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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club's “Hidden Gardens of Lake County” tour is Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The “Maison du Maroc,” located near Lakeport, will be one of five gardens featured.
This is a true “renaissance property” with a panoramic view of rural farming countryside below.
Creative and artistic ideas were inspired by a trip to Morocco in the 1970s. The property was designed as an animal sanctuary and is landscaped primarily with plantings in containers for water conservation and because of rocky soil. A majestic fountain and container water features on the front patio attracts local wildlife.
You also will enjoy plants including succulents, orchids and goldfish pond as you walk through the conservatory to the back patio. The back patio also has container plantings and a beautiful view of Clear Lake.
Tickets are $25 each and will be available beginning on April 13 at Main Street Nursery and Flowers by Jackie in Lakeport; and Bird Brain Designs in Kelseyville.
To purchase tickets by mail, call Nora at 707-263-5803.
For further information, log visit www.clttgc.org or call tour chair Debra at 707-367-0815.
The Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club is a member of the Mendo-Lake District of the California Garden Club Inc.-Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – State Sen. Mike McGuire continues to be adamantly opposed to what he called State Parks' short-sighted proposal to enact fees on some of Northern California’s most cherished public beaches.
On Monday he submitted a letter urging the California Coastal Commission to deny this latest proposal and focus on revenue measures to bring long-term stability to the State Parks system which has been starved of funds for years now.
“The plan deters public access to some of the most cherished public beaches in Northern California. We should be in the business of opening up our coast to all residents, no matter their socio-economic background and this plan stifles many who live paycheck to paycheck from visiting our beloved coast,” Sen. McGuire said. “Rather than taking a piecemeal approach, which this plan is, we should be introducing a statewide funding proposal that would eliminate the need for any beach fees to be established.”
The Coastal Commission will make a decision on the diversity and access issue on Wednesday in Santa Rosa when the beach fees proposal comes to a vote.
Coastal Commission staff has recommended denying the proposal, and Sen. McGuire agreed with the staff summary that states: “The program not only reduces (as opposed to maximizing) coastal public access parking, it also equates in some ways to a prohibition on beach access at these locations unless you can pay a fee which disproportionally impacts persons of low income.”
Like many coastal regions north of the Golden Gate, the Sonoma Coast is isolated due to the lack of public transit.
Adding yet another barrier will hurt visitor numbers, and it will have an impact on the local economy.
Several Coastal Commissioners have said they want visitors who enjoy the coast to be more diverse, and Sen. McGuire believes enacting fees on the Sonoma Coast would have the opposite effect of their stated goal.
“Californians deserve a park system that is open to all,” Sen. McGuire said. “Rather than continuing this tired battle which is inconsistent with the Coastal Act, let’s work together on a plan that will bring financial stability to our beloved parks for generations to come.”
Sen. McGuire represents the entire North Coast from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including all of the state beaches where, if approved, fees would be charged at eight parking lot facilities limiting access along 35 miles of the Sonoma County coastline.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Carley Allen Helton Jr. passed away suddenly on the evening of April 5, 2016.
To his family he was known as Dad, Grandpa and Uncle.
Born Feb. 6, 1951, in Grundy, Virginia, to Carley and Birchie (Dales) Helton, he was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Uvia Merrill Mead and Jackie Jones; stepson, Raymond Burns; and stepdaughter Amy Burns Nelson of Clearlake.
After living in the Bay Area from the age of 3 he and his wife moved to Lake County in 1995 to enjoy fishing and a slower pace of life.
He worked in the auto body and paint business since he was 15 years old ane he retired in 2003. His passions were cars and his boat.
He is survived by his wife, Laura Helton; daughter, Shannon Durbala (Tom); sisters, Melba Jones and Debra Ashe (Randy); brother, Richard Steven Helton (Juanita); stepson, Clint Burns (Tammy); stepdaughters, Christine Burns and Laura Norton; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews who he loved dearly.
Many who knew him loved him and will miss him. God came down and said your pain is gone now and took him to Heaven. We will meet again, Sweetheart.
Services will be held on Saturday, April 16, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Young’s Street in Middletown at 1 p.m.
Services entrusted with Jones and Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel in Lower Lake, telephone 707-994-6417.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Nancy Helldorfer has spent her life in the hospital.
From helping as a candy striper, to serving as a nurse for 42 years, to joining the auxiliary, she has continuously devoted her time to others.
