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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Rita Hosking, one of Northern California’s leading country-folk singer songwriters, will be featured on Saturday, March 18, as part of the Tallman Hotel’s 2017 series of “Concerts with Conversation.”
Hosking’s guitar and vocals will be backed by Sean Feder on banjo and dobro guitar.
Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the informal concert takes place in the beautiful Meeting House, seating about 40, next to the Hotel in Upper Lake.
“Rita and Sean have performed before in our music series,” said Tallman owner Bernie Butcher, “and they’ve received standing ovations each time. They’re talented, engaging musicians and absolutely wonderful people.”
A descendant of Cornish miners, Hosking grew up with deep regard for folk music and the power of the voice.
In song and story, she shares with the audience her upbringing in rural Shasta County and the old-time band of seasoned mountain characters that shaped her musically.
Hosking, Feder and family are now based in Davis and have a solid fan base in Lake County.
“We loved playing at the Bluegrass Festival when it was down in Lower Lake,” Hosking said, “and the intimate Tallman music series is one of our favorites. Both Sean and I are really looking forward to performing there again with some of our new material.”
Hosking's songs have been lauded for story and sense of place. Her third album, called “Come Sunrise,” won Best Country Album Vox Pop at the 2010 Independent Music awards.
In late 2015, Hosking released her sixth album, “Frankie and the No-Go Road,” a narrative sequence with 12 original songs following a “hero’s journey.” It was hailed by the Observer as “one of Americana’s finest concept albums.”
At $25 plus tax, the price of admission includes coffee and cookies served at the concert venue. Tickets can be obtained at the Tallman Hotel reception desk at 707-275-2244, Extension 0. Further information on the Tallman Concert series is available at www.tallmanhotel.com/news .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Parks and Recreation Department reported that the Lucerne Harbor County Park boat launch has now been deemed safe for public use after receding water levels and clearing of debris by county parks crews.
As a reminder, the following county boat launch facilities and parks remain closed until further notice:
– Clearlake Oaks;
– Lakeside County Park;
– Rodman Slough.
For more information contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 707-262-1618.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Dr. Brie Duff and her staff at Clearlake Veterinary Clinic will host an open house on Saturday, March 18.
The open house will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the clinic, 3424 Emerson St. in Clearlake.
Duff recently acquired the practice from Dr. Debi Sally.
There will be tours of the clinic, demonstrations of the newest equipment, a raffle, hors d’oeuvres and beverages.
For more information contact the clinic at 707-994-9100.
California’s average gasoline price, $3, is the second-highest in the nation, with only Hawaii having a higher price of $3.07.
Despite lower crude costs nationally, prices in California have slightly increased due to ongoing maintenance of refineries on the West Coast.
Tuesday’s average price of California unleaded regular gas is $3, a $.01 increase from a week ago, up $.12 from a month ago and $.41 higher than a year ago.
Northern California’s average price for regular gasoline is $2.95, up $0.15 from a month ago. Of the Northern California cities surveyed by AAA as a service to consumers, Marysville posted the lowest price at $2.71 and South Lake Tahoe has the highest average at $3.23.
“Gas prices in California are the highest they’ve been in nearly five years,” said John Moreno, spokesperson for AAA Northern California. “While national gas prices are declining, on the west coast, refinery maintenance and the process of switching to summer-blend gasoline is continuing to have an impact on prices.”
While prices in California continue to climb, the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline has seen declining prices for more than a week, resting at $2.29.
Though consumers are still paying $.36 more than they were a year ago. Experts predict that gas prices may continue to drop in the near future due to declining crude oil prices and a well-supplied market, but will begin to creep up again due to seasonal refinery maintenance and the upcoming conversion to summer-blend gasoline.
To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair.
The way you drive can also impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening your load also help conserve gasoline.
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.
AAA Northern California offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance, DMV, financial services and consumer discounts to more than 4 million members. AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers since it was founded 117 years ago.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s unemployment rate rose in January, as did nationwide jobless numbers, while California’s unemployment rate went down.
The latest report from the California Employment Development Department said Lake County’s unemployment rate in January was 7.1 percent, up from 6.7 percent in December but down from the 7.9 percent reported in January 2016.
California’s jobless rate fell slightly to 5.1 percent in January, down from 5.2 percent in December and 5.7 percent the previous January.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said unemployment nationwide rose from 4.7 percent in December to to 4.8 percent in January. The January 2016 nationwide jobless rate was 4.9 percent.
The California Employment Development Department said the state’s employers added 9,700 nonfarm payroll jobs in January, and 330,500 jobs from January 2016 to January 2017. With those gains, California has gained a total of 2,465,100 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.
A statewide survey of 58,000 California businesses found that nonfarm jobs in California totaled 16,647,600 in January. At the same time, a federal survey of 5,500 households estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in January was 18,176,000, an increase of 11,000 from December, and up 267,000 from the employment total in January of last year.
The number of unemployed Californians was 986,000 in January – down by 13,000 over the month, and down by 90,000 compared with January of last year, the state said.
Lake County’s civilian workforce in January numbered 29,520, compared to 27,330 in December and 28,790 in January 2016. The number of unemployed Lake County residents totaled 2,100 in January, 1,970 in December and 2,270 in January 2016, according to state data.
For the month, most industries in Lake County showed losses, but on a year-over comparison, all industries showed a 5.4-percent increase.
Top industry subcategories showing gains over the year included total farm, 30.8 percent; and goods producing, 20.5 percent, with significant gains in that industry’s subcategories of mining, logging and construction, 23.1 percent, and durable goods, 62.5 percent.
Statewide, seven of 11 industry sectors added a total of 42,700 jobs in January. Educational and health services posted the largest jobs increase, with a gain of 19,800 jobs, followed by professional and business services, with a gain of 12,500 jobs. Other sectors adding jobs over the month were manufacturing; information; financial activities; other services; and government.
Four industry sectors – mining and logging; construction; trade, transportation and utilities; and leisure and hospitality – reported job declines over the month, down a total of 33,000 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest decrease over the month, down by 21,100 jobs, the state said.
In a year-over-year comparison – January 2016 to January 2017 – nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 330,500 jobs, a 2-percent increase, the Employment Development Department said.
Nine of California’s 11 industry sectors added a total of 338,200 jobs year-over. The largest job gains on a numerical basis were in educational and health services, up 92,600 jobs, a 3.7-percent increase, and government, up 59,700 jobs, a 2.4-percent increase, the state reported.
Other sectors the state said added jobs over the year were construction; trade, transportation and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and other services.
The Employment Development Department said two industry sectors – mining and logging, and manufacturing – posted job declines over the year, down a total of 7,700 jobs. Manufacturing employment fell by 4,800 jobs (down 0.4 percent), while mining and logging was down by 2,900 jobs (an 11.0 percent decrease).
Lake County’s January unemployment numbers ranked it No. 31 statewide, with San Mateo County registering the lowest, 2.9 percent, and the highest, 23.6 percent, was in Colusa County.
The Employment Development Department reported that there were 386,875 people receiving regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the January survey week, compared with 367,944 in December and 410,293 in January of last year.
At the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 62,201 in January, compared with 52,953 in December and 53,682 in January of last year, the agency reported.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On the same day that the Congressional Budget Office released its report on the possible impacts of a new law to replace the Affordable Care Act, the California Senate and Congressman Mike Thompson, whose district represents a portion of Lake County, both separately demanded Congress abandon the new plan.
The Congressional Budget Office’s report, released Monday, estimated that 14 million people would lose their health coverage in the next year under the GOP’s repeal. That number would rise to 21 million in 2020 and 24 million by 2026.
The report showed that the legislation would reduce federal deficits by $337 billion over the 2017 to 2026 period. Outlays would be reduced by a $1.2 trillion decrease in direct spending over the period, and revenues would be reduced by $883 billion.
On Monday afternoon, the California State Senate passed Senate Resolution 26, calling on Congress to reject the ACA repeal unless it’s replaced with a plan that ensures that not one American will lose coverage and that coverage will be more affordable and of higher quality for all Americans.
“I believe that our president is wrong – the Affordable Care Act is not failing, in fact it is succeeding wildly in California,” said Sen. Mike McGuire, whose district includes Lake County. “I proudly represent a rural part of California, and repealing the ACA will put the lives of rural California residents at risk. For example, a senior resident in a small, rural California county will have to pay several thousand dollars more per year out of her own pocket under ‘President Trump Care.’ This is unacceptable.”
California has experienced the largest percentage point decline in the uninsured rate of any state – a significant drop from 17.2 percent in 2013 to 7.1 percent in 2016, McGuire’s office reported.
On Monday, Congressman Thompson called the repeal effort “reckless” and demanded that his colleagues in Congress abandon the plan.
“The president and Republican leadership would rip health care away from hardworking families and seniors in order to give tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations,” Thompson said. “It’s extremely telling that the very first section in their bill does not address rising out-of-pocket costs, access to doctors, or any of the challenges real Americans face. Instead, it gives a big tax cut to insurance companies that pay their executives multimillion dollar salaries.”
Thompson added, “The CBO’s report makes it clear that gutting our health care system will not bring prices down or help more Americans afford insurance. Instead, it will snatch coverage away from those who need it the most.”
He said more Americans will be forced to go without health care – or rely on emergency services in a time of crisis. “If they can’t afford the bills, American taxpayers will have to pick up the costs – all so big businesses can get tax cuts on their bonuses. This isn’t health care. It’s wealth care.”
Thompson told reporters last week, on the day the new American Health Care Act was released, that he was concerned about the potential threats to the three million jobs created under the Affordable Care Act – 350,000 of them in California alone.
He said the new bill also weakens Medicare, and takes two years off the Medicare Trust Fund, which the Affordable Care Act extended.
The tax provisions in the American Health Care Act will be a windfall to some corporations and billionaires, while middle-income and lower-income Americans will be hit, Thompson said.
He also was worried about how quickly the bill could get through the House of Representatives, with Republican leadership wanting to have it voted out of the House by April. “The House looks like it’s going to blow this thing right through.”
Thompson said he doesn’t expect the bill will get the same open and transparent hearing process that the Affordable Care Act had. There are expected to be very few hearings on the bill, compared to the 79 held on the Affordable Care Act.
“That’s kind of a sad way to do business,” and deprives the American people of knowing what’s in the bill, Thompson said.
Thompson held four town hall meetings around his district on the bill. “There’s a lot of interest in this out in the communities,” he said, adding that he had to turn away hundreds of people due to space.
In Santa Rosa, he got a larger venue – the gym at Piner High School – and had 2,000 people show up.
“This is something that the American people care about,” he said.
On Wednesday, Thompson introduced an amendment at the Committee on Ways and Means to allow states to keep their existing health care system rather than repeal it, and provide states the option to retain their existing marketplaces, benefit protections, and cost sharing and premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. However, Republicans rejected the proposal.
In his written testimony to the Committee, Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California, said, “The Affordable Care Act is working and we at Covered California have built a sustainable and competitive marketplace. In addition to our 1.4 million consumers, approximately 900,000 Californians who do not get subsidies benefit from the lower rates, protections and the more consumer-centric competitive marketplace that we foster.”
On Monday, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones also weighed in the proposed legislation, which he called “Trumpcare.”
“The Congressional Budget Office analysis is further proof that the House GOP proposal to repeal the ACA and Trumpcare bill is bad for Californians and Americans. The CBO's independent, nonpartisan and objective analysis shows that the House GOP proposal will not even come close to delivering on their promises,” Jones said.
“The Affordable Care Act successfully provided 20 million previously uninsured Americans with health coverage. Because of the ACA, today more Americans have health insurance than at any time in our nation's history. However, under the House GOP proposal, that progress will be abandoned, and reversed,” he added.
Jones said the House GOP proposal caps federal Medicaid assistance to states and the tax credits available to working families and eliminates the cost-sharing assistance enjoyed by half of those getting a premium subsidy through Covered California.
He said it also raises the price of insurance for seniors and eliminates essential benefits requirements.
“This flawed proposal puts coverage out of reach for many who are currently insured, failing to deliver on President Trump's promise of 'insurance for everybody,’” Jones said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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AmericanHealthCareAct Budget by LakeCoNews on Scribd