MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – South Lake County veterans and families of veterans are being urged to loan mementos of their service for Gibson Museum’s November displays centered on Veterans Day.

Veterans of all American conflicts will be honored, from the Revolutionary War through the recent conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.

The display will open at the museum in Middletown on the first Wednesday of November, Nov. 5, and be in place through Dec. 3.

Photographs, medals, letters, uniforms, dog tags and any other items of veteran interest are solicited.

All will be carefully recorded by museum volunteers and returned promptly once the veterans display is replaced by Christmas displays in early December.

Items are already coming in, the most unique thus far being the Life Magazine 11-page story of the rescue of a marooned B-17 and its crew during World War II.

The plane, nicknamed “My Gal Sal,” was piloted by Ralf Stinson, known locally as owner of the Hell’s Half Acre property at the end of Hartmann Road.

A listing of all the recorded burial places of veterans in Lake County will be available at Gibson Museum.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2015 of Lakeport, has embarked upon a project to identify and record the burial place of all military veterans in Lake County. 

Post Historian Darrel Bittle, a Vietnam veteran, has categorized 2,790 veterans of American wars ranging from the War of 1812 to present day conflicts, which include 203 veterans buried at the Middletown Cemetery.

Middletown Cemetery is the resting place of 19 Civil War veterans and one Spanish American War veteran, as well as later veterans. Bittle will appreciate any additions or corrections toward this effort.

Interested persons should contact Judy Kauffman, who will serve as point person for the displays. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-987-2433, or write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The Gibson Museum – located in the former Middletown Library building, opposite the new community center at 21267 Calistoga St. – is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m.

Sunsets are always pretty. One sunset this month could be out of this world.

On Thursday, Oct. 23, the setting sun across eastern parts of the USA will be red, beautiful and … crescent-shaped.

“It's a partial solar eclipse,” explained longtime NASA eclipse expert Fred Espenak.

In other words, the new moon is going to “take a bite” out of the sun.

A total eclipse is when the moon passes directly in front of the sun, completely hiding the solar disk and allowing the sun's ghostly corona to spring into view.

A partial eclipse is when the moon passes in front of the sun, off-center, with a fraction of the bright disk remaining uncovered.

The partial eclipse of Oct. 23 will be visible from all of the United States except Hawaii and New England.

Coverage ranges from 12 percent in Florida to nearly 70 percent in Alaska.

Weather permitting, almost everyone in North America will be able to see the crescent.

The eclipse will be especially beautiful in eastern parts of the USA, where the moon and sun line up at the end of the day, transforming the usual sunset into something weird and wonderful.

“Observers in the Central Time zone have the best view because the eclipse is in its maximum phase at sunset,” said Espenak. “They will see a fiery crescent sinking below the horizon, dimmed to human visibility by low-hanging clouds and mist.”

Warning: Don't stare. Even at maximum eclipse, a sliver of sun peeking out from behind the moon can still cause pain and eye damage. Direct viewing should only be attempted with the aid of a safe solar filter.

During the eclipse, don't forget to look at the ground. Beneath a leafy tree, you might be surprised to find hundreds of crescent-shaped sunbeams dappling the grass.

Overlapping leaves create a myriad of natural little pinhole cameras, each one casting an image of the crescent-sun onto the ground beneath the canopy.

When the eclipsed sun approaches the horizon, look for the same images cast on walls or fences behind the trees.

Here's another trick: Criss-cross your fingers waffle-style and let the sun shine through the matrix of holes.

You can cast crescent suns on sidewalks, driveways, friends, cats and dogs – you name it.

Unlike a total eclipse, which lasts no more than a few minutes while the sun and Moon are perfectly aligned, the partial eclipse will goes on for more than an hour, plenty of time for this kind of shadow play.

A partial eclipse may not be total, but it is totally fun.

See for yourself on Oct. 23.

The action begins at approximately 6 p.m. on the East Coast, and 2 p.m. on the West Coast.

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Waking up before sunrise is a good way to get a head start on the day.

On Oct. 21, waking up before sunrise could stop you in your tracks.

Blame Halley’s Comet.

Every year in mid-to-late October, Earth passes through a stream of dusty debris from Comet Halley, and the pre-dawn sky can light up with a pretty display of shooting stars.

“We expect to see about 20 meteors per hour when the shower peaks on Tuesday morning, Oct 21,” said Bill Cooke, the head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. “With no Moon to spoil the show, observing conditions should be ideal.”

Because these meteors streak out of the constellation Orion, astronomers call them “Orionids.”

“The Orionid meteor shower is not the strongest, but it is one of the most beautiful showers of the year,” noted Cooke.

The reason is its setting: The shower is framed by some of the brightest stars in the heavens.

