Chiang's report is the latest step in a massive roll out of salary information for local and state government employees and elected officials that he began last fall.

The effort was prompted by the discovery of inflated salaries for officials in the Southern California city of Bell.

The information can be found at the Government Compensation in California Web site, www.sco.ca.gov/compensation_search.html.

The information released on Chiang's Web site on Tuesday shows the salary, pension benefits and other compensation for 256,222 state of California employees as well as 123,406 California State University (CSU) employees.

Chiang's office said the database does not include state positions that are not paid by the controller, including the staff of legislators and staff of the lieutenant governor, the Department of Food and Agriculture's agriculture associations and Division of Fairs and Expositions, the University of California and California Community Colleges.

Based on the data, approximately 1,357 state employees make $200,000 or more a year, with many of the top salaries held by physicians and other health officials in the state prison system.

Among California State University employees, 69 – mostly top administrators – made $200,000 or more, according to an analysis of the data.

On Tuesday afternoon Chiang's office reported that the figures on the Web site reflected some incorrect information – in particular, that the state's top earner by taxable wages made $838,706 in calendar year 2010.

Spokesman Jacob Roper said that amount was not paid to an individual for state service, and that the data was being reviewed and would be updated.

Based on that correction, the data showed the top state wage earner was a physician and surgeon for the High Desert State Prison in Susanville. That doctor received $777,423, well above the position's annual salary of $235,740.

Other members of the top 10 wage earners among state employees for 2010 included:

– The physician and surgeon for the Northern California Youth Center in Stockton, paid $736,378, above the annual salary of $248,172.

– The chief dentist of the Sierra Conservation Center correctional facility in Tuolumne County, paid $599,403 (salary range, $303,060 to $334,140).

– The staff psychiatrist for the Vacaville-based California Medical Facility's correctional and rehabilitative services, paid $582,609 (salary range, $228,624 to $260,952).

– The chief risk officer of the State Compensation Insurance Fund, paid $561,072 (annual budgeted salary, $288,000).

– The chief investment officer of the Public Employees' Retirement System, paid $548,152 (salary range, $408,000 to $612,000).

– The physician and surgeon for the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, paid $536,955 (annual budgeted salary, $223,344).

– The physician and surgeon for the Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, paid $534,527 (annual budgeted salary, $235,740).

– California Prison Health Care System medical executive, paid $508,140 (salary range, $240,000 to $412,080).

– President of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, paid $482,234 (salary range, $285,996 to $529,092).

Among educators in the CSU system, the state chancellor was the highest paid, receiving $399,326. That position's annual maximum salary is $421,500; no minimum salary was listed.

Other top 10 wage earners among educators were presidents of the various state universities, with all of those presidents having an annual salary range of $223,584 to $350,004.

They included No. 2, president of CSU Los Angeles, $372,461; No. 3, president of CSU San Francisco, $356,366; No. 4, an administrator IV at State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, $356,330 (salary range, $89,844 to $258,168); No. 5, president of CSU Sacramento, $351,541; No. 6, president of CSU Humboldt, $343,862; No. 7, president of CSU San Bernardino, $337,215; No. 8, president of CSU Channel Islands, $333,507; No. 9, president of CSU Bakersfield, $332,845; and No. 10, president of CSU Sonoma, $331,359.

All of those are higher than Gov. Jerry Brown's salary, which was not listed in the study but is reported to be $173,987, according to The Book of the States 2010.

Last October, Chiang collected and posted wage information for more than 600,000 city and county employees. He also added 2,379 special districts’ payroll earlier this year, as Lake County News has reported.

For each position the Web site includes minimum and maximum salary ranges; actual wages paid; the applicable retirement formula; any contributions by the employer to the employee’s share of pension costs; any contributions by the employer to the employee’s deferred compensation plan; and any employer payments for the employee’s health, vision and dental premium benefits.

In addition, the Web site shows employees who hold multiple positions within either state government or the CSU system.

The Controller's Office said it is continuing to update the site weekly with new information from local government agencies.

All counties have complied with the reporting requirements, with only two cities – Fort Jones and Tulelake – listed as noncompliant, according to the site.

Among the numerous special districts around the state that have not filed salary and compensation reports three are located in Lake County – Scotts Valley Water Conservation District, Reclamation District No. 2070 and Villa Blue Estates Water District.

