CLEAR LAKE HORIZONS

Fall 2014 C.L.S.P.I.A.

One hundred and fifty years ago the country was embroiled in a civil war, the western movement was in full swing, the golden spike had yet to be driven connecting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad at Promontory Point in the Utah Territory, and there were only 35 states in the Union. California, under Governor Frederick Low (9th), had been a state for just fourteen years and was grappling with a reorgani-zation of state government, financial concerns, infrastructure issues and social problems associated with an expanding population (400,000 people).

Yet, with all the turmoil in both the state and the country, Captain Israel Ward Raymond, with the help of similar minded people and California’s U.S. Senator John Conness, was able to see his vision -- preserving Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Trees for the use and enjoyment of the public -- become law.

It all started a few years earlier in 1862 when Captain Raymond visited Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Trees, only to be overpowered by their beauty and deeply concerned about the exploitation of the natural resources by the settlers. Raymond had a vision, “to prevent [Yosemite’s] occupation…let the wonders of Yosemite be inalienable forever.” He contacted others who supported his vision and had similar concerns about the valley and the Mariposa Big Trees and composed a letter to Senator John Conness requesting that the area be preserved. He included with the letter a photo plate of El Capitan by Carleton Watkins to help convince the Senator of Yosemite’s magnificence.

Once the Senator received the letter, he forwarded it to the Department of the Interior where a bill was crafted using verbiage from Captain Raymond’s letter, which granted to the State of California what was described as “the “cleft” or “gorge” in the granite peak of the Sierra Nevada Mountains situated in the county of Mariposa… and the headwaters of the Merced River and known as Yo-Semite Valley, with its branches or spurs, in estimated length fifteen miles.” Senator Conness introduced the bill, known as the Yosemite Act, in the U.S. Senate on March 28, 1864, and the bill ultimately passed through both houses of Congress and was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on June 30, 1864. The vision had been achieved and both Captain Israel Ward Raymond and California’s U.S. Senator John Conness were recognized as instrumental in the birth of both state and national parks in the United States.

Although Yosemite was returned to the Federal Government to become part of the National Park Service in 1906, the vision to preserve California’s natural and cultural treasures continues. This year join Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association as we celebrate the efforts of Captain Raymond, Senator Con-ness, California State Parks and all those individuals, both past and present, who have supported the “Vision” for the past 150 years. Brad Barnwell

The Vision150th Anniversary of California State Parks

Have you seen the State Park Bear Paw quilt that is promi-nently displayed at the entrance to Clear Lake State Park? We are very proud to be part of the Lake County Quilt Trail! We also created a fabric quilt of the same design and plan on using it for an ‘opportunity drawing’ in 2015. It will be on display at all CLSPIA events.

As part of the 150th year celebration, the planning group from the state decided to try to gather 150 quilts, all related to parks, to put up on a special website. As of September 28th, it was a definite success. It is very interesting to see how so many different parks have been interpreted in so many ways. Our quilt is number 86, but the photo of the wooden one was not posted beside the fabric one, due to some technical difficulties (they tell me).

Please go to www.150.parks.ca.gov/quilts to view ours and 149 more very interesting creations. Also, to see our wooden one, go to www.lakecountyquilttrail.com and enjoy seeing all the great additions to our beautiful area!

Madelene

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A Message from Madelene Clear LakeHorizons

is published by the

Clear Lake StatePark

InterpretiveAssociation

www.clearlakestatepark.org

Association OfficersPresident - Madelene Lyon

V. President - ???Rec. Secretary - Sandy Moura

Treasurer - Julie BerryNancy Cary Smith - EditorVerna Schaffer - PublisherBobbi Towne - Membership Brad Barnwell - HistorianBrad Barnwell - Publicity

CLSPIABoard of Directors

Brad BarnwellBill Beat

Julie BerryMadelene LyonJohn Maley

Sandy MouraStephen Stetzer

Bobbi TowneNeil Towne

Congratulationsto the Lake County Land Trust on

twenty years of service in thepreservation of environmentallysignificant areas of Lake County.

Pictured on the left is the new Book of Honor that will soon be on display at the Visitor Center. The pages of our Book of Honor will feature the donors and volunteers who have distinguished themselves with their generosity, leadership and hours of hard work, given to make our State Park the gem that it is today. It will be ready for your viewing begin-ning the camping season 2015.

The Book ofHonor

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To all of you who would like to be ‘Friends of Clear Lake State Park’ (known as the Clear Lake State Park In-terpretative Association, CLSPIA), now is the time to do it. Fill out the membership form on the back of this newsletter to renew your membership for 2015 or to become a new member and join a group that really cares about our State Park.

The aim of CLSPIA is education and the interpretation of our Park for the community and campers. We do this by offering our super Junior Ranger Program which is open to community and camping children, maintaining and interpreting our Visitor Center’s Natural Museum, and financing the salary of an Interpretive Park Aide who provides leadership for our Junior Rangers, local school field-trips and numerous other groups. These groups now enjoy our comfortable Education Pavilion that exists because of considerable effort on the part of CLSPIA. We continually update our Education Pavilion with equipment that assists in the education and interpretation of our State Park and its rich environment. We also arrange for an ongoing program of interesting speakers at the Park.

These things are made possible by members’ dues, fundraisers like our terrific spring Wildflower Brunch, our store in the Visitor Center and the sale of firewood to campers. The latter has increased notably since we purchased a Quad Runner so our camp hosts or rangers can offer firewood at campsites.

Now, we need your help to keep doing these things. Join us at any membership level and receive our twice-a-year newsletter, a 10% discount on purchases in the Visitor Center store, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to support our very own State Park. Those who join at the Patron membership level will be invited to a special Patrons’ Dinner and program in the Park during the year.

We have a jewel of a State Park. . . boating, hiking, swimming, fishing, sitting, listening, relaxing, recreating and learning. . . you can do it all in Clear Lake State Park!

Aida BahrawyLynne Bruner-Carmen J.CarpenterCathy DionBetty DrydenSteve FarrPam HarringtonBarbara HarrisBella KluytElaine MansellElyse MengleJohn MerzChristine MingoSandy MouraPatty O’BrienTerri PersonsLinda PyersMarcia SandersonGlenn SmithJay T. SmithMarilyn SommerfieldJanice T. StokesMarilyn WaitsVicki WinkleBill & Roberta Beat Norm & Mary BensonJulie & John BerryThe Tony Braito Family

2014 MEMBERSJohn & Betty BrookesDonald & Margaret EutenierThe Bob-Foster FamilyWilliam & Sue GroechelJoann & John HansenDaniel Hanson & Ellie PerinoniPeg & Bill HoffmanJoanne Jameson FamilyKathy & Larry JansenBob & Beth KeifferMike & Dena KeithlyBill & Colleen KranzAllen & Lu LangeBill & Mary LlewellynJayne & Jeff LyonTom & Pam LyonJohn & Vicky MaleySheila O’Hara FamilyPatricia & John PalmerCarmen & Dr. Russell PattersonArmand & Trena PaulyPatrick & Janet PetersonKeith Petterson & Denise IshiharaCathy & Jesse PulseLorraine Rapalyea FamilyFred & Nancy RoseHelen & Robert StettlerChuck & Joan Sturges

Janet & Robert SwedbergYvonne & Jim WaltersTom & Tina WassonSharon Weeks & Barry OselettKathy & Peter WindremBernie & Lynne ButcherDr. Paul Vartabedian DDSBradley & Kathy BarnwellAnne BarquistHenry Bornstein & Gae HenryKim & Olga-ClymireKim & Charlie EadieWilliam & Mary KettenhofenWalt & Madelene LyonHarry & Roberta LyonsPam & Gary MaesPat McFarlandTom & Val NixonRussell & Joyce PorterfieldSkip & Carolyn RohnerDebra SallyVerna SchafferJim & Wilda ShockBob SmithNancy SmithStephen & Nancy StetzerMike & Jan ThompsonBobbi & Neil Towne

What Members’ Dues Do!

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May 2014

Ranger Aaron Wright is transferring to Oroville.• Ranger Darrin Connor has accepted a canine officer position in Oroville.• Park Aide Dana will act as Interpretive Aide and may assist at VC.• The new ranger vehicle has arrived.• Life jacket exchange program will be held May 17th.• Site Steward training is set for May 17 and 18 at the VC.• V.C. sales improved from last year.• New Park tee shirt with Brad Barnwell’s photo presented.• Wildflower Brunch attendance was down; food was leftover.• David Neft donated his Brunch stipend to CLSPIA.• CLSPIA thanked for efforts to assist Anderson Marsh to stay open thru 2016.• Voted to reimburse Park for $900.00 cost of GPS units with provision that they also be used for educational/interpre-• tive activities.Noted that CLSPIA website is being updated. Stephen needs Park pictures.•

June 2014

Current membership reports 73 active members,2 business memberships and 19 patrons.• Quilt square and cloth quilt will be finished soon.• Discovery lecture series continues through July.• State Park 150th Anniversary will be family and wellness event. • Event refreshments will be drinks, fresh fruit and s’mores.• Voted to purchase a Viewsonic projector at under $1000.00.• Donor Appreciation Dinner will take place October 5 at the pavilion. • Board meetings to held 2nd Thursday of each month, 2 pm.•

July 2014

Noted CLPIA financial report - $16,498 Checking and $24,806 Savings.• Noted that revenues are similar to 2013.• Noted Park winter projects include updating cabins, road resurfacing in Kelsey Creek campground.• Responsibility for Newsletter content will transfer to the Board beginning Spring 2015.• Billy Gear will join Brad as a hike leader.• Staffing of Visitor Center remains a challenge.• The digital projector has been delivered and is working well.• Voted to pay Davis Neft a $200.00 fee for music at 150th event.• Voted to “celebrate” Park staff and aides at a small luncheon party at the pavilion including Neil’s homemade ice • cream and small keep sakes.

Board Actions

As we move throughout the Park, large trees frame our views and add beauty and se-renity to all we see. Among the most beautiful and largest trees are the collections of oaks. Some oak species grow only in California. They include the stately Valley Oak and the Blue Oak. Many of these are among the oldest inhabitants of the valley. Some are hundreds of years old and deserve to be protected. The shadows of shady oaks soften the summer heat while their graceful shapes and leafy canopies enhance our panoramic views. They shelter small animals and birds. In the autumn many acorns fall and are collected by various birds and animals, to be used during the long winter. In times past, Native Americans found ways to use acorns as an important part of their food supply. The Valley Oak and the Blue Oak grow nowhere else in the world besides California.

Unfortunately these oaks are threatened by development and farming and have suffered severe reproductive failure for the past 80 to 100 years. Some of their seedlings require special attention. Here in the Park, Valley Oaks grow splendidly as their roots grow deep in moist loam. Black Oaks grow in abundance in areas bordering the Lake and there are many in the Park. They are among our grandest trees putting on a wonderful display of Autumn colors as winter approaches each year. During other times of the year, Black Oaks can be recognized by their black bark and pointed leaves.

Another family of oaks present in the Park are the Live Oaks. These Oaks remain green throughout the year. Coast, Interior and Canyon Live Oaks grow into handsome trees which may be over 100 feet tall.

Our Marvelous Oaks

(Board Actions cont. page 5.)

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August 2014

Darin Connor’s last day will be September 1st.• Ranger Kendall Wilson will come to the park by he end of October.• The new camp host is named Randy.• Voted to advertise the park anniversary celebration on KXBX and KNTI, 5 to 7 days at $500.00 • Val and Brad will lead August/September hikes.• Dana is working at the VC Friday/Sunday.• The fabric 150th Celebration quilt is finished and beautiful.• Established the organization of the Anniversary celebration.• The Donor Dinner, October 5th will include Board members.•

September 2014 (Projected Minutes, No Quorum Available)

October 2014

Noted it was urgent that Park projects be funded to maintain non-profit status.• Staff is awaiting permit to add electricity, heating and air conditioning to the cabins.• Noted that Ranger Kendall Wilson will start next week.• Park Aide, Erica, will return in December.• Credit cards will be accepted for entry and camping beginning in 2015.• Membership tally is 24 individual, 37 family, 2 business and 20 patron memberships.• Noted that profits from sales at Pear Festival were $483.00.• Anniversary Celebration reported good attendance.• Question ... How shall tickets for the quilt raffle be sold?• Noted that the Patron dinner was well attended and enjoyed.• Noted that the speaker series will continue in November, also January and February.• Suggested persons/topics for Book of Honor may include history of rangers/staff, CLSPIA, donors.• Future project ideas may include benches on trails, interpretive panels on trails, campfire center.• Regarding effort to bring more people to the park, are park specific passes a possibility?•

Not so many years ago, two people named Tom and Val met while they were in training to be California State Park Rang-ers. They met, became friends, and found each other as in-teresting as the training. Sometime later they married and during their ranger careers came to Clear Lake State Park. While here, their two children graduated from Kelseyville High School and went on for degrees at U.C. Santa Cruz. Val and Tom retired from the Park some years ago after serving at Clear Lake State Park and Anderson Marsh for 23 of their 27-

year careers. They still live in our area and are members of CLSPIA.

When it recently became time for their daughter, Lauren, to make a career choice, she decided to follow in her parents’ footsteps. Lauren has recently graduated from the Butte College California State Parks Ranger Academy. She was the only woman in her graduation class of 19 and was valedictorian of her class. In addition, Lauren is the first woman to receive the special fire-arms commendation in the academy’s history. Lauren now proudly wears her mother’s former Park badge number which her mother pinned on her uniform at her graduation. Lauren will be assigned to the Park’s Central Valley Division following a 12-week field training assignment.

Lauren Follows Family Tradition

Board Actions (Continued from page 4.)

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There is much to report regarding CLSPIA events this season. The board members and volunteers have been very busy orchestrating a number of different events in addition to managing the Visitor Center.

The 19th annual Wildflower Brunch was on a very beautiful spring day, the last Saturday of April. The usual overstuffed omelets were prepared to order for our guests to the accompaniment of wonderful music by David Neft. Even though we all work very hard at this event, we still enjoy doing it, and it’s one of our fundraisers for the year. Thanks to all our loyal attendees for the continued support!

