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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 55th quilt block to be installed on the Lake County Quilt Trail is located at 870 Main St. in Lakeport.
The Law Office of Dennis A Fordham is proud to present the “Dresden Plate.”
It represents both prosperity and thriftiness; combining the utilization of even the smallest pieces with layers of detail to create a beautiful cohesive whole.
No matter how simple or complex, each Dresden Plate quilt block is highly individual and unique, much like the trusts he creates for his clients.
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 .
Years ago, in 2008 and 2009 an eerie quiet descended on the sun.
Sunspot counts dropped to historically-low levels and solar flares ceased altogether.
As the longest and deepest solar minimum in a century unfolded, bored solar physicists wondered when “Solar Max” would ever return.
They can stop wondering.
“It's back,” said Dean Pesnell of the Goddard Space Flight Center. “Solar Max has arrived.”
Pesnell is a leading member of the NOAA/NASA Solar Cycle Prediction Panel, a blue-ribbon group of solar physicists who meet from time to time to forecast future solar cycles.
It's not as easy as it sounds. Although textbooks call it the “11-year solar cycle,” the actual cycle can take anywhere from 9 to 14 years to complete.
Some Solar Maxes are strong, others weak, and, sometimes, as happened for nearly 70 years in the 17th century, the solar cycle can vanish altogether.
Pesnell points to a number of factors that signal Solar Max conditions in 2014: “The sun's magnetic field has flipped; we are starting to see the development of long coronal holes; and, oh yes, sunspot counts are cresting.”
Another panelist, Doug Bieseker of the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, agreed with Pesnell: “Solar Maximum is here …. Finally.”
According to an analysis Bieseker presented at NOAA's Space Weather Workshop in April, the sunspot number for Solar Cycle 24 is near its peak right now.
They agree on another point, too: It is not very impressive.
“This solar cycle continues to rank among the weakest on record,” said Ron Turner of Analytic Services Inc. who serves as a Senior Science Advisor to NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts program.
To illustrate the point, he plotted the smoothed sunspot number of Cycle 24 vs. the previous 23 cycles since 1755.
“In the historical record, there are only a few Solar Maxima weaker than this one,” Turner said.
As a result, many researchers have started calling the ongoing peak a “Mini-Max.”
Pesnell believes that “Solar Cycle 24, such as it is, will probably start fading by 2015.”
Ironically, that is when some of the bigger flares and magnetic storms could occur.
Biesecker has analyzed historical records of solar activity and he finds that most large events such as strong flares and significant geomagnetic storms typically occur in the declining phase of solar cycles – even weak ones.
Indeed, this “Mini-Max” has already unleashed one of the strongest storms in recorded history.
On July 23, 2012, a plasma cloud or “CME” rocketed away from the sun as fast as 3000 km/s, more than four times faster than a typical eruption.
The storm tore through Earth orbit, but fortunately Earth wasn't there. Instead it hit NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft, which recorded the event for analysis.
Researchers now believe the eruption was as significant as the iconic Carrington Event of 1859 – a solar storm that set telegraph offices on fire and sparked Northern Lights as far south as Hawaii.
If the 2012 “superstorm” had hit Earth, the damage to power grids and satellites would have been significant.
It all adds up to one thing: “We're not out of the woods yet,” said Pesnell.
Even a “Mini-Max” can stir up major space weather – and there's more to come as the cycle declines.
To see the Solar Mini-Max ScienceCast, visit http://youtu.be/8Ha7X6dWVQE .
Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Two Lakeport residents sustained injuries when their vehicles were involved in a head-on crash on Bottle Rock Road Thursday evening.
Cameron McLean, 32, was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of major injuries and Leah Jackman, 33, had minor injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office.
The CHP said the crash occurred at 6:25 p.m. on Bottle Rock Road west of Kahms Lane.
Jackman was driving a 1999 Ford Expedition eastbound on Bottle Rock Road at 45 miles per hour, the CHP said.
The CHP said Jackman crossed over the double yellow lines and collided head-on with a 2001 Subaru Forester driven by McLean, who was heading westbound.
McLean was trapped in the driver's seat and had to be extricated by firefighters. He was flown by CalStar air ambulance to Santa Rosa, according to the CHP.
Jackman was taken by ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment, the CHP reported.
The CHP said the crash also blocked both lanes of the road and stopped traffic temporarily.
Both Jackman and McLean were wearing their seat belts, the CHP said.
The crash remains under investigation, but the CHP said alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – If voters in the Lakeport Unified School District could weigh in on the school construction projects they felt are most important – and should therefore be funded by a bond – what would they choose?
Finding out the answer to that question will be the work of consultant Greg Isom, who the district's board voted unanimously to hire at its Thursday night meeting.
Isom, of Walnut Creek-based Isom Advisors, has previously worked with the district, guiding it last year through the process of refinancing outstanding general obligation bonds from a $7.5 million measure voters approved in 2001.
The refinancing is saving the district's property owners an estimated $52,000 over a three-year period, as Lake County News has reported.
Isom said his firm is working with 15 school districts with proposed tax measures.
In his Tuesday night presentation, Isom went over economic and demographic information for the district, explaining that the tax base has gone down by 1 percent over the past year, and has showed four years of decline. However, he said the local reduction hasn't been like the negative tax base growth seen in the Central Valley.
Lakeport Unified's gross bonding capacity is $28.3 million, Isom said. After subtracting the $4.1 million outstanding from the 2001 bond, that means the district's current debt limit is $24.2 million.
He said the district has approximately 6,171 registered voters, of which 38 percent are Democrats, 34 percent are Republicans and 28 percent are “other.” Of those voters, 54 percent are vote-by-mail, or absentee.