Chiang's office said noncomplying agencies can face penalties of $5,000.

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 Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews.

The National Weather Service is expecting temperatures to be in the high 90s this week, following a warm Independence Day weekend.

While the weekend's hot temperatures beckoned some people outdoors to enjoy time on the water, others experienced health issues as a result.

Northshore Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Steve Hart said paramedics reacted to numerous heat-related medical calls over the holiday weekend because of the higher temperatures.

The National Weather Service said monsoonal moisture is expected to work its way from the Sierra Nevadas through the interior of California late Tuesday through Wednesday, bringing the possibility of thunderstorms and higher humidity.

Because of the chances for higher humidity, forecasters urge anyone who is working or engaged in recreational activities to avoid prolonged sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day.

Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health, issued guidelines for avoiding health sickness, including reducing exposure to the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest, and keeping physical activities to a minimum during that time. When working outside, drink plenty of water or juice even if you are not thirsty, and take rest breaks in the shade.

Those spending time outside also should wear hats to help cover the face and neck, along with sunglasses the provide 100 percent UVA and UVB protection, as chronic exposure to the sun can cause cataracts, which left untreated, can lead to blindness. Use sunscreen of an SPF rating of 15 or more.

Because of the high temperatures inside cars, don't leave children, infants, the frail elderly or pets inside parked vehicles, as temperatures can climb to deadly levels, state officials said.

The California Emergency Management Agency has a list of summer heat resources at www.calema.ca.gov/NewsandMedia/Pages/Current%20News%20and%20Events/Summer-Heat-Resources.aspx.

For pets, which also are at risk during the hot summer months, the ASPCA's Web site at www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/hot-weather-tips.aspx offers tips for keeping pets safe from high temperatures.

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Judy Pitts, 40, of Clearlake, Calif., was arrested on Saturday, July 2, 2011, after she allegedly attempted to kidnap a baby. Lake County Jail photo.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake woman was arrested Saturday after she allegedly attempted to kidnap a baby.

Judy Lynn Pitts, 40, was taken into custody following the incident, which was reported Saturday night, according to Clearlake Police Sgt. Tim Hobbs.

Just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday Det. Ryan Peterson was on patrol covering a shift for an officer who was off that day when he was waived down by a woman on Pine Street near Olympic Drive, Hobbs said.

The woman told Peterson that a subject who she didn't know – later identified as Pitts – grabbed her 8-month-old daughter from her arms and fled into a nearby residence with the baby, according to Hobbs.

Family members of the child ran into the residence and retrieved the child, who was safely turned back over to her mother, Hobbs said.

Hobbs said the child's mother and other witnesses pointed Pitts out to Peterson as she was leaving the home.

Peterson subsequently arrested Pitts, who appeared to be intoxicated, on a felony charge of kidnapping, Hobbs said.

Pitts later was transported to the Lake County Jail and booked. She remained in custody on Sunday night, with bail set at $50,000, according to jail records.

The Clearlake Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding this case that has not already been interviewed to contact Det. Peterson at 707-994-8251.

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Officials with the California Department of Public Health are continuing an investigation into a data breach that occurred this spring involving the personal information of several thousand current and former employees.

An agency investigation found that the personal and workers’ compensation information of approximately 9,000 current and former state employees was improperly copied to a private hard drive and removed from state offices, according to a statement first issued late last month by California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ron Chapman.

Chapman said the agency regretted that the information was compromised, adding, “We take the breach of any secure documents very seriously and are committed to taking steps to minimize any impact of this action and further strengthen our security policy.”

Impacted are most current California Department of Public Health and California Department of Health Care Services employees, along with nearly 3,000 employees of the former Department of Health Services, according to the agency's report.

The personal information at issue included individual names and addresses, varying combinations of Social Security numbers, ethnicity, birth dates, next of kin and the addresses of those individuals listed as next of kin, and/or information from workers’ compensation documents, according to an agency report.

“The investigation continues,” said California Department of Public Health spokesman Al Lundeen.

Lundeen told Lake County News that the data breach occurred when an employee, who had access to the information, copied it and took it home in violation of agency rules.

