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“Elf” Clara Carstensen accompanies Santa in the Parade of Lights during the annual Christmas in the Country event in Kelseyville, California, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — Downtown Kelseyville was filled with Christmas cheer and lights on Friday evening for the annual “Christmas in the Country” celebration.

The event, organized by the Kelseyville Business Association, had the feel of pre-pandemic days, with more families filling up the town’s business district, where there were activities at shops beginning in the early afternoon.

Visitors to downtown Kelseyville, California, wait for the parade to start in front of St. Peter’s Catholic Church as the moon shines overhead on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.

Starting with a merchants open house in the early evening, visitors were able to find a variety of foods, visit businesses and catch up with friends.

The theme was “Christmas in Toyland,” and that was especially visible in the Parade of Lights, which lasted about 40 minutes as it wound its way through town.

The floats included Santa Claus, several Grinches, community groups and businesses, singers and cartoon characters. Interspersed were classic cars and trucks, horses, a Kelseyville Unified School District bus outfitted with a train horn, marching bands and dancing Christmas trees.

One of the lovely young angels on a float in the Parade of Lights during the annual Christmas in the Country event in Kelseyville, California, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.


Bringing up the rear of the parade once again was the bubble machine, followed by excited children.

After the parade, children were able to visit with Santa Claus at the recently opened Lady Luck Garage.

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.


A Kelseyville Unified School District bus equipped with a train horn passes through town in the Parade of Lights during the annual Christmas in the Country event in Kelseyville, California, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.

One of the entries in the Parade of Lights during the annual Christmas in the Country event in Kelseyville, California, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.





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Santa Claus and his elves will once again be featured at the Rotary Club of Clear Lake’s annual Community Christmas Dinner & Celebration on Saturday, December 10, 2022, in Clearlake, California. Here he is at a previous event, meeting the children. Photo courtesy of the Rotary Club of Clear Lake.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Rotary Club of Clearlake Community Christmas Dinner is returning this year.

The group will host the annual dinner and Christmas celebration on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Burns Valley School, 3620 Pine St.

This is the 30th year Rotary has hosted the event.

The club reported that this is its most satisfying and enjoyable community event, and has always been heartwarming and fun, with Santa on hand and a delicious meal served. Rotarians said they are excited to return to in-person dining this year.

Rotary offered its thanks to Foods, Etc. for its contributions in support of this event. They will also have a special treat this year, 600 portions, donated by La Chilanguita Mexican Restaurant in Clearlake.

Locally the Meals on Wheels program delivers meals to about 200 registered recipients. All food and packaging supplies for recipients will be provided to the Meals on Wheels program as part of this celebration event. This extra warm meal of ham and all the fixings, along with pumpkin pie, is a special holiday treat.

Santa Claus and his elves will visit with about 600 children, taking the time to ask each child what their special Christmas wish is. Children also will receive a souvenir photo with Santa and a toy to take home with them.

The Warm for The Winter event featuring All Things Warm will also be back this year and run simultaneously with the celebration event.

Worldwide Healing Hands volunteers will be on hand with giveaways and will provide free health screenings.

The Lake County Public Health Department also will be on hand to provide flu shots while supplies last.

Lake County Behavioral Health will have prevention teams (mental health and substance abuse services) on site to provide resources and freebies.

“The Rotary Club of Clearlake loves and appreciates the community we serve. We are extremely excited and happy we are able to bring this event to you, our community, in-person again,” the group said.
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The Sunflower restaurant, at left, during demolition in early November 2022 in Clearlake, California. Photo courtesy of Alan Flora.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Another of the city of Clearlake’s historic lakeside buildings is no more.

Earlier this month, Chernoh Excavating took down the Sunflower Chinese restaurant at 14525 Lakeshore Drive.

The building’s owner, Roopa Shekar, did not respond to requests from Lake County News seeking comment for this story.

The building formerly was known as the Lakeshore Inn, according to an email sent to the Clearlake City Council by longtime city resident Bob Mingori earlier this year.

The Sunflower restaurant operated there until it was closed in 2018. In December 2018 the city deemed it a public health and safety hazard and a public nuisance.

After the previous owner failed to address the issues, the city issued an abatement order in April 2021 and was set to approve a demolition contract with Chernoh in July 2021 when Shekar, who had purchased the building in June 2021, came forward to ask for time to handle the building’s abatement issues and upgrade it herself.

