LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A series of weather systems are predicted to bring rain to Lake County into next week.
The National Weather Service’s Sacramento officer reported that the trio of systems expected to impact the region this week are moving in from Alaska and Siberia.
They’re expected to bring rain, snow in elevations 6,000 feet and above, along with gusty winds and the possibility of thunderstorms, forecasters said.
The forecast through Friday estimates Lake County could receive between and inch and a half and 2 inches of rain.
Chances of rain in Lake County are expected to begin on Tuesday and continue until Monday, based on the local forecast.
Temperatures are forecast to be 10 to 20 degrees below normal through next week.
Locally, temperatures will drop into the low 40s at night and top out in the mid 60s during the day. Light winds are forecast through Wednesday.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Hepatitis C is one of the most frequently reported communicable diseases in California.
About 400,000 Californians live with chronic hepatitis C, but many do not know they are infected, according to the California Department of Public Health.
When left untreated, chronic hepatitis C can cause liver damage and liver failure. Hepatitis C often has no symptoms for decades, so a blood test can be the only way to know if you are infected. New treatment now can cure Hepatitis C in as little as two months.
Today, transmission is mainly through sharing needles, syringes and other drug injection equipment. In fact, rates of infection have been on the rise, due in part to the increase in injection drug use.
Cases of hepatitis C among young people aged 15-29 have more than doubled in the last five years.
According to the most recent data from the California Department of Public Health, in Lake County cases of chronic hepatitis C increased by 91 percent from 2014 to 2016 – 73 cases to 139 cases.
The hospital blood supply is now safely screened for hepatitis C, but the baby boomers (born from 1945 to 1965) account for almost half of all the hepatitis C cases reported in California. Many do not know they were infected.
The California Department of Public Health recommends anyone who has ever injected drugs, even once, and all people born between 1945 and 1965, should talk to their medical provider about getting tested.
People who test positive should receive care from a provider with training in Hepatitis C treatment. Prevention, including access to clean syringes and safe injection equipment, and treatment for opioid use can reduce the rate of new infections.
Fortunately, new treatments offer a cure for most people. The cure takes just 8 to 12 weeks and can reduce liver cancer risk by 75 percent, according to the Center for Disease Control.
“It is critical for those at risk of Hepatitis C to be tested and to complete treatment in order to improve their health and reduce risk of serious complications, such as cancer. Most patients can be cured of hepatitis C in 2 to 3 months,” Lake County Health Officer Dr. Erin Gustafson said.
K9 Dozer. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said one of its law enforcement K9s that went missing on Sunday night has been located.
Dozer, an 8 year old yellow lab, was found safe and returned home on Monday, the agency reported.
The friendly dog had gone missing from the area of Park Drive in Kelseyville on Sunday at around 8:30 p.m.
The sheriff’s office sent out an alert shortly after 5 p.m. Monday reporting that Dozer had been located and was safe.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – A weekend vehicle stop led to the arrest of one Lake County resident on a warrant and citations for another for drugs and driving on a suspended driver’s license.
Sgt. Mike Dygert of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said the vehicle stop led to the arrest of 47-year-old Suelamatra Castillo of Nice and a citation for 44-year-old Christoper Ray of Lakeport.
On Saturday at about 4 p.m. an on-duty Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputy observed a vehicle being driven in the area of the 7000 block of north State Street in Calpella with expired vehicle registration. The driver of the vehicle pulled into a business parking lot, Dygert said.
The deputy made contact with the occupants of the vehicle and contacted the driver, Ray, and his passenger, Castillo, according to Dygert.
Dygert said the deputy learned Ray’s driver’s license was suspended and Castillo had provided the deputy with a false name.
During a search of the vehicle, the deputy located illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia belonging to Ray. Dygert said the deputy also learned Castillo had an outstanding no-bail felony warrant for her arrest from Lake County for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Ray was issued a notice to appear citation for the misdemeanor possession of illicit drugs, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended driver’s license, and he was released at the scene, Dygert said.
Dygert said Castillo was arrested for the listed felony arrest warrant and for providing the deputy with a false name.
Castillo was booked into the Mendocino County Jail on the listed violations and was to be held without bail per the felony arrest warrant, Dygert said.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A Middletown man was arrested for driving under the influence following a Sunday evening crash that seriously injured him and a teenage driver.
Joshua Ferrell, 31, was taken into custody after he attempted to flee the scene of the crash, which also involved a vehicle driven by Cole Jensen, 17, of Middletown, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.
