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LAKEPORT, Calif. — Hospice Services of Lake County invites individuals and teams to “go take a hike” during the third annual Hike for Hospice on Saturday, June 10.
The event will take place at Highland Springs Park, 3600 E. Highland Springs Road, Lakeport.
The yearly event is a fundraiser for Hospice Services, providing funding for the agency’s grief counseling, family bereavement camps and school-based children’s grief groups.
Hike for Hospice is a family-oriented event, organizers noted. Trails offer the option of “mostly gentle” one-, two-, three- and five-mile treks.
Sign-in at the park will start at 8:30 a.m., and hikes will begin at 8:45 a.m. (five-mile hikes) and 9 a.m. (all others).
Each hiker is asked to get pledges or collect donations in advance from friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. All donations are tax-deductible. Each participant with more than $25 in pledges will receive an event T-shirt.
Registration packets are available at the Hospice Thrift Stores, 1717 South Main St., Lakeport; 14290 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake; and 21257 Calistoga Road, Middletown.
Individuals, businesses and organizations are encouraged to form teams for prizes and “for the fun of it” this year, event organizers said. Prizes will be awarded in several categories such as largest number of hikers on a team, most money raised by a team, most clever hiking attire, and most interesting team theme.
Hikes will be followed by refreshments and music provided by Hospice Services.
For registration information, call 707-263-6270, Extension 111, visit Hospice Services’ Web site at http://www.lakecountyhospice.org or send an email to
Janine Smith-Citron is development specialist for Hospice Services of Lake County.
Californians haven’t been this excited about getting away for Memorial Day weekend since 2005, according to AAA’s first travel forecast of the summer.
AAA projects more than 4.8 million Californians will be traveling for the upcoming three-day weekend, a 3.4 percent increase from last year and the most in more than a decade. More than 5 million Californians took a Memorial Day trip in 2005.
“The positive growth we’ve seen throughout the travel industry this year is moving into summer,” said John Moreno, spokesperson for AAA Northern California. “Strong consumer confidence has led to more spending, and more people will be spending money on travel this Memorial Day.”
AAA projects that 39.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home this Memorial Day weekend. That is one million more travelers than last year taking to the roads, skies, rails and water, creating the highest Memorial Day travel volume nationwide since 2005.
The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 25, to Monday, May 29.
By the numbers: Memorial Day travel forecast
• California has had continuous growth in Memorial Day travel since 2011.
• About 4 million Californians will drive to their destinations, an increase of almost 3 percent over last year.
• Almost 500,000 California residents will be flying, a 6 percent increase over 2016.
• The top domestic destinations for Memorial Day weekend, based on AAA travel bookings, are Orlando, Seattle, Las Vegas, New York and Honolulu.
Travelers still hitting the road despite higher gas prices
While AAA expects most U.S. drivers will pay the highest Memorial Day gas prices since 2015, the vast majority of holiday travelers (88.1 percent) are still planning to hit the road.
Automobile travel will grow by 2.4 percent this Memorial Day, with 34.6 million Americans planning a holiday road trip. The California statewide average price for a gallon of gas today is $2.98.
More Americans are planning to rent cars for their holiday road trips this year. AAA’s car rental bookings are 19 percent higher than last Memorial Day.
According to Hertz, the busiest day for car rental pick-ups is expected to be Friday, May 26, based on last year’s data.
Large increases in flying and travel by other modes this Memorial Day
While road trips continue to reign supreme for Memorial Day, more Americans will fly, ride the train or bus, or take a cruise vacation compared to last year.
Air travel is expected to increase 5.5 percent over last year, with 2.9 million Americans taking to the skies this Memorial Day. Travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will increase 2.9 percent, to 1.75 million travelers.
Airfares, hotel and car rental rates on the rise
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes will be 9 percent higher this Memorial Day, with an average round trip ticket landing at $181.
Hotel costs have also increased since last Memorial Day, with the average AAA Three Diamond Rated hotel costing $215, or 18 percent more than last year. Daily car rental rates will average $66, which is 7 percent more than last year.
AAA to rescue more than 330,000 motorists this Memorial Day
AAA expects to rescue more than 330,000 motorists this Memorial Day weekend, with the primary reasons being lockouts, flat tires and battery-related issues.
AAA recommends motorists have their vehicles inspected by a trusted repair shop, such as one of the more than 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America. Members can download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Members of local law enforcement and fire agencies gathered with community members on Friday evening to honor the men and women across the national and locally who lost their lives while protecting the public.
The Lake County Safety Office Memorial Service took place at the Lake County Memorial Park in front of the Historic Courthouse Museum in downtown Lakeport Friday evening.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office chaplains hosted the event once again this year.
Chaplain Terry Cara said the gathering was a way of remembering the special people who protect others.
Troop 39 Scout Master Bill Green offered a welcome, telling law enforcement and firefighters, “You guys are running into danger while everybody is running away from danger.”
He said it takes a special kind of a person to do that, and that despite a lot of negativity toward law enforcement, they are loved and appreciated.
His Boy Scouts handed out patches to firefighters and law enforcement officers, as well as retirees, who attended the event.
Sheriff Brian Martin in turn shook each Boy Scout’s hand and gave them sheriff’s office challenge coins.
Cara said that nationwide in 2016, 145 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty, as did 89 firefighters. Additionally, 63 police K9s died while in service.
“Each life lost is tragic,” Cara said, explaining that each of the officers and firefighters had taken a solemn oath to protect the public.
During the event, candles were lit in memory of those who died. Pastor Shannon Kimbell-Auth, another sheriff’s chaplain, said they included lighted candles because, as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. has said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”
“We have each known the darkness of grief,” Kimbell-Auth said.
Kimbell-Auth also quoted the words of Jesus Christ, who said there is no greater love than to lay one’s life down for one’s friends.
Lt. Hector Paredes, commander of the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office, read the names of the 11 public safety officers and five K9s who died in California last year, with a bell rung for each name at the end of the reading.
Cal Fire Division Chief Greg Bertelli read the names of the California firefighters who died last year, with each of them also honored with the ringing of the bell.
The ceremony then moved to the “end of watch” remembrance for the five Lake County public safety officers who died in the line of duty.
Sheriff Martin read the story of Sheriff George Kemp, 56, who was shot in the chest and mortally wounded on Thursday, May 10, 1910, by one of two suspects in a horse theft and burglary case that he was attempting to arrest. He died later that day.
Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta honored Fireman Michael Mattioda, 19, who died on July 14, 1984, after being badly burned while fighting the Mount Baldy Fire in Clearlake.
Martin also shared the story of Deputy Sheriff William Hoyt, 52, who died on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 1967. Hoyt, who was unarmed, was shot in the Lake County Courthouse by a prisoner who had grabbed another deputy’s gun and began firing on the way into the courtroom. Hoyt staggered to a counter, retrieved a pistol and retired fire, shooting a prisoner. Hoyt died later that same day of his injuries.
Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison read the story about 20-year-old Matthew Black, a volunteer firefighter with Lakeport Fire who died on June 23, 1999. Black was electrocuted by a live power line while working on a grass fire.
The last story recounted was that of Sgt. Richard Helbush, 34, who Martin said died on Saturday, May 2, 1981. Helbush was shot three times in the back and once in the head when he stopped to help two motorists, Robert Cox and Annika Deasy, in a remote area along Highway 29.
Helbush didn’t know that Cox and Deasy were wanted on suspicion of murdering a Stockton restaurateur. They later were taken into custody after a high speed chase and shootout involving then-Sheriff’s Deputy Don Anderson, now the county’s district attorney.
Cox later took his own life in jail, while Deasy served 27 years in prison before being returned to her home country of Sweden. She was released from custody there on May 2, 2011, the 30th anniversary of Helbush’s shooting, Martin said.
Both Anderson and former Sheriff Ray Benevedes were on hand for the ceremony, with Martin noting their presence as a way of illustrating that the names of those who died in service were not forgotten.
Cara then read the names of three other men who served the county – retired Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Jake Steely and California High Patrol Sgt. Matt Norton – who died over the last year and a half. Their deaths did not occur while on duty.
The ceremony ended with a prayer by Chaplain Rick Barnes, the playing of “Taps” by Bill Vann of the Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team and a final benediction and prayer by Chaplain Mike Suski.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Book lovers of all ages are invited to “Read by Design” with the Lake County Library's 2017 Summer Reading Program.
The program is open to all ages, so everyone can join in the fun.
Signups begin Saturday, May 20, at all four Lake County Library branches and you can sign up any time during the summer.
Once you sign up you can keep track of your reading progress when you return your books to the library. There are four programs, each targeting a different age group.
The program for “pre-readers” challenges parents and other family members to read together with their children who haven't quite started to read yet.
The kids program is recommended for children ages from 5 to 12 who are independent readers. Children can read books and earn stickers for their game cards.
For children who read 25 books or 1,000 pages The Friends of the Lake County Library will donate a book to the library with a special bookplate inside the book commemorating their achievement.
At the end of the program in August, there will be a party for the children who participate.
Teens age 13 to 18 can sign up to read books. For every 200 pages you read, you get a ticket for a grand prize drawing. There will also be a variety of events for teens over the summer at the library.
The Lake County Library now includes a summer reading program for adults. It’s a fun way to challenge yourself to read more this summer. For every 200 pages you read, you get a ticket for a grand prize drawing.
“The Summer Reading program is a great way to promote reading over the summer because children are encouraged to find and read materials that interest them,” said Lake County Library director Christopher Veach. “Students read more when they can choose their own materials from a wide selection and are able to share their choices with their peers.”
There have been many studies that show that students who read often achieve higher academic success than students who rarely read. Also, students who read just for fun are more likely to do better in school.
A study performed by Dominican University in 2010 found that students who were part of a library summer reading program had better reading skills at the end of the third grade than students who didn’t participate.
The Lake County Library Summer Reading Program is supported in part by the Friends of the Lake County Library and Friends of Middletown Library.
For more information contact the library at 707-263-8817 or visit the library Web site at http://library.lakecountyca.gov .
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .
Jan Cook is a technician with the Lake County Library.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Members of the Lake County Symphony Association Wine Club are looking for home brewers and garage winemakers to participate in the 2017 Home Wine and Beer Makers’ Festival.
The event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, at Lakeport’s Library Park.
The Wine Club sponsors the event as a major fundraiser for the Lake County Symphony and Youth Orchestra.
Each year, dozens of amateurs from throughout Northern California show up to pour tastes of their homemade beverages, hoping to win a coveted “Peoples’ Choice” award from event attendees.
There is no booth fee for the amateurs, who have until June 7 to sign up for this year’s festival.
Amateur winemakers also have the opportunity to enter their creations for separate professional judging and the chance to win one of the wide range of ribbons offered.
They are joined by many of Lake County’s leading commercial wineries who, although not eligible for prizes – which are restricted to amateurs – nevertheless want to show their support for our fine local music.
Now in its 16th year, the Winefest also attracts artists and artisans who offer their wares for sale, along with musicians who provide live entertainment for the entire festival.
Additionally, the Norcal Aircooled Group vintage car club will be on hand with more than four dozen collectible car owners showing off their unique antiques.
Adults eligible for tasting wines and beers are charged $25 at the gate, or $20 in advance, available through the Chamber of Commerce or most winery tasting rooms.
There is no charge to visit the vendors or to explore the vintage automobiles.
Symphony Association President Charlie Schley urges potential amateur participants to contact him as soon as possible; June 7 is the cutoff date for entries.
He can be reached at 707-279-2997 or
Most married people leave their estate to their surviving spouse and children. Typically, when the children are from the current marriage, there is no issue with leaving everything to the surviving spouse. That is not always the case with blended families.
Some married people with children from a prior marriage feel that the security of the surviving spouse is paramount. They believe the surviving spouse should be free to do as he or she wants with assets from the deceased spouse’s estate.
They typically leave most everything to the surviving spouse; meaning the surviving spouse can spend the entire deceased spouse’s estate and can also disinherit the deceased spouse’s own children.
However, some married people want not only to protect their spouse but also their own children.
Careful estate planning consideration and safeguards are needed in such cases.
How much does each spouse want to leave for their surviving spouse versus to leave to their own (biological) children? Do the children have to wait until the surviving spouse dies before receiving some or all of their inheritance? Will the surviving spouse and stepchildren be entangled with each other because of the estate planning?
Many married people try to balance these competing concerns.
Approaches vary. If one’s spouse and stepchildren cannot get along then it may be desirable for all to receive their separate share at death and part ways. Otherwise the decedent’s children must wait till their stepparent dies; waiting often leads to conflict.
Rightly or wrongly, the decedent’s children may feel that their step parent is abusing his or her rights as lifetime beneficiary in their parent’s estate, especially if the stepparent is the sole trustee.
Where the decedent’s estate is left in trust for the lifetime benefit of the surviving spouse, the trust should be clear and explicit about what rights the surviving spouse has as beneficiary.
When and to what extent is the surviving spouse allowed to receive distributions of trust principal in addition to distributions of trust income? Will the surviving spouse be the trustee who decides upon such distributions?
Can the trustee sell the family residence in order to make more money available to the surviving spouse, or is the children’s consent required? What desired standard of living by the surviving spouse is the trust intended to support?
Is the surviving spouse expected primarily to rely on his or her own resources and the trust be a supplemental resource or even a resource of final resort? The trust should address these and other relevant issues.
The intended standard for distributions to the surviving spouse is clearly an important planning issue.
Sometimes a person wants his or her estate to supplement the surviving spouse’s resources but only to the extent necessary to maintain a certain standard of living. In that case decedent’s trust may require the trustee to consider the sufficiency of the surviving spouse’s own separate resources before distributing any principal.
Otherwise if the deceased spouse’s trust estate is used up this reduces what remains for the decedent’s own children.
Taken to one extreme the surviving spouse may be expected to completely spend-down her own assets before the trustee may distribute any principal.
Alternatively, looking at the other extreme, the deceased spouse’s trust may provide that the distributions to or for the surviving spouse’s benefit are to be made liberally and that the interests of remainder beneficiaries (the decedent’s children) are only of secondary importance.
Trying to do right in any given family situation clearly means balancing the expected needs and interpersonal family relationships of the beneficiaries in the estate plan.
Getting it right can turn out to be well worth it in the long run to those who will live with the results.
Dennis A. Fordham, Attorney, is a State Bar-Certified Specialist in estate planning, probate and trust law. His office is at 870 S. Main St., Lakeport, Calif. He can be reached at