MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — What does it mean to have the "Best Day Ever"?
Over 100 participants came together to find out at the Lake County Quality Care Counts, or LCQC, conference on March 19 at Twin Pine Casino in Middletown.
The Lake County Office of Education’s LCQC is a program that improves the quality of early learning for children ages zero through five by providing professional development, supplies and coaching to early childhood providers
"LCQC hosts this conference every year to provide inspiration, new ideas and high-quality professional development that early educators can use in their classrooms," said LCQC Director Angela Cuellar-Marroquin.
The conference succeeded in bringing together early childhood educators from across Northern California to participate and leave with new knowledge and passion for continuing their work.
“Optimizing the early years of children’s lives is the best investment we can make in our community to ensure their future success,” Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg said.
The first presenter, Sharron Krull, gave a keynote about incorporating art with science. Krull is an early childhood consultant through her company, Play Power. She is a veteran preschool teacher with over 45 years’ experience that encompasses nearly all areas of early childhood education.
Steve Spangler finished the day with an inspiring and interactive keynote. Spangler is an Emmy award-winning television host, science communicator, and celebrity educator.
During his high-energy presentation, he covered that the "Best Day Ever" is more than just a feeling or an emotion. It is a powerful principle that helps people connect, engage and share experiences with each other.
Participants gave the conference high marks.
“Best training I’ve been to. Truly. After the last two years … feeling a smidge burnt out and bogged down,” said Jacqui Joyce of Miss Jacqui’s Childcare. “This training completely reminded me why I do what I do. Got me excited for Monday, and who gets excited for Mondays!?"
"I am beyond grateful for today’s conference. The inspiration I left with today, is going right back into my classroom on Monday,” said Jacklyn Edwards, a teacher at Pomo Elementary in the Konocti Unified School District.
"I had so much fun I almost cried when it was over. Shooting toilet paper out of a leaf blower was just way too much fun. The excitement of the whole day was truly the "Best Day Ever,” said Jody Mederos of the North Coast Opportunities Head Start program.
Learn more about LCQC by visiting the Lake County Office of Education website at www.lakecoe.org/LCQC.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Each year, in California and nationally, April is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The main purpose of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, or SAAM, is to help increase public awareness about sexual assault and to educate communities and individuals on how to help prevent sexual violence and increase healthy sexuality and relationships.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Lake County will be proclaimed at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at the Lakeport City Council chambers; at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at the Clearlake City Council chambers; and at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport. The public is encouraged to attend.
Lake Family Resource Center would also like to invite the community to participate in Denim Day on Wednesday, April 27.
Individuals can help by breaking the dress code and breaking the silence, by wearing jeans on denim on this day.
The 2022 National Sexual Assault Awareness Month Campaign for this year is “Building Safe Online Spaces Together.”
Sexual harassment, assault, and abuse can happen anywhere, including in online spaces.
For too long harassment, cyberbullying, and sexual abuse and exploitation have come to be expected as typical and unavoidable behaviors online.
Building safe online spaces together is possible when we practice digital consent, intervene when we see harmful content and behaviors, and promote online communities that value respect, inclusion and safety.
Sexual violence is defined as the attempt or completion of a sexual act undertaken without the victim’s freely given consent, which includes rape and other sexual assault.
Sexual violence is a serious and costly problem in the United States, with substantial impacts on victims and their families and exorbitant costs to state and local governments.
Outcomes of sexual violence can include physical injury and other medical problems, poor mental health outcomes, lost work productivity, decreased quality of life and, sometimes, death.
In addition to physical injury or death, sexual violence can cause a myriad of short- and long-term health consequences for victims, including pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, chronic pain, gynecological and pregnancy complications, and disability that can limit employment.
It can also lead to anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse, and attempted or completed suicide, among others issues.
Children who are victims of sexual violence are especially vulnerable to both short- and long-term negative behavioral, mental and emotional outcomes, and are significantly more likely to be re-victimized in the future.
The Lake Family Resource Center Rape Crisis Program offers free and confidential services including 24/7 Community Crisis Line (1-888-485-7733) answered by trained advocates.
The Rape Crisis Program also provides individual counseling, support, safety plans, education, hospital accompaniment, law enforcement and court advocacy, and emergency shelter for all victims of sexual assault and their family members.
For more information on Denim Day and various Sexual Assault Awareness Month activities please contact Kimberly Layton at 707-279-0563, Extension 185.
Kimberly Layton is a sexual assault specialist at Lake Family Resource Center.
The Biden administration on March 31, 2022, said it plans to release an unprecedented 180 million barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to combat the recent spike in gas and diesel prices. About a million barrels of oil will be released every day for up to six months.
As an energy researcher, I believe considering the reserve’s history can help answer these questions.
Origins of the reserve
Congress created the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as part of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 in response to a global oil crisis.
Arab oil-exporting states led by Saudi Arabia had cut supply to the world market because of Western support for Israel in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Oil prices quadrupled, resulting in major economic damage to the U.S. and other countries. This also shook the average American, who had grown used to cheap oil.
The oil crisis caused the U.S., Japan and 15 other advanced countries to form the International Energy Agency in 1974 to recommend policies that would forestall such events in the future. One of the agency’s key ideas was to create emergency petroleum reserves that could be drawn on in case of a severe supply disruption.
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act originally stipulated the reserve should hold up to 1 billion barrels of crude and refined petroleum products. Though it has never reached that size, the U.S. reserve is the largest in the world, with a maximum volume of 714 million barrels. The cap was previously set at 727 million barrels.
Oil in the reserve is stored underground in a series of large underground salt domes in four locations along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana, and is linked to major supply pipelines in the region.
Salt domes, formed when a mass of salt is forced upward, are a good choice for storage since salt is impermeable and has low solubility in crude oil. Most of the storage sites were acquired by the federal government in 1977 and became fully operational in the 1980s.
History of drawdowns
In the 1975 act, Congress specified that the reserve was intended to prevent “severe supply interruptions” – that is, actual oil shortages.
Over time, as the oil market has changed, Congress expanded the list of reasons for which the Strategic Petroleum Reserve could be tapped, such as domestic supply interruptions due to extreme weather.
The third was a coordinated release by the International Energy Agency in 2011 as a result of supply disruptions from several oil-producing countries, including Libya, then facing civil unrest during the Arab Spring. In all, the agency coordinated a release of 60 million barrels of crude, half of which came from the U.S.
President Joe Biden’s November decision to tap the reserve was also seen as political by Republicans because there was no emergency shortage of supply at that time.
Similarly, the latest historic release of 180 million barrels could also be seen as serving a political purpose – in an election year, no less. But I believe it also seems perfectly legitimate in terms of fulfilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve’s original purpose: reducing the negative impacts of a major oil price shock.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — California’s snowpack is continuing to dwindle after months of dry weather.
The Department of Water Resources on Friday conducted the fourth snow survey of the season at Phillips Station.
Following three straight months of record dry conditions, the manual survey recorded just 2.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of one inch, which is four percent of average for this location for April 1.
Statewide, the snowpack is just 38% of average for this date.
The snowpack at Phillips Station has plummeted since the beginning of the year, officials said.
On Dec. 30, the snowpack stood at 202% of normal for that date. In a normal season, the snowpack depth would be about five feet deep at this time of year.
The snow water equivalent measured at the snow survey shows the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast, including anticipated runoff into the state’s reservoirs.
April 1 is typically when the snowpack is at its highest, however the statewide snowpack likely peaked in early-March this year and the Northern Sierra snowpack peaked in mid-January.
“The conditions we are seeing today speak to how severe our drought remains. DWR has been planning for the reality of a third dry year since the start of the water year on October 1,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “While DWR has made significant investments in forecasting technology and other tools to ensure we make the most out of the snowmelt we do receive, water conservation will remain our best tool in the face of this ongoing drought and the statewide impacts of a warming climate. All Californians must focus on conserving water now.”
Dry conditions are impacting every region of the state, as the Northern, Central, and Southern Sierra snowpacks are all standing just above 28% to 43% of average for this date.