On April 5 the Department of Public Health was alerted to the activity, which was discovered by the department’s security detection system. The agency reported that it immediately initiated an investigation and discovered the information's unauthorized removal before placing the employee on administrative leave while the investigation takes place.

Lundeen said the investigation has uncovered no evidence whatsoever that the information was disclosed or misused.

He said the agency has offered credit monitoring services to anyone impacted by the breach.

“Several hundred people have already requested that,” he said.

Also under way are new internal safeguards to protect employee information and a thorough review of information security policies. The Department of Public Health said it will put in place any additional necessary policies or practices to help prevent such an incident from happening again.

Last year, the Department of Public Health had another data breach issue which Lundeen said involved a few thousand individuals.

Lundeen said that incident involved a magnetic tape from a field office that was shipped to the department's headquarters. The tape – which included information about patients in longterm care facilities, employees and some medical personnel – was supposed to be encrypted and sent by a secure carrier but wasn't.

He said there now are policies in place to stop such issues.

There's also an effort to back up such material remotely so there is no need for shipping it. “We haven't resolved that issue technically,” he said.

Health data breaches are a nationwide issue and, as a result, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is required by law to post a list of breaches of unsecured, protected health information affecting 500 or more individuals.

In April 2010, the California Department of Health Care Services had a data breach affecting approximately 29,808 people in the Care 1st Health Plan, according to the Health and Human Services secretary's database. That issue involved the loss of a portable electronic device.

The Health and Human Services secretary's database records 292 incidents involving the compromising or loss of data between September 2009 and May 2011.

Information was compromised in a variety of ways, from hacking of networks and unauthorized access to materials, to theft of paper, hard drives or other portable devices such as laptop computers.

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The “Start Smart” program will be offered in July, August and September, according to Officer Kory Reynolds of the Clear Lake CHP office.

Traffic collisions are the No. 1 killer of teenagers in America. Nationally about 5,000 teens will die in automobile crashes.

About 10 percent of those deaths are in California alone. In California in 2007, there were 82,506 collisions involving teenage drivers statewide, 457 resulted in fatalities, according to the CHP.

The Clear Lake Area California Highway Patrol office will offer several, free, Start Smart traffic safety classes for teenage drivers and their parents.

The program aims to help future and newly-licensed teenage drivers learn the responsibilities that accompany the privilege of being a licensed driver.

It is an educational tool for parents and teens to reduce the number of teen injuries and deaths resulting from traffic collisions.

The program provides information on defensive driving, state traffic laws, dynamics of traffic collisions, tips on avoiding collisions and awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence.

The classes will run approximately two hours and will be offered on Monday, July 18; Monday, Aug. 15; and Monday, Sept. 12.

Classes will start at 6:30 p.m. at the CHP office in Kelseyville, located at 5700 Live Oak Drive, Kelseyville.

Space is limited for this class. For more information or reservations, call Reynolds, 707-279-0103.

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Kristina Ann Colon, 23, of Clearlake, Calif., was arrested by Lakeport Police officers on Saturday, July 2, 2011, after she allegedly drove her vehicle into Clear Lake while intoxicated. Lake County Jail photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Police officers arrested a Clearlake woman for driving under the influence early Saturday after she drove her vehicle into Clear Lake.

Kristina Ann Colon, 23, was taken into custody following the incident, according to Officer Destry Henderson.

Henderson said Sunday that officers responded to the Skylark Motel on N. Main Street at 3:44 a.m. Saturday on the report of a vehicle into the lake.

When they arrived at the scene the officers found Colon being assisted by motel patrons for injuries she sustained while escaping from the sinking vehicle, Henderson said.

Colon was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment of her injuries and later arrested for

suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, according to Henderson.

She was booked at the Lake County Jail, with bail set at $5,000. Jail records indicated Colon later was released.

Colon’s vehicle was recovered from Clear Lake by the Northshore Dive Team and a local tow company. Henderson said the vehicle was approximately 75 yards from the shoreline and Colon was

determined to be the vehicle's sole occupant.

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The Bass Bowl Committee has announced a cooperative effort with the California Historical Artillery Society (CHAS) to bring Civil War living history to Lake County the week of the Bass Bowl.

