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LAKEPORT, Calif. – A small vegetation fire caused by a mower broke out Sunday in the Hill Road area of north Lakeport.
The fire was reported at about 2:30 p.m., according to radio reports.
Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells said the fire – which had headed for a small stand of eucalyptus trees – was quickly contained at about three-tenths of an acre.
“The weather's working on our side right now,” Wells said.
Lakeport Fire, Kelseyville Fire and Northshore Fire each sent one engine, Wells said.
Wells said the fire's cause was attributed to a man using a flail mower in the area. He said it's believed the mower's metal blades may have hit a stump, sparking the blaze.
He said there was no property damage.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
Oh, prickly globe of humble leaf
Grown on ocean cliffs so steep
You woo us with your inner heart
Your thorns shock fingers like a dart
We seek you for your tasty flesh
And love you when you’re on our dish
We dig through leaves for our reward,
That tender disc which thorns do guard
Oh, artichoke, how you please!
With oil, butter, or mayonnaise
We peel a leaf, we take a bite
(What’s left behind does look a sight!)
Oh, artichoke, you’re worth the time
It takes to eat your parts sublime
You make for us a mighty feast
With heart, and each and every leaf
Groaning aside, the artichoke is a vegetable worthy of an ode, don’t you think? It’s mysterious, after all, as well as metaphorical and unique.
As to mystery, who ate the first one? What prompted that curious soul to look past the thorns and discover tasty flesh inside?
Its thorny leaves and tender heart evoke endless metaphors:
You can’t judge a book by its cover.
Good things take time.
Life unfolds like the leaves of an artichoke.
One must dig deep for hidden treasure.
A thorny exterior belies a tender heart within.
Patience wins all.
And its uniqueness speaks for itself. There is no other vegetable quite like it.
Almost 100 percent of the U.S. artichoke crop is cultivated in California, with Monterey County – specifically Castroville and surrounding areas – accounting for a whopping 75 percent of it. Apparently the moderate coastal clime of that area and its fog-shrouded fields bode well for its growth.
Not surprisingly, Castroville, which has hosted an artichoke festival since 1956, has been dubbed the artichoke capital of the world.
And the town has an additional, if lesser known, claim to fame: Marilyn Monroe, then a barely recognizable starlet, was crowned Castroville’s artichoke queen in 1948.
Artichoke plants are large, with spiny, arching, ferny leaves that spread to up to 6 feet in diameter and stalks that grow to about three or four feet in height.
Edible artichokes are officially known as globe artichokes, and there are a number of varieties in varying sizes and shades of green and purple.
The part we eat is actually an immature bud which develops in various sizes depending on which part of the stalk it resides. The largest artichokes grow at the top of the stalk, medium ones grow from side shoots, and “baby” (or petite) artichokes grow at the base of the stalk hidden in the leaves.
“Baby” artichokes are fully mature but of a smaller size. The fuzzy portion near the heart doesn’t develop on them, making them easier to prepare.
If the buds are allowed to mature, they flower into a violet, thistle-like bloom, appropriate for this member of the thistle group of the sunflower family.
Artichokes grow wild in southern Europe and northern Africa and were first developed for cultivation in Sicily, Italy. They were later cultivated by the African Moors near Granada, Spain in about 800 A.D.
It was Spanish settlers who brought them to California in the 1600s, but they didn’t achieve popularity here until more than three centuries later, in the 1920s.
They were mentioned in the literature of the Greeks and Romans as far back as 77 A.D. In fact, shortly before his death, Pliny the Elder, an oft-quoted Roman author and naturalist, said they were one of “earth’s monstrosities.” Clearly he wasn’t a fan.
Artichokes contain more than nine powerful antioxidants that contribute to our health in a diverse array of ways, from promoting cardiovascular health to inhibiting the growth of cancer cells to aiding in the regeneration of liver tissue.
They’re also full of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium.
The best artichokes are globes that are heavy for their size with tight leaves. Don’t choose those that are dry looking or turning brown. If leaves are open, it means the artichoke is past its prime.
