Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Community

SACRAMENTO – The State Senate last Wednesday voted 28-12 to approve Assembly Joint Resolution (AJR) 62, a measure expressing California lawmakers’ support for efforts to recover and preserve imperiled leatherback and loggerhead sea turtle populations. AJR 62 is authored by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco).


North Coast Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) is one of AJR 62’s co-authors. In presenting the measure for last Wednesday’s vote, Wiggins told her colleagues that “AJR 62 urges the National Marine Fisheries Service to delay issuing new permits for long-line fishing, until pending endangered species act studies on the decline of sea turtle populations are completed.


“Long-line fishing for swordfish results in a ‘by-catch’ rate of nearly 50% of other fish and marine animals, such as the threatened and endangered sea turtle,” Wiggins added.


“That is why the Department of Fish and Game and the Coastal Commission have been opposed to a new swordfish fishery, until the Endangered Species Act status and critical habitats of these magnificent sea turtles are established,” Wiggins said. “Unfortunately, the Fisheries Service is poised to move forward with issuing new permits any day now. The endangered leatherback sea turtle has survived for over 100 million years; certainly the Fisheries Service can wait a bit longer for more complete scientific information.”


The Assembly approved AJR 62 on June 9. In his testimony, Assemblyman Leno noted that “these turtles eat jellyfish along the California coast after a 6,000-mile swim from their nesting beaches in Indonesia. Populations of the Pacific Leatherback a 100-million-year-old species that outlived the dinosaurs have declined by approximately 95 percent in the last 25 years. Populations of Pacific Loggerheads have declined by more than 80 percent during the same period.


“Long-line fishing for swordfish involves the setting of fishing lines with thousands of hooks, across miles of ocean, and at depths where sea turtles swim,” Leno added. “The catch using this method brings in by weight approximately 50 percent swordfish, and 50 percent other fish, sharks, sea birds, seals, dolphins, other marine mammals, and sea turtles including the endangered leatherback sea turtle.


“Injury and drowning from interactions with long-line fishing gear targeting swordfish is a direct contributor to these sea turtles’ rapid decline and potential extinction,” Leno said.


AJR 62 urges the National Marine Fisheries Service to delay approval of these new federal swordfish permits until:


  • The Pacific Leatherback’s critical habitat is established;

  • The Endangered Species Act status of the North Pacific Loggerhead is determined;

  • Critical habitat is designated for the loggerhead, should it be up-listed to “endangered” status.


“The Pacific leatherback could become extinct within 10-20 years if existing fishery by-catch rates of these sea turtles are not reduced,” Leno said. “Waiting approximately 18 months until the endangered status and critical habitat are established is simply the prudent thing to do.”


Wiggins represents California’s 2nd Senate District, which includes Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties. Visit her Web site at http://dist02.casen.govoffice.com/.


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CLEARLAKE OAKS – The first Amethodist Idol Talent Search and All-American Cookout takes place on Saturday, July 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. pm at the Clearlake Oaks Community United Methodist Church on the Plaza in The Oaks.


What could be more American for a traditional July 4 barbecue than hot dogs and apple pie? The cookout will follow a star-packed show featuring Elvis, Johnny Cash, Dean Martin, Patsy Cline, Elton John and many more, all to benefit the Thornton-Canady Community Center and the Li’l Acorns Preschool.


You be the judge! Winners for fan favorite, best new artist, best costume and lifetime achievement award to be chosen by number of $1 audience votes collected for each contestant.


Advance tickets are only $15 each for this musical comedy directed by Kim Young and meal by Mike Beck and Co. For tickets call 350-3590.


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SACRAMENTO – The State Assembly voted 43-28 Monday to approve Senate Bill 1431, legislation by Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) to enable the state Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to expand the use of conservation easements to protect state parklands.


The Senate approved SB 1431 in April, meaning the bill has been sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his consideration.


SB 1431 clarifies that DPR is allowed to acquire a conservation easement if DPR determines that it is necessary to protect a unit of the state park system from an incompatible use or to preserve and enhance the natural resource, cultural, or historic value of a state park unit.


The Wiggins bill would also enable DPR to make grants to a state or local government agency, or a nonprofit, to purchase and hold a conservation easement with funds that have been appropriated to the department for land acquisitions. Grant recipients would be required to monitor and enforce the easement and agree to restrict the use of the land in perpetuity.


“As the population of our state continues to grow, and urban growth expands into previously undeveloped areas, additional pressures are being placed on the resources of the State Parks and Recreation system,” Wiggins said.


“DPR is authorized to purchase land for the purpose of protecting parks from development and other impending threats, but this solution is not always economically feasible,” Wiggins added. “An easement is a good tool for the department to use to preserve the state park system; it costs less, and also allows the land to remain in the hands of the private land owner. Further, it defends the land from incompatible use issues, and it relieves the department from incurring maintenance costs."


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SPRING VALLEY – The Spring Valley subdivision of Clearlake Oaks has been Dealing with an infestation of mosquitoes.


Vector Control (previously mosquito abatement) tested for the little critters, and discovered that the traps caught the largest number of inland floodwater mosquitoes that they had seen in a long time.


This particular mosquito larva is laid in flood ponds, but can hibernate in the dry pond soil For up the three years, then hatches the next time the pond is filled with water. They love to bite humans, and can fly up to five miles to find a victim.


