KELSEYVILLE
Next Popcorn Lecture Series: The Murder of Officer Hellbush
At the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum
July’s lecture is The Murder of Officer Hellbush, presented by Historian Phil Smoley.
Saturday, July 12, 2025. 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phil is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. This will be a fascinating evening!
Lectures are free to Historical Society members or $10 at the door for non-members. Join as a member at the door and get access to all remaining lectures free. Historical Society ‘Popcorn Lecture Series’ take place every other month, on the second Saturday of each month, and start at 2 p.m. in the red barn. We’ll provide the popcorn! We hope to see you there
The Ely State Stop is located at 9921 Soda Bay Rd. (Highway 281) Kelseyville
For a full list of tours and events please visit https://www.lakecountyhistory.org/events/
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KELSEYVILLE
Get Up with Kuulanapo this Spring
The most recent acquisition of the Kuulanapo Preserve, formerly the Wright-Keithly property, is currently under a concept restoration plan design phase development with co-managers at Big Valley Rancheria.
In 2024 the Lake County Land Trust was awarded a $1.18 million grant to create plans and designs to restore the Manning Creek Delta on the Kuulanapo Preserve. This grant is being administered by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and is being funded through California Climate Investing fund. This project includes partnerships with experienced consultants from FlowWest (https://www.flowwest.com/) and regional tribal partners at Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians.
Thanks to this grant, over the next three years, the project partners will create a fully engineered and permitted restoration design. This will demonstrate how the hydro modified lower Manning Creek will be reshaped and the adjacent wetland’s vegetation and hydrology restored to provide a more suitable and improved habitat for Clear Lake Hitch.
The restoration plan, funded by the CDFW grant, will provide the needed resources for Lake County Land Trust staff, FlowWest engineers and biologists, and tribal partners to best design a fully restored wetland and downstream tributary system. This will not only help Clear Lake recover, but improve lake and stream shoreline habitat and provide for traditionally important cultural spaces for Lake County tribes.
You can explore this property firsthand during the first seasonal guided walk on Saturday, June 14 at 9 a.m. Kuulanapo Preserve is located at 446 Soda Bay Road.
The majority of the trail is still under water so trail distance is reduced but LCLT staff will be on site to provide information about the restoration project and answer any other questions. Some wet or muddy areas, wear boots.
Temporary restroom facility on-site. For more information on this guided walk, visit: https://www.lakecountylandtrust.org/guided-walks or email us at lclt@lakecountylandtrust.org
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CALIFORNIA
California invests $32.4 million to help communities combat extreme heat
As part of a first of its kind grant program, Governor Gavin Newsom is announcing $32.4 million in funding to help 47 California communities protect people from the dangers of extreme heat.
Through the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program (EHCRP), the state aims to support local, tribal, and regional efforts to reduce the impacts of extreme heat – by building long-lasting infrastructure solutions, while also strengthening the community resilience needed to withstand extreme heat events. EHCRP is the first government grant program in the U.S. to support communities building resilience to extreme heat in multiple ways.
“Extreme heat kills – and with the federal government cutting the very programs that help forecast it, California is taking aggressive action to protect residents from the impacts of extreme heat and build resilience in our most vulnerable communities,” said Governor Newsom. “… we’re connecting more Californians – particularly those that are most vulnerable to dangerous heat – to life-saving information, resources, and programs across the state.”
EHCRP is part of the governor’s Extreme Heat Action Plan, which guides the state’s response to extreme heat events. Developed in partnership with more than 20 state agencies and informed by more than 1000 individuals through listening sessions and public engagement, EHCRP responds directly to community needs and builds on existing state programs.
“California is taking aggressive action to protect residents from the impacts of extreme heat and build resilience in our most vulnerable communities,” said Samuel Assefa, Director of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), the agency overseeing the funding. “With lives on the line each summer, the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program will provide critical infrastructure investments in heat vulnerable communities.”
EHCRP Projects will build much needed cooling infrastructure in heat vulnerable communities across the state. Including in Imperial and Riverside Counties, where the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians will be able to update a senior housing property with solar parking shades, clean energy for their gym/Cooling Center, and plant trees for more shade and green spaces.
In Redding as an example, where it’s estimated that there may be 100 days over 100 degrees by the end of the century, city officials will construct a heat resilient playground and splashpad.
For more information on EHCRP visit the EHCRP webpage at https://lci.ca.gov/climate/icarp/grants/extreme-heat-community-resilience.html
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