CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Two structures were burned in a Friday afternoon fire that briefly prompted evacuations in a part of Clearlake.
The fire in the area of Snook and Davis avenues was first reported at about 3 p.m., and drew a response from Lake County Fire and Cal Fire, as well as fire agencies around Lake County, which sent resources as part of an in-county strike team.
For two and a half hours the Clearlake Police Department had the area of Davis and West 40th – behind Foods, Etc. and Westamerica Bank – due to the fire.
Evacuations were briefly in place for homes in the area as well, with a medical clinic on nearby Lakeshore Drive evacuating on precaution, according to radio reports.
About 45 minutes after dispatch, incident command reported that forward progress was stopped.
Lake County Fire Battalion Chief Charlie Diener said a total of two structures were burned.
He said the structure of origin was an abandoned red-tagged home where it was believed transients were living.
Diener said the fire also burned a home next to the red-tagged structure.
“We don’t know if it was occupied or not,” he said of the second structure on Friday evening.
A Cal Fire helicopter drops water on a fire in Clearlake, Calif., on Friday, July 28, 2017. Photo by Gordon Eisler. The structure where the fire originated had no power supply, Diener said.
Diener said they didn’t yet have an idea of the cause, but noted, “It’s suspicious in nature.”
In addition to the structures, Diener estimated between three and five acres of vegetation burned.
By early evening, all evacuations had been called off, Diener said.
Diener and the last units cleared the scene shortly after 7:15 p.m., following several hours of mop up and overhaul.
He said no injuries were reported.
The Clearlake fire came less than 24 hours after a barbecue sparked a fire that threatened a Lucerne neighborhood.
The Foothill fire in Lucerne destroyed two homes and damaged a third, with three outbuildings, two cars and three and a half acres of vegetation also burned, as Lake County News has reported.
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.
The Clearlake Police Department closed off the area of Davis and West 40th in Clearlake, Calif., on Friday, July 28, 2017, due to a fire that burned structures and wildland. Photo by Sue Flint.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The American Bittern’s “pumper-lunk” call has got to be one of the strangest sounds I have ever heard.
When I first heard it, I thought the sound was coming from some kind of oddball frog, but when I realized the sound was coming out of a bird, I was truly astonished.
Their calls, sometimes also referred to as “booming,” have given rise to the bird’s nicknames like “thunder pumper” and “water belcher.”
The call starts with the clapping of the bittern’s bill. As it claps, the bird draws air into its esophagus and holds it there.
Once the esophagus is sufficiently inflated, the bittern forces the air out past its syrinx (voice box) while pressing its head down and out. Think of it as something like a “melodious burp.”
You can see and hear a sample of the call in the video on this page, which was taken in April at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge in Glenn County, along the auto-tour route.
The call is used by males to establish their territory and attract females. They can hear challengers’ calls from more than 1,000 feet away, and respond by more booming, standing tall, and rushing out in a crouched position to meet challengers head on.
The American Bittern generally lives in freshwater marshes. The species’ numbers have been declining over the past several years, some say by as much as 43 percent, due to wetland degradation and habitat loss. Photo by Mary K. Hanson. Usually, the battles between the males are relatively mild, consisting of more booming and posturing, but when the fights escalate, they can be brutal.
Male bitterns are known to fly up into the air and stab at each other with their sharp beaks until one of them leaves the disputed territory or simply cannot fight anymore.
Except for the breeding season when mating pairs come together, the bitterns live solitary lives in freshwater wetland areas that have high vegetation, like tules.
Camouflaged well by their brown and white bodies, they often stand stock still with their head held high, beak pointing skyward, so that the long brown streaks down their neck blend in with the shadows between the cattails and tules. It’s along the fringes of high vegetation where you’ll most likely see them, and usually in the early morning or dusk hours.
The bitterns’ eyes are yellow (except in the breeding season when they turn orange) and are able to cant downward, unlike most other birds whose eyes are fixed in their sockets and don’t move much.
This gives the bittern an advantage over some other marshland birds in seeking and finding prey. It’s also believed to rock its head back and forth when it’s hunting, so the eyes can see past the surface glare of the water into the depth below.
Like herons and egrets, bitterns hunt in and around shallow water with a stab-and-grab technique. They stand still, watching for prey, and then jab at with their bill when it comes close enough. Once caught the prey is either stabbed, crushed or shaken to death and then swallowed whole.
