NORTH COAST, Calif. – Ten science grants were announced this month to collect ecological and socioeconomic information on nearshore ecosystems inside and outside North Coast marine protected areas (MPAs), as the first step in launching a comprehensive baseline monitoring program for the region.

Scientists, fishermen, tribal governments and citizen groups from 31 organizations will work together to develop a baseline of ocean conditions and human uses.

An additional grant will be announced in early 2014.

Over the course of the next three years, projects will monitor habitats including kelp forests, rocky shores and beaches as well as commercially important fish populations and iconic seabirds.

Projects will also document human uses and the socioeconomic dimensions of MPAs, including changing patterns of fishing and recreational ocean use, and examine patterns of ocean currents across the whole region.

“We are committed to working with the North Coast community to expand our understanding of the region, and establish a baseline for evaluating the performance of the MPA network over time,” said Erin Meyer, an associate scientist from the California Ocean Science Trust, one of the collaborating partners launching this program.

The North Coast is the first MPA baseline program in the state to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge (TEK).

Through a collaboration among Smith River Rancheria, InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, Trinidad Rancheria, and the Wiyot Tribe, traditional knowledge will be gathered through interviews and archival research, and shared as an integral part of understanding historical and current ocean conditions in the region.

“This project is not only important because tribal perspectives and knowledge will be, perhaps for the first time ever, integrated into the state’s resource management scheme. It is also important because it is completely tribally-driven and relies on an approach that respects the cultural and political sovereignty of each participating Tribe,” said Megan Rocha, project lead on behalf of Smith River Rancheria.

These initial awards are the culmination of 18 months of collaborative planning, informed by extensive input from the North Coast community and tribal governments.

Many local organizations and institutions, tribal governments (eight projects), and commercial and recreational fishermen (five projects) will participate in the program.

“I’ve invested many years of my life supporting community partnership-building during the MPA creation process for the North Coast region. I look forward to volunteering with the collaborative fisheries project to help contribute data that will show the benefits, or not, of the MPAs. The ocean is my church; I want to see that it stays healthy,” said Brandi Easter, member of the North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group and North Coast Community Liaison.

“The importance of long and short-term monitoring is extremely valuable to the overall management of our marine resources. Throughout the entire scoping and RFP process, the focus has been on what's best for our coastal environment. With the research projects now funded we can begin the work necessary to take the pulse of the habitats and species that are invaluable to people and, ultimately, the planet,” said Bill Lemos, member of the North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group and North Coast Community Liaison.

Baseline MPA monitoring provides a benchmark against which future MPA performance can be measured, and a more thorough understanding of the condition of ocean ecosystems and ocean-based human activities.

This information is vital to help inform adaptive management and guide long-term MPA monitoring. It provides a foundation for science-informed decision making on ocean issues including fisheries management and climate adaptation.

The North Coast region encompasses approximately 1,027 square miles of state waters from the California/Oregon border south to Alder Creek near Point Arena (Mendocino County).

A regional network of 20 MPAs and seven Special Closures went into effect on Dec. 19, 2012, completing California’s redesigned statewide network.

The North Coast MPA Baseline Program is overseen by a partnership among the California Ocean Protection Council, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Ocean Science Trust and California Sea Grant. The announced projects were solicited through a public call for proposals and selected through a competitive peer-review process.

Visit www.oceanspaces.org to view descriptions of the awarded projects, receive news and updates about the baseline program and learn more about California’s statewide network of MPAs.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The first Chi Council for the Clear Lake Hitch meeting of the new year will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

The meeting will take place beginning at 3:30 p.m. at the Lake County Agriculture Center, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

The council also is planning a public forum and volunteer training session in advance of the spawning season, tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 12, in the Board of Supervisors chambers in the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes in Lakeport.

They are looking to recruit as many new volunteers to observe this year's migration as possible.

For more information about the group visit http://www.lakelive.info/chicouncil .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Author and consultant JoAnn Saccato announced her first online and teleconference introductory course based on her recently released book, “Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice.”

The five-week course is slated for 90-minutes each week beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014.

“Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice” is based on the use of tools of journaling, affirmations and mindfulness meditation practices, as well as tools from other faith-based traditions, to establish an ongoing spiritual practice that leads the reader to a deeper sense of authenticity and joy in their life.

The course will focus on these primary tools to guide the participants to establish their own meaningful practice that can accompany them through all of life's experiences, or what Saccato refers to the inevitable opposites of life – everything from hot/cold, to joy/sorrow, pain/pleasure and gain/loss.

The course, which takes place through a series of conference calls and online and personal reflection activities, helps the participant explore their values and beliefs, establish a meaningful practice and gives proven suggestions to help them maintain their practice beyond the course.

"It can be challenging to create and maintain a daily spiritual practice," said Saccato, remembering when she first learned how to meditate. "Working together in a group helps create a sense of community and accountability, giving us a much better chance to successfully sustain it over the long run – which is when the deeper fruits of spiritual practice manifest," she furthered.

JoAnn Saccato holds a masters degree in co-creating sustainable futures, a self-designed interdisciplinary degree through Sonoma State University.

She is a native of Lake County, a minister in the Universal Life Church and a Reiki Master/Teacher. She is an author, consultant, educator, inspirational speaker and a founding member of Lake Co-op, California's only cooperatively-owned online organic food ordering and distribution system.

Her book, released in June of 2013, captured No. 1 in sales in its categories on Amazon during an early promotion and is available online through her Web site and in bookstores throughout Northern California.

The book outlines many tools for the beginning practitioner or the experienced practitioner that wants to deepen the authenticity and compassion in their practice and life.

It also shares some of the inspiration Saccato received during 10 years of living a remote, voluntary simplicity lifestyle with her canine companion of 15 years, Shyla.

"Shyla was my spiritual and life companion and my companioning her through her final transition was one of the catalysts for writing the book," Saccato said.

For more information about Saccato, her book and the upcoming course, visit www.companioningthesacredjourney.com or call 707-350-1719.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – This year’s Big Read in Lake County featured the reading selection, “The Joy Luck Club” by author Amy Tan.

In the novel, the Joy Luck Club is a group of four women who come together to share joy and hope for good luck in their lives through the game of mah jong.

During the Big Read program month of October, volunteers Alan and Margaret “Mac” Mathison of Cobb graciously donated their time and expertise for the beginning mah jong activity, which was offered at the Lakeport branch of the public library.

Through their instruction and explanations, those who attended were inspired to make the night a regular one.

The Big Read not only encourages and supports the reading of literature in America; the community building developed through partnerships and collaborations aspire to bring the public together to enhance individual lives and the local society.

The continuance of the mah jong program at the library provides a positive example of this objective.

Encouraging this community spirit, Lake County Big Read program director Robin Fogel-Shrive chose to designate a tile mah jong set purchased through program funds, to the library, for future recreational enjoyment.

The mah jong group, which plays the Chinese version, meets twice a month at the library on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. and is open to beginner and experienced players.

The Lakeport branch is located at 1425 N. High St., Lakeport.

For more information, contact the library at 707-263-8817.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It's an exciting year for AmeriCorps, which is marking its 20th anniversary.

In 1993, the Corporation for National and Community Service developed the AmeriCorps program as a way for Americans to give back to their communities.

Every day in communities across America, AmeriCorps members are making a powerful impact on the most critical issues facing our nation.

Since its inception, more than 820,000 men and women have taken the AmeriCorps pledge, serving more than one billion hours and improving the lives of countless Americans.

Locally, the Lake County AmeriCorps program partners with the Lake County First 5 Commission to meet the needs of the age 0-5 population.

Over the past decade of the First 5 funded AmeriCorps program has trained 166 members in early childhood development, early childhood education and children's oral health.

These members have provided nearly 7,000 second step and oral health lessons, provided more than 2,400 dental and medical screenings to preschool students, assisted nearly 1,000 families with health insurance/Medi-Cal paperwork and have educated more than 1,000 preschool parents on their children's oral and nutritional health.

This would not be possible without its partnership with the Lake County First 5 Commission.

The Lake County AmeriCorps program offers a number of services, including academic enrichment, the violence prevention program and oral health.

Academic enrichment

Many young children explore literacy play on their own, with little need for encouragement from adults.

Other children need the one-on-one attention of a tutor to help them make literacy discoveries such as: print is talk written down, reading books is fun and interesting, and printed words carry messages to the reader.

