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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Porter family was the happy winner of the Lake County Hero Project’s February Check In Communicate Challenge, which concluded in March.
The Porter family was randomly chosen and won a wide array of books supporting communication with families, feelings and emotion flash cards for young children designed to help them learn to identify and communicate about their emotions.
The challenge urged parents to check in with their children every day regarding school, friends, feeling and their daily activities.
It’s no surprise that communication in the Porter family, a family of 10, is already happening.
“Being more aware of good communication and being challenged to do so for an entire two months created competition in the family, which was fun and brought us closer together,” said Ruth Porter, mother of eight. “With so many children in the home it’s important to know they can communicate with mom and dad and have that open communication line.”
It is reported that children with open communication within their families are less likely to be depressed; parents are able to address sensitive situations like bullying before they occur and get out of hand.
Open communication can increase awareness, creating happier, healthier homes and families.
The Porter family has been a Hero Project family since the beginning in 2014. It is estimated they have completed more than 20 challenges over the past few years.
As huge supporters of the Hero Project, the Porters – Ruth and husband Ricky – feel that the Hero Project has really brought them together in creating one tangible common goal.
They are excited to continue the new school year and be part of the Hero Project’s legendary marketing material.
Grand prize winners from the 2016-17 school years will have a photo shoot this summer with their families to be used on the new challenge cards and social media, including the Hero Project Web site.
“This is a fun and exciting thing to be part of. This coming year we are changing things up. We are using our Hero families just in a different way. We are showing real moms, dads, aunts, uncles and families who completed the challenges and won for new marketing material,” said Audrey Patti, coordinator for the Lake County Hero Project.
The Hero Project is funded by the Lake County Office of Education and First 5 Lake. This program supports children, ages 0-8, by presenting parents with activities and parenting tips to improve parenting child relationships and to increase knowledge of early childhood development.
The program is free and accessed virtually though www.lakecountyheroproject.com , Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
The Hero Project also has an App which can be downloaded onto mobile devices from iTunes and Google Play.
To learn more about the Hero Project go to www.lakecountyheroproject.com .
There was a wonderful event in Lake County on March 16, the inaugural “Lake County Ag & Natural Resources Days” event.
It was the “brain child” of the Lake County Fair Foundation, a relatively new entity formed to promote and foster the vital role of agriculture and natural resources in our county.
The event, designed to inform, educate and allow hands-on interaction, hosted more than 1,000 school children from the county, grades K-6.
It was a sight to behold: Kids, with their teachers, going from exhibit to exhibit and interacting with so many people who form the backbone of the community in which they live and work.
There were animals to pet and hug, huge farm equipment that they could sit on and ask questions about, hands-on displays teaching how the clothing they were wearing actually started with a lamb in a field, the carrot cake at the grocery store started with a carrot in someone’s garden.
In all, the event made the kids aware of the relevance of Lake County’s ag and natural resource community to their daily lives, everything from their food to the power for their cellphones! A comment often heard was, “Wow, I never knew that came from there!!”
All of this was made possible by the generosity and energy of over 40 different exhibits with folks who shared their expertise with these curious and enthusiastic kids.
They demonstrated the relevance of ag and natural resources to everything that we enjoy here in Lake County, and kids came away with a greater understanding of that connection.
As this event is repeated in years to come, the kids’ appreciation will be enhanced, so that hopefully they will become the very backbone of our Lake County community.
Jane Alameda lives in Lakeport, Calif.
‘GHOST IN THE SHELL’ (Rated PG-13)
If you accept Scarlett Johannson as a Japanese cyborg, then there’s a good chance that the relevance of “Ghost in the Shell,” derived from its Japanese manga source material, in a post-racial world of artificial intelligence is not constrained by any contemporary preconceptions.
On the other hand, it may be a debatable point as to whether a Nordic beauty, altered as she may be as a robot with a human brain, should be the lead character in an Asian animated-inspired action film where the setting is unmistakably patterned after a futuristic Tokyo.
But then, protests have already been lodged that not only Johannson but other non-Asian actors have been cast in leading roles in this science-fiction action picture. The unsettled view is whether “Ghost in the Shell” merits serious discussion on this argument.
Does Scarlett Johannson bring authenticity as well as depth to the role of the cyborg Major that talented Asian actresses like Michelle Yeoh and Maggie Q could not?
The answer might be in negative when you later realize that Major’s true identity is Motoko Kusanagi, and her Japanese mom is still alive and residing in a tenement.
I don’t think it’s worth quibbling that much about a character’s ethnicity in a futuristic world that eerily resembles the post-apocalyptic vision of “Blade Runner” in which a dystopian Los Angeles could just as easily been a major metropolis on the Asian continent.
Fans of the manga genre may find that “Ghost in the Shell” has the visually stunning appeal of the Japanese animation made popular with its roots in a science-fiction fantasy world that is now enhanced by the cautionary tale of technology run amok.
Ostensibly saved from a terrible crash, Major’s brain was transplanted into the shell of a robot, thus becoming a cyber-enhanced perfect soldier enlisted by her handlers at the Hanka Corporation to hunt down the world’s most dangerous criminals.
Teamed up with the physically buff Batou (Pilou Asbeck), Major is molded by Hanka scientist Dr. Ouelet (Juliette Binoche) to be the key enforcer in the Section 9 anti-terrorism unit charged with hunting down bad guys.
The number one target is Kuze (Michael Carmen Pitt), the mastermind behind attacks on Hanka executives. Oozing menace and rage, Kuze is the kind of villain who appears like he just escaped from a mental institution. In other words, he’s near perfect for the role.
The most interesting thing about Kuze’s wickedness is that he hacks into the brainwaves of his victims to turn them into killing machines for his evil deeds. Before too long, Major starts to figure that her own past has been distorted.
“Ghost in the Shell” could tap into more cerebral thoughts about the misuse of technology and its dehumanizing power to corrupt individuals into thinking their actions are for the greater good.
Alas, this science-fiction adventure is more about drawing upon the unique visual style of Japanese manga and running with the type of action set-pieces that are the staple of the genre. The results may be fun to watch, but opportunities for more creativity were missed.
TV Corner: ‘BROCKMIRE’ on IFC TV
In case you are not aware, IFC is part of the AMC cable network empire, where the currently best known series is likely the quirky “Portlandia.”
The talented Hank Azaria hopes to change that in his role of outlandish plaid-blazer wearing major league baseball announcer fired years ago during an epic on-air meltdown play-by-play of his then-wife’s adultery.
As the titular character in the sports comedy “Brockmire,” Azaria’s Jim Brockmire is either seeking redemption for his career or looking to hide out in a rust-belt Pennsylvania small town on the verge of financial collapse.
After a decade-long interregnum spent wandering foreign lands, Brockmire is hired by minor league team owner Jules (Amanda Peet) to rescue the fictional Morristown Frackers from the doldrums of apathy and despair.
Jules could be the perfect match for a broadcaster on the rebound. She’s strong-willed and hard-drinking, and Brockmire relates to that as his affinity for top-shelf booze has no bounds.
The borderline suicidal and self-destructive alcoholic Brockmire soon has a sexual relationship with Jules that is invigorated mostly by an apparent connection to the Frackers having a winning streak that fills the stadium with fans eager to have something to cheer.
In the broadcast booth, Brockmire is constantly letting loose with verbal zingers that would probably get him suspended if the Frackers fan base was not equally loopy and unhinged.
There are great scenes between Brockmire and his reluctant whiz kid broadcast partner Charles (Tyrel Jackson Williams), whose limited knowledge of America’s favorite pastime is a source of frustration to the veteran announcer.
Speaking to the nation’s TV critics during the recent winter press tour, Hank Azaria summed up the essence of “Brockmire” by noting that “in its own weird, alcoholic-soaked, soporific, dark, gritty, say way, this is a love letter to baseball.”
Indeed, a fondness for America’s game and the willingness to enjoy the raucous humor, often profane and unsuitable for family viewing, makes the enjoyable sports comedy of “Brockmire” a rare treat for hardcore fans.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Lake County’s higher elevations, with snow reported on Friday evening.
The agency said the warning is in effect through 6 p.m. Saturday.
Snow, particularly in areas over 4,000 feet, is expected, particularly in the mountain areas north of Upper Lake, according to the forecast.
Snowfall could total up to 6 inches above 4,000 feet and a foot over 6,000 feet, the forecast said.
The storm is expected to bring snow to other mountain areas of Northern California, from Donner Pass to Lassen Volcanic National Park, forecasters said.
Forecasters expect more rain as well as additional show in Lake County north of Upper Lake through Sunday night.
The cold temperatures on Friday night resulted in snowfall in and around Cobb and Loch Lomond as well as on Bottle Rock Road in Kelseyville, according to Lake County News readers.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Following a winter that brought heavy rain and snowstorms, on Friday Gov. Jerry Brown ended the drought state of emergency throughout most of California, at the same time as a long-term state plan to deal with future water shortages was released.
“This drought emergency is over, but the next drought could be around the corner,” Gov. Brown said. “Conservation must remain a way of life.”
Brown on Friday issued Executive Order B-40-17, which lifts the drought emergency in all California counties except Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Tuolumne, where emergency drinking water projects will continue to help address diminished groundwater supplies.
That new order also rescinds two emergency proclamations from January and April 2014 and four drought-related executive orders issued in 2014 and 2015, the Governor’s Office reported.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of California – with the exception of all or part of 11 Southern California counties – is no longer in drought conditions.
A year ago, almost all of California – with the exception of Del Norte County and most of Humboldt – was in drought. At that time, the drought monitor listed most of Lake County as “abnormally dry” and a portion on the eastern side of the county as being in “severe drought.”
At the start of January, the U.S. Drought Monitor listed Lake County as still being “abnormally” dry, but by the time of its next assessment at the end of March, the county was no longer listed as being in any level of drought.
That change in status has followed a winter of heavy rain and flooding across the county, with Clear Lake being above its “full” level of 7.56 feet on the Rumsey gauge.
State officials reported that California’s climate is the most variable in the nation, naturally swinging between flood and drought, with climate change adding to that variability.
California’s recent historic drought included the driest four-year period statewide precipitation on record (2012-2015), the warmest three years and the smallest Sierra snowpack in state history, at just 5 percent of average. At the same time, this winter’s storms created one of the highest precipitation totals in the last 150 years, the state reported.
Keeping that variability in mind, during the drought emergency, the Department of Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Public Utilities Commission, Department of Food and Agriculture and the Energy Commission prepared a long-term plan for dealing with future plans.
The plan is titled “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life, Implementing Executive Order B-37-16.”
It aims to make conservation a California way of life and follows the key objectives of the governor’s executive order: using water more wisely, eliminating water waste, strengthening local drought resilience, and improving agricultural water use efficiency and drought planning.
“This framework is about converting Californians’ response to the drought into an abiding ethic,” said California Department of Water Resources Acting Director Bill Croyle. “Technically, the drought is over, but this framework extends and expands our dry-year habits. Careful, sparing use of water from backyards to businesses and farm fields will help us endure the next inevitable drought.”
The plan requires urban water suppliers to meet new water use targets; bans wasteful practices, such as hosing sidewalks and watering lawns after rain; requires more agricultural water suppliers to submit plans that quantify measures to increase water use efficiency and develop adequate drought plans; requires monthly reporting by urban water suppliers on water usage, conservation achieved and enforcement efforts; and improved drought planning for small water suppliers and rural communities, among other requirements.
The plan involved extensive stakeholder outreach and engagement, with more than 20 public meetings held around the state.
The state said the agencies will continue to solicit stakeholder and public input in order to implement the plan’s key actions, some of which will require new legislation and expanded state authority, while others can be implemented under existing authorities.
The damage from the drought conditions that began in the winter of 2011-12 are expected to impact California for years to come, officials said.
Key impacts included the death of an estimated 100 million trees, diminished groundwater basins and disrupted drinking water supplies, the state reported.
In addition to the state’s efforts through the new drought plan, the Governor’s Office reported that state agencies will continue work to coordinate a statewide response on the unprecedented bark beetle outbreak in drought-stressed forests that has killed millions of trees.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
NORTH COAST, Calif. – The American Red Cross of the California Northwest will be honoring 15 inspirational community members for their selfless acts of courage at its 14th annual Real Heroes Breakfast on Thursday, April 27, at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel in Santa Rosa.
After careful consideration, a committee of local community leaders selected the 2017 California Northwest Red Cross 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.
The following is a list of the heroes who will be honored at this year’s breakfast, and detailed descriptions of each honoree are featured below.
· Act of Courage Hero: Jose Martin of St. Helena.
· Animal Hero: Shirley Zindler of Sebastopol.
· Education Hero: Lee Morgan Brown of Sonoma.
· Environment Hero: Alden Olmsted of Santa Rosa.
· Humanitarian Adult Hero: Jeff Gilman of Santa Rosa.
· Humanitarian Youth Heroes: Brice Marcuz of Kneeland, Jack Marcuz of Kneeland, and Gunter Kison of Eureka.
· Law Enforcement Heroes: Jason Bahlman of Rohnert Park, Matthew Barawed of Vacaville, Dan Russo of Rohnert Park and Dan Mitchell of Middletown.
· Medical Hero: Erin Morales of Santa Rosa.
· Military Hero: Akash Kalia of Santa Rosa.
· Rescue Professional Hero: Aaron Pendergraft of Bodega.
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 for the event. Registration will open at 7 a.m., and the program will run from 7:30 until 9 a.m.
To purchase tickets and for more information about the event, visit www.redcross.org/calnwheroes2017 .
The full list of honorees is below.
2017 CALIFORNIA NORTHWEST RED CROSS HONOREES
Act of Courage Hero: Jose Martin
Jose Martin, a 27-year veteran volunteer of the St. Helena Fire Department and professional firefighter in American Canyon for the last 13 years, demonstrated extraordinary courage when he put his life in danger to help three victims of a fatal car crash off Interstate 10 last November.
Against instruction to stay away from the vehicle due to a fire in the engine, Martin valiantly removed David Collins and Betty Burns from the burning vehicle.
With the help of his family, the fire was put out, and Martin began to tend to the injured passengers. Delaine and David Collins both suffered critical injuries, and unfortunately, 94-year-old Betty Burns was later pronounced dead by paramedics.
Despite the loss of his aunt, David Collins wrote a letter to Mayor Alan Galbraith praising Martin’s heroism for helping them that day.
Animal Hero: Shirley Zindler
Shirley Zindler has always been an animal lover. Following her passion for animal care, she has been an Animal Control Officer with Sonoma County Animal Shelter for fifteen years.
Responding to encouragement from her family and friends, she founded Dogwood Animal Rescue a year ago. Shirley and her team of volunteers offer low and no cost spay and neuter services, provide medical and rehabilitation, and secure new homes for many pets.
Zindler is connected with various Animal Control locations throughout northern California and southern California to support their needs of rehoming the many pets that come through their doors when they are unable to accommodate them.
She compliments her work with various other volunteer commitments and activities to raise money for animal wellness.
Education Hero: Lee Morgan Brown
Lee Morgan Brown is executive director of Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, which brings together adults with kids in the community who need an extra layer of social and emotional support.
SVMA began 20 years ago in one school in Sonoma and today, under Brown’s leadership, the program is now present on eight school campuses, as well as at the Hanna Boys School, and serves 450 students with 100 more on the waiting list.
Once students are matched with an adult, they typically meet once per week for at least an hour. Since the program’s start, 1,700 mentors and mentees have been matched.
Environment Hero: Alden Olmsted
Alden Olmsted has dedicated much of the last several years to raise funds to complete the Across California hiking trail.
The Across California Trail will be the second longest trail in California, stretching over 300 miles from Mendocino to Lake Tahoe. This trail is vital to environmental preservation because it will link many of the protected areas in California.
Olmsted has focused on creating a continuous trail with plenty of signage and public awareness to ensure the land is preserved for future generations.
Olmsted, also a photographer, spearheaded the installation of an interpretive panel at Jug Handle State Natural Reserve as well as The Pygmy Forest, which received Congressional recognition as a National Natural Landmark.
Humanitarian Adult Hero: Jeff Gilman
Jeff Gilman, executive director of Redwood Gospel Mission, is the silent strength behind one of Sonoma County’s biggest and most appreciated charity events, the Great Thanksgiving Banquet.
Beginning as a 14-bed shelter in 1963, Redwood Gospel Mission now mobilizes the community to minister to the needy through a variety of homeless services, recovery programs, vocational training, jail ministries, outreach events and thrift store.
Redwood Gospel Mission’s annual Great Thanksgiving Banquet served over 5,000 poor and homeless people this year.
Humanitarian Youth Heroes: Brice Marcuz, Jack Marcuz and Gunter Kison
Before dawn on Dec. 22, 16-year-old Brice Marcuz, his 13-year-old brother Jack and 17-year-old Gunter Kison launched their boat into Stone Lagoon, just south of Orick to go duck hunting.
Shortly after leaving shore, they came upon a capsized boat with three teenage boys on top of the overturned boat, which had hit a three-foot wave sideways and flipped. The boys rescued all three stranded teenagers, took them to safety and called 911 for rescue help.
If these three boys had not acted so heroically that morning, the three in the water might not have survived this admittedly frightening boating accident.
Law Enforcement Heroes: Jason Bahlman, Matthew Barawed, Dan Russo and Dan Mitchell
Marin CHP Officers Dan Russo and Dan Mitchell pulled onto the freeway in Terra Linda during a night of regular patrol when they immediately spotted a car weaving between lanes and tailgating.
Sonoma County Sgt. Jason Bahlman received the call for assistance and he and Officer Matthew Barawed moved into action.
After multiple attempts to stop the vehicle, the car finally came to a halt on Cotati Grade after the car’s tires were shredded by spike strips.
The vehicle ignited and burst into flames as Bahlman noticed there were two small children in the backseat.
The officers were able to successfully rescue all of the passengers following their instincts to help those in danger.
Medical Hero: Erin Morales
Erin Morales is manager at La Cantera Racquet and Swim Club in Santa Rosa.
In August of 2016, Richard Allen suffered a cardiac arrest while playing tennis. Because of her decision to purchase an automated external defibrillator for the club years before, Morales was able to use the machine to deliver a powerful electric jolt and restart Allen’s heart.
After administering the shock, the response was immediate. The man, who was silent and motionless one minute, was conscious and asking “Why am I on the ground?” the next minute.
Morales’ quick action had undoubtedly saved his life. She said, “I didn’t need to be helpless. I could take action.”
Military Hero: Akash Kalia
Kalia left college in Oregon where he was studying business, taking over his parents’ struggling motel in Santa Rosa.
While working at the motel, he saw a need in the community for low-cost housing. He encountered veterans, addicts, homeless convicts, and families that could not afford rent in the area.
Kalia converted all 104 rooms of what is now known as the Palms Inn into single occupancy housing for 60 veterans and other homeless people.
With help from local agencies and charities, the hotel complex includes not only living quarters, but a garden and library where residents can enjoy reading materials, poetry and music classes, and participate in support group sessions.
Kalia defers any honor from himself as he insists it is the veterans he houses who are the heroes.
Rescue Professional Hero: Aaron Pendergraft
Aaron Pendergraft is a seasonal lifeguard for California State Parks and volunteer firefighter/emergency medic for Bodega Fire.
Pendergraft was on patrol one November day near Goat Rock Beach when he saw an unpredictable wave crash and pull out three members of the Viola family.
From a distance, Pendergraft had seen the sea moving in and jumped in his vehicle, racing across the sand to where the family was now in trouble.
Pendergraft fought the strong waves to get to where he saw seven-year-old Angeleek who had vanished in the churning surf. After multiple attempts, Pendergraft was able to safely reach the girl and guided the girl’s mother, Amanda, toward him where the three were lifted out of the water by county sheriff’s helicopter crew.
Pendergraft was awarded the Medal of Valor from the United States Lifesaving Association for his heroic effort.