LAKEPORT, Calif. – Local children’s author, Cliff Vinsonhaler, donated his new book entitled “Rodey” to the Lake County Office of Education’s Hero Project.

The book tells the story of a mouse who wants to live in a house and the adventure he undergoes to make that happen.

“Rodey” is richly illustrated by Steve Ferchaud with fun, colorful images that display lots of action and adventure.

The Hero Project gave the book to families with young children who completed its recent challenge, Read Together and Educate.

The Hero Project is a program that helps parents improve their parenting skills to enrich parent-child relationships to promote healthy early childhood development.

The challenges change themes every two months during the school year to focus on specific activities and practices that parents can do with their children.

The activities and practices are designed to support physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional development in early childhood.

Regularly reading, speaking and singing to children from birth increases a child’s grasp of language, builds literacy skills and positively impacts success in school and life.

To learn more about the Hero Project or to take the current challenge, Eat Together & Nutrition, visit www.lakecountyheroproject.com .

Christine Hutt is communications coordinator for the Lake County Office of Education.

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SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith reminded holiday travelers to protect themselves from mosquito bites when traveling to areas with known transmission of Zika virus, including Mexico.

“Pregnant women and couples considering pregnancy need to be particularly cautious because Zika virus can cause severe birth defects,” said Dr. Smith. “Pregnant women are urged to avoid travel to areas with known Zika transmission if at all possible. If travel is necessary, it is extremely important to take steps to prevent mosquito bites.”

Many areas of Mexico continue to experience transmission of the Zika virus, particularly popular tourist destinations, including Cancun, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa and Mazatlan.

The states of Baja California Sur, where Cabo San Lucas is located, and Sonora, which borders Arizona, have recently reported local Zika virus transmission.

While the state of Baja California bordering California has not reported local Zika virus transmission, the mosquitoes that transmit the virus are present along the border. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers any travel to Mexico to be a potential risk for Zika virus infection.

While there has been no local transmission of Zika virus in California to date, CDPH has confirmed 443 cases of travel-associated infections in the state. Florida and Texas have experienced locally transmitted cases of Zika.

Zika virus can spread through mosquito bites and can also be transmitted by both men and women during sex.

Most people who are infected with Zika do not experience any symptoms, but should take precautions to avoid sexual transmission, even if they never had symptoms.

All individuals, particularly women of childbearing age, should take steps to protect themselves against mosquito bites while traveling and when they return home.

Sexually active people who travel to areas with Zika transmission should use condoms or other barriers to avoid getting or passing Zika during sex.

Couples planning pregnancy when either partner has been exposed to Zika virus should speak with a health care provider about a safe time to try to get pregnant. Men should wait six months to conceive after Zika exposure. Women who have been exposed should wait a minimum of eight weeks before becoming pregnant.

“The mosquitoes that can carry Zika virus and infect people live in many areas of California,” said Dr. Smith. “If one of these mosquitoes bites an infected person, it can spread the virus by biting another person. That is why we ask people traveling to Mexico, or any other place where Zika exists, to take steps to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks after a trip, even if you don’t feel sick.”

To prevent mosquito bites, apply repellents containing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label).

When used as directed, these repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Individuals should wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes when outdoors. Be sure window and door screens are in good condition to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.

Though most people who are infected with Zika do not experience any symptoms, symptoms of infection can include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes).

The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for Zika other than rest, fluids and fever relief.

More information about Zika can be found in the December 2016 CDPH Health and Travel Advisory, and on the CDPH and Centers for Disease Control Web sites. In addition, the Mexico Ministry of Health Web site contains more Zika-related information.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The annual Christmas concert of the Lake County Symphony has traditionally played to a packed house, and it looks like this year’s version – taking place on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 3 p.m. – will be the same.

Symphony association members, as well as the general public, who have not yet ordered their tickets are urged to do so. They are $25 each, with premium reserved seats at $30, but are discounted $5 each for members.

They are available online at www.soperreesetheatre.com or at 707-263-0577.

There will also be a full dress rehearsal starting at 11 a.m. to which youths under 18 are admitted free.  Others may also attend for an entry fee of just $5.

As is traditional the young musicians of the Symphony Association Youth Orchestra will open the concert when, under the direction of Sue Condit, they perform Henry Mancini’s “Carol for Another Christmas.” 

They will also play a medley of Celtic Christmas music by David Giardiniere entitled  “A Highland Holiday” featuring “The Sussex Carol,” “Good Christian Men, Rejoice,” and an Irish fiddle tune “A Merry Christmas.”  For the latter Condit has added an Irish hand drum called a bodhran as well as a pennywhistle and guitar to reinforce the “fiddle music” sound.

John Parkinson, music director and conductor of the 60-piece symphonic orchestra, promises a full measure of holiday cheer with selections ranging from many of the popular Christmas favorites to the score of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker.”

The latter piece will feature four of the most memorable pieces from this beloved ballet, including “Waltz of the Flowers” and, of course, “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”

Since its American debut in 1944 by the San Francisco Ballet Co. the “Nutcracker” has grown to be the most-performed ballet in the country, with some dance groups gaining more than 40 percent of their annual revenues from this one composition, almost all of it taking place during the holiday season.

Parkinson has also invited two local vocalists to join the orchestra in presenting Christmas music.  They are Cory Cunningham, who is not only an accomplished trombonist – he plays this instrument in the symphony – but also a vocalist who has sung in the past with the orchestra.

Also billed on the program is 92-year-old Lorraine Gatton, who last year wowed the Soper Reese audience with her Tony Bennett-like delivery of a favorite holiday tune.

