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The fire at Jimmy's Deli & Taqueria on Lakeport Boulevard was first reported just before 2:30 p.m. Monday.
Fire dispatch reported that the fire occurred in an electrical panel at the restaurant.
Shortly after 3 p.m., the Lakeport Police Department issued a Nixle alert reporting that there was one-lane traffic control in effect on Lakeport Boulevard from South Main Street to Larrecou Lane due to a structure fire.
Later on Monday, the restaurant reported on its Facebook page that they “unfortunately experienced a small fire at our building this afternoon. Thankfully, nobody was injured and there is no substantial damage. However, we are currently closed and without power.”
The restaurant management reported that they hope to reopen by Monday.
“A sincere thank you to Lakeport Police, Lakeport Fire, Lake County Sheriff, and PG&E for your diligent response and service. We would like to also extend gratitude to our patrons for your continued support and well wishes,” the restaurant said in its Facebook post. “Looking forward to serving you again soon!”
Email Elizabeth Larson at
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom or can attend in person.
The webinar ID is 817 2062 7189; the passcode is 687518.
One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,83085917604# or join by phone at 669 444 9171 or 720 707 2699.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3.
Under council business, council members will consider offering support for an affordable housing project by Chelsea Investment Corp.
The council also will consider authorizing the sale or disposal of surplus equipment, namely, a 1994 John Deere motor grader.
The council also will consider selecting its voting delegate and up to two alternates for the League of California Cities annual conference in September, and will get a presentation on the 2022 Lake County Tourism District Annual Report.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants and City Council minutes, the minutes of the June 14 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting, authorization for the Main Street Project agreement with Citizens Caring 4 Clearlake; consideration of Resolution 2023-34 approving a temporary road closure for the Move Lake County 5K Race and Wellness Fair; and receive and file notification of expiring committee appointments.
The council also will hold a closed session after the meeting for negotiations with the Clearlake Municipal Employees Association and to discuss two cases of existing litigation against the city by the Ko Nation of Northern California.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Last week, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Rep. Mike Thompson joined Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with Representatives Madeleine Dean (D-PA) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) as co-leads, to reintroduce the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act (H.R. 4992), legislation to ban dangerous “ghost” guns.
These weapons, which are easily assembled with a 3-D printer or a do-it-yourself gun making kit purchased from an unlicensed seller, can be obtained without passing a background check and have become the weapon of choice for criminals.
Without a unique serial number, these guns are often untraceable and impede investigations by law enforcement.
Such guns have been seized in Lake County, such as happened in May of 2022 when the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it arrested a Northshore man in possession of a ghost gun and other firearms, along with enough fentanyl to kill the entire population of the county. That defendant is now the subject of a federal court case.
The new bill would require online and other sellers of gun-making kits to comply with federal firearm safety regulations.
“Untraceable ghost guns are the fastest growing gun violence threat in our country, and they pose a significant risk to our communities and law enforcement,” said Thompson. “The Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act will help us crack down on the proliferation of ghost guns and keep these untraceable guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for American children, and we must put measures like this in place to help save lives and keep our kids safe.”
“Gun violence has taken far too many lives and affected countless families around our nation,” said Congressman Espaillat. “Ghost guns are propelling this crisis, as these weapons are self-assembled, untraceable, and can allow criminals to evade firearm background checks. This has presented an ever-growing challenge for law enforcement agencies, as the number of ghost guns recovered at crime scenes has increased exponentially over the past few years alone. Our bill, the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act, would codify the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms’ (ATF’s) authority to regulate and track these deadly weapons. We cannot ignore the public health implications facing the country as a direct result of ghost guns and our bill would implement commonsense solutions to help combat this crisis.”
“Ghost guns are a major threat to public safety and law enforcement’s ability to protect our communities,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Without serial numbers and readily available for anyone to assemble, these untraceable weapons are a convenient tool for those that hope to cause harm. Our measure closes the gaping loopholes that allow domestic abusers, criminals, and terrorists to bypass background checks. A homemade gun is still a gun. Subjecting these weapons to the same safety measures and requirements will save lives.”
“If someone cannot pass a federal background check, they should not be allowed to possess a firearm under any circumstances,” said Rep. Brad Schneider. “They especially should not be able to circumvent the background check process entirely by purchasing the requisite parts online to assemble their own, often untraceable, firearm. The growing gun violence in our communities is at the top of the list of concerns for our local police – particularly, violence from ghost guns. I am proud to help introduce the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act with Representatives Espaillat, Dean, Thompson, and Senator Blumenthal to close this dangerous loophole and prevent more lives lost to preventable gun violence.”
“We cannot solve our gun violence problem without tackling untraceable ghost guns that are devastating our inner cities, suburbs, and rural communities – and are a threat to our police who work to protect us,” Congresswoman Madeleine Dean said. “Slowing and stopping the circulation of these untraceable weapons must be a priority – and the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act will help us crack down on the spread of ghost guns and stop these weapons from terrorizing our communities.”
The use of ghost guns across the country has been dramatically increasing. According to ATF, the number of ghost guns recovered and traced by law enforcement went from 1,629 in 2016 to 19,273 in 2021 – a more than 1000% increase.
Amongst other measures, the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act would permanently include the core building blocks of ghost guns – unfinished frames and receivers – in the definition of “firearm” under federal law.
In doing so, online sellers and other gun kit manufacturers and distributors selling frames and receivers that can “readily” be converted into fully functional weapons would be required to comply with the same federal regulations that govern the production and distribution of completed firearms.
It also includes a requirement that ghost gun sellers have a manufacturer’s license and put a serial number on the frame or receiver included in each gun making kit, and that purchasers of ghost guns undergo a background check.
In the Senate, the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
The legislation is endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Giffords, Newtown Action Alliance, and Sandy Hook Promise.
Thompson represents California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
The global childhood obesity epidemic has exploded. Over the past four decades, the world has witnessed a tenfold increase in obesity in children and adolescents between 5 and 19 years old.
More than 124 million children across the world are currently considered to be obese. In children under age 5, obesity used to be nearly unheard of. Now, more than 38 million young children live with this condition.
Researchers now estimate that there are more obese children than underweight children worldwide. Children and adolescents who are obese are more likely to become obese adults, setting them up for a lifelong trajectory of poor health.
With this growth in childhood obesity comes an increase in associated poor mental and physical health outcomes. Conditions that were once rare in children are now becoming increasingly common. These debilitating and costly diseases include hypertension, type 2 diabetes and others.
I am a public health researcher who studies and teaches about the factors underlying the obesity epidemic. My research seeks to understand what is driving these trends. Why are more and more people, including children, becoming obese?
Parsing the numbers
Childhood obesity was once predominantly an issue within developed nations. But it has become an emerging health concern even in the poorest countries and regions.
The standard measure used to determine obesity in children and adolescents has long been the body mass index, or BMI. This is a measure of an individual’s height as compared to their weight. Children whose BMI is a set threshold above the mean, or average, are considered obese. The role of BMI in defining obesity in children and adults may be changing, however.
Although BMI remains a low-cost and practical method for assessing obesity across populations – such as estimating the percentage of children in a particular nation who are obese – growing evidence has shed light on its limitations for use at the individual and clinical level. Leading medical organizations and researchers are encouraging physicians to consider the use of alternative measures, which may change the way children are screened for health risks related to their weight at the doctor’s office.
Critical role of parents and caregivers
In essence, childhood obesity is the result of kids eating and drinking more calories than they are burning off through play, movement and growth. Because of this, researchers have largely focused on understanding the individual eating and physical activity habits of these kids.
In the case of childhood obesity, researchers like me also know that parental figures play critical roles in both mirroring and creating opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating.
However, attempts to address childhood obesity have often focused excessively on individual behaviors of parents and children and too little on the environment where children and their families live. Research and statistics make it clear that this approach has failed and that new strategies are needed to understand and address why more children are becoming obese.
Social determinants of childhood obesity
Social determinants of health refer to the conditions where people live, learn, work, play and worship that affect health and quality of life.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has described five broad categories of social determinants of health. These include:
- economic stability
- education access and quality
- health care access and quality
- neighborhood and the built environment, such as access to sidewalks and playgrounds
- social and community context
Social determinants can promote health. For example, neighborhoods with access to safe parks and green spaces and healthy food retailers may support healthy eating and physical activity for families.
But social determinants can also facilitate or encourage unhealthy behaviors. Because of their underlying role in contributing to health outcomes like childhood obesity, social determinants have been described as the “causes of the causes.” In other words, if poor diet is one of the causes of childhood obesity, then the social determinants that shape a child and their family’s food environment – such as lack of neighborhood grocery stores or limited income to purchase healthy foods – would be a cause of that poor diet.
Role of processed foods and physical inactivity
Globally, people are spending more time in cars and less time walking – one of the most basic forms of physical activity. Even in the poorest nations, private car ownership rates are skyrocketing. Kids who would inadvertently be engaging in physical activity just by walking or biking to school are more likely to be taking cars and buses to school instead.
When it comes to food, societies in the U.S. and around the world are producing and consuming more calorie-dense ultra-processed foods. Advertisers are targeting children with these food products and sugar-sweetened beverages online and on television.
But for working parents with long hours or those who are unable to afford healthy groceries, these are often the easiest or affordable options for feeding their children. In fact, poor families are more likely to live in communities designated as “food deserts,” areas where there are few or no grocery stores and a high concentration of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores.
And children’s lifestyles have changed drastically, shifting away from outdoor physical activity into an increasingly sedentary way of life, in large part due to social media and screen time. The role of screen time in the childhood obesity epidemic is a significant and growing area of concern and research.
In my own research in Peruvian communities, parents identified many of these same factors as barriers to their children being physically active. Mothers complained about the lack of safe spaces for their kids to play. Local parks were full of crime, and yards were congested with traffic and other safety hazards. Mothers felt it was safer for their young children to be inside watching TV than outside playing.
This example is not unique to Peru. Parents around the world are contending with these challenges.
Addressing the underlying causes
The field of public health prioritizes making the healthy choice the easy choice. Combating the childhood obesity epidemic means making healthy eating an easier choice for children and families than staying inside and eating processed foods.
However, the reality is that much of the world’s population now lives, works, plays and worships in places that make it more difficult to choose healthy behaviors.
Policies and programs that address the social determinants of health are a critical part of curbing the childhood obesity epidemic. These include investing in community resources like playgrounds and free programs that get kids outside.
Some nations and even U.S. cities have implemented “sin taxes” on sugar-sweetened beverages to discourage consumption. In Chile, policies have been created that limit television advertising of unhealthy food products toward children. Other policy examples include tax incentives and programs that increase access to healthy foods and lower their cost.
In my view, every kid should be able to swim in the safe and accessible community pool rather than relying on their living room TVs to escape the blistering summer heat, or access fresh and affordable produce in their neighborhood instead of having to rely on fast food as the only close food resource. Childhood obesity is a preventable condition that communities can reduce most effectively by increasing access to resources that will allow them to live healthy lives.
Kathleen Trejo Tello, Assistant Professor of Public Health, College of Charleston
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 964 0344 8887, pass code 657950. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,96403448887#,,,,*657950#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
In a matter timed for 9:30 a.m., the board will consider giving staff direction regarding the crafting of a policy or plan for warming and cooling centers.
Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, who requested the item be brought before the board, said in his memo that during extreme weather events, “our most vulnerable are impacted in ways that could be hazardous to their health and safety. While emergencies such as last year's winter snow event are rare and requires us to react in similar ways to a fire, extreme heat and extreme cold without the emergency shouldn't be reactionary, it should be planned.”
He pointed out that the county “does not have a specific plan to pull off the shelf each time we get a weather advisory. Too often entire days, especially Sunday, are without assistance to our vulnerable community members to provide respite from the extreme weather. With a plan of action, our staff and our community members can predict what actions will be taken for these events rather than waiting to see what we have been able to pull together.”
He’s requesting that the Behavioral Health, Library, Office of Emergency Services, Public Health and Social Services departments meet to formulate a plan for extreme heat and extreme cold weather events that will come back for approval by the Board of Supervisors.
“This will allow for public input and public knowledge that this is our plan of action for future events,” Sabatier wrote.
During a closed session scheduled for 1:30 p.m., the board will continue its consideration of chief public defender candidates.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, authorize the air pollution control officer to extend the memorandum of understanding by and between county of Mendocino and the Lake County Air Quality Management District for air pollution control officer duties through Oct. 1, 2023.
5.2: Approve Amendment No. 2 for Public Health officer professional services contract to extend an additional month for an amount not to exceed $6,000 a month for the term of the agreement and authorize chair to sign.
5.3: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Kings View Professional Services for MIS support services in the amount of $93,168 for Fiscal Year 2023-24 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.4: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the Tule House residential substance use disorder treatment services, ASAM Level 3.1 with no change to the contract maximum for FY 2022-23 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.5: Approve Board of Supervisors minutes for July 11, 2023.
5.6: Second Reading of Ordinance Amending Chapter 5 of the Lake County Code and adopting by reference Appendices C and J of the 2022 California Building Code, Part 2 of the California Code of Regulations, Title 24.
5.7: Adopt proclamation designating the month of August 2023 as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
5.8: Approve side Letter to In-Home Supportive Services memorandum of understanding ratified through Dec. 31, 2023, to allow use of REVA software system for provider enrollment and authorize the chair to sign.
5.9: Approve the first amendment to contract between the county of Lake and Tennyson Center for Children, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:07 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.3, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of August 2023 as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
6.4, 9:30 a.m. Discussion and direction to staff regarding crafting a policy/plan for warming and cooling centers.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1, 1:30 p.m.: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b) (1): Interviews for chief public defender, appointment of chief public defender.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. Masks are highly encouraged where 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to
On Tuesday, the council will get a presentation from Brian Fisher of the Lake County Tourism Improvement District on the district’s activities and meet new Community Development Director Joey Hejnowicz.
Under council business, council members will get updates on the 2023 Lakeport Splash-In at Clear Lake and Taste In Lakeport events and consider approving applications for both.
Public Works Director Ron Ladd also will give the council the latest on the Lakefront Park project.
On the consent agenda — items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are warrants; ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on July 18; approval of the designated temporary disabled parking on C and D Streets, between South Forbes Street and the respective fairgrounds entrance gates from 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31, to midnight on Sunday, Sept. 3, for the Lake County Fair; approval of the military Use Policy and City Ordinance, as drafted, and setting of this matter for public hearing and adoption at the Aug. 15 Lakeport City Council meeting.
Email Elizabeth Larson at