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Marymount to host Oct. 23 'Big Read' panel: 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' race relations and civil rights
LUCERNE, Calif. – On Friday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m., Marymount California Lakeside Campus at “The Castle” in Lucerne will host a panel discussion related to the current Lake County Big Read focus on the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee.
The event is open to the public and free of charge.
Big Read coordinator Robin Fogel-Shrive commented on “how fortunate we are to have such a panel of dignitaries to make the connections between race relations as depicted in Mockingbird and the recently released Go Set a Watchman with the subsequent Civil Rights Movement as well as current issues.”
Prior to the panel, at 4 p.m., Marymount Executive Director Michelle Scully will lead a tour of the facility and answer questions about admissions and curriculum for all High School students and parents in attendance.
Moderator of the panel will be Tallman Hotel owner and Big Read committee member Bernie Butcher.
“I know the panel members well,” said Butcher, “and they’re all lively speakers with unique perspectives on the subject.”
Speakers include:
– Stanford University Professor of History Emeritus David M. Kennedy. Kennedy has focused on 20th Century U. S. History and won the Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for his major work “Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War.” He is also co-author of the most widely used AP U. S. History textbook “American Pageant.”
– U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup. Alsup grew up in Mississippi in the 1950s and 1960s, graduating from Mississippi State University in 1967. After Harvard Law School, Alsup clerked for liberal Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. He practiced law in San Francisco before being confirmed by the Senate as a District Court Judge in 1999.
– Well-known Kelseyville Attorney Peter Windrem. Windrem grew up in Lake County and was attending the University of the Pacific in Stockton when he became involved in the southern civil rights movement in the 1960s. He subsequently earned his J. D. Degree at the University of Virginia before returning to practice in Lake County.
– Christopher Veach, director of the Lake County Libraries, is a sponsor of the October Big Read Program. “Especially with the controversy surrounding the recently released manuscript by Harper Lee, 'Go Set a Watchman,' this is a perfect time to explore both the literary and historical significance of 'Mockingbird,'” he said. “This panel should be both interesting and informative.”
The next evening, on Saturday, Oct. 24, the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake will host a “Mockingbird”-themed mystery dinner based on an original script by Bert and Christine Hutt of MurderUs Productions in Lakeport.
Participants, who are encouraged to wear 1930s costume, will meet for cocktails in the Blue Wing Restaurant before proceeding to solve the mystery over a three-course dinner in the Tallman Dining Room.
Details about the panel may be obtained by contacting Bernie Butcher at
For the mystery dinner please contact the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – There is still time to nominate a special individual, business or organization for the Stars of Lake County Community Awards.
Organizers said the deadline for Stars nominations has been extended to this Friday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m.
Nominations postmarked by that date also will be accepted.
There are several categories for which there have been no nominations. Organizers ask community members to review the list of nominees below and consider nominating a person, organization or business that deserves recognition for their efforts on behalf of their communities.
To date, Stars of Lake County has acknowledged more than 1,750 entities throughout Lake County.
The 18th annual Stars of Lake County will be held on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Soper Reese Theatre.
Tickets are on sale now. All seats are reserved and cost $25 per person.
Contact the Lake County Chamber at 707-263-5092 for tickets or stop by the office at 875 Lakeport Blvd. at Vista Point. Every nominee will receive two free tickets.
The reception will be catered by The Lodge at Blue Lakes beginning at 5 p.m. and the awards ceremony begins at 6:15 p.m. There will be a no host bar.
Current nominees are listed below.
1. Marla Ruzicka Humanitarian of the Year (Sponsored by Cliff and Nancy Ruzicka):
– No nominations.
2. Senior of the Year (Sponsored by Westamerica Bank):
– Gene Paleno, Lakeport.
3. Volunteer of the Year (Sponsored by Sutter Lakeside Hospital):
– Mary Beth Woodward, Lakeport.
– Wally Fuller, Lakeport.
– Bill Bennett, Clearlake.
– Aaron Onstad, Lower Lake.
– Phyllis (Suzy) Shoop, Clearlake.
4. Student of the Year – Female:
– No nominations.
5. Student of the Year – Male:
– Abel Serrano Jr., Upper Lake.
– Christopher Vincent, Lakeport.
6. Youth Advocate of the Year – Volunteer (Sponsored by Sutter Lakeside Hospital):
– No nominations.
7. Youth Advocate of the Year – Professional:
– No nominations.
8. Agriculture Award (Sponsored by Savings Bank of Mendocino County):
– Schuyler “Sky” Hoyt, Lakeport.
9. Organization of the Year – Nonprofit (has paid staff):
– No nominations.
10. Organization of the Year – Volunteer (all volunteer staff):
– West Shore Little League, Lakeport.