When the city said Shekar didn’t meet the deadlines for abating the building, the council went forward in April with approving a $53,439 contract with Chernoh Excavating to demolish and abate the structures.

Shekar appealed that decision, City Manager Alan Flora denied her appeal. During a special June 2 meeting the council voted unanimously to uphold Flora’s decision while also directing staff to give Shekar the opportunity to submit the engineered plans in order to get the building permit for the necessary work.

In a June email, Shekar told Lake County News that she had challenges getting the help she needed with the project, including finding a structural engineer. However, by that point she had managed to find an architect to assist her.

The Sunflower restaurant demolition in early November 2022 in Clearlake, California. Photo courtesy of Alan Flora.


In July, she reported that she had submitted all of the plans the city wanted.

However, as time progressed, the building, while fenced, did not appear to be undergoing the necessary abatement.

Despite the fact that the city had given her the chance to do the work and that council members including Russ Cremer said they had hoped the building would be saved, the decision was made to go forward with the demolition.

That’s because Flora said Shekar would not commit to renovating the building.

At the Clearlake City Council’s Nov. 3 meeting, Flora said work had been underway to move the asbestos from the building and then the demolition would take place.

A week later, the building was down, Flora told Lake County News.

In his April email to the city council, Mingori, who realized the building needed a lot of work, nonetheless urged taking measures to save it.

He said when the building was the Lakeshore Inn, it had been “the place to be” on Friday nights.

Mingori said other notable older buildings in Clearlake had fallen into disrepair, leading to their demolition. In other cases, such as the former Wisedas Resort, the building was destroyed by an arsonist.

Ultimately, the Lakeshore Inn, which Mingori said had been the last of those buildings, experienced the same fate and was demolished.

The site now is cleared, leaving an empty spot on the lakeshore.

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.
The demolition crew at work at the Sunflower restaurant site in Clearlake, California, in early November 2022. Photo courtesy of Alan Flora.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. — Clear Lake High School’s football team will be honored on Saturday as it prepares to head out of town for the state playoffs.

The Lakeport Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lakeport Fire Protection District will provide a code three escort — meaning they will use lights and sirens — to lead the team through the downtown at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.

The route will begin on Main Street traveling south (coming from the high school).

Community members are invited to line Main Street in downtown and show the team support as it heads to the playoffs.

Clear Lake High School’s Cardinals varsity football team is traveling to Orland for the playoff game in the 2022 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games Division 5-A.

The game between the Clear Lake Cardinals and the Orland Trojans will take place beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday.

The winner will advance to the state championships Dec. 10.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council on Thursday evening directed staff to continue to review and approve rebuilding projects within the Sulphur fire area that don’t adhere to current zoning requirements as long as they meet certain conditions.

City Manager Alan Flora asked the council for the discussion and direction to allow the Community Development director to review and approve “legal nonconforming status” projects and permits in the fire area if they don’t impact the community’s health and welfare.

The October 2017 Sulphur fire burned 2,207 acres in Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks, destroying 162 structures.

The fire was determined to have resulted from a broken power pole belonging to Pacific Gas and Electric in the area of Pomo and Sulphur Bank roads in Clearlake Oaks.

Flora said rebuilding has been slow for many reasons, including underinsured property owners, the high cost of construction and delays in settlement fund payments by PG&E to fire victims.

Initially, he said the city offered a 15-month window after the fire for property owners to have newer zoning requirements waived if what they were rebuilding was consistent with the structures that had been there before.

During that 15-month window, only about 15 to 20 homes were rebuilt. Flora said he did not have more recent numbers on the rebuild, but said there have been quite a few more done over the last few years.

Flora said many of the properties in the fire area don’t meet current zoning requirements, with very small lots that make it hard to build to modern standards.

He said the city’s policy has mostly been to allow the homes lost to the fire to be rebuilt close to how they originally were constructed.

His written report to the council explained, “The area was developed before modern zoning and the properties are considered legal nonconforming. The zoning ordinance allows a legal nonconforming use to be replaced within six months of a disasters such as the Sulphur Fire, but if a permit is granted after six months, it must meet current regulations. In response to this the City allowed up to nine months, and granted a one-time six month extension to legal nonconforming status, for a total of 15 months.”

His report also explained that some insurance companies have been slow to pay, with some property owners recently receiving significant funds from the PG&E settlement.

As a result, the city is getting additional interest from property owners about rebuilding consistent with what initially was on the property, Flora reported.

