I was pleasantly surprised to read in the S.F. Chronicle that its editors are recommending yes on Proposition 56, the Tobacco Tax Initiative.

Prop 56, if approved, will add an additional $2 tax on a package of cigarettes.

Research has confirmed that heavy taxation on tobacco products is the most effective means to stop smoking. It also confirms that smoking is the most addictive of all risky health behaviors.

Cessation is important because providing public health care for those addicted to nicotine costs us, the taxpayers, on average, $18.29 per package of cigarettes sold!

Prop 56 will also apply the tax to e-cigarettes. This is equally important because the tobacco industry, the prime manufacturer of e-cigarettes, is targeting our youth in its marketing campaigns.

This is easily demonstrated by the “cutesy” packaging and the multiple sweet flavors that can be used in an e-cigarette. Of course each flavor contains nicotine and we all know this is the additive that creates the addiction.

The funding generated from the additional tax will primarily go to fund the health care costs paid by public health. It will also pay for research and public education programs to raise greater awareness of the devastation of tobacco products and in particular the tobacco industry’s marketing strategy to “hook” our children on e-cigarettes much like its “Joe Camel” strategy.

Radio and TV ads are already trying to convince you to vote no on Prop 56, by linking the proposition to a diversion of funds for education.

Do not be deceived. The only education funded by tobacco taxes is to increase awareness of the detrimental health caused by smoking. These ads are entirely paid for by the tobacco industry. They are spending millions to kill this “We the People” initiative.

At the same time this industry is silent on Prop 64, the Marijuana Recreational Use Initiative. This is because they are quietly buying up acres of land to position itself to become the major marijuana producer, thereby putting our small entrepreneurs out of business. I think it should be clear to all what this industry’s motive is: Profit.

Don’t let big money win. Vote Yes on Prop 56.

Tom Jordan is the former executive director of First 5 Lake. He lives in Lakeport, Calif.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Art Center, or MAC, is pleased to present a pairing of wine and art with its new series, “Palette to Palate.”

Join them from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, for the first exhibit tasting, “Scorched by Fire.”

Wine makers and artists share the same creative impulse. A vine is planted and nurtured, a concept composed; harvest and crush, forms blocked in; varietals are blended, and seasoned, colors and textures stroked onto canvas; through creative alchemy a uniquely flavorful elixir, or work of art, comes into being.

The current exhibit at MAC, “Ashes to Art,” is a poignant and powerful commemoration of the Valley fire anniversary, one of hope and healing.

Come hear south Lake County artists and winemakers speak about the impact the Valley fire had on their lives, work, and the fruits of their labor.

Your $10 cover fee provides wine tastings from Beaver Creek Vineyards, Langtry Estate and Vineyard, R Vineyards and Shed Horn Cellars, all of which were affected by the Valley fire. 

Glasses of wine of your choice will be for sale for $5. Sip wine, view art, enjoy light refreshments, and hear unforgettable stories from winemakers and artists. 

MAC is located at 21456 Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in the heart of Middletown.

Since the Valley fire, MAC has provided a strong sense of continuity, community and enrichment to recovering residents and the area.

MAC is a project of EcoArts of Lake County, a nonprofit 501c3. All donations to MAC are tax-deductible.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org to learn more about exhibitions, classes, events, volunteer opportunities and membership.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – On Saturday evening, Oct. 15, the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake continues its series of special dinners with celebrity chefs by featuring Chef John Ash, often referred to as the “father of wine country cuisine.”

The menu will feature selections from Chef Ash’s most recent cookbook, “Cooking Wild” (Running Press; May 2016; $35).

“I’ve followed Chef Ash’s career – and lots of his recipes – since I began working in the food industry in San Francisco,” says Tallman General Manager Susan Mesick. “It’s a great honor to host him here at the Tallman.”

In 1980 Chef Ash opened his namesake restaurant, John Ash & Co., in Santa Rosa. It was the first restaurant in Northern California wine country to focus on local, seasonal ingredients used to create dishes that complemented the wines being made in the region. It continues to be critically acclaimed today.

Chef Ash still holds true to his philosophy of cooking with ingredients that are ethically grown, created locally and in season. And for Ash, wine is always considered an essential part of the flavors of a meal.

Chef Ash has co-hosted a culinary radio show for 27 years on KSRO (1350 AM) in Northern California. He was also host of two TV shows on the Food Network.

In addition, he is an adjunct instructor at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in the Napa Valley.

With regard to his most recent book, “Cooking Wild,” Chef Ash says that “to eat wild foods, you needn’t crawl through the forest or hunt your own game. Many wild foods are as close by as your local supermarket.” 

This book takes a big view of “wild,” including more than 150 recipes using foraged, uncultivated foods as well as the progeny of wild foods more conveniently found for sale alongside their conventional cousins.

Guests at the Tallman dinner will meet for a wine reception and book signing with Chef Ash in Riffe’s Meeting House and then adjourn for a “wild” dinner in the Tallman Dining Room prepared by Chef Ash, assisted by Blue Wing Executive Chef Mark Linback. Ash has selected a seasonal menu starting with a wild mushroom soup, venison with blackberry sage sauce for the entrée and maple flan for dessert.

