NORTH COAST, Calif. – On Tuesday a Mendocino County man was sentenced to state prison for the July 2018 fatal shootings of his father and brother.
Ubaldo Ramirez Davila, 25, was sentenced Tuesday in Mendocino County Superior Court to 24 years and four months in state prison, the Mendocino District Attorney’s Office reported.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies, local firefighters and CHP officers on July 2, 2018, rushed to the shooting site at the turnoff to the “Gold Rule” community on the Ridgewood Grade near Willits, as Lake County News has reported.
First responders found a maroon Chevrolet pickup truck stopped in a traffic lane with two men inside, one dead and one critically injured. The critically injured victim succumbed two days later in a Santa Rosa hospital.
Ramirez, a sometimes Covelo resident, became a suspect early in the investigation. Deputies arrested him in the early morning hours of July 3, 2018, north of Covelo after receiving tips as to his whereabouts, officials said.
The District Attorney’s Office said Ramirez admitted that while sitting as a passenger in the backseat of the pickup he shot and killed his father, Calixto Ramirez Guererro, 51, of Covelo, as well as his brother, Miguel Angel Ramirez Davila, 32, of Eureka.
Ubaldo Ramirez eventually entered guilty pleas to two counts of voluntary manslaughter. He also admitted two special allegations alleging that he personally used a firearm to inflict death on both family members.
Voluntary manslaughter is generally defined as an intentional killing in which the offender had not formed a prior intent to kill, such as a killing that occurs because of a sudden quarrel.
Any credits Ramirez may attempt to earn towards early release are limited to no more than 15 percent of his overall sentence, meaning Ramirez must serve 20.5 years before being eligible for parole. Plans are for the defendant to be deported to Mexico upon the completion of his prison sentence, officials said.
The Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office said the law enforcement agency primarily responsible for investigating and gathering the evidence to sustain the defendant’s convictions was the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. District Attorney David Eyster prosecuted the case.
Eyster cited the work for the prosecution of Rick Blumberg, Ph.D., Ubaldo F. Ramires, Ph.D., and the staff of the Redwood Coast Regional Center.
As of late fall, wildfires are still smoldering under snowfall in Colorado. I am hoping that the cold and snowy weather over the last few days will finally put to bed the 2020 fire season in my state. Through much of October, great pillars of smoke rose in the sky and ash rained down from at least four major fall wildfires, affecting millions in the urban corridors east of the Rocky Mountains.
October wildfires are rare in Colorado, especially large ones that burn more than 1,000 acres. Only about a dozen that size have burned since 1984, out of 335 in the state over that period.
Wildfires have shaped the Earth for hundreds of millions of years and play key roles in many of its ecosystems. And humans have used fire for landscape management for millennia. But we are just starting to understand our modern relationship with fire. As a fire scientist based in the West, I see reason for hope. By making changes now, I believe that we can help shape the types of fire we live with in the future.
Pathways to living with more fire
More than 8.7 million acres – an area larger than the state of Maryland – have burned across the U.S. just in 2020. Tens of millions of people have suffered from the resulting toxic smoke. Hundreds of thousands have been forced to evacuate in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of homes have burned to the ground, and dozens of people have lost their lives.
Fire is responding quickly to climate change, so humans need to respond faster. Based on my own research and work by others, here are six pathways that I believe will help the U.S. get ahead of its wildfire crisis.
Mapping zones where fire is likely in a changing climate is critical. Just as the Federal Emergency Management Agency produces maps of flood-prone areas, the U.S. needs national firescape maps, coupled with national policies to guide development and insurance decisions.
Congress passed an omnibus bill in 2018 that mandated wildfire hazard potential mapping, but this effort will require concerted scientific support and funding. The maps should incorporate how warming temperatures affect the likelihood of wildfires, and should tie into a national program that directs development out of harm’s way.
Emphasize backyard management. Local communities and federal and state land management agencies should focus on reducing flammable trees and brush near where people live. Mechanical removal, raking and logging in the middle of the woods to reduce fire risk is way too expensive and ineffective. It would cost billions of dollars to clean up 150 million dead trees in California.
Bring Smokey Bear to the suburbs. Many human activities bring fire. Virtually all of the wildfires that threaten homes anywhere in the lower 48 states are started by human actions, either deliberate or accidental.
For decades the U.S. Forest Service’s Smokey Bear public education campaign taught Americans that “Only you can prevent forest fires.” Today there’s a need to raise awareness of how daily activities, from camping to setting off fireworks or operating yard equipment, can generate sparks. Power lines, which can blow over during extreme weather conditions and start deadly wildfires, should be a major focus.
Use fire to fight fire. Studies show that the U.S. is not setting enough prescribed fires to reduce flammable materials on the ground, especially in western states.
The only federal agency that has been able to increase prescribed burning in the past two decades is the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This may reflect growing recognition that Native American burning practices offer a model for fire-prone communities. Science-informed policies to delineate when and where to implement prescribed burning could help agencies manage smoke more effectively and support ecosystem restoration.
Understand whom wildfires harm most. A 2018 study estimated that 12 million socially vulnerable Americans who are poorly equipped to respond to fire due to low incomes, language barriers or other factors live in areas where there is substantial wildfire potential.
Further, people of color, based on majority Black, Hispanic or Native American census tracts, may be more vulnerable than others. This disparity makes it urgent to better pinpoint whose lungs and homes are in harm’s way, who receives and acts on evacuation notices, and how well fuel treatments and firefighting protect the most vulnerable communities. Answering these questions would help to reduce disproportionate wildfire risks borne by vulnerable communities.
Stop fixating on “megafires” and “gigafires.” Big fires matter for smoke, small fires matter for homes and fast-moving fires matter for lives. There are better ways to delineate why wildfires matter to society.
New sources ranging from satellites to government records to social media are providing a wealth of opportunities to learn more about wildfire behavior and how it threatens people and affects ecosystems. These data could be linked with information on why fires are becoming so costly, damaging and deadly, leading to astronomical fire suppression budgets.
