LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will hold its Regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6.
 
The monthly meeting will take place in Lakeport at 1210 S. Main St. at 6 p.m.
 
The meeting's guest speaker will be Dan Wolk, who is running for the Assembly District 4 seat now held by Mariko Yamada, who is being termed out. His Web site is www.danwolk.org .
 
Please come and get to know this candidate, his positions on issues that you care about, let him know your concerns and ask questions.
 
Other candidates for Assembly District 4 are Joe Krovoza, mayor of Davis, www.joekrovoza.org ; Matt Pope, who currently works for State Sen. Noreen Evans, www.pope2014.com ; and Bill Dodd, Napa County supervisor, www.billdodd.com .
 
The club also will seek public feedback to the initiatives on the local ballot in June, including the county's marijuana grow ordinance, proposed as a guide to enforcement in order to eliminate or at least reduce complaints and protect communities;  the mobile home park rent control initiative, proposed by “Save Our Seniors” as a way to keep seniors on fixed incomes from being priced out of their homes; and the 0.5 percent “Healthy Lake Tax” Ordinance (Measure L) proposed by the Board of Supervisors to be used for water quality and invasives prevention efforts in local lakes and tributaries.

For more information on the ordinances and initiatives visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org .
 
The agenda for the February meeting also includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada and State Sen. Noreen Evans, as well as reports from the Stonewall Democratic Club Chair Mark Wickhamshire and representative from the Lake County Democratic Club Paula Mune.
 
Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.
 
The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.
 
For more information about the Democratic party in Lake County visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org or www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDemocrats .

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

SACRAMENTO – On Jan. 22, the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) installed its 2014 Executive Officers at the Annual Installation and Awards Reception in Sacramento.

Nevada County Supervisor Nate Beason was installed as chair, Sierra County Supervisor Lee Adams was installed as first vice chair and Glenn County Supervisor John Viegas was installed as second vice chair.

The newly elected officers will lead the organization in championing policies on behalf of California’s rural counties.

“It is a privilege to have been selected to lead RCRC’s efforts on behalf of rural California, and I am honored and thankful that my fellow rural county leaders have entrusted me as Chair,” said Supervisor Beason. “This is shaping up to be another challenging year for rural counties, and I look forward to working with my fellow RCRC Board members and RCRC staff on issues impacting our rural communities before policy-makers in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.”

 In addition to the installation of officers, RCRC also honored two state legislators with the annual RCRC “Patti Mattingly Award.”

RCRC’s Patti Mattingly Award was established in memory of the former Siskiyou County supervisor, who exhibited tremendous courage, commitment, and the ability to develop and execute constructive solutions surrounding rural issues.

Each year, the RCRC Board of Directors selects two policy makers whom have demonstrated leadership on rural issues, and exhibited a true understanding of the unique challenges that rural communities face.

This year, the Patti Mattingly Award was presented to Senator Anthony Cannella (R-Stanislaus) and Assemblyman Richard Gordon (D-San Mateo).

“Sen. Cannella is always only a phone call away. I have always been able to pick up the phone and share with him a concern of Merced County,” said Merced County Supervisor John Pedrozo. “Each time, he has gone to work immediately to address our County’s concern or need. Furthermore, he has worked across the aisle to do what is in the best interest of the rural counties he represents.”

In addition to Sen. Cannella, Assemblyman Richard Gordon (D-San Mateo) was selected to receive the Patty Mattingly Award for his efforts on behalf of rural counties.

“Assemblyman Gordon’s bipartisan and nonpartisan efforts in the Legislature demonstrate his commitment to the greater good, and he has proven to be a true value to rural communities,” said Beason. “We’re excited to be able to honor his contributions to our member counties, and thank him for his leadership on rural issues as an urban legislator.”

RCRC’s 2013 chair, Mariposa County Supervisor Kevin Cann, will serve as the immediate past chair.

The Rural County Representatives of California is a 34-member county strong service organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties.

RCRC is dedicated to representing the collective unique interests of its membership, providing legislative and regulatory representation at the state and federal levels, and providing responsible services for its members to enhance and protect the quality of life in rural California counties.

To learn more about RCRC, visit www.rcrcnet.org and follow @RuralCounties on Twitter.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – University of California Master Gardeners of Lake County will present a rose pruning workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

The workshop begins at 10 a.m. in Upper Lake.

Master Gardener Jim Harrell will discuss and demonstrate pruning and other cultural practices that help produce large, healthy rose displays.

Although not a planned portion of the workshop, participants should bring heavy gloves and pruning shears in case hands-on practice is available.

A $5 donation is encouraged to help defray expenses for handouts that will be available.
 
For workshop location and to RSVP, please call 707-263-6838.
 
Master Gardeners are a group of selected, trained residents who work as volunteer staff for the U.C. Cooperative Extension.