– KPFZ radio station, Lakeport.
– Moose Lodge No. 2284, Clearlake Oaks.
11. Environmental Award (Sponsored by Calpine Corp.):
– The Lake County Land Trust.
12. New Business of the Year:
– Fresh and Bangin’, Lucerne.
– O’Meara Brothers, Lakeport.
13. Small Business of the Year:
– No nominations.
14. Large Business of the Year (Sponsored by Bruno’s Shop Smart):
– No nominations.
15. Best Idea of the Year:
– Robin Fogel-Shrive, Cobb.
– Diana Liebe, Nice.
16. Local Hero of the Year (Sponsored by US Congressman Mike Thompson):
– No nominations.
17. Joshua Blair Memorial Arts Award – Amateur (Sponsored by Cheese’s Main Street Pizza & Game Stop):
– No nominations.
18. The Arts Award of the Year – Professional:
– No nominations.
19. Woman of the Year (Sponsored by North Lake Medical Pharmacy):
– Cheryl Cole, Clearlake.
– Susan Feiler, Upper Lake.
– Jeanine Burnett, Hidden Valley Lake.
20. Man of the Year:
– No nominations.
21. Lifetime Achievement (Sponsored by Strong Financial Network):
– Pamela Phillips, Nice.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum will present its next “Living History” event on Saturday, Oct. 24.
This will be the final Living History Day for this year. November and December events have been suspended due to the approaching holiday season.
The October event will welcome Phil Smoley, Lake County Historical Society Board member and Civil War aficionado.
Smoley will be available to the public in the Ely main house starting at noon to talk about how the Civil War helped to save Clear Lake.
He will be available until 2 p.m. to visit with guests and answer questions.
The Lake County Historical Society’s Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29-Kit's Corner.
Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.
Living History events are held on the fourth Saturday of each month from noon until 2 p.m.
Fiddlers’ Jams occur the first Sunday of every month, again, from noon until 2 p.m.
Visit www.elystagestop.com or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Monday morning solo-vehicle crash in Kelseyville resulted in a power outage and an extended road closure, with minor injuries for the driver.
The crash occurred at 7:50 a.m. on Konocti Road, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Kory Reynolds.
Reynolds said Angela Kania, 30, of Kelseyville, was driving her 2002 Ford Explorer westbound on Konocti Road at an unknown speed with her 10-month-old son in the vehicle.
Kania reported she fell asleep as she was driving, which allowed her vehicle to drift off the north roadway edge and strike a utility pole, Reynolds said.
The force of the crash snapped the pole at its base, causing the pole to fall across both lanes of traffic and causing a power outage in Kelseyville and damage to at least one other utility pole, according to Reynolds.
Reynolds said Kania suffered minor injuries and her son was uninjured in the collision. Kania was wearing a seatbelt and her son was in a child safety seat.
Drugs and alcohol are not suspected in the collision which is still under investigation by Officer Greg Buchholz, Reynolds said.
Konocti Road was closed for several hours but had reopened by mid-afternoon, the CHP reported.
Pacific Gas and Electric's online outage center showed no related outages still in effect by Monday afternoon.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The work of getting the vast number of donations into the hands of thousands of Valley fire survivors is expanding this week, with many dedicated individuals laboring behind the scenes to make sure that those whose lives were hit hardest by the fire get the help they need.
This week, a partnership that includes Adventist Community Services, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the county of Lake will open two distribution points – both in Lakeport – with plans for another as-yet unannounced location in Hidden Valley Lake and another location currently being offered in Cobb.
On Monday, a storefront will open at 857 11th St., in the former Sears retail space in the Willow Tree Plaza behind Round Table Pizza in Lakeport, which will be overseen by Adventist Community Services.
Offered will be clothing for all ages, bedding and towels, food, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, housewares, water and more.
The 7,000-square-foot space is set up like a store, and fire survivors will be able to pick up what they need – for free – after presenting identification and proof of address, according to Seth Cantu, a member of the pastoral team at Upper Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church, who is one of the tireless individuals involved in getting distribution points open.
Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, Cantu said.
Next to Lampson Airport in Lakeport is the 66,000-square-foot Work Right building, located at 4615 Work Right Circle, which has served as the hub for receiving donations collected by organizations in Lake and neighboring counties.
The Work Right building also will officially open as a distribution point on Wednesday, according to Lori Thornton, a local member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whose efforts secured the space.
Thornton said the hours at the Work Right building will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily or by appointment.
Thornton said Sunday that the Little Red Schoolhouse, located at 15780 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb, also is acting as a distribution point for donations, with work under way to confirm a Hidden Valley Lake location.