Members assist all preschool students in making these literacy discoveries and prepare the students for kindergarten.

Violence prevention program

Members provide the Second Step Curriculum, a classroom-based social skills curriculum for students.

The curriculum aims to reduce impulsive and aggressive behaviors and increase protective factors and social-emotional competence.

Organized by grade level, the program teaches children empathy, problem-solving skills, risk assessment, decision-making, and goal-setting skills.

The Second Step program is classified as a universal intervention, meaning that it is appropriate for whole classrooms of children and not just those at risk.

Oral health

Members provide oral health and nutrition lessons to preschool students and their parents. The curriculum aims to increase oral hygiene and proper nutrition.

Members also assist families in completing health insurance paperwork (including Medi-Cal and Healthy Families), assist students and their families in accessing resources or services, and assist the Lake County Office of Education's Healthy Start program staff in day to day activities.

Research confirms that classes on oral hygiene can significantly reduce the incidence of dental caries. Establishing good oral health at an early age sets the stage for good oral health at later stages.

Dental caries, if left untreated, can have significant medical and health consequences including severe toothaches, oral abscesses, bone destruction and spread of infection via the bloodstream.

Dental caries can also affect a child's eating habits and nutritional intake, potentially influencing growth and early development and school readiness.

For more information or questions about the AmeriCorps program, contact AmeriCorps Specialist Victoria Garrison, 707-263-8795, Extension 241.

This is the second in a series of articles recognizing the 15th anniversary of First 5.

SAN FRANCISCO – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has issued tips for the holiday season on how Californians can protect themselves from identity theft and make the most of their charitable giving.

Tips for safe shopping:

• Review your bank and credit card statements frequently for unusual transactions.
• In the event of a security breach involving your credit card, monitor your account and contact your bank promptly if you see any suspicious transactions.
• If the security breach involves your debit card, the best way to protect yourself is to immediately cancel the card and get a replacement with a different number.
• Don’t make purchases in free Wi-Fi hotspots, such as a coffee shop, which can put your passwords and other information at risk.
• Shop on secure Web sites. One indicator about which Web sites are safe, and which are not, is the presence of a yellow padlock icon in the browser bar. Another indicator is ‘https’ in the Web address.
• Never send sensitive personal or financial information through e-mail. Legitimate companies will not ask you to do so because it is not a secure way to transfer sensitive information.
• If you are receiving text messages on your cell phone saying you have won a prize or gift card, do not click on the link in the message – it is most likely a scam and may install a virus on your phone.
• Know the return policies of the retailers you shop with before you leave the store or conclude an online transaction. Many retailers will give you a refund if you have a receipt and your return is prompt, but some may only give store credit. Ask a clerk if the policy is not posted at the register.

Tips for donating wisely:

• The best way for many donors to select worthwhile charities is to work with a local charity as a volunteer. This helps provide first-hand knowledge about programs that benefit your community.
• You may want your donation used for a specific program or purpose within a charity. If a Web site has a “donate” button, check to see if you can designate a specific purpose for your donation. If you can’t, contact the charity to be sure your donation will be spent for the purpose you intend.
• If you are contacted by a solicitor on behalf of a charity, ask if he/she works for a commercial fundraiser and what percentage of donations goes directly to the charity. You may prefer to contact the charity directly to make a donation.
• If you receive an email or text message asking for a donation to a charity, contact the charity directly and confirm that the request is legitimate.
• If a solicitor tells you the donation is for your local police, firefighter or other public safety agency, check directly with the agency to avoid a potential scam.
• Don’t assume that charity recommendations on Facebook, blogs, or other social media have been vetted. Research the charity yourself.
• Make charitable contributions directly on a charity's Web site. If donating by check, use the full name of the charity rather than initials or an abbreviation. Do not give your credit card number to a telephone solicitor or in response to any unsolicited phone call you receive.

Additional consumer tips, information, and lists of resources are available at the following sites:

• The California Attorney General’s consumer tips on identity theft and other privacy issues, https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/info-sheets ;
• The California Attorney General’s Guide to Charitable Giving, http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/charities/publications/CharitiesSolicitation.pdf ;
• www.ftc.gov , or toll free nationwide at 877-382-4357
• www.give.org , for additional information about a specific charity.