HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s physicians, nurses and other staff are not the only ones who promote healing and wellness.

An important part of the health care team are the volunteers who serve in nearly every department of the hospital.

On April 20, the hospital celebrated the service of its dedicated volunteers with a special luncheon at the Greenview Restaurant in Hidden Valley Lake.

In 2015, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s volunteers served a combined 38,500 hours, the equivalent of more than 18 full-time employees.

The volunteers serve throughout the hospital, from assisting with clerical tasks to driving patients from the parking lot to the hospital entrance on a golf cart.

They are most visible at the check-in desk, where they greet patients and help them find their destination within the hospital.

“The warm welcome of a volunteer creates the first impression of our hospital,” says Audrey Barrall, administrative director of human resources. “That is why we are so grateful to have such compassionate and service-minded individuals as part of our team.”

Each volunteer was acknowledged at the luncheon for their individual hours of service. Shirley Knobles and Lois Meisenbach were specially honored for 25 years of generous service. Knobles served 3,500 hours and Meisenbach served 4,300 hours in 2015.

Ardell Kochel of Clearlake has been volunteering at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake for nearly 20 years. Kochel spent 3,000 hours greeting patients at the front desk in 2015. Kochel was inspired to serve by her mother, who was a surgical nurse during World War II.

“I’m a people person,” Kochel says. “I have compassion for folks who come to the hospital. We greet each person who comes through the door, and it’s a busy place all day.”

If you are interested in volunteering at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, contact Community and Volunteer Services Coordinator Jon Uher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707.995.5845, or visit www.sthelenahospitalclearlake.org .

SACRAMENTO – The Identity Theft Resolution Act, a bill authored by Assemblymember Bill Dodd (D-Napa), has unanimously passed the Assembly Floor with bipartisan support.

The Identity Theft Resolution Act will dramatically reduce the time it takes for victims of identity theft to clear their name, end harassing phone calls, and remove negative credit reporting.

The bill has received broad based support from California Attorney General Kamala Harris, consumer advocates, and even segments of the debt collection industry.
 
“Identity theft does not discriminate based on your political party and many of my colleagues in the legislature, myself included, have been victims of identity theft. This bill is a prime example of how members of the legislature can work together to pass common sense legislation that will positively impact millions of people in California,” said Assemblymember Bill Dodd. “Victims don’t just receive annoying collection calls; they can also face higher interest rates or even lose out on critical home or auto loans due to the fraudulent charges on their credit reports.”
 
Identity theft occurs every 2.5 seconds in the U.S. and impacts 1.5 million Californians every year, according the California Attorney General. Identity theft occurs when perpetrators illegally use a person’s confidential information to make fraudulent purchases or apply for consumer loans in the victim’s name.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates it can take an average of 6 months and 200 hours of work to recover from identity theft. Under Dodd’s legislation, the timeframe for resolution can be reduced to a matter of weeks.
 
“Identity theft can have damaging effects long after the crime has taken place. Many people only find out the crime has occurred once it appears on their credit report,” said Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch. “Consumers can spend months trying to navigate through a confusing and overwhelming system to remove the negative reporting. Any legislation that provides a more expedient resolution for cases of identity theft is a positive step for consumer protection.”
 
“Identity theft is a very serious problem that affects millions of Californian’s each year. In Contra Costa County, our Consumer Protection Unit receives over five hundred complaints a year from residents who have become victims of consumer fraud and hundreds more from victims of identity theft,” said Contra Costa District Attorney Mark Peterson. “These victims deserve a faster resolution process. This legislation is a step towards helping ordinary citizens deal with the nightmare that results from being the victim of the crime of identity theft.”
 
While Dodd’s bill dramatically reduces the time frame for debt collection companies to review identity theft disputes, it also requires that consumers be notified of how their dispute was resolved.

Further, the bill requires faster updates to the credit reporting agencies to delete negative credit reporting and ensures the fraudulent accounts are not sold or transferred to another collector. The bill now moves on the Senate where it will be heard later this year.
 
