The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announces the recreational ocean salmon season in the Klamath Management Zone (KMZ), the area between the Oregon/California border and Horse Mountain (40° 05' 00" N. latitude), will open May 16, making all ocean waters in California available to salmon fishing.

The season will continue through May 31 and reopen June 16-30, July 16-Aug. 16, and Sept. 1-5 with a 20-inch minimum size limit.

Anglers fishing in the KMZ should be conscious of closures at the mouths of the Klamath and Smith rivers throughout the season, as well as a closure at the mouth of the Eel River during August and September. See California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 27.75 for complete river mouth closure information.

In the Fort Bragg area, which extends from Horse Mountain to Point Arena (38° 57' 30" N. latitude), the season will remain open through Nov. 13 with a 20-inch minimum size limit.

In the San Francisco area, which extends from Point Arena to Pigeon Point (37° 11' 00" N. latitude), the season will continue through Oct. 31 with a 24-inch minimum size limit through April 30 and 20-inches thereafter.

In the Monterey area between Pigeon Point and Point Sur (36° 18' 00" N. latitude) the season will continue through July 15 while areas south of Point Sur will continue through May 31. The minimum size limit in Monterey and areas south is 24-inches total length.

CDFW and the Pacific Fishery Management Council have constructed ocean salmon seasons to reduce fishery-related impacts on endangered Sacramento River winter Chinook.

Drought conditions and unsuitable water temperatures in the upper Sacramento River led to greater than 95 percent mortality of juvenile brood year 2014 and 2015 winter-run Chinook.

Coupled with abnormally warm and unproductive ocean conditions, fisheries managers and industry representatives chose to take additional protections beyond those required by the Endangered Species Act biological opinion and harvest control rule.

Available ocean data suggest that winter-run Chinook are concentrated south of Pigeon Point, especially south of Point Sur, during the late summer and early fall. Strategic closures and size limit restrictions implemented in the San Francisco and Monterey management areas are intended to minimize harvest and catch-and-release mortality of winter-run Chinook.

The daily bag limit is two Chinook per day and no more than two daily bag limits may be possessed when on land. On a vessel in ocean waters, no person shall possess or bring ashore more than one daily bag limit.

For anglers fishing north of Point Conception (34° 27' 00" N. latitude), no more than two single-point, single-shank barbless hooks shall be used, and no more than one rod may be used per angler when fishing for salmon or fishing from a boat with salmon on board.

In addition, barbless circle hooks are required when fishing with bait by any means other than trolling between Horse Mountain and Point Conception.

CDFW reminds anglers that retention of coho salmon is prohibited in all ocean fisheries.

Final sport regulations will be published in the CDFW 2016 Supplemental Fishing Regulations booklet available in May at www.wildlife.ca.gov/regulations .

For complete ocean salmon regulations, please visit CDFW's ocean salmon Web page at www.wildlife.ca.gov/oceansalmon or call the Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at 707-576-3429.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Saturday, May 14, Lake Community Pride Foundation will be hosting a skate park competition featuring riders from Mendocino and Lake County participants.

Brock Randolph and Kyle Kennedy are seniors at Ukiah High School. Their senior project is to coordinate a skate park competition. With the help of Bruno Sabatier and Lake Community Pride Foundation, they were able to secure the Andy Johnson Memorial BMX Skate Park in Clearlake's Austin Park.

The event starts with sign ups from 11 a.m. to noon. The competition will start at 1 p.m.

All riders will be separated into three categories and three different levels of experience. The categories are BMX, scooter and skateboard. The levels of experience will be beginner, intermediate and advanced. Come early and make sure to sign up into the correct bracket, and then may the best rider win.

This is the first time that an inter-county skate park competition will be organized in the city of Clearlake.

“I have this feeling that after this event, we will see more of these where it will be hosted in Mendocino and then back in Lake County,” said Sabatier. “Positive, healthy competition such as this is good for adding a new layer to our relationship between the two counties that has already been built by the riders themselves looking for new parks to shred in.”

A skate park competition wouldn't be complete without music to compliment the riders. DJ Grand Masta Slash Beatz and As All Else Fails will be performing during the event. Admission to the watch the competition is free and anyone who wishes to join the competition can do so for free as well.

The skate park is located at 14077 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bruno Sabatier at 707-695-0834.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Put June 12 on your calendar for the date of the Lake County Land Trust’s annual spring fundraising event.

Once again Bernie and Lynne Butcher, owners of the Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Blue Wing Restaurant in Upper Lake, have offered to host this fundraising event for the Land Trust.