Tickets for the event ($100 plus tax or $120 plus tax includes the cookbook) and further information can be obtained by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Mother-Wise will host a pregnancy and early infant loss remembrance event on Saturday, Oct. 15.

The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at 180 N. Main St. in Lakeport.

The evening is set aside to remember those who have been lost to our community through miscarriage, stillbirth and infant death.

Pregnancy and childbirth are usually joyous, happy and busy times. But when things don’t go as hoped and planned, when the unthinkable happens, the bottom drops out for the family and friends who were looking forward to welcoming new life and celebrating together.

In 1988, when President Ronald Reagan designated October as national Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, he noted that, “When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn’t a word to describe them.”

This is still true, despite the fact that October was set aside to “recognize the loss so many parents experience across the US and around the world.”

Oct. 15 was chosen as a day of remembrance throughout the world. Since 2006, this has been a day for parents, family and friends who have endured this heartbreaking loss to join with others to share their experience and express their love, loss and hope for the future.

Mother-Wise supports Lake County’s expecting and new moms through all transitions that accompany motherhood, including loss, with weekly topic-oriented groups, monthly get-togethers and home visits.

The group is hosting the Saturday event to coincide with similar events worldwide.

Whether you have suffered a loss yourself or love someone who has, whether this loss was recent or in the past, you are welcomed to the event. They will join others around the world who gather at this time to share and light a candle of remembrance.

Light refreshments will be served before they walk to Library Park for a candle-lighting remembrance. Memories, art, poetry and more are welcome.

RSVP by calling 415-516-6354.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – At the Heroes of Health and Safety Fair on Saturday October 15, Flotilla 88 of Lake County will be providing youngsters up to 12 years old free life jackets.

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and will be weighed and properly fitted by members of the flotilla.

The parent and youngster will be instructed on how to wear the life jacket properly.

A grant from Walmart has made this free life jacket giveaway possible. 

At the booth, there will be information on water safety, safe boating practice and other useful information to help keep everyone safe on the water.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Grindstone Ranger District will change operating hours at the work center in Stonyford on Monday, Oct. 31.

Starting Oct. 31, the office will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with a half-hour closure from noon to 12:30 p.m.

These changes are being made due to the limited level of services needed and the reduced staffing that is available to provide customer service at this location on Saturdays according to Grindstone District Ranger Eduardo Olmedo.

Previously, the office was open Tuesday through Saturday.

Also, the Stonyford office will be closed to the public on Thursday, Oct. 13, for an all-employee meeting.

Olmedo advises that forest visitors check for information about conditions and maps on the forest Web site – www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino/ – before traveling to the area.

Information also is available outside the office in Stonyford.

If you have questions, please contact Lisa Marie Lefever, administrative support assistant, at 530-934-1147.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Join the Clear Lake/Callayomi Masonic Lodge No. 183 on Sunday, Oct. 16, for the “Best Breakfast in Lake County.”

The full, sit-down breakfast is served from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Masonic Center, located at 7100 South Center Drive in Clearlake.

Choose your breakfast from a large menu including, eggs (any style), omelets, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, hot cakes, breakfast meat, toast, juice and coffee.

The cost is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-12. Children under age 6 may eat for free and are served a special “kids breakfast.”

SACRAMENTO – California revenues of more than $10.57 billion for September beat projections in the 2016-17 Budget Act Gov. Jerry Brown signed in June by $151.6 million, or 1.5 percent, State Controller Betty T. Yee reported this week.

Total revenues have outpaced expectations for two straight months after four months of shortfalls.

The fiscal year-to-date total of $24.55 billion in revenues is now just 0.1 percent below estimates.

Personal income tax (PIT) continues to represent the largest portion of General Fund receipts.

September PIT receipts of almost $7.14 billion exceeded budget projections by $127.7 million, or 1.8 percent.

Three months into the new fiscal year, California has collected total PIT receipts of almost $16.32 billion, topping estimates by $177.8 million – a difference of 1.1 percent.

Corporation taxes – which surge when quarterly payments arrive in March, June, September, and December – came in at just over $1.02 billion for September, which was 14 percent ($166.3 million) lower than anticipated.

By contrast, corporation tax receipts for August were only $72.8 million. For the first three months of the fiscal year, total corporation tax receipts of $1.32 billion are $265.5 million less than predicted in the 2016-17 Budget Act – a shortfall of 16.7 percent.

Retail sales and use tax receipts of just over $2.00 billion beat expectations by $208.4 million, the largest margin of the “big three” revenue sources at 11.6 percent.

For the fiscal year-to-date, sales tax receipts of nearly $5.94 billion are just $25.8 million under estimates, or 0.4 percent.

The state ended the month of September with unused borrowable resources of more than $28.51 billion, which was $2.02 billion more than predicted in the 2016-17 Budget Act.

Outstanding loans of just under $10.53 billion were $50.4 million less than projected. This loan balance consists of borrowing from the state’s internal special funds.