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Citing a year “unlike any other” in the nation’s history, on Wednesday California’s governor issued a proclamation declaring Thursday, Nov. 26, as Thanksgiving Day.

The text of the proclamation issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom follows.
PROCLAMATION

This year, America celebrates a Thanksgiving unlike any in our history, foregoing some of the time-honored traditions of this holiday in order to keep one another safe. However, we will not give up the spirit of Thanksgiving or the foundational ideals that unite the people of our state, even during difficult and uncertain times.

Our nation has gathered to give thanks around this time since 1621, and presidents from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln have reflected on the importance of expressing gratitude and lifting each other up during moments of national struggle. Our understanding of the first Thanksgiving, of course, failed to tell the full story of European contact with Indigenous
peoples living in what is now the United States. In the years that followed, Indigenous peoples have rightfully called attention to the inaccuracies and elisions in our national narrative. As California, through efforts like the Truth and Healing Council, makes progress toward a fuller accounting of our history, we nonetheless take time to celebrate friendship, generosity and
resilience today.

Throughout the COVID-19 emergency, Californians across the state have exemplified these values. We draw strength and resilience from the heroism of our health care workers, emergency response personnel and essential workers from all lines of work, as well as volunteers who are safely checking in on their vulnerable neighbors. Their example reminds us that we will emerge from this crisis stronger and more united than before.

On this day, we keep in our thoughts those we have lost and those facing hardship in this crisis, and give thanks for the enduring bonds of family, friendship and community, which cannot be diminished by the pandemic.

Let us strengthen these lasting ties and resolve to protect and support one another during these unprecedented times. This Thanksgiving, Californians will find new ways to connect, as they have throughout the pandemic. Whether scaling down gatherings, hosting outdoor activities, or celebrating virtually, reimagining our holiday traditions will help keep California communities safe and healthy this season.

On this day of gratitude, let us draw together in spirit and give thanks for the friendship and love that surround us, even when our loved ones cannot.

NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim November 26, 2020, as Thanksgiving Day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 25th day of November 2020.


___________________________________
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California


ATTEST:
__________________________________
ALEX PADILLA
Secretary of State
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With more than 1.1 million COVID-19 cases and nearly 19,000 deaths across California, state officials on Tuesday issued the latest data and rankings for counties, with the majority remaining under the tightest restrictions.

As of Tuesday, 45 of California’s 58 counties have been placed in the purple tier, the most restrictive of the four tiers in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

Those 45 counties account for 37.9 million, or 94.6 percent, of California’s population, the state said.

Last week more than half of California’s counties were placed in the purple tier.

So far this week, four have been raised to purple: Colusa, Del Norte, Humboldt and Lassen. No counties dropped out of the purple tier, based on state reports.

Lake County on Tuesday remained in the red tier, the second-most restrictive, but with cases continuing to rise, Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace warned that the county could move into the purple tier later this week or early next.

As of Tuesday, Lake County had 877 cases – an increase of 75 over the previous week – and 19 deaths, with six people currently hospitalized, according to Lake County Public Health.

The 19th person to die locally, confirmed this week, was over age 65, with chronic medical issues. The individual died at home, Pace said.

Pace said a large percentage of Lake County’s increasing caseload is due to an ongoing outbreak in the Lake County Jail.

The outbreak has moved into a second wing of the jail facility and 16 new cases were recently documented, Pace said.

He said the sheriff’s office is taking steps to contain the spread, including weekly testing of inmates and staff and rapid testing of newly booked individuals; physical separation of COVID-19-positive inmates and close contacts; masking whenever possible and increased disinfection; and implementation of best practices advised by Lake County Public Health and state infectious disease specialists

“We have also recently seen clusters in businesses and family units around the county,” said Pace.

He said an estimated one-third of all Lake County cases come from household spread, and another one-third stem from community spread – including seeing friends and family outside of work or home.

Because of the rising case numbers, Pace said Lake County will probably move into the purple tier, possibly as early as this weekend but more probably by early next week.

He said restricting high-risk activities is the state’s strategy to control the outbreak and limit spread.

As such, if Lake County goes to purple, Pace said the county will have 24 hours to move restaurants to outdoor dining only, stop indoor worship services and require that gyms and fitness centers open for outdoor activities only.

A move into the purple tier also will stop the further opening of schools, although those that already are open can remain open, Pace said.

“These changes would remain in place until our numbers improve for at least two consecutive weeks,” he said.

Pace is asking community members to take COVID-19 seriously this Thanksgiving by limiting travel and indoor gatherings as much as possible.

“Safe practices taken now will really help us in a few weeks. If you must travel out of the state, self-quarantining for 14 days is recommended, when you return,” Pace said.

Acknowledging that the pandemic has made 2020 a challenging year, Pace nonetheless urged continued caution.

