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LAKEPORT, Calif. – When she loved you, she really loved you.
That’s what Jim Mooney remembers about his late wife Vanessa, the fiery redhead who lit up his life for five years.
The pair met through a mutual friend, and Vanessa struck Jim with her indomitable personality, sense of adventure, and gentle heart.
“One weekend, I wanted to test drive a car. She jumped in with me and we drove up to Lake Tahoe,” said Jim. “We played in the snow, explored Ponderosa Ranch, played the slot machines for the first time, and saw a show together.”
Vanessa showed Jim a world of firsts.
“I never believed I would fall in love with anybody; I didn’t even know if love was real. And then one day it just happened. I realized what she meant to me as a person. I realized love was possible,” said Jim.
When he contracted valley fever, a lung infection caused by fungal spores, Vanessa exemplified love in sickness and in health.
“I couldn’t get out of bed for six months. I lost 30 pounds, had pneumonia and truly thought I was going to die,” said Jim. “Vanessa came home during her lunch break to feed and dress me. When I woke up drenched in cold sweat she helped me into the tub and changed the sheets while I bathed. I never heard her complain once.”
To Jim, who grew up in a volatile home, Vanessa offered more than physical healing.
“She used to hold me and just listen; not try to fix it, not think about what she was going to say next. She made my heart feel safe. She brought me peace.”
Jim took Vanessa to Disneyland for the first time to celebrate their one year wedding anniversary, where she ran from ride to ride, proclaiming in wonderment that each ride had its own city. During the trip, Vanessa found a lump in her breast that felt hot to the touch.
“She was diagnosed with stage four cancer, and had a total mastectomy on her left side. But a year after her initial diagnosis, chemo and radiation, she was back in the emergency room. At that point the doctors gave her a year and a half to live,” said Jim.
Her breast cancer had metastasized into her liver, spine and bones, growing so quickly that her bones started to crack. Vanessa, determined to help others, asked Jim to coordinate the donation of her tissue to cancer research. She died six weeks later.
Breast cancer is a common killer in Lake County, where compared to the state average, the screening rate is 14 percent lower and the death rate is 13 percent higher, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Sutter Lakeside Hospital is partnering with Sutter Health to bring cutting edge 3D mammography to Lake County to help women fight cancer earlier, with superior clinical performance in detecting invasive cancer, lowering recall rates, and improving overall cancer detection.
“Early detection is critical to the fight against breast cancer,” said Jose Aponte, director of Medical Imaging, Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “3D mammography is the leading technology in women’s imaging – we can save lives by catching cancer earlier.”
Sutter Lakeside is less than $50,000 away from its goal of $527,750 to purchase a Hologic 3D Mammogram machine.
To learn more about 3D mammography, how you can support the hospital, or how to make a gift in honor of a loved one, contact Morgen Wells, community relations and fund development specialist, at 707-262-5121 or
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As the week starts Lake County Animal Care and Control has one cat ready for adoption.
“Muffin” is an adult domestic short hair mix with a gray and brown tabby coat.
She already was spayed when she arrived at the shelter, so her adoption fee will be lower.
Muffin would much prefer to be lounging on a couch with her new family for the new year.
She is in cat room kennel No. 144, ID No. 4153.
Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. Many great pets are there, hoping you'll choose them.
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
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee's first meeting of the new year will include leadership elections and a consideration of strategies and priorities for the city in the year ahead.
LEDAC will meet from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
Chair Wilda Shock said the meeting will be a working session to review and distribute documents and reports relevant to setting the economic development strategy and priorities for the city of Lakeport.
There also will be an election to select the chair, vice chair and secretary for 2016, Shock said.
LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.
Members do not have to be Lakeport residents.
In addition to Shock, the membership includes Vice Chair Christine Hutt, Secretary Rebecca Southwick, and members Bill Eaton, Melissa Fulton, Pam Harpster, Chris King, George Linn, Paula Pepper-Duggan, Taira St. John and Panette Talia.
Lakeport City Community Development Director Kevin Ingram and City Manager Margaret Silveira serve as ex-officio committee members.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission will start off the new year by electing its officers for the coming year, discussing goals and considering a request for a general plan and zone change for a former condo development.
The commission will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
At the start of the meeting the commission will elect its chair and vice chair for 2016.
On the agenda is an application from Ray Somberg for a general plan and zone change from resort residential to major retail for a 0.70-acre parcel at 1930 S. Main St., and a general plan amendment and zone change from resort residential planned development to residential for a 5.39-acre parcel at 10 Queen Ann Way, which is located behind the existing “Victorian Village” development.
