A bill moving through the California Senate in response to an exposed legal anomaly in an outdated rape statute, which resulted in an overturned rape conviction, cleared a key committee Monday, passing out of appropriations 6-0.  

The bill seeks to close the legal loophole specific to rape under false pretenses or rape by fraud by updating the penal code.

Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) introduced SB 59 at the beginning of the 2013 legislative session following the outcome of the overturned rape conviction in People v. Morales.

“Rape is a violent crime that should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Sen. Evans.  “Justice cannot be conditioned on the victim’s marital status.”

Under an 1870s provision that upheld the rights of a married victim, but not those of others, the Secnd District Court of Appeal in January overturned the rape conviction of Julio Morales.  

In 2009 Morales impersonated his female victim’s boyfriend in order to have sex with her while she was sleeping.

Because jury instruction was unclear and the current law only allows someone to be convicted of rape for impersonating a spouse, but is silent about the impersonation of other intimate partners, the conviction was overturned on the technicality.

SB 59 would amend Penal Code section 261(a)(5) by exchanging the word “spouse” for the term “sexually intimate partner.” Doing so would expand the definition to include single individuals as well as domestic partners and other individuals currently excluded by “spouse.”

“This is about equality in the law,” said Evans. “This is about justice for all. And it’s past time this legislative body correct an arcane law that could let a rapist go free on an outdated statute that provides neither.”

Evans represents the Second Senatorial District, including all or portions of the counties of Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Marin and Sonoma. She chairs the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Three adoptable cats continue to wait for new homes at the county’s animal shelter.

The three males are all neutered and vaccinated, have short coats and range in age from 2 to 3 years.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

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

Male domestic short hair

This male domestic short hair mix is 3 years old.

He has a white and orange coat, weighs 14 pounds and has gold eyes, and has been altered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 105, ID No. 35839.

Black male cat

This black male cat is 2 years old.

He weighs 8 pounds, has a short coat and gold eyes, and has been altered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 49, ID No. 35862.

Gray male tabby

This gray male tabby is 2 years old.

He weighs 8 pounds, has a short coat and gold eyes, and has been neutered.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 20, ID No. 35866.

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

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

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – An Upper Lake man was hospitalized last week after he and his wife were assaulted in Fairfax.

Fairfax Police did not release the names of the 38-year-old and his 26-year-old wife from Upper Lake, who were assaulted early last Tuesday morning.

Sgt. David Cron of the Fairfax Police Department said the agency received a walk-in report of a fight in Fairfax Park from a witness at about 2:35 a.m. April 2.

He said police were told that an argument between several men and the couple had occurred earlier that morning after the closing of Nave's Bar and Grill. That argument allegedly led to the fight at the park.

Cron said the Upper Lake man received severe facial injuries and later was admitted to Marin General Hospital. The man's wife received a blow to the chest, apparently while trying to break up the fight.

Officers searched the area and located two suspects, 20-year-old Fairfax resident Cory Mitchell Bostjancic, 20, and Matthew Alexander Morales, 21, of Woodacre, Cron said.

Both men were arrested and cited at the scene for public intoxication, with more investigation under way into the extent of their involvement in the assault, according to Cron.

Another suspect – identified as Tyler James Poppe, 21, of San Geronimo – also was located. Cron said a short foot chase ensued, with Poppe allegedly fighting with a Ross Police Department officer who was assisting with the investigation.

The officer used his Taser on Poppe, but it failed to subdue him, and Poppe ran off. Cron said Poppe was located several hours later walking around the city, shirtless and bloody, and taken into custody.

He said Poppe was booked at the Marin County Jail for battery with serious bodily injury, battery on emergency personnel, obstructing a peace officer and violating parole. Poppe's bail was set at $20,000; on Saturday Marin County Jail records indicated he was no longer in custody.

Cron did not have an update on the Upper Lake man's condition on Saturday.

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 OAKS, Calif. – The zombie apocalypse hasn’t yet arrived, but the zombies are nevertheless on their way to Lake County this spring.

The “Run for Your Lives” obstacle 5k race will be held at Oasis Motorcross, 24736 E. Highway 20, east of Clearlake Oaks, on Saturday, May 11.

The race is the brainchild of Maryland-based Reed Street Productions. In 2012, the race was held in 12 U.S. cities and hosted more than 100,000 participants.

This year the race has expanded to 21 locations, including Lake County.
 
New this year, participants can expect to encounter increasingly challenging obstacles and an enhanced Apocalypse Party experience.

“Run For Your Lives is a one-of-a-kind experience that challenges participants to think on their feet and push their fitness capabilities,” said Ryan Hogan, managing director of Reed Street Productions and co-creator of Run For Your Lives. “Zombies are at the forefront of pop culture, and our race in California lets everyone from zombie enthusiasts to fitness fanatics and first-time runners live out their greatest survival fantasies. We hope participants are prepared to run for their lives on May 11.”

Run for Your Lives invites participants to climb, crawl and sprint their way through a series of 10 mystery obstacles over a 5K course – all while being chased by hundreds of professionally made up zombies.

Racers begin the course wearing a flag football-like belt with three hanging flags, which members of the undead attempt to remove throughout the run.

Survivors and newly created zombies – those who reach the finish line without flags – are able to celebrate the end of the world at the Apocalypse Party, which features live music, entertainment, local vendors, national sponsors and food and beverage.

Participants can sign up as a runner, zombie or both, or choose to stand on the sidelines as a spectator and watch participants run for their lives.

Registration packages for participants include a race shirt, admission to the Apocalypse Party, a medal signifying your survival or zombie transformation, and advanced training for the zombie apocalypse.

If you’re not brave enough to face the zombies, spectator passes are available.

The Kennedy Krieger Institute and Project Sole are the official charitable partners of Run For Your Lives for 2013.

To register for Run For Your Lives or for more information regarding how the race works, please visit www.runforyourlives.com .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Blue Ridge-Berryessa Partnership, a group of regional stakeholders working together to conserve and steward the Blue Ridge-Berryessa Natural Area, will host a fire ecology and restoration panel discussion in Yountville on Friday, April 12.

The panel discussion, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the second floor Lee Lounge at the Yountville Veterans Home, 180 California Drive.

A one-hour partnership meeting, also open to the public, will immediately follow the panel discussion.

Panelists will discuss fire ecology and the use of fire in land management; regional fire trends and impacts of climate; and services offered by Cal Fire, including how controlled burns are implemented.

Panelists include US Forest Service Regional Ecologist Hugh Safford and Cal Fire Division Chief Jim Wright. Following the meeting there will be an opportunity for the public to learn more about the partnership.

Founded in 1997, the partnership provides a forum for the public and private land managers to meet and discuss stewardship activities, interests, and challenges.

The group has since grown to more than 100 members, including federal and state agencies, counties and other public entities, local businesses, nonprofit organizations and conservation-minded landowners – all with the common goal of supporting collaborative stewardship of the natural and working landscape of the Blue Ridge-Berryessa Natural Area.

The Blue Ridge-Berryessa Natural Area is approximately 785,000 acres of the upper Putah and Cache Creek watersheds, both tributaries to the Sacramento River basin.

The area is bounded on the east at the base of the Blue Ridge by the Capay and Sacramento valleys, on the west by the Clear Lake basin and the Napa watershed, on the north by the Mendocino National Forest, and extends south to Interstate 80 in Solano County.

It encompasses portions of Lake, Colusa, Yolo, Napa and Solano counties and is part of the Coast Range ecological zone that extends north into Oregon.

For more information visit www.brbna.org or call Program Director Mary Adelzadeh at 530-402-5404.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – There are many great dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes for the family looking for a new friend.

This week adoptable dogs from Lake County Animal Care and Control and the SPCA of Clear Lake are featured. A number of breed mixes are available.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

SPCA OF CLEAR LAKE

‘Bruiser’

“Bruiser” is a pit bull/mastiff mix.

He is a very loving and affectionate guy who loves to play fetch and is ready to go home with you.

Bruiser is neutered, microchipped and current on all his vaccinations.

Ramon and Ralph

“Ramon” and “Ralph” are heeler/lab mix puppies.

These boys are lovable goofballs. They have been at the SPCA a long time, and they are ready for a forever home.

They both are neutered, microchipped and current on all vaccinations.

LAKE COUNTY ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

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

Chihuahua mix

This female Chihuahua mix is 2 years old.

She has a short tan and brown coat, weighs 7 pounds and has been altered.

