MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Mendocino National Forest offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, in observance of Christmas Day, and on Monday, Jan. 2, for the New Year’s holiday.

Christmas tree permit sales end Friday, Dec. 23. Permits are $10 each, one per household, and trees may be removed through Saturday, Dec. 24.

Please call 530-934-3316 or check the Forest Web site at https://www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino/ for information about permits, roads, recreation and more.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Konocti Lioness Club has offered its help with providing Christmas gifts to community members in need this holiday season.

On Thursday, Dec. 15, following a club meeting, dozens of gaily wrapped gifts donated by the club members were delivered to the Lake Family Resource Center in Kelseyville. 

The group presented the gifts to Lake Family Resource Center Executive Director Jennifer Dodd and Michael Stajura, center project director.

Inspiring Girls Expeditions is accepting applications through Jan. 31 for free summer science and wilderness expeditions in Alaska and Washington for girls ages 16 to 17.

Three teams of up to nine teenage girls and three instructors will spend 12 days exploring and learning about mountain glaciers or fjords with tidewater glaciers. They'll conduct scientific field studies with professional glaciologists, oceanographers, artists and mountaineers.

The three Inspiring Girls trips of 2017 will include Girls on Ice Alaska, Girls On Ice Cascades and Girls in Icy Fjords. They are operated through the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Natural Science and Mathematics and the International Arctic Research Center.

Here are details for each expedition:

– Girls on Ice Alaska: Girls ages 16 to 17 sleep under the midnight sun and explore an Alaska glacier from June 16–27, 2017. Girls from Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, Yukon or California are eligible to apply.
– Girls on Ice Cascades: Girls ages 16 to 17 explore Mount Baker, an ice-covered volcano in Washington, from July 16–27, 2017. Girls from all states and countries may apply.
– Girls in Icy Fjords: Girls ages 16 to 17 explore Bear Glacier and its marine environment near Seward, Alaska, while also learning to kayak. Girls in Icy Fjords is new this year and will run from August 11-22, 2017. Girls from all states and countries may apply.

All Inspiring Girls programs help girls learn about the natural processes related to glaciers as they develop critical thinking skills and explore the connection between science and art. Participants design their own experiments and work as part of a team.

Girls participate in these programs tuition-free through small grants, gifts from individuals and support from the National Science Foundation, the Alaska Climate Research Center and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

For more information, and to learn about the application process, go to https://www.inspiringgirls.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Johannes (Hans) Christoffer Carmiggelt passed away peacefully in his Lakeport home on Dec. 12, 2016. He was 94 years old.

Hans was born in Utrecht, Holland, on May 18, 1922, to Jan and Jootje Carmiggelt.

He came of age during very troubling times in Europe and served in the Dutch resistance movement for the duration of World War II. In later years he enjoyed regaling friends and family with stories of his war time experiences.

He was a master sailor and put his talents to work sailing the canals of Holland, undertaking acts of sabotage against the Nazis, who maintained a brutal occupation of their country.

He and his fellow resistance comrades helped their friends and families survive the war and eventually reclaim their country after the German surrender. And Hans had the honor of being issued the first sailing instructor’s license by the post war Dutch government.

Sometime after the end of the war, Hans and his bride Hennie moved to Indonesia in search of opportunity.

Hans, who was a professional engineer, ended up designing and assisting with the construction of numerous airports and commercial building projects around the country.

He and Hennie started their family there as well, with Hennie giving birth to daughter Olga and son Coen.

In 1958 the family returned to Holland, where Hans continued his engineering career.

In March of 1960 Hans, sensing better opportunity, migrated to the United States, settling in Southern California, and in 1965 he discovered and moved his family to Lake County. He was quickly hired by the Lake County Public Works Department where he served as county engineer under director Gene Collins.

Hans’ construction accomplishments are still on display here. He oversaw the design and construction of most of the public boat launching ramps that remain in service today around the lake. He also headed up the county’s role in the construction of State Highway 29 from Kelseyville to Upper Lake.