“We wanted to have a Civil War cannon at the Bass Bowl to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War and of the founding of Lake County,” Bass Bowl Executive Director Phil Smoley explained.

“They needed additional event staff at their upcoming Civil War Reenactment in Duncans Mills,” Smoley said. “So we negotiated a ‘win-win’ deal where they will be getting extra staff help from Lake County for their ‘Civil War Days’ and they will bring a artillery team for the Bass Bowl to fire after each touchdown, and then do living history demonstrations the next day.”

On July 16 and 17the quaint North Coast town of Duncans Mills will become the fields of Virginia, circa 1863.

“Civil War Days” is one of the largest reenactments west of the Mississippi. The event will give visitors the opportunity to interact with the soldiers and civilians of the Civil War and witness the camps of the Union and Confederacy.

Visitors will see how civilians lived and served with the armies of 1863, in what was referred to as the first “modern war.” The event will serve both as an educational experience and an unforgettable trip back into history.

The Bass Bowl Committee committed to providing 30 “man days,” or an average of 10 workers for each of the three days the CHAS needs help.

“Friday, the 15th, is the set up day, and then the next two days will be the actual event,” according to Bass Bowl President Rob Ishihara. “They need staff to help with setting up, parking, collecting entrance fees, hauling off garbage, bringing hay and water to the horses, and other needs. There will be plenty of time for event staff to enjoy the event and watch the battles. It’s light work, and it will be rewarding, educational, and it will be helping with Lake County athletics. We need volunteers to fulfill our part of the bargain.”

Besides historical reenactments, the CHAS is involved with horse rescue.

They use Standardbred trotters rescued from California's tracks and retrains them as artillery horses. These horses now live on a lush 40-acre ranch in the Salinas Valley. They presently use more than 30 horses that were destined for an unpleasant demise.

These ex-trotter race horses are used exclusively by CHAS and given a second chance at life in the service of the "Army." Horse enthusiasts can help support them by "sponsoring" a favorite horse and contributing toward its care.

In addition to bringing Civil War history to Lake County, the Bass Bowl is planning a series of events leading up the big rivalry game between the Clear Lake High Cardinals and the Kelseyville High Knights.

Events include a bass tournament, a Miss Bass Bowl Beauty Pageant, a Kiss My Bass fundraiser and a Bass Bowling event at Lakeside Lanes.

The half time of the Bass Bowl will have a bowl-like half time extravaganza not seen before in Lake County. Net proceeds of these events are to be split between the two schools' athletic departments.

“Funding for local sports programs is nearly nonexistent,” according to Bass Bowl Commissioner Boone Bridges. “Without strong local support, they will go away, and that would be a disaster. These events will go a long way to keep these schools athletic programs going.”

The “Civil War Days” event is just minutes from the ocean, along the Russian River. “The location is beautifully forested, with lots of hiking trails,” Smoley said. “We can use all the help we can get. It is the perfect opportunity for a family to volunteer to help while learning about history.”

Volunteers and event staff will be camping next to the event grounds. To volunteer to assist in this event, contact Phil Smoley at 707-264-4905 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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After the Air Force stopped using UC-123K Provider aircraft to spray herbicide on the jungles of Vietnam, some of those aircraft, their spray tanks removed, were reassigned in 1972 to new missions at three stateside bases.

For the next decade Air Force reservists flew and maintained them. Last month one of the post-war crewmen, disabled retiree Maj. Wesley T. Carter, 64, of McMinnville, Ore., had a heart attack requiring surgery, and also learned that he has prostate cancer.

A medical service officer, Carter said he thought about the many hours he had served aboard foul-smelling C-123 “spray birds” after the war, flying out of Westover Air Force Base, Mass. So in recent weeks he conducted online searches, looking for any report of lingering Agent Orange contamination on these planes assigned Reserve missions until 1982.

What Carter found alarmed him, enough he told me, that he began to contact crewmen from his squadron. The first five he reached had prostate cancer, Carter said. He heard of others who had died, most of them from more diseases that Department of Veterans Affairs presumes, at least for veterans of Vietnam, were caused by Agent Orange exposure.

“I know it’s just anecdotal,” Carter said last Friday, “but today I learned that our wing commander, Brig. Gen. Mike Walker, our vice commander, Col. Lou Paskowitz, and our hospital commander, Col. (Dr.) Warner Jones, all died of prostate cancer.”