But Gatton and Cunningham are not the only singers on tap for the performance. In another tradition the entire audience will be invited to join in singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” to conclude the concert.

Volunteers from the Symphony Association will also serve complimentary cookies and juices during intermission, and a selection of premium Lake County wines will also be available at moderate prices, with all proceeds going to support the symphony and Youth Orchestra and their other music-related activities.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The First 5 Lake Commission will meet on Friday, Dec. 16.

The commission meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the training/conference room at Legacy Court, 1950 Parallel Drive in Lakeport. 

Agenda items include a public hearing on approval of the final 2015-16 First 5 Lake draft audit, a discussion of the expiring lease agreement for Legacy Court and approval of the first quarter financials.

In other business, there will be updates on First 5 Lake's ordinance revision and the executive director recruitment.

There also will be First 5 staff report and commissioners' reports, and public comments and announcements.

Commissioners include Chair Brock Falkenberg and Vice Chair Pam Klier, and members Laurie Daly, Susan Jen, Kathy Maes, Denise Pomeroy, Ana Santana and Jeff Smith.

For more information call the Lake County First 5 Lake Commission at 707-263-6169 or visit www.firstfivelake.org .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Soroptimist International of Clear Lake last week responded to a request from Konocti Education Center Music Department to financially support three students to attend a band and choir trip to Disneyland to work with the Disney director, choreographer and conductor.  

The group made a donation so that three students who lost their homes in the Clayton fire would be able to attend and participate.

Soroptimist International of Clear Lake members Ami Landrum and Julie Moyer presented a check for $1,350 to Cydney Dixon, the Konocti Education Center music teacher, at the school's vocal performance on Dec. 8.

The cost for each student to take the trip is $450 and each student is responsible for raising the funds. 

The Konocti Education Center Music Department has held a couple of vocal performances to help raise funds for the students.

Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global organization that works to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

Clear Lake members join with almost 80,000 Soroptimists in about 120 countries and territories to contribute time and financial support to community-based projects benefiting women and girls.

Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs, also powers www.LiveYourDream.org, an online community offering offline volunteer opportunities in support of women and girls.

For more information about how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, and about other programs, awards and fun activities the group on the groups agenda. 

Contact Membership Chair Wanda Harris at 707-225-5800 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or President Olga Martin Steele at 707-998-1302.

Membership is open to women and men who have a desire to help improve the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and Internationally. 

The next meeting of the group is Thursday, Jan. 12, at 11:45 a.m. at Howard's Grotto, 14732 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Join the Clear Lake/Callayomi Masonic Lodge No. 183 on Sunday, Dec. 18, for the “Best Breakfast in Lake County.”

The full, sit-down breakfast is served from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Masonic Center, located at 7100 South Center Drive in Clearlake.

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

AMERICAN CANYON, Calif. – On Saturday, Dec. 10, the Clear Lake Cardinal wrestlers has a strong performance at a tournament at American Canyon High School, with the girls wrestlers placing third as a team.

That day the Cardinal wrestlers headed out early – at 4:15 a.m. to be exact – with 12 wrestlers, six boys and six girls, to participate in the wrestling tournament.

Gold medal winners were Mavis Pyorre (Girls 111 lbs.) with one pin and Ashley Vasquez (189 lbs.).

Silver medal winners were Mia Miller (126 lbs.), Madi Ferguson (131 lbs.) with one pin and Kally Vinson (235 lbs.).

Isaac Lewis (Boys 170 lbs.) won a bronze medal with two pins, Justin Cantrell (Boys 152 lb.) took sixth place with two pins and Roman Uribe (Boys 113 lbs.) took seventh place with three pins.

Also wrestling some hard-fought matches for the Cardinals was Thomas Lairson (boys 126 lbs.), Ozod Ermatov (boys 138 lbs.), Merari Alvarez (birls 160 lbs.) and Frank Weiler (boys 220 lbs.)

“There is no quit in any of them, they all will fight to the end,” said Head Coach Aiden Pierson.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Kelseyville Presbyterian Church will hold a “Blue Christmas” service this Saturday, Dec. 17, beginning at 5 p.m.

The church recognizes that this season can be difficult for people who are dealing with loss, stress or sadness, and this service gives a chance for some quiet meditation and prayer.

A simple supper will be served in the church hall after.

The church invites the community to join in the service.

Kelseyville Presbyterian Church is located at 5340 Third St. in downtown Kelseyville.

If you have questions, please call the church office at 707-279-1104.

Shirley was born on April 10, 1948, in Santa Rosa, Calif., and passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, in Santa Rosa.

Shirley was raised and lived in Lake County, Calif., all of her life, graduating from Kelseyville High School in 1966.

She married Ricardo C. Cortez and they were married for 44 years. She enjoyed taking care of her family and making everyone laugh.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Ricardo Cortez; brother, Charlie Cruz; children, Rick Cortez, Jorge Cortez and Elisha Aguirre; grandchildren, Alondra Aguirre, Erube Aguirre, Antonio Aguirre, Felisa Cortez, Aryana Cortez and Jorge Cortez Jr.; and many nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her parents Jose and Vivian Cruz and brothers, Richard L. Cruz, Jose Luis “Skip” Cruz, Frank Cruz and Jess Cruz.

She will be deeply missed by her family and friends and will always be in our hearts.

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary on Friday, Dec. 16, from 2 to 6 p.m., with a Rosary service at 6 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Kelseyville on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. with interment to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.

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