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Archive:
Summer 2009
Fall 2009
Winter 2010
Spring
2010
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News Releases --
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February 21, 2010
CULTURAL RESOURCE INVESTIGATION COMPLETED FOR RABBIT HILL
Written by Susanne La Faver
MIDDLETOWN – A recent cultural resource investigation, as part of
a land management plan at Rabbit Hill in Middletown, identified
one historic archaeological site and several isolated historic
features.
Conducted by Dr. John and Cheyanne Parker of Archeological
Research in Lucerne, the findings help Lake County Land Trust
directors preserve the site and determine best public activities
at the park.
The study concludes that, as a Land Trust property, Rabbit Hill
teaches us about the natural world, but it also contains important
information about the history of Middletown.
As part of the study, Dr. Parker, a registered professional
archaeologist, and Cheyanne, with 12 years archaeological field
and lab experience, conducted a field inspection of Rabbit Hill.
“Historic records provide information about major events and
prominent citizens in Middletown’s past, but no record of daily
life for Middletown residents exists during the time a stage came
through town once a week,” John Parker said.
Items found in the historic archaeological site suggest general
household refuse from the late 1800s, including pieces of ceramic
ware, glass bottles, a soldered milk can, and a brass kerosene
lamp reservoir.
Pieces of glass and
pottery were unearthed as part of the cultural resource
investigation at
Rabbit Hill in Middletown. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Land
Trust.
A
concrete cistern reinforced with scrap pieces of farm equipment,
suggesting late 1800 or early 1900 construction, was most likely
the remains of a water tank that would have allowed gravity flow
of water down slope to a residence.
Corrugated roofing material, perhaps remains of a kid’s fort, and
a sheep shear stamped with “Keiser Made in the USA” were also
found.
Though no structure remains of Huke and Skee Hamann’s residence,
the area is marked by concrete on rocks and embedded telephone
pole sections. One rock had a concrete base where a commemorative
plaque was placed. Local lore says that three embedded rail pieces
once supported a lighted cross atop Rabbit Hill.
Remains of a stone lavatory, constructed in 1950s, is slightly
downhill from where the Hamanns lived.
Little remains of their residence that is of historic or
scientific value; however, Rabbit Hill itself is significant due
to the association with the Hamanns.
The Hamanns lived on Rabbit Hill between the 1950s and 1970s. They
used their land’s magnetic attraction as a way to introduce
Middletown’s youth to the natural world and the concept of living
with, not on, the earth.
The couple left Rabbit Hill to Sonoma County’s Madrone Audubon
Society, which later deeded the property to Lake County’s Land
Trust for protection.
The Lake County Land Trust is a private, nonprofit organization
dedicated to the preservation of Lake County’s unique natural
habitats and open spaces.
In addition to Rabbit Hill, the group owns and operates the Rodman
Slough Preserve at 6350 Westlake Road, Upper Lake.
For more information about Lake County Land Trust, go to
www.lakecountylandtrust.org
. Follow the land trust on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/lclandtrust
and on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lower-Lake-CA/Lake-County-Land-Trust/137282176534?ref=ts
.
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November 1, 2009
RABBIT HILL LAND
MANAGEMENT PLAN UNDER WAY
Written by Susanne La Faver
MIDDLETOWN – The small, but much loved, 9.5-acre parcel of Rabbit
Hill in Middletown received special attention recently in
anticipation of a land management plan being created for the site.
Co-Directors of UC-Davis McLaughlin Reserve Paul Aigner and Cathy
Koehler, Lower Lake, volunteered to walk the site to survey the
site’s ecology and make recommendations.
Entering the trail head at 21281 Stewart St. at Callayomi Street,
Paul and Cathy noted Rabbit Hill’s distinctive serpentine rock,
few non-native plants and unique vegetation.
They identified shrubs and trees and observed birds including
western scrub jay, Hutton’s vireo, lesser goldfinch, California
towhee and western bluebird.
Paul and Cathy will do a more thorough plant survey next
spring, while Land Trust Director Brad Barnwell will conduct a
formal bird survey.
This ecological information, and more, will describe Rabbit Hill
for the land management plan and help fulfill preservation
objectives of protection; education, scientific and passive
recreation uses; and any needed restoration.
Rabbit Hill is special to generations of Middletown area residents
who received handmade gemstone rings when they started
kindergarten from Hugo “Huck” and Juanita “Skee” Hamann, who lived
on the site.
