LAKEPORT
Rotary Club of Lakeport demonstrates generosity amidst unforeseen culinary extravaganza
In an unexpected turn of events, the Rotary Club of Lakeport found themselves amidst an abundant feast at their recent meeting, thanks to a communication mishap with the kitchen staff at the renowned O’Meara Brothers Brewing Company. This unintended abundance of food led the club to take an inspiring initiative, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to community service and compassion.
The Rotary Club of Lakeport, an organization known for its dedication to community betterment, had scheduled a meeting at the O’Meara Brothers Brewing Company. However, a miscommunication regarding the quantity of food resulted in a culinary surprise of epic proportions. The kitchen staff at O’Meara Brothers Brewing Company prepared a lavish spread that included succulent prime rib, delectable chicken in mushroom sauce, and a multitude of mouthwatering side dishes.
Rather than let this surplus of gourmet food go to waste, the Rotary Club of Lakeport decided to transform the situation into a heartwarming act of kindness. They promptly paid the restaurant for the entire sum of the prepared food and took the initiative to have it packaged for transport. With the food securely packed and ready for distribution, members of the Rotary Club made their way to the Lakeport homeless shelter.
Upon arrival at the shelter, the residents were treated to a feast fit for kings. The savory aroma of prime rib and chicken in mushroom sauce wafted through the shelter. The residents enjoyed a delightful meal that transcended the boundaries of social and economic status, fostering a sense of community and togetherness.
This unexpected culinary extravaganza served as a reminder of the Rotary Club of Lakeport’s commitment to making a difference in the community. They believe that every opportunity, even those arising from unforeseen events, can be transformed into an act of kindness and service. Their actions speak volumes about their dedication to improving the lives of those in need.
The Rotary Club of Lakeport would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to O’Meara Brothers Brewing Company for their understanding and support in this matter, as well as their commitment to local community engagement.
About Rotary Club of Lakeport: The Rotary Club of Lakeport is a dedicated group of community leaders who work tirelessly to improve the lives of Lakeport residents. Their service projects span various areas, from providing scholarships to local students to supporting community development and humanitarian initiatives.
For more information, please visit www.rotarylakeport.org.
—Submitted
OAKLAND
PG&E hits significant milestone as 350 Miles of trenching completed on path toward 2023 undergrounding goal
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) confirmed today that the utility is on track to put at least 350 miles of powerlines underground by the end of the year, achieving permanent wildfire risk reduction for this portion of our electric distribution system.
Digging trenches and installing conduit, the piping that securely holds the electric lines in place when underground, is the most time- and labor-intensive portion of underground construction. As of today, undergrounding crews have completed 100% of that heavy construction work by digging 350 miles of trenches and laying 350 miles of conduit.
After construction is complete, electric crews then pull powerlines through the conduit, install additional electrical-system equipment, de-energize the overhead powerlines and then energize the undergrounded lines.
As of Oct. 10, more than 137 miles of the 350 miles have been fully energized. On average, about 20 more miles of undergrounded line will be energized each week through the end of the year. Customers in Middletown (Lake County), Clayton (Contra Costa County), Pollock Pines (El Dorado County) and Vacaville (Solano County) are among those already benefitting from getting their electricity from underground lines.
“Our team has learned and accomplished so much in the past two and a half years since we announced our 10,000-mile Undergrounding Program,” said Peter Kenny, PG&E’s senior vice president of Major Infrastructure Delivery, which includes undergrounding. “That learning equates to greater efficiency and means we’re able to safely put powerlines underground more quickly and reduce the cost per mile.”
PG&E plans to put 2,000 miles of lines underground between now and 2026, with the annual mileage increasing from 350 in 2023 to 750 in 2026. Based on those miles, PG&E anticipates the cost per mile of undergrounding will decrease from $3.3 million in 2023 to $2.8 million in 2026.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will vote on undergrounding miles as early as Nov. 2 as part of the General Rate Case Final Decision. The CPUC counterproposals fund as few as 200 miles over four years, not enough to keep our customers and hometowns safe.
In 2021, PG&E announced that it would put 10,000 miles of powerlines underground to ensure permanent wildfire risk reduction in a way that mitigates the most risk and is most affordable in the long run.
Expanding our electric system underground in High Fire Risk Areas (HFRAs) will not only help reduce wildfires caused by equipment, but also will improve reliability and reduce the need for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) and Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS). Wildfires affect all customers, regardless of whether they live near an actual fire zone. By undergrounding powerlines, all customers benefit from reducing all potential effects from ignitions.
PG&E has more than 2,000 highly skilled, fully dedicated coworkers working every day on underground projects across our service area.
Kenny makes a strong case for the critical need for undergrounding.
“Why are we putting lines underground? It provides permanent wildfire risk reduction for our customers and our hometowns and improves reliability,” he said. “And we’ve heard it loud and clear that customers want undergrounding.”
Go to www.pge.com/undergrounding to see our progress and learn more about this crucial safety program.
—Submitted
