SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Last Friday, on the stage at Santa Rosa’s Center for Spiritual Living, a moving ceremony took place.
             
Hundreds of people gathered for Canine Companions for Independence's graduation, watching as the efforts of breeders, puppy raisers and trainers came to their four-legged fruition.

As part of the ceremony, service and facility dogs, and skilled companion dogs were handed over officially to join their new families.

Among the graduates were Lake County resident Mike Curran and his new canine partner, Eddie, a facility dog.

The nonprofit CCI, headquartered in Santa Rosa, offers highly trained assistance dogs to people of all ages at no charge, thanks to the strong support of donors from around the country.

Since CCI was founded in 1975, it has placed more than 3,500 specially trained dogs across the United States, according to Jeanine Konopelski, Canine Companions for Independence’s national director of marketing communications.

Last year alone, they placed 262 service dogs, which Konopelski said was a record for the organization.

They’re also seeing an increase in demand, with many wounded veterans applying to receive the dogs, said Konopelski.

At last Friday’s ceremony, both adults and children came forward to welcome their new companions.

For people whose physical challenges have confined them to wheelchairs, service dogs – with their able bodies and huge, willing hearts – prove critical helpers, offering their new owners freedoms that they may not have had before.

New partners

Eddie is a handsome and gentle golden retriever/Labrador Retriever mix. At 2 years old, he is the biggest dog in his class of service and facility canines.

With his golden good looks and notable blaze mark down his thoughtful face, Eddie would stand out in any crowd.

But he’s special for a whole range of reasons, and it’s Curran’s goal that Eddie’s special gifts will be put to good use here in Lake County.

Unlike some of his classmates, Curran – a longtime member of Lake County law enforcement – doesn’t have physical challenges which Eddie will assist him in meeting. Rather, Eddie is going to be his partner in programs that aid children in need.

First, there are several months of bonding and fine-tuning ahead for the new duo, as well as CCI followup training.

Then, Curran retires in August from his job with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

From there, it’s on to a new career for Curran as a volunteer with the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, with Eddie by his side.

Eddie will accompany Curran during interviews in the county’s multidisciplinary interview center, a special facility located behind the District Attorney Victim-Witness Division in Lakeport.

There, children victims of crimes are interviewed in safe and comfortable surroundings.
Curran, who has spent years investigating crimes against children, said Eddie can help provide a comforting presence for children as they recount traumatic events.

Several District Attorney’s Office staffers attended the Friday graduation to show their support for Curran and to give Eddie a warm welcome.

Curran also is working to establish a “Courtroom Dogs” program to Lake County. That program – which brings dogs into the courtroom to offer comfort to children who must testify in criminal cases – already has the support of some of Lake County’s judges.

Eddie and Curran also will volunteer in local schools, where they be featured in the “Reading with Rover” literacy program.

“Reading with Rover” encourages children to read, out loud, to the dog. As Curran explains, children who struggle with reading excel in the program because they feel comfortable with the dog, who sits and listens, without judgment.

Eddie won’t be the first CCI dog to come to Lake County. John and Katie Eels have had CCI dogs, most notably Nasa, a facility dog, and Patch, a hearing assistance dog.

A special path

Eddie was specially bred by CCI, and then raised by Ted and Carole Oare and their twin daughters Christina and Stephanie Lynn of Everett, Wash.

Ted, Carole and Christina Oare traveled to Santa Rosa from Washington – an area rich in CCI puppy raisers – to take part in last week’s graduation ceremony, going on stage to hand Eddie to Curran.

“It takes a whole family to work with one of these dogs,” Carole Oare explained.

According to CCI, “Assistance dogs aren’t just born, they’re raised.”

Puppy raisers like the Oares take specially bred pups like Eddie into their homes and families, socialize them and take them to obedience class, and give them a great deal of love.

The Oare family worked with Eddie for a year and a half before returning him to CCI last November. The Oares acknowledged how difficult it was to give Eddie up.

For the last six months, Eddie has been in facility training, according to Erin Powers, the instructor in Eddie and Curran’s service and facility class.

According to CCI, the training course includes two three-month semesters, during which they fine-tune basic obedience commands, learn more advanced commands and experience working in different environments, and are screened to make sure they are truly suitable for the work.

The team training is two weeks, during which the dogs and their new handlers learn to work together. That culminates in the graduation.

Curran said CCI did a great job of pairing him with Eddie, who in just a few weeks has started to build a strong bond with Curran.

The newly formed pair spent a few minutes together before the Friday graduation ceremony, then Curran left Eddie with the Oares, who waited in the audience to make the formal presentation.

As Curran walked away to take his place before the ceremony, Eddie turned to watch him go.

Following the ceremony, Curran and Eddie bid farewell to the Oares. Curran thanked them for making the nearly 1,000-mile trip for the graduation. They promised to keep in touch, and exchange pictures of Eddie as he makes his new life in Lake County.

Curran said he was eager to get Eddie home to Lakeport, where wife Denise waited, eager to meet the newest family member.

Already, the work to prepare the next group of service, facility and companion dogs is under way.

As part of the ceremony, matriculating puppies and their raisers were honored and delivered back to CCI to make ready for the next step in their journey.

The Oares themselves may have left a little of their hearts behind with Eddie, their first CCI pup, but they’ve got plenty of love saved up for their second CCI dog, who they’re already in the process of raising.

For more information about CCI, visit www.cci.org .

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Along with millions of others, Lake County residents were looking up on Sunday thanks to the annular eclipse.

For just over an hour – from about 5:30 p.m. to a little after 6:30 p.m. – the Moon passed in front of the sun, coving up to 94 percent of it.

While it wasn't safe to look directly at the eclipse, resourceful sky watchers used welding masks and special glasses to capture images of the event.

The effects of the eclipse also were noticeable in the crescent-shaped sunbeams on the sides of homes and on the ground, and an eerie dimming sky.

I didn’t realize cilantro was controversial until I did research for today’s column.
 
Apparently, cilantro haters abound. Blogs are devoted to their herbal disdain, as well as a Facebook page that boasts more than 10,000 members.
 
But I love the stuff. I even went to the cilantro fan page on Facebook and “liked” it, just to counteract the negatives.
 
I have to admit, though, that it was not love at first bite for me. My initial experience with cilantro was unexpected, a not-so-welcome twist to a restaurant salad.
 
Not being raised with its taste on our table, it took a while for me to acclimate to cilantro’s unique flavor. But now that I have, I use it broadly in my cooking.
 
This pungent herb grows freely in such a wide swath of territory (from southern Europe to North Africa and southwestern Asia) that experts have said it’s hard to define where the plant is native and where it recently established itself.
 
While most of us call it by its Spanish name, cilantro (pronounced sih-LAN-troh), this leafy green herb is also known as coriander and Chinese parsley.
 
As one of its monikers suggests, coriander seeds, and the corresponding ground version of the spice, are products of the same plant.
 
Ancient Egyptians cultivated coriander, as evidenced by remnants of the plant found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen, as did the ancient Greeks, who did so from at least the second millennium B.C., according to archaeological records.
 
Like us, these cultures consumed the leaves and seeds of the plants; however, unlike us, there is evidence the herb was also used for perfume, at least in Greece. As much as I like its taste, I can’t imagine desiring it as a fragrance for my body.
 
One of the things that draws me back to cilantro (the green, leafy herb) and coriander (the spicy seeds) time and time as I cook is that it influences so many world cuisines.
 
Mexico (and throughout all of Latin America), Portugal, Southeast Asia (Thailand, for example), India, China, parts of Africa, central Asia (places like Afghanistan and Mongolia), and the Caribbean islands are a diverse group of places where these flavors make themselves at home.
 
And while we don’t normally associate cilantro with Europe – other than, say, Portugal and Spain  – European cooks used the leaves and seeds in cooking well into medieval times. Cilantro pesto, for example, has deeper roots in the Mediterranean region than those made with basil.
 
Coriander seeds are generally toasted before being ground to bring out their flavor. They’re a prime component of Indian curries, and are one of the five ingredients of the spice blend known as “Chinese Five Spice.”
 
All parts of the coriander plant are edible: leaves, stems, seeds, and even roots, which are sometimes used as a replacement for garlic in cuisine.
 
Smart supermarket produce managers typically stock bundles of fresh cilantro well away from the Italian parsley, as the two can be confused based on sight.
 
There is no confusion with its smell, however. Cilantro should have a pungent aroma, and I always do a “smell test” when shopping to be sure my cilantro is fresh.
 
In addition to a flavorful smell, fresh cilantro should have bright, evenly-colored green leaves, with no evidence of yellowing.
 
Cilantro is best stored in the fridge. Place stems in a glass of water (including root, if attached) and cover the top loosely with a plastic bag. Change the water every two to three days. To use, snip off leaves as needed.
 
I don’t recommend washing cilantro prior to its use, as excess moisture can turn the leaves to slime.
 
While I haven’t tried this, I’ve been told that fresh cilantro can be frozen, either whole or chopped in an airtight container. It’s said that it shouldn’t be thawed until just before use to preserve its texture.
 
Another method is to put fresh chopped cilantro in ice cube trays with just enough water or broth to cover. These frozen herbal cubes can then be added to soups or stews for flavor.
 
As to the seeds or ground spice, store in an air-tight container away from light and heat. Its flavor will begin to diminish in about six months, so be sure to use it within a year.
 
Coriander has long held a health-supporting reputation. For example, in Europe, it’s been traditionally referred to as an “anti-diabetic” plant, and in India the seeds have been used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory.
 
Cilantro in herb and seed form contains an impressive array of beneficial phytonutrients, health-supporting plant compounds, which modern research has shown to be effective in controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, as well as cell-damaging free radicals.
 
To top it off, cilantro has antimicrobial properties, including, according to research, as an effective antibiotic against the Salmonella bacteria.
 
Whether you buy cilantro at the farmers’ market, grow it in your garden, or find it at your local supermarket, the two simple recipes offered today are delicious ways to add this herb to your culinary arsenal.
 
The first, cilantro-lime rice, is a wonderful accompaniment for Mexican or Thai-inspired dishes. Its spicy tang adds interest to an otherwise everyday side dish.
 
The second, cilantro pesto, may be used to dress up pasta, to spread on a pizza crust as a base for grilled prawns or chicken, or dropped into soups or sauces for a burst of flavor.
 
Before I go, I’d like to address the issue of why cilantro in its leafy form is so avidly hated by some. (If you’ve got a weak stomach, please avoid the next paragraph.)
 
I’ve seen aversion to cilantro’s taste described in terribly strong terms. One blogger said it tasted like “a decomposing armpit sprayed with liberal amounts of Brut,” and another “the acrid sweetness of death.”
 
Even in the ancient world there were cilantro haters.
 
The word coriander is derived from a Greek word for bedbug, purportedly because its smell was reminiscent of bug-infested bedclothes, though modern “cilantrophobes” would describe its smell as soapy, rather than buggy.
 
There’s a reason for this. Flavor chemists have determined that much of cilantro’s aroma is due to fragments of fat molecules called aldehydes, similar to those found – surprise! – in soap and the bug family of insects.
 
Some people are more sensitive to this smell than others, including, believe it or not, Julia Child, who was an avid cilantro hater.
 
There is a remedy, however. A Japanese study published a couple of years ago revealed that crushing the leaves will allow enzymes a chance to gradually convert aldehydes into other aroma-less substances, making dishes which utilize chopped or crushed cilantro (such as those below) more palatable than cilantro in its whole form.
 
