Monday, 25 November 2024

Community

Troops receiving Operation Tango Mike care packages. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Task Force Pegasus Chaplain wrote, “Thank you so much for all the care packages to the soldiers serving here. We are so blessed to have so many great Americans show their support. From PVTs to COLs, all have stopped into the office to have a quick snack, grab some toiletries, and chat with their chaplain.

“So, thank you, thank you, thank you for your support. Make it a great day!”

On the third Thursday of every month, volunteers gather at 6 p.m. at Umpqua Bank, 805 11th St. in Lakeport o to prepare care packages for deployed military personnel.

Monthly shipping costs averaging at least $2,000, and items for care packages, are all covered through donations and fundraising. No government funding is provided.

The local effort began on behalf of local soldiers deployed to Afghanistan in March 2003. Troops from Lake and Mendocino counties are supported, as well as deployed personnel from across the United States.

At times, more than 150 monthly care packages have been shipped. Today, 80-100, and sometimes more, care packages are sent every month to troops in the Middle East, Africa, aboard ships and in many other countries.

Military families are supported as well. Many volunteers that support Operation Tango Mike have volunteered their assistance with home repairs, transportation and more.

With no base or military installation in the local area, folks who wish to support troops and their families gather via Operation Tango Mike. Military families are welcomed and are provided with emotional support, knowing that they and their loved ones are appreciated.

“Forget politics, support our troops,” is the mantra that has helped ensure that all are welcomed and appreciated at Operation Tango Mike functions. The effort does not involve politics and exists to support our troops and their families.

Packing parties are family friendly and children are encouraged to participate. Every care package is decorated with stickers and artwork by “the world’s greatest decorating crew” of children.

Troops express appreciation in thank you messages that are sent to Operation Tango Mike.

Major Robinson wrote, “I received your packages and gave them all out to the Soldiers and they were very grateful. It is great to still get support long after the bumper stickers have faded.”

The public is invited and encouraged to help celebrate and commemorate nineteen years of community effort. More than 24,000 care packages have been shipped.

On March 17, from 5 to 6 p.m., there will be an open house at Umpqua Bank. It will be an opportunity to pay a visit and learn more about Operation Tango Mike, read letters from troops, browse photos and get acquainted.

Delicious food will be served. Catering is generously being donated by Rosemary Martin of Rosey Cooks LLC.

The regular monthly packing party will take place at 6 p.m., and as holiday items are shipped one month in advance to ensure timely delivery, the March care packages will be Easter boxes.

You are invited to bring along any special treats, candies, correspondence or items you would like to include in care packages.

For further information or to add someone to the care package recipient list, please call 707-349-2838 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Although Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit remains in winter preparedness effective in Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Colusa, Yolo and Solano counties, and the requirement on Cal Fire permits needed for residential burning is lifted, lack of significant rain in 2022 has made much of the land ready for wildfire.

Cal Fire encourages and supports safe residential pile burning of forest residue by landowners; it is a crucial tool in reducing fire hazards but must be exercised with caution and preparedness.

State, federal, and local land management and fire agencies will also be utilizing this same window of opportunity to conduct prescribed burns aimed at improving forest health on private and public lands.

Residents wishing to burn must verify it is a permissive burn day prior to burning. Agriculture burns within the State Responsibility Area must be inspected by Cal Fire prior to burning until the end of fire season. Inspections may be required for burns other than agriculture burns. This can be verified by contacting your local air quality management district.

Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit would like to remind the public of the requirements for debris burning in State Responsibility Area.

The following are burning permit requirements, and must be adhered to when the requirement for permits is lifted:

For burning debris in small 4-feet x 4-feet piles:

• Maximum pile size 4 foot in diameter.
• Clear all flammable material and vegetation within 10-feet of the outer edge of pile.
• Keep a water supply close to the burning site.
• An adult should be in attendance with a shovel until the fire is out.
• No burning shall be undertaken unless weather conditions (particularly wind) are such that burning can be considered safe.

No household trash or garbage can be burned outdoors at residences. Dry, natural vegetation, grown on the property can still be burned outdoors in open piles, unless prohibited by local ordinances. Burning can only be done on permissive burn days.

Burn permits are only valid on “Permissive Burn Days” as determined by the State Air Resources Board or the local Air Pollution Control District.

Violations of any burning permit terms are a violation of state law (Public Resources Code 4421, 4422, 4423 And 4425).

To verify it is a permissive burn day prior to burning, contact the Lake County Air Quality Management District at 707-263-7000.

For more on residential burning and ways to burn safely visit https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/.

Ashton Kluttz, executive director of The Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa, California. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Redbud Audubon Society is pleased to announce that Ashton Kluttz, executive director of The Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa will be guest presenter on Thursday evening, March 17, starting at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

To register for the program, go to www.redbudaudubon.org and click on the registration link on the home page. The link will be sent to you the day of the meeting.

The Bird Rescue Center, located in Sonoma County, treats an average of 80 Lake County patients annually.

Kluttz reports that most of their osprey and bald eagle patients have come from Lake County in recent years.

An acorn woodpecker in care at the The Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa, California. Courtesy photo.

The hospital cares for close to 3,000 native birds annually. Patients are a combination of songbirds, raptors and water birds.

Eighty percent of the birds that come to the center have injuries that are a result of human-related interactions such as flying into windows, being electrocuted by utility wires, being hit by cars, being attacked by pet cats and more.

The center also receives hundreds of herons and egrets each year from the Ninth Street rookery located in downtown Santa Rosa.

The Bird Rescue Center was founded in 1976 and during the first few years, was an association of volunteers working from their homes.

A Cooper’s hawk The Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa, California. Courtesy photo.

In 1980, the center was granted permission to occupy a vacant Quonset hut on Sonoma County’s Chanate Road campus.

Kluttz completed her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies at Washington College in Maryland. She began her career as a wildlife rehabilitator in 2009 with the Marine Mammal Center in Marin County.

Her tenure with The Bird Rescue Center in Sonoma County began in 2010. Striving to provide the best care for local wildlife, she obtained her Registered Veterinary Technician certification in 2018, has co-authored a chapter on towhee care currently included in a wildlife care book for facilities around the world, and has served on the board for the California Council for Wildlife Rehabilitators that provides community, protocols, and information to all California wildlife facilities.

Everyone is urged to join this fascinating Zoom program to learn about The Bird Rescue Center and hear behind-the-scenes stories of bird rescue (particularly of Lake County patients), and unique avian observations from the last few years.

An osprey in care at the The Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa, California. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — On Saturday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Lake County Women’s Civic Club will be hosting its 27th annual Mad Hatters Luncheon fundraiser at Boutique Winery.

The event will include a lovely catered meal offering various cuisines from around the globe and attendees are encouraged to “dress the part” embracing the traditional ethnic attire of their choosing.

You can’t call yourself a fundraiser without a silent and live auction and that is where LCWCC is hoping that local businesses will walk tall this year. This is an opportunity to put their name on this community-driven fundraising effort that helps to meet needs around the entire county all year long.

If you are interested in purchasing tickets or a table please contact Kerry Moore at 707-364-6165.

If you are interested in donating a silent or live auction item to the fundraiser please contact Kim Baldwin at 707-349-7913.

The Lake County Women’s Civic Club is a nonprofit, tax exempt (#23-7101464) organization supported by a dedicated group of volunteers whose purpose is to raise funds for community projects.

Since 1921 the club has worked diligently to raise funds that are donated to community projects. These donations include senior projects, scholarships, city beautification, children’s health and welfare, and historical education.

This year they have budgeted for these items:

• Veterans Honor Guard;
• Hospice Services of Lake County;
• Hope Harbor/Elijah House;
• Family Resource Food Basket;
• Toys 4 Tots Toy Drive;
• Community relief at the boards discretion;
• Two $1,000 scholarships for graduating high school seniors;
• Members bring canned food items and donate money each meeting to be distributed to food cupboards around the lake;
• $10,000 donation to a worthy community project.

In recent years they have been able to contribute $10,000 each to these worthy causes (many more are not listed):
• Rocky/Jerusalem/Valley Fire Relief Fund.
• The Friends of the Library AND the Veterans Honor Guard.
• Victim Witness Program of Lake County for a heating and cooling system.
• Westside Community Park.

The group is hoping that this year, its 101st year of service, that its efforts will exceed prior years as there are so many needs across the county.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. — The Western Region Town Hall will meet on Wednesday, March 16.

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Habematolel community center, 9460 Main St. in Upper Lake.

Everyone is welcome to attend.



Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway volunteers can earn up to $250 a month to clear litter from California’s highways as part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s $1.1 billion Clean California program.

To learn more, visit the Clean California website at cleanca.com.

This News Flash is the 237th in a series of videos highlighting Caltrans’ activities that present the wide-ranging and critical work that Caltrans does to enhance California’s economy and livability.

To see more of these and other videos, search for #CaltransNewsFlash on Twitter or visit the Caltrans News Flash page.

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