“We must remain vigilant and careful during these coming few months, because we are entering a risky phase; one that could easily strain our healthcare system,” Pace said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A jury has found a Riverside man not guilty of the murder of a friend during a road trip in Northern California, but has found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter and taking a vehicle.

The jury handed down the verdict in the trial of 22-year-old Mavrick William Fisher on Friday.

Fisher stood trial for the killing of 25-year-old Grant David Whitaker of Mackinaw, Illinois, on Aug. 20, 2019, at Richardson Grove State Park in Humboldt County.

The trial proceedings were transferred to Lake County after Whitaker’s body was recovered on a property in the Scotts Valley area near Lakeport.

The two men, both deaf, had driven west, reportedly looking for property to purchase when they had a disagreement about parting ways.

District Attorney Susan Krones’ theory was that following their argument, Fisher attacked Whitaker – who she said wanted to part company – with a rock and beat him to death while he was sleeping in the tent they shared at Richardson Grove State Park.

Defense attorney Tom Feimer said that Fisher, however, has maintained since the beginning – and would do so again on the stand at trial – that he was defending himself against Whitaker’s attack.

Feimer said it was Fisher who wanted to go his separate way, and that night after their argument, Whitaker came into his tent and lunged at him. Fisher said he grabbed Whitaker’s hand and felt a sharp cut on his own hand.

The defense argued that a struggle ensued in which Fisher, in self-defense, grabbed a rock that was being used to hold down the tent and began hitting Whitaker, resulting in his death.

Feimer said Fisher admitted to driving to Lake County after Whitaker’s death.

Once here, Krones said Fisher – who drove the Chevy Impala that Whitaker had borrowed from his grandmother – disposed of Whitaker’s body on a ranch where the two of them had worked in Scotts Valley.

Sheriff’s deputies found the Chevrolet at the Clearlake Oaks Dollar General on Aug. 24, 2019, the same day that Whitaker’s grandmother reported him missing in Tazewell County, Illinois.

Two days later, Whitaker’s body was recovered in Scotts Valley and Fisher was taken into custody in Mexico. Days later, he was transferred to the Lake County Jail, where he’s remained since.

Trial began in October

After several delays – some of them due to the court closures resulting from COVID-19 – Fisher’s 12-day trial began in October.

Krones said jury selection began on Oct. 21 with evidence and testimony beginning on Oct. 26.

The trial, presided over by Judge Andrew Blum, took place in the Phil Lewis Hall at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport. That larger venue allowed for social distancing of all involved, including six alternate jurors. Krones said that, during the course of the trial, they lost only one juror.

Fisher had given two statements to police, which were entered into the record, in which he claimed Whitaker’s death was a matter of self-defense. At trial, Feimer said it was important for Fisher to tell his side of the story, and he had nothing to hide.

So Feimer said Fisher himself took the stand, where he testified over the course of about two and a half days.

On the stand, during questioning by Krones, Fisher said after the fight that killed Whitaker, he walked down to the Eel River and threw the rock into it.

He then returned to the tent, put Whitaker’s body in a sleeping bag and then placed it in the car.

Fisher brought the body to Lake County and left it at the Scotts Valley ranch. After the property owner raised concerns about leaving the car there, Fisher cleaned it out and left it in Clearlake Oaks.

Later, when he was in Mexico, he acknowledged feeling suicidal and sending messages about his state of mind to friends via social media.

Because Fisher is deaf, as was Whitaker, the case “drew a considerable amount of attention in the deaf community,” said Feimer.

Some of that attention was in the form of vitriol online, not all of it aimed at Fisher. Feimer said one of the interpreters in the trial mentioned seeing a death threat aimed toward them online, “which was very disturbing to all of us,” Feimer said.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 17, the case went to the jury, which deliberated three days. Late Friday afternoon, they returned with a verdict, Krones said.

Krones said the jury found Fisher not guilty of murder – either in the first or second degree.

They hung on a charge of voluntary manslaughter but found him guilty of a lesser included offense, involuntary manslaughter, Krones said.

The jury also hung on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon with a special allegation of great bodily injury or death, she said.

Krones said the jury found Fisher guilty of taking a vehicle without permission.

Feimer said Fisher was disappointed that the jury didn’t find him to be entirely justified in his actions.

However, Feimer added, “It’s a much better outcome by far to have a verdict of not guilty on murder one and murder two, so he’s very grateful for that.”

The case isn’t quite over yet.

Blum has scheduled the case to return to court on Dec. 4, by which point Krones must decide if she is going to retry Fisher on the voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon charges and the special allegation of great bodily injury or death.

If she decides to retry Fisher, because he has not agreed to a time waiver, proceedings would start as soon as January, and likely would return to the fairgrounds, she said.

She said Blum also set sentencing for Dec. 21 at 1:30 p.m.

Fisher, who remains in custody, is facing a maximum of four years in prison, but it would be served in the local jail, not state prison, Krones said.

Krones said Fisher is eligible for half-time credits, meaning that, with the nearly year and a half he’s already served in custody, he could be set for release early in 2021.

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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Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal and new Lost Coast Resident Deputy Tom Allman. Allman is the retired sheriff of Mendocino County, California. Photo courtesy of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – After 35 years in law enforcement, Tom Allman, retired sheriff-coroner of Mendocino County, is returning to his roots, ready for his next big assignment: the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Lost Coast resident deputy.

Allman begins his new role on Monday, Nov. 30, ending nearly a decade-long vacancy of the position serving the Shelter Cove, Whitethorn and Mattole Valley communities.

Allman, who split his childhood between North Carolina and Garberville, graduating from South Fork High School, is no stranger to the Lost Coast. Allman says, growing up his family made monthly visits to Shelter Cove and has made many friends there along the way.

“Since Tom Allman retired, I have been speaking to him about coming to work in Humboldt County,” Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said. “Shelter Cove, the Lost Coast and the Mattole Valley need to have a resident deputy that can focus on community collaboration and problem solving. Tom’s roots run deep in Humboldt and he is going to make a great addition to my team.”

While his most recent job as sheriff-coroner kept him busy behind a desk, Allman has experience as a resident deputy and knows the unique responsibilities that come with the job.

After becoming a peace officer in 1981, Allman transferred from the Fairfield Police Department to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, with his first assignment being the Laytonville resident deputy.

Throughout the years, Allman rose through the ranks as sergeant, lieutenant and eventually sheriff; during his career even completing a brief stint overseas as an international peacekeeper for the United Nations in Kosovo.

However, despite having a long and decorated career, Allman said “the most fulfilling time of my career were the two years I spent in Laytonville as a resident deputy being a trusted problem solver. Out of everything I did, nothing was as fulfilling.”

Allman doesn’t take that trust lightly, recognizing the importance of mutual trust as the first step to solving problems and creating safer communities. He says building trust will be one of his first tasks in his new position.

“If a community doesn’t trust their law enforcement officer, chances are the law enforcement officer also doesn’t trust the community,” Allman said. “If a community knows their law enforcement officer by first name and trust him or her, hopefully that trust is going to work toward solving crimes and finding a solution.”

The second step to building a safer community, Allman says, is communication, something he has already begun with residents in the area through regular visits to the community prior to his appointment.

“Until we identify problems, we can’t work on solutions,” Allman said. “Communication problems can be like a blister; if you don’t take care of them, they will eventually pop. The quicker we get on them and address them, the quicker we can improve the quality of life.”

Allman says he believes improving the quality of life for the community is what it means to be “a good peacekeeper” and will bring an education-first approach of law enforcement to the Shelter Cove, Whitethorn and Mattole Valley communities.

“[Being a good peacekeeper] doesn’t mean going to work with the intention of just arresting someone or issuing a citation,” Allman said. “Those things may happen after other options are no longer viable.”

As resident deputy, Allman will be spending approximately four days a week on the Lost Coast, providing public safety services to residents in the Shelter Cove, Whitethorn and Mattole Valley communities. On days he is not assigned to work, coverage will be provided by sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Southern Humboldt area based out of the Garberville Substation.

The resident deputy position is funded through the County’s Measure Z Public Safety Sales Tax, with funding for the position earmarked in 2015 in the Sheriff’s Office first application to receive funds from the measure. Allman’s fulfillment of the position has been long-awaited by the Shelter Cove community.

“I think to many people in Shelter Cove having a resident deputy means a lot. Residents and business community members have been advocating for a Shelter Cove resident deputy for a long time,” said Justin Roberts, general manager of the Shelter Cove Resort Improvement District No. 1. “Residents and businesses of Shelter Cove greatly appreciate the leadership of Sheriff Billy Honsal in his effort to secure a resident deputy for the community. “

Roberts says the community looks forward to “the opportunity to build a positive and community-oriented relationship with local law enforcement officers to effectively address and reduce crime in the Shelter Cove, Whitethorn and Mattole Valley.”

Allman says he is up for the task and is eager to begin meeting the needs of the Lost Coast, with his number one goal being to ensure the community will have coverage for years to come by finding “his replacement.” He offers a free lunch to anyone willing to take the job. Until then, Allman says he’s excited to come out of retirement and get back to work, helping improve the quality of life in Humboldt County.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As Californians plan for the Thanksgiving holiday during the ongoing pandemic, the California Highway Patrol reminds everyone the rules of driving safety are just as crucial as ever.

To encourage safe travel, the CHP will enact a maximum enforcement period, or MEP, beginning at 6:01 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and continuing through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29.

During the MEP, CHP officers will be actively looking for unsafe driving practices as well as helping motorists in need.

“This year has presented us with many unforeseen challenges, but safety is still our priority,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “If you choose to travel this Thanksgiving weekend, our goal is to help motorists arrive at their destination without incident.”

Thanksgiving weekend is traditionally one of the busiest travel times of the year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic may be a bit lighter, but this is not an invitation to speed to your destination.

