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The event will take place in the quad area of the college campus, 15880 Dam Road Extension in Clearlake.
Three ceremonies are scheduled for the canopy-covered quad. The processional march for students receiving the associate in arts or associate in science degrees will begin at 7 p.m. Board of Trustees Member Brent Hastey will confer the degrees. Student speaker will be Mary Blakely-Pulido, and master of ceremonies will be campus Dean Bryon Bell.
A graduation breakfast will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday. The student speaker will be Wendy Coleman. GPA certificates will be awarded at this time.
The following local students will receive associate degrees:
ASSOCIATE IN ARTS
Maxx J. Bartlett, Robert Adam Besgrove, Sean David Fielden, Maria Lynn Fortino-McCuan, Anna V. Ventsko, Melissa Emeline-Mae Warner and Brad E. Wight of Clearlake; Mireya Clizbe of Cobb; Brianna Leigh Cook and Jon Robert Davison of Lower Lake.
ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE
Megan Roth of Casa Grande, AZ; Regina Dawn Amaral, Mary Elizabeth Blakely-Pulido, Wendy Raeann Colemen, Donna Elizabeth Cummins, Rachel Annia Emming, JoAnne Lynn Fortino, Raxita Dhanpal Gandhi, Beth Ann Jenkins, Anthony Lee Lewis Jr., Shane David Merrill, Ana Rosa Montanez, Kimmberly Jean Munson, Krystal Kay Peng, Arlene Mildred Powel, Jerome James Richardson, Heather Ann Wallace, Measha Ann Weinzirl and Robert G. White of Clearlake; Ceva Ann Giumelli, Christie Lee Greenfield and Robert John Vieira of Clearlake Oaks; Debra Lee Ratcliff and David James Schlueter of Clearlake Park; William D. Brown of Cobb; Erin Rose Teames of Fairfax; Leonard Joseph Dombrowski Jr., Michele Emery, Benjamin Samuel Timmons and Bonnie Jean Vaughn of Hidden Valley Lake; Susan M. LaBarre of Kelseyville; Nicole Marie Coccimiglio, Sara Christine Coel, Nicole Michele Doud, Jackson Maxwell Kaiser and Justin Jay Read of Lower Lake.
Students who have earned certificates of achievement will be recognized for their accomplishment at a noon ceremony. Student speaker will be Francis Williams. Certificates in 17 different areas will be awarded.
Accounting Certificate of Achievement
Beth Ann Jenkins, Maria D. Montero and Jill Dawn Pierce of Clearlake; Christine L. Bergen and Donna T. Curnutt of Clearlake Oaks; Dennis D. Bilardi of Kelseyville; Melisa K. Wilson of Lower Lake; Shawna Marie Summers of Middletown.
Advanced Accounting Certificate of Achievement
Beth Ann Jenkins of Clearlake.
Administrative Assistant Certificate of Completion/Achievement
Mary Elizabeth Blakely-Pulido of Clearlake; Debra Ratcliff of Clearlake Park.
Business Computer Applications Certificate of Achievement
Christine L. Bergen of Clearlake Oaks; Ashley Evangeline Holback of Lower Lake.
Advanced Business Computer Applications Certificate of Achievement
Christine L. Bergen of Clearlake Oaks; Ashley Evangeline Holback of Lower Lake.
Chemical Dependency Awareness Certificate of Training/Achievement
Deserie Ann Askew, Erin Tamsan Meyers, Jay El Tillman and Anna V. Ventsko of Clearlake; Kathrine Jennette Allan and Eileen K. Daniels of Clearlake Park; Katarina Maria Meyer and Scott Richard Meyer of Kelseyville; Teresa Deuchar and Lionel Oliver Pierce of Nice.
Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate of Completion/Achievement
Debbie Marie Flemming, John Delvin Hamner Jr., Erin Tamsan Meyers, Kimmberly Jean Munson, Jay El Tillman, Anna V. Ventsko and Dow Walton of Clearlake; Scott Richard Meyer and Francian LeAnn Reinhardt of Kelseyville; Lionel Oliver Pierce of Nice; Jayleen Rae Ward of Upper Lake.
Child Development Associate Teacher Certificate of Achievement
Taqua Salem Ammar, Leticia Arellano, Rebecca Joanne Castillo, Neala Renea Ellsworth, Kara Marie Kramer, Melissa Marie Mehew and Maria Romero of Clearlake; Ceva Giumelli and Francis Kay Williams of Clearlake Oaks; Malinda Ann Triola of Hidden Valley Lake; Sunshine Raquel Baker of Kelseyville; Maria Montanez of Middletown; Michelle Diann Villines of Upper Lake.
