WILLOWS
Upper Lake Ranger District plans Westshore understory prescribed fire.
This week Mendocino National Forest fuel managers are planning to conduct the Westshore Understory Burn, a low-intensity prescribed fire of approximately 90 acres west of Lake Pillsbury and north of the Eel River on the Upper Lake Ranger District.
Contingent upon safe weather and fuels conditions, fire managers will start ignitions today through Friday, April 1.
Crews will carefully monitor the burned area throughout the burn window into the weekend and the following week.
Fuels in the Westshore area were previously treated, and the unit is one of the remaining green stands that survived the 2020 August Complex and the 2018 Ranch Fire.
Reintroducing low-intensity fire can reduce build-up of hazardous fuels, restore forest ecosystems and improve safety of local communities.
Forest officials remind residents and visitors to avoid the project area. Smoke may be visible in the Lake Pillsbury basin and has the potential to impact roads at times.
Motorists are asked to use extra caution when driving in areas of smoke. Motorists should slow down, turn on headlights and watch out for equipment and firefighters working along roads.
Real-time updates on the Westshore Understory Burn will be posted on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MendocinoNF and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MendocinoNF.
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MIDDLETOWN
Best Day Ever with Steve Spangler
What does it mean to have the “Best Day Ever”? Over 100 participants came together to find out at the Lake County Quality Care Counts (LCQC) Conference on March 19, 2022, at Twin Pine Casino in Middletown.
The Lake County Office of Education’s LCQC is a program that improves the quality of early learning for children ages zero through five by providing professional development, supplies and coaching to early childhood providers
“LCQC hosts this conference every year to provide inspiration, new ideas and high-quality professional development that early educators can use in their classrooms,” said LCQC Director Angela Cuellar-Marroquin.
The conference succeeded to bring together early childhood educators from across Northern California to participate and leave with new knowledge and passion for continuing their work.
Brock Falkenberg, Lake County Superintendent of Schools, said, “Optimizing the early years of children’s lives is the best investment we can make in our community to ensure their future success.”
The first presenter, Sharron Krull, gave a keynote about incorporating art with science. Krull is an early childhood consultant through her company, Play Power. She is a veteran preschool teacher with over 45 years’ experience that encompasses nearly all areas of early childhood education.
Steve Spangler finished the day with an inspiring and interactive keynote. Spangler is an Emmy award-winning television host, science communicator, and celebrity educator.
During his high-energy presentation, he covered that the “Best Day Ever” is more than just a feeling or an emotion. It is a powerful principle that helps people connect, engage and share experiences with each other.
Here is what some of the participants have to say about the conference:
“Best training I’ve been to. Truly. After the last 2 years… feeling a smidge burnt out and bogged down. This training completely reminded me why I do what I do. Got me excited for Monday, and who gets excited for Mondays!?” – Jacqui Joyce, Miss Jacqui’s Childcare
“I am beyond grateful for today’s conference. The inspiration I left with today, is going right back into my classroom on Monday.” – Jacklyn Edwards Teacher at Pomo Elementary in the Konocti Unified School District
“I had so much fun I almost cried when it was over. Shooting toilet paper out of a leaf blower was just way too much fun. The excitement of the whole day was truly the “Best Day Ever.” – Jody Mederos, North Coast Opportunities (NCO) Head Start program
Learn more about LCQC by visiting the Lake County Office of Education website at lakecoe.org/LCQC
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