Artichokes may be stored in your fridge in a plastic bag, unwashed, for up to four days.
Before using, wash artichokes well, and if home grown, be sure to tap them upside down in the sink. This helps remove any critters that may have made the leaves their home.
Artichokes are most commonly steamed, but they can be boiled, grilled, or roasted. If using the latter two methods, I recommend parboiling them first to tenderize the leaves and then finishing on the grill or in the oven to infuse the rich, smoky flavor that these methods impart.
When steaming, the top half inch or so may be cut off to remove prickly thorns and, for the same reason, the tips of each leave may be trimmed with scissors. I often slice artichokes in half to reduce the cooking time. I clean out the fuzz near the heart before popping into the steamer.
Artichoke stems are tasty and needn’t be completely removed before cooking. A couple inches may be left intact and lightly peeled.
A garlic clove, bay leaf, or slice of lemon (even all three) may be added to the water that steams the artichokes to impart flavor.
Artichokes may be served cold or hot, and are often accompanied by mayonnaise (usually when served cold), melted butter, or garlic-infused olive oil. I especially love them with a sauce of mayonnaise, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and fresh dill.
In Italy and parts of France, raw artichoke hearts are shaved and tossed in salads with a vinaigrette dressing and shavings of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
In Sicily, a mixture that includes bread crumbs, garlic, olive oil, anchovies, and cheese is stuffed between the bracts (the official term for an artichoke’s leaves) and then baked in the oven.
Polish cooks braise artichoke hearts in white wine and garlic, while Moroccans bake them with lamb.
I have to say that the most unusual use of artichokes I’ve seen is in the Italian liqueur cynar. This bitter aperitif is made with 13 different plants, the most predominant being the artichoke.
If you’re looking for heart-themed meal ideas for tomorrow’s St. Valentine’s Day festivities, look no further than the cream of artichoke heart soup I offer below. Its delicate flavor and creamy texture marry well with a salad of hearts of Romaine lettuce tossed in simple vinaigrette.
The recipe is a spin on one by Giada De Laurentiis of the Food Network. If frozen artichoke hearts are unavailable, canned or home-cooked ones may be used. (Just be sure the canned variety is not marinated.)
As to my ode, I may have broken some poetry etiquette through its creation. According to thinkquest.org, “An ode is a poem that is written for an occasion or on a particular subject. They are usually dignified and more serious as a form than other forms of poetry. Unfortunately, today's society has distinctly less respect for propriety, morality, and dignity. Modern odes include sarcastic poems about various subjects, including Velcro and vegetables.”
I hope you’ll forgive me. At least mine wasn’t sarcastic; I meant every word.
Cream of artichoke heart soup
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 leeks, white part only, washed well and chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small potato, peeled and chopped
1 (8 or 10 ounce) package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed
2 cups stock of your choice
½ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
¼ - ½ cup heavy cream
Heat olive oil in a heavy, large pot over medium heat.
Add the leeks and the potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the artichokes, stock, salt, and pepper and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
Off heat, use a handheld immersion blender to puree the soup.
Add the cream to taste and blend again to combine.
Taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed, and heat to serving temperature.
Makes about four servings.
Esther Oertel, the “Veggie Girl,” is a culinary coach and educator and is passionate about local produce. Oertel teaches culinary classes at Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., and The Kitchen Gallery in Lakeport, Calif., and gives private cooking lessons. She welcomes your questions and comments; e-mail her at
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It's a calm and peaceful night. Stars twinkle in the velvety darkness overhead as a distant plane blinks silently on the horizon. You could almost hear a pin drop.
That is, until the flare.
High overhead, out of the darkness, a bright light surges into view. For five to 10 seconds it outshines the brightest stars in the sky, mimicking a supernova, perhaps even casting faint shadows at your feet. The silence is broken by your own excited shouts.
Could this happen to you?
“It could, if you happen to be outside when NanoSail-D flies by,” said Dean Alhorn of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. “We think the spacecraft could produce this kind of display from time to time when sunlight glints off the reflective fabric of its solar sail.”
On Jan. 21, NanoSail-D unfurled a 10 m2 sail 650 km above Earth's surface, becoming the first solar sail to orbit our planet.
For the next few months it will skim the top of the atmosphere, slowly descending in a test of “drag sails” as a means of de-orbiting space junk.
If all goes as planned, the spacecraft will disintegrate like a meteor in April or May of 2011, dispersing harmlessly more than 100 km high.
Meanwhile, sky watchers should be alert for flares.
Many people have already seen Iridium flares – brilliant flashes of sunlight glinting off the flat antennas of Iridium communication satellites.
Some Iridium flares are so bright, they can be seen in broad daylight. NanoSail-D could be even brighter.
“The surface area of our sail is six times greater than that of a single Iridium antenna,” pointed out Alhorn. “Plus, we're closer to Earth. It all adds up to a much brighter flash.”
As NanoSail-D gets closer to Earth, it could theoretically produce flashes of light 10 to 100 times (2.5 to 5 astronomical magnitudes) brighter than the planet Venus. That's the sort of thing you can see even through city lights.
In between flares, however, the sail is fairly dim. Internationally-recognized satellite tracking expert Ted Molczan describes what he and others have been seeing:
“NanoSail-D can be a challenging object to spot, but by no means impossible,” said Alhorn. “At its faintest, it has been invisible even in large binoculars, but at its brightest, it has been seen easily with the un-aided eye. The great variation in brightness is due to its shape; it is a large, thin sheet of highly reflective material. Seen edge-on, it is faint, but seen face-on at a favorable sun-angle, it may rival the brightest stars.”
NanoSail-D flyby predictions may be found in several places on the Web: Heavens-Above, Spaceweather.com and Calsky among others. These sites will tell you when the sail will soar overhead – but not when it will flare. The orientation of the sail isn't known precisely enough for that.
“Because it is impossible to predict exactly when NanoSail-D will be bright, observers can increase their chance of success by watching over a period of least several minutes,” said Molczan. “A plot of its predicted path on a star chart, with annotations of the time at intervals of one minute or so, will help the observer stay focused on the satellite's approximate position as it moves across the sky. Observe with the unaided eye, or binoculars with a wide field of view, like 7x50s.”
The brightest flares are likely to occur when the spacecraft is near the horizon. Former NanoSail-D principal investigator Mark Whorton (previously at NASA, now at Teledyne) explains why.
“Early in the mission NanoSail-D will be tumbling, so it really doesn't matter where it is in the sky. Flashes might occur almost anywhere along its path,” said Whorton. “But later in the mission it will be aerodynamically stabilized: the flat surface of the sail will face forward, much like the sail on a terrestrial sailing ship. That means you will see it edge on (dim) when it is directly overhead and face on (bright) when it is closer to the horizon.”
So check the predictions, go outside and take a look. Said Alhorn, “You might see something worth shouting about.”
To encourage amateur astronomers to monitor the sail, NASA and Spaceweather.com have joined forces to stage a photo contest.
Cash prizes ranging from $100 to $500 are being offered for best images of NanoSail-D submitted between now and the time the sail disintegrates. High-resolution telescopic images of the spacecraft, wide-angle shots of NanoSail-D soaring overhead, and lucky-shots of flares are all eligible. Visit www.nanosail.org for complete details.
Visit the NanoSail-D home page at www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/nanosaild.html .
Dr. Tony Phillips works for the National Aeronautic and Space Administration.
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According to HUD and VA's assessment, nearly 76,000 veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009 while roughly 136,000 veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year.
This unprecedented assessment is based on an annual report HUD provides to Congress and explores in greater depth the demographics of veterans who are homeless, how the number of veterans compare to others who are homeless, and how veterans access and use the nation's homeless response system.
HUD's report, “Veteran Homelessness: A Supplement to the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress,” www.hudhre.info/documents/2009AHARVeteransReport.pdf, examines the data in the department's annual report to Congress in-depth.
“With our federal, state and community partners working together, more veterans are moving into safe housing,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “But we're not done yet. Providing assistance in mental health, substance abuse treatment, education and employment goes hand-in-hand with preventive steps and permanent supportive housing. We continue to work towards our goal of finding every Veteran safe housing and access to needed services.”
