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Local couple to feature handcrafted soaps, skin care products in new store
LUCERNE, Calif. – A Clearlake couple who earlier this year launched their own soap making business will celebrate the grand opening of their new storefront this weekend.
Tiffany and James Meek have opened “The Soap Shack Baby” at 6199 E. Highway 20, in the Lucerne Harbor Artists center at Lucerne Harbor Park.
The store will hold its grand opening this Saturday and Sunday.
The Meeks offer about 14 varieties of handcrafted, all natural soaps and skin care products, and have quickly developed an enthusiastic customer following.
Building from an olive oil base, their natural product line includes soap varieties made with lavender and peppermint, banana, vanilla, pear, coconut, and even wine and beer. Their soap also is wrapped in an organic, seeded paper that can actually be planted.
James Meek, who has had a variety of jobs over the years – from mining to, today, working in information technology – began making soap as a hobby about 10 years ago, as he was becoming interested in herbal remedies and natural healing.
“It’s almost like a meditation for me to make soap,” he said, explaining the creative process in putting together different blends of herbs and essential oils, and finding just the right balance in the various ingredients.
Tiffany said her mother had made soap, so she was familiar with the process.
However, the couple didn’t seriously consider going into the soap making business until late last year.
It was last Christmas, when Tiffany purchased some soap as gifts, that the conversation began in earnest.
When they got the soap, James checked it out and quickly concluded that he could make a better product.
They began making their first soap batches in January, using a 27-foot travel trailer next to their home for the soap manufacturing. They also joined the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, a nationwide trade organization.
In February, the Meeks opened their soap business, with each still holding a full-time job – he works for Twin Pine Casino in Middletown, she works for Lower Lake County Water Works.
They’ve marketed and sold their products at crafts fairs and events in Lake and neighboring counties, and also have a booth at the farmers’ market at Steele Wines in Kelseyville.
When they started earlier this year, they had about 4,000 bars of soap, and they estimate they’ve already sold about half of that supply.
They can make 56 bars a day, with James explaining that making the soap itself takes about a month.
The Meeks say their top seller is the “Cool Down Baby!” soap, made with peppermint and eucalyptus.
“This is just fun,” said James, looking over the products he and his wife have created.
In addition to soap, they also offer lip balms in flavors such as cherry, root beer, chocolate, coconut, peppermint, pomegranate, vanilla and cucumber melon.
They’re planning to expand into other products as well, with a lot of requests for liquid soap and lotion. James said their eventual goal is to offer a full body shop with an even larger line of products.
In June, they began moving into the Lucerne store at the artists center, which is owned by the county of Lake and opened in 2008 after extensive renovations.
Previously, the county primarily rented the spaces to local artists.
However, last year the county decided to make the storefronts available for rent not just for artists but also to tourist-related industries, said Mireya Turner, the assistant clerk to the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
Turner said The Soap Shack Baby is a good fit, as it draws customers to the area.
The new space will offer the Meeks room to grow at an affordable $200-per-month rate.
The soap manufacturing side of the business is now moving to the Lucerne shop. The Meeks said visitors will be able to stop in, purchase soap and even watch it be made on site.
They’re also getting a lot of requests for soap making classes. “That’s in the future,” said Tiffany.
Sales have been building steadily, both with their booth and online at their Web site, http://www.thesoapshackbaby.com/ . They also have an active Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/SoapShackBaby .
Hours for the weekend grand opening are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. All products will be 50 percent off.
Regular business hours going forward will be Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Weekend hours will vary, based on what shows and events they’re attending.
Watch their Facebook page for updates, or contact them at
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County takes on summer lake weeds
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – If at some point over the past month you've witnessed some unusual vessels working on portions of Clear Lake, you're seeing part of this summer's effort to address the proliferation of lake weeds.
With summer in Lake County comes an increase in lake weeds and algae, and since 2011 the county government has allocated more money to the work of keeping weeds out of popular swimming and boating areas.
Scott De Leon, the county's Water Resources and Public Works director, said the Board of Supervisors set aside $350,000 for weed abatement this year.
“This is a continuation of the weed program that we've run the last three years,” said De Leon.
Altogether, about 220 acres of the lake will be targeted for special treatment this summer, he said.
De Leon said the weed control work was divided into zones, with the county hiring two contractors – Martinez-based Aquatic Environments and Pestmaster, based in Lake County and specializing in herbicide treatments – at a total contract cost of $274,340.
He said that leaves the county with some funds left over in case followup weed treatments are needed later in the summer, as once the weeds are pulled other types usually comes up to replace them.
Conditions are “absolutely” improving following treatments, De Leon said.
Five weed harvesters owned by Aquatic Environments worked off Library Park and along the Lakeport shoreline in June.
They began around the middle of June, said De Leon. “They were assigned about 135 acres of area to treat along the western edge of the upper arm here, all along the Lakeport shoreline.”
The weeds, once harvested, are taken Lake County Waste Solutions and put into the greenwaste, De Leon said.
De Leon said they are creating boat lanes leading to boat ramps, commercial areas and high density residential areas along the lakeshore. There also is a shoreline lane about 50 feet wide just on the outside edges of piers and docks, and the harvesters worked the entire area off Library Park from First through Fifth streets.
In addition, they were treating a recreational area along the Lakeport shoreline where Lakeshore Boulevard meets the lake, stretching down to Alterra. De Leon said the area has historically been very popular for water skiing because it's protected from the wind by trees and topography.
Aquatic Environments specializes in mechanical harvesting, but there are areas within that treatment zone where spraying is used instead due to the presence of hydrilla, according to De Leon.
De Leon said the state doesn't allow mechanical harvesting within a quarter mile of a hydrilla location.
The non-native hydrilla is described by the California Department of Food and Agriculture as a “pernicious aquatic plant which infests natural and man-made aquatic ecosystems.” It was first found in California in 1976 and has posed a problem on Clear Lake for the past few decades.
Lake is one of nine California counties where CDFA conducts eradication efforts; the agency said the largest eradication effort, beginning in 1994, was on Clear Lake's infestation.
CDFA's 2012 hydrilla report said plant numbers remained low last year, at 26 plants in five locations, but that was an increase over the six plants found in 2011.
Besides hydrilla, there are many different lake weeds of concern. Sago pondweed was the main weed pulled up by the mechanical harvesters over the past month, as it tends to be the first weed to sprout early in summer, De Leon explained.
As the summer progresses, other varieties sprout, including curly-leaf pondweed, De Leon said.
After the initial treatment, if other weeds come up, a followup treatment could occur, he said.
The lake's weeds came up earlier this year than last, he said.
“A lot of the areas that we're treated were topped out,” which De Leon explained meant that the weeds already had reached the water surface and were spreading out over it.
“We are seeing an abundance of weeds due to clear conditions,” said De Leon, noting that the weeds also are extending much further out into the lake than has been seen in the past.
The lake is shallow due to lack of rain, and those shallow conditions seem to be contributing to the weed profusion, as De Leon said sunlight is more easily able to reach the bottom of the lake, with that sunlight encouraging weed growth.
The recent hot conditions also kick-started algae, which started growing once the water temperatures climbed, he said.
“We have received quite a few phone calls about the algae,” he said. “But it is a natural phenomenon that we really can't control.”
He said wind and cooler temperatures help knock down and break up the algae.
For more about the county's aquatic weed management visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Water_Resources/Aquatic_Plant_Management.htm .
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Clearlake City Council to discuss proposed Lakeshore Drive building moratorium, marijuana ordinance
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will consider a proposed ordinance that would establish a temporary moratorium on building projects on a portion of Lakeshore Drive, and also will discuss what steps to take next on its draft marijuana cultivation ordinance.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
City Manager Joan Phillipe will take to the council a proposed urgency ordinance that would establish a temporary, three-month-long moratorium on building and major remodel projects on Lakeshore Drive between Olympic Drive and Old Highway 53.
Phillipe initially presented the conceptual proposal to the council at its June 27 meeting and received direction to bring back a draft document.
The proposed ordinance – which would become effective immediately if the council adopts it – is meant “to provide time to put in place design guidelines to be used for processing planning and building permit applications” that fall within the city’s “design district” overlay, according to Phillipe’s report to the council.
