Artichokes are the immature buds of a plant in the thistle family. Photo by Esther Oertel.

Oh, prickly globe of humble leaf

Grown on ocean cliffs so steep

You woo us with your inner heart

Your thorns shock fingers like a dart

We seek you for your tasty flesh

And love you when you’re on our dish

We dig through leaves for our reward,

That tender disc which thorns do guard

Oh, artichoke, how you please!

With oil, butter, or mayonnaise

We peel a leaf, we take a bite

(What’s left behind does look a sight!)

Oh, artichoke, you’re worth the time

It takes to eat your parts sublime

You make for us a mighty feast

With heart, and each and every leaf

Groaning aside, the artichoke is a vegetable worthy of an ode, don’t you think? It’s mysterious, after all, as well as metaphorical and unique.

As to mystery, who ate the first one? What prompted that curious soul to look past the thorns and discover tasty flesh inside?

Its thorny leaves and tender heart evoke endless metaphors:

You can’t judge a book by its cover.

Good things take time.

Life unfolds like the leaves of an artichoke.

One must dig deep for hidden treasure.

A thorny exterior belies a tender heart within.

Patience wins all.

And its uniqueness speaks for itself. There is no other vegetable quite like it.

Almost 100 percent of the U.S. artichoke crop is cultivated in California, with Monterey County – specifically Castroville and surrounding areas – accounting for a whopping 75 percent of it. Apparently the moderate coastal clime of that area and its fog-shrouded fields bode well for its growth.

Not surprisingly, Castroville, which has hosted an artichoke festival since 1956, has been dubbed the artichoke capital of the world.

And the town has an additional, if lesser known, claim to fame: Marilyn Monroe, then a barely recognizable starlet, was crowned Castroville’s artichoke queen in 1948.

Artichoke plants are large, with spiny, arching, ferny leaves that spread to up to 6 feet in diameter and stalks that grow to about three or four feet in height.

Edible artichokes are officially known as globe artichokes, and there are a number of varieties in varying sizes and shades of green and purple.

The part we eat is actually an immature bud which develops in various sizes depending on which part of the stalk it resides. The largest artichokes grow at the top of the stalk, medium ones grow from side shoots, and “baby” (or petite) artichokes grow at the base of the stalk hidden in the leaves.

“Baby” artichokes are fully mature but of a smaller size. The fuzzy portion near the heart doesn’t develop on them, making them easier to prepare.

If the buds are allowed to mature, they flower into a violet, thistle-like bloom, appropriate for this member of the thistle group of the sunflower family.

Artichokes grow wild in southern Europe and northern Africa and were first developed for cultivation in Sicily, Italy. They were later cultivated by the African Moors near Granada, Spain in about 800 A.D.

It was Spanish settlers who brought them to California in the 1600s, but they didn’t achieve popularity here until more than three centuries later, in the 1920s.

They were mentioned in the literature of the Greeks and Romans as far back as 77 A.D. In fact, shortly before his death, Pliny the Elder, an oft-quoted Roman author and naturalist, said they were one of “earth’s monstrosities.” Clearly he wasn’t a fan.

Artichokes contain more than nine powerful antioxidants that contribute to our health in a diverse array of ways, from promoting cardiovascular health to inhibiting the growth of cancer cells to aiding in the regeneration of liver tissue.

They’re also full of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium.

The best artichokes are globes that are heavy for their size with tight leaves. Don’t choose those that are dry looking or turning brown. If leaves are open, it means the artichoke is past its prime.

Artichokes may be stored in your fridge in a plastic bag, unwashed, for up to four days.

Before using, wash artichokes well, and if home grown, be sure to tap them upside down in the sink. This helps remove any critters that may have made the leaves their home.

Artichokes are most commonly steamed, but they can be boiled, grilled, or roasted. If using the latter two methods, I recommend parboiling them first to tenderize the leaves and then finishing on the grill or in the oven to infuse the rich, smoky flavor that these methods impart.

When steaming, the top half inch or so may be cut off to remove prickly thorns and, for the same reason, the tips of each leave may be trimmed with scissors. I often slice artichokes in half to reduce the cooking time. I clean out the fuzz near the heart before popping into the steamer.

Artichoke stems are tasty and needn’t be completely removed before cooking. A couple inches may be left intact and lightly peeled.

A garlic clove, bay leaf, or slice of lemon (even all three) may be added to the water that steams the artichokes to impart flavor.

Artichokes may be served cold or hot, and are often accompanied by mayonnaise (usually when served cold), melted butter, or garlic-infused olive oil. I especially love them with a sauce of mayonnaise, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and fresh dill.

In Italy and parts of France, raw artichoke hearts are shaved and tossed in salads with a vinaigrette dressing and shavings of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

In Sicily, a mixture that includes bread crumbs, garlic, olive oil, anchovies, and cheese is stuffed between the bracts (the official term for an artichoke’s leaves) and then baked in the oven.

Polish cooks braise artichoke hearts in white wine and garlic, while Moroccans bake them with lamb.

I have to say that the most unusual use of artichokes I’ve seen is in the Italian liqueur cynar. This bitter aperitif is made with 13 different plants, the most predominant being the artichoke.

If you’re looking for heart-themed meal ideas for tomorrow’s St. Valentine’s Day festivities, look no further than the cream of artichoke heart soup I offer below. Its delicate flavor and creamy texture marry well with a salad of hearts of Romaine lettuce tossed in simple vinaigrette.

The recipe is a spin on one by Giada De Laurentiis of the Food Network. If frozen artichoke hearts are unavailable, canned or home-cooked ones may be used. (Just be sure the canned variety is not marinated.)

As to my ode, I may have broken some poetry etiquette through its creation. According to thinkquest.org, “An ode is a poem that is written for an occasion or on a particular subject. They are usually dignified and more serious as a form than other forms of poetry. Unfortunately, today's society has distinctly less respect for propriety, morality, and dignity. Modern odes include sarcastic poems about various subjects, including Velcro and vegetables.”

I hope you’ll forgive me. At least mine wasn’t sarcastic; I meant every word.

Cream of artichoke heart soup

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 leeks, white part only, washed well and chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 small potato, peeled and chopped

1 (8 or 10 ounce) package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed

2 cups stock of your choice

½ teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

¼ - ½ cup heavy cream

Heat olive oil in a heavy, large pot over medium heat.

Add the leeks and the potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.

Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute.

Add the artichokes, stock, salt, and pepper and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Off heat, use a handheld immersion blender to puree the soup.

Add the cream to taste and blend again to combine.

Taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed, and heat to serving temperature.

Makes about four servings.

Esther Oertel, the “Veggie Girl,” is a culinary coach and educator and is passionate about local produce. Oertel teaches culinary classes at Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., and The Kitchen Gallery in Lakeport, Calif., and gives private cooking lessons. She welcomes your questions and comments; e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Respect For All Task Force will meet Wednesday, Feb. 16, 1 p.m., at the Lake County Office of Education, 1152 S. Main St.

The group will be discussing plans for a youth summit, the development of a youth leadership council, and a draft of a resource rack card for pre-teens, teens and families.

The meeting is open to the public, and the task force welcomes participation by new members.

Members of the Lakeport Be the Change group have been invited to attend Wednesday’s meeting to give the task force an update on activities.

The Lake County Respect For All Task Force, a group of local individuals, is striving to increase awareness about safe and inclusive learning environments.

The group is working to identify possible actions to help the Lake County community. Task force members are focusing on reducing bullying in schools and providing students with information on resources.

The Respect for All Task Force is now on Facebook. Look for the “Lake County Respect For All Task Force” to access information.

In Lake County, the Respect For All Project was started approximately two years ago as a pilot project through GroundSpark and in cooperation with Lake County Healthy Start and Lake County Family Resource Center.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Lake County Winery Association (LCWA) members are celebrating victories garnered at this year’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, with several Lake County wines taking top medals at the prestigious event.

The annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is touted as the “largest competition of American wines in the world.”

The 2011 results were announced earlier this month following five days of tasting and evaluating more than 5,000 entries, a world record number, according to the event’s Web site.

“It is ultra-cool that Lake County wines and wineries stood out among the 5,000 entries,” said Monica Rosenthal, executive director of the Lake County Winery Association. “Our members’ wines are helping to distinguish Lake County as a premier winegrape producing region. It is especially nice to be recognized by the San Francisco competition’s professional judges who acknowledged our region’s excellent grapes and wine by awarding several top honors.”

Heading the list, Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery received a Best of Class on its single vineyard 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and double gold on its 2008 Ranch Collection Cabernet Sauvignon. Double gold indicated unanimous gold choice by the judges.

“As we go head-to-head with top producers from other well-known wine regions in competitions such as this, Shannon Ridge’s Lake County wines are taking awards in the same varietal categories. Everyone involved in Shannon Ridge’s wine production is thrilled to have captured one of the highest awards in the competition,” said the winery's sales manager, Joey Luiz.

The victories are also a credit to the farming style at Shannon Ridge. “Our earth friendly, all-sustainable practices are producing some amazing award-winning wines.”

Shannon Ridge was awarded silver medals for its 2009 Sauvignon Blanc and its 2009 Viognier and a bronze for its 2009 Roussane.

Also garnering high honors, Gregory Graham Wines earned a double gold medal for Graham’s Red Hills 2007 Syrah.

“People are paying attention to Lake County,” said winemaker Greg Graham, who added that he is pleased with the competition results.

“Prior to purchasing vineyards in Lake County, I made a lot of wine from Napa and Carneros fruit,” said Graham. “Since setting out to produce Lake County wines about nine years ago, I've been highly impressed with the quality of the fruit and not surprised with the award-winning results. If I can borrow a comment made by James Laube, the wines of Lake County ‘are damn good.'”

A gold medal was awarded for Graham’s Red Hills 2008 Cinder Cone Reserve, and his Red Hills 2009 Rose received a silver medal. The Gregory Graham Carneros Chardonnay was also awarded a gold medal.

Association wineries taking gold medals at the competition include Brassfield Estate (2009 Pinot Grigio), Ceago Vinegarden (2009 Clear Lake Muscat Canelli), Langtry Estate and Vineyards (2008 Petite Sirah), Shed Horn Cellars (2009 Sauvignon Blanc and 2009 Chardonnay), Six Sigma Ranch and Winery (2009 Sauvignon Blancs – one with a general Lake County designation and the other from Michael's Vineyard), and Tulip Hill Winery (2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon).

In addition the LCWA wineries winning golds also earned additional medals (silver and bronze) for wines in various categories.

Other Association wineries receiving medals at the competition included Bell Hill, Dusinberre Wines, Red Lava Vineyards, Rosa d’Oro Vineyards, Robledo Family Winery, and Wildhurst Vineyards.

For more information about the Lake County Winery Association, visit the association’s Web site, www.lakecountywineries.org or contact Monica Rosenthal at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Lake County's own wine competition, now in its third year, is in the planning stages, said Rosenthal.

“Watch for the 2011 springtime ‘call to action’ to enter wines in this competition located in California's high elevation wine region. This competition is open to all producers of wines made from Lake County fruit.”

For more information, call Rosenthal at 707-355-2762.

Winning entries in each category of the San Francisco Chronicle competition can be found on the Web site, www.winejudging.com. In addition, tickets for the public tasting portion of the event may be purchased online.

The public’s opportunity to taste entries from the competition is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 19, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.

Tickets are $65 per person in advance and $80 per person at the door.

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A conjunction of the Moon and NanoSail-D over Buenos Aires, Argentina, photographed by Enzo De Bernardini on Jan. 27. On this occasion, the sail was not visible to the unaided eye. De Bernardini used a 3-inch refracting telescope to capture the 7th-magnitude streak.

It's a calm and peaceful night. Stars twinkle in the velvety darkness overhead as a distant plane blinks silently on the horizon. You could almost hear a pin drop.

That is, until the flare.

High overhead, out of the darkness, a bright light surges into view. For five to 10 seconds it outshines the brightest stars in the sky, mimicking a supernova, perhaps even casting faint shadows at your feet. The silence is broken by your own excited shouts.

Could this happen to you?

“It could, if you happen to be outside when NanoSail-D flies by,” said Dean Alhorn of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. “We think the spacecraft could produce this kind of display from time to time when sunlight glints off the reflective fabric of its solar sail.”

On Jan. 21, NanoSail-D unfurled a 10 m2 sail 650 km above Earth's surface, becoming the first solar sail to orbit our planet.

For the next few months it will skim the top of the atmosphere, slowly descending in a test of “drag sails” as a means of de-orbiting space junk.

If all goes as planned, the spacecraft will disintegrate like a meteor in April or May of 2011, dispersing harmlessly more than 100 km high.

Meanwhile, sky watchers should be alert for flares.

Many people have already seen Iridium flares – brilliant flashes of sunlight glinting off the flat antennas of Iridium communication satellites.

Some Iridium flares are so bright, they can be seen in broad daylight. NanoSail-D could be even brighter.

“The surface area of our sail is six times greater than that of a single Iridium antenna,” pointed out Alhorn. “Plus, we're closer to Earth. It all adds up to a much brighter flash.”

As NanoSail-D gets closer to Earth, it could theoretically produce flashes of light 10 to 100 times (2.5 to 5 astronomical magnitudes) brighter than the planet Venus. That's the sort of thing you can see even through city lights.

In between flares, however, the sail is fairly dim. Internationally-recognized satellite tracking expert Ted Molczan describes what he and others have been seeing:

“NanoSail-D can be a challenging object to spot, but by no means impossible,” said Alhorn. “At its faintest, it has been invisible even in large binoculars, but at its brightest, it has been seen easily with the un-aided eye. The great variation in brightness is due to its shape; it is a large, thin sheet of highly reflective material. Seen edge-on, it is faint, but seen face-on at a favorable sun-angle, it may rival the brightest stars.”

The reason for Iridium flares. Credit: SeeSat-L.

NanoSail-D flyby predictions may be found in several places on the Web: Heavens-Above, Spaceweather.com and Calsky among others. These sites will tell you when the sail will soar overhead – but not when it will flare. The orientation of the sail isn't known precisely enough for that.

“Because it is impossible to predict exactly when NanoSail-D will be bright, observers can increase their chance of success by watching over a period of least several minutes,” said Molczan. “A plot of its predicted path on a star chart, with annotations of the time at intervals of one minute or so, will help the observer stay focused on the satellite's approximate position as it moves across the sky. Observe with the unaided eye, or binoculars with a wide field of view, like 7x50s.”

The brightest flares are likely to occur when the spacecraft is near the horizon. Former NanoSail-D principal investigator Mark Whorton (previously at NASA, now at Teledyne) explains why.

“Early in the mission NanoSail-D will be tumbling, so it really doesn't matter where it is in the sky. Flashes might occur almost anywhere along its path,” said Whorton. “But later in the mission it will be aerodynamically stabilized: the flat surface of the sail will face forward, much like the sail on a terrestrial sailing ship. That means you will see it edge on (dim) when it is directly overhead and face on (bright) when it is closer to the horizon.”

So check the predictions, go outside and take a look. Said Alhorn, “You might see something worth shouting about.”

To encourage amateur astronomers to monitor the sail, NASA and Spaceweather.com have joined forces to stage a photo contest.

Cash prizes ranging from $100 to $500 are being offered for best images of NanoSail-D submitted between now and the time the sail disintegrates. High-resolution telescopic images of the spacecraft, wide-angle shots of NanoSail-D soaring overhead, and lucky-shots of flares are all eligible. Visit www.nanosail.org for complete details.

Visit the NanoSail-D home page at www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/nanosaild.html .

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautic and Space Administration.

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A conjunction of the Moon and NanoSail-D over Buenos Aires, Argentina, photographed by Enzo De Bernardini on Jan. 27. On this occasion, the sail was not visible to the unaided eye. De Bernardini used a 3-inch refracting telescope to capture the 7th-magnitude streak.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A model and actor who was arrested twice in less than three weeks for exposing himself in cases in Monterey and Lake counties and later didn't show up for his trial won't have to register temporarily as a sex offender, a judge ruled Thursday.

Judge Richard Martin issued the ruling relating to New York resident Justin Force Lazard, 44, following an hour-long hearing in Lake County Superior Court.

Lazard had been set to go to trial last month on several charges stemming from allegedly exposing himself and masturbating near the Library Park playground during the July 4 festivities in Lakeport in 2006, as Lake County News has reported.

He was charged with three misdemeanor counts – indecent exposure, annoying or molesting a child under age 18, and engaging in lewd conduct in public.

District Attorney Don Anderson and defense attorney Paul Swanson reached a plea agreement in which Lazard would plead guilty to the lewd conduct charge – which doesn't require sex offender registration although the judge can order it – in exchange for dismissing the other charges.

Lazard had also received a plea deal for lewd conduct for exposing himself at a shopping mall in Soledad in Monterey County 19 days before the Lakeport case, according to Soledad officials.

Martin said he was concerned about the fact that the Lakeport incident occurred near the playground and in view of a juvenile. As a result, he suggested at a hearing Jan. 31 that he was considering sex offender registration for Lazard for the three-year term of his probation, which both Anderson and Swanson said they didn't believe was warranted.

In preparation for Thursday's hearing, Martin asked for points and authorities from both Swanson and Anderson by Monday. Swanson submitted his that day and Anderson submitted his Thursday.

Swanson argued that Martin and the court didn't have the authority to have Lazard register since he doesn't live, work or attend school in California. Swanson pointed to Anderson's memorandum that reached the same conclusion.

However, Martin didn't appear to accept that argument. “The court has obviously done some independent research.”

Martin concluded that the court can definitely order sex offender registration for an out-of-state resident but that it would only be activated when that person enters California.

He referred to Swanson's statement at the previous hearing about Lazard purchasing a home in 2006 in Desert Hot Springs, located in Southern California. “That could be problematic,” said Martin.

According to Penal Code 290, if Lazard were in the state for more than five days he would be required to register, Martin said, who cited cases that supported that finding, even for people considered transients.

The duty to register arises when a sex offender enters jurisdiction and leaves, said Martin. “That kind of simplified my concern about that.”

Martin then turned to whether the court had the authority to impose registration. “This appears to be one of those cases in which it is not mandatory but that the court can do it provided that the court makes certain findings.”

Those findings, also covered in Penal Code 290, had to include that a defendant had a sexual compulsion or urge as a cause for committing the crime.

Mandatory registration offenses carry a lifetime registration, but Martin found the court can alter that requirement. “It's this court's impression that it only makes logical sense if I have the discretion of whether to grant it all then I must have the discretion to determine the length of it.”

He cited cases where registrants have asked to have registration lifted before the end of their life, and case law indicated a court could make that decision.

“For all of those reasons the court finds that I do have the power and jurisdiction to terminate this particular registration earlier than a lifetime registration,” which would allow Martin to both impose temporary registration and then later to lift it.

However, he noted, if the registration was to be implemented it would have to be lifted before probation expired, because Martin didn't think he would have jurisdiction beyond the probation term.

When Martin asked Anderson for his response, Anderson said he agreed with Martin's statements.

Martin pointed out that no plea had been entered, as it was left open in case he decided to impose registration and Lazard wanted to withdraw his plea. He wanted it made clear that Lazard wasn't obligated to go forward with the deal. “If he doesn’t want to he's still entitled to a jury trial.”

Doctor says Lazard is responding to therapy, medication

The main purpose of the hearing was for Martin to hear from Lazard's psychiatrist, Dr. Sunil Saxena, who had flown in from New York to give testimony on his patient's progress. Martin wanted to know if Lazard's case was an outgrowth of a momentary indiscretion or a long-term issue.

Saxena – who completed residencies in general and child psychiatry, the former at Harvard Medical School – and who also was on the faculty at Columbia Medical Center, began consulting with Lazard in June of 2007. Since then he estimated meeting with Lazard between 30 and 35 times.

Explaining the incidents in 2006, Saxena suggested that Lazard suffered from “a severe psychotic breakdown” that continued for some time forward.

When he started working with Lazard in 2007, “He was quite sick, even then,” said Saxena.

Lazard was sent to a psychiatric hospital in Boston, where he stayed for four months – which Saxena noted was a longer-than-normal period of time for such a treatment – before being sent to a transitional center. He said Lazard had been hospitalized at St. Helena Hospital in Napa County briefly in 2006 following the Lakeport arrest.

Saxena said he believed Lazard's mental breakdown was a result of untreated mental illness and substance abuse.

Since then, Lazard has had numerous changes in his life, including marriage and the birth of his daughter, which Saxena said has created structure in Lazard's life.

While Lazard's nearly 2-year-old daughter has heart-related problems, Lazard – who has been involved in her care – has not had a relapse, despite the stress of having a sick child. “I think he has done very well compared to what he was doing before.”

Swanson asked Saxena about a letter he submitted about Lazard, written in December of 2008, that said Lazard remained at risk of becoming psychotic if substance abuse continued.

At that time, Saxena explained, Lazard had had two to three minor relapses due to cocaine use during the previous six months. But since then, Saxena said, there had been no other relapses. “That worry has eased.”

Swanson also asked about if Lazard had sexual proclivities toward children. Saxena said he had found no evidence of that.

When a psychotic breakdown occurs, using substances can cause a person to act our further and do inappropriate things like taking off their clothes, said Saxena. He suggested that was what happened in the case of Lazard, who had never shown inappropriate sexual behavior toward children or anyone else.

Saxena said that he felt that was how much he could find out from 40-minute sessions with Lazard.

During Anderson's questioning, Saxena said Lazard could not recall the incident in Lakeport, then added that Lazard denied that he masturbated in public.

Anderson also asked if Lazard was suffering from a breakdown or was a sexual deviant. Saxena said it was a breakdown and added that treatment has worked well in his case.

When asked why the breakdown manifested in sexually deviant behavior like exposing himself, Saxena said, “There are other ways he has done wrong things,” including spending money.

“He's quite impulsive,” said Saxena, noting, “I'm not sure where this sexual thing comes up.”

Anderson next asked if Lazard started using illegal substances again, what was the likelihood he would reoffend or hurt someone in a sexual nature.

“I don't know,” said Saxena, explaining there had been no relapses since 2008. “I don't think anybody can clinically predict what the human behavior would be if you take substances.”

During questioning Saxena stated that he felt it was “hard to believe” what Lazard had done.

Anderson noted that the probation report recommended continuing therapy. Saxena said Lazard “absolutely” needs to continue medication and therapy, and said he would be willing to send quarterly reports to the District Attorney's Office about Lazard's progress.

In his closing argument, Swanson emphasized the changes in Lazard's life and Saxena's testimony about Lazard having no sexual proclivity toward children.

Anderson told the court he made the offer based on several reasons, including his belief that Lazard suffered a mental breakdown.

He said Lazard could be required to register as a sex offender, but that wouldn't give his office the control over Lazard's case that the quarterly reports do. “We have something to hold him by,” and if he doesn't cooperate it would result in a violation of probation and a return for sentencing.

“I think we have much more control under the agreement that I have offered to the defense and has been accepted,” said Anderson.

Martin asked Swanson if Lazard was willing to waive patient confidentiality to release those quarterly reports to the District Attorney's Office. Swanson said yes.

The judge said he felt Saxena's testimony had addressed his concerns. “The court in this case was prepared to give an order that he register and that order be extinguished sometime near the term of his probation if there were no further problems,” but Martin said he didn't believe he could make the necessary legal findings about sexual compulsion based on the evidence.

Martin believed Anderson made a good point, that the quarterly reports offer a certain measure of control in the case and would provide “an early warning system” if there was a problem, at which point it would be up to the District Attorney's Office to file a violation of probation case.