The rules of the road still apply, and motorists should avoid driving tired, impaired or distracted.

Additionally, in an effort to reduce COVID-19 transmission, Gov. Gavin Newsom has instituted a limited stay at home order from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and a travel advisory, encouraging people to only go about essential activities during those hours and to self-quarantine for 14 days if they are arriving from another state or country.

Those who must be on the road, remember to buckle up. Proper seat belt use is the single most effective way to save a life in the event of a crash.

When you are traveling for the holiday, or any time of the year, make sure everyone in the vehicle is safely secured before even starting the car, and that includes children being in the correct child safety seats.

During the 2019 Thanksgiving MEP, 42 people died on California roadways. Of the 27 who died within CHP jurisdiction, 11 were not wearing seat belts.

The CHP also made 867 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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LUCERNE, Calif. – Caltrans said it is extending until the end of December the deadline for community members to participate in a survey on a project to improve pedestrian and bicycling facilities in Lucerne.

The survey can be found here: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/2045209373b94955ad2169093950dbf2.

Caltrans reported that the survey deadline has been extended to Dec. 31.

The agency will use the survey response as it prepares a project initiation document for the Lucerne Complete Streets Improvements Project.

Caltrans said the project was identified in two studies completed this past year, as Lake County News has reported.

As a result, Caltrans is looking at a project that it said may include improved sidewalks, crosswalks and bikeways on Highway 20 throughout Lucerne from the Morrison Creek Bridge to Country Club Drive

The document Caltrans is now preparing is the first step in seeking a funding source for the project.

The survey takes, at most, 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and allows participants to share their observations and to help prioritize needs and locations.

For more information or to offer additional comments, contact Alexis Kelso at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-498-0536.
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South Cow Mountain is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Photo by Ashley Poggio/BLM.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With cooler temperatures and measurable precipitation, the Bureau of Land Management has eased fire restrictions for public lands managed by the Ukiah Field Office in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.

Fire restrictions were originally initiated on Jun. 25 to curb the threat of wildfire.

Public land visitors can again use campfires outside of developed campgrounds and posted recreation sites. Recreational target shooting may also resume.

Visitors are encouraged to check weather conditions for red flag warnings and fire weather watches to avoid shooting in hot, dry and windy conditions.

The public is reminded to remain cautious and practice good fire safety to help prevent wildland fires when recreating on public lands.

Good fire-prevention safety tips include keeping vehicles off dry grass or brush; carrying a fire extinguisher, shovel and water; and getting a permit for any campfire or use of portable gas stoves.

California campfire permits are available free online or at BLM, U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE offices. Be advised, some BLM lobbies and public rooms are closed to in-person visits.

Recreational target shooters are reminded that hot bullet fragments and exploding targets can spark a wildfire. Tracer round ammunition and incendiary devices are not allowed on BLM-managed public lands. Consider using paper targets to eliminate sparks.

Recreational target shooters are required to pack out all spent shells, brass and targets. More information on safe recreational target shooting is available on the BLM website.

For more information on preventing wildfires and additional tips for keeping campfires and target shooting safe, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org or call the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000. The field office can also provide additional information on public lands available for target shooting.

Individuals who spark wildfires, intentionally or unintentionally, can be held responsible for fire suppression and repair costs.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport said it has extended the application deadline for community members interested in becoming involved in local government by serving on local commissions and committees.

The city is inviting applications for the Lakeport Planning Commission, the Measure Z Advisory Committee and the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee.

The deadline to apply has been extended to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1.

These appointments would be effective as of Jan. 1, 2021.

Membership on these commissions and committees is voluntary.

If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, applications are available on the city’s website under the Community News Topic, “Now Recruiting: Commission/Committee Openings,” or under the “Government” tab (Committees & Commissions).

For additional information, please contact Deputy City Clerk Hilary Britton at 707-263‑5615, Extension 102, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Angyalosi Beata // Shutterstock

 

Every October, people return to a familiar conversation: Should you get the flu shot? As flu season begins in the Northern Hemisphere, this question—along with other concerns—circulates among families, and in schools and workplaces. “I heard it isn’t as effective this year.” “I was told you should wait until it’s colder.” “My friend got a flu shot last year, and she had a fever afterward.”


There’s no shame in being concerned. The flu is a complicated disease caused by a family of influenza viruses. Each year, different variations of influenza circulate and become widespread globally. Flu experts at more than 100 influenza centers around the world keep track of these different variations, or strains, and go through an intensive research process to identify which strains may be the most common in a given season. This research process leads to the creation of the season’s vaccine, which is intended to protect against common flu strains that winter. But the seasonality of the flu leads to variation in both flu severity and vaccine effectiveness from year to year.


