Gene Paleno. Courtesy photo. KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Saturday, Sept. 23, the docents and volunteers of the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum will welcome Gene Paleno to talk about his new book “The Wish Machine.”
Paleno was raised on a farm near Detroit, Mich., in the early 1930s, a son of Italian immigrants. He learned to drive in an old Model T Ford, and worked on his family's rural farm.
He served in the US Navy during World War II and then taught school after graduating from Michigan State University in 1946.
In the early 1950s, during the aerospace industry boom, the entire Paleno family packed up and relocated to California.
He raised his family in Southern California where he began his career in art, then sales and marketing.
Later in life, Paleno fell in love and married a second time to a beautiful Dixieland musical entertainer. They built a small farm in Upper California and enjoyed life together for many years.
Paleno embraces every day at age 90.
He began to write stories more than 30 years ago.
“As a writer, science fiction was my first love,” he said. “I’ve written a score of science fiction novels exploring time travel, artificial intelligence, alien life and everything in between. I am proud to share my first science fiction book – in print. I hope you enjoy it.”
He continues to write and looks forward to publishing all of his stories.
The Lake County Historical Society’s Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near the Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29-Kit's Corner. Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.
Living History events are held on the fourth Saturday of each month and begin at noon.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters on Sunday were able to quickly contain and extinguish two small vegetation fires, one in Lower Lake and one in Clearlake.
The first occurred in the 19000 block of Morgan Valley Road in Lower Lake at around noon, according to Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta.
Sapeta said an individual was mowing in the middle of the day when he hit a rock, sparking the fire.
Firefighters were able to stop the fire quickly and keep it to only a small spot, Sapeta said.
He reminded area residents that until the rains arrive they should still not be mowing after 10 a.m., and when they do mow, they should walk the area first to look for rocks.
While vegetation retains some moisture early in the morning, by midday it’s dry and primed, Sapeta said.
The second incident, another grass fire, occurred at around 1:30 p.m. in the area of Eureka and 43rd Avenue in Clearlake, Sapeta said.
The fire was behind a house in a creekbed drainage, he said.
“We got pretty lucky there,” he said, with firefighters quickly containing it to about an eighth of an acre.
He said the scene was still being processed on Sunday evening in order to determine a cause.
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, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will consider approving a letter asking the governor to sign a new blue ribbon panel to support improving the health of Clear Lake.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, 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.
The letter to Gov. Jerry Brown regarding AB 707 is part of this week’s board consent agenda.
The bill would establish the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake.
In other business, at 9:10 a.m., the board will present a proclamation declaring Friday, Sept. 22, as Native American Day in Lake County.
Also on Tuesday, in an item timed for 9:16 a.m. the board will consider continuing a proclamation of a declaration of a local emergency due to wildfire conditions, pertaining to the Rocky, Jerusalem and Valley fires, and get an update from staff on the Valley Fire Debris Insurance Collection Project.
In an untimed item, the board also will consider its response to the 2016-17 Grand Jury Final Report.
The full agenda is below.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Adopt a proclamation declaring Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, as Native American Day in Lake County, Calif.
7.2: Approve and sign the letter requesting Gov. Brown sign AB 707, which would establish the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake.
7.3: Approve leave of absence request for Mary Ramus, Environmental Health specialist, from Oct. 6 to 8 or until such time as the Environmental Health Department has completed a recruitment and is ready to make an offer of employment to fill the position, whichever date is sooner.
7.4: Approve leave of absence request for June Richmond, eligibility worker, from Aug. 31, to Oct. 25, 2017.
7.5: Adopt Resolution Approving the AIDS Drug Assistance Program Site Enrollment Agreement between the California Department of Public Health and the county of Lake for fiscal years 2016-2019 and authorize the Health Services director to sign.
7.6: (a) Authorize the Health Services Department to offer applicant interview travel expense reimbursement of up to a maximum of $1,500 and to increase the current relocation reimbursement from $1,000 to $2,000 for health officer, deputy health officer and Environmental Health director positions; and (b) approve request of a waiver of the current county policy for new employee relocation expense to allow an increased reimbursement from “up to $1,000” to “up to $2,000” for a relocation more than 700 miles for the three positions listed above.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of a proclamation declaring Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, as Native American Day in Lake County, Calif.
8.3, 9:16 a.m.: (a) Consideration of continuation of a proclamation of a declaration of a local emergency due to wildfire conditions, pertaining to the Rocky, Jerusalem and Valley fires; and (b) update on Valley Fire Debris Insurance Collection Project.
8.4, 9:17 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a proclamation of a declaration of a local emergency due to Clayton fire.
8.5, 9:18 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a proclamation of a declaration of a local emergency due to the atmospheric river storm.
8.6, 9:30 a.m.: Hearing, consideration of proposed notice of assessment and recordation of lien for nuisance abatement, in the amount of $4,757.42, on property located at 12542 Oak Street, Clearlake Oaks (APN 035-152-41 - Darryl Wienke).
8.7, 9:45 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of a resolution amending the master fee schedule for departmental services rendered by the county.
8.8, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from Aug. 22, Aug. 1 and June 27. Consideration of a proposed ordinance amending Article 72 of the Lake County Code to allow the outdoor collective cultivation of medical cannabis in "RL" Rural Lands and to create a certification of compliance process for cannabis cultivation.
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Discussion and board direction regarding Congressman Jared Huffman's Potter Valley Ad Hoc Committee.
9.3: Consideration of response to the 2016-17 Grand Jury Final Report.
9.4: Consideration of (a) update on Amendment No.1 to the contract agreement between the county of lake and the fire protection districts for dispatch services; (b) update on Lake Red Net radio frequency and possible direction to staff; and (c) rescission of first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and the fire protection districts for dispatch services.
9.5: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District, consideration of an agreement between Lake County Watershed Protection District and Stetson Engineers Inc. for a water availability analysis for the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project, and authorize the chair to sign.
CLOSED SESSION
10.1: Public employee evaluations: Water Resources Director Phil Moy.
10.2: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(2), (e)(3) – Claim of PG&E.
10.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – Loberg v. County of Lake, et al.
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, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week is set to consider and discuss the recently completed Lakefront Revitalization Plan and options for solar-based energy upgrades.
The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will take to the council a proposed resolution approving the Lakeport Lakefront Revitalization Plan.
On Tuesday the board also will review a proposed scope of work prepared by OpTerra Energy Systems to implement solar and other energy conservation measures at various city facilities.
As part of that item, the council will consider authorizing City Manager Margaret Silveira to negotiate and execute a program development agreement with the company for an amount not to exceed $25,000, subject to legal review.
Also on Tuesday, Finance Director Nick Walker will present a proposed resolution that authorizes him and Silveira to work with the financing team to refinance the prior bonds by issuing wastewater revenue refunding bonds with a principal amount of approximately $3 million.
In other business, the council will consider authorizing the city manager to execute the proposed professional services agreements with James Bauman dba Pacific Quest Investigations; Gary R. Buchholz dba LACO Investigation; Cline Investigations, LLC; and Bob Nishiyama Investigations.
Additionally, the city will present certificates of appreciation to the sponsors of the 2017 National Night Out event, held in August.
Items 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 Sept. 5; adoption of the proposed resolution accepting construction of the Giselman Street Waterline Replacement Project, Bid 17-01 by Green Right O’Way Constructors Inc., and authorization of the filing of the notice of completion; and approval of Application 2017-029 with staff recommendations for the Konocti Challenge Cycling event to take place on city streets Oct. 7, 2017.
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, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has a mix of cats and kittens who are ready for new homes this week.
This week’s featured felines include two that are offered for adoption for free thanks to an anonymous donor.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
For those looking for a barn cat to keep the rodents at bay, be sure to ask about the barn cat adoption program. Feral barn cats are adopted out for $1 each, which includes altering, ear notching and vaccines.
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
This female domestic short hair kitten is in kennel No. 11a, ID No. 8524. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair kitten
This female domestic short hair kitten has a black and white coat and gold eyes.
She’s in kennel No. 11a, ID No. 8524.
This female domestic short hair kitten is in kennel No. 11b, ID No. 8525. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair kitten
This female domestic short hair kitten has a black and white coat and gold eyes.
She’s in kennel No. 11b, ID No. 8525.
“Oscar” is a young male domestic short hair mix cat in kennel No. 16, ID No. 8412. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Oscar’
“Oscar” is a young male domestic short hair with a gray coat and gold eyes.
He is offered for adoption for free with an approved application thanks to an anonymous donor.
Shelter staff said he is feisty so is not recommended for homes with children under age 8.
He’s in kennel No. 16, ID No. 8412.
This female adult domestic short hair cat is in kennel No. 53, ID No. 8527. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair cat
This female adult domestic short hair cat has a gray and white coat and gold eyes.
She’s in kennel No. 53, ID No. 8527.
This male domestic medium hair mix kitten is in kennel No. 111b, ID No. 8228. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control.
Domestic medium hair mix kitten
This male domestic medium hair mix kitten has a black coat and green eyes.
He is offered for adoption for free with an approved application thanks to an anonymous donor.
He’s in kennel No. 111b, ID No. 8228.
“O’Malley” is a male domestic short hair kitten is in Kennel No. 128, ID No. 8276. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘O’Malley’
“O’Malley” is a male domestic short hair kitten with an orange tabby and white coat, and he’s one of the three cats offered free for adoption with an approved application.
Shelter staff said he has had one eye removed.
He’s a sweet kitten that gets along with dogs.
He’s in Kennel No. 128, ID No. 8276.
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
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.
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Fire crews are winding down operations on the Slides and Skeleton fires on the Upper Lake District of the Mendocino National Forest, officials said Sunday.
The 200-acre Skeleton fire is four miles east of Lake Pillsbury and 100-percent contained while the 50-acre Slides fire, located four miles west of Lake Pillsbury, is 90-percent contained, according to forest spokeswoman Sandra Moore.
Moore said fire personnel assigned to the incidents will remain on scene mopping up and repairing fire lines.
On Monday there will be one crew and one engine working on each fire, she said.
Visitors traveling around the fire locations are reminded to watch for personnel and equipment on forest roads, Moore said.
Moore said Forest Order No. 08-17-27 that closed the Lower Nye Campground and a portion of the M3 Road from its junction with the M10 Road and then north 14 1/2 miles to the Lower Nye Campground will be lifted Monday.
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