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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The first four-year university to call Lake County home is beginning the process of looking for a new president, while Lake County's former top administrator has been added to the institution's board.
Marymount California University announced this week that Dr. Michael Brophy has accepted the president's position with Benedictine University in the Illinois suburb of Lisle, near Chicago.
Dr. Brophy, who has led Marymount for nearly a decade, will conclude his service with the university in August.
“The board of trustees, students, staff and faculty are appreciative of Marymount’s transformation led by Dr. Brophy during his 10-year tenure with the university,” said Burt Arnold, chairman of the Marymount California University Board of Trustees. “His intelligent vision, inspirational stamina and persistence have resulted in tremendous growth for Marymount California University.”
“Since 2006, I have been honored to serve the Marymount California University community as we transitioned from a two-year college to a multi-campus comprehensive university,” said Dr. Brophy. “My family and I will have many fond memories of our time in Southern California and are very grateful to the board of trustees, faculty and staff, students and their families, donors and the greater 'Marymount family,' who have given their unfailing support to the university.”
Under Brophy's leadership, the private, Catholic, nonprofit institution – headquartered in Rancho Palos Verdes – has grown from a two-year college to a four-year university, invested millions in campus upgrades and, following its mission to serve others, created new learning opportunities for Lake County residents.
Marymount has nearly doubled its enrollment and revenue in five years, added a campus in San Pedro in Los Angeles County, increased its baccalaureate degrees and introduced graduate degrees, added competitive athletics and earned accreditation from the Senior Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
It also was recognized by the state of California as a university and, in 2013, the former Marymount College became Marymount California University.
Most significant for Lake County, Brophy led the university to open its third campus – the Lakeside Campus – in Lucerne, at the historic Lucerne Hotel, the 1920s-era landmark the county of Lake purchased and began renovating in 2010.
In 2012, the university and the county of Lake finalized and signed a 15-year lease agreement for the 75,000-square-foot building, with the county handing off the keys to the seven-acre property in August.
Now known as the Marymount Castle, the stately building hosts classes for students seeking bachelor's and graduate degrees. The first academic year was just completed.
As for potential impacts of Brophy's departure on Marymount's Lake County presence, “We have no reason to think that this change impacts the Lakeside Campus,” Kelly Curtis Intagliata, Marymount's chief officer of public relations and marketing, told Lake County News.
She said the university's trustees were just at the Lakeside Campus June 5 and 6 for a board meeting.
At that time, Kelly Cox – the county of Lake's longtime administrative officer who retired in 2012 after more than 30 years in the job – was appointed to the board of trustees, Intagliata said.
He was among six new appointees to the 22-member university board, according to Intagliata.
Cox championed the effort to save the Castle and to bring the university to Lake County. He and Brophy have been lauded for their vision and collaboration in creating the partnership that made the university's arrival in Lake County possible.
In his new role, Cox will join his fellow trustees in hiring Brophy's successor.
The university reported that its board will appoint interim leadership for the academic year 2015-16 “to ensure that there is no gap in the management of the university’s strategic plan and priorities,” while it conducts a nationwide search for Marymount's new president.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The 71st quilt block on the Lake County Quilt Trail is “Moon Over Mountain.”
The location of this quilt block is 5245 Third St., at the corner of Third and Saderlund streets.
This building, as some remember, was the U.S. Post Office in Kelseyville until the late 1990s. It became the Kelseyville Senior Center when the post office moved to Gaddy Lane.
The senior center offers various activities: art paint-outs, lunch on the third Tuesday of the month at noon, card playing on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bible study in the annex and exercise groups.
Rental of the hall and full kitchen is available for events and celebrations.
For information on the senior center call 707-279-2175, and a volunteer will get back to you.
“Moon Over Mountain” was chosen for this location as there is a direct view of Mt. Konocti from the front of the senior center.
This 4-foot by 4-foot quilt block was designed and painted by Gerri Groody, one of the volunteer members of the Lake County Quilt Trail team.
The installation of the block was kindly volunteered by Michael Richeson.
The Lake County Quilt Trail is an agricultural and tourism project designed to promote community pride.
Its team is a group of dedicated quilters, graphic artists, painters, writers, carpenters and a videographer.
