LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Clearlake woman has been taken into custody for setting a Sunday morning fire in Lucerne.

Kristina Loraine Doll, 25, is charged in the case, according to Bruce Lang, a fire prevention specialist for Cal Fire.

Shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday Cal Fire and Northshore Fire responded to a vegetation fire at Highway 20 and Rancho Vista Road in Lucerne, Lang said.

Lang said fire personnel quickly extinguished the 10-foot by 10-foot spot, measuring approximately one-tenth of an acre.

About an hour later, just after noon, Cal Fire law enforcement officers arrested Doll on a felony charge of burning of a forest as a result of malicious arson, Lang said. Cal Fire was assisted by the California Highway Patrol.

Doll, whose profession is listed on her booking sheet as unemployed, was booked into the Lake County Jail about half an hour after her Sunday afternoon arrest, with bail set at $50,000.

She remained in custody on Tuesday, the same day she was scheduled for arraignment in Lake County Superior Court, according to booking records.

Jail records show that Doll has had previous arrests for obstructing officers and disorderly conduct involving alcohol.

Doll’s arrest was the second for arson local authorities reported making over the weekend.

On Saturday, the Clearlake Police Department arrested Adam Joseph Miller, 28, of Clearlake for a fire on Dam Road Saturday evening that threatened the Cache Creek Apartment complex, as Lake County News has reported.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department has identified the man arrested on Saturday after witnesses said he set a fire that burned near a Clearlake shopping center and apartment complex.

Adam Joseph Miller, 28, of Clearlake was arrested shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday, about two hours after the fire was first reported, authorities reported.

At 5:40 p.m. Saturday, Clearlake Police officers responded with firefighters to the field behind Cache Creek Apartments, and near the Tractor Supply and Big 5 Sporting Goods stores, for a grass fire, as Lake County News has reported.

Upon their arrival, the officers, assisted by California Highway Patrol officers, evacuated Buildings C and D at the apartments, police said.

While attending to evacuations, officers also received information regarding a suspect who possibly started the fire, according to the Clearlake police report.

Based on the investigation, police said Miller was identified as the subject responsible for setting the fire.

One of the witnesses, whose campsite was burned down, saw Miller after he had initially left the area, gave chase and confronted him while having a bystander contact the police. Authorities said several officers arrived and took custody of Miller.

Based on statements obtained during the investigation so far, police believe that Miller intentionally set the fire.

Miller was booked into the Lake County Jail on suspicion of arson, with bail set at $100,000, according to booking records. He remained in custody on Tuesday.

His booking sheet shows he is scheduled for a Tuesday arraignment in Lake County Superior Court.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and includes investigators from the Lake County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to contact Arson Investigator Brice Trask with Lake County Fire at 707-994-2170.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In an effort to promote wildfire preparedness and prevention, the Kelseyville Fire Protection District, Ukiah Oxygen and the Lake County Wine Alliance have come together to host a fire extinguisher giveaway for Lake County residents on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 9 a.m. at the Riviera Elementary School in Kelseyville.

Initiated by Lake County District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown, the fire extinguisher giveaway is designed to arm local residents with a valuable tool that could help prevent a small fire from becoming a wildfire.

“We have seen when a wildfire starts, someone is usually near enough to see it and call in a report,” Brown said. “So we thought, wouldn’t it be good if that person also was armed with a fire extinguisher in their vehicle that could be used to knock back flames while firefighters are on their way?”

Brown said the 500 fire extinguishers that will be given away are not small auto or kitchen extinguishers but rather larger extinguishers that could make a real impact in the first few minutes of a blaze.

“We know that early actions can make a big difference in how rapidly a fire grows,” said Kelseyville Fire Protection District Chief Joe Huggins. “Getting these types of extinguishers in the hands of the public has the potential to help slow the spread and possibly help prevent another disastrous wildfire.”

A team from Kelseyville Fire Protection District will be on site providing training on how to use both types of extinguishers immediately after the giveaway.

