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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – For many, Thanksgiving is a time for getting together with friends and loved ones to give thanks.
Knowing that the holidays can make for busy conditions on the roadways, the California Highway Patrol is prepared to keep traffic moving and motorists safe throughout the long weekend.
Thanksgiving is a maximum enforcement period for the CHP. The Thanksgiving holiday reporting period begins Wednesday, Nov. 21, at 6 p.m. and runs through Sunday, Nov. 25, at 11:59 p.m.
“Motorists are less likely to encounter one of our officers by simply wearing their seat belt,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Not only does the law require everyone inside the vehicle to be properly secured, seat belts are your best line of defense in a collision.”
Collisions increased significantly during last year’s Thanksgiving holiday travel period.
Tragically, 32 people lost their lives on California’s roadways due to a collision; this was a 52 percent increase from Thanksgiving 2010.
Additionally, two-thirds of the people killed in collisions within CHP’s jurisdiction last year were not wearing a seat belt.
“Although the majority of motorists in California are buckling up every time they get into a vehicle, there is still a small portion of the motoring public that need this reminder,” added Farrow. “By not wearing your seat belt, the risk of death or injury in a collision substantially increases.”
The CHP would also like to remind motorists to avoid distracted driving, travel at a speed that is safe for conditions and also designate a non-drinking driver for the safety of everyone on the road.
Last year during the Thanksgiving holiday, the CHP made 1,475 arrests for driving under the influence.
The public is encouraged to report unsafe or impaired drivers by calling 911.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has designated Nov. 16-25 as the national “Thanksgiving Holiday Travel, Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time.”
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – November is Carbon Monoxide Awareness month and Cal Fire is reminding all residents of the importance of having a working carbon monoxide alarm.
As of July 1, 2011, state law requires owners of single family homes with attached garages or fossil fuel sources for heating to install carbon monoxide alarms in every California home.
In addition, all other dwelling units, like apartments, are required to have an alarm by Jan. 1, 2013.
“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, each year claiming the lives of an average of 480 people and sending more than 20,000 people to emergency rooms across the nation.” said State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover, Cal Fire-Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced from heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, and many types of appliances and cooking devices.
The best way for homeowners to stay protected from CO is to have a carbon monoxide alarm installed on every floor and outside each sleeping area. A recent study found that nearly nine in 10 California households did not have a CO alarm.
“Having a CO alarm is a small investment that really can help save your life and the lives of your family,” said Chief Hoover.
California’s Carbon Monoxide Month is intended to help educate homeowners about the law and to encourage them to install a carbon monoxide alarm.
Cal Fire-Office of the State Fire Marshal is teaming up with fire departments across the state, as well as other State agencies to spread the word about the dangers of CO and how to keep your family and friends safe.
As the cooler weather moves into California and the use of fossil fuel heating increases, now is the time to be aware of the dangers of CO and how you can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
For more information on carbon monoxide visit the Cal Fire Web site at www.fire.ca.gov or visit the Web site for the California Department of Public Health at www.cdph.ca.gov .
SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Spirit of the Season’s “wish trees” are now in local businesses in the Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake.
This holiday community outreach program provides Christmas to community members in need.
Gifts are requested through letters to Santa written by children from families who have applied to the program.
The letters are read and wishes from each child – infants through eighth grade – are transferred to a card that is then hung on a wish tree.
All high school-aged youngsters will receive a Walmart gift card as listed on their bells, allowing each student to select their own gift.
Should you choose to give a gift to a child this Christmas, visit one of the local businesses where wish trees are located, pick out a card from the tree and follow the instructions posted near the wish tree.
Wish trees in Middletown are located at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Tri-Counties Bank and WestAmerica Bank. The wish trees in Hidden Valley can be found at Mulligan’s and Hidden Valley Lake Realty.
If you have questions about the wish tree program contact Sandy Tucker at 707-900-1070.
For Spirit of the Season to provide food and gifts it requires approximately $75 per family. If you can make a donation to offset the costs of the program, make your check payable to: Spirit of the Season and mail to P. O. Box 1468, Middletown, CA 95461.
The program held four days of registration in October and November and the registration portion of Spirit of the Season is now closed.
For more information about the program contact Hedy Montoya at 707-322-5080.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two teams of young Lake County robotics enthusiasts will take part in their first competition on Sunday.
Lake County's two FIRST LEGO Lego League Robotics teams, the Planeteers and Watts Up, will compete at the Intel R&D Campus in Folsom.
It’s a qualifying event for the district championship games, according to Barbara McIntyre, facility coordinator for the Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium, who is a league coach along with Michael Schenck and Stephen Stangland.
The teams, which meet at the observatory, have been working on the challenge, “Senior Solutions.”
That challenge has required each team to interview senior citizens and identify problems they face, and research solutions to those problems. They will present their solutions at the tournaments.
In addition to having their solutions judged, they also will be scored on the competition’s “core values,” which are “Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition.”
It’s estimated that approximately 205,000 children participating in 20,500 teams from over 60 countries will participate in the FIRST Lego League during the 2012-13 school year.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The county’s animal shelter has a number of new dogs offered for adoption this week, including some big dogs plus a few small ones as well.
Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, pit bull, lab, cattle dog, terriers and Chihuahua mixes are among canines eligible for adoption this week.
Thanks to Lake County Animal Care and Control’s new veterinary clinic, many of the animals offered for adoption already are spayed or neutered and ready to go home with their new families.
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.
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”).
Chihuahua-terrier mix
This male Chihuahua-terrier is 2 years old.
He weighs 10.6 pounds, has a medium-length red coat and has not been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 4, ID No. 34860.
‘Corrie’
“Corrie” is a 4-year-old Rottweiler-Doberman Pinscher mix.
He weighs 98 pounds, is neutered and has a short brown and black coat.
Find him in kennel No. 8, ID No. 33210.
Male Chihuahua mix
This male Chihuahua mix is 3 years old.
He has a short red coat, weighs 18.6 pounds and has been neutered.
Find him in kennel No. 9, ID No. 34724.
Female Labrador Retriever mix
This female Labrador Retriever mix 7 months old.
She has a short black coat and is not yet spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 10, ID No. 34829.
Male husky mix
This 4 and a half year old male husky mix would like a new home, preferably not one with livestock.
He has gold eyes and erect ears, a short red and tan coat. He has been altered and weighs 56 pounds.
He's in kennel No. 11, ID No. 32738.
‘Moose’
“Moose” is a 3-year-old Labrador Retriever mix.
He has a short black coat, weighs 66 pounds and has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 16, ID No. 34643.
Female pit bull terrier mix
This female pit bull terrier mix is 5 months old.
She has a short brown coat and has not been altered.
She’s in kennel No. 19b, ID No. 34754.
Female shepherd mix
This female shepherd mix is 1 year old.
She has brown eyes and floppy years, and a short black and brown coat. Shelter staff did not report if she had been spayed.
Find her in kennel No. 20, ID No. 34623.
Female cattle dog mix
This female cattle dog mix is 1 year old.
She has a short brown coat, floppy ears and brown eyes, and weighs 39 pounds. She has been spayed.
Shelter staff said she is a jumper (she can top a 6-foot fence) and loves tennis balls.
She’s in kennel No. 24, ID No. 34758.
Male pit bull terrier mix
This male pit bull terrier mix is 6 months old.
Shelter staff reported that he is great with other dogs and loves to play.
He has a short white and gray coat, is medium-sized and has not yet been altered.
He’s in kennel No. 31, ID No. 34815.
‘Mary Jane’
“Mary Jane” is a 6-year-old pit bull terrier mix.
She has a short brown and white coat, is medium-sized and has been spayed.
Find her in kennel No. 34, ID No. 34818.
Please note: Dogs 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, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.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
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A holiday fundraiser to benefit the Lake County Hunger Task Force is returning this holiday season.
The Bountiful Gift Box is available for purchase again this year after being so well received the past two Christmas seasons.
The gift boxes contain Comice pears, a bottle of wine, walnuts, and apples from Lake County producers.
There are a limited number of Bountiful Gift Boxes – approximately 125 – and they go very quickly.
One hundred percent of the proceeds are donated directly to the Lake County Hunger Task Force, an all-volunteer organization seeking to provide fresh produce and nutritionally sound food to needy local residents through creation of community gardens, canning lessons and equipment donation, and regular food distribution.
Those needs of the hungry in our community have increased dramatically with the loss of two local food pantries in 2011.
“Lake County has a greater need than ever for food to help those on fixed incomes make their budgets stretch to the end of each month,” said Hunger Task Force volunteer Lorrie Gray.
“The elderly have been especially hit hard by the economy, with many making the choice between medications, rent, and food,” Gray explained. “They have no safety net, and we would like to help provide them with as much healthy food as we possibly can. They are less likely to take advantage of the Cal Fresh program, when eligible, than other age groups.”
Twenty-two percent of the population in Lake Co. is over age 65 and may not be eligible for food assistance.
Only 10 percent of those eligible do apply, for many it is fear of the process or the ethic of a generation unused to asking for assistance.
Sixty-nine percent of the school-aged children in Lake County are eligible for school lunches due to the limited economic resources of their families.
“The Bountiful Gift Box Project is such a beautiful effort to be involved with,” said Michelle Scully, one of the project’s organizers.
“The generosity of the local producers is so great and the response by both gift box purchasers and receivers is always overwhelmingly positive,” she said. “It's really awesome to be part of such a win-win project. The gift givers felt like they were giving a truly thoughtful and meaningful gift, the recipients loved experiencing the wonderful products we produce here in Lake County, and over the last two years the HTF received over $11,000 to continue all of the great work they do for our community. It’s hard to beat something like that.”
Gift boxes are $50 and purchasers may request red or white wine and requests will be honored as supply dictates. Once again this year there will be a very limited number of boxes available with olive oil rather than wine.
If you miss out on the boxes or would also like to contribute more to help stop hunger in our community, you can make a donation toward the purchase of a grocery holiday gift card for a senior citizen.
“This allows the seniors to purchase food that they prefer and in the quantities they need over time rather than all at once,” said Gray.
These gift cards may be given in a recipients name and a card specifying the donation will be provided.
“The first year we did this the gift box idea came together really quickly and we made do with what we had in terms of packaging,” said Scully. “We’ve been so fortunate to have had specially designed gift boxes donated to the project from the packaging company International Paper.”
She added, “The box is just awesome and is a package that people will be proud to give and to receive. I hear nothing but good things from people who have either ordered one or received one which is pretty exciting. People who have purchased a box before start asking about them early on as they know they make a wonderful gift and they sell-out very quickly. I hope that everyone who donated products, purchased a box, and received a gift box will be just as happy with its presentation.”
Anyone interested in purchasing a gift box may contact Lorrie Gray at 707-277-9227 or via email to Michelle Scully at
Boxes are $50 and numbers are limited. Distribution is scheduled for Dec. 7 at the Lake County Family Resource Center parking lot, 5350 Main St., Kelseyville.