The CDC has recalled eggs sold throughout California due to a salmonella outbreak alert. A total of nine states are affected including. 79 people got sick with salmonella linked to eggs sold by August Egg Co., and 21 people were sick enough to be hospitalized. The Hilmar-based company recalled 1.7 million dozen brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs distributed to stores in California and Nevada, including Safeway, Raley’s, Food 4 Less, Lucky, Save Mart, FoodMaxx and Ralphs as well as some WalMart stores. SFGate says the eggs were shipped from Feb. 3 through May 15.
The fourth annual California State Parks Week runs from June 11–15. It offers more than 170 in-person and virtual events with this year’s theme being “This is Where You Live.” So you know, it’s centered around the unique people, places, and programs within California’s 280 state parks, emphasizing the vital role public lands play in the overall well being when you connect the community with nature. Lake County News reports that the event is a partnership between California State Parks, the California State Parks Foundation, Parks California, and Save the Redwoods League. By the way, this year’s Parks Week also coincides with California’s 175th anniversary of statehood, adding extra significance to the festivities. As an aside, Anderson Marsh will host its final guided park walk of the spring season this Saturday.
The City of Clearlake is now considered as a Blue Zones Project Worksite, highlighting its efforts to promote employee well-being and a healthier workplace. In order to earn this special designation, the city featured flexible workstations, an employee garden, fresh fruit in break rooms, and a wellness-focused book library. Lake County News says the changes line up with Clearlake’s broader commitment to a balanced and supportive work culture. The recognition is part of the Blue Zones Project, a community-driven initiative aimed at improving health through sustainable environmental, policy, and social changes inspired by the world’s longest-lived populations. City leaders call it a major milestone in their ongoing workplace wellness journey.
The light can be seen at the end of the tunnel. Ukiah’s largest street and utility makeover in years is in the home stretch. The Urban Core Rehabilitation and Transportation Project, which is the major upgrade of Main, Gobbi, and Perkins Streets, enters its final stages this month. Ukiah city officials say beginning today, construction crews will start the reconstruction and paving on West Gobbi Street between State and Dora Streets which means a full weekday closure through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. You should know while the intersections at Dora and State will stay open, you can expect intermittent detours. Mendofever says if you live along the corridor you will only be able to access your driveways outside of work hours so plan to park elsewhere during the day. For more information or to sign up for construction alerts, go to the city’s work page at cityofukiah.com/ucrt.
There’s been a surge in copper wire theft and infrastructure vandalism across the state, so California Attorney General Rob Bonta brought law enforcement, utility companies, business leaders, educators, and elected officials together to put their heads together to see what can be done to minimize or eliminate the problem. So you know, California leads the nation in copper-related crimes, with close to 1,800 incidents reported between June and December 2024. The Mendocino Voice says Mendocino county has a history of copper wire theft, yet still many cases go unreported and the thieves are not apprehended. Damage stemming from the copper wire theft has also affected hospitals, schools, water systems, and public safety operations.
It’s looking like The Mendocino Hotel & Garden Suites and the Hill House Inn are getting renovated. Both properties were purchased by Castle Peak Holdings, which is an investment firm, back in June 2022. Castle Peak partner David Better says since then, they’ve been working on obtaining permits and getting the planning and design process in place for all the different aspects of the renovation. The Mendocino Voice says the renovations for Hill House include upgraded guest rooms, along with the building’s exterior and areas for public events. Better says he has plans for the hotel including author talks, wine tastings, group meetings and other activities that will make Hill House a “center of gravity” for both locals and visitors. Renovations set for the Mendocino Hotel, which was built in 1878, include maintenance and modernized systems, in addition to the upgraded guest rooms and common areas. One of Better’s top priorities, he says, is to “reactivate the primary bar and restaurant and bring back the lobby bar as the heartbeat of Mendocino."
A groundbreaking ceremony held Friday morning at Anderson Valley Junior-Senior High in Boonville kicks off the start of construction for the Anderson Valley Track to Health and Fitness project. At a cost of close to $5 million, the Clean California project was made possible through Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative. Here’s what’s involved: It will feature a new grass field that can be used for both soccer and football plus an all-weather track that’s accessible to both students. It offers Boonville residents local fitness opportunities, since the closest gyms or workout facilities are around 20-miles away. Mendofever says everything centers around the state-of-the-art, six-lane running track with a rubberized, artificial surface for track and field events and community-wide exercise. Officials say the track will be available for use before and after school hours, on weekends and during the summer months.
Late last month, community members, elected officials, and tribal and environmental advocates got together at the Soper Reese Theater for a town hall meeting focused on Lake Pillsbury and the potential removal of Scott Dam. The meeting, which was hosted by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, pointed out competing concerns about water access, wildfire risk, economic impact, and ecological restoration as PG&E moves ahead with surrendering its license for the Potter Valley Project. So you know, the panel included Lake County Supervisors E.J. Crandall and Bruno Sabatier, who expressed frustration that Lake County was not included in negotiations that produced a Memorandum of Understanding between stakeholders in Humboldt, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties. Also there, Cloverdale Mayor Todd Lands; and Lake Pillsbury Fire Chief Larry Thompson and several others. Mendofever says Congressman Mike Thompson made his appearance via pre-recorded video, acknowledging tension between constituencies, but also described PG&E’s plan as containing a “serious lack of detail." Thompson, drove the point home as one who led some of the largest wildfires in state history, saying without the lake, firefighters would lose a critical water source and firebreak.