Constellations such as Taurus, Gemini and Orion provide a glittering backdrop for the display.

The brightest star of all, Sirius, is located just below Orion's left foot, a good place to point your camera while you're waiting for meteors.

To see the show, Cooke suggests going outside one to two hours before sunrise when the sky is dark and the constellation Orion is high overhead. Lie down on a blanket with a broad view of the heavens.

Although Orionids emerge from a small area near the shoulder of Orion, they will spray across the entire sky.

“Be prepared for speed,” he added. “Meteoroids from Halley’s Comet strike Earth's atmosphere traveling 148,000 miles per hour. Only the November Leonids are faster.”

Speed is important because fast meteors have a tendency to explode.

Occasionally, Orionid fireballs will leave incandescent streams of debris in their wake that linger for minutes.

Such filaments of “meteor smoke” twisted by upper atmospheric winds into convoluted shapes can be even prettier than the meteors themselves.

“It really is a wonderful morning to be awake,” said Cooke. “Just don't plan on going anywhere in a hurry.”

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

This is the first installment of a regular column on Lake County history.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Lower Lake was founded in 1848 and was, at that time part of Napa County.

After the boundaries changed, many citizens voiced an opinion to have Lower Lake as their county seat.

The selection of the county seat swirled under much controversy.

The county’s first courthouse, at Lakeport burned in 1867, six years after the county of Lake was formed by an act of the Legislature.

Then, all of the records of Lake County were destroyed, with the exception of one of the treasurer’s books, as he had taken it home with him.

The cause of the devastating fire was believed to have been an act of arson. The reasons for this suspicion stem from the debate over the selection of a county seat, but no one could prove this.

Voters had a sizable decision to make with regard to the town that named the county seat. The vote was between Lakeport and Lower Lake.

In 1869 Lower Lake was voted in as county seat, but the election was contested on the grounds that “fraud was practiced at Lower Lake.”

Through an act of the Legislature another vote was held, with the results as follows: Lakeport, 479 votes, and Lower Lake, 404 votes.

Lower Lake’s first house was built by E. Mitchell in 1858. Shortly after, in 1860 a store was constructed by Mr. Herrick and Mr. Getz.

Then followed C.N. Adams’ saloon and L. B. Thompson’s blacksmiths, both in 1861, then Dr. Bynum’s hotel in 1865.

Lower Lake soon became a bustling town with a drug store that held the unique distinction of being operated by one of the few young women who ran a drug store on the West Coast.

The druggist was in her 20s, and according to Slocum, Bowen, & Co’s. History of Lake County: “She began at the age of fourteen, and in two years assumed full charge of the business, and now conducts it in her own right and title, giving eminent satisfaction in a place so fraught with responsibilities.”

Soon to be found in Lower Lake were two more blacksmiths and saloons, a livery stable, flour mill, restaurant, shoe store, barber shop, planing mill, two meat markets, printer and a livery stable.

There was a post office with three-times-a-week delivery and a Wells Fargo & Co.’s express office that contained a telegraph office within. Lower Lake also sported  two doctors, a law office, and a brewery.

Travel was made easy by its two stage coach lines. One ran from Lower Lake to Woodland, and the other could deliver you to Calistoga.

There were three early newspapers in Lower Lake. The “Observer” was published in 1866. That same year the “Sentinel” newspaper started publishing, then the “Bulletin” was begun in 1869.

The Lower Lake Brewery produced the sudsy product in 1870 by Keitz & Co. It was located just north of town.

In 1875 the business was sold to Mr. C. Hammer and C. F. Linck.

According to old records, “A market is readily found for the product at the mines and neighboring towns.”

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Thursday a jury determined that a Kelseyville man who shot his estranged wife's friend and beat her severely in September 2011 was not guilty by reason of insanity.

Andrew James Serrano, 42, is now expected to spend time in a state mental hospital or other mental health facility instead of doing prison time for the assaults, which had followed a history of stalking, threatening and harassing his then-wife, Lesa, as well as several of her friends, including Willy Turner, who Serrano shot at point-blank range on Sept. 10, 2011.

“We were disappointed by that and disagreed with that,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Alan Upton, who prosecuted the case, said of the verdict.

Turner called the verdict – which included a finding of not guilty for his attempted murder – “disgusting and morally wrong.”

“I really can't wrap my head around this, that 12 people could come to that conclusion,” said Turner, who testified at the trial.

Lesa Koloff – Serrano's now ex-wife – said she also is disappointed with the verdict. “I do not feel it was just and I feel it was especially unjust for Willy.”

Katrina Hickey, a friend of Koloff's who – along with sister, Kayla – was stalked by Serrano and injured during an incident in which he rammed Koloff's SUV in Lakeport, said Serrano is evil.

“This has been a very hard three years and I am very disappointed in the outcome of the jury trial,” she said. “We have remained hopeful throughout this whole process that justice would be served and Andrew would be held responsible for the crimes he committed. I don't believe he is or was insane … I believe he is an angry, manipulating human being who selfishly tried to destroy the lives of others.”

She thanked the District Attorney's Office for its efforts, but said it's her belief that the justice system failed Serrano's victims.

Like her sister, Kayla Hickey emphasized the sense of injustice – and shock – they are experiencing as a result of the verdict.

“The whole thing is just too overwhelming,” Kayla Hickey said.

In early 2012 Serrano was ordered to stand trial on counts including the attempted murder of Turner; aggravated mayhem; simple mayhem; assault with a firearm; spousal abuse; criminal threats; false imprisonment; assault with a deadly weapon; hit and run; stalking; three misdemeanors relating to Serrano’s alleged violations of a domestic violence restraining order against his wife and civil restraining orders against him held by two of her friends; and special allegations involving personal use of a firearm, great bodily injury and potential strikes.

The charges arose from four separate events; besides the shooting, there was the July 2011 incident in which he rammed his wife's vehicle and separate counts for violating the restraining orders held by the Hickey sisters.

Serrano's trial was “bifurcated,” meaning, it was divided into two stages, one for guilt and one for sanity. The same jury heard both phases.

Serrano's attorney, Mitchell Hauptman of Lakeport, said jury selection began Aug. 27, with evidence beginning Sept. 11, just one day past the third anniversary of Turner's shooting.

In the guilt phase, the jury received the case on Oct. 2 and came back with verdicts on Oct. 8, Hauptman said.

At that point, the jury found Serrano guilty of most of the counts. However, they found him not guilty of attempted murder and leaving the scene of an accident, and they also deadlocked on the aggravated mayhem count, according to Hauptman.

The sanity phase – which applied only to the Sept. 10, 2011, shooting and the associated charges – began on Wednesday, with the closing arguments and jury deliberations taking place on Thursday, Hauptman said.

On Thursday the jury reached its verdict that Serrano was not guilty of those charges by reason of insanity. “They deliberated about two hours,” Hauptman said.

In speaking with the jurors, “They clearly felt he needed treatment,” Hauptman said, instead of a prison sentence.

Insanity cases like Serrano's are rare, according to Hauptman and Upton.

This was Upton's first such case, and in Hauptman's 36 years of legal practice, he said he's only gone to trial on one other case involving an insanity plea.

“The plea shows up in 1 percept of cases,” said Hauptman, noting that most are resolved by submission of reports to the court, with the number of actual trials very small.

“I don't think they're very common even nationwide,” said Upton.

The facts of the case

While Serrano's case culminated in the violent confrontation with Koloff and Turner, for some time beforehand he had been making threats to Koloff, and stalking her as well as the Hickeys. All three women had restraining orders against him.

His attempts at intimidation later focused on Turner. Serrano left Turner a January 2011 phone message and sent him a text in May 2011 telling him to stay away from Koloff.

Turner also said he saw Serrano driving through his neighborhood several times. During one incident, Serrano was speeding down Turner's street and had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting Turner's son. Afterward, Serrano sped off.

A friend of Serrano's told investigators that Serrano had sent him texts that included pictures of handguns and said that Koloff was going to disappear. Investigators also believed he was using some kind of tracking device to monitor his wife's movements.

Koloff told Lake County News that Serrano took medication for depression for about a year prior to their separation, adding she believed he brought the depression on himself. “He had spent us into a hole we would never be able to get out of,” and she felt things were spiraling out of control for him.

She said Serrano had become threatening and aggressive beginning in 2010. She left in April 2011 after he became physically abusive, and she said at that point he began threatening her life.

She said he was arrested three to four times prior to the shooting. One of those times occurred July 2, 2011, when he was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and hit-and-run after using his pickup to ram Koloff's vehicle.

That night, Serrano spotted Koloff and the Hickeys while they were having dinner at Renee's Cafe in Lakeport, circled the restaurant several times and then pursued them down Main Street when they left.

Serrano got ahead of Koloff's SUV, and as she tried to drive around him, he revved his engine and rammed her vehicle.

Katrina Hickey said she was injured in the ramming incident, and that she had been throwing up with fear as Koloff drove to the Lakeport Police Department afterward.

She said she received a temporary restraining order against Serrano after seeing him near the home she and her sister shared, and a permanent restraining order was granted after the ramming incident.

On Sept. 10, 2011, Koloff and Turner went to the Serrano home at 3050 Big Valley Road in Kelseyville – which she had moved from several months before – to retrieve some of her personal belongings, including clothing and furniture.