Councilwoman Joyce Overton said she had spoken to someone earlier in the day who wanted to rebuild but was having trouble finding a contractor, which has been another issue.

Mayor Dirk Slooten said he’d spoken to some fire survivors who hadn’t yet received any funds from PG&E. He said he favored extending the consideration on a case-by-case basis.

During the discussion, Flora explained that some property owners have tried to live in RVs on properties for an extended period of time. If a property owner has an active building permit, they can get a temporary permit to live in an RV while constructing a house, but there is a time limit on it. City rules would not allow people to live in RVs on properties on a long-term basis.

Regarding the nonconforming uses, Flora said, “I would like to continue to see it interpreted pretty narrowly,” and on a case-by-case basis.

In response to questions from Lake County News during the meeting, Flora said he did not have detailed information on how many property owners were eligible for the PG&E funds.

He also did not have a number for how many rebuild projects are in the pipeline or how many of the properties are considered nonconforming.

Flora said there will be a lot of properties where the homes won’t be rebuilt, noting that 25 foot by 100 foot residential lots “never made sense.”

The legal nonconforming allowance going forward will probably benefit about a dozen people, he said. “I don’t expect it to be 50 or 100 people to be honest with you.”

He suggested the city could review the policy again after a year.

The council agreed to continue to allow staff to review and approve such rebuild projects on a case-by-case basis for another 12 months, and gave that direction to Flora.

In other action on Thursday, the council heard a presentation from the Public Works Department and its new director, Adeline Brown; honored city volunteers; held a public hearing to confirm assessments totaling $29,383.90 for city funded abatements for properties at 14095 Villa Way, 14101 Villa Way and 14775 Highlands Way; and approved a resolution to extend the term of the existing commercial cannabis development agreements for seven years while temporarily reducing the production fee.

A proclamation to honor the late Judge Richard Freeborn was rescheduled for January, and a discussion of a potential annexation of 302 acres at 2050 and 2122 Ogulin Canyon Road was put on hold while the property owners, who proposed the action, conduct more work on the proposal.

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.
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COBB, Calif. – Cal Fire has a fleet of 10 air curtain burners, originally deployed in the southern region of California by its tree mortality task force to address beetle kill.

Now, thanks to that arsenal being made available in the northern region, the Cobb Area Council secured grant funding from Lake County and Cal Fire for piloting and utilization of one Series 220 FireBox Burner in the Cobb Mountain area.

Air curtain burners, also called air curtain incinerators, are used to dispose of forest waste generated from fuels reduction projects in areas where the debris cannot be left on-site, and broadcast or pile burning is not an option.

“The curtain burners are very good at burning slash and brushy-type material, allowing the reduction of fuels on homeowners properties and increasing forest resiliency,” said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Brian York. “This project itself is a benefit for the community in the fact that not everyone is able to do fuels reduction burning on their property. This is a great way for them to have a location where they can drop off their materials to be consumed by the air curtain incinerator.”

The Cobb Mountain site is located at the cross of Highway 175 and Adams Springs Road.

Three, single-day, pilot test burns have been run at this site, most recently on Monday, Nov. 28.

The Cobb Forest Stewards, a subcommittee of the Cobb Area Council, and Seigler Springs Community Redevelopment Association are operating these trial runs of the air curtain burner. They have been approved and are supervised by Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.

“As the kinks are worked out, we hope to see future sites developed within the Lake County area,” York said.

Made by Air Burners out of Palm City, Fla., these FireBox Burners self-contain a fire. An air curtain burner works by pushing high velocity air over the top of the burn chamber, creating a curtain of air which the rising smoke cannot penetrate.

The unburned particulates are pushed back down into the chamber where they reburn until
they are light enough to rise through the air curtain.

The air curtain reduces particulate matter, or smoke, which results from burning clean wood waste, to an acceptable limit per United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.

These burners add another tool in the effort to reduce forest fuel loading levels and help mitigate devastation from future catastrophic wildfires.

Cal Fire’s Humboldt-Del Norte Unit, in partnership with the Willow Creek Volunteer Fire Department, has also deployed an air curtain burner in the Willow Creek area. That project is open Nov. 17 to Dec. 31.

Another air curtain burner has been operated by the Butte Unit.

Future community access to the Cobb Mountain site will be announced at a later date.
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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas as colorful lights adorn homes, and decorations and seasonal favorites are on display in stores around the country, but many may be wondering whether Mother Nature will also create a wintry scene in time for the holiday.

