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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A new report released by the California Department of Public Health showed a drop in the state’s teen birth rate, but on the local level the numbers experienced a slight increase.

The California Department of Public Health’s report on the teen birth rate, released last week, said the state rate for the two-year period of 2008-10 declined to 29 births for every 1,000 females aged 15-19.

That’s down from the rate of 32.1 births for 2007-09 and 35.2 in 2006-08, according to state statistics.

The most recent numbers showed a significant drop from the teen birth rate of 70.9 births per 1,000 teen females recorded in 1991, when the number reached a the record high.

“Teen pregnancy has been a long-standing public health challenge associated with increased maternal and infant morbidity and mortality,” said Dr. Ron Chapman, the state public health officer. “Early teenage childbearing has been recognized to have negative health and social consequences to adolescent mothers, but we must continue to work together if we are to reduce the state’s teen birth rates even further.”

By comparison, Lake County’s teen birth rate is well above the state average.

For the 2008-10 reporting period, Lake’s teen birth rate was 43.4 percent, up from 41.8 percent in 2007-09 and 43.2 percent in 2006-2008, according to state statistics.

The local epidemiological data on which the state report is based lags by a minimum of two years, which is how long it takes the state to collect and process it, according to Jane MacLean, Lake County’s maternal and child health director.

The state report said teen birth rates across California declined in all major racial/ethnic groups.

Teens aged 18-19 experienced a decline of 9 percent – from 53.5 in 2009 to 48.6 in 2010 – and teens aged 15-17 saw a drop from 17.5 to 15.2, representing a 13 percent reduction, the report showed.

While Hispanic teens aged 15-19 continued to have the highest birth rate in 2010, they demonstrated the second highest decline at 11 percent between 2009 and 2010. Hispanic teen birth rates dropped from 50.8 in 2009 to 45.0 in 2010.

African-American teen birth rate was 37.0 in 2009; it dropped to 34.0 in 2010, representing a decrease of 8 percent, the state said. Asian/Pacific Islander teens and white teens had reductions of 14 and 8 percent, respectively.

California’s teen population appears to be leveling off, however changes in its composition can influence the teen birth rate, the state reported.

In 2000, nearly equal proportions of female teens were Hispanic (39%) and white (38%); by 2010, Hispanics comprised 47 percent and whites 33 percent, according to the report.

The state Department of Public Health credited public and private teen pregnancy prevention efforts with bringing about the decline in the teen birth rate.

The agency said its funds programs including the Information and Education Program, the Adolescent Family Life Program and the Family PACT (Planning, Access, Care and Treatment) Program.

However, Lake County is being impacted by the loss of important grant funding to assist such efforts.

Lake Family Resource Center formerly ran a teen pregnancy prevention program in partnership with local schools, said the center’s executive director, Gloria Flaherty.

However, Flaherty told Lake County News that all of the state funding for that program was eliminated in the last budget year. As a result, the program was discontinued.

Flaherty said the program had been run on a relatively small annual budget of $127,000.

“We were always so amazed with what we could do with that,” she said.

Lake Family Resource Center began providing the services in the 2003-04 fiscal year. During the period from 2003 to the end of the program in 2011, she said the local teen pregnancy rate dropped, and she said she believed their program contributed to that decline.

With the elimination of state funding, the only programs the center now offers for teen pregnancy prevention focus on stopping second pregnancies, Flaherty said.

Last year, the California Department of Public Health received a Personal Responsibility Education Program grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration to focus services in 19 counties in California with teen birth rates that have consistently remained higher than the statewide teen birth rates.

With Lake among those 19 counties, Flaherty said Lake Family Resource Center and other local stakeholders – including the Lake County Office of Education, Lake County Public Health and the Lake County Department of Social Services – responded to a recently released request for proposals from the state for the grant funding. That would help the center revive a teen pregnancy prevention program.

“So hopefully there will be funding coming again starting July 1,” Flaherty said.

The new funding amount would be $50,000 annually. Because of the lower amount of funding, Flaherty said Lake Family Resource Center would not be able to entirely replicate its previous program.

If funded, the new teen pregnancy prevention program would again be school-based, and would focus on abstinence, as the previous program did, Flaherty explained.

