LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 17th Annual Stars of Lake County Community Awards program takes place this Saturday, Nov. 8.

The event, which celebrates the many individuals and organizations that benefit the community, will be held at the Soper Reese Theatre, 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport.

A reception begins at 5 p.m., with local piano man David Neft playing during the reception hour. It's a gig Neft has only missed once in the event's 17 years.

Tony Barthel, chamber director and owner of the Featherbed Railroad B&B, is the evening's “awards music director.”

For the third year, Jackie Hansen of Lakeport Grocery Outlet will be singing a tribute song to nominees. This year's song is “Any Way” by Martina McBride.

“Jackie always chooses a song that speaks to the heart of why we have so many giving people in Lake County,” said Lake County Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton.

Over the past 17 years almost 1,800 entities in Lake County have been acknowledged for their various contributions to their communities and fellow residents through Stars of Lake County. 

The program, which was brought to the community by Judi Pollace – former publisher of the Lake County Record-Bee – was embraced by the chamber directors in 1997, with the first Stars Awards program taking place in February 1998.

From 1998 through 2009, Stars was held at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. Every year that the event was held at the resort, it was a sell-out event with more than 450 people enjoying the five-course dinner and awards program. 

It is anticipated that Stars will be a packed house at the Soper Reese Theater again this year. To check on ticket availability, contact the Lake County Chamber of Commerce at 707-263-5092 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or visit http://www.lakecochamber.com/calendar/w/id/15008/event-details.asp .

The full list of nominees is below.

STARS OF LAKE COUNTY 2014 NOMINEES

Marla Ruzicka Humanitarian of the Year
(Sponsored by Cliff and Nancy Ruzicka)
1. Sam Polo, Clearlake
2. Denny Salisbury, Kelseyville
3. Sharon Dawson, Middletown

Senior of the Year
(Sponsored by WestAmerica Bank)
1. Konocti Senior Support, Clearlake
2. Shirley Crawford, Kelseyville

Volunteer of the Year
(Sponsored by Sutter Lakeside Hospital)
1. Greg Scott, Lakeport
2. Ami Landrum, Clearlake
3. Angie DeMaria, Lakeport
4. Daniel Sun McLean, Cobb
5. Doug Rhoades, Lakeport/Ukiah
6. Barbara Clark, Kelseyville

Student of the Year – Female
(Sponsored by Mendo Mill Lumber & home Center)
1. Kyra McKinley, Clearlake
2. Logan Robinson, Lakeport
3. Aliza Atkins, Lakeport
4. Linda Tuell, Clearlake Oaks

Student of the Year – Male
(Sponsored by Disney Trophies & Awards)
1. Christopher Vincent, Lakeport
2. Everado Chavez, Lower Lake

Youth Advocate of the Year – Volunteer
(Sponsored by Sutter Lakeside Hospital)
1. Children’s Museum of Art & Science, Lake County

Youth Advocate of the Year – Professional
(Sponsored by SERVPRO)
1. Jolene Chappel, Lower Lake
2. Wendy Gattoni, Middletown

Agriculture Award
(Sponsored by Twin Pine Casino – Middletown Rancheria)
1. Diane Henderson, Kelseyville
2. Emilio de la Cruz, Kelseyville
3. Yerba Santa Goat Dairy, Lakeport

Organization of the Year – Nonprofit (has paid staff)
(Sponsored by Savings Bank of Mendocino)
1. Redwood Children’s Services, Lake County
2. CASA of Lake & Mendocino Counties, Lake County

Organization of the Year – Volunteer (all volunteer staff)
(Sponsored by Mendo Lake Credit Union)
1. Time Bank of Lake County, Lakeport
2. Ely Stage Stop and County Museum, Kelseyville

New Business of the Year
(Sponsored by Konocti Vista Resort & Casino)
1. Fantasy Faces & Body Art by Chayo, Lakeport
2. Cheese’s Game Shop, Lakeport
3. Smoker’s Hardware, Lakeport

