California Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith is urging Californians to get vaccinated against influenza as soon as possible.

Localized flu activity has already been reported in San Diego County, where an elderly person has died due to flu-related complications.
 
In California, flu usually begins to increase in late November or December. It takes a couple of weeks after vaccination for the body to respond fully, so now is the time to get vaccinated to have the best protection as the flu season begins.
 
“Deaths related to flu are tragic reminders that the flu virus needs to be taken very seriously,” said Dr. Smith. “A yearly flu shot is the best way to protect against infection and prevent others from coming down with the flu.”
 
A person with flu may be contagious and infect others before they even feel sick.
 
This season your health care provider may be offering only injectable flu vaccines. This is due to concerns about the effectiveness of this year’s nasal spray vaccine. CDPH expects there to be enough injectable vaccine to meet the expected demand.
 
Each year, flu causes millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and, sometimes, tens of thousands of deaths in the United States.
 
To reduce this threat CDPH recommends an annual flu shot for everyone six months of age and older, including pregnant women. Flu shots are needed every year to maintain the greatest protection, because the vaccine changes each season to match the viruses that are circulating.
 
Common symptoms of the flu include fever or feeling feverish, a cough and/or sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, chills, fatigue and body aches. Children may also have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
 
To stop the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses, you should also:

· Stay home when you are sick and limit your contact with others.
· Cover your coughs or sneezes with your sleeve or a disposable tissue.
· Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

CDPH encourages Californians to contact their health care provider, physician’s office, clinic or pharmacy about obtaining the flu vaccine. Some local health departments may also offer low- or no-cost flu immunizations.

More information about the flu is available on the CDPH Web site, www.cdph.ca.gov . You can find the nearest flu vaccine locations by visiting www.flu.gov .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Monica Rosenthal, candidate for Lake County District 1 supervisor, will host a series of “Meet and Greet” events in the communities of Clearlake, Lower Lake, Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown.

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

On Friday, Oct. 14, at 10 a.m. they will meet at Shady Acres Campground in Clearlake for coffee, pastry and conversation and an opportunity to kayak Cache Creek. 

“Meet and greets” also will take place in Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown. Stop by and enjoy a cup of coffee, candidate conversation and pick up a free Lake County Connections magnet. 

“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 Lake County fires of 2015, the recent Clayton fire and our community’s recovery challenges.”

The schedule of Rosenthal's upcoming events is below.

Lower Lake

– Monday, Oct. 10, 8 to 10 a.m., Lower Lake Coffee Co. 
– Monday, Oct. 17, 8 to 10 a.m., Lower Lake Coffee Co.

Hidden Valley Lake

– Wednesday, Oct. 12, 8 to 10 a.m., Mountain High Coffee & Books 
– Wednesday, Oct. 19, 8 to 10 a.m., Mountain High Coffee & Books

Middletown

– Thursday, Oct. 20, 4:30 to 6 p.m., 2 Women Traders
– Thursday, Oct. 27, 4:30 to 6 p.m., 2 Women Traders

Clearlake

Friday, Oct. 14, 9 a.m., coffee, pastry and kayaking at Shady Acres Campground on Cache Creek near Anderson Marsh

Other opportunities to speak with District 1 Candidate Rosenthal include:

– Tuesday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to noon, District 1 Candidate Forum on KXBX Radio.
– Thursday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m., Middletown Area Town Hall meeting.
– Wednesday, Oct. 19, noon to 1 p.m., Middletown Luncheon Club candidates' forum.

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, stop by to pick up your free magnet and remember to vote on Nov. 8.”

For further information, questions or comments, contact Monica Rosenthal by phone, 707-355-2762, or 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.

As California’s 2016-2017 waterfowl hunting season approaches, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) advises hunters to stay informed about the status of wildlife areas.

Limited opportunities or closures in the areas where they plan to hunt are likely to occur again this year given limited water supplies in some regions of the state early in the season.

It is also common for waterfowl hunting areas to close periodically throughout the season due to safety concerns caused by flooding. Areas that most commonly experience flood closures include Sutter National Wildlife Refuge, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, Delevan National Wildlife Refuge, Little Dry Creek and Howard Slough.

Waterfowl hunters should keep informed about current reservation and quota numbers, which are expected to fluctuate frequently.

Reservations for state-operated wildlife areas that are closed due to flooding will not be accepted at other hunting areas, and refunds will not be issued for applications submitted to areas that are closed or if reservations are not available.

Hunters can follow the Twitter tag #cawildlifeareaclosures for updates on state-operated wildlife area closures.

Opening and closing dates vary by zone. These dates, along with detailed information about daily bag and possession limits, can be found in the 2016-2017 Waterfowl Regulations booklet.

Quality public hunting access can be found on more than two dozen national wildlife refuges and wildlife areas and ecological reserves managed by CDFW. Please note that nonlead ammunition is now required when hunting on CDFW wildlife areas and ecological reserves. For more information please see the CDFW nonlead ammunition Web page.

A valid California hunting license, appropriate validations and a signed federal waterfowl conservation stamp must be obtained before entering the field.

In addition, a wildlife area pass is required to hunt on many state-operated wildlife areas. Licenses, validations and passes are not sold at wildlife areas, so hunters must purchase these items in advance.

California hunters are required to complete a hunter education training course before purchasing a hunting license for the first time in California. Approximately 30,000 students complete this requirement annually.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Green Party will hold its next meeting on Sunday, Oct. 16.

The meeting will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at Round Table Pizza, 821 11th St. in Lakeport.

Guest speakers will be three local supervisorial candidates: Jose “Moke” Simon III, District 1, will speak from 4:15 to 5 p.m.; Monica Rosenthal, District 1, from 5 to 5:45 p.m.; and Martin Scheel, District 4, from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m.

