CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Konocti Senior Support Inc. announced the hiring of Francois van Wyk, LMFT, to head one of the most outstanding services for seniors in Lake County – Senior Peer Counseling.

This is a free service for individuals over the age of 55 who are seeking help to solve their own problems through one-on-one dialogue with senior-aged peer counselors.

Van Wyk was born in South Africa and attended the University of Cape Town, where he earned a Bachelor of Social Science degree and later worked in the field of human resources.

In 1986, he moved to the US, and he completed a Master’s degree in counseling psychology in 1996.

He became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in 2003. For the past 15 years, he has worked with foster and adopted children and their families, severely mentally ill adults and maintained a private practice.

His most recent position was that of deputy director of Lake County Behavioral Health, and prior to that he worked for Behavioral Health in various positions for more than 10 years.

He loves Lake County and is excited to expand this program to include more trained senior peer counselors who can serve greater numbers of homebound seniors in need.

“Senior Peer Counseling encourages seniors to live active and rewarding lives,” van Wyk said. “Clients are empowered when they are helped to identify their own problems, goals, and solutions.”

He currently provides a weekly consultation and training group for senior peer counselors every Wednesday at venues around the county.

A portion of this training will be open to the public on the last Wednesday of every month, from 11 a.m. to noon. Topics covered will be of interest to seniors wanting to learn more about living a meaningful and healthy life in Lake County.

The organization currently is seeking volunteers for its board and senior peer counselors.

Call Konocti Senior Support Inc. at 707-995-1417, visit http://www.konoctiseniorsupport.com/ or stop by the officer at 14310 Memory Lane in Clearlake to find out more about becoming a senior peer counselor, board member or to join the Friendly Visitors program.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Last week narcotics detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office seized a large amount of methamphetamine, along with cash and marijuana, and made one arrest.

Meliton Pacheco Rangel, 39, of Clearlake was arrested as a result of the case, according to Sgt. Corey Paulich.

On Friday, narcotics detectives served a search warrant in the 3900 block of Alvita Avenue in Clearlake, Paulich said.

Paulich said that as the detectives approached the residence they contacted Pacheco Rangel, who was seated in a vehicle.

He was searched pursuant to the search warrant and detectives located a little over an ounce of suspected methamphetamine is Rangel’s pocket. Rangel also had more than $1,400 on his person, Paulich said.

Detectives then conducted a search of two residences that were included in the search warrant. Paulich said the residences were in close proximity to each other.

In the first residence detectives located four separate packages each containing approximately 1 pound of methamphetamine that were hidden in the oven, Paulich said.

Paulich said detectives also located two large baggies in the kitchen area that each contained approximately a quarter pound of methamphetamine. Detectives located an ice chest in the kitchen area that contained five more clear bags each containing approximately an ounce of methamphetamine.

Detectives then search the second residence. Paulich said that during the search detectives located approximately 20 pounds of marijuana. They also located approximately $3,600 hidden in various locations throughout the residence.

Paulich said detectives searched the vehicle Rangel had been sitting in when they arrived. A large box was located that contained approximately 26 pounds of processed marijuana.

A shipping receipt was located inside the vehicle. Detectives were able to seize the package related to the receipt. Paulich said a search warrant was obtained for the package and 2 additional pounds of marijuana was located in the package. The package was set to be shipped to an address in the state of Washington.

In total detectives seized approximately 5.3 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 5 0 pounds of marijuana as well as over $5,000 in cash. The methamphetamine and marijuana had a combined street value of over $285,000, Paulich said.

Paulich said Rangel was transported to the Lake County Jail where he was booked for possession of a controlled substance for sale, renting place to store or sale a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for sale and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia.

Rangel remains in custody with bail set at $500,000, according to booking records. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 11.

The sheriff’s office is continuing its efforts to eradicate narcotics from the communities of Lake County and seize the suspected profits of drug trafficking for asset forfeiture whenever possible. Anyone with information that can assist the Narcotics Unit with this effort is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council has directed staff to craft a new ordinance laying out requirements for maintaining and securing vacant properties in the city.

Clearlake Finance Director Chris Becnel took the proposal to the council at its Thursday meeting. The discussion begins at the 2:29:34 mark in the video above.

After the recession, Becnel said the city saw an increase in neglected properties.

He presented ordinances from the cities of Richmond, Vallejo and West Hollywood which addressed such issues in their respective communities.

The idea, said Becnel, is to create specific guidelines for handling vacant properties so that the city doesn’t have to rely on a general nuisance ordinance.

He said the city wants to make sure owners clearly understand their obligations to secure and maintain properties within a specific period, and keep safety issues under control.

Becnel said the city doesn’t have the specific authority to remove squatters from properties that have been abandoned for awhile. To do that, they would need to get owners to post the property and provide authority to police to go in and remove trespassers.

The proposal includes a requirement to register vacant properties for a fee, he said.

“A lot of these owners have not looked at these properties in a number of years,” said Becnel. “They just kind of walk away and ignore them.”

He said staff was seeking direction from the council, including things council members would like them to include. “This would be the first step in a two-pronged approach.”

The second part, he said, will be dealing with the many substandard properties across the city that are occupied by renters or owners.

The initial ordinance also would look at undeveloped properties, requiring them to keep vegetation cut back sufficiently so people can’t camp out without being discovered, Becnel said.

Councilman Phil Harris said such neglected properties are a huge problem in the community, and he added that the proposed ordinance is a major step forward.

“Let's get as tough as we can possibly get on this,” he said.

The initial proposal also included a requirement to rebuild properties in a certain number of years, which raised questions for some council members.

Becnel said the idea is to require a rebuild rather than leaving a property vacant, mainly because if someone has insurance, the whole intent is to replace what was there. He said many people who lost homes in the county’s wildland fires took the insurance money and left.

He added that the city also needed to replace old housing stock.

Vice Mayor Bruno Sabatier asked about the city’s power to enforce such rules. Ahead of discussion on the proposed ordinance, the council discussed 10 property abatement cases where the owners ignored the city.

Becnel said the properties the council discussed earlier in the meeting involved owners who hadn’t been around for a long time, who had died, left the area or simply ignored the city.

“I don't know that this will necessarily solve this problem,” Becnel said.

While the city couldn’t solve a problem 30 years in the making, it can start to get a handle on it moving forward, Becnel said.

Becnel asked the council members to send him their comments and he would start to cobble them together into a proposal.

Harris said he appreciated they were not reinventing the wheel. “We’re just trying to figure out which wheel fits.”

Councilman Nick Bennett said a lot of the structures in question aren’t fit to be boarded up. “The majority of them need to be gone, period,” he said.

Public Works Director Doug Herren cautioned that once the city gets to the point of boarding up properties, it assumes responsibility for them.

“This is not about the city going out and boarding up houses,” said Becnel, but about creating an obligation on the part of owners to secure their properties. The city would only deal with such properties as a last resort.

Becnel thanked Bennett for raising the issue of properties that aren’t worth saving, and he suggested that maybe they needed to consider that in the draft ordinance.

At the Thursday meeting, the council also presented a proclamation declaring Sept. 22 as Native American Day. Members of several local tribes were in attendance to receive the document, along with City Manager Greg Folsom, who is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

In other business during the five-hour meeting, the council received an update from Becnel on Measure V, the one-cent sales tax measure for roads the city’s voters approved last year; appointed Stephanie Codling to the city’s marketing committee; approved a first reading of an ordinance setting procedures for expediting permitting processes for electric vehicle charging systems; approved the commitment of Community Development Block Grant Program income funds; and discussed a request to refund a portion of assessments the city collected in a tax default sale.

The council also accepted the donation from the Voerge family of a property located at 14180 Division Ave.; approved a resolution to adopt a list of approved projects for submission to the California Transportation Commission for SB 1 funding; and approved a resolution authorizing submittal of an application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Also on Thursday, the council met the winners of the city’s photo contest, presented a certificate of appreciation to Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg for his work with Lake County Youth Services and the Clearlake Youth Center, got an update on the Wildlife of Clearlake Youth Art Project, held a public hearing to confirm administrative penalties on a number of abated properties and finalized several abatement cases.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A 19-year-old Kelseyville man was injured on Sunday night in a two-vehicle crash in Lakeport.

Elias Alvarez suffered major injuries in the wreck, which occurred at 7:50 p.m. Sunday on northbound Highway 29 north of 11th Street, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.

The second vehicle involved in the crash was driven by 52-year-old Rebecca Series of Napa. The CHP said Serris sustained minor injuries.

The CHP said Alvarez was driving a 2003 Chevrolet SUV in the No. 1 lane and Serris a 2014 Toyota in the No. 2 lane, both of them traveling northbound, when Alvarez allowed his vehicle to veer into Serris’ lane.