While COVID-19 may be dominating the health conversation right now, doctors and other experts are urging Americans to consider flu vaccination as well. The flu has caused between 140,000 and 810,000 estimated hospitalizations and between 12,000 and 61,000 estimated deaths each year since 2010, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2020, experts are particularly concerned that the seasonal flu may become a burden for hospitals, which are already caring for an influx of COVID-19 patients. The flu and COVID-19 also have similar symptoms and can require similar equipment from hospitals and health labs, which makes a double epidemic even more concerning.


In order to address flu concerns and help readers make decisions for themselves and their families, FindCare compiled a list of 20 common concerns about flu vaccination from friends, family, and online forums. Those questions were then sent to six doctors and epidemiologists, who responded based on their expertise.


The experts consulted in this story are:
- Emily Temple-Wood, D.O.; family medicine resident at Lutheran General Hospital
- Jessica Malaty Rivera, M.S.; infectious disease researcher and science communication lead at the COVID Tracking Project
- Lindsey Shultz, M.D.; physician, public health analyst, and expert contributor to COVID Explained
- Josh Petrie, Ph.D.; assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health
- Rachel Roper, Ph.D.; associate professor at the East Carolina University Medical School
- Allison Messina, M.D.; chairman of the Division of Infectious Disease at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital


Read on to learn more about how flu vaccination works and why experts consider it important.

funnyangel // Shutterstock

How flu shots work

- Question: How does the flu shot work?
- Source: Emily Temple-Wood, D.O.
- Answer: “I like to think of the flu shot—and vaccines in general—as target practice for your body. Our immune systems are infinitely adaptable but the main downside is that it takes time for them to learn how to fight different bugs, which means you usually get sick the first time you get exposed to something like the flu.


“We can hack that system with vaccines, which give your body the information it needs to fight something off without getting you sick. The flu shot is what we call an inactivated (killed) virus vaccine—you can't get sick from the vaccine. When you get the shot, your immune system notices the dead viruses and makes antibodies against the dead viruses. Antibodies are what the body uses to fight infections, and they get better when you have already been exposed to something. So, if you've had the flu shot and get coughed on by someone who has the flu, your immune system has already seen the flu and has practiced killing it. That means that if you get sick at all, it'll be less severe.”

BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock

Illness from the vaccine

- Question: Can you get the flu from the flu vaccine?
- Source: Jessica Malaty Rivera, M.S.
- Answer: “No, you cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine. Flu vaccines are made with inactivated (killed) viruses that cannot cause illness. For those who are vaccinated against flu and still get the flu during flu season, symptoms are often milder as a result of vaccination.”

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

Potential side effects

- Question: What side effects should I expect?
- Source: Lindsey Shultz, M.D.
- Answer: “The most common side effects for the injected vaccine are tenderness, redness, or a bit of swelling at the injection site. While not everyone will get these, it's good to plan ahead for a few days of muscle soreness in whichever arm you get the vaccination just in case, so figure out which arm works will work out best for you—most people pick their nondominant arm. It's also possible to get a low-grade fever, headache, and nausea, though these should go away after a day or two. The nasal spray flu vaccine also has the potential to cause a runny nose, sore throat, and cough.

“Serious adverse events are quite rare, and the risk profile is much lower than the risks you'd generally run from getting the flu itself. Contact your medical provider if you experience a high fever or signs of a severe allergic reaction like difficulty breathing, dizziness, or a rapid heartbeat. These signs would most likely happen within a few minutes to hours of getting the shot and can be remedied with medical treatment.”

PanyaStudio // Shutterstock

Pain at the injection site

- Question: Why will my arm be sore after getting the vaccine?
- Source: Emily Temple-Wood, D.O.
- Answer: “Your arm gets sore after the flu shot for a couple of reasons. The first one is that you got stabbed a little bit and any kind of poke hurts. The second reason is that your immune system is busy mustering that response to the killed viruses in the vaccine. This involves sending white blood cells to the area and increasing blood flow, which causes swelling as well.

“The best thing to do for the pain and swelling is to relax your arm as best you can during the shot, and move your arm more afterward to get lymphatic flow moving. You can also use heat or cold packs, and over-the-counter pain medications if the pain is severe and your doctor says it's okay.”

fizkes // Shutterstock

Got sick once

- Question: I got sick once after getting the flu shot! Why should I get it again?
- Source: Josh Petrie, Ph.D.
- Answer: “Many types of viruses cause cold and flu like symptoms, but the flu shot only protects against the influenza virus, which typically causes more severe disease. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others from influenza. You can not get influenza from a flu shot, but it is not uncommon to feel a little under the weather after receiving it. That means your immune system is responding to the vaccine and is a good thing.”

 

Mario Tama // Getty Images

Fear of needles

- Question: Can I get vaccinated if I don't like needles?
- Source: Rachel Roper, Ph.D.
- Answer: “Yes, there is a flu mist nasal vaccine. The flu injection/shot is a killed (dead) virus, but the flu nasal spray vaccine is a live attenuated virus. It is a severely weakened virus that will cause a small brief infection in your nasal passages. Most people don’t even notice it. The live flu mist often produces an even better immune response than the shot.