Serrano suddenly arrived, and when Koloff went to speak with him as he stood by the side door of his pickup, she saw he was loading a Glock .40-caliber handgun. According to court testimony, the gun had been bought for him – along with the ammunition – by a friend.

Koloff ran into the house and Serrano went around to the back porch, where he and Turner faced each other through a door window. He told Turner he needed to leave, and Turner replied that Serrano first needed to move his truck.

Serrano shot Turner through the door, with Turner recounting that the gun was less than 18 inches from him.

Turner said the bullet tore his lung 3 inches deep and 2 inches wide, with a doctor telling him there was no reason he should have survived. He said that today he has the use of about half of the injured lung due to scarring.

After shooting Turner, Serrano found Koloff hiding in the garage. He took her by the hair and dragged her outside, threatening to kill her, strangling her and hitting her repeatedly in the face, leaving her with serious injuries of her own.

The quick actions of several sheriff's deputies – Mike Curran, Andrew Davidson and Gary Frace – have been credited with saving the lives of both Turner and Koloff.

Turner called 911 after he was shot, and when Curran and Frace arrived on scene they drew their weapons and ordered Serrano to drop the handgun and get on the ground, taking him into custody. Davidson tended to Turner, trying to get the bleeding stopped and calling for an air ambulance.

In pursuing the insanity defense, Hauptman said there needed to be evidence of serious mental health issues existing sometime before the crimes occurred. He said Serrano had exhibited signs of serious mental illness in the months before his shooting.

“The defense has the burden of proof on the insanity phase,” said Upton.

Upton said the defense presented two experts while he presented one in the sanity phase.

In arriving at a verdict in the guilt phase, jurors must decide that the evidence is convincing beyond a reasonable doubt. However, in the process of seeking an insanity verdict, the defense only has to prove its case by the less rigorous preponderance standard, which Upton said means it is more likely true than not.

Upton said he did not speak with the jury after the verdict. While he was disappointed with the insanity verdict, he said the jury has spoken and now the prosecution must work with it and try to keep the community safe.

Serrano has remained in the Lake County Jail since his September 2011 arrest. Hauptman said Serrano's treatment in jail has been mostly based on medication, with a psychiatrist seeing him through a telehealth connection. He described Serrano as “zombie-like” due to the medications.

Hauptman said in a facility Serrano will be able to get therapeutic treatment. “The issues that he has are manageable.”

Koloff said she believes it's just a matter of time until her ex-husband “miraculously” becomes sane again.

Turner, who served in the United States Marines during the Gulf War, said of the verdict, “I’ve never been shaken this much in my life.”

He said he cried himself to sleep Thursday night – something he had never done before in all of his 45 years.

Turner said one of the conclusions he takes from the verdict is that the jury didn't consider him a victim of Serrano's violence.

The process ahead

Retired Judge Arthur Mann, who presided over the trial, is scheduled to sentence Serrano at 8:15 a.m. Dec. 8, Hauptman said.

Hauptman said that, considering the time Serrano already has spent in custody, along with any good behavior credits he may have, it's likely the amount of time he's already served is close to the sentence he would receive on the counts excluding the shooting incident.

While Mann will determine if any additional time is required on the counts Serrano was convicted of that don't involve the shooting incident, he will be guided in where Serrano's treatment will take place by recommendations from mental health authorities, Upton said.

Upton said the case file has been sent to the Lake County Probation Department, which will make a time calculation for Serrano's maximum commitment.

Hauptman said the process requires Mann to refer the case to a community program director, who will recommend in which hospital Serrano should be placed.

He said the court then has to determine whether to confine Serrano to a state mental hospital or a treatment facility.

Serrano will have to have to serve a minimum of 180 days in a state facility before the court can consider releasing him on an outpatient basis, Upton said.

Ultimately, how long Serrano stays in such a facility will depend on the assessment of his mental health and a complicated legal process, according to Upton and Hauptman.

“The judge is going to have to rely on reports from the hospital and treatment facilities,” said Upton.

He said the judge would then need to refer those reports a to local representative for the California Department of State Hospitals' Conditional Release Program, also known as CONREP.

Among the considerations would be determining if Serrano was returned to sanity and whether he posed a danger to the community. Upton said all of that would be contained within a hearing process that would include a notice to the District Attorney's Office, which in turn would give notice to the victims in the case.

Using the reports and recommendations as guidelines, a judge would have jurisdiction over whether Serrano is transferred to another facility or placed on outpatient status, Upton said.

Had he not been found insane at the time of the shooting, Serrano would be facing 25 years to life in prison for the mayhem conviction alone, Hauptman said.

Upton said Serrano could be kept in a mental facility for the maximum term of commitment – 25 years to life.