The event will feature Lake County wines, hors d’oeuvres and live music and will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. with tickets costing $50 per person.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 707-262-0707. Payment in advance is urged or payment can be taken at the gate to the garden. You can pay on line by going to the Land Trust’s Web site at www.lakecountylandtrust.org , click on the “Donate,” button and write “Spring Fundraiser donation,” in the comment section.

All funds raised at the annual spring event will support the Lake County Land Trust and its many projects in Lake County, including preservation of the Clear Lake shoreline and operation of the trust’s Rodman Preserve near Upper Lake and Rabbit Hill Park in Middletown.

The event will provide time to enjoy the company of fellow land trust supporters and to visit with Land Trust board members and hear updates to ongoing local projects.

The Lake County Land Trust is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of open space and natural habitats of Lake County.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Redbud Audubon Society members and guests are welcome to participate in the annual end-of-the-year picnic and installation of officers from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19.

The event will be held at Lakeside County Park on Park Drive off of Soda Bay Road.

The picnic is a potluck, but Audubon supplies hot dogs, buns and condiments. You are welcome to bring an alternate meat or meat-substitute to grill if you prefer. Sodas and water also will be provided.

Participants are encouraged to bring salad, beans, chips or dessert to share. Please arrive at 5:30 p.m. Look for them down by the lake to the left of the launch ramp.

The picnic is a nice way to visit with and get to know chapter members.

The event will include installation of officers, including Co-Presidents Roberta Lyons and Bonnie Thompson Vice President Tina Wasson, Treasurer Nichola Selph and Secretary Marina Vedovi.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County supporters of Bernie Sanders have taken the first step toward sending several local people to the Democratic National Convention as delegates.

Caucuses in Napa and Davis on Sunday selected the Sanders delegate slates for Congressional Districts 5 and 3 (CD5, CD3), respectively.

Ava Kennedy and Nils Palsson were among the top vote getters in CD5. Natalie Higley and Jonathan Holt captured top spots in CD3. Kennedy and Higley are members of the steering committee of Lake County, CA for Bernie Sanders. Palsson is a candidate for Congress from CD5.

“This caucus was a great success for the Lake County Bernie supporters,” said Tim Williams, a member of the steering committee. “Lake County will be sending at least two, and perhaps four, delegates. These men and women have an important task as the nomination will not be settled until the convention.”

The June 7 primary election is the next step in the delegate selection process. Voters who have registered as Democrat or no party preference (NPP) by May 23 can vote in the Democratic Primary. NPP voters must specifically request a Democratic ballot at the polls or by calling 707-263-2372 if voting by mail.

Voters registered as members of any other party, including the American Independent may not vote in the democratic primary.

Results of the June 7 primary will determine how many CD3 and CD5 delegates will come from the Sanders slate and how many will come from the Clinton slate.

"Secretary Clinton will not have enough delegates to win the nomination before the convention. This will be a contested convention," said Kennedy, "The delegates and super delegates will have to look at the hard facts: Every recent national poll shows Bernie leading over Trump by much bigger margins – he is the stronger candidate to defeat Trump in November."

Lake County, CA for Bernie Sanders is a group of enthusiastic volunteers not formally associated with the Sanders campaign. Their office, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, is located at 302 Armstrong St., Lakeport. The staff is happy to help supporters of any candidate register to vote.

They are on Facebook at ("Lake County, CA for Bernie Sanders!"), and they can be contacted by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone 707-600-1197.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Monica Rosenthal, candidate for Lake County District 1 supervisor, will host a series of “meet and greet” events in south Lake County communities.

These informal events are an opportunity for south county residents to get acquainted with Rosenthal, ask questions and learn more about her perspective on important issues facing Lake County.

The first community gathering will be held in Lower Lake at the Lower Lake Coffee Co. from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday, May 16.

“Meet and greets” also will take place in Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown. Coffee and cookies will be served.

“I consider it essential to speak regularly with my neighbors in South County,” said Rosenthal. ”I look forward to hearing their concerns and ideas, especially regarding the South Lake County fires of 2015 and our community’s recovery challenges.”

Lower Lake

Monday, May 16, 8 to 10 a.m., Lower Lake Coffee Co. 
Monday, May 23, 8 to 10 a.m., Lower Lake Coffee Co.