“The public safety will be protected,” Martin said.

Martin said when he first looked at the case, with the activity taking place near a playground, “Alarm bells started going off in my head,” he said, adding, “It's my job to make sure those things don't continue to happen.”

He called Lazard forward. Lazard, wearing khaki pants and a plaid shirt, began to weep as Martin went over the plea form, saying, “Thank you, thank you,” as Swanson patted him on the back.

Lazard entered the plea to lewd conduct in public, with the other charges dismissed. Martin imposed three years' probation, with rules requiring continued mental health counseling and medications, quarterly reports from Lazard's doctor and a $7,500 payment to Lake Family Resource Center, which already has been made.

He also received 30 days in county jail with credit for 30 days previously served and 100 hours of community service, which will be transferred to New York. Lazard was ordered to sign up for the community service by March 29.

“I heard you just thank me for what I did. My job is to be fair to all sides,” Martin said.

He added, “The ball's in your court now. You know what you need to do. If you come back it's your fault.”

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A resident's quick thinking helped stop a fire from destroying their home earlier this week.

The fire was reported in the 16000 block of Mountain View Drive shortly before 8 p.m. on Monday evening.

South Lake County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Scott Upton said the fire started when the resident was cooking with oil.

The oil caught fire and Upton said the individual did the right thing and put baking soda on it, but the fire still drafted up through the vent over the stove and onto the roof.

By the time firefighters arrived the fire had been extinguished. Upton said it had come close to being a full-fledged structure fire.

Two engines, one water tender and a battalion chief responded and spent an hour working at the scene, Upton said.

There were no injuries and Upton said damage to the home was minor.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

According to HUD and VA's assessment, nearly 76,000 veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009 while roughly 136,000 veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year.

This unprecedented assessment is based on an annual report HUD provides to Congress and explores in greater depth the demographics of veterans who are homeless, how the number of veterans compare to others who are homeless, and how veterans access and use the nation's homeless response system.

HUD's report, “Veteran Homelessness: A Supplement to the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress,” www.hudhre.info/documents/2009AHARVeteransReport.pdf, examines the data in the department's annual report to Congress in-depth.

“With our federal, state and community partners working together, more veterans are moving into safe housing,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “But we're not done yet. Providing assistance in mental health, substance abuse treatment, education and employment goes hand-in-hand with preventive steps and permanent supportive housing. We continue to work towards our goal of finding every Veteran safe housing and access to needed services.”

Last June, President Obama announced the nation's first comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness, including a focus on homeless Veterans.

The report, “Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness,” puts the country on a path to end Veterans and chronic homelessness by 2015; and to ending homelessness among children, family, and youth by 2020.

Read more at www.usich.gov/PDF/OpeningDoorsOverview.pdf .

Key findings of the study

More than 3,000 cities and counties reported 75,609 homeless veterans on a single night in January of 2009; 57 percent were staying in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program while the remaining 43 percent were unsheltered.

Veterans represent approximately 12 percent of all homeless persons counted nationwide during the 2009 “point-in-time snapshot.”

During a 12-month period in 2009, an estimated 136,000 veterans-or about 1 in every 168 veterans-spent at least one night in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program.

The vast majority of sheltered homeless veterans (96 percent) experienced homelessness alone while a much smaller share (four percent) was part of a family.

Sheltered homeless veterans are most often individual white men between the ages of 31 and 50 and living with a disability.

Low-income veterans are twice as likely to become homeless compared to all low-income adults. HUD and VA also examined the likelihood of becoming homeless among American veterans with particular demographic characteristics.

In 2009, twice as many poor Hispanic veterans used a shelter at some point during the year compared with poor non-Hispanic veterans. African American veterans in poverty had similar rates of homelessness.

Most veterans who used emergency shelter stayed for only brief periods. One-third stayed in shelter for less than one week; 61 percent used a shelter for less than one month; and 84 percent stayed for less than three months.

The report also concluded that veterans remained in shelters longer than did non-veterans.

In 2009, the median length of stay for veterans who were alone was 21 days in an emergency shelter and 117 days in transitional housing.

By contrast, non-veteran individuals stayed in an emergency shelter for 17 days and 106 days in transitional housing.

Nearly half of homeless veterans were located in California, Texas, New York and Florida while only 28 percent of all veterans were located in those same four states.

The report studied the path homeless veterans take into the shelter system and found most veterans come from another homeless location and few entered the shelter system from their own housing or from housing provided by family or friends.

Sheltered homeless veterans are far more likely to be alone rather than part of a family household; 96 percent of veterans are individuals compared to 63 percent in the overall homeless population.

For more information on VA's efforts to end homelessness among veterans, visit VA's Web page at www.va.gov/homelessness.

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CARMICHAEL, Calif. – A systematic check of how well California’s tax-supported education institutions respond to requests for public information shows community colleges performing better than other government agencies in recent years.

But a surprising minority of such districts fared poorly when asked about executive compensation, spending and potential conflicts of interest, and a few examples surfaced of what appeared to be questionable travel expenditures in an era of severe funding cutbacks.

The disclosures emerge in the first phase release of a California Public Records Act compliance audit conducted by Californians Aware (CalAware) in December, testing the responses of more than 250 agencies statewide, including nearly 200 of local school districts, all campuses of the California State University and the University of California, and half of the state’s 72 community college districts.

Mendocino College and Yuba College were not audited as part of the study. However, several other community college districts in Northern California that are commonly attended by Lake County students were examined.

They included the Sonoma County Community College District – which covers Santa Rosa Junior College – received a “B” grade, losing points for charging a duplication fee of 10 cents per pages for Conflict of Interest Form 700 and requesting to know the identity or the purpose of the auditor, or other information that is not required to be submitted.

Redwoods Community College District based in Eureka received an “A+” for perfect performance, as did Butte-Glenn Community College District, based in Oroville, and Alameda County's Chabot-Las Positas Community College District.

San Mateo County Community College District received an “A” and Contra Costa Community College District received a “B” grade, as did Los Rios Community College District in Sacramento and the San Francisco Community College District.

Receiving an “F” grade were San Jose-Evergreen Community College and Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College Districts, based in Redding.

Detailed results for the 36 districts audited in the community college district (CCD) phase of the audit are available at www.calaware.org.

Overall, community college districts’ performance, with an average grade of B minus, was superior to that of any other class of agencies audited by CalAware since it began such surveys in 2006, the group reported.

More than a third of the 36 responded promptly and flawlessly, and another quarter scored only one 10-point deduction.

But one sixth failed dismally, with three districts acknowledging receipt of the request but never following up, and three others failing to produce the requested records within the 30-day deadline established by CalAware – more forgiving than the state law requirement of “prompt” availability – for records that should have been readily available, requiring no careful screening.

Quite apart from compliance with public records laws, the audits showed why closer and more consistent monitoring of even relatively routine executive expenditures may be in order if nothing else for the sake of student and faculty morale and public confidence.

In the cases of San Diego CCD, Long Beach CCD and Los Rios CCD, for example, the reported travel expenses raise the questions of whether a trip was necessary, or even if so, whether more timely or less costly travel or lodging reservations – or both – might have been arranged.

Results for the higher education and K-12 district audits will be published in upcoming weeks.

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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A man accused of murdering an Augusta couple last year will stand trial for the murders in May.

Robby Alan Beasley, 30, a Maine native who most recently lived in Clearlake, Calif., appeared in Lake County Superior Court's Clearlake Division before Judge Stephen Hedstrom for arraignment Tuesday morning.

Following a preliminary hearing in January that stretched over several days, Beasley was held over for trial for the shooting deaths of Frank and Yvette Maddox – who had come to California from Maine to work in Beasley's marijuana growing operation – on Jan. 22, 2010.

He's charged with two counts of murder and special allegations of committing multiple murders in the first or second degree, committing the offenses with the intent to inflict great bodily injury on the victims, using a 9 millimeter firearm and having a previous felony conviction in Maine for criminal threatening with a firearm.

Beasley's defense attorney, Stephen Carter, said Beasley entered not guilty pleas to the charges at his Tuesday morning appearance.

Carter said the trial has been set for May 16, with the judge and department still to be determined.

Beasley will have another court appearance on April 26 followed by trial readiness conferences, Carter said.

Deputy District Attorney Sharon Lerman-Hubert appeared on the case Tuesday as prosecutor Art Grothe is in trial on the attempted murder case in which a Sonoma County man, Thomas Dudney, is alleged to have attacked Lakeport resident Ronald Greiner in late 2009. That trial, which began Tuesday, is expected to last a month.

During a break from trial on Tuesday Grothe said he doesn't yet have District Attorney Don Anderson's final determination on whether or not the case will be handled as a death penalty prosecution.

Also implicated in the case is 28-year-old Elijah Bae McKay, a friend of Beasley's who also is a former Maine resident.

McKay is facing all of the same charges as Beasley with the exception of the special allegation of a previous felony conviction in Maine.

During Beasley's January preliminary hearing McKay took the stand as a prosecution witness, although he said he had not been offered a deal to testify.

On the stand McKay alleged that Beasley had concocted a story to lure the Maddoxes into a drive to the Sacramento airport and instead directing them down a remote road, shooting them to death following a confrontation on the roadside.

McKay claimed that Beasley killed the couple, in part, because he believed they had stolen marijuana from him.

McKay's preliminary hearing is yet to take place, but he is set to return to court in April. Beasley's case is moving through the system more quickly because he has not waived the statutory time restrictions.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Fire officials are investigating the cause of a wildland fire that burned near Blue Lakes on Friday.

Northshore Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Pat Brown said the 20-acre wildland fire was located above Blue Lakes in a very steep area that runs along the Lake and Mendocino county lines.

Brown said Northshore Fire and Cal Fire responded to the fight the fire.

He said Cal Fire had two engines, two hand crews, one bulldozer, a helicopter and a battalion chief, while Northshore Fire responded with two engines and a battalion chief.

Brown said firefighters had very limited access to the scene due to road conditions. He said there were springs running over the road area as well as downed trees.

Northshore Fire's engines had to use their winches on the apparatus to gain access, Brown said.

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NICE, Calif. – A family was temporarily displaced from its home after an early morning fire on Wednesday.

The blaze was reported shortly before 6 a.m. at Robinson Rancheria in Nice, according to Northshore Fire Battalion Chief Pat Brown.

A passing Cal Fire captain spotted the fire and called it in, Brown said.

Radio reports indicated the fire occurred in a home at 2004 Flickers Circle.

Brown said the fire began on the building's exterior, and is attributed to cigarettes on the front porch.

He said the fire moved into the attic area and began moving quickly through the home.

Four Northshore Fire engines, one medic and two battalion chiefs responded, for a total of 16 firefighting personnel, Brown reported. Also on scene was Robinson Rancheria Tribal Police.

Brown said it took about 15 minutes to knock the fire down, another 30 minutes to get it completely put out and 30 additional minutes of mop up.

One of the home's occupants, who had tried to put the fire out, sustained second-degree burns on his hands. Brown said the man was transported by Northshore Fire to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment.

The Red Cross provided temporary housing assistance for the six adults and two children who were unable to stay in the home, Brown said.

The home “needs works,” as Brown said the first crews on the scene did an aggressive attack on the fire, which included cutting two vent holes in the attic.

Despite that damage, Brown estimated that the family could return to the home as early as Thursday once repairs are made.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A 73-year-old man convicted of shooting three unarmed men – killing one of them – in a 1989 confrontation has been denied parole by state officials.

On Feb. 7 the California Board of Parole Hearings denied parole for convicted murderer Francisco Mendoza Castillo.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff attended the lifer hearing at California State Prison in Corcoran, to argue against Castillo’s release.

Castillo was convicted of the second-degree murder of Jorge Suarez and the shooting of Francisco Parra and Ramiro Suarez, and sentenced to 26 years to life on March 2, 1990, according to a report from the District Attorney's Office.

Lake County Superior Court Judge William J. Harpham sentenced Castillo, who originally was prosecuted by then-District Attorney Stephen O. Hedstrom.

Castillo's minimum eligible parole date was July 8, 2005, the District Attorney's Office reported.

According to investigation reports by the sheriff’s office, on Sept. 15, 1989, Francisco Castillo and his brother Jose Castillo attended a party at Mariani Dryers where they worked with the three victims.

After the party, Jose Castillo got into an argument with one of the victims at 2955 Bell Hill Road in Kelseyville, where two of the victims lived.

Jose Castillo then left and returned a half-hour later with Francisco Castillo and two firearms, a shotgun and a .38 caliber revolver.

According to witnesses, Francisco Castillo, who had been drinking, shot Francisco Parra in the neck with the pistol, without provocation. When Ramiro Suarez tried to calm Castillo down, Francisco Castillo shot him in the stomach, and after Suarez fell to the ground Francisco Castillo shot him in the leg.

Francisco Castillo then shot Jorge Suarez in the hand and chest, according to the report. Jorge Suarez died at the scene.

When Francisco Castillo and his brother left the scene they drove their truck over the legs of Francisco Parra as he lay on the ground bleeding. Francisco Parra and Ramiro Suarez survived the gunshot wounds.

None of the three victims were armed at the time they were shot, based on the investigative report.

The Castillo brothers were caught when a game warden, Jim Branston, heard the gunshots and went to the scene to investigate.

Branston pursued the fleeing pickup truck and called the sheriff’s office for assistance.

Francisco Castillo was in the United States illegally at the time of the shootings, and had been previously deported by the INS in 1981, officials said.

Francisco Castillo claimed at trial to not remember the shootings due to his drinking. At sentencing Judge Harpham stated that he did not believe Castillo, and noted that the shooting was quite accurate for someone who claimed to be so intoxicated they could not remember shooting three people.

Castillo reportedly continued to claim for 15 years in prison that he could not remember the shooting, then at an evaluation in 2005 he claimed he did remember the shooting and that the victims were beating him up and he shot all of them in self defense.

At the two-and-a-half-hour-long hearing Monday, Hinchcliff asked the Board of Prison Hearings to deny Castillo's parole on the ground that he still presented an unreasonable risk of danger to the public if released, and failed to exhibit any remorse or accept responsibility for his conduct.

The Board of Parole Hearings denied parole and Castillo’s next parole hearing will be in three years, Hinchcliff reported.

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