“With the exceptionally dry conditions during the past three months, our latest statewide snowmelt forecasts are only 44% of average,” said Sean de Guzman, manager of DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit. “While today usually marks the typical peak of the state’s snowpack, this year’s snowpack likely peaked in mid-January in the Northern Sierra. Most of the snow accumulation this year came from just two storms in December that were followed by the driest January and February on record in the Sierra, and unfortunately March only brought a few weak systems.”
“Today’s snow survey reinforces what we’ve all observed – California just experienced the driest three months on record, and drought is worsening throughout the West,” California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot said. “Climate-driven water extremes are part of our reality now, and we must all adapt and do our part to save water every day.”
While the state continues to take necessary actions to help extend the state’s existing water supply, all Californians are also encouraged to do their part now to conserve as much water as possible to make it last.
Gov. Newsom has called on all Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15% with simple measures to protect water reserves.
Earlier this week, the governor called on local water suppliers to move to level two of their water shortage contingency plans, which require locally-appropriate actions that will conserve water across all sectors, and directed the State Water Resources Control Board to consider a ban on the watering of decorative grass at businesses and institutions.
Individuals looking for information about reducing water consumption at home can visit SaveOurWater.com for water-wise tips.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s sitting district attorney said she is running for a second term.
Endorsed by two retired Lake County Judges – Robert L. Crone Jr. and Arthur H. Mann – Susan Krones is kicking off her campaign with a serious message, “Experience in criminal law and prosecution is the foundation for effective leadership.”
Krones is being challenged by attorney and former Lake County supervisor, Anthony Farrington.
Krones explains that Lake County communities deserve experienced and tested leadership to tackle the tough criminal cases that come daily to the District Attorney’s Office.
“To have the endorsement of two distinguished Lake County Judges, and U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson is a terrific way to begin campaigning for reelection,” Krones said.
As a 29-year career prosecutor, Krones has prosecuted a wide variety of cases — murder, sexual assault of children and adults, and many other felonies. Throughout her career, she has put away hundreds of violent criminals.
One recent case stands out. In 2020 Krones successfully prosecuted Alan Ashmore for killing two people and shooting at a California Highway Patrol officer. Ashmore pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 140 years to life in prison.
In another case, Damon Pashilk was sentenced to 15 years prison for setting four fires including the Clayton fire.
“My chief deputy, Richard Hinchcliff, did an excellent job in preparing this case but the reality is it all comes down to what we can prove in court. We had several meetings with experienced Cal Fire Investigators that investigated these fires. It isn’t always possible to put a criminal behind bars for life even though they deserve it. The bottom line is that Mr. Pashilk is in prison where he belongs and our office will be there to oppose any possibility of early release,” Krones said.
Krones chose her profession early. “When you love what you do and stick to it, you gain knowledge and experience that becomes vital to do the job well and make a difference in the community. That’s been my approach. I am not a politician. My goal is not to climb the political ladder. I want to continue to put my experience and training into serving the public as district attorney.”
She continued, “The top job as district attorney is not a training ground for inexperienced politicians with pie in the sky promises they can’t keep. Coming into the job you must stand ready to be a trainer – not the trainee. Expecting others to do what you don’t know how to do yourself is not leadership. That is why it is so important to have experience as a prosecutor before going for the top job.”
Krones promises effective leadership based on years of experience as a prosecutor as well as her years in the U.S. Army as an attorney.
She has extensive training in all aspects of criminal law including specialized training in prosecuting child sexual assault, domestic violence and elder abuse.
As district attorney, Krones said she continues to handle cases in court and mentors new deputy district attorneys.
“As the district attorney you have to know what is happening in court and the issues that the line prosecutors are dealing with every day. The job is not only about making policies and overseeing the office. It includes making leadership decisions based on the realities of court on a daily basis,” Krones said.
A full understanding of the laws – especially those recently passed to reduce inmate populations – is foundational to the job, she said.
“New regulations recommended by the Department of Corrections seek to dramatically increase prison credits for inmates in prison for serious and violent felonies,” Krones said. “That is why I joined 39 other district attorneys statewide in a lawsuit to prevent these credits from implementation.”
Krones said an essential aspect of leadership in the District Attorney’s Office is experience being in the trenches prosecuting all manner of crimes and then guiding novice prosecutors with their cases.
