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Dennis Fordham. Courtesy photo.

Anyone receiving community based Medi-Cal or long term (skilled nursing) Medi-Cal is familiar with the stringent, long-standing nonexempt asset limitations for eligibility (i.e, $2,000 in available, countable nonexempt assets for a single individual).

Two recent developments affect present day and future Medi-Cal eligibility planning for persons either already receiving or applying for Medi-Cal.

First, the federal Center for Medical Services, or CMS, renewed and extended the Public Health Emergency, or PHE, to Jan. 16, 2022.

The PHE protects continued receipt of benefits for existing Medi-Cal beneficiaries even if they receive assets in excess of their resource allowance during the public health emergency.

During the period of the public health emergency existing beneficiaries receiving Medi-Cal for long term care can gift away excess resources without creating any penalty period after the term of emergency ends.

CMS will provide a 60-day notice before the end of the public health emergency.

Moreover, any federal stimulus payments received can be spent or gifted either within the PHE period, or up to 12 months from date of stimulus receipt, whichever time frame is later. Such timely gifting does not have any negative impact on Medi-Cal eligibility.

Second, under recent California legislation, effective July 1, 2022, the nonexempt asset limitations for community based Medi-Cal, for long term (skilled nursing) Medi-Cal, and for certain other programs, increases from $2,000 (for a single individual) to $130,000.

An additional $65,000 exemption is allowed for each family member who lives in the beneficiary’s household, up to 10 family members.

Thus, as of July 1, 2022, a Medi-Cal beneficiary with two family members could retain $260,000 in nonexempt assets. Who qualifies as a family member still remains is yet to be defined. It will include a person’s spouse and children under age 21, but may also include others.

Furthermore, pending federal approval, California plans to altogether abolish the asset Medi-Cal requirements altogether on or after Jan. 1, 2024.

The limited income requirements, however, will still apply to eligibility both for community based Medi-Cal and for share of cost determination for long term care Medi-Cal.

The above changes present both planning challenges and opportunities for existing and future Medi-Cal recipients (other than those receiving Expansion Medi-Cal).

Existing Medi-Cal beneficiaries with excess resources will need to consider whether to spend down or gift excess assets before the end of the PHE (or 12 months from the receipt of stimulus moneys) or, if possible and desirable, perhaps to transfer part or all of such excess assets into a first party special needs trust.

Family members whose estate planning includes special needs trusts to receive future gifts for beneficiaries on Medi-Cal may wish to reconsider that approach. That is, it may then no longer be necessary or desirable to use a special needs trust depending on what asset limitations (eligibility) and the facts and circumstances apply at the time the gift is made in the future (under the new rules).

The analysis requires consideration of the size of the additional (disqualifying) assets received, family circumstances and goals, when any excess (disqualifying) assets are received (in relationship to July 1, 2022 or January 1, 2024), and whether the beneficiary can afford to temporarily lose Medi-Cal eligibility until when he or she can again qualify — either after July 1, 2021 or possibly after January 1, 2024.

These changes do not affect persons who receive so-called Expansion Medi-Cal under the Affordable Care Act. Eligibility for Expansion Medi-Cal is based on a person’s Modified Adjusted Gross Income (so-called, “MAGI” Medi-Cal) presently not exceeding $1,482/month (for 2021).

These changes also do not affect anyone who receives Supplemental Security Income benefits subject to the $2,000 per individual, and $3,000 per couple, asset limitations on SSI eligibility.

The foregoing discussion is not legal advice. Anyone confronting these Medi-Cal eligibility issues should consult with a qualified attorney for guidance regarding their particular facts and circumstances.

Dennis A. Fordham, attorney, is a State Bar-Certified Specialist in estate planning, probate and trust law. His office is at 870 S. Main St., Lakeport, Calif. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and 707-263-3235.
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LOWER LAKE, Calif. — The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association has announced that its popular “Christmas at the Ranch” Victorian Christmas celebration held each year in the historic ranch house at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is being canceled for 2021.

AMIA has been presenting this Christmas event for more than 25 years. It features tasty Christmas baked goods, hot apple cider and coffee, and performances by local musicians singing Christmas carols and holiday songs. Santa is always present to greet children of all ages.