Spring Valley is the only area in Lake County with this problem, so Vector Control began spraying along the roadways very early in the morning (like at 2 a.m.) to try to control the situation.


Their first spraying on June 13 reduced the number in the traps by 50 percent. They may have to spray through August.


The residents are very happy to have some relief from the swarms of mosquitoes that they were dealing with whenever they went outside.


Win Cary lives in Spring Valley.


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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST – The U.S. Forest Service surplus vehicle and equipment sale previously scheduled for next week has been postponed because of heavy involvement by all personnel in the fire fighting activities currently underway on all four national forests.


The surplus sale for items on the Klamath, Mendocino, Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forests will be rescheduled for later this year.


An announcement will be made when the sale is scheduled. For additional information please contact the Mendocino National Forest, 825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, telephone 530-934-1119.


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KELSEYVILLE – Smoke in the air did not discourage attendance at this year's Home Wine Makers Festival on Saturday, June 28, according to Paul Brewer, president of Clear Lake Performing Arts, primary sponsor of the event.


Brewer said that attendance exceeded last year's figures, and participation by both amateur and professional wine makers increased substantially.


He added that the introduction of a system of discounted advance ticket sales also helped to stimulate attendance


It is anticipated that, for the first time in its six-year history, Winefest revenues will top $10,000.


The festival, which is co-sponsored by the Kelseyville Business Association and the Lake County Wine Growers Association, is CLPA's major fundraiser with all net proceeds going to support the local symphony, its youth orchestra, scholarships and a regular concert series. Other major supporters are Sears, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Westamerica Bank, the Specialty Care and Surgery Center and Nestegg Investment Consulting.


Suzanne Tunzi, chair of the judges panel, said that there was universal agreement among the seven experts tasting and rating the homemade wines, that quality is improving each year, and that different varietals are adding to the experience of attendees.


"Our visitors had the chance to taste wines like Monvedre and Columbard that we've not had in prior winefests, and we also saw quite a number of interesting blends," she said.


Craig Renaud, nationally known wine critic and broker and author of "Great American Wines: The Wine Rebel's Manual" joined a panel of local experts in judging 76 entries from some two dozen home wine makers. One of the chapters in his book notes that traditional wine judging is far too complicated, and outlined a simplified method.


The judges, consisting of Charley Hassom of Snows Lake Vineyard, Jack Vos of Rob Roy restaurant, Rodney Duncan of Duncan Vineyard, Stephanie Cruz-Green of Focus on Wine, Valerie Ramirez of Wildhurst Vineyards and Eric Stine of Langtry Estate and Vineyard all agreed to adopt Renaud's method.


Once initial judging was completed, winning entries were re-tasted in order to decide which wines were best in show in red and white categories.


Winner of the former was Dennis and Marisa Koenig of San Mateo for their 2006 Merlot; for the whites, Bill and Susan Laymon of Lower Lake won for a 2007 French Columbard.


There were a number of multiple winners, led by Kelseyville's Tom and Nancy Harty, with three – two silvers and a bronze. One silver was for their 2006 Merlot, with fruit from Snows Lake Vineyard, while the second was for a 2006 Italian blend utilizing grapes from DeVoto vineyards. The bronze was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from Snows Lake Vineyard and Zinfandel from Beringer.


Many of the winemakers rely on donations of winegrapes from local growers, who participate in order to support CLPA's music activities in Lake County.


Other multiple winners were Renee Miller of San Bruno, San Mateo County, who took a gold for her 2006 Merlot, and a silver for a 2004 Syrah; Paul Spillane of Clearlake Highlands, with a gold for his 2006 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from Beringer Vineyards and Syrah from Paul Smith Vineyard, and a bronze for his 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon also from Beringer. Kelseyville's June and Conn Murray won gold for their 2006 Sangiovese donated by DeVoto Vineyards, and a silver for an 2006 Merlot made from fruit contributed by Honeycutt Vineyard.


Single ribbons were awarded to David and Cheryl Lucido, who took a gold ribbon for their 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon and to Kirk DeAlba, Dean Whitecotton and Gerich Fellerman of St. Helena who won the silver for their 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon.


The popular Peoples Choice award, voted on by all attendees, was won in a complete sweep by the "Howling Coyote" home winery of the Robert Greco family of Kelseyville. Their lavishly outfitted booth, complete with comfortable furniture, an ornate bar, a multicolored Harley Davidson motorcycle and a metal-sculptured howling coyote, was hands-down winner in the Best Booth category, while their colorful labels depicting their howling signature mascot was judged best label.


The festival goers disagreed with the judges "Best in Show" decision and named Howling Coyote's Syrah as the event's best wine.


Vicky Maley, chair of the silent auction and raffle committee, said nearly $5,000 was generated from the many prizes awarded by some 70 Lake County businesses and individuals.


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Upcoming Calendar

19Mar
03.19.2024 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Board of Supervisors
19Mar
03.19.2024 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Lakeport City Council
22Mar
03.22.2024 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
‘Steel Magnolias’
23Mar
03.23.2024 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
‘Steel Magnolias’
24Mar
03.24.2024 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
‘Steel Magnolias’
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

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