LAKEPORT, Calif. – Just in time for Halloween, on Friday preschoolers and their parents participating in story time at the Lakeport Library learned about drains on their home energy use in the form of “energy vampires.”

About 30 children took part in the reading time with Barbara Green, library technician and children's programs coordinator, and Pacific Gas and Electric's “energy vampire,” Deanna Contreras.

The presentation showcased the toolkit funded by PG&E which is available for checkout at all Lake County library branches at no charge.

The toolkit contains a Kill-A-Watt meter, which is a small device which measures the amount of energy consumed by electrical appliances. Armed with information, residents can make informed decisions about whether to replace an old appliance and the importance of unplugging electrical devices when not in use.

PG&E will show customers how to use the Kill-A-Watt meter by connecting the meter to common appliances like a fan, lamp, and hair dryer during the interactive library demonstration.

The toolkit is available to be checked out for at least a week. Each kit contains a meter and instructions in English, Spanish and Chinese.

As part of the event, parents also received information about Energy Saving Myths.

The program was launched in 2012 in an effort to enhance energy efficiency in the communities PG&E serves.

The Helen Diller Family Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards.

Now in its tenth year, the prestigious national award recognizes up to 15 Jewish teens annually with $36,000 each for demonstrating exceptional leadership and spearheading dynamic social change.

Up to five teens from California and ten from other communities across the United States will be acknowledged for their philanthropic efforts.

Teachers, Civic Leaders, Rabbis – anyone interested in nominating a teen – or any teen interested in self-nominating, can visit www.dillerteenawards.org to begin the nomination/application process.

The deadline for nominations is Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017.
 
The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards began in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2007 as the vision of Bay Area philanthropist Helen Diller.

The awards recognize Jewish teens demonstrating and exemplifying the spirit of tikkun olam, a central Jewish value meaning “to repair the world.” 

Since its origin in 2007, the program has awarded over $3 million to 84 teens in recognition of their vision, compassion, innovation, and demonstrated ability to lead.
 
“Nominating a teen for the Tikkun Olam Awards is a wonderful opportunity for educators, civic leaders, and teen mentors across the country to recognize young Jewish leaders who are creating meaningful change at home and across the globe,” said Jackie Safier, Helen Diller’s daughter and president of the Helen Diller Family Foundation. “We hope the awards encourage and catalyze a generation of Jewish teens in their ambitious work to repair the world.”

Beyond bolstering national recognition of the teens and their efforts, the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards foster a growing network of award recipient alumni collaborating on leadership, innovation, and volunteer service initiatives across the nation. Members of the alumni network inspire new awardees to follow in their tikkun olam footsteps by mentoring them in their ongoing endeavors.
 
Awardees have been recognized by some of the world’s foremost institutions and leaders, including the United Nations Foundation, the White House, the Clinton Global Initiative, Forbes 30 Under 30, The Jefferson Awards, CNN Heroes, and the Nickelodeon HALO Awards.
 
The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards is one of many projects funded by the Helen Diller Family Foundation. Now in its 16th year of giving, the Helen Diller Family Foundation has granted more than $220 million to charitable projects that support education, the arts, medical research and leadership training for teens.
 
Qualifications for nomination:

· Teens may be nominated by any community member who knows the value of their project – except a family member – or may self-nominate.

· Each candidate must be a U.S. resident aged 13-19 years old at the time of nomination, and must self-identify as Jewish.

· Community service projects may benefit the general or Jewish community, with impact locally, nationally, or worldwide.

· Teens’ work must be as volunteers – without compensation for their services.

To nominate, complete the simple online form at www.dillerteenawards.org .

For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 415-512-6432.

Garrison Keillor has used a number of George Bilgere's poems on “The Writer's Almanac,” and I've used several in this column, and it seems neither of us can get quite enough of this writer's clear, honest and moving work.

This poem is from a recent issue of “River Styx.” Bilgere lives near Lake Erie and his most recent book is “Imperial,” from The University of Pittsburgh Press.
 
