LAKEPORT
Council updated on Lakefront Park Project
The Lakeport City Council received an update on the completion of the Lakefront Park project during their regularly scheduled Tuesday meeting.
Lakeport Public Works Director Ron Ladd said due to the unusually wet winter and time extensions for extra work, there have been 77 non-working days with an additional 11 days granted for extra work. The estimated completion date of the project is now September of this year.
“We do anticipate more additional working dates however,” Ladd said. “There were some unstable soils due to the lake.”
The original completion date was May 2023.
“Builders Solutions has been busy the past few months with great progress on all of the features. Most notably the concession building, basketball court, skate park, and splash pad,” Ladd said.
The construction of this seven-acre park includes a promenade lake front path, basketball court, ninja gym, amphitheater, splash pad, skate park, lawn area, sheltered picnic area, bathrooms, public art, parking lot, landscape and lighting and a dedicated area for a boathouse.
“Everything in here was selected by the community. There were some heated meetings but, in the end, it was all selected by the community,” Ladd said.
This is all possible through a $5.9 million grant that was issued to the city Ladd said. In November 2020, the City Council authorized an additional $1,006,906 in funding to be dedicated to the Lakefront Park project.
The city has very little or no reserve remaining Ladd said.
“We’ve been staring at this project on paper for five-plus years and to see it actually take form is amazing. It’s really coming together wonderfully,” Lakeport City Manager Kevin Ingram said.
The next city council meeting will take place on Aug. 15, 2023, at 6 p.m. in the Lakeport City Hall chambers. More information including minutes of previous meetings, agendas and upcoming meeting information can be found online by visiting https://www.cityoflakeport.com/city_council/index.php
—Zack Jordan for the Record-Bee
LAKEPORT
A birthday party more than a century in the making
Family came in from Lake County, Arizona, Montana, along with other areas of California and a Zoom call from Ireland came together to celebrate Rose “Nana” Vierra along with her daughter, Robyna “Bobbie” both of whom are residents at Lakeport Post Acute on Craig Avenue. On Tuesday July 25, Nana was surrounded with love and laughter by five generations of family along with friends and Lakeport Post Acute staff in celebration of this birthday milestone! 108 years separated from youngest to eldest in the room.
Nana Rose had 19 family members in attendance along with the Zoom call from her granddaughter who resides in Ireland.
When asked what advice Rose would give for living a good long life? “Drink Rose Wine, eat Dark Chocolate, and listen to Elvis Presley Music surrounded by the love of family and friends!” Nana was born July 25, 1915, she had two daughters, Robyna and Denise, nine grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 11 great, great grandchildren all of whom shared stories, laughter and a beautiful chocolate cake with cream cheese filling that was covered in red and yellow roses.
—Submitted
SACRAMENTO
1 in 4 new cars sold in California were zero-emission
In a historic first, 1 in every 4 new cars sold last quarter in California were zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). Earlier this year, the state surpassed its goal of selling 1.5 million ZEVs – a full two years ahead of schedule.
These latest sales figures come as a group of major automakers announced a partnership to build public ZEV charging networks throughout the country, showcasing where the industry has been going and California’s success in encouraging a thriving and competitive ZEV marketplace with the state’s world-leading requirement of 100% ZEV new car sales by 2035.
Gov. Newsom said: “California is showing the world what’s possible – fostering innovation and creating space for an industry to flourish. The proof is in the numbers: One in four new cars sold in our state are zero-emission – and thanks to our unparalleled incentives that make it cheaper than ever, we’re not leaving anyone behind.”
CALIFORNIA’S ZEV RECORD
- Twenty-five percent of all new cars sold in California last quarter were ZEVs, according to the California Energy Commission (CEC)125,939 ZEV sales in Q2 2023
- 1,623,211 total ZEV sales to date
- Thirty-four percent of new ZEVs sold in the U.S. are sold in California, according to the Veloz EV Market Report
- Thousands of dollars in grants and rebates available for low-income Californians (learn more at ClimateAction.ca.gov) The $52 billion California Climate Commitment includes over $10 billion for zero-emission cars, trucks, buses and infrastructure.
—Submitted
SAN JOSE
California Water Service opens 2023 Firefighter Grant program
As part of its ongoing commitment to local fire departments and first responders, California Water Service (Cal Water) today opened its fifth annual Firefighter Grant Program. Professional and volunteer fire departments that serve any part of Cal Water’s service areas are encouraged to apply for funding to offset costs related to fire protection efforts, equipment, training, and education.
Since the program launched in 2019, it has provided more than $668,000 in grants to local fire departments. Cal Water awarded grants ranging from $16,000 to $38,000 last year for equipment such as new hoses, ventilation fans for use in fighting structure fires, portable fire pumps, drone equipment nozzles, and self-contained breathing apparatuses.
According to past recipients, the grants have helped first responders save lives and property. Thanks to a 2021 grant from Cal Water, the Los Angeles County Fire Department was able to purchase an automatic-filling, high-capacity, helicopter dip tank—which allows aerial firefighters to fill helicopter water tanks faster and drop more water per hour.
“Thank you, Cal Water, for supporting us in being able to aggressively fight wildfires, quickly and efficiently,” said Deputy Fire Chief Jon O’Brien. “When lives and homes are threatened, every second counts, and we are so grateful for the generous grant from Cal Water.”
For more information about the Firefighter Grant Program or to submit an application, applicants can visit www.calwater.com/firefightergrant or email firefightergrant@calwater.com. The application period for this year’s cycle will close at 5 p.m. PT on Friday, Sept. 8. Cal Water will notify grant recipients in fall. The grants are part of California Water Service Group’s stockholder-funded philanthropic giving program and do not affect customers’ rates.
—Submitted