Small Business of the Year
(Sponsored by Foods Etc.)
1. Solutions for Independence, Middletown
2. McKinley Photography, Clearlake
3. The Beat Fitness Studio, Lakeport
4. The Lodge at Blue Lakes, Upper Lake
5. Griffin’s Furniture, Clearlake
6. Clearlake Veterinary Clinic, Clearlake

Large Business of the Year
(Sponsored by Bruno’s Shop Smart)
1. SERVPRO of Lake County, Lakeport
2. Mendo Lake Credit Union, Lakeport & Clearlake

Best Idea of the Year
(Sponsored by Kathy Fowler Auto Center)
1. Mendo-Lake Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP), Lakeport
2. Mr. Lake County, Lakeport
3. Heroes of Health & Safety Fair, Lakeport
4. The Hero Project, Lake County

Local Hero of the Year
(Sponsored by Congressman Mike Thompson)
1. Forrest Seagrave (posthumously)

Joshua Blair Memorial Arts Award – Amateur
(Sponsored by Cheese’s Main Street Pizza & Game Shop)
1. Rosemary “Toni” Hyden, Lakeport
2. Richard Schmidt, Upper Lake
3. Sarah Dutra, Lakeport
4. Suna Flores, Kelseyville

The Arts Award of the Year – Professional
(Sponsored by Calpine)
1. Nick Biondo, Lakeport
2. Sherry Harris, Clearlake

Woman of the Year
(Sponsored by North Lake Medical Pharmacy)
1. Jeri Spittler, Clearlake
2. Cynthia Forbes, Lakeport
3. Barbara McIntyre, Lakeport

Man of the Year
(Sponsored by Lake County Record-Bee)
No nominations.

Lifetime Achievement
(Sponsored by Strong Financial Network)
1. Charlie Jolin, Lakeport
2. Liz Callahan, Lakeport

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit said it has lifted its burn ban effective this week, but Lake County's head air quality official said the ban remains in place at the local level.

The burn ban in the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, which ended at 8 a.m. Monday, specifically covers the State Responsibility Areas unit, which include the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Yolo, Solano and Colusa.

To see the boundaries of the State Responsibility Area, visit http://www.firepreventionfee.org/sraviewer_launch.php .

Cal Fire acknowledged that the burn ban is still in effect in Lake County and residents may not burn until after the end of the 2014 declared fire season.

Air Pollution Control Officer Douglas Gearhart of the Lake County Air Quality Management District said Lake County is still in fire season, so the local ban hasn't been lifted.

“What this means for Lake County is that agricultural operations and fire hazard reduction projects that can show significant economic need can apply for an economic exemption burn permit, which allows burning during fire season with air district and fire district approvals for specific time and date of burn,” Gearhart told Lake County News.

“Once Cal Fire declares an end to the fire season, the burn ban will be lifted for Lake County,” Gearhart added.

In 2013, the burn ban was lifted in mid-December, a month and a half later than in 2012. Local fire officials have noted that the fire season in recent years has lengthened due to dry conditions.

Cal Fire said residents in all areas of the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit must follow guidelines including contacting local air quality management districts to obtain the proper permits and to determine burn day status.

Despite the cooler temperatures, Cal Fire continues to urge extra caution given the current drought conditions. 

For information on safe methods for debris burning, equipment use and wildfire prevention, visit www.PreventWildfireCA.org .

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has all sorts of cats waiting for new homes this week.

Tabbies, black cats, gray cats, a tuxedo and calicoes are available to loving, forever homes.

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.

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

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”).

'Mr. B'

“Mr. B” is an adult domestic short hair mix cat with an all-black coat.

He's in cat room kennel No. 35, ID No. 1170.

'Mommy'

“Mommy” in an adult female domestic short hair mix cat with a gray and white coat.

She is in cat room kennel No. 43a, ID No. 1164.

