LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It has been brought to the attention of Lake County Behavioral Health that the Lake County Suicide Prevention Hotline number is printed incorrectly.

This poster depicts a white male at a barbecue with tear off sheets containing the incorrect hotline number.

Please note the correct Suicide Prevention Hotline number is 1-855-587-6373.

Lake County Behavioral Health has taken corrective measures to address the issue. 

New posters with correct numbers have been ordered and will be distributed as soon as they arrive.

The agency apologized for the inaccuracy and asks everyone to inform others as the opportunity arises. 

If you have, or come into contact with one of the incorrect posters, please contact them immediately at 707-274-9101.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – In recent years there is much interest in the purported health benefits of fermented foods. Proponents claim that eating fermented food restores beneficial bacteria in the gut and improves one’s over-all health.

In November Lakeport Library will host two free programs about fermented foods, one about fermented vegetables and one about fermented milk products.

On Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 5:30 p.m. Amy Patton and Molly Patton will demonstrate how to make kimchi, Korea’s national dish renowned for its pungent flavor.

Kimchi, often made from cabbage, is traditionally buried for several months to ferment but modern methods make preparation simpler for today’s cook.

Desiree Todd will demonstrate fermented milk products including clabber cheese, yogurt and buttermilk on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m.

Milk-producing societies around the world have used cultured dairy products for hundreds of years.        

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m. The phone number is 707-263-8817.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Christmas tree permits from the Mendocino National Forest for the 2014 holiday season went on sale Saturday.

Permits are available for purchase in person or by mail from Mendocino National Forest offices, as well as at area vendors. Vendors are listed below with contact information for the Forest Service.

Permits are $10 per tree at Forest Service offices. Customers are advised to call vendors to verify permit price and availability.

The permits will be sold at Forest Service offices through Tuesday, Dec. 23.

Trees may be cut and removed any day of the week in authorized areas of the Mendocino National Forest.

Please check current forest fire closure areas in case your annual tree cutting spot is within the closure.

There is a limit of one permit per household, with each permit using a valid name and address. Up to four additional permits may be purchased for additional households, using separate names and addresses. Individuals must be 18 or older to purchase a permit. All Christmas tree permit sales are final, with no refunds. Permittees will receive a tree tag and Forest map.

To purchase a permit by mail, send a printed name and mailing address for each permit purchased, a daytime telephone number, and a check or money order made out to “USDA Forest Service” for $10 for each permit to either the Willows, Stonyford, Upper Lake or Covelo offices with “Christmas Tree Permit” written on the outside of the envelope.

Mail-in requests received after Dec. 14 will not be filled.

A form can be found online at www.fs.usda.gov/main/mendocino/passes-permits/forestproducts under “Christmas Tree Permits.”

If you are planning on cutting a Christmas tree for someone who isn’t present, a Third Party Authorization must be in the possession of the cutter. This form is also available on the Forest website and should be completed prior to leaving for the forest.

Permit holders should be aware that federal and state quarantines to prevent the spread of sudden oak death (SOD) are in effect for Lake and Mendocino counties.

Any Christmas tree cut in these counties can only be transported into other SOD quarantine counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma.

All Mendocino National Forest offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27, in observance of Thanksgiving.

Christmas tree permits can be purchased from the following Forest offices for $10.

Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s Office
825 N. Humboldt Ave.
Willows, CA 95988
530-934-3316
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Stonyford Work Center
5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Road
P.O. Box 160
Stonyford, CA 95979
530-963-3128
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon, 1-4:30 p.m.

Paskenta Work Station
13280 Paskenta Road
Paskenta, CA 96074
530-833-5544
Hours: Saturday, Dec. 6 and 13 ONLY, 9 a.m.-noon, 12:30-3 p.m.

Covelo Ranger Station
78150 Covelo Road
Covelo, CA 95428
707-983-6118
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Upper Lake Ranger Station
10025 Elk Mountain Road
Upper Lake, CA 95485
707-275-2361
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 1-4:30 p.m.

Christmas tree permits are available from the following vendors.  Please call for prices and availability:

Sacramento River Discovery Center
(Only 45 permits available)
1000 Sale Lane, Red Bluff
530-527-1196
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Hi-Way Grocery
160 E. Hwy 20, Upper Lake
707-275-2380
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

M&M Feed and Supply
74540 Hill Road, Covelo
707-983-6273
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Keith’s Family Foods
76201  Covelo Road, Covelo
707-983-6633
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Cutting a Christmas tree on the National Forest is a great holiday tradition for many families and also helps with hazardous fuels reduction by removing smaller trees from the Forest.

Following are some tips to make your experience more enjoyable.

– Plan your trip – check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes, water, emergency food, tire chains, shovel, a saw or axe to cut your tree, and a tarp and rope to bring it home. Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains! Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.

– Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources. If there are puddles in the road, mud flipping off the tires or you can see your ruts in the rearview mirror, consider pulling over and taking a hike to look for a tree, or turning around and finding a different area to cut your tree.