This is the Green Party's last meeting of the year.

Everyone is welcome. Meetings are free and open to the public. There will be no host pizza and beverages.

For more information call 707-263-3391 or visit http://www.cagreens.org/ .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 1958 Hitchcock classic, “Vertigo,” starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, screens at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 1 and 6 p.m.
 
Alfred Hitchcock’s dark and strange fable of love lost and lost again features a tortured private eye, suffering from fear of heights, who follows a mysterious beauty through the streets, parks and museums of San Francisco.

A wonder of suspense and an artistic triumph for the reigning master of mystery, “Vertigo” sets a new standard for the psychological thriller with its complex examination of obsession, deception, helplessness and heartbreak.
 
The movie is sponsored by Peggy Campbell, CPA. Rated PG with run time of two hours eight minutes. Entry to the film is by donation.

The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, 707-263-0577, www.soperreesetheatre.com .

What impresses me so much about Tina Scott, candidate for Lake County supervisor for District 4,
is that she doesn’t just talk about issues, she makes solutions happen.

She has shown her support for many years for the vulnerable youth in our community – as a foster parent, a court-appointed special advocate and a juvenile justice commissioner.

She joins others to tutor first grade students because she knows that only 23 percent of Lake County third graders in 2015 were meeting grade-level standards compared to 37 percent statewide, and that students proficient in reading are more likely to be engaged in school, graduate from high school and go to college.

As a school board member for the Lakeport Unified School District she spearheaded the passage of a $17 million school bond that will bring a new pool to the community, add a learning center at a middle school and bring 21st learning capabilities to Lakeport classrooms.

Whether it’s organizing fundraisers for her children’s schools, chaperoning a group of cheerleaders to cheer camp, funding the upgrades for the Meals on Wheels thrift store in town, hosting a welcome reception for a new high school principal or entering prize-winning baking entries in the Lake County Fair, Tina Scott always steps up. She loves this county, and she pours her heart and soul into making it a better place for all.

She has pledged to provide 20 percent of her salary to organizations within District 4 who support senior and youth programs and to hold monthly meetings with her constituents to gather ideas and hear concerns from the community.

I’m voting for Tina Scott because she is a problem solver who carefully weighs options and chooses the best path for all of us, keeping the greater good in mind.

I can’t wait for her to bring her voice of the people, decency and can-do attitude to the Board of
Supervisors. Please join me in voting for Tina Scott in the November election.

Steven Sartori and Doyle Awtrey live in Lakeport, Calif.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – If you are one of the hundreds of people who have been putting off completing your estate plan, it has just become easier to mark that off your list.

Debbie Smith, a certified legal document assistant, has opened an office in downtown Middletown.  Pioneer Document Service offers a low-cost alternative to an attorney's services for preparing legal paperwork.
 
Smith offers more than the degree of legal expertise needed to accomplish these essentials. She is adept at guiding those who know little about the requirements through the necessary paperwork, making it a great deal easier. Home visits can be arranged.
  
She has more than 40 years’ experience in the legal profession, both working under the supervision of attorneys and as a legal document assistant assisting the public in preparing and filing their own legal documents. 

California law SB1418 authorizes non-lawyers to prepare legal documents for the general public according to their specific instructions without the assistance of an attorney.
  
Under the law, legal document assistants are required to register with the county in which they work, post a $25,000 bond and complete a minimum 15 hours of continuing legal education  every two years.
 
Debbie is a member of California Legal Document Assistants, a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of legal document assistants, while encouraging high standards of ethical and professional conduct among its members.

Pioneer Document Service focuses mainly on estate planning services – wills, living trusts, powers of attorney and health care directives.
 
Pioneer Document Service is located at 21130-A Calistoga Road in Middletown. Current hours are by appointment only, which includes evenings and weekends.  
 
Contact Pioneer Document Service by phone at 707-987-1083 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or visit www.PioneerDocumentService.com .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Animal Coalition of Lake County will hold its seventh annual Halloween and Costume Party on Saturday, Oct. 29.

The event will be held at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, 15900 E. Highway 20.

The fundraiser will begin with cocktails at 5 p.m., with an all-you-can-eat Italian dinner to be served at 6 p.m.

There also will be a costume contest, silent auction and dancing to the tunes of White Waters.

The cost is $20 per person.

Tickets are available in Clearlake at From Me 2 U thrift shop, 14104 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake; Clearlake Veterinary Clinic, 3424 Emerson St.; and and The Spot, 14625 Lakeshore Drive.

The funds raised go toward helping seniors and low income residents with spaying and neutering their pets.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake has begun a remodel project around the front entrance of the hospital to improve accessibility.

The new entrance will feature a redesigned stairway and ramp and is anticipated to be completed by Jan. 1, 2017.

“The goal of this project is to ensure all patients and visitors have easy access to our services,” explains David Santos, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake president and chief executive officer. “The temporary inconvenience of the construction will have a lasting benefit for our patients and community by improving accessibility for all.”
 
The main entrance of the hospital will continue to be available for patients throughout the remodel project.

The first phase of construction is currently in progress. It includes demolishing and rebuilding the front stairway. The ramp to the left of the stairs as patients and visitors approach the hospital remains open.
 
The ramp area will be remodeled after the new stairway opens. During this time, patients with mobility challenges will be welcomed into the hospital through the Emergency Department entrance, located on the side of the hospital facing 18th Avenue.
 
Lake County NAACP Chapter President Rick Mayo commended the hospital on its efforts around improving accessibility.

“The experience of elderly and disabled residents of our county is important, especially when it comes to accessing health care services,” Mayo said. “This project is just the latest phase in St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s accessibility efforts. I am very pleased to see the hospital moving forward with these improvements.”
 
Visit www.sthelenahospitalclearlake.org for more information.