SACRAMENTO – North Coast State Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) and Assembly member Patty Berg (D-Eureka) have earned perfect 100-percent scores from the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) for her votes on environmental legislation in 2008.

Wiggins was one of only nine state senators (out of 40) achieving a perfect score on CLCV's annual legislative scorecard, while Berg was one of 19 of the 80 Assembly members to reach the 100-percent mark.

Average scores were 61 percent in the Senate and 61 percent in the 80-member Assembly. She also earned a 100 percent CLCV score in 2007, her first year as a senator.

“Now more than ever, California faces monumental challenges to safeguard our clean drinking water, healthy air and precious natural resources,” Wiggins said. “This is especially true for my North Coast district, where working families are dependent on the jobs that come from a sustainably-managed environment.”

The annual California Environmental Scorecard is published by CLCV, the political arm of the state’s environmental movement. The group says the scorecard tallies the year’s most important environmental votes to help Californians determine how Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and members of the state legislature perform on the environment.

This year’s ratings were based on lawmakers’ votes on 24 bills selected by a coalition of California environmental groups. Fifteen of the measures were approved by both houses of the Legislature and sent to the desk of Gov. Schwarzenegger. And of those 15, Schwarzenegger signed nine – earning him a score of 60 percent, a drop from his 2007 score of 63 percent.

Wiggins, who represents parts or all of six counties – Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma – is nearing completion of her second year in the Senate. As chair of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, she considers environmental protection one of her top priorities.

She introduced nearly a dozen environmental bills in 2008. Of those, eight were approved by the Legislature and only two were vetoed by the Governor. A brief description of the bills follows.

SB 562: Salmon Restoration Funding

Allocates nearly $5.3 million in Proposition 84 funds to the state Department of Fish and Game for coastal salmon and steelhead fisheries restoration and puts the funding into better oversight to ensure the money goes toward priority needs. Prop. 84 (the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act) was approved by California voters in 2006. Gov. Schwarzenegger signed this bill into law in April, a move which also enables the state to leverage up to $20 million in federal funds for salmon this year.

SB 1016: Landfill Disposal

Requires cities and counties to measure the amount of waste that is actually deposited in a landfill as opposed to the amount that they could supposedly divert. Will give the California Integrated Waste Management Board a more accurate and timely portrayal of how cities and counties meet the 50% diversion requirement. Signed by the governor.

SB 1431: State Park Easements

Clarifies that the state Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) can use conservation easements to protect and preserve state park lands, and enable DPR to make grants to state or local government agencies, or nonprofits, to purchase and hold conservation easements for protection and preservation. Signed by the governor.

SB 1557: Smart Growth Planning

This bill would have added a provision to the State’s Smart Growth planning priorities that seeks to address green house gas emissions. It would strengthen state law with regard to land use by updating Assembly Bill 857, a landmark piece of legislation (signed into law in 2002) to address state practices re: land use. Unfortunately, the provisions of AB 857 have largely been ignored, making SB 1557 necessary. Vetoed by the governor.

SB 1627: Marine Spills – Accountability of Board of Pilot Commissioners

This bill places the Board of Pilot Commissioners (Board) under the jurisdiction of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency for the purpose of ensuring appropriate oversight, accountability, and transparency of the Board. The Board should be as robust as possible to make certain pilots are properly trained and licensed, so that environmentally devastating accidents, such as the Cosco Busan incident, are minimized or, prevented. Signed by the governor.

SB 1645: Energy Design Element

This bill would have required the Energy Commission to update its Energy Aware Planning Guide, and require the Commission to work with the state to develop climate change and energy models for local government general plans. Vetoed by the governor.

SB 1690: Crab Fisheries Task Force

This bill will create an industry advisory group for California crab fishermen, which will ultimately develop recommendations for a sustainable crab fishery. Signed by the governor.

SCR 113: Emanuel Fritz Forest Ecosystem Research Area

This measure would designate the "Wonder Plot" in the lower Big River watershed as the “Emanuel Fritz Forest Ecosystem Research Area.” This is now law.

Wiggins had more bills signed into law this year than any other California state senator. Out of Wiggins’ 24 bills that were sent to the governor’s desk this year, 17 bills were signed; seven were vetoed.

Berg had 10 bills signed and two vetoed. None of the bills she introduced were specifically targeted at the environment.

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The free dinners are held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the

Odd Fellows Hall on Main Street.

The dinners are open open to everyone.

For more information call Claudine, 275-9030.

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The historic map was used to sell real estate in the 1800s. Courtesy of the Lake County Schoolhouse Museum.

LOWER LAKE – The Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum's Preservation Committee is holding a new fundraiser and offering for sale a historic Lake County map.

The 18-inch by 24-inch black-and-white map was created in the late 1800s as a marketing tool to encourage people to come to Lake County and buy real estate.

It features gorgeous drawings of the area's local architecture, and a map of the area showing the routes of the steamboats. Find areas of interest on the map still in existence today.

The map is a perfect gift for those who love Lake County, anyone who who loves art and architecture, and those hard to buy for family and friends.

Framed and unframed prints are available at Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum and Wild About Books in Clearlake. Proceeds go towards the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum.

For more information call the museum at 995-3565 or Wild About Books, 994-9453.

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The 94-minute documentary film is a sequel to filmmaker Gregory Greene's 2004 “End of Suburbia,” which examines the effects of oil dependency and shortages on the suburban lifestyle in the United States.

It dramatizes the choices made by people facing issues of sustainability and prohibitive gasoline prices, and the fate of a Los Angeles community garden.

Admission is free, a brown bag lunch is suggested.

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LUCERNE – The Lake County Democratic Club meets Saturday, Nov. 8 at noon at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center in Lucerne.

A final election wrapup and plans for the December Holiday party are on the agenda.

The senior center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive (corner of 10^th and & Country Club) in Lucerne.

The senior center serves breakfast from 9 a.m. until noon.

The public is invited. Membership in the Lake County Democratic Club is open to registered members of the Democratic Party.

For more information contact the local Democratic Party at 263-4529 or e-mail lakecountydemocrats@lakecountydemocrats.org.

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There will be more than 60 vendors, entertainment all day on the stage at Second and Main, and a Treasure Hunt which has become a tradition for many who attend the market, is being coordinated by the Lakeport Main Street Association.

In addition there will be free carriage rides by Eleven Roses Ranch, Santa’s Workshop sponsored by Sutter Lakeside Hospital, the 6th Annual Lighted Holiday Parade sponsored by Savings Bank of Mendocino and the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, sponsored this year by Hospice and their Light Up A Life program.

A costume contest for everyone, including merchants and vendors will take place, with judging at 2 p.m. in front of the Museum.

With the cooperation of the downtown merchants, this event has become successful in drawing several hundreds of holiday shoppers to experience shopping in downtown, kicking off the holiday shopping in Lakeport.

Unique and exciting gifts are available at Lakeport merchants, enhanced by a variety of vendors. Local organizations and nonprofits are encouraged to participate in the market along with school groups.

The sixth annual Lighted Holiday Parade is 6 p.m., followed by Christmas Caroling at Museum Square, followed by the Hospice Tree Lighting Ceremony. There will be caroling prior to the tree lighting.

Please note that applications for vendors for the Market and parade participants are available by contacting the Lakeport Regional Chamber at 263-5092 or visiting the chamber Web site at www.lakeportchamber.com. They also are seeking groups who wish to dress in period costumes and carol as they stroll downtown.

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