Richard “Richie” Lenormand
Born 10-12-32 * Passed 6-24-2016

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Rich was known to many in Lake County as a friendly familiar face at Lakeport Christian Center Church from 1992 to 1999.

Rich would walk the church grounds every night just keeping an eye on things. A habit picked up from serving thirty-two years as a Patrolman with S.F.P.D. at San Francisco General Hospital.

A quiet man with a quick smile, Rich was born the second son of three to Ray and France Lenormand of San Francisco.  

Rich was born to a colorful family who could be found riding Harley Davidson motorcycles, driving large trucks, and even bridge-building in the 30s and 40s.

Rich had two brothers, Ray Jr. and Rob, both military veterans. The three brothers would often be found with their cousin Roberta (Bobbie), making “the gang” as they would refer to themselves.

Throughout Rich’s adulthood he formed a very close relationship with Mike Willingham (his second cousin) by driving him to all his high school sporting practices, games and even on his dates. It only made sense that as Mike married and started a family of his own that Rich would join it, becoming a full-time member when he retired in 1992.

Rich would spend the next 20 years with the Willingham family. Rich was always there for the Willinghams and was constantly supporting the family, attending sports and school plays, playing catch, teaching the kids to drive, and imparting wisdom. Rich never let the family down.

The years passed and Rich and Mike found themselves living on their own together and became a real-life version of the classic movie “the odd couple” for the last 10 years they spent together.
 
Rich always enjoyed holidays at his cousin Roberta’s (Bobbie's) house. There was no place he liked more than being surrounded by family and great food at Bobbie’s house.

Rich is survived by Michael, Marcie, Ian, Roberta, Rob, and many very close cousins and relatives.
 
Rich will always be missed and loved by those who knew him best.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Everyone is welcome to come to Middletown to watch free family movies outdoors during this beautiful California summer.

The movies are offered on the second Saturday of each month at dusk at the Middletown Square Park – the park that is part of the new library and senior center complex on Highway 29/Calistoga Road.

On Saturday, July 9, the Middletown Area Merchants Association and Hardester's Markets present “The Borrowers” featuring John Goodman.

In order to keep this event free to the public, the movie is sponsored by Twin Pines Casino.

The Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College is hosting the event and refreshments will be available for purchase from the Middletown Rancheria Tribal Youth.

Turn it into a full family event when you bring a picnic dinner, acoustic instruments, or games to play while waiting for the movie to begin at dusk. Don’t forget to bring a blanket, chairs, and a jacket.

For more information, visit www.middletownareamerchants.com or call 707-987-0998.

Freezing fish onboard my second home?

Question: I do a lot of offshore fishing between Catalina and the Mexico border. After fishing and catching we spend a couple of days in Avalon or San Diego.

Since my boat is my second home, is it legal to then filet my fish and freeze it on board my boat?

Also, does the same rule apply to yellow fin tuna as to bluefin tuna? (Mike K.)

Answer: It doesn’t matter that your boat is your second home. The law says, “No more than one daily bag limit of each kind of fish … may be taken or possessed by any one person unless otherwise authorized” (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.17).

For all of the rules on filleting fish on a vessel and a list of which fish may and may not be filleted aboard a vessel, please view section 27.65 on pages 34-35 in the 2016-2017 Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.

Regarding your questions on filleting and freezing yellow fin and bluefin tunas, CCR Title 14, section 27.65(b)(11) states, “For all species of tuna filleted on any boat or brought ashore as fillets south of a line running due west true from Point Conception, Santa Barbara County (34o27’ N. lat.) each fish must be individually bagged as follows:

A.   The bag must be marked with the species’ common name.

B.   The fish must be cut into six pieces with all skin attached. These pieces are the four loins, the collar removed as one piece with both pectoral fins attached and intact, and the belly fillet cut to include the vent and with both pelvic fins attached and intact.”

Tunas may be kept whole or in a manner that retains these identifying characteristics.

Pet shop fish for bait?

Question: Is it legal to use rosy red minnows from the pet shop for fishing? I have heard of bait shops selling them mainly out of California.

I have also heard they are a mutation and don’t breed so they shouldn’t pose a problem. (Kev H.)

Answer: It is not legal to use aquarium or pet store fish for bait purposes, and they may not be planted in any waters of the state (CCR Title 14, section 227).

However, rosy red minnows (a color variant of the fathead minnow) sold by a business with a live freshwater bait fish license issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are legal to use in some parts of the state.