Two types of fire extinguishers will be available during the giveaway: 150 of the 2.5-gallon stainless steel water-filled extinguishers, which weigh about 40 pounds each, and 350 of the ABC chemical-filled extinguishers that weigh 10 pounds each and are used to smother flames.

The extinguishers are being made available for the giveaway at a significantly reduced cost thanks to the generous support of Ukiah Oxygen.

Major funding for the fire extinguisher giveaway is covered by the Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund, which is administered by the Lake County Wine Alliance.

“We jumped at the chance to support this,” said Kaj Ahlmann, president of the Lake County Wine Alliance, which was one of three wine-industry organizations that together raised more than $1 million in the Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fundraising Effort after the Valley fire.

The Lake County Wine Alliance committed the entire $28,000 necessary to fund the fire extinguisher giveaway.

Ahlmann said, “Our organization has been so active in supporting fire relief and rebuilding efforts that it is a natural extension to support programs to help prepare for and prevent wildfires.”

The Lake County Wine Alliance hosts the annual Lake County Wine Auction fundraiser, and this year, the organization is committing one-third of the funds raised at the event to support the needs of the five fire protection districts in Lake County.

This year’s wine auction will be held Saturday, Sept. 21, at Chacewater Winery in Kelseyville. For details on how to attend, sponsor, or donate, visit www.winealliance.org .

Riviera Elementary School is located at 10505 Fairway Drive in Kelseyville. The giveaway will begin promptly at 9 a.m. in the school parking lot, and the fire-extinguisher training will follow immediately after the giveaway.

For questions about the giveaway, contact Rob Brown, 707-349-2628.

As one of the three organizations that established the Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund after the Valley Fire, the Lake County Wine Alliance, in partnership with the Lake County Winegrape Commission and Lake County Winery Association, raised more than $1 million that helped with community rebuilding.

Funds were disbursed to organizations to support: youth sports, agriculture, and music programs and equipment replacement; youth science camp and garden program; mental health services and temporary housing for needy families; a community art center that offered programs for community healing; medical clinics, food pantries, and meals for seniors; chipping programs and seedlings for reforestation efforts; an environmental assessment report for a wastewater system in a devastated community; and construction of a dormitory to house much-needed volunteer builders.

Formed in 2000, the Lake County Wine Alliance is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization operated under the guidance of a six-member volunteer board of directors with the purpose of supporting charitable and other local programs in the arts, health, and community. To learn more or to donate, visit: www.winealliance.org .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – If you heard about Shakespeare at the Lake and maybe even thought about going, but just didn’t make it to Lakeport to see it, there is some great news for you.

The event has been expanded this year to include a second weekend at Austin Park in Clearlake.

This free event was presented for the first three years in Lakeport.

Lisa Wilson, a member of the marketing committee for the city of Clearlake, had attended two of the performances and found the outdoor event to be “wonderful” and “well attended,” and she heard lots of positive feedback.

She asked the city and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce to consider inviting the Lake County Theatre Co. to expand to Austin Park.

She spoke to Director John Tomlinson, who was very interested in the idea of more than doubling the number of performances. In fact, it has long been a hope of his to expand the performances to not two, but four separate locations around the lake.

Wilson is excited to be the first to set the wheels in motion. “It makes so much sense to expand an offering, so much easier than creating new events.The Clear Lake Chamber and the city of Clearlake are thrilled to support LCTC and offer quality performances to the citizens of Clearlake,” she said. “We hope that this is the beginning of a new tradition at Austin Park. Guests will look forward to Shakespeare at the Lake every summer. Next year will bring a major renovation of Austin Park and the performance space will be stellar and something that will bring a sense of pride to everyone.”

This collaboration is about more than just bringing Shakespeare to the other side of the lake.

“The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to economic vitality and believes that family activities are an important part of the equation,” Wilson said. “When families spend an evening together at a wonderful event they feel a sense of pride and they want to take care of and invest in their community. Shakespeare at the Lake will become a flagship event at Austin Park, which is an important downtown location at the intersection of Lakeshore and Olympic.”

