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Georgina Marie is one of Lake County’s poets of all ages and backgrounds who will present their works at the next Know Lake County program at Lakeport Library in Lakeport, Calif. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County poets will be on stage at the April edition of the Lake County Library’s Know Lake County program.

The program will take place at the Lakeport branch of Lake County Library, 1425 N. High St., on Saturday, April 20, at 2 p.m.

Poet Georgina Marie is the keynote poet and other poets including Richard Schmidt, Lake County’s current poet laureate, Brenda Yeager, Cody Eden and Casey Carney will share the spotlight.

Georgina Marie is a Lakeport poet who has been writing poetry for roughly 16 years. She is involved in the literary community as a writer, supporter of writers and organizer and participant of poetry readings and events.

She recently created her first poetry chapbook, “Finding the Roots of Water,” an exploration of living in a county devastated by fire, accepting vulnerability, and expressing the emotions of grief and loss.

Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Lake County Library.

The monthly Know Lake County lectures feature speakers from a wide array of organizations and disciplines, each representing some aspect of Lake County.

The library is located at 1425 N. High St. For more information call 707 263-8817.

The Lake County Library is on the internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary.

Jan Cook is a library technician for the Lakeport Library.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest is seeking input on the proposed North Shore Restoration Project on the Upper Lake Ranger District.

The proposed project area was burned in the 2018 Ranch fire and is in the wildland urban interface of the communities on the north and east shores of Clear Lake.

The proposed project would remove fire-killed trees, improve forest health and promote desired conditions.

This planning effort is in collaboration with FireScape Mendocino, the Forest Service Regional Ecology program and the Pacific Northwest Research Station.

The collaborative planning team will present the North Shore Restoration Project draft proposed action and be available to answer questions and receive comments at a public open house to be held Thursday, May 9, in Upper Lake. Specific details about time and location will be released at a later date.

Information about the area, purpose and need and proposed action can be found on the forest Web site at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55716 .

For more information, contact Planning Team Leader Gary Urdahl at 707-275-1417 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A moderately sized earthquake was felt around parts of Lake County and beyond on Monday.

The 4.1-magnitude quake was reported at 4:54 a.m., according to the US Geological Survey.

The USGS said the quake was centered 2.1 miles east southeast of Black Oaks in Sonoma County and 13.5 miles southwest of Clearlake. It was recorded at seven-tenths of a mile.

As of Monday night, 75 shake reports from around Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties and beyond were submitted to the USGS. The report coming from the farthest distance was filed in Arcata.

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.
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At left, Lakeport Fire Protection District interim Chief Rick Bergem accepts a legislative resolution honoring the district on its 125th anniversary during a ceremony on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – In the past 125 years, firefighting has remained both dangerous and critically important, with another common denominator being the courage and dedication of the individuals engaged in that work.

In 1884, when the fire department for Lakeport was formed, firefighters – known as “fire boys” up until the 1950s – had as their chief equipment leather buckets and rain barrels strategically placed around town, which they used in a “bucket brigade” when fighting fires.

Contrast that with today, when firefighters have turnouts, breathing apparatus and tools – including hoses replacing those leather buckets – and are aided by an array of technology that those fire boys couldn’t have imagined. But it’s still dangerous work that requires dedication and courage, but which has created many a hero in the decades since.

Despite grave danger, tight budgets and growing challenges, the firefighters of today persevere and are an important part of the community, and Lakeport Fire’s long history of putting out fires, protecting residents and responding to medical emergencies is being celebrated.

This month, the Lakeport Fire Protection District is marking its 125th anniversary, and to commemorate that milestone, the State Legislature has passed a resolution honoring the district, which was delivered to the district during a Tuesday afternoon ceremony.

State Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry secured the resolution, which McGuire said is the Legislature’s highest honor.

McGuire was on hand to present the framed resolution to interim Chief Rick Bergem, district firefighters and staff, and board members in the ceremony held in the engine bay of the district’s headquarters Station 50 in downtown Lakeport.

Aguiar-Curry could not make the event, and was represented by her district director, Tracy Krumpen, who delivered Aguiar-Curry’s heartfelt thanks and congratulations.

On hand for the event were the five fire board directors, Don Davidson, Alan Flora – who also is the city manager for Clearlake – as well as Bill Gabe, John Whitehead and Randy Williams.

They were joined by numerous city and county representatives, including Lakeport City Council members Stacey Mattina, George Spurr and Mireya Turner; Board of Supervisors Chair Tina Scott and Supervisor Rob Brown; Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira and city Community Development Director Kevin Ingram; and County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson.

McGuire said that he doesn’t think there has been a busier fire district in the state of California than Lakeport. “Since 2015, it’s been a hell of a ride,” he said, recounting the long list of fires that have battered the county since then.

Of those it was last year’s River fire, part of the Mendocino Complex, that was feared would destroy Lakeport. The city was completely evacuated as firefighters battled to control the fire.

Lakeport Fire Protection District personnel, city and county officials at a ceremony honoring the district on its 125th anniversary during a ceremony on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News

McGuire said he’d heard many times last year that Lakeport might not make it, but the little city did, and Lakeport’s fire district was credited with helping save the city.

Recognizing Lakeport Fire for a tradition of excellence, McGuire said no other county in California has been as impacted by wildland fires as Lake County.

In accepting the honor, Bergem said he was thinking of what it was like for those early 1800s firefighters with their leather buckets, working as part of the bucket brigade.

When the department was first established it became the Rescue Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, which is the name painted on the district’s current ladder truck. They also had two hose carts drawn by the men and a hook and ladder rig, Bergem explained.

He said the department acquired its first chemical engine in the 1920s. The department still has it, and it sat in the bay not far from where the ceremony took place.

While he acknowledged the changes in technology, Bergem also pointed to a constant. “The one thing that hasn’t changed is the heart and soul of the firefighters.”

That heart and soul was called on last year, when the district’s firefighters came out in force to protect the city, along with Cal Fire personnel and firefighters from other parts of the state. Bergem said they staffed five engines for 10 days straight during the Mendocino Complex.

Supervisor Scott credited the district’s firefighters with helping save the city. “Because of you, Lakeport still stands.”

She added, “There’s no words that can express what you have done for our community. It’s still here, we’re still all together and that’s everything for many of us.”

Turner, quoting an article on the importance of heroes, said heroes heal, nourish connections with other people and turn others into heroes.

She thanked the men and women of Lakeport Fire Protection District.

“You all are heroes in our community and you benefit us all in ways that you actually can’t even imagine,” Turner said.

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 Fire’s 1920s chemical engine. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
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The historic Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse could soon be given away to a nonprofit if the Kelseyville Unified School District Board of Trustees approves the plan. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.


KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Kelseyville Unified School District Board of Trustees is planning a discussion on what to do with the historic Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at the Kelseyville Unified District Office, 4410 Konocti Road.

The Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse – also called the Hells Bend Schoolhouse – was built in 1871. It originally sat in another location, and was moved to its current home, in the 3500 block of Finley Road East, in 1882.

On Tuesday the board will consider declaring that the property is of insufficient value to defray the cost of arranging a sale and authorizing its donation to “any organization classified as a CA nonprofit benefit corporation or which has received federal tax exemption under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3), is a charitable organization and the process of which application may be made.”

Liability appears to be a key driver in the new consideration of what to do with the building.

A four-page document included in the board’s agenda packet reported on a February hazard assessment of the building directed by the district by Keenan Associates.

“The purpose of the visit was to visually inspect the building and surrounding area to identify conditions that increase the possibility of losses,” Frank Cardoza, a senior loss control consultant, wrote in the report.

“Due to the age of the building and in an abundance of caution, invasive inspection methods may have released lead, asbestos, and/or other potentially harmful substances and were not conducted. Potential air quality issues that may be present due to moisture/water intrusion were not sampled,” Cardoza reported.

In August 2017, the board had held a discussion about giving the building to the Lake County Historical Society, which proposed to move it to the Ely Stage Stop some distance away. At the time, the board decided not to move forward.

The board agenda packet did not indicate if that organization or others have recently come forward to express interest in making a bid for the historic building.

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.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors is due this week to consider taking final votes on forming new benefit zones for four Kelseyville communities, an effort meant to address hazardous vegetation in order to reduce the threat of wildland fires.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 16, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

At 10:30 a.m, the board will hold a public hearing to consider resolutions accepting and confirming ballot tabulation for the establishment of zones of benefit within CSA 23 in the communities of Buckingham, Clear Lake Riviera, Riviera Heights and Riviera West.

The board passed four resolutions of intent to create the zones of benefit on Jan. 29, with the matter then put out to voters under the requirements of Proposition 218.

At the end of protest hearings on March 26, it was confirmed that a majority of the returned ballots favored the benefit zones, as Lake County News has reported.

During the board’s March 26 meeting, a community member opposed to the benefit zones said that the language “Official Ballot Enclosed,” was not printed on the envelopes in which ballots were mailed.

“I and my staff sincerely regret this omission,” County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson wrote in her report to the board on the item. “However, as your Board may be aware, the purpose of this statute, Government Code Section 53753 (b), is to ensure that property owners are aware of their opportunity to vote to accept or oppose the proposed assessments, and do not unknowingly throw away their ballots.”

Huchingson said that the board may determine whether the ballot measure, as conducted, was in substantial compliance with the noticing requirements of Government Code section 53753.

She then outlined some of the “numerous and substantial efforts” made to inform property owners in the affected areas that they would receive ballots from county, including discussing the matter on four different occasions; Supervisor Rob Brown’s two information town hall-style meetings; county press releases shared on social media; significant local media coverage; and the efforts of homeowners’ associations to do their own outreach.

Huchingson said all envelopes containing mailed ballots were labeled “County of Lake,” and mailed first class, not bulk mail, indicating they were not junk mail, and should not be thrown away.

“Provided your Board finds that these, and/or other factors, substantially fulfill the reasonable objective of Government Code section 53753 (b), staff recommends your Board adopt the attached Resolutions, accepting and confirming ballot tabulation for the four proposed Zones of Benefit,” Huchingson wrote.

Also on the agenda, at 10 a.m. the board will continue a discussion first held last week regarding the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ fee to trust applications with the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 21 tribal-owned parcels.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to the Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Stephen Bradley, MD to fulfill the responsibilities of the substance use disorder medical director for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $48,960 and authorize the chair to sign.

5.2: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, (a) waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the purchase of high strength sodium hypochlorite from Hasa Inc. in an amount not to exceed $122,000 and authorize the Special Districts administrator to issue a purchase order.

5.3: Adopt proclamation designating the week of April 15-19, 2019, as Public Safety Dispatcher Week in Lake County.

5.4: Approve contract between the county of Lake and People Services for yard maintenance in the amount of $9,234.33 annually, terminating June 30, 2021, and authorize the chair to sign.

TIMED ITEMS

6.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the week of April 15 to 19, 2019, as Public Safety Dispatcher Week.

6.3, 9:15 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution approving resolutions and capital fire facility and equipment plans submitted by Lake County fire agencies and updating the Lake County Capital Fire Facility and Equipment Plan.

6.4, 9:30 a.m.: Presentation by Adventist Health Community Wellness for the SafeRX vision for a "Leave it Behind" Program.

6.5, 10 a.m.: Continued from April 9, consideration of responses to the Bureau of Indian Affairs invitation to provide comment on the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ land acquisition applications.

6.6, 10:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolutions accepting and confirming ballot tabulation for the establishment of zones of benefit within CSA 23 in the following communities: (a) Buckingham; (b) Riviera Heights; (c) Riviera West; and (d) Clearlake Riviera.

6.7, 1 p.m.: Workshop Regarding United States Department of Agriculture Community Development Block Grant and Economic Development Administration funding projects.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Consideration of long distance travel to Death Valley for Eddie Crandell, District 3, supervisor to attend California's Rural Counties Board of Directors meeting to be held April 30 to May 2.

7.3: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, consideration of the Special Districts administrator’s request to initiate an interim loan in the amount of $493,000 to fund 256.8356.501.80-92, Anderson Springs Sewer, from fund 254.8354.501.80-93, LACOSAN SE, to facilitate payment to contractor K.J. Woods Construction.

7.4: Consideration of Contract Change Order No. 1 for the Lower Lake Parks Maintenance Facility Project, Bid No. 18-17.

CLOSED SESSION

8.1: Public Employee evaluations: Social Services director, information technology director.

8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): County of Lake, et al. v. PG&E, et al.

8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1): Navarro v. County of Lake.

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.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved forming zones of benefit for four Kelseyville-area communities that are meant to generate funds to reduce vegetation that could contribute to damaging wildland fires.

Supervisor Rob Brown first presented the plan in the fall, holding town halls in November and February, and bringing the matter forward for discussion to the Board of Supervisors.

The newly formed benefit zones cover 5,000 lots in the Clear Lake Riviera, Buckingham, Riviera West and Riviera Heights, as well as lots adjacent to them, within County Service Area No. 23.

The plan calls for a one-time payment of $100 per lot for properties of less than one acre, $200 for lots from one to five acres, and $300 for lots of five acres or more. Those payments are expected to raise about $500,000 that would be used for property cleanup.

Brown said properties that are cleaned up would have liens placed against them to recover the money in order for the program to continue to be funded and active.

The funds won’t actually start to come in until the next property tax payments are made in December. In the meantime, Brown said he has approval from County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson for a $100,000 loan from the general fund to get work started immediately, in an effort to get ahead of the fast-approaching fire season.

Brown has said the program will emphasize voluntary adherence.

The board approved moving forward on the plan in January and the ballots were later sent out to property owners as required by Proposition 218, a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1996 that requires taxpayers be allowed to vote on assessments, general taxes and certain types of user fees, with a 50 percent plus one majority vote required for passage.

At the board’s March 26 meeting, it held protest hearings for each of the proposed benefit zones and confirmed that each passed in its respective community. The updated ballot tabulations given at Tuesday’s meeting are as follows.

Buckingham

Total ballots returned: 405
Yes: 252 (62 percent)
No: 153 (37.7 percent)

Clear Lake Riviera

Total ballots returned: 1,170
Yes: 654 (55.8 percent)
No: 516 (44 percent)

Riviera Heights

Total ballots returned: 315
Yes: 173 (54.9 percent)
No: 142 (45 percent)

Riviera West

Total ballots returned: 267
Yes: 181 (67.7 percent)
No: 86 (32 percent)

Simple majority votes were required for all of the communities to approve the zones of benefit.

During the March protest hearings, a community member raised issue with the ballot envelopes not having “Official Ballot Enclosed” printed on them in large type.

County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson told the board that county staff opined that the conditions of the vote had been substantially met, and that voters had been informed of the vote through numerous avenues – including the town halls Brown hosted. Her written report also cited press releases, news stories and the outreach by the homeowners associations.

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier noted during the discussion that the percentage of return on the ballots issued to all parcels was 64 percent for Buckingham, 46 percent for Riviera Heights, 54 percent in Riviera West and 41 percent for Clear Lake Riviera.

Sabatier noted that those numbers are within the range that they would typically see in elections, and overall a “pretty good result.”

Brown separately moved to offer the resolutions to form the benefit zones for the four communities, with the board approving each unanimously.

Later on Tuesday, Brown told Lake County News that he’s already compiled a list of about two dozen properties – with the help of the Kelseyville Fire Protection District and the Clear Lake Riviera – with vegetation that needs to be abated.

He said he sent that list of properties to Community Development Director Michalyn DelValle about two weeks ago.

“I’m hoping that most of them will come into compliance without our involvement,” Brown said.

Brown said the county has to move quickly, as it can’t do the abatement work during fire season, which is set to start on May 15.

“The window is pretty slim now,” he said.

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.
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Capt. Tim Celli’s badge is pinned on by his wife Amanda as Chief Andrew White looks on at the Clearlake City Council meeting on Thursday, April 11, 2019. Photo by Alan Flora.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council on Thursday hosted the swearing-in of a veteran member of the police department to the captain’s job and a new community service officer.

