Thursday, 28 March 2024

News

SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) on Monday urged Gov. Jerry Brown to reevaluate his elimination of Home-to School transportation funding, highlighting the severely detrimental impact the elimination of this program will have on low-income students and students who live in rural, remote areas of California.


In an attempt to convince the governor to reconsider his action Chesbro is spearheading an effort with a letter to the governor, stating, “We are writing to request that you reconsider your recent action to eliminate funding for Home-To-School Transportation. Your decision to completely eliminate this funding for this important program disproportionately affects low-income and rural students throughout California.”


He continued, “Given the current budget situation, we understand that difficult and painful decisions are needed, especially since we have no additional sources of revenue at this time. However, any education cuts should be equitable and not impact our most vulnerable students.”


Assemblymembers Luis Alejo, Michael Allen, Betsy Butler, Paul Fong, Alyson Huber, Jared Huffman, Bill Monning, Kristin Olsen, Henry Perea and Mariko Yamada and State Sen. Noreen Evans co-signed the letter.


Home-to-School Transportation funding was eliminated in a move by Gov. Brown last month when he opted to “trigger” budget cuts after revenues failed to meet projections.


Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook reported that the 51.5 percent reduction in transportation will result in a loss of approximately $875,000 to Lake County schools.


Chesbro said he decided to write this letter to the governor after being contacted by school districts and the families they serve in the First Assembly District.


“Many of the students who attend schools in my district are from low-income families,” Chesbro said. “Most of them live miles from their school. Without Home-to-School Transportation, there is no way for many of these students to get to school.”


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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Firefighters from several agencies responded early Monday morning to a structure fire in Clearlake.


The fire was first reported over the radio at approximately 2:46 a.m. at 14945 Clement Drive, across from Old Highway 53.


Lake County Fire responded, and requested mutual aid from Northshore Fire Protection District, which sent units including an engine and a water tender from its Clearlake Oaks station, radio traffic indicated.


South Lake County Fire also was reportedly sending an engine to the blaze, and Pacific Gas & Electric was called to respond.


Reports from the scene indicated the fire was mostly contained at approximately 3:42 a.m., with firefighters beginning mop up.


There was no word from the scene early Monday about injuries, the damage to the structure or its cause.

 

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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Firefighters were able to contain a small vegetation near Lower Lake Saturday afternoon.


The fire at Highway 29 and Hofacker Lane near Lower Lake was first reported just after 2 p.m. Saturday, according to radio reports.


Cal Fire and Lake County Fire Protection District responded to the fire, which was reported contained just before 3 p.m., when a dozer line and hose line completely encircled it.


Reports from the scene indicated the fire burned six acres. No cause was given.


Firefighters also responded to another blaze reported on Calpine property on Cobb Mountain at about the same time. That fire later was reported to be a permitted control burn.


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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Monday Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced an agreement with dietary supplement distributors over false or misleading claims about the products.


Iovate Health Sciences Inc., a Canadian corporation, and its American affiliate, Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc., have agreed to pay a total of $1.5 million in civil penalties and costs in the settlement of a lawsuit brought by the district attorneys’ offices in Sonoma, Alameda, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta and Solano counties, Ravitch reported.


The lawsuit alleged that Iovate engaged in false and misleading advertising in connection with the marketing and sale of certain dietary supplement products, and violated Proposition 65, which requires a warning label on products that expose consumers to over one-half microgram of lead per day.


“The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office is committed to working with prosecutors throughout California to protect our citizens from deceptive advertising and potentially harmful products,” said Ravitch.


The settlement, signed in Napa County Superior Court, pertains to Iovate products marketed and sold throughout the state, and requires the Iovate companies to pay $1.2 million in civil penalties that will provide support for the future enforcement of California consumer protection laws. The agreement also provides for $300,000 in investigative costs


It is the second largest multi-district attorney dietary supplement settlement of its kind in California history, Ravitch reported.


The Iovate companies sell dietary supplements in California and throughout the U.S. and Canada.


The deceptive advertising allegations in the district attorneys’ lawsuit involved the following Iovate products: Accelis, nanoSLIM, Cold MD, Germ MD, EZ-Swallow Rapid-Tabs, Germ MD Effervescent Tablets, Allergy MD, and Allergy MD Rapid-Tabs.