Find her in kennel No. 3, ID No. 35907.

'Shadow'

“Shadow” is a 2-year-old male Shih Tzu mix.

He has a curly gray and white coat, weighs 15 pounds and has been neutered.

He's in kennel No. 4, ID No. 35945.

Female terrier mix

This female terrier mix is 1 year old.

She has brown eyes, a short black and white coat, a docked tail, weighs 20 pounds and has been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 5, ID No. 35882.

'Mary Jane'

“Mary Jane” is a 6-year-old pit bull terrier mix.

She has a medium brown and white coat, weighs 57 pounds and has been altered.

She's in kennel No. 6, ID No. 34818.

Female pit bull mix

This female pit bull mix is 5 months old.

She has a short brown and white coat, gold eyes, weighs nearly 26 pounds and has not yet been spayed.

Find her in kennel No. 7, ID No. 35880.

Male pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix is 2 years old.

He has a short brown coat and weighs 74 pounds. It was not reported if he has been altered.

Visit him in kennel No. 13, ID No. 35852.

Labrador Retriever-pointer mix

This female Labrador Retriever-pointer mix is 1 year old.

She has a short chocolate coat, a green and a gold eye, weighs nearly 49 pounds and has not yet been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 14, ID No. 35876.

Male retriever mix

This male retriever mix is 4 years old.

He has a short yellow coat and brown eyes, weighs 46 pounds and has been neutered.

Shelter staff reported that he’s a very mellow, gentle and well-mannered dog. He gets along great with older, mellow dogs.

Find him in kennel No. 16, ID No. 35734.

Hound-Doberman Pinscher mix

This male hound-Doberman Pinscher mix is 1 year old.

He has a short gold coat and brown eyes, weighs 46 pounds and has been altered.

According to shelter staff he’s great with other dogs and has a moderate energy level. He also has good leash manners, and loves to play and chase his shadow.

He’s in kennel No. 17, ID No. 35733.

Female border collie mix pup

This female border collie mix puppy is 12 weeks old.

She has blue eyes, a short brown and white coat, weighs 9 pounds and has been spayed.

Find her in kennel No. 18c, ID No. 35706.

Female border collie mix pup

This female border collie mix puppy is 13 weeks old.

She has blue eyes, a short brown and white coat, weighs 9 pounds and has been spayed.

Find her in kennel No. 18d, ID No. 35707.

Pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix is 1 year old.

He has a short black and white coat, weighs 35 pounds and has been neutered.

He's in kennel No. 22, ID No. 35936.

Pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix is of undetermined age.

He has a short blue and white coat, weighs 48 pounds and has not been altered.

Find him in kennel No. 26a, ID No. ID: 35961.

Pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix is of undetermined age.

He has a brown and white coat, weighs 51 pounds and has not been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 26b, ID No. 35962.

Labrador Retriever-hound mix

This female Labrador Retriever-hound is 7 years old.

She has a short black coat, weighs 53 pounds and has been spayed.

She's in kennel No. 31, ID No. 35937.

Pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix is 5 years old.

She has a white coat, weighs nearly 53 pounds and has been spayed.

Shelter staff said she is a very sweet girl.

She's in kennel No. 32, ID No. 35899.

Pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix is 2 years old.

She weighs nearly 42 pounds, has a short white and brown brindle coat, and has been spayed.

Shelter staff said she’s a very sweet dog and is great with other dogs. She doesn't appear to have been given much attention but she loves a lap to crawl into, and has a low energy level.

She’s in kennel No. 33, ID No. 35823.

‘Chino’

“Chino” is a 4-year-old male cocker spaniel mix.

He has a long buff-colored coat and brown eyes, weighs 16 pounds and has been altered.

He’s in kennel No. 34, ID No. 35740.

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

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Redwood Valley man was arrested Sunday in Lakeport for possession of more than three pounds of processed marijuana and child endangerment.

Jason William Smith, 33, was arrested in the case, according to a report from Lt. Jason Ferguson.

Ferguson said Lakeport Police officers responded to a verbal argument between a man and woman at the Lake County Fairgrounds baseball fields around 11:50 a.m. Sunday.

Lakeport Police Officer Gary Basor made contact with Smith, who Ferguson said was attempting to take custody of his child from Jennifer Foster, the mother.