“We’re really hoping we’re funded,” she said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

2012 CDPH Teen Birth Rate Slides

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unshelledalmonds


The cold and rain couldn’t dampen my excitement when I spotted almonds for sale during a recent farm visit.
 
There they were, nestled in a wooden bushel basket on the floor, with their light brown, roughly textured shells calling my name.
 
As soon as I spotted them, a rush of childhood memories flooded over me.
 
When I was a kid, nearly every family I knew had a bowl or basket full of mixed, unshelled nuts on their table. There was always a nutcracker lying on top as an invitation to dig right in and start cracking.
 
It was hard work to get some of those shells open (the filberts and Brazil nuts in particular), but that made the nut meat inside all the more satisfying.
 
Thankfully, almonds aren’t hard nuts to crack, so my son and I made quick work of the little pile when I got home. As I suspected, he’d never seen almonds in the shell before, and I was happy to share the experience with him.
 
Almonds are cousins of peaches, nectarines and apricots, which you might have suspected if you’ve seen them in the shell, since in that state they look similar to the pits of those fruits.
 
Like their relatives, almonds are drupes, not true nuts, meaning they’re comprised of a seed contained within a hard shell and outer hull. The almonds we consume are the seeds of the almond tree.
 
Almond trees are native to the Mediterranean climate region of the Middle East, stretching east as far as the Indus River in what is now southern Pakistan, and were spread by ancient man along the shores of the Mediterranean into northern Africa and southern Europe.
 
Almonds are one of the earliest domesticated trees because of the ease with which they grow from seed. It’s estimated they’ve been cultivated since 3000 B.C., before the introduction of grafting to agriculture.
 
California is responsible for all the U.S. almond production, and we’ve just passed the season for almond blooms, which happens each year in February.
 
Sometimes I’m lucky enough to have an excuse to drive from Lake County to Sacramento when almonds are in bloom, and I happily wind through fields of blooming almond trees on my way to Interstate 5.
 
After blossoms fall, green almond buds appear on trees, and they’ll continue to mature until June, as the shell hardens and the kernel forms within it.
 
The surrounding green hull, which can be compared to a thinner version of the fleshy portion of a peach, splits in the heat of summer, exposing the almond shell and allowing it to dry.
 
As the season progresses, the split widens and the hull becomes tough and leathery.
 
Shortly before harvest, which occurs from mid-August to November, the hulls open completely. Mechanical tree shakers are utilized to knock nuts to the ground during the harvest.
 
Bitter almonds, a cousin of the sweet almonds we eat, are used in such products as almond extract, almond liqueur and cosmetic almond oil, but are illegal to sell to the public in the United States because of their high levels of cyanide.
 
The poison is processed out during the making of these products; however, if eaten raw, a generous handful or two of bitter almonds (between 20 and 50, depending on the source) can kill an adult.
 
Almond oil is often used in massage or as a moisturizer, and I have to say it’s one of the sweetest things I’ve ever smelled.
 
Almond flour may be used as an alternative baking product for those sensitive to gluten, almond milk is available for those who prefer to avoid milk from cows, and almond butter is a substitute for peanut butter for those with ground nut allergies.
 
All these products, in my opinion, are worthy of consumption based on their own merits, rather than as substitute for other things.
 
Marzipan (oh, delightful sweet!) is a confection consisting mainly of almond meal and sugar. It’s used in making pastries (it fills almond croissants, for example) or candies, such as a filling for molded chocolates.
 
Because of its malleable consistency, it’s often used for molding sweets, such as the brightly painted miniature marzipan fruits seen in gift packages at Christmastime.
 
If purchasing marzipan, beware of cheap imitations made with soy paste and almond essence.
 
Horchata, a cold, sweet beverage popular in Mexico, is sometimes made with almonds, though can also be made with rice or even melon seeds.
 
Almonds are sold in many forms: whole, slivered, sliced, flaked, halved, diced, or as almond meal, and each of these variations can be natural or blanched, meaning the brown skin surrounding the nut has been removed.
 
Unshelled almonds, such as the ones I purchased, will store much longer than those without their shell.
 
If purchasing almonds from bulk bins, be sure the nuts smell sweet and not bitter, which is an indication of rancidness. A good rule of thumb is to buy bulk from stores which have a quick sales turnover.
 
The fat in almonds is wonderful for our health; however, care should be taken when storing them, as their high fat content makes them susceptible to spoiling.
 
A sealed container in a cool, dry place away from sunlight is best. Cold storage prolongs shelf life, and refrigerated almonds will last for several months. Almonds stored in the freezer will last up to a year.
 
Studies have shown that almonds contain an array of health benefits, including lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol, prevention against diabetes and cardiovascular disease, improving blood fats, assisting in weight loss, prevention of weight gain, protection against gallstones, and production of energy.
 
In addition, they’re full of a powerful antioxidant in the form of vitamin E, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and trace minerals such as copper, manganese and phosphorus.
 
Almonds are a protein powerhouse, with a quarter cup containing more protein than an egg. They contain tryptophan, the essential amino acid which some believe has sedative effects.
 
Today’s recipes, almond-butter crisp and almond-parsley pesto, can be used as ingredients in a variety of dishes.
 
The almond-butter crisp, for example, makes a wonderful topping in place of bread crumbs for oven-baked casseroles. Or try it atop cooked veggies like asparagus or green beans.
 
Use almond-parsley pesto wherever traditional pesto might be used, such as a sauce for pasta, a spread or a dip.
 
And before I go, I’d like to introduce you to green almonds, which are gaining popularity as a delicacy in the culinary world. They’re available for only eight weeks a year, between late April and mid June, and have a very distinct taste.
 
Within the green fuzzy hull are a jelly-like inside and a skinless, white almond with a gelatinous texture, similar to a firm grape. Chefs in high-end restaurants are using them in dishes such as gazpacho or as a component in an entrée.
 
If you have access to developing almond buds in an orchard, perhaps you can pick one, open the hull with a knife and try the tender seed inside for yourself. Let me know what you think.

almondrecords
 
Almond butter crisp

1 head garlic, roasted and squeezed from skin
3 ounces butter, at room temperature
¼ cup dry bread crumbs
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup toasted almonds
 
Combine all ingredients, except almonds, and mix well. Gently fold in almonds, trying not to crush them.
 
Mixture can be dotted atop casseroles or other dishes before going in the oven, or melted to drizzle over cooked vegetables.
 
To store until ready to use, cover and refrigerate.
 
Almond parsley pesto

2 garlic cloves
2 cups flat-leaf (Italian) parsley (one bunch of leaves)
1 cup or more finely grated aged Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
 
With food processor running, drop in garlic and finely chop. Stop motor and add parsley, cheese*, almonds, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Process until finely chopped. With motor running, add oil, blending until a smooth paste is formed.
 
*Begin with one cup of cheese and add more to taste.
 
Hint: When using as a sauce for pasta, pesto may be thinned with a bit of the cooking water for ease in coating.

Esther Oertel, a freelance writer, cooking teacher, and speaker, is passionate about local produce and all foods in the vegetable kingdom. She welcomes your questions and comments and may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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The human eye is crucial to astronomy. Without the ability to see, the luminous universe of stars, planets and galaxies would be closed to us, unknown forever.

Nevertheless, astronomers cannot shake their fascination with the invisible.

Outside the realm of human vision is an entire electromagnetic spectrum of wonders. Each type of light – from radio waves to gamma-rays – reveals something unique about the universe.

Some wavelengths are best for studying black holes; others reveal newborn stars and planets; while others illuminate the earliest years of cosmic history.

NASA has many telescopes "working the wavelengths" up and down the electromagnetic spectrum. One of them, the Fermi Gamma-Ray Telescope orbiting Earth, has just crossed a new electromagnetic frontier.

"Fermi is picking up crazy-energetic photons," said Dave Thompson, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "And it's detecting so many of them we've been able to produce the first all-sky map of the very high energy universe."

“This is what the sky looks like near the very edge of the electromagnetic spectrum, between 10 billion and 100 billion electron volts,” Thompson added.

The light we see with human eyes consists of photons with energies in the range 2 to 3 electron volts.

The gamma-rays Fermi detects are billions of times more energetic, from 20 million to more than 300 billion electron volts.

These gamma-ray photons are so energetic, they cannot be guided by the mirrors and lenses found in ordinary telescopes. Instead Fermi uses a sensor that is more like a Geiger counter than a telescope.

If we could wear Fermi's gamma ray "glasses," we'd witness powerful bullets of energy – individual gamma rays – from cosmic phenomena such as supermassive black holes and hypernova explosions. The sky would be a frenzy of activity.

Before Fermi was launched in June 2008, there were only four known celestial sources of photons in this energy range. "In 3 years Fermi has found almost 500 more,” says Thompson.

What lies within this new realm?

"Mystery, for one thing," said Thompson. "About a third of the new sources can't be clearly linked to any of the known types of objects that produce gamma rays. We have no idea what they are."

The rest have one thing in common: prodigious energy.

"Among them are super massive black holes called blazars; the seething remnants of supernova explosions; and rapidly rotating neutron stars called pulsars,” Thompson said.

And some of the gamma rays seem to come from the “Fermi bubbles” – giant structures emanating from the Milky Way's center and spanning some 20,000 light years above and below the galactic plane.

Exactly how these bubbles formed is another mystery.

Now that the first sky map is complete, Fermi is working on another, more sensitive and detailed survey.

"In the next few years, Fermi should reveal something new about all of these phenomena, what makes them tick, and why they generate such 'unearthly' levels of energy," said David Paneque, a leader in this work from the Max Planck Institute in Germany.

For now, though, there are more unknowns than knowns about "Fermi's world."

Says Thompson: "It's pretty exciting!"

Dauna Coulter and Dr. Tony Phillips work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Three adults cats remain available for adoption this week at Lake County’s animal shelter.

Two tabbies and a gray cat are in need of new homes, maybe yours.

Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped 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 there, hoping you'll choose them.

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

graytabby52

Male tabby

This male gray and black tabby is 3 years old.

He has a short coat and a docked tail.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 52, ID No. 32041.

graycat96

Gray domestic short hair

This gray male domestic short hair mix is 3 years old.

He is not yet altered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 96, ID No. 32059.

flowercat17

‘Flower’

“Flower” is an 8-year-old female domestic short hair mix.

She is a brown tabby with white markings, and has lovely green eyes.

Flower is residing in cat room kennel No. 17, ID No. 31965.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

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.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With “National Puppy Day” having just passed, the Lake County animal shelter has numerous puppies and several adult dogs who would like to make their home with you.

Border collie and hound mix puppies, labs and pit bulls are available this week.

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.

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”).

coonpups

Hound mix puppies

These bluetick coonhound-treeing walker coonhound puppies are 10 weeks old.

There are two males and two females with black and white coloring, short coats and floppy ears.

They are in kennel No. 33, ID No. 32170.

blackdelilah26

Female border collie mix

This female border collie mix, called “Delilah,” is 3 years old.

She has black coloring and a short coat. She is not yet altered.

She is in kennel No. 26, ID No. 32044.

lucy29

‘Lucy’

“Lucy” is a female Labrador Retriever-Rottweiler mix.

She is 1 year old, has black brindle coloring, and is not yet altered.

Find her in kennel No. 29, ID No. 32057.

blueheeler7

Heeler-border collie mix

This male blue heeler-border collie mix is 7 months old.

He is black and tan in color, and is not yet altered.

Find him in kennel No. 7, ID No. 32009.

borderpups25

Border collie mix puppies

These border collie mix puppies are 14 weeks old.

Some of them have black coloring, and some chocolate coloring, with short coats.

They are in kennel No. 25, ID No. 32045.

pitbullpup21b

Female pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix is 5 months old.

She has a short coat with reddish coloring. She is not yet altered.

Find her in kennel No. 21b, ID No. 32038.

Adoptable dogs also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dogs_and_Puppies.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Dogs listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

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.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in February with the addition of 160 jobs, according to the newest report on local and state unemployment, released Friday.

The California Employment Development Department reported that Lake County’s preliminary February jobless rate was 16.5 percent, down from the revised January rate of 16.6 percent, and down from 18.5 percent from February 2011.

Lake was ranked at No. 42 out of the state’s 58 counties for its February unemployment rate, an improvement from No. 43 in January, according to the state’s data.

At the same time, California’s rate was unchanged in February at 10.9 percent, down from 12 percent the previous February. Nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 4,000 during February for a total gain of 333,100 jobs since the recovery began in September 2009.

Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 14,184,500 in February, an increase of 4,000 jobs over the month, according to a survey of 42,000 California businesses measuring jobs in the economy. The year-over-year change – February 2011 to February 2012 – showed an increase of 127,300 jobs, up 0.9 percent.

A federal survey of 5,500 California households serves as the basis for determining California unemployment rate.

On a nationwide level, the unemployment rate in February was 8.3 percent, the same as in January, and down from 9 percent in February 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Dennis Mullins of the Employment Development Department’s North Coast Region Labor Market Information Division said total Lake County wage and salary employment increased 160 jobs between January and February and remained up by 410 jobs over the year.

Government remained down for the year over, with a loss of 40 jobs, he said.

Year-over job growth occurred in farm, 380;  trade, transportation and utilities, 40, professional and business services, 30; leisure and hospitality, 10; and other services, 60, according to Mullins.

Mullins said industry sectors with no change over the year included manufacturing and financial activities.

Industry sectors with decline over the year included mining, logging and construction, with a loss of 30 jobs; information, down 10; private educational and health services, down 30; and government, a loss of 40 jobs, he said.

While Lake enjoyed a slight improvement in its rate, its neighboring counties – with the exception of Napa – saw their rates climb slightly in February, based on the Employment Development Department’s report.

Lake’s surrounding counties' employment figures were as follows: Colusa, 27.1 percent, No. 58; Glenn, 17.1 percent, No. 46; Mendocino, 11.1 percent, No. 19; Napa, 8.9 percent, No. 7; Sonoma County, 9.3 percent, No. 10; and Yolo, 14.4 percent, No. 33.

Marin County had the state’s lowest unemployment in the state, remaining at 6.6 percent, while Colusa County's rate ticked up by one-tenth to 27.1-percent, according to state data.

The Employment Development Department reported that there were 565,418 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the February survey week, compared with 575,895 in January and 666,260 in February 2011.

At the same time, new claims for unemployment insurance were 55,287 in February 2012, compared with 59,344 in January and 68,203 in February of last year, the report showed.

Report shows slight increase in jobs for California

The federal survey of California households, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, showed an increase in the number of employed people.

It estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in February was 16,455,000, an increase of 12,000 from January, and up 293,000 from the employment total in February of last year, according to the Employment Development Department.

The number of people unemployed in California was 2,013,000 – down by 6,000 over the month – and down by 185,000 compared with February of last year, the state reported.

EDD’s report on payroll employment (wage and salary jobs) in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 14,184,500 in February, a net gain of 4,000 jobs since the January survey. This followed a gain of 1,500 jobs, as revised, in January.

Four categories – manufacturing; information; professional and business services; and educational and health services – added jobs over the month, gaining 24,400 jobs, the report said.

The category of information posted the largest increase over the month, adding 9,300 jobs. Six categories – mining and logging; construction; trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; other services; and government – reported job declines over the month, down 20,400 jobs, the Employment Development Department said.

Government posted the largest decrease over the month, down 10,300 jobs. One category, leisure and hospitality, was unchanged over the month, data showed.

Eight categories – construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality – posted job gains over the year, adding 184,200 jobs, according to the state’s statistic.

Professional and business services posted the largest gain on both a numerical and percentage basis, adding 67,700 jobs, up 3.2 percent.

Two categories, other services and government, posted job declines over the year, down 56,900 jobs, while the state said government posted the largest decline on both a numerical and percentage basis, down by 49,800 jobs, a decrease of 2.1 percent.

One category, mining and logging, was unchanged over the year, the report said.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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loftinandcilley

Two Republicans are challenging Congressman Mike Thompson in this year's race for Congress.

Randy Loftin of Napa and Stewart Cilley of Rohnert Part are challenging Thompson for the newly redrawn Fifth Congressional District seat, which includes the southern portion of Lake County along with Napa County.

Loftin, a Vietnam-era veteran, lives in Napa and owns a successful tax and retirement planning business.

He wants to pursue private sector job creation to spur economic recovery, and pledges to work to cut taxes to put more money in the pockets of consumers.

Cilley is a certified public accountant concerned about addressing restrictions on personal freedom and bringing about a “less over-arching control by an invasive, unwelcome federal government,” he states on his Web site.

According to his Web site, Cilley pledges to “work like crazy to radically reduce the size of the federal government, lessen its controls over our behavior and, consequently, lower the burden of taxation on all of us who 'yearn to breathe free'!”

Earlier this month Loftin received the endorsement of the California Republican Party. California’s new open primary system replaces the customary ballot process to determine Republican nominees.

Loftin expressed his gratitude for the state party's endorsement, and said he is determined to build strong affiliations with other Republican leaders to “take on” the issues that strangle the counties, the state of California and the people nationwide.

He also has received the endorsements of the Republican central committees for Napa, Lake, Solano and Contra Costa counties.

Loftin's Web site is www.loftinforcongress.com ; Cilley's is http://cilleycampaigncommittee.danielpatrickcilley.com .

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Wine Alliance is proud to announce that the work of noted Lake County artist John R. Clarke will once again be featured on this year's event poster.

Over the past 13 years, Clarke has captured both the essence of the events venues and of Lake County itself.

This year the magical light of Brassfield Winery in the High Valley region of Lake County seems especially appropriate for Clarke's unique style of work.

In the coming months, copies this new poster will go on sale at winery tasting rooms, other venues around the county and at a series of special events where Clarke will sign copies.

This year's poster may be purchased for $20 with proceeds going to the beneficiary organizations and programs associated with The Lake County Wine Alliance.

Clarke, a former anesthesiologist, has been painting on silk since 1994. Each year he has created an original piece of art for use as a poster by the Wine Alliance.

The original painting will be on view at the Saw Shop Bistro in Kelseyville.

Then on Sept. 15 it will be among the special items up for bid during the live auction of the gala charity event.

This is the 13th year that the Lake County Wine Alliance has sponsored this major fundraising event in support of the arts, health and community in Lake County.

In that time, more than $896,000 has been raised for local programs.

Tickets for the Wine Auction, at $150 per person, are available by calling the Wine Alliance at 866-279-WINE or online at www.winealliance.orgwww.winealliance.org .

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The trial of a man accused of stabbing to death a neighbor in 2007 has been tentatively scheduled to begin this May.

Ivan Garcia Oliver, 34, is set to go to trial beginning May 23, based on a discussion between the prosecution and Oliver’s defense attorney, Stephen Carter, at a Friday morning hearing in Lakeport.

Oliver is charged with murder, burglary and causing injury to an elderly person for his alleged attack on 67-year-old Michael Dodele on Nov. 20, 2007.

Oliver was accompanied to court by four correctional officers, was closely cuffed and dressed in a high-security pod red and white jail jumpsuit.

Judge Richard Martin set the May trial date at the request of Carter, the defense attorney for Orlando Lopez, who along with Paul Braden is now on trial for the June 2011 murder of 4-year-old Skyler Rapp and the wounding of five others.

With that trial currently expected to run through at least May 21, Carter suggested that he could be ready to proceed in Oliver’s case on May 23.

On Friday Judge Martin also set a trial readiness and settlement conference in the case for May 14, and a trial assignment hearing for May 18.

Oliver and Dodele had been neighbors for a short time in the Western Hills Mobile Home Park in Lakeport, where Dodele had moved after being released from prison.

Dodele had served 19 years after being convicted of committing a rape in Sonoma County, and had been required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.

The case against Oliver alleges that he saw Dodele on the California Attorney General's Megan's List Web site, and due to unclear wording in the listing concluded that Dodele had been in prison for a crime involving a child, as Lake County News has reported.

Oliver has remained in custody since his arrest shortly after Dodele’s fatal stabbing.

Hinchcliff said Oliver’s case has experienced numerous delays, in part due to several of his previous defense attorneys leaving the case. Carter also has requested a continuance for further investigation.

Oliver’s case also was delayed due to his being returned to San Diego County to undergo trial on a federal illegal dumping case in 2008, in which he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for violating the federal hazardous waste law.

In addition to the charges in the case involving Dodele’s death, Oliver is facing an additional felony charge relating to a shank a correctional officer at the Lake County Jail found in his possession in December 2007. Jail officials at the time said he made the weapon from a toothbrush.

Hinchcliff said that second case is trailing the main murder case.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – More rain, thunderstorms, as well as snow in higher elevations are part of the forecast for the remainder of the weekend based on a storm system moving over interior California.

On Saturday snow was reported in Lake County's higher elevations, including on the hilltops along the Northshore, in Cobb and over the Hopland Grade.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory and hazardous weather outlook for Lake County on Saturday evening due to the potential for more precipitation.

Agency forecasters are predicting more rain Sunday, with totals estimated at two-tenths of an inch at most.

Thunderstorms could occur later in the day and into the evening, according to the forecast.

At the same time, light snow accumulations are possible in higher elevations – above 2,000 feet – around the region.

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lobstermarket

The “locavore” movement helps America’s farmers. Could it also help the country's fishing industry?

Two new NOAA Sea Grant studies will look at how new business models, based on the success of community supported agriculture, could benefit fishing communities in Washington, Oregon and California.

“I am very excited about these projects because they get to the heart of what coastal seafood lovers want – delicious, fresh, local and sustainably caught seafood on their dinner plates,” said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., who announced the studies Thursday in Santa Barbara, Calif.

“California Sea Grant is pleased to partner with the three other West Coast Sea Grant programs to support a portfolio of social science research with region-wide significance to coastal communities, fishermen and the natural resources upon which they rely,” said California Sea Grant Director James Eckman, Ph.D.

The four West Coast Sea Grant programs selected these two projects, totaling $500,000, through an independent peer-review process. NOAA provided funding through its National Sea Grant College Program.

Community supported fisheries (CSFs) are a hot trend in seafood marketing.

Fishermen in some areas are finding that they can get better prices for fresh, locally caught fish sold directly to consumers through CSFs.

Patterned after community supported agriculture, the CSF business model is the subject of a new California Sea Grant study.

Direct marketing to consumers

Barbara Walker, Ph.D., a cultural geographer at the University of California, Santa Barbara, will lead a study of community-supported fisheries and other direct-marketing programs in Washington, as well as North Carolina and South Carolina.

The emphasis will be on helping fishermen learn about direct marketing and identify approaches that might be appropriate for the local fisheries and consumer base.

“With the Sea Grant award, we will be able to systematically investigate the upsides and downsides of direct marketing of seafood and tailor the results specifically to West Coast fisheries and fishing communities,” Walker said. “There are a lot of successes with community-supported fisheries, and, on the other side, there are programs that are struggling.”

Project co-investigator Caroline Pomeroy, Ph.D., a California Sea Grant advisor, said that the scientists “want to objectively evaluate the actual benefits and costs, and what it takes for such programs to succeed.”

“Our goal, ultimately, is to provide fishermen and fishing communities with scientifically sound information they can use to make decisions that give them the best possible chance of success,” she said.

High value product lines

Besides direct sales, another avenue for increasing revenue from fishing is to develop higher-value product lines, for example, by delivering fish live, or by smoking, freezing, or otherwise processing product. The second Sea Grant-funded project looks at this approach.

Ana Pitchon, Ph.D., an assistant professor of anthropology at California State University, Dominguez Hills in Los Angeles County, and James Hilger, a fisheries resource economist at NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center in San Diego, will explore what can be done to add value to fish and shellfish landed locally, using four fisheries – Pacific sardine, Dungeness crab, near-shore live finfish and spot prawn – as case studies.

Findings from the project will be presented at workshops and town hall meetings and developed into a set of recommendations to be shared with coastal communities and managers.

Josh Fisher, vice president of the California Lobster and Trap Fishermen’s Association, called the research “vital to the survival of West Coast fisheries.”

NOAA’s California Sea Grant College Program is a statewide, multi-university program of marine research, extension services, and education activities administered by Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.

It is one of 32 Sea Grant programs and is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

Visit www.csgc.ucsd.edu to sign up for email news or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Pacific storm system that was headed toward Northern and Central California Friday night is expected to bring rain to the region Saturday and Sunday.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Lake and other portions of Northern California in anticipation of the storm.

Forecasters predicted that rainfall would be mostly light to moderate, and would occur primarily on Saturday and Saturday night, with reduced chances of rainfall on Sunday morning.

Lake County's rain amount over the weekend is anticipated to be up to just over an inch and a half at the most.

Snow is expected in higher elevations in the Coastal Range as well as the Sierras, the National Weather Service said.

While rain is forecast to taper off later on Sunday and early on Monday, another storm system is expected to bring rain to Lake County through much of next week, the agency reported.

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