On Tuesday, April 9, the University of California, Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) welcomed Secretary Mark Ghilarducci, of the California Emergency Management Agency.

Secretary Ghilarducci’s visit to the VMTH was part of an on-going partnership between the university and the state to address the critical needs of animals in disasters and emergencies.

The governor’s Emergency Management Agency has recognized the need for public safety agencies to have better knowledge and skills regarding the animal-related aspects of responding to disasters and large-scale emergencies.

Last Tuesday’s visit was an opportunity for the VMTH to showcase its high level of care with multiple species in emergency situations and update Ghilarducci on the accomplishments of their unique partnership.

“Proper planning for emergencies can make a big difference,” said Dr. John Madigan. “People won’t evacuate without their animals, and they expect co-sheltering for pets.”

Madigan, an expert in animal rescue and head of the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team, is the leader of a program to create training for first responders, emergency managers, shelter operators, animal services, and urban search and rescue teams.

The VMTH’s abilities as a leader in veterinary medicine form the basis for that academic and research-inspired curriculum for first responders and emergency planners.

“An example of our emergency curriculum is dealing with the high-risk situation of an animal accident on the roadway (horse or livestock trailer accidents),” added Madigan. “With proper training and veterinary integration, a safe response is possible, which helps the first responders as well as the animals.”

Madigan and Ghilarducci reviewed the curriculum in place at UC Davis and discussed plans for future trainings and outreach in California and throughout the nation.

“We are fortunate to be able to take advantage of the leading experts in veterinary emergency medicine here at UC Davis to develop the best training in the nation for first responders,” said Ghilarducci. “It’s just a matter of time before we’re hit with another major disaster, and the public expects that we will be prepared to help not only them, but their companion animals.”

Ghilarducci’s tour of the hospital included stops in the Small and Large Animal Emergency Rooms, as well as the Gourley Clinical Teaching Facility, where two separate rooms house 28 fully-equipped small animal and six fully-equipped large animal anesthesia and surgical stations.

Rob Warren is communications and marketing officer at UC Davis.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Child Care Planning Council will hold its next meeting on Thursday, April 18.

The meeting will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lake County Office of Education, 1152 S. Main St., Lakeport.

For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.lakecountychildcareplanning.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport’s Marijuana Cultivation Ordinance Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 17.

The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

Agenda items include a review of the notes from the April 10 committee meeting; a complete discussion on the revised ordinance that seeks committee consensus regarding the suggested modifications; and the next step, which is to consider a recommendation to forward the draft ordinance to the Lakeport Planning Commission.

The committee includes Lakeport residents and city staff. At the Lakeport City Council’s Feb. 5 meeting, it directed the group to produce a revised draft of a staff-produced document meant to govern medical marijuana grows within the city limits.

For more information contact Planning Services Manager Andrew Britton, telephone 707-263-5613, Extension 28, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LUCERNE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Thursday, April 18.

The group meets at the First Lutheran Church, 3863 Country Club Drive, across from the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Social worker Jenny Johnson is the facilitator.  

The groups are sponsored by Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (1-800-834-1636) and the Social Day Programs in Lake County.  

For more information call Jenny Johnson at 707-350-3030 or Caroline Denny at 707-263-9481.

Respite is provided by the centers at no charge.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The annual Spring Dinner to benefit the Lake County Land Trust will be held on Monday, May 13, at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro, 3825 Main St. in Kelseyville.

It is not too early to make your reservations for this fun event and Land Trust supporters are being urged to reserve their places as soon as possible.

Social hour will start at 6 p.m. and a four course dinner will be served with wine at 7 p.m.

All services, food, and wine are graciously donated by the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro with the proceeds going towards the Lake County Land Trust’s many projects, including the Rodman Preserve, Boggs Lake Preserve, and the latest effort by the LCLT, the Big Valley Wetlands project. Dennis Darling of Foods Etc. is a sponsor of the dinner and local Lake County wineries donate wine.

The public is cordially invited to this event. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Saw Shop at 278-0129. Payment is taken at the door, the evening of the event. Tickets are $70 per person.

For information, call Roberta Lyons at 707-994-2024 or the LCLT office at 707-262-0707.

The Lake County Land Trust is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting important land resources in Lake County.

The Land Trust stewards the Rodman Preserve on the north end of Clear Lake, spear-headed the movement to preserve the Black Forest on Mt. Konocti, owns Rabbit Hill Park in Middletown, and is working with the Nature Conservancy on management of the Boggs Lake Preserve; as well as facilitating preservation of lakeshore habitat in the Big Valley area of Clear Lake.

For more information go to www.lakecountylandtrust.org or friend us on Facebook.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – “The Diary of Lucas Willey” will be the subject of the third historic reading in the Lake County Museum’s historic reading series and will on Saturday, April 20.

It will be held beginning at 2 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom at the Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport, 255 N. Main St.

Lucas Willey served as the Justice of the Peace in Lower Lake and in his diary he describes, in detail, the joyous events and the hardships of his life in Lake County in 1870.

Mike Svehla will be the reader and this four-part series will conclude on May 18.  

There is no admission charge and refreshments will be served.  

For information, please call 707-263-4555.