She explained that anyone seeking to serve as district attorney should have some criminal prosecution jury trial experience. “That is our bread and butter of what we do. My opponent has never prosecuted a jury trial and refuses to divulge how many criminal cases he has actually taken to jury trial as defense counsel. That is a red flag.”
Krones agrees that the courts have a backlog of trials. COVID-19, as most would understand, is the culprit, she said.
“My opponent proposes to get rid of the backlog of misdemeanor cases by denying defendants the right to a jury trial and instead taking all the cases to a judge for a court trial,” Krones said. “Under Article 16 of the California Constitution defendants have a right to jury trial for all felonies as well as misdemeanor charges. This is something every attorney would know if they have any experience in criminal law.”
To learn more about Krones’ qualifications for reelection, the public is invited to join her on Sunday, April 3, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Wine in the Willows, 125 Park St. in Lakeport for her official campaign kick-off. Refreshments will be served.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The city of Lakeport’s long-running efforts to annex an area along South Main Street encountered a delay on Wednesday when the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission determined that objections from property owners necessitate a protest process.
During a special Wednesday morning meeting, the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCo, voted unanimously to set a protest hearing on the proposed annexation, which covers about 137 acres and 50 parcels south of the city limits.
LAFCo Chief Executive Officer John Benoit told Lake County News after the meeting that he expects the protest hearing will take place in about a month, with no firm date yet set.
Lakeport has been working for decades to prepare for the annexation, which includes the most lucrative commercial corridor in the unincorporated county that has long been within its sphere of influence.
City and fire officials have argued that annexing the area will allow for the efficient delivery of services, including water, which Lakeport Fire Chief Jeff Thomas emphasized on March 16 is critical because of the significant hazardous material issues along that corridor.
Earlier this year, the city and county of Lake reached a tax sharing agreement that cleared the way for the proposal to move forward.
The annexation appeared on track to be approved at LAFCo’s regular March 16 meeting. However, a written protest submitted by business owner Justin Ratcliffe led to questions about whether a protest proceeding could be avoided by simply eliminating Ratcliffe’s property from the annexation area. That led to the scheduling of Wednesday's special meeting.
LAFCo received one additional written protest since the March 16 meeting, Benoit said Wednesday.
Counsel Scott Browne took the last two weeks to analyze the options for moving forward if the city chose to remove Ratcliffe’s property at 53 Soda Bay Road and proceed with approving the annexation.
For his part, Benoit said the public hearing notices had been sent out according to procedure and they had only received one protest, referring to Ratcliffe’s.
His recommendation was the same as it was at the meeting two weeks ago — to approve the annexations subject to certain terms and conditions.
Browne explained that the law governing annexations, the Cortese Knox Hertzberg Act of 2000, isn’t clear about the question before LAFCo, regarding excluding territory before a final resolution is approved. He said it’s very clear applications can be amended to add or exclude territory.
It was his conclusion that by removing Ratcliffe’s property from the annexation area, it would waive the objection to the annexation since he got what he wanted by not being included.
However, Browne added, “There’s no clear law on this.”
In the absence of clear law, Browne suggested the commissioners could approve going back and starting a new notice and hearing process to see if there are any new protests.
“That would be the bulletproof way of doing it, but I don’t think it’s necessary,” he said.
Lakeport area Supervisor Tina Scott asked the commission to reopen the public hearing to give people a chance to comment.
Commission Chair and District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier also questioned the process and whether LAFCo could simply waive protests by just removing specific properties. He believed the right thing to do was to go forward with the protest hearing process, citing sections of state law.
Browne said Sabatier’s questions were good ones, noting that sections of the law Sabatier referred to were specifically about changing an adopted resolution, not changing it ahead of acceptance.
“So those provisions do not apply to this particular situation,” Browne said. “Nevertheless, the issue is unclear.”
County Counsel Anita Grant said that when items are unclear, she usually urges moving forward with abundant caution.
“I will say that there is also a very clear procedural track for these to take,” she said, pointing to the importance state statute gives to property owners’ ability to protest.
She said she’d never seen a response like the one proposed in this case, which she said seemed to be inconsistent with protest hearings.
