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The winners of the “Race to Protect Your Favorite Place” youth poster contest have been announced by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Invasive Species Program.
As part of the California Invasive Species Action Week, 34 youths from across California submitted their original artwork.
Participants were asked to create original posters depicting invasive species that threaten their favorite places and how they can take action to help protect that habitat.
The top three posters for each grade division were selected by members of the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee and the poster which best exemplified the contest theme was selected as the CDFW Invasive Species Program Choice Award.
Jack Carr Ritchie, 8, of Half Moon Bay, was named the winner of the Invasive Species Program Choice Award. His poster depicts his family, represented by a Viking, utilizing prescribed fire, mechanical removal and goat grazing to control bristly oxtongue (Picris echioides) in Half Moon Bay.
“We want to get rid of bristly oxtongue because it takes over everywhere and its bristles can hurt people,” he wrote when submitting his poster.
The top three winners of the 2014 Invasive Species Action Week youth poster contest divisions were:
Grades 2-5
- First Place: Kailan Mao, 10, Borrego Springs; subject: Sahara mustard.
- Second Place: Mario Giannini, 10, Chico; subject: northern pike.
- Third Place: Ivy Sayre, 9, Chico; subject: yellow starthistle.
Grades 6-8
- First Place: Charin Park, 13, Saratoga; subject: biodiversity conservation.
- Second Place: Rayni Kirkman, 12, Whiskeytown; subject: zebra mussel.
- Third Place: Clara Shapiro, 11, Chico; subject: velvetleaf.
Grades 9-12
- First Place: Claire Kepple, 18, Quincy; subject: gold-spotted oak borer.
- Second Place: Trisha Tabbay, 15, Los Angeles; subject: hydrilla.
- Third Place: Albert Brumat, 16, Los Angeles; subject: guava fruit fly.
CDFW’s Invasive Species Program staff congratulates all the participants for their excellent work, and thank the teachers, nature centers, volunteer organizations and parents who encouraged, educated and assisted the students.
All submissions have been on display in the Nimbus Hatchery Visitor Center in Gold River during Invasive Species Action Week, Aug. 2-Aug. 10.
To view the winning entries online, please visit the youth poster contest Web page at www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/actionweek/postercontest.html .
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- Written by: Editor
UKIAH, Calif. – Ten members of the Lake County Channel Cats swim team braved the blisteringly hot temperatures in Ukiah last weekend to compete in a swim meet hosted by the Ukiah Dolphins.
The meet drew swimmers from all over California and was a highly competitive event.
According to Agustin Merodio, “This meet was a real success for our core competitive swimmers because every single swimmer, every one, achieved at least one new personal best time.”
He added, “This signifies their determination at practice and their drive to improve their skills. I was quite proud of all of them.”
Tanya Vasquez, 11, the youngest Channel Cat at the meet, swam a personal best in the 25 yard Freestyle and finished as high as 8th in the 100 Back.
Danielle Erickson, 13, achieved personal best times in the 200 Freestyle and the 100 Breast and finished as high as eighth in the 200 Freestyle.
Nicole Hanson, 14, swam a personal best in the 500 yard Freestyle and finished as high as third in the 100 Butterfly.
Lauren Rudnick, 14, accomplished “A” times in all of her events, swam personal bests in the 50 Free, 200 Free and 100 Back and swam to 1st place victories in all of these events as well as the 200 Backstroke.
Iris Vasquez, 16, swam a personal best in the 100 Freestyle and finished second in that event.
Sarah Merodio, 17, swimming in her last meet as a Channel Cat, accomplished a personal best in the 100 Breaststroke event and finished in 1st place in all events she swam. Sarah will be leaving soon to swim at Monmouth College in Illinois. The Channel Cats wish Sarah the very best and look forward to following her swim achievements while she is at college.
For the boys, Nick Dobusch,13, swam four personal bests in the 500 Freestyle, 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly events – while also receiving 4 first-place victories in these events.
“Nick has been swimming incredibly strong in practice and that effort is paying off at the meets,” Merodio said.
Diego Tejeda, 15, swam personal bests in every event he entered – scoring a first place victory in the 100 Butterfly event.
Owen Lawler, 15, swam personal bests in the 100 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly and 200 IM and finished 1st in the 200 IM event.
Tim Peterson, 15, swam personal bests in five different events and received four 1st place victories in the 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke and 100 Breast events.
The Lake County Channel Cats will be wrapping up their summer season at the end of August and will start a fall program in September.
For more information on joining the Channel Cats, call 707-263-3131.
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- Written by: Editor
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The HVL Men’s Niners Golf Club held a medal play tournament on Thursday, July 31.
The results were:
- First flight: Pete Gascoigne, Tom Marshall and Stan Kalata tied for the top spot with net 33.
- Second flight: Mike Casolo, Don Dornbush and John Gastineau also tied for first at 33.
- Third flight: Pete Gumina was first at 33. Bob Schossler second, 34 and Adckinjo Esutoki third, 35.
Closest to the Par 3 pins were Bob Brossier and Joe Vallee.
Chip-ins were scored by Olie Smith, Paul Harvey, Rick Conrad, Dennis Bero, Keith Ipsen and Randy Brown.
Sixty-six men participated in this event.
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- Written by: Ron Hallman
COBB, Calif. – Take a hike Saturday, Aug. 16, at Boggs Mountain State Forest.
The Friends of Boggs Mountain will host a four- to five-mile, moderately-paced hike with Karen Rhoads on various Boggs trails beginning at 9 a.m.
Wear sturdy shoes, dress appropriately for weather conditions, and bring water and a snack if desired. Friendly leashed dogs are welcome.
The hikers meet in the parking lot. The forest entrance is located off Highway 175 just 1.5 miles north of Cobb Village. Turn at the blue State Fire Station/Boggs Mountain Forest sign.
For more information email Rhoads at
Visit the Friends of Boggs Mountain Web site at http://boggsmountain.net/calendar/hiking-events/ for updates and changes to the schedule.
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- Written by: Editor