Additionally, the lawsuit alleged Cold MD was an unapproved new drug, the sales and distribution of which are illegal under California law.


The violation involving California’s Proposition 65 was based on laboratory results that revealed certain lots of Cold MD contained significantly more than one-half microgram of lead in a single dose of the product.


The product was marketed and sold in violation of Proposition 65, which requires warning labels on all products containing more than one-half of a microgram of lead.


Iovate stopped selling Cold MD back in 2008.


The Iovate companies did not admit fault or liability, but agreed to abide by a comprehensive court order to prevent any future unfair or deceptive business practices.


Deputy District Attorney Matthew Cheever handled the case for Sonoma County.

 

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This week Lake County News is debuting regular features spotlighting adoptable dogs and cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter.


Dogs will be showcased on Sundays, with cats appearing on Mondays.


If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.


The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.

 

 

 

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Lynx point Siamese and pal


The male lynx point Siamese (at left) and his all-black friend are estimated to be 7 months old.


Both are domestic short hair mixes. The Siamese cat has blue eyes. Neither are neutered.


Shelter staff said the Siamese is very sweet with other cats and dogs.


Look for them in kennel No. 12 in the cat room, reference No. 31306.

 

 

 

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Mittens


Mittens is a 7-month-old gray tabby.


He is a domestic short hair mix with green eyes. He is not neutered.

 

Shelter staff said Mittens is a surrendered kitty. He is very sweet and playful and would do great in any type of home.


He is in cat room kennel No. 16, ID No. 31121.

 

 

 

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Tortie and Tuxie


These little female kittens – one a tortoise shell calico, the other a little tuxedo kitty – are 13 weeks old.


They are domestic medium hair mixes.


Look for them in cat room kennel No. 17, ID No. 31338.

 

 

 

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Pretty Torbie


This female domestic short hair is known as a “torbie” – a tortoise shell tabby.


She is 16 weeks old, with green yes.


This girl’s sister was adopted, and now it’s her turn. Shelter staff said she is very inquisitive and sweet, and would make a great family pet.


She can be found in cat room kennel No. 20a, ID No. 31025.

 

 

 

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Just a couple of guys, looking for homes


These young male cats are estimated to be 9 months old,


The orange and white male has medium length hair, while the black and white male’s hair is shorter.

 

Find them in cat room kennel No. 26, ID No. 31376.

 

 

 

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Blue-eyed boy


This handsome 3-year-old male is a Siamese mix.


He has the notable blue Siamese eyes, and a medium-length coat. He is not neutered.


Shelter staff said he is very sweet and will follow his new owner around like a dog. He loves to snuggle and be held, and would be a total spoiled lap kitty.


He’s in cat room kennel No. 29, ID No. 31189.

 

 

 

 

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Lady Tabby


This 2-year-old gray tabby is a domestic short hair mix.


She has green eyes.


She can be found in cat room kennel No. 37, ID No. ID: 31327.

 

 

 

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Long-haired and handsome


This male brown and white tabby is estimated to be 7 months old.


He is a domestic long hair mix with gold eyes. He is not neutered.


Look for him in cat room kennel No. 3a, ID Not. 31399.

 

 

 

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Masked lady


This gold-eyed lady with the partial mask is 2 years old.


She is a domestic long hair mix with calico and white coloring.


She is in cat room kennel No. 3b, ID No. 31400.

 

 

 

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Gray lad


This gray male tabby is 3 years old.


He is a domestic long hair with green eyes.


Shelter staff said he is neutered.


Find him in cat room kennel No. 45, ID No. 31398.

 

 

 

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Bundle of kitties


Each of the kittens in this little group of female domestic short hairs is 11 weeks old.


They come in a variety of colors – gray and white, black and lynx point Siamese.


Visit them in cat room kennel No. 47a-e, ID No. 31283.


Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com.


Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.


To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm.


Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.


Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.


Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.


For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.


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Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft during cruise, artist's concept This is an artist's concept of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft during its cruise phase between launch and final approach to Mars. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.