However, while that time period will play into options for the timing of his release – heavier restrictions will likely be assessed if he's released earlier – there is no way to know at this point how much time he will serve, based on statements by Upton and Hauptman.

“It’s pure speculation as to when he would be released,” said Hauptman.

Kayla Hickey said the victims in the case waited a long time to be heard.

“We watched Andy have all the rights, which was fine because we held out for hope the day would come when the jury would expose him for the monster he is and that was just not the case,” she said. “We will continue to live our lives but the sickening feeling I have as a result from this trial will not go away any time soon.”

Koloff said she still has fears for her family, including the three children she has with Serrano. “I do not want my children to live in fear and I try to keep things as calm as possible for them. I hope they are learning to be strong and to make the best choices they can with what life hands them. I know that the sting of what we are going through will lessen.”

She said she hopes this chapter in her lift will continue to give her strength for the other trials, “and I hope it gives others strength to fight their fights.”

Turner is “100-percent” concerned that Serrano poses a safety threat to him and his family.

“He got to make a choice for so many people,” said Turner, adding, “They took all the punishments away from his choice.”

When he woke up the day after the verdict, Turner said he decided to live his dream, commit himself to help others and will do the best he can for his family.

In moving forward with his own life, Turner's plans include Koloff, to whom he is engaged.

Koloff said the case will never leave her. “I will never understand how someone who is supposed to love and care for you can turn on you in such a horrific manner. Especially now that I have found someone truly opposite.”

They plan to marry Dec. 13, five days after Serrano is due to be sentenced.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – State and local health officials say they are working together to make sure that if the Ebola virus shows up in California, health care workers are prepared to meet the potential danger safely.

California Department of Public Health officials told reporters Wednesday that there are no cases of Ebola – or suspected cases – in the state.

Two patients – one in Los Angeles County, the other in Sacramento County – had been tested for the virus as a precaution since the outbreak began in West Africa.

“Ebola infection was ruled out in both patients,” said Dr. Gil Chavez, MD, deputy director and state epidemiologist for CDPH's Center for Infectious Diseases.

However, while it's not in California, it's become a nationwide concern.

In recent weeks Ebola has infected two Texas nurses who had cared for a patient who traveled from Liberia to Dallas, where he began showing symptoms and later died at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the two nurses have since been isolated.

On Wednesday, the White House said those two transmissions of Ebola do not amount to an outbreak.

Additionally, President Barack Obama said the chance of an Ebola outbreak in the United States “is extremely low,” and guaranteed that he and his administration are doing everything they can to make sure Americans are safe.

Obama's statement came the same day that National Nurses United called on him to invoke his executive authority to order all hospitals in the United States to meet the highest uniform, national standards and protocols to protect patients, health care workers and the public, according to a letter the nurses union sent the president.

National Nurses United has reported that surveys of its members across 46 states and the District of Columbia indicates hospitals and health care workers are seriously unprepared – in terms of training, planning in supplies – to deal with Ebola.

The Ebola virus causes severe, often fatal illness in humans – the average fatality rate is running at 50 percent, and has been as high in some outbreaks as 90 percent – with an incubation period from infection to the manifestation of symptoms ranging between two and 21 days, according to the World Health Organization.

The virus spreads through human-to-human contact, specifically, body fluids. It is not airborne.

Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, which a World Health Organization fact sheet on the virus said are followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function. In some cases, Ebola causes both internal and external bleeding.

Patients must be isolated. Health officials report that there is no specific treatment for the disease, but victims often need intravenous fluids or other rehydration measures.

The World Health Organization said that widespread infection in the general population “is highly unlikely” in countries with well-developed health systems.

Officials: Ebola poses 'low risk' to California

Dr. Ron Chapman, California Department of Public Health director and state health officer, said this week that a team of state agency leaders are monitoring the situation and working on preparedness, a process that includes being in contact with health facilities and health care workers across the state. Chapman said the state's emergency operations center also has been activated.

“These conversations, discussion and preparedness will be ongoing,” Chapman said, adding that his agency is continuing to monitor the developments in Texas as they unfold.

While Chavez said it wouldn't be a surprise if Ebola eventually was found in California, he emphasized that Californians needed to know that Ebola doesn't pose a significant health risk to the state at this time.

“We believe the risk of the spread of Ebola in California is very low,” Chavez said.

Health officials said people cannot contract Ebola through air, food or water, and that people who have no symptoms are not contagious.

Ebola is not very hardy, Chavez said. It doesn't live for very long in dry conditions, so can't survive on impervious surfaces like doorknobs and desks.

He said it lives longer in moist conditions and can only be passed through body fluids – such as blood, urine and vomit – and contaminated objects like needles, meaning that health care workers, caregivers and family members are most at risk.

The CDC maintains control of key aspects of the Ebola situation, including the final decision on where samples testing takes place, Chavez said.