Bitterns have a varied diet that includes insects, crustaceans (crayfish are a favorite), fish, frogs and tadpoles, salamanders, snakes and small mammals like voles. What they can’t digest they vomit out later in pellet form (rather like owls do).
Bitterns stand with their neck stretched and their bill pointing to the sky in order to blend in with the shadow patterns around them. In this photo you can see how the bird is able to cant its eyes downward, so even while the head is up, it can still see what is in front of it. Photo by Mary K. Hanson. Between their fighting, belching, and vomiting male bitterns may not seem like much of a catch … and the fact that they only need about 15 seconds to mate may not impress ladies all that much, either.
But remember that these are generally solitary birds to begin with. The males depart as soon as the mating is over, and the female sets out on her own to lay her eggs and tend to her brood.
The female will pick out a spot among the cattails, sedges and tules that it can flatten out into a mound and then line with grass. Usually the mounds are around 15 inches in diameter, but they can be smaller.
She’ll lay a clutch of up to about seven eggs (that will be olive or beige-brown) and incubate them for about four weeks.
When the chicks hatch, they’re covered in pinkish-yellow down and sport a pink bill and large eyes (which like their parents’ can cant downward making them look cross-eyed a lot).
As soon as they’re able to lift their heads, they’re doing the bittern neck-stretch, pointing their bills at the sky, trying to blend into their surroundings.
They’re able to leave the nest in about two weeks, and fledge in about six weeks. By then they’re on their own: females looking for mates and nesting sites of their own, and males belching out their “pumper-lunk” calls to establish their territories.
Next time you’re out near a wetland area, listen for the American Bitterns. Their call is unmistakable and unforgettable.
Mary K. Hanson is a Certified California Naturalist, author and nature photographer. She will be co-teaching a naturalist course for the public through Tuleyome in early 2018. Tuleyome is a501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization based in Woodland, Calif. For more information, visit www.tuleyome.org.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A dozen competitors are ready for one of the hottest contests this summer, and the public is invited to help choose the winners.
Barbecue amateurs and experts will pit their skills against one another Saturday, Aug. 5, at the eighth annual “Grillin’ on the Green” at Westside Community Park, 1401 Westside Park Road, Lakeport.
The event, which takes place from 5 to 8 p.m., will feature the popular barbecue competition with plenty of food, drinks and entertainment for all ages.
Grillin’ on the Green is an annual fundraiser for development of the park.
Local organizations, individuals and professionals go head-to-head in the cook-off, preparing their best barbecue recipes for attendees who then cast People’s Choice votes for their favorites.
A group of celebrity judges will select their favorite as well. This year’s celebrity judges are Record-Bee Editor Dave Faries, Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin and Mendocino College instructor Christine DePasquale.
Event attendees will enjoy a variety of barbecued dishes, accompanied by side dishes and beverages, and three hours of entertainment including live music by the LC Diamonds, children’s water activities, a car show featuring vintage vehicles from local car clubs, and horse-drawn wagon rides sponsored and presented by the LC Horse Council. Snow cones from Marta and Domingo Avillea will be available.
Ticket prices for the event are $25 per adult, $10 per child between the ages of 5 and 12, and no charge for children 4 years old or younger.
Tickets are available in advance and will be sold at the function.
All proceeds benefit the Westside Community Park development.
Advance tickets for Grillin’ on the Green may be purchased at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and The Travel Centers in Lakeport and at Polestar Computers in Kelseyville.
“Come join us to enjoy some terrific food and entertainment,” said Westside Park Committee Chair Dennis Rollins. “Each year Grillin’ attendees call the fare the best barbecue around. We hope to see you there.”
This year’s grill competitors include teams from the city of Lakeport, the Lakeport Kiwanis, the Early Lake Lions, and the Delta Iota Tau Sorority.
Also signed up to vie for bragging rights are Team Smokin’ Aces (Adam Bruch), Beef Cakes (Jessie Richardson), JQ’s (Jason Stricker and Dave Hansen), Team Lakeside (Dennis Rasner - Nurses Association for Sutter Health), Just the Tri Tip (Tim Biasotti), Livin’ Made E.Z. (Adam Newell), Happy Papa BBQ (Robert Norton), and Aaron and Rob’s BBQ (Aaron Vandewarker).
Sponsors of the fundraiser will be recognized at the Grillin’ on the Green event. Levels of sponsor recognition are $100, $300, $500 to $1,000. Contributions of any amount may be sent to 1350 Berry St., Lakeport, and made payable to Westside Community Park Committee.
The Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation is for the seventh year offering a sponsorship match. The Foundation will match up to $3,000. Sutter Lakeside Hospital has pledged a sponsorship of $2,500. Representatives of the foundation and the hospital challenge the community to match and exceed the combined $5,500 amount.
Additional sponsors include the Ustrud-Rollins Family, Rotary Club of Lakeport, Kiwanis Club of Lakeport, Kelseyville Lumber & Supply Company, Alexander McGeoch, DDS, Brian L. Grey, DDS, Lake County News, Lincoln Leavitt Insurance Agency Inc., Matt Mazzei Auto Dealership, Mendo Lake Credit Union and Clear Lake Redi Mix Inc.
Westside Community Park is a regional recreational facility that is operated by the City of Lakeport and the Westside Community Park Committee. It has been in development for 18 years.
The nonprofit Park Committee is developing the park in conjunction with the City of Lakeport, volunteers, and numerous contributions by individuals and businesses dedicated to constructing a recreational facility for the youth and adults of Lake County.
For more information about Grillin’ on the Green, call Cindy Ustrud, 707-263-7091, or Dennis Rollins, 707-349-0969.
The public will have an opportunity to participate in a nationwide science experiment by collecting cloud and temperature data from their phones.
NASA’s Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, or GLOBE, Program Observer, also known as NASA GO, is a citizen science project that allows users to record observations with a free app.
On Aug. 21, NASA GO will feature a special eclipse experiment. With the app and a thermometer, citizen scientists can help observe how the eclipse changes atmospheric conditions near them, and contribute to a database used by students and scientists worldwide in order to study the effects of the eclipse on the atmosphere.
Observers in areas with a partial eclipse or outside the path of totality are encouraged to participate alongside those within totality.
The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, or GLOBE, Program is a NASA-supported research and education program that encourages students and citizen scientists to collect and analyze environmental observations. GLOBE Observer is a free, easy-to-use app that guides citizen scientists through data collection.
On Aug. 21, a total solar eclipse will occur across the entire continental United States. Crossing the country from Oregon to South Carolina over the course of an hour and a half, 14 states will experience night-like darkness for approximately two minutes in the middle of the day. The eclipse enters the U.S. at 10:15 a.m. PDT off the coast of Oregon and leaves U.S. shores at approximately 2:50 p.m. EDT in South Carolina.
All of North America will experience at least a partial eclipse.
“No matter where you are in North America, whether it’s cloudy, clear or rainy, NASA wants as many people as possible to help with this citizen science project,” said Kristen Weaver, deputy coordinator for the project. “We want to inspire a million eclipse viewers to become eclipse scientists.”
In order to participate, first download the GLOBE Observer app and register to become a citizen scientist. The app will instruct you on how to make the observations. Second, you will need to obtain a thermometer to measure air temperature.
Observations will be recorded on an interactive map.
To join in the fun, download the GLOBE Observer app. After you log in, the app explains how to make eclipse observations.
THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED, WITH CONTAINMENT CONFIRMED.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Firefighters are working at the scene of a fire burning structures and vegetation in the city of Clearlake.
The fire, first reported at about 3 p.m. Friday, is located in the area of Snook and Davis avenues behind Foods, Etc., according to radio reports and the Clearlake Police Department.
Units on scene reported over the air that one structure was on fire, with many others threatened as the fire began moving into the wildland.
A short time later, a second structure was reported to be involved, according to radio reports.
Lake County Fire and Cal Fire were first on scene, and have requested a strike team of engines from other Lake County fire districts, with some of those units reported to be arriving just after 3:30 p.m.
Cal Fire also was asked to send air resources on the incident, which firefighters on scene reported is pushing to the north.
Responding units are being advised that power lines are down in the area.
Evacuations of residences were reported to be taking place in the area around the fire, with a medical clinic on Lakeshore also evacuated on precaution, based on reports from the scene.
The Clearlake Police Department is asking people to avoid the area of Davis and West 40th, and the areas behind Foods, Etc. and Westamerica Bank due to the fire.
At about 3:45 p.m., Cal Fire reported that the forward spread of the wildland fire was stopped, with its size estimated at about three acres. Two hours of mop up on that part of the fire is anticipated.