Child Development Teacher Certificate of Achievement
Francis Kay Williams of Clearlake Oaks; Megan Streif of Lower Lake.
Clerical Certificate of Training/Achievement
Mary Elizabeth Blakely-Pulido and Rachel Annia Emming of Clearlake; Debra L. Ratcliff of Clearlake Park; Tonya Marie Albright of Hidden Valley Lake.
Culinary Arts Certificate of Completion/Achievement
Kacie Da’Nelle Carson, Carlos Fausett, Matt Morgan and Julieann Linda Wonderwheel of Clearlake; William Gregory Wymer of Clearlake Oaks; Ann-Marie Pleskaczewski of Hidden Valley Lake.
Infant and Toddler Certificate of Achievement
Neala Renea Ellsworth of Clearlake; Francis Kay Williams of Clearlake Oaks; Megan Streif of Lower Lake.
Information Technologies Certificate of Completion/Achievement
Benjamin Samuel Timmons of Hidden Valley Lake.
Legal Office Skills Certificate of Achievement
Debra Lee Ratcliff of Clearlake Park.
Medical Office Procedures Certificate of Achievement
Mary Elizabeth Blakely-Pulido of Clearlake.
Welding Technologies Certificate of Achievement
Jon Allen Bobus, Jennifer Lyn Burlingame, Edgar Jovani Hernandez and Milton Levy of Clearlake; William George Hawley of Kelseyville; Daniel Thomas Current of Lower Lake; Tony M. Petersen of Middletown.
Word Processing Certificate of Completion/Achievement
Mary Elizabeth Blakely-Pulido of Clearlake; Debra Ratcliff of Clearlake Park.
Scholarship awards will also be given at the noon and 7 p.m. ceremonies.
The following students will receive scholarships:
Clearlake Rotary Service Scholarship, Donna Dawson of Clearlake; Computer Technology and Networking Scholarship, Kathryn McCallister of Lower Lake; Culinary Arts Award, Stephen Woolridge and Matthew Young of Clearlake; Human Services Scholarship, Renee Ruggeri of Clearlake; Yuba College-Clear Lake Campus Faculty and Staff Award, Kathryn McCallister of Lower Lake; ECE Scholarship, Stephan Thill of Clearlake Park; Yuba College Higher Education Scholarship, Stefanie Mederos of Clearlake; Arthur Lewis Nan Memorial Scholarship, Shawna Summers of Middletown; Business Student of the Year in Memory of Ed Miller, Roy Sivertson of Clearlake.
The ceremony for students receiving the G.E.D. certificate begins at 4 p.m. in the quad. Student speakers will be Garrett Henson and Bonnie O’Donnell.
G.E.D. Diplomas
Mark Abbott, Perry Bishop Jr., Michelle Clayton, Rachel Costa, Robert Costa, Christina Domingos, Jona Elsa, Carlos Fausett, John George, Sandra Gonsalves, Anthony Hatfield,Garrett Henson, Diana Holt, Thomas Madrid, Jennifer Pinnick, and Clayton Tansey of Clearlake; Anthony Dow, Daniel Gerber and Trenton Reid of Clearlake Oaks; Gianina Parrino of Glenhaven; David Schlueter of Clearlake Park; Carrie Horarik of Hidden Valley Lake; Blaine Manard, Tasia Sanchez and John Swehla of Cobb; Ashley Barrett and Bonnie O’Donnell of Kelseyville; Linda Gail Harvey, Andrea Mendieta, Alan Mitchelll, Sharon Naber, Jennifer Tenneson and Laurie Terra of Lower Lake; Eula Francis Owens of Lucerne.
LUCERNE – A portion of Lucerne is getting a new look thanks to a public art effort.
Community members of all ages are taking part in the Lucerne Community Art Project, which is being built at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Highway 20, on the edge of Lucerne Creek Park.
Natural building expert Massey Burke is overseeing the effort, which is building a community bench with a small arch and decorative walls with earthen building techniques, including adobe and cob.
The project began May 9 and will run through this Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. daily.
On the project's first weekend, volunteers started off by making about 200 of the nearly 300 adobe bricks that will be used in the project, said District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing, who spearheaded the effort.
Burke said she's seen a wide variety of community members dropping by during the days to help – from seniors to small children and their parents.
