LAKEPORT, Calif. – Musically talented people of all ages are encouraged to attend an audition for the Lake County Arts Council's 23rd annual MusicFest.  

The audition will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Soper Reese Theatre, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.  

Auditions are open to Lake County soloists and groups.

An application must be submitted prior to Dec. 17. Audition times will be scheduled once applications are received.

The MusicFest will be held at the Soper Reese Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 24.

All styles of music are eligible.

There is no age limit for performers. Performers of all ages are encouraged to participate.

At least one performer per group must be a Lake County resident.

Music must be live. No recorded tracks.

Bring performance-ready pieces of less than 10 minutes to the audition.

The casting panel will be looking for overall performance and appearance as well as music quality.  

The panel’s goal is to achieve a well-rounded representation of the growing talent that is in Lake County.

Application forms and further information are available at the Main Street Gallery, 325 N. Main St., Lakeport, 707-263-6658.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Authorities have released the name of a woman who was found mortally injured on Highway 29 in Napa County early Sunday morning after being struck by a vehicle.

On Wednesday the Napa County Sheriff's Office identified the woman as 57-year-old Maria Cruz Pascual Bejar of Rohnert Park.

Lake County residents driving to work shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday found Bejar's body in the southbound lane of the 4100 block of Highway 29 near Old Lawley Toll Road, as Lake County News has reported.

Bejar died as she was being flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment, authorities said.

A Monday autopsy showed that Bejar suffered multiple blunt force trauma consistent with being struck by a vehicle, according to Capt. Doug Pike of the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.

Pike said Napa County Sheriff's investigators and the California Highway Patrol are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the hit-and-run crash.

He said investigators are asking for the public's assistance in their efforts to determine what Bejar was doing in the rural area where she was found, where pedestrians are not common.

They are looking for anyone who may have traveled through that stretch of highway between 4 and 5 a.m. Sunday. Additionally, they would like to speak with anyone who may have seen Bejar on Saturday night.

Anyone with information is asked to call Napa County Sheriff's Office Investigations Bureau at 707-253-4591.

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 US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Tuesday announced it is calling for a national recall of vehicles with certain driver’s side frontal air bags made by Takata.

This decision is based on the agency’s evaluation of a recent driver’s side air bag failure in a vehicle outside the current regional recall area and its relationship to five previous driver’s side air bag ruptures, all of which are covered by existing regional recalls.

“By demanding this national recall, NHTSA has demonstrated once again that it will follow data and evidence to protect the lives of Americans on the road and to hold manufacturers accountable,” said Secretary Anthony Foxx.

NHTSA contacted Takata and the vehicle manufacturers this week to call for the national recall of these vehicles after evaluating a recent incident that involved a failure in a driver’s side air bag inflator outside an area of high absolute humidity.

Based on this new information, unless Takata and the manufacturers quickly agree to this recall, NHTSA will use the full extent of its statutory powers to ensure vehicles that use the same or similar air bag inflator are recalled.

As part of these efforts and its ongoing investigation into both the defect and the scope of the recalls, the agency also issued a general order to Takata and all 10 of the vehicle manufacturers that use Takata air bag inflators – BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota – requiring each manufacturer to file, under oath, a detailed report and produce all related documents about completed, ongoing or planned testing of Takata inflators outside the current regional recall areas.

The agency is demanding this information to compel Takata and the affected industry to be frank with not only NHTSA, but the American public, as to what testing and additional steps they have done and plan to do to control and mitigate the risk associated with Takata’s defective inflators.

Additionally, NHTSA issued a special order to Takata, the second the agency has issued to the manufacturer regarding this defect, compelling it to provide, under oath, documents and detailed information on the propellant used in Takata’s inflators.

In recent days, Takata has publicly conceded that it changed the chemical mix of its air bag inflator propellant in newly designed inflators.

As part of its ongoing investigation, the agency will analyze the information received to determine if the chemical composition of Takata’s propellant mix may be a cause and/or contributing factor in the air bag inflator ruptures.

“We now know that millions of vehicles must be recalled to address defective Takata air bags and our aggressive investigation is far from over,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator David Friedman. “We’re pushing Takata and all affected manufacturers to issue the recall and to ensure the recalls capture the full scope of the problems.”

In addition to the general order and special order, NHTSA is issuing a recall acknowledgement letter, a routine response to all safety recall reports filed with the agency.