Alvarez’s SUV struck Serris’ Toyota, with the impact causing Serris’ vehicle to spin out of control into the center lane, according to the CHP report.

The CHP said Alvarez’s SUV continued up the dirt embankment on the east side of the roadway and hit a tree.

Alvarez was trapped in the driver’s seat of his Chevrolet and had to be extricated by firefighters with the Lakeport Fire Protection District, the CHP said.

A Lakeport Fire ambulance transported Alvarez to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where a REACH air ambulance picked him up and transported him to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to the CHP and scene reports.

Serris was treated for minor injuries at the scene, the CHP said.

The CHP said both Alvarez and Serris were using their seat belts at the time of the wreck.

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. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will participate in the Pink Patch Project during the month of October.

The Pink Patch Project is a collaborative effort between more than 110 public safety agencies throughout the United States to bring attention to breast cancer awareness, according to Sgt. Corey Paulich.

During the month of October, which is “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” Paulich said Lake County Sheriff’s deputies will wear pink patches on their uniform shirts. The pink patches are intended to encourage public awareness about early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

As part of the program, the Lake County Deputy Sheriff’s Association is selling collectible pink patches to the community, Paulich said.

Paulich said the proceeds will be donated to the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Foundation to support the funding of a new Breast Cancer navigator position that the hospital is implementing.

The Breast Cancer navigator will contact patients who receive an abnormal mammogram as quickly as possible to explain in easy to understand terms what lies ahead as far as further testing and treatment options, Paulich said.

If you are interested in purchasing a patch come by the Sheriff’s Main Office, located at 1220 Martin St. in Lakeport.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A Napa man involved in a solo-vehicle crash near Middletown last month has died.

Stephen Mann Jeffries, 61, succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the wreck on the afternoon of Sept. 16, according to Officer Kory Reynolds of the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.

Jeffries was driving his 2007 Nissan Pathfinder westbound on Butts Canyon Road, west of Oat Hill Road, when he lost control of his vehicle, veered across the road, went off the roadway and onto the dirt shoulder before hitting a tree, as Lake County News has reported.

He was transported via air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of major injuries, officials reported.

The CHP did not have additional information this week on what led to the fatal crash.

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. – In honor of National Fire Prevention Week, the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit will host open fire stations on Saturday, Oct 14.

The stations will be open from 9 a.m. to noon in Lake, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo counties.

“Open fire stations provide the community and fire service personnel an opportunity to discuss fire and life safety actions, outside of an emergency incident,” said Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Shana Jones.

Chief Jones invites all to visit the fire stations on Oct. 14, take a tour, see the equipment close up and visit with Cal FIre personnel.

The 2017 National Fire Prevention Week theme is “Every second counts! Plan two ways out!”

Review with your family at least two ways out of your home, in case of an emergency, and discuss with the family where the “meeting place” is once everyone is out of the home. Remember once you’re out of the home/building stay out.

The following are the Cal Fire stations hosting open houses on Oct. 14.

Lake County

Station 31: Middletown, 15522 Lake St.

Station 34: Kelsey Cobb, 8948 Highway 175

Station 40: Clearlake Oaks, 140 Spring Road

Napa County

Station 12: Yountville, 7401 Solano Ave.

Station 25: Napa, 1820 Monticello Road

Sonoma County

Station 41: Santa Rosa, 2210 W. College Ave.

Station 42: Occidental, 3100 Acreage Lane

Station 43: Hilton, 12604 River Road

Station 44: The Sea Ranch, 960 Annapolis Road

Station 45: Cazadero, 4600 Cazadero Highway

Station 46: Glen Ellen, 14000 Sonoma Highway

Station 47: Petaluma, 655 Lohrman Lane

Station 48: Healdsburg, personnel and equipment will be at the Healdsburg Fire Department Open House, 601 Healdsburg Ave.

Station 49: Cloverdale, 1001 South Cloverdale Blvd.

Yolo County

Station 37: Brooks, 14023 Highway 1

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss wildland fire-related issues including the Hoberg’s Resort cleanup, honor the youth organization 4-H and hold a second reading on a marijuana cultivation ordinance.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, 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.

At 9:10 a.m., the board will present a proclamation designating the week of Oct. 1 to 7, 2017, as National 4-H Week in Lake County.

In an untimed item, the board will get a status update on the Hoberg’s Valley fire clean-up of structural debris, soil and concrete sampling, and erosion control.

In another untimed matter, the board will consider and discuss the need for development of standardized language which would allow local disaster survivors to reside – or continue to reside – in RVs, manufactured housing units purchased from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other types of nonstandard housing for a time limited period.

Also untimed at the Tuesday meeting is a second reading of an ordinance amending Article 72 of the Lake County Code to allow the outdoor cultivation of medical marijuana, or cannabis, in "RL" Rural Lands and to create a certification of compliance process for cannabis cultivation.

The full agenda is posted below.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: Adopt proclamation designating the week of Oct. 1 to 7, 2017, as National 4-H Week in Lake County.

7.2: Approve Minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held July 18, July 25 and Aug. 1.

7.3: Adopt resolution reappointing Anita L. Grant as county counsel for the county of Lake.

7.4: Adopt resolution amending the FY 2017-18 budget to incorporate the list of projects proposed to be funded pursuant to the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB1).

7.5: Adopt resolution increasing the change fund for the department of Animal Care and Control.

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:06 a.m.: Swearing-in of newly appointed Deputy Sheriff David Pike.

8.3, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the week of Oct. 1 to 7, 2017, as National 4-H Week in Lake County.

8.4, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of appointment of ad hoc committee to meet with the Lake County Chamber of Commerce regarding the advancement of our community via a pro-business climate.

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of and report/status update on Hoberg’s Valley fire clean-up of structural debris, soil and concrete sampling, and erosion control.

9.3: Consideration and discussion of the need for development of standardized language which would allow local disaster survivors to reside (or continue to reside) in RVs, manufactured housing units purchased from FEMA, and other types of non-standard housing for a time limited period.

9.4: Consideration of appointment to the Lake County Resource Conservation District.

9.5: SECOND READING - consideration of ordinance Amending Article 72 of the Lake County Code to allow the outdoor cultivation of medical cannabis in "RL" Rural Lands and to create a certification of compliance process for cannabis cultivation.

9.6: Consideration of proposed findings of fact and decision in the appeal of Joan Sturges (AB-17-03).

CLOSED SESSION

10.1: Conference with Legal Counsel: significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(2), (e)(3) – Claim of PG&E.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday will hold a special meeting with the city planning commission to discuss marijuana rules before holding its regular meeting.

The council and commission will meet beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, in the council at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The council members and commissioners will hold a joint workshop to review possible amendments to the Lakeport Zoning Ordinance concerning the development of procedures for the allowance of commercial cannabis uses within the city.

The council’s regular meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

During the meeting, the council will present a proclamation designating the month of October 2017 Domestic Violence Awareness Month to representatives of the Lake Family Resource Center.

Police Chief Brad Rasmussen also will introduce new Lakeport Police Officer Casey DeBolt.

Under council business, Public Works Director Doug Grider will take to the council a proposed resolution approving the city’s SB 1 – or Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 – project list for fiscal year 2017-18, and amending the city budget to account for anticipated Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account funds in the amount of $26,923.

Items on the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Sept. 19; the Sept. 25 warrant register; adoption of the resolution accepting construction of the Giselman Street Overlay Project by Team Ghilotti Inc. and authorize the filing of the notice of
Completion; adoption of a resolution reorganizing the makeup of the Lakeport Economic Advisory Committee; authorization for staff to close portions of N. High Street and Lakeshore Blvd at Sayre Street, conduct traffic controls at other intersections along the route between the 1800 block of N. High St., and the LUSD campuses on Lange Street on Oct. 4, 2017.

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.

100317 Lakeport City Council-Lakeport Planning Commission joint meeting by LakeCoNews on Scribd

100317 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A festival filled with German culture, food and wiener dogs will take place in downtown Lakeport this weekend.

Oktoberfest 2017 will take place on three blocks of Main Street on Saturday, Oct. 7.

Oktoberfest is featuring German music from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Beer Garden and on Main Street.

The Clear Lake Clikkers will perform at 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. featuring dances to German music.

The street dance beginning at 4 p.m. will have the talents of Jimi Z’s band until 7 p.m.

Jimi Z and Golden Gate Meat Co. are again sponsoring a $1,000 cash giveaway with the winners being drawn at 6:30 p.m. at the bandstand on Main Street. Tickets are $5 each or four tickets for $20.

A variety of arts, crafts and food vendors will be staged along Main Street all day. Unique offerings for early holiday gift selections will be found and German food choices as well.

ScramBallz, which was featured at the Lake County Fair, will be on hand with fun for kids and adults.

Also during the day, Oktoberfest offers such fun activities as the doggy costume contest at 1 p.m., open to all breeds with a first place cash price.

