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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Anderson Marsh State Historic Park continues to hold monthly guided nature walks.
The next walk is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, Oct. 8.
There will be no tour of the Historic Ranch House Museum in October.
Park docent and Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association volunteer Billy Gear will lead the walk.
He says he “plans on hiking the creek trail with an option to do the ridge trail if dry. The theme will be ‘’Early Fall – flowers, galls, birds and insects.”
Bring binoculars and meet in front of the Ranch House at 8:15 a.m. for time to experience the early morning wildlife to be found in the Ranch House and Barn complex yard. The walk will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Heavy rain will cancel the walk from the Ranch House parking lot.
There is no charge or entrance fee for those attending this event.
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is located on Highway 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake.
For more information about the walks, email
GUERNEVILLE, Calif. — California Water Service’s (Cal Water) Redwood Valley District Manager Gay Guidotti retired this week after leading the district since 1999.
The company has selected Darin McCosker to serve as the new local manager for the district.
Guidotti, a Guerneville native, has been part of the water industry since 1981.
She grew up in the water industry as her family owned and operated Armstrong Valley Water, which started operating in the area in 1948, and is now part of Cal Water’s Redwood Valley District.
Guidotti got her start at Cal Water as an office manager before managing all operations of the district’s Coast Springs, Lucerne and Unified systems.
In her retirement, Guidotti plans on staying in Guerneville and spending more time with her family.
McCosker started his Cal Water career in July 2012 as the superintendent of the Redwood Valley District.
He has worked in the water industry since 1991, eight years of which were in management. McCosker has Water Treatment Grade 5 and Water Distribution Grade 3 certifications from the State Water Resources Control Board, and a Grade 2 Collections Systems Technician certification from the California Water Environment Association.
“Given his years of experience and knowledge of our local communities, Darin is a great asset to our Redwood Valley District,” said Guidotti. “I am confident that he has the experience and vision to keep the district operating smoothly.”
Cal Water serves about 3,600 people through 1,900 service connections in Lucerne and parts of Duncans Mills, Guerneville, Dillon Beach, Noel Heights and Santa Rosa. Additional information may be obtained online at www.calwater.com .
California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law two bills designed to protect oceans and marine environments: SB 1363 (Monning) and AB 2139 (Williams).
“Although ocean acidification is a global phenomenon, the West Coast will face some of the earliest, most severe changes. These bills underscore the importance of taking action now on a local scale in California,” said Ocean Protection Council (OPC) Executive Director Deborah Halberstadt.
“OPC is ready to take action, as directed in these bills, and work with our network of partners on a federal, state, regional and local level to ensure that we safeguard our unique coastal ecosystems for the impacts of ocean acidification,” Halberstadt said. “We appreciate the leadership of the legislature, Secretary Laird, and the Governor in addressing such a critical issue facing not just California’s coast, but the entire West Coast and global ocean.”
SB 1363 highlights actions that can be taken at the local and regional levels to combat the global challenge of ocean acidification through eelgrass restoration and protection.
AB 2139 incorporates many of the recommendations from the West Coast Ocean Acidification & Hypoxia Science Panel report released earlier this year and tasks Ocean Protection Council staff with monitoring and yearly reporting on progress and next steps.
Both SB 1363 and AB 2139 elevate the issue of ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH) within our legislature for the first time.
The Ocean Protection Council works to ensure that California maintains healthy, resilient, and productive ocean and coastal ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations.
Several other leading voices in the ocean protection community expressed their support of the legislation.
“Today California took a giant step forward in confronting the threat of ocean acidification to the state’s ocean and coastal communities. This new legislation will ensure that the best science is brought to bear to reduce impacts, plan for change, and demonstrate that concrete action now can help protect the ocean’s vital services for all Californians in the future. We commend the leadership of the legislature, Secretary Laird, and Governor Brown in charting a path forward for a healthy ocean future,” said George H. Leonard, PhD, chief scientist at Ocean Conservancy.
““These bills enable California to be the first of the west coast states to adopt broad-based actions stemming from the West Coast Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Science Panel’s report, which in turn builds on the state’s leadership in establishing two unique and innovative California ocean institutions, the Ocean Protection Council and the Ocean Science Trust, who played pivotal roles in convening the Panel,” said Margaret Spring, VP of Conservation & Science and chief conservation officer at Monterey Bay Aquarium.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With the Lake County Literacy Coalition’s major fundraiser, the Vineyard Run for Literacy, right around the corner, some people might be asking, “What does this organization do for residents of Lake County?”