The CHP said that at 5:30 p.m. Sunday Ferrell was driving his 1992 Toyota pickup westbound on Highway 175, east of Socrates Mine Road, as Jensen was traveling eastbound in his 2006 Nissan Altima.
Due to Ferrell's level of intoxication, he lost control of his vehicle and allowed it to cross over the solid double yellow lines and enter into the eastbound lane of Highway 175, colliding head-on with Jensen’s Nissan, the CHP said.
Ferrell, who was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the collision, sustained major injuries, as did Jensen, who the CHP said was wearing his seatbelt.
The CHP said that, following the wreck, Ferrell fled the scene on foot prior to CHP’s arrival. When CHP officers got to the scene, they were told that Ferrell walked away from the crash.
Officers checked in the last known direction and Ferrell was located hiding in the bushes nearby. Once located, Ferrell attempted to flee on foot and CHP officers gave chase, apprehending him after a short distance, the CHP said.
The CHP said Ferrell was then placed under arrest for suspicion of felony DUI and fleeing the scene of an injury collision.
Jensen was flown via Reach air ambulance to Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa for further treatment, the CHP said.
The CHP said Ferrell was released from custody due to his need for medical treatment, and was transported via Reach air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
K9 Dozer. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating one of its law enforcement K9s.
Dozer, an 8 year old yellow lab, went missing on Sunday night, the agency reported.
Authorities said Dozer, who acts younger than his 8 years, was last seen in the area of Park Drive in Kelseyville on Sunday at approximately 8:30 p.m.
He is reported to be very friendly.
Anyone who locates him or has information about him is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-263-2690.
Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White administers the oath to new police dispatcher Kristiana Outen, at left, and new Police Officer Melinda Wymer during the Clearlake City Council meeting on Thursday, May 9, 2019, in Clearlake, Calif. Courtesy photo. CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department has welcomed a new dispatcher and a new officer.
During Thursday’s Clearlake City Council meeting, Police Chief Andrew White swore in new police officer, Melinda Wymer, and new police dispatcher, Kristiana Outen.
“Recruitment and retention are a top priority for our agency and are critical to providing quality service and reducing crime,” said White.
“Officer Wymer is a familiar face, having worked in various jobs at Clearlake Police Department. Notably, she first joined the department after graduating from one of our citizens’ academies. We look forward to seeing the positive impact she will make in her new position,” White said.
“Dispatcher Outen was born and raised in Lake County and worked her way up through the ranks of the local CHP Explorer program. We are excited to welcome her to our organization,” he added.
With the addition of Wymer, White said his agency now has five female officers. That’s out of a total of 24 sworn personnel – from officers to sergeants, command staff and White himself.
Retiring Clearlake Mayor Nick Bennett, who worked for the Clearlake Police Department for 20 years as a sergeant, told Lake County News that the current number of female officers is the most the agency has ever had.
“We continue to encourage our employees to reach their personal career goals and Officer Wymer, who began as a volunteer with our police department and continued through her career path to animal control officer and now police officer, embodies the determination we love to see,” said City Manager Alan Flora. “Additionally, police dispatcher Outen is another employee who lives in and works for her community. We continue working to further the council's strategic plan goal to make Clearlake a safer, cleaner city.”
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss a tribal trust application and streamlining cannabis rules.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 14, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a response to the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ invitation to provide comment on the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake’s latest land acquisition application.
The Lake County GIS system shows the parcel number as belonging to a half-acre property at 650 E. State Highway 20 in Upper Lake.
The tribe is seeking to move the parcel into trust. County staff said there will be a very small loss of property tax revenue.
“The tribe has demolished and removed a single residence (mobile home) from the property and the land is currently undeveloped. No additional improvements or development are planned, preserving the character of the area,” according to a report from County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson.
Staff is recommending that the board approve a letter to the BIA taking a position of support for the tribe’s application.
In another untimed item, the board – sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors – will consider a resolution establishing a streamlined process for processing cannabis cultivation permits through the issuance of temporary and provisional permits as well as a resolution adopting a policy for the collection of taxes pursuant to the Lake County Cannabis Cultivation Tax Ordinance.
In closed session, the board will continue its discussion of the appointment of a new registrar of voters.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation designating the month of May 2019 as Military Appreciation Month in Lake County.
5.2: Adopt proclamation designating the week of May 18 to 24 as National Safe Boating Week in Lake County.
5.3: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held April 2, 9, 16 and 23.
5.4: Adopt resolution approving the application of the Lake County Arts Council for the California Arts Council Grant for FY 2019-20 and authorizing the Lake County Arts Council to Execute the grant contract.
5.5: Approve amendment two between the county of Lake and Lake Indigent Defense for public defender services agreement dated Feb. 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, to extend the term of the agreement to Oct. 31, 2019, for a total of $2,310,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.6: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, adopt resolution authorizing participation in the FARMER Program and authorizing the APCO to sign all program documents.
5.7: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, adopt resolution authorizing participation in the Prescribed Fire Program, and authorizing the APCO to sign all program documents.
5.8: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, adopt resolution authorizing continuing participation in AB 617 Community Air Protection Program, and authorizing the APCO to sign and execute the grant agreement and all program documents.
5.9: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, approve Carl Moyer Program bus replacement with Middletown Unified School District for two school buses, and authorization for the APCO to sign the agreements.
5.10: Approve amendment one to the agreement between the county of Lake and Victor Treatment Centers Inc. for specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.11: Approve amendment one to the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the Lake County WRAPAROUND (WRAP) Program, foster care program and Intensive Treatment Foster Care (ITFC) Program for Fiscal Year 2018-19 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.
5.12: Adopt the resolution approving the standard agreement between the county of Lake and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) for the period of Aug. 4, 2018, through June 30, 2019, in order to fund the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program and authorize the Behavioral Health Services administrator to sign the amendment.
5.13: Adopt resolution authorizing the Health Services Department Environmental Health Division to apply for and receive grant funding from the California Integrated Waste Management Board for local enforcement agency grants for fiscal years beginning July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2024, not to exceed five years from the date of adoption.
5.14: a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and b) approve the contract for temporary heavy equipment rental between the county of Lake and Elms Equipment Rental Inc. for an annual not-to-exceed amount of $150,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.15: Adopt resolution expressing support for Rotary Club of Lakeport’s Konocti Challenge bicycling event.
5.16: Adopt resolution delegating to the Lake County Public Works director the ministerial authority to obtain certain temporary construction easements up to $10,000 required for Clayton Creek Road at Clayton Creek Bridge Replacement Project.
5.17: Adopt resolution ordering approval of final parcel map and the signing of the final parcel map (BETAT PM 16-05).
5.18: Adopt proclamation designating the week of May 12 to 18 as Law Enforcement Week in Lake County.
5.19: Approve memorandum of agreement with various entities for mutual aid provided during the River and Ranch (Mendocino Complex) fires.
5.20: Approve the submission of the 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 annual reports of the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund and Commissary account.
5.21: Approve to exceed the 900 hour extra help limit for Marine Patrol Deputy Sheriff Kevin Odom, Lloyd Wells, Emil Devincenzi, Brenndon Bosse and Dennis Ostini.
5.22: Approve request for reimbursement in the amount of $103.40 on a late claim for Maria Allen as the charge had been made on the employee's credit card in error.
5.23: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, approve budget transfer and new capital asset in the amount of $35,000 for purchase of oil spill response trailer and equipment and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:10 a.m.: (a) Presentation of proclamation designating the Week of May 18 to 24 as National Safe Boating Week in Lake County; (b) presentation of proclamation designating the week of May 12 to 18 as Law Enforcement Week in Lake County; and (c) presentation of proclamation designating the month of May 2019 as Military Appreciation Month in Lake County.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of response to the Bureau of Indian Affairs invitation to provide comment on the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake’s Land acquisition application.
7.3: (a) Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, consideration of resolution establishing a streamlined process for processing cannabis cultivation permits through the issuance of temporary and provisional permits; and (b) consideration of a resolution adopting a policy for the collection of taxes pursuant to the Lake County Cannabis Cultivation Tax Ordinance.
7.4: Consideration of amendment three to the agreement between the county of Lake and Native American Mental Health Services dba North American Mental Health Services (NAMHS) for Fiscal Year 2018-19 in the amount of $745,840 for a new contract total of $1,045,840 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.5: Consideration of amendment two to the agreement between the county of Lake and Lake Family Resource Center for the provision of the FEMA based Immediate Services Program and known as Cal Hope for Fiscal Year 2018-19 and Fiscal Year 2019-20 for an increase of $488,976.42 and a new contract maximum of $642,254.66, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.6: Consideration of an exception to LCEA Unit 4 MOU requirement for a 75 percent health stipend for a recent retiree.
7.7: Consideration of Contract Change Order No. 2 for the Lower Lake Parks Maintenance Facility Project, Bid No. 18-17.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): County of Lake, et al. v. PG&E, et al.
8.2: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): Appointment of registrar of voters.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Members of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Team Blue 2 and Red Cross installed free smoke detectors in Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Courtesy photo. CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Team Blue 2 assisted the Red Cross in its efforts to save more lives through Sound the Alarm, a part of the Red Cross’ Home Fire Campaign.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.
Wildfires break out in Lake County every year, and the Red Cross and AmeriCorps team Blue 2 want to make sure residents have the best tools with which to protect themselves.
Eleven young adults from around the United States committed to serving together for 10 months, Blue 2 worked with Red Cross volunteers in Clearlake Oaks.
They installed 81 free smoke alarms and educated residents about fire prevention and safety, protecting 31 homes overall.
“We were very welcomed by the community and learned about fire safety right alongside them,” said Blue 2 Assistant Team Leader Isa Baldwin Zurek. “The impact of replacing old, non-functioning alarms with new, working ones is tremendous.”
Since 2015, Sound the Alarm has installed 1,651,273 smoke alarms, made 684,260 households safer, and saved 582 lives.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has three cats waiting for homes this week.
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.
This female domestic short hair cat is in kennel No. 68, ID No. 12183. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female domestic short hair
This female domestic short hair cat has an all-black coat.
She already has been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 68, ID No. 12183.
“Scout” is a male domestic short hair cat in kennel No. 100, ID No. 12147. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Scout’
“Scout” is a male domestic short hair cat with a gray tabby and white coat.
He’s already been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 100, ID No. 12147.
This male domestic short hair is in kennel No. 137, ID No. 12163. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male domestic short hair
This male domestic short hair has an orange tabby coat.
He’s in kennel No. 137, ID No. 12163.
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Coffee is the national beverage of Ethiopia. Berbere spice blend, used in many dishes, is based on dried chilis and includes warm spices such as turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Tiny black Nigella seeds, a common seasoning, complete the picture. Photo by Esther Oertel. Each drop of rain that falls to Earth has been recycled untold times. There is no new water under the sun; the atmospheric waters that swirl throughout our planet are ancient.
Perhaps the rain that last fell, the water that gathered in fields and drained into soil filling our wells, held drops from the Nile or from Lake Tana on an Ethiopian plateau.
If so, we’ve shared life-giving liquid with our brethren from “the land of origins” in the Horn of Africa, otherwise known as Ethiopia.
As denizens of this brilliant jewel called Earth, we dine at a common table, beneficiaries of the nourishment that our planet provides. Food is the perpetual tie that deliciously binds, bringing us closer to the rest of our human family.
I invite you to join me in an armchair adventure to a land of beginnings and mysteries, a place where hands reach to a common platter to eat, where feeding one another is a sign of love and deep respect.
Ethiopia, a large country with twice the terrain of France, sits in the middle of the Horn of Africa. The Horn juts from the east side of the continent into the Arabian Sea, separated by the Gulf of Aden from the Arabian Peninsula to the north.
A land-locked country, Ethiopia is surrounded by six countries. Going clockwise from the noon position are Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Sudan.
Though once plagued by famine, Ethiopia’s economy has grown in recent years. It sits 6th among the 54 countries of Africa when ranked by gross domestic product.
Ethiopia is called the land of origins for good reason. The eastern part of Africa, and most specifically Ethiopia, is dubbed the cradle of civilization; it is believed that the human species originated there, eventually migrating to other parts of the world.
The earliest fossils of recognizable modern humans, homo sapiens, were found in the Omo Valley, which lies in the southwest part of the country.
Another (perhaps less significant) item has its origins in Ethiopia: coffee, which is a key culinary component there.
Coffee is considered Ethiopia’s national drink and its enjoyment is ingrained in Ethiopian culture. Coffee is drunk throughout the day, and rarely alone.
“Buna teta,” which means “come drink coffee,” is an invitation to partake of elaborate coffee ceremonies which can sometimes take hours.
Ethiopians also consume coffee as food; green coffee beans cooked in butter are a popular snack.
It is said that the discovery of this robust bean was made by a ninth century Ethiopian goat-herder named Kaldi. He noticed energizing effects when his flock nibbled on the red berries of what is now known as a coffee bush.
Arabica is considered the superior of the two coffee species widely cultivated throughout the world today (with Robusta being the other), and an amazing 5,046 documented varieties of this species have been found in the ecosystems of Ethiopia’s forested mountains.
Suffice it to say that despite the name, Arabica is not native to Arabia, but to Ethiopia.
On the high central plateaus that make up most of Ethiopia, an indigenous cereal called teff grows, first cultivated by the Ethiopians some 3,000 years ago.
The tiny, sandy-colored seeds of this plant are ground for flour to make injera, a spongy, fermented flatbread which is the staple food of Ethiopia.
To create the unique texture of injera, the dough needs a full three days (or “three moons”) to ferment. (If it’s your first batch, it will require a starter, which takes an additional four days.)
Much of Ethiopian food is in the form of deeply spiced stews, and for injera to properly soak up their beautiful liquids, it must have many holes in its spongy surface. Getting it just right is an important skill.
Injera is cooked on a large, round griddle called a mitad, and the spiraling technique takes many years to master.
In much the same way that creating a proper batter and the cooking method are perfected arts, the complex process of rolling injera in stew to catch the flavorful liquid takes years of practice. The procedure requires a deft hand and is often referred to as “dancing with fingers.”
While many Ethiopian stews are made with meat – beef, lamb, goat, or chicken – there are a variety of vegetarian stews made with things such as lentils, split peas, and chickpeas.
Vegetarian dishes of all types abound, in fact, due to Christian and Muslim practices of abstaining from meat at various times of the year.
Spicy red lentil stew, for example, is a staple dish in Ethiopia, as are collard greens.
A trio of aromatics – onions, garlic and ginger – are commonly used to flavor stews and vegetables, as are a variety of richly appetizing and often piquant spice blends.
Perhaps the most quintessential of these blends is berbere, which is used in many (if not most) Ethiopian dishes. This complex mix of spices is based on dried chilis and includes a plethora of other spices, many with sweet notes.
An internet search will yield recipes for making a simplified version of berbere; however, it’s possible to order authentic berbere online.
The berbere in my pantry includes more than a dozen spices: paprika, coriander, cayenne, cardamom, allspice, ginger, garlic, turmeric, black pepper, cumin, salt, cloves, fenugreek, cinnamon and nutmeg.
The amount of heat from the chilis varies from mixture to mixture and home to home, with many versions in play.
Ground nigella seeds are also a common flavoring, adding a smoky, earthy essence to foods, not unlike a milder, sweeter version of powdered truffle.
Spiced clarified butter is a key ingredient in many dishes, and smoked milk made with the smoke of olive twigs adds a unique flavor component to some foods. (An Ethiopian version of scalloped potatoes is made with smoked milk.)
A variety of beverages are made in homes throughout Ethiopia, including tej, a fermented honey wine, abesh wuha, a water flavored with fenugreek, and perhaps the most unusual, helemur, a tea-like drink made from roasted dough.
Spris is a refreshing, colorful drink made with thick layers of blended fruit. One version includes avocado, mango, and papaya pureed separately and stacked within a glass. A squeeze of lime on top completes the concoction.
Ethiopia is considered one of the safest countries in Africa; violence there, including against travelers, is relatively rare.
Hospitality is important to Ethiopians (entertaining friends in one’s home is frequently enjoyed), so it’s no surprise that a recent travel site poll named Ethiopia the most welcoming country in Africa.
Since food is served on communal platters and diners eat using their hands, hand washing ceremonies are performed both prior to eating and just afterward. The eldest member of the group begins the meal by taking the first handful of food.
Ethiopia is a country that is rumored to have the Ark of the Covenant secretly housed within its borders, is one of just two in Africa that have never been colonized by Europeans, and one whose 20th century emperor sparked a religion. (Rastafarians believe Haile Selassie is a Messiah.)
These facts are strangely fascinating; however, in my opinion one of the most charming components of life in Ethiopia is the custom known as gursha, where a guest at table is honored by being hand-fed a morsel of food wrapped in injera as an act of respect. The person receiving gursha then returns the favor.
Perhaps we can start such a trend here.
The recipe for today is my take on chicken in a sauce made of tej with oranges and is inspired by Yohanis Gebreyesus in his book, Ethiopia: Recipes and Traditions from the Horn of Africa.
A small investment in a packet of berbere spice blend is well worth the taste of this dish.
Tej, fermented honey wine, is difficult to find outside of Ethiopia, but thankfully dry white wine with added honey can be substituted.
The combination of flavors in the sauce danced on my tongue, at once spicy, sweet and earthy. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Chicken in tej sauce with oranges, which is the recipe included in the column. Photo by Esther Oertel. Chicken in Tej sauce with oranges
4 chicken thighs, bone in and skin on 1 tablespoon olive or other oil, plus more for greasing pan ½ - 1 tablespoon berbere spice blend Salt and pepper 1 or 2 medium carrots 1 or 2 medium stalks celery 2 yellow onions Handful fresh thyme Handful fresh Italian parsley 1 cup tej or medium-dry white wine with 1 tablespoon honey added ¼ cup heavy cream 1 tablespoon cornstarch 2 medium oranges
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Grease a large cast iron skillet or other roasting pan.
Place chicken thighs in skillet. Rub them with oil and sprinkle berbere spice blend evenly over them, then season with salt and pepper.
Roughly chop carrot(s), celery stalk(s), and onions. Place around chicken thighs in pan.
Add thyme and parsley to pan.
Cover pan with aluminum foil and cook in oven for about 30 minutes.
Remove aluminum foil and continue cooking until chicken registers 165 degrees and the skin is golden brown and crispy, about 20 to 40 minutes longer. (This will vary depending on the size of the chicken thighs.)
If it looks like the vegetables are in danger of burning, add a bit of water.
While chicken is cooking, peel oranges with knife, removing all the white pith. Remove segments by cutting between each membrane. Reserve the juice from the process by working over a bowl.
Whisk the honey into the wine and set aside for sauce.
When chicken is ready, remove from pan to a plate and cover with foil to rest.
Place warm skillet or roasting pan on stovetop and turn to medium heat.
Add wine to pan and deglaze pan, scraping up any bits of vegetable with a large spoon or spatula.
Allow wine to simmer and reduce for a few minutes.
Add cream and allow to lightly simmer briefly for warming and further reduction.
Whisk cornstarch into ¼ cup water and stir into sauce.
Taste and add an additional pinch of berbere spice blend to taste if desired.
Turn off heat and strain sauce with a fine sieve.
Mix in oranges and reserved juice.
Serve chicken drizzled with sauce and oranges.
Esther Oertel is a writer and passionate home cook from a family of chefs. She grew up in a restaurant, where she began creating recipes from a young age. She’s taught culinary classes in a variety of venues in Lake County and previously wrote “The Veggie Girl” column for Lake County News. Most recently she’s taught culinary classes at Sur La Table in Santa Rosa, Calif. She lives in Middletown, Calif.
The Lake County Library invites readers to select a few of the library’s new books to read over the summer. Courtesy photo. LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Library invites residents to read up a storm with the 2019 Summer Reading Program.
The program is open to all ages, so everyone can join in the fun.
Signups begin Saturday, May 18, at all four Lake County Library branches.
Each library will host “Super Sign-Up Saturday” from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a fun craft for kids. You can sign up any time during the program which ends July 27.
Once you sign up you can keep track of your reading progress when you return your books to the library.
There are three programs, each targeting a different age group from children to adults.
When young people aren’t engaged in educational activities during the summer, they experience learning loss.
Reading just five books over the summer can prevent summer learning loss. Rich, engaging and free educational activities like summer reading programs are excellent tools to address the achievement gap.
Library summer reading programs began in the 1890s as a way to help children maintain their reading skills when school was out for the summer. Summer reading programs have been happening in Lake County for decades.
There have been many studies that show that students who read often achieve higher academic success than students who rarely read. Also, students who read just for fun are more likely to do better in school.
A study performed by Dominican University in 2010 found that students who were part of a library summer reading program had better reading skills at the end of the third grade than students who didn’t participate.
The Lake County Library kids program is recommended for children ages from newborn to 14. When you sign up at your local library you can pick up a reading log and start reading library books. When you return library books to the front desk, the library staff will log your page count. For every page you read you get a reading point. For every 50 points you get a sticker for your reading log. At end of the program in August, there will be a party for the children who participate.
Tweens and teens ages 11 to 18 can sign up for the Teen program. Visit the library desk when you return books to get reading credit. For every 200 pages you read, you will be entered in a grand prize drawing. There will also be a variety of events for teens over the summer at the library.
The Lake County Library has a summer reading program for adults. It’s a fun way to challenge yourself to read more this summer.Just like the Teen program, for every 200 pages you read, you will be entered in a grand prize drawing.
For each of these programs, if you read at least 1,000 pages the Friends of the Library will donate a book to the library with your name inside to commemorate your reading achievement.
The Lake County Library Summer Reading Program is supported in part by the Friends of the Lake County Library and Friends of Middletown Library.
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