LAKEPORT, Calif. – Ten community leaders attended the final session of the AgVenture 2016 program on Nov. 4.

This session marked the close of the seventh year of the AgVenture program.

Created by the Lake County Chapter of the California Women for Agriculture, AgVenture is an agricultural educational program devised for non-farming community leaders who aspire to understand the vital role that agriculture plays in Lake County.

Session four showcased Lake County olives production and farm labor issues.

Class members learned about olive oil production from Emilio dela Cruz and toured the Chacewater Olive Mill and olive orchards.

Cecilia Chi-Ham, PhD of HM Clause gave a presentation of the role of science and technology in agricultural production.

Class members heard about labor issues framed in policy and practical perspectives from Bryan Little from the Farm Employers Labor Service and David Weiss of Bella Vista Farming Co.

The session culminated in a farm labor panel consisting of local farm workers facilitated by local pear farmer Diane Henderson. The panelists were Octavio Jimenez and Jesus Flores of Scully Packing Co. and Jesus Martinez from Bella Vista Farming Co.

“This program has shown that Lake County has an impact on the country and the world and we have to start thinking like that,” Bob Massarelli, Lake County Community Development director and 2016 class member remarked upon graduating from the AgVenture program.

“This program demonstrates that today’s farmers not only have to be competent businesspeople to navigate producing and marketing products in an ever-changing global market and regulatory climate, but they must also appreciate and utilize science, technology and a bit of good luck in order to be successful,” said Brenna Sullivan, executive director of the Lake County Farm Bureau and 2016’s AgVenture coordinator.

Graduates of the 2016 class included: Robert Massarelli, Lake County Community Development director; Katherine “Kat” McDowell, real estate broker, Real Estate Alliance and Lease; Andy Lucas, business representative, Community Development; Will Evans, deputy Water Resources director, county of Lake; Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, property management, community mitigation and consulting; Roberta Lyons, conservation chair, Redbud Audubon Society; Morgen Wells, public relations and philanthropy, Sutter Lakeside Hospital; Brian Martin, sheriff, county of Lake; Mark Melendez, agricultural biologist, county of Lake; Courtney Van Leuven, adjunct agricultural instructor, Lake County Campus of Woodland College; and Victoria Brandon of the Lake County Sierra Club.

Class members are selected yearly through an application process. Selection into the program is based on the applicant’s interest in the program, their professional position in the community and their ability to help maintain a viable agricultural industry in Lake County. Program acceptance is competitive.

Generous sponsors for the 2016 series of seminars included: Lake County Winegrape Commission, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Umpqua Bank, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Scully Packing, American AgCredit, Lake County Farm Bureau, Bella Vista Farming, Weed Tech, Rainbow Ag, Wilda Shock, Monica Rosenthal, Kenny Parlet, Lisa Wilson, Mary O’Meara and Lois Suchan, Gregory Graham Winery, Lake County Winery Association, Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon Restaurant, Chacewater Wine & Olive Oil Co. and Boatique Winery.

The AgVenture program Steering Committee, all CWA members, are Annette Hopkins, Paula Bryant, Toni Scully, Diane Henderson, Terry Dereniuk, Debra Sommerfield, Sharron Zoller and Brenna Sullivan.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake has been recognized by the Collaborative Alliance for Nursing Outcomes (CALNOC) for exemplary work in reducing hospital-acquired conditions in 2015. The Performance Excellence Awards were presented at the 2016 CALNOC Conference, Oct. 23 to 25.

The hospital was awarded “Best Performance” designation for 2015 in the following clinical areas:

• Best Performance in Preventing Injury Falls;
• Best Performance in Preventing Hospital Acquired Infections – CLABSI Total Facility;
• Best Performance in Preventing Hospital Acquired Infections – CLABSI Critical Care;
• Best Performance in Preventing Hospital Acquired Infections – CAUTI Critical Care;
•  Best Performance in Preventing Hospital Acquired Infections – MRSA Total Facility.

These designations demonstrate the effectiveness of the hospital’s emphasis on quality and infection prevention efforts.

“Preventing injuries and infections during a hospital stay is key is to helping patients heal and return home as quickly as possible,” said Colleen Assavapisitkul, vice president of Patient Care at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. “Our staff is trained to provide the best patient care to our community, and these recognitions are a great way to know that we are making a difference.”

CALNOC is a national registry tracking nursing patients that collects data from hundreds of hospitals on different quality and prevention measures, including Central Line-associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI), Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus areas (MRSA) rates.

St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake ranked in the lowest 25 percent of all CALNOC hospitals for these hospital-acquired infections.

Erin McNabb, a registered nurse, is dedicated to continuing the hospital’s performance as director of Quality, a role she began in 2016 after previously serving as St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s Infection Prevention Specialist.

“Because we are a small hospital with an experienced team, our frontline staff are able to collaborate closely to ensure we avoid patient falls and hospital-acquired infections,” said McNabb. “Great patient care takes a whole team.”

Visit www.sthelenahospitalclearlake.org for more information about the hospital.

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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Mendocino National Forest fire managers plan to conduct prescribed burns on the Grindstone Ranger District starting Wednesday, Nov. 9, and continuing through the week as conditions allow.

Crews anticipate burning approximately 240 acres on the Black Diamond conversion unit and 120 acres on the Diversion Dam unit. Both projects are in the general vicinity of Stonyford.

