Community

Details: Written by: Editor; Published: 13 February 2009

Pictured in photo (left to right): Jo Douville, June Beto, Elaine Mansell, Ann Blue, Claire Grieve, Nora Gerrard, Marva Brandt, Carol Brabrook and Ginny Cline. Photo by Linda Pyers.

LAKE COUNTY – Members of the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club packaged 125 Valentine bags which were delivered to the Lucerne Alpine Senior and the Lucerne Senior Center so they could be delivered to the Meals on Wheels people the day before Valentine's Day.

Fifteen Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club members all pitched in – making handmade cards, shopping for candy and bags, buying candy, taking photos, packaging the bags and then delivering them to the two senior centers.

Claire Grieve and Jo Douville provided desserts and coffee/tea, and a nice time followed with everyone sitting around visiting.

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Details: Written by: Editor; Published: 13 February 2009

LAKE COUNTY – The latest list of 2009 Stars of Lake County nominees shows there are still plenty of categories to be filled for this year's awards.

The Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce reports that the following people, groups and businesses have been nominated. Nominations can be made online www.lakeportchamber.com/stars/default.asp. For more information call the chamber at 263-5092.

Stars of Lake County 2009 nominees, as of Feb. 12:

MAN OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by: John Tomkins

No nominees

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Details: Written by: Editor; Published: 12 February 2009

MCLAUGHLIN RESERVE – The UC Davis-McLaughlin Reserve's next science lecture will take place on Saturday, Feb. 21 and explore the issues surrounding genetically engineered (GE) foods.

Dr. Peggy Lemaux, Cooperative Extension specialist with the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, will present “Genes, Genomes and Genetics: Our Plants and Foods Past, Present, Future” from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Genes are sets of instructions that determine an organism’s characteristics, like the size of the fruit or the shape of the seed. Together all of the instructions make up the genome, and the study of these instructions – how they change and how they are inherited from generation to generation – is known as genetics.

Plants and their genes have changed over centuries through modifications in their genetic information (mutations) and by classical breeding and selection. More recently genetic engineering has been used to introduce genes.

In 2007, commercialized GE varieties were planted on over 280 million acres worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. For many farmers and consumers worldwide, planting and eating GE crops and their products are acceptable and even welcomed; for others they raise issues related to food and environmental safety and social and economic impacts.

Understanding how these crops are created, their usefulness in addressing research and agricultural problems, and the potential positive and negative consequences of their use can provide perspective in deciding on their utility in today’s agricultural systems.

Research in the laboratory of Dr. Peggy Lemaux has focused on using genetic engineering and genomic technologies to understand and improve crops. These efforts include creation of barley grain with improved starch characteristics for brewing, a hypoallergenic wheat for consumers with wheat allergies and, most recently, nutritional enhancement of sorghum for Africa with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Besides research, her position involves talking with the public about issues relating to plants, agriculture, food production and new genetic technologies.

Dr. Lemaux is active in researching and addressing both the potential positive and negative impacts of growing and consuming GE crops and foods. Her background allows her to approach both scientific and societal implications with a broad perspective.

Attend Dr. Lemaux's presentation to learn more about the science of genetic engineering and how scientists address issues related to use of new agricultural technologies.

The UC Davis-McLaughlin Reserve is located at 26775 Morgan Valley Road, 13 miles east of Lower Lake.

For more information contact Cathy Koehler or Paul Aigner, reserve managers, at 995-9005, e-mail
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the reserve online at http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/mclaughlin.html.

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Details: Written by: Editor; Published: 11 February 2009

CLEARLAKE – KPFZ 88.1 FM, Lake County Community Radio, will present a live broadcast of the Clearlake City Council meeting on Thursday, Feb. 12.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The Clearlake City Council will hold a public hearing to take public input on the proposal that it certify the Provinsalia development project's environmental impact report and amend the city's general plan to change the nearly 300 acres of the proposed project's site from resource protection to specific plan status.

The project calls for 565 single family homes, 100 condominiums and a nine-hole golf course.

Herb Gura will offer commentary from the City Council Chambers while Steve Elias mans the anchor desk at KPFZ's Lakeport studios.

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Community

Garden Club completes a 'heartfelt' project

Latest Stars of Lake County nominees announced

McLaughlin Reserve hosts GE lecture on Feb. 21

KPFZ to air Thursday council meeting live