The U.S. spends over $2 billion on average fighting wildfires every year. I believe it’s time to abandon our emergency response mindset and start investing in proactive measures to reduce risks. In my view, we will never get ahead of the threat without a better understanding of how to manage flammable landscapes and adapt to increasing wildfire threats.
Every day, Americans travel on roads, bridges and highways without considering the safety or reliability of these structures. Yet much of the transportation infrastructure in the U.S. is outdated, deteriorating and badly in need of repair.
Of the 614,387 bridges in the U.S., for example, 39% are older than their designed lifetimes, while nearly 10% are structurally deficient, meaning they could begin to break down faster or, worse, be vulnerable to catastrophic failure.
I am a professor in the Lyles School of Civil Engineering and the director of the Center for Intelligent Infrastructures at Purdue University. My co-author, Vishal Saravade, is part of my team at the Sustainable Materials and Renewable Technology (SMART) Lab. The SMART Lab researches and develops new technologies to make American infrastructure “intelligent,” safer and more cost-effective. These new systems self-monitor the condition of roads and bridges quickly and accurately and can, sometimes, even repair themselves.
Smart, self-healing concrete
Infrastructure – bridges, highways, pavement – deteriorates over time with continuous use. The life of structures could be extended, however, if damages were monitored in real time and fixed early on. In the northern U.S., for example, freeze-thaw cycles in winter cause water to seep into the pavement where it freezes, expands and enlarges cracks, which can cause significant damage. If left unrepaired, this damage may propagate and break down pavements and bridges.
Such damage can be identified and repaired autonomously. At an early stage of a crack, for example, self-healing pavement would activate super absorbent polymers to absorb water and produce concrete-like material that fills in the crack. Cracks as small as a few microns could be healed to prevent significant damage by preventing or delaying the later stages of the freeze-thaw cycle.
At the Purdue SMART Lab, our team is also testing novel sensors that monitor transportation infrastructure by embedding them in several Indiana interstate highways. We plan to expand to other state highway systems in the next few years with a goal to better accommodate increased traffic and provide accurate estimates of road conditions during construction and its life.
Sensors embedded in concrete pavement acquire information about the infrastructure’s health condition in real time and communicate the data to computers. Electrical signals are applied through the sensors. Concrete’s vibrations are converted into electrical signals that are read and analyzed by lab-built customized software. This enables transportation engineers to make effective and data-driven decisions from opening roads to traffic and to proactively identifying issues that cause damage or deterioration.
After concrete is poured for highway pavement, for example, it takes hours to cure and become strong enough to open for traffic. The timing of when to open a highway depends on when the concrete mix is cured. If a roadway opens too early and the concrete is undercured, it can reduce the life expectancy of the pavement and increase maintenance costs. Waiting too long to open a road can result in traffic delays, congestion and increased safety risks for construction workers and commuters. Curing concrete for massive highway projects requires close attention by engineers in conjunction with the weather specific to that region.
Smart sensors embedded in concrete enable engineers to monitor the infrastructure and make data-driven decisions about when a road can open while retaining maximum life expectancy. Sensors can also help monitor the quality of concrete and whether it is robust enough to withstand traffic flow and corrosion after a roadway is opened. Smart, efficient infrastructure can significantly reduce structural failures, both catastrophic and through normal wear, as well as lead to reduced costs and provide new ways for structural engineers to assess real-time information about the pavement.
Congress recognizes the need to invest in American transportation systems. A $494 billion legislation package, the INVEST In America Act, was recently introduced to address America’s deteriorating highways and bridges while diminishing carbon pollution.
Smart sensors and intelligent infrastructure system can enable significant savings of time and money with improved construction safety. Sensors can provide engineers with real-time data of the quality of our infrastructure to make the best decisions for building and maintaining roads, bridges and pavements while improving safety for drivers and construction workers. The addition of self-repairing properties can help build sustainable and long-lasting infrastructure to reduce maintenance and costs.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake was among a handful of counties on Monday that avoided being placed by the state under tighter restrictions related to COVID-19.
The state on Monday reported its new rankings of the 58 counties in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy in response to spiking caseloads across the state.
The blueprint has four tiers:
– Yellow, or minimal; most indoor business operations are open with modifications. – Orange, or moderate; some indoor business operations are open with modifications. – Red, or substantial; some nonessential indoor business operations are closed. – Purple, or widespread; many nonessential indoor business operations are closed.
Monday’s update of the rankings shows that 41 counties are now in the purple tier, the most restrictive.
Of those 41 counties, 29 were just moved into the purple tier from a lower tier. Twelves others – Imperial, Los Angeles, Madera, Monterey, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, Shasta, Sonoma, Tehama and Tulare – had been in the purple tier last week and remain so this week.
Lake County has been in the red tier for some time and in the latest rankings on Monday remained there, allowing businesses and activities to continue without more restrictions.
Other counties whose rankings remained unchanged in the lower tiers as of Monday are Alpine, yellow; Inyo, orange; Lassen, orange; and Mariposa, yellow.
Lake’s neighboring counties of Glenn, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo are all in the purple tier now, while Colusa is in the red tier.
Lake County’s total cases reached 788 on Monday, with three currently hospitalized and 726 recovered. There are now 18 deaths reported, an increase of one since last week, Lake County Public Health reported.
The county’s adjusted case rate is 5.7, the fifth-lowest case rate statewide, based on California Department of Public Health numbers.
Statewide, 1,043,950 cases and 18,305 deaths had been reported by county Public Health departments as of Monday night.
The California Department of Public Health said Monday that the seven-day positivity rate is 5 percent and the 14-day positivity rate is 4.6 percent.
As of Monday, 21,068,894 tests had been conducted in California, which the California Department of Public Health said represented an increase of 202,109 over the prior 24-hour reporting period.
To date, 17,213 tests have been conducted in Lake County, according to the Public Health Department.
For more information about the tiers and restrictions, visit www.covid19.ca.gov.
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.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council is moving forward with a potential land sale and a land purchase, two actions that are intertwined as part of a larger plan to bring more amenities to the city.
