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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The 57th quilt block to be installed on the Lake County Quilt trail is located at 2905 Park Drive in Kelseyville, just off Soda Bay Road.
This quilt block, “Tess in the Garden,” is on the barn and property owned by Mike DeGregorio.
The quilt block is named after DeGregorio's dog, Tess.
This property has a unique history. DeGregori’s great, great, great, great grandfather William Kelsey, and great, great, great grandparents James Ethan Allen and Elizabeth Ann Kelsey-Allen were the owners of this property dating back to the 1860s when Kelseyville was still named Uncle Sam.
After deeds and records were burned in a courthouse fire in Lakeport a dispute was settled between father-in-law and son-in-law.
The site of the current barn became the property of James Ethan Allen. Daughter of William Kelsey, Elizabeth Ann Kelsey Allen, became the rightful heir of the property when her husband, James Ethan Allen died of unknown causes in 1870.
The only daughter of James and Elizabeth, Nancy Allen, married Paul Shirley in 1867. Mother-in-law, Elizabeth, designated Paul Shirley to oversee the farm’s function.
Relative James Shirley, was one of the first instructors in the nearby Hells Bend Schoolhouse which was built approximately at the same time as the farm of the Kelsey/Allen/DeGregorios.
The Lake County Quilt Trail is an agricultural and tourism project designed to promote community pride.
The 8-foot by 8-foot quilt block was drawn and painted by the Lake County Quilt Trail team, 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 go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-Quilt-Trail/187014251326163 .
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Kelseyville’s Konocti Fiddle Club will join the traditional music duo of David Neft and Steve Dubois to entertain attendees at Saturday’s Lake County Home Wine and Beer Makers Festival.
Guest acoustic guitarist Travis Rinker also will appear at the event, which takes place in Lakeport's Library Park from 1 to 5 p.m.
The Winefest, which will feature the best efforts of many northern California amateur vintners and brewers, is presented as a fundraiser by the Lake County Symphony Association.
The adult beverages entered in the Winefest – its abbreviated name – will not only be judged by a panel of professionals, but also by the public, who will have the chance to first taste, then vote, for their favorites.
Many arts and crafts vendors will also be on hand, and a major silent auction and raffles will be offered.
Included will be a package from NJ Calloway, the company that founded the famed Big Bertha golf driver, and other products that made it a leader in this game, as well as items from the legendary Calloway Car Co. and the Calloway Winery. All are courtesy of E. Reeves Calloway III and Nicole Jones-Calloway, who is a native of Lake County.
Other prizes include getaways to Reno hotels and casinos such as the Peppermill and Atlantis resort hotels, as well as more local venues like Cache Creek, Robinson Rancheria, Konocti Vista and others.
Lake County merchants have stepped forward with goods and services valued in the thousands of dollars for gift baskets to be auctioned off during the Winefest.
Also offered will be prints by world-recognized artists such as Gail Salituri and others. A major prize is a week at one of Maui’s finest condominium resorts.
Admission fees are charged only for those wishing to taste the wines and beers produced by both amateurs and professionals. Identification wrist-bands will be issued at the gate.
Tickets are $25, with advance purchase available for $20 at Middletown Florists, Lower Lake Coffee Co., E.J. Video, in the Clear Lake Riviera Shopping Center, Lake County Wine Studio, Upper Lake, the Lakeport Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, Lakeport and Watershed Books, Lakeport.
Many leading wineries also offer advance tickets including Rosa D’Oro and Wildhurst in Kelseyville, Thornhill Wines on Highway 29 near Kit’s Corner and Steele Wines, Finley.
Wine Judges include Stephanie Green, Lake County Wine Studio, Jack Vos, Twin Pines Casino and Restaurant, Bonnie Sears, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Stephen Dilley, Lavender Blue Vineyard, Brent Liner, Wildhurst Vineyard, Quincy Steele, Steele Winery, Anita McKee, Lakeside Realty, Miguel Angel Silva, Don Angel Winery and Sean Piper of Consumer Wines Magazine.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A large marijuana grow with more than 16,000 plants was located in the Jerusalem Valley area of Middletown during a routine overflight mission and subsequently eradicated.
Lt. Steve Brooks said the grow was first spotted last Thursday, June 12, when members of the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force were conducting an overflight mission in the Jerusalem Valley area of Middletown. The purpose of the overflights is to seek out probable illicit marijuana growing operations.
As detectives were working the Jerusalem Valley area, they located a large scale marijuana growing operation. Brooks said the marijuana plants were being concealed within a large cornfield, located in the 20000 block of Jerusalem Grade Road.
On Friday, June 13, at approximately 4 p.m., detectives arrived at the property and accessed the grow site through a dirt easement road, Brooks said.
Brooks said detectives located an outbuilding that was hidden under some trees on the northwest portion of the parcel. While conducting a protective sweep, they discovered the structure was being utilized as a large marijuana cloning operation.
Detectives located and eradicated 3,740 marijuana plants from inside the structure. They also located a loaded .22 caliber rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun leaning against the wall, which were both seized as evidence, Brooks said.
Brooks said detectives entered the cornfield and observed a complex drip irrigation system and a large number of marijuana plants growing under the corn. The detectives located and eradicated a total of 12,969 marijuana plants from the cornfield. Narcotics detectives searched the area but were unable to locate any suspects or additional evidence.