AccuWeather forecasters released their annual white Christmas forecast on Friday, noting that while chances aren't overwhelmingly high for large parts of the nation, a few pockets across the country may luck out just in time for the holiday.

AccuWeather's team of long-range forecasters, led by Senior Meteorologist Paul Pastelok, has been closely examining key weather patterns that could favor snow in time for the holidays across the United States.

One of the most influential weather patterns includes La Niña, which will be in play for the third winter in a row, according to Pastelok.

This pattern, which originates with cooler-than-normal waters in the central and eastern Pacific around the equator, often drives an active storm track across the northern tier of the U.S. and leaves southern sections of the country drier than normal.

Despite it being the third year in a row with La Niña, Pastelok says that his holiday season will not shape up exactly like the past two years.

The pattern could hinder chances for a "white Christmas," which is defined by having at least an inch of snow on the ground on Dec. 25.

Read on to find out what you may wake up to see this year!

Only a lucky few to see snow on Christmas in the Northeast

In the Northeast, winter got a head start after a historic lake-effect snow event dumped more than 6 feet of snow across portions of western and northern New York in mid-November.

A vigorous band of lake-effect snow unloaded more than 80 inches across a narrow area just south of Buffalo. In Hamburg, New York, located 14 miles south of downtown Buffalo, a colossal 81.2 inches of accumulation was recorded. Orchard Park, located 11 miles southeast of Buffalo, measured 80 inches of snow.

It will take an extended amount of time for the mountains of snow left behind by that storm to melt. The mild temperatures and weather conditions expected during the second half of December across the Northeast will likely not escalate the process.

Even though favorable conditions will develop to allow snow and intense cold weather to spread across the Northeast during the first half of December, the later part of the month will feature moderating temperatures and lower chances for a snowstorm. According to Pastelok, as the holiday nears, the forecast weather pattern will support more rain and perhaps ice compared to snow.

New England, which is forecast to be the only area east of the Rocky Mountains where snowfall could end up being above average for the winter, will get off to a slow start. The chances for a white Christmas will remain lower than normal for most of New England. Once the calendar flips to 2023, snowfall totals will likely be boosted by a few nor'easters, according to AccuWeather's winter forecast.

Although the chances remain relatively lower than average from coastal Maine to Virginia, snow lovers in the Northeast can find joy in that it won't be a total bust in terms of snow chances across the region this year. Near-normal chances are still expected across far northern New England and upstate, central and western New York. Cities such as Burlington, Vermont, Albany and Syracuse, New York, and Cleveland, could be in luck this holiday season.

While the spine of the Appalachian Mountains looks to have an above-normal chance of having snow on the ground in time for Christmas, Pastelok warns that some brief periods of warmer weather before the holiday could reduce the amount of snow across the central Appalachians.

Northern Plains and Upper Midwest a ‘big area to watch’

Across the central Plains and Tennessee Valley, chances for a white Christmas are typically less than 25%, based on historical data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These areas might see snow leading up to this holiday season, but Patselok says the million-dollar question is 'how long will it stick around?'

"The cold will [stick around] until about the 15th, 20th of the month," Patselok said. "So there is an opportunity that parts of the Tennessee Valley could have a higher chance of seeing a white Christmas [compared to normal]."

Chicago, a city known for its extreme cold and winter weather, has a near-normal chance this year. The Windy City measured its first snow on Oct. 17, which is nearly a month earlier than average and more than two months earlier compared to last year. On average, Chicago records its first snowfall around Nov. 18, but last year, the first snowfall didn't occur until Dec. 28, which is the city's latest first snowfall ever.

“The big area to watch is the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest,” Pastelok said, noting that as Christmas week approaches, the weather may go through another transition that will allow the storm track to set up across the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, right around Christmas Day.

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan, northern Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota typically have more than a 75% chance of a white Christmas, according to historical data compiled by the National Weather Service (NWS). And, according to Pastelok, snow chances on Christmas will likely be higher than normal.

Nebraska, which typically doesn't measure a lot of snow around Christmastime, is another state across the Plains that Patselok is keeping an eye on this year.

"That area does have a chance this year with a late-month storm system coming in," Pastelok said.

Any snow that falls during December across the northern Plains will likely stick for the holidays as cold weather is expected. For instance, Billings, Montana, is expected to have a higher-than-average chance of a white Christmas this year.