At its Nov. 5 meeting, the council unanimously approved a letter of intent for a six-month exclusive negotiation period with King Management LLC, which wants to purchase a 2.5-acre portion of Redbud Park at 14800 Ballpark Ave.
It followed up by approving a purchase agreement with One Shot Mining Co. LLC for parcels located at 14885 Burns Valley Road, 14795 Burns Valley Road, 14760 Olympic Drive, 3334 Washington St., 3359 Washington St. and 3367 Washington St. The purchase price is $870,000.
The discussion of the Redbud Park negotiations begins at the 52-minute mark in the video above. It is immediately followed by the property purchase item.
City Manager Alan Flora explained that in July the city entered into a letter of intent with King Management for development of a hotel at the former Pearce Field airport property on Highway 53.
“They are still interested in moving forward with that project,” said Flora.
However, the company also has become interested in doing another hotel development at the Redbud Park location, he said.
Altogether, Flora said there is a 6.5-acre area at the Redbud Park site, which encompasses the city’s three Little League fields, for the potential hotel development by King Management, retail and a second hotel. Those plans wouldn’t impact the nearby Youth Center.
The park, overall, is reported to have 15 acres, so even with the sale the boat launch, pier, restrooms and parking would remain.
Having a new hotel and other amenities in place there, Flora said, would let the city take advantage of opportunities such as more fishing tournaments at the park’s Thompson Harbor.
However, Flora said the city doesn’t want to move forward with the hotel project until it has new ballfields in place for the Little League teams, which the city would like to relocate to the new property it is seeking to purchase on Burns Valley Road.
Flora said King Management is proposing a 60- to 80-room national brand hotel, with a small conference center, pool and other amenities, on the 2.5 acres on the far eastern portion of the property.
One of the benefits of moving the ballfields to another location, said Flora, is that it would allow for the city to improve the ballfields and have larger crowds without impacting the nearly residential areas as much. It also would allow for night games.
He recommended moving forward with the letter of intent, which is the prelude to a purchase agreement. The city would then begin seeking parties to purchase and develop the remaining four acres of the available park property.
Council members supported the idea but added that they also wanted new ballfields in place before the old ones are redeveloped for the hotel project.
In response to questions from a community member, Flora emphasized that any hotel development wouldn’t happen until new ballfields are built at a new location. “The city is not interested in disrupting any of the seasons.”
“I have a longtime emotional attachment to that ballfield,” said Mayor Russ Cremer.
The existing fields at Redbud Park have been in place for 60 years, and during the discussion Cremer said he was on the first Little League team for the Clearlake Highlands that played there beginning in 1959.
Helen Mitcham of the Southshore Little League said they are trying to get a season going for early 2021 and was concerned about the timing of the negotiations.
Flora repeated that the city isn’t interested in causing impacts on the Little League season and that removal of the old ballfields wouldn’t be allowed to move forward without new ballfields being constructed.
“I love the vision that you have,” said Supervisor Bruno Sabatier.
He wanted to know if the city could stipulate that proceeds from the park property sale go to developing the ballfields at the new location.
Flora said it’s their intent to use the funds from the sale of the ballfields for construction of the new fields, adding that the money they get won’t be enough to build new fields with adequate lighting, irrigation and parking, and that they’ll be looking for other funds as well.
Mitcham told the council that the Little League has grants they plan on applying for to pay for lights at the new location.
Councilman Phil Harris said he had discussed the concept with the Little League board.
If a sales agreement is negotiated, timelines would be pivotal, with Harris noting that the city’s ultimate goal is to provide adequate playing fields for children and have opportunities to host tournaments.
Councilman Russ Perdock said he liked the idea of creating a sports complex, not just ballfields, and having the opportunity to offer tournament play for both adults and children.
Councilwoman Joyce Overton moved to authorize Flora signing the letter of intent with King Management, which Perdock seconded and the council approved 4-0. Vice Mayor Dirk Slooten recused himself from the discussion.
Council approves purchase of 31-acre property
The council then turned to the proposed purchase of the land from One Shot Mining Co.
Flora said the city has been talking for years about developing a new Public Works yard and relocating from the existing location at the former airport property.
Now, with a new animal shelter at the airport property, it’s even more important to get a new location because there’s not enough room for Public Works and animal control at the site, he said.
Flora said staff had been looking at various opportunities and found some adequate sites. Due to the need to develop a new location for the ballfields, they started zeroing in on this site on Burns Valley Road.
“We think that this particular site also includes an opportunity to have a housing development on it,” along with a recreational center, additional retail and commercial development on the eastern portion, said Flora.
The property’s owners have so far removed one building on the land and a second will be removed prior to escrow closing, Flora said.
The purchase agreement calls for the city to make three annual payments, $300,000 per year for each of the first two years and then a final payment of $270,000, with no interest accruing, he said.
Slooten said he thought it was an excellent opportunity, and a good place to locate the corporation yard and ballfields. The location is flat and will be easier to develop, he added.
Harris agreed with Slooten. “I think this is a premier property for the city to own.”
Harris asked if the city had already started looking for grant opportunities for the ballfield and other aspects of the plan.
Flora said yes, reporting that they think it’s an excellent fit for a grant for infill development.
“There may be some other opportunities out there that we haven’t pursued as well,” said Flora, explaining that the city is working with a contractor on funding for the Highlands Park project, and that they can have the contractor look at other funding opportunities for this new development.
Harris asked if there are any potential issues with developing ballfields on the land due to the nearby Orchard Park Senior Living facility. Flora said they will need to design the project in such a way as to mitigate any issues.
“I just think this is a fantastic opportunity,” said Perdock.
Flora said that if the council approved the purchase, city staff would move forward as soon as possible with planning, explaining there are a lot of pieces between this and the Redbud Park property development that all work together.
During public comment, Sheryl Almon asked them to include a swimming pool in the recreation complex.
Miles Cooley pointed out that there are numerous large and beautiful oak trees on the property and he wanted to make sure they are taken into account in designing a project there.
Vicki Crystal thanked the staff and council for looking for alternative locations for the corporation yard – they previously had considered a location at a county-owned property on Pond Road – and lauded them for their work and efforts to approve the city.
Mitcham asked to establish a committee that includes the Little League to work on plans for the property. “We want to be in the discussion and are ready and willing to help.”
Staff and council members agreed that there should be such an ad hoc committee that includes the Little League to work on the project.
Cremer said he wanted to hold off on development of housing at the site until the sports complex is completed. Harris agreed, unless the housing portion is key to getting grants.
Slooten moved to approve the purchase agreement, which Harris seconded and the council approved 5-0.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – When the chill of autumn visits Lake County, my thoughts turn to the local olive harvest.
You may have seen orchards of gnarled olive trees with their characteristic grey-green leaves as you’ve driven around the county. At this time of year, the trees give up their treasure: a tiny fruit amazingly packed full of flavor and health benefits.
A number of local growers produce their own olive oil, and it’s delicious!
It’s quite possible that olives are the most symbolic fruits the world has ever known. They were not only beloved but considered sacred in many ancient Mediterranean cultures spanning the millennia.
Olive trees, leaves, and fruit have been a symbol of a variety of positive attributes through the ages, including peace, wisdom, glory, fertility, power, purity and abundance.
The olive is one of the plants most cited in literature, found in such places as Homer’s Odyssey, the words of the Roman poet Horace, Greek mythology, the Bible (where it’s mentioned more than 30 times), and the Koran, where there are seven references, including as a “precious fruit.”
Olive trees are known for their longevity, and there are dozens of them in southern Europe and the Middle East that are reputed to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old. In some cases, scientific studies have confirmed this.
Interestingly, these trees still bear fruit.
Olives in our hemisphere are harvested in the fall and winter, typically beginning in November. Depending on their intended use, they may be harvested prior to ripening as green olives, fully ripe as black olives, or somewhere in between.
There are dozens of olive varieties – more than a hundred – and they vary wildly in terms of size. Color in their ripened state can vary from shades of brown to purple to black.
Olives are among the healthiest foods on the planet and are packed full of nutrients and health-supporting elements such as antioxidants, iron, vitamin E, dietary fiber, copper, and monosaturated fats.
The olive is native to the eastern Mediterranean coastal region, including southeastern Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. They’re now grown in a variety of places in the world that have a similar climate.
This is true of California, where much of our climate is like that of the Mediterranean region, making it possible for our state to produce nearly 75 percent of the olive oil in the United States.
Lake County shares this olive-friendly climate, and I’m grateful that local olive growers and vintners produce their own oil.
Some years ago, I had the privilege of witnessing the crushing of an olive harvest at what was then the Kelseyville Olive Mill. (Chacewater Winery and Olive Mill now occupies the property.)
Bins full to the top with local olives were brought to the mill to be metamorphosized into rich, golden-green, extra virgin olive oil. The ones that were being processed that day were from the now-closed Ceago del Lago property in Nice.
I was struck by the sheer beauty of those little fruits, arrayed like colorful jewels in their containers as they awaited processing through the sorting mechanisms to ready them for the press.
And then, finally, the reward: lush, succulent, glimmering drops of Lake County olive oil dribbled from the press, ready for bottling.
But why use olive oil?
First and foremost, there are positive health benefits.
Studies have shown that monounsaturated fats such as olive oil are linked with a reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease. Olive oil has been shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels, as well as having a positive effect on high blood pressure. It contains vitamin E and carotenoids, powerful antioxidants that protect our cells from damage.
Secondly, it tastes good!
A simple piece of bread is transformed when dipped into it, greens benefit from its drizzle, and its flavor delights our taste buds in pesto and Caprese salad. It’s quite versatile in the kitchen when used as a substitute for other fats.
And why should one seek out and buy local olive oil?
Aside from supporting our county’s industry and lowering the carbon footprint of the foods we eat, there are other benefits.
For one, the oil is fresher. Because local growers make smaller batches, it’s sure to be fresher than oil transported across miles of ocean or state highways.
Another reason is the taste. Local olive oils are lovingly handcrafted with this in mind. In some cases, such as at local farmers’ markets or winery tasting rooms, it’s possible to taste before you purchase.
Like wine, not all olive oils go with all dishes, and you may be partial to one oil’s taste over another. Flavors vary depending on the type of olive pressed, and some are stronger than others.
There are seemingly endless varieties of olives; some are as tiny as a fingernail, others are as large as a plum, and varying types are grown in Lake County.
The blend of olive varieties, as well as the ratio of ripe to green olives, contributes to each oil’s unique taste. It can be said that the complexity of producing a fine olive oil is akin to producing a fine wine, minus the aging process.
As with wine, there’s a special language to describe the properties of olive oil. Peppery, fruity, and grassy are just a few of the descriptive adjectives thrown around at a tasting.
A third reason to purchase local oils is that you can be assured of the quality.
While the European Union has stringent guidelines for what’s sold on that continent (and the California Olive Oil Council has a voluntary certification process for extra virgin olive oil), there is no such safeguard for olive oil marketed in the U. S. Hence, almost anything can be called “extra virgin” and sold here.
Unfortunately, there have been numerous documented cases where imported oils have been falsely labeled as extra virgin olive oil.
In contrast, local growers produce ONLY oil that comes from virgin oil production and can truly be called “extra virgin.”
Lake County olive oil producers include Chacewater Winery and Olive Mill of Kelseyville, home to one of the only olive presses in the area. In addition to pressing their own certified organic olives, they process olives for other local growers. Their oils, some of which have earned medals, are available via their website or at their tasting room.
Loasa Farms, also in Kelseyville, is the olive oil-producing arm of Dorn Vineyards. Their oil can be purchased at the Lake County Farmers Finest market, which is held year-round on Saturdays at the fairgrounds in Lakeport.
Rosa d’Oro Vineyards, makers of Italian varietal wines, produces a Tuscan blend olive oil available on their website or at their tasting room located at their Kelseyville vineyard. The folks at Rosa d’Oro Vineyards were instrumental in creating the Kelseyville Olive Festival, now a yearly tradition.