Chief Andrew White administered the oath to Capt. Tim Celli and Community Service OfficerDaniel Constancio.

Celli, who has been with the police department for more than 20 years, previously served as its interim chief before White’s hiring.

White said Celli – who has worked his way up through the ranks over the years – is an example of someone who has dedicated his life to an agency.

“Capt. Celli is an officer that has given so much to the Clearlake Department and is someone that truly bleeds Clearlake blue,” Chief White said following the ceremony.

Celli also has been helpful to White in the department’s transition to leadership and implementing needed changes, White said.

The Clearlake City Council recently reinstated the captain’s position based on a reorganization plan from Chief White.

Celli started out in the Clearlake Police Department as an explorer at age 14. After graduating from Lower Lake High School he served in the United States Army National Guard as a military
policemen.

He came home to Clearlake in 1995 and was hired as a community service officer. After being sworn in as a full-time police officer in 1999, Celli has held many different assignments since, including field training officer, detective, narcotics agent, crime suppression unit, patrol sergeant, administrative sergeant, lieutenant and interim police chief.

Over the years, Celli has faced the dangers common to police. He was shot at by a home invasion robbery suspect in 2013, with that suspect later convicted of assault with a deadly weapon on Celli.

When he appeared for his swearing-in, Celli had a bump on his head from a foot pursuit earlier in the day that had resulted in another officer being injured, hospitalized and later released, according to White.

Celli’s wife of 21 years, Amanda, took part in the swearing-in ceremony, coming forward to pin his badge on him. She kissed the badge before placing it on his uniform and then gave him a hug.

White then administered the oath to Celli. City Manager Alan Flora then came up to shake Celli’s hand.

Also on Thursday, Daniel Constancio was sworn in as the department’s new community service officer, a position that often is an entry point for future police officers, as it was for Celli.

Constancio was born and raised in Sacramento and graduated from Roseville High School. While prior to his swearing in, he had served in the city’s Public Works Department, with his long-term goal to be a police officer.

The city reported that Constancio comes from a family of first responders and is looking forward to beginning his training as a community service officer.

“The city has been fortunate to have so many dedicated employees that have a passion for our community,” said Flora. “We love seeing our officers and staff step up to new challenges and I am proud of how many employees have followed their dreams by moving up within the Clearlake organization. Congratulations to both Capt. Celli and CSO Constancio in their new role.”

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.
Chief Andrew White and Community Service Officer Daniel Constancio after his swearing in at the Clearlake City Council meeting on Thursday, April 11, 2019. Photo by Alan Flora.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday will get a report on police statistics for the first quarter of this year, consider taking positions on state bills and also discuss an agreement for a water program.

The council will meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, to discuss labor negotiations and property at 810 Main St. before the open session convenes at 6 p.m.

On the agenda, Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen will present to the council the police statistics report for the first quarter of 2019.

Rasmussen also will ask the council to offer support for SB 230 and oppose AB 392, including approving a resolution and directing the mayor to sign a letter to be sent to appropriate members of the California Assembly and Senate.

According to Rasmussen’s report, SB 230 (Caballero), “is a comprehensive measure focused on building upon existing efforts to improve outcomes during law enforcement officers’ involvement in serious use of force incidents, while SB 392 (Weber) “mandates an in-hindsight standard be used to hold officers criminally liable for using force when responding to life-or-death situations.”

Also on Tuesday, Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will present to the council the agreement providing for implementation and maintenance of the Lake County Clean Water Program.

Ingram is seeking the agreement’s approval and the appointment of one council member as the designated city representative and one as an alternate to the program management council.

In other business, City Manager Margaret Silveira will seek the council’s approval of addendum No. 1 to the BiCoastal Media Summer Concert agreement to allow a food and wine court to this year’s concert series.

Public Works Director Doug Grider will seek approval for a utility truck for his department and ask the council to adopt a proposed resolution approving the city’s SB 1 Project List for fiscal year 2019-20 and direct staff to submit to the California Transportation Commission.

