LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Land Trust is pleased to announce the first of its summer children’s nature education programs at the Rodman Preserve starting on Saturday, June 20.

The program will feature biologists from the Lake County Vector Control and will be held from 9 a.m. until noon, with drop-ins welcome.

The program is designed for children ages 6 through 12, but all are welcome with adult accompaniment encouraged.

Helping to lead the program will be Elaine Mansell, a local naturalist and remembered by many as the leader of Junior Rangers at the Clear Lake State Park for many years.

Also on hand will be retired state park ranger and Lake County Land Trust board member, Val Nixon and Lakeport resident and Land Trust volunteer, Karen Weston.

The biologists from Vector Control, including Brittany Nelms, an entomologist, technician Brady Hayes and intern Danielle Bridges will work with kids showing them live specimens like gnat larvae, mosquito larvae and mosquito fish. 

The program also gives children an opportunity to look through microscopes, check out Vector Control’s mosquito tower, and new this year is an interactive mosquito larval habitat display.

The program is free and open to the public.

Rodman Preserve and Nature Education Center is located at 6350 Westlake Road.

Take the Nice-Lucerne Cut-off off of Highway 29, between Lakeport and Upper Lake. Turn east onto the cut-off, then left on to Westlake Road. The preserve entry is to the immediate right after turning on to Westlake.

The Lake County Land Trust is a nonprofit local organization dedicated to the preservation of natural habitat and open space in Lake County.

For information about the Land Trust, go to www.lakecountylandtrust.org .

For information about the children’s program, you may call Roberta Lyons at 707-994-2024 or Elaine Mansell at 707-263-1637. 

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Local mindfulness teacher, author and life coach, JoAnn Saccato, will present a free workshop based on her eight-week “Compassion-based Mindfulness for Peace, Clarity and Freedom” course.

The workshop will be held at Harbin Hot Springs, 18424 Harbin Springs Road, Middletown, on Sunday, June 14, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the Temple.

The event is free, though attendees must be registered as a guest at Harbin.
 
At the free workshop, Saccato will provide information on the history and stress reducing benefits of a mindfulness practice, as well as guide participants through two mindfulness exercises.
 
Mindfulness is a body-based practice that invites one to pay kind, nonjudgmental attention to direct experience of senses, thoughts and emotions.

Studies indicate that mindfulness can help reduce stress and stress-related illnesses; increase focus and attention; decrease incidences of, and relapses with, depression; help reduce anxiety; aid the immune system; and aid in sleep and digestive disorders. As well, mindfulness has been shown to help with addictive and compulsive disorders.
 
“Besides reducing stress, mindfulness helps participants gain deeper clarity, a new vitality and sense of freedom in their lives,” said Saccato.

Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and be ready for gentle movement exercises.
 
Saccato is author of “Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice” and her forthcoming book, “Compassion-based Mindfulness for Peace, Clarity and Freedom.”

For more information on Saccato and Compassion-based Mindfulness for Stress Reduction, Personal Clarity and Emotional Freedom courses, visit www.Compassion-basedMindfulness.com or call 707-350-1719.

For more information on visiting Harbin Hot Springs, visit www.harbin.org .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Shannon Michele of Cache Creek Catering and Lake County Wine Studio are presenting a monthly food and wine series featuring gourmet appetizers paired with select Lake County wines. Locally produced foods are proudly featured as key ingredients in recipes created by Cache Creek Catering.

The series is held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the second Friday of each month.

Reservations are required and include a 30-day complimentary membership to the Local Cuisine Scene Club.

Club members will be offered private pairings, pairing consultations, special private catering rates, access to recipes and first option for seatings at Local Cuisine Scenes for members and their guests.

June 12 will feature a barbecue menu.

The first course will pair Vigilance 2014 Chardonnay with penne pasta, fresh corn, grilled zucchini with pesto and fresh basil dressing, followed by coffee spice rubbed tri tip with grilled Texas toast and cocoa nib herb butter with Cougar’s Leap 2009 Zinfandel.

The dessert course will be a chocolate torte with blackberry coulis paired with Fore Family Vineyard’s 2013 Late Harvest Syrah.

For reservations and additional information, contact Susan at 707-293-8752.

Lake County Wine Studio is both a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County.

Artists' shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month except in January.
 