The letter summarizes the details of the most recent report submitted by Takata regarding its defective passenger side air bag inflators and identifies the information gaps the agency is insisting Takata clarify to ensure it provides the full information required by law.

While NHTSA is not aware of either field incidents or test data suggesting that the problem affecting passenger-side air bags in the areas of persistently high humidity extends beyond those areas, the agency has been pushing the industry to perform testing to ensure that current recalls effectively cover vehicles with air bags that could be potentially affected by this defect.

The information the agency receives from Takata and the auto manufacturers will provide further information and details needed to continue its investigation into this complex issue.

Responses to the general order and special order are due to NHTSA by Dec. 5.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Approvals were granted Tuesday allowing AT&T Mobility to proceed with a project to upgrade its telecommunication facility on Woods Avenue in Clearlake.

The Clearlake Planning Commission granted a setback and height variance as well as approved a mitigated negative declaration concerning the project.

AT&T Mobility plans to upgrade its existing wireless telecommunication facility, which is currently located on the water towers belonging to Konocti Water District.

The facility provides wireless communication services to residential and commercial customers throughout the entire city.

The approved variance allows for the reduction of the front yard setback from the required 20 feet to 10 feet as well as an increase in the height limitation from the maximum 35 feet to 80 feet for installation of a mono-pine.

A mono-pine is a steel utility pole that accommodates telecommunication antennas. It is camouflaged in such a way that it resembles a pine tree.

"It is a steel pole covered with textured concrete that is painted to resemble bark, with branches that look like pine," David Snypes, AT&T site acquisition representative, told the commission.

Snypes added that the mono-pine will be designed to fit the local terrain and placed near an existing stand of trees.

Additionally, there is to be no lighting on the pole, he said.

The facility is to be designed to allow for accommodation of equipment for use in public safety communication such as for police or fire dispatch services. Conditions concerning subleasing details and equipment placement are in place.

Commissioner Bill Perkins questioned possible hazards related to emissions generated by the antenna tower.

Preston Dickinson, AT&T external affairs representative, said the tower meets and exceeds all Federal Communication Commission requirements.

The use permit for the project includes installation of a 50 kilowatt emergency backup generator, which Snypes said has a 500 gallon-capacity and is self-contained in response to Commissioner Mike Vandiver's concern for on-site fuel storage and possible spillage.

Snypes said installation of the generator requires a permit from the Environmental Health Department, which he said has already been successfully processed and obtained.

The mitigated negative declaration addresses and mitigates concerns to less than a significant level in seven areas: aesthetics, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils; hazards and hazardous materials; and noise.

Property owners within a 300-foot radius of the project site were noticed when the project application was originally process.

According to staff, no comments were received from among the 27 property owners who received the notices.

According to Dickinson, the upgrade project will take about two years to complete and will result in better wireless service throughout the community.

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

LAKEPORT, Calif. – In recognition of their outstanding teachers, staff and programs within Lake County schools, the annual Educator of the Year and Excellence in Education awards ceremony was held on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Soper Reese Theatre.

The annual event honored educators and community members who inspire and teach with passion, innovation and a commitment to excellence.

“The evening is a chance to recognize the great capacity that exists within Lake County schools to support the educational needs of our children,” said interim County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.

The evening began by honoring outstanding achievement by classified employees from each school district.

Vivian Feola: Lakeport Unified School District Classified Employee of the Year. “She is a pillar of strength with a heart of gold … upbeat and always going beyond in her role as a paraeducator,” said Lakeport Elementary teacher Cathy Sylar.

Tami Stogner: Upper Lake Union High School District Classified Employee of the Year. “She goes the extra mile without hesitation or complaint and best of all, she has a contagious sense of humor that brightens our day,” said Principal Pat Iaccino.

Brenda Howe: Kelseyville Unified School District Classified Employee of the Year. “One of Brenda’s finest qualities is that she loves the children and makes them feel comfortable coming to her should they need anything,” said Director of Food Services Michelle Malm.

Jon Buege and Theresa Copas:  Konocti Unified School District Classified Co-Employees of the Year. “John and Theresa displayed great teamwork in collaborating together to implement the online SBAC assessment system district-wide during the initial field test last year,” said Tom Hoskins.

Mary Sutton: Middletown Unified School District Classified Employee. “Mrs. Sutton is equal to all our teachers in her strength, management, expertise and professionalism,” said Principal Shelley Tan.

