The California Fish and Game Commission has hired Valerie Termini to serve as its executive director.

Termini will be the first female executive director in the commission's history. Her first day on the job was Monday.
 
She comes from California Ocean Protection Council staff where she has served as the fisheries policy advisor and as interim Executive Director.
 
“We look forward to Ms. Termini's guidance at the dais,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham. “We've heard from a number of stakeholders that the executive director should be up to speed with the commission's vast authorities and have specific knowledge of marine policy issues. Ms. Termini's background brings precisely this expertise.”
 
“We're very pleased that Ms. Termini has stepped up to serve this historic commission,” said Commission President Eric Sklar. “She has shown real vision in addressing challenges and has demonstrated expertise in facilitating resolution to complex issues working with diverse groups of stakeholders. We are thrilled that she will be bringing this skill from her previous experience to the Commission's work to the great benefit of the state.”

UKIAH, Calif. – On Thursday, May 12, Mendocino College in Ukiah opened its campus to 150 high school students from Lake and Mendocino high schools for the Hospitality & Business Career Summit.

The goal was to expose students to a variety of careers and post-secondary opportunities.

Upon check-in, students received a college backpack along with supplies for the day before embarking on their daylong journey.

College President Arturo Reyes and Interim Dean Steve Hixenbaugh addressed the group and reinforced the message that it is never too late to strive for academic success.

With college student ambassadors at the helm, students rotated through a series of sessions where they participated in workshops on hospitality, tourism, culinary, business and finance.

Presenters included industry professionals as well as instructors.

Tourism was hosted by Erica Tyner of Greater Ukiah Chamber of Commerce and Gracia Brown of Visit Mendocino.

Culinary was lead by Matt Dunkin of Slam Dunk Pizza, Julia Siderakis of Ukiah Garden Café, and Ashlin Garbocci of Maple Café.

Guiding the hospitality sessions was Steve Brutocao of Brutocao Cellars, Jitu Ishwar of Travelodge and Patrick Streight of Coyote Valley Casino.

Sid Harper of Savings Bank and Dan Buffalo of the city of Lakeport conducted the finance sessions and the world of business was directed by Steve O’Mara of West Company, Chelsea Hendershot and Keli Anthis who serve as deputy sector navigators for the state of California.

Along the way students were provided mini tours of the campus, focusing on key elements such as the library, counseling office and most importantly Schat’s Bakery.

Lunch time activities included participation in a career fair, lunch by Maple Café and a raffle of prizes including college spirit items, travel drives and Kindle Fire tablet. 

The summit was supported by the Career Pathway Trust Grant, Doing What Matters, Mendocino College, Mendocino County Office of Education and the Lake County Office of Education Career & College Readiness Department.

LUCERNE, Calif. – Friends of Locally Owned Water, or FLOW, will meet Saturday, May 21.

The group will meet for its board meeting at 11 a.m. at the Northshore Community Center – formerly the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center – located at 10th and Country Club.

Public comment is welcome at the close of executive business at 11:25 a.m., followed by the FLOW general meeting.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The renowned Nashville-based dobro player Rob Ickes and the rising young country music star Trey Hensley will perform in a bonus “Concert with Conversation” at the Tallman Hotel on Friday, May 20.

The show will start at 7:30 p.m. at the hotel, located at 9550 Main St. in Upper Lake.

Tickets are priced at $25 plus tax per person and may be purchased by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0, or visiting www.eventbrite.com .

Here's a fine poem about the fleshy pleasures of adolescence by Ginger Murchison, from her book a scrap of linen, a bone from Press 53. Murchison lives in Florida.

River

Late afternoons, we'd tuck up our hems
under Minisa Bridge, scrape our white knees
on scrub brush and drowned trees to slide
 
down the dirt bank past milk-weed
gone to seed, cattails and trash to sit on stones
at the edge of the river and giggle and smoke,
 
waiting to wolf-whistle North High's rowing team.
In the shadows where the milk-chocolate river
unfolded, ooze between our toes, we'd strip,
 
risk long-legged insects, leeches and mothers
for the silt slick on our thighs, the air thick
with the smell of honeysuckle, mud—the rest
 
of the day somewhere downstream. We didn't
know why, but none of us wanted
to go home to polite kitchens and mothers
 
patiently waiting for what happened next,
the way women have always waited for hunter husbands,
kept vigils and prayed at the entrance of mines.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They do not accept unsolicited submissions. Poem copyright ©2016 by Ginger Murchison, “River,” from a scrap of linen, a bone, (Press 53, 2016). Poem reprinted by permission of Ginger Murchison and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2016 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.

Our community is very fortunate to have an exceptional candidate running for the open Assembly seat. He is Don Saylor, from Davis.

He won my support when I first met him and heard his promise to protect and build on the rich resources of Lake County, including our special lake and communities.

He is optimistic about the future, with creative and inclusive proposals. He is very clearly a person of great integrity and substance who will lead by example and with heart.

Don Saylor has ably served 40 years in various capacities in local government such as city council and school board.

He is highly qualified, and I am convinced he will support our county and our needs in a manner that is conscientious and effective.

I hope voters in our district will take the time to learn more about Don Saylor.

Kathy Windrem lives in Kelseyville, Calif.

I want to thank Monica Rosenthal for opposing a Dollar General store in Middletown’s historic downtown.

Monica was the only candidate for District 1 supervisor who spoke against Dollar General’s plan at the Lake County Planning Commission. She understands that maintaining Middletown’s community standards will protect our small town quality of life. She referenced the Middletown Area Plan, which clearly states opposition of the community to just this sort of incursion.

It is clear that Monica doesn’t want our community to lose its heritage and become just another road stop of fast food restaurants and cheap corporate chain stores. Especially those whose corporate management plan includes hiring only minimum wages employees, understaffing the stores and providing only part-time work to avoid having to pay benefits.

Monica Rosenthal was the only candidate who stood with the community when we needed her. That’s why I’m voting for Monica Rosenthal for county supervisor.

Greta Zeit owns Backyard Garden Oasis bed and breakfast in Middletown, Calif.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Constance “Connie” Heer died peacefully at home on May 11, 2016.

She was born in Oakland, Calif., to Ray and Pat Roarke and spent a majority of her childhood in Martinez, Calif., with her sister, Meg.

She later settled in Lake County where she had a long career in real estate and escrow.

She is survived by her husband and the love of her life, Merrill of Nice; sister, Meg of Martinez; sister-in-law, Sandra of Ross, Calif.; son and daughter-in-law John and Irene Tweedt of Winters, Calif.; Amy Heer of Riding, Va; stepdaughter and son-in-law Karen and Michael Barrett, and Micaela, Emily and Andrew.

No memorial services are planned.

Religious live fish releases

Question: I am looking for a place/beach to release live fish. Our religion says it is very good to release a live fish because you save a life and also you learn to be merciful to all of the lives in the world.

I live in Orange County, but any places/beaches in Los Angeles or Orange County works for us. We have friends who get permission in Europe to do this.

The government allows them to release only certain fish species in specific areas only. (Joo Pheng, Ooi)

Answer: What you are proposing cannot be authorized in California, even for religious purposes. It is illegal for biological reasons to transport live fish for release into waters different from where taken.

According to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Marine Aquaculture Coordinator Kirsten Ramey, prayer animal release can pose a serious risk to natural resources and society through the introduction of non-native and/or invasive species.

California currently faces a variety of significant and lasting impacts from introductions of non-native and invasive species in both fresh and coastal waters.

Just a few of these impacts include reduced diversity and abundance of native plants and animals (due to competition, predation, parasitism, genetic dilution, introduction of pathogens, smother and loss of habitat to invasive species), threats to public health and safety (via parasites and disease) and increased costs to business, agriculture, landowners and government (for invasive pest treatment and clean up).

One of California’s costly introductions was attributed to the aquarium trade, based on DNA evidence. Caulerpa taxifoli, an invasive algae originally from the Mediterranean Sea, has cost California more than $6 million to eradicate.

In terms of ecological impacts, the introduction of invasive species is thought to be second only to habitat loss in contributing to declining native biodiversity throughout the United States.

California has been invaded by many aquatic plants and animals which have altered native ecosystems and taken a toll on recreation, commercial fishing and sensitive native species.

For these reasons and more, it is unlawful to place, plant or cause to be placed or planted, in any of the waters of this state, any live fish, any fresh or salt water animal, or any aquatic plant, whether taken without or within the state, without first securing the written permission from CDFW (Fish and Game Code, section 6400).

Since releasing fish into public waters is not legal, here are a couple of other options for you. You can get involved with CDFW’s Trout in the Classroom program in which instructors and their students set up an aquarium in the classroom to raise fish for an eventual field trip to an approved local stream or river where the fish are released.

You might also contact one of the registered aquaculture farms found on CDFW’s Aquaculture Web site. These businesses raise different species of fish and have private stocking permits allowing them to plant fish in approved private waters within the state.

Perhaps one of these businesses will allow you to assist and plant one of the fish they will be stocking. Good luck!

Using black or blue rockfish for lingcod bait?

Question: Can one use black or blue rock fish as bait to catch lingcod?

I have seen people do this but I believe you cannot since rockfish are considered to be a game fish. (John C., Roseville)

Answer: Yes, anglers can take black or blue rockfish that they have caught to send back down on a hook to catch lingcod.

However, while those two species do not have minimum size limits, any legal rockfish you use as bait count toward your daily bag limit of rockfish.

License required for a nuisance coyote?

Question: Does someone need a hunting license to shoot a nuisance coyote on their property, or near their property, if they are the legal distance away from a residence to discharge a firearm? (Carol S.)

Answer: Coyotes are classified as nongame mammals in the Fish and Game Code (FGC) and if found to be “injuring growing crops or other property” (FGC section 4152), they can be taken on your property without obtaining a hunting license.

However, if a coyote is NOT injuring your property, you will need to obtain a hunting license before taking it (FGC, section 3007).

Before you do anything though, you should first check with your local sheriff's department regarding any city, county, municipality laws and regulations that may apply to be sure this will be legal to do in your area.

Fish and game regulation of groundfish

Question: Current fish and game regulations limit the fishing depth for groundfish in Southern California to 60 fathoms or 360 feet.

I need to know how far from the shore line this depth limitation is enforced. I saw from another link on your Web site that the State of California’s fishing jurisdiction only goes out to three miles from shore. (James J.)

Answer: The depth limit is enforced out to 200 nautical miles from shore.

Groundfish are jointly managed by the states and federal government, and the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends from California’s three nautical mile state waters boundary out 200 nautical miles.

CDFW is authorized to enforce California laws throughout the EEZ regarding individuals and vessels operating out of California ports. CDFW wildlife officers have also been delegated authority to enforce several federal laws in the EEZ.

Also, keep in mind that depth limits may differ depending upon which groundfish management area you are fishing in.

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. .