Detectives eradicated a total of 16,709 marijuana plants from the property, Brooks said.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport reported Wednesday morning that a street closure and limited water boil order have resulted from a water main break.
Lakeport Public Works said that Ninth Street from Tunis Street to North Street were closed due to the water main break, and would remain closed until crews can complete the repair.
A boil water notice also currently is in effect for 14 residents of Ninth Street around where the water main break occurred.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A pedestrian check last week resulted in the arrest of a Kelseyville man for stalking, possession of methamphetamine and marijuana charges.
Kenneth Scott Ostergaard, 47, was arrested in the case, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
On Thursday, June 12, at 1:20 p.m., a narcotics detective was traveling northbound on Highway 29 near the intersection of Bottle Rock Road in Kelseyville, Brooks said.
As the detective was approaching Cole Creek Road, he noticed a Toyota pickup parked in the southbound turnout. He also noticed a male subject walking through the weeds toward the state fence line, which also borders private property. Brooks said the detective contacted the subject, who was identified as Ostergaard.
The detective recognized Ostergaard from prior law enforcement contacts and knew he was the restrained party in a domestic violence restraining order. Brooks said the detective also knew that the protected person listed in the restraining order lived within close proximity to where he contacted Ostergaard.
Central Dispatch also advised that Ostergaard had previously been arrested twice for violating the restraining order. He also was suspected of another restraining order violation, where he fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement, according to Brooks.
When the detective asked Ostergaard what he was doing, he replied that he was looking for somewhere to go to the bathroom. The detective asked to see his identification and was told that it was inside his vehicle. As the detective walked past the open window of Ostergaard’s pickup, he smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Brooks said Ostergaard admitted that there was marijuana inside the pickup.
The detective conducted a search of the vehicle and located a small amount of processed marijuana inside a cigarette box. Inside Ostergaard’s wallet he located a bindle containing what appeared to be methamphetamine, Brooks said.
When the detective showed Ostergaard the bindle and asked what was inside of it, Ostergaard replied, “dope.” Brooks said the detective located three Hydrocodone pills inside a pill bottle. The name on the pill bottle was for someone other than Ostergaard.
The detective also located a rifle scope inside the vehicle, Brooks said.
Ostergaard admitted that the marijuana and methamphetamine belonged to him. Brooks said Ostergaard also admitted that he was going to cut through private property in an attempt to see what type of vehicle was parked at the protected person’s residence, listed on the restraining order.
Brooks said the deputy seized the marijuana, methamphetamine and rifle scope as evidence. He believed Ostergaard was using the rifle scope to see and watch the protected person’s residence.
Ostergaard was arrested for stalking and possession of a controlled substance. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional facility and booked, Brooks reported.
The methamphetamine was later weighed and tested using a Narcotic Identification Kit. Brooks said the test flashed blue indicating a presumptive positive for methamphetamine and weighed approximately 0.5 grams.
Based on the narcotics located during the investigation, detectives responded to Ostergaard’s residence, which is located in the 8000 block of Kelsey Creek Drive in Kelseyville. Brooks said detectives were able to see no less than 100 marijuana plants inside a hoop-style greenhouse, which was in plain view.
Detectives secured a search warrant for the residence, which they also served on June 12. During the search detectives located a small indoor grow inside the residence, which contained 20 marijuana plants. The plants were approximately 24 inches tall. They also located a room which had been converted for the sole purpose of processing marijuana, according to Brooks.
Outside in the yard area, detectives located the hoop-style greenhouse. Brooks said the greenhouse contained 136 marijuana plants which were approximately 48 inches tall and in the vegetative state.
Detectives eradicated a total of 156 marijuana plants from Ostergaard’s residence. Code Enforcement responded and red-tagged the residence for multiple building code violations, Brooks said.
The detective contacted Ostergaard at the Hill Road Correctional Facility and asked him what he intended to do with the marijuana. Brooks reported that Ostergaard said he was going sell it and that he normally receives approximately $1,000 a pound for his product.
The charges of cultivating marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale were added to the report for complaint, Brooks said.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Library, an associate partner in previous Lake County Big Read program years, has enthusiastically moved into a leading role for the next Big Read application in 2015.
The Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts, supports organizations across the country in developing community-wide programs and activities which encourage reading and participation by diverse audiences.
“This is an exciting prospect for greater participation and collaboration. It makes sense to have the library as a focal point for this literary outreach program,” said Big Read Program Director Robin Shrive.
County Librarian Christopher Veach sees the venture as a perfect match for greater community programming and profile-raising for library branches.
One of his main goals as the new county librarian is to provide greater access to library services and resources for county residents.
The Lake County Office of Education’s Literacy Task Force, which has sponsored The Big Read as its first initiative, will continue to provide support and dedication to the program for the next funding application and cycle.
Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook is committed to maintaining The Big Read as a valuable task force endeavor.
The Lake County Big Read maintains a valuable partnership with the Lake/Mendocino Reading Council to produce a Little Read, providing books and curriculum suitable for young readers, with a thematic connection to The Big Read selection.
Residents are encouraged to vote for the next Big Read selection for Lake County.
A survey is available online at http://goo.gl/8dqGzu or at your nearest county library.
For those who are interested in volunteering for Big Read events, you may designate that on your survey as well.
For more information about the Big Read, contact Robin Shrive at