“I think the timing of this may give one pause,” she said.
Lakeport City Manager Kevin Ingram said the city was OK with removing Ratcliffe’s property as proposed and moving ahead. However, if the protest process occurred, they wanted the property to stay in.
Ratcliffe told the commission he wanted to keep his protest active, and said he did not feel there was sufficient notice. He said 90% of property owners were unaware that the meeting was their last chance to formally protest.
Benoit said there is a provision in LAFCo code that a process can’t be set aside if people haven’t read the meeting notices. He questioned why Ratcliffe was at the meeting if he didn’t receive a notice.
Commissioner and Lakeport Mayor Stacey Mattina thanked Browne for taking the extra time to clarify the matter. “This has been a really complicated process.”
She said the city’s application meets LAFCo’s policies and offers efficient delivery of public services and the need for fire protection, and eliminates public health and safety threats.
Mattina suggested it was the most important decision the commission has had in 10 years. She then moved to offer the resolution to approve the annexation, amending the original resolution to remove Ratcliffe’s property. Commissioner Ed Robey seconded the motion.
Property owners argue against annexation
Benoit said the public hearing was closed so Sabatier instead opened public comment, after which Mattina called the motion.
The commission then heard from six community members and property owners — including Ratcliffe — who said they opposed the annexation.
“I feel like this was a railroad that actually goes back quite a few years,” said P.J. Racine, whose late father, Paul Racine, had opposed the annexation and conducted a survey that found that 79% of property owners didn’t support it.
Paul Racine died two years ago, and P.J. Racine said he felt the city was railroading it through now that there was no one to head the opposition.
Both Sabatier and Robey responded that the matter had been discussed for years.
Property owner Kathleen Miller also spoke against the annexation. She was at the meeting on March 16 and had handed in a written protest after the public hearing had closed, and so it was not counted. She said she also hadn’t gotten a notice about the meeting and had only heard about it through word of mouth.
Ingram said the city has done outreach through letters, a special community meeting, a newspaper notice and social media postings. He said the process has been ongoing for a long time.
Mattina said the protest vote process is convoluted and not an opportunity for everyone in the public to vote. “I don’t think everyone realizes that.”
“It’s definitely a unique process,” said Sabatier.
With the number of additional objections offered on Wednesday, Browne suggested the circumstances had changed and LAFCo was no longer in a position to waive protest proceedings.
Commissioner and Clearlake Mayor Dirk Slooten agreed with Browne, saying it was obvious that some community members either didn’t receive the notice or didn’t understand it. “We have to be on solid legal ground to move on with these procedures.”
Slooten said he wasn’t against the annexation, but wanted to make sure the commission was on legally solid ground to move forward.
After Mattina asked for a 10-minute break, the commission returned to settle on its course of action.
Benoit said they could do the protest proceeding or a new notice and start over. Since he believed adequate noticing had been done, he suggested pursuing the protest hearing.
Mattina withdrew her original motion and offered the resolution to approve the annexation subject to the terms and conditions of the protest hearing process, with Robey seconding.
Commissioner and county Supervisor Moke Simon said for community members to be looking for the protest proceeding notices. “Be aware, it is coming.”
The commission voted unanimously to approve the resolution.
Benoit said a brief summary of the process will be mailed out, an eight-page notice will be put in the newspaper and people will have an opportunity to provide a written protest or to appear in person at the proceeding when it’s scheduled in the next month.
LAFCo will then evaluate the value of the protest and decide whether or not it would go to an election, Benoit 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.
Prakash Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina and Mitzi Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina
A new omicron subvariant of the virus that causes COVID-19, BA.2, is quickly becoming the predominant source of infections amid rising cases around the world. Immunologists Prakash Nagarkatti and Mitzi Nagarkatti of the University of South Carolina explain what makes it different from previous variants, whether there will be another surge in the U.S. and how best to protect yourself.
What is BA.2, and how is it related to omicron?
BA.2 is the latest subvariant of omicron, the dominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. While the origin of BA.2 is still unclear, it has quickly become the dominant strain in many countries, including India, Denmark and South Africa. It is continuing to spread in Europe, Asia and many parts of the world.
The first omicron subvariant, BA.1, is unique in the number of alterations it has compared to the original version of the virus – it has over 30 mutations in the spike protein that helps it enter cells. Spike protein mutations are of high concern to scientists and public health officials because they affect how infectious a particular variant is and whether it is able to escape the protective antibodies that the body produces after vaccination or a prior COVID-19 infection.
BA.2 has eight unique mutations not found in BA.1, and lacks 13 mutations that BA.1 does have. BA.2 does, however, share around 30 mutations with BA.1. Because of its relative genetic similarity, it is considered a subvariant of omicron as opposed to a completely new variant.
While standard PCR tests are still able to detect the BA.2 variant, they might not be able to tell it apart from the delta variant.
Is it more infectious and lethal than other variants?
BA.2 is considered to be more transmissible but not more virulent than BA.1. This means that while BA.2 can spread faster than BA.1, it might not make people sicker.
Does previous infection with BA.1 provide protection against BA.2?
Yes! A recent study suggested that people previously infected with the original BA.1 subvariant have robust protection against BA.2.
Because BA.1 caused widespread infections across the world, it is likely that a significant percentage of the population has protective immunity against BA.2. This is why some scientists predict that BA.2 will be less likely to cause another major wave
However, while the natural immunity gained after COVID-19 infection may provide strong protection against reinfection from earlier variants, it weakens against omicron.
How effective are vaccines against BA.2?
A recent preliminary study that has not yet been peer reviewed of over 1 million individuals in Qatar suggests that two doses of either the Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines protect against symptomatic infection from BA.1 and BA.2 for several months before waning to around 10%. A booster shot, however, was able to elevate protection again close to original levels.
Importantly, both vaccines were 70% to 80% effective at preventing hospitalization or death, and this effectiveness increased to over 90% after a booster dose.
How worried does the US need to be about BA.2?
The rise in BA.2 in certain parts of the world is most likely due to a combination of its higher transmissibility, people’s waning immunity and relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions.
CDC data suggests that BA.2 cases are rising steadily, making up 23% of all cases in the U.S. as of early March. Scientists are still debating whether BA.2 will cause another surge in the U.S.
Though there may be an uptick of BA.2 infections in the coming months, protective immunity from vaccination or previous infection provides defense against severe disease. This may make it less likely that BA.2 will cause a significant increase in hospitalization and deaths. The U.S., however, lags behind other countries when it comes to vaccination, and falls even further behind on boosters.
Whether there will be another devastating surge depends on how many people are vaccinated or have been previously infected with BA.1. It’s safer to generate immunity from a vaccine, however, than from getting an infection. Getting vaccinated and boosted and taking precautions like wearing an N95 mask and social distancing are the best ways to protect yourself from BA.2 and other variants.
On the final day of Women’s History Month, acting Gov. Eleni Kounalakis on Thursday signed legislation that extends eviction protections for Californians participating in rental assistance programs, making her the first woman in California’s history to sign a piece of legislation into law.
"California’s nation-leading rent relief program has provided much needed relief for more than 220,000 households across the state. Today’s action will provide additional time to thousands more who are in the process of acquiring emergency relief,” said Kounalakis. “I am deeply humbled to take this action and to be part of history today as the first woman in state history to sign legislation into law. I remain more determined than ever to ensure that while I may be the first to do so, I will certainly not be the last.”
AB 2179 by Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-Concord) and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) extends eviction protections through June 30, 2022, to help ensure housing stability for eligible tenants who apply for assistance from state or local rental assistance programs by March 31, 2022.
“California is leading the nation's economic recovery from the pandemic, and we’re committed to ensuring all of our communities can access the supports they need to get back on their feet,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday. “Today’s action preserves important protections so that struggling families can keep a roof over their heads as the state works to provide critical assistance to thousands of households across California.”
Kounalakis was joined Thursday by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Assemblymembers Grayson and Wicks, Sen. Josh Becker and Assemblymember Blanca Rubio.
California’s $5.5 billion COVID-19 Rent Relief program is the largest statewide renter assistance program in the country and covers 100% of past-due rent payments for qualified low-income Californians.
The state program has to date assisted more than 220,000 low-income households, with thousands of additional households assisted by local rent relief programs.
Under the state program, tenants can access rental funds directly if their landlord chooses not to participate, and landlords can receive compensation even if their otherwise income-qualified tenants have already vacated a unit.
Kounalakis on Thursday also signed SB 504 by Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), which will allow military and overseas voters and voters with disabilities to complete a same day voter registration and cast a ballot.
Additionally, it provides the secretary of state more accurate voter rolls and streamlines the process for the state’s universal vote by mail system by removing a number of unnecessary provisions.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A veterinarian who played a key role in establishing and running the clinic at Lake County Animal Care and Control and expanding the agency’s services has died.
Animal Care and Control said Bachman received his veterinary license in 1982 and owned a private practice in Sonoma County.
He later worked in Contra Costa County, where he began specializing in shelter medicine.
Bachman started working with Lake County Animal Care and Control in 2007 and dedicated a tremendous amount of his time to Lake County, the agency reported.
He’s credited with being instrumental in creating the Animal Care and Control clinic, conducting a study that was presented to the Board of Supervisors that Armas said began the clinic’s formation. The clinic opened in 2012.
Bachman also was a part of establishing public services including the low cost spay/neuter program and community cat program which have been central to the agency’s efforts to control the pet population.
“The clinic allowed us to provide high quality care to stray animals, kept our adoption prices low and provided public services,” Armas said.
Animal Care and Control said Bachman provided veterinary care to Lake County animals affected by disasters and wildfires, most notable during the Valley fire in 2015.
That same year, when the clinic’s vets resigned, Armas said Bachman stepped in to ensure that quality care continued to be provided.
“He tried to find a replacement multiple times and had to step back from full time work but continued to work with us and provide surgeries for our adoptions and vaccination clinics,” Armas said. “He was also instrumental in the procurement of all of the equipment we use and the formation of the program as a whole.”
On its Facebook page, Animal Care and Control posted, “Dr. Bachman was an advocate for animals and affordable access to care. Dr. Bachman was a mentor and friend who will be greatly missed.”
His family has suggested that donations in honor of Dr. Bachman’s life may be made via check (write “donation” in the check memo line) to Lake County Animal Care and Control, 4949 Helbush Drive, Lakeport, CA 95453.
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.
What are some skywatching highlights in April 2022?
The gathering of planets in the morning sky increases three to four, as Jupiter joins the party. Two close conjunctions — between Mars and Saturn, and Venus and Jupiter — provide highlights at the beginning and end of the month. And the Big Dipper hosts a surprise: a double star you just might be able to "split" with your own eyes.
At the beginning of April, Venus, Mars and Saturn form a trio in the southeast before sunrise, with Saturn appearing to move steadily toward Mars each day.
On April 1, they're a couple of finger widths apart. And by April 4, Saturn and Mars are separated by less than the width of the full moon. Saturn then moves on, increasing its separation from Mars each day, as a new addition to the morning sky makes its debut.
By mid-month, Jupiter is starting to rise in the predawn hour, making for a quartet of planets, strung out in a line across the morning sky. Heading into the last week of April, Jupiter will be high enough above the horizon in the hour before sunrise to make it more easily observed.
The two brightest planets in the sky, Venus and Jupiter, are headed for their own ultra-close conjunction on April 30, similar to the meetup of Mars and Saturn earlier in the month. In fact, they approach to about the same distance.
Of course, the planets are actually far apart in space, and only appear to move closer, or farther apart, in the sky as our view of them across the solar system changes from month to month.
If you recall the grand conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn at the end of 2020, these conjunctions are not quite as close as that, but still really impressive and they'll make for thrilling sights in the morning sky. So definitely try to catch them if you can!
Whether you call it the Big Dipper, or Ursa Major, or the Plough, it's probably the most familiar pattern of bright stars in the northern sky. The Big Dipper is a really useful reference for finding your way around the sky, but it also contains a hidden surprise: One of its stars is really two. Or, actually, six. Let's break that down.