 



An engine firing on Jan. 11 will be the biggest maneuver that NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft will perform on its flight between Earth and Mars.


The action will use a choreographed sequence of firings of eight thruster engines during a period of about 175 minutes beginning at 3 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. It will redirect the spacecraft more precisely toward Mars to land at Gale Crater.


The trajectory resulting from the mission's Nov. 26, 2011, launch intentionally misses Mars to prevent the upper stage of the launch vehicle from hitting the planet. That upper stage was not cleaned the way the spacecraft itself was to protect Mars from Earth's microbes.


The maneuver is designed to impart a velocity change of about 12.3 miles per hour (5.5 meters per second).


"We are well into cruise operations, with a well-behaved spacecraft safely on its way to Mars," said Mars Science Laboratory Cruise Mission Manager Arthur Amador, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "After this trajectory correction maneuver, we expect to be very close to where we ultimately need to be for our entry point at the top of the Martian atmosphere."


The mission's schedule before arrival at Mars on Aug. 5 in Pacific Daylight Time includes opportunities for five more flight path correction maneuvers, as needed, for fine tuning.


The Jan. 11 maneuver has been planned to use the spacecraft's inertial measurement unit to measure the spacecraft's orientation and acceleration during the maneuver.


A calibration maneuver using the gyroscope-containing inertial measurement unit was completed successfully on Dec. 21.


The inertial measurement unit is used as an alternative to the spacecraft's onboard celestial navigation system due to an earlier computer reset.


Diagnostic work continues in response to the reset triggered by use of star-identifying software on the spacecraft on Nov. 29.


In tests at JPL, that behavior has been reproduced a few times out of thousands of test runs on a duplicate of the spacecraft's computer, but no resets were triggered during similar testing on another duplicate.


The spacecraft itself has redundant main computers. While the spacecraft is operating on the "A side" computer, engineers are beginning test runs of the star-identifying software on the redundant "B side" computer to check whether it is susceptible to the same reset behavior.


The Mars Science Laboratory mission will use its car-size rover, Curiosity, to investigate whether the selected region on Mars inside Gale Crater has offered environmental conditions favorable for supporting microbial life and favorable for preserving clues about whether life existed.


On Jan. 15, the spacecraft operations team will begin a set of engineering checkouts. The testing will last about a week and include tests of several components of the system for landing the rover on Mars and for the rover's communication with Mars orbiters.


The spacecraft's cruise-stage solar array is producing 780 watts. The telecommunications rate is 2 kilobits per second for uplink and downlink. The spacecraft is spinning at 2.04 rotations per minute.


The Radiation Assessment Detector, one of 10 science instruments on the rover, is collecting science data about the interplanetary radiation environment.


As of 9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on Saturday, Jan. 7, the spacecraft will have traveled 72.9 million miles of its 352-million-mile flight to Mars. It will be moving at about 9,500 miles per hour relative to Earth and at about 69,500 miles per hour relative to the sun.


JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Science Laboratory mission for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington.


More information about Curiosity is online at www.nasa.gov/msl and at http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl.


You can follow the mission on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marscuriosity and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/marscuriosity.


Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Google+, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A judge has rejected a plea agreement reached last month in which a former deputy sheriff was to receive a three-month jail sentence for having a yearlong sexual relationship with a young teenage girl.

Judge Andrew Blum rejected the deal in the sexual abuse case against 39-year-old Derik Dion Navarro, who had reached the deal with the California Attorney General’s Office in which he pleaded guilty to one count of felony unlawful intercourse with a child under age 16.

The alleged victim, now 21 years old, wept as Blum said he had no choice but to either accept the agreement or reject it, and he was choosing the latter.

“It grieves me to have to make this decision,” he said, looking toward the young woman and her family. “Trust me, I have two daughters about your age. This is not easy for me to do.”

The young woman and her family were too distraught to speak to a reporter after the hearing's conclusion.

The plea agreement – reached on Dec. 7, just as Navarro’s trial was set to start – called for three months in jail, three years’ formal probation and no requirement to register as a sex offender.