Phillipe said that during the moratorium, design guidelines proposed in the Vision Task Force Report in 2007 – which were not previously adopted by the city – will be sent to the Clearlake Planning Commission for review, with a view to having the commission make a recommendation on them to the council.
While proposed to be three months long, Phillipe said if that time isn’t sufficient staff would request of the council a three-month extension.
“There is agreement however from both staff and Council that time is of the essence in order to lift the moratorium as soon as possible,” Phillipe said in her report.
She said the moratorium won’t apply to projects already in the planning and review process, and staff will work with project proponents who want to move forward with beginning planning review.
Phillipe said the moratorium isn’t anticipated to create significant adverse impact to the city because of the time needed to process major project applications.
In other business, the council will discuss the proposed marijuana cultivation ordinance that failed to pass its second reading at the June 13 meeting.
The council is expected to discuss questions raised at that June meeting – among them, clarity of language regarding plant and parcel sizes, including daycares among listed school facilities and an increase in penalties.
Staff will seek direction on how to proceed on the document, a new version of which will have to be reintroduced at a future meeting, according to Phillipe.
Also on the agenda, the council will hear a presentation from Frank Parker of the United Veterans Council of Lake County regarding the VetConnect program, and will consider designating voting delegates and alternates for the League of California Cities’ annual conference in September.
On the city’s consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate with one vote – are minutes from the council’s May 23, June 6, June 13, June 20 and June 27 meetings, and consideration of a letter authorizing the county of Lake to submit a regional used oil payment program application on behalf of the city of Clearlake.
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071113 Clearlake City Council - Proposed Lakeshore Drive Building Moratorium
Supervisors to consider mussel detection, road rehabilitation projects
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss funding a new mussel detection project and road rehabilitation on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff and Lakeshore Boulevard.
The meeting will take place beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. It will be broadcast live on TV8.
At 9:30 a.m., the board will consider a request from the Water Resources Department to construct and distribute artificial substrates throughout Clear Lake for early detection monitoring for mussels.
At 9:50 a.m., the board will discuss a request to award birds for rehabilitation projects on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, estimated to cost $657,900.50, and Lakeshore Boulevard, estimated to cost $843,928.50.
In other timed items, at 9:45 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing to consider the use of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to fund a special victims/vulnerable persons investigator in the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The full agenda follows. Some items are out of order due to an addendum to the agenda being posted.
TIMED ITEMS
9 a.m. A-1 to A-4: Approval of consent agenda, which includes items that are expected to be routine and noncontroversial, and will be acted upon by the board at one time without discussion; presentation of animals available for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control; consideration of items not appearing on the posted agenda, and contract change orders for current construction projects.
9:05 a.m.: Citizen’s input. Any person may speak for three minutes about any subject of concern, provided that it is within the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors and is not already on the agenda. Prior to this time, speakers must fill out a slip giving name, address and subject (available in the clerk of the board’s office, first floor, courthouse).
9:10 a.m., A-5: Presentation of proclamation designating 2013 as The Year of the Child.
9:15 a.m., A-6: Public hearing, consideration of proposed ordinance establishing county of Lake Health Services as a member of the existing Partnership HealthPlan of California Commission.
9:30 a.m., A-7: Consideration of request for funding for the Water Resources Department to construct and distribute artificial substrates throughout Clear Lake for early detection monitoring for mussels.
9:45 a.m., A-8: Public hearing, discussion/consideration of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for funding of a special victims/vulnerable persons investigator.
9:50 a.m., A-9: (a) Consideration of request to award bid for Nice-Lucerne Cutoff rehabilitation; and (b) consideration of request to award bid for Lakeshore Boulevard rehabilitation.
10 a.m., A-10: Hearing, nuisance abatement of 5320 and 5323 Jamie Lane, Kelseyville, CA (APNs 088-031-04 & 088-031-03 - Milos Leubner).
10:30 a.m., A-11: (a) Consideration of the Westside Sacramento Integrated Regional Water Management Plan; and (b) consideration of the proposed memorandum of understanding for the implementation of the the Lake County Watershed Westside Sacramento Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.
11 a.m., A-12: Consideration of current septic system inspection scheduling challenges, the effect on local construction and development, and options for improvement of response time.
11:20 a.m., A-13: Consideration of scheduling of assessment appeal hearings and notification procedures.
11:40 a.m., A-14: Consideration of appeal of vicious animal abatement order (Boscoe - 300 Park Way, Lakeport, CA - Rebecca Navarro).
1:30 p.m., A-15: Assessment Appeal Hearing: Lester Sommerville - Application No. 26-2011 - 15569 Joseph Trail, convenes as the Lake County Lower Lake, CA (APN 122-053-150-000).
NONTIMED ITEMS
A-16: Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
A-17: Consideration of appointments to the following boards/committees: Emergency Medical Care Committee, Heritage Commission, Upper Putah Creek Watershed Watermaster Advisory Committee.
A-18: Continued from June 4, 11 and 18; consideration of appointment of treasurer-tax collector (THIS ITEM HAS BEEN CONTINUED TO A FUTURE DATE AND WILL NOT BE TAKEN UP ON JULY 9).
A-19: Consideration of items relative to Office of Emergency Services: (a) appointment of Supervisor Brown as Chair of Disaster Council; and (b) amendment of emergency operations plan to designate location of emergency operations center.
A-20: Consideration of board position on AB 145 (Perea) transferring the State’s Drinking Water Program from the California Department of Public Health to the State Water Resources Control Board.
CLOSED SESSION
A-21: 1.Conference with Labor Negotiator: (a) County Negotiators: A. Grant, L. Guintivano, S. Harry, M. Perry, A. Flora and C. Shaver; and (b) Employee Organization: Deputy District Attorney's Association, Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association, Lake County Correctional Officers Association, Lake County Employees Association and Lake County Safety Employees Association.
A-21: 2. Conference with real property negotiator, (a) property located at 3980 Gard St., Kelseyville (APN 024-081-01); (b) negotiating parties, for county: Supervisor Rob Brown, Child Support Services Director Gail Woodworth, County Administrative Officer Matt Perry and Deputy County Administrative Officer Alan Flora; for seller, Kelseyville Unified School District representatives; (c) under negotiation, lease terms.
A-21: 3. Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Michael Fowler and Emily Ford v. County of Lake, et al., Case No. CV412464.
A-21: 4. Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1) - Rivero v. Lake County Board of Supervisors.
CONSENT AGENDA
C-1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held on June 25, 2013.
C-2: Adopt proclamation designating 2013 as The Year of the Child.
C-3: Approve out of state travel for Officer Kyle O’Brien to attend the Equine Investigators Academy in Durango, Colorado, between Aug. 18-24, 2013 (training funded by Code 3 Associates).
C-4: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Hilltop Recovery Services for FY 2013-14 residential treatment services, for a maximum amount of $40,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-5: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Children’s Services for FY 2013-14 Transitional Age Youth Peer Support Program, for a maximum amount of $25,000, and authorize
the chair to sign.
C-6: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Children’s Services for FY 2013-14 specialty mental health services, for a total amount of $450,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-7: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Edgewood Center for Children and Families for FY 2013-14 specialty mental health services, for a total amount of $92,000, and authorize the
chair to sign.
C-8: Approve Agreement between the County of Lake and Manzanita House for FY 2013-14 residential support services, for a total amount of $100,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-9: Adopt resolution approving the first amendment to the standard agreement between the county of Lake and the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs for the period between July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2014 (extending the term of the agreement through June 30, 2014, and a reimbursement increase of $559,568, and authorizing the Behavioral Health Director to sign).
C-10: Approve Budget Transfer BT- 001 reallocating money from Account 1.11 - Permanent Salaries to 1.12 - Extra Help in BU 4010 Environmental Health to provide for continued employment of.
C-11: Adopt Resolution approving application for funding from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) for the Used Oil Payment Program (OPP).
C-12: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Sierra Air Helicopters for FY 2013-14 marijuana reconnaissance services, for a total amount of $15,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
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