LAKE COUNTY
Bats will be the focus of October’s Redbud Audubon program meeting
The Redbud Audubon Society is pleased to announce that Rachael Long will be guest presenter at its Thursday Oct. 17, monthly program meeting. Rachael’s topic is: The Benefits of Bats: Nature’s Pest Control. The program starts at 7 p.m. and registration can be achieved by going to www.redbudaudubon.org and clicking on the registration link on the home page. The Zoom link for the program will be sent the day of the program.
Rachael Long served as the UC Cooperative Extension IPM Advisor in the Sacramento Valley for 32 years. Her work led to the publication of numerous manuals, including those on dry beans, alfalfa, sunflower, onion seed, and songbirds, bats, and owls. She also worked on ways to protect surface water quality from pesticides, leading to the adoption of various practices that improve water quality, including cover crops and vegetated filter strips.
She also pioneered work on hedgerows, showcasing that flowering plants on field edges attract bees and natural enemies; these in turn move into adjacent crops for better pollination and pest control services, leading to enhanced yields and reduced pesticide use.
Her work on bats revealed that bats control pests, with their voracious appetite for insects, leading growers to install bat houses on their farms to attract colonies of bats. This is a win for bats and farmers in that bats get a home and farmers get free pest control services. Rachael also writes children’s chapter books. Her Black Rock Desert Trilogy focuses on bats and how good they are through a high adventure story. Her newest book, See You Later, Alligator is a new series that focuses on wildlife and wildlife conservation. Rachael is a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Davis, lives on a farm near Woodland, and was the recipient the UC Sustainable Ag leadership award in 2018 and the Agronomy Society of America award in 2024. She currently has emeritus status with the University of California.
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MIDDLETOWN
Opening reception for ‘Right in Front of Me,’ a new exhibit at MAC
The Middletown Art Center (MAC) is pleased to announce the opening reception of its latest exhibit, “Right in Front of Me” on October 12 from 6 to 8 PM. This evocative group show brings together a diverse group of local artists, both familiar and new, in a compelling and timely art exhibit that delves into pressing contemporary issues at personal, community, and global
levels. The exhibit offers a profound exploration of political, environmental, and international conflicts, as well as themes of corporate greed, climate change, diversity, and the tensions between religion and spirituality. While the exhibit predominantly reflects on the gravity of the challenges facing our world there are also works that speak to resilience, unity, and positive
change.
Among 20 artists showcased is Rolf Kriken, whose powerful work draws from his experiences during the Vietnam War. Known for excellence in craftsmanship, his work is thought provoking, visually striking, and impactful. Kriken is currently working on the Lake Pomo Family sculpture, a monumental piece set to be installed on the Lakeport Courthouse Museum
lawn in the coming year. Right in Front of Me provides an exceptional opportunity to see some of Kriken’s compelling work up close, offering insight into his artistic journey and the themes that continue to inspire him.
Free to the public, Right in Front of ME will be on view through Jan 6, Thursday – Monday, 10:30 to 5, or by appointment.
Middletown Art Center is a non-profit dedicated to engaging the public in art making, art education, and art appreciation and providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives, striving to create an inclusive and accessible space for all.
The MAC is located at 21456 State Hwy 175 at the junction of Hwy 29 in Middletown. To find out more about MAC’s programs, events, and ways to support their efforts to weave the arts and culture into the fabric of life in Lake County, visit middletownartcenter.org or call 707-809-8118
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