'Trippy'

“Trippy” is a male domestic short hair mix cat with a black coat and white markings.

He is in cat room kennel No. 43b, ID No. 1165.

'ChowChow'

“ChowChow” is an adult male domestic longhair mix cat with Siamese markings.

He is in cat room kennel No. 58, ID No. 1166.

'Baby'

“Baby,” an adult female domestic short hair mix, has a gray tabby coat with white markings.

She is in cat room kennel No. 64a, ID No. 1162.

'Sugar Pie'

“Sugar Pie” is an adult female domestic short hair mix cat with tuxedo markings.

She is in cat room kennel No. 64b, ID No. 1163.

'Trisha'

“Trisha” is a female adult domestic short hair cat with a calico coat.

She's in cat room kennel No. 66a, ID No. 1167.

'Bella'

“Bella” is a female adult domestic medium hair cat with a gray tabby coat.

She is in cat room kennel No. 66b, ID No. 1168.

'Tinker Bell'

“Tinker Bell” is a female adult domestic short hair mix with calico markings.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 80, ID No. 1082.

'Cobby'

“Cobby” is an adult female domestic short hair with tabby markings.

She's in cat room kennel No. 88a, ID No. 1171.

'Grey Bear'

"Grey Bear" is a male adult domestic short hair mix cat with a gray coat and bright yellow eyes.

He's in cat room kennel No. 88b, ID no. 1172.

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.

Collisions remain the number one killer of American teenagers, killing almost as many drivers as passengers, and killing more kids than homicide or suicide. The same holds true in California.

Saving teen lives through education is a mission of the California Highway Patrol, which is providing a new, revitalized “Start Smart” teen safe driving program.

The “Start Smart” program is an Office of Traffic Safety funded grant and has been in place for
more than 11 years.

The program is focused on providing comprehensive traffic safety education classes for teens along with their parents/guardians.

The classes are facilitated by approximately 103 trained CHP public information officers and offered in schools, CHP offices and community centers statewide.

The Start Smart program utilizes innovative techniques to capture the attention of teens and parents, providing a lasting learning experience.

The curriculum is built based on collision statistics, teen driver and passenger behaviors, graduated driver license laws, cultural changes in today’s society and the need for stronger parental involvement.

“Education is the most important aspect of a new driver’s ability to develop positive driving habits,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Programs like ‘Start Smart’ are geared towards influencing and educating California’s teen drivers to make the right choices when they get behind the wheel.”

To find out when the next local Start Smart class will be offered, parents and teenagers can call the CHP's Clear Lake Area office in Kelseyville at 707-279-0103.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Veterans Day will be celebrated at Konocti Vista Casino on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

The festivities begin at 11 a.m. Doors open at 10 a.m.

Veterans, their families and all supporters in the community are invited to Konocti Vista Casino to celebrate those who have served our country.

Annual past participants have included 4-H members, Lake County veteran organizations and the Military Funeral Honors Team of Lake County.

The Veterans Day ceremony will include presentations of the County’s annual “Friend of the Veteran” and United Veterans Council’s “Veteran of the Year” awards.

Through the generosity of Konocti Vista Casino, a complimentary lunch and beverages will be provided to those in attendance.

Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration and honoring of America’s veterans.

Konocti Vista Casino is located at 2755 Mission Rancheria Road in Lakeport.

You may call 707-349-2838 for further information.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Saratoga Springs. Bartlett Springs. Hoberg’s Resort.

These names evoke early-day accommodations in Lake County, but other, lesser-known hostelries filled a niche that the grand resorts didn’t.

In Lakeport travelers had a handful of choices in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Benvenue, also called the Mound Hotel and Cottages, offered lodging on Main Street where St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church is now.

The Clear Lake Hotel stood on Main Street between First and Second.

Perhaps the earliest hotel was the Mann House in the 1860s, but little is known of it.

Downtown, a succession of hotels in two locations served travelers and boarders for decades. 

