Wednesday, 27 November 2024

Community

At its April meeting the California Fish and Game Commission acted on several issues affecting California’s natural resources.

The following are just a few items of interest from this week’s meeting held in Monterey and Trinidad, with an option for the public to join via Zoom.

The commission adopted a regulation prohibiting the use of hydraulic pumps to take clams, sand crabs and shrimp.

This regulation was previously adopted as a temporary, emergency regulation and is now adopted through the standard rulemaking process.

The commission adopted the Pink (Ocean) Shrimp Fishery Management Plan, consistent with the Marine Life Management Act.

The plan’s provisions align California’s pink shrimp management with that of Oregon and Washington, and puts the commercial pink shrimp trawl fishery on the path to be the first state-managed fishery in California with a Marine Stewardship Council sustainability certification.

The commission determined that listing southern California steelhead as threatened or endangered under the California Endangered Species Act may be warranted.

This action commences a one-year status review to be completed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife during which southern California steelhead is protected as a candidate species.

However, the commission also voted to allow take of southern California steelhead under certain circumstances for projects that serve an immediate need and provide flood protection, public safety (including highways), or water supply or water treatment.

The commission voted unanimously to deny the petition requesting to ban bear hunting in California until three conditions were met, including conducting an empirical study to determine the state’s black bear population.

This was the first commission meeting held since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic with options for both in-person and virtual attendance.

At the meeting in Monterey, Commission President Samantha Murray, Vice President Erika Zavaleta and Commissioner Eric Sklar were present. Commissioner Jacque Hostler-Carmesin attended from a second public location in Trinidad, Calif. There is one vacant position on the commission.

The agenda for this meeting along with supporting information is available on the commission website. An archived audio file will be available in the coming days.

The next meeting of the full commission is scheduled for June 15 to 16. Please see the commission website for details.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — Hospice Services of Lake County recognizes that caring for a loved one with dementia, Alzheimer’s or other neurocognitive disorder forever changes the lives of families and caregivers.

There can be devastating effects on those providing long-term care, from financial pressures and legal quandaries to health problems and emotional turmoil.

A free, two-part workshop designed for caregivers is slated for Saturdays, April 30 and May 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 1862 Parallel Drive.

Lunch will be provided for participants, and arrangements for respite care may be available with advance notice.

This workshop is intended to provide a supportive educational opportunity to help participants increase their understanding of caregiving and to feel less isolated by increasing awareness of resources and widening their support systems.

In this two-part series, individuals who care for persons with dementia and other neurocognitive disorders will be given tools to increase their abilities to understand the challenging dementia-related behaviors, to communicate and remain “connected” with the family members they are caring for, and to understand common causes for resistance to allowing caregivers to provide personal care.

Workshop instructor Alexis Glidewell, LCSW, will help participants explore feelings of denial and guilt and will offer tools for handling frustration that may occur for the 24/7 caregiver.

She will offer suggestions for self-care activities and encourage participants to share their own successful tools for maintaining energy and compassion while providing care for a loved one or special client.

Glidewell, a member of the Geriatric Medicine Clinic in Santa Rosa, is associated with the Redwood Caregivers Resource Center, sharing her expertise in teaching classes and facilitating workshops and support groups.

For more information about the workshop and to register, call 707-263-6222, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hospice Services of Lake County’s mission is to support people by providing the highest quality medical, emotional and spiritual care that helps patients and their families who are navigating the end-of-life journey. For more information, call Hospice Services of Lake County, 707-263-6222. Find us on Facebook or visit the organization’s website at www.lakecountyhospice.org.

Janine Smith-Citron is development director for Hospice Services of Lake County.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — Recent storms have triggered a mudslide on Forest Road M10 near Dixie Glade Campground.

Forest officials said Thursday they have closed the road about a quarter mile west of Fouts Springs.

Dixie Glade Campground and the Letts Lake area are not accessible from the eastside of the forest.

Officials ask visitors and residents to avoid traveling in the area until it can be cleared.

Unstable terrain is one of several hazards in a burned landscape.

Post-fire areas are subject to landslides, rockfall, erosion, debris flows and flooding in heavy rain, snow or wind.

There are also likely multiple downed trees across roads and trails.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Countywide Community Visioning Forum Planning Committee will next meet via Zoom on Tuesday, April 26.

The group will meet at 6 p.m.

Access the Zoom meeting here.

The meeting ID is 998 6256 1686, the pass code is 234096. It can be accessed via one-tap mobile at +16699006833,,99862561686#,,,,*234096# US.

From any mobile or landline phone, you may also dial 1-669-900-6833, and enter the Meeting ID and Passcode above, when prompted.

To contribute to this meeting from a phone, press *9 to raise your hand, and *6 to unmute, once you are recognized to speak.

The public is encouraged to attend and participate via Zoom. The full meeting agenda for this meeting and further resources can be accessed here.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office reported that it needs bilingual poll workers to work on Election Day, June 7.

There is a shortage of poll workers who can provide language assistance in Spanish.

A poll worker is an essential component to every polling place location on Election Day.

Registered voters, U.S. citizens eligible to register to vote in California, and legal permanent residents (green card holders) who are interested in this important work are encouraged to apply at the Lake County Registrar of Voters office 325 N Forbes St, Lakeport or phone 707-263-2372 for information.

The Registrar of Voters Office’s goal is to build a strong capable workforce of polling place officials who are readily available to work on Election Day.

Anyone who is interested in community service and has the time to serve as a poll worker is urged to apply.

The workday is from 6 a.m. to approximately 10 p.m., with breaks for lunch and dinner. Each poll worker is asked to attend a special class of instruction for election officers prior to each election.

Please contact the Lake County Registrar of Voters office today to volunteer to work as a poll worker. Poll workers earn an Election Day stipend as well as a stipend for attending the Election Officers Instruction Class.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Caltrans is celebrating Earth Day with free Dump Day events throughout California on Saturday, April 23 — including three in District 1.

Caltrans welcomes you to bring nonhazardous, unwanted items to the nearest Dump Day event for free disposal.

The statewide Dump Day events are made possible through Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative, a sweeping $1.1 billion, multiyear cleanup effort led by Caltrans to keep roads and waterways free of litter, create thousands of jobs and transform state and local public spaces through beautification efforts.

"The best way to keep California clean is not to trash it in the first place,” said Caltrans Acting Director Steven Keck. “Clean California’s goal is to make sure trash never reaches our roadsides or waterways. These Dump Day events discourage illegal dumping along highways and roads by giving people throughout the state a convenient place to dispose of bulky items safely, properly, and at no cost.”

Caltrans will have staff on-site to accept approved debris free of charge. Dump Day events will take place at the following locations in Lake and Mendocino counties:

• Ukiah Railroad Depot Lot, accepting tires only, 237 E. Perkins, Entrance on East Clay Street off Main Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until capacity is reached at the site.

• C & S Waste Transfer Station, accepting tires, mattresses and furniture only, 230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until capacity is reached at the site.

• SLRR Recycling Center, accepting tires, mattresses and furniture only, 16015 Davis St., Clearlake from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until capacity is reached at the site.

Free Dump Day collection is limited to the household items listed above. No construction materials, business waste, hazardous waste, e-waste, treated wood waste, or asbestos of any type will be accepted.

Caltrans reminds motorists to properly secure and tarp all cargo loads prior to driving. Transporting unsecured loads is unsafe, illegal, and pollutes California's roads and waterways. Loads that are not tied down, enclosed, or secured by tarps or other means, will not be accepted.

Tips for securing your load:

• Completely cover loads with tarps or cargo nets. Debris can escape from gaps.
• Remove loose material and trash before driving.
• Don't overload — keep materials level with your truck bed.
• Put light items lower, tie large items to the vehicle for traffic safety.

Caltrans has hosted 72 free Dump Day events since July and collected more than 18,000 cubic yards (more than 300 tons) of trash. Items collected include 7,719 tires, 1,973 mattresses, 804 appliances (including 295 refrigerators), and a hot tub.

Since launching Clean California in July, Caltrans has removed more than 536,000 cubic yards of litter from state highways — the equivalent of 9,000 tons or enough to fill 164 Olympic-size swimming pools — and hired 678 new team members as part of Clean California, including 526 maintenance workers who collect litter and remove graffiti.

For more information, visit https://cleancalifornia.dot.ca.gov/.

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