: ____________________________________
Michalyn DelValle, Principal Planner

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Rock enthusiasts are invited to join the Lake County Rockhounds group for its monthly meetings.

The group meets from 5 to 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month at the Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

They also schedule field trips each month to different places around the county and the state.

For more information contact Betty Atwood, 707-277-9700; Ligia Sequeira, 707-987-0166; or Joyce Anderson, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on Monday warned consumers not to drink herbal tea in plastic pouches produced by U.S. Deer Antlers Exports and Imports Inc. due to concerns the teas may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.

Ingestion of botulism toxin from improperly processed liquid teas may lead to serious illness and death.

CDPH is investigating two possible cases of botulism in Orange County residents, both of whom consumed U.S. Deer Antlers Exports and Imports Inc. herbal tea products in March.

U.S. Deer Antlers Exports and Imports Inc. of Los Angeles is voluntarily recalling all herbal tea products in plastic pouches.

The 6-inch by 4-inch plastic tea pouches contain labeling in Korean but do not include lot codes or best by dates.

The recalled food products were sold to acupuncturists and individuals in California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Examples of the recalled packages are on the CDPH Web site.

Botulism toxin is odorless and colorless, so consumers will be unable to determine if a product is affected.

Customers who have any of these products, or any foods made with these products, should discard them immediately by double bagging the pouch into tightly closed plastic bags and placing them in non-recyclable trash bins outside of the home.

Wear rubber or latex gloves, if possible, when handling potentially contaminated products or wash your hands with soap and running water for at least two minutes.

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Initial symptoms frequently include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, and dry or sore throat. Progressive descending paralysis, usually symmetrical, may follow.

Additional symptoms may include slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, inability of the neck muscles to support the head and paralysis of the extremities and respiratory muscles. Infants with botulism appear lethargic, feed poorly, are constipated, and have a weak cry and poor muscle tone.

Customers experiencing any ill effects after consuming these products should immediately consult their health care providers.

Consumers who find the product being offered for sale are encouraged to report the activity to the CDPH toll-free complaint line at 800-495-3232.

Marvin Lee Butler
Feb. 1, 1939 – April 18, 2017

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Marv Butler passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at his home in Clearlake Oaks on Tuesday, April 18.

He is survived by his partner of 45 years, John Ryan, of Clearlake Oaks; daughters, Noelle (Algis) Kukenas of Los Angeles and Robin Lara of Sacramento; grandson, Anthony Butler-Bates; and great-grandchildren, Elijah, Nasim, Melan’Ie and Zahire. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends he considered family. He is preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Butler.

Marvin was born Feb. 1, 1939, in Solano County, the second of two sons to Harry and Urzilla Butler.

Marv spent the first years of his childhood growing up in the foothills surrounding Georgetown, Calif.

The family later moved to the Sacramento River Delta town of Rio Vista, where his mother’s family had lived for generations. There he was active in Boy Scouts, earning the God and Country Award, and graduated from Rio Vista High School where he lettered in football, basketball and track, and was a member of the school’s choir and drama club.

Two months before graduating high school, Marv married his high school sweetheart, Jeannette Jennings, and they became the proud parents of two daughters, Noelle and Robin. While the marriage was short lived, Marv and Jeannette remained friends throughout their lives until Jeannette’s passing in 1985.

Following graduation from high school, Marv served in the U.S. Army, both stateside and in Germany.

Returning to Rio Vista after his term of military service, he attended and graduated from San Joaquin Delta College with a business degree while also serving as student body president.

Spanning a 30-plus year career in banking, Marv worked for both Crocker and First Interstate Banks, residing in Stockton, Red Bluff, Healdsburg, Napa, Roseville and Los Angeles before finally moving to Clearlake Oaks in the late 1980s.

While living in Stockton, Marv was active in both the Stockton Civic Theatre and Pollardville Palace Showboat Theatre, performing in vaudeville revival as well as classic stage productions. During this time, Marv also served as choir director at his family’s church in Rio Vista, commuting each weekend from wherever he live.

In the late 1960s, Marv purchased a large family cabin in the Russian River community of Rio Nido where he often hosted friends and family, including his daughters’ Girl Scout troops. While vacationing by himself at the Russian River in 1972, Marv met his soulmate and future life partner, John Ryan.

Marv was still active in banking when he and John opened their first hair salon in Yountville, Calif. The business expanded to salons in other locations, and included building a distributorship that offered training and professional salon products that served salons and beauty colleges covering an area from Sacramento to the Oregon border.

When Marv finally retired from banking, he and John settled in Lake County, an area they had been vacationing at for years. They owned salons in Lakeport, Ukiah and Nice, with the Nice salon operating up to the day of Marv’s untimely passing.

Upon relocating to Lake County, both Marv and John quickly became involved in local business and civic matters.

Marv’s passion for the people and communities of Lake County, and the lake itself, led him to become active in the Lake County Fair, serving on the fair board for a number of years, and, more recently, running for county supervisor for District 3. In addition to serving on the fair board, Marv’s other proudest achievement while living in Lake County was serving as planning commissioner for then-Supervisor Gary Lewis.

Although busy operating a local business and heavily involved in community matters, Marv still found time to travel. He and John enjoyed many trips in their motorhome and were active members of the Rainbow RV camping club. In addition to RVing, he and John also enjoyed taking cruises, especially with friends from Lake County.

Marv will be remembered for his friendly demeanor, booming voice, ability to get the job done, outrageous sense of humor and, more than anything, a laugh that was like no other. Marv lived life on his terms and squeezed as much as anyone could into 78 years.

A celebration of Marv’s life will be held at the Lake County Fairgrounds’ Little Theater in Lakeport on Saturday, May 20, at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Operation Tango Mike, 5216 Piner Court, Kelseyville CA 95451; or Almost Home 4ever (pet rescue & adoption), P.O. Box 13174, Sacramento, CA 95813.

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According to the new BBB Risk Index, fake check scams are the second most risky scam, behind home improvement scams.

The BBB Risk Index measures risk along three dimension: exposure (how likely you are to be exposed to the scam), susceptibility (if you are exposed, how likely you are to lose money) and monetary loss (if you do lose money, how much it’s likely to be).

Exposure to fake check scams is low, they only account for 3.1 percent of reports to BBB Scam Tracker. However, susceptibility and monetary loss are both high – 15.8 percent and $1,471, respectively.

Fake check scams can be perpetrated through many types of checks: personal checks, business checks, traveler’s checks and even cashier’s checks, among others. This may be why susceptibility to fake check scams is relatively high.

Cashier’s checks in particular have long been considered a trusted and risk-free source of payment – some think that they’re more secure than personal checks, electronic payments and even cash.

According to the U.S. Treasury’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, a cashier’s check, or bank check, “is a check that is issued by a bank, and sold to its customer or another purchaser, that is a direct obligation of the bank.”

If the check is actually issued by a bank, the ultimate recipient is in the clear. In the past, security features on cashier’s checks made them difficult to fake.

However, current technology has made these checks easier to forge. Because consumers are often unaware that cashier’s checks, as well as other types of checks, are susceptible to fraud, fake check scams are especially risky.

Fake check scams usually follow a distinct pattern. The victim receives a fraudulent check and deposits it in their bank account. The bank confirms that the check has cleared and the money is available for withdrawal.

However, it can actually take weeks for a financial institution to realize a check is fake. When they do, the money is withdrawn from the victim’s account – leaving them in the dust. At that point, the scammer is nowhere to be found.

Being aware of different types of scams and how they work is the best way to avoid them. Follow these tips from your BBB to defend yourself from fake check scams:

Avoid accepting checks from unknown individuals

When you’re selling to someone you don’t know, it’s safer to accept cash, credit card payments or payment through an online system.

Fake check scams often occur when the victim is selling something online and accepts a check from the buyer, and only discovers that the check is fraudulent after the sold item is long gone.

Never accept overpayments

Overpayment scams occur when the victim accepts a check for greater than the sales price or amount of money owed. The victim is then asked to wire the extra money back to the scammer or to a third party.

By the time the victim finds out that they’ve been scammed, they’ve been swindled out of both the amount that they should’ve been payed and the amount that they wired for the overpayment. In general, you should never wire money to someone you don’t know.

Double-check before withdrawing money

If you do accept a check, wait a few weeks to confirm that the funds have been “finally collected”. You can also call or visit the issuing bank directly to verify the legitimacy of a cashier’s check.

Watch out for other scams involving fake checks

In prize scams, you’re unexpectedly informed that you’ve won a lottery or other huge windfall. You’re sent a cashier’s check, but have to wire a portion of it to a third party for taxes or fees. Unfortunately, the check turns out to be fraudulent.

Fake checks are also common in employment scams. The victim is hired for a job and sent a check for supplies or other job-related costs, but the check eventually bounces.

To learn more about avoiding fake check scams, visit www.bbb.org/fakecheckscam .

If you’ve encountered a fake check scam, or any other type of fraud, report it to BBB Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker .

Rebecca Harpster is public relations specialist for the Better Business Bureau serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.

I recently had the privilege of editing Connie Wanek's “Rival Gardens: New and Selected Poems,” for the University of Nebraska Press.

I had been in Duluth a number of years ago, and the following poem, now included in that book, is one that I heard her read while I was there.

Since that day I have been a devoted fan of her magical, playful, resonant poetry.

Umbrella

When I push your button
you fly off the handle,
old skin and bones,
black bat wing.

We're alike, you and I.
Both of us
resemble my mother,
so fierce in her advocacy

on behalf of
the most vulnerable child
who'll catch his death
in this tempest.

Such a headwind!
Sometimes it requires
all my strength
just to end a line.

But when the wind is at
my back, we're likely
to get carried away, and say
something we can never retract,

something saturated from the ribs
down, an old stony
word like ruin. You're what roof
I have, frail thing,

you're my argument
against the whole sky.
You're the fundamental difference
between wet and dry.

American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited submissions. It 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. Poem copyright ©2010 by Connie Wanek, “Umbrella,” from Rival Gardens: New and Selected Poems, (University of Nebraska Press, 2016). Poem reprinted by permission of Connie Wanek and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2017 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.