At First and Main streets was the establishment variously known as the Giselman, the Garrett and the Lakeport Hotel.

Third and Main was the location of Greene’s Hotel, and later the Lakeview Hotel and the Monroe Building.

Hotel owners and operators came and went, sometimes making it hard to follow the changes. In some cases the owner handled operations and at other times owners leased the hotels to managers.

Thomas Garrett operated both hotels at different times in the early 20th century.

Two women with similar names operated two different hotels on Main Street.

Mary Ann (Moody) Greene, wife of William Woods Greene, had Greene’s Hotel in the 1870s and 1880s.

W.W. Greene had kept hotels in Placer and Colusa counties before moving to Lakeport.

Mary Dale (Byrnes) Green, wife of Arthur Wellington “Wellie” Green, ran the Giselman in the early 1900s.

In the days when Lakeport had no restaurants, the hotel dining rooms filled the need. Food for the dining rooms came from the local area. Hotelkeepers raised chickens for meat and eggs and farmers supplied produce.

The hotels did more than house travelers. In the 1890s both hotels housed telephone switchboards. 

Some small businesses rented workspace in the hotels. Local organizations such as the Lakeport Women’s Civic Club and the Lakeport Volunteer Fire Department held meetings and dinners in the hotels.

In January 1912 prominent Lakeport business men gathered at the Garret Hotel for a banquet and an evening of speeches on the state of the city.

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake damaged buildings in Lakeport including the Giselman and Lakeview hotels.

At the Giselman, the quake threw 11-year-old Inez Green out of bed, and in later years she remembered the bricks falling past her bedroom window.

Old photos show men cleaning up the bricks that fell from the Lakeview.

John Monroe bought the Lakeview Hotel in 1921 and converted it to a multi-use building with shops on the first floor and apartments above.

Monroe’s wife Rosa Greene was a granddaughter of W. W. and Mary Ann Greene who had operated Greene’s Hotel on the same location about forty years earlier.

On April 20, 1926, a fire destroyed the Monroe Building and other buildings on the west side of Main Street between Third and Fourth streets. 

One-story buildings replaced all of the buildings destroyed in the fire.

Mary Raymond owned the hotel at First and Main from 1924 to 1943 when she sold it to Joseph “JoJo” Duke.

Mrs. Raymond removed the wooden veranda and installed steel fire escapes following several major fires in Lakeport in the mid-1920s. She also had 18 bungalows built behind the hotel in the 1930s.

A fire damaged but did not destroy the hotel in 1942.

Auto courts and motels supplanted Lakeport’s downtown hotels in the 20th century and now the hotels are a dim memory of a long-gone lifestyle.

The much-altered building at First and Main now houses an antique mall.

A mid-20th century façade was removed a few years ago to reveal graceful old columns, relics of the hotel’s prime.

Jan Cook has lived in Lake County for more than 40 years. She works for the Lake County Library, is the editor of the Lake County Historical Society's Pomo Bulletin and is a history correspondent for Lake County News. If you have questions or comments please contact Jan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Have you ever wished you could have your dog neutered without having to go through surgery? Do you have concerns about general anesthesia? 

Now there is a nonsurgical option for male dogs that will completely sterilize them with just a small injection of zinc into the testicles.

There is no general anesthesia, no incision, and almost no recovery period to experience with this procedure, and best of all, no cone – or Elizabethan collar – to wear.

The product used for this procedure is called Zeuterin, developed by Ark Sciences, and it is a preservative-free solution that contains just zinc gluconate and the amino acid arginine.

The zinc causes an inflammation reaction in the testicular tissue which results in fibrosis and a shutting down of the sperm production process. 

The amount of zinc used is similar to that found in cold medication and it clears the body in about three days.

This process also decreases the production of testosterone over time, which means male dogs will have the beneficial effects of their natural hormones, but will have a decrease in their drive to urine mark, breed, dominate, or fight with other males. 

