The Delta Plan’s fundamental purpose is to meet the state-mandated coequal goals of “providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring and enhancing the Delta ecosystem … in a manner that protects and enhances the unique cultural, recreational, natural resource and agricultural values of the Delta as an evolving place.”

The draft EIR analyzes the environmental impacts of the draft Delta Plan, which includes 12 regulatory policies and 61 recommendations designed to guide state and local agencies regarding land, water, air and other systems in the Delta.

The EIR also examines five alternative plans, including: a no project alternative, two alternatives with increased emphasis on water supply reliability, one alternative with increased emphasis on Delta ecosystem restoration and one alternative with increased emphasis on protection and enhancement of Delta communities and culture.

Comments on the draft EIR are currently being accepted electronically, by mail and at field hearings scheduled throughout California.

The deadline for submitting written comments on the draft EIR is February 2, 2012.

All comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the official administrative record and may be made available to the public.

Once the comment period closes, the council will review and analyze comments, and use information in the draft EIR to develop a final EIR and Delta Plan.

Written responses to draft EIR comments will be issued in the final EIR, which will be available at www.deltacouncil.ca.gov.

Final EIR certification and Delta Plan adoption is currently anticipated for spring 2012.

Additional information, including previous drafts of the Delta Plan, public comments received to date and background about the Delta Stewardship Council and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, can be found at www.deltacouncil.ca.gov.

Comments on the draft EIR by any of the following:

• Electronically via the council’s Web site at www.deltacouncil.ca.gov or e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• By mail sent to “EIR Comments,” Delta Stewardship Council, 980 Ninth St., Suite 1500, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Comments also may be submitted at a number of field hearings. The Northern California field hearing will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Willows City Council Chambers, 201 N. Lassen St., Willows.

Gladys Bransford, Angela Birk, Sherrye Schwarz, Barbara Harris, Bill McGraw, Zoila McGraw and Georgeann Tintorri on Wednesday, November 30, 2011. Photo by Sharon Cissel.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Bringing beauty to our surroundings is one of the goals of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club.

Last year the club voted to maintain Hartmann Road from Highway 29 to the end, a total of two miles.

For over a year the HVL Garden Club “Litter Bugs” have been out weekly picking up trash along the entire stretch of the road.

Last year members thought it would be even better to enhance the road with wild flowers and daffodils.

The group began with 300 bulbs in 2010 and added another 650 this fall, which should result in a wonderful display come spring.

Love to garden or just enjoy the beauty of nature? Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club’s mission is to provide members a greater sense of appreciation, pride and knowledge about our private and public gardens and for the study and enjoyment of amateur gardening in various aspects and applications.

Further, activities like planting daffodils along Hartmann Road makes a good time for everyone involved.

The public is invited to join the HVL Garden Club members at their monthly meeting. Anyone interested is welcome. You do not need to live in Hidden Valley Lake to attend and/or join.

Meetings are held in the activities room of the HVL Administrative Building, 18174 Hidden Valley Road, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with networking and refreshments followed by a business meeting and program at 10 a.m.

For further information please contact Angela Birk at 707-987-0195, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Daffodils blooming along Hartmann Road, spring of 2011. Photo taken by Pat Berry.

The “Pay it Forward Lake County” Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/Payitforwardlakecountyca/, formed recently as a way to lend a helping hand to those in need or to offer simple kindnesses to others.

“This group is being created as a means for change. One person, family, circumstance at a time … You may be just one person in this world, but to one person, at one time, you are the world. Imagine if each individual looked for the opportunity to help others each day. Imagine the difference that would make,” wrote Janice Hodges, one of the group's founders.

The page offers ideas on how to help and allows people to share ideas.

Community members can email the group at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if they wish to nominate a family or individual for help.

The e-mails contain a link that, when opened, installs a malicious virus that can steal personal information from your PC.

The e-mails claim to be from the US Postal Service and contain fraudulent information about an attempted or intercepted package delivery. You are instructed to click on a link to find out when you can expect your delivery.

But Postal Inspectors warn: Do not click on the link!

Like most viruses sent by e-mail, clicking on the link will activate a virus that can steal information – such as your user name, password and financial account information.

What to do? Simply delete the message without taking any further action.

he Postal Inspection Service is working hard to resolve the issue and shut down the malicious program.

If you have questions about a suspicious postal email or wish to report spam, contact the Postal Inspection Service at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Lake County Genealogical Society maintains the Lenore Clark Genealogy Library, which is located inside the Lake County Visitor Information Center building, 6110 E. Highway 20, Lucerne.

The library has a large collection of historical and genealogical information on Lake County. This collection also includes books from other states, maps and charts to do your family research.

Volunteers from the Lake County Genealogical Society are available to assist researchers Thursdays and Fridays and the first and second Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and other times, by appointment.

Contact Research Coordinator Anita Crabtree at 707-275-2144 for more information.

The meeting will take place in the front conference room at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

Discussion and action items include followup on the request for no parking on one side of Helena Avenue, citizen complaints regarding crosswalk painting, a request for removal of a no parking zone on Clear Lake Avenue between Forbes and High streets, site distance at the corners of Sixth and Main streets, and site distance problems at Manzanita and Seventh streets due to fencing.

For more information contact the city of Lakeport, 707-263-5615.