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NICE – Those who truly care do memorable things to better Lake County and many were honored at the Stars of Lake County 13th annual Community Awards Celebration Saturday evening.
This year, in the wake of last November's closure of Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa – the home to the awards since the program's inception – the awards ceremony was held at Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino in Nice.
The reception began at 5 p.m., with well-known local musician David Neft providing lively keyboard music for the audience, which stood beneath an ocean of golden star balloons attached to the assigned chair of each nominee.
The casino’s bingo room was transformed into a ceremonial space, including a dance floor in the front center next to the stage. New at this year’s celebration was a dance after the awards were presented.
Master of Ceremonies Tom Lincoln opened the evening, asking those who have served the country in the military to stand and be honored with a round of applause.
Lincoln then gave the audience a bit of background about himself – that he, too, served in the Army and he moved to Lake County in 1975 from San Francisco.
“I never had a second thought of moving elsewhere. We, the people of Lake County, are the luckiest in the world in that we get to enjoy this god-given beauty,” he said.
Lincoln read a quote by former Connecticut State Legislator Pauline R. Kezer: “When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless, But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.”
Following dinner, the awards presentation began. Congressman Mike Thompson was on stage to hand-deliver the sparkling trophies, which Lake County Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton said were made by the same company that makes the Oscar awards.
Each Star was played a song as they walked off stage with their award. DJ Tony Barthel, who donated his time to the event, arranged the music to match each person and their accomplishments.
The 2010 Stars of Lake County Awards winners are as follows.
MAN OF THE YEAR: Thomas Hewlett, DDS, Clearlake
WOMAN OF THE YEAR: Cheri Johnson, Hidden Valley Lake
LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Lakeport Grocery Outlet
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: A&B Collision, Clearlake
YOUTH ADVOCATE/VOLUNTEER: Darren Brookshire, Hidden Valley Lake
YOUTH ADVOCATE/PROFESSIONAL: Jill Hoeffer, Lakeport
STUDENT OF THE YEAR, MALE: Benjamin Mullin, Lucerne
STUDENT OF THE YEAR, FEMALE: Cylinda Neidenbach, Kelseyville
AGRICULTURE AWARD: Renker Farms, Lakeport
ARTS AWARD/AMATEUR: Bert Hutt, Lakeport
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Denise Johnson, Kelseyville
MARLA RUZICKA HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR: Debra Rodrique, Middletown
SENIOR OF THE YEAR: Jean Welch, Lakeport
BEST IDEA OF THE YEAR: Woody’s Café (at Kelseyville Lumber), Kelseyville
ORGANIZATION, VOLUNTEER: AARP volunteer tax preparers
ORGANIZATION, NONPROFIT: Mt. Konocti Facilitation, Lakeport
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Mildred Pickersgill, Lakeport
NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: LuLu’s Ice Cream & Desserts, Kelseyville
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD: Roberta Lyons, Lower Lake
SPIRIT OF LAKE COUNTY: Harry Graves, Clearlake
The event was sponsored by Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and the Lake County Record-Bee.
Awards sponsors included Cliff and Nancy Ruzicka, Westamerica Bank, Barry Parkinson, McDonald’s Lakeport, Polestar Computers, Umpqua Bank, Gossett Alarm Corp., Strong Financial Network, Lake County Land Trust, Kelseyville Lumber, Foods Etc., Bruno’s Shop Smart, Kathy Fowler Dealerships, Congressman Mike Thompson, Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery, John Tomkins, North Lake Medical Pharmacy, Lakeview Supermarket and Deli, Lake County Record-Bee and St. Helena Hospital Clearlake.
E-mail Tera deVroede at
On Sunday morning, the US Geological Survey gauge for Clear Lake showed the lake's level at 7.57 feet Rumsey, the special measure used for Clear Lake.
A full lake is 7.56 feet Rumsey, according to Lake County's Water Resources Division.
