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Alcohol-induced death has markedly increased among both men and women and across demographic groups in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Each April, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, or NCADD, sponsors National Alcohol Awareness month, with the goal of encouraging public education surrounding alcohol use disorder.
Data collected by the California Highway Patrol shows that in 2021, 252 people were cited with a misdemeanor in Lake County for driving under the influence (DUI, 0.08% or greater Blood Alcohol Concentration). Of these DUI arrests, 123 involved traffic collisions. Tragically, 15 of these resulted in fatalities. In one of these fatal incidents, both drivers involved were intoxicated.
Hope Rising Lake County’s Community Health Dashboard shows that 15% of Lake County adults binge drink. Though our community is not immune from this public health crisis, community, resources and education can help combat this issue.
MedlinePlus, a resource maintained by the National Institutes of Health, notes alcohol use disorder is marked by intense cravings to drink, loss of control to manage consumption intake, and a low and irritable emotional state when not consuming alcohol.
Alcoholism can be treated with Naltrexone or Acamprosate, both of which reduce cravings. This information and more can be found in the Medication Assisted Treatment Toolkit for DUI Programs, a resource created by Harbage Consulting with support from the Department of Health Care Services.
Along with learning about the prevalence of alcohol use disorder in the community and available treatment options, another integral focus of Alcohol Awareness Month is checking in on our own dependence.
This April, designate an alcohol-free weekend
To do this, the NCADD recommends choosing a weekend in April to go entirely alcohol-free, from Friday through Monday.
Afterward, take some time to gauge the impacts the weekend had on your body and mind. Note any sweating, nausea, headaches, and/or trouble sleeping as these could indicate an unconscious dependence on alcohol and may require a closer look.
The line between casual consumption and alcohol dependence can blur when we are too close to it; an alcohol-free weekend allows for objective, honest self-reflection.
Lake County Behavioral Health Services is concerned that alcohol use disorder keeps many Lake County residents from reaching their full potential.
Help is available.
As the data demonstrate, harms can extend well beyond the personal; in many cases, taking care of ourselves is taking care of others.
For more information, please contact us at 707-994-7090 or 707-274-9101.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, 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 0432 9118, pass code 163767. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,96404329118#,,,,*163767#.
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.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
On Tuesday morning, the board will present proclamations for Alcohol Awareness Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month and Public Health Week.
At 10:30 a.m., the board will get an update from Water Resources staff on the next steps for the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project, which is the effort to return part of the lake’s historic wetlands. The supervisors also will consider the 2022 non-federal sponsor letter of intent.
In an untimed item, the board, sitting as the Lake County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, will consider an amendment to the 2021 agreement to develop affordable housing on a property on Collier Avenue in Nice. The agreement is between the Lake County Housing Authority and the Rural Communities Housing Development Corp.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt resolution amending Resolution 2022-22 authorizing the county administrative officer or designee on behalf of the Lake County Board of Supervisors to submit the Public Defense Grant Pilot Program proposal for funding and execute the grant agreement with the state of California, Board of State Community Corrections.
5.2: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the property exchange agreement between the county of lake and state of California to Include Exhibits C-1, D-1 and E-1 amending the property exchange agreement (APN 010-043-01) executed on Oct. 26, 2021, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.3: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2021-116 establishing position allocations for Fiscal Year 2021-2022, Budget Unit No. 1012, Administrative Office.
5.4: Approve budget transfer from BU 1781 — Special Projects Account 717.23-80 to BU 1451 — Registrar of Voters Account 714.61-60 and increase capital asset in the amount of $15,637 for leasehold improvements and authorize the chair to sign.
5.5: Approve Exhibit A of the Uniform and Clothing Purchase Policy.
5.6: Approve waiver of the 900 hour limitation for Animal Control employees Bryce Beavers, Collette Hall, Alexis Parra, Macie Bauman, Jennifer Jeffrey and Sydney Lawler.
5.7: Approve redaction contract with US Imaging in the amount of $63,725.15 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.8: Adopt proclamation designating the month of April 2022 as Alcohol Awareness Month in Lake County.