As part of that item, the commission will discuss approving a parcel map to create a total of four new parcels at this location.
Somberg recently acquired the Victorian Village property, which the city approved in 2003 to be a 95-lot condominium development.
However, only the first 14-lot phase was recorded, and the remaining seven phases, consisting of 81 lots, have not been recorded and have since expired, according to the staff report from city Associate Planner Dan Chance.
Rather than continue the condo development, Somberg is proposing to have the property at 1930 S. Main St. rezoned for future commercial development while the three other parcels would allow for three single family residential lots, although there are no plans to develop those residential properties at present, Chance reported.
Based on city staff's analysis of the proposal, it is recommending approval of Somberg's proposals.
In other news, commissioners will review and discuss goals and the work program for the Lakeport Planning Department and the commission in 2016.
The commission also will get an update on projects pending approval by the planning department as of Jan. 7.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
This story has been updated regarding a public comment period for the closed session items.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The board of the new Upper Lake Unified School District this week will consider a proposed contract with a retired county school superintendent to lead the district over the next several months.
The board will meet in closed session at 4:15 p.m. before convening the public portion of the meeting at 5 p.m. in the library at Upper Lake High School, 675 Clover Valley Road, on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
For members of the public who want to make comments on the closed session discussion, they should appear at the start of the meeting at 4:15 p.m.
In closed session, Board members Keith Austin, Don Meri, Mel O’Meara, Claudine Pedroncelli and Diane Plante will continue their discussion regarding the hiring of a superintendent for the new district, and also will discuss who to hire for chief business official and secretarial support.
The district's formation will become final in July, once the separate elementary and high school districts formally cease to exist.
In the months ahead, the district needs a superintendent to guide the new district through a series of steps in its formation.
Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg suggested at the board's initial meeting last month that it consider four options for the selection of the district's first superintendent: hiring current administrative staff, hiring a temporary superintendent, hiring a consultant, or having Falkenberg fill the role temporarily, in addition to his other duties.
Upper Lake High Principal/Superintendent Patrick Iaccino has come forward as a candidate from the current administration.
Iaccino has strong support from staff and faculty, who wrote to the board last month to express their desire that he be the one to lead the new district in its initial, formative years.
During a closed session at the board's Dec. 22 meeting, Iaccino was interviewed in closed session, as was Wally Holbrook, the retired county of superintendent of schools who preceded Falkenberg in the office.
While at the last meeting the board announced no formal decision, at the Tuesday meeting they will consider approving a contract with Education Leadership Solutions, headed by Holbrook.
The contract is proposed to run from Jan. 12 through June 30, and not to exceed 250 hours, at a cost of $100 per hour, for a total contract amount of $25,000.
Holbrook is offering to assist the district with establishing principles and practices for operation, training the new board, developing a 100-day transition plan along with options for the administrative organizational structure, creation of board policies and procedures, assisting in the recruitment of a new superintendent, developing a draft budget, and representing the board in functions and interactions with official agencies.
On Tuesday, the board also is set to consider approving a retainer agreement for legal services with School and College Legal Services of Santa Rosa.
The proposed agreement, which would date from Jan. 4, would be ongoing for up to four years and may be modified by mutual written agreement of the firm and the school district.
The board is to determine the retainer amount, calculated at $215 per hour, with a minimum of 20 hours. Retainer amounts listed in the document range from 30 hours for $6,450 up to 300 hours at $64,500.
In other business, the board will consider approving a contract for services with the California School Boards Association and get a report from Lake County Office of Education staffer April Leiferman on the change from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to the Every Student Succeeds Act.
There also will be time for reports from Falkenberg and individual board members.
The board is set to meet again later in the month, on Jan. 26.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The annual Miss Lake County Pageant on Saturday introduced its newest winners following a competition featuring a field of talented young women.
Faith Hornby was crowned Miss Lake County for 2016, with Hanna Scully crowned Miss Lake County's Outstanding Teen.
The 50th annual pageant event took place at the Marge Alakszay Center in Lakeport Saturday night.
Hornby and Scully won the crowns at the end of an evening that tested their many talents and ability to represent the county.
In addition to their crowns and scholarships, the two young women now have the chance to advance to the Miss California Pageant contests for misses and teens later this year.
The wildland fires that impacted the county in 2015 had nearly caused this year's pageant to be canceled.
However, it ultimately was decided that the show – which provides scholarships to the young Lake County women who participate – needed to go on.
On Saturday night, the pageant paid tribute to Lake County Supervisor Rob Brown and Santa Rosa resident Tony Geraldi, whose fundraising efforts ensured this year's event would take place.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