Special recognition was given to the following recipients for outstanding work in the following areas:

– Lake County Mock Trial Champions led by advisor Danielle Bruns;
– Lake County Academic Decathlon Champions led by advisor Jim Rogers;
– Angle Whitson: 2014 Early Childhood Educator of the Year Leading the Field award;
– Wally Holbrook: Lake County Administrator of the Year (ACSA).

Superintendents and/or principals from each district presented awards to their teacher of the year.

Angel Hayenga: Upper Lake High School District Teacher of the Year. “Angel is an exemplary teacher … no teacher is responsible for subject matter that impacts a school more than Angel. The enthusiasm she brings to this difficult task is contagious. It would be easy to just teach the subject, but she lives the subject!” said Principal Pat Iaccino.

Charlene Norwood: Upper Lake Union Elementary School District Teacher of the Year. “Char represents our district and school with a high level of professionalism. Her sense of humor is contagious and her hardworking work ethic is to be admired and honored,” said Superintendent Valerie Gardner.

Kristen Hiatt: Lakeport Unified School District Teacher of the Year. “One of Mrs. Hiatt’s exemplary traits is that she is kind. She reaches her students and their parents with her kindness. From the smartest students to the ones who need extra help, she treats each one with dignity,” said Principal Anita Swanson.

Karen Facey: Kelseyville Unified School District Teacher of the Year. “Karen works together to combine the successful lessons already taught, with some new lessons to create more hands-on work, to motivate the students to try new concepts and figure out new ways to complete a task,” said Principal Barbara Gleason.

Davina Pyzer: Middletown Unified District Teacher of the Year. “She is a team player that works diligently to support her students, parents and staff members. She collaborates with grace and ease,” said Principal Lura Vieira.

Katherine Perkins was honored as the Konocti Unified School District Teacher of the Year and Lake County Teacher of the Year. 

“The passion for seeing all children succeed has led Mrs. Perkins to be a grade level team leader and push for equity for all students,” said Principal Chris Schoeneman.

The final award of the evening was the Champion of Education award presented to the Lake County Office of Education Communications Director Shelly Mascari.

The Champion for Education award is given each year to a person that continues to have a tremendous impact on education and the children and families in Lake County.

Although Mascari was not in attendance, she received a standing ovation due to her work as director of the Lake County Child Care Planning Council and the Hero Project.

The evening concluded with a short video presentation which highlighted photos of each award winner.

“The classroom is a really special place,” added Falkenberg. “It’s important that we take time each year to honor those passionate and committed to excellence in education. For every educator honored tonight, there are many more that go unrecognized for their hard work. Teaching takes effort. Thanks to all of those that continue to make the effort each and every day.”

Robyn Bera is a communications specialist with the Lake County Office of Education.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In the wake of the Nov. 4 passage of a voter initiative to reduce some felony crimes to misdemeanors, hearings held last week in Lake County Superior Court led to a number of inmate releases as well as sentence reductions.

Proposition 47, The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, reduces felonies such as commercial burglaries, forgeries, vehicle theft and stolen property possession to misdemeanors when the thefts total less than $950, and also reduces most firearm thefts and drug possession charges from felonies to misdemeanors, as Lake County News has reported.

The state Legislative Analyst's Office has estimated that the proposition could save several hundred million dollars annually for county criminal justice systems across the state, with the net state criminal justice system savings reaching the “low hundreds of millions of dollars” each year.

An analysis completed by the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice attempted to give a more specific range to the Legislative Analyst's Office's conclusions, estimating that Proposition 47 could result in between $400 million and $700 million in savings to counties every year, freeing from 10,000 to 30,000 jail beds on an annual basis.

However, vocal opponents such as the California Police Chiefs Association argue that the proposition is creating danger to the community by making as many as 10,000 inmates eligible for early release and overburdening the justice system with petitions to change sentences.

The initiative went into immediate effect after the Nov. 4 election and is retroactive.

It is impacting both current cases working their ways through the courts and cases where time already is being served, with those convicted of the crimes listed in the initiative able to petition to have sentences reduced.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, several Lake County Jail inmates were let out as a result of the proposition, according to District Attorney Don Anderson, who – along with Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen and Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen – opposed the initiative.

Then, on Thursday in Lake County Superior Court the first Proposition 47-related hearings were held, Anderson said.

He said a total of 85 cases – involving between 40 and 50 defendants – were heard that day.

By noon, 17 people had been released from the Lake County Jail, with about 10 more released later in the day, he said.

