California Water Service Co., which owns Lucerne's water system, is proposing a rate increase that would take effect later this year after the town's water plant upgrades are completed.

The California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing at 7 p.m. May 7 at the Lucerne Senior Center, 10^th and Country Club, according to Lucerne Community Water Organization President Craig Bach.

To sign a petition contact Bach, 274-3346. Visit the group's Web site at www.lcwo.org.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

LUCERNE – Lucerne Friends for Locally Owned Water (FLOW) will hold a meeting the first week of April.

FLOW will be meeting April 3 at 7 p.m. at the Lucerne Senior Center. The public is welcome.

The group advocates on water issues on behalf of local residents.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

Kim Clymire (far right) stands with his mighty crew of local heroes from the Lake County Parks Department in front of a packed house at the Northshore Business Association meeting. Courtesy photo.

NORTHSHORE – At a recent meeting of the Northshore Business Association, 12 of Lake County’s unsung heroes were honored in front of a full house.

Kenny Parlet, president of the Northshore Business Association, and the entire membership showed their appreciation to the 12 Lake County Park Department workers who have played such an important part in improving the Northshore.

This entire group of fine young men and women, under the leadership of Public Services Director Kim Clymire and Parks Superintendent Dana Smalley, has literally been everywhere working feverishly to improve the entire Northshore area, but particularly on the new, the existing and the expanded county parks.

This amazing crew has been a dynamic force rushing up and down highway 20 tearing down, removing and replacing playground equipment, pulling up, removing and replacing sod. They have been removing, improving and installing rest rooms, along with irrigation systems and have just finished the latest in a series of artistic and functional lighting systems in Nice and Lucerne.

They have worked in conjunction with the Northshore Business Association to remove the old Lucerne welcome signs and just finished the impressive, permanent new ones. The efficiency of this tiny band of committed workers is heroic indeed, and far exceeds normal expectations.

The tiny Triangle Park in Nice has been entirely stripped of weeds and is pristine in appearance. The new Nylander’s Park in Clearlake Oaks has essentially appeared overnight by the hands of this mighty crew, complete with benches, barbecues, tables and the beautiful new sod. The artistry of the park will soon be complete, as the crew surrounds this project with a handsome, rustic stonewall.

What Dana and his crew have done in such a short time is nothing short of miraculous! These men and woman have not only transformed the Highway 20 corridor, but all the while have continued to maintain and improve the other existing 22 or so parks in our county parks system.

The 12 park workers and their leaders Dana Smalley and Don Walsh were all treated to breakfast, given Awards of Appreciation and a small gift for their outstanding and extraordinary efforts.

It is indeed a pleasure to see inspired workers who seem to love what they do, and take so much pride in their work, and get so much done, in so little time.

The honored group of heroes included Parks Superintendent Dana Smalley, Parks Department lead maintenance worker Don Walsh, Bill Chapin, Vince McIntosh, Michelle Rice, Marc Giberson, Javier Batres, Anthony Borba, Brendon Full, Benjamin De Luna, Jennifer Lyon and Thomas Mihalenko.

All of us in Lake County owe these fine people a great deal of gratitude for their incredible efficiency and passion in doing what is required and much, much more!

Kim Clymire, head of the Public Services Department – which includes Waste Management, Buildings and Grounds, Museum, Parks and Recreation and special projects – is very proud of his great staff, and all of us from the Northshore Business Association salute our local heroes from the Lake County Parks Division!

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American Poets as a month-long celebration of poetry with the goal of raising awareness about poetry.

Since 1996 the celebration of National Poetry Month has grown into one of the largest literary celebrations in the world.

To celebrate National Poetry Month consider listening to live Webcasts of poetry on the Web, joining a Poetry Book club, or attending local poetry events here in Lake County.

Heading down to the Lakeport Library and checking out the poetry materials they have on display is also a simple way to celebrate poetry.

For more information about National Poetry Month visit www.poets.org, the Web site of the Academy of American Poets.

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday noon to 8 p.m.; telephone 263-8817.

Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake, is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday noon to 8 p.m.; telephone 994-5115.

Middletown Library, 21267 Calistoga Road, is open Tuesday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; telephone 987-3674.

Upper Lake Library, 310 Second St., is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 1 p.m. to 6 pm, and Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; telephone 275-2049.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

Linda Waterstraat chaired the effort to put the Daffodil Tea together. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club, members of the Mendo-Lake District and California Garden Clubs Inc. and invited guests from other clubs celebrated the coming of spring and friendship with their Annual "Daffodil Tea," which was held on March 18 at the Bachelor Valley Grange in Upper Lake.

Mistress of Ceremonies Joanne Jameson welcomed guests who enjoyed a wonderful luncheon served by 17 hostesses. Beautiful daffodils were displayed in both small arrangements on the tables and larger arrangements around the room by each hostess.

A wall was decorated with daffodil paintings created by the students in a second grade class at Lakeport Elementary School. Member Pat Hopper, serves as a volunteer art instructor in that classroom.

An educational display of more than 35 identified daffodil species was provided by members Sharon Thorne, June Beto, Heide Thomason and Ann Blue. Daffodils were from Sharon Thorne's garden where more than 1,500 bulbs grow on her property.

Many other daffodils for arrangements were provided by Renker Farms in Kelseyville.

Shirley Estrem was recognized for her 4-foot-tall basket arrangements of daffodils, forsythia, and pussy willows. In addition, the Ka-ba-tin Redbud Arrangers provided more beauty with their outstanding floral arranging talents.

Chairperson for the event, Linda Waterstraat, wishes to thank the table hostesses and club members who helped in so many ways to make this event a success.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

SB 1431 seeks to clarify 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. It also defends the land from incompatible use issues, and it relieves the department from incurring maintenance costs."

SB 1431 will next be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}