The ‘Quilt’ project, which was actually started late last year, became a reality with the installation of the 8-foot x 8-foot wooden quilt on the building at the entrance to the park. This was accomplished in May, with the park maintenance crew doing the installation, cheered on by a large audience of Quilt Trail artists and CLSPIA board members.

With 2014 being the 150th year since the establishment of State Parks in California, a celebration was in order; each association was asked

to commemorate the birthday in some way. We decided to join the Lake County Quilt Trail with our own design and install the wooden quilt at the entrance to the park. Gerri Groody and Annette Higday of the L.C.Q.T. com-mittee created the beautiful design which was then painted onto wooden panels. We then decided to create a fabric quilt of the same design; Jane Alameda, of Lakeport, agreed to make it for us, and what a beautiful job she did! We are indebted to each one of these very talented people.

In addition to the quilt project, we celebrated 150 years of California State Parks on August 23rd. We had 18 informational booths set up on the south side of the Pavilion, all with some connection to health. We empha-sized ‘Family and Wellness’. Even though the weather was quite warm, all the exhibitors said they were happy to be there. The park staff commented on the large numbers of visitors (and families) that attended, becoming familiar with the many parts of the park they may not have seen before. The trails were explored and the flora and fauna was appreciated. Fresh fruit, lemonade and ice water were offered throughout the day, and we offered free S’Mores (a slight deviation from total health?) to all takers. Julia Lyon, Blair Brookes and Becka Brookes were kept very busy all day preparing the very gooey and delicious treats for all. The feeling at the park is that we should repeat this event next year, since it exposed many people to the wonderful park.

The monthly speaker series sponsored by CLSPIA as been a very positive addition to our events calendar. We have heard from Brad Barnwell on ‘observation’, Carolyn Ruttan on ‘lake health’, Lyle Madeson on wildlife of Africa, and Greg Giusti and Bob Keiffer on ‘vultures’. The programs have attracted many people from the public and have also served as training sessions for volunteers. The plan is to continue this program throughout the year.

A great deal of effort goes into the managing of a booth at the Kelseyville Pear Festival in the fall. Not only are there items for sale from our store inventory, but many new friends are made for Clear Lake State Park during conversations with the public. All the effort put into this project is worthwhile – sales of merchandise and con-nections with people who have not been familiar with our park.

The Patron Appreciation Event was the last gathering of the season. On October 5th, we invited those who had become members at the $100.00 level to an evening of food and entertainment. The tables were set and decorated with fall foliage, wine was poured along with appetizers and then an Italian dinner was served to 35 guests. Af-ter dessert and coffee, an interesting program was presented by John Zimmerman. His presentation was titled “From Stonehenge to Hubble: A History of Astronomy and Cosmology”. John is a very animated speaker and made his topic very interesting. We’ll look forward to honoring even more patrons next year.

This Year in Reviewby Madelene Lyon, President

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The Year in Review

Your newsletter staff: Nancy Cary Smith, editor; Stephen Stetzer, printer; Verna Schaffer, publisher

Beautiful table decorations atPatrons’ Dinner

Great cooks, President Madelene Lyon andMembership Chair Bobbi Towne David Neft at his piano

Park Superintendents past and present, Bill Beat and Bill Salata

Faithful helpers Julia Lyon and Blair Brookes assistat CLSPIA celebration.

Note: If you are reading Clear Lake State Park Horizons for the first time and find the goals and activities interesting enough to pursue further, we would welcome your inquiry into becoming a volunteer docent. It really is lots of fun, as well as highly educational. If you are interested, please call the Ranger’s office at 279–2267.

Clear Lake State ParkInterpretive Association5300 Soda Bay RoadKelseyville, CA 95451

2014 CLSPIA Membership FormClear Lake State Park Interpretive Association (CLSPIA)

NAME _________________________________________________________________ PHONE _______________________________

ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________ E-MAIL _______________________________

*ANNUAL CLSPIA MEMBERSHIP FEES for 2014 (Please check those that apply) [ ] Individual ($10) [ ] Family ($18) [ ] Business ($50) [ ] Patron ($100) [ ] Gift Membership for another

PAYMENT (Please check one): [ ] Check [ ] VISA Card [ ] Master Card

CARD # ______________________________________________________ EXPIRATION DATE _______________________________

SIGNATURE (if using credit card) _____________________________________________________________________________________

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING at the PARK? (Please check any and all)

[ ] Visitor Center Docent [ ] Park Newsletter [ ] Maintenance; grounds cleanup [ ] Board of Directors [ ] Guiding Nature Hikes [ ] Other (Please tell us; use back of form.)

Clip and Mail to -- CLSPIA -- 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville, CA 95451

* MEMBERSHIP CARD ENTITLES MEMBER TO 10% DISCOUNT ON VISITOR ITEMS.