“Some of the people who were being released were pretty hardened criminals,” said Anderson, offering as an example individuals who were in jail for drug possession but had lengthy histories of violent crimes.

Another 20 to 30 individuals had charges or sentences reduced as a result of those hearings, he said.

In many of those cases where inmates remained in custody, the sentences may have been modified or reduced but inmates still had more time to serve so were not released, Anderson explained.

Still more petitions for sentencing changes are coming into Anderson's office, he said, with more hearings to be scheduled. He estimates hundreds more petitions are coming in the next year.

In some cases, Anderson and his prosecutors – all of whom have cases that are being affected – can oppose reduced sentencing petitions by raising concerns relating to the danger certain individuals may pose to the community.

He said the process is putting a heavy burden on his prosecutorial staff.

Anderson credited the superior court with doing a good job of managing the large caseload that has resulted from Proposition 47, with judges moving quickly through the cases.

A number of felons sentenced in Lake County and sent to state prison also are facing the potential for release, according to Anderson.

He said the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has informed his office that 19 such individuals in the state prison system are eligible to either be released or have their sentences modified due to the changes implemented under Proposition 47.

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.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association will hold its annual Old-Fashioned Christmas Open House on Saturday, Dec. 13.

The Christmas open house will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the historic ranch house at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, which is located on Highway 53 between Lower Lake and the city of Clearlake.

There is no charge for this event.

There will be Christmas music; a fire in the dining room fireplace; cookies, hot coffee and cider in the dining room; and Santa will wait in the parlor for youngsters to tell him their Christmas wishes.

Christmas songs will be performed by local entertainers with the public invited to join in.

The Christmas tree, decorated earlier in the week by local elementary school students, will be on display in the parlor of the historic ranch house.

Christmas as we celebrate it today was just being invented in Victorian times, during the 1880s and early 1900s. 

The annual Anderson Marsh Christmas Open House includes familiar things that were new at the time – Santa Claus, a decorated tree in the house and Christmas carolers, with most Christmas carols that we know today first coming into popularity during Victorian times.  

Christmas at the Ranch was started more than 25 years ago by the original members of the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association and has been a favorite holiday tradition for many years. 

Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association Board members and volunteers will be available to answer questions about the ranch house and how Christmas was celebrated in Victorian days.

This is a great opportunity to visit the historic ranch house and enjoy the warm and festive atmosphere of a Victorian Christmas.

For more information about the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association or this event, telephone 707-995-2658, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.andersonmarsh.org .

You may also follow them on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/AMIA.org .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Napa County Sheriff's investigators are hoping to speak with additional motorists who were on Highway 29 early Sunday and who may have witnessed events connected to what authorities believe was a fatal hit-and-run.

The body of a woman was found lying in the southbound lane in the 4100 block of Highway 29 near Old Lawley Toll Road on the Napa County side of Mount St. Helena shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday, as Lake County News has reported.

Capt. Doug Pike told Lake County News that the first people on scene – who subsequently reported the incident to law enforcement – were Lake County residents on their way to work.

The woman, who had major injuries, died as she was being flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, and the Napa County Sheriff's Office subsequently began to investigate her death as a possible homicide, closing the highway for several hours for crime scene processing.

Pike said authorities have positively identified the woman – a 57-year-old Bay Area resident – but he told Lake County News late Tuesday afternoon that sheriff's officials are still trying to locate her family. Her name is being withheld pending family notification.

An autopsy of the woman was conducted on Monday afternoon, Pike said.

The cause of death, he said, “likely resulted from multiple blunt force trauma consistent with being struck by a vehicle.”

However, Pike said the final determination of her cause of death is pending the results of a toxicology report, which will take three to six weeks.

Pike said investigators would like to talk to anyone who drove through the area between 4 and 5 a.m. that day.

He said detectives are attempting to build a timeline of the events leading to the woman's death.

Anyone with information is asked to call Napa County Sheriff's Det. Chris Pacheco at 707-253-4591.

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission this week will host a public hearing to discuss the proposed extension of a wireless communication tower.

The commission will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

On the agenda is a public hearing to consider the approval of a mitigated negative declaration of environmental impact based on an initial study and approval of a use permit and variance application submitted by AT&T Mobility.

Deputy City Clerk Julie Burrow's report to the commission explained that AT&T Mobility has an existing wireless telecommunication facility at the Konocti Water District water tower, located at 15764-B Woods Ave.

She said the variance application will allow for a reduction of the required 20-foot front yard setback to a 10-foot setback, and allow a variance from the maximum 35-foot height limit to 80 feet for construction of a “mono-pine,” which is a wireless tower that is made to look like a pine tree.

The antennas on the water district's water tower would then be relocated to the mono-pine – and placed at a height of 50 to 60 feet – and a 50 kilowatt emergency backup generator would be installed, Burrow reported.

Staff is recommending approval of the use permit, variance request and mitigated negative declaration, as Burrow notes that potential significant environmental impacts related to aesthetics, biological and cultural resources, soils, hydrology, water quality, hazards and hazardous materials, transportation, traffic and public services will be mitigated to less than significant levels by permit conditions.

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 California Highway Patrol has receiving a federal “Reducing Impaired Driving” grant, which will fund 150 sobriety checkpoints, 75 DUI task force operations, proactive DUI enforcement patrols through Sept. 30, 2015, and at least 100 safety presentations.

“Preventing alcohol-related tragedies remains a top priority for the CHP and all of our traffic safety partners,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “The deaths and injuries associated with driving under the influence are 100 percent preventable and we remain steadfast in our mission.”

More than 1,000 people are killed every year in California in alcohol-involved collisions.

Those deaths are in addition to the more than 23,000 others who suffered injuries in an alcohol-related collision.

Through this new federal grant, the CHP will continue working to save lives by encouraging motorists to make safe, responsible decisions.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The U.S. Postal Service has named Maria Lane as the postmaster of Lakeport.

Lane, who was most recently postmaster of Upper Lake, will be sworn in at a ceremony beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the Lakeport Post Office on 11th Street. The public is invited to attend the ceremony.

Lane is the first female postmaster in Lakeport in 100 years. The previous female postmaster was Myrtle Haycock in 1914.

“I’m extremely happy to be back where my Postal Service career began,” Lane said.

She joined the Postal Service in 1995 and was a part-time letter carrier in Lakeport.

“The Post Office belongs to the community and I’m glad to be a part of it,” Lane said.

She added that her first priority as postmaster will be service. “I plan to continue the long tradition of excellent customer service here at the Lakeport Post Office.”

After a brief break, Lane began her career in earnest as a full-time clerk in Clearlake Oaks in 1997.

She transferred to Upper Lake in 2000 and continued until 2008 when she became the postmaster of Hopland.

She returned to Upper Lake in 2010 where she served as postmaster to that community before taking the postmaster reins in Lakeport.

Lane said she is looking forward to being involved with the community.

“The Postal Service has a lot of great products that can help a small business grow,” Lane said. “I want to be a part of Lakeport’s success.”

Married to husband Randy, Lane has four children – two girls, Erin 28, Jessie 24 and two boys, Terry 22 and Ootie 18.

She has been a resident of Lakeport for the past 22 years.

Lane is responsible for 5,807 deliveries. With 17 employees she serves 10 carrier routes and 1,234 Post Office boxes.

The Lakeport Post Office was established in 1861 and Lane is the 29th postmaster to serve the community.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Association of Realtors reported that the median sales price of single family residences for Lake County fell from $185,000 in September to $162,500 for October.

Month-to-month fluctuations in median sales price are not uncommon in areas where the number of sales are limited, the association reported.

The association said there were 63 single family residence sales in October, up from 57 in September. 

The median days to sell rose from 59 days for September sales to 75 days for October.  For the previous six months the median days to sell was 70, according to the report.

Inventory levels decreased from 7.91 months to 6.73. The report said normal inventory levels are considered to be six months.   

“The median price for the last six months has been relatively stable,” said Rick White, 2014 LCAOR president. “October’s price of $162,500 is just below the year to date median of $169,000.”

The percentage of distressed sales – properties that were sold after foreclosure or ones that were sold for less than what was owed – was 22 percent, which the association said is running higher than the state average of 9 percent. 

The encouraging news, according to the association, is that this distressed sales number is down from 34 percent in 2013 and 59 percent in 2012.

On the financing front, the association said cash buyers purchased 31.75 percent of the sold homes in October, which is consistent with what has been seen over the majority of 2014. 

Conventional loans were used in nearly 35 percent of the transactions, while the report said FHA loans accounted for 12.7 percent of the financing.

Visit the Lake County Association of Realtors online at http://www.lcaor.com/members/ .