The decision about which US airports should have screening implemented for travelers from West Africa also is a federal decision, according to Chavez.

The CDC and Department of Homeland Security had the enhanced screenings implemented for all travelers coming from Ebola-affected countries at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York; Washington Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.; Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey; Chicago O'Hare International Airport; and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The agencies said those five airports receive more than 94 percent of travelers coming to the United States from the Ebola-affected nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Chavez said CDPH would like to have California's international airports added to the list, and is continuing to have discussions with the federal government about the airport list.

A major focus for state health officials is the effort to ensure preparedness at hospitals around California, with each facility being encouraged to develop and test a plan specific to its needs.

With every hospital unique – and with there existing within each facility areas with differing levels of potential exposure – state officials said a “one size fits all” approach won't work, thus the need for individual planning and training.

Chapman said the goal is that if a person with Ebola went into an emergency room anywhere in the state, the protocols would be in place to make sure the patient was properly screened, isolated and treated.

CDPH is working with the California Department of Industrial Relations and Cal/OSHA, which is tasked with developing policies and guidelines for personal protective equipment for health care workers, he said.

Chapman said CDPH's federally funded hospital preparedness program, which has been around since the September 2001 terrorist attacks, is making funds available for training, staffing and stockpiling of supplies.

Chavez added that California has very strong worker protection rules, and adhering to Cal/OSHA regulations will go a long way to ensuring protection against Ebola.

Local hospitals, agencies work on preparedness

Dr. Karen Tait, Lake County's public health officer, said she's been involved in the process of preparing for the possibility of Ebola.

“There have been numerous conference calls and distribution of a large quantity of guidelines. It is a very fluid situation, with lots of updates,” she said.

“Although Lake County is not likely to be a destination for many people at-risk for Ebola, we do have some international travelers who come here, so having to deal with a possible case of Ebola isn't outside the realm of possibility,” she explained.

As part of her continuing work on preparation, Tait said that on Wednesday she participated in another state conference call and discussed Ebola planning with local ambulance providers and hospital representatives at the regularly scheduled Emergency Medical Care Committee.

“I believe that everyone agrees that we'd like to see additional guidance from CDC and the state, taking into account the experience and expertise of those who have dealt directly with Ebola virus infections,” Tait said. “In the meantime, our hospitals and ambulance providers are aware of the recommended precautions they should take and have been refreshing their personnel on them. I'm pleased to see the calm, professional approaches being taken.”  

A similar process is under way in neighboring Mendocino County, where this week the Health and Human Services Agency reported that it is working closely on a daily basis with health care providers, health care facilities – including local hospitals – along with emergency medical services providers and CDPH.

Mendocino County officials said they are working to make sure that all health care providers from the front lines to the hospitals are trained, equipped and drilled on all proper CDC guidelines and protocols to ensure safe and efficient handling of any suspected or confirmed Ebola cases that may occur there.

Lake County's two hospitals say they already have protocols in place to deal with the Ebola potential, and are continuing to plan and monitor developments.

Colleen Assvapisitkul, RN, the Chief Nursing Officer for St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake said the hospital is following current recommendations from the CDC for the management of Ebola, including infection prevention and control protocols and procedures.

“The Infection Prevention and Control team and the Emergency Preparedness team are taking all precautions and have been developing site-specific plans and 'Ebola suspect' policies and procedures,” Assvapisitkul said. “Emergency Department and other key clinical staff are in the process of being trained on the proper screening of patients and will continue to do training on a regular basis.”

Assvapisitkul said hospital officials also are in contact with the local health department for developing information and further guidance, and hospital staff will be conducting an Ebola drill following the state Department of Public Health Ebola scenario and template for hospital drill.

On the other side of the lake, “Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s preparedness efforts have been ongoing for the past several months,” said Sutter Health spokesman Dean Fryer.

“We have worked closely with our Sutter Health Emergency Management System Ebola Virus Response Planning Team to develop comprehensive and specific workplace and patient care guidelines for our hospitals regarding the Ebola virus. We’ve developed protocols detailing screening and care of patients, safety guidelines for staff and other practices such isolation procedures, hand washing and the use of personal protective equipment,” Fryer said.

“Our work continues with ongoing training and will continue weekly going forward. Word of the first confirmed Ebola diagnosis of a health care worker in the United States reconfirms our commitment to ensuring patient and employee safety,” he added.

Fryer said preventing the spread of any infectious disease is ongoing in Sutter's care centers. “Our hospital emergency department screens and monitors for the Ebola virus and we follow procedures established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health.”

Tait said that, as a small county, Lake is fortunate to have close working relationships in its health care community, and the many partners are continuing to work together to prepare.  