“Because it is a live virus it could be dangerous for people who are immunocompromised, so they should not receive it. It is currently approved for people 2 to 49 years old. There’s actually a [CDC] list of who all should not get the live flu mist vaccine.”

rblfmr // Shutterstock

Lack of health insurance

- Question: How do I get vaccinated if I don't have health insurance?
- Source: Lindsey Shultz, M.D.
- Answer: “Without insurance, the out-of-pocket cost will typically be around $40 for the regular dose, with an added cost for a senior dose. Check with services like Blink Health or GoodRx to see if any discounts are available in your area. The CDC-backed site VaccineFinder will help you locate pharmacies.

“There are also a number of options that provide free or discounted shots. Some schools and workplaces will hold events offering a flu shot to all members of their communities. Many county health departments also offer free or significantly discounted vaccines for people without insurance, or could provide you with more information about where to go in your community.”

Pra Chid // Shutterstock

Best time to get vaccinated

- Question: When is the best time of fall/winter to get vaccinated?
- Source: Emily Temple-Wood, D.O.
- Answer: “The best time to get vaccinated is whenever you can—though October seems to be a pretty good, sweet spot for staying protected through the end of flu season, earlier is totally okay, too. Definitely don't wait if you have the opportunity! There's no such thing as too late, either, if you're being offered the flu shot: It's because there's still flu hanging around.”

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

Where to get a flu shot

- Question: Where should I go to get a flu shot?
- Source: Rachel Roper, Ph.D.
- Answer: “Your doctor’s office, public health clinic, many pharmacies, and even some grocery stores. Everyone should have a primary care physician. If you have a physician, you can get help when you need it. If you don’t have a physician, it can be really difficult to find an appointment when you need one. Just go make an appointment with a physician for a check-up and flu shot so you will have an existing relationship with one where they have your info on file. It could save your life.”

busliq // Shutterstock

Allergy to eggs

- Question: I'm allergic to eggs, how does that affect me getting a flu shot?
- Source: Josh Petrie, Ph.D.
- Answer: “It shouldn't. The CDC recommends that people with egg allergy can receive any licenced influenza vaccine. However, there are vaccine options available that are not produced in eggs that you can discuss with your doctor if you're concerned or if you have had a severe reaction after receiving an influenza vaccine in the past.”

 

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

Vaccinating kids

- Question: Should my young children also get flu shots?
- Source: Allison Messina, M.D.
- Answer: “Yes, flu shots are recommended for all children aged 6 months and older. The youngest age recommended is 6 months.”

Angyalosi Beata // Shutterstock

The vaccine's yearly variation

- Question: What causes the variation in flu vaccine effectiveness?
- Source: Jessica Malaty Rivera, M.S.
- Answer: “Flu vaccine effectiveness can vary from season to season. The protection provided depends on the similarity between the viruses in the vaccine and those in circulation as well as the health of the individual. Flu vaccines tend to work better against influenza A(H1N1) and influenza B, and less against influenza A(H3N2). During seasons when the vaccine is well-matched to the vaccine, vaccination can reduce risk of flu illness by up to 60%.”

MedstockPhotos // Shutterstock

New vaccine each season

- Question: Why do I need a vaccine each year?
- Source: Rachel Roper, Ph.D.
- Answer: “Influenza viruses belong to the orthomyxovirus family of viruses. They are very unusual because they have eight different genome segments, eight different pieces. Most viruses have one piece of genome, but flu has eight. Because of this, flu can “reassort” genome pieces with other related viruses and make a whole new strain. This happens frequently, every year, so we have to make a whole new vaccine each year because the flu genome changes so dramatically. Other viruses that have one genome piece slowly mutate and evolve over time. That’s why our vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox have worked for decades—because those viruses mutate more slowly.”

fizkes // Shutterstock

Vaccinating healthy people

- Question: I'm young and healthy; do I still need to get vaccinated?
- Source: Rachel Roper, Ph.D.
- Answer: “Yes! In a normal flu season, hospitalizations can overwhelm our health care system, and this year we have a global pandemic, so it is especially important for everyone to get vaccinated. You don’t want to have a flu problem and have to go to a doctor or emergency room that is packed with COVID-19 patients. This could expose you to unnecessary risks, plus overwhelm the nurses and doctors trying to care for all the patients.

“In a normal year we have 5,000 to 30,000 flu deaths in the U.S., so getting a flu shot is a great idea; some years we have 60,000 deaths from the flu in the U.S. For flu and COVID-19, most deaths are in people over 50, but there are deaths in children, teens and 20s, too.”

Image Point Fr // Shutterstock

Vaccination while pregnant

- Question: Should you get vaccinated if you're pregnant and/or breastfeeding?
- Source: Allison Messina, M.D.
- Answer: “Yes, pregnant and breastfeeding women should be vaccinated for flu. Pregnant women should get the injectable flu vaccine rather than the intranasal one.”

 

fizkes // Shutterstock

Vaccination after illness

- Question: If I've already had the flu, should I still get vaccinated that same year?
- Source: Jessica Malaty Rivera, M.S.
- Answer: “Flu season typically starts in October and goes through March. If you got the flu before October, you are still vulnerable to the upcoming flu season and should get vaccinated. If you got the flu during the current flu season, you could still be vulnerable to other strains of the flu circulating that season and should get vaccinated.”

Angyalosi Beata // Shutterstock

Vaccination for the flu-averse

- Question: I never get the flu; why should I get the vaccine?
- Source: Emily Temple-Wood, D.O.
- Answer: “You've never gotten the flu until you get the flu, yanno? There's a first time for everything, and that includes the flu. Also, even if you don't get the flu, are in good health, or don't get particularly sick when you have had the flu, there are vulnerable people around you, now more than ever. Not just babies, people with chronic illnesses, pregnant people, and older people, but people who have recovered from COVID-19 are likely particularly vulnerable to the flu this year.”

DimaBerlin // Shutterstock

Already wearing a mask

- Question: Why do I need a vaccine if I'm already wearing a mask and socially distancing?
- Source: Lindsey Shultz, M.D.
- Answer: “Unfortunately as we have seen, no preventative measures are foolproof. They instead act likely overlapping layers of protection. The more risk-reducing choices we make, the safer we keep ourselves, our families, and our communities. Just like wearing a mask helps keep others safe, getting a flu vaccine not only helps keep you safe, but also the vulnerable people around you who either can't get a flu vaccine or those in whom they may not work as well. It will also help your local medical system by keeping local waiting rooms more clear as the COVID-19 pandemic continues into the winter season.”

Zigres // Shutterstock

Flu and COVID-19 prevention

- Question: Is the flu shot effective at preventing COVID-19?
- Source: Jessica Malaty Rivera, M.S.
- Answer: “Influenza and coronavirus are two different virus families so a flu vaccine cannot prevent COVID-19. There is also no evidence that getting a flu vaccine increases the risk of getting COVID-19.”

Marijan Murat/picture alliance // Getty Images

Flu and COVID-19 science

- Question: Was this year's vaccine “phoned in” because scientists are working on COVID-19?
- Source: Josh Petrie, Ph.D.
- Answer: “No, the normal procedures for selecting vaccine virus strains and manufacturing vaccines have been in place. The World Health Organization (WHO) selected which virus strains to include in the Northern Hemisphere vaccine at the end of February, and vaccine manufacturers are projecting that they will have more doses available than in the past.”

 
This story was originally published by Stacker, https://www.healthline.com/health/vaccinations/20-questions-about-the-flu-shot.

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The boat launch at Lucerne Harbor Park in Lucerne, California, was closed on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, due to low water and sediment buildup. The county of Lake said the harbor is to be dredged in 2021 but could give no more specific timeline for the project’s completion. Photo by John Jensen/Lake County News.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lake County Public Services Department has closed the boat launch at Lucerne Harbor Park, which has become impassable to boats due to sediment buildup and the low water level.

The agency said Tuesday that, in order to protect public safety and prevent damage to public and private property, it was taking the action to temporarily close the boat launch at the park, located at 6225 East Highway 20.

The condition of the harbor has been a topic of concern for the community over the last several years, and in January 2019 the Lucerne Area Town Hall passed a resolution asking the county to spend a small portion of the $2.5 million sales price from the Lucerne Hotel to dredge the harbor.

After initial pushback to the request from the County Administrative Office, the Board of Supervisors ultimately approved the 2019-20 budget with $250,000 set aside for the project.

However, the project didn’t take place last fiscal year and so has been held over to this current fiscal year.

The price tag is now $350,000 and will include repairs to the deteriorating docks, based on the county budget document.

Public Services Deputy Director Kati Galvani said the sediment removal dredging project is expected to be completed next year.

Galvani said she could not give a more specific timeframe for the reopening of the harbor, which is popular with fishermen – professionals and amateurs alike – as well as recreational boaters.

She said the county needs to secure California Environmental Quality Act and regulator permits before the dredging is done.

“Topographic survey was completed last month and we will prepare the CEQA application, regulatory permit applications, and construction documents in the coming months for a calendar year 2021 dredging project,” Galvani said.

Asked about the last time the harbor was closed due to low water conditions, Galvani said she didn’t have records immediately handy but, based on staff’s recollection, “it is not an uncommon occurrence.”

Galvani said no other county boat launches are scheduled for closure currently due to low water, “but we will monitor and close as needed for safety reasons,” and will send out public announcements if necessary.