Otherwise, you could hold your nose when eating this otherwise wonderful herb. Or not, if you’re a cilantro lover like me.
 
Cilantro-lime rice

1 cup long grain white rice
Coarse salt
½ cup fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove
 
In a medium saucepan, bring 1½ cups water to a boil. Add rice and ¼ teaspoon salt; cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook until water is absorbed and rice is just tender, 16 to 18 minutes.
 
Meanwhile, in a blender, combine cilantro, lime juice, oil, garlic, and 2 tablespoons water; blend until smooth. Stir into cooked rice and fluff with a fork.
 
Esther’s note: Nearly every lime I’ve squeezed has contained about three tablespoons of juice, so it’s a safe bet that you can get all the juice you need from one plump lime.
 
Recipe by Martha Stewart and courtesy of www.marthastewart.com .
 
Cilantro pesto

¾ cup fresh cilantro leaves
¼ cup parsley leaves
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons pine nuts
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
 
Put all ingredients through olive oil in a bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
 
Esther’s note: Walnuts may be substituted for the pine nuts in the recipe, and if a food processor is not available, a blender may be used.
 
Recipe by Bobby Flay and courtesy of www.foodnetwork.com .

Esther Oertel, a freelance writer, cooking teacher, and speaker, is passionate about local produce and all foods in the vegetable kingdom. She welcomes your questions and comments and may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) joined a bipartisan block of legislators on Monday to support a sweeping state parks rescue bill he has jointly authored in the Assembly.

“It is phenomenal the amount of bipartisan support this bill has,” said Chesbro, speaking of AB 1589, the California State Parks Stewardship Act of 2012, at a news conference this morning on the grounds of the State Capitol. “It is major legislation that will change the relationship between the state and State Parks, making State Parks more self-sufficient and well-funded with sustainable revenue sources. It will stop park closures, with a net long-term savings to the state’s general fund.”

Chesbro was joined by Republican Assemblymembers Kevin Jeffries, Diane Harkey and Kristin Olsen and Democrats Jared Huffman and Roger Dickinson, plus Robert Hanna, a direct descendant of John Muir, at the news conference today, designed to demonstrate the strong bipartisan support AB 1589 has in the Assembly.

“Protecting state parks is not a Democratic or Republican issue,” Chesbro said. “State parks are important to all of California, and keeping them open and accessible is something that we can come together over without dispute. I ask my fellow Assemblymembers in both caucuses to support AB 1589 when it comes the Floor for a vote. I also urge my colleagues in the Senate and the Governor to approve this bill when it reaches them. ”

AB 1589 calls on the Department of Parks and Recreation to develop a prioritized action plan to increase revenues and collection of unpaid user fees at state parks, while maintaining the character and values of the State Park System.

It also creates a State Park Enterprise Fund and states legislative intent regarding the need for a multi-disciplinary independent assessment of ways to ensure long-term management and sustainable funding options for state parks.

Additionally, it includes provisions that authorize the Department of Motor Vehicles to offer special fee-based state park license plates to support the park system and allow taxpayers to redirect portions of their tax refunds to the California State Parks Protection Fund in exchange for an annual state park day-use access pass.  

AB 1589 also revises the factors the Department of Parks and Recreation considers when selecting state parks for future closure, requiring the Department to publicly disclose its methodology and rationale when evaluating them, and requires that park closures be considered only as a last resort after other options, including public-private partnerships, have been explored.

Legislators were joined at the press conference by Robert Hanna, a the great-great grandson of renowned naturalist John Muir, who emphasized the cultural and economic significance of California’s state parks.

“In every great accomplishment you’ll find togetherness, and I’m proud to stand in solidarity with California’s elected officials to fight for our park,” Hanna said. “I’ll forever continue my family’s commitment to protect these treasures and will continue to fight the good fight.”

AB 1589 received unanimous support in both Assembly policy committees that reviewed the bill.

It will be heard in the Appropriations Committee this week and will be taken up on the Assembly Floor after Memorial Day.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – It was another big year for the annual Catfish Derby, with a record turnout and participants coming from nine states to take part.

The 29th annual derby – billed as the biggest event of its kind west of the Mississippi – took place this past Friday through Sunday, sponsored by the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association.

Dennis Locke, a member of the organizing team, said the derby was “a huge success,” with near-perfect weather and fishing conditions, and more than $8,500 in cash and merchandise awarded to derby contestants.

Carla Meza of Yuba City won the adult division and took home a $4,000 cash prize, according to Locke.

She brought in a 23.82-pound fish she caught at Clear Lake State Park using cut mackerel as bait, Locke said.

Meza would later return her fish to Clear Lake, according to derby records.

Triton Marlowe of Clearlake Oaks won the children's division – and took home a Nintendo Wii gaming system – for bringing in a 16.26-pound fish that he caught in the Clear Lake Keys using chicken livers, Locke reported.

Locke said there were 693 entries – 580 for the adult event and 113 for the children's derby – which he said was easily a record turnout.

This year's contestants weighed 276 fish totaling approximately 3,574.10 pounds, which Locke said also was a derby record.

He said some contestants reported catching and releasing as many as 10 to 15 smaller catfish in one day.

Visitors made up the largest number of participants, with 419 out-of-county entries – or 60 percent – coming from nine different states, and as far away as Massachusetts and Mississippi, to fish in Clear Lake, Locke said. Approximately 274 entries came from Lake County.

The annual catfish derby is the major fundraiser for the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association.

All proceeds are given back to the community in the form of donations, scholarships, grants and funding for the annual July 4 fireworks.

The list of winners in the two divisions follows.

ADULT DIVISION

1. Carla Meza, Yuba City; fish caught May 18 at 11:07 p.m., weighed 23.82 pounds
2. Joel Giusti, Yuba City; fish caught May 20 at 8:52 a.m., weighed 23.10 pounds
3. John Bybee, Yuba City; fish caught May 19 at 2:43 p.m., weighed 21.80 pounds
4. Bryan Van Lingen, Kelseyville; fish caught May 20 at 11:02 a.m., weighed 20.44 pounds
5. Joe Anderson, San Pablo; fish caught May 18 at 7:37 p.m., weighed 20.07 pounds
6. Matthew Ross, Clearlake; fish caught May 20 at 11:44 a.m., weighed 19.62 pounds
7. Tim Zanolini, Santa Rosa; fish caught May 19 at 1:25 p.m., weighed 19.42 pounds
8. Owen Sunke, Forestville; fish caught May 20 at 9:10 a.m., weighed 19.21 pounds
9. Cory West, Yuba City; fish caught May 20 at 8:03 a.m., weighed 18.46 pounds
10. Brandon Holt, Elk Grove; fish caught May 20 at 8:02 a.m., weighed 18.39 pounds
11. Jack Scott, Gerber; fish caught May 18 at 2:40 p.m., weighed 18.14 pounds
12. Kristal Harris, Clearlake; fish caught May 20 at 11:44 a.m., weighed 18.10 pounds
13. Tim G Bybee, Yuba City; fish caught May 19 at 9:49 a.m., weighed 18.01 pounds
14. Gregory Walker, Richmond; fish caught May 19 at 5:34 p.m., weighed 17.93 pounds
15. Alan Brobst, Napa; fish caught May 19 at 1:13 p.m., weighed 17.73 pounds
16. Frederick Stewart, West Sacramento; fish caught May 19 at 12:14 p.m., weighed 17.41 pounds
17. Mathew Reed, Taylorsville; fish caught May 18 at 10:26 p.m., weighed 17.20 pounds
18. Edward Black, Clearlake; fish caught May 20 at 11:44 a.m., weighed 17.18 pounds
19. Zack Zanolini, Santa Rosa; fish caught May 18 at 9:07 p.m., weighed 17.02 pounds
20. Robert Cummings, Lakeport; fish caught May 18 at 2:41 p.m., weighed 16.99 pounds