Firefighters at that point were continuing to work on the structure fire portion of the incident.
Later in the afternoon, Lake County Fire Battalion Chief Charlie Diener confirmed to Lake County News that the fire was contained, with two structures burned, and mop up continuing.
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.
LUCERNE, Calif. – A barbecue started a fire that destroyed two homes, damaged a third and also burned several outbuildings Thursday evening in Lucerne.
The fire in the 4200 block of Foothill Drive in Lucerne was first dispatched at about 5:30 p.m., as Lake County News has reported.
Northshore Fire, Cal Fire, the US Forest Service from the Mendocino National Forest and a strike team of engines from fire departments around the county responded to the incident, according to Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos.
For close to two hours Cal Fire air attack circled overhead as two Cal Fire helicopters made drops on the fire, flying back and forth between Clear Lake to fill their buckets.
Cal Fire tankers also dropped retardant on the hillside to keep the fire from getting to more of the many homes lining Foothill Drive.
One of two homes destroyed by a fire caused by a barbecue in Lucerne, Calif., on Thursday, July 27, 2017. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to help evacuate a portion of Foothill Drive between Bond Court and Windsor Way, and the area of Sunset Ridge. They were joined by California Highway Patrol officers who controlled traffic in the area.
Pacific Gas and Electric sent a crew to the scene, as it had been reported that lines were down.
Incident command reported forward progress was stopped at around 7 p.m., with line placed all around the fire at that time.
Beristianos said a barbecue started the fire, which then burned two homes to the ground and did major damage to a third.
He said three outbuildings and two vehicles also were destroyed, and three and a half acres of vegetation burned.
A firefighter continues to mop up at a home that burned down in Lucerne, Calif., on Thursday, July 27, 2017. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
There was no defensible space around the homes, Beristianos noted, adding that had there been, they might have been saved.
Beristianos said Red Cross had been called to help the families displaced by the fire.
He said there were a couple of reports of minor injuries but nobody had been transported to the hospital.
He said a firefighter rescued a dog from one of the homes. The small pit bull ran back inside of the house and jumped on the bed, but the firefighter was able to wrap the dog up in a blanket and bring it out safely.
Fire units from around Lake County, Calif., from Cal Fire and the US Forest Service responded to a fire that destroyed several structures in Lucerne, Calif., on Thursday, July 27, 2017. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.
Animal Care and Control Office Holly Bray was on scene. She said she was taking four cats to the shelter for housing overnight, with their owner expecting to pick up them up on Friday.
All evacuations were lifted at around 7:45 p.m. Thursday, but the roadway remained closed for several hours as firefighters continued mop up and overhaul late into the night.
Hours after the fire was out, firefighters continued to wet down the burned structures and the surrounding vegetation, with fire hoses lining the roadway.
Beristianos said crews would remain on scene “well into the night” to continue monitoring and overhauling the site.
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.
Cal Fire’s Copter 101 staged in front of the historic Lucerne Hotel in Lucerne, Calif., on Thursday, July 27, 2017. The copter was part of the force battling a wildland fire that ultimately destroyed several structures, two of them homes. Photo by John Jensen/Lake County News.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A San Diego man was arrested Thursday morning after leading law enforcement on two separate vehicle pursuits from Lake into Mendocino County.
Kacy J. Perry, 42, of San Diego was arrested at the entrance of Hopland Sho-Kah-Wah Casino, according to a report from the Clear Lake Area office of the California Highway Patrol.
Just after 8 a.m. Thursday, the Lakeport Police Department initiated a pursuit in the city of Lakeport involving a silver Ford Fusion whose driver – later identified as Perry – was driving erratically, the CHP reported.
At approximately 8:06 a.m. Lakeport Police asked CHP to take over the pursuit at Highway 29 at Highland Springs Road, according to the report.
CHP Officers Kory Reynolds and Nick Powell assumed the pursuit on southbound Highway 29 at Cole Creek Road at 8:12 a.m. At 8:24 a.m., upon confirming Perry’s identity, CHP Officer in Charge Rob Hearn directed CHP units to terminate the pursuit, which they did, the CHP said.
Just after 8:30 a.m., the CHP’s Ukiah Communications Center received calls from citizens that a vehicle matching the description of the pursuit vehicle was driving recklessly on northbound Highway 29 near Soda Bay Road, the CHP said.
The CHP said the vehicle was seen driving through the intersection against a red traffic light and continued northbound, passing vehicles over the double yellow lines and in blind curves.
The CHP’s on-call supervisor, Sgt. Nenad Gorenec, was notified of the initial pursuit by Hearn at his residence, with Hearn later advising Sgt. Gorenec of the additional reckless driving, the agency reported.
Shortly after 9 a.m. Lakeport Police units located Perry’s Ford Fusion traveling southbound at Highway 29 at Lakeport Boulevard. The CHP said Perry backed into a Lakeport Police patrol vehicle and fled southbound, with Lakeport Police units initiating a second pursuit.
At 9:14 a.m. CHP Officers Cortez and Bews assumed the pursuit, based on Perry’s continued threat to public safety, the CHP said.
At the same time, Clear Lake Area CHP Commander Lt. Hector Paredes and Officer Reynolds responded and ultimately became the supervisory unit, the report explained.
The CHP said its units pursued Perry westbound from Highway 29 onto Highway 175, traveling over the Hopland Grade and into Mendocino County at speeds of 25 to 60 miles per hour.
Shortly after 9:30 a.m., Sgt. Gorenec successfully spiked Perry’s vehicle tires, but he continued westbound at 30 to 40 miles per hour, the CHP said.
The report said CHP units were approved to use legal intervention before Perry entered the populated community of Hopland, and just after 9:40 a.m. they were able to stop the vehicle and take Perry into custody.
Perry was booked into Lake County Jail for felony evading, driving under the influence of drugs, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and resisting or delaying a peace officer, the CHP said.
There were no injuries and only moderate damage to CHP vehicles, while the CHP said Perry’s vehicle sustained major damage.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake Community Pride Foundation will present its seventh annual Power to the Youth Festival on Saturday, Aug. 5.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Clearlake's Austin Park, 14077 Lakeshore Drive.
Admission to the event is free so bring the whole family.
The Lake Community Pride Foundation is a nonprofit group that maintains and supports a teen shelter, Safe House of Lake County, supports the youth performing arts and organizes youth events for the community.
Power to the Youth offers physical activities, youth entertainment, music and community education.
This year's event will feature a basketball tournament for different age groups and a skate park competition for varying skill levels in scooters, BMX, scooters, and skateboarding with prizes for the winners.
It is free to enter these activities and all participants must register and be prepared to play at 10 a.m. on the day of the event.
Glory Day's Flag Football League will have their annual Power to the Youth flag football event.
A stage in the front of the park will feature this year's musical lineup: Fetti Rich, The Lyricist and As All Else Fails.
Multiple bouncy houses, water slides, mechanical bull, free horse rides, as well as local agency booths offering activities and information about their services will be available throughout the park.
Ranging from education to politics to health care and local businesses, many booths will be featured at this year's event.
There also will be food available for purchase from Cactus Grill near the gazebo.
Come down, have some fun, bring unity to the community, and empower our youth for a brighter and better future for Clearlake and Lake County.
If you're interested in holding a booth for the event, volunteering or donating toward the cause of the event, contact Bruno Sabatier at 707-695-0834 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The committee overseeing the spending of Lakeport’s new sales tax will meet early next week.
The Measure Z Advisory Committee will meet beginning at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 31, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The committee includes citizen members Annette Hopkins, Susan King, Dennis Rollins, Nathan Speed and Tim Wynacht. The city’s staff representatives are City Manager Margaret Silveira, FInance Director Nick Walker and City Clerk/Committee Secretary Kelly Buendia.
Discussion and action items include an overview of the Ralph M. Brown Act as it relates to the committee.
The committee’s citizen members also will receive introductory instruction on government budgeting and see highlights of the city of Lakeport’s approved 2017-18 budget.
The group also will approve its 2017-18 calendar of meetings.
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.
LUCERNE, Calif. – State, local and federal firefighters are working to control a wildland fire in Lucerne.
The fire was first dispatched at around 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the area of the 4200 block of Foothill Drive.
Northshore Fire and Cal Fire responded, with Cal Fire bringing in a full contingent of air resources.
Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol shut down Foothill Drive at Victoria to traffic as authorities ordered residents in the area north of Foothill in the Sunset Ridge area to evacuate immediately.
Residents along Foothill Drive began preparing to evacuate and were loading down homes and wetting down buildings and yards with garden hoses as tankers and helicopters dropped retardant and water on the fire.
Shortly after 7 p.m., incident command reported that forward progress on the fire had been stopped, with line all around the fire.
At that point, it was estimated that all resources would be committed for six hours.
The latest estimate on the fire’s size was 3.5 acres and three structures burned, according to radio reports just before 7 p.m.
Authorities also partially lifted the evacuation order for the fire area in Lucerne, but have ordered residents with homes on Foothill between Bond Court and Windsor Way to remain evacuated.
Additional updates will be posted as they become available.
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.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday released surveillance video of two subjects believed to be involved in the murder of a Kelseyville man last week.
David Sheldon Shalett, 34, of Kelseyville was shot early on the morning of Wednesday, July 19, during a home invasion robbery at his residence on State Street, according to authorities.
Sgt. Corey Paulich said that sheriff’s detectives, in their continuing work to investigate the case, have developed two persons of interest.
Paulich said one of the subjects shot Shalett in front of his two young children and then stole a small amount of marijuana before fleeing the home.
The two subjects were captured on home surveillance video, Paulich said. The clips are posted on this page.
The sheriff’s office is asking the public to watch the videos in an attempt to identify the subjects.
Anyone with information related to the identity of these subjects or that could assist with the investigation is asked to contact Det. Jerry Pfann at 707-262-4236 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Community members will once again have the opportunity to enjoy the work of William Shakespeare on the shores of Clear Lake this weekend when “Shakespeare at the Lake” puts on its second annual production.
“Much Ado About Nothing will be performed on Saturday, July 29, and Sunday, July 30, at 6:30 p.m.
Save the dates and join them for this fanciful story of love, intrigue and betrayal.
The 2016 production of Shakespeare at the Lake was by all accounts a huge success for cast, crew, sponsors and audience.
The inaugural performance at Library Park in Lakeport was a collaborative effort for Mendocino College Lake Center, the Lake County Friends of Mendocino College and the Lake County Theatre Co.
The city of Lakeport supported this community effort by making its stunning Library Park available for the program.
Several hundred audience members enjoyed breathtaking views of Clear Lake as the background for the production of “A Midsummer Night's Dream.”
As a result of these efforts, Shakespeare at the Lake was awarded “Best New Idea” at the 2016 Stars of Lake County program. Also, its creative inspiration, Director John Tomlinson, was awarded a Lake County Star as the driving force behind this community effort.
For 2017, the cast is set, the electricity is in the air.
Tomlinson steps up again and has assembled his troupe for Shakespeare’s “Much Ado about Nothing.”
Mendocino College Lake Center, the Lake County Friends of Mendocino College, the Lake County Theatre Co. and the city of Lakeport are presenting this year’s free production scheduled for Library Park, Lakeport.
Guests should bring their own blankets, chairs and coolers. All seating is outdoors and first-come, first-served.
There will be vendors selling food and soft drinks. There will also be beer and wine for purchase. Proceeds benefit scholarships for Mendocino College students.
Shakespeare at the Lake is presented free of charge to the public. This effort is made possible through the generous sponsorship of many individuals, businesses and organizations.
The following businesses have generously donated time, material and services to support this community theater production: Ed Olson’s Clearlake Vista Resort and Café, Kelseyville, and Pine Dell Resorts, Clearlake; Kelseyville Lumber, Kelseyville; Lakeport Disposal, Lakeport; Lake Event and Design Center, Lakeport; Richard Neils Construction; and Rosa d’Oro Winery.
This production would not be possible without the generous contributions of its sponsors.
They include Gentry sponsors: California Retired Teachers Association, Lake County Division 35; Peggy Campbell, CPA, Lakeport; K. Nikka Deacon, Kelseyville; Dennis and Jo Fay, Kelseyville; Valerie Jensen, Kelseyville; Donald and Lorene McGuire, Lakeport; Jim and Wilda Shock, Lakeport; SHN Engineers, Willits; Cindy Ustrud and Dennis Rollins, Lakeport.
The Lakeport Main Street Association is a Courtier sponsor.
Royal sponsors include Education Leadership Solutions, LLC, Kelseyville; Lakeport Rotary Club, Lakeport; Community First Credit Union, Ukiah; Smith Family Trust, Kelseyville; Strong Financial Network-Jennifer Strong, Lakeport; Tomkins Tax Consultants, Lucerne; Judy Conard, Law Office of Judy F. Conard, Lakeport.