The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake.

It is open Monday, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m.; and Friday from 1 to 8 p.m.

The art show on display for the month of June is by illustration artist Bill Russell.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Soroptimist International of Clear Lake will host a combined new officer installation and membership outreach event on Thursday, June 25.

The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Keys Clubhouse, 12980 Lakeland St. in Clearlake Oaks.

Anyone interested in learning more about Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is invited to join members and friends as they install the 2015-16 officers in a special ceremony.

Special guest Shannon Richards, fellowship director and founder in Region District III, will install the officers including: Olga Martin Steele, president; Brenda Crandall, vice president; Ami Landrum, secretary; Kelley Slater, treasurer; Rosemary Dontje, vice treasurer; Marsha Willard, public relations; and Sally Munger, director.

Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is dedicated to supporting women and girls through scholarships, programs that support high school girls and young moms, donations to local nonprofits, free mammograms and more.

For more information regarding mammograms, contact Kathy at 707-994-3509 or visit the Soroptimist International of Clear Lake Facebook page.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Sen. Mike McGuire’s bill to protect the tallest trees on the planet – old growth redwoods – from burl poachers received a unanimous vote of support from the California Senate last week.

Burls are the dormant, knobby materials that grow at the base of the tree’s trunk allowing the old growth redwood to grow new saplings, which is vital to the health of California’s forests.

Poachers have been targeting these burls at increasing rates in California’s state and national parks.

A burl produces a marbled wood that when cut and polished has a luminescent appearance. Depending on the size of the burl, it can be used to make anything from trinkets such as salt-and-pepper shakers all the way to large dining room tables that can cost consumers a few thousand dollars at local retail outlets.

While some burls are small, others can weigh hundreds of pounds and fetch tens of thousands of dollars.

Cases of burl poaching have continued to increase, destroying old growth redwoods and causing substantial damage to our cherished state and national parks. These devastating incidents threaten endangered species and waste valuable public resources.

The state began tracking incidents five years ago, and there have been more than 100 reported cases of old growth redwood burl thefts from North Coast state and national parks.

“Last year, a redwood estimated to be 400 years old was felled by thieves who wanted access to a 500-pound burl that was 60 feet up. Criminals are literally carving away these national treasures and this legislation would advance tougher punishment for those who vandalize these majestic giants,” McGuire said.

SB 288 would empower local prosecutors with the ability to bring felony vandalism charges if a poacher damages, destroys or defaces a redwood tree without the permission of the owner.

This bill states that the statute of limitations begins at the point of discovery of the offense. Upon conviction, the court may impose felony jail time and up to a $50,000 fine for a theft of a redwood burl.

Currently, it is difficult for poachers to be prosecuted. SB 288 will give prosecutors clear statute to seek the maximum penalties possible to deter these senseless crimes.

McGuire represents the largest tract of old growth redwoods in the world. Redwood National and State Parks – a United Nations World Heritage Site – is 133,000 acres, 40,000 of which is home to an amazing tract of old growth redwood trees.

Only about 5 percent of the old growth redwood remains from the original 2 million acres.

SB 288 is co-authored by State Assemblymember Jim Wood and has support from the California District Attorneys Association; California Forestry Association; Center for Biological Diversity; County of Del Norte Board of Supervisors; County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors; Del Norte County District Attorney Trigg; Humboldt County District Attorney Fleming; Pacific Forest Trust; Save the Redwoods League; Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space District; The Trust for Public Land.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – While many communities have cut fireworks displays from their budgets, the city of Lakeport has kept this tradition alive and well.

Once again on Saturday, July 4, a magnificent fireworks display will be produced by Pyro Spectaculars, which has contracted for the show for a couple of decades, first with the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and now with the city directly.

The display is fired off of barges purchased by the chamber several years ago, well out into the lake to preclude causing accidental fires on shore.

Over the years, the chamber has conducted an add a dollar campaign to raise funds to help fund the fireworks. 

The campaign for 2015 has begun with Bruno’s Shop Smart in Lakeport. 

Additionally, donations can be dropped off at the chamber office, 875 Lakeport Blvd., at Vista Point. 

All donations collected by the chamber are given to the city to help offset the cost of the display.

For questions concerning the donations, please contact the chamber at 707-263-5092.