Olivopolis, an olive ranch in Jerusalem Valley north of Middletown, has a Tuscan blend oil available at a couple of venues in Lake County: the Laujor Estate Winery near Kelseyville and Hardester’s Markets in Middletown or Hidden Valley Lake. Their Tuscan blend and a new single varietal oil may also be purchased on their website.
Villa Barone Olive Orchard, also in Jerusalem Valley and with their own olive press, has produced a lot of Lake County olive oil; however, according to their website, they will soon stop selling due to retirement plans. For now, it can be purchased at Hardester’s Markets in Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake, as well as through Lake County Organics Plus, a local organic food delivery service.
They will continue to fill orders through their website while supplies last, and once management of their orchard has been worked out post-retirement, oils from their trees may be available again in the future.
I was happy to learn that another Lake County olive oil may be on the horizon. Stonehouse Cellars of Clearlake Oaks plans to bottle oil from their 2020 olive harvest, their first. Depending on availability, it should be sold at the Lake County Farmers Finest market in Lakeport.
For longest shelf life, olive oil should be in dark bottles as clear glass allows light to deteriorate the oil. Be sure not to use oil that has a rancid smell. Store your olive oil in a cool, dark place.
Once opened, I store mine in the refrigerator to guarantee freshness, though this is not necessary if you go through your opened bottle in a reasonable amount of time. If stored in the fridge, it will solidify, so I place the bottle in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes to liquefy the oil for use.
Today’s recipe is for a simple mixed olive tapenade, which is especially delightful when made with a flavorful local oil. Served as an appetizer or as an addition to a light meal, tapenade is typically paired with little bread toasts known as crostini in Italian or crouton in French. Directions for making these little toasts are also below. Enjoy!
Tapenade
1 cup high-quality black and green olives, any combination (have fun choosing them at an olive bar!) 1 tablespoon capers 2 cloves garlic 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon lemon juice Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Coarsely chop all ingredients in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. (Be careful not to over-process, as tapenade should not be smooth.) If stored in a tightly covered container, tapenade should keep for up to a month in the fridge. Add some extra virgin olive oil to moisten it when needed before serving. Serve on crackers or little toasts (recipe below). If desired, spread toasts first with cream cheese or goat cheese before topping with tapenade.
To make the little toasts, slice a baguette and brush each piece with olive oil. Toast the slices on a baking sheet in a 400-degree oven for several minutes until the outside is brown and toasty and the inside is soft. (You can test this by pressing lightly with your finger.) For an added treat, rub a fresh garlic clove lightly over the pieces.
Recipes by Esther Oertel.
Esther Oertel is a writer and passionate home cook from a family of chefs. She grew up in a restaurant, where she began creating recipes from a young age. She’s taught culinary classes in a variety of venues in Lake County and previously wrote “The Veggie Girl” column for Lake County News. Most recently she’s taught culinary classes at Sur La Table in Santa Rosa. She lives in Middletown.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake is taking a new approach in its ongoing efforts to develop the former airport property.
City Manager Alan Flora presented, and received approval for, his plan to facilitate development of the former Pearce Field Airport property on Highway 53 from the council at its Oct. 1 meeting.
The site has been slated for a shopping center in several different iterations, but so far no project has been completed.
Flora said it was “a little depressing” to research the property’s history, as he didn’t realize how far back efforts and discussions to develop it went.
Based on Flora’s report to the council, the Clearlake Redevelopment Agency purchased the 38.5-acre property for $840,000 from the county in 1994, after the county closed it. Four years later, the redevelopment agency sold 10 acres that were used to develop Outrageous Waters water park, now closed.
After the shutdown of redevelopment, the property was transferred in 2013 from the agency to the city for public use, he said.
Flora proposed to the council that the city offer a compensation agreement to the taxing entities that are entitled to proceeds – such as the Konocti Unified School District, Woodland Community College, the Lake County Office of Education and the county of Lake – should the city sell the property.
In order to actually make the project happen, Flora said the city needs to get creative. That includes installing infrastructure – water, sewer and roads – at the site.
If the city has full control of the property, Flora said it could move forward with a low- or no-cost ground lease to a development firm, that would then develop the property and rent it out.
Eliminating the cost of infrastructure and land would make the site more attractive to developers, Flora said.
Flora said there are a couple of successful local businesses that are potentially interested in this proposed development model.
He said the city would need to take the plan to the Lake County Redevelopment Oversight Board for final approval.
The proposal includes having the city maintain 1.72 acres for uses including animal control’s shelter, the city’s Public Works yard – until a new location is found – and the Lake County Fire Protection District.
Flora proposed paying $10,000 per acre to the taxing entities – or a total of $241,800. He said the taxing entities have been agreeable to a proposal to reduce the cost for private developers.
“This is a little different model than what we had proposed before,” he said.
The city could then take on the commitment of installing infrastructure. Flora said if the city can get those first two steps moving forward, it can start on design work and negotiations.
Councilman Phil Harris moved to approve the plan, which the council approved 5-0.
The council unanimously approved a second motion for the city to work with RAM Development Partners, a sister company to Retail Strategies, the company that has been working with the city to attract development interest and investment into Clearlake, on the project.
Flora took the proposal to the county’s redevelopment oversight board late last month.
At the meeting, which Flora took place on Oct. 28, the board unanimously approved the compensation agreement.
He said he has a good amount of interest in the project.
RAM Development’s current role is marketing and planning for the build-out, Flora said.
“We will be developing plans and designing the roadway and infrastructure. If all goes well we will actually use RAM as the developer for the property. We would do a ground lease to RAM, they would then build the space and then lease to tenants,” he said.
“Everything is looking great for this project to move forward,” Flora said.
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors is set to continue a discussion about the continuation of Friday office closures for county offices, will get a COVID-19 update and consider a resolution allowing for home kitchen operations this week.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17.
The supervisors will meet in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, for a hybrid meeting format which also will include the opportunity for community members to continue to participate virtually.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link at 9 a.m. The meeting ID is 939 8046 7939, password 667935.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item please visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
In an untimed item, the board will continue a discussion regarding staff’s proposal to consider extending Friday office closures to the public through March 31, 2021, in light of COVID-19 and expected effects of the 2020-21 flu season.
The Friday closures began in August 2018 on a six-month basis in response to county job vacancy rates and have since been extended for other reasons, most recently COVID-19.
At the Nov. 3 meeting, Supervisor Rob Brown said there is nothing more permanent than a temporary program. “This is playing out that way.”
Supervisors expressed their desire to see the closures end and Friday office hours to resume by April. Supervisor Bruno Sabatier suggested that the closures should begin to be rolled back in January, when departments could assign one staffer each to basic customer service duties.
The board on Tuesday is expected to finalize its direction to staff on the matter.
In other business on Tuesday, at 9:05 a.m. the board will get an update from Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace.
At 10:45 a.m., the board will consider an ordinance allowing microenterprise home kitchen operations with a pilot program.
A memo to the board from Supervisor Sabatier and Supervisor EJ Crandell explained, “AB626 allows for a home kitchen to be utilized for a limited number of meals per week, and a limited amount of income to individuals wishing to start a home based food facility. In order to allow this to occur in Lake County, we must opt in and allow the permitting of such facilities.”
The memo noted that on July 21 the board approved moving forward with producing an ordinance opting in for AB626 and offering a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations permit to the public.
Since county staffers have raised issues about the impact on workload, Crandell and Sabatier are proposing a pilot program allowing for a maximum of two applications per month for a maximum of 10 total applications during the pilot program period.
“The applications will also be separated at 2 per district to ensure that the program will be accessible around the county and not concentrated in one area,” the memo said.
The permit process will require approval by the landlord if the home is not owned by the tenant and also will require a zoning permit or minor use permit depending on whether or not food is being delivered, according to the memo.
“A minor use permit would be necessary to ensure that parking and traffic issues would be mitigated prior to approving a permit,” Crandell and Sabatier wrote.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve the early release of one member of the Lucerne Area Town Hall.
5.2: Ratify second side letter agreement with county of Lake Deputy Sheriff’s Association regarding amendment to the 2019 MOU.
5.3: Approve amendment to the County of Lake COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Return to Work – Worksite Protection Protocol.
5.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. Tule House for substance abuse block grant eligible substance use disorder perinatal residential services for Fiscal Year 2020-21, for an amount not to exceed $50,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.5: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. Tule House for drug Medi-Cal eligible substance use disorder perinatal residential services for Fiscal Year 2020-21, for an amount not to exceed $150,000.00 and authorize the board chair to sign the Agreement.
5.6: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Willow Glen Care Center for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2020-21 for a contract maximum of $100,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.7: (a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve agreement between the county of Lake and Social Service Data Solutions Inc. DBA Decipher HMIS and Impact Homelessness Project for the coordination of activities involved in the compliance with the Lake County Continuum of Care Homeless Management Integration Software for Fiscal Year 2020-21 for a contract maximum of $54,300 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.8: Adopt resolution approving the standard agreement between county of Lake and the Department of Housing and Community Development in the amount of $560,227 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.9: Approve Addendum No. 3 to the commercial lease agreement between the county of Lake and Bruno’s Property Management to allow for the additional lease of attached property at the 6302 13th Ave., Lucerne, California and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.10: Adopt resolution to amend the budget for FY 2020-2021 by appropriating unanticipated revenue for Public Health services and authorize the Health Services director to sign necessary documents to secure these funds.
5.11: Adopt resolution amending Resolution 2020-134 establishing position allocations for Fiscal Year 2020-21, Budget Unit No.4011, Public Health.
5.12: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transportation, and disposal of fire debris for the Mendocino Complex fire.
5.13: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.14: A) Authorize the Public Services director / assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $65,000 to Leete Generators for a portable diesel generator, including installation; and B) approve Budget Transfer in Budget Unit 4011, Health Services Department, Public Health Division to Object Code 62-74, to purchase and install a backup generator in the amount of $65,000.
5.15: Approve the continuation of resolution ratifying the declaration of local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transport, and disposal of fire debris for the LNU Complex wildfire.
5.16: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.17: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.18: Approve the Continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.19: Approve the continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.20: Sitting as the Board of Directors, Lake County Watershed Protection District, consideration and approval of joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Dept. of the Interior for annual maintenance of the Kelsey Creek flow gauge station in the amount of $14,430 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.21: Sitting as the Board of Directors for the Lake County Watershed Protection District, (a) waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2 (2) & (3), as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of the goods or services and its determined that competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; (B) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and EOA Inc. environmental consulting firm in the amount of $104,000 to provide assistance to meet NPDES storm water permit and TMDL compliance and to authorize the chair of the board of directors to sign the agreement.
5.22: Sitting as the Board of Directors for the Lake County Watershed Protection District, approve the reimbursement agreements between the district and (a) the city of Lakeport and the (b) city of Clearlake to provide reimbursement for TMDL and storm water program services and to authorize the chair of the board of directors to sign the agreements.
5.23: Approve amendment one to agreement between the county of Lake and Quincy Engineering Inc. for engineering services for Hill Road MP 7.75 Landslide Repair Project in Lake County.
5.24: Approve amendment two to the agreement between the county of Lake and Quincy Engineering Inc. for engineering services for replacement of Cooper Creek Bridge at Witter Springs Road (14C-0119) in Lake County.
5.25: Approve additional leave of absence that extends beyond Department Leave and County Administrative Officer approved leave for Shirah Ruiz from Nov. 12, 2020, through Jan. 4, 2021, and authorize the Board of Supervisors chair.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:05 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.3, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, discussion/consideration to name an existing unnamed road located off Jerusalem Grand in Middletown Area, Psi Keep Ranch Road.
6.4, 10:30 a.m.: Discussion of Proposition 64 Draft Cannabis Equity Assessment and Funding For Equity Program.
6.5, 10:45 a.m.: Consideration of ordinance allowing microenterprise home kitchen operations with a pilot program.
