News

Details: Written by: Lake County News reports; Published: 27 February 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – California members of Congress have stepped up their demands for help for homeowners amid the continuing national foreclosure crisis that has impacted millions of Americans.

A unilateral decision by Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to block all forms of principal writedown for loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has prevented the housing market from recovering more quickly, said U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-Martinez) and Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), who on Monday ramped up pressure on the FHFA to reverse the decision that has stymied a more buoyant housing recovery.

Miller and Thompson joined Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Place) and more than 110 Democratic members of Congress in writing to FHFA Acting Director Ed DeMarco on Monday urging him to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to engage in principal forgiveness in cases where it benefits both homeowners and taxpayers.

DeMarco has categorically prevented principal reduction on Fannie- and Freddie-backed loans despite the fact that his own analysis shows that a properly structured principal reduction program could save billions of taxpayer dollars compared to sending underwater homeowners into foreclosure.

The lawmakers wrote, “Despite this weight of expert opinion, you have refused to permit Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to write down the principal balances of any underwater mortgages, even in cases where it can be demonstrated that doing so would yield the greatest long-term savings for taxpayers … Your unilateral decision to block all forms of principal write-down has prevented the housing market from recovering more quickly.”

Miller, who helped lead the charge on the issue among his colleagues, said “We cannot allow this crisis to continue. It’s time for Director DeMarco to get to work on stabilizing the housing market and providing real help to homeowners. It makes no sense to send families in the Bay Area and across the country into foreclosure simply because one regulator is ideologically opposed to solutions that work better for everyone. This is a serious issue for too many families and for our country – the FHFA should take it seriously as well.”

“The FHFA’s refusal to help underwater homeowners is slowing our economic recovery and costing taxpayers billions of dollars as more and more homes are sent into foreclosure,” said Thompson. “We need a responsible principal reduction plan that will help keep people in their homes and keep neighborhood values up – it is good for homeowners, good for communities and good for our economy.”

“Our country faces a national foreclosure crisis,” the lawmakers also wrote in the letter. “The American people expect government officials, whether elected or part of the civil service, to solve the complex problems that our nation confronts. We therefore urge you to harness your agency’s powers, resources, and financial expertise to prevent more foreclosures and reduce negative equity.”

The letter sent Monday is part of ongoing efforts by California Democrats pressuring the FHFA to make the best decisions on behalf of homeowners. Most recently, the lawmakers wrote to President Obama asking for a recess appointment of a new FHFA director.

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Details: Written by: Lake County News Reports; Published: 27 February 2012

bigvalleybench

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Two proposed American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in Lake County are a step closer to becoming established, the Lake County Winegrape Commission has learned.

Such designations can be very beneficial to the county’s wine industry, according to consultants who have been seeking the establishment of the AVAs.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury recently informed the commission that it has completed its initial review of the petitions for the “Kelsey Bench – Lake County” and “Big Valley District – Lake County” AVAs.

In a letter dated Jan. 30, 1012, Gerald Isenberg, TTB director of the Regulations and Rulings Division, informed the commission that the petitions for establishment of the AVAs “meet TTB’s regulatory requirements for AVA petitions.”

The letter goes on to say that the TTB has determined that the petitions “contain sufficient supporting information for the TTB to proceed with rulemaking for the proposed AVAs.”

The news has given the commission hope for succeeding with this project, said Shannon Gunier, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

There are more than 50 winegrape growers in the Big Valley area who stand to gain much deserved notoriety for their unique terroir if the AVA designation is obtained, she said.

The commission president noted that members of the organization, led by consultants Terry Dereniuk and Rick Gunier, have been working toward this goal for more than two years.

“We are thrilled that we got this far,” said Rick Gunier of CPI Marketing. “The fact that the TTB acknowledges we have written a worthwhile argument for these AVAs is the first big hurdle. Although we still have to remain optimistic (that final approval will occur), this step goes a long way in recognizing that Big Valley and Kelsey Bench are distinctive AVAs from which premium wines are produced.”

There are several advantages to establishing an AVA, according to Dereniuk, commenting on the news from the TTB.

She said she sees each of the AVAs as providing benefits on three levels.

The first is to the winegrape grower. Because an AVA defines the distinguishing features of an area, the farmer growing grapes within the AVA “will have more of a story to tell,” she said. That AVA allows the grower to define his or her story and “tie it to the land.”

The second level of benefit is for the winery that uses grapes from the AVA. With the winery, the message or story is “amplified” and the winery can use it to distinguish itself from other wineries “down the road.”'

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The consumers make up the third level of benefit, said Dereniuk. “They want to know where their food, and that includes wine, comes from,” she said, “not only from the perspective of food safety and sustainability but also about the unique characteristics that define grapes grown in a particular AVA.”

“After 20 years of growing premium winegrapes, the two areas are finally getting the recognition they deserve with their unique attributes,” Rick Gunier noted, “the Big Valley region with its fertile soil from the old lake bed and the Kelsey Bench region with its rich volcanic soil resulting from some of the most recent flow from Mount Konocti.”

The attributes are detailed in one of the Talking Points brochures created by the commission.

It states, “Big Valley’s mix of gravel, clay and loam, bright sunlight from the 1,400 feet elevation, and cool nights produces remarkable Sauvignon Blancs, establishing Lake County as one of the premier California regions for the varietal. Volcanic Kelsey Bench and the gravel seams in Big Valley produce intense and balanced Zinfandels and Cabernet Francs. Big Valley growers were among the first visionaries to discover the region’s winegrape potential and began planting vineyards in the 1960s, the first in Lake County since Prohibition.”

An added benefit to the designation, says Rick Gunier, is that as Lake County winegrape acreage approaches 9,000 acres, future wines that carry the Big Valley – Lake County and Kelsey Bench – Lake County AVA distinction will help sub-appellate wines get the credit they deserve.

Lake County is currently home to the Red Hills Lake County Appellation, the High Valley Appellation, Guenoc Appellation and Lake County/Clear Lake Appellation.

An appellation is “a winegrowing region with officially recognized boundaries,” states information on the Appellation America Web site, http://wine.appellationamerica.com.

An American Viticultural Area is one of three classes of appellations. The Web site notes there are 311 officially recognized wine growing regions in North America, of which only 191 are AVAs in the United States.

Additional information about Lake County appellations and the winegrape industry can be found on the Lake County Winegrape Commission Web site, www.lakecountywinegrape.org.

Details: Written by: Lake County News reports; Published: 27 February 2012

lakeportambulancedonation

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Fire District recently received a $20,000 donation from Sutter Lakeside Hospital for their Ambulance Replacement Program.

This program is in place to raise funds to purchase a new ambulance unit for the fire district.

“We currently have four ambulance units in service,” said Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells. “But the issue is that each of these units has 100,000 to 200,000-plus miles on them and requires continual maintenance.”

In 2011, Lakeport Fire transported more than 1,900 patients, 573 of them to medical facilities out of Lake County for specialty medical care needs.

“Some days our transporting ambulances travel over 500 to 600 miles a day,” said Fire Captain/Paramedic Bob Ray. “The wear and tear on these vehicles has created daily maintenance work. Although the units might look shiny and new on the outside, it’s the inner mechanisms that are starting to wear out.”

The funds donated by Sutter Lakeside will help replace one of the current ambulances already in service.

Wells and Ray are looking into the possibility of purchasing what they call “retrofit” of one of the current units.

This process will save $20,000 to $30,000 and allow the district to recycle many of the parts on the unit which are still viable.

“It is the engine and mechanical parts that need replacement,” said Ray. “There is an option to purchase a new chassis and engine, and then have the ‘box’ (section where the patient sits) repaired and cleaned up. We like the idea of recycling as much as possible while saving our tax paying community members money.”

Lakeport Fire currently transports their 911 calls to Sutter Lakeside Hospital and answers all of Sutter Lakeside’s discharge patient transportation needs to local care facilities, as well as about half of the out of county transports. Both of these account for more than 1,300 transports annually.

“The hospital is excited to provide the kick-off donation for the Lakeport Fire Ambulance Replacement Program,” stated Sutter Lakeside Hospital Chief Administrative Officer Siri Nelson. “One of my own family members recently needed ambulance transportation service to the hospital, so I know firsthand the importance of receiving reliable ambulance transportation help when you need it.”

“We hope that other community groups and individuals will join us in our efforts to meet the needs of the fire district,” continued Nelson. “The entire community benefits from the services and I believe we have a responsibility to help take care of those that take care of us.”

If you would like to make a donation toward the purchase of a new ambulance for the Lakeport Fire District, please specify that the funds be attributed toward the “LFD Ambulance Replacement Program.”

Donations may be made in person or by mail to the Lakeport Fire District, 445 North Main St., Lakeport.

For more information, call Fire Chief Ken Wells at 707-263-4396.

Details: Written by: Lake County News reports; Published: 26 February 2012

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Five adult cats are offered for adoption at the county’s animal shelter this week.

An orange and a gray tabby, two calicos and a friendly gray cat all are waiting for new homes.

Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake .

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

lynxpoint59

Female Siamese mix

This 1-year-old female domestic short hair is a Siamese mix.

She has “lynx point” coloring and blue eyes.

Find her in cat room kennel No. 59, ID No. 31914.

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Long-haired tortie

This female domestic long hair mix is called a “dilute tortie” for her unique calico coloring.

Shelter staff have not provided an age estimate for her.

She is in cat room kennel No. 70, ID No. 31900.

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Gray male tabby

This gray male tabby is estimated to be 4 years old.

He is a domestic long hair mix, and is not yet altered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 31, ID No. 31885.

orangetabby29

Orange tabby

This male orange tabby is estimated to be 6 months old.

He’s a domestic medium hair mix. He is not yet altered.

Find him in cat room kennel No. 29, ID No. 31840.

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Long-haired calico

This female calico is a year and a half old.

She has a long coat and is not yet spayed.

She is in cat room kennel No. 17, ID No. 31786.

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Kevin

This is Kevin, and he’s a fun guy.

He loves to cuddle and is personable. He would prefer to be an only cat.

Because Kevin is already neutered, his adoption fee is only $45, or $35 for seniors.

He’s in cat room kennel No. 5, ID No. 31753.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

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, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

News

Members of Congress step up fight for homeowners, pressure regulator to stop blocking writedowns

Proposed AVAs move toward establishment

Lakeport Fire raises funds for new ambulance; receives $20,000 kickoff donation

Purrfect Pals: Adult cats needing homes