The state's June primary saw 43 bond measures statewide, of which 33 percent were successful, Isom said.
“Voters are still supporting their schools,” he noted.
To be successful, Lakeport Unified needs to look at what people will support and when. To get that information, Isom said his firm will conduct a phone survey.
If that survey were to come back negative, he said there would be no point in putting a bond measure on the ballot.
In order to be ready for the survey, Isom said the district needs to prepare a list of proposed projects.
Superintendent Erin Smith-Hagberg offered a brief list of some of the district's facility needs, including replacement of portable classrooms that date from 1968, resurfacing the tennis courts, upgrading the weight room, improving classroom technology and moving the district's alternative schools.
Another project is bringing the Westshore Pool, built in 1973, up to state-required specifications.
Smith-Hagberg had told a group of city, county and Channel Cats swim team stakeholders during a meeting Thursday morning that the district did not have any funds earmarked for the pool's repairs in its 2014-15 fiscal year budget, and that the only way to afford the repairs was for the district to pursue a bond.
In the phone surveys, Isom said it will be important to get the overall voter feeling toward the district, ask if they agree with the projects on the list and what tax rate they would find acceptable.
“I have no idea about how your community is going to respond to anything in the survey,” Isom said.
Board Chair Phil Kirby asked how the survey would be developed and distributed.
Isom said all of the school bond surveys have similar language. He said he would craft a specific survey for Lakeport Unified and then hand it back to the administration for approval.
All of the surveys are conducted by phone. Isom said the goal is for the calls to accurately reflect the district's demographics.
Smith-Hagberg asked Isom about the process timeline.
Isom said they would have to have the survey done well ahead of Aug. 8, which is the last date the district could file for a bond measure with the county elections office.
If the district didn't make that deadline, Isom said the next earliest date it could put a measure before voters would be in November 2015.
The cost of the survey that the district will pay for is not to exceed $5,000, Isom said.
Jeff Hanson, representing the Channel Cats swim team, said that group had many volunteers to help promote a bond measure that would help improve the Westshore Pool.
“I think this is a good idea. I think our community will support it,” said Board Trustee Dennis Darling.
Darling suggested adding a clause to the contract between Isom and the district that will call for the agreement to be nullified if the district decides not to move forward with the work.
Trustee Tom Powers moved to approve the contract, with Tina Scott seconding and the board voting 5-0.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 54th quilt block to be installed on the Lake County Quilt Trail is located at People Services Inc., located at 870 11th St. in Lakeport.
The teaming up of Ilene Dumont and Michelle Figg has made this lovely “Star Cross” quilt block come to fruition.
Figg is honoring the memory of her grandmother, Vera Perkins. Dumont, Figg's sister-in-law and director of People Services, wanted her building to be part of the quilt trail.
Together they coordinated a solution to meet their needs.
The clients of People Services chose their favorite quilt blocks and colors, and Figg chose the religious symbol “Star Cross” because Grandma Vera was a religious person and loved the color purple.
People Services' clients, Dumont and Figg all are very pleased with their quilt block.
In 1993 Linda and Mike Gossett acquired this site specifically for People Services Inc. to provide a licensed day program for adults with developmental disabilities.
Upon completion in 1994, People Services Inc. moved into their building, and the organization has been there for 20 years.
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 .
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lakeshore Lions Club is preparing for the 57th annual Redbud Parade and Festival slated for July 5.
The event will feature a procession down Lakeshore Drive followed by a day-long festival at Austin Park, culminating with fireworks at dusk.
Participants are being sought for the parade, vendor faire and the 15th annual “Show and Shine Car Show.”
“This is the largest fundraiser for the Lakeshore Lions Club, so please show your community spirit and support by helping us raise money for all the many causes we assist,” Ray Bridges, parade chairman, said.
“We support the eye glasses and vision care programs for the needy, high school sports, scholarships and many other school activities; our local fire and police departments, the senior center, community patrol, Boy Scouts, Southshore Little League and so many other notable causes,” Bridges said.
The theme of this year's parade is “Time Travel.”
It will launch at 11 a.m. from Redbud Park and proceed down Lakeshore Drive to the festival at Austin Park.
The procession will feature local marchers, kinetic contraptions, decorated floats, vintage cars, parade and show horses and emergency vehicles with the crowd-favorite Fire Foleys team bringing up the rear.
Along with games and entertainment for all, the Lakeshore Lions and Lioness will offer an assortment of food, cold drinks and beer at the festival in the park. Arts and craft vendors and merchants from near and far will also offer their goods.
In addition, the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce will host the International Worm Races for participants of all ages.
Free parking will be available at Haverty Field, just east of Austin Park.
Rejoining this year's festivities will be a carnival midway. Schoeppner Shows Carnival will roll into town with games and rides in time for its opening on July 3. It will run through July 6 at Austin Park Resort.
Pre-sale, unlimited rides wristbands are now available for $20 at Tatonka Land and Clearlake Automotive, both located on Lakeshore Drive.
“Everyone loves a carnival. Come down and enjoy the fun,” Bridges said.
Entry forms for the parade and the car show are available at the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, Bob's Vacuum, Clearlake Automotive, Kevin Ness Jewelers and Tatonka Land.
Vendors interested in securing a booth, should contact Bob Kiel at 707-994-9752.
Those who would like to get in on the car show, should contact Kevin Ness at 707-994-2307.
For more information regarding the parade, contact Bridges at 707-994-3070 or visit www.lakeshorelions.org .
Email Denise Rockenstein at