CHILDREN'S DIVISION

1. Triton Marlowe, Clearlake Oaks; fish caught May 19 at 9:41 p.m., weighed 16.36 pounds
2. Kaya Albrecht, Santa Rosa; fish caught May 20 at 12:10 p.m., weighed 15.89 pounds
3. Jason Meza, Yuba City; fish caught May 18 at 11:07 p.m., weighed 15.72 pounds
4. Parker Kenner, Lakeport; fish caught May 19 at 3:57 p.m., weighed 15.71 pounds
5. Dominic Lane, Hood River, Ore.; fish caught May 19 at 2:30 p.m., weighed 15.68 pounds

FISH STATISTICS

Friday, May 18

Total fish caught: 60
Total fish kept: 30
Total weight of fish caught: 768.80 pounds
Total weight of fish kept: 372.28 pounds
Largest fish released: 23.82 pounds (derby winning fish)
Largest fish kept: 17.93 pounds

Saturday, May 19

Total fish caught: 90
Total fish kept: 23
Total weight of fish caught: 1159.8 pounds
Total weight of fish kept: 287.64 pounds
Largest fish released: 19.42 pounds
Largest fish kept: 21.80 pounds

Sunday, May 20

Total fish caught: 53
Total fish kept: 20
Total weight of fish caught: 737.71 pounds
Total weight of fish kept: 247.82 pounds
Largest fish released: 23.10 pounds
Largest fish kept: 16.60 pounds

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The cause of a fire that damaged a Clearlake Oaks home early Saturday morning has been traced to a barbecue.

The fire was first dispatched shortly after 2:30 a.m. in the 12000 block of The Plaza, as Lake County News has reported.

Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Pat Brown said firefighters found that a barbecue had overturned, igniting the rear porch area of the doublewide mobile home.

He said the fire did damage underneath the home and then ran the attic area and the laundry room.

Brown and Battalion Chief Steve Hart were the responding chief officers.

When Brown and the first Northshore Fire engine from the Clearlake Oaks station arrived, they found the home's occupants safely outside.

He said the first engine in made entry to the home, knocked down the interior fire and did a primary search, rescuing four kittens from the home.

The second engine from the Clearlake Oaks engine, along with a Cal Fire, arrived, with personnel tearing into the rear exterior of the home to extinguish the fire, Brown said.

An engine also came from Lucerne, with that team of firefighters placing salvage covers and pulling ceilings to stop the fire running the attack, according to Brown.

Brown estimated the damage the fire did to the home at $40,000.

He said the fire was checked throughout the day by personnel from Northshore Fire's Clearlake Oaks station.

With the Clearlake Oaks station serving as headquarters for this weekend's Catfish Derby, firefighters instead took the hose used to put out the fire to the Cal Fire station to be cleaned, Brown said.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Memorial Day – Monday, May 28 – the flags of our 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, with takedown of flags and flagpoles at 4 p.m. Volunteers would be appreciated at all locations.

Further information is available from the following representatives: Upper Lake, Byron Green, 707-275-9515; Lower Lake, Dave Schober, 707-533-5843; Kelseyville, Paul Harris, 707-279-1115; and Hartley Cemetery, Lakeport, Dean Gotham, 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. – The latest reports on unemployment show some good news for Lake County, California and the nation.

The California Employment Development Department's Friday report showed that California’s unemployment rate decreased to 10.9 percent in April from 11 percent in March and 11.8 percent in April 2011.

The report also showed that nonfarm payroll jobs decreased by 4,200 in California in April for a total gain of 385,600 jobs since the recovery began in September 2009.

Lake County's April unemployment rate was 15.6 percent, down 1.3 percentage points from the revised March rate of 16.9 percent and down 1.7 percentage points from the year-ago April 2011 rate, according to Dennis Mullins of the Employment Development Department's North Coast Region Labor Market Information Division.

The April rate earned Lake County a ranking of No. 43 out of the state's 58 counties, the same ranking as in March.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the United States' unemployment rate decreased in April to 8.1 percent from 8.2 percent in March and was down from 9 percent in April 2011.

Neighboring Colusa County ranked No. 57 with 22.6 percent, while Glenn came in at No. 45 with 15.7 percent; Mendocino, No. 19, 10.5 percent; Napa, No. 8, 8.3 percent; Sonoma, No. 9, 8.6 percent; and Yolo, No. 30, 12.3 percent.

In April Marin County continued to hold onto its No. 1 ranking for lowest unemployment, 6.4 percent. Imperial County had the highest unemployment, 26.8 percent, according to the report.

Mullins said Lake County's total wage and salary employment increased by 10 jobs between March and April.

Lake is up 490 jobs over the year with eight industry sectors gaining or unchanged and three declining, he said.

Year-over job growth occurred in farm, 410; trade, transportation and utilities, 100; professional and business services, 10; other services, 20; government, 40, according to Mullins.

He said the information, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality had no change over the year.

Industry sectors that saw decline over the year included mining, logging and construction, and private educational and health services, which lost 40 jobs, and manufacturing, which was 10 jobs down, Mullins said.

The Employment Development Department said in its Friday report that there were 552,163 people receiving regular unemployment insurance benefits during the April survey week, compared with 570,089 in March and 584,141 in April 2011.

New claims for unemployment insurance were 63,212 in April, compared with 55,393 in March and 63,739 in April of last year, the agency said.

State, federal surveys offer unemployment pictures

Nonfarm jobs in California totaled 14,237,000 in April, a decrease of 4,200 jobs over the month, according to a survey of 42,000 California businesses.

That state survey showed a year-over-year change – from April 2011 to April 2012 – of 175,600 jobs, up 1.2 percent.

A federal survey of 5,500 California households showed an increase in the number of employed people.

It estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in April was 16,476,000, an increase of 20,000 from March, and up 296,000 from the employment total in April of last year, the Employment Development Department said.

The number of people unemployed in California was 2,007,000 – down by 24,000 over the month, and down by 164,000 compared with April of last year, based on the survey findings.

The Employment Development Department's report on payroll employment – wage and salary jobs – showed that jobs in the nonfarm industries of California totaled 14,237,000 in April, a net loss of 4,200 jobs since the March survey, following a gain of 22,100 jobs in March.

The report showed that four categories – mining and logging; trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; and other services – added jobs over the month, gaining 19,100 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest increase over the month, adding 12,700 jobs.

Seven categories – construction; manufacturing; information; financial activities; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; and government – reported job declines over the month, down 23,300 jobs, the report showed. Construction posted the largest decrease over the month, down 6,700 jobs.

In a year-over-year comparison – April 2011 to April 2012 – nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 175,600 jobs, up 1.2 percent, the report showed.

Other findings in the report: Eight categories – mining and logging; construction; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; and leisure and hospitality – posted job gains over the year, adding 231,100 jobs.

Professional and business services posted the largest gain on both a numerical and percentage basis, adding 80,600 jobs, up 3.8 percent, according to the report.

Three categories – manufacturing; other services; and government – posted job declines over the year, down 55,500 jobs, the report said. Government posted the largest decline on both a numerical and percentage basis, down by 43,200 jobs, a 1.8 percent decrease.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Sunday marks the 151st anniversary of the creation of Lake County, and brings the yearlong sesquicentennial celebration to an official end.

On May 20, 1861, California Governor John D. Downey signed an Act of Incorporation into law that formed Lake County, which had been carved from Napa County's northern section.

When the county was created, Abraham Lincoln was president and the Civil War was about to begin.

The first county election to organize the local government was held on the first Monday in June 1861, according to county histories.

On May 20, 2011, a celebration kicking off the sesquicentennial was held in downtown Lakeport, featuring a number of local dignitaries.

Video of that event can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/velocityvideo .

For a great assortment of stories and videos about Lake County's history, visit www.LC150.org or www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lake-County-Sesquicentennial/171845856177015 .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Upper Lake will celebrate its Western heritage at the annual Wild West Day on Saturday, June 2.

In its 19th year, the celebration features barbecue, Western wear contests, antique tractors, a parade, street dancing and even an opportunity to ride “Rocky” the mechanical bull.  

The Blue Canyon Gang will perform their gunslinging Western show at high noon and again on the hour until 4 p.m.

Upper Lake is noted for its authentic Western feel with covered sidewalks, antique stores and a hotel that was a stage stop in the 1800s.

The festival is popular with the community and visitors thanks to the wide array of merchants, as well as the tri-tip barbecue and pancake breakfast by the Northshore Fire Support and the Upper Lake Community Council.   

The Upper Lake FFA will have strawberry shortcake dessert and root beer floats crafted by the members of the North Shore Business Association.

Wild West Day was started in 1993 by a group of merchants and community members to help the volunteer fire department with the purchase of the jaws of life while concurrently celebrating the Upper Lake post office’s 135th anniversary.

The event has continued and is now sponsored by the Northshore Fire Protection District, the Upper Lake Community Council and the Northshore Business Association.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The county's animal shelter has a group of new dogs of all different breeds available to join your family.

If you like small dogs, you can find them; there are Chihuahua, Boston Terrier and miniature pinscher mixes. There also are larger canine friends with Labrador Retriever, shepherd and husky heritage.

Thanks to Lake County Animal Care and Control’s new veterinary clinic, many of the animals offered for adoption already are spayed or neutered and ready to go home with their new families.

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”).

Male Jack Russell mix

This male Jack Russell terrier mix is 6 years old.

He has tricolor markings and a short coat, weighs 19 pounds and has not yet been neutered.

He is in kennel No. 24, ID No. 32483.

Female Jack Russell mix

This female Jack Russell terrier mix is 3 years old.

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

Find her in kennel No. 22, ID No. 32482.

Male Chihuahua mix

This male Chihuahua mix is 10 months old.

He weighs 11 pounds, has been neutered and has a short coat.

He is in kennel No. 28, ID No. 32746.

Male husky mix

This male husky mix is 4 years old.

He has red and tan coloring, weighs 56 pounds and has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 30, ID No. 32738.

Male miniature pinscher mix

This male miniature pinscher mix is 2 years old.

He weighs 11 pounds, has a short black coat with brindle markings, and a docked tail. He has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 32, ID No. 32744.

Pointer-pit bull terrier mix

This male pointer-pit bull terrier is 11 months old.

He weighs nearly 50 pounds, has a short black and white coat, and has been neutered.

He is in kennel No. 20, ID No. 32696.

'Aramis'

“Aramis” is a 2-year-old shepherd-greyhound mix.

He has been neutered, weighs nearly 62 pounds, and has a short coat with brown brindle markings.

Find him in kennel No. 27, ID No. 32594.

Labrador Retriever mix

This female Labrador Retriever mix is 1 year old.

She has a short black coat, weighs 44 pounds and has been spayed.

She is in kennel No. 26, ID No. 32639.

Male Chihuahua mix

This male Chihuahua mix is 2 years old.

He has a short black and white spotted coat, weighs just under 10 pounds and has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 29, ID No. 32732.

Boston Terrier mix

This male Boston Terrier mix is 10 months old.

He has a short black and white coat, weighs nearly 18 pounds, and has been neutered.

He is in kennel No. 31, ID No. 32745.

'Boss'

Boss is a 10-month-old male boxer-shepherd mix.

He weighs 66 pounds, has a short tan and white coat, and has been neutered.

Find him in kennel No. 34, ID No. 32721.

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

Please note: Dogs 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.