“My mother and great aunt were nurses, as is my daughter,” said Helldorfer. “I started as a candy striper at age twelve, and then became a nurses’ assistant. All I ever wanted was to be a nurse, so it was a natural progression to become an RN. I enjoy the hospital environment and interacting with staff, patients, and administration.”
Post-retirement, Helldorfer still spends hours a week at Sutter Lakeside.
“Volunteers are an essential part of the hospital. I’m proud to be a part of a group that goes out of their way to serve the community,” said Helldorfer. “We’ve also established a scholarship fund for employees to encourage a new generation of nurses, and promote professional growth within Sutter Lakeside.”
President Richard Nixon established National Volunteer Week in 1974, and every president since has issued a proclamation during the month of April urging Americans to strengthen their communities by giving back.
Sutter Lakeside Hospital has reason to celebrate: because of its dedicated team of volunteers, it can provide equipment and services to patients that we otherwise couldn’t.
In the last 10 years alone, auxiliary has helped furnish the Family Birth Center suites and Surgery Center waiting room, helped purchase the life saving Telestroke equipment, and funded countless other pieces of equipment that improve patients’ experiences with Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
According to Helldorfer, volunteering offers something for everyone.
“Socialization is a big part of Auxiliary; we visit patients with the Comfort Cart, make baby baskets for the Family Birth Center, work in the Surgery Center waiting room, and staff the gift shop. Most volunteers don’t have a clinical background because it’s not necessary,” she said.
Volunteering comes with a host of benefits as well.
“Giving back keeps us young – it’s good for the mind and soul. Taking care of others feels great and enhances life. It benefits everyone,” Helldorfer said.
Our four-legged furry friends are also an integral part of Sutter Lakeside’s volunteer force.
The canine companions who visit the hospital bring comfort and happiness to the patients who are away from their own pets.
The dogs and their owners also visit the Emergency Department waiting room, a place that is often synonymous with tension and frustration.
The mood-boosting pet rounding drastically improves patient experience and creates a more relaxing environment during an otherwise stressful time.
Sutter Lakeside Hospital volunteers exemplify what it means to give back and improve our community.
If you or someone you know is interested in Sutter Lakeside Hospital volunteer opportunities, please contact Morgen Wells at 707-262-5121, or by email at
Morgen Wells is community relations and fund development specialist at Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Northshore Fire Protection District firefighters responded to two separate fires on Sunday morning and Monday afternoon that displaced residents.
At 9:15 a.m. Sunday, firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire at 4178 Country Club in Lucerne, according to Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos.
The fire occurred in a modular home. The home's sheetrock helped slow the spread of the fire, Beristianos said.
The fire destroyed a room and its contents, and resulted in smoke damage throughout the rest of the house, displacing its five residents, Beristianos said.
The fire killed a dog, but two to three puppies were saved, he added.
Beristianos said the fire is being attributed to an electrical issue.
Then, on Monday at around 3 p.m., Northshore Fire personnel responded to Everglade Boulevard in Clearlake Oaks on the report of a fire there, according to radio reports.
Beristianos said units arriving on scene found a travel trailer – parked in the front yard of a home – that was on fire.
Radio reports indicated that firefighters quickly knocked down the fire, which Beristianos said destroyed the trailer.
A young man was living in the trailer, Beristianos said.
Units at scene called for Red Cross to assist the trailer's resident with clothing and other needs, according to scanner traffic.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission will meet this week to discuss matters including a fence variance, the application for a lot line adjustment, the progress report on the city's housing element and an update on projects awaiting city approval.
The commission will meet beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
Commissioners will discuss an application from Arnold and Denise Pomeroy for a fence variance at 410 Fairview Way.
The Pomeroys are asking that the city allow an additional 3-foot hog wire fence located on top of an existing 3-foot wood fence, which would create a 6-foot fence along Sayre Street and replace the existing 6-foot fence along the eastern property boundary.
Also on the agenda, Ruzicka and Associates has applied for a lot line adjustment to reconfigure two adjacent legal lots of record located at 1405 S. Main St. and 100 Kimberly Lane.
In other business, the commission will review the housing element annual progress report for 2014 and 2015.
City staff also will give the commission an update on projects pending approval by the Lakeport Planning Department as of April 7.
Email Elizabeth Larson at