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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – They don't yet have new homes for Christmas, but there is a shelter filled with dogs at Lake County Animal Care and Control that are waiting to find a new family this holiday season.
This holiday week's dogs include mixes of American Bulldog, beagle, boxer, Chihuahua, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, husky, Labrador Retriever, Miniature Pinscher, pit bull, Shar Pei, shepherd and terrier.
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”).
Miniature Pinscher
This female Miniature Pinscher has a short black and tan coat and a docked tail.
She's in kennel No. 2, ID No. 6696.
Shepherd-beagle mix
This female shepherd-beagle mix has a short tricolor coat, and has been waiting a long time for a new home.
She's in kennel No. 9, ID No. 6517.
'Lola'
“Lola” is a female pit bull terrier with a short red and white coat.
She already has been altered.
She's in kennel No. 10, ID No. 6695.
Terrier-Shar Pei mix
This male terrier-Shar Pei mix has a short black coat with white markings and floppy ears.
He's in kennel No. 11, ID No. 6505.
'Heather'
“Heather” is a female boxer and pit bull mix with a short brindle and white coat and green eyes.
She's in kennel No. 13, ID No. 6703.
Female husky
This female husky has a medium-length red and white coat.
She's in kennel No. 15a, ID No. 6698.
Pit bull mix
This female pit bull mix has a short tan and white coat.
She's in kennel No. 18, ID. No. 6671.
'Rusty'
“Rusty” is a senior male German Shepherd.
He has a long black and brown coat.
He's in kennel No. 19a, ID No. 6715.
Male pit bull
This male pit bull has a short blue and white coat.
He has been sponsored and is available for free to an approved family.
He's in kennel No. 21, ID No. 6665.
'Max'
“Max” is a male Shar Pei-pit bull mix with a short black and white coat.
Shelter staff said he already has been neutered, and would do well in a home with no livestock.
He's in kennel No. 25, ID No. 6629.
Male shepherd mix
This male shepherd mix has a short tan, black and white coat.
He's in kennel No. 26, ID No. 6630.
Labrador Retriever mix
This male Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat.
He's in kennel No. 27, ID No. 6684.
Yellow Labrador Retriever
This female yellow Labrador Retriever has a short coat.
She's in kennel No. 31, ID No. 6705.
'Tina'
“Tina” is a female American Bulldog with a short white coat.
She's in kennel No. 32a, ID No. 6708.
'Dolly'
“Dolly” is a female American Bulldog with a short white coat.
She's in kennel No. 32b, ID No. 6709.
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
As engines are fired, software written and hardware welded to prepare for the first flight of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), engineers are already running tests in supersonic wind tunnels to develop the next, more powerful version of the world's most advanced launch vehicle capable of carrying humans to deep space destinations.
“Aeronautics leads the way in the design of a new rocket,” said Jeff Bland, SLS discipline lead engineer for Integrated Vehicle Structures & Environments at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “The first leg any journey for spacecraft launched from Earth is a flight through our atmosphere.”
Manufacturing is well underway on the initial configuration of SLS. It is 322 feet tall and able to lift 70 metric tons.
For the first test flight of SLS, the rocket will carry an uncrewed Orion spacecraft beyond the moon and then return to Earth, deploying 13 small science and technology satellites in deep space during the journey.
The new wind tunnel tests are for the second generation of SLS. It will deliver a 105-metric-ton (115-ton) lift capacity and will be 364 feet tall in the crew configuration – taller than the Saturn V that launched astronauts on missions to the moon.
The rocket's core stage will be the same, but the newer rocket will feature a powerful exploration upper stage. On SLS’s second flight with Orion, the rocket will carry up to four astronauts on a mission around the moon, in the deep-space proving ground for the technologies and capabilities needed on NASA’s Journey to Mars.
Scale models of the upgraded rocket in crew and cargo configurations are being carefully positioned in wind tunnels for test programs to obtain data needed to refine the design of the rocket and its guidance and control systems, said Dr. John Blevins, SLS lead engineer for aerodynamics and acoustics at Marshall. During hundreds of test runs at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, engineers are measuring the forces and loads that air induces on the launch vehicle during every phase of its mission.
“All the critical aerodynamic environments, from when the upgraded rocket leaves the Vehicle Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral to launch, acceleration through the sound barrier and booster separation at greater than Mach 4 are evaluated in these four tests,” Blevins said.
Ascent tests completed at Ames in November determined the rocket's behavior as it climbs after launch, and the kind of instructions to be programmed into the rocket flight computer for guidance and control as the rocket passes through transonic flight. For instance, the tests will determine what commands the autopilot will send to the rocket's nozzles to correct for wind or other factors and stay on course.
Buffet testing at Langley in November focused primarily on how the cargo version of the upgraded rocket behaves as it moves through the atmosphere at just below the speed of sound, approaching about 800 miles per hour, then moves into supersonic flight.
As the rocket approaches the speed of sound, shock waves build and move along different points of the launch vehicle. These shock waves can cause buffeting, shaking, vibration and unsteady loads that could result in damage or course changes that must be corrected, Blevins said.
The cargo version of the upgraded rocket has a smooth fairing above the exploration upper stage instead of the Orion spacecraft and launch abort system, so separate wind tunnel testing is needed.
Similar tests planned for the fall 2017 at Langley will include observing this transonic shock oscillation and buffeting on the crew version of the rocket, at both subsonic speeds and higher Mach numbers.
At Mach 1.5 or 2, the waves terminate, or remain at the same points on the rocket for the rest of the flight, but they continue to change angle and strength.
These wind tunnel tests are critical, Blevins said, because the location and temporal behavior of these shock waves are difficult to predict with computational fluid dynamics – they must be observed and measured.
Two other test series are planned at Langley. The first in early 2017 will provide data to ensure that as the SLS’s two solid rocket boosters separate from the rocket during ascent, they don't come back into contact with the vehicle.
These tests are complex, Blevins said, because the models of the rocket’s core stage and each of the two boosters are separately instrumented, and even the dynamics of the small rocket motors that jettison the boosters are simulated.
Next will be liftoff transition testing, scheduled in the summer. These tests will include evaluation of the effects of winds on the rocket as it is waiting on the pad, and the presence of the mobile launcher and tower during liftoff. Drift of the vehicle as it moves past the tower must be controlled to avoid damage and because the sound bouncing back from the pad can cause damaging vibration.
“We expect that at the end of this test series we will have all the aerodynamic flight data needed for the upgraded rocket,” he said. “We'll be ready for the first flight with crew, targeted as early as 2021, and subsequent flights.”
NASA engineers have also teamed with CUBRC Inc. of Buffalo, New York, to use a special type of wind tunnel to better understand and analyze how the SLS heats up as it ascends into space. A model of the rocket was used in the first phase of aerodynamic heating tests in CUBRC's Large Energy National Shock Tunnel (LENS-II) in September. A second phase of testing is planned for models of the SLS in crew and cargo versions, in early 2017.
The SLS wind tunnel testing is very much a cross-agency effort resulting in information and new test techniques that also benefit other rocket and aerospace programs, said Dr. Patrick Shea. He's based at Langley, but served as SLS aerodynamics test lead for the transonic ascent testing recently completed at the Ames facilities.
For example, the Ames aerodynamics team is developing an optical measurement method involving Unsteady Pressure-Sensitive Paint. During a test, special lights and cameras will observe changes in the paint's fluorescence, indicating the strength of aerodynamic forces acting along different areas of the rocket or test article. Ames was able to take advantage of the presence of the SLS rocket model to conduct its own tests using the paint.
“For a lot of aero-acoustics and buffet work, we instrument the models with hundreds of pressure sensors. If we can start moving to more of an optical technique such as the dynamic pressure sensitive paint, it will really make good strides forward,” Shea said. “It ended up being a really nice integration of their test technique and our test campaign.”
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Services announced closures for its facilities for observance of the New Year's holiday.
Officials said the Eastlake Landfill in Clearlake will be closed Sunday, Jan. 1, and the Public Services office in Lakeport will be closed Monday, Jan. 2.
The landfill will reopen Monday, Jan. 2. The Public Services Office will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Normal operating hours at the landfill are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The Public Services office is normally open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Christmas trees can be dropped off at Lake County Waste Solutions at 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport; Southlake Refuse Recycling dropoff, located at the Eastlake Landfill, 16015 Davis St. in Clearlake; and Quackenbush at 16520 Davis St., starting Dec. 28 and continuing through Jan. 9.
South Lake Refuse and Recycling and Quackenbrush buyback/drop off centers are open from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily.
Lake County Waste Solutions in Lakeport's buyback/drop off center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and accepts many other recyclable materials.
Lake County Waste Solutions and South Lake Refuse & Recycling provide for their customers free curbside Christmas tree recycling.
Cut trees into 3-foot pieces, place your tree into your green waste container on your regular pickup day and make sure the lid will shut. Please remove all ornaments, lights and tinsel for all Christmas tree recycling. No flocked or artificial trees will be accepted.
If you have any questions regarding this subject or any of the solid waste issues in Lake County, please call 707-262-1760.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Saturday, Dec. 17, a group of volunteers from PG&E came to Lake County to assist in the current build project on 32nd Avenue in Clearlake.
They, along with Habitat staff and other community members worked hard insulating and caulking the new home, as well as digging trenches to accommodate property drainage.
In appreciation of their efforts, volunteers were treated to breakfast and lunch and Habitat for Humanity t-shirts.
The PG&E volunteers came from Sacramento and Humboldt County and are part of the company’s ongoing efforts to improve the communities in which they do business.
PG&E also provides funds for solar installation on all Habitat for Humanity Homes and periodically provides other donations as well to support the work Habitat does in offering homeownership opportunities to low-income Lake County residents.
Carl and Renee Schoenhofer, Doug and Kaitlin Leggins, Andrea Lopez and Michelle Hamilton were PG&E’s volunteers for the day.
They each reiterated they were proud to be part of a project that helps a family in need and look forward to participating again in the future.
Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity can be a rewarding, fun way to meet new friends and help the residents of Lake County and help improve our communities.
To get involved or to donate, visit www.lakehabitat.org , come by the office at 15312 Lakeshore Dr., or call 707-994-1100 to find out how you can help.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (Rated PG-13)
The press notes bill “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” as the first of the “Star Wars” stand-alone films from Lucasfilm, an all-new epic adventure that shows great promise for future escapades in outer space.
But first, it must be noted that “Rogue One,” which is a spin-off from all the previous episodes of “Star Wars,” is a prequel to the original trilogy, or at least that’s the way it appears even if younger versions of Han Solo and Chewbacca are not seen flying around in a cargo ship.
Detached in many respects from many familiar aspects of the “Star Wars” universe, the film still opens with an abbreviated crawl, announcing “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” That suffices to draw audiences into recognizable if paradoxically different territory.
The premise of this new chapter of intergalactic struggles between the Rebellion and the evil Empire is that a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the ultimate weapon of planetary destruction.
Leading the charge is Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), a young woman who came to the rebel cause after seeing how the Empire coerced her scientist father Galen (Mads Mikkelsen) to design and build the invincible Death Star.
Teaming up with the headstrong Jyn is the urbane guerrilla fighter Cassian Andor (Diego Luna). You’d think there might be some romantic chemistry between them, but if so it’s not readily apparent.
Our rebel pair gets help from Forest Whitaker’s Saw Gerrera, a wise mentor who exercises more caution than the youthful warriors. More daring is Donnie Yen’s blind monk Chirrut, a fierce warrior guided by his faith in the Force.
Comic relief is provided under the most unusual circumstances. Joining the rebel crew is a security droid named K-2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk), a constant fussbudget who amusingly calculates the unfavorable odds of the team surviving any dangerous predicament.
The bad guys, of course, are plentiful. Most unusual is the computerized resurrection of the long-deceased Peter Cushing in the role of Grand Moff Tarkin of the Imperial forces. Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones), though limited to a few scenes, still exudes great menace.
The essence of evil emanates to the greatest blunt impact from Ben Mendelsohn’s Director Orson Krennic, the ruthless overseer of the Death Star program who has no problem resorting to the random killing of suspected collaborators with the Rebellion.
The final climax is a satisfying battle in space with awesome aerial dogfights when the Rebellion strikes back against the Empire. The action kicks into high gear just in time to highlight the challenges that will always lay ahead for the good guys.
Fan reaction to the recent “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was decidedly positive, even though it rehashed a lot of familiar ground. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” thriving on originality, turns out to be far superior and a most welcome addition to the “Star Wars” pantheon.
TV Corner: 'Kevin Can Wait' on CBS Network
What do the movies “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” “Here Comes the Boom, and “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” have in common, aside from being forgettable? They all starred comedian Kevin James, who shines much better on the small screen.
The long-running comedy “The King of Queens” starred James and Leah Remini as a blue-collar couple living in Rego Park, Queens with the unwelcome presence of Jerry Stiller as Remini’s father camping out in the basement.
Arguably, the same type of formula is at work for “Kevin Can Wait,” where James’ Kevin Gable is a newly retired police officer living on New York’s Long Island, with his wife Donna (Erinn Hayes) and their three children.
You may ask about the meaning of the title “Kevin Can Wait?” Is this some sort of existential exercise, like the Samuel Beckett play “Waiting for Godot,” in which two characters wait for the arrival of someone named Godot who never arrives?
During last summer’s gathering of TV critics, Kevin James attempted to answer this fundamental question by saying the title fit with the idea that “I can wait for my retirement, it can be pushed off a little bit. I can wait for that, for family, and this and that.”
To narrow this down a bit, James has a point since his idea of a carefree life shared with his fellow retired police buddies takes a twist when oldest daughter Kendra (Taylor Spreitler) announces she’s dropping out of college to support her fiancé Chale (Ryan Cartwright).
While Donna still works as a nurse, Kevin finds that he has to take a series of odd jobs to bring in some extra cash. Even when he comes up with a scheme to launch a food truck business, Kevin’s venture ends with humiliation and spectacular failure at the hands of a disgruntled chef.
The best comedic scenes involve Kevin sneaking away for touch football and a Billy Joel concert with his pals Goody (Leonard Earl Howze) and Duffy (Lenny Venito) and his retired firefighter brother Kyle (Gary Valentine).
“Kevin Can Wait,” which managed to secure a full season order from CBS, may not be the best vehicle for Kevin James’ talent in a series that relies on mostly predictable jokes.
What makes “Kevin Can Wait” a watchable alternative for viewers tired of amateur talent contests is that Kevin James has a likable, funny personality that makes him an endearing presence on the network landscape.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
COBB, Calif. – A community celebration for the community of Cobb is set for Christmas Day.
The free event will take Sunday, Dec. 25, at the Little Red Schoolhouse, 15780 Bottle Rock Road.
At noon the fun will start with cookies, gingerbread houses, hot chocolate and caroling.
Dinner will be served from 2 to 4 p.m.
There also will be presents for Cobb Mountain's children.
To attend, volunteer or donate, call Kelly at 707-486-4141.