Treeanna Brownfield added her own creative touch to a leather pouch she made in the Camp Asbill leather working class. Courtesy photo.

LOWER LAKE – Six Sigma Ranch, Lower Lake, hosted Camp Asbill this past weekend, its first spring break nature camp for kids.

The two-day camp attracted a group of 37 enthusiastic first through sixth graders. Although the

majority of the campers were from Lake County, several were from out of town and joined the camp while visiting friends and family in the area.

Jessica Bullard was in town visiting her godparents and enrolled her son Tyler for both days of the Camp.

“Camp Asbill opened up a door to another world for Tyler,” said Bullard. “We live in Southern California suburbia; for Tyler to have the freedom to experience nature on such a grand scale made his spring break, maybe even his year. He's been telling everyone about it.”

“We were fortunate to have the assistance of many volunteers who gave generously of their time and talents,” said Rachel Ahlmann, camp director. “From showing the kids how to make a tent and cook lunch over a campfire to nature hikes and games, crafts, and horse-drawn cart rides, our volunteers helped to make Camp Asbill an incredibly rich experience for the children.”

The two-day camp benefited Wiloth Equine Therapy and Riding Center (located in Lower Lake and relocating to Middletown May 1), raising funds to underwrite 20 sessions of therapeutic riding

(www.wilothenterprises.com).

Camp Asbill was named after the first recorded settlers who homesteaded in 1859 on what is now Six Sigma Ranch.

Six Sigma Ranch, a 4,300-acre estate in Lower Lake, is the lifelong dream of proprietors Kaj and Else Ahlmann. When they acquired the ranch in 2000, one of their top priorities was to maintain the natural beauty of the land. Only 50 acres have been planted to vines; the bulk of the ranch is dedicated as a nature preserve hrough a conservation easement donated to the Golden State Land Conservancy.

Campers delight in horse-drawn cart rides, one of the many featured activities during the two-day spring break camp at Six Sigma Ranch. Courtesy photo.

Chesbro, whose district includes five Pacific shoreline counties from Bodega Bay to the Oregon border, returns to seats on the California Legislature’s Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture and on the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force. He served on both as a member of the California State Senate (1998-2006).

“This is a continuation of my advocacy for California fisheries while I was in the Senate,” Chesbro said. “I asked the speaker to appoint me to the joint committee and the legislative task force because reviving our distressed fisheries is crucial to the North Coast. Fisheries have a huge impact on the economies of our coastal communities. A healthy environment creates healthy economies in fishing communities.”

The First Assembly District contains four important California fishing ports: Crescent City, Eureka, Fort Bragg and Bodega Bay.

“Our salmon fishery is in crisis, Chesbro said. “The causes of the declines extend beyond California. Fish don’t respect state or national boundaries. It’s critical that legislators from Western states work together to save and rebuild our fisheries.”

The California Legislature’s Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture has eight members, four from each house. Its purpose is to give the fishing industry a voice in Sacramento. The committee is informational, and holds hearings on issues of specific concern to fisheries, the fishing industry, environmental interests and consumers.

The Joint Committee holds an annual forum at Capitol that brings together members of the fishing fleet, policy experts, state regulators and community members to engage with legislators on urgent issues surrounding the critical nexus between stable fisheries and the economies that depend on them.

The Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force is made up of legislators appointed from the legislatures of Western states that have an interest in Pacific fisheries management. The Task Force meets twice a year and serves as a clearinghouse for opinion from the various interests involved in Pacific fishing. Duties of its members include reporting to the legislatures and Congressional delegations of the participating states on issues involving the protection and fostering of fishing in the Pacific region.

The Task Force also creates a block of fishery-interested state legislators who can effectively lobby Washington elected officials on the importance of sustaining our unique fisheries.

Future Tajik homeowners with Richard Birk (far right), president of Habitat for Humanity, Lake County. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – Richard Birk, President of Habitat for Humanity Lake County, has just returned from a working volunteer trip to Tajikistan where he helped build homes and to consult with the Tajikistan Habitat for Humanity organization.

Tajikistan is the smallest of the “stans” and is bordered by Afghanistan, China and other countries.

After being under the domain of the old Soviet Union, the country formed a new independent constitution in 1992 and then fell into a civil war that ended in 1997.

Since the end of the civil war Tajikistan has struggled with poverty as more than 80 percent of the people live below the poverty line and mostly survive by subsistence farming. Currently many who can work, take jobs in Russia and remit much of their wages back to Tajikistan.

Traveling to Tajikistan is not easy, as it a long travel route from Lake County and there are only two flights a week from Istanbul, Turkey to the capitol city of Dushanbe and you must have a special invitation to obtain an entry visa.

The project that Birk was involved with was the building of 60 homes in order to move families from a mud slide prone village, where mud slides have already caused death and destruction.

Some of the homes are complete, but families are hesitant to move into their new homes because of the lack of water and electricity.

Since the local government does not have the funds, which is about $30,000 to supply water and electricity to all the homes, Birk is trying to find funding here in the United States, so as to get the families out of harm’s way and into decent place to live.

If you are interested in donating funds for this project, please call Birk at 707-994-1100.

If you are interested in volunteering locally for Habitat for Humanity Lake County, please call 707-994-1100.

Tajikistan Habitat for Humanity construction site. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Passion Play will hold a practice on Sunday, April 19.

Anyone interested in taking part is encouraged to attend the practice, which will take place at 1:45 p.m. at the Passion Play grounds, 7010 Westlake Road, Upper Lake (off Highway 29, about seven miles north of Lakeport in Lake County).

Practices usually last two hours.

For more information or directions call 707-279-0349.

The shoot on Saturday, April 18, 2009, will offer local families a chance to take part in fun and safe shooting. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE – Lake County 4-H and the Konocti Rod and Gun Club will hold a free family fun shoot on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bring your family out for a day of fun and safe shooting at the Konocti Rod and Gun Club range at the end of Highland Springs Road in Lakeport.

There will be one-on-one coach/shooter instruction including air rifles by Crossman, .22 rifles, center fire rifles, shotguns, and black powder rifles and antique firearms.

All firearms and ammo provided for free; no personal firearms please.

They will have educational displays from Safari Club International, free gun locks and safety literature.

Large hot dogs for $2 and water for $1 will be available.

For more information visit www.krgc.org, or call Rick or Jill at 707-994-7531.

All firearms and ammunition will be provided for free during the Saturday shoot. Courtesy photo.

The plan sets forth goals and objectives to address needs of seniors & people with disabilities in Lake and Mendocino Counties.

The hearing will take place on Thursday, April 30, 9 a.m. to noon, at 747 S. State St., Ukiah.

To RSVP or get more information, call 707-463-7775.

The area plan is available on line at www.mcdss.org.