Assemblymember Bill Dodd represents the 4th Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Lake, and Colusa Counties. You can learn more about Assemblymember Dodd and the district at www.asm.ca.gov/dodd .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – REACH Air Medical Services, South Lake County Fire Protection District and Lake County Assistant Superintendent of Schools April Leiferman worked together to give Minnie Cannon Elementary School After School Program an experience to remember.

On Friday, April 15, students from Minnie Cannon After School Program were escorted to the South Lake County Fire Protection District station in Middletown where they were greeted by firefighters from Cal Fire and South Lake County Fire Protection District, and Melinda Waters from REACH Air Medical Services.

The students in the After School Program ranged in grades from kindergarten to sixth grade. Most of the 60 students in the program were evacuated due to the Valley fire in September.

Because of the fires, the children would get scared when they would see the helicopters or hear the emergency vehicles.

After Cindy Adams, director of Child Development, informed Leiferman of the children’s reaction to those events, they decided to team up with REACH and the fire service to put on this event for them.

Leiferman and Waters worked together for several weeks, through many obstacles, to make sure that this event would happen for the 42 students who attended.

The purpose was to show the children that the vehicles and helicopter are there to keep them safe and to help.

“By giving the children a positive experience, we hope to desensitize the children to their fear of the helicopter and sirens from the emergency vehicles,” said Leiferman.

The students rotated between three areas. They were taken through the fire station and shown where the firefighters eat, sleep and hold meetings. They also got to explore the many vehicles that the fire service uses and ask the firefighters questions.

The helicopter flew above the children as they were walking into the station and were greeted by the flight paramedic, Melinda Waters.

They got to meet the flight nurse, Deb Yoder and pilot of the helicopter, John Wilson, while walking through the helicopter and were shown the medical equipment they use while in flight.

The older children were allowed to sit in the cockpit under the supervision of Wilson, while he showed them all the gears and switches.

Smokey the Bear was there as well and took pictures with the students and gave lots of hugs. Many students were taking picture in the helicopter and fire station too.

Toward the end of the event the students received gifts from REACH and the firefighters, including beach balls, fire helmets and Frisbees.

The event ended with the students and emergency staff eating dinner together in the fire house. Dinner conversation consisted of the students telling their personal stories of the Valley fire as the emergency responders comforted each of them.

The event was a success due to Leiferman and Waters being an advocate for the students and this event.

For more information about the After School Program, please contact Cindy Adams at 707-263-4563 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Annie Mills is a communications specialist with the Lake County Office of Education.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Redwood Community Chorus holds its spring concert Friday, May 13, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 14, at 2 p.m.

The performances will be held at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church, 44831 Main St. in Mendocino.

This year's spring concert features works of religious music, including “Benedictus” by Brian Lewis and Dietrich Buxtehude’s “Kantate.”

The gospel song “Down to the River to Pray,” from the film "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" is on the program, along with two romantic, but sad, love songs including the haunting “Come to Me in the Silence of the Night,” a song setting by Greg Gilpin of Christina Rossetti’s poem expressing grief and longing for a loved who has died.

Six other short pieces round out the program.

Admission is free, but contributions are welcome.

The general trout opener in many counties throughout California will commence on Saturday, April 30, one hour before sunrise.
 
Because of the popularity of this annual event with the angling public, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is making every effort to stock trout in all accessible waters approved for planting prior to the season opener.

Because of the increased rains this winter, CDFW expects most lakes to be open and available for fishing.
 
Most lakes, rivers and streams have a limit of five trout per day and 10 in possession. However, regulations differ on season opening and closing dates, bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits and gear restrictions.
 
Anglers are advised to check specific area regulations and opening dates in the 2016-17 California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulation booklet ( www.wildlife.ca.gov/regulations ) for regulations specific to each body of water.
 
In 2012, CDFW regional staff created the Eastern Sierra Back Country Fishing Guide to provide anglers with a quick, informative and accurate account of the distribution of fisheries in back country high elevation lakes.

This guide does not address front country waters, defined as lakes and streams that are accessible by vehicle.

Most of the lakes lie within U.S. Forest Service lands managed as wilderness and usually require back country permits for overnight use.

Most back country fisheries are based on self-sustaining populations of trout and do not need regular trout stocking to maintain fish populations.

The guide can be found at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Regions/6 (under Hunting, Fishing, Education).
 
Crowley Lake in the Eastern Sierra is expected to be one of the most popular opening day destinations for anglers from around the state.

In past years, an estimated 10,000 anglers have turned out for the opener, and approximately 50,000 trout are caught during the first week of the season.

Typically Crowley is planted with hundreds of thousands of small and medium sized trout, and because of excellent food sources in the 5,280-acre reservoir, these trout grow to catchable sizes and weigh at least three-quarters of a pound by the opener.

About 10 percent of the trout caught at Crowley during opening weekend weigh over a pound and a half. These fish are from stocks planted in previous years or are wild fish produced in Crowley's tributary waters.
 
Anglers are asked to be particularly vigilant when cleaning fish and fishing gear at Crowley Lake and in the upper and lower Owens River Drainage.

The New Zealand Mudsnail was discovered several years ago in the Owens River Drainage, and CDFW would like to prevent mudsnails from spreading into other waters.

To avoid spreading New Zealand Mudsnails and other aquatic invasive species to other waters, anglers are advised to dispose of their fish guts in bear-proof trash cans, rather than throw them back into the water. Wading gear should be properly cleaned before using in new waters.
 
All persons age 16 and older must possess a valid California fishing license to fish within state lines. Freshwater fishing licenses can be purchased online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/online-sales or at regional CDFW offices or other license agents.

Anglers no longer have to display their license visibly above the waist but they must have it in their possession while fishing.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Friends and supporters of Worldwide Healing Hands (WHH) will gather Saturday morning to walk Mount Konocti’s Wright Summit Trail during the third annual “Hike 4 Healing.”

The yearly trek is a fundraiser to support the work of Worldwide Healing Hands in Lake County and in underserved areas of the world.

This year, “virtual” hikers – those who cannot make the scheduled hike — will join the April 30 event via Facebook.

There is still time to sign up for either the actual or virtual hike, reminds WHH’s medical director, Dr. Paula Dhanda.

Hike participants will traverse a little more than 6 miles round-trip, with an elevation gain of 1,600 feet, along the trail.

“Docents familiar with the trails make the hike very special with their interesting historical facts and stories,” said Dhanda.

Suggested donation for the hike is $25 per person. Participants may register at Dhanda’s office at 5685 Main St., Kelseyville, or online by visiting the EventBrite sign-up page ( https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-hike-4-healing-registration-23469961286 ).

Last-minute registrations at the trailhead will be accepted between 8 and 9 a.m. Saturday, with the hike starting at 9 a.m.

Participants are encouraged to ride free shuttles from Mountain Vista Middle School between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. Parking at the trailhead is extremely limited.

Hikers and Facebook participants in the “Virtual Hike 4 Healing” will receive WHH visors. The Facebook “hikers” will be urged to post pictures of their treks while wearing the visors. Find out more on WHH’s Facebook page.

For information about the Hike 4 Healing, call 707-279-8733. Visit WHH’s Web site, www.worldwidehealinghands.or , to read more about the organization.

Several individuals and businesses are sponsoring the 2016 Hike 4 Healing. “We are grateful to the generous sponsors of this year’s event, as well as to all the individuals participating in the hike,” said Dhanda.

All donations will help support WHH’s goals and missions to provide quality health care to women and children, especially those who do not have access to such care.

WHH volunteer medical teams provide free health screenings to homeless in Lake County, CA, and WHH provides health care services to women and children in underserved areas of the world. WHH teams have traveled to Nepal, Chad, Haiti and Uganda to deliver health services.

The California Fish and Game Commission adopted recreational ocean and inland salmon season regulations as presented by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) on April 18.

Ocean salmon season dates and management measures are set to coincide with the alternatives adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council for federal waters off the California coast.

Inland river seasons adopted by the Commission are identical to the 2015 seasons with the exception of a reduction in the allowable harvest of Klamath Basin Chinook salmon.

“Reduced fishing opportunity in the ocean and inland areas are a reflection of lower abundance for some California salmon stocks as compared to recent years, likely as a result of extended drought and generally unfavorable ocean conditions for salmon survival,” said Jennifer Simon, an environmental scientist with CDFW’s Marine Region Salmon Team. “The 2016 seasons are intended to allow limited fishing opportunity on stocks that can support them while providing increased protection for the most vulnerable of stocks.”

An expected ocean abundance of roughly 300,000 Sacramento River fall Chinook (compared to 650,000 last year) will support recreational and commercial opportunities for ocean salmon fisheries off portions of California and Oregon.

A projected return of 151,000 spawning adults allows for an inland river recreational harvest of 24,600 adult Chinook.

The Klamath River fall Chinook ocean abundance forecast of 142,200 adults is substantially lower than recent years and the primary reason for ocean fishery constraints.

A projected return of 30,909 natural area spawning adults allows for an inland river recreational harvest quota of 1,110 adult Chinook salmon greater than 22 inches. In 2015 the harvest quota was 14,133.

The resulting bag and possession limits and seasons adopted by the commission are as follows:

Central Valley rivers:

Daily limit of two fish per day and a possession limit of four fish. On the American and Feather rivers the general season opener is July 16. On the Sacramento River below Deschutes Road Bridge to the Red Bluff Diversion Dam, the season opens Aug. 1 and closes Dec. 16. From below the Red Bluff Diversion Dam to the Carquinez Bridge, the season opens July 16 and closes Dec. 16. Please see the 2016 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations booklet for openings and closing of specific sections of each river, as well as gear restrictions.

Klamath River:

Daily limit of two fish per day of which only one may be greater than 22 inches, and the possession limit is six fish of which only three may be greater than 22 inches. The Klamath River fall Chinook season opens Aug. 15 and closes Dec. 31, while the Trinity River opens to salmon fishing on Sept. 1 and closes Dec. 31.

Ocean salmon:

Ocean salmon recreational fisheries include a daily limit of two adult Chinook salmon with four in possession on land with varying size restrictions depending on the area. Season dates include openings in May, June, July, August and the Labor Day weekend in the Crescent City/Eureka area. Fisheries further south opened on April 2 and will continue through Nov. 13 in the Fort Bragg area, through Oct. 31 in the San Francisco area, through July 15 from Pigeon Point to Point Sur, and through May 31 south of Point Sur.

For a more in-depth look at ocean salmon seasons and restrictions, please see  www.wildlife.ca.gov/oceansalmon .

Long-running drought conditions, coupled with suboptimal ocean conditions, have raised serious concerns for Sacramento River winter Chinook salmon, which are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and have experienced very low survival as juveniles in 2014 and 2015.

Fisheries south of Point Arena, particularly recreational fisheries in the greater Monterey Bay region, continue to experience late-season reductions in 2016 to minimize interactions with winter Chinook.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a wine tasting event featuring wines from Cache Creek Vineyards and an artist reception with artists Rolf Kriken and Karen Turcotte on Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7.

The Friday event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m., while hours on Saturday will be 4 to 7 p.m.

This event includes an optional progressive three-course winemaker dinner at the Tallman Hotel following the appetizer course at the Studio on May 7. Winemaker Derek Holstein will be at the Studio and Tallman Hotel for the reception and the special dinner event. Musical guest on guitar is Steve Winkle.

The $15 ($12/per person for studio club members) wine sampler and appetizers by Fresh and Bangin' Eatery presented at the studio will showcase the 2014 Sauvignon Blanc with a split pea crostini with lardons, 2013 Chardonnay with a blackened fish taco, 2011 Reserve Chardonnay with carmelized onion plus asiago latka with creme fraiche and chives, and 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon with cherry mole on beef tenderloin over rice.
 
The wines and menu prepared by guest chef Mark Linback at the Tallman Hotel on May 7 will feature the 2014 Cabernet Rosé with a baby spring vegetable salad dressed with goat cheese, almonds and parsley sauce, followed by the 2010 Syrah with roast breast of duck, celery root puree, walnut slaw and red wine gastrique. The dessert course will be a chocolate mascarpone sandwich with berry glaze paired with the 2010 Petite Sirah.
 
Reservations for the Saturday tasting at the Studio and dinner at the Tallman are $80 plus tax and may be obtained by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.
 
A master foundryman, artist Rolf Kriken will have a number of his bronze sculptures installed at the Wine Studio for viewing during the receptions and month of May.

Intensely familiar with the horrors of war, having served our country in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1968 – three years active duty and three years reserve – Kriken resumed his education after returning home, and from 1973 while actively working as an artist, sculptor and foundry man at the same time, graduated with his master's degree in fine arts in 1975.

Following a position as an instructor at the Richmond Art Center, he was the director of the Berkeley Art Foundry from 1975 to 1979. He then opened his own foundry in Oakland, The Nordhammer Art Foundry, which he relocated to Kelseyville in 1991.

Kriken was commissioned to create the three-dimensional, life-size sculptures, bronze fabrication and art work for the California Vietnam Memorial in Sacramento, dedicated in 1988 to the 5,822 Californians who died or remain missing from the Vietnam War, and honors every man and woman who served in war.

He has exhibited in more than 60 locations since becoming an artist and has produced several commissioned works of public art. Kriken was quoted last year during another exhibit of his works, "My work is for those who have been killed and to help me find some finality and closure with what happened. I am trying to raise awareness about how we aren't learning from our history. I just keep trying to expose the craziness and also honor those who have served - I care about our fellow soldiers who have served."
 
Artist Karen Turcotte will be showing a variety of mixed media art, sculpture and three-dimensional works.

Turcotte's love of nature and natural materials manifests in much of her work, whether riffing on the politics of war or capturing a botanical texture, she strives to take nature into the realm of man.

She arrived at her conceptual perspective through a certain cynicism that ecology and history teach.  A background in horticulture taught her to respect the fragility and beautiful cruelty of nature's evolutionary web.

As a student of history, she understands the inevitable repetition of conquering and destruction man has sustained for millennia.

Turcotte's message is a contrast between primordial forms and colors, and the preternatural chaos of man's dominance. "Whether using natural materials, recycled finds or traditional mediums in unexpected ways, I invite the viewer to take a closer look at their place in the world," she stated.

Lake County Wine Studio is a gallery for display and sale of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County. Artists' shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.
 
The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake and is open Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m., and Friday from 1 to 8 p.m.

The Kriken/Turcotte art exhibit will be on display through May 30.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.

The California Fish and Game Commission on Monday voted 3-0 in favor of an emergency rulemaking to prohibit recreational take and possession of razor clam from Humboldt and Del Norte county beaches.

The closure is now in effect.

Closure of the fishery shall remain in effect until the Director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), in consultation with the director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), determines that domoic acid levels no longer pose a significant risk to public health and no longer recommends the fishery be closed.
 
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will maintain a list of closed beaches of the state and update that list on Wednesday of each week by 1 p.m.

It shall be the responsibility of any person prior to taking razor clams in Humboldt and Del Norte counties to call CDFW's hotline 831-649-2883 or visit CDFW's Web site at www.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/ocean/health-advisories to obtain the current status of any ocean beach in those counties.
 
A CDPH health advisory has been in effect for razor clams in Humboldt and Del Norte counties since August 2015 due to elevated domoic acid levels.

Results from the most recent tests showed that the health risk to humans from consumption of razor clams remains significant, prompting CDPH to reissue a health advisory on April 20. OEHHA followed that with a recommendation for fishery closure.

The domoic acid present in razor clams remains from the massive toxic algal bloom of Pseudo-nitzschia that occurred last year in the Pacific Ocean.

Algal blooms are common, but this one was particularly large and persistent.  CDPH has advised that razor clams are known to retain domoic acid for long periods of time, in some cases more than a year.
 
CDFW will continue to coordinate with OEHHA and CDPH to test domoic acid levels in razor clams along the north coast to determine when the fishery can safely be opened.

Domoic acid is a potent neurotoxin that can accumulate in shellfish, other invertebrates and sometimes fish. It causes illness and sometimes death in a variety of birds and marine mammals that consume affected organisms.

At low levels, domoic acid exposure can cause nausea, diarrhea and dizziness in humans. At higher levels, it can cause persistent short-term memory loss, seizures and can in some cases be fatal.
 
OEHHA Memo from April 20: http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=122446&inline .