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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has two adult cats ready for adoption this week.

Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.

The following cats at the shelter have been cleared for adoption.

Male domestic shorthair

This 1-year-old male domestic shorthair cat has an all-black coat.

He is in cat room kennel No. 66, ID No. LCAC-A-3309.

‘Delilah’

“Delilah” is a 2-year-old female domestic longhair cat with a gray coat with white markings.

She is in cat room kennel No. 103, ID No. LCAC-A-3070.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

There were few visitors in the small gallery that housed the “Jules Tavernier and the Elem Pomo” exhibit at the DeYoung Museum when an unexpected, haunting melody pierced the quiet of the room.

The clear notes of a Pomo call to dance filled the space where oil paintings by French-born landscape master Tavernier overlooked display cases filled with baskets and ceremonial artifacts created by Pomo artists from past and present Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties.

The exhibit, which originated in August 2021 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, was on display in San Francisco from Dec. 18 through Easter, April 17.

Central to the exhibit is Tavernier’s 1878 painting, “Dance in a Subterranean Roundhouse at Clear Lake, California,” which provides the connection to the Elem Pomo. It depicts a ceremonial dance known as Mfom xe, or people dance, in an underground roundhouse on Elem Pomo land near what is now Clearlake Oaks.

The roundhouse in Tavernier’s painting is similar to one on the same site today, which is still in use by the community.

The painting was privately owned in Europe until its purchase by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2016. Its display at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco represents the return of the painting to California for the first time in 140 years.

The composition is considered Tavernier’s masterwork and was quite possibly his most important commission. The request came from Mexican-born Tiburcio Parrott y Ochoa, a patron of Tavernier and a leading banker in 1870s San Francisco, where Tavernier lived at the time.

Parrott was the owner of the Sulphur Bank Quicksilver Mining Co., which operated on Elem ancestral lands. The work of art was to be a gift to his Parisian business partner, Baron Edmond de Rothschild.

It took the artist a full two years to complete the painting, and he made numerous trips to the Elem Pomo Indian village at Clear Lake during this time for research and inspiration.

There are more than 100 figures featured in the painting, mainly the multi-generation Pomo community members taking part in the ceremony. The painting also includes three non-Indigenous visitors: Parrott, Rothschild and a French military officer who was traveling with Rothschild.

The dance so beautifully and intimately depicted in the work was performed to protect the people from the destruction and diseases brought by new settlers, a cruel irony, as the mine owned by Parrott spawned widespread mercury contamination in the lake, causing great damage to the Elem Pomo community.

An area comprising 160 acres on Clear Lake is still affected by the historic contamination. It was designated an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Site in 1990 and eight short-term cleanup projects have been performed to date. Even so, continued work to clean up and restore the area is necessary.

To put the Tavernier painting in context, the exhibition also included more than 40 pieces of Pomo baskets and regalia.

It was the old-style Pomo feathered dance cape and headband on display that inspired Daisyetta Smith, a college student from Eureka, to sing in the exhibit room in the Kashaya Pomo language.

Smith, who has Kashaya Pomo and Yurok lineage, explained that the sadness she experienced when seeing the pieces dormant, rather than being used for their intended purpose, engendered the soul-stirring, extemporaneous chant.

Smith traveled more than 250 miles to view the exhibit.

A short documentary film created for the exhibit played on a loop at the entrance to introduce visitors to the Indigenous context of Tavernier’s painting, its roundhouse and the importance of the environment to Pomo basketry.

Elem cultural leader and regalia maker Robert Geary, Dry Creek Pomo scholar Sherrie Smith-Ferri, PhD, and Eastern Pomo artist and curator Meyo Marrufo are co-presenters of the exhibit and are featured in the documentary. The informative film featuring these local leaders can be viewed on YouTube below.

The exquisitely crafted historic Pomo baskets on display, as well as the equally magnificent baskets made by current weavers Clint McKay, Corine Pearce and Susan Billy reflect the evolution of Pomo basketry through each generation.

Pomo baskets were used in all aspects of daily life and are world-renowned for their high level of artistry, technical virtuosity, the diversity of materials employed, and their sheer beauty.

In addition to his “Dance in a Subterranean Roundhouse at Clear Lake, California,” other paintings done by Tavernier in the western United States were on display, including depictions of Yosemite, Hawaiian volcanoes, and outdoor scenes in Nebraska and Wyoming.

Esther Oertel is a freelance writer in Middletown who's contributed to Lake County News since 2010. She especially enjoys writing about the people and places that make Lake County unique. For comments, questions and story suggestions, she may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — As Lake County’s Konocti Christian Academy gears up to host its 15th Annual Lake County Renaissance Faire Fundraiser, organizers are pleased to announce the addition of a petting zoo and horse-drawn carriage rides to this year’s activities.

The Lake County Renaissance Faire Fundraiser will be at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. in Lakeport, on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In collaboration with Crazy Quilt farms, guests of this year’s Renaissance Faire Fundraiser will be able to meet and pet ducks, chickens, goats, sheep, pigs and a pony or mini horse.

“Crazy Quilt Farms is excited to participate in the Renaissance Faire and bring the joy of animals to children,” said Liam and Lyle of Crazy Quilt Farms.

Narley Dude Ranch also joined in the fun to offer all guests free draft horse drawn-carriage rides by their two Percheron draft horses named Easter Lilly and Miracle May.

“We look forward to supporting this great school and cannot wait to enjoy this fun event,” said Joann Van Eck.

The event takes a walk back in time to the Renaissance era with costume, theater, games, activities, food, and song. Guests will enjoy Shakespeare plays presented by nearly 100 KCA students.

The Renaissance Faire Fundraiser now includes a petting zoo, carriage rides, live music, live and silent auction, booths, feasting fit for a king, activities for the entire family, live performances and so much more.

Ticket prices range from $10 to $45 and sponsorships are available. To purchase tickets or to become a sponsor visit Eventbrite, KCA’s Facebook page, or at KCA by calling 707-262-1522.

Konocti Christian Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and donations are tax-deductible.

For more information about Konocti Christian Academy go to www.kcaeagles.com.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has more new dogs, including several younger ones, waiting for their new families this week.

Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Australian cattle dog, Belgian malinois, Carolina dog, Catahoula leopard dog, Chihuahua, French bulldog, German shepherd, husky, Labrador retriever, pit bull and Shih Tzu.

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.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.

Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.

Male pit bull

This 1-year-old male pit bull has a short brown coat with white markings.

He is in kennel No. 2, ID No. LCAC-A-3321.

‘Bella’

“Bella” is a 2-year-old Catahoula leopard dog mix with a short black and white coat.

She is in kennel No. 4, ID No. LCAC-A-3245.

‘Dexter’

“Dexter’ is a 1-year-old male pit bull with a short black coat with white markings.

He is in kennel No. 6, ID No. LCAC-A-3290.

‘Dozer’

“Dozer” is a 2-year-old male pit bull with a short black coat.

He is in kennel No. 9, ID No. LCAC-A-3278.

Female pit bull mix

This young female pit bull mix has a short black and white coat.

She is in kennel No. 10, ID No. LCAC-A-3353.

‘Bruno’

“Bruno” is a young male pit bull with a short black and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 11, ID No. LCAC-A-3344.

Female pit bull

This 3-year-old female pit bull had a short gray coat with withe markings.

She is in kennel No. 12, ID No. LCAC-A-3323.

Male cattle dog

This 3-year-old male cattle dog has a short black and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 15, ID No. LCAC-A-3228.

Male Belgian malinois

This 1-year-old male Belgian malinois has a short brown and black coat.

He is in kennel No. 17, ID No. LCAC-A-3270.

Male pit bull

This 3-year-old male pit bull has a short black and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 18, ID No. LCAC-A-3288.

Female shepherd mix

This 1-year-old female shepherd mix has a short gray brindle coat.

She is in kennel No. 19, ID No. LCAC-A-3342.

‘Willie’

“Willie” is a 1-year-old male pit bull terrier with a short brown and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 20, ID No. LCAC-A-3301.

Female German shepherd puppy

This female German shepherd mix puppy has a short black and tan coat.

She is in kennel No. 22a, ID No. LCAC-A-3312.

Female German shepherd puppy

This female German shepherd mix puppy has a short tan and white coat.

She is in kennel No. 22b, ID No. LCAC-A-3313.

Female German shepherd puppy

This female German shepherd mix puppy has a short black and tan coat.

She is in kennel No. 22c, ID No. LCAC-A-3314.

Female Shih Tzu

This young female Shih Tzu has a long white coat.

She is in kennel No. 24, ID No. LCAC-A-3349.

‘Blue’

“Blue” is a 4-year-old female husky with a gray and white coat, and blue eyes.

She is in kennel No. 25, ID No. LCAC-A-2816.

Male Australian cattle dog

This 3-year-old male Australian cattle dog has a short black, tan and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 27, ID No. LCAC-A-3130.

Female German shepherd

This 3-year-old female German shepherd has a short black and tan coat.

She is in kennel No. 31, ID No. LCAC-A-3331.

Female Chihuahua mix puppy

This female Chihuahua mix puppy has a short brown coat.

She is in cat room kennel No. 31, ID No. LCAC-A-3354.

‘Cody’

“Cody” is a 7-year-old male French bulldog-pit bull terrier mix with a short brindle and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 33, ID No. LCAC-A-3284.

Carolina dog

This 2-year-old female Carolina dog has a short white coat.

She is in kennel No. 34, ID No. LCAC-A-3281.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

Late spring and early summer is the peak time for California’s deer herds to give birth to fawns, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW, is issuing a reminder to well-intentioned people to not interact with the baby deer — even if they find one that appears to be abandoned.

Adult female deer often stash their fawns in tall grass or brush for many hours while they are out foraging for food.

“Each year dozens of fawns across the state have their lives shortened by well-meaning residents,” said Axel Hunnicutt, Siskiyou unit biologist with CDFW’s Northern Region. “For the first several weeks of their lives, young deer are left for extended periods by their mother as a survival strategy. People who interfere with this process always mean well but end up disrupting nature and the life of both mother and fawn.”

Each year, CDFW and wildlife rehabilitation facilities are called to assist with fawns that have been removed from the wild by concerned members of the public recreating outdoors.

With limited long-term placement options in zoos or other wildlife sanctuaries, the animals often have to be euthanized since they lack the survival skills to be released back into the wild and can become dangerous and difficult to keep as they become bigger.

To report an injured, sick or suspected orphaned fawn, contact your local CDFW regional office directly.

Anyone who removes a young animal from the wild is required to notify CDFW or take the animal to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator within 48 hours. Only a limited number of wildlife rehabilitation facilities are licensed to accept fawns.

It is both illegal to feed deer and keep deer in your personal possession. Both crimes are misdemeanors, each subject to penalties of up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail.

Learn more about the dangers and consequences of feeding deer in the CDFW video below.

Deer PSA from barbara daLY on Vimeo.

What are some skywatching highlights in May 2022?

May provides some great planet spotting, including a close conjunction of Jupiter and Mars. At mid-month, a total eclipse of the Moon should delight skywatchers across the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

And all month long, the Coma star cluster (aka, the Coma Berenices star cluster, or Melotte 111) is a great target for binoculars in the evening.

May begins and ends with a couple of great planet-spotting opportunities. On May 2, look to the west about 45 minutes after sunset to find Mercury about 10 degrees off the horizon, accompanied by a slim crescent moon.

Just to the south of the Moon is brilliant red giant star Aldebaran, which should be roughly the same brightness as Mercury. (And by the way, this is the only chance to spot a naked-eye planet in the early evening until August.)

Then in the last week of May, you can watch each morning as Jupiter and Mars get increasingly close in the predawn sky. Their morning meetup culminates in a close conjunction that you can watch on May 28 through 30, where they'll be separated by barely the width of the full moon. Should look incredible with binoculars, where you can also see Jupiter's largest moons.

Skywatchers in the Western Hemisphere can look forward to a total lunar eclipse in mid-May. The event will be visible across the Americas, Europe, and Africa — basically anywhere the Moon is above the horizon at the time.

The visible part of the eclipse begins about 10:30pm U.S. Eastern time on May 15, with totality starting an hour later and lasting for about an hour and a half.

Those in the Eastern U.S. will see the eclipse start with the Moon well above the horizon. For the Central U.S., the eclipse starts about an hour and a half after dark, with the Moon relatively low in the sky. On the West coast of the U.S., the Moon rises with totality beginning or already underway, so you'll want to find a clear view toward the southeast if viewing from there.

Now, lunar eclipses are the ones that are safe to look at directly with your eyes, binoculars, or a telescope (unlike solar eclipses).

The Moon takes on a dim, reddish hue during the period of totality. Even though the Moon is fully immersed in Earth's shadow at that time, red wavelengths of sunlight filter through Earth's atmosphere and fall onto the Moon's surface. One way to think of this is that a total lunar eclipse shows us a projection of all the sunrises and sunsets happening on the planet at that moment.

So check your local details for this eclipse, and find lots more eclipse info from NASA at the address on your screen.

Finally in May, a really nice target for binoculars: the Coma star cluster. This loose, open star cluster displays 40 or 50 stars spread over a region of sky about three finger-widths wide. The brightest stars in the cluster form a distinctive Y shape, as seen here.

The Coma star cluster is located about 300 light years away, making it the second closest open cluster to Earth after the Hyades cluster in Taurus.

To find the Coma star cluster, look southward for the constellation Leo. It can be easiest to start from the Big Dipper, toward the north, and use the two "pointer stars" on the end which always point you toward Leo.

Once you've identified Leo, the Coma star cluster is about 15 degrees to the east of the triangle of stars representing the lion's hindquarters. It's relatively easy to find with binoculars, even under light-polluted urban skies — as long as it's clear out.

So here's wishing you clear skies for finding the Coma star cluster and any other wonders you discover in the night sky in May.

Stay up to date with all of NASA's missions to explore the solar system and beyond at nasa.gov.

Preston Dyches works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.