A highlight is the World Famous Dachshund Derby Race, open only to dachshunds, sponsored by Rainbow Ag in Lakeport.

A “beer pong” competition sponsored by the Clearlake Club will be held in the intersection of Second and Main streets. Also appearing during the day will be the Amazing Divas.

Oktoberfest costume contests for adults and children will be held at the stage on Main Street between Second and Third streets at 3 p.m. Cash prizes will be awarded to best adult couple, best adult and best child (ages 0 to 12) costumes.

The Oktoberfest official emcee is Bert Hutt a member of the Lake County Chamber Board of Directors is an accomplished thespian/musician who will entertain and inform throughout the day.

Of course an Oktoberfest worth its weight in gold can’t happen without lots of beer, and there will be plenty available.

Tasting tickets will be sold for a large variety of microbrews during the afternoon on Third Street, where domestic beers and wonderful Lake County wines will also be offered for sale. O’Meara Bros. Brewing Co. and Eagle Distributing are sponsors of the beer garden.

For more information visit www.oktoberfest-lakeport.com or contact the Lake County Chamber at 707-263-5092.

ANDERSON SPRINGS, Calif. – Community members and officials from all levels of government gathered in Anderson Springs on Saturday morning to celebrate another significant step forward in the rebuilding of south Lake County after the Valley fire.

State Sen. Mike McGuire hosted the groundbreaking event for the new Anderson Springs wastewater system and the beginning of the process to rebuild dozens of new homes in a ceremony at the Anderson Springs Recreation Center.

Numerous dignitaries from local, state and federal agencies were on hand, including Congressman Mike Thompson, Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Jodi Traversaro of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Cal Fire Northern Region Chief Scott Upton, Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg, Sheriff Brian Martin, Supervisor Rob Brown, Supervisor Moke Simon, Special Districts Administrator Jan Coppinger, as well as State Water Board staff, Anderson Springs’ homeowners group, and representatives of numerous other groups and agencies that have served in the response and recovery.

The heartfelt event marked another step in Lake County’s ongoing recovery from the Valley fire, which began on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.

The third-most damaging fire in California history, the Valley fire that burned more than 76,000 acres and close to 1,300 homes, and resulted in four confirmed fatalities.

Southern Lake County continues to show the ravages of the fire. The hills above the recreation center are gray and dotted with the remains of thousands of still-standing blackened trees, and the rebuilding process across the fire area has been plagued by delays and struggles for survivors.

However, hope and resilience were the themes of the day.

“This morning is truly a milestone event,” said McGuire.

Thanks to the efforts of McGuire and cooperation between the county of Lake, the state of California and the federal government, construction of the $10.5 million new wastewater system is set to begin soon. The Board of Supervisors is expected to award the bid for the project at its Oct. 17 meeting.

The wastewater system will allow 119 homes to be rebuilt that otherwise couldn’t be and will also allow full buildout of the community’s 350 lots, McGuire said.

Another $7.2 million in low- or no-interest CalHome loans will allow dozens of homeowners to rebuild, plus there is another $4.5 million from Housing and Community Development for infrastructure, according to McGuire.

Aguiar-Curry said during the event that she is seeking another $5 million in relief funds for the county.

Anderson Springs – with the exception of a fraction of its homes – was devastated by the Valley fire.

At one point, the fire was burning so fast and hot that it was consuming 48 acres a minute, McGuire said.

“If hell existed on Earth, it was the Valley fire,” he said.

It proved to be one of Lake County’s toughest moments, but McGuire and the many others present on Saturday would agree that the disaster also brought people together and showed the county at its resilient best – neighbors helping each other, strangers reaching out to lend a hand – and creating as significant a story as the fire itself.

The county’s unshakable spirit, said McGuire, is what led to the achievement in efforts to rebuild Anderson Springs, a key achievement in the overall recovery.

He also was quick to acknowledge that the process has been neither easy nor quick, and that there is a lot of work still to be done.

Congressman Mike Thompson said the Valley fire, for all of its devastation, didn’t put a nick in Lake County’s spirit.

He recalled returning from the East Coast to respond to Lake County during the fire. Thompson said he had been at ground zero after Sept. 11, 2001, he’s seen the aftermath of earthquakes and served in Vietnam.

Yet Thompson said there was nothing that could have prepared him for what he saw as he rolled into Middletown, an area he has represented for decades. He found much of it unrecognizable in the immediate wake of the fire. Homes were burned to ash, vehicles were melted, dreams destroyed.

He also called the Anderson Springs wastewater project “a game changer.”

There was abundant praise during the event for local leaders, including Sheriff Brian Martin, who McGuire has dubbed the state’s hardest working sheriff, as well as county supervisors Rob Brown and Moke Simon, all of them having had a presence during the fire.

In the case of Simon, at that point he wasn’t yet a county official, but as tribal chair of the Middletown Rancheria he opened the tribe’s facilities at Twin Pine Casino to help shelter evacuees.

Traversaro, who along with McGuire and Martin took a harrowing ride through the Valley fire in hours after it began, said she’s always inspired by Lake County, where she’s seen not just the community’s resilience and grace but the heroism and leadership of local officials.

Coppinger, who has taken over as the head of Lake County Special District since the fire, said, “I still choke up when I think of that day and this fire,” recounting watching the fire’s smoke plume build from her home at the base of Cobb Mountain.

She said the Anderson Springs wastewater project has been both the most challenging and the most rewarding project of her career.

“This project is actually moving at lightning speed,” she said, noting the comparative speed of government processes.

During the ceremony Aguiar-Curry, McGuire and Thompson also caught Supervisor Brown off guard by presenting him with a plaque for his work in both the Valley and Clayton fires, filling roles that spanned not just his normal job as supervisor but also including everything from directing traffic for evacuees, structure protection, running shelters, coordinating response and, more recently, doing building inspections to help fire survivors get their homes completed.

The ceremony ended with dignitaries and Anderson Springs community members ceremonially tossing shovelfuls of dirt in front of the recreation center to symbolize the new building to come.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – In “Station Eleven,” the Big Read novel by Emily St. John Mandel, physical survival looms large after the Georgia Flu kills billions of people across the world.

Without modern commerce, medical treatment, and transportation, people are on their own for food, medicine and so many other things we take for granted.

All during October the NEA Big Read in Lake County will feature “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel.

The NEA Big Read is a communitywide reading program where community members are all encouraged to read and discuss the same book.

The public is invited to join the Lake County Library’s Big Read to discuss Mandel’s post-apocalyptic novel that examines life and death, faith and fate, music and drama, arts and technology, and power and control.

The Big Read will highlight the physical side of survival in a series of events covering medical questions, survival skills, and food.

Dr. Karen Tait of the Lake County Public Health Department and Tammy Carter of Sutter Lakeside Hospital tackle medical issues.

On Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Lakeport Library learn how your local Public Health department detects and takes action to prevent the spread of disease and what everyone can do to help.

Dr. Tait will present this free program. “Surviving the Apocalypse: Fact and Fiction” will be the topic on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m. at Lakeport Library when Tammy Carter of Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s Infectious Disease Division helps sort out fact from fiction while discussing the pandemic that forever alters civilization in “Station Eleven.”

In a world without commercially available food, people will need to rely more on wild food than we do.

The culinary program of the Lake County Campus of Woodland College will prepare and sell “survival-camp food,” a delicious venison stew at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Come for lunch and a presentation featuring “Station Eleven.” A Shakespeare skit and an activity that focuses on “more than survival” will follow lunch.

The campus is located at 15880 Dam Rd. Extension in Clearlake. For information call Pamela Bordisso at 707-995-7914.

To wash down their wild food and avoid diseases found in impure water, people could well turn to brewing their own beer.

Two local breweries, O’Meara Brothers Brewing Co. at 901 Bevins St. in Lakeport and Kelsey Creek Brewing Co. at 3945 Main St. in Kelseyville have created “Station Eleven” brews in honor of the Lake County Big Read.

No longer able to pop into the local store and buy what they need or call the neighborhood repairperson to fix broken things, people would have to relearn old skills to survive.

On Saturday, Oct. 7, will be the Forgotten Skills Fair at the Courthouse Museum from 1 to 5 p.m. 255 N. Main St. in Lakeport.

Local artisans will demonstrate old skills such as spinning yarn, washing clothes on a washboard, butter churning, pottery making, and flint knapping, just like the survivors in “Station Eleven.” This event is free.

Free copies of the book will be available at all four Lake County Library branches and at Big Read events in October while supplies last.

Free versions of “Station Eleven” are available for download on the library’s online catalog as well as print and audio copies.

Learn more about the book selection and planned events, and sign up for the Big Read email updates on the website www.lakecountybigread.com.

Jan Cook is a technician with the Lake County Library.