Memorial Day is Monday and it’s a day to reflect on and mourn those who died while serving our country. There are several Memorial Day events you can attend locally. In Boonville, there’s a Memorial Day service at Evergreen Cemetery hosted by the Redwood Empire American Legion Post 385 at 11 a.m., Potter Valley Cemetery is hosting a ceremony with 93 flags from veterans on display. Veterans of Foreign War Post 1900 and American Legion Lewis White Post 76 are hosting the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Russian River Cemetery in Ukiah at noon. The Mendocino Voice says if you’re in Willits, American Legion Post 174 will host a memorial ceremony at Willits Cemetery at 10 a.m.
A local resident took an up close and personal photo of a black bear on Branscomb Road Wednesday. It’s in a rural area outside of Laytonville in northern Mendocino County. Daniel Hill says he was in the middle of the road, and stopped when he saw the bear, which walked right up to his window. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, black bears are the only bear species found in California with the bulk of them living in the North Coast and Cascade regions. Mendofever says yesterday’s bear sighting is a great reminder we are in bear country in Mendocino County so beware.
A computer glitch that prevented people from applying for an e-bike voucher in California is fixed. The incentive program, launched by the California Air Resources Board, offers a two-thousand-dollar voucher toward the purchase of an e-bike. One-thousand vouchers will be offered.
New data from the California Department of Education shows a decline by about a half a percentage point in statewide public school enrollment, while student enrollment in Lake County’s schools continues to go up. That’s not a huge difference, however, compared with pre pandemic numbers it’s significant. Meantime, in Lake County, while enrollment is up ever so slightly, it is the second year in a row that it’s increased. In fact, Lake County News says since the 2015-16 school year, Lake County’s overall enrollment is up by 11%, while the overall numbers in California are down by nearly 7%.
The U.S. Senate is overturning a Biden-era policy which allowed California to phase out and later ban the sale of gas-powered cars. Lawmakers voted 51-44 to kill the mandate. President Trump is expected to sign it. California has already filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration in response.
Lake County is getting a new program aimed at helping rural residents save money by making their residences more energy efficient. The Northern Rural Energy Network, or NREN, launched this month across 17 Northern California counties as a direct response to the unique issues and needs within the underrepresented energy customers. Lake Area Planning Council, Mendocino Council of Governments, Redwood Coast Energy Authority and Sierra Business Council have partnered as NREN to provide energy efficiency programs and services to rural Californians while at the same time targeting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Lake County News reports services include residential rebates for energy efficiency improvements such as heating, cooling and free home energy assessments along with free energy efficiency kits.
The city of Ukiah’s proposed annexation of unincorporated areas could negatively impact Mendocino County’s financial stability. That’s according to statements made by the county Board of Supervisors at Tuesday’s meeting. Supervisor Madeline Cline said the financial implications of annexation could not be underestimated and went on to say that financial obligations should’ve been discussed last year, when the county first approved a master tax sharing agreement. Chamise Cubbison, the county’s auditor-controller/treasurer-tax collector, has also weighed in saying the proposed annexation would strain the county’s limited staff. The Mendocino Voice says the overall consensus from the Board was that a thorough financial analysis should be requested from an outside consultant.
This Sunday is the 43rd annual Willits Car & Bike Show downtown. It will be a fun-filled, family friendly day featuring live music, food and craft vendors and plenty of beer… poured by Northspur Brewing. Bud Snider Park is where you want to check out the local craftspeople and artisans selling their stuff. The Willits Chamber of Commerce says they expect this year’s show to be the biggest in its 43-year history. You should know that the car and bike displays begin at the intersection of Main and Wood streets before wrapping around E. Commercial Street down to Madden Lane. The Mendocino Voice says registration is $40 and again, it’s this Sunday from 10 to 3 p.m.
Looking for a new furry family member? The Ukiah Animal Shelter is participating in the California Adopt a Pet Day.You should know that adoption fees will be waived, however, a $31 license fee is required for Mendocino County residents.The event will be held at the Ukiah Animal Shelter at 298 Plant Road in Ukiah. Lake County News says they’re featuring grooming and dog training demonstrations, you can get free dog collars and tags, chomp down on some good food and maybe even win a raffle. The California Adopt a Pet Day is Saturday, June 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