While on scene officers discovered that Smith was in possession of marijuana in the center console of his vehicle, Ferguson said.

Upon further search of the vehicle’s trunk, Officer Basor located four separate packages, containing a combined total of over 1,400 grams – just over three pounds, one ounce – of processed marijuana, believed to be packaged for sale, according to Ferguson.

Smith was placed under arrest for felony possession of marijuana for sale, transportation of marijuana and child endangerment, and misdemeanor violation of a court order, Ferguson said.

Smith was transported to the Hill Road Jail where bail was set at $75,000. Jail records indicated he later posted bail and was released.

COBB MOUNTAIN, Calif. – Biscuit, a mixed-breed Labrador and pit bull owned by Leah Marshall of Cobb Mountain, has the dual distinction of being Lake County's only dog trained in search and rescue and of successfully undergoing a complex surgical procedure that will allow him to remain as such.

The short name for the operation, performed a little over two months ago by veterinarian Dr. Susan Cannon of Wasson Memorial Veterinary Clinic in Lakeport, is TPLO.

Long name: Tibia plateau leveling procedure. And it involves a canine's cranial cruciate ligament stifle joint, which is the equivalent of a human knee.

Once beyond this labyrinth of medical terms, we learn that what Biscuit went through was, as Marshall describes it was “basically having both of his hind legs cut off.”

“They cut all the way through the bone and cut off the head of tibia,” she said.

As Biscuit romped like the year-and-a-half-old “pound puppy” that he is at a Middletown park, anyone could see that his legs are working quite nicely.

Marshall watched him and said she hopes to see her hyper-energetic dog back at full strength soon.

“For eight weeks he couldn't do anything,” she said. “He climbed out of the back seat of the car and tried to get up. He was holding himself on his front legs and finally laid down. I had to carry him into the house. He's gained back most of the 10 pounds he lost and his bones are healing, but working a working dog up to the level he was before is going to take a little bit more time.”

Marshall said that Dr. Cannon was happy with Biscuit's progress after a followup appointment at the end of March.

She said that he's released to go back to work, “but slowly of course. He should be healing and improving for at least six months after his surgery,” Marshall said.

Although the term sounds remote, injury to a dog's cranial cruciate ligament stifle joint is common among canines of all breeds. Search and rescue dogs are particularly susceptible to the injury, according to Lake County Search and Rescue President Jim Steele.

“A search dog's legs are exposed to a lot of stress, because they do a lot of starting and stopping,” he said. “Some get hurt on searches.”

Steele said the cost of Biscuit's surgery was $5,000. But, for a dog that according to Marshall has received “hundreds of hours of training,” it is a price well worth paying.

Biscuit was involved in an official search during the disappearance and ultimate finding of a 12-year-old Cobb Mountain girl who ran away during mid-March.

“He's still in training,” said Marshall. “Search dogs can take anywhere up to two years to be certified, so we're actually working on being certified. Once we get back into training he should pass through the first level pretty quickly.”

At the same time, she said search and rescue is not all that Biscuit is capable of doing.

“Dogs can bond very well,” said Marshall, who has trained canines since graduating from Middletown High School 14 years ago. “That's why we have therapy dogs who go into hospitals. Biscuit does some of that. Search dogs can learn to go anywhere therapy dogs go. I can take Biscuit into a Kmart or into a school, and we're going to do more outreach with service organizations and things like that.

“Search and Rescue has all kinds of fun toys and interesting equipment that we can use (for demonstrations),” she added.

Biscuit is skilled enough to find lost people, friendly enough to make friends – especially with kids – and smart enough to find his bed, no matter where it is.

“If I have his bed in a backpack, he'll go and find it and drag it out into the living room so he can sleep on it,” said Marshall.

Attempts to hide the bed from the dog have not succeeded, she added.

Steele said an effort by Lake County Search and Rescue to “build up” its canine corps is in progress and that Marshall is being considered to head that effort.

Lake County Search and Rescue is currently conducting a fundraising drive to cover Biscuit's $5,000 medical bill and to purchase cold weather gear for Kelseyville youth who are training for search and rescue.

To date, Twin Pine and Running Creek casinos and the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association have made donations amounting to just over $1,000.

Anyone interested in supporting this fund or any organization that wants to host a visit by Biscuit and Leah Marshall should contact Lake County Search and Rescue, P.O. Box 812, Lakeport, CA, 95453-0812. Search and Rescue President Jim Steele can be reached by phone at 916-834-6165. All donations are tax-deductible and a receipt will be sent back to the donor.

Email John Lindblom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter, @LakeCoNews.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The fourth-annual Kelseyville Olive Festival will benefit a number of nonprofits based in Lake County while showcasing local products.

The festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at the Chacewater Winery & Olive Mill located at 5625 Gaddy Lane in Kelseyville.

The 2013 event will feature vendors offering olive-related and other local products, samples, food, and more, as well as providing educational materials about olives and our local industry.

There is no cost to attend the festival; local wine and beer tasting with a commemorative glass will be available for a $15 fee.

The Lake Family Resource Center will sell the commemorative tasting glasses as well as operating the wine store during the event.

Money raised from those sales will benefit the Lake Family Resource Center, which has been serving Lake County families since 1995 to achieve safe, sustainable, healthy families and community.

Lake Family Resource Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community benefit organization, and is funded through government grants and community donations, and services approximately 1,400 families and 4,500 individuals each year.

Services provided include early childhood development services, prenatal care and childbirth preparation, assistance to receive low cost health insurance, skill building workshops, emergency housing for survivors of domestic violence and mental health services.

Most services are provided at no cost. For more information visit www.LakeFRC.org or call 707-279-0563.

Event proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the California Women for Agriculture’s Lake County Chapter and their AgVenture and Scholarship Programs.

AgVenture is an innovative concept in agricultural education that promotes understanding between the community and production agriculture. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with and learn from farmers and other local agriculture industry leaders.

The program, open to 12 participants a year, is designed to build a bridge of understanding between those in agriculture and leaders in the community who influence public opinion and policies which directly affect Lake County farmers’ ability to farm.

In its first year AgVenture and CWA received the Lake County Stars award for “Best Idea of the Year.” For more information visit www.LakeCountyCWA.org .

CWA scholarships are awarded to qualified Lake County high school seniors and college students pursuing agricultural related studies.

The CWA believes that providing support for education is important to the continued viability of the agriculture industry.

Applications are available online at the CWA Web site www.LakeCountyCWA.org or from school guidance counselors.

A raffle held during the event will benefit the Kelseyville Education Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving and enhancing the educational experience provided by the Kelseyville Unified School District to the children of Kelseyville Schools.

The Kelseyville Education Foundation was formerly known as the Kelseyville Quality Education Foundation.

It was a busy group of community members who raised money to enhance the educational opportunities for the kids in the Kelseyville Unified School District. In the early part of 2000 the foundation saw a major dip in membership and soon after dissolved.

The Kelseyville Unified School District realized a major decrease in state funding as the state tumbled into recession.

Schools statewide were hit by the economic downturn. In an effort to offset some of the decrease in state funding, the foundation was revitalized, resurrected, and renamed the Kelseyville Education Foundation. For more information, write to 4410 Konocti Road, Kelseyville, CA 95451.

The Lake County Arts Council also will benefit from the event for their part in the poster contest.

The Arts Council’s Main Street Gallery displays the Kelseyville Olive Festival poster contest entries and organizes the judging. In return, the Kelseyville Olive Festival donates a portion of the event proceeds to the organization.

The Lake County Arts Council’s purpose is to advocate, encourage, and develop arts and cultural activities in Lake County by coordinating, developing, sponsoring, and providing assistance in the area of arts and cultural endeavors.

For more information visit the Main Street Gallery, 325 N. Main St. in Lakeport, call 707-263-6658, or visit www.LakeCountyArtsCouncil.com .

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information about the Kelseyville Olive Festival, contact Livia Kurtz, Rosa d’Oro Vineyards, at 707-279-0483 or visit www.KelseyvilleOliveFestival.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The auditions for the 32nd annual Spring Dance Festival are done, and there was a great deal of excellent material from which to choose.

The difficult choices have been made, and the dancers are even now putting the final polish on their beautifully rehearsed terpsichorean compositions.

The program will be presented at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5.

Tickets already are available through the Soper-Reese Community Theatre box office, located at 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport, and open 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Fridays; and on the theater’s Web site, http://www.soperreesetheatre.com/ .