For dogs with current behavioral problems, surgical castration – removal of the testicles – remains the procedure of choice. 

Only certified and trained veterinarians may administer Zeuterin and this procedure is currently available at the veterinary clinic at Animal Care and Control, at Wasson Memorial Veterinary Hospital in Lakeport and at Mendocino Animal Hospital in Ukiah.

Thousands of dogs have been sterilized using zinc injections throughout the world in the past decade and Zeuterin has been widely received as an alternative to surgical castration, with minimal aftercare concerns.

The most common side effects seen are temporary itching or burning at the injection site.

This procedure is available for dogs over 12 weeks of age, with a minimum testicular size, healthy scrotal skin and both testicles present in the scrotum. 

All dogs receive a “Z” tattoo near the scrotum, a special certificate and tag and this procedure is legal for licensing compliance in Lake County under the mandatory spay/neuter ordinance.

After the procedure, it can take up to one month for dogs to be considered 100-percent sterile as the testicular tissue dies off, so they should not be housed with females in heat during that time.

In most cases, this procedure is also less costly than a surgical castration and can be completed within the course of an office visit.

Your dog will receive light sedation that is reversed after the procedure so the whole event takes about 30 minutes.

Visit www.zeuterin.com for more information on nonsurgical castration.

A video of a veterinarian performing this procedure can be seen above.

Dr. Jennifer C. Bennett, DVM, MS, is medical director/veterinarian for Lake County Animal Care and Control, headquartered in Lakeport, Calif.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Veteran’s Day – Tuesday, Nov. 11 – the flags of fallen veterans will fly in display at cemeteries throughout Lake County.

Lake County Veterans Memorial-Avenue of Flags Association, with the help of local volunteers, will install the flagpoles and mount the large flags along the avenues of county cemeteries.

These flags once draped the casket of a fallen veteran. Upon the completion of the internment ceremony, the family is presented the flag. The family has the option of donating the use of the veterans’ burial flag to the Lake County Veterans Memorial- Avenue of Flags Association.

On Memorial Day and Veterans Day the flags are flown to commemorate the memory of veterans who defended our country.

Avenue of Flags will be presented at the following cemeteries: Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport, Upper Lake Cemetery, Kelseyville Cemetery, and Lower Lake Cemetery.

Installation of flagpoles and flags will begin at 7 a.m., weather permitting.

Takedown of flags and flagpoles will occur at 4 p.m.

Volunteers would be appreciated at all locations.

Further information is available from the following representatives: Upper Lake, Byron Green at 707-275-9515; Lower Lake, Dave Schober at 707-533-5843; Kelseyville, Paul Harris at 707-279-1115; and Hartley Cemetery, Lakeport, Dean Gotham at 707-350-1159.

Express your respect for fallen veterans and experience the pride of the magnificent display of our veterans’ flags. Never forget.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has a full house of dogs of all sizes and breeds this week.

Breeds available include mixes of border collie, Chihuahua, German Shepherd, hound, Irish Setter, Labrador Retriever, pit bull and Rottweiler.

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.

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

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”).

Female pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier has a short brown coat.

She's in kennel No. 3, ID No. 1086.

Male pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix has a short coat.

He's in kennel No. 4, ID No. 1127.

'Buster'

Buster is a male border collie mix.

Shelter staff say he's a great guy, and while still young is very well behaved.

He will need medical care for his condition, as he suffers from epilepsy. Buster is currently on medication to help keep it under control.

Buster is in kennel No. 6a, ID No. 1110.

'Ghost'

“Ghost” is a male border collie mix, with a beautiful white coat.

He is deaf and, while initially scared, warms up to people. Shelter staff said he will need work and training to help him live with his disability.

Find Ghost in kennel 6b, ID No. 1111.

'Mickey'

“Mickey” is a male Chihuahua mix with a short buff-colored coat.

He is in kennel No. 7, ID No. 1029.

