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Poet Laureate Reading Series to feature James BlueWolf
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The second event of the Poet Laureate Reading Series takes place this Friday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Riviera Common Grounds Coffee House at 9736 Soda Bay Road, featuring the poetry of James BlueWolf.
Presented by current Lake County Poet Laureate Casey Carney and Common Grounds Proprietor Andrea Williams, the series is held on the second Friday of each month through April and is designed to promote local poetry by showcasing each of Lake County’s eight poet laureates in sequence, along with a guest poet and musician.
The poet laureate is an official appointment by a government or conferring institution for the purpose of promoting poetry in that jurisdiction. These appointments occur from local to national levels.
In Lake County, the two-year position began in 1998 with the appointment of Jim Lyle. In 2002, James BlueWolf was selected as the second poet laureate of Lake County.
BlueWolf – an internationally published poet, recording artist and youth mentor – has been a poet, author, lecturer and storyteller since the early 1970s.
He is the author, narrator and co-producer of the well-received documentary film “Hinth’el Gaahnula; A Narrative History of the Lake County Pomo to 1900.”
Produced in conjunction with the Big Valley Rancheria and the Administration for Native Americans, the documentary is archived in the Smithsonian Institute Libraries and available at the Lakeport Library.
“Hinth’el Gaahnula” covers 12,000 years of Pomo history and culture, with attention to the Bloody Island Massacre (Bo-No-Po-Ti), Bear Flag Rebellion, Gold Rush and treaties. It includes voice overs of family traditions and memories.
BlueWolf, a descendant of the Choctaw tribe, is a caucus member of the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers, and was chosen as their “Children’s Writer of the Year” for his 2007 book, “Speaking for Fire.”
Locally he has received three commendation proclamations from the Lake County Board of Supervisors for his work in coaching more than 500 local youth athletes.
BlueWolf’s latest project is as the host of “Wolf Tracks,” a combination music and spoken word show featuring poems, stories, Native American and classic baby boomer music. The show airs on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on KPFZ 88.1, radio and live Web streaming.
The Oct. 10 reading also will present guest poet Sandy Stillwell and percussionist Jason Norris.
Admission is free, with a $5 suggested donation.
Poets and musicians interested in being a guest artist during the series are encouraged to contact new Lake County Poet Laureate Casey Carney at
Those interested in connecting through poetry, writing and art events can join the Facebook group, Lake County Poet Laureate, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1444291245829681/ .
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- Written by: CASEY CARNEY
Clearlake City Council to discuss planning commissioner appointment, leadership summit
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – This week the Clearlake City Council will discuss an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Clearlake Planning Commission and consider a contribution to an upcoming leadership summit.
The council will meet for a closed session at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, for a conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation before convening in open session at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Under council business, council members will discuss appointing a new planning commissioner to succeed Al Bernal, who recently resigned. Bernal's term expires next March.
City Manager Joan Phillipe's report to the council said that five men have applied for the open seat: Mark Burkdoll, Russell Cremer, Jack Gingles, Dirk Slooten and Mike Vandiver.
Phillipe said the recommended process is for the council to interview each candidate while waiting for the others to remain in the city hall lobby.
The new appointment would be sworn in at the next Clearlake Planning Commission meeting, Phillipe said.
In other business, the council will consider giving a cash sponsorship of $250 to the Lake Leadership Summit, which will take place on Friday, Oct. 10, at Marymount California University's campus in Lucerne.
Phillipe's report to the council explained that the city was asked to become a sponsor and consider making a contribution toward the event's expenses.
“It is staff's opinion that this is an appropriate contribution and goes to continued support of economic development which is one of the (city's) four priority goals,” she wrote.
Items on the consent agenda – considered to be noncontroversial and accepted as a slate with one vote – include warrant registers and consideration of a temporary closure of a portion of Lakeshore Drive and Golf Avenue between Lakeshore Drive and Ballpark Avenue for the second annual Lake County Youth Services Trunk or Treat event, which will take place on Halloween night, Friday, Oct. 31.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Clearlake Planning Commission accepts reinstatement of city Parks and Recreation Committee
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission on Tuesday accepted by consensus the city council's recent action to reinstate the Parks and Recreation Committee.
The commission will meet jointly, once a month, as the Parks and Recreation Committee.
Meetings will be held according to the regular schedule of the commission, which is the first and third Tuesdays of the month.
The committee's duties include making recommendations to the council on:
– Rules, regulations and policies related to conduct in public parks and beaches; in public recreation and activity centers; and to use of public property within the city including, but not limited to special events, use of public buildings and related fees.
– Hear and act upon appeal of staff's determination on special event permits.
– Prepare an inventory of parks and park facilities.
– Identify and make recommendations to the council on revenue sources to fund activities and capital projects such as park maintenance and development, property acquisition or new and/or expansion of parks, development and updating of a park master plan, recreation programs, various planning and feasibility studies.
– Any other related projects as assigned by the council.
The committee is to begin reviewing the city's Parks Master Plan.
City Manager Joan Phillipe said the committee also will be keep abreast of the development of a chamber of commerce/visitor center at Highlands Park.
The property, which was acquired through the former redevelopment agency, was recently accepted into a long range property management plan allowing the city to retain the property with an intention to develop a chamber of commerce/visitor center.
Phillipe said she also would request a presentation from Linda Burton, executive director of the Highlands Senior Service Center, which is housed in the city-own community center building on Bowers Road.
Currently a senior garden is established at the center and establishment of a community garden in the adjacent area is in development.
Email Denise Rockenstein at
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- Written by: Denise Rockenstein
LEDAC to hear presentations on downtown improvement project, Carnegie Library
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee this week will discuss proposed improvements to the city's downtown and get an update on a feasibility study for the Carnegie Library.
LEDAC will meet from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Workforce Lake, 55 First St.
Richard Knoll, Lakeport's retired Community Development director and current special projects coordinator, will present an update on the Lakeport Downtown Improvement Project's phase two.
The plan, as it's currently envisioned, will include widening sidewalks and relocating streetlights, installing new trees and grates, reconstruction and repaving of Main Street, and installing some street furniture.
On Tuesday night, the Lakeport City Council is set to consider a professional services agreement for engineering services and construction plans to move the project's second phase forward.
LEDAC Chair Wilda Shock, who also is the city of Lakeport's economic development specialist, will give an update on the Carnegie Library Reuse Feasibility Study.
Garavaglia Architecture, based in San Francisco, was hired earlier this year to study the building, built in 1918.
The firm has so far held a public meeting to gather community input and in July gave the Lakeport City Council an update on its work. The final report is expected to be submitted to the council in the near future.
In other business, Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira will present an update on the regional economic development.
There also will be committee member reports and reports on business outreach efforts from groups including the Lakeport Main Street Association, Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Lake County Thrive, WorkForce Lake and Way to Wellville, a report on special events in the city and citizen input.
LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.
Members do not have to be Lakeport residents. Current members include Chair Wilda Shock and Vice Chair Mireya Turner, along with Carol Cole-Lewis, Bill Eaton, Melissa Fulton, Pam Harpster, Christine Hutt, George Linn, Paula Pepper-Duggan and Taira St. John. City Planning Services Manager Andrew Britton and City Manager Margaret Silveira are ex-officio committee members.
The committee is next scheduled to meet from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson