SACRAMENTO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed Senate Bill 1142, legislation by Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa), which creates a relief stream of funding for critical farm and ranchland habitats.

Also known as the California Farmland Conservancy Program Act, SB 1142 goes into effect January 1, 2011.

Wiggins introduced SB 1142 in February in the midst of growing concern over the viability of the state’s Williamson Act program, which had for more than four decades served as a consistent source of a financial support for California farmers committed to maintaining their lands in agricultural production.

Since 1965, the state’s general fund has paid counties and cities about $40 million a year to make up for the property tax revenues lost because of lowered assessments. The general fund automatically backfills school districts for lost property taxes. However, the economic downturn and ongoing budget deficits have left the fate of the Williamson Act program up in the air.

“California’s farmers and ranchers are struggling to keep their lands in active agriculture production and face many challenges,” Wiggins said. “Ensuring that these lands continue to produce food for Californians and the nation simultaneously provides many other public benefits, including support for rural economies, water supply and quality, flood control, wildlife, scenic vistas and our agricultural heritage.”

SB 1142 gives the DOC flexibility to work with landowners by using other existing funding as grants to protect riparian zones, wildlife habitat or flood corridors while simultaneously keeping the farmed portions in agricultural use.

The new fund established by the Wiggins bill would also be managed by the DOC. Money would come from existing bonds for soil, water and farmland conservation, but no new taxes would be required.

Nonprofits could also be involved, via cost-sharing, in the identification of critical habitats and other joint projects.

In Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties alone, almost 100,000 acres of farmland has been lost since 1984. The biggest loss was in grasslands, which are good for livestock, wildlife, and watershed protection.

“SB 1142 is good government,” Wiggins said. “It gives farmers the ability to tap into an existing funding stream to protect the farms from which we all benefit. And it makes better use of tax dollars through carefully evaluated easements to protect critical habitats and watersheds.”

The measure was sponsored by the California Association of Land Trusts and supported by dozens of land conservation and farming groups.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A man facing felony vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run charges in connection with a collision that claimed the life of a Kelseyville restaurateur was in court on Friday afternoon, where it was revealed he was driving on a suspended license the day of the fatal incident.

James Walter Nightingale, 30, was arraigned in Judge Richard Martin's Department 2 courtroom Friday afternoon, a week after the fatal incident took place.

On Sept. 24 Nightingale is alleged to have struck 57-year-old Zino Mezoui, who was riding a motorcycle on Highway 29 near Siegler Canyon Road, before fleeing and abandoning his Chevrolet Suburban not far from the scene, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Mezoui later died at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, officials reported.

Nightingale turned himself in on Wednesday afternoon after the CHP and other local agencies, aided by tips from the public, spent days tracking down leads in an effort to find him, as Lake County News has reported.

In court on Friday it was revealed that Nightingale has other cases in the courts. At the time of the crash he was driving on a suspended license and was on probation for drunk driving. He also reportedly has a warrant for his arrest out of another county.

Those issues are now translating into additional charges against him.

Initially, Nightingale was arrested on charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and hit-and-run resulting in death, and a misdemeanor warrant from an outside agency. Since then, additional misdemeanor allegations of driving on a suspended license that was revoked for driving under the influence, and two probations violations also have been placed on his booking sheet.

In court on Friday public defender Shawn Collins made a special appearance on behalf of Nightingale. The court appointed defense attorney Jacob Zamora to represent Nightingale, who is set to return to court in Clearlake next Friday.

Nightingale – whose booking sheet lists him as a general contractor, although the Contractors State License Board does not show a license for him – remained in the Lake County Jail on Friday, with bail set at $50,000.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

 

 

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if Bartlett pears made Lake County famous or the other way around. The histories of both are interwoven throughout the last century and more, resulting in a mutually beneficial agricultural tapestry that lives on today.

There are fewer pear orchards here now than there were some decades ago; even so, Lake County produces a respectable crop as the second-largest supplier of premium pears in the U.S.

Most farmers in Lake County were growing grain in the late 1800s and early 1900s when a few farmers planted pear orchards. Over time, pears became the crop of choice because of the higher profit margin they provided.

In 1885, Lake County apples and pears – and particularly the Bartlett pear – attracted a lot of attention at the New Orleans World’s Fair and an industry was born.

Dried Bartlett pears from Lake County were fondly referred to as “slabs of gold” and were considered by many to be the finest dried pears in the world. Prized in Europe, most were exported there until the market for them collapsed in the early 1920s.

