Recent rains across California are not enough to end the drought, but they are enough to eliminate the need to water landscaping for several weeks.  

Experts with the California Department of Water Resources, University of California Cooperative Extension and University of California, Davis, together urge all residents, business owners, and government agencies to shut off sprinkler and irrigation systems until soils dry again.
 
Depending upon local conditions and near-term weather, irrigation may not be needed for a month or more.
 
“We can reap twice as much from the latest storms if people take full advantage of the natural precipitation and shut off sprinklers,” said Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin. “Three dry years in a row have left our major reservoirs low, and we need to conserve those supplies in case drought conditions persist into the next rainy season. There's no need to water lawns, parks, median strips, or any landscaping already soaked by these recent storms.”
 
On Jan. 17, Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. declared a drought emergency in California and called on all residents to conserve water by 20 percent in their homes and businesses.

Typically more than half of the water used by homeowners is used outdoors. Californians can go a long way toward meeting the governor's goal by shutting down sprinklers until soil several inches deep appears dry or plants appear stressed.

People who resume landscape irrigation should do so only according to the water schedules set by their local water districts.

More than 100 such districts around the state have imposed voluntary or mandatory conservation measures that restrict the days and times when residents can run sprinklers.
 
At a press event in the residential Curtis Park neighborhood of Sacramento Thursday, Director Cowin, local water leaders, and UC Cooperative Extension landscape experts demonstrated how to shut off a typical homeowner's sprinkler system.
 
Tom Gohring, executive director of the Water Forum, a diverse group of Sacramento regional interests working to resolve water issues, hosted the event at his home and switched off the sprinkler system controller in his garage to encourage others to do the same.
 
“Many people think they use more water in their house than they do in their yard,” said Gohring. “The opposite is typically true. In the Sacramento region, about 65 percent of water used by homeowners goes to irrigate landscaping. We always want people to adjust their sprinklers based on the season and weather, but now, after a record dry year, there's real urgency.”
 
While recent storms have boosted the Sierra Nevada snowpack and runoff into reservoirs, it would take half an inch of rain every day of March from Redding to Bakersfield to bring the state to average precipitation for the year in the watersheds that supply much of California's drinking and irrigation water.

Even average precipitation would not be enough to avert water shortages, because major reservoir storage is now so far below typical storage for this time of year.
 
“Storms in the last couple of weeks have delivered a couple of inches or more of precipitation to most parts of California,” said Chuck Ingels, UC Cooperative Extension advisor in Sacramento County. “Trees, shrubs, flowers, and lawns naturally use less water in winter's cool temperatures, and so an inch of rain provides enough moisture to forego the need for sprinklers for up to several weeks depending on temperatures.”
 
Sprinkler systems are controlled by a device, called an irrigation controller, that triggers the irrigation system when to turn on and off.

People who do not know how to program their controllers can get links to manuals published by major manufacturers at the Save Our Water Webite, www.saveourH20.org . Look under the "Sprinklers 101" section of the Web site, http://www.saveourH20.org/sprinklers101 .
 
Sacramento residents can find their water provider, information on the latest water restrictions, and water-saving tips at the Regional Water Authority’s “Be Water Smart” Web site at http://www.bewatersmart.info/residential-customers/ .
 
University of California master gardeners offer tips for gardening during a drought at http://cagardenweb.ucanr.edu .

The California Center for Urban Horticulture, UC Davis, also has information for conserving water in the landscape,  http://ccuh.ucdavis.edu , as does the UC Davis Arboretum http://publicgarden.ucdavis.edu/public-garden/drought-resources .

Other smart watering tips detailed at the Save Our Water Web site:

• Water only in the early morning or late evening. Cooler temperatures reduce evaporation.
• Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust so that you are not watering the hose, sidewalk, or street.
• Put mulch around trees and plants to cool soil and reduce evaporation.
• Consider installing a drip irrigation system, which applies water precisely, with less waste.
• Choose plants based on their adaptability to your climate. Check the Sunset Plant Finder to learn about water-wise plants that thrive in your region:  plantfinder.sunset.com/plant-home.jsp.
• If you find yourself walking on your lawn only to mow it, consider replacing it with water-wise landscaping that reduces the need for water and maintenance.
• Check with your local water district for a free visit from a water conservation specialist, rebates on water-wise appliances, or "cash for grass" incentives to replace lawn with water-wise landscaping.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Covered California and the California Department of Health Care Services have released the latest health care insurance enrollment numbers through Dec. 31.

