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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This year, the annual Clear Lake Christmas Bird Count, held by the Redbud Audubon Society, will be on Saturday, Dec. 19.
The Christmas Bird Count is a traditional project of Audubon societies around the country and takes place between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5.
Each December birders gather to record every individual bird and species encountered during the day.
Each count group has a designated circle of 15 miles in diameter and tries to cover as much ground as possible within a certain period of time.
The data collected by each count group are then sent to the National Audubon Headquarters in New York and is made available online.
Redbud Audubon invites all birders and nature enthusiasts to join in the upcoming Christmas Bird Count. Birders of all skill levels are encouraged to participate.
This is Audubon’s longest-running wintertime tradition and is the 39th year the count has taken place in Lake County.
There will be two main groups that participants might wish to join – one will meet at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park and the other will meet at the Visitor’s Center Parking lot at the Clear Lake State Park. Both groups will meet at 8 a.m. and continue through to early or mid-afternoon.
After the count, participants are invited to a pizza dinner at 5:30 p.m. at Kelseyville Pizza on State Street in Kelseyville to join in the count compilation where the tally of the day’s sightings is compiled.
If you are interested in participating in the bird count, call 707-263-8030, leave a message with your phone number and someone will return your call.
The Christmas Bird Count began more than a century ago when 27 conservationists in 25 localities, led by scientist and writer Frank Chapman, changed the course of ornithological history.
On Christmas Day in 1900, the small group posed an alternative to the “side hunt,” a Christmas day activity in which teams competed to see who could shoot the most birds and small mammals.
Instead, Chapman proposed to identify, count, and record all the birds they saw, founding what is now considered to be the world’s most significant citizen-based conservation effort – and century-old institution.
Scientists rely on the remarkable trend data of Audubon’s CBC to better understand how birds and the environment are faring throughout North America – and what needs to be done to protect them.
Data from Audubon’s signature Citizen Science program are at the heart of numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies.
Bonnie Thompson is a member of the Redbud Audubon Society.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Even though 2015 Lake County Wine Auction had to be canceled because of the Valley fire, the events producers were still able to raise $88,700 for charities and other local organizations who serve a wide range of needs across the community.
This distribution was made possible by generous auction sponsors and ticket holders who kept their money with the event despite its cancellation.
The Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund also made a $40,000 donation in support of beneficiaries who served on the front lines of fire relief. These organizations provided food, housing, medical care, clothing, household supplies and other services to those who were suffering.
Five high schools, five youth-oriented programs and 17 other nonprofit organizations will share in the proceeds, which were distributed on the evening of Dec. 9 during a festive reception for beneficiaries and sponsors at Boatique Winery on Red Hills Road in Kelseyville.
Once again, education was the emphasis. “Our commitment to this critical area will ensure that Lake County grows as a strong and healthy community for the next generation,” said Kaj Ahlmann, president of the Lake County Wine Alliance.
The Wine Alliance is a nonprofit organization of wineries, wine grape growers, vineyard owners, related businesses and community supporters, and the sponsor of the Wine Auction.
Since its founding in 2000, the Wine Alliance has raised $1,266,502 to foster the arts, benefit health services and otherwise support the Lake County community.
Applications are now being accepted for proceeds from the 2016 auction, to be held on Sept. 20. Copies are available at the auctions Web site at www.WineAlliance.Org .
The 2016 Auction, will take place at Cache Creek Vineyards and Tasting Room on Highway 20 near New Long Valley Road, with owners Don and Margie Van Pelt serving as honorary co-chairs.
This year's distribution would not have been possible without the support of valued sponsors: Calpine, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Six Sigma Ranch and Winery, St. Helena Hospital, Sysco Foods, artist John Clarke, Mendo Lake Credit Union, Umpqua Bank, Cache Creek Vineyard and Winery, Boatique Winery, Kelseyville Pharmacy, Brassfield Estate Winery, Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery, C-Line Express Trucking, Savings Bank of Mendocino and Pacific Gas and Electric.
The Lake County Wine Alliance Board of Directors extended a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this year's success possible. “Your support is deeply appreciated, not only by us but by our beneficiaries as well,” the organization said.
The proceeds for 2015 were distributed as follows.