– Cut your tree early in the season before favorite cutting areas can’t be reached because of snow.

– Make sure you are cutting a tree in approved areas on the Mendocino National Forest and not from other federal, state or private lands.

– Cut the tree as close as possible to the ground and leave as little of a stump as possible.

– Attach the permit on the tree where it will be easily visible with the tree packed or tied on your vehicle for transport home.

– To help keep your tree fresh, cut at least one inch off the base when you get home and stand the tree in a container of water in a cool, shaded area, checking the water level daily.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio (LCWS) is hosting a wine tasting event and artist show reception featuring Red Lava Vineyards, and artist’s reception with works by Evonne Bishop on Friday, Nov. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 8, 4 to 7 p.m.
 
The $12.50 ($10 per person for studio club members) wine sampler with appetizers designed by Chef Nick Heidemann will showcase Red Lava 2012 Sauvignon Blanc with a Ceviché of shrimp, cantaloupe & lemongrass, 2010 Tempranillo with seared beef on skewers dusted with cocoa and sea salt, 2009 Syrah with Pork Medallion on crostini topped with cherry chutney and the 2011 Syrah with red walnut and blue cheese on dried plum with Syrah coulis.
 
Artist Evonne Bishop uses several mediums for her expression of emotion, depth and color to capture the abundant natural beauty of her subjects.

Her works range from the human form to architecture, botanicals and sea and landscapes.

She was encouraged by her father to develop her talents through a four volume instruction course and quickly became skilled in colored pencil works and portraits.

Recognition came to her at an early age and in 1984 she opened a business in Kentucky where her portrait consignments thrived.

Bishop later moved to the San Francisco North Bay Area and studied technique with teacher, lecturer-demonstrator and art show judge, Joyce Hasslebeck-Fowler. She also lived on Kauai for some time and studied oils with Fanny Bilodeau. While there her paintings were shown in three galleries.

She has since returned to California and last year relocated from Lake County to Ukiah where her painting career has resumed.

Bishop has received numerous awards from her participation at fairs and prestigious art shows in San Francisco and counties north of the SF Bay.

Bud and Kristi Lawson own Red Lava Vineyards. Kristi Bishop hails from generations of wine enthusiasts.

Her Uncle “Shine” was known for fortifying the families during Prohibition, and she was told that he might have done a little jail time. 

Kristi Bishop grew up in the Napa Valley in an environment where a small amount of red wine with Sunday supper was traditional and not considered illegal. Her family tree includes ancestors from the wine growing regions of France and Germany, and her foray into sensory wine evaluation classes led to a keen ability to “smell” rock and dirt for classification, consistent with the minerality of Red Lava Vineyards and their wines.

Bud Lawson also knows soil and even has a knack for divining water for wells. From many generations of farmers, he began his informal training as a child through observation and involvement with his family. 

Through his career as a land surveyor and work with construction companies he increased his knowledge, and now concentrates his efforts on developing the unique characteristics of the soil in his vineyard and alchemy of Red Lava wines.   

Hot summer days and cool nights, ideally modified by breezes from the nearby lakes, provide optimum growing conditions for producing complex wine.

Initially the Lawsons' focus was on the Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc grape varietals, but they have found that the Tempranillo varietal thrives in the Red Hills just as grandly and they are finding a rapidly growing fan base for all three of their Red Lava wines.
 
Lake County Wine Studio is a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County.

Artists' shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.

The Bishop art show will be on display for the full month of November. 
 
The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake. It is open Mondays, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m.; and Fridays, from 1 to 8 p.m.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission/Parks and Recreation Committee, set for Tuesday, Nov. 4, has been canceled.

The next scheduled meeting will be on Tuesday, Nov. 18, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. –The next HazMobile event will be held Friday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 22, at Highlands Senior Service/Community Center, 3245 Bowers Ave., Clearlake.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge.

Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear feet), and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.

Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

HazMobile services are provided to residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this taxpayer-funded service and first make an appointment.

Business appointments can be made by calling the Mendocino County Solid Waste Authority, the contracted agency that provides this service in Lake County at 707-468-9786.

Free recycling options for residents and businesses:

Recycled paint is available to both residents and businesses at Lake County Waste Solutions on first-come, first-served basis in five gallon containers. Colors include tan, brown, gray and pink.

Used cooking oil can be dropped-off by businesses and residents, which will be recycled into BioDiesel by Yokayo BioFuels. Drop-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the Northshore Fire Protection District station at 6257 Seventh Ave. in Lucerne.

Used motor oil can be dropped-off by residents for recycling year round at a number of sites in the county. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for locations.

Electronics (E-waste) can be dropped-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and monthly at the Goodwill E-Waste collection held in Lakeport.

Lake County Waste Solutions
230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport
888-718-4888 or 707-234-6400
Monday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
www.candswaste.com 

South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center
16015 Davis Street, Clearlake
Open daily 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
707-994-8614
www.southlakerefuse.com

The HazMobile program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County residents.

For more information about recycling, reusing, and reducing, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or call the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.