Carter started a blog, www.c123kcancer.blogspot.com, with links to reports and memos referencing dioxin contamination aboard C-123s flown by reservists after the war from Westover, Pittsburgh (Pa.) Air Reserve Base and Rickenbacker Air Force Base in Ohio.

One of the first disturbing documents found, Carter said, deals with a famous C-123, nicknamed “Patches” during the war because it was hit so often by enemy fire during spraying runs. Patches was one of three C-123s, among 16 aircraft of the 731st Tactical Airlift Squadron, known to crewmen as having sprayed herbicide during the war.

Carter found a report from 1994 showing that before Patches was put on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, an analysis for toxins found that it was “heavily contaminated with PCDD,” or polychlorinated dibenzodioxin, a human carcinogen.

So work crews that prepared Patches for display had to wear hazardous material suits and respirators, and the public would not be allowed to touch it. Yet Carter and crewmates had flown it often. He remembered its strong smell, like the inside of one Halloween mask he had worn as a kid.

By filing an IG complaint, Carter wants the Air Force to explain why, after learning C-123s flown by reservists were toxic, the service did not warn former crewmen of their exposure and possible health risks.

Retired Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. John O. Harris of Mashpee, Mass., flew 2700 hours as a C-123 command pilot for the 731st, from 1973 to 1981. Almost 400 of those hours were in Patches or in one of the other squadron aircraft that had sprayed in Vietnam. Harris, 67, has diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, both conditions on VA’s list of 14 AO presumptive diseases.

“We knew it was there,” Harris said of residual herbicide on some C-123 aircraft. “You could smell it on a hot day, or a cold day when the heaters were running. You could smell it so bad you couldn’t stand it.”

Harris said he often flew with cockpit windows open. He compares the smell to wasp or roach spray.

Vietnam vets in the squadron identified it as Agent Orange, Harris said. But no one back then understood the dangers of compounds used in the war to defoliant jungles and kill crops.

Neither Harris nor Carter served in Vietnam. Both men now believe reservists who flew or maintained these aircraft should be treated like Vietnam veterans with regard Agent Orange-related presumptive diseases for when filing VA compensation claims or seeking survivor benefits.

Several years ago Harris did file a claim for his diabetes, citing post-war exposure to Agent Orange on his missions with the 731st. He provided flight logs listing hours aboard “spray bird” aircraft. Both his claim and his appeal were denied, Harris said, because he had not served in Vietnam.

Harris later remembered that, while flying F-4 Phantoms out of Thailand during the war, he had a two-hour refueling stop at Da Nang. He even recalled the guy he chatted with at the airfield that day. After finding him and supplying VA with his statement, Harris qualified for disability pay.

“Two hours on the ground with no Agent Orange in sight trumped 11 years and 400 hours of definitive exposure flying spray UC-123s,” he said. Harris figures he caught a break and others haven’t. So he has joined Carter’s quest to find more colleagues and notifying of them of toxin exposure. They want to help those with AO-related ailments get VA care and compensation, and for spouses of colleagues who have died from these conditions get VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.

Besides the memo showing Patches was toxic, Carter learned the government in 1996 stopped a contract to sell some of these C-123s because of contamination. Another report indicates Air Force struggled over how to dispose of these aircraft, worried that even burying them could contaminate the ground. Some officials told Carter that last year the service tore apart and melted down remaining C-123 aircraft.

Asked to comment on this, on Carter’s complaint and his blog, an Air Force spokesman, Jonathan Stock, said the service “is going to look into these claims” but can’t make any immediate comment. Also, VA Press Secretary Josh Taylor said VA will “carefully review this matter.”

Marshall Hanson with Reserve Officers Association added, “This cadre of Agent Orange casualties needs to be recognized for the contamination risks they have been exposed to, similar to crews that initially flew the same C-123 aircraft. Agent Orange presumption needs to be reexamined to include all those who were exposed outside the Vietnam territories, both in the Air Force and the Navy.”

To comment, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., write to Military Update, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA, 20120-1111 or visit: www.militaryupdate.com.

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The Clearlake Police Department said 51-year-old Kevin Quinn of Clearlake died shortly after he was shot multiple times by 67-year-old James Mitchell.

“They've had previous issues,” Clearlake Police Sgt. Tim Hobbs told Lake County News on Sunday afternoon.

Hobbs said that Quinn had worked for Mitchell a few years ago, noting, “They weren't on good terms then.”

Hobbs' report on the incident explained that at 2 a.m. Sunday Mitchell was asleep in his residence in the 14200 block of Olympic Drive when Quinn allegedly drove a 1994 Chevrolet Silverado pickup into the front of Mitchell's home.

Hobbs said Mitchell armed himself with a handgun and went to the area of his residence where he heard the crash. When Mitchell went into the room he reportedly was confronted by Quinn, who had gotten out of the pickup.

Quinn allegedly advanced toward Mitchell in a threatening manner while making threats to kill him, Hobbs said.

Mitchell attempted to flee his own residence, and as he was trying to get out of the house Quinn caught up to him, Hobbs said.

Mitchell fired his handgun at Quinn and struck him multiple times before going outside of the residence to notify police, according to Hobbs' report.

Officer Travis Lenz, who was on patrol in the area, saw Mitchell walking out to Olympic Drive while holding a handgun and contacted him, Hobbs said.

Lenz was unaware of the shooting or the crash, said Hobbs, adding that at the same time a Clearlake Police dispatcher was on the phone with a person who was reporting hearing a possible vehicle crash and gunshots in the area.

Sgt. Tim Celli and Officer Ryan Peterson arrived at the scene within one minute and found Quinn inside the residence, suffering from life-threatening injuries from what appeared to be gunshot wounds, said Hobbs.

Hobbs said medical personnel from the Lake County Fire Protection District were dispatched to the scene and arrived a short time later. A REACH helicopter also was dispatched to the scene and landed at Haverty Field in Austin Park to transport Quinn.

Quinn died at the scene of his injuries before he could be transferred to the helicopter, Hobbs said.

Hobbs said Clearlake Police detectives responded and took over the investigation.

Based on the investigation so far, Hobbs said it appears that Mitchell acted in self-defense and was justified in shooting Quinn.

Hobbs said that once the investigation is complete it will be sent to the District Attorney's Office for review, which he said is the standard procedure for handling such cases.

The Clearlake Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Det. Tim Alvarado at 707-994-8251.

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Andrew Serrano, 38, of Kelseyville, Calif., was arrested on Saturday, July 2, 2011, after he allegedly used his pickup to ram a vehicle driven by his estranged wife. Lake County Jail photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Police officers on Saturday arrested a Kelseyville man who allegedly used his pickup to ram another vehicle.

Andrew James Serrano, 38, was arrested on three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, a felony count of hit-and-run resulting in injury, a misdemeanor violation of a domestic violence restraining order and two misdemeanor violations of civil harassment restraining orders, according to police.

Lakeport Sgt. Jason Ferguson said Serrano was taken into custody at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Serrano had allegedly rammed his Chevrolet pickup into the side of a Chevy Tahoe driven by Lesa Serrano while on Main Street in Lakeport, according to Ferguson. Lesa Serrano is reported to be Andrew Serrano's estranged wife.

Ferguson said Lesa Serrano and her two passengers – sisters Katrina and Kayla Hickey – contacted police to report that Andrew Serrano rammed into their vehicle.

They alleged that he caused major damage to the Chevy Tahoe and, in the process, injured the Hickeys before he fled the scene, Ferguson said.

During the course of the investigation officers learned that Lesa Serrano had a domestic violence restraining order protecting her from Andrew Serrano, and that the Hickeys had civil harassment restraining orders against him also, according to Ferguson.

Ferguson said that officers also learned during the investigation that Andrew Serrano had allegedly circled the restaurant where Lesa Serrano was eating at three separate times before the ramming incident is alleged to have occurred.

Andrew Serrano was booked at the Hill Road Correctional Facility where his bail was set

at $250,000. He remained in custody on Sunday night, according to jail records.

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Cousins Sopheah Clark, age 9, and Jayce Curenton, age 8, proudly display donut peaches at the stone fruit stall of Reggie Dewsnup at the Lake County Farmers' Finest market at Steele Winery in Kelseyville, Calif., on Saturday, July 2, 2011. Photo by Esther Oertel.

