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- Written by: Lake County Chamber of Commerce
LAKEPORT – The Lake County Chamber of Commerce's member of the month for March is Cliff Ruzicka of Ruzicka Associates in Lakeport.
Ruzicka has lived in Lake County for 40 years. As a young person, he was intrigued with the great advances in technology and the investments of the U.S. in large infrastructure projects such as the dams, freeway systems, large water projects and airports.
Having an entrepreneurial spirit, Ruzicka chose to open his own civil engineering business. He selected Lake County because it appealed to his Midwest, rural background. He also appreciated the abundance of activities for the outdoorsman, and thought Lake County would be a great place to raise a family.
Thirty five years ago Nancy came to visit Lake County and met Cliff. Between them Cliff and Nancy Ruzicka have raised five children here and currently have five grandchildren and a sixth is on the way.
Ruzicka Associates is a full-service civil engineering and land surveying firm offering services which include: boundary surveys, lot line adjustments, flood certificates, land surveying, engineering services during construction and engineering investigations.
They also offer design services for: site improvement for residential and commercial development, public works projects, roads, water and sewer systems, and grading and drainage.
In addition to these services, Ruzicka Associates has the only soils lab in Lake County.
Nancy and Cliff Ruzicka are very involved in making their community a better place. Recently Ruzicka Associates donated engineering and surveying services for Lakeport’s new Westside Community Park and the Mt. Konocti acquisition.
The Ruzickas also support local sports teams, host shadow days for high school students interested in learning about engineering and offer internships for college students.
They have been long-term supporters of economic development projects, the Chamber of Commerce, the Miss Lake County Pageant, the development of Sutter Lakeside Hospital and many other local businesses, churches and nonprofit organizations.
They employ 10 to 20 people depending on internships and economic times.
They are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and after hours and weekends by appointment.
Ruzicka Associates is located at 2495 Parallel Drive in Lakeport, telephone 707-263-6155 or contact them via e-mail at
Visit the company's Web site at www.ruzicka-engineering.com/contact.html .
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT – Konocti Vista Casino's Executive Chef Ben Larimer recently took second place in the Iron Chef California.
Larimer was one of eight finalists chosen to take part in the main event from the fifty recipes submitted. He breezed through the first round on Tuesday, March 9, with a pan-seared swordfish served with pineapple ginger puree and roasted cilantro risotto.
On Wednesday, when the final four contestants took to the kitchen, Larimer achieved victory over Ryan Barnett, a corporate chef for Palm, when he produced a Napoleon filet. The Napoleon was prepared with Australian tenderloin layered with seared spinach with a balsamic reduction.
In the final his Yin and Yang Salad, Parpadelli pasta infused with sesame and ginger served with marinated Kobe beef and dressed with a roasted red pepper sesame vinaigrette and cilantro pecan vinaigrette was narrowly defeated by Kristela Nazario of Pyramid Brewery Berkeley.
Larimer, a native of Coweta, Okla., is a self-taught chef who learned his trade under Italian and Mexican chefs and at five-star 5 Diamond properties.
This is not the first time he has enjoyed success in nationally recognized competitions. Next month he will be filming two episodes of “Top Chef” as a guest judge following his win in the Top Chef Tour Quaker Oats Quickfire Challenge. You can view a story about this event at http://quickfire.bravotv.com/quickfire/index.php .
Konocti Vista Casino is very fortunate to have a chef of his quality heading up the team at the Vista Steakhouse and Larimer likes to think they produce “the best steak on the lake.”
“I enjoy the area and the people of Lake County and I really appreciate their hospitality,” he said.
Humble and soft spoken, Larimer is passionate about food and cooking and his dedication to producing quality dishes is unsurpassed.
Watch out for this rising star of the culinary world whose talent and commitment will take him to the top.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT – The Lake County Department of Social Services and Arbor Education and Training will present a new subsidized employment program to potential employers.
Informational meetings will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 17, and 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 24.
They are offering informational meetings for employers about this program at the Board of Supervisor’s Chambers, located at 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport
This program is funded with newly available federal stimulus dollars with the goal of placing qualified participants in jobs to stimulate the local economy.
The Lake County Department of Social Services will reimburse employers the wages and taxes for qualified employees.
The employer will, in turn, provide supervision and training to the participants.
Space is limited, so please RSVP to Jeremiah at 707-995-9015.
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- Written by: Editor
SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang has released his monthly report covering California’s cash balance, receipts and disbursements in February.
The month’s receipts rose above the governor’s 2010-11 budget estimates by $480 million, or 8.7 percent.
“Revenues came in above projections for the third month in a row, continuing a positive trend that shows California is on the road to recovering from the recession. Given February’s numbers and recent action from the Legislature to improve the state’s cash flow, Californians should expect to receive their hard-earned tax refunds on time,” Chiang said. “While the worst may be behind us, we still face cash challenges later in the summer absent enactment of further credible and sustainable budget and cash solutions.”
Earlier this month, the Legislature enacted a package of payment deferrals – impacting largely state, local government, and school operations – to avoid cash shortfalls projected over the next 15 months.
Specifically, the bill provides up to $5 billion of additional liquidity during the weakest points in the State’s cash position.
Earlier projections showed the state’s cash position falling below safe levels on March 30. The controller has updated his cash-flow outlook to reflect February’s receipts as well as the Legislature’s payment deferrals.
Year-to-date receipts are ahead of budget estimates by $1.94 billion, or 3.9 percent. The state’s cash position was $2.15 billion ahead of projected levels on Feb. 28.
The state started the fiscal year with an $11.9 billion cash deficit in the General Fund, which grew to $22.3 billion by Feb. 28.
Those deficits are being covered with a combination of $13.5 billion of internal borrowing from special funds and $8.8 billion in short-term Revenue Anticipation Notes.
February 2010’s financial statement and the summary analysis can found on the controller’s Web site at www.sco.ca.gov .