For more information about the Lake County Quilt Trail visit www.lakecountyquilttrail.com or the Lake County Quilt Trail Facebook page.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake department leaders are working with the Lake County Fire Protection District in conducting a disaster preparedness drill scheduled for Tuesday, June 16.
The purpose of this drill is to make sure that all individuals involved become familiar with their roles and are prepared in the event of an actual emergency.
A temporary emergency response center will be set up in the lower parking lot of the hospital where a specially designated hospital incident management team and first responders from the fire department will enact the procedures required in a real life emergency.
Volunteers will be employed throughout this exercise to play the role of both the victims and the responders.
Entities such as the local Community Emergency Response Team will be on hand, as well as members of the Clear Lake Police Department Volunteers in Policing program, to provide support, guidance and security.
St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake administration would like patients and visitors to be aware this drill is taking place, and urges guests to use the upper parking levels.
For additional information, or to find out about volunteer opportunities with participating agencies, please call Melissa Kinsel, the hospital's communications and development officer, at 707-995-5677.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The South Lake County Volunteer Firefighters Association is preparing to host its annual fundraiser dinner, raffle and auction next week, which helps fund important equipment purchases and community organizations.
The fourth annual event will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 19, at Twin Pine Casino's event center on Highway 29 in Middletown.
Dan McCabe, a captain with the district and the association president, said the annual event is the association's only fundraiser.
The association had hosted the event in the 1970s and 1980s before it stopped for several years, he said.
“We picked it up and started it again four years ago,” McCabe said.
The event has proved to be key to the association's ability to support the fire district's operations, he said.
Funds raised from the event go toward district equipment purchases, McCabe said.
“The needs are endless with the fire district, especially with the current budget situation,” McCabe said, noting the lack of building in the district has impacted tax revenue, which has decreased significantly over the last five to six years.
McCabe said the district has older engines and ambulances that need to be replaced, with engines running between $400,000 and $500,000.
“We go after all the grants we can, it's just a matter of winning them,” he said.
In addition to trying to address the fire district's needs, “We give back a lot to the community,” McCabe said of the association, which has about two dozen members.
He said the association also contributes to Relay for Life, the annual Christmas Spirit of the Season food and gift effort and the Candy Cane Run, and offers assistance to individuals and their families who are facing emergencies, health issues or other challenges.
Proceeds from the 2014 event also were used to provide academic scholarships to high school seniors who have shown serious interest in becoming first responders, the association reported.
Tickets for the June 19 fundraiser cost $40 in advance or $50 at the door, with $5 free play from Twin Pine Casino included.
McCabe said the evening will feature a great dinner, with selections including hand-carved Angus prime rib or salmon fillet, with tickets including up to three glasses of wine.
There will be a 50/50 raffle, general raffle prizes and door prizes, and a live auction. Among the prizes will be quality firearms; McCabe said a firearms dealer will be on site to do paperwork, and the 10-day wait will apply before winners can pick up their firearms.
Tickets can be purchased at the Middletown Fire Department, 21095 Highway 175, telephone 707-987-3089, Extension 4, or ask your favorite South Lake County firefighter.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Library invites the public to get to know Lake County better with Know Lake County, a free lecture series.
On June 20 Janet Berrian and Gabriele O’Neill of the Lake County Master Program will present a program on planting drought-tolerant and native plants suitable to Lake County’s climate.
Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., will host the event at 2 p.m.
The University of California Cooperative Extension Lake County Master Gardeners are volunteer staff of UC Agricultural and Natural Resources and their objective is to educate home gardeners in all aspects of horticulture, using a science based approach.
In light of the need for specialized information to help deal with the current ongoing drought, Master Gardeners have focused the majority of their public talks and workshops on how to garden in a drought in the last couple of years.
Janet Berrian has been a UC Master Gardener since 2012. Her passion for native and drought-tolerant plants led her and a colleague to design and implement a 100-percent California native plant garden at Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
The garden was designed to be a place of respite for patients, their families, Sutter staff and members of the community.
Also, through this garden Berrian hopes to inspire others to create xeriscape landscapes that are beautiful, that will meet the needs of our native insect and bird species, and that require minimal water and effort to maintain.
Gabriele O'Neill has been a UC Master Gardener since 2005 and is the current volunteer coordinator of the Lake County Master Gardener Program.
While her main passion lies in fruit and vegetable culture, she has, by necessity, become a xeriscape gardening expert in the course of her time in Lake County.
She sees it as the mission of the UC Master Gardener Program to help people adapt their gardening practices to meet the local challenges of climate and soil, with the drought being only an exacerbation of the already extreme conditions local gardeners have to contend with.
O’Neill said, “Come and find out how you can create beauty and beneficial insect habitat with a minimal input of water. No fertilizer or insecticides needed ever!”
Know Lake County programs take place on the third Saturday of each month from February through December at 2 p.m. at Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St.
Know Lake County delves into many facets of Lake County, including human history, natural history, outdoor recreation, science, performing arts and programs for children.
The family-friendly programs are designed to inform and entertain Lake County residents about Lake County. Some programs will cover interesting lore about the county and others will cover the work that community organizations perform.
Speakers from an array of disciplines and organizations will deliver programs for Know Lake County.
Upcoming programs will feature representatives of the Taylor Observatory, Gae Henry with the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, archaeologist Dr. John Parker on Lake County’s prehistory, retired park ranger Tom Nixon representing Konocti Regional Trails, Mike Adams from the Soper Reese Theatre and Carolyn Jarrett from the Children’s Museum of Art and Science.
Know Lake County’s full schedule is posted on the Know Lake County Web site www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library/KLC.htm .
The schedule is subject to change without notice.
For more information about Know Lake County and other library programs call 707-263-8817.
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.co.lake.ca.us and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .
Library events are also posted at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library/Calendar.htm .
Jan Cook works for the Lake County Library.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Organizers of the annual Lake County Home Wine and Beer Makers Festival are seeking entrants for this year’s event.
The festival will take place at Lakeport’s Library Park from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 27.
Children and leashed pets are welcome although beverage tastings are restricted to those 21 years and older.
Home brewers and wine makers from across Northern California are urged to share tastes of their best efforts with an admiring public, along with winning recognition from a panel of professional judges.
The Winefest, as it’s called, is now in its 13th year and is the major fundraiser for the Lake County Symphony and Youth Orchestras, as well as providing music teaching for many local young people.
During the festival music is provided by a variety of sources including the popular David Neft and acoustic classical guitarist Travis Rinker.
Those interested in entering their beverages for professional judging will be charged a fee of $7 per 750 milliliter bottle, applicable to most of the popular varietals, including dessert wines.
Samples need to arrive at the festival before 9 a.m. on the date of the event. The judges' stand will be at the Lake County Yacht Club, located just to the left of the boat ramp when entering Library Park.
Home brewers should contact Michael Shoemaker at
There are no fees for the amateurs although they are urged to provide a canopy or other sunshade and lawn furniture for both themselves and their guests. Water for rinsing glasses and perhaps a selection of crackers for palate cleansing might also be a good idea.
In addition to the amateurs, many of Lake County’s leading commercial wineries and breweries also will be on hand, pouring tastes for the public who pay just $20 per advance sale ticket, or $25 at the gate, which includes a commemorative wine glass necessary for tasting, as well as ballots for voting in the popular People’s Choice awards.
Advance ticket outlets are available at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, 875 Lakeshore Blvd., and Watershed Books, 305 N. Main St., both in Lakeport.
Tickets also are available at the tasting rooms of most of the county’s leading commercial wineries including Cache Creek, 14572 E. Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks; Six Sigma, 13372 Spruce Grove Road, Lower Lake; Don Angel, 165 N. Main St., Lakeport; Steele Wines, 3350 Thomas Drive, Finley; and Laujor Winery, 8664 Seigler Springs Road near Kit’s Corner, Kelseyville.
Other Kelseyville locations are Rosa D’Oro, 3915 Main St., and Wildhurst Wines, 3855 Main St.
Food and arts and crafts vendors also will be featured, along with a silent auction and raffles.
All participants should contact Ed Bublitz at 707-277-7076,
Check the festival’s Web site at www.lakecountyhomewinemakers.com for additional information.