She said the red clay-laden soil being used for the bricks came from Tom Carter's Upper Lake property.
Burke is an experienced natural builder who took part in creating an arch of earthen materials that was temporarily featured in an exhibition on the National Mall in Washington DC.
Clearlake Oaks residents Bill Rett and Judy Barnes have been faithfully making the trip – mostly on weekends but with an occasional weekday thrown in – to work on the project and learn natural building skills.
“That's why we got interested in this – because we wanted to learn the techniques,” said Rett.
Barnes said the project has moved along “faster than I thought it would.”
Just over the last week the arched bench has popped up, with the decorative walls and a decorative feature on the Lucerne Creek Park sign also quickly coming together.
Barbara Hepburn of Hidden Valley Lake has made the trip every day to work on the project.
She said she's part of Burke's “building tribe,” which is creating structures for Sol Fest at Hopland's Solar Living Institute.
Hepburn took natural building classes from Burke previously, but she said the only way to really learn the technique is to get out and do it.
This week she was up to her elbows in natural clay and stray, and using her hands to shape the materials on the frame of the arched bench.
Hepburn said not only is she learning more, she's helping teach others, “and realizing I know more than I thought I did.”
Volunteers hope to take what they learn and put it to work on their own projects. Rett said he and Barnes want to build a small arched bench seating area like the park's at their own home.
Burke said the project is right on schedule. Because things have moved along well, she said she's thinking of adding some additional structural details.
She also is going to have a garden party on Sunday.
Fifteen yards of topsoil have been donated to the park beautification effort, and on Sunday afternoon – after it starts to cool off – community members are invited to come and help plant a garden.
Burke suggests those who want to participate should bring shovels, wheelbarrows, drought-resistant plants and plenty of ideas.
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Properly cleaning and drying will also protect boats and help boaters avoid quarantines or being turned away from a water destination.
"Vehicles with watercraft are being stopped at California border stations for inspection," said Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura. "In the last two years, we have inspected tens of thousands vessels crossing into California and have confirmed adult mussels on 323. Each of those finds meant we saved a California lake or reservoir from exposure to this invasive species."
Lake County has a mussel prevention program that requires boats have an inspection sticker before launching. The Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, 707-263-5092, has more information about the program.
The mussels are a threat to California agriculture because they can clog irrigation canals and other elements of the state’s vast water delivery system.
Efforts to keep the mussels out of California help officials and taxpayers avoid costly repairs and maintain efficient water movement.
“Quagga and zebra mussels pose a serious threat to our waters and fisheries,” said Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Director Donald Koch. “The spread of these mussels threatens aquatic ecosystems and fisheries, water delivery systems, hydroelectric facilities, agriculture, recreational boating and fishing, and the environment in general. Boaters should be prepared for inspections throughout the state designed to help ensure California’s water bodies remain mussel-free.”
In addition to being sure to clean, drain and dry watercraft, the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) urges boaters to plan for possible launch restrictions and inspections by calling water bodies before leaving home. Programs and requirements vary and can change rapidly.
“Anyone planning to go boating should contact their destination about local restrictions or requirements,” said DBW Director Raynor T. Tsuneyoshi. “At some locations, potentially contaminated vessels – those not properly cleaned, drained and dried – could be turned away.”
Quagga and zebra mussels can cause severe problems for boaters and water enthusiasts. They can:
Ruin the engine by blocking the cooling system – causing overheating;
Increase drag on the bottom of the boat, reducing speed and wasting fuel;
Jam steering equipment on boats;
Require scraping and repainting of boat bottoms;
Colonize all underwater substrates such as boat ramps, docks, lines and other underwater surfaces requiring constant cleaning.
To help prevent the spread of these mussels, boaters should inspect all exposed surfaces, wash boat hulls thoroughly, remove all plants from boat and trailer, drain all water, including lower outboard units, clean and dry livewells and bait buckets and dispose of baitfish in the trash. Watercraft should be dried for at least five days and up to 30 days depending upon the weather between launches in different fresh bodies of water. These steps are designed to thwart spread of the invasive mussels, safeguard boats and preserve high quality fisheries.
“We are strongly encouraging boaters to arrive at State Park reservoirs with clean and dry vessels to ensure they are granted access,” said Ruth Coleman, director of California State Parks. “Boaters may have their vessels inspected and we hope that people understand and cooperate to stop the spread of this destructive invasive species.”
