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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Pearl Harbor Survivors Chapter 23 North Lake County will observe the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Thursday, Dec. 7.
In what is widely reported by organizers to be the last planned event, the annual ceremony will begin at Library Park in Lakeport at 9 a.m. before moving across the street to Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St., from 9:15 to 10 a.m.
Honorary Pearl Harbor Survivor Ronnie Bogner will act as master of ceremonies.
Military Chaplain Dr. Herman “Woody” Hughes will give the invocation and the Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team will perform honors including a rifle volley.
Kelseyville High student Teara Hall will sing the national anthem, the Boy Scouts will raise the flag and lower it to half-mast at the Pearl Harbor Survivors Memorial Mast and there will be a video presentation by John Jensen of Lake County News.
After the ceremonies, a public luncheon will take place at the Boathouse Restaurant & Bar, located at 2685 Lakeshore Blvd. in Nice.
The no-host luncheon will start at noon and reservations are requested by Dec. 4 by calling Janeane Bogner at 707-998-3280
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Bike Angels United is fundraising for its bicycle giveaway to benefit Sulphur fire survivors that will be held early in the new year.
The event will begin at noon on Jan. 20 at Tatonka Trading, 14240 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
It’s the group’s sixth bike giveaway in Lake County. The efforts began in the wake of the county’s devastating wildland fires.
Organizer Candy Alcott said the all-volunteer group is fundraising over the next two months in order to provide bikes to children and adults.
Alcott said Bike Angels members are seeking donations of new bikes or used bikes in good condition, as well as helmets.
She said that so far she has a list of more than 50 potential recipients, and is seeking to sign up all Sulphur fire survivors as she can.
After all fire survivors receive bikes at the event, Alcott will ask all community members who were evacuated to come forward to also receive bikes, with any remaining bikes to be given to Clearlake residents.
To sign up to receive a bicycle, visit Tatonka Trading, contact Bike Angels United on Facebook, or contact Alcott on Facebook or at 850-737-7372.
The event will begin at noon on Jan. 20 at Tatonka Trading, 14240 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
It’s the group’s sixth bike giveaway in Lake County. The efforts began in the wake of the county’s devastating wildland fires.
Organizer Candy Alcott said the all-volunteer group is fundraising over the next two months in order to provide bikes to children and adults.
Alcott said Bike Angels members are seeking donations of new bikes or used bikes in good condition, as well as helmets.
She said that so far she has a list of more than 50 potential recipients, and is seeking to sign up all Sulphur fire survivors as she can.
After all fire survivors receive bikes at the event, Alcott will ask all community members who were evacuated to come forward to also receive bikes, with any remaining bikes to be given to Clearlake residents.
To sign up to receive a bicycle, visit Tatonka Trading, contact Bike Angels United on Facebook, or contact Alcott on Facebook or at 850-737-7372.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported that it continues to make steady progress on the Consolidated Debris Removal Program in Northern California following the October 2017 wildfires.
The program is a two-phase process.
Phase I is the removal of household hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency in Sonoma and Napa counties and by the California Department of Toxic Substance Control in Lake and Mendocino counties.
Phase II is the removal of other fire-related debris from structures destroyed by the fire, and is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Steady progress continues on both phases of debris removal in Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties over the past few weeks.
Overall, USACE has processed 4,813 rights of entry and cleared more than 288,055 tons of debris from 880 properties in Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma and Napa counties.
Over the next few weeks, USACE will award two new contracts by mid-December that will have significantly more capacity to sustain the debris removal mission through completion.
USACE remains committed to completing the mission in early 2018 to help communities prepare for rebuilding.
Property owners with questions about eligibility, operations or other concerns can contact the USACE Debris Removal Information Line at 877-875-7681.
The program is a two-phase process.
Phase I is the removal of household hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency in Sonoma and Napa counties and by the California Department of Toxic Substance Control in Lake and Mendocino counties.
Phase II is the removal of other fire-related debris from structures destroyed by the fire, and is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Steady progress continues on both phases of debris removal in Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties over the past few weeks.
Overall, USACE has processed 4,813 rights of entry and cleared more than 288,055 tons of debris from 880 properties in Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma and Napa counties.