Across Iowa and southern Nebraska, the cold weather and precipitation likely won't link up at the same time, according to Pastelok. This means residents will have to keep wishing for a white Christmas as both locations are expected to have a lower-than-normal chance this year.

Replenishing snow to fall across the Northwest and Rockies just in time for the holidays

Across the Northwest and Rockies, a replenishing period of snow is expected during the middle of the month. Snow will stick around the typical spots in the higher elevations, with over a 90% chance of a white Christmas expected. But, in cities such as Salt Lake City and Denver, the chances are near to slightly above normal.

A cold weather pattern is expected in December and January across western Canada and the Northwest, which will send temperatures plummeting, especially across lower-elevation areas. This will allow a little more snow to fall in major Northwest cities, such as Seattle and Portland, Oregon. If the cold lingers, there is a chance this year that some snow may still be on the ground close to Christmas in the lower elevations as well.

Seattle measured its first snow more than a month early when snow 0.9 of an inch fell on Nov. 29. Typically the city doesn't measure its first snow until Dec. 31. The rounds of cold weather could potentially paint the Emerald City white just in time for the holiday.

The Seattle area is one part of the country that forecasters are monitoring for a higher percentage of this year, Pastelok said.

While Seattle and Portland will have a near-normal to higher-than-normal chance for a white Christmas, the ocean water will produce milder conditions that will support rain instead of snow along the immediate West Coast.

As of Nov. 30, just over 25% of the U.S. was covered by snow, with an average depth of 1.3 inches, according to data from NOAA.

Most of the snowfall was located in the Rockies and the interior Northwest, but the snow also stretched out to the Upper Midwest and even some isolated parts of the Northeast, reflective of what the states might have come Christmas.

Allison Finch is an AccuWeather staff writer.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The city of Clearlake has a fun lineup of events to celebrate Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 3, from breakfast with Santa to the annual holiday parade.

The day will start out with “Breakfast with Santa,” from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Clearlake Community Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Ave.

Come and have breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. This event will have a free crafting table available and a photo station set up for those who want their pictures taken with Santa. Children also can write a letter to Santa before they leave.

The cost is $10 for children under age 12 and $13 for adults. Children under age 2 may attend for free.

Then, on Saturday evening, the city’s Christmas parade takes place.

Line up starts at 5 p.m., with the parade beginning at 6 p.m. at 14655 Ballpark Avenue. The parade will then make its way down Lakeshore Drive.

For more information, visit the city of Clearlake’s web page and its calendar.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a proclamation convening a special session to pass price gouging penalties on oil companies. Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office.

SACRAMENTO — As oil companies continue to evade questions about unexplained gas price increases, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday convened a special session of the California Legislature on Dec. 5 to pass a price gouging penalty on oil companies that will keep money in Californians’ pockets.

The governor’s action comes on the heels of a state hearing yesterday — which five major oil refiners refused to attend — to investigate this fall’s unprecedented spike in gasoline prices.

This spike in gasoline prices resulted in record refiner profits of $63 billion in just 90 days, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income families.

“Big oil is ripping Californians off, and the deafening silence from the industry yesterday is the latest proof that a price gouging penalty is needed to hold them accountable for profiteering at the expense of California families,” said Gov. Newsom. “I’m calling a special session of the Legislature to do just that, and to increase transparency on pricing and protect Californians from outrageous price spikes in the future.”

This fall’s spike occurred while crude oil prices dropped, state taxes and fees remained unchanged and gas prices did not increase outside the western U.S., so the high prices went straight to the industry’s bottom line.

The text of the Governor’s proclamation convening a special session can be found here.

During the special session, the Legislature will also consider efforts to empower state agencies to more closely review gas costs, profits and pricing as well provide the state with greater regulatory oversight of the refining, distribution and retailing segments of the gasoline market in California.

Taking action to lower prices at the pump, Governor Newsom in September ordered the switch to winter-blend gasoline and demanded accountability from oil companies and refiners that do business in California.

Since California’s record-high gas prices of $6.42, the Governor’s actions have reduced those prices to $4.95 most recently — a decrease of $1.47 since the peak.