Baitfish regulations vary by district. To see if you can use fathead minnows in the place you intend to fish, you should review sections 4.10 to 4.30 on page 17 of the 2016-2017 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.

Hammerless muzzleloader

Question: I am interested in getting into muzzleloading and recently I came across a hammerless muzzleloader that is being offered by Vortex.

My question is whether a hammerless muzzleloader is legal to use for hunting in California? (Chris A.)

Answer: Legal muzzleloaders are defined in CCR Title 14, section 353(c) and are described as “wheellock, matchlock, flintlock or percussion type, including in-line” muzzleloading rifles using black powder or equivalent black powder substitute, including pellets, with a single projectile loaded from the muzzle and at least .40 caliber in designation.

With a muzzleloader tag, only open or peep sights are legal 353(h). Whether the muzzleloader has a hammer is irrelevant as long as it falls within the definition above. The Vortex rifle is an “in line” muzzleloading rifle.

Finding info on ocean bottom characteristics and habitats?

Question: Please provide me with a list of central and Southern California beaches that have the sandiest ocean bottoms and the least amount of rock formations.

Additionally, if you are able, can you also include a list that has both the sandiest ocean bottoms and least amount of sea kelp? (Kevin R., California Sport Fisherman)

Answer: Yes. There are two resources available that you may want to check for this information.

· CDFW Fishing Guide. The guide is available in mobile and desktop versions. Both have the same data included. You will find common areas for shore fishing with descriptions of target species and some habitats.

· CDFW MarineBIOS application. This site includes habitat maps that will be helpful in exploring the sites with the most sand and the least amount of kelp. Start by zooming into your area of interest. Then, in the “layers” section under the “Habitats” group, you will find map layers for shore types, predicted substrate and kelp canopy. Turn on those layers by checking the box next to the descriptions. You can view a legend for each layer by expanding the description using the plus or arrow symbol. Detailed directions for interacting with the map can be found in the “help” section at the top right of the page.

· Google Earth. This amazing resource also offers bathymetry seafloor mapping data of nearshore bottom substrate for most areas.

Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Fourth of July is a time for celebration, barbecues and fireworks, but the loud noise and flashes of light from fireworks, and the commotion of celebrating people can be frightening for your pet.

Besides fireworks, there are other hazards to watch out for.

Here are some tips from regional animal control professionals to keep your pet safe this holiday.

Give your pet a safe haven

It’s less stressful and safer to leave your dog home rather than bring them to a July 4 celebration.

Keep cats and dogs indoors where they will be cool and in a familiar environment. Leave the radio or television on to mask the sound of fireworks.

Left outside, a frightened pet may jump over or dig under a fence, or get hurt trying to hide or get away. Cats may run and become disoriented and lost, or hide somewhere for days.

If you know your pet might become anxious, ask your veterinarian for medication to keep them calm. You may have to start the medication in advance, so plan ahead. Exercising your dog before you go may help tire them out and make them less anxious.

Make sure your pet has a collar with an ID tag

A dog license is important, and can be traced back to you, but for a quick return of your pet without a stop at the shelter, an ID tag with your contact information is the best.

For permanent identification, consider having your pet microchipped. This way, even if the tag falls off or your pet won’t wear a collar, you will still have a way to get them back home.

Lake County Animal Care and Control offers microchipping services. Call them at 707-263-0278.

If your pet is already chipped, don’t forget to keep your contact information current. Have an updated picture of your pet in case you have to put up signs.

Hazardous items

When celebrating, remember that items such as alcoholic beverages, lighter fluid, matches and citronella products can be harmful if ingested or inhaled, and should be kept away from pets.

Some foods, such as chocolate, onions, garlic, raisins, grapes, some nuts, avocados and caffeinated drinks also are harmful to pets.

Avoid giving your pet bones which can splinter or cause blockage, and table food in general which can cause intestinal upset or pancreatitis.

If your pet needs sunscreen or bug repellent, use products specifically for pets. For your pet’s safety, keep them away from areas where fireworks will be used.

Vehicles

As a reminder don’t leave your pet in a vehicle, even for just a moment, even with the windows cracked.

Even on a relatively mild 72-degree day, the temperature inside the vehicle can soar to over 110 degrees, and an animal can suffer irreversible brain and organ damage after only 15 minutes.

A dog in the bed of a pickup truck can become overheated as well, and the hot metal or even a rubber mat could burn your dog’s feet.

If you’re going out onto the lake, fit your dog with a life preserver in case they go overboard.

INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE (Rated PG-13)

Pretentious film snobs, namely those who would probably prefer action films to have been crafted with the erudite dialogue of a “Masterpiece Theatre” production, are not the intended audience for “Independence Day: Resurgence” and probably should stay home to watch PBS.

But no, many of them will actually venture forth to the multiplex if only so that they may vent their frustrations with director Roland Emmerich’s passion for global destruction, and then write a column disparaging the public appetite for this type of summer blockbuster.

As the sequel to “Independence Day” 20 years later, this new adventure may not add much to the pantheon of cinematic annihilation of the Earth.

Only recently the capital of Great Britain was leveled in “London Has Fallen” and every so often a “Godzilla” film destroys Tokyo.

Not surprisingly, a disaster film that builds upon the premise that the next alien invasion will be bigger and badder must actually deliver the goods.

For starters, several key nations have banded together to colonize the moon with a military base to fight aliens.

One of the heroes of the 1996 battle with the aliens was President Whitmore (Bill Pullman). Now out of office, the former commander-in-chief is seen as a little worse for the wear physically. On top of that, he’s haunted by chilling nightmares of a pending alien invasion.

The former president is not alone in having terrible dreams of impending doom. Just now coming out of two decades in a coma is alien expert Dr. Brakish Okun (Brent Spiner), and he’s also haunted by similar dreams.

On the lunar military outpost, training exercises are always underway as we get introduced to the modern generation of cocky flyboys. You know right away that they’ll play a pivotal role in a climactic battle.

One of them is the son of Will Smith’s character, the brash, hot-tempered Dylan Hiller (Jessie T. Usher), who happens to have a major beef with hotshot fellow pilot and former best friend Jake Morrison (Liam Hemsworth).

Meanwhile, Jake’s girlfriend is none other than the feisty, pretty daughter (Maika Monroe) of former President Whitmore, and because she’s also a trained fighter pilot her role is more than just window-dressing.

Jake’s co-pilot Charlie (Travis Tope) is smitten with Chinese pilot Rain Lao (Angelababy), the daughter of the stern high-ranking military officer Commander Jiang (Chin Han).

Combat missions may provide Charlie the chance to swoon over the attractive fellow soldier, but his primary role seems to be exchanging wisecracks with Jake so that much needed comic relief is introduced during the midst of tense action scenes.

While the young may be the bright future of intergalactic warfare, the aging veterans of the first alien war still have major roles. Jeff Goldblum returns as scientist David Levinson, and his meddling father (Judd Hirsch) saves a busload of kids.

As another alien attack is imminent, the only saving grace is that the military leaders have adapted alien technology into their weapons systems. But then, the aliens, under the command of a Queen living in a fortified hive, are even more sophisticated in warfare.

Devastation to Earth is inevitable given that the alien warship now looming in the skies is 3,000 miles wide, a virtual floating continent capable of wiping out entire cities with an ease that even Godzilla would envy.

When not lifting cities into the air only to drop them back down elsewhere, the massive alien spaceship busies itself with drilling to the Earth’s center in order to tap into the vital power source of the molten core.

The interesting thing about the aliens is that they are hideous-looking creatures, even more horrific than what might have emanated from the fevered mind of surrealist artist H.R. Giger had he been inclined to expand on the work he did for the “Alien” franchise.

Moviegoers aren’t coming to “Independence Day: Resurgence” to admire the set design or the artistic creation of the alien creatures. Action is what is needed, and that’s what director Roland Emmerich is committed to delivering.

There’s nothing particularly bright or intellectually stimulating about this sequel, but then, who really cares?  It’s all about the thrills of global destruction, and boy, there is plenty of that with entire cities destroyed in the full glory of spectacular visual effects.

“Independence Day: Resurgence” is a rousing salute to fighting back to repel the alien invaders. This is action-fueled summer blockbuster entertainment as it is meant to be: simple fun with lots of thrills, explosions and excitement.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith is reminding Californians about the importance of safe food handling to prevent foodborne illness while enjoying picnics, barbecues and other outdoor activities during the summer season.

Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter are bacteria most commonly-recognized for causing an estimated 76 million cases of foodborne disease in the United States each year. Most of these cases are mild and cause symptoms for only a day or two, but some cases are more serious.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in six, or 48 million Americans, contracts a foodborne illness each year. Of those that become sick, nearly 128,000 people will be hospitalized, and 3,000 will die as a result of their illness.

There are easy and effective steps Californians can take to help lessen the chance of contracting a foodborne illness.

“You can protect yourself, your family and friends from foodborne illness while at picnics and barbecues by following simple food safety tips,” said Dr. Smith.

Following these four “C’s” can prevent foodborne illnesses.

Chill

· Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Bacteria can grow in foods kept in the temperature “danger zone” (41°F-135°F) or (5 °C-58 °C) for an extended period of time.

· Refrigerate leftovers to less than 41°F or 5 °C as soon as possible, but definitely within 2 hours.

· Use shallow pans and loosely cover hot foods while in the refrigerator to facilitate cooling and allow warm air to escape.

· Select cold foods at the grocery store last, and put them away first when you get home to keep them cold.

· Refrigerated foods that are packaged in hermetically sealed or vacuum packaged containers should always be stored in the refrigerator. Storing these types of vacuum-packaged products at room temperature could allow the production of Botulism toxin.

· Follow package instructions, especially when it comes to keeping foods refrigerated.

· Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or in a microwave immediately prior to cooking. Never thaw frozen foods on the counter.

Clean

· Wash your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. Humming “happy birthday” twice while washing hands is a good way to ensure you are washing long enough.

· Scrub cutting boards with hot, soapy water after preparing each item and before moving on to the next food. If your cutting board has deep grooves or cut marks which make it difficult to clean, consider replacing it.

· Wash and thoroughly rinse utensils and cutting boards with soap and water. Thoroughly cleaning them with a bleach solution (made of one tablespoon of unscented liquid bleach diluted in one gallon of water) will provide effective sanitation action.

· Cover any cuts or skin abrasions on your hands to avoid contaminating the food.

· Keep pets and household chemicals away from food preparation areas.

Prevent cross contamination

· Keep raw and cooked foods separate.

· Use separate cutting boards and knives for chopping ready-to-eat produce and raw meats.

· Never rinse raw poultry because it spreads germs around the kitchen sink, which can serve as a source of contamination for other foods.

· Discard used marinades.

· Use clean utensils and plates to remove cooked foods from grills and pans. Never place cooked foods back into the dish that held the raw or uncooked foods.

· Separate raw and uncooked meats from ready-to-eat items when shopping at the grocery store. Place raw meats in disposable, plastic bags away from other foods.

· If you use reusable shopping bags for groceries, designate specific bags for meats to avoid cross-contamination. Wash and dry bags as they become soiled.

· Store bags used for groceries at home in a manner that protects them from other sources of contamination such as pets, children, and chemicals.

· Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator in water-tight containers to prevent juices from leaking onto ready-to-eat and cooked foods.

Cook

· Use an accurate thermometer to measure the final internal temperature of meat and meat products. Color is an inaccurate way to determine if meat is sufficiently cooked.

· Measure the temperature in the thickest part of the food, ensuring the thermometer does not touch bone or the cooking pan, which can give you an inaccurate reading.

· Wash thermometers after each use.

· Wait until foods are completely cooked before taste testing.

· When using a microwave to cook or reheat food, be sure to rotate or stir the food to facilitate thorough heating. Additionally, some labels recommend a “resting time” for the food after cooking before it should be served. Those instructions should be followed in order to allow the heat to evenly distribute.

Visit CDPH’s Cooking Raw Meats for additional information. 

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The congregation at the Upper Lake Community United Methodist Church has welcomed a new pastor.

Rev. Bob C. Green has assumed the position of pastor at the church, bringing a broad range of skills and strengths to his work shepherding the congregation of the Methodist church, located at 604 Clover Valley Road, on the corner of First Street and Clover Valley Road.

He graduated from Pacific School of Religion in 1982 and was ordained in June of that year at University Christian Church in Berkeley.

While there, he served as an assistant pastor from 1980 until 1984, at which time he received a call to be the senior pastor.

He retired from that position in July 2000 and was called to a three-year interim position at Garfield Park Christian in Santa Cruz.

Upon leaving Santa Cruz, he and his wife Diana spent seven years touring the USA full-time in their motorhome. They now live in Lakeport.

Prior to entering the ministry he served in the U.S. Marine Corp and then 19 years as an Idaho State Police officer.

He and Diana have been married 59 years and have three sons with six grandchildren between them.

Their eldest son is a missionary in Bogota, Colombia; the middle one is a pilot for American Airlines; and the youngest works as a stationery engineer for Kaiser Permanente in Oakland.

The church's motto is “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.” All are welcome to any and all of the Sunday services, which commence at 11 a.m., or any of the many special services held throughout the year.