Within the next week, Tait said results are expected from a statewide survey of hospitals that will help determine which hospitals are best prepared to offer the type of care Ebola patients would need.  

“As a small community served by two critical access hospitals, we feel that we could safely handle a patient suspected to have an Ebola infection, yet would anticipate transferring such patients to a facility able to offer the specialty care that would be needed,” she said.

Tait said Lake County Public Health is using its Hospital Preparedness Partner grant to do public health planning with acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and outpatient clinics on the public health aspects of emergency and disaster planning.

“This is an ongoing process which supports our ability to keep them apprised of current guidelines for response and maintains open lines of communication locally,” she said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

Ensuring more than one million students in California receive safe transportation to and from school every day is no small task and involves many people.

Therefore, the California Highway Patrol has joined the National Association for Pupil Transportation in calling attention to National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 20 to 24.

“Keeping children safe is a collective effort involving the public, transportation professionals, government agencies, and law enforcement,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “It is also important for parents to talk to their children about school bus safety and ways to stay safe around buses.”

One of the key players in school bus safety is the bus driver.

Through its School Bus Program, the CHP ensures prospective drivers are able to meet the strenuous qualifications required by law and ensures applicants undergo a thorough interview process, which includes a criminal background check.

Drivers are also required to meet standards set forth by the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Education.

However, school bus safety goes beyond the driver.

The CHP also is responsible for inspecting more than 23,000 school buses annually. During these thorough inspections, CHP personnel examine all equipment, gauges, lights, doors, the interior and exterior of the bus, air brake system, undercarriage, tires, engine components, frame and suspension.

The motoring public also plays a key role in the safe transportation of students.

The CHP offers the following tips for drivers who encounter a school bus:

– Never pass a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing.
– Watch for children who cross in front of the bus when the bus is stopped.
– Keep an eye out for children at bus stops.
– Be aware of children running to bus stops.

“Working together, sharing the common goal of safely getting students to school, we can help prevent tragedies from occurring on our roadways,” added Commissioner Farrow.

The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of safety, service, and security to the people of California.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Saw Shop Gallery Bistro’s 13th annual benefit dinner for Habitat for Humanity Lake County will be held on Monday, Nov. 3.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the restaurant, 3825 Main St. in Kelseyville.

The funds received will go towards improving the lives of Lake County military veterans by keeping their homes safe, decent and accessible.

This is the main funding annual event for Habitat for Humanity Lake County. 

The dinner will be a multi-course, sit-down meal. 

All costs of the dinner are donated to Habitat for Humanity including the food, wine and the staff hours of the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro.

Tickets are $100 each and table sponsorships for $800 also are available.

Please call the Saw Shop Bistro at 707-278-0129 for reservations.

For further information, call the Habitat for Humanity office at 707-994-1100.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Obtaining personal and family health coverage and gaining access to Medi-Cal benefits is now easier than many people think.

On Sept. 30, the Lake County Department of Social Services was awarded $77,500 in grant funds through the County Medical Services Program Medi-Cal Outreach and Enrollment Pilot Project.

The Lake County Department of Social Services has partnered with North Coast Opportunities, the Lake County Probation Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in a two-year project to increase awareness of and enrollment in low and no-cost health coverage through California’s Medi-Cal program.

“NCO and Lake County Department of Social Services have a strong history of working together to address the needs of our community, and we will continue this relationship as we work together to increase enrollment and participation … in the Medi-Cal program,” said Patty Bruder, executive director of North Coast Opportunities.

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid health care program.

With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in January, more people than ever qualify for Medi-Cal coverage. 

Anyone can apply for Medi-Cal benefits and, if determined eligible, this program will pay for a variety of medical services for children and adults with low to moderate incomes. 

In Lake County, where more than 63,000 people reside, approximately 20 percent or 12,800 residents report that they have no health insurance.

Many individuals and families who need medical coverage are unaware that they may in fact qualify for benefits.

Currently, the annual income limit for a single adult is $16,105, and the annual income limit for a family of four is $63,441.

There also are many special programs that may assist people with income levels above these to qualify for Medi-Cal.

The Department of Social Services also can assist with enrollment in subsidized and unsubsidized health insurance through California’s health insurance exchange, Covered California.

Much of this project will focus on informing and enrolling particularly underserved and at risk populations through outreach at community events, such as farmer’s markets, health and wellness fairs and food pantries. Look for the outreach worker at your local community event.

The Medi-Cal application process is confidential and easy. Applications may be completed online or submitted by mail.

For more information, visit www.c4yourself.com or www.coveredca.com , call the Lake County Department of Social Services at 707-995-4200, or apply in person at 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway, Lower Lake.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Another varied group of dogs is available for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.