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 “temporary closure” sign placed at Lucerne Harbor Park in Lucerne, California, on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, due to low water and sediment buildup. The county of Lake has not been able to say how long, in this case, “temporary” will be, only that the harbor will be dredged sometime in 2021. Photo by John Jensen/Lake County News.
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Waterfowl – not turkey – would have been the main course. Winslow Homer, 'Right and Left' (1909), National Gallery of Art

Most Americans probably don’t realize that we have a very limited understanding of the first Thanksgiving, which took place in 1621 in Massachusetts.

Indeed, few of our present-day traditions resemble what happened almost 400 years ago, and there’s only one original account of the feast.

As an anthropologist who specializes in reconstructing past diets, I can say that even though we don’t have a definitive account of the menu at the first Thanksgiving, letters and recorded oral histories give us a pretty good idea of what they probably ate. And we know for a fact that it didn’t include mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.

A main course of waterfowl and venison

The main course is the one scholars can speak about with certainty.

The only eyewitness account of the first Thanksgiving comes from a letter written by Edward Winslow on Dec. 11, 1621. In it, he describes how the Puritans, after utilizing fertilization methods imparted by Tisquantum (also known as “Squanto”), had their first successful harvest. To celebrate, Governor William Bradford “sent four men on fowling” and they returned later that day with enough food to feed the colony for almost a week. Since waterfowl was plentiful in the Massachusetts Bay area, it’s widely accepted that they were eating goose and duck rather than turkey.

The letter also recounts that the Wampanoag leader Massasoit Ousamequin was present, along with “some ninety men,” and that they gifted five deer to the governor. Therefore, venison likely had a prominent place alongside waterfowl on the first Thanksgiving table.

Not cranberry sauce, but sobaheg stew

The natural bogs of the the region contained wild cranberries that could be dried and used all winter to bring variety and vitamin C into the diets of the Wampanoags. They even have their own holiday, Cranberry Day, that resembles our Thanksgiving.

However, there’s no account of cranberries at the first Thanksgiving, nor is there any mention of cranberries in other records of foods introduced to people who arrived on the Mayflower.

This may be due, in part, to the location of Plymouth Plantation relative to the boggy regions of Massachusetts, which are several miles away.

If bogs were not in the immediate area, then the fruit may not have been as readily used by the Wampanoags of this region as they were in other places with Wampanoag settlements, like Martha’s Vineyard.

Instead, for a side dish to the main course, a stew called sobaheg was most likely served. An easy way to make use of seasonal ingredients, the stew often included a mixture of beans, corn, poultry, squash, nuts and clam juice. All are used in the traditional dish today, and all would have been available in 1621. In fact, clams, fish and other seafood were abundant in the area, so they were probably present in some form, whether in sobaheg or another dish.

For carbs, look to cornbread, not potatoes

Historians attribute the first New England crop of potatoes to Derry, New Hampshire in 1722, so there’s no way mashed potatoes could have made an appearance during the first Thanksgiving.

Corn, on the other hand, was the staple starch of the time, and in the published notes of William J. Miller on the Wampanoag tribe, he indicates that among the foods introduced to them, the corn bread, called maizium, was “kind.” European settlers didn’t often speak favorably of indigenous food, so mazium stands out as a recipe that likely made it onto the table at this first feast.

Potatoes weren’t around in 17th-century New England, but corn was plentiful. Natalija Sahraj

A ‘green sauce’ gravy

Although the settlers may have made a gravy out of the drippings from the meats procured for the feast, a common staple for these early colonizers was a dish known simply as “green sauce.”

Although the best accounts of this sauce come from later records when households had their own gardens of European crops, recipes also utilized crops introduced to them by the Wampanoag. In addition to the corn (and barley) mentioned in Winslow’s letter, the harvest of 1621 likely included beans, squash, onions, turnips and greens such as spinach and chard. All could have been cooked at length to create a pulpy sauce that later became a staple in early New England homes.

What about dessert?

A regular supply of sugar or maple syrup wasn’t available in the area until much later. Sugar, which was the major export of Caribbean plantations, didn’t become popular in New England until the 18th century.

As for maple syrup, Native Americans of the Northeast are credited as the first to procure it; however, it’s believed that European settlers didn’t begin harvesting it until 1680.

Although it is tough to think of Thanksgiving without decadent sweets, at least the first attendees were spared the awkwardness of having to refuse dessert after such a large feast.The Conversation

Julie Lesnik, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Wayne State University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Unemployment benefits for workers in California who have lost jobs or had their hours reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic now total $110 billion stemming from 16.4 million claims processed since March.

Based on the latest data from the California Employment Development Department, or EDD, both applications received and claims processed last week increased slightly from the week before for the first time in about a month.

The total of federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation extension claims for individuals who run out of regular state unemployment benefits accounts for about 26 percent of the nation’s total.

In addition, the EDD also reports a 64 percent reduction in the current backlog of claims since Sept. 19.

These are claims in which individuals have waited more than 21 days for issues to be resolved on either their initial claim for benefits or once they get into continued claim status.

The progress in burning down the backlog is updated each week on the EDD’s Unemployment Data Dashboards webpage.

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