Male pit bull terrier mix

This male pit bull terrier mix is cute and shy, according to shelter staff.

He would make a great companion to someone who had lots of time to spend with him, and give him lots of love.

He's in kennel No. 10a, ID No. 1093.

Pit bull terrier mix

This young male pit bull terrier mix came in with the dog in kennel 10a. Both are scared but loving, according to shelter staff.

He's in kennel 10b, ID No. 1094.

Male Rottweiler mix

This male Rottweiler mix is a young dog.

Shelter staff said he is still a puppy. He needs some training and would make a great dog.

Find him in kennel No. 12, ID No. 1032.

Hound-shepherd mix

This male hound-shepherd mix has a short brown coat.

He's in kennel No. 13, ID No. 1107.

'Bella'

“Bella” is a female pit bull terrier mix.

This lovely older girl came in already spayed so she will have a low adoption fee.

Shelter staff said she was raised in a home with babies to older children.

Bella is housebroken, she gets along with cats and other dogs. She is very happy and healthy.

She's in kennel No. 15, ID No. 1131.

German Shepherd

This male German Shepherd needs a loving home.

He is very energetic and would do best with an active family and a large yard to run and play.

While he has some training, shelter staff said he would benefit from more training in obedience and basic manners. He is said to be good with all nondominant dogs.

He's in kennel No. 24, ID No. 975.

Male Chihuahua mix

This male Chihuahua mix has a short black and tan coat.

He's in kennel No. 26, ID No. 26, ID No. 1079.

'Appa'

“Appa” is a male Irish Setter mix.

He has a medium-length reddish-brown coat.

Find him in kennel No. 27, ID No. 1078.

Male shepherd

This male shepherd has a short buff-colored coat.

He's in kennel No. 28, ID No. 1035.

'Otis'

“Otis” is a male pit bull terrier mix with a short brown coat with white markings.

Find him in kennel No. 29, ID No. 1077.

Pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix puppy has a light-colored short coat.

Shelter staff said she is deaf and will need a home willing to give her the needed love and attention.

Find her in kennel No. 31, ID No. 1118.

Female pit bull terrier mix

This female pit bull terrier mix has a short gray and white coat.

She is in kennel No. 33, ID No. 1099.

Male Labrador Retriever

This male Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat.

He's good with other dogs prefers and prefers to be around other males.

Shelter staff said he has a mellow energy level. He appears to have been an outside dog and is a bit jumpy about being indoors, but will adjust well if given the chance.

He's in kennel No. 34, ID No. 779.

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.

Despite recent rains and cooler weather throughout much of the state, California’s drought persists, and now for the first time, estimates of daily water use per person are being reported monthly for nearly every community water system statewide, providing important insight into how water systems are encouraging residents to save water.

“This new residential water use data, which is a first for the state, will inform localized conservation efforts and should start conversations in every community in California about the best and most judicious use of our precious water,” said Felicia Marcus, Chair of the State Water Board. “Every gallon saved today postpones the need for more drastic, difficult, and expensive action should the drought continue into next year or beyond.”

In addition, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) learned today that the statewide conservation rate leveled off in September after three months of steady improvement.

Total urban water conservation was 10.3 percent in September, compared with September 2013.

That was down slightly from the 11.6 percent year-over-year conservation rate for August, prompting concerns from State Water Board members. Total water use was down in September from August.

“Some rain and cooler weather are welcome relief, but they don’t mean the drought is over, not by a longshot,” Marcus said. “A bit of rain means we should be turning off our sprinkler systems and avoiding irrigating outdoors as much as possible while remembering to protect our trees. By far, conservation is still the most cost effective and common sense way to meet our water needs during this prolonged drought.”

Per capital daily water use

The new reporting requirement, called residential gallons per-capita per day (R-GPCD), presented to the State Water Board on Tuesday, estimates daily water use by residential customers for nearly 400 urban water agencies statewide alongside the monthly conservation data.

Both reports are a requirement of the Emergency Water Conservation Regulation adopted by the State Water Board in July and will be provided to the board monthly by urban water suppliers, along with total water conservation for each month. 

The complete report is posted at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/drought/conservation_reporting_info.shtml .

According to the R-GPCD data, water use varies widely by hydrologic region. At the low end, the San Francisco Bay region averaged 85.2 gallons per person per day. On the high end, the Colorado River region averaged 251.9 gallons per person per day.

During a staff presentation, the State Water Board was told that R-GPCD is useful for tracking water use by an urban water supplier’s residential customers and can help determine whether water supplier actions, such as irrigation restrictions, rebate programs, and rate design changes, are effective.

State Water Board staff cautioned that R-GPCD data should not be used to compare water suppliers, or even hydrologic regions, unless relevant factors are taken into account.

Those relevant factors include population density, population growth, temperature and evaporation rates, topography and socio-economic measures, such as lot size.

Nevertheless, communities or areas with very high R-GPCD rates should evaluate instituting additional conservation measures.

“R-GPCD really does help us to gain a better sense of comparison than simply looking at percentage reductions, since different areas of the state have been conserving for far longer than other areas.  It also shows us what is possible,” said Marcus.  

Her comments drew discussion among the board members and direction to staff to begin planning for a water conservation workshop within the next 90 days to explore what if any additional conservation measures should be adopted if the drought continues.

Statewide water conservation for September

Water conservation efforts leveled off in September after a steady rise since May.

The water conservation rate climbed to 11.6 percent in August, a substantial increase from 7.5 percent conservation in July and 4 percent in June.

But for September, the conservation rate dropped slightly to 10.3 percent.

The water conservation rate is a comparison of the reporting month with the same month a year ago.

California can capitalize and make permanent conservation gains by converting thirsty landscapes to drought-tolerant landscapes which use far less water.

Compliance with the mandatory reporting requirement is steady, with 398 (96 percent) urban water suppliers, representing 35.5 million Californians, now reporting.

The report also found that in September, 87 percent of the water agencies reporting had instituted outdoor water use restrictions, a six percentage point increase from the August reporting period. 

Outdoor water use restrictions are a key requirement for urban water suppliers under the Emergency Water Conservation Regulation because outdoor watering accounts for as much as 80 percent of urban water use in some areas.

The total number of gallons saved since July is impressive, officials said. Approximately 18 billion gallons of water was saved in July, 27.6 billion gallons was saved in August, and 22 billion gallons was saved in September.

Collectively that’s about enough water to supply a million Californians for an entire year.

In his Jan. 17 Emergency Drought Proclamation, Gov. Brown called for Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 20 percent. 

The trend of increasing reductions and specific local data shows that many California communities have met and exceeded the call to conserve, but more can and must be done to protect water supplies should the drought persist.

Current forecasts indicate that Californians cannot count upon a wet winter to alleviate the drought.

The State Water Board will closely monitor the implementation of the regulations and the weather over the coming months to determine if further restrictions are needed.

The Emergency Water Conservation Regulation will be in effect until April 25, 2015, and may be extended if drought conditions persist.

For more information visit www.SaveOurWater.com to find out how everyone can do their part, and visit www.Drought.CA.Gov to learn more about how California is dealing with the effects of the drought.

A tired driver can be just as dangerous and deadly behind the wheel as an intoxicated driver.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) joins the National Sleep Foundation in a weeklong campaign to educate motorists during “Drowsy Driving Prevention Week,” Nov. 2 to 9.

“When you decide to get behind the wheel of a car, be aware that being sleepy is dangerous,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Although most Californians know how dangerous drinking and driving is, they may not fully realize that drowsy driving can be just as dangerous and potentially fatal as driving drunk.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cognitive impairment after approximately 18 hours awake is similar to that of someone with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05 percent.

After about 24 hours awake, impairment is equivalent to a BAC of 0.10 percent, higher than the legal limit in all states.