Growers then began packing pears for the fresh market, and by the late 1920s the market was booming. Since then, the market for pears has waxed and waned, with the destruction and replanting of orchards dependent on the need for the crop.

A high of almost 8,000 acres of pears was reached in 1976, but since that time Lake County has lost roughly 50 percent of that acreage to other land uses, as well as the majority of its pear packing houses.

The industry survives, however, and pears are still very much part of our identity. Thousands throng to the Kelseyville Pear Festival each year (held yesterday and each September since 1991), where our past and present relationship with the pear is celebrated.

 

 

 

 

 

“Mountain pears,” as Lake County pears are called, are especially prized because of the taste that’s produced by the hot days and relatively cool nights prior to harvest. While our Bartlett pears may be the best known, numbers of other varieties are grown here, including the buttery, sweet Comice and the popular dessert pear, Bosc.

Pears, along with their relatives, apples and quince, are members of the rose family. Wild pears have grown in Asia and Europe since prehistoric times, and their cultivation can be traced back about 3,000 years on both continents. The Asian pear is a different species than its European counterpart, with firmer flesh and less sweetness.

One of the earliest written records of them comes from Homer, who called them “gifts of the gods.” They were a popular fruit in the ancient world, particularly prized by the Persians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans.

By medieval times, more than 200 varieties were being cultivated in Italy, and by the 17th century the French, inspired by King Louis XIV’s passion for produce, were growing more than 300 varieties. Now, more than 3,000 varieties exist worldwide. Some put that number as high as 5,000.

There are no native American varieties. Like the apple, the first American pears were raised from seed (via seeds that came from England to Massachusetts in 1629) so they will not breed true to variety. Hence, American pears have become more diverse than their European ancestors.

With their delicate flavor and elegant presentation, pears are often served in the European tradition with cheese and wine as a dessert course. A diversity of flavor and texture among pear varieties allows for an endless array of pairings. Matching complementary wine and cheese to pears is a delicious art.

Pears are a good source of vitamin C and copper, both of which are antioxidant nutrients that protect our cells from damage. As well, pears provide a healthy dose of vitamin K, which aids in healing and the clotting of blood when we’re injured. Studies also indicate that vitamin K guards against the loss of bone density that leads to osteoporosis.

Pears are rich in fiber, which aids in digestion, helps stabilize blood sugar and may aid in lowering blood cholesterol.

Most of the vitamin C in pears is concentrated in the skin, so it’s recommended that pears be eaten unpeeled.

Pears may be ripened at room temperature or in a paper bag to hasten the process. Once ripe, they should be stored in the fridge, but be sure to allow for good oxygen flow or they will degrade quickly. (Storing in plastic bags or restrictive spaces is not recommended.)

Interestingly, fully ripened pears provide the most antioxidants.

I love choosing recipes for my culinary classes featuring Lake County pears because their subtle but distinct flavors may be featured in salads, soups, main courses, and, of course, desserts. Recipes with pears as their centerpiece are especially sophisticated. Even dishes that are purposely rustic, such as some pear tarts and pizza with pears, have an air of elegance in their taste and presentation.

I’m especially excited this pear season as I’ll be teaching two classes featuring our local fruit: one at Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley Lake on Sunday, Oct. 3, and the other the following Sunday, October 10, at The Kitchen Gallery in Lakeport. The menus will be different in each class.

For now I’ll leave you with an offering from last year’s class, a pizza featuring Lake County pears, caramelized onions, and prosciutto. Use your favorite crust, whether homemade or store bought, and if you prefer a vegetarian version, eliminate the prosciutto and add a bit of local goat cheese in its place. Enjoy!

Lake County pear pizza with caramelized onions and prosciutto

1½ tablespoon sweet butter

1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced

½ teaspoon sugar

Prepared pizza crust to serve four

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

2 medium sized ripe Lake County pears, such as Bartlett, cored and sliced

¼ cup chopped prosciutto

¼ cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, coarsely chopped

Melt butter in large skillet. Add onions and cook over medium low heat, stirring frequently, for 25 minutes, or until onions are very soft and golden brown. Add sugar and cook for five minutes more.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spread pizza crust on large baking sheet and top with mozzarella cheese, onions, pears, prosciutto and Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown. Top with thyme and let cool slightly. Cut into wedges and serve. Makes four individual pizzas or a large one to serve four.