The Forge
 
I remember watching my father stop
halfway up the driveway because my tricycle
was blocking the way to the garage,
and how he solved the problem
by picking up the tricycle by the handlebars
and smashing it through the windshield
of our brand new family station wagon,
his face red with scotch, his black tie
and jacket flapping with effort, the tricycle
making its way a little farther with each blow
into the roomy interior of the latest model
as the safety glass relented, the tricycle
and the windshield both praiseworthy
in their toughness, the struggle between them
somehow making perfect sense
in midday on our quiet suburban street,
the windshield the anvil, the trike the hammer,
the marriage the forge, and failure
glowing in the heat, beaten
and tempered, slowly taking shape.
 
American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They do not accept unsolicited submissions. Poem copyright ©2015 by George Bilgere, “The Forge,” (River Styx, Vol. 95, 2015). Poem reprinted by permission of George Bilgere and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2016 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Branches 133 and 168 of the Lake County Sons In Retirement held the tournament on Sept. 17 and it was a great success.

This was made possible by the participating sponsors who made financial and gift certificates, which the groups thanked.

The winners of the open handicapped competition were as follows:

– First place winner: Chris Grant, Ukiah;
– Second place: Todd Harpe, Ukiah;
– Third place: Richard Ward, Lake County;
– Fourth place: Lloyd Mahan, Ukiah;
– Fifth place: Leon Ripplinger, Lake County;
– Tie for sixth place split: Marlin Walker and Gary Schurdell, Lake County;
– Tie for seventh place split: Chuck Chevalier and Esther Schurdell, Lake County;
– Tie for eighth place split: Jerry Clayton, Lake County, and Clarence Wright, Ukiah;
– Ninth place: Bill Barker, Willits;
– 10th place: Lorrie Barker, Willits;
– 11th place, three-way tie: Donald Fehr, Lake County; Larry Alves, Lake County; and Sharon Mitchell, Ukiah.

There were 27 participants in all. Eighteen sponsors from the community donated raffle prizes and certificates backing and supporting this event.

More importantly a good time was had by all and are asking when the next tournament will be held. The next tournament will be held sometime in January of 2017.

Sons In Retirement is a social organization for men of retirement age who are pursuing the goal
of enjoying their later years.

Branch 168 holds a Luncheon on the second Friday of each month at TNT Restaurant in Lakeport.

If you are interested in learning more about Sons In Retirement contact Larry Powers, chair of the membership committee, at 707-263-3403, or visit the state Web site at http://sirinc.org/sirhappenings/ .

Hearing loss, including tinnitus, which is a ringing, buzzing or other type of noise that originates in the head, is the most prevalent service-connected disability among veterans, with more than 30 million veterans suffering from a form of it due to frequent exposure to loud noises from weaponry and aircraft.

Because of the pervasiveness of hearing loss among veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is recognizing October as Audiology Awareness Month by highlighting important VA research on the subject and advances made in treating Veterans with hearing loss.

“VA researchers have a rich history of contributions to audiology,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David J. Shulkin. “From working with the National Institutes of Health to develop and evaluate hearing aids to a comprehensive protocol for managing tinnitus at VA and other audiology clinics nationwide, VA is proud to be a leader in this field.”

VA researchers conduct a wide range of studies in audiology – from biomedical investigations to large clinical trials and epidemiologic database studies.

Much of the work takes place at VA’s National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research in Portland, Oregon, one of the world’s leading facilities for research in the field.

