How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
- Details
- Written by: Kathleen Scavone
“You ate that first one and its flesh was sweet
like thickened wine: summer's blood was in it …”
– from Seamus Heaney's 'Blackberry-picking'
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After so many of us were evacuated due to the massive LNU Lightning Complex (or other) fires and then, by the grace of God – and the firefighters – allowed to repopulate, I viewed a scene which calmed me, as a black-tailed deer browsed the blackberry bushes near my home.
The blackberries are thriving now along creeks, roads and disturbed areas practically everywhere.
They are prolific and delicious, but most likely what we are all making pies, jams and cobblers out of are invasive Himalayan blackberries.
The berries native to California, Rubus ursinus once thrived here, but the introduced Himalayan blackberry is more prevalent now, due in part to California's own master gardener, Luther Burbank, who mistakenly took seeds that he thought had been collected close to the Himalayan Mountains.
The seeds turned out to have been from Armenia, but the name stuck, and the plants thrived partly due to birds feeding on the plump berries, and partly because of the plant's deep roots that make eradicating efforts very difficult.
Blackberries are not technically a berry, but an aggregate fruit made up of numerous tiny fruits that each contain their own pit.
The rich, purple beauties are packed with nutrients such as vitamins A and C, along with potassium, magnesium, iron and calcium.
According to the health website WebMD, chemicals in blackberries may have antioxidant properties as well as provide protection from certain cancers. Nutritious powerhouses, blackberries are loaded with dietary fiber as well.
These versatile plants and their fruit have been drawn on throughout history for a variety of medicinal purposes. The ancient Greeks thought the plant's leaves made a suitable tea to aid in sore throats, mouth sores and for ailments like thrush and diarrhea.
Historically, many California Indian groups made use of shoots of young spring plants or the dried, ground berries as the base for a medicinal tea.
Early settlers put the plant to use for help in easing stomach aches, common colds or congestion.
Today, some folks prefer to concoct a special blackberry brandy for their own “medicinal purposes.”
For some mouth-watering recipes like Humble Bumble Crumble bars, blackberry frozen yogurt or berry-beet salad visit Taste of Home's website.
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.”
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
The US Forest Service said on Friday that the fires known as the August Complex – or the Doe – along with the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow and Vinegar were combined and are now collectively known as the August Complex.
The August Complex has grown to 875,059 acres and is listed as the largest fire in California history.
The complex will be split into three management zones: South, North and West, the Forest Service reported.
These fires have all burned together and the intent is to simplify the coordination of effort, ordering and timely release of accurate information, officials said.
The South Zone consists of the Doe Fire; the main area previously identified as the August Complex. It reached 498,202 acres and 25-percent containment on Saturday.
The August Complex will be managed under unified incident command between Great Basin Team 2-DeMasters (South Zone), California Interagency Incident Management Team 5-Young (North Zone), and Cal Fire Team 5-Parkes (West Zone).
The August Complex is burning on the Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests.
Smoke cleared on parts of the fire Friday and helicopters assisted crews with water drops on hot spots around the fire. On Saturday, the Forest Service said crews continued to clear fuels and prepare around structures near Lake Pillsbury and in the communities near Eel River and Bauer Ridge.
Officials said authorization has been given to utilize a decommissioned road within the Yuki Wilderness and resources will enter the area as necessary for fire suppression. Fire resources are coordinating with Cal Fire Team 5 on the West Zone.
Evacuations are in effect in many counties, including Lake County, where Pillsbury Ranch and the entire Lake Pillsbury basin remain under a mandatory order.
For property owners who would like to talk to the Mendocino National Forest about access into their cabins, call the Forest Supervisor’s Office at 530-934-3316 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
The additional tools and resources will help ensure that residents have the information they need when making critical money decisions as they repair, rebuild, and recover following the recent fires and ongoing pandemic.
“When disaster strikes, the community comes together,” said Library Director Christopher Veach. “We want everyone to know that the library is both a welcoming convening place and a location where our families can obtain unbiased information to guide financial choices that will have lasting impact.”
Filing claims, accessing government resources, managing lump-sum payments from insurance companies, and meeting immediate expenses when income might be disrupted – these are just a few of the money challenges that residents in disaster areas must navigate.
FINRA Foundation President Gerri Walsh noted, “Many of us lack experience with these decisions. Nonetheless, we have to get it right the first time around or face long-term financial consequences. Fortunately, the library has information that can help.”
The expanded personal finance collections at the Library are made possible by a $5,000 grant from the FINRA Foundation.
For more than 15 years, the FINRA Foundation has provided funding, staff training and programs to build the capacity of public libraries to address the financial education needs of people nationwide. Much of this has been accomplished in partnership with the American Library Association through a program known as Smart investing@your library.
The FINRA Foundation is also providing the library with multimedia materials that explain the red flags of financial fraud and what people can do to be vigilant and counter the persuasion tactics that fraudsters use.
It is estimated that consumer financial fraud costs Americans more than $50 billion a year, according to FINRA Foundation research. Financial fraud is especially prevalent following major natural disasters.
Since it was established in 2005, the National Center for Disaster Fraud, which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice, has logged more than 100,000 disaster-related complaints from all 50 states. Financial fraud makes tough times all the more difficult for people recovering from the trauma inflicted by disasters.
The FINRA Foundation has issued an alert with practical guidance to help residents protect themselves from fraudulent schemes.
“Recovery follows disaster, but the path to recovery can be smooth or very bumpy,” Walsh said. “And financial fraud can be one of the biggest potholes along that road. Lake County Library has information to help people avoid the financial potholes and bring the route to recovery into sharper focus.”
The library’s website gives information about library programs, services and policies.
To speak to a library employee, call 707-263-8817.
The FINRA Foundation supports innovative research and educational projects that give Americans the knowledge, skills, and tools to make sound financial decisions throughout life.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Chihuahua, husky, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, pit bull, pug and terrier.
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 (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.
Female Labrador Retriever
This female Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat with white markings.
She is in kennel No. 9, ID No. 13989.
Female pit bull terrier
This female pit bull terrier has a short gray and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 13990.
‘Oso’
“Oso” is a male pug-Chihuahua mix with a short tan and black coat.
He has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 19a, ID No. 13999.
‘Little Gizmo’
“Little Gizmo” is a male Chihuahua with a short tricolor coat.
He has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 19b, ID No. 14000.
‘Bear’
“Bear” is a male Chihuahua-pug mix with a short tan coat.
He has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 20a, ID No. 14001.
‘Raider’
“Raider” is a male Chihuahua with a short tricolor coat.
He has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 20b, ID No. 14002.
Male Chihuahua-terrier mix
This young male Chihuahua-terrier mix has a short tricolor coat.
He is in kennel No. 23, ID No. 14022.
‘Shiloh’
“Shiloh” is a male pit bull-chow chow mix with a short tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 24, ID No. 13992.
Female German Shepherd
This female German Shepherd has a medium-length black coat.
She has been spayed.
She is in kennel No. 28, ID No. 13995.
‘Lilly’
“Lilly” is a female pit bull-husky mix with a short brown and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 29, ID No. 13991.
Email Elizabeth Larson at