CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – When the New Year begins, the transition at the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association will be smooth as silk.

The members saw to that by reelecting the entire 2016 slate at their November meeting.

The officers will be installed on Dec. 28, the last meeting of the year.

On being reelected president, Margaret Medeiros said, “We had a very successful year and we’re ready to do it again!”

In 2016, the business association sponsored the Fourth of July Maxine Sherman Memorial Annual Fireworks in Clearlake Oaks, a cherished tradition and huge hit with the community.

The business association also supported various community needs.

In all, more than $23,000 was donated in support of Clearlake Oaks, Glenhaven and nearby communities.

Habitat for Humanity, which suffered losses in the Clayton fire, was among the recipients of 2016 cash awards.

Others benefiting from the business association's generosity included the Lower Lake Cemetery, Hospice Services, and various community music, art and church programs.

“In addition, we are pleased to support local children through cash scholarships and donations to school programs including football, the drama club and other school events,” said Medeiros.

The association also is known for hosting the very popular Catfish Derby. Considered the largest tournament west of the Mississippi, this event brings anglers from throughout the country to Lake County.

“Our business association is very proud to know we are providing an economic boost for our association, businesses in and around Clearlake Oaks and the County as a whole,” said Gail Jonas, 2016 event chair.

“Our mission is to promote the continuing improvement of our community and to enhance the quality of life for its residents,” said Medeiros. “Our Board of Directors works hard to carryout the mission and we look forward to doing our part to help make 2017 bright for everyone.”

The association meets on the fourth Thursday of the month. Membership is open to all.

For more information, call 707-596-0248 or visit www.clearlakeoaks.org .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Becker family was the happy winner of a customized children's library of books, compliments of the Hero Project.

At the conclusion of the Hero Project's “Read Together and Educate” challenge in November, the Becker family was randomly chosen to receive the grand prize in recognition for completing the challenge.

The challenge urged parents to read to their children at least five times per week for a minimum of 15 minutes each time.

Parents Kira and Chris Becker are both avid readers who have been reading to their two young children since birth.

Their son, Edward, is 4 years old and started preschool this year, while their daughter, Arissa, is only one and a half and already points to pictures in books and identifies the images.

At a recent parent-teacher conference at the pre-school, Mrs. Becker learned that Edward was tested as advanced in reading and math for his age.

This came as no surprise to Kira Becker. She explained that she is carrying on the family tradition of reading to her children daily, a tradition she recalls of her mother reading to her as a child.

Reading to young children helps them learn more about their world, improves their social skills and helps them become strong readers.

The National Institute for Literacy reports that one out of every five children in the U.S. will experience a reading problem in school.

But children who are read to on a regular basis, starting in infancy, are better prepared to learn in school and beyond.

The Hero Project is a program of the Lake County Office of Education that supports parents of young children, ages birth to 8, by presenting parents with activities and parenting tips to improve parent-child relationships and to increase early childhood development.

The program is free and accessed virtually through its Web site, www.lakecountyheroproject.com , through Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram, and through the Hero Project app, which can be downloaded onto mobile devices from iTunes and GooglePlay.

Christine Hutt is communications coordinator for the Lake County Office of Education.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Ladies of the Lakeport Women’s Civic Club enjoyed a fabulous lunch/meeting  at Riviera Country Club this month. 

A festive Christmas meal with all of the trimmings and delightful entertainment by My Divas was a lovely closing of the year.

My Divas is a group of women, all from Lake County, who perform madrigal music a Capella – that is to say, they sing songs based on poetry of the Renaissance/Baroque era without any instrumental accompaniment, but none is required, as they have the voices of angels.

All of the Divas dress beautifully based on the theme of the occasion and for the club they dressed as Dickens Christmas carolers. These ladies are an outstanding group of performers available for hire all around the lake. You can like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mineownsweetjewels/ .

At the January meeting Janine Smith-Citron will be talk to the club about the newly passed law regarding termination of life. Everyone can benefit from being informed and aware of choices before we need to start making them.

Socializing begins at 11 a.m. on Jan.6 at the Riviera Hills Country Club Restaurant, with the meeting beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Lunch is served after the meeting and very reasonably priced at $15.

Ladies attending the meeting also will be bringing canned goods to help support our local food bank which is always at the ready to help feed those in need.

If you would like to attend you should call Lynn Hughes at 707-275-3255 immediately.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Friends of Middletown Library reported that its children’s library fundraiser has been extended.

The group said the project is ongoing and doing well, and they are now half way to the $10,000 goal.

Funds will be used for replacing children’s and young adults’ books lost in the Valley fire.

The Friends of Middletown Library is matching funds up to $5,000.

Donations are tax-deductible as the group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Send a donation – big or small – to Friends of Middletown Library, PO Box 57, Middletown, CA 95461, or drop off at library.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport reported that the turn lane of Lakeport Boulevard at S. Main Street will be closed Wednesday and Thursday from 4:30 to 6 a.m. for utility crews working underground.

The road will remain open but will be reduced to one lane.

The city asks that motorists drive responsibly, be aware of construction signs and watch for road workers.

Everyone who reads this should know who Guy Fieri is. If you don’t, ask anyone and they’ll tell you that he is a world class chef, the host of several hit TV cooking shows, and a restaurateur with outstanding eating establishments all over the world.

What many here in Lake County may not know, is that Guy also calls Lake County home, and he is a very generous supporter of our community.

During the Valley fire, Guy made a point to visit our first responders, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, the prison kitchen crew, and support staff at the command post in Lakeport.

His appearance and words of encouragement went a long way towards motivating these people. It served to reinforce the seriousness of the situation, and to show everyone how important their efforts were to this community. Guy even provided meals and food to the evacuation shelters for those who had been displaced.

This holiday season marks the second year in a row that Guy has personally purchased a truckload of toys and bikes for children right here in Lake County.

Now, when I say a “truckload,” I mean a truckload … literally.

With the help of some very dedicated and caring community members, these bikes and toys were delivered to foster children, children who have been victims or witnesses of crimes, and other needy children in our communities this holiday season.

Guy’s generosity and caring for our community and its children is commendable and very much appreciated.

My purpose for writing this letter is to thank Guy, and to share with this community the great things that he has done, and continues to do for the people of Lake County.

I am proud to call Guy my friend and on behalf of the people of Lake County, I want to thank him for all he does.

Brian Martin is sheriff of Lake County, Calif.

SACRAMENTO – With reservoirs rising from December storms, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has boosted its early-season estimate of next year’s State Water Project (SWP) supply from 20 to 45 percent of most requests.

“This winter’s wet start gives us hope we’ll be able to keep increasing the State Water Project allocation,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin. “But the faucet can shut off suddenly and leave us dry for a sixth year in a row. Drought always looms over California, so we must use water wisely and sparingly.”

Each December, DWR makes its initial estimate of SWP water delivery capability (allocation) for the following calendar year.

The allocation is adjusted – hopefully upward – as hydrologic conditions develop through the rainy season.

Under the initial 20 percent water allocation for 2017, the 29 public agencies served by the SWP would receive only 839,376 acre-feet of the 4,172,786 acre-feet they collectively requested. Under the updated allocation, they would receive 1,894,645 acre-feet.

The initial allocation for this calendar year (2016) was 10 percent of the requested 4.1 million acre-feet, but was increased to 60 percent as storms developed and reservoir storage increased.

When the allocation was updated, Lake Oroville in Butte County, the SWP’s principal reservoir, was holding 1,895,292 acre-feet, 54 percent of its 3.5 million acre-foot capacity and 88 percent of its historical average for the date.

At the same time, Shasta Lake north of Redding, California’s and the federal Central Valley Project’s (CVP) largest reservoir, was holding 3,327,257 acre-feet, 73 percent of its 4.5 million acre-foot capacity and 120 percent of its historical average.

San Luis Reservoir, a critical south-of-Delta storage facility for both the SWP and CVP, was holding 1,155,838 acre-feet, 57 percent of its 2 million acre-foot capacity and 87 percent of its average for the date.

It’s important to note that nearly all areas served by the SWP have sources of water other than their SWP allocation, among them streams, groundwater and local reservoirs.

The last 100 percent SWP allocation – difficult to achieve even in wet years because of Delta pumping restrictions to protect threatened and endangered fish species – was in 2006.

SWP allocations in recent years are as follows:

• 2016 – 60 percent;
• 2015 – 20 percent;
• 2014 –  5 percent;
• 2013 – 35 percent;
• 2012 – 65 percent;
• 2011 – 80 percent;
• 2010 – 50 percent;
• 2009 – 40 percent;
• 2008 – 35 percent;
• 2007 – 60 percent.

WILLITS, Calif. – Frank Howard Memorial Hospital is now recognized as one of 11 Level IV trauma centers in the state.

Sonoma County Emergency Services has approved Howard Memorial Hospital as a Level IV trauma center effective Dec. 1.

Accreditation as a Level IV trauma center indicates a hospital staff’s ability to provide advanced trauma life support prior to transfer of patients to a higher level trauma center.

Trauma centers provide evaluation, stabilization and diagnostic capabilities for injured patients.

The only other trauma center in Mendocino County is Ukiah Valley Medical Center, a 20- to 30-minute drive from Willits. But depending on weather conditions, sometimes the drive can be treacherous or even impassable during the winter season.

“Earning this designation means patients in Willits and beyond who are seeking care at Howard Memorial Hospital will be cared for in a standardized manner to assure they are receiving the best care possible for their injuries sustained,” said Dr. Michael Medvin, the hospital's chief medical officer for emergency services.

“Having us close by to stabilize patients and give them life-saving procedures will improve their health outcomes. We also work directly with Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital to rapidly transport any trauma patient requiring a higher level of care. We also have the ability to share CT Scans/X-rays with the trauma surgeon at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital while we are on the phone with them, which means seamless communication and improved outcomes,” Medvin said.

Amy Buckingham, the hospital's emergency services manager, said that their goal is to strive to improve the care of injured patients before, during, and after hospitalization.

“Our goal is to serve the needs of our community so they don’t have to go too far,” she said. “That’s why we always emphasize continuing education and train with our agency partners so that we know we are constantly striving to provide the best of care.”

Buckingham added, “To qualify as a Level IV trauma center, a hospital must have the protocols, equipment and staff in place to handle trauma patients.”

The Howard Memorial Hospital emergency department also has two trauma rooms, equipped with the best technology and even has access to specialist at UC-Davis Children’s Hospital through telemedicine.

“We’ve got all this technology and with this designation, it will really make a difference for our community,” Buckingham said.

Kevin Erich, interim president and chief executive officer for Howard Memorial Hospital agreed. “We’re extremely proud of our team and our hospital. It took a lot of work to get this designation and we’re excited to serve our patients better. The more we are able to serve their needs here, the better for our community and their health outcomes.”

Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital is part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more than 75 communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Visit www.howardhospital.org for more information.