Smoke may be visible from Interstate 5, Highway 162, Stonyford, Elk Creek and surrounding areas.  These units are predominantly grass and smoke should disperse quickly after ignitions are completed. If traveling in this area, please use caution and watch for fire crews and equipment.

The ignition of all projects 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. 

The local air quality district manages the number of acres available to burn during allotted burn days based on the amount of projects proposed

Fire managers follow a burn plan that outlines the “prescription” or environmental conditions such as temperature, wind, fuel moisture, ventilation, and relative humidity that need to be met before the project begins.

Fire crews implement, monitor, and patrol each project to ensure it meets the goals and objectives outlined in the prescribed burn plans.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – In honor of Veterans Day, the Mendocino National Forest will waive fees at all Forest Service managed campgrounds and the Red Bluff boat launch on Friday, Nov. 11.

The fee waiver will not apply to campsites at Lake Pillsbury that are operated under concessionaire through PG&E.

“We are pleased to offer this fee free day in honor of veterans and invite folks to take this opportunity to get outdoors and explore the Mendocino,” said Mendocino National Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson.

Carlson adds that it’s important to plan ahead for your trip to the forest. Please call the office nearest your destination to purchase maps and obtain current information.

Mendocino National Forest offices will be closed Friday, Nov. 11 in observance of the Veteran’s Day holiday and will resume regular business hours Monday, Nov. 14.

For more information visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/ .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Shannon Michele of Cache Creek Catering and Lake County Wine Studio are presenting a food and wine experience featuring gourmet appetizers paired with select Lake County wines.

Locally produced foods are proudly featured as key ingredients in recipes created by Cache Creek Catering.

The event will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11. The per person cost is $30 and $25 for Wine Studio club members. Reservations are required.

Nov. 11 will feature a Thanksgiving menu of roast turkey with pan gravy, purée of potato and parsnip, mushroom-sausage dressing, cranberry pomegranate sauce with a side by side red selection of Olof Cellars Malbera blend and Chacewater Highlander blend.

The dessert course will be pumpkin crème brûlée with the Petite Sirah “Fire” dessert wine from Thorn Hill.

For reservations and additional information, contact Susan at 707-293-8752.

Lake County Wine Studio is both a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County. Artists' shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.

The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake.  It is open Thursday through Monday, from 1 to 7 p.m., and Friday from 1 to 8 p.m.

The art show on display for the month of November is designer quilts by Laraine Wade-Butter.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake Ministerial Association will present “A Service of Thanksgiving” on Sunday, Nov. 13.

The service will begin at 6 p.m. at Galilee Lutheran Church, 8860 Soda Bay Road, in the Kelseyville Rivieras, one-quarter mile south of Konocti Harbor Inn.

A special thank-offering will be taken to support the association's homeless warming center.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Friends of the Lake County Library in Lakeport invites all its members and the public to their book sale.

This year the sale will be held on the second Saturday of the month, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but members may enter at 9:30 a.m. Members also will be entitled to a free book.

The categories available to choose from are novels, mysteries, nonfiction of different types, biographies, histories and how-to books.

Also available this year is a large selection of young children's books.

Chico Bags will be on sale for $5 or $10 dollars. Canvas bags with the Library logo will sell for $15 each. There will also be a table to sign up or renew as a Friend of the Library.

The library is located at 1425 N. High St.

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holidays, California fuel prices are predicted to dip further this month, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) weekly report recently revealed that West Coast gasoline supplies are hitting record lows, which can likely be tied to the fall maintenance schedule. Most West Coast refineries are set to come back online this month.
 
On Tuesday the average price of California unleaded regular gas was $2.79, the same price as one month ago.

Northern California’s average price for regular gasoline this week is $2.69, a decrease of $0.06 from a month ago.

Of the California cities surveyed by AAA, Marysville posted the lowest price at $2.36, and South Lake Tahoe has the highest average at $2.93.

“Prices have been relatively steady over the past week despite tightened supply in the California market and the wrap up of planned maintenance on the Olympic pipeline early last week in the Northwest.” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “BP shut down operations on its Pacific Northwest pipeline system to conduct planned maintenance October 27 and reopened the line a few days later.”

The national average price for gasoline remains relatively flat compared to one week ago, although pump prices have been pressured higher in some regions due to disruptions on the Colonial Pipeline. This week's average price for regular unleaded gasoline is $2.21 per gallon.

Last week, following the explosion and shutdown of Colonial Pipeline Line 1 crude oil was trading higher, but the company quickly announced that Line 1 was scheduled to restart on Nov. 7.

The restart announcement had a chilling effect on the market and crude oil prices dropped below $45 dollars a barrel.

Colonial Pipeline could face congressional scrutiny after the deadly pipeline incident.  Several Members of Congress are requesting a comprehensive examination of Colonial Pipeline and the company's management as it relates to the maintenance and integrity operations of the system.  
                                  
Also weighing on the market are the continued negotiations amongst OPEC and non-OPEC members.

The secretary-general of OPEC announced Tuesday that the group was still committed to developing an output deal to cut oil production, but no formal agreement has been reached. Traders will keep a close eye on the Colonial Line 1 restart and upcoming OPEC meetings.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, WTI was down 59 cents to settle at $44.07 per barrel.

To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair. The way you drive can also impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening your load also help conserve gasoline.

AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express LLC.