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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – In celebration of spring, Shannon Ridge Family of Wines is pleased to announce the reopening of the Vigilance Vineyards Tasting Room on Saturday, May 3.
A grand reopening celebration will be held at the tasting room on Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A complimentary glass of wine will be offered to guests along with Shannon Ranch grass-fed smoked “Denver” lamb ribs.
Friends, family and four-legged companions are welcome.
“We are really looking forward to reopening the Vigilance Vineyards tasting room,” said Marni Johnson, Shannon Ridge Family of Wines tasting room manager. “Over the winter we've missed seeing our loyal customers and making new friends. Now that the weather is nice we hope to see a lot of visitors come through the doors.”
Tasting flights will change weekly and will include Shannon Ridge Family of Wines' portfolio of brands, including Shannon Ridge, Vigilance Vineyards, High Valley, Hillgate, Dalliance and Playtime.
Vigilance Vineyards Tasting Room is located at 13888 Point Lakeview Road in Lower Lake and will be open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The tasting fee is $5 per person for five wines, which is waived with purchase.
For more information contact Vigilance Vineyards at 707-994-9656 or email at
For more information on Vigilance Vineyards visit www.vigilancewinery.com .
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Earlier this month, Congressmen John Garamendi (D-CA-3) and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-1) sent a bipartisan letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging them to reject a proposed regulation that would have imposed an unnecessary burden on many small breweries while also contributing to an increase in food waste.
Eleven additional members of the California Congressional Delegation – six Democrats and five Republicans – signed onto the Garamendi/LaMalfa letter urging the FDA to reconsider.
On Thursday, the FDA announced that they would not pursue the regulation. Garamendi and LaMalfa heralded the decision as a victory for sustainable agricultural practices and California’s craft breweries.
“We've heard from trade groups and members of Congress, as well as individual breweries raising concerns that FDA might disrupt or even eliminate this practice by making brewers, distillers, and food manufacturers comply not only with human food safety requirements but also additional, redundant animal feed standards that would impose costs without adding value for food or feed safety,” Michael R. Taylor, the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine explained on the FDA’s official blog. “That, of course, would not make common sense, and we’re not going to do it.”
“Ensuring food safety is one of the most important functions of the federal government. However, in this specific instance, the FDA was proposing a burdensome and unnecessary regulation, and I’m glad they’re reversing course,” Congressman Garamendi said.
Many breweries currently reuse their spent grain to feed cattle, sometimes for beef used at restaurants on premises. Under the proposed regulation that has since been rejected, this practice would have become prohibitively expensive, as breweries would be forced to dry, package, and inspect all food, including spent grain used for cattle. This would make the grain practically worthless, thus increasing food waste and cutting into profits at small breweries.
Garamendi added, “Many small breweries are helmed by people who believe deeply in conservation and sustainable agriculture. They like to buy local and stay local, partnering with area farmers to reduce food waste. It’s great news that this practice can continue in California and across the nation.”
Breweries that incorporate restaurants in their facilities are already required to register with the FDA, abide by extensive food safety regulations, and maintain food safety records. The craft brewery industry is rapidly expanding in America and especially in California.
According to the Brewers Association, 2,768 craft breweries operated for some or all of 2013, creating 110,273 jobs and generating $14.3 billion in retail dollar value.
The Third District is home to several small breweries, including Berryessa Brewing Co. in Winters, Black Dragon Brewery in Woodland, Heretic Brewing Co. in Fairfield, Sudwerk Brewery in Davis, and Sutter Buttes Brewing in Yuba City.
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WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-5) led a bipartisan letter with Rep. Pete King (R-NY-2) to President Barack Obama requesting that he require all federal agencies to only buy American flags that are 100 percent made in America, by American workers, using American grown and manufactured materials.
“American flags bought by the United States government should be made in America, and they should be made by American workers and from American products. We urge the Obama Administration to make this simple buy-American policy a requirement for all federal agencies so that American tax-dollars are spent in support of American products and workers,” said Thompson.
Prior to last year, only the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was required to purchase American made U.S. flags. Then earlier this year, Thompson authored and passed legislation requiring the Department of Defense (DOD) to only purchase American flags that are 100 percent made in America.
However, federal agencies other than the VA and DOD are only required to purchase flags made of just 50 percent domestic content. Thompson and King requested the Obama Administration expand the VA and DOD’s buy-American requirements to U.S. flags purchased by all federal agencies.
The full text of the letter is below.
April 10, 2014
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We respectfully request that your Administration require all federal agencies to buy American flags that are 100 percent made in America, by American workers, using American-grown and manufactured materials.
Prior to last year, only the Department of Veteran Affairs was required to purchase American made American flags. Then earlier this year, legislation we introduced was included in the Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations Act, 2014 (P.L. 113-76, Sec. 8123), that required American Flags to be covered by the Berry Amendment. As a result, DoD is now required to buy only Berry Amendment-compliant American flags.
These policies are a good start. However, we believe that it is inappropriate for federal agencies to continue to purchase just Buy American Act-compliant American flags, mandating just 50 percent domestic content.
Wherever an American flag is flown, it is a symbol of the freedoms men and women throughout our history have marched, fought and died to secure. There is no greater symbol of our country, our unity, our freedom, and our liberty than our flag. It fills us with pride every time we see it flown or presented by an honor guard.
We look forward to working with you to ensure that all American flags purchased by the federal government are 100 percent made in America, by American workers, with American content.
Sincerely,
MIKE THOMPSON PETER KING
Member of Congress Member of Congress
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UKIAH, Calif. – Robert L. Scott of Westport is the new chair of the Mendo Lake Credit Union (MLCU) board of directors.
Scott was elected to the post during the credit union’s 55th annual meeting of staff, directors and members.
Joining Scott on the board from Lake County is newly-elected director John Burke from Kelseyville.
Burke also serves as a board member for the Lake County Children's Museum of Art and Science, and says that he is “looking forward to being a part of a financial institution whose sole interest is to serve the needs of its members, with the mission of making Lake and Mendocino Counties a great place to live and work.”
Outgoing chair Cameron Reeves from Lakeport will continue to serve as a director.
Mendocino County board members are Larry Myers, vice chair; Arlene Colombini, secretary/treasurer; directors Karen Christopherson and Monte Hill – all of Ukiah; and director Dale Simpson, Fort Bragg.
Carolyn Welch of Ukiah was elected to the Supervisory Committee joining members Dave Goodman and Madelin Holtkamp of Ukiah.
For MLCU, 2013 was “a year of amazing growth and substantial progress,” the credit union’s chief executive officer, Richard Cooper, reported during the meeting.
Highlights for the year included a merge with Fort Bragg Community Federal Credit Union, which increased assets by more than $47 million and brought more than 4,700 members to MLCU. In addition, a major data processing conversion was completed.
The credit union saw an increase in lending that included over $38 million in new consumer loans issued during 2013.
Cooper also noted that more than $85,000 was invested to assist nonprofits and community service organizations in the two-county area.
“Thanks go out to our dedicated volunteer group, including our Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee, as well as our remarkable service team (over 60 strong!) who serve our members every day,” noted Cooper. He went on to thank the membership for its “continued trust and confidence,” noting that MLCU “looks forward to continuing to grow and meet the communities’ financial needs in the years to come.”
Total assets reported for MLCU for 2013 grew from $127 million to $174 million, according to figures published in the MLCU Annual Report.
The number of members increased from 18,528 to 25,043. During 2013, MLCU was recognized by the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, receiving first place in the state Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award. This award acknowledged MLCU’s ongoing work with elementary school, high school and college students in both counties.
Mendo Lake Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative and has been serving members’ financial needs since 1959. MLCU branches are located in Lakeport, Clearlake, Fort Bragg and Ukiah.
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