In
a recorded oral history of Rabbit Hill, Middletown Librarian
Gehlen Palmer remembers visiting the Hamanns as a youngster,
playing scrabble during stormy weather, and listening to classical
music.
The
Hamanns left their land to Sonoma County’s Madrone Audubon
Society, which later deeded the property to Lake County’s Land
Trust for protection.
Rabbit Hill Committee members are Land Trust Directors Susanne La
Faver, chair, and Jon Ambrose, Hidden Valley Lake; Pete McGee,
Middletown; and Michael Friel, Lakeport.
For more information on Rabbit Hill, see
http://www.lakecountylandtrust.org/r_hill.htm
.
Lake County Land Trust President Pete McGee will lead a stroll up
Rabbit Hill for the Sierra Club-Lake Group Sunday, Nov. 15. The
group will meet at Perry’s Deli at 9 a.m.
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October 2009
LAND TRUST DINNER HONORS VOLUNTEERS
Submitted by Roberta Lyons
The Lake County Land Trust’s annual dinner was once again a fun
and successful evening. Over 100 Land Trust supporters gathered at
the Clearlake Community/Senior Center in the City of Clearlake, to
enjoy fun and fellowship; bidding on silent auction items,
enjoying Lake County wines, and a delicious dinner prepared by the
Blue Wing Saloon and Cafe in Upper Lake.
The silent auction is always a highlight of the evening and
features an amazing array of new and donated items, ranging this
year from beautiful art and photographs to a hand built craftsman
style table and a beautiful original weaving by local artist,
Sheila O’Hara.
The Blue Collar Band played during the social hour while
volunteers from Carle High School, along with their teacher, Angie
Siegel, served appetizers. Wine was donated by the winery members
of the Lake County Winery Association, including Ceago Vinegarden,
Focused on Wine, Gregory Graham, Tulip Hill, Wildhurst, Six Sigma,
Steele Wine, and the Kelseyville Wine Co. The event was sponsored
by The Livermore Family and the Lake County Winegrape Commission.
The hall was festively decorated with colorful tablecloths and
beautiful centerpieces of pumpkins and natural flora.
Pete McGee, president of the Land Trust welcomed the audience and
Michael Friel delivered the keynote address, noting the many
accomplishments of the Land Trust, a local, non-profit
organization dedicated to preserving land and valuable habitat in
Lake County. Friel also praised the many accomplishments and
leadership of retiring executive director Susanne Scholz.
To conclude the evening, the Land Trust honored two of its stellar
volunteers and supporters: Michele Quere and Pamela Capito.
Michele lives in Upper Lake and Pamela resides in Scotts Valley.
Among their many contributions, they attend almost every one of
the Land Trust’s “Volunteer Thursdays,” held at the Nature Center
at the Rodman Slough Preserve. They do clerical jobs, help with
land trust mailings, organize files, clean up the center and much
more. “If it weren’t for dedicated volunteers like Pamela Capito
and Michele Quere, our job would be much more difficult. They make
it possible for the Land Trust to carry on its important work of
protecting land in Lake County,” Land Trust President Pete McGee
commented.
The Lake County Land Trust is a private,
non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to preserving
important areas of natural habitat in Lake County. Go to the
website at
www.lakecountylandtrust.org. for more
information.
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July 2009
MYTHS AND MUSIC OF CLEAR LAKE AT RODMAN NATURE EDUCATION CENTER
ON THURSDAY, AUG. 6
Dr. Harry Lyons, professor of ecology and biology at the Yuba
College Clear Lake Campus has been busy this summer presenting
numerous programs featuring his “Myths and Music” of Clear Lake to
service clubs, community groups, and the state park. Dr. Lyons
will be doing one last public summer program on Thursday evening,
Aug. 6 at the Lake County Land Trust’s Rodman Slough Preserve
Nature Education Center at the corner of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff
and Westlake Road, between Lakeport and Upper Lake. The program
starts at 7 p.m.
Here is one last chance this summer to hear his educational
presentation on Clear Lake, plus enjoy the debut of two new “Lake”
songs featuring not only Dr. Lyons, but stand-up bass player, Rick
McCann. Dr. Lyons will talk about the natural history of Clear
Lake - an old, shallow, productive green lake.
The event is free and open to the public. It is being presented as
the summer educational program at the Rodman Slough Preserve
Nature Education Center. The center is located on the Rodman
Slough Preserve, which totals over 240 acres. The Lake County Land
Trust owns and operates 132 acres of the preserve.