In addition, lower levels of alcohol (below the legal limit) amplify the effects of inadequate sleep.

According to statistics from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, in 2012, the most recent year in which finalized figures are available, there were more than 3,900 collisions in California involving drowsy drivers.

As a result of those collisions, 36 people died and more than 2,100 others were injured.

Below are some signs that should tell a driver to stop and rest:

– Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids.
– Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts.
– Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs.
– Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes.
– Trouble keeping your head up.
– Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip.
– Feeling restless and irritable.

If you experience any of these warning signs, the CHP urges you to pull over to rest or change drivers.

Simply turning up the radio or opening the window are not effective ways to stay alert, officials said.

The Antarctic ozone hole reached its annual peak size on Sept. 11, according to scientists from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The size of this year’s hole was 24.1 million square kilometers or 9.3 million square miles — an area roughly the size of North America.

The single-day maximum area was similar to that in 2013, which reached 24.0 million square kilometers, or 9.3 million square miles.

The largest single-day ozone hole ever recorded by satellite was 29.9 million square kilometers, 11.5 million square miles, on Sept. 9, 2000.

Overall, the 2014 ozone hole is smaller than the large holes of the 1998 to 2006 period, and is comparable to 2010, 2012 and 2013.

With the increased atmospheric chlorine levels present since the 1980s, the Antarctic ozone hole forms and expands during the Southern Hemisphere spring (August and September).

The ozone layer helps shield life on Earth from potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation that can cause skin cancer and damage plants.

The Montreal Protocol agreement beginning in 1987 regulated ozone depleting substances, such as chlorine-containing chlorofluorocarbons and bromine-containing halons. The 2014 level of these substances over Antarctica has declined about 9 percent below the record maximum in 2000.

“Year-to-year weather variability significantly impacts Antarctica ozone because warmer stratospheric temperatures can reduce ozone depletion,” said Paul A. Newman, chief scientist for atmospheres at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “The ozone hole area is smaller than what we saw in the late-1990s and early 2000s, and we know that chlorine levels are decreasing. However, we are still uncertain about whether a long-term Antarctic stratospheric temperature warming might be reducing this ozone depletion.”

Scientists are working to determine if the ozone hole trend over the last decade is a result of temperature increases or chorine declines. An increase of stratospheric temperature over Antarctica would decrease the ozone hole’s area.

Satellite and ground-based measurements show that chlorine levels are declining, but stratospheric temperature analyses in that region are less reliable for determining long-term trends.

Scientists also found that the minimum thickness of ozone layer this year was recorded at 114 Dobson units on Sept. 30, compared to 250-350 Dobson units during the 1960s.

Over the last 50 years satellite and ground-based records over Antarctica show ozone column amounts ranging from 100 to 400 Dobson units, which translates to about 1 millimeter (1/25 inch) to 5 millimeters (1/6 inch) of ozone in a layer if all of the ozone were brought down to the surface.

The ozone data come from the Dutch-Finnish Ozone Monitoring Instrument on NASA’s Aura satellite and the Ozone Monitoring and Profiler Suite instrument on the NASA-NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite.

NOAA measurements at South Pole station monitor the ozone layer above that location by means of Dobson spectrophotometer and regular ozone-sonde balloon launches that record the thickness of the ozone layer and its vertical distribution.

Chlorine amounts are estimated using NOAA and NASA ground measurements and observations from the Microwave Limb Sounder aboard NASA’s Aura satellite.

NASA and NOAA are mandated under the Clean Air Act to monitor ozone-depleting gases and stratospheric depletion of ozone.

Scientists from NASA and NOAA have been monitoring the ozone layer and the concentrations of ozone-depleting substances and their breakdown products from the ground and with a variety of instruments on satellites and balloons since the 1970s.

These observations allow us to provide a continuous long-term record to track the long-term and year-to-year evolution of ozone amounts.

Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.