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