In 1985 Hans retired and devoted full time to his lifelong passion of sailing. He served multiple terms as commodore of the Lakeport Yacht Club, which, coincidentally, was designed by his father, also an engineer, while on vacation in Lakeport.

Hans sailed competitively for many years, winning numerous trophies, including the Konocti Half Cup.  His home was located at the very entrance to the Land’s End estuary where he enjoyed teaching his grandchildren the art of sailing and seamanship.

Hans was preceded in death by Hennie, his wife of 52 years; his son, Coen; and his brother, Walter.

He is survived by daughter, Olga Racine, and her husband Paul; grandson, Paul (P.J.) Racine and his wife Sausha; granddaughter, Tara Racine and her husband Raoul Belleau; stepdaughter, Elsien Beens; grandson, Jeroen Van Den Berg; and great-grandchildren, Addison, Riley, Jasmine, Kaia, Luna and Malia.

A celebration of life and party will be held on May 20, 2017, at Hans’ home at 2500 Reeves Lane, Lakeport.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – With New Year’s Eve rapidly approaching, now is the perfect time to think about making some resolutions, according to Lakeport-area SERVPRO franchise owners.

While resolutions typically involve committing to personal changes and reaching goals, these clean-up and restoration professionals say the single most important resolution both business and home owners can make for 2017 is to “Resolve to be Ready.”

“Preparing in advance to deal with the unexpected can make a world of difference in how quickly and completely property owners can put the pieces of their lives back together,” said Sue Steen, Servpro Industries Inc. chief executive officer. “Emergency readiness plans are the foundation for effective and timely emergency response.”

SERVPRO disaster remediation professionals in the Lakeport area encourage all property owners to take advantage of the no-cost emergency planning tools available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, at www.ready.gov/publications , as well as SERVPRO’s Emergency READY Profile and READY Plan Mobile App ( http://ready.servpro.com ).

For homeowners:

• FEMA resources include guidelines for a creating a Family Emergency Plan and Emergency Supply List, with additional tips for pet owners, seniors, people with disabilities, and even commuters.
• SERVPRO offers their free SERVPRO READY Plan app, which stores critical contact and property information electronically in advance, where it can be accessed with a mobile device in seconds if disaster strikes.

For business owners:

• FEMA offers materials on topics ranging from creating a Business Continuity Plan to an Insurance Discussion Coverage Form in addition to guidelines for creating an Emergency Response Plan.
• For businesses, SERVPRO offers a no-cost facility assessment and assistance in creating a comprehensive Emergency READY Profile® (ERP). The ERP includes information about emergency contact numbers, priority and high/risk areas, shut-off valve locations and more that can then be stored
in the READY app.

“The time to gather and store information like emergency contact numbers; insurance contacts; and the location of fuse boxes, fire suppression system controls, and such is before an emergency strikes, not during an emergency,” said Steen. “Having this information at your fingertips can help emergency responders react as quickly and effectively as possible, helping to limit loss of property and even lives.”

SERVPRO specializes in disaster restoration, cleanup and repair services, helping to remediate damage, making it “Like it never even happened,” for both commercial and residential customers.

For more information on SERVPRO, please visit www.servpro.com .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Come celebrate the joy of Christmas at the Upper Lake Community United Methodist Church candlelight service on Saturday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m.

The candlelight service is a reminder of Christ’s coming for the whole family.

Everyone is given a small candlestick and to close the service, the lights are dimmed, candles are lit and the singing of “Silent Night,” as they exit the sanctuary, fills the air.

This service will include a music medley by pianist Michelle Wells, songs performed by the Chancel Choir, “O, Holy Night” solo by Alexander O’Meara, Christmas carols sung by the congregation, lighting of the Christ Candle and ringing in Christmas Day.

Scripture reading participants will be Valerie and Nick Reid, Jeannie and Jeff Markham, Toni James, and Darla and Gary Lewis. The service will be officiated by the Reverend C. R. Green.