 

 

Esther Oertel, the "Veggie Girl," is a personal chef and culinary coach and is passionate about local produce. Oertel owns The SageCoach Personal Chef Service and teaches culinary classes at Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., and The Kitchen Gallery in Lakeport, Calif. She welcomes your questions and comments; e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A full day of fun is planned at the 18^th annual Kelseyville Pear Festival this weekend.

Renowned cowboy singer Dave Stamey will kick off the festival at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24, at the Wildhurst Vineyards tasting room on Main Street.

The main festival event – a Lake County tradition – will take place on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street in historic downtown Kelseyville.

The centerpoint of the Kelseyville Pear Festival is the Pear Pavilion — a large showcase of “everything pear” including historical photos, videos, and agricultural exhibits as well as some of Lake County’s finest “pear products” — from jams and jellies to refreshing pear ice cream and delicious pear pies, which always prove to be a sell-out.

Pear taste tests, parade, and children’s activities are all part of the family fun.

 

The day will offer fun for the whole family with a quilt show, a fine arts show, local arts and crafts, as well as performances throughout the day from local musicians, dancers and cloggers.

Mule-drawn wagon rides transport event-goers along the streets, adding to the hometown feel.

Children also will enjoy a wide array of activities including jump houses and a petting zoo with miniature animals.

Displays and exhibits focus on the town’s agricultural heritage, featuring the many types of pears grown in and around Kelseyville, affectionately known as the “Pear Capital of the World.”

The event's full schedule of events follows below.

18th Annual Kelseyville Pear Festival schedule of events

7 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Pancake breakfast at the firehouse on Main Street.

9 a.m.: Vendor booths open.

9:30 a.m.: National anthem sung by Makenna Rose Enger. Main Street parade begins.

11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Clogging Kids in the Children’s Area.

11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.: Konocti Fiddlers on the Oak Tree Stage.

11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Musical group “Will Siegal and Friends” on the Kelsey Creek Main Stage.

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Musician Travis Rinker at WestAmerica Bank.

11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Puppeteer Tony Borders in the Children’s Area.

12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Announcements on the Kelsey Creek Main Stage.

12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.: Musical group “Uncorked” on the Oak Tree Stage.

12 p.m. to 1 p.m.: Musician Hilary Wilt at the Pear Pavilion.

12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.: Musical group “Will Siegal and Friends” on the Kelsey Creek Main Stage.

12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.: Clogging Kids in the Children’s Area.

1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.: Musical group “Hot Frittatas” on the Oak Tree Stage.

1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Juggler Ian Smith in the Children’s Area.

1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Cloggers at Norton Motors Stage.

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Musical group “Without a Net” on the Kelsey Creek Main Stage.

3 p.m.: Ice cream eating contest at LuLu’s Ice Cream Shop.

3 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Melodrama on the Oak Tree Stage.

All day events throughout the festival:

• Antique tractors

• Konocti Art Show at WestAmerica Bank

• Pear Pavilion at WestAmerica Bank parking lot

• Quilt show at the Methodist Church

• Senior Art Show at the Kelseyville Senior Center on Third Street

• Children’s activities, animal education display, obstacle course, jumpslide, snow cones, cotton candy, face painting, balloon animals and much more.

Visit www.kelseyvillepearfestival.com/.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fall arrived in spectacular full moon fashion on Wednesday.

A “super harvest moon” heralded fall's arrival.

Also notable in the skies this week was a conjunction with Jupiter, which was visible hanging below the moon.

Lake County photographer Ron Keas captured the super harvest moon rising above the Lucerne Hotel Wednesday night.

The building appeared to have its own lucky conjunction of planets this week, when the Board of Supervisors, sitting as the Lake County Redevelopment Agency, voted unanimously to purchase the building in an effort preserve it and put it to use for, among other things, an educational facility.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Saturday, Sept. 25, the 18th annual Kelseyville Pear Festival begins with a parade down Main Street starting at 9:30 a.m.

Popular young Lake County singer, Makenna Rose Enger, will sing the national anthem to start the parade. The parade always begins a full day of fun activities that celebrate the county’s agricultural heritage.

This parade showcases all that is good about small town America. Marchers, walkers, floats, vintage vehicles, private cars, trucks, tractors, bicycles and horses are lined up to help celebrate harvest time.

This year the Lake County Quilt Trail joins the celebration. A clothe quilt has been stitched by a team of quilters. Each quilt block is a representation of a quilt design that makes up the Lake County Quilt Trail – see it at the corner of Main St. and First Street at the Methodist Church. Take time to see the entire quilt show filled with amazing creations. Raffle tickets for the LCQT Quilt will be available there.