Navarro originally was facing 20 counts related to the case, with counts including committing lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, sodomy and having sex with a minor under age 16. Those original counts were scaled back to 16, 15 of which were to be dropped as a result of the agreement.

He had allegedly had sex with the young woman beginning when she was 14 years old, from May 2005 to May 2006.

Navarro worked as a deputy sheriff from 2002 to 2007. He was fired in April 2007 following the conclusion of an investigation into the charges. His arrest came a week after his firing.

District Attorney Don Anderson had represented Navarro in an employment-related matter at one time and so the case was handed over to the Attorney General's Office early last year because of that conflict of interest.

The Attorney General's Office, working with the alleged victim, reached the agreement with Navarro, a decision which raised an outcry among many community members because of its leniency.

Several letters were submitted to the court about the case, which both Senior Assistant Attorney General Dave Druliner and Navarro's attorney, Mitch Hauptman, asked not to be included in the record.

However, Hauptman requested that one letter be listed as a court exhibit.

The one in question was from the the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Blum said in court that it had appeared in a sealed envelope on his desk Monday morning.

Blum told the court that all such communications are to be routed through his secretary, who screens them. That's because ex parte communications with the judge in regard to cases are strictly forbidden.

He said he had his secretary look at it, and she confirmed it was for a pending case. Blum said he didn't read it, adding he was not putting that information on the record to embarrass anyone.

Sitting in the audience during the case's hearing was Sheriff Frank Rivero, dressed in plain clothes with a handgun tucked into the back of his waistband. Rivero last month approached the Attorney General's Office also to argue against the plea agreement.

After Hauptman asked that the letter be marked as a court exhibit, Blum reiterated that he had not seen the letter, prompting Hauptman to reply, “That's as it should be.”

Family asks for closure

On behalf of the alleged victim and her family, Druliner read a letter to the court.

“We have walked through a long, hard five-year process,” the letter stated.

The family said that no amount of punishment for Navarro could ever fix what had been done, but that for them the most important outcome was Navarro's admission of guilt and that he would never again wear a badge, which they felt would keep the public safe from him.

As court dates have come and gone, “Our daughter has relived this over and over and over again,” the letter said, noting that they had wanted many times to give up, which they believed was Navarro's wish.

While they recognized that some people in the community felt the plea agreement was a “travesty,” the family asked for the community's respect of their need for closure.

Druliner told the court that some cases are so controversial that they split communities. “I would submit this is one of those cases.”

Like the alleged victim and her family, Druliner held that Navarro's guilty plea to the charge should help settle the controversy and allow the young woman and her family their much-desired closure.

He said the alleged victim now has a 4 year old son, is employed and is, “in all respects, I would submit, a remarkable young lady.”

Druliner said the case has been in the system for more than five years. “And she has put up with that. Not just put up with it but lived through it.”

While being assailed personally and within the justice system, she stood strong and endured a difficult time, Druliner said.

“I know that she wants closure today on this case,” Druliner said. “I submit to this court that she's deserved that, she's earned that.”

He agreed that the plea agreement was unusual. “The case is unusual,” he added.

Because of that, and on the young woman’s behalf, he asked for the court to honor the agreement. “Under the circumstances it is appropriate.”

Hauptman said he had no comments to offer at that point.

In considering his decision, Blum said that because there was a sentencing agreement between the prosecution and defense, “I have limited options.”

He couldn't choose which sentence length to offer or address any of the details. His only option, he said, was either to accept it or reject it. “There's no middle ground.”

Blum agreed that the case was unusual, mostly due to its age.

“The longevity of it is very unfortunate,” he said, pointing out that it had begun about five years ago, before he had even become a judge.

He had considered the case history, pointing out that there had been five changes of defense attorneys and two prosecuting agencies, all of which had resulted in continuances.

Very few felonies get nearly so old in the system, he said, adding that his heart went out to the alleged victim.

He said the question before him was whether 120 days in custody for Navarro was a fair and appropriate sentence, not whether the alleged victim should have closure.

“She should have had closure years ago,” Blum said.

The probation report prepared for the Monday morning hearing urged Blum against accepting the deal. He said it laid out the case in detail, explaining how Navarro is alleged to have violated a position of trust in the community to take advantage of “a particularly vulnerable victim” who was 14 at the time the alleged crimes began taking place.

