What's up for December? Venus, Saturn, the crescent Moon and Mars make close passes at dusk and dawn throughout the month.
December starts off with a lovely string of pearls — with Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and the crescent Moon forming a lineup at dusk on Dec. 1.
You'll need a pretty clear view toward the horizon to see Jupiter, which is setting soon after the Sun these days. Look for an unobscured view toward the southwest about half an hour after sunset.
In the middle of December, watch each evening from Dec. 9 through 13, as Venus and Saturn just skim past each other, with brilliant, cloud-swaddled planet Venus rising higher in the sky each day.
Early risers can catch a glimpse of the Red Planet being visited by the slim crescent of the Moon on Dec. 22 and 23. To see them, look toward the southeast about 45 minutes before sunrise. You'll see the Moon above Mars on Dec. 22. By Dec. 23, it's moved below Mars and a bit toward the east.
At the end of December, you won't want to miss a dazzling pair-up of Venus and the crescent Moon.
On Dec. 28, look low in the southwest sky at dusk to find Venus hovering in twilight just above a slim lunar crescent.
NASA's space missions explore the Moon and the planets of our solar system to answer fundamental science questions about where we come from, where we're going and whether we're alone.
Preston Dyches works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The phases of the Moon for December 2019. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.
At the Friday, November 15, 2019, “Palette to Palate” event at the Middletown Art Center in Middletown, Calif., Lisa Kaplan, artist and Director of MAC, speaks about the work directly behind her: “Burn,” two archival digital prints by Yelena Zhavoronkova. In the foreground are works of fiber art by Alana Clearlake, some of which include items from nature, such as Spanish moss and eucalyptus bark. Photo by Esther Oertel. MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On the evening of Friday, Nov. 15, lights at the Middletown Art Center beckoned warmly on an otherwise dark street.
Inside, bottles from the Shannon Ridge Family of Wines lined a tasting table and the work of local artists graced the exhibit space.
Visitors sipped wine, mingled and wandered reflectively among the pieces.
The exhibit, “All That Is Now: The Fourth Anniversary Fire Show,” featured work created in response to the Valley fire of September 2015, as well as more recent fires. The event was also the closing reception of the show.
The artwork, done in various media and often using objects changed by fire, showcased the varied ways artistic creativity can express reaction to traumatic experience.
The pieces, from sculptures to photographs to fiber art to paintings, reflected both the poignancy of surviving fire and the resilience needed to be present now, four years after the event.
“At a Loss for Words,” a sculpture by Terry Church made from salvaged metal and burned wood from the 2015 Valley fire, was on display at the “Palette to Palate” event at the Middletown Art Center in Middletown, California, on Friday, November 15, 2019. Photo by Esther Oertel.
A “documentation room” featured photographs of area fires since 2015. This was in a space separate from the main exhibit to respect those who might be triggered by scenes of fire.
As artist and Middletown Art Center Director Lisa Kaplan welcomed visitors and presented information on many of the exhibited pieces, a multi-faceted story unfolded, one of individual experiences forming a communal whole.
Two of the participating artists, Alana Clearlake, fiber artist, and Terry Church, sculptor, spoke in more detail about their work.
During her presentation on wines, Joy Merrilees, Shannon Ridge director of winemaking and production, compared winemaking to art with yeast as the medium. With a background in landscape design, her prior focus on plant science and art has easily translated to winemaking.
“Salt & Pepper,” a 2019 art piece by Monte Brill, chronicles the finding of his wife’s salt and pepper shaker collection after the loss of her home in the 2015 Valley fire. The work was on display at the “Palette to Palate” event at the Middletown Art Center in Middletown, California, on Friday, November 15, 2019. Photo by Esther Oertel.
Merrilees, a Lake County native, fell in love with the wine industry while traveling in New Zealand. It was there she embraced a career in wine, beginning as a migrant worker in the vineyards and eventually becoming a winemaker. Her experience was literally from the ground up.
Shannon Ridge vineyards lie in three of Lake County’s seven wine appellations: Red Hills, Big Valley and High Valley. Each growing area creates unique flavor qualities, whether from red volcanic soil or the heavy black earth of an old lakebed.
This is the winemaking palette from which Merrilees and her associate winemaker, also a woman, craft the wide variety of wines offered by Shannon Ridge.
“Containment Line, Geysers Fire,” a 2017 chromogenic print by aerial photographer Herb Lingl was on display at the “Palette to Palate” event at the Middletown Art Center in Middletown, California, on Friday, November 15, 2019. Photo by Esther Oertel. Events such as Palette to Palate help support the programs of Middletown Art Center. To find out more about events, exhibits, classes, volunteer opportunities and membership, please visit their website at www.middletownartcenter.org.
As Kaplan said in her closing comments, “MAC is weaving the arts into the fabric of our community. We hope you’ll be part of our threading.”
Esther Oertel is a writer and passionate home cook from a family of chefs. She lives in Middletown, Calif.
“Wherever They May Fall,” a work by Jaye Moscariello, features fire damaged pieces of garden hose at the “Palette to Palate” event at the Middletown Art Center in Middletown, California, on Friday, November 15, 2019. Photo by Esther Oertel.
Representatives of the city of Clearlake, Clearlake Police Association, Golden State Water Co., and the Outreach Team of Clearlake United Methodist Church with some of the turkeys to be distributed in Clearlake, Calif., for Thanksgiving 2019. Courtesy photo. CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake United Methodist Church furnished 47 families with a turkey and all the trimmings to go with it to local Clearlake residences who may not otherwise have celebrated Thanksgiving Day with their families.
With the help of the city of Clearlake, Clearlake Police Association and Golden State Water Co., the Outreach Team of Clearlake UMC quickly got the word out to their pantry clientele, neighbors and sister churches to come pick up a Thanksgiving meal.
“We are very fortunate to have these agencies to help us serve the Clearlake community during the holiday season. The city of Clearlake and Golden State Water Co. provided the turkeys, while our Clearlake Police went out to shop for all the sides and pies for the dinners. These agencies have great compassion for the community,” said Rev. Dawn Roberts, pastor to the church.
Clearlake United Methodist Church is a full community outreach and teaching ministry. Sunday begins the week with worship service, with Pastor Roberts, at noon. All are welcome.
The members, known for their warmth and friendliness, have a saying, “Come as You Are, Leave with A Blessing!”
The services are contemporary, while honoring tradition. Live music and video, Sunday School and Fellowship following. Communion first Sundays the month.
During the week, there are classes to wind down, center and help heal mind and body in one of the long-time established Tai Chi or Yoga classes.
“Our approach is safe for those with limitations, open to men and women, no previous yoga experience is necessary. This benefits many ailments such as arthritis, asthma, anxiety, and high blood pressure. Relaxation practice balances our overworked nervous systems,” explained Marion Kaiser, certified instructor for Relax with Yoga.
AA “Bacon & Egos” group, meets every morning. The Disaster Relief office is open Monday through Friday and by appointment. The food pantry is open to the community each Sunday at 1 p.m., providing fresh, canned and boxed goods. The award-winning Fresh Start Program serves approximately 30 children under age 3 during the school year. CCUMC Thrift Shops as been noted as one of the best in town.
Clearlake Community United Methodist Church campus located at 14501 Pearl Ave. in Clearlake. Call the church at 707-994-2134 or check Facebook.
The Clearlake United Methodist Church Outreach Team with food distributed to community members in need in Clearlake, Calif., for Thanksgiving 2019. Courtesy photo.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – To help house displaced farm animals during times of disaster, portable livestock pens have been deployed to seven fairgrounds around California, including the Lake County Fairgrounds.
The pens, purchased through a partnership between the California Farm Bureau Federation’s charitable foundation and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, were formally dedicated during a ceremony this week at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds in Yuba City.
“During wildfires, floods and other emergencies, farmers and ranchers take great care to be sure their animals can be safely evacuated, often to nearby fairgrounds,” CFBF President Jamie Johansson said. “These portable livestock pens will make it easier for fairgrounds to fulfill their role as shelters during disasters.”
After the Camp fire ravaged part of rural California last year, the California Bountiful Foundation – a charitable foundation established by CFBF – created a Farm and Rural Disaster Fund.
Donations from 50 individuals and companies allowed the foundation to contribute $75,000 toward purchase of the portable livestock pens.
With additional funds from CDFA, a total of 280 pens were acquired.
CDFA has distributed 40 pens apiece to fairgrounds in Anderson, Auburn, Lakeport, Merced, San Mateo, Ventura and Yuba City.
Manufactured by Plymouth Industries of Nebraska, the panels to create the pens are stored on racks so they can be quickly mobilized and transported during a disaster.
“Already this fall, we’ve seen the pens used to help livestock during the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County,” Johansson said. “We also look forward to having them used for happier occasions, such as ongoing events at county fairgrounds around the state.”
For more information about the Farm and Rural Disaster Fund, see the CFBF website at www.cfbf.com .
Moving to strengthen safeguards for fish and expand science-based decision making, the California Department of Water Resources has taken formal steps to begin environmental review of long-term operations of the State Water Project, or SWP.
The action enables California’s water project operations to avoid relying on proposed federal biological opinions announced last month to achieve environmental approval to operate consistent with state law.
Instead, DWR will seek approval from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to operate the SWP in a way that improves protections for fish and complies with the California Endangered Species Act, or CESA.
In a key step toward that goal, DWR today issued a draft document prepared under the California Environmental Quality Act or CEQA, that identifies potential operational changes to protect species and manage the SWP based on real-time conditions in the Delta ecosystem, including additional flows dedicated to the environment.
DWR’s draft environmental impact report, or EIR, draws on a decade of science and a quantitative analysis of best-available data on flows, modeling, habitat and climate change impacts.
The draft EIR is available here and the appendices can be found here.
“This draft points to a more sophisticated and nimble way to manage the State Water Project to improve our ability to protect species and operate more flexibly. This is essential in order to capture water when it’s available and leave more water when and where fish need it,” said DWR Director Karla A. Nemeth.
The SWP captures and stores water that originates in the Sierra Nevada and delivers it to 27 million Californians in the Bay Area, Central California and Southern California.
DWR’s draft EIR is separate from the proposed biological opinions issued by federal agencies on Oct. 22 for long-term operation of the federal Central Valley Project and the SWP.
Earlier this year, out of concern for the scientific rigor of the federal process, DWR indicated it would pursue its own environmental review and permit process to ensure protection of endangered species under state law.
Concurrent with the environmental review under CEQA, DWR is developing an application for a permit from CDFW for long-term SWP operations under CESA.
CDFW will determine requirements for the permit in the coming months, with a specific focus on mitigating impacts of SWP operations on longfin smelt, Delta smelt, winter-run and spring-run Chinook salmon.
The draft EIR assesses impacts of proposed project operations, a “no project” alternative that reflects current operating rules, three alternatives that provide fresh water flows in the spring and summer, and an alternative that uses physical barriers and other deterrents to keep fish away from the SWP pumps.
Historically, DWR had relied on federal Biological Opinions to cover the SWP under the federal ESA, with a consistency determination provided by CDFW.
Securing a separate permit under CESA provides flexibility for CDFW to consider amendments to the permit based on better scientific understanding as part of the adaptive management program, without relying on changes to be made to the federal biological opinions.
It also provides CESA authorization for SWP regardless of any potential changes in federal law.
DWR’s draft proposal differs from the federal biological opinions in several key ways:
– It improves species protection by vesting authority in CDFW to stop operational changes if it determines they will violate CESA standards. – It includes multiple alternatives that provide a block of environmental water that can be used to offset pumping impacts in the Delta, with adjustments made over time as new information is learned. – It provides clear direction on when Delta pumping can be increased during storm events and caps the amount that exports can be increased in those events. – It includes updated modeling and quantitative analyses to support habitat actions in summer and fall to benefit Delta smelt. – It includes specific protections for longfin smelt, a protected species under CESA, and a commitment to implementing a longfin smelt science plan. – It does not seek to increase SWP exports.
DWR’s draft EIR will be available for public comment through Jan. 6, 2020.
DWR anticipates completing a final document in early 2020, with a permit from CDFW expected to follow.
The wind speed of a devastating Category 5 hurricane can top over 150 miles per hour.
Now imagine another kind of wind with an average speed of 0.87 million miles per hour.
Welcome to the wind that begins in our sun and doesn’t stop until after it reaches the edge of the heliosphere: the solar wind.
The corona is the sun’s inner atmosphere – the brightness that can be seen surrounding an eclipsed sun – and home to the continually expanding solar wind.
Right now, the Parker Solar Probe – a NASA mission launched in 2018 – is orbiting the sun and will get as close as 3.83 million miles of the sun’s surface.
Parker is gathering new data about the solar particles and magnetic fields that comprise the solar wind. More specifically, two of its main goals are to examine the energy that heats the corona and speeds up the solar wind, and determine the structure of the wind’s magnetic fields.
While many theories describe the solar wind’s history, this is what we do know: The solar wind impacting Earth’s magnetosphere is responsible for triggering those majestic auroras typically seen at locations close to our north and south poles.
In some cases it can also set off space weather storms that disrupt everything from our satellites in space, to ship communications on our oceans, to power grids on land.
Nicky Fox is the division director for heliophysics at NASA Headquarters. She explains in more detail how the solar wind disrupts our magnetosphere: “As the wind flows toward Earth, it carries with it the Sun’s magnetic field. It moves very fast, then smacks right into Earth’s magnetic field. The blow causes a shock to our magnetic protection, which can result in turbulence.”
NASA also has another reason to study the solar wind and its properties – the solar wind is part of a larger space weather system that can affect astronauts and technology.
As Fox notes: “We not only have to ensure our astronauts are protected from the harmful effects of radiation. We have to protect our equipment too. So, we’ve already found aluminum to be a good shield to protect our crafts from many energetic particles. But there are also faster particles that travel at 80 percent of the speed of light, which can cause havoc with parts of a spacecraft. They can smash into and damage solar panels, disrupt electronics, or affect electric currents that flow along power grids. So, we’re currently conducting tests with small pieces of technology to study how well they can survive in intense radiation areas.”
Knowing more about the effects of the solar wind is not only important to those of us who live on Earth. It will be critical to know how to mitigate its effects once our astronauts travel back to the Moon and beyond for extended periods of time.
Fox concludes: “My feeling is – if the Sun sneezes, Earth catches a cold, because we always feel the impact of what happens on the Sun thanks to the solar wind.”
From left, Daniel Wayne Ford, 49, of Lakeport, California, and Michael Sean Shaffer, 35, of Upper Lake, California, are in custody for the killing of 70-year-old Nicky Smith of Lucerne, California, on Saturday, November 23, 2019. Lake County Jail photos. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The two men charged with the murder of a Lucerne man have made their first court appearance in the case while the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it is continuing to try to locate the truck belonging to the victim.
The body of Nicky Dale Smith, 70, was found on the side of the road in the 4550 block of Scotts Valley Road near Lakeport shortly before 7:30 a.m. Saturday, as Lake County News has reported.
Within hours, sheriff’s detectives had identified Daniel Wayne Ford, 49, of Lakeport and Michael Sean Shaffer, 35, of Upper Lake as the suspects in Smith’s killing.
The sheriff’s office subsequently asked for the community’s help in locating Darlene Geneva Anderson, a Northshore resident they believed had information needed in the investigation.
Sheriff’s Lt. Corey Paulich said detectives were able to locate and interview Anderson.
He said they weren’t commenting on what statements Anderson made to investigators.
Paulich also reported that Smith’s autopsy took place on Wednesday.
“It was determined that he died from blunt force trauma and gunshot wounds,” Paulich said.
Detectives are working hard to contact potential witnesses and searching for evidence, according to Paulich.
Paulich said Smith’s dark green Toyota Tundra pickup, with the license plate “NASTOSR,” is still missing.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information regarding this investigation or the location of Smith’s missing truck to contact Sheriff’s Central Dispatch at 707-263-2690.
Suspects make first court appearance
District Attorney Susan Krones said Ford and Shaffer were arraigned in Lake County Superior Court on Tuesday.
Krones has charged the men together with the following crimes:
– Count one: murder, with special allegations that the murder was committed during an attempted robbery, an attempted kidnapping and a carjacking; – Count two: attempted robbery; – County three: kidnapping; – Count four: carjacking, with special allegations of Ford discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury and death, and Ford personally using and firing a handgun; – Count five (Ford only): assault with a firearm, with a special allegation of Ford using a handgun; – Count six: (Ford only): assault with a deadly weapon, a flashlight; – Count seven: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, with a special allegation of inflicting great bodily injury on a person who was 70 years old; – Count eight (Ford only): felon in possession of a firearm.
Court records indicate that Ford has previous felony convictions, including reckless evading in Mendocino County in 2007, possession of methamphetamine for sale in Mendocino County in 2011 and for criminal threats in 2015 in Del Norte County.
Shaffer has felony convictions in Lake County including in 2012 for assault with a deadly weapon and for reckless evading in 2017.
Krones said both men indicated on Tuesday they wanted to hire a private attorney. “So they did not enter a plea.”
She said Ford and Shaffer are scheduled to return to court at 8:15 a.m. Dec. 10 for appearance of counsel and plea entry.
Asked if there is any idea of motive, Krones said, “At this point, no.”
She added, “At this point it’s still an early investigation.”
Krones said, however, that it wasn’t a random killing, with Smith having had prior contact with Ford and Shaffer.
Both Ford and Shaffer are being held at the Lake County Jail without bail, according to jail records.
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.
Authorities are trying to locate this Toyota Tundra pickup, with the license plate “NASTOSR,” that belonged to 70-year-old Nicky Smith of Lucerne, California, who was found murdered on Saturday, November 23, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – One death was reported on Thursday evening as the result of a structure fire.
Shortly after 6 p.m. firefighters were dispatched to a residential structure fire in the 19100 block of Grange Road near Middletown, according to radio reports.
Dispatch had received multiple reports of the fire, and when firefighters got on scene they reported finding a fully involved RV.
The RV was located next to a structure, with firefighters reporting they had no water supply.
Just before 6:30 p.m., incident command reported over the air that a primary search of the trailer had confirmed one fatality.
The fire was reported to be under control shortly before 6:40 p.m.
Additional details will be published 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.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The 12th “Wreaths Across America” commemoration in Lake County is set to take place on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Wreaths Across America honors veterans. Each year, millions of Americans come together to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and their families, and teach the next generation about the value of freedom.
This gathering of individuals and communities takes place in local and national cemeteries in all 50 states as part of National Wreaths Across America Day.
In Lake County, ceremonies are being held at Hartley, Kelseyville, Lower Lake, Middletown, St. Mary’s and Upper Lake cemeteries.
This year’s theme is, "Everyone plays a part."
In 2018 nearly 1.8 million veterans’ wreaths were placed in total across the country in all 50 states – 253,000 of them at Arlington National Cemetery.
Two million volunteers participated last year at 1,640 locations nationwide, with 61,000 volunteers laying wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery. More than a third of the volunteers across the country were children.
Approximately 600 truckloads of wreaths were delivered across the country by hundreds of volunteer professional truck drivers using donated equipment and fuel. There also was the first placement of 9,387 veterans’ wreaths at Normandy-American Cemetery in France.
Youth organizations are reaching out for sponsorships to place as many wreaths as possible on veterans’ gravesites and anyone is invited to participate.
If you would like to volunteer visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.com , look for the volunteer button, set yourself up as a volunteer at one of the six Lake County cemeteries and then you will receive up-to-date information by email.
Boy Scout Troop 42 in Lakeport, Girl Scouts in Kelseyville, the Lake County 4-H Group and FFA will be accepting donations for wreaths until Dec. 2.
Individual sponsorships cost $15 for one wreath and the family option costs $60 for four wreaths.
Small businesses can fund 10 wreaths for $150 and corporations can sponsor 100 or more wreaths for $1,500 or any amount can be sponsored for $15 per wreath.
Toni Funderburg, coordinator of Wreaths Across American in Lake County, said sponsorship forms can be picked up at Lakeport Tire & Auto Service, 1901 S. Main St. in Lakeport; call 707-263-5422 and they will fax or email you a sponsorship form; or visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and sponsor a wreath and payment can be made with a credit card. Please make sure to designate the cemetery and sponsoring group.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Mendocino College is pleased to announce the Promise Program, which provides free tuition to eligible students, will be extended through the fall 2020 semester.
In order for Mendocino College students to be eligible for the Promise Program, they must be a resident of California, have submitted a FAFSA or California Dream Act Application, be a first-time college student, successfully completed 15 units in their first semester (fall 2019 or spring 2020) and enroll in a minimum of 15 units in their second semester (spring or fall 2020).
Once eligible students complete their first semester and enroll in 15 units the following semester, they will receive a grant that covers all out of pocket enrollment fees for the two semesters.
Registration is now under way for the spring 2020 semester.
Day, evening, and weekend classes begin Jan. 21.
With campuses in Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Willits and Lakeport, Mendocino College offers 55 associate degrees and 34 certificate programs to prepare students for in-demand careers.
Ten degrees and eight certificates are also offered completely online and nine others at least 50 percent online.
“We are excited to continue expanding our innovative schedules at all of our satellite locations,” said Dean of Centers Amanda Xu. “Our centers are a great way to offer educational opportunities to our rural community members.”
The Coast Center in Fort Bragg is continuing to build upon its offering of pre-health track courses such as Concepts of Biology and Medical Terminology in order to serve students on the coast interested in pursuing in demand health care careers.
The Lake Center in Lakeport is offering several career oriented night classes designed for working adults interested in entering or advancing in specific career fields including: business, child development, administration of justice, human services and emergency medical services, or EMT.
The North County Center in Willits is continuing its Weekends to Success program. Weekends to Success offers high value hybrid classes that meet once a month on Saturdays or twice a month on Friday evenings. These strategically scheduled courses are geared towards full-time working students.
Currently enrolled students can register for classes through My Mendo, which can be found by visiting http://my.mendocino.edu . New students can apply online at www.mendocino.edu .
For additional assistance, call the Office of Admissions and Records at 707-468-3101.
Alle Vierra, 17, of Middletown, California, will appear in the 93rd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 28, 2019, as part of the Spirit of America Cheer group. Photo courtesy of Jill Vierra. LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County residents who plan to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday morning should be on the lookout for a Middletown teen who will perform during the famed festivities.
Alle Vierra, 17, a senior at Middletown High School, will be dancing in this year’s parade, which her mom, Jill Vierra, called a “once in a lifetime opportunity.”
This is the 93rd annual parade, which Macy’s reported is expected to draw more than 3.5 million spectators in New York City and more than 50 million television viewers nationwide.
This year’s parade lineup includes 16 giant character balloons, featuring favorites like Snoopy, SpongeBob SquarePants, Smokey Bear and The Grinch; 40 novelty balloons, heritage balloons, balloonicles, balloonheads and trycaloons; 26 floats; 1,200 cheerleaders and dancers; more than 1,000 clowns; and 11 marching bands, Macy’s reported.
Alle Vierra will be performing as part of the Spirit of America Cheer group, which Macy’s said has been part of its parade since 1989.
Macy’s reported that the 600-member group, under the direction of Roger Hayes, is comprised of female and male cheerleaders, ages 13 to 18, from all over the United States. This year they’ll be performing to RuPaul’s “Brand New” remix.
In a Wednesday phone interview with Lake County News following practice for the parade, Alle Vierra said she’s been in cheer for 10 years.
In addition, she’s been her mother’s junior cheer coach for the last four years for the varsity seventh and eighth graders for the Middletown Colts.
Alle Vierra won an award this summer at the Spirit Spectacular cheer camp. The leadership award she received put her in the top five of the 200 cheerleaders taking part in the event.
Winning the award gave her the opportunity to dance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
However, winning the award was just the first step – her mom said it required three months of steady fundraising, including selling homemade salsa and baked breads.
So, how much salsa and bread did it take to get the teen to New York? Her mom said approximately 10,343 ounces of salsa and more than 100 loaves.
Jill Vierra thanked everyone from Lake County, surrounding counties, and all the way from San Jose to Stockton to Fort Bragg who purchased bread – which she delivered – to support her daughter’s trip.
It was hard work but, Jill Vierra said, “We made it.”
The Vierras traveled to New York on Saturday, arriving at about 7 p.m., Jill Vierra said.
As soon as they got to the hotel, Alle Vierra had to get to practice, which went until 10 p.m. Jill Vierra said.
Since then, daily practices have run from 6 to 10 p.m. daily, she said.
But in addition to the work, there’s also been some fun, including sightseeing at some of New York’s famed landmarks, including the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center.
On Wednesday afternoon, Alle Vierra told Lake County News that she’s “a little” nervous about her big television debut.
The Spirit of America Cheer group is set to appear in front of Macy’s at approximately 10:48 a.m. Thursday.
Jill Vierra said neither parents nor anyone else is allowed near Macy’s during the performances, as that’s where the TV cameras are.
So she’ll be waiting impatiently down the route in front of the Hilton hotel on Sixth Street, where they’re staying, as her daughter performs.
“She's out there representing Lake County with pride,” Jill Vierra said.
The parade will be televised on NBC affiliates in all time zones from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday and by livestream on the parade Web 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.
Clearlake Police officer conducted a special traffic enforcement on Tuesday, November 26, 2019, in Clearlake, Calif. Photos courtesy of the Clearlake Police Department. CLEARLAKE, Calif. – With the inclement weather and an increase in holiday traffic, Clearlake Police officers on Tuesday conducted a special enforcement operation focused on traffic-related violations.
Operation Drive Safe took place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the department reported.
The department reported that from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. five additional officers joined regular patrol to conduct a total of 74 traffic stops throughout the city.
A total of 11 arrests were made for various misdemeanor traffic related offenses such as driving without a license, driving on a suspended license and displaying false registration. Included were also some unrelated criminal arrests such as outstanding warrants, according to the department’s report on the operation.
The Clearlake Police Department said it wanted to ensure that drivers in the community, as well as those visiting from out of town, drive safely and arrive to their Thanksgiving celebration in one piece. “It’s all part of making Clearlake a cleaner, safer city.”
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