The Lake County Land Trust is a private,
non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the county’s
important land resources. For information about the Land Trust, go
to
www.lakecountylandtrust.org, or call
Roberta Lyons at 994-2024.
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May 2009
ANNUAL SPRING LAND TRUST DINNER WAS FUN FOR ALL
The annual Lake County Land Trust Spring Dinner at the Saw Shop
Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville on May 12, was a great success with
over 100 people enjoying the hospitality of Saw Shop owner, Marie
Beery, and her able staff.
Marie Beery and her staff donate the dinner every year to raise
money for the Lake County Land Trust a local non-profit
organization dedicated to the preservation of Lake County’s most
endangered natural areas. The Land Trusts owns and operates the
Rodman Slough Preserve on the north end of Clear Lake, and is
currently focusing on preservation of wetlands along the west and
south shores of Clear Lake.
The convivial evening included entertainment
by David Neft of Middletown, who donated an hour of his excellent
piano playing to the event. Also, numerous local artists donated
paintings that were for sale during the evening and will also be
available at the Land Trust’s annual dinner in October. The names
of the donating artists will be featured on the new Lake County
Land Trust website at
www.lakecountylandtrust.org.
Wine and food donors for the evening included Foods Etc. in
Clearlake, donating bread; and Main Street Bakery, Kelseyville,
who donated the dessert. Wine was generously provided by: Bell
Hill Vineyards, Greg Graham Wines, Shannon Ridge Winery, Six Sigma
Winery, Steele Wines, Noggle Vineyards, Tulip Hill Winery,
Wildhurst Vineyards, and the Moore Family Winery.
“The Land Trust would like to thank Marie Beery and her staff at
the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro, as well as the artists, David Neft,
and the food donors for supporting our organization in this very
important fundraising event,” stated Lake County Land Trust
president, Pete McGee.
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May 2009
LEARN ABOUT "WHAT'S
SWIMMING WITH ME" AT RODMAN NATURE CENTER PROGRAM
The Lake County Land Trust is hosting a program on Wednesday, May
13, featuring representatives from the Lake County Vector Control
District. The program will be held at the Land Trust’s Rodman
Slough Preserve Nature Education Center at the corner of Westlake
Drive and the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, off of Highway 29 between
Lakeport and Upper Lake. The public is invited to attend.
Representatives of the Lake County Vector Control District will be
presenting the program. Two of the agency’s biologists, Bonnie
Ryan and Brittany Mills, along with Jamesina J. Scott, PhD,
District Manager and Research Director for the Lake County Vector
Control District will be on hand to present the program: “What’s
Swimming With Me?” They will cover insects (adult and immature),
water mites, leeches, snails, aquatic earthworms, arthropods,
visible zooplankton and even give a small discussion on
Swimmers Itch.
The biologists will bring samples of the creatures with them and
offer a fascinating look at the animals that live in Clear Lake
and local streams and ponds. “Many of these tiny and fascinating
invertebrates you probably have never seen, and will be surprised
that they are in the water all around you,” commented a Land Trust
spokesperson.
The Lake County Land Trust owns and operates the Rodman Slough
Preserve and Nature Education Center, offering walks at the
preserve every Saturday and special educational programs at the
Nature Center on a quarterly basis. The Land Trust is a private,
non-profit local organization dedicated to the protection and
preservation of important land resources in Lake County. For more
information about this program or about the Land Trust in general,
contact Roberta Lyons at (707) 994-2024.
The Land Trust is also holding its annual Spring Dinner on
Tuesday, May 12 at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville. If
you are interested in attending this event and supporting the Lake
County Land Trust, call to make a reservation at (707) 278-0129.
Tickets are $60 per person and include wine with a delicious
four-course dinner. Payment is taken at the door.
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April 10, 2009
LAKE
COUNTY LAND TRUST IS LOOKING FOR ARTISTS!
Submitted by Roberta Lyons
The
Lake County Land Trust is putting out a call to all interested
artists to donate a painting or photograph of nature or landscape
art to help support the mission of the land trust to protect and
preserve Lake County’s open space.
In
return for the donation, all accepted artists will receive a chance
to win one of five monetary awards: $200 Best of Show and four $100
Merit in Show. All entered artists will also be invited to a field
trip in late spring to create art at Montesol, a large ranch on the
slopes of Mt. St. Helena, that is private and not normally open to
the general public. Also, artists will be featured on the new Lake
County Land Trust website which should be going on-line by early
May.
The
art pieces will be displayed at the upcoming Saw Shop Gallery Bistro
benefit spring dinner for the Land Trust on May 12 in Kelseyville.
All donated and juried pieces are hung at the Saw Shop Gallery
Bistro and are for sale the evening of the dinner. Those pieces that
aren’t sold are auctioned at the October Annual Land Trust Dinner.
All proceeds from the art sales go to the Lake County Land Trust, a
non-profit organization that among other things operates the Rodman
Ranch Preserve which is a favorite painting area for many of the
county’s plein air artists.
The
art must be no smaller than 5”x 7”, matted and framed. Art must
be received by the Land Trust no later than May 7. The judging
committee is made up of well-known local artists. If you live on the
north end of the county, art may be dropped off at the Rodman Slough
Preserve Nature Center on Westlake Rd. and the Nice-Lucerne Cut-off
on April 16 or May 7. Artists may also contact Tom Gilliam in
Lakeport at (707) 263-1231 to drop off art. Art collection for the
South County area may be arranged by calling Roberta Lyons at (707)
994-2024. You may also call Barbara LeVasseur, (707) 274-1393 for
information.
The
annual Lake County Land Trust Spring Dinner on May 12 is an
enjoyable evening for Land Trust supporters. Tickets are $60 each
and include a four course dinner served with wine. Social hour is 6
p.m. with dinner served at 7 p.m. A fun basket raffle is being
planned and those attending always enjoy perusing the art that is
for sale. All services, food and wine are graciously donated by the
Saw Shop Gallery Bistro owned by Marie Beery. All proceeds go
towards the Rodman Slough Preserve Nature Center and other projects
of the Lake County Land Trust, a local non-profit organization
dedicated to the preservation of Lake County’s natural areas.
Please call the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro at (707) 278-0129 for
reservations. Check in at the door the night of the dinner. For more
information call Roberta Lyons at (707) 994-2024.
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January 13, 2009
BIRDS
OF RODMAN EVENT PLANNED FOR JAN. 24
A
special program focusing on the “Birds of Rodman Slough,” will
be presented on Saturday, Jan. 24, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the
Rodman Slough Preserve nature center at the corner of West Lake Road
and the Nice-Lucerne Cut-off.
Brad
Barnwell, photographer and naturalist, and a board member of the
Lake County Land Trust, will present a Power Point program on the
birds of Rodman and discuss the common birds that are found on the
property, including residents and common migrants that visitors to
the preserve will see now and during the next few months.
The
Rodman Slough Preserve is owned and operated by the Lake County Land
Trust. Guided walks are held every Saturday morning throughout the
year. Walks usually start at 9 a.m. but on Saturday, Jan. 24, the
talk will be held first, followed by a guided walk on the property.
The public is invited to attend; for more information call Roberta
Lyons at (707) 994-2024.
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August 28,
2008
LAND
TRUST SPONSORS COLORING CONTEST
The
Lake County Land Trust, the non-profit organization dedicated to
preserving Lake County’s natural resources, is presenting a Great
Blue Heron Coloring Contest for the Youth of Lake County, ages 17
and under.
Sponsored
by North Shore Sentry Market, the contest is part of the Land
Trust’s efforts to educate the youth of Lake County about the
numerous and beautiful natural resources that exist here, explained
Land Trust executive director, Susanne Scholz.
Youth
ages 17 and under are all encouraged to enter the contest. Entries
must be received by Sept. 15. All entries will be displayed at the
Lake County Land Trust booth at the Pear Festival in Kelseyville on
Sept. 27. Three winners will be chosen from among the entries
displayed at the booth and the three winning entries will be
published in the Lake County Record-Bee.
Winners
will receive a beautiful, signed, limited edition full color Ed
Bierly Bluebird Lithograph. Bierly is an internationally renowned
wildlife artist who portrayed the lives of three species of
endangered North American Bluebirds in the stunning lithographs
being offered as prizes by LCLT to inspire a new generation of
artists and conservationists.
The
picture and entry forms are available on-line at www.lakecountylandtrust.org.
Entries may be dropped off at Gracious Ladies in Upper Lake,
Funtopia, Middletown, Watershed Books, Lakeport, or Wild About
Books, Clearlake. Or, mail entries to Lake County Land Trust P.O.
Box 711, Lower Lake, CA 95457. The Lake County Land Trust provides
stewardship of Rodman Slough Preserve, near the Nice-Lucerne cut-off
and is a private, non-profit organization involved with preserving
land in Lake County. For more information, call (707) 262-0707 or go
to www.lakecountylandtrust.org.
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