Blum said there was no way that he could say with good conscience that 120 days in jail was enough time for Navarro.

“I've been handing out sentences all morning,” said Blum, pointing to the full docket of arraignments and sentencings he already had handled by that time. “None is as lenient as that,” he said, adding that many of the cases were for lesser crimes.

“I have to reject this agreement,” he said. He said that, as a result, Navarro could withdraw his guilty plea, which Hauptman promptly did on Navarro’s behalf.

Blum ordered Navarro to stand trial on all 16 counts related to the case, and said he wanted the case set for trial as soon as possible, as he didn't want to delay it any further.

“And let me make this much clear,” Blum said. “I take pleas all the time. Lots of them.”

In those cases, he can only consider what is presented in court. As a result he must avoid knowledge of community opinions, articles and other information that may affect his decision.

“Anything that's been said out there, I'm unaware of it. And I will remain unaware of it, purposefully,” he said.

Blum said he realized he was putting the victim through more trauma. He said the case was a travesty, and he didn't want it to end with a double travesty with a “ridiculously lenient sentence” on top of a case that had taken a long time to work through the courts.

With that said, however, Blum stated that by Navarro retracting his guilty plea, he is considered an innocent man as the case moves forward, and is to be treated as such.

Blum ordered the attorneys and Navarro to return to his courtroom at 8:15 a.m. next Tuesday, Jan. 17, to set the trial date.

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 Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Google+, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

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These flavorful seeds from the nutmeg tree may be grated to provide spice for recipes. After grating, the seed in the lower center shows dark "veins" that run through its flesh. Photo by Esther Oertel.


 

 


 


From just looking at them, one would never guess that modest little nutmeg seeds were the purveyors of much sought-after flavor. But they are.


Beyond their wrinkled brown skin lies such pleasant pungency that for centuries, European countries fought bloody wars over control of the crop.


The source of this spice is the nutmeg tree, an evergreen that’s native to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, of Indonesia.


The nutmeg seed is encased in a mottled, yellow edible fruit, similar in size to a small peach. When split in half, the fruit reveals a bright crimson, lacy covering over a dark, shiny nut-like pit. Within this pit lies the brown-colored nutmeg seed.


The nutmeg tree is the only tropical plant that’s the source of two spices.


The red, net-like aril covering the pit is also collected and then dried to make another spice, mace, which has a warm taste and, not surprisingly, a fragrance similar to nutmeg.


When dried, the color lightens to orange or gold. Whole mace consists of flat, dried segments of the aril.


Nutmeg is often combined with cinnamon, cloves and ginger in baked goods such as cakes, cookies and sweet breads. These spices also marry to flavor mulled cider or wine and work together to flavor pumpkin pie.


Without its companions, nutmeg is used to flavor foods as diverse as apples, potatoes, mushrooms and lamb. It’s wonderful with cheeses of all types, particularly creamy ones, such as ricotta.


It’s used in cream sauces (especially in Bechamel, one of the mother sauces in French cuisine), and is the major flavor component of eggnog.


Personally, I like to flavor my coffee with it. A light sprinkling on top after I’ve lightened it with half and half is just perfect. (It’s also a great trick if the flavor of the coffee I’ve purchased somewhere is disappointing.)


Until the early 16th century, Arabs were the exclusive importers of nutmeg. The Portuguese controlled the trade for the following century, with the Dutch taking over in 1602.


The Dutch were particularly cautious about allowing cultivation of the trees by others, even coating nutmeg seeds with lime prior to exportation to hinder sprouting. At one point, they burned nutmeg trees that had spread to neighboring islands.


Despite this, the French were able to smuggle nutmeg seeds (along with clove seedlings) to start plantations on the island of Mauritius, off the east coast of Africa near Madagascar.


In the late 18th century, the British took over the Moluccas and spread nutmeg’s cultivation to other East Indian islands, and eventually to the Caribbean.


Nutmeg cultivation was so successful in Grenada that it’s dubbed Nutmeg Island, with its flag carrying an image of nutmeg in one corner.


Nutmeg was a much-used spice in the cuisine of Medieval Europe. It was also used medicinally and as a preservative.


In Elizabethan times, nutmeg was thought to ward off the plague, making it immensely popular and exorbitantly expensive. This may have spurred on the practice of unscrupulous traders selling artificial nutmeg seeds carved out of wood.


In later years, the U.S. state Connecticut got its nickname from this practice. The moniker “the Nutmeg State” (with its residents being called “nutmeggers”) comes from deceptive traders who created “wooden nutmeg,” a term which came to represent any form of fraud.


Semi-solid, reddish brown nutmeg butter is obtained from the fruit by expression. It tastes and smells like nutmeg and is similar to cocoa butter.


Nutmeg’s essential oil is used in foods, as well as in products like toothpaste and cough syrup. It’s also used widely in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. In traditional medicine the essential oil was used as a remedy for nervous and digestive disorders.


In addition to its popularity in Europe, nutmeg is used in the cuisines of India, the Middle East, Greece (where its name translates to “musky nut”), Japan (where curries include it), and, of course, the Caribbean.


Because the flavor of ground nutmeg fades fairly quickly, I recommend purchasing whole nutmegs and grating only what is needed for your recipe. Nutmeg graters are available for this purpose, or you could use the finest part of a cheese grater.


Better yet, I highly recommend investing in a multi-purpose tool such as the Microplane zester, as it not only grates nutmeg wonderfully, but zests citrus fruits, and grates ginger and chocolate.


Today’s recipe is a simple pumpkin soup flavored with nutmeg. Any type of milk may be used (dairy, soy, or almond, for example), but if you’d like a richer soup, substitute half and half or cream for some of the milk. If desired, the pumpkin may be steamed, rather than roasted, but I like the flavor that roasting brings to the table.


If desired, other veggies, such as carrots, onions, or sweet potatoes, may be substituted for some of the pumpkin and roasted with it to add a twist to the recipe.


I didn’t want to leave you with just that, however. Since I love nutmeg with pasta dishes, I’ve included a recipe for gnocchi with vegetables and cheese that’s flavored with nutmeg. That, too, is a very simple recipe, wonderful for a quick dinner.


It calls for zucchini and cherry tomatoes, but feel free to substitute any seasonal veggies for the summer ones.


And a final word before I leave: California has its own version of a nutmeg tree, the Torreya californica, also known as the California nutmeg, a conifer that grows in the Pacific coastal ranges and the foothills of the Sierras.


While it’s not closely related to true nutmeg, it bears a nut-like seed that was used by American Indians for food.


Enjoy the recipes, and don't forget to stop and smell the nutmeg!


Roasted pumpkin soup with nutmeg


A two-pound pumpkin (one intended for baking, such as a sugar pumpkin)

Olive or other vegetable oil

3 cups milk, any variety

Maple syrup to taste (start with 2 teaspoons or so)

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg (or more to taste)


Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.


Seed, cube and peel the pumpkin and place in a baking dish or roasting pan. Drizzle with oil.


Bake pumpkin in preheated oven until soft but not blackened, about 40 minutes.


Mash roasted pumpkin.


Meanwhile, heat the milk until very hot, but not scalded.


Stir mashed pumpkin into hot milk, using an immersion blender or potato masher to combine until smooth. Cook over medium heat until heated through.


Add the salt, maple syrup and nutmeg. Adjust for taste.


Makes about six servings.



Gnocchi with zucchini ribbons and nutmeg


1 pound gnocchi

1 pound zucchini, cut lengthwise into long, thin ribbons

1 pint cherry tomatoes

¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter

2 medium shallots, cut into small dice

½ cup grated or shredded fresh Parmesan

½ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

Salt and pepper to taste


Bring a large saucepan of water to boil. Cook gnocchi until they float, about three to five minutes. Drain.


Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the butter is beginning to brown, about two minutes.


Add shallots and zucchini and cook, stirring often, about three minutes.


Add tomatoes, salt, nutmeg, and pepper and continue cooking, stirring often, until the tomatoes are just starting to break down.

Stir in Parmesan and parsley. Add the gnocchi and toss to coat.


Recipe courtesy of www.dishbase.com. It serves four as a side dish or two.


Esther Oertel, a freelance writer, cooking teacher, and speaker, is passionate about local produce and all foods in the vegetable kingdom. She welcomes your questions and comments and may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


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A firefighter takes precautions in opening a suspicious package that had been reported to be smoking at the post office in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., on Friday, January 6, 2012. Photo by Gary McAuley.




 


CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Firefighters from two local fire agencies responded to the Clearlake Oaks Post Office Friday morning after staff there reported a suspicious, smoking package.


Northshore Fire and Lake County Fire responded to the scene at around 8:30 a.m., according to Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos.


Beristianos said a post office employee had moved a package and noticed that it began to smoke.


The package was taken outside and firefighters arrived to handle it, Beristianos said.


Inside the box they found a propane torch, which Beristianos said was being shipped along with drug paraphernalia.


He said the propane torch started to burn the cardboard when the box was moved.


The Lake County Sheriff’s Office took possession of the box and its contents, according to Beristianos.


There was no word from the sheriff’s office on Friday regarding the origin of the package or who was responsible for shipping it.


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 Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Google+, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

 

 

 

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Firefighters look into an parcel that they opened after it was reported to be smoking by staff at the Clearlake Oaks Post Office. Photo by Gary McAuley.
 

 

 

 

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Once firefighters opened up the package they found a propane torch and drug paraphernalia. Photo by Gary McAuley.
 

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This week Lake County News is debuting regular features spotlighting adoptable dogs and cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter.


Dogs will be showcased on Sundays, with cats appearing on Mondays.


If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.


The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.

 

 

 

 

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Oliver the terrier is hoping for a new home. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

 



Oliver


Oliver is a 3-year-old male wirehaired terrier mix.


He weighs 16 pounds and is not neutered.


Oliver is located in kennel No. 16, ID No. 31123.

 

 

 

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Chewbacca is ready to join a new family. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

 



Chewbacca


Chewbacca is a 2-year-old male Pekingese/Shih Tzu mix.


He weighs 14 pounds and is not neutered.


Chewbacca is located in kennel No. 16, ID No. 31124.

 

 

 

 

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Matombo is a young dog ready for an active new life. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.

 



Matombo


Matombo is a 10-month-old male pit bull terrier mix.


He weighs 62 pounds and is not neutered.


Matombo is located in kennel No. 17, ID No. 31231.


Adoptable dogs also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dogs_and_Puppies.htm or at www.petfinder.com.


Please note: Dogs listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.


To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm.


Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.


Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.


Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.


For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.


Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Google+, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

CLEARLAKE PARK, Calif. – A Clearlake animal control officer and Lake County Animal Care and Control personnel worked together on Thursday to rescue a dog and her pups from a vacant Clearlake Park home.


Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson said he and Officer Control Morgan Hermann responded on Thursday to assist Clearlake Animal Control Officer Lee Lambert with the rescue operation.


Davidson said a female pit bull had reportedly been living for several months at a house that had been vacant for years.


Lambert had tried to set up a trap to catch the dog, which Davidson estimated to be between 2 and 3 years old. However, within a few hours of Lambert setting up the trap, it was stolen.


“He was basically at his wits’ end,” said Davidson.


A neighbor had been feeding the dog, and could get the animal to come when she called, but not to let her touch it, Davidson said.


Davidson said he and Hermann took tranquilizer equipment, crawled under the house and tranquilized the dog, who had with her six puppies.


One of the puppies had been injured and was taken to Clearlake Veterinary Hospital for treatment, Davidson said.


Animal Care and Control’s contract with the city calls for the agency to accept animals the city brings to it, and Davidson said he and his staff took the mother dog and five puppies.


He said he’s working to get a foster situation set up for the dog and her puppies, which he said are five weeks old.


“At the very least we’ll be able to find homes for all the puppies,” he said.


Davidson said the mother dog could also be adopted out if she can be socialized. “I don’t think she’s completely feral.”


It’s not clear where the dog came from, although Davidson said the neighbor that had been feeding the dog indicated transients had been coming and going from the house for a long time, raising the possibility that she had been abandoned.


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 Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Google+, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
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30Mar
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