The offering, again this year, will go to benefit the Shoes for School Children Program. In supporting the program they ask people to remember how difficult it is for children to concentrate on learning when their shoes are too small, or too large, or are so worn out that they provide little or no protection from the elements. Those in need will truly appreciate and bless donors for their help.

There will also be a Christmas Day worship service on Sunday at 11 a.m.

All are welcome.

The United Methodist Church is located on the corner of First Street and Clover Valley Road in the town of Upper Lake.

The church's motto is “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.”

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Edna Frances (Pat) Reeder passed away on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at her home in Lower Lake.

Born in Klamath Falls, Ore., on Jan. 24, 1928, and formerly of Cloverdale, Calif., Pat was a 35-year resident of Lake County, Calif.

She was a devoted mother and was employed at the Sonoma County Tax Assessor’s Office.

She was a volunteer campground host for the U.S. Forest Service in Northern California with her late husband Al.

Pat was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Lake County Chapter No. 231. She loved to crochet, fish, and take care of her kids and family.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Al.

She leaves behind her son, Greg Reeder, and wife Ginger of Spring Creek, Nev.; daughters, Marie Studebaker of Spokane, Wash., and Ginny Brown of Las Vegas, Nev.; along with seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

At Pat’s request, no services will be held. Donations in Pat’s memory may be made to Hospice Services of Lake County, 1862 Parallel Drive, Lakeport, CA 95453 or the United Methodist Church of Clearlake Oaks, 12487 The Plaza, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423.

Arrangements under the care of Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel. Please share your loving memories of Pat by signing her online guestbook at www.jonesandlewis.com .

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) on Monday commissioned a new research vessel as a state-of-the-art replacement for the San Carlos, which since America’s bicentennial year has been monitoring water quality in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and upper San Francisco Estuary.  

The Sentinel is a floating laboratory whose mission is to protect water quality.

The flagship of DWR’s Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) enables staff to conduct water quality, nutrient and lower trophic (phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthos) monitoring of the Delta.

The research vessel plays a critical role helping to meet water quality objectives and the mandated requirements of biological opinions issued by the courts to guide water quality issues in the Delta.

The Sentinel was named by DWR Director Mark W. Cowin, who is retiring at month’s end after a 36-year career at the Department.

Cowin named the vessel to honor the late Laura King Moon, DWR’s former chief deputy director who died in 2015.

“Laura King Moon worked tirelessly as a guardian of California’s water supply and its environment,” Cowin said. “This new research vessel is dedicated in her memory.”

Moon was an environmental champion who dedicated her 38-year career to resource and water policy.

The Sentinel’s commissioning took place aboard the historic Delta King on the Sacramento River in the Old Sacramento Historic District.

During the ceremony, Cowin drew a comparison between the era of the Delta King’s commissioning in the 1920s and the current era.

“We are experiencing a period of great change – climate change, political change and changes in water management,” he said. “I think we can agree that the Sentinel is a welcome change.”

The Sentinel replaces the San Carlos, which provided valuable service for the past 40 years gathering information that informed water quality analysis, biological opinions and State Water Project (SWP) decisions.

Cowin said it was time for a “new guardian of the Delta waters to greet new challenges.”

Design and construction of the Sentinel was accomplished with funding from the SWP’s 29 contractors.

The construction project began in February 2015, and the vessel was launched by builder Vigor Industrial of Seattle, WA, in October 2016. Sea trials have been occurring since the launch.

The Sentinel’s characteristics:

· Length: 60 feet.
· Beam : 24 feet.
· Draft – 3 feet, 6 inches.
· Weight: 36 tons.
· Engines – twin Cummins QSB 6.7 conventional propulsion – 419 HP.
· Speed – 20 knots.
· 14-foot work skiff with 30 HP motor.
· Overnight accommodations for five people.
· Meets U.S. Coast Guard’s safety regulations for passenger vessels.
· Lab area – 266 square feet.
· Aft deck work area – 337 square feet.
· Air-conditioned.
· Lab raw water manifold with remote value operations.
· 30 Local Area Network connections.
· 4G wireless.
· Three 3,300-pound-capacity cranes, one with direct connection to the lab.