Summer’s heart, I’m convinced, is a ripe, juicy peach.

These sumptuous beauties are piled high at farmers’ market stalls now with the California peach season in full swing from mid-June through September.

Whether round, flat, white or yellow, these fragrant, plump fruits called the name of many a farmers’ market shopper over the weekend, mine included.

I came home with a bag of carefully chosen specimens representing several peach types: sweet, mild white peaches; yellow peaches with a full-bodied, tangy taste; and gently-flavored donut peaches with their interesting, slightly squashed shape.

In my mind, peaches are as American as apple pie, synonymous with southern states such as Georgia. Their origins, however, lie at the other side of the world, in China, where peach cultivation can be traced back to the earliest days of Chinese culture.

Peaches were mentioned in Chinese writings that date back to the 10th century B.C., more than 3,000 years ago. Not surprisingly, they were a favorite of Chinese emperors and other royalty.

Pink peach blossoms graced the artwork of many an ancient Chinese painter.

A full 50 percent of the world’s peach crop is produced in modern-day China, reflecting a continuing love affair with this fruit. China is not the largest exporter of peaches, however, as most of their crop stays within their borders for local consumption. Who can blame them?

From China, they were introduced to Persia and the Mediterranean region via traders on the Silk Road. The name “peach,” in fact, derives from a Latin word meaning “Persian apple,” a misnomer arising from the belief that peaches originated in that area.

Cultivation of the peach spread from Europe to the Americas, and by the mid-1700s peaches were so plentiful here that, like me, botanists of the time thought of them as native plants.

Wild peaches, which are small, fuzzy and very tart, are found only in China and Tibet.

These peaches grown in Gridley, Calif. are piled at the stall of Reggie Dewsnup at the Lake County Farmers' Finest market at the Steele Winery on Saturday, July 2, 2011. Though not grown in Lake County, they're available at the market as an addition to the other types of produce grown locally. Dewsnup's peaches are also available at the Friday night farmers' market in Clearlake, Calif., sponsored by the Lake County Community Co-op. Photo by Esther Oertel.

Eating a peach is a sensuous experience, with sunset hues, sweet aromas and velvety skin engaging more than just the taste buds. If we’re lucky, a peach is juicy enough to perpetuate slurping and trickling of liquid down one’s arm.

Cultivated peaches are divided into clingstones and freestones, depending upon whether the flesh easily pulls away from the stone within. Both types can have either white or yellow flesh.

White-fleshed peaches have a lower level of acidity than their yellow-fleshed brethren, making them sweeter and milder. Yellow peaches are considered to be more flavorful, but with higher acidity, they have a bit more tang.

White-fleshed peaches tend to be favored in China, Japan and other Asian countries. Europeans and North Americans have historically chosen the yellow-fleshed type, though white peaches are gaining in popularity here.

Smooth-skinned nectarines are a cultivar group of peaches, not a cross between peaches and plums as is often erroneously believed. “Shaved peach” and “fuzzy-less peach” are a couple of the nicknames they sport. Nectarines are created via a recessive gene, sometimes springing from trees with fuzzy peaches.

Like peaches, nectarines can be clingstone or freestone, white or yellow.

The best way to store peaches is at room temperature, as refrigeration can diminish their flavor. Peaches will ripen if picked a day or two prior to full maturity; however, if picked earlier than that, chances are they won’t.

If you wish to hasten ripening, storing peaches in a paper bag for a day or so may help.

I’m currently developing a cooling soup for summer for a future culinary class made with grilled peaches, so any application utilizing the fruit in this state catches my eye.

In perusing a Jamie Oliver cookbook, I found a recipe for a salad with grilled peaches and goat cheese. He uses bresaola, a dried, cured Italian beef, in his version, but I think the sliced grilled peaches and bits of goat cheese on their own over a bed of arugula would also be a beautiful start to a meal.

Buyers flocked to purchase peaches and other summer fruit at the Lake County Farmers' Finest market at Steele Winery in Kelseyville, Calif. on Saturday, July 2, 2011. The market runs each Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to noon through October, rain or shine. Photo by Esther Oertel.

The peaches may be prepared in a grill pan on the stovetop or on an outdoor barbecue. Grill until peaches are just caramelized and grill marks show, which won’t take long.

Oliver suggests throwing some herbs in the fire to give the peaches a smoky, herbal taste if using the latter method, and I like that idea. Rosemary, thyme or tarragon would be perfect for flavoring the peaches in this way.

A simple vinaigrette dressing utilizing the same herbs would make a wonderful topping for the salad. Balsamic vinegar would be a nice choice for the acid component, as would lemon juice, as both pair well with peaches, arugula and goat cheese.

Vegetarian chef and cookbook maven Deborah Madison suggests serving delicate white peaches in lemon verbena syrup, and I think the recipe sounds lovely. To make the syrup, simmer sugar in water (say, 2 cups water with about half as much sugar) with a small handful of lemon verbena leaves until the sugar has dissolved. Cover and set aside for at least half an hour for the lemon verbena to infuse the syrup. Remove leaves and add peeled, sliced white peaches. Chill and garnish with fresh lemon verbena leaves.

A spiced peach topping may be made by cooking sliced peaches with sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, a little balsamic vinegar and cardamom pods. (These are strong, so go lightly with them.) Simmer together until the peaches are soft, and add some candied ginger at the end.

This lovely concoction should be stored in the fridge and may be used with pork or duck, over vanilla ice cream or spread on toast at breakfast. It can easily be frozen in zipper sealed bags for use when peaches are out of season.

If some diced shallots are added during the cooking process and a stronger vinegar is used, it becomes a nice chutney.

When I was a kid growing up in the family restaurant, we served a dessert called Peach Melba, a poached half peach with vanilla ice cream and fresh raspberry sauce. I enjoyed watching it go from the kitchen to the dining room with its alcohol-soaked flaming sugar cube on top.

This dessert was created by famed chef Auguste Escoffier in 1893 to honor Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba. In his version, Escoffier poached peaches in wine and honey and made a raspberry sauce with sugar and fresh berries. However it’s done, raspberries and vanilla ice cream are a fantastic match for peaches.

While peaches are not the powerhouse of nutrition that some fruits are, they have a very respectable amount of vitamin A, as well as being rich in potassium and a good source of fiber.

Whether peaches are eaten at height-of-season fresh and out of hand, baked in a cobbler, pie, or any number of desserts, or even combined with Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) for a Bellini cocktail, they’re the quintessential summer fruit. I hope you’ll savor their loveliness while they’re here.

Today’s recipe is one that furthers my fascination for grilled peaches. It comes to us from an article on grilling at the National Public Radio Web site, www.npr.org.

I especially love the cleverness of fashioning skewers from cinnamon sticks, and it’s nice to utilize outdoor cooking methods to minimize time in the kitchen during the summer heat. Bon appetit and enjoy!

Cinnamon-grilled peaches

4 large ripe freestone peaches

8 cinnamon sticks (each 3 inches long)

1 bunch fresh mint

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup bourbon

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 pinch salt

1 pint peach or vanilla ice cream (optional) for serving

Rinse the peaches and blot them dry with paper towels. Cut each peach in half along the crease, running your knife in a circular motion around the peach and cutting to the pit. Twist the halves in opposite directions to separate them. Using a spoon, pry out and discard the pit.

Cut each peach half in half. Using a pointed chopstick or metal skewer, make a starter hole in the center of each peach quarter, working from the pit side to the skin side. Skewer two peach quarters on each cinnamon stick, placing a mint leaf between the two quarters.

Combine the butter, brown sugar, bourbon, cinnamon, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Let the glaze boil until thick and syrupy, about five minutes.

Set up the grill for direct grilling and preheat to high.

When ready to cook, brush and oil the grill grate. Place the skewered peaches on the hot grate and grill until nicely browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side, basting with the bourbon and butter glaze. Scoop ice cream into bowls or martini glasses and arrange the peaches on top. Spoon any remaining glaze over the grilled peaches and serve at once.

Adapted from BBQ USA by Steven Raichlen. Copyright 2003 by Steven Raichlen.

Esther Oertel, the “Veggie Girl,” is a culinary coach and educator and is passionate about local produce. Oertel teaches culinary classes at Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., and The Kitchen Gallery in Lakeport, Calif., and gives private cooking lessons. She welcomes your questions and comments; e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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