Since the fire broke out on Sept. 12, donations have poured in – not just from other county residents, but from other parts of California and from across the United States.
This past week, the county of Lake announced that it would no longer take donations of clothing or personal items, but instead was asking people to consider donating money to a number of local funds that have been set up for that purpose.
Deputy County Administrative Officer Jeff Rein said donations have come in from the lower 48 states, and while that generosity has been heartwarming, the sheer quantity of items has created a logistical challenge as officials have looked for sufficient space to warehouse, organize and sort the items.
The Work Right building's vast warehouse space is almost entirely filled by just a portion of the donations. “I have enough stuff waiting in semi trucks and conex boxes to fill another one of those,” Rein said.
Thornton said the Mormon Church didn't start its own effort after the fire began, but instead joined the Adventists and the Kelseyville Lions Club.
When it became clear that more warehouse space was needed, she reached out to the Work Right building's owner, Ed Olsen, who drove up from the Bay Area on Sept. 27, the day after she contacted him, and gave her the keys to the building for an initial six-month commitment. Free of charge.
“When we took over that warehouse, that became the hub,” said Cantu.
Rein said the building subsequently became the receiving point for donations collected by organizations including the Middletown and Cobb Lions clubs, Middletown Bible Church, United Christian Parish and Clearlake Methodist Church.
Cantu said donations came in from other places, too, including the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, which sent 626 pear bins filled with items; the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga, which had been an evacuation shelter; and Bushay Campground at Lake Mendocino, which also had given space to evacuees.
Rein credited both Adventist Community Services and the Mormon Church for their work to put order to the near chaos created by the avalanche of donations, which are now being sorted and rolled out to the distribution points. “We didn't know what we had,” Rein said.
Rein said the Federal Emergency Managing Agency, or FEMA, which is involved in the fire response due to President Barack Obama's Sept. 22 presidential major disaster declaration, looks to the Adventist Community Services for donations management. “That is their area of expertise.”
Charlene Sargent of Adventist Community Services, who oversaw donations for Hurricane Katrina, came to Lake County to help get the situation sorted out, with organization improving vastly within 24 hours, Rein said.
He said the Mormon Church members and four crews of California Conservation Corps members – about 72 young people – began the sorting process.
Cantu said that in two 12-hours shifts, with 50 people working on each shift, they managed to get things in order. He said new processes for accepting and sorting items were put in place to help get ahead of the disorganization that was in place at the warehouse at first.
“It was indescribable,” he said.
Cantu explained that in the 1970s a number of major mass care groups got together and chose specialty niches when responding to disasters.
Red Cross chose sheltering, the Baptist and Methodists churches became providers of top notch food pantries, and the Adventists chose donation allocation, including distribution and warehousing, he said. “That's what we train on.”
Since then, the organization has worked on major disasters, like hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, he said.
Preparing to open the doors
Cantu stepped up into his current role when the Lakeport Seventh-day Adventist Church became an evacuation shelter, donation and distribution point after the fire started.
He said they housed about 50 people but had room for many more, and he found himself in a leadership role when he went to Randy Brehms, pastor at the Seventh-day Adventist churches in Lakeport and Upper Lake, and suggested that the church's evacuation, distribution and warehousing operations could be run differently.
The result: Cantu said he was “voluntold” – a new word he's created – to take charge. He's since worked up to 20 hours a day for a month, getting little rest and seeing his wife and young children very little of the time.
“I miss my pillow,” Cantu said.
He said he's gotten training on the job, and that the experience, though tiring, has been wonderful. “I've truly appreciated the opportunity to serve the people.”
Said Brehms, “He is amazing.”
On Sunday afternoon, at the Lakeport storefront, Cantu, along with Brehms and a host of volunteers were busily moving racks of clothing, setting up displays for other goods and arranging the 5,000-square-foot showroom floor.
“We have a lot to do in a short amount of time,” said Cantu as he directed the volunteers on where to set up items and showed off the stocked space in the back part of the building.
The building space has been donated, Pacific Gas and Electric is providing electricity without charge and other organizations – like UPS – have offered services at no charge, Cantu said.
Brehms, who has been in the ministry for more than three decades, said he's personally never been involved in such a disaster response project.
“This really is what the church is supposed to be doing,” said Brehms.
He said the Adventists, United Christian Parish, Mormon Church and other faith groups have worked well together, noting he's been impressed with the level of cooperation.
Brehms pointed out that there is more to do than any one church organization can take on, comparing the situation to trying to take a drink out of a firehose.
With the forecast calling for a wet winter, Brehms is concerned about the potential for other emergencies ahead. “This is just a prelude of what's coming next.”
A family effort
At the Work Right building on Sunday afternoon, Thornton and her family – husband, Gene, son Patrick and his wife, Sharon – were working alongside a team of California Conservation Corps members on the ongoing organizational project.
Still to be sorted is what everyone involved with the warehouse calls “Mount St. Moose” – the stacks of hundreds of pear bins containing the Moose Lodge donations.
The Thorntons also were getting everything in order so that they can be open on Wednesday for distribution.
Part of their ongoing efforts also include moving goods out to the other distribution points in Lakeport and Cobb.
“We've got to get this stuff out of here now,” Lori Thornton said. “It's a big push.”
One of the needs is for household goods like furniture. She said they've already been working to try to get furniture to the survivors who need it.
Thornton estimates she walks five miles a day back and forth through the vast warehouse, which looks smaller now thanks to all that it contains.
Taking another turn through the warehouse Sunday afternoon, Thornton – pointing to the hundreds of shrink-wrapped pallets of sorted goods, as well as the boxes and bins that still need to be sorted – said, “All of this stuff here belongs to fire survivors.”
She said they are working to be good stewards of all of the donations.
Both she and Cantu noted the incredible generosity they've seen. Thornton said one man drove all the way from Los Angeles with a load of donations.
How you can help
The donation distribution facilities need volunteers in order to keep doors open and goods moving out to those who need it.
To volunteer at the Lakeport storefront, visit the location at 857 11th St. and fill out a volunteer application.
To help at the Work Right distribution center, contact Lori Thornton at 707-349-0849. Those needing to arrange to pick up goods at the center also can contact Thornton.
The Thorntons said there are specific items needed at the Work Right distribution center, including five-gallon buckets, hand tools, shovels and rakes, and tarps.
They also are seeking donations of RVs, as they reported some people on Cobb are still living in tents.
For people who still have goods like clothes that they want to donate, Cantu urges them to hold yard sales and donate the money, as the centers are no longer taking donations of any clothing items.
Officials continue to encourage people who want to help to make monetary donations through local organizations, including following:
– Mendo Lake Credit Union and North Coast Opportunities: Payments may be made online at www.LakeCountyLAC.com or checks may be made out to Mendo Lake Credit Union or North Coast Opportunities with a memo for Valley fire and mailed to the following branch locations: 14866 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422; 953 11th Street, Lakeport, CA 95453; 526 S State Street, Ukiah, CA 94582.
– Redwood Credit Union: Donate online at www.redwoodcu.org/lakecountyfirevictims or mail a check payable to Redwood Credit Union to RCU Lake County Fire Relief, c/o Redwood Credit Union, P.O. Box 6104,Santa Rosa, CA 95406.
– Lake Area Rotary Club Association: Donate online at www.larca5130.org or mail your donation to LARCA, c/o Lakeport Rotary Valley Fire Relief Fund, P.O. Box 937, Lakeport, CA 95453, nonprofit tax ID # 46-1149482.
– Lake County Winegrape Commission: Donate online to the #LakeCountyRising fund at www.lakecountywinegrape.org/news-events/valley-fire-relief-fund or can mail a check to Lake County Wine Alliance, P.O. Box 530, Kelseyville, CA 95451.
– Middletown Area Merchants Association: Donations can be sent directly to Tri Counties Bank, 707-987-3196, Routing No. 121135045, Account No. 238008098; or send checks made out to the MAMA Valley Fire Recovery Fund and mailed to the association, P.O. Box 872, Middletown, CA 95461.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Calico and tabby cats are waiting for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.
The cats are a mix of short and longhair mixes, with four adults and two kittens.
For those looking for lost pets as a result of the Valley fire, visit the Lake County Animal Care and Control Web site, which features additional dogs and cats that officials are looking to reunite with their families.
In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped 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 there, 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 cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Domestic short hair mix
This domestic short hair mix has calico markings.
The cat is in cat room kennel No. 4, ID No. 3755.
Male domestic short hair mix
This male domestic short hair mix has a gray tabby coat.
Shelter staff said he is an older gentleman who has been neutered and is missing some teeth.
He's in cat room kennel No. 34, ID No. 3842.
Domestic short hair mix
This female domestic short hair mix has a coat with calico markings.
She is in cat room kennel No. 35, ID No. 3263.
Domestic longhair mix
This domestic longhair mix cat has a light orange coat.
The cat is in cat room kennel No. 86, ID No. 3843.
Male tabby kitten
This male kitten has a short gray tabby coat.
Shelter staff said he was found on Foothill Drive in Lucerne.
He's in cat room kennel No. 120a, ID No. 3765.
Male tabby kitten
This male kitten has a short gray tabby coat.
Shelter staff said he was found on Foothill Drive in Lucerne.
He's in cat room kennel No. 120b, ID No. 3766.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
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