Also on Tuesday, Mayor Tim Barnes will present proclamations declaring April 2019 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on April 2; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the Mendocino Complex fire; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the February 2019 storms; approval of event application WP 2019-001, with staff recommendations, for the 2019 Grillin’ on the Green event; approval of event application 2019-015, with staff recommendations, for the 2019 Library Park Farmer’s Market; approval of the agreement with the Lake County Tourism Improvement District for administrative services and authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement; authorization for staff to temporarily fill a police sergeant position with a police officer but leave position budgeted as sergeant; authorization for out-of-state travel as requested by the city manager and community development director to attend RECon – the Global Retail Real Estate Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada May 20 to 21.

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.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The American Red Cross of the California Northwest will be honoring 10 inspirational community members – including a Lake County veterans advocate – for their lasting impact on the community at its 16th annual Real Heroes Breakfast.

The event will take place on Friday, May 17, from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Wine Country in Santa Rosa.

After careful consideration, a committee of local community leaders selected the 2019 California Northwest Red Cross Real Hero Award recipients based on the degree to which their acts of heroism uphold the values of the American Red Cross and leave a lasting and positive impact on the residents of the Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma counties.

Among those chosen is Frank Parker of Lucerne, a veteran and longtime advocate for other veterans through his work with the United Veterans Council and Vet Connect. Parker was chosen as “Service to the Armed Forces Hero.”

Parker has been the driving force behind providing support and services to homeless and nearly homeless veterans in Lake County for the past six years.

His organization, Stand Down, hosts events offering health screenings, transitional housing vouchers, sleeping bags, hygiene kits and information about how to sign up for VA benefits. He is now working with veteran groups in Santa Rosa to start a similar event there.

Other heroes who will be honored at this year’s breakfast are:

– Service to Animals/Animal Rescue Heroes: Dr. Christi, Moncho and Diego Camblor.
– Disaster Services Hero: Jeff Okrepkie.
– Environment Hero: John Shelter.
– First Responder (Citizen Rescue) Hero: Daniel Hungerford.
– Healthcare Hero: Brandie Wilson.
– Humanitarian Adult Hero: Elizabeth Quiroz-Vasquez.
– Humanitarian Youth Hero: Liam Richardson.
– Service to the Armed Forces Hero: Frank Parker.

The Real Heroes Breakfast is a signature event in support of the lifesaving programs and emergency services the local chapter provides to the nearly one million residents in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties. Table sponsorships and individual tickets are still available. To purchase tickets and for more information about the event, please go to www.redcross.org/CalNWHeroes or call 707-577-7600.

Additional information about the other honorees are below.

2019 RED CROSS CALIFORNIA NORTHWEST REAL HEROES

Service to Animals/Animal Rescue Heroes: Dr. Christi, Moncho and Diego Camblor (Sonoma County)
In 2001, Santa Rosa veterinarian Dr. Christi Camblor and her husband Moncho created the nonprofit Compassion Without Borders (CWOB) to save as many dogs as possible in areas where they suffer and are euthanized in extremely high numbers. Their nine-year-old son, Diego, helps to foster special-needs dogs at home and is the “kid-friendly barometer” so dogs will be placed appropriately.

Disaster Services Hero: Jeff Okrepkie (Sonoma County)
After losing his home in the Coffey Park neighborhood to the Tubbs fire in 2017, Jeff Okrepkie founded the Coffey Strong community group to help his fellow neighbors organize, rise from the ashes, and rebuild. He also traveled to Redding and Paradise to help those in need with their fire recovery. Jeff turned the darkest time in his life into advocacy for people devastated by natural disasters, especially wildfires.

Environment Hero: John Shelter (Humboldt County)
John Shelter, Founder and Director of The People of New Directions, conducts environmental cleanups in sensitive ecological areas by employing homeless individuals. In 8 years, New Directions has properly disposed of 50 TONS of garbage. New Directions educates and trains the homeless and functions as a conduit and monitor in uniting the community to protect fragile wetlands.

