FORT BRAGG, Calif. – California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Mendocino Unit opened the campgrounds and seasonal roads within the Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) on Friday, May 13, for the dry period.

Campers are reminded that camping is only allowed within designated camping areas and a fee is required.

The camping fee is $15 per night with a single vehicle. Each additional vehicle up to a maximum of two vehicles per site is an additional $5.

Motorists are advised that it is always unlawful to operate unlicensed vehicles (including off-road vehicles with or without green stickers) on State Forest roads. Off-road travel with motorized vehicles is not permitted on the State Forest.

Please do not drive on roads that are wet and have soft surfaces, even if they are formally open. Other closed roads may still be used for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding if outside of an active timber operation area.

Each year, seasonal openings/closures occur. For more information, refer to the forest's Web site, http://calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_stateforests_jackson.php , or contact the office, located at 802 N. Main St., Fort Bragg, telephone 707-964-5674. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. closed from noon to 1 p.m.).

LUCERNE, Calif. – Friends of Locally Owned Water, or FLOW, will meet Saturday, May 21.

The group will meet for its board meeting at 11 a.m. at the Northshore Community Center – formerly the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center – located at 10th and Country Club.

Public comment is welcome at the close of executive business at 11:25 a.m., followed by the FLOW general meeting.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Hidden Valley Lake Ladies 40-9ers Golf Club held a nine-hole game of “Cha Cha Cha” on Thursday, May 12.

The results are as follows:

– First place (tie): Team one (tie), Adele Curtin, Diana Schneider and Gwen DeRosa, 73; team two (tie), Liz Cummesky, Sharon Compartore and Toni Stratton, 73.

– Second place (tie): Team one (tie), Julia Yamashita, Floydean Greenlow and Marla Peterson, 82; team two (tie), Joy Ryan, Barbara Carver and Hank Kistner, 82.

Our community is very fortunate to have an exceptional candidate running for the open Assembly seat. He is Don Saylor, from Davis.

He won my support when I first met him and heard his promise to protect and build on the rich resources of Lake County, including our special lake and communities.

He is optimistic about the future, with creative and inclusive proposals. He is very clearly a person of great integrity and substance who will lead by example and with heart.

Don Saylor has ably served 40 years in various capacities in local government such as city council and school board.

He is highly qualified, and I am convinced he will support our county and our needs in a manner that is conscientious and effective.

I hope voters in our district will take the time to learn more about Don Saylor.

Kathy Windrem lives in Kelseyville, Calif.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake recognized two doctors with its inaugural Community Leadership Award.

Dr. Kimberly Fordham and Dr. Paula Dhanda were honored for their outstanding service to the community and dedication to improving health outcomes for the underserved.

The two leaders were selected for the first recipients of the Community Leadership Award by St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s Medical Executive Committee.

“The dedication of these two outstanding physicians is an inspiration to all of us,” explained Dr. Pari Azari, chief of Medical Staff at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake and the Medical Director of the Live Well Program. “We are grateful to work alongside them and to recognize their incredible service to our community with these awards.”

Dr. Kimberly Fordham, a family medicine/obstetrics physician at the St. Helena Family Health Center – Middletown, received an Outstanding Community Leader and Community Educator award.

Dr. Fordham trains local students in Sonoma State University’s nurse practitioner program, ensuring that these new primary care providers receive excellent experience.

She also is actively developing a community program focused on high risk obstetrics (pregnant patients) and is currently working on a project to help mothers with addiction to methamphetamine.

Dr. Paula Dhanda, a gynecologist in Kelseyville who performs procedures at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, was honored as an Outstanding Mission Driven Leader and Community Leader.

Dr. Dhanda has been a pillar of the health care community in Lake County for more than 25 years. She is involved in improving women’s health and the health of the homeless in local community programs.

She is also the founder of the nonprofit Worldwide Healing Hands, an organization that works around the globe improving women’s health in underserved communities.

Dr. Dhanda frequently travels to countries around the world to train local providers on the newest medical treatments. This training allows the residents in these international communities to get access to advanced treatment options that otherwise would not be available.

St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake has more than 40 affiliated providers in specialty areas ranging from behavioral medicine to urology. They serve Lake County residents at clinics in Lakeport, Kelseyville, Clearlake, Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown. Learn more by calling 707-995-4500.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Now when customers shop for groceries, they can add postage and postal products to their shopping list at the La Monarca Market at 16200 Main St., Lower Lake.

On Thursday, May 19, at noon, customers will be treated to a grand opening ceremony by store owner Juan Ramos Jr. and postal officials as this convenience store becomes a Village Post Office, or VPO.

La Monarca Market is a mini grocery store that sells groceries, produce, dry goods and select Mexican food dishes cooked at the store.

The Ramos family has owned the store for the past 11 years. “It will be nice to be able to give back to the community, a little of what they have given to the business,” said Ramos.

The store has convenient hours for postal customers because it is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed only on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Customers are able to purchase Forever stamps, drop off prepaid mail and packages and pick up Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes and envelopes.

The convenience for customers is that many VPOs offer expanded business hours, including Sundays and holidays.

Village Post Offices are normally located in non-Postal Service establishments – such as an existing community business, grocery stores and gas stations – and are run by someone other than an employee of the Postal Service.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Constance “Connie” Heer died peacefully at home on May 11, 2016.

She was born in Oakland, Calif., to Ray and Pat Roarke and spent a majority of her childhood in Martinez, Calif., with her sister, Meg.

She later settled in Lake County where she had a long career in real estate and escrow.

She is survived by her husband and the love of her life, Merrill of Nice; sister, Meg of Martinez; sister-in-law, Sandra of Ross, Calif.; son and daughter-in-law John and Irene Tweedt of Winters, Calif.; Amy Heer of Riding, Va; stepdaughter and son-in-law Karen and Michael Barrett, and Micaela, Emily and Andrew.

No memorial services are planned.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Redbud branch of the Lake County Library will host a financial literacy seminar for “First-Time Home Buyers” on Saturday, May 21.

The seminar will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the library, 14785 Burns Valley Road in Clearlake.

Randy Keller of HomeStreet Bank will be the speaker for this free program. For more details call 707-263-8817.

Keller is an accomplished loan professional with more than 15 years' of experience in lending, matching clients and lenders for residential, commercial and construction loans.

His expertise covers both purchasing and refinancing single family homes, multi-family residential properties and commercial properties.

April Harris, a Realtor with RE/MAX Full Spectrum Properties, is presenting this ongoing series of financial literacy seminars around Lake County.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

The California Fish and Game Commission has hired Valerie Termini to serve as its executive director.

Termini will be the first female executive director in the commission's history. Her first day on the job was Monday.
 
She comes from California Ocean Protection Council staff where she has served as the fisheries policy advisor and as interim Executive Director.
 
“We look forward to Ms. Termini's guidance at the dais,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham. “We've heard from a number of stakeholders that the executive director should be up to speed with the commission's vast authorities and have specific knowledge of marine policy issues. Ms. Termini's background brings precisely this expertise.”
 
“We're very pleased that Ms. Termini has stepped up to serve this historic commission,” said Commission President Eric Sklar. “She has shown real vision in addressing challenges and has demonstrated expertise in facilitating resolution to complex issues working with diverse groups of stakeholders. We are thrilled that she will be bringing this skill from her previous experience to the Commission's work to the great benefit of the state.”

UKIAH, Calif. – On Thursday, May 12, Mendocino College in Ukiah opened its campus to 150 high school students from Lake and Mendocino high schools for the Hospitality & Business Career Summit.

The goal was to expose students to a variety of careers and post-secondary opportunities.

Upon check-in, students received a college backpack along with supplies for the day before embarking on their daylong journey.

College President Arturo Reyes and Interim Dean Steve Hixenbaugh addressed the group and reinforced the message that it is never too late to strive for academic success.

With college student ambassadors at the helm, students rotated through a series of sessions where they participated in workshops on hospitality, tourism, culinary, business and finance.

Presenters included industry professionals as well as instructors.

Tourism was hosted by Erica Tyner of Greater Ukiah Chamber of Commerce and Gracia Brown of Visit Mendocino.

Culinary was lead by Matt Dunkin of Slam Dunk Pizza, Julia Siderakis of Ukiah Garden Café, and Ashlin Garbocci of Maple Café.

Guiding the hospitality sessions was Steve Brutocao of Brutocao Cellars, Jitu Ishwar of Travelodge and Patrick Streight of Coyote Valley Casino.

Sid Harper of Savings Bank and Dan Buffalo of the city of Lakeport conducted the finance sessions and the world of business was directed by Steve O’Mara of West Company, Chelsea Hendershot and Keli Anthis who serve as deputy sector navigators for the state of California.

Along the way students were provided mini tours of the campus, focusing on key elements such as the library, counseling office and most importantly Schat’s Bakery.

Lunch time activities included participation in a career fair, lunch by Maple Café and a raffle of prizes including college spirit items, travel drives and Kindle Fire tablet. 

The summit was supported by the Career Pathway Trust Grant, Doing What Matters, Mendocino College, Mendocino County Office of Education and the Lake County Office of Education Career & College Readiness Department.