In the third quarter of 2022, from July to September, oil companies reported record high profits:

• Phillips 66 profits jumped to $5.4 billion, a 1243% increase over last year’s $402 million;
• BP posted $8.2 billion in profits, its second-highest on record, with $2.5 billion going toward share buybacks that benefit Wall Street investors;
• Marathon Petroleum profits rose to $4.48 billion, a 545% increase over last year’s $694 million;
• Valero’s $2.82 billion in profits that were 500% higher than the year before;
• PBF Energy’s $1.06 billion that was 1700% higher than the year before;
• Shell reported a $9.45 billion haul that sent $4 billion to shareholders for stock buybacks;
• Exxon reported their highest-ever $19.7 billion in profits;
• Chevron reported $11.2 billion in profits, their second-highest quarterly profit ever.
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What's up for December? Your evening planet highlights, including the disappearance of Mars, and the constellation Pegasus.

The month begins and ends with the Moon visiting the giant planets. From Dec. 25 to Dec. 31, look to the southwest following sunset to see an increasingly full Moon slip past Saturn and then again past Jupiter.

Viewers with a clear view to the horizon will be able to search for Venus and Mercury in the fading glow of sunset, just a few degrees above the skyline.

Dec. 7 brings one of those magical moments when the sky changes dramatically before your very eyes. It's called a lunar occultation, as the Moon passes in front of, or occults, the Red Planet, Mars.

The spectacle will be visible in parts of North America, Europe, and Northern Africa. (Viewers in the Southeast and on the East Coast will see the Moon just graze past Mars.)

For viewers in the U.S., Mars disappears behind the Moon sometime between about 6:30 and 9 p.m., depending on your location, so check your favorite skywatching app to find the time for your area.

Now, the Moon passes in front of planets in the night sky several times per year. In fact, it generally occults Mars itself at least a couple of times per year. But each occultation is visible from only a small portion of Earth's surface, so it's not super common for any particular spot on Earth to see them frequently.

Of course, the Moon passes in front of stars all the time. If you're watching through binoculars, they just blink right out. But planets are not just points of light like stars — they appear as circular little disks, so planets actually take several seconds to disappear and later reemerge.

So if you're in the viewing zone, enjoy this relatively rare opportunity to watch a bright planet being occulted by the Moon.

Looking high in the southwest sky on December evenings, you can find a constellation named for one of the more fantastical beasts of ancient mythology. That's Pegasus, the winged horse. In Greek myth, Pegasus rode into adventures with the hero Belaraphon, and later carried the thunderbolts of Zeus himself, who rewarded him by placing him among the stars.

Pegasus is one of the largest of the 88 constellations. Its most prominent feature, and the key to finding it in the sky, is this asterism, or pattern of stars, called the Great Square. These four stars of roughly equal brightness form the central part of the horse's body.

This December, it's easy to locate Pegasus, thanks to brilliant Jupiter. Face southward to find the giant planet about halfway up the sky, with the Great Square beginning about 15 degrees to the north of it.

Pegasus is a useful constellation for stargazers, as it's a good starting place for finding your way to other features in the night sky. The constellation itself contains a number of dazzling deep-sky objects, including globular cluster M15, and the tangled galaxies of Stephan's Quintet. With this year drawing to a close, here's hoping you seek out the winged stallion Pegasus, as you ponder what new adventures await in the next year.

Stay up to date with all of NASA's missions to explore the solar system and beyond at nasa.gov.

Preston Dyches works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Clearlake Animal Control has more new dogs waiting for adoption.

The City of Clearlake Animal Association also is seeking fosters for the animals waiting to be adopted.

Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions and schedule a visit to the shelter.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.

The following dogs are available for adoption. New additions are at the top.

“Maverick.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.
‘Maverick’

“Maverick” is a male pit bull-border collie mix with a short black and white coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 51027806.

“Noah.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Noah’

“Noah” is a male pit bull terrier mix with a short white coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 51286102.

“Aoki.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Aoki’

“Aoki” is a male Siberian husky mix with a white coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50905477.

“Athena.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Athena’

“Athena” is a female American pit bull mix terrier with a short brindle coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 49934476.

“Babs.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Babs’

“Babs” is a female Labrador retriever mix with a short black coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 49505856.

“Bruce.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Bruce’

“Bruce” is a 2-year-old American pit bull mix with a short gray coat with white markings.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50684304.

“Buster.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Buster’

“Buster” is a male pit bull mix with a short tan coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50762164.

“Domino.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Domino’

“Domino” is a male terrier mix with a short white coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50815541.

“Eros.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Eros’

“Eros” is a male Rottweiler mix with a short black and tan coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50754504.