The Arts ($30,000)
– $6,000, Lower Lake High School
– $6,000, Kelseyville High School
– $6,000, Upper Lake High School
– $6,000, Clearlake High School
– $6,000, Middletown High School
Health and Community ($58,700)
– $8,000, Friends of the Lake County Library
– $3,000, Sponsoring Survivorship
– $5,000, Lake County Historical Society
– $2,000, Yuba College Culinary Club
– $5,000, Lake County Symphony Association
– $4,000, Lake Community United Methodist Church Food Closet
– $2,000, Lower Lake High School Culinary Program
– $2,000, Kelseyville Food Pantry
– $1,200, Children's Museum of Arts and Science
– $3,500, Operation Tango Mike
– $9,000,Worldwide Healing Hands for local clinics
– $9,000, Habitat for Humanity
– $1,000, Highlands Senior Service Center
– $1,000, Lakeport Senior Center
– $1,000, Live Oak Senior Center
– $1,000, Lucerne Alpine Seniors
– $1,000, Middletown Senior Center
“History is a symphony of echoes heard and unheard. It is a poem with events as verses.” – Charles Angoff
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Lake County's Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum is located at 9921 Highway 281, also known as Soda Bay Road, and sits between Kelseyville and Lower Lake.
While the museum is run by the Lake County Historical Society, it belongs to the county of Lake.
This fine addition to our county's museum properties is only possible since it was saved from demolition, because of the generous donation – of both the building and the five acres that it is now situated upon – by Andy and Betty Beckstoffer of Beckstoffer Vineyards, along with a donation by the Kettenhofen Family Foundation.
According to the Lake County Historical Society, the Ely Stage Stop building was at a very convenient location, and was used throughout the past for many purposes. If this building's walls could talk!
Dated at around 1865, the building was once a stagecoach stop, post office, boy's school, pub and even a gas station.
The land upon which the historic building once stood was owned prior to the Ely family by James H. Jamison of Missouri, and utilized as ranch and stock lands in 1859, and later, as a pub and hotel.
In 1883 Benjamin Ely Sr.'s son, Benjamin Eli Jr. (it is not known why the spelling of his name differed from his familial name), garnered ownership of the tract of land.
Throughout the timespan of April 10, 1887, through March 8, 1889, our own Ely Stage Stop building was an operating post office/stagecoach relay station.
For a more detailed account of its history, visit the Ely Stage Stop Web site at http://elystagestop.com/ or better yet, visit it “in person.”
The Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum is open weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The museum offers some great events, including First Sunday Fiddlers, Science Camp, Living History events and Picnic on the Porch.
Be sure to visit Santa and other festivities, such as Christmas Marketplace at the Museum on Saturday, Dec. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Animal Care and Control is offering a large and eclectic group of canines to new homes this week.
This week's dogs include mixes of border collie, cattle dog, dachshund, Dalmatian, Great Pyrenees, hound, Labrador Retriever, Leonberger, miniature pinscher, pit bull, pointer, Sharpei, 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.
In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .
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-dachshund
This male miniature pinscher-dachshund has a short black and tan coat.
He's in kennel No. 3, ID No. 4177.
'Digger'
“Digger” is a male terrier and Sharpei mix with a short tan coat.
He was found on Lakeview Drive in Nice.
Shelter staff said he always comes to the front of the kennel, wiggly and happy. He has no food aggression, allowed them to pull at his feet and tail with no problems and he gets along great with female dogs.
He's in kennel No. 4, ID No. 3693.
Labrador Retriever-Dalmatian mix
This male Labrador Retriever-Dalmatian has a short black coat with white markings.
He also has one blue eye and one brown eye.
Shelter staff said he has a low energy level and is good with other dogs, having come in with the dogs in kennels No. 8 and 10.
He's in kennel No. 5, ID No. 4138.
Hound mix
This male hound mix has a short white coat with brown markings.
He's in kennel No. 7, ID No. 4165.
Shepherd mix
This male shepherd mix has a medium-length black coat with tan markings.
Shelter staff said he gets along great with other dogs, and came in with dogs in kennels No. 5 and 10. He has a low energy level and would be great in a home with children.
He's in kennel No. 8, ID No. 4151.
'Kong'
“Kong” is a male pit bull terrier mix.
He has a short brown coat with white markings.
He's in kennel No. 9, ID No. 4037.
Cattle dog mix
This female cattle dog mix has a short white coat with black markings, and one brown and one blue eye.
Shelter staff said she has great manners, knows how to sit and lie down. She is a little hesitant about being indoors – she may only have been an outside dog – but is adapting well. She's good with other dogs, having come in with the dogs in kennels No. 5 and 8. Based on her evaluation, she seems to like male dogs more than females.
“She will melt your heart in minutes,” shelter staff said.
She's in kennel No. 10, ID No. 4152.
'Cache'
“Cache” has had a rough year. He was rescued from the area of the Jerusalem fire this summer and adopted, but later returned because of an issue with his adopter's cat.
Shelter staff said he's a gentle, mellow giant that is part Leonberger. He's looking for a special person to give him a home for the rest of his life.
Cache is in kennel No. 11, ID No. 3101.
Pit bull terrier mix
This male pit bull terrier mix has a short black coat with white markings.
Shelters staff said he is great with female dogs but a little hesitant with male dogs. He did not guard food with people, but it's possible he may have food guarding with another canine. Staff also suggests he would do best in a home with children ages 12 and above.
He's in kennel No. 15, ID No. 4102.
'Naughty'
“Naughty” is a female pit bull terrier mix.
She has a white coat with a gray eye patch.
She's in kennel No. 16, ID No. 4083.
Pit bull mix
This female pit bull mix has a short gray coat with white markings.
Shelter staff said she is great with other dogs and is very people friendly, just wanting to sit in your lap. She has a low energy level and would do well in home with children.
She's in kennel No. 18, ID No. 3194.
'Onyx'
“Onyx” is a young female shepherd mix.
She has a short black coat with white markings.
Onyx is in kennel No. 20, ID No. 4174.
Pit bull terrier mix
This female pit bull terrier mix has a short brown and white coat.
Shelter staff said she is super sweet and wiggly when she gets visitors at her kennel. She just wants to be loved and play in her new forever home.
She's in kennel No. 21, ID No. 4164.
German Shepherd mix
This male German Shepherd mix has a tan and black coat with white markings.
Shelter staff said he is a beautiful boy who does not have any problems with food aggression, and is tolerant with being handled and having his feet, tail and skin pulled with no problems.
He does fine with other dogs, male or female. He has a lot of potential, and just needs somebody who will work with him.
Find him in kennel No. 22, ID No. 4116.
Pointer-Labrador Retriever mix
This male pointer-Labrador Retriever mix has a short white coat with liver-colored markings.
He's in kennel No. 23, ID No. 4150.
Great Pyrenees mix
This male Great Pyrenees mix has a medium-length white coat.
Shelter staff said he is a sweet boy who has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will need surgery in the future.
He's in kennel No. 28, ID No. 4121.
'Tux'
“Tux” is a male border collie mix with a short black and white coat.
Shelter staff said Tux is a smart, sweet boy who is recovering from an injury to his leg.
He has no issues with food aggression and allowed staff to take the food away without any problems. He would be good in a home with no other dogs and no cats.
He's in kennel No. 32, ID No. 4036.
Labrador Retriever-shepherd mix
This male Labrador Retriever-shepherd mix has a short tan and black coat.
Shelter staff said he has no food aggression, and does fine with female dogs. He is very scared in the animal control environment, and needs to go home to a loving family. He is great with people, and just needs some one on one time to come out of his shell.
He's in kennel No. 33, ID No. 3861.
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
Expedition 45 Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren of NASA is among three crew members who returned to Earth Friday after a 141-day mission aboard the International Space Station, landing in Kazakhstan at approximately 8:12 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Also returning were Flight Engineers Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency) and Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The crew touched down northeast of the remote town of Dzhezkazgan in Kazakhstan, marking the first crew landing to occur after sunset and only the sixth nighttime Soyuz spacecraft return from the space station.
With the end of this mission, Kononenko now has spent 533 days in space, and Lindgren and Yui, both on their first flight, have spent 141 days in space.
While on station, the crew members participated in Earth observations and conducted research in the areas of physical, biological and molecular science to advance knowledge and demonstrate new technologies.
Such investigations enable research breakthroughs and drive technology innovations that provide benefits on Earth, and will enable long-duration human and robotic exploration missions into deep space.
The space station is a test bed to demonstrate new technologies, and Lindgren and Yui took part in the Veggie plant growth experiment that yielded fresh lettuce for crew consumption in August.
NASA is maturing Veggie technology aboard the space station to provide future pioneers with a sustainable food supplement – a critical part of NASA’s journey to Mars.
As NASA moves toward long-duration exploration missions farther into the solar system, Veggie will be a resource for crew food growth and consumption.
The system also could be used by astronauts for recreational gardening activities during deep space missions and may have implications for improving growth and biomass production on Earth, benefiting the average citizen.
Another key research area during Expedition 45 is the continued one-year mission with NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Roscosmos’ Mikhail Kornienko that is providing insight into human health management for long-duration space travel
The crew members also welcomed three cargo spacecraft during their mission. The fifth Japanese HTV cargo craft brought several tons of supplies to the station in August, and in October, a Russian ISS Progress cargo craft docked to the station, also bringing tons of supplies.
On Dec. 9, Lindgren led the grapple of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft to the station, the U.S. company's fourth commercial resupply mission for NASA.
During his time on the orbiting complex, Lindgren ventured outside the confines of the space station for two planned spacewalks.
The first included a variety of station upgrade and maintenance tasks, including routing cables to prepare for new docking ports for U.S. commercial crew spacecraft. The second spacewalk resulted in the successful reconfiguration of a space station ammonia cooling system.
Expedition 46 continues operating the station, with Kelly in command. Along with Kornienko and Sergey Volkov of Roscosmos, the three-person crew will operate the station for four days until the arrival of three new crew members. NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and Tim Peake of ESA (European Space Agency) are scheduled to launch from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on Dec. 15.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission on Wednesday night approved plans for a new AutoZone auto parts store in the city.
AutoZone proposes to build the 7,842-square-foot retail building on a one-acre parcel at 301 and 401 Industrial Ave. that would be created by dividing up the overall eight-acre property, owned by Napa resident Sam LaMonica.
In unanimous votes the commission approved a tentative parcel map to create four new parcels – two of which already have buildings on them – and rezoned the property where the AutoZone store would be located from industrial to major retail.
Other approvals covered a lot line adjustment with 292 Industrial Ave., architectural and design review for the AutoZone building and a mitigated negative declaration which it recommended the city council also approve.
The commission did not support a variance to allow AutoZone to exceed the maximum amount of signage permitted by an additional 85 square feet.
Among the conditions the commission imposed was a lowering of light standards from 25 to 18 feet to be in compliance with general plan specifications, a requirement for a new street light and a recommendation – at the request of Big Valley Rancheria – that AutoZone enter into an agreement with the tribe for cultural resources monitoring during the project construction.
City Community Development Director Kevin Ingram explained during the discussion that the tribe hadn't been noticed of the project when it was submitted two years ago – which was before his tenure which the city, which began a year ago this month – and he apologized for that oversight.
The Pier 1900 Homeowners Association also had submitted an email to the city raising concerns about a culvert emptying into its lagoon, and asking that the AutoZone project include a new catch basin.
However, Ingram said staff was not suggesting that requirement, explaining that the project would significantly improve drainage off the site, and that the culvert issues likely were from further upstream on an unnamed creek in that area.
Ingram thanked LaMonica and project engineer Bob Eynck for their patience, explaining to the commission that the project application had been submitted more than two years ago. “They kind of fell victim to some staffing changes,” he said, noting that the project went through the hands of four planners and three city engineers.
Regarding controversy about locating an auto parts store closely to others already in existence – including O'Reilly Auto Parts and Napa Auto Parts stores – Ingram said the city's zoning ordinance doesn't address that issue, and he said some other industries, like fast food and auto malls, tend to cluster together.
He said he has a conversation with the owner of the Napa Auto Parts-Lake Parts store, who had concern about the corporation coming into the city because the AutoZone in Clearlake pushed out the Napa Auto Parts store there.
In comments made to the project engineer, the commission noted that the applicants had gone “several extra miles” on the studies and had created a well-done document.
Commissioner Ken Wicks Jr. asked why AutoZone had chosen the particular parcel where it wanted to build versus others that already were appropriately zoned.
Eynck said AutoZone does a lot of research for its projects. “They're very excited about coming into Lakeport,” he said, explaining that the company feels that property “is a very good location for them.”
Asked by Commissioner Harold Taylor if there would be a problem with not allowing for a larger sign size, Eynck said he would have to take it back to AutoZone, but he believed something could be worked out.
Taylor asked if the proposed sign for the Lakeport store is similar to the one at the Clearlake store. Eynck said yes, and Taylor replied that the Clearlake sign stands out, and a larger one wouldn't be needed.
Commissioner Suzanne Russell added that in the proposed location, the sign would be noticed, and she felt having a larger sign would be overkill.
Ingram added there had been some confusion for the applicant regarding total signage size, as they didn't know they could have two building-mounted signs. He said staff clarified that for them, and he thought that should help address the sign matter.
Batsulwin Brown, tribal historic preservation officer for Big Valley Rancheria, said the tribe had received last-minute notice of the project, otherwise it would have had more suggestions.
Brown said the entire city of Lakeport is within the tribe's primary aboriginal boundaries, and if human remains were discovered during construction Big Valley would be the most likely human descendants. He said the tribe's input on the project is meant to strengthen the protection of cultural resources.
Based on the letter submitted to the city, the tribe's key recommendations are as follows:
– AutoZone shall enter into a cultural resources protection agreement with the tribe to provide for monitoring of resources during any ground disturbing activities;
– A qualified archaeologist must be present during excavation and removal of ground materials beyond 18 inches below the existing ground level;
– If human remains are discovered, all work must immediately cease, the coroner must be contacted and the Native American Heritage Commission must be notified. Work may resume outside of the burial location with concurrence of the tribe's historic preservation officer, qualified archaeologist and project manager.
Brown said during the discussion that there is always the possibility of finding burial grounds close to the water in the city boundaries.
The firm that did the report for AutoZone, he added, didn't send any letters to the tribe about the project, with Ingram adding they were supposed to do that.
Wicks asked who would be responsible for the archaeology. Ingram said AutoZone would need to pay for an archaeologist.
In other news the commission approved minor revisions to the zoning ordinance to improve city procedures including streamlining the permitting process and working to ensure increased notification to those impacted by projects.
Email Elizabeth Larson at