This year the Mendocino College Lake Center and the Lake County Theatre Co., in cooperation with the city of Lakeport, the city of Clearlake, the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Lake County Friends of Mendocino College present the “Taming of the Shrew,” a dark comedy about about a power struggle and a battle of the sexes in which an ambitious man tames his female bride to be.

But, this production flips the dialogue. Women wield the power and the men are expected to conform. All of the roles have been gender swapped and the concept is sure to spark conversation.

Come watch the events unfold as they bring a twist to this old tale about love, romance and raucous wit.

This is a free show on the shores of beautiful Clear Lake. Outdoor seating is on a first come, first-served basis.

Performances run Friday, Aug. 2, Saturday, Aug. 3, and Sunday, Aug. 4 in Clearlake at Austin Park. All shows start at 6:30 p.m. and it is recommended that you bring a beach chair or a blanket. The performance is free and food, beverages, and wine will be for sale.

For more information visit www.LCTC.us.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Trust for Public Land, a national conservation nonprofit organization, has donated approximately 3,000 acres within the boundaries of the Mendocino National Forest in Mendocino County.

The Trust for Public Land parcel is called the Sanhedrin Donation and is part of the broader 11,800-acre Sanhedrin Acquisition Project.

The forest has partnered with The Trust for Public Land and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to purchase the remaining 8,800 acres with Land and Water Conservation Funds and private philanthropic donations.

The land parcel is in the Middle Fork Eel River watershed, the largest sub-basin in the Eel River drainage. The donation will help protect critical habitat for the threatened Northern California steelhead.

The donation stipulates that the land must be incorporated into the adjacent Congressionally-designated Yuki Wilderness under Section 6(a) of the Wilderness Act of 1964 (16 U.S.C. §1135(a)).

“Other benefits from this generous donation include: enhancing recreational access to isolated areas of the forest, preserving wildlife migration connectivity between the Yuki and Sanhedrin Wilderness Areas, and improving water quality within the Elk Creek watershed, a major tributary to the Middle Fork,” said Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson. “We appreciate the widespread support we have received for the Sanhedrin Donation and the Sanhedrin Acquisition Project.”

“We are thrilled to be able to work with the US Forest Service to protect this land,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, California State director for The Trust for Public Land, “This addition to the Mendocino National Forest represents the rare opportunity to protect a piece of land not just because it’s a great place to recreate outside but also because it protects drinking water and the habitat for wildlife. This project would not have been possible without the support of Sen. Feinstein and Representative Huffman. We are grateful for the work they’re done to protect some of California's most special places."

The gift was supported by generous donations from the Wyss Foundation and the landowner, Coastal Forestlands Ltd.

After acceptance by the Secretary of Agriculture, the land shall become part of the designated Wilderness Area under Section 6(a).

Sanhedrin Donation map by LakeCoNews on Scribd

 

Do you feel like nutritionists are always changing their minds? Do you want science-based information about diet but don’t know whom or what to believe?

If you’re nodding in agreement, you’re not alone: More than 80% of Americans are befuddled.

Yet it’s a lament that’s getting quite tiring – if you’re a nutrition scientist, that is. So much so that I refocused my career to shine scientific light on today’s critical food conversations, which have profound impacts on public health and the environment. My mantra: From farm to fork, what we eat matters.

In fact, did you know that 80% of chronic diseases are preventable through modifiable lifestyle changes, and diet is the single largest contributing factor?

Science says plants are better for you and our planet

Clean eating or keto? Paleo or gluten-free? Whole 30 or vegan? Forget fad diets, because science has the answers – there is far more agreement about diet and health than you may know. The scientific report from the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, for example, concluded that a plant-based diet is best for human health and the environment alike. More than 75% of your meal should comprise vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and protein sources should include beans, peas, nuts, seeds and soy.

Canada’s 2019 Food Guide is similarly plant-focused, as is Harvard’s Healthy Eating Plate, while Brazil emphasizes foods “mainly of plant origin.” These guidelines and others also stress the importance of limiting processed and ultra-processed foods.

There’s also consensus from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and others that plant-based diets are more sustainable, largely due to the high energy inputs and environmental damage of livestock.

While it may sound like a fad, a “plant-based” diet has been studied for decades. Awareness escalated as it addresses two urgent public health challenges: the chronic disease epidemic and the climate change crisis. It’s a win-win for human health and the environment. Plant-based diets can be adapted to suit your taste preferences, traditions and cultures, as the Blue Zones, or regions of the world where people typically live longer than average and with fewer chronic diseases, indicate.

If science has the keys to a health-promoting, disease-preventing, planet-saving diet, why are people so confused? A closer look will arm you with the skills to sort fact from fiction.

There’s money in confusion

Celebrity junk science is an obvious player. It might even be cloaked in scrubs, like Dr. Oz – though chastised by the Senate for his quackery. (Physicians, in general, have little to no training in nutrition.)

Celebrities garner enormous platforms, often clouding the truth (or drowning it completely); the deal between Netflix and Gwyneth Paltrow, whose company Goop was sued over a certain jade egg, suggests that science is losing the battle. 

One needn’t be a celebrity to hold sway, however. A list of the Top 100 influencers showed that most were bloggers or athletes with no expertise. (None were scientists.) These voices gain considerable traction on social media. Health Feedback, a network of scientists who review the accuracy of online content, conducted a study with the Credibility Coalition and found a minority of articles received a positive rating, with most “exaggerating the benefits and harms of various foods.”

Traditional media don’t always shed light, alas. Single-study sensationalism is ubiquitous – for example, glyphosate in oats, coconut oil and weight, coffee causing cancer – and findings lack context.

And science journalism has taken a hit, and is perhaps why CNN interviewed an anti-science zealot. Or why the Los Angeles Times tweeted that there’s a “growing belief” about the health benefits of celery juice. (Pro tip: It’s not a thing.)

Surrounding the din of bogus dietary advice and media hype is a backdrop of science denialism, which legitimizes anti-science when espoused from top levels of government. Science illiteracy also plays a role.

Nonetheless, there are knowledge gaps: 57% of Americans have never seen the dietary illustration from the U.S. Deparment of Agriculture called MyPlate or know little about it, and 63% reported it was hard to recognize sustainable choices. Shoppers also claimed that identifying healthy food was difficult (11%) or moderate (61%). Unsurprising, perhaps, since 48% looked to crowded food packages for guidance: Some labels are meaningful while others are little more than marketing. (All natural, anyone?) Indeed, powerful food and agriculture lobbies still exert influence on dietary guidelines and obscure the science.

Through all of this, I believe the nutrition science community has tacitly contributed by failing to participate collectively in the public discourse. Nor have we adequately defended our discipline when attacked, whether by journalists, physicians or food writers.

Changing the conversation

Potent societal powers create a culture of nutrition confusion that not only obfuscate the truth about diet, they undermine science as a whole. Three steps will help eaters navigate this rocky terrain.

Begin by asking critical questions when digesting diet news. Does the writer have an advanced degree in nutrition, or does she or he have expertise in science journalism? Are there references to peer-reviewed studies or scientific organizations? Is the source credible? Are miracle cures or quick results promised? Are there expensive price tags for magic bullets? Does it sound like clickbait? Questioning the who-what-where-why-how is paramount.

Second, remember that what flits through our newsfeeds often comes via algorithms that enable news to careen through our echo chambers and elicit confirmation bias, factual or not. Offline, too, we are more likely to share beliefs with friends and family, our tribe. Getting curious about what you eat and why it matters beyond your comfort zone is necessary: You may need to “unlearn what you have learned.”