After many years being held in the Clear Lake High School gymnasium, the Spring Dance Festival has settled in comfortably at the Soper-Reese, and the audiences have been very glad for the comfortable seats and the excellent sight-lines. Finally they are able to perform where everyone in the audience can see all the dancers right down to their toes.

Many think that the Spring Dance Festival is the best entertainment value of the Lake County year. There are usually more than 150 well-trained dancers, all radiating beauty and grace. Lake County has more than its fair share of dance schools and many inspired choreographers.

This program is the primary fundraiser for the Lake County Arts Council, so even if you are indifferent to beautiful dance and dancers, there are many reasons to attend.

For more information, call 707-263-6658, drop by the Main Street Gallery/Lake County Arts Council office or visit www.lakecountyartscouncil.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Welcome to Lake County Skies, a monthly column that highlights what’s visible in the night skies of Lake County.

With some of the country’s darkest, clearest skies, Lake County is ideal for star gazing.

A chart of the April night skies is displayed above. On the chart, the constellations are shown along with their names. Bright stars are shown with blue lettering, and the visible planets and the moon are shown in yellow.

In April, the bright stars of winter give way to the more sedate stars of spring.

Look to the west after sunset and you will see what remains of winter: Orion the Hunter with his hunting dogs Canis Major and Canis Minor. The brightest star in the sky, Sirius, can still be seen.

Jupiter, the king of the planets, is also visible in the west. It shines even brighter than Sirius.

One way to tell if a bright object in the night sky is a planet is to see if it twinkles. A star will twinkle, whereas a planet won’t. Look at Jupiter and Sirius and see which one does not twinkle.

Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, sporting 66 moons and counting! It has an atmosphere made up of hydrogen and helium, and has no solid land mass as we have on Earth.

Through a telescope Jupiter is a fascinating object, displaying its four brightest moons and cloud belts in its upper atmosphere. The following image is typical of how Jupiter looks through a small telescope.

Referring to our star chart, look overhead and find the constellation Leo the Lion. Leo dominates the spring skies, and is easily identified by “The Sickle,” which represents the head and front of the lion. Regulus, the 21st brightest star in the sky, is at the base of the Sickle.

In Greek mythology Leo the Lion was the Nemean Lion that had a voracious appetite for the residents of Nemea. Only the strongman Hercules could stop the lion, and that will be a tale to be shared in a future column.

For more information about astronomy and local astronomy-related events, visit the Taylor Observatory Web site at www.taylorobservatory.org .

John Zimmerman is a resident of Lake County has been an amateur astronomer for over 50 years. He may be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Community members are invited to take part in annual cleanup events in Clearlake and Lakeport on Saturday, April 27.

In Clearlake, the annual spring event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will be based at Austin Park, 14077 Lakeshore Drive.

In Lakeport, the cleanup will be held from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Those wanting to take part are invited to meet on the day of the cleanup at Angelina’s Bakery, 365 N. Main St.

This year the Clearlake event – which began in 2008 thanks to the efforts of community member Cathy Wilson – will include an e-waste collection site.

City residents can bring old televisions, phones, computers, monitors, stereo equipment, VCRs, fax machines and similar electronic waste for proper disposal.

City officials said all bags and tools will be provided along with a bright safety vest that all participants need to wear during the cleanup for safety reasons.

Participants are invited to form “trash picker” teams. However, if they are interested in forming a team and working in a specific area, they must contact the city ahead of time for approval for liability and safety reasons.

Business owners are advised that they can help by cleaning around their businesses, including tidying flower beds and parking lots.

Those who wish to participate are asked to sign up in advance by contacting City Clerk Melissa Swanson at 707-994-8201, Extension 106.

Lakeport began its own downtown cleanup day in 2010, and has gained steam ever since, according to Barbara Breunig, president of the Lakeport Main Street Association, which sponsors the event.

“Last year it was really awesome,” Breunig said.

The effort concentrates on the historic downtown, where Breunig said the group is working to foster community pride.

“We’re trying every which way we can to help support the downtown businesses,” Breunig explained.

Bring weeding tools, brooms, dustpans, long-handled cobweb dusters and ladders.

There will be complimentary coffee, doughnuts and bottled water.

For more information, call the Lakeport Main Street Association at 707-263-8843.

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.