From Oct. 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2014, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 27,853 consumers in mostly rural Northern California counties enrolled in subsidized and nonsubsidized Covered California health insurance plans.

The new total represents a 41-percent increase from the 19,732 enrollments recorded through Dec. 31, 2013.

The improving pace of enrollments in the northern counties is due in part to enhanced aspects of Covered California’s customer service.

The agency has increased staff to answer consumer calls, added phone lines, improved its website efficiency, expanded its live Web chat function and upgraded its Spanish-language Web pages.

The Northern California counties of Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne and Yuba represent about 4 percent of the statewide enrollment.

The local total includes 25,188 consumers eligible for financial subsidies. These counties encompass Covered California pricing region 1.

For the four-month period, which is two-thirds of the open-enrollment period for 2014 coverage, 728,410 consumers enrolled in plans statewide.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. - Soroptimist International of Clear Lake held its annual "Spring Fling" luncheon Saturday at the senior/community center in Clearlake, welcoming Dr. Kay Taylor as its guest speaker.

Dr. Taylor is a gynecologist, women's health advocate and founder of Prevention International No Cervical Cancer (PINCC) foundation.

Soroptimist of Clear Lake is part of an international organization with a mission to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.

Locally, the club sponsors educational scholarships for women and girls, a free mammogram program, a clothes closet project, offers support for a shelter for victims of domestic violence and provides financial support to a variety of other community projects. 

Soroptimist member Olga Martin Steele described Taylor as an inspiration to all women in what they can become and as an example of what they can accomplish.

She was particularly intrigued, she said in introducing the speaker, with Taylor's educational journey, which culminated in Taylor graduating alongside her sons.

Taylor established PINCC in 2005 after a medical mission to Honduras. She said she saw more cases of women dying of cervical cancer during that single trip than she had in her entire medical career.

She said the disease is treatable and the death of these women is unnecessary.

"Cervical cancer is the medical success story of the century," Taylor said, explaining that medical breakthroughs in treatment and early detection have resulted in significantly lowering the death rates attributed to the disease.

She said because of limited access to medical resources, women in impoverished countries are suffering painful deaths from a cancer that could have been stopped with one simple test.

"For this reason, in the developing world (cervical cancer) is the biggest public health failure in the world," Taylor said.

Taylor said cervical cancer is caused by a slow-acting virus called human papilloma virus, or HPV , which she said also infects men.

Vaccination against HPV is key to eliminating the disease, much like was done with polio, she said.

Taylor's nonprofit, volunteer medical service organization creates sustainable programs that prevent cervical cancer by educating and treating women, training medical personnel and equipping facilities in developing countries.

PINCC has worked in 10 countries and has established 30 sustainable medical sites.

"We can help our sisters in these countries," Taylor said. "This has been a life-changer for me. I encourage everyone out there to find your passion and follow it."

The club thanked Taylor for her efforts to better the lives of women and children with a $1,000 donation to her foundation.

The event included a silent auction as well a live auction that saw a fair number of bidding wars between the ladies.

It was Jane McKnight who put up the biggest fight in her battle against Sally Munger, who ultimately claimed the San Francisco Giants grand package with the top bid of the auction. 

Chic Le Chef catered to the guests of the luncheon with the assistance of student volunteers from Lower Lake and Carle high schools. Lunch was topped-off with the club members' traditional dessert bar. 

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Lakeport woman led law enforcement on a lengthy vehicle pursuit early Thursday morning, hitting two spike strips before finally stopping her car near Clearlake Oaks.

The 50-year-old woman attempted to evade police for close to 40 minutes before pulling her car over and being taken into custody shortly before 2 a.m., according to radio traffic.

The pursuit began shortly after 1:20 a.m. in the area of north Lakeport, based on scanner reports.

Sheriff's deputies indicated that they believed the woman was drunk, and was weaving in and out of both lanes of traffic.

The pursuit crossed the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, went through the roundabout and Nice, and between Nice and Lucerne reached speeds of about 90 miles per hour, according to radio reports.

Sheriff's deputies placed a spike strip just west of Glenhaven Drive that the car hit, but it continued on, with the driver traveling all over the road, causing deputies to request that the California Highway Patrol close the highway near Clearlake Oaks to protect other drivers.

The woman continued driving at about 20 to 30 miles per hour, with all of her tires – except for her left rear tire – flat, reports indicated.

The CHP set up another spike strip near Keys Boulevard in Clearlake Oaks. After the car continued eastbound, deputies asked over the air if CHP would use the “pursuit intervention technique” or “PIT maneuver” to bump the vehicle and spin it out of control, but CHP declined.