Over the next few weeks, USACE will award two new contracts by mid-December that will have significantly more capacity to sustain the debris removal mission through completion.
USACE remains committed to completing the mission in early 2018 to help communities prepare for rebuilding.
Property owners with questions about eligibility, operations or other concerns can contact the USACE Debris Removal Information Line at 877-875-7681.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County’s retiring health officer received honors during her last appearance in her official capacity before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
Dr. Karen Tait, who has served as health officer since April 2008, is retiring this week.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors presented a proclamation expressing thanks and gratitude to Tait for her years of dedicated service to Lake County.
Vice Chair Jim Steele read the proclamation to Tait, who was joined by county staff, including Department of Health Services Director Denise Pomeroy and Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski.
The proclamation lauded Tait for her mentorship to her department and other county agencies on issues including cyanobacteria, H25, rabies and West Nile virus, her services as board commissioner with Partnership HealthPlan and the support she gave to Public Health nursing staff.
As part of the emergency preparedness program, she’s worked to make sure Lake and its neighboring counties “strengthened their ability to effectively respond to public health threats including infectious diseases, natural disasters, biological, chemical, nuclear and radiological events,” and also was medical health operational area coordinator during Lake County’s
disasters in order to assess immediate medical needs and coordinate medical and health resources, Steele said.
In her capacity as health officer, the proclamation said Tait has worked closely with both the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and California Forensic Medical Group to assure the health and medical care of jail inmates meets inmate needs and state regulations, while also working with local hospitals and clinics, fire districts and the American Red Cross.
The proclamation said Tait also was instrumental in identifying Rickettsia 364-D, a tickborne condition that causes illness associated with eschars, which are instances of dead tissue, according to a paper she co-authored in 2010 which can be found at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/41027089_Rickettsia_364D_A_Newly_Recognized_Cause_of_Eschar-Associated_Illness_in_California.
The county proclamation also credited Tait with pulling together the first Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER survey.
Tait also is a member of a local ham radio group.
Steele said Tait will be greatly missed.
“I think you’ve convinced me I am just a workhorse and I’m ready for a rest,” said Tait, who explained that when she became health officer she resolved she would work hard until retirement.
She said Lake County has a lot of community members and groups who support public health and which gave her a tremendous amount of help, in addition to the assistance she has received from her staff.
Pomeroy thanked Tait for her 10 years of service, describing her as “courageous, spunky, funny and one of the most intelligent people I’ve had the opportunity to work with.”
Board members also specifically thanked her, including Supervisor Rob Brown who recalled her work during the county’s fires, which he called “amazing.”
Afterward, Tait, joined by Ruminski, received the board’s extension of a proclamation of a local health emergency she initially made in October in response to the Sulphur fire.
Tait said she recommended the proclamation – which must be continued every two weeks – be extended until the fire debris removal is completed.
The board has authorized the appointment of Dr. Gary Pace to act as Lake County’s interim health officer. Pace takes over the roles as of Dec. 2 and continuing until Tait’s successor is selected.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The annual “Christmas in Middletown” event will take place this year on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 4 to 8 p.m.
Sponsored by the Middletown Area Merchants Association, this free event lets friends and families celebrate the season together along with local businesses and organizations, filling the streets of Middletown with cheer, rain or shine.
Nonprofit organizations set up booths with goodies, crafts, and gift-wrapping services on the streets and at the high school cafeteria, to raise funds for their good works.
The town looks festive with decorated merchant storefronts and business-sponsored Christmas trees that are decorated by area schoolchildren.
The trees are later donated to local families in need through Spirit of the Season.
Santa Claus arrives at 5:15 p.m. at Middletown Park on an old-fashioned fire truck where he helps with singing carols.
Afterward, he meets children from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and Mrs. Claus gives each a stuffed animal, courtesy of Hospice Services.
Nearby is a free hot chocolate bar and craft table for kids, donated and run by the Middletown Seventh-Day Adventist School.
In the free “Passport for Fun” program, participants visit member businesses and collect passport stamps for a chance to win a prize.
This year, prizes include two firepits donated by Hardester’s Markets and gift certificates from area businesses.