Three months ago in January, the level of Clear Lake was less than 1.0 Rumsey, as previously reported, which means that Clear Lake, encompassing nearly 42,000 acres with 100 mile of shoreline, increased almost eight feet in depth since that time.
According to Lake County Water Resources, the Rumsey level is the natural level of Clear Lake which has been maintained by the Grigsby Riffle, a rock sill located at the confluence of Cache and Seigler Creeks near Lower Lake.
The natural low water level of Clear Lake was established as "Zero Rumsey" and all subsequent lake measurements are based on this elevation, which is equivalent to 1318.256 feet above sea level, according to the Lake County Water Resources Web site.
By 5 p.m. Sunday, Clear Lake had risen to 7.70 feet Rumsey according to the USGS gauge, although the rains had ended for the afternoon but more rain is forecast for overnight. It edged slightly higher before midnight.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento predicted more rain overnight with an 80 percent chance of rain Monday, and winds kicking back up throughout the day.
But the winds and rain will taper off in the evening, as the storm system moves out of Lake County, according to the National Weather Service's forecast.
Skies should clear somewhat, with the National Weather Service predicting high temperatures near 60 on Tuesday, with temperatures in the mid- to upper 30s at lake-level.
Partly cloudy skies with a small chance of rain will remain throughout the week, according to the National Weather Service, with highs below 60 and overnight temperatures remaining above the freezing mark at lower elevations.
For up-to-the-minute weather information, please visit the home page.
E-mail Terre Logsdon at
Personal visits to nonresponding households begin May 1.
Households have until April 16 to mail back their form, as the Census Bureau must begin preparing to train temporary census workers to gather census responses in person from households that did not mail back their forms.
In Lake County, some areas – notably Clearlake – have not received US Census forms yet. To find out where to pick up a 2010 Census form, click here: Census 2010: Local questionnaire assistance centers open .
As of Sunday, April 11, the national mail back participation rate was 65 percent. California was slightly behind the national average with 63 percent.
The Northern California counties with the highest participation rates were San Mateo, Santa Clara and Shasta counties, which each were at 68 percent. Lagging behind were Mono County, with 25 percent, and Alpine County, with 20 percent.
Lake County remained at 53 percent on Sunday, just one percentage point below its 2000 mail back participation rate, according to US Census data.
The Census Bureau’s Northern California region stretches from Santa Cruz County, to the south, and the Oregon border, to the north.
For the first time, the Census Bureau has mailed replacement forms to areas with historically lower mail-response rates. Research shows that the replacement forms will help increase mail response in those areas, which will save a significant amount of money.
The Census Bureau saves about $85 million in operational costs for every percentage point increase in the nation's mail-participation rate. It costs the government just the price of a postage stamp when a household mails back the form. However, it costs the Census Bureau $57 to follow up with a non-responsive household.
If you did not receive a Census form or have misplaced it, visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ to find a “Be Counted” or questionnaire assistance center site in your neighborhood, where forms are available.
Both the questionnaire assistance centers and the “Be Counted” sites are operational until April 19 and can be found in public areas, such as libraries and community centers donated by businesses and organizations.
Or, call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center hotlines for assistance seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time. The phone numbers are: English: 1-866-872-6868, Spanish: 1-866-928-2010, Chinese: 1-866-935-2010, Korean: 1-866-955-2010, Russian: 1-866-965-2010, Vietnamese: 1-866-945-2010, TDD (hearing impaired): 1-866-783-2010.
All US Census responses are confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' individually identifiable answers with anyone, including tribal housing authorities, other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.
The Census Bureau also has created tools to help communities track their census participation.
The Take 10 Challenge Map shows the latest participation rates, giving users the option to download and embed a local rate tracker “widget” on their own Web site.
The participation rates are posted at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time each weekday. Anyone can visit the 2010 Census Web site at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ to track their state, county or neighborhood's progress.
The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to tribal, state and local governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide.
The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in U.S. history, consisting of 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete.
Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.
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The California Highway Patrol reported Saturday that the investigation is continuing into the cause of the crash, which claimed the life of the 65-year-old woman from Noblesville, Ind., and injured six of her family members when they were hit head-on by another vehicle driven by a local woman.
The CHP did not release the crash victim's name, however, a neighbor from Indiana confirmed to Lake County News that the person in question was Sandra K. Thomas.
She and her husband, James G. Thomas, 64, were returning home to Noblesville, located north of Indianapolis, according to family and friends.
The Thomases were riding with their daughter, 33-year-old Sarah Noguera of Ukiah, and her husband, Adonis Noguera, 37, in the Nogueras' 2001 Ford Escape.
The CHP said Sarah Noguera was driving, James Thomas was sitting in the front passenger seat, with the Nogueras' 5-year-old daughter riding in the right rear passenger seat, Sandra Thomas sitting in the center of the rear passenger seat, the Nogueras' 4-year-old son in the left rear passenger seat and Adonis Noguera seated in the vehicle's cargo compartment.
The CHP said Sarah Noguera was traveling at an undetermined speed eastbound on Highway 20, west of Bartlett Springs Road at the Tulip Hill Winery, when the collision occurred at 2:35 p.m. Friday. Conditions at the time of the crash were clear and dry.
Driving westbound in a 2005 Dodge Caravan was Maria Felix Prado, 47, of Clearlake, according to the CHP.
The CHP said Prado, who also was driving at a speed investigators haven't determined, went off the roadway's north edge and up an embankment before veering back to the left and traveling back onto the roadway, where it entered the eastbound lane.
Prado's minivan hit the Nogueras' vehicle head-on, causing major damage to the vehicles, both of which came to rest off the highway's south edge, the CHP reported.
The front of Prado's minivan was caved in following the crash, but the CHP said she was able to get out of her vehicle unaided.
Adonis Noguera was able to get out of the Escape, the CHP said; he also was able to take his two young children out of the wreckage.
Sandra Thomas, who the CHP said was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, was declared dead at the scene by deputy coroner Sgt. Gary Basor of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Northshore Fire paramedics had to extricate Sarah Noguera and James Thomas, both of whom where driven by ambulance to nearby Ceago Vinegarden, where REACH Air Ambulance picked them up for transport. Both were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries, the CHP reported.
Cal-Star Air Ambulance transported the Nogueras' 4-year-old son to Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland for treatment of major injuries, according to the report. Adonis Noguera and his 5-year-old daughter were taken by Northshore Fire ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport with moderate injuries.
The CHP said Prado was treated and released at the scene, and a CHP officer later transported her to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake as a precaution for minor injuries.
CHP Officer Jake Bushey is leading the investigation into the incident.
Alcohol and drugs aren't considered contributing factors to the crash, the CHP said.
Both vehicles had extensive damage and were retained by the CHP pending comprehensive inspections.
The roadway remained closed between the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff and Foothill Drive in Lucerne for two hours and 40 minutes, reopening to one-way traffic at 5:30 p.m. with both lanes reopened at 6 p.m., the CHP said.
During that time, emergency personnel tended to the injured, investigators reviewed the scene and tow companies removed the vehicles.
In addition to the CHP, Lake County Sheriff's Office and Northshore Fire, Caltrans and the California Department of Fish and Game also were involved in handling the scene.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
The public is invited to come to the studio at 149 S. Main St., where hot dogs and other refreshments will be available, along with opportunities for new and current members to purchase CDs, KPFZ baseball hats and other premiums.
Listeners who tune in from their living rooms and cars will enjoy a 17-hour membership drive – from 7 a.m. to midnight – an on-air party when programmers will share stories, play music, jockey with each other and solicit memberships; and volunteers will answer the phones.
KPFZ’S goal for the day is to sign up 100 new listener-members, as well as to renew the current members.
Memberships will support the costs of running the station as well as building a tower and purchasing equipment for a new signal.
The new tower will triple the power of the station’s signal.
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