First Responder (Citizen Rescue) Hero: Daniel Hungerford (Del Norte County)
In October 2018, Daniel Hungerford saved an elderly neighbor from a home fire. Daniel heard his neighbor yelling “smoke.” Realizing she would not be able to evacuate unassisted, Daniel ran into the apartment only to be blocked by a coffee table in flames. He threw it across the room and found his neighbor lying helplessly on the floor. He quickly picked her up and carried her out the front door with only seconds to spare.

Healthcare Hero: Brandie Wilson (Humboldt County)
Brandie Wilson, who once battled substance abuse and homelessness, rose above tough circumstances and created the Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction to assist others in recovery. With counseling, meals, health care clinics, and new clothes, the center has been able to move people from volunteer positions to stipend peer leader posts and into regular paying jobs.

Humanitarian Adult Hero: Elizabeth Quiroz-Vasquez (Sonoma County)
Elizabeth Quiroz-Vasquez is the President of the Second Chance Club, a group at the Santa Rosa Junior College who welcome students with a similar history to her own of substance abuse, alcoholism, arrests, and incarceration. She is also on the Sonoma County Task Force for Human Trafficking and formed the first support group in the community for survivors of sex trafficking.

Humanitarian Youth Hero: Liam Richardson (Sonoma County)
Liam Richardson is a fifteen-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome and a powerful advocate for individuals with special needs. Liam's efforts brought to life the Miracle League playground and ballpark in Petaluma for special needs children and adults. He continues to act as an ambassador and spokesperson for disabled kids, their siblings, and friends, leading talks and speaking before community groups.
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LUCERNE, Calif. – California Water Service filed an application with the California Public Utilities Commission on Monday that will result in bill decreases for the utility’s Lucerne customers.

The filing implements various ratemaking mechanisms that company officials said will ensure customer bills continue to reflect the true cost to provide water service.

For the typical residential Lucerne customer who uses 2,992 gallons, or 4 ccf, of water per month, the monthly bill will decrease by $5.63.

Because Lucerne customers are billed for water service every two months, they would see a decrease of $11.26 on the bimonthly bill, the company said.

Included in the application is a 12-month credit to reflect lower capital financing costs and changes in the federal tax law from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2018.

In July 2018, Cal Water reduced customer rates going forward due to these changes; the utility also tracked their effect in order to enable customer savings to go back to the first half of 2018.

The filing also includes a surcharge to reconcile the difference between actual and forecasted water system costs in 2017 and 2018, due to variations in water consumption and water supply costs, along with a surcharge for expenses incurred in 2016 and 2017 for programs implemented to support customers’ efforts to meet state-mandated water-use reduction requirements.

The surcharges, both running for 12 months, are less than the credit, however, resulting in lower water bills.

“At Cal Water, we are committed to providing a reliable supply of safe, high-quality water to the Lucerne community,” said Evan Markey, Cal Water’s Redwood Valley district manager. “As a regulated utility, our customers’ bills reflect the true cost of providing water service, and we’re pleased to pass along these savings to our valued customers. It’s part of our promise to always provide quality, service and value.”

Cal Water serves approximately 3,200 people through 1,900 service connections in the Redwood Valley area and about 2 million people through 484,900 service connections in California. The utility has provided water service in the area since 2000.

Additional information may be obtained online at www.calwater.com.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport this week is holding the second in a series of meetings to design a new waterfront park.

The meeting will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at City Hall, 225 Park St.

The city is planning to apply to the state for funds from Proposition 68 – the Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018 – to fund a new lakeside park at the former Natural High School property, located at 810 N. Main St., as Lake County News has reported.

Thursday’s meeting is the second of four that are planned to receive public input regarding the proposed park’s design.

The city said workshop participants will be asked to create a prioritized list of park features to include in the design of the park.

Participants also will be allotted a set number of points and will have to determine how to “spend” their points on the set of park features presented

Community members are encouraged to participate in an online survey, available in both English and Spanish, which can be found here.

For more information contact the Lakeport Community Development Department at 707-263-5615, Extension 204, or email 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.

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