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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has group of big dogs this week needing loving forever homes.
This week’s available dogs include mixes of boxer, German Shepherd, husky, pit bull and shepherd.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
Pit bull-boxer mix
This male pit bull-boxer mix has a short black and white coats.
He’s in kennel No. 1, ID No. 7296.
‘Haley’
“Haley” is a female German Shepherd.
She has a medium-length black and brown coat, and already has been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 18, ID No. 7253.
Male pit bull
This male pit bull has a short blue coat with white markings.
Shelter staff said he is great with submissive dogs, preferably not other males. He has a low energy level and needs a home with no cats or small dogs. He would be good with children age 12 and above.
He’s in kennel No. 19, ID No. 7275.
‘Rosco’
“Rosco” is a male pit bull terrier mix with a short tan and white coat.
He already has been neutered.
Shelter staff said he needs a mellow, low-energy home with no other dogs or cats.
He’s in kennel No. 23, ID No. 6752.
‘Gia’
“Gia” is a female shepherd mix.
She has a medium-length tan and black coat, and already has been spayed.
Shelter staff said she would do best with submissive dogs only and needs a home with no cats and children under age 12. A secure fence also is a requirement.
She’s in kennel No. 25, ID No. 6794.
‘Daisy’
“Daisy” is a female husky mix.
She has a medium-length tricolor coat and blue eyes.
Daisy is in kennel No. 30, ID No. 7341.
‘Kevin’
“Kevin” is a male husky mix.
He has a medium-length tricolor coat, and one blue eye and one brown eye.
He’s in kennel No. 31, ID No. 7340.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
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.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Comets are some of the most interesting objects in the solar system.
Water that filled the ancient oceans of Earth might have been delivered by comets. And there is growing evidence that many comets (as well as some primitive asteroids) contain molecules key to life.
NASA has sent space probes to travel hundreds of millions of miles to study these icy interlopers from the outer solar system.
Comets are balls of frozen gases, rock and dust that orbit the sun. Jets of gas and dust from comets form long tails that can be seen from Earth when they fly close enough to our planet.
In 2017 and 2018, three comets will pass near the Earth.
Their names are 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak, 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova, and 46P/Wirtanen. Astronomers call them “41P,” “45P” and “46P,” for short.
At closest approach on April 1, 41P was only 56 times farther from Earth than the Moon. 45P was even closer at 31 lunar distances when it flew by on Feb. 11. And 46P approaches 30 lunar distances, on Dec. 16, 2018.
Kelly Fast, Program Manager in the Near-Earth Object Observations Program at NASA Headquarters says, “This provides a good opportunity to do science without having to launch a spacecraft.”
Telescopes around the world have been trained on the comets as they pass by, studying their structure and chemical compositions.
For the general public, comet 45P was an easy target for small telescopes when it passed closest to Earth in February, and 41P will be an easy telescope target through May of 2017. But 46P will be the biggest attraction. In December 2018, it could be visible to the naked eye from dark sky sites.
Astronomer Tony Farnham of the University of Maryland says, “46P has a small nucleus, but is known to be a ‘hyperactive’ comet. It is probably ejecting ice crystals from its surface, producing higher than normal activity.”
This hyperactivity may contribute to the naked-eye brightness of 46P. It also makes the comet somewhat unpredictable with unexpected surges in activity – and visibility – possible as it passes by.
These comets have been so close that amateur astronomers can help study them, too. Farnham is assisting Nalin Samarasinha at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Ariz., with the organization of the “4*P Coma Morphology Campaign” to coordinate the efforts of amateurs worldwide.
“Amateur astronomers can help us monitor these comets without interruption,” explains Farnham. “With observers distributed around the world, we can get much better coverage, with fewer and shorter breaks.”
“We can then combine amateur observations with observations from professional telescopes to study the structures in the comet’s atmosphere – or ‘coma.’ If we use the amateur data in our studies, then they get to be an author on any papers that result.”
“A few years back, we used this same type of network for our studies of comet ISON, and they proved very successful, with data from 23 different groups around the world.”
For more about objects in and around Earth’s neighborhood, stay tuned to http://science.nasa.gov .
SACRAMENTO – A bill by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) to add media literacy to school curriculums passed a key vote in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.
A rise in fake news was widely noted during the most recent Presidential election, where hoax Web sites deceived visitors with deceptive headlines and false facts.
Media literacy is the ability to analyze and evaluate information consumed from various media sources such as websites, social networking sites, television, print and radio.
“Developing a comprehensive media literacy curriculum is critical to combating fake news,” said Dodd. “While information has become more accessible than ever, many lack the tools to identify fake or misleading news and information. By giving students the proper tools to analyze the media they consume, we can empower them to make informed decisions.”
With a flood of information available to Internet users, it has become increasingly difficult for the public to note the difference between a reputable news publication and websites that publish false or misleading claims.
The practice of advertisements masquerading as news has also seen an increase in recent years. A recent Stanford study found that 82 percent of middle school students struggled to distinguish advertisements from news stories.
Further, a study by Common Sense Media found that teens spend an average of nine hours a day consuming media from various sources.
"There has never been a more important time to address the issue of media literacy in schools,” said Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Executive Director for the National Association for Media Literacy Education. “Our students are growing up in the midst of a complicated and diverse media landscape which they need to understand in order to fully engage and participate in today’s world. We must continue to fight for media literacy education for students of all ages. We applaud Senator Dodd for taking on this important issue and moving it forward.”
Under Sen. Dodd’s bill, the California Board of Education’s Instructional Quality Commission will develop a model framework necessary for incorporating media literacy into school curriculums.
The legislation, Senate Bill 135, will also advance media literacy training opportunities for teachers in California.
The general trout opener in many counties throughout California will commence on Saturday, April 29, one hour before sunrise.
Because of the popularity of this annual event with the angling public, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is making every effort to stock trout in all accessible waters approved for planting prior to the season opener.
Because of the increased rains this winter, CDFW expects most lakes to be open and available for fishing. However, some upper elevation lakes may be inaccessible.
Most lakes, rivers and streams have a limit of five trout per day and 10 in possession. However, regulations differ on season opening and closing dates, bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits and gear restrictions.
Anglers are advised to check specific area regulations and opening dates in the 2017-18 California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulation booklet ( www.wildlife.ca.gov/regulations ) for regulations specific to each body of water.
In 2012, CDFW regional staff created the Eastern Sierra Back Country Fishing Guide to provide anglers with a quick, informative and accurate account of the distribution of fisheries in back country high elevation lakes.
This guide does not address front country waters, defined as lakes and streams that are accessible by vehicle. Most of the lakes lie within U.S. Forest Service lands managed as wilderness and usually require back country permits for overnight use. Most back country fisheries are based on self-sustaining populations of trout and do not need regular trout stocking to maintain fish populations.
The guide can be found at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Regions/6 (under Hunting, Fishing, Education).
Crowley Lake in the Eastern Sierra is expected to be one of the most popular opening day destinations for anglers from around the state.
In past years, an estimated 10,000 anglers have turned out for the opener, and approximately 50,000 trout are caught during the first week of the season.
Typically Crowley is planted with hundreds of thousands of small and medium sized trout, and because of excellent food sources in the 5,280-acre reservoir, these trout grow to catchable sizes and weigh at least three-quarters of a pound by the opener. About 10 percent of the trout caught at Crowley during opening weekend weigh over a pound and a half. These fish are from stocks planted in previous years or are wild fish produced in Crowley’s tributary waters.
Anglers are asked to be particularly vigilant when cleaning fish and fishing gear at Crowley Lake and in the upper and lower Owens River Drainage.
The New Zealand Mudsnail was discovered several years ago in the Owens River Drainage, and CDFW would like to prevent mudsnails from spreading into other waters.
To avoid spreading New Zealand Mudsnails and other aquatic invasive species to other waters, anglers are advised to dispose of their fish guts in bear-proof trash cans, rather than throw them back into the water. Wading gear should be properly cleaned before using in new waters.
All persons age 16 and older must possess a valid California fishing license to fish within state lines. Freshwater fishing licenses can be purchased online at www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/online-sales or at regional CDFW offices or other license agents.
Anglers no longer have to display their license visibly above the waist but they must have it in their possession while fishing.
THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS (Rated PG-13)
The high-octane “Furious” action franchise hits its eighth installment with “The Fate of the Furious,” and if you are not already onboard as one of the dedicated fans of this series, this might not be the most opportune time to jump in.
Then again, it’s not like you really need to know a lot about character development or plot lines, and yet a passing acquaintance with the familial themes at the core of the relationships binding the former underground street racers is somewhat helpful.
Now that the late Paul Walker, arguably the heart of the franchise in its early goings, remains only a revered legacy, the mantle of the family ties rests with Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto, who has a lot to say about kinship when not driving fast cars.
In the opening scenes, Dom and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) are honeymooning in Cuba, and street racing excitement turns up in the form of what the locals call the “Cuban mile” when Dom turns his cousin’s old Chevy junker into a nitrous oxide-fueled racing machine.
The wildly dangerous street race through Havana neighborhoods pits Dom against a local racing legend, the proud owner of a fully restored 1956 Ford Fairlane that has the enviable status as the Caribbean island’s premier unbeatable hotrod.
This is the first American production to film on Cuban soil, and from the looks of the results, not only is the architecture scenic but there are plenty of great vintage pre-Castro vehicles kept running by the ingenious crafting of auto parts from boat engines and lawnmowers.
The Havana locale also sets up the premise of “The Fate of the Furious” when Dom’s destiny is altered by an encounter with a mysterious woman named Cipher (Charlize Theron) having car trouble. Cipher’s dreadlocks should have been the tipoff that she was possibly up to no good.
Without giving away some details, it’s enough to know that Cipher holds enough persuasion and knowledge to involuntarily recruit Dom into a nefarious plot involving nuclear weapons straight out of a James Bond film.
Cipher’s timing coincides with Dom and his team being called into action in Berlin by Special Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson, now firmly established as a key player in the “Furious” franchise). The mission objective is to retrieve a weapon that Cipher desperately needs for her scheme.
Not unexpectedly, the mission goes wrong when Dom betrays his colleagues to make off with the nuclear device, leaving Hobbs behind to be arrested by the German authorities and placed in a supermax prison where escape looks to be impossible.
After landing behind bars, Hobbs finds himself reunited with his old nemesis Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), who starts frothing at the mouth for a prison yard brawl. Forces behind the scenes see to it that a prison break is orchestrated so that both guys are set free.
The tensions between Hobbs and the criminal mastermind Deckard is palpable. Together, they bring the type of apprehension and friction that is made all the more interesting with the anxious banter.
Pulling the strings, of sorts, comes courtesy of Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell), a senior American government operative who appears to answer to no one and is only too eager to track down Cipher before her plans for world domination reach the level of North Korean insanity.
Mr. Nobody gets an assist from his sidekick, Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood), who seems to serve little purpose other than to be the butt of jokes from Dom’s old pals who have thrown in with Hobbs.
Aside from Letty, the crew of street racers working to save the world include Ludacris’ Tej and Tyrese Gibson’s Roman, both of whom spend time competing for the attention of the team’s genius hacker, Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), who mainly sticks to the business at hand.
A surprising new player is Helen Mirren’s mysterious woman who has a small but pivotal role as an intermediary to run interference in the underworld.
The refined Brit is acting royalty who may have taken the job to be reminded of similar work in the two “Red” spy thriller films.
As you can imagine, “The Fate of the Furious” is mostly about the action set-pieces from street racing in Havana to an assault on a remote military outpost in the frozen plains of Siberia.
The most impressive action scene takes place on the traffic-congested streets of New York City, when Cipher orchestrates an assault on the Russian Foreign Minister’s motorcade by hacking self-driving cars to create spectacular vehicular mayhem.
“The Fate of the Furious” hangs on the adrenaline thrills produced by the action-fueled stunts. The plot is basically immaterial and the action thrills could be interchangeable with that of many James Bond films. But the fan base will be delighted with the results.
To save yourself a bit of time during the long credit roll, please note that unless you are interested in reading all the names of crew members on the Iceland shoot there is no post-credit scene to tease the next installment.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lower Lake Historic School Preservation Committee will hold its annual Trash & Treasures yard sale on Saturday, May 6.
The sale will happen rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. upstairs in the Weaver Auditorium at the Historic Schoolhouse Museum, 16435 Main St., in Lower Lake.
Donations of gently used items for this fundraiser would be appreciated.
This year, spaces will be available for individuals to sell their own yard sale items outside on the lawn at $15 for a 10-foot by 10-foot area.
Call the museum at 707-995-3565, Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to reserve a spot.
The Preservation Committee also will be selling hot dogs and sodas, as well as garden plants that day.