MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – “Healing – A reality within a play” will be presented in Middletown on Thursday, May 18.

The show will be presented at the community room at the Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St.

Doors open at 6:45 p.m. with the show presented from 7 to 9:15 p.m.

Admission is free for general seating, but donations are greatly appreciated.

“Healing” is an interactive live theatrical production based on a theatrical custom dating back before 400 BC. 

The audience is invited to explore the possibility that, as Baba said, “We are all perfectly poised to learn life’s lessons. All life’s lessons can be learned in softness, gentleness, and loving kindness. Any lessons not learned in softness, gentleness and loving kindness will be compassionately returned until the lessons are loved.”

The play is appropriate for mid-teens and older. Refreshments will be served. 

For more information call 707-295-9458.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The First 5 Lake Commission will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, May 24.

The commission will meet beginning at 2 p.m. in the Round Room of Mendocino Community College, 2565 Parallel Drive in Lakeport.

Items on the agenda include public hearings on the First 5 Strategic Plan, long-range financial plan and the 2017-18 budget.

The commission also will review and approve recommendations from the ad hoc committee for new commissioner appointees.

Other items will be the review and approval of a sublease agreement between Legacy Court and Easter Seals, a funding request from Sutter Lakeside Hospital for their "Baby Box" program and commissioners’ reports.

All those interested in the well being of families and young children are encouraged to attend.

The commission includes Chair Pam Klier, Vice Chair Denise Pomeroy and members Brock Falkenberg, Jeff Smith, Crystal Markytan, Susan Jen and Laurie Daly.

For a complete meeting agenda, visit www.firstfivelake.org .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Friday, May 5, in Aromas Café at Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College, two student chefs competed in the Future Chefs of Lake County cooking competition.

Joel Atkins and Jessica Bateman-Gonzalez cooked for 90 minutes to prepare a wonderful meal for the judges. 

Atkins prepared southern-style chicken cordon bleu served on yellow grits and Bateman-Gonzalez prepared a Deconstructed Chicken Pozole.

The judges were Chef Jay Marshal from Sysco, Dr. Judy Luchsinger from Lake County Wine Alliance and Dr. Michael White from Woodland Community College. 

They interfaced with the young future chefs, deliberated over the food served to them, and eventually chose the deconstructed chicken pozole that Bateman-Gonzalez had prepared for them as the winner of the competition.

The Culinary Club hosted the competition and the event was both a fundraiser to raise funds for future scholarships as well as a wonderful way to give away scholarships to the contestants.

Bateman-Gonzalez won a $1,000 scholarship and Atkins won a $500 scholarship.

The guests who attended the competition were delighted with local wines paired with exquisite food prepared by the culinary arts students. 

A flight of wine, 3 ounces each, was served to those in attendance. The wines that were donated for the event came from Six Sigma who donated a Sauvignon Blanc, Gregory Graham who donated a Grenache, and R Vineyards who donated a Reba Red. 

Along with the wine, the students had prepared a Dungeness crab salad canapé, gruyere and duck confi sliders and lacquered pork belly.

To celebrate the end of the competition, the culinary students served a delicious passion fruit curd tartlet and dark chocolate mousse cups paired with a Lady of the Lake Pear Sparkling Wine or a Fults Family Vineyard Blanc de Blanc.

The event highlighted all that the students have learned throughout their culinary arts education and the presentation, the food, the service showcased a top quality restaurant atmosphere that is hard to find around the county of Lake.

For those interested in pursuing an education in culinary arts, make sure to apply to Woodland Community College in Clearlake at 15880 Dam Road Extension, call and make an appointment with one of their counselors at 707-995-7900, or find more information about the campus and their programs at http://lcc.yccd.edu .

Summer session starts on June 12 and Fall semester starts on Aug. 14.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Grindstone Ranger District fire managers are conducting the Alder Springs prescribed fire approximately 16 miles from Elk Creek  this week.

Crews may ignite 20 to 90 acres depending on weather and environmental conditions.

The Alder Springs project is a ridge-based fuel break that follows the ridgeline from the junction of the M3 Road and FH7, past Alder Springs to the Camp Ellendale area. Smoke may be visible from I-5 and surrounding areas.

The goal of this project is to improve forest health, remove hazardous fuels, protect the Alder Springs Community and adjacent cabins, and increase firefighter safety.

Prescribed fires are an essential part of the Mendocino National Forest’s fire management program. They are used to improve forest health, reduce hazardous fuels, restore nutrients and create future fire breaks.

The burns are conducted within a “prescription” that is determined by appropriate fuel moisture, temperature, humidity, wind and ventilation.

The ignition of all prescribed fires is dependent on the availability of personnel and equipment, favorable weather, conditions that minimize smoke impacts as best as possible and California Air Resources Board approval.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – As Peter MacRae spoke to Lake County Republican Women, Federated on May 10, he honed in on the many phases of terrorism taking place throughout the world today and brought it right home to Lake County.

“See something, say something” should resonate with all, MacRae said.

Locally, he said we have had schools and the courthouse closed to be what we call “be on the safe side.” Police appreciate that call and they do need the help of everyone.

A number of veterans were in attendance and MacRae was appreciative of their questions and had a good exchange of information with them from which all learned.

Terrorism is not going away and we are in danger, he said. There are the groups under the organized command of al Qaeda and ISIS and others.

Then there are the cells of small groups, MacRae explained. But how is the “lone wolf” detected?

MacRae said the lone wolf is without supervision from any group, but learns from the online messages. It is so easy for him to learn how to make bombs and destructive devices from simple things that can be purchased in hardware stores and even grocery stores. Sales people need to be aware of who and how much is being purchased by a person or a combination of people.

In conclusion, MacRae suggested his listeners keep the thought, “Yes, we are in danger. There has always been terrorism, but the best the United States can do is to take the fight to them. So, again, if you see something, say something.”

Soon to join his other published books is an analytical work “Do the Muslims have an Argument?” As with all studies, MacRae believes that one should understand both sides of the equation and that is just” what his new book will cause people to do.

The meeting closed by honoring special ladies prior to Mother's Day, with pink roses presented to Mrs. MacRae, a red rose to President Marcia Chauvin and roses to Mothers in attendance, ages 80 to 93, with the top honor going to Patty Patten.

Membership in Lake County Republican Women, Federated is open to any registered Republican woman, 18 years or older. Associate membership is available to men and members of other County Republican Women, Federated Unit clubs.

The group will hold its next luncheon meeting on June 14 when Supervisor Rob Brown will discuss Lake County issues.

For more information contact 707-994-3543.

Leona Butts is a member of Lake County Republican Women, Federated.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake has awarded Melisa Long, RN, with the DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses.

Long has been a nurse since 1995, always working in the hospital setting. She has worked in outpatient surgery at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake since 2009.
 
Long was nominated for the DAISY Award by her many grateful coworkers at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake.

She is known for her kindness, bright smile and special gift of making each patient feel special and in good hands.

Coworkers comment that Long fills the halls of the hospital with her enthusiastic enjoyment of her calling as a nurse and can often be found kneeling by a wheelchair or sitting by a bedside praying with a patient.
 
“Balancing a patient’s medical needs with their spiritual and emotional care can be a challenge, but Melisa embraces this big goal each day with joy, compassion and a desire to make each patient feel like part of her family,” said Al Hansen, RN, director of the surgery, women’s care and medical/surgical departments.
 
“The DAISY Award is an incredible honor, but I didn’t receive it on my own” said Long. “We have an amazing team here at Adventist Health, and I am blessed to have the opportunity to touch someone’s life every day I go to work.”

Long has worked as a nurse more than two decades, including time in med/surg, ICU, surgery and emergency departments.
 
Long was honored with the DAISY Award on Friday, May 12, as part of Nurses Week and Hospital Week festivities. Staff were treated with Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, a DAISY Award tradition.

Fellow nurse Carolyn Dabney, who serves on the medical/surgical unit, was awarded as the DAISY Award runner-up.

“Carolyn is always kind, always compassionate, and always looking for another way to help her patients feel their best and her fellow nurses do their best,” said Hansen.
 
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is organized by the DAISY Foundation.

An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, The DAISY Foundation was formed in November 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. The nursing care Barnes received when hospitalized profoundly touched his family, who started the award to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere through a recognition program.
 
St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s Hospital and Nurses Week celebration also included a strawberry shortcake feed, massages for staff at various outpatient locations throughout the county and a barbecue catered by the hospital’s dietary services department.

“I appreciate all of our nurses for delivering excellent patient care with kindness and compassion,” said Colleen Assavapisitkul, vice president of patient care and chief nursing officer. “Special recognition such as the DAISY Award allow us to share our gratitude our nurses’ dedication and skills.”

For more information visit www.sthelenahospitalclearlake.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – O'Meara Bros. Brewing Co. in Lakeport is saying a fond farewell and big thank you to retiring chef Roy Iversen, who has been with them since 2014, even before the popular restaurant and brewery opened.

The brothers, Alex and Tim O'Meara, said that Iversen has been invaluable to them and has become like family.

Opening a restaurant is no small task, and Iversen rose to the occasion again and again, tackling every challenge and keeping each dish consistent and delicious during the most challenging time for any restaurant.

The whole crew at O'Meara Bros. Brewing Co. wishes Iversen the best in retirement and are sorry to see him go.

Taking over for Iversen is Chef Jerry Phillips, a veteran chef who has more than 30 years’ experience and is bringing new and exciting dishes to O'Meara Bros.

Phillips has run many successful (and sometimes famous) kitchens throughout his career, including overseeing food service for the Chicago Cubs at their spring training facility and working as a personal chef for celebrities in Hollywood.

The O’Mearas are thrilled to have him and say customers are already praising his unique specials, which will rotate weekly from now on, offering new and unique choices for O'Meara Bros. customers.

Over the coming weeks they’ll introduce lemon-ginger crusted salmon, grilled pork loin with bacon-onion jam, country fried Cornish game hen and many more.

O'Meara Bros. released a new menu in early spring, and the O’Mearas said having Chef Phillips heading up the kitchen is the cherry on top.

SAN ANTONIO – U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Monika L. Hanreich has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Hanreich is the daughter of Pamela J. Hanreich of Kelseyville, Calif., and Mark D. Hanreich of Tomales, Calif., and sister of Kaede B. Hanreich of California City, Calif.

She is a 2011 graduate of Kelseyville High School.