Studies include older veterans whose hearing problems have been compounded by aging and younger veterans who may have suffered hearing loss as a result of blasts in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Recent VA research includes the following:

• In 2013, researchers at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System published the results of a study comparing group and individual visits for hearing aid fittings and follow up. The team found no differences in how well the hearing aids performed, or how often they were worn. They concluded that group visits could reduce costs while providing community support for patients.
• In 2014, VA researchers in Loma Linda, Calif., linked exposure to jet propulsion fuel with auditory processing problems – changes that occur inside the brain rather than the ear.
• A 2015 VA study yielded promising results on transcranial magnetic stimulation as a tinnitus treatment. The therapy involves holding a magnetic coil to the head. The team now hopes to conduct a larger trial.
• A 2016 study of nearly 200 veterans with tinnitus explored the impact of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on how Veterans manage the hearing condition, and offered guidance for clinicians.

Below are a few examples of ongoing studies:

• VA researchers in Pittsburgh, Sioux Falls, Omaha and Portland are collecting data from nearly 470 veterans to learn more about auditory complaints in those who have been exposed to blasts. The team will focus on the interplay among hearing problems, traumatic brain injury, and PTSD.
• A VA trial aims to improve monitoring of hearing changes caused by the drug cisplatin, used to treat cancer. Some 4,000 veterans receive the drug in a typical year, and up to 40 or 50 percent will experience some hearing loss or tinnitus. The researchers say early detection can prevent significant damage.
• Together with a lab group at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, VA researchers are seeking biomarkers – including cellular changes – that could warn of impending hearing loss. The work is expected lead to new preventive measures or treatment.

In addition to VA’s audiology research work, the Department announced last month – ahead of National Audiology Awareness Month – that veterans who need routine audiology appointments will be able to directly schedule them, without the need for a referral from their primary care provider. The move is expected to get veterans into appointments more quickly. The new expedited process was piloted at three VA sites last year and is now being rolled out nationwide.

For more information VA’s audiology services, visit www.ncrar.research.va.gov . Information about VA research on audiology may be found at www.research.va.gov/topics/hearing.cfm .

The Lakeport Employees Association is pleased to join several community groups and concerned citizens in support of Measure Z.

Lakeport is the center of our community, with services, businesses and recreation opportunities that draw 30,000 people every day.

Measure Z will provide locally-controlled funds to help address local community priorities, such as:

• Paving and repairing streets and roads;
• Maintaining police responses to violent crimes;
• Maintaining police responses to property crimes, such as burglaries;
• Attracting and retaining quality police officers;
• Retaining existing companies and businesses in the city.

There are several economic challenges facing small communities across the state. Measure Z will ensure that vital services will not be lost or severely cut in Lakeport.

Manuel Martinez is president of the Lakeport Employees Association in Lakeport, Calif.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Mediacom and C-SPAN announce the start of this year’s annual student documentary competition, and encourage middle school and high school students to participate in the video documentary competition known as “StudentCam.”

Students are asked to create a short five- to seven-minute video documentary and submit it online between Nov. 1, 2016, and Jan. 20, 2017.

This year marks the 13th annual StudentCam competition, and a new topic is chosen each year to encourage students to work in teams or individually to enhance their understanding of U.S. government.

Students are asked to present their views on a topic that coincides with this year’s general election: “Your message to Washington: What is the most urgent issue for the new president and Congress to address in 2017?”

Cash prizes of up to $100,000 in total will be awarded to winning documentaries.

Winners will be announced in March 2017 and the top-rated videos will be televised on C-SPAN in April.

Complete competition details and entry forms are available on the C-SPAN StudentCam Web site http://www.studentcam.org/ .

Can a turkey’s age be determined by beard and spur?

Question: I am fairly new to turkey hunting and hear everyone always referring to their birds by their beards and spurs. Can wild turkeys be aged based on these trophy characteristics? (Jim C., Modesto)

Answer: Yes and no. There is no absolute standard for identifying a wild turkey’s age, but there are some general guidelines that can be used to provide fairly reliable estimates.

While precisely determining a turkey’s age in years may be difficult, there is a surefire method for distinguishing between adults and juveniles using the last two primary flight feathers.

In juvenile birds the feathers will be sharp at the ends. By the time the bird reaches maturity at one year of age, it will molt and the two sharp feathers will be replaced by more rounded ones.

