LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This November, Lake County Behavioral Health Services has been celebrating National Native American Heritage Month.
“Our vision here at the Circle of Native Minds is to help support members of our Tribal Nations in finding paths to wellness that value and embrace cultural considerations,” said Thomas Brown, cultural specialist, Circle of Native Minds, part of the Peer Support Center of Lake County Behavioral Health Services.
Presently, there are seven tribes in Lake County that celebrate their cultural ways with dancing, songs, ceremonies and prayers.
They are federally recognized tribes under the United States government and maintain their own governments as sovereign nations.
Lake County’s tribal nations are Elem Indian Colony, near Clearlake Oaks; Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake; Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, near Lakeport; Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, near Lakeport; Robinson Rancheria, near Nice; Koi Nation of Northern California; and Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California, near Middletown.
Lake County Behavioral Health Services’ Circle of Native Minds serves Lake County’s Native American population in need of mental health, housing, and/or substance use disorder services, although its doors are open to all.
For more information on services available in Lake County, please contact the Circle of Native Minds at 707-263-4880, or stop by, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 845 Bevins St., Lakeport.
To learn about National Native American Heritage Month, and view the most recent Presidential Proclamation, visit the following links:
LAKEPORT, Calif. – With the holidays arriving, the Lakeport Police Department is asking community members to use caution and to beware in order to not be the victims of crime.
“‘Tis the Season to be Jolly. ‘Tis also the season of opportunity for the criminally minded. It is an unfortunate truth that during these holidays, there is an increase in the number of thefts and burglaries,” the department said its holiday safety reminder.
Police said “porch piracy,” vehicle and residential burglaries, and telephone/Internet scams increase at this time of year, and they’re asking city residents to themselves and police by following a few helpful tips.
Package delivery: Have your packages delivered to an address that is regularly attended such as work, a good neighbor, friends or family. If you are the address that is regularly attended, offer to be that delivery point for friends’ and families’ packages.
Preventing vehicle theft and burglaries: Lock your vehicles, try to park in well-lit areas or close to an occupied residence, and don’t leave expensive items in your vehicle or anything in plain view.
Preventing residential burglaries: Lock your residence, whether home or away. If you are going to be away from your home for an extended number of days, take advantage of the Lakeport Police Department’s online vacation check request. It is accessed through the “Community Portal” banner on the department’s web page located at www.cityoflakeport.com/police and let a good neighbor know. If you are home and see unusual or suspicious activities around your neighbors’ house, call the department’s friendly and responsive patrol staff at 707-263-5491, option 1, and report it.
Telephone/Internet scams: Be wary of telephone calls or internet messages soliciting donations and payments. Any request that involves “getting a gift card,” especially as payment, is likely a scam and should be looked into further.
Impaired drivers: During the holidays, there may also be an uptick in impaired drivers. Drive with caution and defensively. Don’t react to what a driver should do, but rather react to what they are actually doing and report anyone whom you feel is impaired. If it is you that are enjoying the season with alcoholic beverages, have a sober driver, wait until you are definitely sober enough to drive, or take advantage of the independent driving services available in this area.
The Lakeport Police Department said it wishes the community a happy and safe holiday season.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Several local groups are planning food giveaways to help Lake County residents needing help this holiday season.
A cooperative undertaking including Lakeport Rotary, NCO Community Action, Lake County Hunger Task Force, Lake Family Resource Center, Foods, Etc., Bruno's Shop Smart and the Lake County Record-Bee collected funds last year that will be used for a holiday food giveaway in December before the holidays.
Funds for 2021 will be collected at any branch of Umpqua Bank and WestAmerica Bank.
Registration for holiday food for those who live in Kelseyville, Lakeport, Finley, Upper Lake, Nice and Lucerne will begin Monday, Nov. 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake Family Resource Center, 896 Lakeport Boulevard in Lakeport.
Registration for holiday food for those who live in Glenhaven, Clearlake Oaks, Spring Valley, Clearlake or Lower Lake will be held Dec. 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Burns Valley School parking lot.
These will be drive-thru registration events, with each limited to the first 400 households that apply.
Applicants must have a valid photo ID and proof of physical address. All must apply in person and masks are required. Distribution information will be provided at the time of registration.
Registration for the Spirit of the Season holiday food giveaway for those who live in Middletown, Cobb, Hidden Valley and Loch Lomond will be held only on Dec. 1 and 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Methodist Church, located at 15833 Armstrong St. in Middletown.
Bring proof of current residence, a valid photo ID and wear a mask.
It is requested that only one person household come to register, and do not bring children. These requests are nonnegotiable.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has three dogs ready for adoption this Thanksgiving week.
The following dogs are ready for adoption or foster.
“Inky.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Inky’
“Inky” is a male German Shepherd mix.
He has a long smooth black coat.
He is dog No. 4324.
“Jack.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Jack’
“Jack” is a male Labrador Retriever mix with a short yellow coat.
He is dog No. 4155.
“Jax.” Photo courtesy of Clearlake Animal Control. ‘Jax’
“Jax” is a male German Shepherd mix with a medium-length brindle and white coat.
He has been neutered.
Jax is dog No. 3125.
The shelter is open by appointment only due to COVID-19.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions and schedule a visit to the shelter.
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
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.
American white pelicans. Photo by Kathleen Scavone. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – I'm fairly certain that all who reside in bountiful Lake County hold a list of reasons for loving it here.
Fall's frosty mornings and kaleidoscopic color that lights up the hillsides, orchards and vineyards with burgundy, scarlet and golden tones never ceases to amaze me.
All of the spent foliage drifting down creates a pleasant tang of decomposition that contributes to the ongoing cycle of life.
Western pond turtles at Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville, California. Photo by Kathleen Scavone. We all welcome winter's gray overtones, recognizing that darkened skies mean relief as rain soaks the landscape and creates a bubbling song in each stream.
Spring's season inspires hope and joy with its abundant life and luminosity.
Then, roots and shoots; new life in all of its glory envelops us with tantalizing promise.
Tule elk. Photo by Kathleen Scavone. Before we know it, the long, lazy days of hot summer months lure us to the shimmering and vital lake, where it's brimming with life.
The longer I live in Lake County, the more grateful I become.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, freelance writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.”
Oak galls. Photo by Kathleen Scavone.
Teasels in the fall. Photo by Kathleen Scavone.
The boardwalk at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, one of the many beautiful parks in Lake County, California. Photo by Kathleen Scavone.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Since the August Complex fires began due to lightning three months ago, the Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests have been working closely together throughout all phases of managing the complex.
The three forests have coordinated suppression actions, suppression repair activities, burned area emergency response assessments and implementation.
The fires within the August Complex ignited on August 16 and 17 and burned 1,032,648 acres before being contained on Nov. 11.
With the recent full containment of the August Complex, the forests have brought together a multidisciplinary post-fire rapid assessment team to identify the longer-term restoration and rehabilitation needs across the burned area.
This team is working across boundaries to maximize efficiency and consists of specialists from heritage, fuels, geology, wildlife, timber, public affairs, planning and other resources.
Team members have been tasked with identifying potential hazards to public safety and infrastructure as well as identifying areas that need other restoration, rehabilitation or long-term maintenance treatments.
As part of this effort the team will be reaching out to partners and communities to get their thoughts on post-fire recovery.
This rapid assessment is a first step in identifying the hazard reduction and restoration activities the forests will pursue within the August Complex.
Any projects that are selected to move forward will go through additional field assessment and the necessary environmental compliance prior to implementation. The team has already started its work on the rapid assessment.
The final acreage of the August Complex in Northern California. Map courtesy of the US Forest Service.
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