5.9: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Davis Guest Home for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services to add $53,000 to the original amount of $133,000 for a new contract maximum of $186,000 for fiscal year 2021-22 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.10: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Adventist Health St. Helena and Vallejo for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations for fiscal years 2020-21 & 2021-22 in the amount of $225,000 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.11: Approve Amendment No. 2 to the agreement between county of Lake and Manzanita House for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for fy 2021-22 for a new contract maximum of $194,150 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.12: Adopt proclamation designating the month of April 2022 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Lake County.
5.13: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for March 8, March 15 and March 22.
5.14: Appoint Supervisor E.J. Crandell as the 2022 member for the Law Library Board of Trustees.
5.15: Approve Health Services request to appoint Dr. Erik McLaughlin to serve on the Partnership HealthPlan Board of Commissioners and represent Lake County for a period of four years.
5.16: Adopt proclamation honoring Public Health Week, April 4 to 10.
5.17: a) Adopt resolution of intent to adopt a resolution for the vacation of an alley for public use in the area of Middletown; and b) waive the application fee of $1,120 due to the overall public benefit of the proposed vacation.
5.18: Adopt resolution expressing support for the Lower Lake Daze Parade and Street Fair, and temporarily authorizing a road closure, prohibiting parking and authorizing removal of vehicles and ordering the Department of Public Works to post signs.
5.19: a) Authorize the Sheriff's Office to submit an electronic application for a Hazard Mitigation Grant in the amount of $234,454 to the California Office of Emergency Services; and b) authorize the sheriff or his designee to sign the letter of commitment.
5.20: Adopt resolution authorizing the Special Districts administrator to sign the funding agreement, and any future amendments and requests for reimbursements, with the California State Department of Water Resources, on behalf of County Service Area No. 2 Spring Valley Water, for the water supply improvement project.
TIMED ITEMS
6.3, 9:07 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of April 2022 as Alcohol Awareness Month in Lake County.
6.4, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of April 2022 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Lake County.
6.5, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation honoring Public Health Week, April 4 to 10.
6.6, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing on account and proposed assessment for 6146 Second Ave., Lucerne.
6.7, 10:30 a.m.: a) Presentation of the current status and next steps for the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project; and b) consideration of the 2022 non-federal sponsor letter of intent and authorize the Lake County Board of Supervisors to sign.
UNTIMED ITEMS
Pet of the Week.
7.2: Consideration of resolution confirming the highest priority project for submittal to the Community Project Funding Program that Includes the Lakeport Armory Facility Repurposing Project.
7.3: Consideration of reforming the Internal County Comprehensive Drought Planning Workgroup to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 552.
7.4: Consideration of the following Advisory Board Appointments: Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and the Kelseyville Cemetery Board.
7.5: ERRATUM (Sitting as the Lake County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners), a) consideration of first amendment to the 2021 agreement to develop affordable housing by and between the Lake County Housing Authority and the Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation; and b) consideration of request for an audit.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation: Special District administrator.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Director of Child Support Services.
8.3: Employee Disciplinary Appeal (EDA 22-01) Pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54957.
8.4: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(2),(e)(3) — Claim of California Highway Patrol.
8.5: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1) — John, et al. v. Lake County, et al.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, 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 present three proclamations.
The proclamations will separately designate the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Arts, Culture and Creativity Month.
Also on Tuesday, the council will hold three public hearings.
The first is to consider adoption of an ordinance establishing the newly prepared Lakeport Police Department Military Equipment Policy, as required by Assembly Bill 481, which was signed into law by the governor in September.
Next the council will hold a public hearing on objective design standards for accessory dwelling units. Staff will introduce the ordinance and it will be set for a second reading and consider adopting a draft resolution establishing the Lakeport citywide residential objective design and development standards for multifamily dwellings.
The third public hearing will be to introduce amendments to the city’s purchasing ordinance.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on March 15 and the special meeting of March 21; adoption of a resolution authorizing continued remote teleconference meetings of the Lakeport City Council and its legislative bodies pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e); approval of the March 15 warrant register; approval of event application 2022-012, with staff recommendations, for the 2022 Cinco de Mayo Fiesta; approval of event application 2022-013, with staff recommendations, for the parade honoring Doc Starin; and conduct a second reading and adopt an ordinance adding chapter 12.30 and amending chapters 9.08 and 10.08 of the Lakeport Municipal Code related to skating and skateboarding in any skate park, parklands and the downtown district.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, located at 15900 Moose Lodge Lane in Clearlake Oaks.
The meeting can be attended in person or via Zoom; the meeting ID is 935 8339 6020, the pass code is 448228.
On the agenda is a presentation on the Road Map Task Force Pilot Program, and updates on commercial cannabis cultivation, Spring Valley and the Lake County geothermal project watchlist.
They also will talk about the consolidated lighting district, get an update from Chief Mike Ciancio on Northshore Fire Protection District and a report from Supervisor EJ Crandell.
ERTH will next meet on Wednesday, May 4.
ERTH’s members include Denise Loustalot, Jim Burton, Tony Morris and Pamela Kicenski.
Follow the group on Facebook.
President Joe Biden on March 21, 2022, warned that Russian cyberattacks on U.S. targets are likely, though the government has not identified a specific threat. Biden urged the private sector: “Harden your cyber defenses immediately.”
It is a costly fact of modern life that organizations from pipelines and shipping companies to hospitals and any number of private companies are vulnerable to cyberattacks, and the threat of cyberattacks from Russia and other nations makes a bad situation worse. Individuals, too, are at risk from the current threat.
Local governments, like schools and hospitals, are particularly enticing “soft targets” – organizations that lack the resources to defend themselves against routine cyberattacks, let alone a lengthy cyber conflict. For those attacking such targets, the goal is not necessarily financial reward but disrupting society at the local level.
From issuing business licenses and building permits and collecting taxes to providing emergency services, clean water and waste disposal, the services provided by local governments entail an intimate and ongoing daily relationship with citizens and businesses alike. Disrupting their operations disrupts the heart of U.S. society by shaking confidence in local government and potentially endangering citizens.
In the crosshairs
Local governments have suffered successful cyberattacks in recent years. These include attacks on targets ranging from 911 call centers to public school systems. The consequences of a successful cyberattack against local government can be devastating.
I and other researchers at University of Maryland, Baltimore County have studied the cybersecurity preparedness of the United States’ over 90,000 local government entities. As part of our analysis, working with the International City/County Management Association, we polled local government chief security officers about their cybersecurity preparedness. The results are both expected and alarming.
Among other things, the survey revealed that nearly one-third of U.S. local governments would be unable to tell if they were under attack in cyberspace. This is unsettling; nearly one-third of local governments that did know whether they were under attack reported being attacked hourly, and nearly half at least daily.
Ill-equipped
Lack of sound IT practices, let alone effective cybersecurity measures, can make successful cyberattacks even more debilitating. Almost half of U.S. local governments reported that their IT policies and procedures were not in line with industry best practices.
In many ways, local governments are no different from private companies in terms of the cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities and management problems they face. In addition to those shared cybersecurity challenges, where local governments particularly struggle is in hiring and retaining the necessary numbers of qualified IT and cybersecurity staff with wages and workplace cultures that can compare with those of the private sector or federal government.
Additionally, unlike private companies, local governments by their nature are limited by the need to comply with state policies, the political considerations of elected officials and the usual perils of government bureaucracy such as balancing public safety with the community’s needs and corporate interests. Challenges like these can hamper effective preparation for, and responses to, cybersecurity problems – especially when it comes to funding. In addition, much of the technology local communities rely on, such as power and water distribution, are subject to the dictates of the private sector, which has its own set of sometimes competing interests.
[Get The Conversation’s most important coronavirus headlines, weekly in a science newsletter]
Large local governments are better positioned to address cybersecurity concerns than smaller local governments. Unfortunately, like other soft targets in cyberspace, small local governments are much more constrained. This places them at greater risk of successful cyberattacks, including attacks that otherwise might have been prevented. But the necessary, best-practice cybersecurity improvements that smaller cities and towns need often compete with the many other demands on a local community’s limited funds and staff attention.
Getting the basics right
Whether they are victimized by a war on the other side of the world, a hacktivist group promoting its message or a criminal group trying to extort payment, local governments in the U.S. are enticing targets. Artificial intelligence hacking tools and vulnerabilities introduced by the spread of smart devices and the growing interest in creating “smart cities” put local governments even more at risk.
There’s no quick or foolproof fix to eliminate all cybersecurity problems, but one of the most important steps local governments can take is clear: Implement basic cybersecurity. Emulating the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s national cybersecurity framework or other industry accepted best practices is a good start.
I believe government officials, especially at the local level, should develop and apply the necessary resources and innovative technologies and practices to manage their cybersecurity risks effectively. Otherwise, they should be prepared to face the technical, financial and political consequences of failing to do so.
Richard Forno, Principal Lecturer in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Thanks to a $199,865 grant from the California State Library, a sleek new bookmobile is slated to traverse Lake County roads to bring library services to communities not currently served by a local branch.
Lake County Librarian Christopher Veach said it’s long been a goal of the library to better reach the differing and sometimes isolated regions of Lake County.
He believes that libraries are for everyone, wherever they live, and hopes to bring easier library access to more Lake County residents through the bookmobile.
Veach, a Lake County native who has served as its librarian since 2013, was inspired to apply for the grant as an extension of their desire to make libraries as accessible as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He envisions that the bookmobile will be used to serve communities that are furthest from the four established branches in the county, the main branch in Lakeport, Redbud Library in Clearlake, and the branches in Upper Lake and Middletown.
The Riviera area and North Shore communities will be among the beneficiaries of the bookmobile’s visits, with regularly scheduled stops in areas where people tend to congregate.
Typically, a bookmobile stops at a venue for about an hour, so it’s likely it could make three or four stops a day based on a regular schedule. The plan is for the bookmobile to travel a prearranged route several times a week, with the other days devoted to visiting schools and making appearances at public events.
Most of the grant money will be used to cover the cost of the vehicle, which will be a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van customized to the library’s specifications.
Some rural counties use larger vehicles as bookmobiles; Mendocino County, for example, has a camper-sized bookmobile. However, Veach feels the smaller size is more practical for Lake County’s narrow and sometimes mountainous roads, as well as easier for staff to commandeer.
Another benefit of a smaller vehicle is that it makes visits to schools and other venues, like farmers’ markets or festivals, much easier.
Customization can be a long process, and under normal circumstances can take up to a year. The mobile library may not be ready to hit the road until early 2023, particularly if supply challenges wrought by the pandemic wind up affecting the process.
The library is required to provide matching funds, and this will be met via the cost of operation, maintenance, and insurance over the period of the grant, which ends in 2024.
The bookmobile will be like a branch on wheels, where people can browse books, sign up for library cards and have access to the internet. Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hot spots — hockey puck-like portable devices that provide internet access — will be available for the public’s use on site or for checkout.
Immediate access to between 700 and 1,000 volumes will be possible via the bookmobile, and just like at current branches, books can be requested for pickup there.
The van will have shelves to house books both inside and outside, where open-air browsing can be done under a protective canopy. Depending on the weather, tables and chairs for patrons will be set up under the canopy outside.
The library, which currently employs 18 full-time and part-time employees across its four branches, will hire an additional part-time staff member to operate the bookmobile and serve as its library clerk.
According to Veach, who has a passion for expanding library services, the Lake County Library offers a broad array of programs and resources for children and adults that extend beyond access to books.
Children’s programming includes weekly story times, Lego clubs and special craft events, such as the wildly popular Leprechaun trap workshops offered last month in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
Six new digital career resources for job seekers were launched at the end of last year. These are provided free of charge for patrons with library cards and can be accessed via the “job seekers and career sources” option on the library website.
The library has an Adult Literacy program which matches tutors with adults who need help with their reading, writing or language skills. Virtual tutor training is provided, and any interested in the program should contact the Lakeport branch at 707-263-7633.
According to Veach, April marks the launch of a “Book-to-Action” reading program for adults. Participants will have the opportunity to collectively read and discuss “The Blue Zones of Happiness” by Dan Buettner and put their newfound knowledge into action via a community service project. Free copies of the book are available at Lake County branches while supplies last.
As usual, the library will offer summer reading challenges for children and adults, along with prizes awarded when reading goals are met.
The library website, http://library.lakecountyca.gov, provides access to a plethora of online resources and information. Visitors to the site can sign up for a weekly email newsletter with information on special events, ongoing programs, volunteer opportunities and book recommendations.
News of the bookmobile’s launch will be announced via the newsletter, which is also available at any of the county’s library branches.
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