Individual businesses compete for “best decorated” storefront, and they pass out their own refreshments to passersby. It’s a perfect small-town event.
Find out more at the Middletown Area Merchants Association Web site at www.middletownareamerchants.com.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Association of Realtors reported that the number of sales in October slowed down when compared to September 2017 and October 2016.
Sixty-nine single family residences sold in October with 86 selling in September, a decrease of over 19 percent, the association said.
In October 2016 there were 75 sales accounting for an 8 percent decrease in sales on a year to year comparison, according to the report.
The association said the October median sales price was $250,000 which was up 6.7 percent over the September median, but down 3.85 percent from the October 2016 median.
“Year to date, the 2017 median sales price in Lake County has increased 1 percent over 2016,” commented Bobby Dutcher, 2017 LCAOR president. “With the California Association of Realtors forecasting the same percentage increase statewide for 2018 we can expect the 2018 market to look similar to 2017 provided that the final tax reform proposal is more favorable to homeownership than current versions.”
Financing purchases through loans versus cash continue to rise slowly over time. A year ago it was not uncommon to see over 30 percent of the transactions financed through cash, but in 2017 cash financing has dipped to over 20 percent of the deals.
Inventory levels dipped to 5.2 months from 6.0 months in September, but were at the same level (5.2 months) in October 2016. The statewide inventory levels for October were 3.4 months.
The California Association of Realtors, or CAR, reported existing, single-family home sales totaled 431,020 in October on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, up 0.8 percent from September and down 3.4 percent from October 2016.
October’s statewide median home price was $546,430 down 1.6 percent from September and up 6.1 percent from October 2016, CAR said.
Mortgage rates edged higher in October as 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 3.90 percent in October, up from 3.81 percent in September and from 3.47 percent in October 2016, according to Freddie Mac.
CAR reported that the five-year, adjustable-rate mortgage interest rate also ticked higher in October to an average of 3.18 percent from 3.16 percent in September and from 2.83 percent in October 2016.
LAKE COUNTY NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
October 2017
Median price: $250,000
Median days to sell: 36
Units sold: 69
September 2017
Median price: $234,250
Median days to sell: 47
Units sold: 86
October 2016
Median price: $260,000
Median days to sell: 69
Units sold: 75
Sixty-nine single family residences sold in October with 86 selling in September, a decrease of over 19 percent, the association said.
In October 2016 there were 75 sales accounting for an 8 percent decrease in sales on a year to year comparison, according to the report.
The association said the October median sales price was $250,000 which was up 6.7 percent over the September median, but down 3.85 percent from the October 2016 median.
“Year to date, the 2017 median sales price in Lake County has increased 1 percent over 2016,” commented Bobby Dutcher, 2017 LCAOR president. “With the California Association of Realtors forecasting the same percentage increase statewide for 2018 we can expect the 2018 market to look similar to 2017 provided that the final tax reform proposal is more favorable to homeownership than current versions.”
Financing purchases through loans versus cash continue to rise slowly over time. A year ago it was not uncommon to see over 30 percent of the transactions financed through cash, but in 2017 cash financing has dipped to over 20 percent of the deals.
Inventory levels dipped to 5.2 months from 6.0 months in September, but were at the same level (5.2 months) in October 2016. The statewide inventory levels for October were 3.4 months.
The California Association of Realtors, or CAR, reported existing, single-family home sales totaled 431,020 in October on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, up 0.8 percent from September and down 3.4 percent from October 2016.
October’s statewide median home price was $546,430 down 1.6 percent from September and up 6.1 percent from October 2016, CAR said.
Mortgage rates edged higher in October as 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 3.90 percent in October, up from 3.81 percent in September and from 3.47 percent in October 2016, according to Freddie Mac.
CAR reported that the five-year, adjustable-rate mortgage interest rate also ticked higher in October to an average of 3.18 percent from 3.16 percent in September and from 2.83 percent in October 2016.
LAKE COUNTY NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
October 2017
Median price: $250,000
Median days to sell: 36
Units sold: 69
September 2017
Median price: $234,250
Median days to sell: 47
Units sold: 86
October 2016
Median price: $260,000
Median days to sell: 69
Units sold: 75