Last June, President Obama announced the nation's first comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness, including a focus on homeless Veterans.
The report, “Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness,” puts the country on a path to end Veterans and chronic homelessness by 2015; and to ending homelessness among children, family, and youth by 2020.
Read more at www.usich.gov/PDF/OpeningDoorsOverview.pdf .
Key findings of the study
More than 3,000 cities and counties reported 75,609 homeless veterans on a single night in January of 2009; 57 percent were staying in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program while the remaining 43 percent were unsheltered.
Veterans represent approximately 12 percent of all homeless persons counted nationwide during the 2009 “point-in-time snapshot.”
During a 12-month period in 2009, an estimated 136,000 veterans-or about 1 in every 168 veterans-spent at least one night in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program.
The vast majority of sheltered homeless veterans (96 percent) experienced homelessness alone while a much smaller share (four percent) was part of a family.
Sheltered homeless veterans are most often individual white men between the ages of 31 and 50 and living with a disability.
Low-income veterans are twice as likely to become homeless compared to all low-income adults. HUD and VA also examined the likelihood of becoming homeless among American veterans with particular demographic characteristics.
In 2009, twice as many poor Hispanic veterans used a shelter at some point during the year compared with poor non-Hispanic veterans. African American veterans in poverty had similar rates of homelessness.
Most veterans who used emergency shelter stayed for only brief periods. One-third stayed in shelter for less than one week; 61 percent used a shelter for less than one month; and 84 percent stayed for less than three months.
The report also concluded that veterans remained in shelters longer than did non-veterans.
In 2009, the median length of stay for veterans who were alone was 21 days in an emergency shelter and 117 days in transitional housing.
By contrast, non-veteran individuals stayed in an emergency shelter for 17 days and 106 days in transitional housing.
Nearly half of homeless veterans were located in California, Texas, New York and Florida while only 28 percent of all veterans were located in those same four states.
The report studied the path homeless veterans take into the shelter system and found most veterans come from another homeless location and few entered the shelter system from their own housing or from housing provided by family or friends.
Sheltered homeless veterans are far more likely to be alone rather than part of a family household; 96 percent of veterans are individuals compared to 63 percent in the overall homeless population.
For more information on VA's efforts to end homelessness among veterans, visit VA's Web page at www.va.gov/homelessness.
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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Fire officials are investigating the cause of a wildland fire that burned near Blue Lakes on Friday.
Northshore Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Pat Brown said the 20-acre wildland fire was located above Blue Lakes in a very steep area that runs along the Lake and Mendocino county lines.
Brown said Northshore Fire and Cal Fire responded to the fight the fire.
He said Cal Fire had two engines, two hand crews, one bulldozer, a helicopter and a battalion chief, while Northshore Fire responded with two engines and a battalion chief.
Brown said firefighters had very limited access to the scene due to road conditions. He said there were springs running over the road area as well as downed trees.
Northshore Fire's engines had to use their winches on the apparatus to gain access, Brown said.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Respect For All Task Force will meet Wednesday, Feb. 16, 1 p.m., at the Lake County Office of Education, 1152 S. Main St.
The group will be discussing plans for a youth summit, the development of a youth leadership council, and a draft of a resource rack card for pre-teens, teens and families.
The meeting is open to the public, and the task force welcomes participation by new members.
Members of the Lakeport Be the Change group have been invited to attend Wednesday’s meeting to give the task force an update on activities.
The Lake County Respect For All Task Force, a group of local individuals, is striving to increase awareness about safe and inclusive learning environments.
The group is working to identify possible actions to help the Lake County community. Task force members are focusing on reducing bullying in schools and providing students with information on resources.
The Respect for All Task Force is now on Facebook. Look for the “Lake County Respect For All Task Force” to access information.
In Lake County, the Respect For All Project was started approximately two years ago as a pilot project through GroundSpark and in cooperation with Lake County Healthy Start and Lake County Family Resource Center.
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