Beyond this, beard and spur length can be used to estimate a bird’s age, but unfortunately, it’s not an exact method. Variables such as subspecies, environmental conditions, and possibly nutrition can alter the length of both the beard and the spur, resulting in a misrepresentation of the bird’s age.

In terms of beards, the general rule of thumb is the longer the beard, the older the bird. But, while a jake (juvenile) will not have a 10-inch beard, a four-year-old turkey may have a short beard due to any number of conditions.

If the turkey is in “rough” vegetation, the beard may wear away on the ground more easily when it grows long. If a turkey has long legs, the beard will be able to grow longer before it reaches the ground, where it will naturally face wear and tear.

The fact that the beard may have been altered at any time by environmental or circumstantial conditions prevents biologists from using this method as an accurate way of measuring a turkey’s age.

Spur length can also be used to estimate a bird’s age although, like beards, spurs can also wear down. Spur length does tend to be slightly more reliable than beard length, however, because they do not wear as easily.

While both of these methods are not entirely precise, they can provide an approximate age range. These estimates are not reliable for turkeys older than about three or four years though.
 
Freediving for horseneck (gaper) clams?

Question: I'm an avid free diver and spear fisherman, as well as a frequent clammer. While diving for crabs recently, I noticed a number of enormous clam siphons in the silty mud bottom in 4-8 feet of water.

Having previously dug for horseneck clams (Tresus capax) on a number of occasions, it was clear to me that these were horseneck siphons, or "shows."

These clams are all well below the low tide line and would thus be impossible to dig in the traditional way. Would it be legal for me to harvest these clams using a homemade PVC "clam gun" to excavate the mud in which they are encased?

Looking at the regulations pertaining to horseneck clams, underwater harvest is neither specifically permitted nor forbidden. (Carter J.)
 
Answer: Yes, you can take clams underwater using a "clam gun" as long as you are free diving. The use of SCUBA is prohibited for the take of clams north of Yankee Point in Monterey County.

SCUBA can be used south of Yankee Point. You don’t say where you plan to dive for clams, but you may like to know that there are gaper clams south of Yankee Point.
 
Here’s what the regulations say:
 
Invertebrates
29.05. GENERAL.
(d) In all ocean waters skin and Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) divers may take invertebrates as provided in this article except that in all ocean waters north of Yankee Point (Monterey Co.), SCUBA may be used only to take sea urchins, rock scallops and crabs of the genus Cancer. For the purpose of this section, breathing tubes (snorkels) are not SCUBA.
 
29.20. CLAMS GENERAL.
(a) Except as provided in this article, there are no closed seasons, bag limits or size limits on saltwater clams.
(b) Fishing hours: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
(c) Special gear provisions: Spades, shovels, hoes, rakes or other appliances operated by hand, except spears or gaff hooks, may be used to take clams. No instrument capable of being used to dig clams may be possessed between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise, on any beach of this state, except tools and implements used in the work of cleaning, repairing or maintaining such beach when possessed by a person authorized by appropriate authority to perform such work.
 
Motorized decoys for doves and upland game

Question: Can motorized decoys, such as Mojo be used on doves or other upland game birds?
 
Answer: Yes.
 
Fishing with live shad? Cast net?

Question: I live in San Joaquin County and have two fishing questions. First, is it legal to fish with live shad? Second, is it legal to use a cast net/bait net to catch shad and minnows? (Justin)
 
Answer: A casting net or throw net is unlawful to use or possess in inland waters, but dip nets are authorized for taking certain species of fin fish that can be used as bait (see California Code of Regulations Title 14, sections 4.00 – 4.30 in the Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations available online or wherever licenses are sold).

Live shad may be used in the Valley and South Central Districts (CCR Title 14, section 4.10) in waters where taken, but they must be taken with a legal dip net under certain provisions.

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Wilson is on vacation. This column was originally published Aug. 9, 2012.