LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA) has selected Elliot Naess of Clearlake as the organization’s Volunteer of the Year.

Naess was recognized at the organization’s general membership meeting that is presented annually by AMIA to update members on the group’s activities and to introduce AMIA’s current board of directors.

Naess was honored for his numerous volunteer activities with AMIA.

As treasurer Henry Bornstein put it: “Elliot volunteers for everything we need help with. From helping to paint our storage shed, to directing parking at the Anderson Marsh Christmas event, Elliot is always willing to step up and help our group.”

A 10-year resident of the city of Clearlake, Naess also is active with the Lakeshore Lions Club.

“He enjoys donating his time and efforts to the Clearlake community and his help is very much appreciated,” said AMIA President Roberta Lyons.

AMIA is an all-volunteer nonprofit association that cooperates with California State Parks in providing public education about natural, American Indian and European history at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

The group also raises funds to help the state of California operate the park, leads field trips and hosts school groups.

For information about AMIA and its programs, go to www.andersonmarsh.org or contact AMIA at either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-995-2658.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Ham Clubs will host the annual Field Day event on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28.

The event, from 11 a.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday, is based in the parking lot of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, 875 Lakeport Blvd. at George Hoberg's Vista Point.

Anyone interested in ham radio and learning more about it is welcome to attend.

New California yards and commercial landscaping would use far less water under the rules of a model landscape ordinance updated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) at the direction of Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr.

The updated draft rules would prohibit installation of turf unless it is used for a specific function such as sports fields or gathering areas, require the installation of efficient sprinkler nozzles, ban turf in street medians and parkways with few exceptions and require use of compost to improve the water-holding capacity of soil.

“About half of California’s urban water is used on landscaping,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin.  “We can gain a lot of water savings year after year with smart landscape design, installation and maintenance.”

In all, DWR’s draft revisions to the landscape ordinance are expected to reduce the water use of a new home by 16,000 gallons a year, or 30 percent.

Water use on new commercial landscapes would be cut by approximately 40 percent under the draft rules proposed by DWR.

California is expected to add 472,000 single- and multi-family housing units with an associated 20,000 acres of new landscape over the next three years.

The state’s population is expected to grow by more than 11 million, reaching nearly 50 million people by 2050. New landscape standards are critical to ensure that new plantings are as efficient as possible.

In an April 1 executive order, the Gov. directed DWR to update its State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance in order to help California cope with a fourth year of extreme drought and build resiliency for future droughts.

State law requires all land-use agencies, such as cities and counties, to adopt a water-efficient landscape ordinance that is at least as efficient as the model ordinance prepared by DWR. DWR’s model ordinance takes effect in those cities and counties that fail to adopt their own.

The draft revisions to the model ordinance reduce the size threshold for landscapes subject to the ordinance to 500 square feet for both commercial and residential property.  Land-use agencies also would be required to report on ordinance adoption and enforcement each year.

DWR seeks public comment on the draft revisions to the model ordinance at two public meetings to be held this week:

– June 16, 10 a.m. to noon, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, 700 North Alameda St., Los Angeles; to join this meeting visit https://resources.webex.com/resources/j.php?MTID=mf9ff1a0a6fcc7d4fedbfa57fa7bc3745 or call in toll-free to 877-952-3588, attendee access code 590 225 6.

– June 19, 10 a.m. to noon, Resources Building Auditorium, 1416 9th St., first floor, Sacramento; to join this meeting visit https://resources.webex.com/resources/j.php?MTID=m6aa000d2b9905eda9f9dbae9d86dc2c1 or call in toll-free to 877-952-3588, attendee access code 590 225 6.

Stakeholders may attend the public meetings and/or submit comments by email.

Public comments are due by Friday June 26. Send comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Revised MWELO can be read here: http://www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/landscapeordinance/ .

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is recruiting current peace officers who are interested in a career as a wildlife officer. Applications are open only to those who have:

– Successfully completed a California POST accredited Law Enforcement Academy, possess a valid California POST basic peace officer certificate, and are currently employed as a peace officer within the State of California at time of application; or,
– Successfully completed (within the last 12 months) the CDFW Law Enforcement Academy, and possess a valid California POST basic academy certificate.

Applications must be postmarked by June 26.

“We are particularly interested in recruiting applicants with a passion for conservation of California’s fish and wildlife resources,” said CDFW Law Enforcement Division Chief David Bess.

The CDFW Law Enforcement Division expects an overwhelming number of inquiries and asks prospective candidates to extensively review materials on the website before contacting CDFW with questions.

To read more about law enforcement careers with CDFW, please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/enforcement/career/ .

To view the official job bulletin and detailed information on how to apply, please visit https://jobs.ca.gov/jobsgen/5fg07.pdf .

Those who are not currently working as a peace officer but are interested in a career as a wildlife officer may apply to attend the full 31-week Wildlife Officer Academy as a Wildlife Officer Cadet.

The application period for the Academy is expected to open in the September or October.

California wildlife officers are charged with ensuring public safety, enforcing fish and wildlife laws, investigating illegal sales of wildlife, protecting the state from pollution, enforcing habitat protection laws, fighting illegal drug trafficking, keeping the homeland secure and responding during natural disasters.

As peace officers, they have the authority to enforce all California laws, such as the Vehicle Code and Penal Code, and are federally deputized to enforce federal fish and wildlife laws.

A typical day for a California wildlife officer is as diverse as the state’s fish and wildlife. Wildlife officers patrol ocean, desert, mountain and valley environments, as well as urban areas.

They frequently work independently and conduct full-scale law enforcement investigations. Wildlife officers employ everything from all-terrain vehicles to jet skis and snowmobiles while on patrol and spend much of their typical day making contact with Californians in the great outdoors. CDFW has a dive team and utilizes K-9 partners as well.

Environmental crimes and pollution incidents also fall under the purview of wildlife officers. Annually, wildlife officers make contact with more than 295,000 people and issue more than 15,000 citations for violations of the law.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Event organizers JoAnn Saccato, Merci Hoskins and Melissa Kinsel, are gearing up for Lake County’s first-ever “Mindfulness Triathlon” to take place on Sunday, June 21, at Austin Park in Clearlake.

Be warned, though: this is no traditional “tri,” and rather than getting a medal for competing against other triathloners, the participants in Tri Uplifting: Lake County 2015 will get the rewarding feeling of joining with their fellow noncompetitors in creating a positive energy for Lake County.

The nontraditional triathlon events will include a guided meditation, a yoga session, and a 3k mindfulness walk.

Local vendors and local farmers will be on hand during and concluding the event to complement the day’s activities with wellness-related products and information available to attendees.

The first event, a guided meditation, will be led by JoAnn Saccato, MA, mindfulness teacher, author and life coach.

Saccato will guide participants in a mindfulness practice intended to heal, uplift, and manifest positive change for Lake County.

The yoga session will feature four different classes and local instructors from which to choose, each one having their own focus.

Hoskins, fitness coach/yoga instructor 200 RYT, will be leading an intermediate yoga class for those who have an established yoga practice.

Instructor Roslyn Griffin will be leading a beginning yoga class, and Trista Fossa will be leading a gentle stretch class.

Yoga teacher Matthew Downard, in honor of Father’s Day, will lead a “Yoga for Guys” session.

For those who don’t have a yoga mat, there will be several available to borrow.

The third event, the 3k mindfulness walk, will feature intention-focused activities to mark each kilometer on the course.

Tri Uplifting: Lake County 2015 will take place on Sunday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tickets are $30 per person, but scholarships are available for those who can’t afford a ticket but who could be on hand to volunteer before or after the event.

To register as a participant or as a vendor, visit Eventbrite.com and search Tri Uplifting Lake County, or call Saccato at 707-350-1719.

Event sponsor North Coast Opportunities will also be the recipient of event proceeds, to help them continue filling the unmet needs of our community. Organizers ask that attendees bring a refillable water bottle, snack, and yoga mat or towel.

June 21 was chosen for this event because it happens to be the first ever International Yoga Day.

“What better day to create a place where all the concerned, caring people of Lake County can come together for the good of our community and to create a collective intention of well-being and prosperity for our county. We hope that anyone curious about yoga or meditation, or anyone wanting to make a positive impact on our county will participate,” said Kinsel.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Lioness Club will host its annual Father's Day Breakfast on Sunday, June 21.

The breakfast takes place from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Middletown Lions Community Building, 15399 Central Park Road.

The menu will include pancakes, fresh scrambled eggs, ham, biscuits and gravy, and fresh fruit, and beverages including juice, coffee and milk.

The cost is $8 for adults and children ages 13 and above, $5 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children 4 years old and younger.

The club will use the event's proceeds to continue its service to the community.