What looks at first glance like a single bright star here, midway along the Dipper's handle, is on closer inspection a double star: Mizar and Alcor. Next time you have a chance, try to see if you can perceive them as two stars with your own eyes. Once you give it a try, then grab binoculars if you have them, which will easily show them as separate stars.
The two star systems are around a light year apart, and are located 80 to 90 light years away from our solar system, with Alcor taking just shy of a million years to complete an orbit around Mizar.
Now, lots of stars are bound together by gravity in small groups, especially in pairs — or binaries — that orbit around each other. But usually it takes a telescope to be able to see them as separate stars. Mizar and Alcor are a rare example of a double star that you can see as a pair without the aid of a telescope.
But it gets more interesting: Although they appear as a close pair of two stars, they are in fact six. Alcor is a binary pair of stars, while Mizar is actually four stars — two pairs of binaries. So find the unusual "double" stars Mizar and Alcor in the Big Dipper in April,
Stay up to date with all of NASA's missions to explore the solar system and beyond at nasa.gov.
Preston Dyches works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has added new dogs to those available for adoption.
The City of Clearlake Animal Association also is seeking fosters for the animals waiting to be adopted.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions and schedule a visit to the shelter.
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
The following dogs are available for adoption.
‘Pooh Bear’
“Pooh Bear” is a 1-year-old male American pit bull mix with a copper and white coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49603144.
‘Scrappy’
“Scrappy” is an 11-month-old male American pit bull mix with a short cream-colored coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49603144.
‘Andy’
“Andy” is a male American pit bull mix with a short gray and white coat.
He is dog No. 48995415.
‘Bear’
“Bear” is a male Labrador retriever-American pit bull mix with a short charcoal and fawn coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 48443153.
‘Chai’
“Chai” is a female Alaskan husky mix with a gray and white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 49279552.
‘Ebenezer’
“Ebenezer” is a male American pit bull terrier mix with a short tan and white coat.
He is dog No. 49191651.
‘Fritz’
“Fritz” is a male Australian shepherd mix with a black and white coat.
He is dog No. 49278179.
‘Snowball’
“Snowball” is a male American Staffordshire mix terrier with a white coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 49159168.
‘Terry’
“Terry” is a male shepherd mix with a short brindle coat.
He is dog No. 48443693.
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.
State and federal officials have declared that Thursday, March 31, is Cesar Chavez Day, in honor of the Arizona-born civil rights and labor activist who fought for better conditions for farmworkers.
The day is observed on the anniversary of his birth in 1927.
Chavez’s efforts resulted in better working conditions and laws that gave farmworkers rights to organize and join unions.
The full declaration from Gov. Gavin Newsom is below.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PROCLAMATION
Throughout his life of work and service, Cesar Chavez empowered thousands to stand together for their rights and led our nation toward a more equitable and just society. His visionary leadership inspired a powerful movement that burns brightly to this day, rallying people from all walks of life to champion the dignity of work.
Born near Yuma, Arizona in 1927, Chavez and his family moved to California after losing their home during the Great Depression. Toiling in the fields from a young age, Chavez faced dismal working conditions, racism, abuse and exploitation. Moved to confront these injustices, he began working as an organizer in the farmworker community, advocating for improvements in their working and living conditions.
Founding the United Farm Workers (UFW) together with Dolores Huerta, Chavez challenged Americans to recognize that the produce on their dinner tables was picked by human hands — often the hands of people who were denied the most basic human rights. Bringing their cause to the national stage, Chavez led a historic march of farmworkers from Delano to Sacramento in 1966 and helped launch a successful boycott of grapes that galvanized support across the country and beyond.
Chavez's tireless efforts were instrumental in the passage of the 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which made our state the first in U.S. history to give farmworkers the right to join a union and engage in collective bargaining.
On the anniversary of his birth, we celebrate Cesar Chavez's hard-won strides for social justice, and reflect on the work that lies ahead to build a brighter future for all our communities. Let us carry on his timeless legacy by lifting up our neighbors, speaking out against injustice, and working together to extend the dream of prosperity, equity and progress to all.
NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2022, as "Cesar Chavez Day."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 30th day of March, 2022.
Gavin Newsom Governor of California
ATTEST: SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D. Secretary of State