Bill Brunetti has joined the Lake County Winegrape Commission Board. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – Semi-retired businessman Bill Brunetti of Lakeport is the newest board member of the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

Appointed recently as a public member, Brunetti will chair the Industry Relations Committee, according to Shannon Gunier, the commission's executive director.

Brunetti joins Commission Board Chairman Peter Molnar and members John Roumiguiere, Roumiguiere Vineyards; Buz Dereniuk, Catspaw Vineyards, secretary/treasurer; Randy Krag, Beckstoffer Vineyards, research/education chair; John Adriance, Snows Lake Vineyards, marketing chair; Brent Holdenried, Wildhurst Vineyards; and Jeff Lyon, owner of Robin Hill Vineyards.

Established in 1991 by the winegrape growers of Lake County, the Lake County Winegrape Commission is a local marketing order. Its primary function is to provide marketing, education, and research programs to Lake County winegrape growers.

Summing up the tasks associated with his new role, Brunetti says he is charged with marketing the Winegrape Commission to the local stakeholders in the area – to politicians, restaurants, businesses, and wineries. Starting with the local area will help marketing beyond the area, Brunetti believes.

“We need to market our area more toward wine and all the ‘buzz words’ that make people go to the Wine Country,” Brunetti said. “(The commission) wants to create a program for the stakeholders. We want to change the image in Lake County from (one of) ‘pears, walnuts, and oh, by the way, we grow winegrapes, too.’ ”

Brunetti says that he has seen a change in Lake County since 1983, when he moved to the area and purchased his grocery store, Bruno’s Foods in Lakeport. He believes the change can be attributed to Lake County’s growing wine industry.

“I always had a love for the wine business,” said Brunetti. “I’m a big believer in promoting local wines.”

As the owner of Bruno’s Foods, Brunetti was in charge of the buying and merchandising of wine for the store, which was a large retailer of wine and spirits, he added.

Brunetti sold the store in 2006, and although he owns and manages a couple of shopping centers, he considers himself semi-retired. “The thing I miss the most is the merchandising and the relationship with the wine industry.”

His new role with the commission will allow him to renew that relationship, he said. He is not a new face to the commission, however. He has frequently volunteered at other tasks to help the organization.

The commission’s bylaws allow for a public member, and Brunetti “fit the description,” said Gunier, who introduced the new commission member at the annual dinner meeting in June.

The Industrial Relations Committee is also new. Brunetti says it will allow him to use his strengths in marketing and finance.

“I am charged with marketing the Winegrape Commission to the local area,” he said. He will be working to “shift the focus” for business and tourism to one that emphasizes Lake County wineries and winegrape production.

Brunetti will use his business background, having worked in the grocery industry since he was 15 years old. Although he earned a degree in commercial aeronautics from the College of San Mateo, Brunetti did not find a job in the field. Instead, he worked for Albertson’s market for 18 years prior to purchasing his store in Lakeport.

He was familiar with Lake County, having visited the area while on vacation with his family each year.

Traveling from South San Francisco, his family would stay at Vallejo Landing in Clearlake for a week or two. He had a tradition at the end of each vacation. He would pick up a rock, he explained, and while tossing it into the lake would say, “I’m going to live here someday.” He and his wife Patty have a home in Lakeport.

Brunetti is a member of the Regional Board of Directors for Sutter Health and is beginning his stint as Northern California region chair for the Meg Whitman for Governor campaign. He is a past member of the Rotary Club of Lakeport and past Board member for the Lakeport Senior Center.

For further information about the Lake County Winegrape Commission and its programs, call the commission office at 707-995-3421 or visit its Web site, www.lakecountywinegrape.org .

Pearl Harbor and D-Day survivor Jim Harris receives the French Liberation Medal from Michelle Price on Monday, August 24, 2009, in High Valley. Photo by Ginny Craven.

HIGH VALLEY – As tough an an old sailor might be, he still can occasionally get a tear in his eye.

That was the case on Monday, when – as fellow veterans and Pearl Harbor survivors looked on – Jim Harris, 84, a longtime Lucerne resident, received a special token to recognize his service during World War II.

Harris was surprised by the honor during a special Pearl Harbor Survivors Association brunch at the High Valley home of Ronnie and Janeane Bogner.

Ronnie Bogner, who acts as the master of ceremonies of the annual Pearl Harbor commemoration at Library Park and is an honorary member of the group, arranged for a French Liberation Medal – the Medaille de la France libérée – to be given to Harris at the gathering.

To add an extra measure of authenticity, Bogner had his friend Michelle Price, a Lake County resident and a native of Lyon, France, explain the medal and present it to Harris on behalf of the French people.

A few minutes earlier, before Harris had any idea that the medal was waiting nearby, Bogner asked him to explain his efforts to receive the medal, which was first offered in the 1940s. “For whatever reason, I can't seem to get one,” Harris said.

He added, “I would like to have it.”

After Price presented him the medal, and gave him the traditional kiss on each cheek, Harris wiped his eyes.

“That's too emotional,” he said, as his wife of 59 years, Helen, looked on.

Harris was entitled to the French medal because, not only did he serve in the Pacific during World War II, he later found himself in the European Theater aboard the USS McCook, which was at the D-Day landing in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944.

According to historians, the McCook – which Harris said was in the wave so close to shore that she kept having to be put into reverse to avoid running aground or hitting mines – shot an estimated 1,000 rounds into the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc.

Germans had been posted there and were putting down serious fire onto the beaches below, as soldiers scrambled onto land from the amphibious landing. That was until the McCook's captain spotted the guns and began returning fire.

The D-Day invasion was the beginning of the end for the Nazi stranglehold on Europe, and the French Liberation Medal illustrates that fact.

On its face it shows a map of France surrounded by a chain, with shell bursts breaking the chain in the northwest and southeast corners of the country, symbolizing the Allied landings.

Before he had any inkling he was about to get a copy of the medal – issued by the French government to commemorate its liberation from the Nazis in World War II – Harris had shared some of his experience with the group of about 30 people.

The French Liberation Medal shows a map of France surrounded by a chain, with shell bursts breaking the chain in the northwest and southeast corners of the country, symbolizing the Allied landings. Photo by Ginny Craven.

Included in the group were fellow Pearl Harbor survivors Walter Urmann, Bill Slater, Henry Anderson and “sweethearts” Alice Darrow and Lynn Poehler, whose husbands were among the men who witnessed and survived that attack on Dec. 7, 1941. Darrow's husband, Dean, was aboard the USS West Virginia and Poehler's husband, Bud, was aboard the USS St. Louis.

On Aug. 17, 1940, a 15-year-old Harris lied about his age to a recruiter – he claimed he was 19 – in order to get into the military.

By the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, the 16-year-old Harris had been assigned to the destroyer tender USS Dobbin. Just minutes before the attack started, he had come up on the ship's deck from the mess hall and stood watching planes come in over the harbor.

He and fellow sailors believed the planes were coming from the USS Enterprise, only realizing they were Japanese as the planes banked and they saw the “red meatball” – the red sun of the empire of Japan.

Harris recounted pulled oil-covered men from the harbor waters. As he reached down to help one man up the man's skin came off in his hands, causing a stunned Harris to let go. The man disappeared beneath the water and didn't come up again.

“It was the greatest shock of my life,” Harris said.

He would later make his way across the Pacific Theater – at one point ending up in a hospital in Java that he and several others left shortly before Japanese forces came in and slaughtered all of the hospital's occupants.

Harris and several others found the destroyer John D. Ford as they were making their escape and he stayed with the ship for five battles.

Pearl Harbor survivors Jim Harris (left) and Walter Urmann exchange a handshake at the Pearl Harbor Survivors annual brunch on Monday, August 24, 2009, in High Valley. Photo by Ginny Craven. Harris served aboard the destroyer tender USS Dobbin at Pearl Harbor, while Urmann was aboard the destroyer USS Blue.

He eventually even wound up in Australia, where he noted there were many pretty women.

“A lot of good beer, too,” chimed in Anderson, who had been aboard the USS Tennessee and later was in Okinawa and Australia himself.

Slater, whose wicked sense of humor is always on display, recounted the he was “happy to be at Pearl Harbor when the friends from Japan came to visit us.”

Ronnie Bogner made sure to rib Slater about the fact that, for many years, he hauled automobiles – most of them made in Japan.

Harris, still wiping his eyes after the event had ended, thanked Bogner.

“That's the most wonderful surprise I've had in many, many years," Harris said.

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 .

Pearl Harbor survivor Bill Slater, who served aboard the USS Pennsylvania, shared a few of his thoughts about Pearl Harbor on Monday, August 24, 2009, in High Valley. Photo by Ginny Craven.

Pearl Harbor survivor Henry Anderson, who served aboard the USS Tennessee, attended the Pearl Harbor Survivors annual brunch on Monday, August 24, 2009, in High Valley. Photo by Ginny Craven.

Beginning Friday, Sept. 4, and continuing through the end of the market's season, Sept. 25, hours will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

In celebration, Market Manager Ann Breen will host the annual ice cream giveaway that begins at 4 p.m.

"We had such a positive response and turn out last year, that it is obvious this is something the community really enjoys," Breen said at a recent market. "If the community has been waiting to come to the market, now is the time, as there are only four markets left for season."

The market continues to grow and offer Lake County a rich setting on the shores of Clear Lake where residents and tourists alike can enjoy purchasing local and regional produce, such as watermelon, corn, tomatoes, squash and cucumbers, while dining on fresh tacos, and other barbecue delights, including shrimp kabobs and hot dogs.

As the market takes place visitors can enjoy the sounds of Lake County's local musicians, such as Blind Spot, who will be the featured band at the upcoming ice cream social.

The Friday Night Farmers's Market is a joint effort by the Lake County Community Co-op, the city of Clearlake and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, with assistance by the Volunteers in Policing (VIP) program.

For more information, contact Breen at 707-694-2294.

This event could not have succeeded without the help and participation of many people.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Jerry at the Yacht club for being as gracious and accommodating as ever. Our musicians, the band "Without a Net" were great and their tunes got us out of our seats and dancing!

Our food preparers and servers, among them Johnnie Hathcock, Wil Flato, Theresa Thurman, Heather Powers and Carlene Lesker served an outstanding meal. And, once again, Bill Berkey and Harold Riley kept the wine glasses full.

Decorations, tables and chairs were set up by Paula Mune, Lenny Matthews, Larry Baron,Wanda Quitiquit, Richard Hoyt and Richard East. These folks did the heavy lifting for our guests and set up a beautiful venue. Thanks to UCC rentals for providing our chairs and LCAA for the tables.

We thank the farmers who sent us information, and who provided information tables – Morgan Valley Farms (home of Socorro's Salsa), Glo-Glee's Garden, Sky Hoyt, Barret Farms and Cow Mountain Kiko Goats.

A grateful thank you is also in order to Victoria Brandon of the Lake Group Sierra Club, Lorrie Gray of the Hunger Task Force, Lou Denny from Lake County Community Action Agency, Laisne Hamilton from the Free Kitchen Project, Marty McCarthy of C-CHAP, Colleen Pedroncelli from the Upper Lake Communty Meal Project and Hedy Montoya from Catholic Charities for coming out and publicizing your work on behalf of our Lake County citizens.

Many many artists donated their work to our silent auction. Among them Ruth Altman, Gloria De La Cruz, Karen Magnusson, Barbara Stubblefield, Shannon Tolson and Karen Turcotte and Wanda Quitiquit displayed their art for the auction.

Thanks to Ruth Altman for organizing the Auction and to Wanda Quitiquit, Heather Powers and Sunol Westergren for helping display the show.

Our generous union sponsors, United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 101, Operating Engineers Local 3, the North Bay Labor Council are gratefully acknowledged.

Our legislative sponsors, Sen. Pat Wiggins, and Assemblyman Wes Chesbro, are without peer.

We also want to send a special thank you to the Honorable Majority Whip of the Assembly, 12th District Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, for being our guest of honor. This may have been her first visit to Lake County, but we are certain it won't be her last!

Thanks again most of all to everyone who attended and made this event a tremendous success. We will see you all next year.

Sunol Westergren is chair of the Lake County Democratic Club and Wanda Harris is Summer Harvest Festival chair.

A collision on Tuesday, August 25, 2009, east of Clearlake Oaks resulted in a tractor trailer hitting several other vehicles before going into Cache Creek, triggering a hazmat cleanup. Photo by Kevin McLean.

CHP Officer Steve Tanguay said three people were transported to area hospitals in the wake of the crash, which resulted in a hazmat cleanup and roadway shutdown lasting until just after midnight Wednesday morning.

At 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, 59-year-old Kirby Brown of Temecula was driving a 1983 motor home eastbound on Highway 20, east of New Long Valley Road, when the motor home began having mechanical problems, Tanguay said.

CHP Sgt. Scott Moorhouse, who worked as an incident commander on the scene, told Lake County News that the hood on Brown's motor home dislodged and smashed into the windshield.

He said Brown pulled over, but the RV was sticking out about a foot over the roadway's white fogline.

Theodore Smith, 76, of Poway, was driving his 2003 Honda eastbound behind the motor home, Tanguay said. Smith slowed his vehicle and passed the motor home on the left side.

Also traveling eastbound was David Martinez, 38, of Sacramento, in a 2000 Freightliner tractor with trailers. Tanguay said that as Martinez approached where the motor home was pulled over, he saw that it was stopped and applied the brakes of his truck.

When Martinez realized that he couldn't stop in time he swerved to the left and crossed over the solid double yellow lines, entering the westbound lane of traffic, Tanguay said.

The truck collided with three westbound-traveling vehicles – a 1993 Ford pickup driven by Dominic De Lello, 57, of Palo Cedro; 61-year-old Clearlake resident Stephen Snyder's 2002 Acura; and a 2000 Chevy driven by 62-year-old Patricia Howell of Kelseyville. Tanguay said it also hit Smith's Honda.

The Freightliner then veered to the left and struck the guard rail to the north of the roadway, said Tanguay. The truck went through the guard rail and down the embankment to the north of the roadway.

As the Freightliner was traveling down the embankment, it began to overturn. Tanguay said the Freightliner came to rest on its side in Cache Creek.

A number of local agencies swung into action as a result of the crash.

Northshore Fire Battalion Chief Pat Brown reported that Northshore Fire, Lake County Fire Protection and Cal Fire responded, with the districts providing advanced life support before REACH got on scene for transport.

Martinez was transported by ambulance to Saint Helena Hospital-Clearlake for treatment, while REACH air ambulance took De Lello and Howell to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for their injuries, Tanguay said.

Meanwhile, a hazmat operation was under way.

“The main concern was the environmental hazard with the diesel and any of the other fluids,” said Moorhouse.

The fire districts were on scene two hours before Environmental Health and Fish and Game arrived, so Brown said firefighters put in place 1,200 feet of hazmat booms in Cache Creek in an effort to contain the fuel from the pear truck.

Moorhouse said Fish and Game eventually took supervision of the hazmat operation, and shared overall incident command with CHP.

Brown gave special recognition to three Cal Fire engines, a medic rig from Lake County Fire, and four engines, heavy rescue and two battalion chiefs from Northshore Fire District that worked this incident. Like past incidents – such as a Safeway truck that went into Blue Lakes in April – all of the units worked well with CHP, Caltrans and Fish and Game, he said.

It took several hours for two tow companies to pull the tractor trailer out of Cache Creek, Moorhouse said. About 100 feet of guardrail still needs to be repaired, which Moorhouse said will be done by Willits Towing & Recovery. Part of the pear load also needs to be removed.

Moorhouse said he was on scene about 10 hours during the lengthy operation. Five other CHP officers also were on scene throughout the evening, he said.

Tanguay said drugs and alcohol are not considered to be factors in this collision, which CHP Officer Mark Crutcher is investigating.

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 .

When the truck went down the embankment it damaged about 100 feet of guardrail. Photo by Kevin McLean.

Several vehicles were damaged, including this 1993 Ford pickup driven by Dominic De Lello, 57, of Palo Cedro. Photo by Kevin McLean.

Cowboy singer Dave Stamey will be help get things started at the Kelseyville Pear Festival on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE – Wildhurst Vineyards of Kelseyville is sponsoring an addition to the multiple activities being presented during the 17th annual Kelseyville Pear Festival.

Cowboy singer Dave Stamey will appear in the Wildhurst Courtyard on Fri., Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m. in a benefit for the Kelseyville High School chapter of Future Farmers of America.

Tickets, at $25 per person, are available for purchase in the Wildhurst tasting room, 3855 Main St.

Dave Stamey has been a cowboy, a mule packer, a dude wrangler and now is one of the most popular Western entertainers working today.

He has twice been voted Entertainer of the Year, three times Male Performer of the Year and twice Songwriter of the Year by the Western Music Association. He has also received the Will Rogers Award from the Academy of Western Artists.

Stamey says that his “experiences all came out of the world in which I was raised – the ranching world. It just happens to be a way of life I know very well, and it’s what I’m comfortable writing about. It keeps me anchored. There are thousands of things in everybody’s day that can be turned into songs, and the secret is, if you do it in a truthful way, everybody gets it.”

The Lake Fiddlers will open the evening’s program. A complimentary glass of Wildhurst wine will be available with a ticket purchase. Seating is general admission and limited. Call the tasting room for more information, 707-279-4302.

The Pear Festival itself will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, with the parade at 9:30 a.m. featuring entries from Kelseyville and elsewhere.

The popular contingent of antique and working tractors will once again be part of the parade and later on display.

Other components of the festival include the Pear Pavilion with historical and agricultural displays and pear products, arts and crafts booths, a fine art show, a quilt show, children’s activities and much more.

Details about the Pear Festival are available at www.pearfestival.com .