Dogs ready for new homes include mixes of Australian Shepherd, beagle Chihuahua, dachshund, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, pit bull and Pomeranian.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

Chihuahua mix

This female Chihuahua mix has a short buff-colored coat.

She's in kennel No. 5, ID No. 1002.

'Princess'

“Princess is a young female German Shepherd mix.

She has a medium-length tan and black coat.

She's in kennel No. 8, ID No. 902.

'Tippy'

“Tippy” is a female Australian Shepherd mix.

She has a medium-length black and white coat.

She's in kennel No. 9, ID No. 985.

'Diamond'

“Diamond” is a young male pit bull terrier mix.

He has a short tan and brown coat.

Diamond is in kennel No. 10, ID No. 1000.

German Shepherd

This male German Shepherd needs a loving home.

He is very energetic and would do best with an active family and a large yard to run and play.

While he has some training, shelter staff said he would benefit from more training in obedience and basic manners. He is said to be good with all nondominant dogs.

He's in kennel No. 24, ID No. 975.

Female beagle

This female beagle is looking for a couch of her own where she can snuggle.

Shelter staff said she doesn't mind other dogs but she is not playful. She would do great in a home with kids of all ages, and is very mellow.

She's in kennel No. 30, ID No. 923.

Male dachshund

This male dachshund is 5 years old and has a short tricolor coat.

Shelter staff said he is very friendly and social, and good with other dogs. He would make a great family pet and would be good with kids. He still acts like a puppy.

He's in kennel No. 32, ID No. 792.

'Maya'

“Maya” is an adult female Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix.

She's has a short red and white coat.

Maya is in kennel No. 32B, ID No. 843.

Male Labrador Retriever

This male Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat.

He's good with other dogs prefers and prefers to be around other males.

Shelter staff said he has a mellow energy level. He appears to have been an outside dog and is a bit jumpy about being indoors, but will adjust well if given the chance.

He's in kennel No. 34, ID No. 779.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

Traffic collisions remain the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States and California. Each year, thousands of young drivers and their passengers are killed in collisions.

To help bring awareness to this national problem, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will participate in National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 19 to 25.

“This week is dedicated to focusing attention on setting rules for your teen driver before letting them get behind the wheel,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “By setting these ground rules for new drivers early on, you can provide them with the information needed to become a safe driver and thus help to prevent future tragedies from ever happening.”

The CHP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration encourage parents to use the following five rules to help their teens be safe behind the wheel:

– Avoid distractions when behind the wheel, especially cell phones.
– Be responsible with passengers in the car and do not allow them to hinder your ability to drive responsibly.
– Follow the posted speed limit and never drive at a speed unsafe for the conditions of the roadway.
– Never drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking.
– Always wear your seat belt and ensure your passengers are buckled up before hitting the road.

According to the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System for 2012, the most recent year that finalized data is available, there were more than 19,000 drivers between the ages of 16 to 19 involved in collisions in California.

A teen driver was determined to be at fault in 66 percent of those collisions, which resulted in more than 140 people killed.

To address the issue, CHP partners with Impact Teen Drivers which endeavors to change the culture of teen driving through a nationwide educational program that confronts the dangers and consequences of reckless and distracted driving.

“We focus on teens because their inexperience places them at the greatest risk, and because they are forming life-long driving habits,” said Dr. Kelly Browning, executive director of Impact Teen Drivers. “But it is also important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that parents are the primary influencer of their teen’s driving habits. It will take all of us, educators, law enforcement, parents, and communities, to change the driving culture to one that is distraction-free.”

The CHP also offers a free Start Smart class as an opportunity to unite parents and teens in a two-hour driver safety education class that is available throughout the state.

Parents or guardians are encouraged to contact their local CHP office for additional details and information on when classes are scheduled for both Start Smart and Impact Teen Drivers.

The CHP's Clear Lake Area office can be reached at 707-279-0103.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – With people across the nation wondering what the winter weather will hold, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this week issued its winter outlook for 2014 and 2014.

Mike Halpert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center reports that the strong El Niño that forecasters have predicted has not materialized.

There is at least a two-in-three chance that wintertime precipitation will be near or above average throughout the state, according Halpert, although complete recovery from dry conditions is unlikely.

Forecasters are predicting a wetter-than-average winter across southern Alaska, across the southern part of the nation and along the East Coast, while it's expected to be a drier-than-average season in the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest.

The agency's weather maps indicate that much of California – including Lake County – is looking at having average rainfall for the months of December through February, while conditions are expected to be wetter-than-normal in Southern California for that same time period.

The temperature outlook favors a warmer-than-average winter in Alaska and also in a band extending from the West Coast through most of the Intermountain West, and across the US-Canadian border to New England.

Colder-than-average conditions are favored in the south-central and southeastern states. 

For the full report, see the video above.