California law makes it illegal to possess or transport quagga or zebra mussels and gives DFG authority to stop, detain, search and quarantine boats suspected or determined to be contaminated with mussels. Additional agencies have been granted this authority including the Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and Parks.
Zebra mussels inhabit water depths from four to 180 feet, while Quagga can reach depths more than 400 feet. Both mollusks can attach to and damage boat trailers, cooling systems, boat hulls and steering equipment. Mussels attached to watercraft or trailers can be transported and spread to other water bodies. Water in boat engines, bilges, live wells and buckets can carry mussel larvae (called veligers) to other water bodies as well.
Quagga mussels were first detected in the Colorado River system in January 2007 and were later found in San Diego and Riverside counties by state and local water agencies. Zebra mussels were discovered in San Justo Reservoir in San Benito County in January 2008.
A public toll-free number hotline has been established for boaters and anyone involved with activities on lakes and rivers seeking information on the invasive and destructive auagga mussels at 1-866-440-9530.
For more information on the quagga/zebra mussel response and what you can do, please visit the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office reported that the incident occurred at Savings Bank of Mendocino County on Highway 101 in Hopland shortly before 3 p.m.
Authorities were alerted by a 911 call reporting the bank robbery.
When deputies arrived witnesses told them that the suspect – a white male adult – had fled in a vehicle, which witnesses described, according to the sheriff's report.
Deputies and Ukiah Police, along with the California Highway Patrol, searched the area for the vehicle, with CHP stopping a vehicle that matched the description at about 3:30 p.m.
Officials said the vehicle's single male occupant was detained and witnesses identified him as the person who allegedly robbed the bank. Evidence found in the car is alleged to have confirmed his involvement in the robbery.
The suspect, who was arrested at the scene, was not identified by officials on Wednesday.
Sheriff's officials said an investigation into the suspect's possible involvement in other robberies currently is under way.
The Lake County Roads Department reported that the road was closed to all traffic at the Lake and Napa County lines.
The California Highway Patrol reported that a large dump truck went down an embankment and was blocking the westbound lane just after 2 p.m.
A subject believed to be the driver was reported to be walking around. Cal Fire stated that the driver needed to be transported.
Cal Fire advised that a big rig was needed to help clear the scene. Lake County Road Department crews were en route to the scene to assist with clearing the roads.
The road was later reopened.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
Voters rejected the financial package by wide margins. The only proposition to pass was 1F, which would prevent certain elected officials from receiving salary increases during years when the state has a deficit.
Lake County voters closely mirrored the overall state results. With all 27 precincts reporting, Lake County voters said no to Propositions 1A through 1E, but approved Proposition 1F.
Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley's office reported that of the 33,010 registered voters, 9,746 – or 29.5 percent – case votes in Tuesday's special election.
Of that total, 11 percent, or 3,626 ballots, were cast at precincts, with 6,120, or 18.5 percent, cast by absentee.
Absentee, or vote by mail, voters have grown to account for about half of the county's registered voters, as Lake County News has reported.
Fridley reported that her office started processing absentee ballots last Friday. The official canvass will begin Wednesday and will continue daily – with the exception of weekends and the holiday – until completed.
The local and state results for the special election ballot measures are as follows, according to the Registrar of Voters office and the office of California Secretary of State Debra Bowen.
Proposition 1A: “Rainy Day” Stabilization Fund
Lake County
Yes 3,259 33.7%
No 6,399 66.3%
California
Yes 1,327,400 34.1 %
No 2,555,519 65.9 %
Proposition 1B: Education Fund Payment Plan
Lake County
Yes 3,586 37.2%
No 6,063 62.8%
California
Yes 1,452,535 37.4%
No 2,421,906 62.6%
Proposition 1C: Lottery Modernization Act
Lake County
Yes 3,384 35.0%
No 6,271 65.0%
California
Yes 1,368,222 35.4%
No 2,493,770 64.6%
Proposition 1D: Children's Services Funding
Lake County
Yes 3,121 32.4%
No 6,514 67.6%
California
Yes 1,324,252 34.2%
No 2,536,657 65.8%
Proposition 1E: Mental Health Fund Temporary Reallocation
Lake County
Yes 2,953 31.1%
No 6,557 68.9%
California
Yes 1,292,437 33.6%
No 2,549,361 66.4%
Prop 1F: Elected Officials' Salaries
Lake County
Yes 7,192 75.3%
No 2,358 24.7%
California
Yes 2,859,122 73.9%
No 1,010,457 26.1%
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