With long-planned repairs to the Anderson Ranch House about to commence — including painting, window repairs and foundation work — State Parks has taken advantage of the pause in indoor activities at the ranch house to remove the furniture and other historic objects contained in the ranch house for much-needed cleaning and refurbishing.

“With the ranch house disrupted by maintenance projects, and the still-lingering COVID health concerns about crowded indoor events in small spaces, we thought it prudent to cancel the event this year,” said AMIA Board Member Henry Bornstein. “We plan on resuming this event next year, when we hope to be able to gather together at the ranch house to enjoy each other’s company and holiday cheer.”

For further information, contact AMIA at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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The proposed new redistricting map for the supervisorial districts in Lake County, California. Image courtesy of the county of Lake.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday held the fourth in a series of public hearings on the county supervisorial redistricting process, directing staff to bring back a resolution to adopt the final map.

The process takes place every 10 years following the release of the data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The county process, which redraws the five supervisorial districts, is separate from the California Citizens Redistricting Commission’s ongoing efforts to delineate new state Assembly and Senate, and congressional districts.

Consultant Margaret Long told the board that the law requires at least four public hearings be held.

The first, held during the board’s regular Aug. 31 meeting, was to explain the process. A special stand-alone meeting on Saturday, Oct. 2, focused on communities of interest, while the third, held on the evening of Nov. 2, went over the maps and resulted in a recommendation for the final map.

Long said the final map proposed from the options offered to the board is No. 6, which she said incorporates all of the changes and recommendations from the supervisors and the public.

She said the option No. 6 map meets all legal requirements, including all districts being contiguous and within a 10% population deviation.

Each district should have 13,633 residents or be within 10% of that number. Option No. 6 places the population in the five districts as follows: District 1, 13,479; District 2, 14,243; District 3, 13,875; District 4, 12,957; and District 5, 13,609.

The new district boundaries would differ from the current boundaries as follows, based on the description placed on the option No. 6 map:

• In North Lakeport, the area bounded by Highway 29, the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff and Rodman Slough would be moved from District 3 to District 4 in order to move all of the contiguous tribal lands in that area into a single district.

• A small area east of Big Canyon Road at Ettawa Springs Rd has moved from District 1 to District 5 in order to keep as much of the Cobb Area Council within a single district.

• In the city of Clearlake, the census blocks south of Lakeshore Drive have been moved from District 1 to District 2 in order to keep the central business corridor along Lakeshore Drive within a single district, and the area south of Dam Road has been moved to District 1.

• Riviera Heights subdivision west to Lakeview Estates Drive has been moved from District 4 to District 5 to keep all of “The Rivieras” communities in a single district.

• North of Kelseyville, the area bounded by Kelsey Creek, Soda Bay Road and Clear Lake State Park has been moved from District 4 to District 5.

Based on the discussion and the options Long presented, the board chose to direct staff to bring back a resolution accepting the new map and emphasizing the use of census blocks, which will save time and allow the county to meet the Dec. 15 deadline.

The county’s GIS expert, Lon Sharp — who also was part of the redistricting effort in 2011 — told the board that using the county’s 2,900 census blocks is the easiest method, explaining that he could have a list of the census blocks for each proposed district by the end of the day if needed.

County Counsel Anita Grant also supported using census blocks and suggested that the resolution should include the maps if possible. It’s the legitimate way to go, she added, and can be done clearly and efficiently.

“The map was built on census blocks so it makes perfect sense to just use census blocks,” said Board Chair Bruno Sabatier.

Sabatier agreed that a resolution is the appropriate way to move forward, and that since the board has held four hearings, it didn’t need to go through a process that included a first and second reading of the final map approval document.

With the consensus of the board, Sabatier directed staff to come back with the resolution to accept the map and thanked the staff involved, which in addition to Sharp included Deputy Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein.

All of the maps can be found on the county’s website.

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 supervisorial districts for Lake County, California, as created in 2011. Image courtesy of the county of Lake.
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What are some skywatching highlights in December 2021?

See three planets after sunset, but say goodbye to Venus as the "evening star" at the end of the month. Then have a hunt for newly discovered Comet Leonard in the early morning through mid-month. Finally, get up early on Dec. 14 to watch for Geminid meteors after local moonset, around 2 a.m.

From Dec. 6 to 10, look westward following sunset for the moon visiting Venus, Saturn and Jupiter in turn. The moon's crescent fills out as it appears higher in the sky each evening over the course of the week.

Enjoy the view of dazzling Venus as the "evening star" while it lasts, though. Our cloud-covered neighbor planet will sink ever closer to the horizon during the month, disappearing for most of us by New Years'. It'll reappear in late January as a morning planet preceding the sunrise, and won't be back in evening skies until December of next year.

Next in December, there's a recently discovered comet on its way into the inner solar system that might be worth trying to observe. It's known as Comet Leonard, and it will be at its closest to Earth on Dec. 12, just a couple of weeks before it reaches its closest distance from the sun.

Now, comets are notoriously difficult to predict in terms of brightness and visibility. Comet Leonard is predicted to peak at a brightness that will probably require binoculars to spot it. There's a chance it could be bright enough to see with the unaided eye, but again, with comets, you really never know.

In the first couple of weeks of December, Comet Leonard can be found in the east before sunrise, passing between Arcturus and the handle of the Big Dipper. It approaches the horizon right around the time of its closest approach to Earth, meaning it'll likely be brighter but more challenging to observe.

It then switches over to being an evening object after around Dec. 14, for just a little while after the sun sets — as it begins its long haul outward from the Sun again, progressively fading in brightness.

Finally, the Geminid meteors are a highlight of December skies each year. This year's meteor shower peaks overnight on Dec. 13 and 14. Apart from the weather, the phase of the moon is usually the main factor in whether a meteor shower will have good viewing any given year.

This year, the moon will be almost 80% full at the peak of the Geminids, which isn't ideal. However, that bright moon will set somewhere around 2 a.m. wherever you're located, leaving a couple of hours for meteor watching before dawn.

The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Gemini, which you'll find high in the west. Now while most annual meteor showers are caused by Earth passing through trails of dust-sized particles of comet debris, the Geminids are one of the few meteor showers that are caused by debris from an asteroid that crosses Earth's orbit — in this case, one called Phaethon.

Recently, NASA scientists shared findings that suggest the difference between an asteroid and a comet might be less clear than we realized, with fizzing sodium on Phaethon playing the same role as vaporizing ice on comets.

And whether you catch a glimpse of Comet Leonard, or meteors from Asteroid Phaethon, both are reminders of the deep connections between Earth and the rest of the solar system that we discover because we look outward, and we explore.

You can catch up on all of NASA's missions to explore the solar system and beyond at www.nasa.gov.

Preston Dyches works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Recent rains and cooler temperatures across the region have lowered the threat of wildfires, allowing Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit to transition out of peak fire season.

The transition is effective Monday, Dec. 28, at 8 a.m. in Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Colusa, Yolo, and Solano counties.

That’s nearly a month earlier than the transition took place last year.

It’s the latest fire season transition over the past decade, which has seen the fire season extend further into the late fall and early winter months.

Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Shana Jones reminded residents that safe residential pile burning of forest residue by landowners is a crucial tool in reducing fire hazards.

State, federal and local land management and fire agencies will also be utilizing this same window of opportunity to conduct prescribed burns aimed at improving forest health on private and public lands.

Cal Fire will continue to maintain staffing to meet any potential threat, as well as maintaining the ability to strategically move resources to areas that remain at a higher threat level.

Cal Fire also will continue to monitor weather conditions closely and still has the ability to increase staffing should weather conditions change or if there is a need to support wildfires or other emergencies in other areas of the state.

The 2020 fire season has been a very active year, even more so than in 2019. Statewide, Cal Fire and firefighters from many local agencies responded to over 8,000 wildfires within the State Responsibility Area that burned over 1.4 million acres.

In the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, Cal Fire responded to over 600 wildfires that charred over 434,000 acres.

During the cooler winter months, Cal Fire will continue to actively focus efforts on fire prevention and fuels treatment activities as guided by the state’s Strategic Fire Plan and localized unit fire plans.

These will be done through public education, prescribed burns and various types of fuel reduction projects. These activities are aimed at reducing the impacts of large, damaging wildfires, public safety and improving overall forest health.

Residents are urged to still take precautions outdoors in order to prevent sparking a wildfire. A leading cause of wildfires this time of year is from escaped landscape debris burning. Before you burn, ensure it is a permissive burn day by contacting the local air quality district and then make sure you have any and all required burn permits.

During burning, make sure that piles of landscape debris are no larger than 4 feet in diameter, provide a 10-foot clearance down to bare mineral soil around the burn pile and ensure that a responsible adult is in attendance at all times with a water source and a shovel.

For more ways to burn safely visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
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Joshua Caleb Brown, 48, of Kelseyville, California, was arrested on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, following a warrant service at his home. Lake County Jail photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Kelseyville man arrested four years ago after a standoff with authorities has been arrested again, this time on new charges involving threats.

Joshua Caleb “Buck” Brown, 48, was taken into custody shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Lauren Berlinn, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office’s new public information and community outreach officer, said the agency served the search/arrest warrant Wednesday morning at the Brown property in Kelseyville.

“Mr. Brown was taken into custody without incident, was booked at the jail on the charges related to the warrant. The warrant was a result of an investigation of elder abuse and criminal threats,” Berlinn said.

Brown was booked shortly after 8 a.m. on charges including a felony charge of threatening a crime with intent to terrorize, and a misdemeanor arrest warrant. His bail was set at $115,000, according to booking records.

Berlinn said the sheriff’s office’s SWAT team was part of the warrant service “due to previous contacts with Mr. Brown.”

In August of 2017, an armed Brown confronted law enforcement officers, Caltrans workers and then-Supervisor Rob Brown as k-rail was being installed near an illegal road access that he had made near his property between Cruickshank Road and Cole Creek Road on Highway 29, as Lake County News has reported.

A manhunt of several hours involving SWAT teams from Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties followed, with Buck Brown surrendering on the evening of the same day the incident occurred.

He is due to be arraigned in Lake County Superior Court on Thursday.

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. — In its final regular meeting of the year, the Clearlake City Council voted to keep the council leadership in place for another year.

Following a discussion near the end of its two-hour meeting, the council voted unanimously to keep Dirk Slooten as mayor and Russell Perdock as vice mayor.

Councilwoman Joyce Overton praised Slooten for his work, noting the Clearlake Promise Program, which the council approved earlier in the meeting, which Slooten pursued with Woodland Community College to help local students.

She said Perdock also had done a good job and she would like to keep them in place for another year.

Councilman Russ Cremer also said they’d both done a good job, but argued for the more common annual rotation, which he said is necessary to give all council members a chance to be mayor.

Cremer — who acknowledged that he had served back-to-back mayoral terms — said he wanted to see Perdock move up to the mayor’s spot and the council’s newest member, David Claffey, become vice mayor for the new year.

Overton, who noted they’ve had people serve in the mayor’s post for more than one year at a time, said she felt Slooten was the most experienced in handling development.

Claffey said the council is fortunate in having four members who have served as mayor. Looking at the challenges in 2022, and with the city having made a significant investment in land, Claffey said he was exceptionally confident with Slooten being in meetings with commercial developers. He also praised Perdock for his work in advocating for the Hope Center and the Blue Zones projects.

Claffey said he liked the continuity of having the two men remain in their positions for the coming year. “I think you’ve done a fantastic job.”

Cremer said he was not castigating Slooten or Perdock on their specialties. “What I’ve learned this year is there is life after being mayor.”

Claffey moved to appoint Slooten as mayor and Perdock as vice mayor, with Overton seconding.

Before the vote, Supervisor Bruno Sabatier weighed in, noting the mayor's job is just a post and amazing things happen when the seat is switched. He also wanted to see Claffey as vice mayor, and while they can have reasons for not changing, “I think it’s good to see that change.”

Planning Commissioner Erin McCarrick supported the move to keep the leadership in place for another year, noting she thinks it’s helpful for new residents to have consistency.

Overton said she didn’t agree with Sabatier. She said it helps to have someone like Slooten with experience in negotiation and knowledge of development in the mayor’s position.

The vote that followed was 5-0.

“Thank you. I’m humbled. I hope to do my best,” said Slooten, noting that there are numerous projects in the works that have the possibility of transforming the city. He said he would do his utmost to have those projects come to a successful conclusion in 2022.

Also on Thursday, the council approved the Clearlake Promise Program, an agreement with Woodland Community College spearheaded by Slooten that will devote $55,000 over the coming two academic years to help local students pay for college.

The council also visited with one of the city shelter’s adoptable dogs, reviewed the annual photo contest winners, received an update on the first anniversary of the Hope Center’s opening and heard from staff about the Cache fire cleanup, which is now nearly complete.

Cremer asked to pull from the consent agenda approval of the Cannabis Equity Program, raising concerns over language regarding criminal convictions for participants, with the council ultimately tabling the item.

In other business, the council continued to Jan. 6 a public hearing to consider a development agreement with Ogulin Canyon Holdings LLC to allow a cannabis operation located at 2185 Ogulin Canyon Road — a property formerly owned by the city — in order to give staff the chance to process an appeal filed against the project.

Before the public portion of the council meeting, the council held a closed session. City Attorney Ryan Jones announced action from the closed session, which included unanimous votes on three separate items.

The council authorized Jones to engage in a national opioid settlement with Janssen and state drug distributors, voted to initiate litigation against McKinsey and Co. over opioids and directed the risk authority to negotiate a settlement with Melinda Wymer over her claim against the city.

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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The omicron variant possesses numerous mutations in the spike protein, the knob-like protrusions (in red) that allow the virus to invade other cells. Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

A new variant named omicron (B.1.1.529) was reported by researchers in South Africa on Nov. 24, 2021, and designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization two days later. Omicron is very unusual in that it is by far the most heavily mutated variant yet of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The omicron variant has 50 mutations overall, with 32 mutations on the spike protein alone. The spike protein – which forms protruding knobs on the outside of the SARS-CoV-2 virus – helps the virus adhere to cells so that it can gain entry. It is also the protein that all three vaccines currently available in the U.S. use to induce protective antibodies. For comparison, the delta variant has nine mutations. The larger number of mutations in the omicron variant may mean that it could be more transmissible and/or better at evading immune protection – a prospect that is very concerning.

I am a virologist who studies emerging and zoonotic viruses to better understand how new epidemic or pandemic viruses emerge. My research group has been studying various aspects of the COVID-19 virus, including its spillover into animals.

Why do new SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to emerge?

While the unusually high number of mutations in the omicron variant is surprising, the emergence of yet another SARS-CoV-2 variant is not unexpected.

Through natural selection, random mutations accumulate in any virus. This process is sped up in RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. If and when a set of mutations provides a survival advantage to a variant over its predecessors, the variant will out-compete all other existing virus variants.

Does the omicron variant’s greater number of mutations mean it is more dangerous and transmissible than delta? We simply don’t know yet. The conditions that led to the emergence of the variant are not yet clear, but what is clear is that the shear number and configuration of mutations in omicron is unusual.

One possible explanation for how viral variants with multiple mutations emerge is through prolonged infection in a patient whose immune system is suppressed – a situation that can lead to rapid viral evolution. Researchers have hypothesized that some of the earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as the alpha variant, may have stemmed from a persistently infected patient. However, the unusual constellation and numerous mutations in the omicron variant make it very different from all other SARS-CoV-2 strains, which raises questions about how it came about.

Another possible source of variants could be through animal hosts. The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect several animal species, including mink, tigers, lions, cats and dogs. In a study that is not yet peer-reviewed, an international team that I lead recently reported widespread infection by SARS-CoV-2 in free-living and captive white-tailed deer in the U.S. Therefore, we also cannot rule out the possibility that the omicron variant emerged in an animal host through rapid evolution.

Two white-tailed deer look for food in the woods in Pennsylvania.
White-tailed deer have recently been identified as a significant reservoir for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Media News Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images


How the delta variant became dominant worldwide

Delta is between 40% and 60% more transmissible than the alpha variant and nearly twice as transmissible as the original SARS-CoV-2 virus first identified in China. The delta variant’s heightened transmissibility is the primary reason why researchers believe it was able to out-compete other variants to become the dominant strain.

A key factor in viral fitness is its replication rate – or how quickly a virus can make more copies of itself. The delta variant replicates faster than previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, and a not-yet-peer-reviewed study estimated that it produces 1,000 times more virus particles than its predecessors.

In addition, people infected with the delta variant are making and shedding more virus, which is another potential mechanism for its increased ability to spread. Research suggests that a possible explanation for the delta variant’s heightened ability to replicate is that mutations in the spike protein led to more efficient binding of the spike protein to its host, via the ACE-2 receptor.

The delta variant has also acquired mutations that would allow it to evade neutralizing antibodies that serve a critical role in the body’s defense against an invading virus. This could explain why, as multiple reports have shown, the COVID-19 vaccines have been somewhat less effective against the delta variant. This combination of high transmissibility and immune evasion could help explain how the delta variant became so successful.

Studies also show that people infected with the delta variant have a higher risk of being hospitalized compared to those infected with the original SARS-CoV-2 and early variants. One particular mutation on the spike protein of the delta variant – the P681R mutation – is thought to be a key contributor to its improved ability to enter cells and to cause more severe disease.

Will omicron replace delta?

It is too early to say if the omicron variant is fitter than delta or if it will become dominant. Omicron shares some mutations with the delta variant but also possesses others that are quite different. But one of the reasons why we in the research community are particularly concerned is that the omicron variant has 10 mutations in the receptor-binding domain – the part of the spike protein that interacts with the ACE-2 receptor and mediates entry into cells – compared with just two for the delta variant.

[Too busy to read another daily email? Get one of The Conversation’s curated weekly newsletters.]

Suppose the combination of all the mutations in omicron makes it either more transmissible or better at immune evasion than delta. In that case, we could see the spread of this variant globally. However, it is also possible that the unusually high number of mutations could be detrimental to the virus and make it unstable.

It is highly likely that the omicron variant is not the endgame and that more SARS-CoV-2 variants will emerge. As SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread among humans, natural selection and adaptation will result in more variants that could plausibly be more transmissible than delta.

We know from influenza viruses that the process of viral adaptation never ends. Lower vaccination rates among many countries means that there are still a lot of susceptible hosts out there for the virus, and that it will continue to circulate and mutate as long as it can spread. The emergence of the omicron variant is yet another reminder of the urgency to vaccinate to stop the further spread and evolution of SARS-CoV-2.The Conversation

Suresh V. Kuchipudi, Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Penn State

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

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The governor has reappointed a Kelseyville resident to serve on the North Coastal Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Greg Giusti, 66, was reappointed to the North Coastal Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has served since 2013, the Governor’s Office reported.

Giusti is the former director adviser of forests and wildland ecology for the Lake County University of California, Cooperative Extension from 1985 to 2017. He now serves as adviser emeritus for the UCCE.

He also was agricultural biologist at the San Mateo County Department of Agriculture from 1981 to 1985 and chief biologist at the Marine Ecological Institute from 1978 to 1981.

Giusti has been a registered Professional Forester since 2013.

He earned a Master of Arts degree in Ecology and Systematic Biology from San Francisco State University.

This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Giusti is registered without party preference.

The Governor’s Office also reported that Santa Rosa resident Valerie Quinto, 37, also was reappointed to the North Coastal Regional Water Quality Control Board. She’s served on the board since 2014.

Quinto has been executive director at the Sonoma Resource Conservation District since 2017, where she was program director from 2012 to 2017. She held several positions at Sotoyome Resource Conservation District between 2009 and 2012 including project coordinator and conservation project manager.

The Governor’s Office said Quinto is a Democrat.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — After losing two of its members earlier this fall, on Wednesday the Middletown Unified School District Board of Trustees finalized the process to select two community members to fill the vacancies.

Appointed to fill the seats are veteran county educator Annette Lee and businesswoman and teacher Allison Berlogar. Both women also have children attending school in the district.

The first of the board vacancies was created when LaTrease Walker abruptly resigned her seat during a heated Oct. 13 meeting in which a group of angry community members confronted the board over COVID-19-related mandates.

Walker, elected in 2018, sided with those against the mandates, saying her own children would not be vaccinated.

The following month, Trustee Thad Owens resigned. He also was elected in 2018 and is a principal in the Konocti Unified School District.

Middletown Unified Superintendent Tim Gill told Lake County News that in his resignation letter, Owens did not give a reason for his decision to leave the board.

The district held a public recruitment for board candidates and received applications from 10 community members.

In addition to Berloger and Lee, Michael Beehler, Kelly Fairless, Todd Fiora, Janina Hoskins, Chris Ochs, Bryan Pullman, Charise Reynolds and Kurtis Woodard applied for the board positions.

During a special board meeting Wednesday night at Middletown High School, board members Misha Grothe, Zoi Bracisco and Larry Allen interviewed the 10 applicants in open session following a random number draw by candidates to determine interview sequencing, Gill said.

Gill said each candidate was asked the same five questions and the opportunity was provided for public comment following the interviews. There was no public comment.

Following the board’s deliberation, the trustees voted to appoint Lee and Berlogar, who then were sworn in, Gill said.

Lee is a longtime educator who currently teaches at Woodland Community College. She formerly served as dean of the college’s Clear Lake Campus.

Lee, who holds a master's degree in business administration, graduated from Middletown Unified and has two children currently attending schools in the district. The district said Lee “brings a wealth of education knowledge to the board and will be a valuable asset.”

Berlogar is a longtime community member and business owner. She has taught for the district as well as been an active volunteer. She has two children, one of whom graduated from the district and the other who is attending school in Middletown Unified.

“Her ties to the community and perspective as a parent and former teacher are a welcome addition to the dynamic of the board,” the district said in a Thursday statement.

The board thanked all of the applicants for putting themselves up for consideration for the positions and for participating in the interview process.

“Their willingness to stand up and serve their community and students is admirable and appreciated. We look forward to leading the district forward and striving to bring the best possible education to our students,” the district statement said.

Pursuant to California Ed Code section 5092 and 6091, members of the public are advised that unless a petition calling for a special election containing a sufficient number of signatures is filed in the office of county superintendent of schools within 30 days of the date of these provisional appointments, they shall become effective appointments.

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. — The pilot of a small gyrocopter died on Thursday after crashing near Lakeport.

Initial radio reports of the crash came in shortly after 11:15 a.m. from near Konocti Vista Casino Resort.

Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft — initially described as a helicopter or glider — directly east of Soda Bay Road toward the lake. They reported it going down somewhere between the casino and South Main Street in Lakeport.

Sheriff Brian Martin confirmed to Lake County News that the aircraft appeared to be a gyrocopter, a small type of rotorcraft.

Firefighters, sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol responded, with a CHP helicopter helping conduct the search. Incident command was established at Konocti Vista Casino’s dock.

Radio traffic indicated deputies and firefighters were challenged with reaching the crash site, and searching through tules described as 12 feet high.

The CHP helicopter cleared the scene just before 12:15 p.m. after being unable to locate the gyrocopter.

Minutes later, a sheriff’s deputy reported finding the downed craft in the tules, with one person dead inside, according to radio traffic.

Sheriff Martin said the crash scene was about a mile out from shore and they were working on logistics to reach it.

Incident command traffic said the site could only be reached by foot or by helicopter, although an airboat later was reported to be responding.

The sheriff’s office has notified the Federal Aviation Administration about the crash, Martin said.

More information will be published as it becomes available.

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On Wednesday, just days after state officials had said they were closely monitoring the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, the first confirmed case of the variant to appear in the United States was found in California.

The California Department of Public Health said it and the San Francisco Department of Public Health have confirmed the case.

The University of California, San Francisco identified the case through its sequencing capabilities.

Now, the state of California is increasing COVID-19 testing at airports for arrivals from countries identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in order to detect and prevent the spread of the new variant.

On Monday, State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health Dr. Tomás J. Aragón reported on the efforts to monitor B.1.1.529, or Omicron, which the World Health Organization has labeled a “variant of concern.”

California has established a public-private partnership through the California SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing Initiative called COVIDNet to provide the state with genomic sequencing to help understand and control the spread of COVID-19.

Health officials are using that surveillance system to monitor the variant’s presence and progress through the state.

CDPH said the state is doubling down on “vaccination and booster efforts to ensure that all Californians have access to safe, effective, and free vaccines that can prevent serious illness and death.”

Members of the public are urged to get vaccinated and boosted, wear masks in indoor settings, get tested if they have symptoms and stay home if they are sick.

Travelers who have been in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia or Zimbabwe within the last 14 days must follow CDC recommendations to get tested three to five days after arrival, quarantine for seven days even if testing negative and isolate for 10 days if COVID-19 symptoms develop.

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