6.6, 11:15 a.m.: Continuance of hearing on account and proposed assessment for the property 12942 Second St., Clearlake Oaks.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: (a) Discussion and possible direction to staff regarding Friday closures; (b) consideration of a resolution extending Friday closures through March 31, 2021, in light of COVID-19 and expected effects of the 2020-21 flu season.
7.3: Consideration of proposed 2021 Board of Supervisors regular meeting calendar.
7.4: Consideration of amendment two to the agreement between the county of Lake and the Kelseyville Motel for COVID-19 emergency isolation housing and authorize the chair to sign.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b) (1): Appointment of Special Districts administrator.
8.2: Public employee evaluations: County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson, Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (d)(1): City of Clearlake v. County of Lake, et al.
8.4: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2)(e)(3), claim of Lillie.
8.5: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (d)(1): Sabalone v. County of Lake.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This month the nation is celebrating the culture and heritage of its native peoples.
On Oct. 30, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation designating November 2020 as National Native American Heritage Month – which also is referred to as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month – in the United States.
It’s a particularly important commemoration in Lake County, which is home to seven federally recognized tribes:
• Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria; • Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians of the Sulphur Bank Rancheria; • Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake; • Koi Nation of Northern California; • Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California; • Robinson Rancheria; and • Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California.
Lake County is notable for having two Native American members of its Board of Supervisors – Chair Moke Simon and Supervisor EJ Crandell.
It’s also the place where a landmark lawsuit that opened the door for Native Americans to vote began.
In 1917, the California Supreme Court ruled that Ethan Anderson was eligible to vote. A full story about the case can be read here.
Alaska has the most federally tribes, 229, the Bureau of Indian Affairs reported.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey for 2019 found that California has 321,112 residents who identify their ethnicity as American Indian and Alaska Native alone, with 2,540 of those individuals living in Lake County.
The US Census Bureau reported that the first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York.
The event was the result of an effort by Rev. Red Fox James, also known as Red Fox Skiukusha, whose tribe has not been determined, rode 4,000 miles across the United States on horseback in order to seek approval from 24 state governments to have a day to honor American Indians, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, or BIA, reported.
The BIA said Rev. James presented the endorsements of 24 governors to the White House on Dec. 14, 1915.
Four years later, he would petition the state of Washington to designate the fourth Saturday in September as an “Indian holiday,” the BIA said.
The same year that Rev. James made his ride across the United States, the Congress of the American Indian Association directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapaho minister “to call upon the nation to observe a day for American Indians,” and on Sept. 18, 1915, he issued a proclamation declaring the second Saturday of each May as “American Indian Day,” the BIA reported.
Rev. Coolidge also at that time sought U.S. citizenship for American Indians, a call Congress heard in 1924 when the BIA said it enacted the Indian Citizenship Act.
That act gave citizenship to all U.S.-born American Indians not already covered by treaty or other federal agreements that granted such status. The BIA said Alaska Natives were included in a later amendment to the act.
New York is believed to have designated the first American Indian Day in 1916, when it was commemorated in May, the BIA said.
In California, in 1968 Gov. Ronald Reagan signed a resolution designating the fourth Friday in September as American Indian Day, the BIA said.
Native American Day would become an official state holiday in California 30 years after Reagan’s action thanks to legislation enacted by the California State Assembly, the BIA said.
On the national level, federal observances began to take place after Congress in 1976 authorized President Gerald Ford to proclaim “Native American Awareness Week” in October.
The observances would become more formalized after George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating the month of November “National American Indian Heritage Month,” in 1990, the BIA said.
The following facts are courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Did You Know?
6.9 million The nation's American Indian and Alaska Native population alone or in combination with other race groups in 2019.
10.1 million The projected American Indian and Alaska Native population alone or in combination with other race groups on July 1, 2060. They would constitute 2.5 percent of the total population.
324 The number of distinct federally recognized American Indian reservations in 2019, including federal reservations and off-reservation trust land.
574 The number of federally recognized Indian tribes in the United States in 2020.
142,972 The number of single-race American Indian and Alaska Native veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces in 2019.
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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and it also marks the 41st year of serving Lake County residents.
Hospice Services of Lake County formed in 1979 by a group of concerned volunteers.
This year the group also is welcoming Cindy Sobel, RN, MS, as the new executive director. She succeeds Ruth Lincoln, who retired Oct. 30.
The Board of Directors of Hospice Services of Lake County selected Sobel from a highly competitive field on Oct. 29.
“The board was most impressed by her knowledge of Lake County with 30 years of clinical leadership experience in home care management and six years serving Hospice Services of Lake County,” said Board President Don Hubbard.
Held in high regard by her peers and staff, Sobel has an outstanding record of accomplishment in performance improvement, strategic planning, business planning and operations management.
She is no stranger to hospice and palliative care in Lake County. During her leadership role as director of Patient Care Services, she grew the Palliative Care program, adding and training new staff to expand services for Lake County residents.
Sobel holds a Master of Science degree in healthcare management, a Bachelor of Science in management and a registered nursing degree.
Having a lifelong passion for education, she is also a “Train the Trainer” for the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium for more than four years.
“Hospice Services of Lake County encourages you to explore your options for comfort care and to share your wishes with family, loved ones and your professional healthcare providers. We have many services to assist you,” said Sobel.
There are many myths about eligibility and the best time to start hospice care. Often, starting sooner provides the most benefits.
Hospice Services of Lake County will mark the month with community outreach to help bring about awareness of options to enhance quality of life for individuals experiencing a life-threatening disease.
In addition, the organization will present the second annual Festival of Trees Nov. 20 to 30. The annual “Light Up a Life” ceremonies are scheduled for Dec. 3 in Lakeport and Dec. 12 in Middletown.
Hospice Services of Lake County started as a small organization assisting only a few patients in 1980.
In the last 12 months, the team of trained staff provided hospice care to 262 individuals including 58 military veterans.
In the same period of time, 86 individuals including adults and children have received grief counseling in response to the loss of family members or loved ones through support groups, the Wings of Hope family camps and school-based counseling programs.
All services are provided following protocols established by the CDC and Lake County Department of Health Services.
Trained volunteers providing patient/family support, bereavement services, assistance with the thrift store, fund development and administrative duties are an integral part of the organization. Eighty-six volunteers provided 2, 912 hours of service in the past 12 months.
The core of hospice service is to provide patient- and family-centered care, ensuring the highest quality of life at the end-of-life wherever the individual calls home. Specially trained staff ensure that families receive the necessary support to allow that to happen. Services include nursing care, symptom management, and emotional and spiritual support tailored to a patient’s needs and wishes.
Services are paid for 100 percent by Medicare, Medi-Cal and the Veteran’s Administration. Many private health insurances also cover hospice care.
Financial support from the community through individual and corporate donations allows Hospice Services to cover special needs of patients and provide community bereavement services. No patients are turned away if they do not have the means to pay for hospice care.
“We encourage you to see how our compassionate team can assist you and your loved ones. We are happy to talk with you about the services that we provide and how we can help,” said Sobel.
Call us at 707-263-6222 or visit Hospice Services at 1862 Parallel Drive, Lakeport.
Additional information is also available on Hospice Services of Lake County’s website, www.lakecountyhospice.org.
Janine Smith Citron is director of development for Hospice Services of Lake County.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The final step in renaming a city street in honor of the man who helped found Westside Community Park is on the Lakeport City Council’s agenda this week.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17.
The meeting will be by teleconference only. The city council chambers will not be open to the public.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799. The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments prior to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council prior to the meeting.
In a public hearing during the Tuesday meeting, the council will consider approving a resolution that would change the name of Westside Park Road to Charlie Jolin Way.
The proposal, which was brought to the council over the summer by the Westside Community Park Committee, received initial approval from the council before it went to the Lakeport Planning Commission. The commission followed up by approving the proposal in October.
Jolin died in June at age 96. He is credited with being the prime mover in the creation and promotion of the park.
Also on Tuesday, Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace will give the council an update on COVID-19 in Lake County.
In other business, the council will receive a presentation on the Redwood Empire Municipal Insurance Fund and the merger with Public Agency Risk Sharing Authority of California to create the California Intergovernmental Risk Authority, or CIRA, and direct staff to work with CIRA on steps necessary to complete the merger and place joint powers agreements and bylaws as a consent item on a future agenda.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the council’s regular Nov. 3 meeting; and the Oct. 29 warrant register.
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.
Nicole Hassoun, Binghamton University, State University of New York
An estimated 3 billion people in low-income countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America are likely to lack access to a COVID-19 vaccine for years after it becomes available. In poor nations, many communities lack the health care workers needed to administer vaccines, as well as the capacity to handle vaccines properly by keeping them extremely cold.
The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility, or COVAX, is a joint effort by 184 countries working with international organizations to make it possible for people everywhere to get affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines as they become available.
These instances of “vaccine nationalism” threaten to undermine COVAX and other attempts to equitably distribute new COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
Several large industrialized countries – including the U.S. and Russia – have opted to stay out of the agreement altogether. They are making their own arrangements with pharmaceutical companies instead.
UNICEF
Distributing COVID-19 vaccines could prove as hard as or harder than coming up with the money to pay for them.
That’s because the most promising vaccines require constant and extremely cold storage. Especially in areas where access to electricity is unreliable or missing altogether, there simply are not enough health facilities with the required refrigeration capacity.
Nearly 3 billion people around the world live in places lacking the temperature-controlled storage needed for a wide-scale immunization campaign. How bad this problem turns out to be will depend on which vaccines are ultimately approved, because not every vaccine undergoing clinical trials requires storage at the same cold temperatures.
What’s more, there are not enough health workers to administer the vaccines, and it’s extremely hard for many people in poor communities to travel to health clinics.
In addition, UNICEF aims to stockpile 520 million syringes by the end of 2020, up to 1 billion syringes by 2021 and 5 million safety disposal boxes.
International organizations and foundations
Several other international organizations are also working to make sure that people in low-income countries will have access to a COVID-19 vaccine and to treatments as well.
Other regional development banks are also playing an important role, since COVAX will not provide enough vaccines for everyone in the world. For instance, in sub-Saharan Africa, only 28% of health care facilities have access to reliable electricity, so the African Export-Import Bank has $3 million in grant funding to help communities procure equipment and supplies. Moreover, the bank is talking with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention about allocating $5 billion to buy COVID-19 vaccines.
And the Global Fund has allocated $665 million of the estimated $20 billion needed to vaccinate everyone in the whole world. Their COVID-19 Response Mechanism will improve supply chains for vaccine distribution and health systems in general.
Other organizations with extensive experience in vaccination campaigns are also stepping up to help.
For example, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is providing staff trained to do polio surveillance to test wastewater for COVID-19, distribute masks and hand sanitizer, and perform contact tracing. When a vaccine becomes available, this polio group will likely help out as well.
Foundations, especially the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are also playing a role.
The vaccines will be sold for no more than $3 a dose to 92 low- and middle-income countries including Brazil, Chile, Singapore and South Africa.
In 1999, the Gates Foundation pledged $750 million to launch GAVI, and it has given $4 billion to the organization to date. At the 2020 Global Vaccine Summit, a virtual meeting hosted by the U.K., the Gates Foundation promised to spend $1.6 billion to vaccinate 300 million children against several diseases, including COVID-19 once vaccines become available.
The Gates Foundation is also participating in a joint effort with the World Health Organization and several other international organizations to pay for 100 million antigen rapid diagnostic tests being made available in low- and middle-income countries – where they are priced at $5 or less.
Likewise, many other philanthropic efforts are underway in conjunction with companies and international agencies.
In my view, these efforts are just as important as efforts to develop, manufacture, and distribute new vaccines. After all, if no safe and effective vaccine emerges, testing, tracing, personal protective equipment and treatments will remain essential for combating the pandemic and saving millions of lives around the world.