“Foxie.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Foxie’

“Foxie” is a female German shepherd with a red, black and white coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 49702845.

“Goliath.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Goliath’

“Goliath” is a male Rottweiler mix with a short black and tan coat.

He is dog No. 50754509.

“Hakuna.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Hakuna’

“Hakuna” is a male shepherd mix with a tan coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50176912.

“Herman.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Herman’

“Herman” is a 7-year-old male American pit bull terrier mix with a brown coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 51236411.

“Hondo.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Hondo’

“Hondo” is a male Alaskan husky mix with a buff coat.

He has been neutered.

He’s dog No. 50227693.

“Jack.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Jack’

“Jack” is a 9-month-old male terrier mix with a short black and brindle coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50992658.

“Kubota.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Kubota’

“Kubota” is a 4-year-old male German shepherd with a short brown coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50184421.

“Little Boy.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Little Boy’

“Little Boy” is a male American pit bull terrier mix with a short tan coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50075256.

“Luciano.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Luciano’

“Luciano” is a male Siberian husky mix with a short black and white coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50596272.

“Mamba.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Mamba’

“Mamba” is a male Siberian husky mix with a gray and cream-colored coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 49520569.

“Matata.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Matata’

“Matata” is male shepherd mix with a tan coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50176912.

“Maya.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Maya’

“Maya” is a female German shepherd with a black and tan coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 50428151.

“Mikey.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Mikey’

“Mikey” is a male German shepherd mix with a short brown and tan coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 51012855.

“Molly.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Molly’

“Molly” is a female Samoyed mix with a long white coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 50933031.

“Paige.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Paige’

“Paige” is a female American pit bull mix with a short brown coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 51194668.

“Poppa.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Poppa’

“Poppa” is a 3-year-old male American pit bull terrier mix with a short red and white coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50773597.

“Rascal.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Rascal’

“Rascal” is a male shepherd mix with a black and brown coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50806384.

“Reese.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Reese’

“Reese” is a female German shepherd with a black and an coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 50884542.

“Sadie.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Sadie’

“Sadie” is a female German shepherd mix with a black and tan coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 49802563.

“Snowball.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Snowball’

“Snowball is a 1 and a half year old male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a short white coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 49159168.

“Terry.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Terry’

“Terry” is a handsome male shepherd mix with a short brindle coat.

He gets along with other dogs, including small ones, and enjoys toys. He also likes water, playing fetch and keep away.

Staff said he is now getting some training to help him build confidence.

He is dog No. 48443693.

“Trike.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Trike’

“Trike” is a male border collie-Australian shepherd mix with a black and white coat and blue eyes.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 51029972.

“Willie.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Willie’

“Willie” is a male German shepherd mix with a black and tan coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50596003.

“Zeus.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control.

‘Zeus’

“Zeus” is a male Samoyed mix with a long white coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 50933068.

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.
Posted On

A California Highway Patrol officer leading a driving class. Photo courtesy of the CHP.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — It is important that all travelers on California roadways be well-equipped with knowledge and tools to help them operate their vehicles as safely as possible.

As such, the California Highway Patrol will continue to provide free classes to assist and educate drivers age 65 and older, as well as promote safe travel for all, with the Keeping Everyone Safe, or KEYS, grant funded by the Office of Traffic Safety.

As part of the grant, the “Age Well, Drive Smart” classes will continue to emphasize that a driver’s performance determines a person’s fitness to drive, not their age.

Age Well, Drive Smart classes are free to the public, provide education specifically designed to help the senior population improve their driving skills, refresh their knowledge of the rules of the road, and learn how age-related physical changes may affect one’s driving ability.

The Age Well, Drive Smart classes have been educating California’s senior drivers since 2008.

“Roadway safety and mobility of California’s seniors continues to be a high priority of the CHP,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “The Age Well, Drive Smart program provides education, as well as alternative transportation options, to seniors and their families to positively impact driving behavior and adjust to age-related changes.”

The CHP invites California’s senior drivers age 65 and older to attend a free Age Well, Drive Smart class to learn the tools to driving safer and driving longer. The class is approximately two hours and is offered at local CHP offices as well as many senior centers within the community. The class is a way for seniors to educate themselves, evaluate their driving abilities, and improve their driving skills.

More information about this free class is available from any local CHP office. The Clear Lake Area CHP office can be reached at 707-279-0103.

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