Since 1986, the coalition has raised money to support the adult literacy programs run by the Lake County Library.
The program recruits and trains volunteers from the community to work one-on-one with individuals who need help to improve basic reading, writing and comprehension skills.
“Over the years, the literacy program has trained well over 1,200 tutors who in turn helped more than 2,100 learners,” said literacy coordinator Ginny DeVries.
This tutoring is free to all Lake County residents, age 18 and older.
Many college students take advantage of this free tutoring service, especially first year students. They learn how to succeed in taking tests and improve note taking ability.
One client willing to share his story was Jason Martinez. He passionately wanted to be a chef, but his reading and writing skills had been a problem when it came to passing the exams at the culinary arts class at Yuba College.
He and his tutor met regularly for 17 weeks, and with that help, Martinez received an “A” in his culinary arts class, and soon became a full-time cook at Running Creek Casino.
Tutors are available to assist learners on an individual basis at the county library (and other) locations, at the Hill Road Correctional Facility and in preparation for GED testing.
In addition, if an adult learner has young children, the whole family is eligible for services under the Families for Literacy Program.
Family story times are offered at the library branches and children’s educational materials are provided – at no cost to the families – to encourage a love of reading and to break the cycle of illiteracy.
Funds raised by the Literacy Coalition are used for books, training materials and tutor support.
For the past 27 years, the coalition, with the help of the literacy volunteers, has conducted an annual October fundraising event, the Vineyard Run for Literacy.
This event attracts participants from all over the state as well as visitors from other areas. Many local businesses donate prizes and participants in all age ranges are recognized.
Coalition Board Member Deb Ehrhardt urged everyone to “support the run on Sunday, Oct. 9, at Steele Wines by participating, or donating to Lake County Literacy Coalition.”
Register online at Run Sign Up, https://runsignup.com/ , or contact the literacy office for a form. The walk and runs begin at 9 a.m., and on-site registration begins at 8 a.m.
For more information about the literacy program and services, call the library literacy office at 707-263-7633.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Nine people – including a Lake County woman – were injured in a Saturday night crash on Highway 1 in Mendocino County that led to a Texas man being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
The crash occurred on Highway 1 north of Lighthouse Road in Point Arena at approximately 7:48 p.m. Saturday, according to the California Highway Patrol's Ukiah Area office.
William Mladenka, 71, of Freeport, Texas, was driving a 2007 Toyota northbound on Highway 1 at 35 miles per hour with 68-year-old Kathleen Mladenka, also of Freeport, riding as his passenger, the CHP said.
The CHP said William Mladenka allowed his vehicle to drift completely across the highway's double yellow lines as he entered a curve.
Traveling southbound on Highway 1 in a 2014 Honda was Mary Kay Viglione, 66, of Fair Oaks, along with six passengers, the CHP said.
Viglione noticed headlights in her lane as she traveled through the curve and was unable to react in time to avoid a head-on collision with Mladenka's vehicle, according to the CHP.
The CHP said William Mladenka was determined to be under the influence of alcohol, with a blood alcohol level of 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit.
He was arrested at the crash scene and later transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries, while Kathleen Mladenka was taken to Ukiah Valley Medical Center, also with major injuries, the CHP said.
Viglione and all of her passengers suffered minor injuries from the crash, the CHP said.
Riding in Viglione's vehicle were Helen Cherie Mitchell, 70, of Hidden Valley Lake; Pamela Joy Miller, 67, of Sacramento; Christine Anne Lennon, 65, of El Dorado Hills; Ruth Ann Halbrook, 61, of Carmichael; Sheryl Ruth Hurst-Carpenter, 62, of Rocklin; and Agnes B. Hobbs, 63, of Sacramento, according to the CHP.
All of those in Viglione's vehicle went to Mendocino Coast District Hospital for treatment except for Hurst-Carpenter and Hobbs, who the CHP said were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
The CHP said all of the occupants of both vehicles were wearing their seat belts when the wreck occurred.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will hold its regular monthly business meeting on Thursday, Oct. 6.
The meeting takes place at the Democratic Campaign Headquarters at 390 N. Main St. in Lakeport at 6:30 p.m.
The agenda for the meeting includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblyman Bill Dodd and State Senator Mike McGuire, as well as reports from the representative of the Lake County Democratic Club.
Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.
For more information about the Democratic Party in Lake County visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org or www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDemocrats .