LAKEPORT, Calif. – A new educational event for schoolchildren got off to a big start with its debut earlier this month, with organizers planning to make it a regular annual event.

The inaugural Lake County Ag & Natural Resource Day welcomed hundreds of local students to a unique hands-on educational experience on Thursday, March 16.

Organizers said the event, held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport, was a huge success.

Nearly 1,000 students from kindergarten through sixth grade attended the event’s debut, according to the Lake County Fair Foundation, which created the Ag & Natural Resource Day.

Lake County Ag & Natural Resource Day was presented in a field-trip style event for school children from all around the county.

It was offered free of cost, with schools invited to bring students from kindergarten through sixth grade to experience agriculture and natural resources firsthand.

Janeane Bogner, a member of the boards for the Lake County Fair Board and the Lake County Fair Foundation, said planning for the event started last year.

Bogner said Ag & Natural Resource Day was modeled after Sonoma County Ag Days. She said Fair Chief Executive Officer Debbie Strickler visited that event, which her sister-in-law manages.

“She was very impressed with it and felt we needed it in Lake County,” Bogner said.

That goal fit with the Fair Foundation’s bylaws, which call for the organization to host educational events about agriculture, Bogner said.

As a result, the Fair Foundation signed on as a sponsor, and soon was joined by many partner organizations, including the Lake County Farm Bureau, the University of California’s 4-H Youth Development Program and Umpqua Bank, in launching the event, according to Bogner.

“It was all these women sitting around the table and it went from there,” said Bogner.

In all, the Fair Foundation reported there were more than 40 “ag partners” in the event, including local FFA chapters, the Lake County Historical Society, the Lake County Office of Education and many other agricultural ambassadors from around the lake.

Bogner said they sent information about the event to all of the school principals in June and then sent out a reminder at the start of the school year.

When the children arrived at the fairgrounds on March 16, they received goodie bags filled with almonds, information on different crops plus classroom activities, and a pamphlet about agriculture. Bogner said children also were given strawberry plants and seeds.

She said 4-H, Future Farmers of America and Konocti Christian Academy students assisted with handing out items to the visiting schoolchildren.

Children got to meet a draft horse from Philo, a mini horse, pot-bellied pigs, baby goats and baby lambs, Bogner said.

The California Milk Advisory Board’s trailer came, and Bogner said a dairy cow was brought to show children about milking.

There also was a sheep shearer and his family there to demonstrate, and a group of tractors that was brought from Ukiah, she said.

“It was such a neat event and we were so lucky, it was a beautiful day,” Bogner said.

There also were essay, poster and mural contests for students, the results of which are posted below. Awards for those contests were presented at the end of the day, Bogner said, adding that Umpqua Bank provided each of the children with an ice cream sandwich as a parting gift.

“Everybody that was there was just thrilled,” she said.

Based on the overwhelming response to its debut, Bogner said the plan is to make Lake County Ag & Natural Resource Day an annual event.

Plans already are under way for next year, with Bogner expecting that the second annual event will be even bigger. “I think it’s going to just build from here on.”

To learn more about Lake County Ag & Natural Resource Day or the Lake County Fair Foundation, visit http://lakecountyfair.com/get-involved/ or https://www.facebook.com/lakecountyfairfoundation/ .

2017 AG DAY AWARD WINNERS

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS AND PRIZES

Essay: Abram Ferrell, $50
Mural: Mrs. Cortez’s class, Riviera Elementary, $50
Poster: Abigail Ortega, $50

ESSAY CONTEST

Third grade

First place: Madison Renfro
Second place: Cecilia Knight
Third place: David Erwin

Fourth grade

First place: Casey Huston
Second place: Beverly Fetters
Third place: Bodhi Moore

Fifth grade

First place: Abram Ferrell
Second place: Emily Bullaro
Third place: Krista Messer

Sixth grade

First place: Megan Call
Second place: Maddie Hayenga
Third place: Nadine Mahlen

POSTER CONTEST

First grade

First place: Elyse Haley
Second place: Abby Sombs
Third place: Davis Lincoln

Second grade

First place: Lovita Castro
Second place: Ryder Wiper
Third place: Kalina Santor

Fifth grade

First place: Abigail Ortega
Second place: Lucas Arredondo
Third place: Abram Ferrell

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 had a drop in unemployment in February and has shown particularly strong job growth in certain categories over the past month and year, according to the state’s latest report on employment.

The California Employment Development Department’s report showed that Lake County’s unemployment rate for February was 6.6, down from 7.3 percent in January and the 7.6 percent reported in February 2016.

Based on historical data provided by the Employment Development Department, February’s 6.6 percent unemployment rate appears to be the lowest for the month of February in more than 27 years.

California’s February unemployment rate was 5 percent, down from 5.2 percent in January and 5.6 percent in February 2016, according to the report. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,500 California households.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said the nation’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for February, down from the 4.8 percent in January and 4.9 percent the previous February.

The Employment Development Department said nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,676,100 in February, a net gain of 22,900 jobs, up from the 15,300 new jobs reported in January, according to a survey of 58,000 businesses that measures jobs in the economy. The year-over change, February 2016 to February 2017, showed an increase of 315,800 jobs, up 1.9 percent.

The federal household survey estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in February was 18,190,000, an increase of 14,000 from January, and up 254,000 from the employment total in February of last year.

The number of unemployed Californians was 966,000 in February – down by 22,000 over the month, and down by 102,000 compared with February of last year, according to the report.

With February’s job gains, the Employment Development Department said California has gained a total of 2,489,500 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.

Lake County’s civilian workforce in February totaled 29,660, with the number of unemployed totaling 1,960. That’s compared to 29,560 workers and 2,150 unemployed in January, and 29,220 individuals and 2,210 unemployed the previous February.

Lake County’s total farm jobs increased by 16.5 percent in February, followed by durable goods with 15.4 percent; wholesale trade and information, both at 8.3 percent; and state government, 5.6 percent, the state reported.

The report showed decreases in jobs in industries including nondurable goods, 13 percent; mining, logging and construction, 9.4 percent; and goods producing, 6 percent.

In year-over comparisons, the subcategory of durable goods showed a jump in new jobs of 66.7 percent, or a growth in the number of jobs from 90 in February 2016 to 150 last month. Other notable job growth for the year was seen in total farm, 12.5 percent; financial activities, 8.3 percent; and educational and health services, 6.6 percent.

The Employment Development Department said seven of California’s 11 industry sectors – trade, transportation and utilities; leisure and hospitality; construction; information; professional and business services; educational and health services; and other services – added a total of 30,800 jobs in February.

Four industry sectors – mining and logging; manufacturing; financial activities; and government – reported job declines over the month, down a total of 7,900 jobs. Manufacturing posted the largest decrease over the month, down by 4,000 jobs, followed by financial activities, which fell by 2,200 jobs.

In a year-over-year comparison, from February 2016 to February 2017, nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 315,800 jobs, a 1.9 percent increase, the state said.

Nine of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 328,300 jobs year-over. The Employment Development Department said the largest job gains were in educational and health services, up 89,100 jobs, a 3.6-percent increase, and leisure and hospitality, up 48,900 jobs, a 2.6 percent increase.

Other sectors where the report said California added jobs over the year were construction; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; other services; and government.

Two industry sectors – mining and logging, and manufacturing – posted job declines over the year, down a total of 12,500 jobs. Manufacturing employment fell by 9,600 jobs, down 0.7 percent, while mining and logging was down by 2,900 jobs, an 11.2-percent decrease.

The report said San Mateo County held onto the lowest unemployment rate statewide, 2.8 percent, while Colusa County finished last, with a rate of 22.8 percent. Lake County’s 6.6-percent rate earned it the No. 31 ranking.

The Employment Development Department also reported that there were 405,196 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the February survey week, compared with 386,875 in January and 388,417 in February of last year.

New claims for Unemployment Insurance were 43,499 in February, compared with 62,201 in January and 42,281 in February of last year, the state reported.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA  – With a strong showing of support in the Senate Judiciary Committee, state Sen. Mike McGuire and Sen. Scott Wiener’s Presidential Tax Transparency & Accountability Act that would share basic tax information with the American public and require that all presidential candidates release the last five years of their tax returns in order to appear on the California ballot, was approved on Tuesday.

“Transparency is a nonpartisan issue. And it’s transparency that provides the basis for accountability in Government,” said Sen. McGuire. “For the past 40 years, every US President – Republicans and Democrats alike – have released their tax returns. These patriots put the nation’s interests above everything else. Presidents are expected to put their own interests aside – whether it be business ties or relationships with a foreign government – for the greater good of our country. And that greater good is America’s security and the protection of its people.”

Senators McGuire and Wiener have been working with some of the preeminent constitutional attorneys in the nation, including Harvard Professor Larry Tribe; Richard Painter, retired chief ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush; and Ambassador (ret.) Norman L. Eisen from The Brookings Institution.

Those experts submitted definitive statements to the California Senate Judiciary Committee that the federal constitution allows states to create ballot access requirements, like SB 149, that ensure the ballots for every office, including the office of the president, are comprehensible and informative.

Their statement concluded that, “We have studied these state laws carefully and have concluded that they are constitutional. Our federal constitution allows states to create ballot access requirements that ensure the ballots for every office, including the office of presidential elector, are comprehensible and informative.”

“Anyone aspiring to be president of our nation should be willing to release their tax returns – unless they have something to hide,” said Sen. Wiener. “The almost daily revelations regarding the connections between the Trump administration and Russia are a perfect example of why we need basic financial disclosures before elections take place. This is about establishing trust so that the American public knows that they come first when the White House makes a decision, not second to some business or investment interest.”

Approval in the Senate Judiciary Committee today means SB 149 will head to the Senate Elections Committee before going to the full Senate for approval.

SB 149 will require a candidate for president, in order to have his or her name placed upon the primary election ballot, to file his or her income tax returns for the five most recent taxable years with the Secretary of State’s Office. The returns would also be made available to the public on the Secretary of State’s Web site.

Prior to Donald Trump’s refusal to release any tax returns, for more than 40 years, every president since Jimmy Carter have released at least one year of tax returns. During the 2016 Presidential election, Hillary Clinton (Democratic) and Jill Stein (Green) both released their tax returns.

Contrary to what Trump stated in public, that Americans don’t care about his tax returns, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll, 74 percent of respondents believe Trump should release his tax returns. This poll shows consistent results from an earlier poll conducted by Quinnipiac University back in August of 2016.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Congressman Mike Thompson will host a community town hall to discuss the latest from Washington, DC this week.

The town hall will take place from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at Kelseyville High School’s Tom Aiken Student Center, 5480 Main St.

Community members who have questions about what's happening in Washington are invited to come, get more information and offer input.

With Congress considering a number of crucial matters – including health care, national security and tax reform – Thompson will offer his perspective and hear from constituents. All who attend will have the opportunity to ask a question or share their thoughts.

On the topic of health care, Thompson was an outspoken opponent of the recently pulled American Health Care Act. He also recently co-authored a new bill to make health insurance more affordable for families in high cost areas.

The Saturday town hall is part of a busy visit for Thompson to Lake County. Later that day, he’s scheduled to host his 26th annual ravioli dinner at Boatique Winery.

Community members planning to attend the afternoon town hall are asked to RSVP to 707-226-9898 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – One of Lake County’s remarkable women has received a special honor from Congressman Mike Thompson.

Thompson announced that he has selected Madelene Lyon of Kelseyville as this year’s Woman of the Year in Lake County.

“I am so honored, believe me. I am just so honored and so delighted,” Lyon told Lake County News on Tuesday.

This is the third annual Woman of the Year Awards, which Thompson created in honor of Women’s History Month.

Each year, one woman from the each of the counties in Thompson’s Fifth Congressional District – Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties – is recognized for her contributions to the community.

In February, Thompson began accepting nominations for the award, which he presented to the honorees at Franciscan Estate Winery in St. Helena on Saturday.

In addition to Lyon, this year’s winners include Sylvia Villa-Serrano, Contra Costa County; Karen Cakebread, Napa County; Dr. Rhonda Renfro, Solano County; Ronit Rubino, Sonoma County; and     Magrit Mondavi (a special posthumous award was presented to her daughter, Annie Roberts).

“I feel in very good company with these other women that have been honored,” Lyon said, calling her fellow honorees “amazing.”

Thompson’s office said Lyon was selected for her work with the Kelseyville Food Pantry, Redbud Audubon Society, Hospice Services of Lake County and other charities.

Lyon served on the executive board for March of Dimes Lake County for 18 years, including as its chair. She currently serves on the Lake County Board of Education and has been the president of the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association since 1998.

She’s a past winner of awards including Stars of Lake County, Hospice Services of Lake County Volunteer of the Year and the Lake County Pioneer Award.

“Madelene’s volunteerism and conservation efforts are truly remarkable,” said Thompson. “From her work with the Kelseyville Food Pantry to organizing the Bird Count Dinner and Annual Dinner for the Redbud Audubon Society, Madelene gives selflessly of herself and her time. Her service to our community has greatly enriched us all, and I am honored to present her with this award.”

The daughter of Swiss immigrants, Lyon lives on the ranch in Kelseyville where she was born and raised, and where her family had a dairy farm, and raised pears, prunes and walnuts.

“It doesn’t happen like that very often any more,” she said of remaining at her lifelong home, adding that she feels lucky to still be on the same spot.

She attended the University of California, Davis, for three years and later received her bachelor of science degree from the University of San Francisco.

She and her husband, Walt, began raising winegrapes on their ranch in 1969, and that same crop continues there today.

In 1984 she opened a catering business that was very popular around the county for decades. She retired from catering in 2014.

Together the Lyons raised five children, who in turn gave them nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Walt Lyon died in 2015.

She said she continues to grow winegrapes on her 50-acre farm, and stays busy with the many organizations for which she volunteers, as well as with spending time with her friends and family.

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.