Hidden Valley Lake

Wednesday, May 18, 8 to 10 a.m., Mountain High Coffee & Books 
Wednesday, May 25, 8 to 10 a.m., Mountain High Coffee & Books 

Middletown

Thursday, May 19, 4 to 6 p.m., 2 Women Traders
Thursday, May 26, 4 to 6 p.m., 2 Women Traders

Other opportunities to speak with Rosenthal include:

– Friday, May 20, 5 to 8 p.m., Hidden Valley Lake Concert on the Green;
– Sunday, May 22, 5 to 7 p.m., North Coast Volunteer Celebration in Middletown Park;
– Sunday, May 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lower Lake Parade and Barbecue

Rosenthal encourages all south county residents – as well as those living in other parts of the county – to attend and bring their questions, concerns and vision for the future.

“I look forward to meeting and speaking with you,” said Rosenthal. “Please put the meet and greet on your calendar, and don’t forget to vote on June 7”

For further information, questions or comments, contact Monica Rosenthal by phone, 707-355-2762, via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the “Monica Rosenthal for Supervisor” Facebook page or the www.MonicaforSupervisor.com Web site.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clear Lake/Callayomi Masonic Lodge No. 183, Free and Accepted Masons, hosts the “best breakfast in Lake County” on the third Sunday of each month at the Masonic Center, located at 7100 South Center Drive in Clearlake.

The next breakfast will be served May 15.

The lodge serves a full, sit-down breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m.

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 to 12. Children under age 6 may eat for free and are served a special “kids” breakfast.

There may be at least 1,000 Lake County registered voters who believe they can vote in the Democratic primary on June 7, but they are mistaken. Why? They think they are are registered “independent” when in truth, they are registered as members of the American Independent Party.

It is an easy mistake to make. In the list of party affiliations on the voter registration form, AIP comes first, alphabetically. A person who wants to be “independent” rather than affiliated with any of the other parties listed can easily check that box by mistake.

But “American Independent Party” is an actual party, in California. Statistics suggest that most of its members are in it by mistake – about 75 percent of all members of the AIP did not intend to register with that party. Seventy five percent!

According to the Lake County Registrar's Office, there are about 1,350 voters in Lake County registered as AIP. About 140 of those have registered as AIP since October 2015. The timing suggests that those 140 people may have registered with the June 7 primary in mind (they may not have heard of Bernie Sanders before October 2015).

However, because they registered American Independent Party instead of “no party preference,” they will not be able to vote in the June 7 Democratic primary – unless they change their registration now. There is still time.

Voters have until May 23 to correct (change) their registration from AIP to “no party preference” or Democrat if they want to vote in the June 7 primary.

As the deadline approaches, the system may slow down due to increased traffic, so it is recommended not to delay, but correct your party preference (or lack thereof) NOW – don't wait!

To vote in the Democratic primary, you need to be either a Democratic Party member or “no party preference.” Members of the Green party or any other party who wish to vote for Bernie Sanders on June 7 still have time to change their registration. (You can always change it again later.)

You can verify your current party preference by calling the Lake County Registrar at 888-235-6730.

You can register to vote online at  http://registertovote.ca.gov/ .

Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The regular meeting of the Clearlake Planning Commission and Park and Recreation Committee scheduled for Tuesday, May 17, has been canceled.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for early June.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Almas (Al) Lowell Bussard, went to sleep May 4, 2016, and woke up in Heaven with the love of his life, Annie. He was 94 years old.

He was born in Battlefield, Missouri, on Feb. 25, 1922, and moved to California with family, served in the Navy during World War II and married Annie Oct. 25, 1946.

Al is survived by his sons, Steven (Roxie) and Gregory (Cynde); six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

His life was full and active for many years and he is loved and will be missed, but we are all happy Annie and Al are together again.

Al will be missed by friends, extended family and immediate family.

At Al's request, no services will be held. Memorial donations can be made in his memory to your favorite charity.

Cremation arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary.

David Robert Wright
Feb. 5, 1998 - May 11, 2016

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – David was preceded in death by his father, Sam Wright Sr. He is survived by his mother, Ellen, and step-dad, Vincent; children, Jay-lah, Adrian and Anthonie; siblings, Daniel, Samuel Jr., Alicia, Emil, Louisa, Levi, Marlene, Eileen, Edward, Rachel, Burocol, Shayna, Myra, Matty, Kalal and Johnny; grandparents, Robert, Karen, Barbara and Teresa; great grandma, Ruth; aunts, Nicole, Michelle, Melissa, Samantha, Melinda, Angelina and Valerie; uncles, Robert, Brian, Leon, Anthony, Phelan, Billy and Mark; along with many other aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation began at the family's home, 1407 Mission Way in Lakeport, on Friday, May 13, at 2 p.m. Graveside funeral service will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery on Monday, May 16, at 2 p.m.

We will miss your smile and all the crazy things you did to make us laugh. You left us too soon, you are gone but never forgotten …

For further information contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .