News

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – East Lake Resource Conservation District’s efforts to assist post-fire recovery by providing 100,000 native conifer seedlings to fire-ravaged private landowners recently received significant additional support from Damon and Jaime Matthews, owners of Walnut Creek Firewood.

As has been previously reported, the reforestation project got going with funding from the Lake County Rotary Club Association, or LARCA, and #LakeCountyRising, a collaborative effort of the Lake County Wine Grape Commission, Winery Association and Wine Alliance, which have allocated nearly $60,000 to get seedlings planted and ready for distribution in the 2016-17 winter planting season.

It has also benefitted from an in-kind donation of more than 650 oaks and buckeyes from Mike Steen of Coyote Ridge Farms in Guerneville. These hardwood container trees, which received interim care from students at Lower Lake and Middletown High Schools and Kecia Stickney, owner of Frontier Farms on Highway 29 north of Middletown, have already been distributed to their forever homes.

Jaime Matthews relates how they got involved. “When we opened last September, it was our mission to be a give-back company. When we watched the Lake County fires ravage our neighboring land, we knew we wanted to help. So, as we help educate our customers about utilizing a cleaner fire system for their home, we want to help East Lake RCD with the reforestation efforts from last year’s fire.”

The Matthews have pledged to send a monthly check based on the number of fireplaces they sell, and accompanied their letter with an initial donation of $500.

This additional funding will allow East Lake RCD to expand the conifer seedlng program to include special-purpose projects with additional student involvement, and possibly to organize a repeat of last winter’s hardwood distributions.

“Lake County lost an estimated seven million trees in last summer’s fires and it will take years to get them back,” said East Lake RCD President Charlotte Griswold, “but with the help of generous supporters like Damon and Jaime Matthews we’re taking a giant step down the road to recovery.”

LAKEPORT, Calif. – MCHC Health Centers (MCHC) recently received a $325,000 grant to treat hundreds of additional patients struggling with substance abuse.

The Substance Abuse/Medication-Assisted Therapy grant will benefit Lake County residents because MCHC operates Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport.

The funding gives Lake County residents greater access to substance abuse services through increased staffing, including new behavioral health providers and case managers.

The enhanced program expands substance abuse and depression screening, enhances comprehensive case management, and strengthens Lakeview Health Center’s ability work with community partners to assure a safe detoxification process is available.

According to MCHC Associate Medical Director Justin Ebert, “When responding to stress, trauma or pain, it is natural for people to do their best to cope. Unfortunately, some coping mechanisms are unhealthy, causing people to harm themselves, their families and their communities. Opioid dependency crosses all social and economic barriers and therefore needs a community-based partnership to offer avenues for recovery. This grant will help Lake and Mendocino counties move forward in screening for dependency and developing systems for support and recovery.”

The grant will also benefit patients who reside in other communities with MCHC health centers.

Lake County ranks among the worst California counties for health indicators related to opioid use. It has the highest rate in the state for opioid prescriptions, the second highest rate for opioid deaths, and the eleventh highest rate for non-fatal opioid medical visits.

According to MCHC Behavioral Health Director Sam Fernandez, “Sometimes trauma is a gateway (trigger) to substance use as people struggle to deal with painful thoughts, feelings and life circumstances. Unfortunately, what is intended to provide a temporary comfort can lead to an ongoing, even many-years-long, problem. If you find yourself in such a situation, maybe we can help.”

In addition to the HRSA grant to combat drug addiction, Lakeview Health Center is part of a community coalition called Safe Rx Lake County.

The Safe Rx program is a network of medical professionals, educators, law enforcement, community-based organizations and community members united to accomplish the following goals:

· Educating the community about the risks and benefits these medications and safer alternative treatments;

· Encouraging health care providers to adopt safe and consistent prescribing guidelines;

· Helping those who misuse or are dependent on prescription painkillers to get the help they need;

· Informing the community regarding safe storage and disposal of medications.

“If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse, reach out. Treatment is available,” encouraged Lakeview Health Center Director Kim Tangermann. “This is such a great opportunity. Very few other organizations received this grant, and we are so pleased we’ll be able to care for people in our community who want to change their lives for the better.”

Fernandez added, “Often, a lack of resources is a major impediment to recovery from substance use disorders. It is no secret that opioid and other substance misuse is seriously impacting the health and welfare of not only Lake and Mendocino county residents, but our society at large. This generous grant allows MCHC to expand our screening, counseling and treatment options for patients struggling with substance use. We are grateful to be able to use these grant funds to address dependency and reduce suffering in our patients and communities.”

Located at 5335 Lakeshore Blvd. in Lakeport, Lakeview Health Center provides comprehensive health services including primary medical care, pediatrics, dentistry, women’s health, obstetrical care, counseling, psychiatry, chiropractic and specialty care. MCHC looks forward to growing to meet the ever-expanding needs of the communities it serves. Learn more at www.mchcinc.org .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from Manzanita Drive to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Valley fire recovery work from the Lake/Napa County line to Hidden Valley will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Valley fire recovery work from the junction of Routes 29/175 in Middletown to Loch Lomond will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 30-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Geotechnical studies near the Little River Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Highway repairs a quarter-mile north of Ocean Meadows Circle will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to replace insulators approximately 0.15 miles east of Cold Creek Ridge beginning Tuesday, May 24. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Highway construction from 0.6 mile south of Upp Creek to the north Willits railroad crossing will continue. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Pavement repairs from Sherwood Road to Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Ed Clark & Associates have been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform sidewalk repairs between County Road 322 and Branscomb Road beginning Monday, May 23. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Pavement repairs from the junction of Routes 1/101 to the Bear Pen Undercrossing will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.

Highway 128

– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to reset a leaning utility pole near Horse Mountain Road on Monday, May 23. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to remove equipment approximately 1 mile east of Hosea Creek on Friday, May 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 253

– Highway repairs from Cattle Pass to Butler Ranch will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

The last remaining stretch of California coast is open to the recreational fishery as of Friday and will open to the commercial fishery on May 26, after a seven-day notice period.

On Friday the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) were notified by the director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), after consultation with the director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), that it recommends lifting the last remaining closure of the Dungeness crab fishery (between a line extending due west from 40 46.15 N latitude, the west end of the north jetty at the entrance of Humboldt Bay and north to the southern boundary line at 41 17.6 N latitude of the Reading Rock State Marine Conservation Area near Redwood Creek). Now the entire California coast is open to the recreational fishery.

The commercial fishery in this same closure will open accordingly seven days from today at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, May 26 with a presoak period on Monday, May 23 at 8:01 a.m. 
 
With the last remaining portion of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery opening next week, CDFW reminds commercial and recreational fishing fleets of the Best Practices Guide available to download that provides tips for reducing incidences of whale entanglements with crab trap gear. All anglers are strongly encouraged to download the guide and observe best practices. 

This guide was produced by the Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group and was a collaborative effort between commercial crabbers, state and federal agencies, and non-profit organizations.
 
CDFW also reminds crabbers of the recent FAQ to address the partial opening of Fishing District 6 on May 12 and fair start rules in order to conduct an orderly fishery.

This FAQ covers topics about transiting through the current closure area to land crab and the recommended procedures for crab catch on board during the pre-soak period for those not bound by the fair start provision.

Since the commercial fishery opened in Fishing Districts 6 and 7 on May 12, those bound by the Fair Start Provision will not be able to set gear and begin fishing in both districts, including the newly opened closure area described above, until the 30 day waiting period ends on Saturday June 11, 2016.
 
Due to the late start of the season there are also concerns over the take of soft-shelled crab. The commercial fleet should avoid taking crab that are not marketable and abide by Fish and Game Code Section 7704 that makes it unlawful to cause or permit waste of a fished resource. CDFW encourages all crabbers, buyers and processors to closely coordinate to minimize the chance of wasting any crab and violating Fish and Game Code Section 7704.
 
The delayed opening of the Dungeness crab fishery may concentrate effort at a time that could increase conflict with other active fisheries, for instance the salmon fishery. CDFW advises that all work together and adjust their fishing practices to avoid or minimize these conflicts.
 
Given the increasing reports of soft shelled crab and the unique circumstances this year that have led to unprecedented levels of fishing effort this late in the season, CDFW has concluded that it will not extend the season pursuant to Fish and Game Code Section 8277. The recreational Dungeness crab season in Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties will close July 30. The recreational Dungeness crab season will close June 30 in counties south of Mendocino County.

The commercial fishery will close in Fish and Game Districts 6, 7, 8 and 9 on July 15. All other areas of the state will close to commercial Dungeness crab fishing on June 30.
 
Areas open to crab fishing include:

·       Recreational Dungeness crab fishery open statewide from California/Oregon border to the California/Mexico border.
·       On May 26, 2016 Commercial Dungeness crab fishery open statewide from California/Oregon border to the California/Mexico border (which includes all previously opened areas).
·       Commercial fishery currently open along mainland coast south of 40 46.15 N lat., at the Humboldt Bay entrance, Humboldt County to the California/Mexico border and north of 41 17.6 N lat. at the southern boundary of the Reading Rock SMCA (near Redwood Creek), Humboldt County to the California/Oregon border.
·       Commercial and recreational rock crab fisheries are open along the mainland coast south of 36 58.72 N Lat. at Sand Hill Bluff, Santa Cruz County (approximately 9 miles north of Santa Cruz Harbor Entrance)
·       Commercial and recreational rock crab fisheries are open in state waters of the Channel Islands except for an exclusion area between Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands (see coordinates below)
 
Areas closed to rock crab fishing include:

·       Commercial and recreational rock crab fisheries are closed north of 36 58.72 N lat. and in state waters between Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands within an exclusion area bounded by straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed:

(1) 34 7.75 N lat. 120 0.00 W long.;
(2) 34 7.75 N lat. 119 50.00 W long.;
(3) 33 53.00 N lat. 119 50.00 W long.;
(4) 33 53.00 N lat. 120 0.00 W long.; and
(5) 34 7.75 N lat. 120 0.00 W long.
 
CDFW will continue to closely coordinate with CDPH, OEHHA and fisheries representatives to extensively monitor domoic acid levels in rock crabs to determine when the fishery can safely be opened throughout the state.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Small Business Council of America (SBCA), a national nonprofit organization which represents the interests of more than 20,000 privately-held and family-owned organizations on Federal tax, employee benefit and health care matters, presented its 33rd Annual Congressional awards on May 4, 2016.

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) received the 2016 SBCA Congressional Award in recognition of his dedication to small businesses across the country and in particular for the introduction and sponsorship of the Small Business Healthcare Relief Act.

This bipartisan bill would allow small employers with fewer than 50 employees to offer Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) to help employees purchase health insurance in the individual market – on and off of the exchange – as well as reimburse employees for qualified health expenses if the employee has qualified health coverage.

In 2013, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance prohibiting the use of HRAs for the purchase of health insurance and related medical expenses because it was inconsistent with the requirements of group health plans.

Employers who continue to offer HRAs would be subject to a $100 per day, per employee penalty, up to $36,500 per employee per year.

The Small Business Healthcare Relief Act would allow small employers to offer HRAs to their employees so that they can choose a quality, affordable health insurance plan that fits their individual budget and health care needs.

“The SBCA applauds Congressman Thompson for reaching across the partisan divide to promote common-sense bi-partisan legislation that will greatly help small businesses and their employees,” said SBCA Chair, Paula Calimafde. “The Small Business Healthcare Relief Act, sponsored by Congressman Thompson and Congressman Boustany, will provide a solution to a very real problem and, once again, allow small businesses to help their employees cover the cost of individual health insurance.”

“I am honored to receive the 2016 Small Business Council of America Congressional Award,” said Thompson. “Small businesses drive job creation and grow our economy, which is why I was proud to introduce the Small Business Healthcare Relief Act, so that our small business owners can afford to provide health care coverage to their employees and focus on what they do best, running their business.”

The SBCA also recognized the efforts of Senator Jim Risch, Senator Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Charles Boustany in promoting and supporting the small business community. 

The SBCA also honored members of the private sector, including: Robert Kent, of Bethesda, Maryland, Humanitarian of the Year and Troy Guard, of Denver, Colorado, Mort Harris Small Business Person of the Year.  SBCA Director, Sandra Turner of Oviedo, Florida, was this year’s Connie Murdoch award winner.

Veronica Rodriguez Vega
Jan. 22, 1974 - May 18, 2016

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Veronica is survived by her husband, Antonio; sons, Anthony and Andrew; parents, Rogelio and Fransisca; siblings, Rogelio (Rosa), Victor (Paloma), Daniel, Oscar and Mireya; brother-in-law Silvestre; nieces and nephews, Brandon, Tiago, Rogelio Jr. and Juliana; and goddaughters, Victoria and Sofia.

Her family and friends will miss her smile, laughter, sense of humor, guidance and strength.

Visitation will be held at St. Mary of the Angel's Catholic Church in Ukiah on Tuesday, May 24, from 3 to 7 p.m. with Rosary service at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at the church on Wednesday, May 25, at noon.

For further information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .