SACRAMENTO – Drought, beetle outbreaks, millions of dead trees, and carbon sequestration are some of the issues experts will be discussing at the California Forest Pest Council's 64th annual meeting in November. 

The meeting will take place Nov. 4 and 5 at the USDA Forest Service, Wildland Fire Training & Conference Center, Hamm and Loop Rooms, 3237 Peacekeeper Way, McClellan.

Presentations will include topics such as addressing how to effectively utilize millions of dead trees, impacts of invasive and native tree pests and diseases, drought monitoring, and the role of forests in carbon sequestration.

California has lost more than 20 million trees this year to drought and beetle infestations, posing wildfire, carbon sequestration, and biomass complications. 

Invasive species continue to be an issue, with beetles such as the goldspotted oak borer spreading to a fourth southern California county, and pathogens, such as sudden oak death, are still spreading in some infested coastal counties despite unfavorable drought conditions.

“While the CFPC Annual Meetings are always a wealth of timely information, this year’s agenda really reflects the multitude of issues California’s urban and wildland forests are facing.  This will be a great opportunity to get everyone together in one place to share information and ideas.  The only way we can make a difference on so many fronts is for everyone to be at the table and talking,” said Bob Rynearson, CFPC Chair.

General Registration is available at http://caforestpestcouncil.org/2015/08/save-the-date-california-forest-pest-council-annual-meeting-november-4-5th-2015/ .

The agenda is available at http://caforestpestcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/10.21.15-CFPC-2015-Meeting-Agenda-for-Printing-and-Posting.pdf .

The Annual CFPC Meeting has been a forum for forestry industry (urban and wildland) representatives, researchers, land managers, and policy makers to share and discuss the latest information on California’s forest health issues since 1951.

CFPC members address topics of interest/concern through the Insect, Disease, Weed, Animal Damage, and Southern California Committees as well as through task forces that address more demanding invasive species issues (the California Oak Mortality Task Force-sudden oak death; California Firewood Task Force; and Pitch Canker Task Force).

For more information on the CFPC, go to http://caforestpestcouncil.org/ . 

For more information on the annual meeting or for media registration, contact Katie Harrell at 510-847-5482.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Arts Council's Summer Youth Art Camp is this year's beneficiary of Konocti Art Society's “opportunity” raffle.

This year, KAS made artistically functional birdhouses.

They were on display at the Main Street Gallery in Lakeport in August and the Kelseyville Westamerica Bank in September.

Winners of the birdhouses were drawn at the Kelseyville Pear Festival on Sept. 26.

The popular art program has grown since its inception in 2012 and many children continue to benefit from the variety of instructional opportunities offered.

Money donated will help to expand the program to reach more families in the greater Lake County community and to help with much-needed supplies.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – All branches of the Lake County Library system will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, to observe Veterans Day.

Normal hours at all branches will resume on Thursday, Nov. 12. Call your local branch if you have any questions.

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The phone number is 707-263-8817.

Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake, is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon to 7 p.m. The phone number is 707-994-5115.

Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St., is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The phone number is 707-987-3674.

Upper Lake Library, 310 Second St., is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The phone number is 707-275-2049.

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has announced a new collaboration between the Office of the Attorney General and AARP California to protect seniors from abuse and fraud.

The collaboration will focus on educating seniors, their families and the general public about elder abuse and fraud laws designed specifically to protect those who are 50 and over.

“Seniors are one of the most vulnerable and targeted populations in our state. My office is committed to holding accountable those who defraud, abuse, or neglect our senior citizens,” said Attorney General Harris. “I am pleased to collaborate with AARP California to deepen our engagement with seniors and to ensure their protection from those who prey upon them.”

Specifically, the collaboration will include hosting tele-town halls and webinars, developing and disseminating consumer and educational resources to protect against scams and schemes, and continuing to vigorously prosecute those who mistreat the elderly population in violation of state law.

“AARP California, through its AARP Fraud Watch Network, is very pleased to join forces with the Office of the Attorney General so together we can further arm Californians with the tools they need to spot and avoid scams,” said Nancy McPherson, AARP CA State Director.

“The Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for people of all ages that offers real-time alerts about the latest scams in our state, along with a scam tracking map where people can report on scams to alert their friends and neighbors. Additionally, the AARP Fraud Watch Network provides advice to outsmart con artists, and a helpline where Californians can talk to a trained volunteer for advice if they or someone they love has been scammed,” added McPherson.

Upon coming into office, Attorney General Harris reinstituted the Operation Guardian program under the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (BMFEA), which helps protect and improve the quality of care for California's elder and dependent adult residents living in skilled nursing facilities and which had been suspended as a result of budget cuts.

BMFEA is charged with investigating and prosecuting Medicaid provided fraud, the abuse and neglect of patients in Medicaid-funded residential health care facilities, and investigating fraud in Medicaid program administration.

BMFEA is headquartered in Sacramento with five field offices (including Sacramento regional, Burbank, Laguna Woods, San Diego and West Covina).

The Bureau maintains a toll-free number (1-800-722-0432) for referrals or complaints and offers a simple-to-use complaint form online: http://ag.ca.gov/bmfea/reporting.php .

BMFEA also participates in community events, such as health fairs and neighborhood crime prevention meetings, and provides elder abuse and fraud training to law enforcement and regulatory agencies.

In addition to consumer resources to protect seniors, Attorney General Harris’ office and AARP California are exploring ways to engage AARP members in the Attorney General’s 3rd grade reading campaign to ensure children are reading at grade level by third grade and on track to graduate from high school.

The initiative is a core priority for Attorney General Harris and is a central tenet of her “smart on crime” approach, as those who regularly attend school from a young age are less likely to drop out of school, fail to graduate, and come into contact with the criminal justice system.

The AARP Foundation Experience Corp program engages adult aged 50-plus as tutors and mentors to increase literacy and engagement among children in grades K-3.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.
 
LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from Rosemont Drive to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., or from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Valley Fire cleanup from the Lake/Napa County line to Hidden Valley will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs from Main Street in Kelseyville to the junction of Routes 29/175 near Lakeport will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 175
 
– Fire recovery work from the junction of Routes 29/175 in Middletown to Loch Lomond will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans encroachment permit for tree trimming from Fish Rock Road to south Iverson Road beginning Monday, Nov. 2. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Bridge painting at the Navarro River Bridge will begin Tuesday, Nov. 3. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Highway repairs just north of Ocean Meadows Circle will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from Old Willits Road to just east of Road 350 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 101
 
– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Pavement repairs from 0.3 miles north of Nelson Road to the Route 101/253 interchange will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. In two-lane sections, one-way traffic control will be in effect, and motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. In four-lane sections, traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction, and motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. At the Robinson Overcrossing and El Roble Overcrossing interchanges, ramps will be intermittently closed, and motorists should seek an alternate route. No consecutive offramps or onramps will be closed at the same time.
 
– Highway construction from Sherwood Road to the north Willits railroad crossing will continue through Saturday, Oct. 31. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the Arnold Bridge Overcrossing will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Pavement repairs from Harwood Road to Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Jitney Gulch Bridge, Rock Creek Bridge, and the Bridges Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at various South Fork Eel River Bridges from Piercy to the Humboldt/Mendocino County line will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
Highway 128

– Toulouse Vineyards of Philo has been granted a Caltrans encroachment permit to pave a commercial driveway 0.4 mile west of Philo beginning Monday, Nov. 2. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Local officials are advising the community that cannon fire will occur during half-time of the football game this Friday, Oct. 30, between Clear Lake High and Kelseyville High.

The Lakeport Police Department reported that a Civil War reenactment team with a cannon will be firing blanks at various times during the annual Bass Bowl football game, which takes place Friday from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

The cannon is expected to be fired at various times during the game including each time a team scores, police said.

Bass Bowl staff have advised that the cannon will be placed in a manner and location to reduce the sound effect to area residents.

Officials urged residents who may be affected for themselves to take precautions for themselves and any animals that will be disturbed by the cannon fire. 
 
The Lakeport Police Department, city of Lakeport and Lakeport Unified School District have advised Bass Bowl promotion staff to hand deliver notices of the cannon fire to residents in the areas surrounding the school district.