Master Gardeners provide accurate horticultural information on vegetable gardening, trees, soils, lawns, ornamental horticulture, insects, diseases, use of pesticides, and other related topics based on research of the University of California and other recognized research institutions.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Time Bank of Thrive Lake County opened its Social Capital Fund on Monday, Jan. 20.

The Social Capital Fund enables time bank members with excess hours the ability to contribute these hours to a special fund to assist other members.

The fund currently accepts and distributes hours only – cash contributions and distributions are not available.

“The Social Capital Fund provides an excellent opportunity for community members in need to get help” says John Saare, North Lake and technical coordinator for the Time Bank of Thrive Lake County.

“Now there can be one less barrier between members with critical needs and those who may be able to help,” said Saare. “Also, there are those who just want to volunteer and not receive any hours for themselves. This fund allows them to magnify their service contribution.”

Carol Cole-Lewis, Thrive Lake County Coordinator and Time Bank Project Coordinator explained why this fund is so important.

“People have refrained from joining the time bank because they have physical, financial or other challenges which truly limit their ability to give back,” she said. “We hope this fund goes some way towards removing this barrier toward membership and to help meet the deepest needs of  Lake County residents.”

Cole-Lewis continued, “Any time bank member who wants to apply for hours from the Social Capital Fund can contact us.”

The time bank uses the complimentary currency of  hours to enable members to exchange services.

Every hour is valued the same, regardless of the service performed.

Time bank membership is open to any Lake County resident, business, or organization.

Office locations include 307 N. Main St., Lakeport, open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. most weekdays; and the Clearlake Food Pantry at 14832 Lakeshore, Clearlake, open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays.

The next free orientation for new and prospective members is 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at Dancing Tree People Farm, 1445 Pitney Lake, Upper Lake.  

For more information about Time Bank of Thrive Lake County, visit http://timebanklakeco.org or phone 707-413-0220.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking public comment on a proposal to list the Northern spotted owl as an endangered or threatened species.
 
The Northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) inhabits forests from southwest British Columbia through the Cascade Range and coastal ranges of Washington, Oregon and northern California.

In California, the Northern spotted owl range runs south as far as Marin County in the Coast Ranges and across the Klamath Mountains of northern California east to the Cascade Range where it meets the range of the California spotted owl (S. o. occidentalis) near the Pit River area.
 
The Northern spotted owl generally inhabits mature and old-growth forests as these habitats contain the necessary structural complexity, including high canopy cover, developed understory and presence of snags, required for various life stages.

Preferred prey species include pocket gophers (Thomomys spp.), northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus), woodrats (Neotoma spp.), red tree voles (Phenacomys longicaudus) and deer mice (Peromyscus spp.), with woodrats and flying squirrels often being their most common prey.

Loss of habitat, degradation of habitat and competition with other owl species have been noted to negatively impact the Northern spotted owl; however, climate change, disease, contaminants and predation may also negatively affect its populations.
 
In September 2012, the Environmental Protection Information Center submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to formally list the Northern spotted owl as a threatened or endangered species.

The commission published findings of its decision to advance the species to candidacy on Dec. 27, 2013, triggering a 12-month period during which CDFW will conduct a status review to inform the commission’s decision on whether to list the species.
 
As part of the status review process, CDFW is soliciting public comment regarding the species’ ecology, biology, life history, distribution, abundance, threats and habitat that may be essential for the species, and recommendations for management of the species. Comments, data and other information can be submitted in writing to:
 
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Nongame Wildlife Program
Attn: Neil Clipperton
1812 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
 
Comments may also be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . If submitting comments by email, please include “Northern spotted owl” in the subject heading.
 
All comments received by May 1 will be evaluated prior to submission of the CDFW report to the commission.

Receipt of the report will be placed on the agenda for the next available meeting of the Commission after delivery and the report will be made available to the public at that time.

Following the receipt of the CDFW report, the commission will allow a 30-day public comment period prior to taking any action on CDFW’s recommendation.
 
CDFW’s petition evaluation report for Northern spotted owl is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/publications/ .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Lake County’s Window to the Universe presents “Voyager: 36 years of Discovery” on Saturday, Jan. 25.

The show will be held from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Taylor Observatory and Norton Planetarium, 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville.

Come learn about the Voyager spacecrafts as staff assistant Eduardo Alatorre explains their amazing discoveries, including Voyager's recent entry into interstellar space.

Since their 1977 launch and “Grand Tour” to today's Interstellar Program, the Voyager spacecrafts have offered insight into our Solar System neighborhood and beyond.

Window to the Universe public events are sponsored by The Friends of Taylor Observatory.

Events include a science topic presentation, a planetarium experience and astronomical viewing, and are held regardless of weather. Please dress accordingly.

Ticket prices are $5 per adult and $3 per child under 12 years of age.

For more information, visit www.taylorobservatory.org .