The Obama Administration this month released a report detailing key successes of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO), including advancing local conservation priorities, expanding access to lands and waters for recreation, restoring critical landscapes, and creating great urban parks and water trails in American communities.

In addition to their social, cultural and historic value, America’s outdoors provide vital jobs and economic benefits to communities across the country.

The Outdoor Industry Association estimates recreation activities including hunting, camping, biking and boating support $646 billion in direct economic activity and provide 6.1 million jobs.

“Through the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, President Obama has made it a priority to ensure that all Americans can enjoy one of our Nation’s greatest assets: its outdoors,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. “From restoring national treasures like the Everglades and the Great Lakes to connecting young people with recreational activities, the Administration has pursued a 21st century conservation agenda that builds healthy communities, grows our economy, and safeguards our most cherished natural resources.”

“There are few gifts we can give our children and grandchildren that are more important than conserving our nation’s natural, historic and cultural heritage and providing ample opportunities for them to experience it first-hand,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “Working hand in hand with communities through the America’s Great Outdoors initiative, we have undertaken and completed countless projects to promote conservation efforts, provide more outdoor recreational opportunities, and support economic growth and job creation. I know that, together, we can continue to add to this impressive list of accomplishments in the coming years.”

“The Obama Administration’s continued focus on the stewardship of both our public and working lands is crucial to the growth and revitalization of the rural economy,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Through record efforts to restore America’s National Forests and our work with more than 500,000 private landowners to conserve our soil and water resources, the America’s Great Outdoors initiative demonstrates the tremendous power of locally-driven conservation efforts to create jobs while reconnecting Americans to the outdoors.”

“The President’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative has helped connect Americans to the treasured outdoor spaces in their communities – including the more than 80 percent of Americans who live in urban areas,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Programs like the Urban Waters Federal Partnership allow EPA and its partners to revitalize urban waterfronts and open spaces in cities, leading to healthier and more prosperous communities all over the country.”

“The Corps of Engineers is an enthusiastic partner in the America’s Great Outdoors initiative,” said Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). “We are proud of our work to engage the youth of this country, through programs like the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. We thank our veterans for their service and profit from their expertise through initiatives such as the America the Beautiful park access pass and the Veterans’ Curation Program. We will continue to work with communities on river restoration, urban infrastructure renewal, and restoration opportunities for the public to participate in while having fun.”

The 2012 America’s Great Outdoors Progress Report describes how agencies are working together and with private sector, non-profit and community partners to leverage resources and deliver on-the-ground results for Americans. Examples include:

• The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) established a new “America the Beautiful Pass” that allows the men and women in our armed forces and their families to visit more than 2,000 national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, and other public lands without paying entrance or amenity fees.
• USDA and DOI investments in Youth Conservation Corps programs increased participation by 20 percent this year above 2011 levels.
• DOI and the Department of Education signed an historic agreement to expand outdoor learning access for an estimated 54 million students and teachers.
• The President has designated four new National Monuments that protect unique American natural, cultural and historic sites and promote local economic growth.
• EPA is leading a multi-agency team to revitalize urban waterways and increase access for all Americans through the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, beginning in seven pilot cities.
• DOI, USDA, USACE and the U.S. Department of Commerce re-launched the recreation.gov website with dramatic improvements and expanded content, helping millions of visitors plan travel, find outdoor resources, and explore national parks, lands, waters and historic and cultural sites.
• USACE, DOI, DOC, the EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation established a new National Water Trails System, opening up access points that connect people and communities to recreational opportunities on shorelines and waterways across the country.

The success stories highlighted in the report demonstrate how AGO promotes an approach to conservation that is locally driven, rooted in science, and involves collaboration among the full range of stakeholders, including federal agencies, businesses, farmers, ranchers, sportsmen and women, conservation organizations and state, tribal and local leaders.

President Obama launched AGO in April 2010 to foster a 21st century approach to conservation that is designed by and accomplished in partnership with the American people.

In 2011, CEQ, DOI, USDA, and EPA presented an AGO report to the president outlining a conservation action plan using input received from more than 100,000 public comments and 51 public listening sessions across the country.

Public input has continued to be a part of progress in this initiative, including through a March 2012 White House Conference on Conservation.

This is the second report detailing progress on America’s Great Outdoors since the President launched the initiative in 2010.  

To read the progress report or for more information about the AGO, visit www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/initiatives/ago .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Once again, the outpouring of generosity from the citizens of Lake County was overwhelming in support of the Child Protective Services Wish Tree at Umpqua Bank in Lakeport and Kelseyville.  

More than 180 children benefited from this program this holiday season.

A thank you to Clearlake Bassmasters is in order; the group donates $500 annually towards the purchase of gifts.  

The associates at Umpqua Bank also thanked Allen and Donna Thomas, Becky Ornellas, Linda Andersen and many others for their very generous monetary donations, which allowed the bank’s associates to finish the shopping. Without those generous donors, this would not have been possible.

There will be many happy children this holiday season thanks to the kindness of so many in the community. Lake County is truly a very special place to live.

The associates wished everyone a wonderful holiday season and a safe, happy, and prosperous new year.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Nov. 11, 1998, the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club sponsored the installation of the beautiful Blue Star Memorial Marker located on the north side of the Veteran’s Building in Lakeport.  

The club also installed a lovely garden beneath the memorial which it continues to maintain. Every year the club donates a beautiful handmade wreath during the Christmas season to display on the marker.

The Blue Star Memorial Marker Program of the National Council of State Garden Clubs Inc. (now the National Garden Clubs Inc.) was adopted in 1946 to establish living memorials to all those who have, or are now serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces.  

The markers are placed in public gardens, parks, aside flagpoles, fountains, picnic areas, viewpoints, historical or civic buildings, national cemeteries or veteran medical centers across the country.  

The placement of the markers and the continuing upkeep of surrounding landscaping is done by local garden clubs across the county to show their deep appreciation for the Armed Forces’ sacrifices towards the freedom and peace we enjoy in the United States of America.

The CLT&TGC meets at noon on the third Tuesday of the month (except July and August) at the Scotts Valley Women’s Clubhouse, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport, and welcomes new members.

For more information see www.CLTTGC.org or contact Club President Leanne Harvey, 707-263-0850.  

CLT&TGC is a member of the Mendo-Lake District, California Garden Club Inc., Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

Blood Centers of the Pacific reported that fire departments in Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties are joining together to participate in the seventh annual Bucket Brigade Challenge.

The event began Dec. 10 and is continuing through Jan. 26.

Participating fire departments recruit community members, colleagues, friends and family to donate lifesaving blood in an effort to win the Bucket Brigade Trophy and bragging rights for the year.

Last year several fire departments participated and recruited nearly 1,000 blood donors – a huge boost for the community blood supply.  

Windsor Fire Protection District prevailed the last three years, but not without heat from Lakeport Fire Department and Geyserville Fire Protection District.

The notion of a bucket brigade originates from the Great London Fire of 1666, where lines of townspeople created “brigades,” passing buckets of water from the town’s water source to the fires that threatened their community.  

This contemporary Bucket Brigade brings our community together in the same way - not to fight fire, but to save lives through blood donation.

“The Bucket Brigade was designed to boost the blood supply in December and January when donations are traditionally low due to weather, holidays and the flu season,” said Andrea Casson, Blood Centers of the Pacific senior account representative. “Over the years, nearly 7,000 donors have participated. We are grateful for the strong community spirit of our local firefighters and residents.”

Blood drives will be held in Lake County as follows:

• Saturday, Jan. 5: Middletown Fire Department, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., fire station meeting room, 21095 Highway 175.
• Saturday, Jan. 12: Lakeport Fire Department, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., truck bay and lounge, 445 N. Main St.

To make an appointment, visit www.bloodheroes.com or call 888-393-GIVE (4483).

Blood Centers of the Pacific (formerly Blood Bank of the Redwoods) supports more than 45 hospitals in Northern California including all hospitals in Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 26.

The group meets at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 14310 Memory Lane in Clearlake from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Social worker Jenny Johnson is the facilitator.  

The groups are sponsored by Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (1-800-834-1636) and the Social Day Programs in Lake County.  

For more information call Jenny Johnson at 707-350-3030 or Caroline Denny at 707-263-9481.

Respite is provided by the centers at no charge.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport’s community holiday tree is alive with lights in downtown Museum Park.

The beautiful blue spruce tree nearest the museum will remain lit throughout the holiday season until the first week in January.

Volunteers decorated the tree with more than 2,700 sparkling white lights; each light symbolizing the life, hopes and dreams of loved ones present and past.

The tree provides the perfect picturesque setting for holiday family photographs and is a cheery sight during the night hours and seasonal rainy weather.

This little blue spruce has survived its two predecessors and under the diligent care of the Lake County Parks and Recreation Department, the tree has grown to its current height of 14 feet and has the shape of a traditional holiday tree.

Being such a robust survivor, a characteristic it shares with Lake County residents, the tree is worthy of recognition as Lakeport’s official community holiday tree.  

In past years the Kiwanis Club of Lakeport has decorated the tree with ornaments and garlands. This year, Hospice Services of Lake County organized volunteers to decorate the tree with thousands of sparkling white lights with a cluster of red lights in the heart of the tree to symbolize the heart of the holidays.

The tree was officially lighted during the annual Light Up A Life candle lighting ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 24, which immediately followed the Holiday Lighted Parade and the Very Merry Main Street family and children’s fair in the afternoon.

The success of the combined event and subsequent appreciation from the community has resolved sponsors to continue lighting the blue spruce tree each year.

In past years one of the large deodar cedars was traditionally lighted in the park for the holidays. Because of the height of the trees, bucket trucks like those used by Pacific Gas and Electric were needed to string the lights.

The cedars have finally outgrown the reach of the bucket trucks, making the tops of the trees impossible to decorate.

While many people in the community will miss seeing the larger trees adorned with lights, event sponsors have embraced the blue spruce in front of the museum as Lakeport’s official community holiday tree.