Finally, try this on for size: Nutrition. Isn’t. Confusing. We all have cherished traditions and values – what we eat isn’t just about the science. (At least, I hope not.) But it is time to learn the fundamental food and nutrition facts that will inspire you to harness the power of food to promote health, prevent disease and protect the planet. Change is possible – and the truth is out there.

[ Like what you’ve read? Want more? Sign up for The Conversation’s daily newsletter. ]

P.K. Newby, Scientist, Science Communicator, and Author, Harvard University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Cal Fire has issued an update on the early morning fires that destroyed two homes in Hidden Valley Lake and left one firefighter with minor injuries.

Fire Prevention Specialist Bruce Lang said Cal Fire was dispatched to two structure fires at 18703 and 18717 North Shore Drive in Hidden Valley Lake at 12:23 a.m. Monday.

Upon arrival, firefighters found one structure was 60-percent involved and the other was 80-percent involved, with minimal spread to the vegetation, Lang said.

Lang said fire crews immediately began structure protection for the surrounding homes.

The fires were contained to the buildings of origin, and Lang said both homes were total losses.

One firefighter was treated for a minor burn and released to full duty, Lang said.

He said fire personnel remained on scene until 03:30 a.m.

The cause of these two fires remains under investigation, Lang said.

Lang said resources that responded included Cal Fire, South Lake County Fire District, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Pacific Gas and Electric, Hidden Valley Community Services District and Hidden Valley Security.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – A fire reported early Monday morning in Hidden Valley Lake burned two homes.

The fire was first reported just before 12:30 a.m. Monday, according to radio reports.

Authorities received multiple calls reporting a large fire on North Shore Drive.

Firefighters from Cal Fire and South Lake County Fire arrived on scene about 10 minutes after dispatch, reporting over the air that there were two homes in the 18000 block of North Shore Drive that were fully involved and threatening other nearby structures and wildland.

Incident command reported that firefighters were in defensive mode and protecting the threatened structures and vegetation.

Just after 1:30 a.m., firefighters reported they were making good progress on the fire in the two homes, with resources estimated to be committed another three hours.

Pacific Gas and Electric also responded to help secure utilities at the scene, according to radio reports.

At the request of incident command, Northshore Fire sent its support team from the stations in Nice and Upper Lake. The team reported its arrival on scene at 3 a.m.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes 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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Get ready to taste samples and cast votes for the best grillers while supporting improvements at Westside Community Park.

Attendees at this year’s “Grillin’ on the Green” will enjoy some of the best barbecue in Lake County, organizers say, while a dozen competitors serve up tastes of their prime dishes in 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. 3, at the10th annual “Grillin’ on the Green” at Westside Community Park, 1401 Westside Park Road.

The event, which takes place from 5 to 7:30 p.m., will feature the popular barbecue competition with plenty of food, drink, and entertainment for all ages.

Presented by the Westside Community Park Committee, the event is an annual fundraiser for development of the park, home to soccer fields, a dog park, baseball and softball diamonds, horseshoe pits, and a bicycle pump track. Future plans include establishing a horse park.

Local organizations, individuals and professionals go head-to-head in the Grillin’ on the Green cookoff, 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. Joining Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin on the panel of celebrity judges this year will be Dana Stubblefield, retired defensive tackle for the 49ers and the Raiders, and Luis Castelero, a Kelseyville farm owner who has more than 60 years in the restaurant business and who now offers cooking classes from the Finca Castelero venue just outside of Kelseyville.

Event attendees will enjoy a variety of barbecued dishes, accompanied by side dishes and beverages, and entertainment including live music by the LC Diamonds, children’s water activities, a car show featuring vintage vehicles from local car clubs.

Tickets purchased in advance of 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. Adult tickets purchased at the event will cost $30 per adult .

All proceeds benefit the Westside Community Park development. Call event chair Cindy Ustrud, 707-263-7091, or Dennis Rollins, 707-349-0969, for more information.

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. Tickets are also available online at Eventbrite.com.

“Grillin’ on the Green gets better every year with incredible barbecue dishes created by our participating teams and lots of fun, family entertainment,” said Ustrud. “Attendees call the fare the best barbecue around, and what a great way to raise funds for continuing improvements to our community park. We hope to see you there.”

This year’s grill competitors include teams from the Lakeport Kiwanis, the Early Lake Lions, and Troop 42 Boy Scouts (sponsored by Lakeport Lions). Also signed up to vie for bragging rights are The Smokin’ Aces (Adam Bruch; sponsored by Lakeport Rotary), Beef Cakes (Jessie Richardson; sponsored by Westside Community Park Committee), People Services, Inc. “Chix-Ke-Bob-In” (sponsored by the Delta Iota Tau Sorority), Team Sutter Lakeside (Dennis Rasner; sponsored by Sutter Lakeside Hospital), It’s a Family Affair (Aaron Rollins; sponsored by Cindy Ustrud and Dennis Rollins), Fresh & Bangin' (John Arslanian), Drinx Bar and Grill (Andre Williams), the Lakeport Fire Department (Casey Dye), and a team of city of Lakeport staff (sponsored by the City of Lakeport).

For side dishes, salads, desserts and beans will be provided by Westside Community Park Committee, Lakeview Market, Main Street Bicycles, Angelina’s, Suzie Q’s, and Nancy Ruzicka. Wine from Thorn Hill Vineyards and Shannon Ridge Family of Wines, beer from O’Meara Bros. Brewing Company, and water will be available for purchase, as will snow cones by Marta and Domingo Avillea.

“We thank the many sponsors helping us to present this year’s event and support the development of our park,” said Rollins.

Sponsors include Sutter Lakeside Hospital ($2,500), the Ustrud-Rollins Family ($1,000), and additional “WorldCup” sponsors ($500 or more): the Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation, Community First Credit Union, Kelseyville Lumber and Supply Co., Lake County Tribal Health, and Alice and Jim Holmes.

“Grand Slam” ($300) sponsors include Sandy and Carol McGeoch, Brian L. Grey,DDS, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Matt Mazzei Auto Dealership, Clear Lake Redi Mix, Mendo Mill, and Beckstoffer Vineyards - Red Hills.

“Home Run” ($100) sponsors are Susie LaPointe, The Dock Factory and Supply Co., Willam C. Kranz, attorney at law,Lake Parts/Napa Auto Parts, Wilda and Jim Shock, Margaret Silveira, Lincoln Leavitt Insurance Agency Inc. and Lakeport Furniture.

Rollins also expressed gratitude for the in-kind contributions from Lake Event Design, Lake County News, Lakeport Cinema 5, KNTI, Lake County Record-Bee, Disney Trophies and Awards, UCC Rental Center, Thorn Hill Vineyards, Shannon Ridge Family of Wines, and the O’Meara Bros. Brewing Company.

Information about the event can be found on the park’s Web site, www.westsidecommunitypark.org, or on Westside Community Park’s Facebook page.

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 19 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.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Tickets are now available for “Music at the Marsh,” an afternoon of acoustic music and fun planned for Saturday, Sept. 14, from noon until 5 p.m. at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, located on Hwy 53 between Lower Lake and Clearlake.

The event is a benefit for Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association, or AMIA, the all-volunteer nonprofit organization that helps support the State Park.

Featured will be local musicians who are all donating their time and talent to support the Park, and all proceeds from the event will benefit AMIA.

Before the music starts, there will also be a guided nature walk beginning at 8:30 a.m., followed by a tour of the historic Anderson Ranch House. Both the walk and tour are free of charge and will be led by state park docents.

Everyone is encouraged to come and enjoy the guided walk and tour, and then to stay to hear some wonderful music in the afternoon. Admission to the afternoon of music is $20, and children under 10 are free.

Beer, wine, food and other refreshments will be available for purchase. Seating is very limited, so attendees are asked to please bring their own folding chairs. No dogs or other pets please.

The music and entertainment lineup includes Summit Singers, the Konocti Fiddle Club, Dave Hooper, Angle of Repose, Ely Fiddlers, Sheridan Malone, Clear Lake Clikkers and Uncorked. The popular Burt Hutt will lend his talents as master of ceremonies.

Advance tickets are available now online at www.andersonmarsh.org , and will soon be available at Watershed Books in Lakeport and Catfish Coffeehouse in Clearlake. Tickets will also be available the day of the event at the gate.

For information about the event, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , go to www.andersonmarsh.org and watch for frequent Facebook updates.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – District 4 Lake County Supervisor Tina Scott said she is seeking applicants to represent her district on the Lake County Planning Commission.

The Lake County Planning Commission is the general advisory body to the Board of Supervisors with regard to land use decisions and acts on those matters delegated to it by the supervisors and state law.

The commission consists of five members appointed by the Board of Supervisors for a two-year term.

The planning commission usually meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.

Occasionally for special purposes, the commission will schedule other meetings at different times.

Planning commission meetings are open to the public and agendas are posted the week prior to the meetings.

Scott plans to hold interviews with applicants.

If you are interested in an interview, contact Scott at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Gabriel Neal, Texas A&M University

I easily remember laughing at Wile E. Coyote trying to catch the Road Runner while watching Saturday morning cartoons as a child. I can still see the Coyote walking slowly through the sweltering desert, sun high in the sky, sweating, tongue-hanging-out, about to collapse from heat, hunger and thirst. Then, BEEP! BEEP! the Road Runner would fly past, and the chase was on with a perfectly revived Coyote.

If only fixing heat stroke were that quick and easy.

As a primary care physician who treats patients with heat related illnesses, I know that heat stroke is certainly no laughing matter. Each summer, a heat wave (or, like, 17) rolls over the U.S., precipitating a rash of death and hospitalizations related to what is, in doctor-speak, “severe non-exertional hyperthermia.”

Let’s stick to calling it heat stroke.

As much of the nation braces for a heat wave, it is important to consider how to prevent this potentially deadly condition.

Heat stroke is when a person’s core body temperature rises too high (often more than 104 F) because high environmental temperature (typically over 90 F) and humidity (over 70% relative humidity) prevents the body from cooling through its normal means of sweating and breathing. As heat stroke develops, our heart beats fast, our lungs breathe fast, we feel dizzy and nauseated, our muscles cramp, and we become confused, eventually losing consciousness entirely.

Without medical intervention, heat stroke is often fatal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes on average, about 658 Americans die each year from heat stroke.

Victims of heat stroke can be of any age, but more often it is the elderly, particularly those over the age of 70. As people age, our bodies’ ability to cool declines, and the elderly often take medication that further impairs this ability. In addition, the elderly may not be aware of the dangerous heat wave, and may not have working air conditioning in their home, nor have anyone to check on them. As a physician, I know from experience how the heat of summer and the cold of winter test the lives of the very old.

Other factors that increase the risk for heat stroke are obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Hydration, rest and finding a cool environment are the keys to preventing heat stroke. If you don’t have an air conditioned home or car, steps to take include wearing light, breathable clothing; avoiding time in direct sunlight; not exercising during the hot hours of the day; spraying yourself with water and sitting in front of a fan; taking a cool bath or shower; or placing a cold pack on your neck or armpit. In a heat wave, please take time to check in with your elderly neighbors, family and friends, to make sure they have the means to stay cool.

Fans help, not by lowering the air temperature, but by causing air movement over the skin, causing evaporation of sweat which lowers the body temperature. So fans are useful when there is no air conditioning, but having an air conditioned space is best.

Heat stroke is preventable – just stay cool and stay hydrated. Simple, right? But during a heat wave that is easier said than done, particularly for the poor and elderly. Do what you can to prevent it among your family and friends, and if you should encounter someone having the symptoms of heat stroke, call 911 to get them to an emergency room for evaluation and treatment.

Gabriel Neal, Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Texas A&M University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.