Authorities reported that the car, now only on rims, slowed to between 5 and 10 miles per hour as it traveled uphill outside of Clearlake Oaks.

The chase finally ended at approximately 1:56 a.m. at the “Y” intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 53, scanner traffic indicated.

The deputies took the woman into custody, with a Clearlake Police Department K9 that had been requested on hand to assist. The roadway was reopened a short time later, based on radio reports.

Medics were requested to come to the scene shortly after 2 a.m., but it was not clear why they were summoned.

Additional details – including confirmation of the suspect's name – will be posted as they become available.

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 Lakeport man was arrested last week on charges related to marijuana cultivation and sale following the service of a search warrant at his home.

Phillip Stephen Sees, 68, a retired principal, was arrested on Wednesday, February 26, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.

Brooks said narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for Sees' residence and property, located in the 4000 block of Scotts Valley Road in Lakeport, on Feb. 24, serving the warrant two days later at 9 a.m.

Upon entry into the residence, detectives located and detained Sees without incident, along with three other people they found on the property. The other three subjects later were released, Brooks said.

During the search detectives located multiple bedrooms inside the residence and an outbuilding which were converted to cultivate marijuana indoors, Brooks said.

Brooks said detectives located and eradicated a total of 247 marijuana plants which were in different stages of growth. Each room being used to cultivate marijuana contained several 1000-watt high pressure sodium lights. Detectives reported each room also contained a complex ventilation and electrical system.

Approximately 116 pounds of processed marijuana shake was located in the trunk of a vehicle and seized as evidence. It was vacuum packed in six large bags. Brooks said shake is the byproduct or what’s leftover after trimming the marijuana buds and is used for manufacturing concentrated cannabis.

Sees was arrested for the cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and for maintaining a drug house. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.

Sees' bail was set at $15,000, according to jail records. He later posted the required percentage of bail and was released.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, which provides homeless, senior, and immigration services in six counties of northern California, announces new programs to reach those in need in Lake County starting in March. 

The Rural Food Project continues to offer free food distribution in Middletown at the Community United Methodist Church on Armstrong Street on the third Wednesday of each month from 4-5:30 p.m.

 In Kelseyville, the food distribution is held at St. Peter Church on Main Street on the fourth Monday from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

At these food distributions, Catholic Charities also will be providing information and application assistance in both English and Spanish to those who qualify for CalFresh (formerly food stamps), Medi-Cal for children and Covered California health insurance. 

Additionally, outreach events will be held in Lucerne at Lucerne Alpine Seniors and in Clearlake at the Clearlake Pantry food distribution site. 

Catholic Charities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by community partnerships, grants, and individual donations, provides these services as part of its mission to reach out to those most in need, offer hope through service, and build better communities. 

For more information and to confirm dates and times, please contact Jensyn Hallett at Catholic Charities at 707-528-8712, Extension 170.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – New data reveals that Lake County ranks higher than the state in percentage of stores that sell e-cigarettes.

This finding is part of new data released Wednesday on the availability and marketing of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy and healthy food products in stores that sell tobacco – the first time all three categories of products have been analyzed together.

The large survey collected information from more than 7,300 diverse retail stores – including convenience, supermarket, liquor, tobacco, small market, discount, drug and big-box stores – in all 58 counties, with the goal of shedding light on what products are available and promoted in our communities.

Nearly 700 public health representatives, community volunteers and youth participated in the survey, which was conducted from July through October 2013.

While Lake County have made important progress in reducing tobacco smoking among youth, the county still has room for improvement.   

Data from the California Health Interview Survey showed a decline in smoking among youth from 17 percent to 9 percent between 2007 and 2009. More recent data from 2011 estimates that 10 percent of Lake County youth in grades ninth through twelfth smoke.

As youth transition to adulthood, smoking rates increase. Smoking among adults in Lake County is estimated at 28 percent – dramatically higher than the statewide rate of 13.8 percent of the adult population.  

According to Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait, tobacco use is a major risk factor for the majority of health conditions that account for Lake County’s poor rankings in California’s county health profiles. These include a wide variety of cancers as well as cardiovascular disease.    

“Reducing tobacco use is among the most important interventions we can make to improve our population’s health,” said Tait. “Although reducing smoking at any age is beneficial, we think that working with youth to promote healthful behaviors is the most effective way of influencing lifelong patterns that define health.”

Research shows that children are highly influenced by marketing of products like tobacco and alcohol, even more so than peer pressure. Their choices now could lead to either a healthy lifestyle or to obesity, chronic disease and even death, according to health officials.

The findings also show that electronic cigarettes are widely available in Lake County, concerning health officials and community partners.

More than 47 percent of stores sell e-cigarettes. Statewide, the number of stores selling e-cigarettes quadrupled in the last two years, from 11.5 percent in 2011 to 45.7 percent in 2013.

The survey includes state, regional and county level data with new insights on the density of stores selling tobacco and their proximity to schools; types of tobacco and alcohol products being sold; advertising and placement of such products in stores; the availability of e-cigarettes; and the availability and promotion of unhealthy and healthy food options including low- or non-fat milk and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Additional survey findings in Lake County include:

• 71.1 percent of stores have unhealthy exterior advertising while only 5.7 percent have healthy exterior advertising.
• Flavored non-cigarette tobacco products available in 92.5 percent of stores.
• 42.3 percent of stores are selling good quality fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Alcohol ads are being placed three feet and below at 47.1 percent of stores.

The data release also marks the launch of Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community, a  statewide campaign – formed by tobacco prevention, nutrition and alcohol prevention partners working in collaboration – to improve the health of Californians by informing them about the impacts of unhealthy product marketing in the retail environment.

For state, regional and county specific data and more information on Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community, visit www.HealthyStoresHealthyCommunity.com .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-5) will hold a telephone town hall for constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5.

Constituents interested in participating in the telephone town hall event can call 855-756-7520 and enter access code 24029#.

Mike Thompson represents California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

Daylight Saving Time is just around the corner, which means losing an hour of sleep as we set clocks forward an hour on March 9.

Losing even one hour of sleep can affect a person’s internal clock and consequently impact their ability to safely drive.

In an effort to reduce the number of fatigue-related collisions, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is joining with the National Sleep Foundation in observing National Sleep Awareness Week, March 2-9, 2014.

“The safe operation of any vehicle requires a driver to be wide-awake and alert at all times,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “It is imperative to get the sleep that your mind and body need, your life and the lives of those on the highway with you depend on it.”

Sleep deprivation and fatigue impact a driver’s attention, which can lead to other behaviors behind the wheel that can result in a collision.

According to the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, in 2011, the most recent year that finalized data is available, more than 3,700 collisions occurred in California involving a drowsy driver.

Those collisions resulted in 42 deaths and injuries to more than 2,200 people.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorists can take effective steps if they become sleepy while driving, including:

• Stop driving altogether.

• Consume the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee.

• Take a 20-minute nap, and after the nap, drive to the closest safe resting spot, such as a motel, friend’s house, or go home and sleep.

“Drowsy driving leads to thousands of collisions every year in California,” added Commissioner Farrow. “These crashes, like many others, are preventable and prevention begins with a good night’s rest.”

The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of safety, service and security to the people of California.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – EcoArts of Lake County invites artists to apply to install and exhibit sculptural work in the 12th annual EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk.

The Sculpture Walk has a large audience and beautiful venue within the 107-acre Middletown County Trailside Park.

Each year temporary works with strong artistic merit made from and/or relating to nature will be chosen.

The sculptures are sited along both sides of a 3/8-mile central trail through meadows and woodland.

Submission applications must be received by March 15.

Approved works will be installed from Friday, May 16, through Tuesday, May 27, and be removed Oct. 14 through Oct. 20.

More than 300 sculptures by local, national and international artists have been installed over the past 11 years.

Public attendance is approximately 3,000 viewers per exhibit season.

EcoArts encourages local schools and community groups to apply and waives application fees for nonprofits.

Applications are available at www.EcoArtsofLakeCounty.org . You also can get an application by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please feel free to call EcoArts at 707-809-5398 or email with any questions.

Each year a free public reception is held to meet the artists, enjoy a great exhibit, make music, hear poetry and of course, make art. This is a free community event open to the public and fun for all ages.

This year the reception is 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at the Middletown County Trailside Park.  

Please visit www.EcoArtsofLakeCounty.org for information on the submission process and installation criteria.

There is a $25 submission fee for each entry. Submission paperwork and fees are due by March 15 and can be submitted via email or US post. Applications will be acknowledged upon receipt. Contact EcoArts directly for late submission information.

EcoArts of Lake County is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the visual arts through exhibits, education, and ecological stewardship for artists, residents, and visitors to the county. For more information, visit www.ecoartsoflakecounty.org .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The planting of grapevines on a five-acre property near Butts Canyon Road is close at hand for Middletown High School, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the California Department of Education.

Attendant with that will be the birth of a new course of study for Middletown High students encompassing the science and business of growing grapes, according to Principal Bill Roderick.

Middletown Unified School District was among 67 California school districts that received a total of $3.3 million in Specialized Secondary Programs grants, according to the California Department of Education’s award announcement.

The California Department of Education said the grant has a long history of supporting the development of innovative, cutting edge programs that offer high school students the opportunity to learn real-world skills.

"What the kids will learn is there is a whole batch of math and science before grapes are ever turned into wine," said Roderick. "We can show kids that there's an industry coming from our high school that they can 100 percent go into at any different level and from many different angles – from being a mechanic, a scientist, an accountant and an advertising executive. That's what's cool.

"I wouldn't expect anything to go into the ground until fall or spring. We still have planting to do, but the course will start," Roderick added. "It will actually be a two-course sequence. The first course is viticulture modeled after what they teach at Santa Rosa Junior College."

Middletown High’s plan is to divide the course into two segments. The vineyard segment will be in the fall; the vineyard management course will be conducted in the spring.

The grant, written by Roderick, himself, actually set off what is expected to become a chain reaction that may eventually involve several of the area's vineyards and wineries. For that, teacher Karen Jones can be thanked.

In anticipation of the grant, Jones, who will oversee the new course, was more than ready to mobilize a network of experts and resources in the viticulture industry that will get the Middletown High School course off the ground and the roots of the vines into the ground.

"Karen will be in charge and she has a great knowledge of (vineyards)," said Roderick. "But more than that, she knows everybody. Once I told her we got the grant she said, 'OK, I've got to call this person, this person and this person.

"And once this thing starts going forward we've got community members who are going to say 'we can help you,’” Roderick said.

"Our community loves this high school," Roderick added. "A big chunk of the money from the grant is going to go toward getting some of the things we need to operate. Then we're going to look to get some community support and support from some of the vineyards around here."

So far James Creek Vineyards owner Scott Brown and A Cut Above vineyard manager Jim Munk have volunteered support for the course and Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery has endorsed it, said Jones.

"It's just a matter of contacting them," Jones said.

Justin Skinner, a junior at Middletown High School and a third-generation dairy farmer, will serve as a student manager. He has been involved in the Middletown High ag program since his freshman year.

A big break in the project came when Roderick got Middletown Unified School District Superintendent Korby Olson to OK creating a vineyard on the five-acre plot where a new elementary school was once being considered. So an environmental study was already completed.

"Part of the property is a flood plain, so there wasn't enough ground," Roderick said of the elementary school plan.

The size of the vineyard is expected to be about four acres, he said.

 "What I would like to see when this thing starts going is to figure out where the water is coming to come from, but there is a well there," said Jones. "We need to get a lot of things figured out with our resources."

The course will come online at a time when Lake County has only begun to carve out its niche in the vineyard and winery industry.

Middletown, said Jones, has the type of rocky soil conducive to growing grapes.

"We don't have the soil around here to grow crops," she said. "Our soil isn't like Kelseyville's. We don't have the higher quality soil so we have to be smart in what we're doing and what fits in our climate.

"You look this direction and that direction you're seeing grapes,” she said.

Email John Lindblom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – With renovations complete at Lake County Youth Services, the center is reopening and has plans to offer a new schedule of activities for the community’s young people.

Lake County Youth Services is open from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays at 4750 Golf Ave., across from Redbud Park, in Clearlake.

The program serves children age 7 to 17 years.

The membership fee is $15.

The center’s volunteer director Joyce Overton said building renovations are complete and activity schedules are being developed.

Current volunteer hosts include dance instructor Tess James, who will lead a hip-hop/free style dance session once a week, and local yoga instructor Roslyn Griffin, who also will lead a weekly class.

Overton said the center welcomes volunteers who would like to share their programs with the community's youth.

She said evening dance schedules are being developed that could benefit from volunteer assistance as well.

"We need all the help we can get," she said.

Fundraising efforts continue and donations are always welcomed and appreciated, Overton added.

She said that with renovations complete, funding programs, activities and operation of the center can be the main priority.

A mystery dinner fundraiser is being organized for May 3 with assistance of Public Education Government (PEG) TV and the Lake County Theater Co. Volunteers for the event are being sought.

Anyone who would like to volunteer their time and/or talents with the children at Lake County Youth Services is encouraged to call the center at 707-994-KIDS (5437).

Monetary donations, including those supporting the center's child sponsorship program, also are appreciated.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .