“Mystery of the Christmas Star” allows audiences to journey back 2,000 years to Bethlehem as we seek to discover a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus.

This modern retelling of the Christmas story is sure to charm and captivate audiences of all ages.

The planetarium is a perfect place to study this because of its ability to exactly reproduce the skies as seen from Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago.

Public show dates are at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, from Dec. 20 through Jan. 10.

Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children less than 8 years old. The theater has a 34-seat capacity.

For private group reservations, contact the observatory coordinator at 707-262-4121.

For more information www.taylorobservatory.org .

The Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium is located at 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville.

The fun will take place at the Sons of Italy Club Hall, 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

Enjoy an early Christmas dinner of baked ham, mashed potatoes, yams, veggies, salads and rolls, topped off with a special holiday cake for dessert.

The bar is open for socializing at 5 p.m. then dinner will be served at 6 p.m.

Enjoy dancing to music of the Jim Williams Band right after the meal.

All tickets are $18 at the door. Everyone is welcome.

For information about this event or renting the hall for your own, call 707-274-9952.

Please call if you have donations for our food baskets for seniors and families in need.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– AT&T of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance from Hudson Avenue to 0.5 mile east of Lakeshore Drive on Friday, Dec. 18. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Sulphur Bank Drive to the Colusa/Lake County line. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. One-way traffic control will be in effect.

Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 175

– AT&T of Sacramento has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance near Adam Springs Road beginning Monday, Dec. 21. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Pavement repair 0.2 mile north of Big Gulch Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Contractor – Rege Construction Inc. of Cloverdale.

– Construction of a retaining wall about three miles north of Elk will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should

anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– North Coast Brewing Co. of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install tanks near Pine Avenue on Tuesday, Dec. 22, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Traffic will be restricted to one

lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 20

– Construction of a retaining wall 0.4 mile east of Three Chop Road will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 101

– Bridge deck repairs at the Cummings Road Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of French Camp.

Highway 128

– AT&T of Walnut Creek has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility relocation from 1.5 to 3.5 miles east of Mountain House Road. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

The effort seeks to provide warm clothes, food and tents to the area's homeless.

The giveaway will take place at the old senior center building on Golf and Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

They will give away coats, clothing and blankets to those in need.

Donations will be taken through January. They still need coats, gloves, hats, tarps and blankets.

For more information call Clearlake City Council member Joyce Overton at 707-350-2898.