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

– Construction of a roundabout at the Route 20/Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road intersection will continue. Temporary all-way stop signs are in place. A shoulder closure will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road is closed at Route 20; a detour is available. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work from Island Drive to Shady Lane. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.

Highway 53

– Pavement repairs from Wilson Street to 40th Avenue will continue. Nighttime work hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday Morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect, and motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Daytime work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect, and motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

– Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– AT&T of Fort Bragg has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work near Creamery Lane beginning Tuesday, Sept. 4. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Replacement of the Greenwood Creek Bridge 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 – Golden State Bridge Inc. of Martinez.

– The city of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold the Paul Bunyan Days Labor Day Parade between Madrone Avenue and Elm Street on Monday, Sept. 3. Event hours are 9 a.m. to noon.  A full road closure will be in effect. A detour will be available.

Highway 20

– A pavement repair project from Forestry Station Road to Three Chop Road will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– Paulson Excavation of Albion has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for fuel spill cleanup 1.3 miles east of Three Chop Road. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– A pavement repair project from Road 300 to Three Chop Road will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Crosswalk improvements at Gregory Lane will continue. Work hours are 5 a.m. to noon, weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Cal Electro Inc. of Redding.

– Shoulder widening and installation of rumble strips from just north of Ryan Creek Road (south) to just south of Big Trails Drive will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Legg Inc. of Livermore.

Highway 128

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from Philo Greenwood Road to Indian Creek. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Paving from Con Creek to Robinson Creek will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will  be  in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– Pavement repairs from 1.9 mile west of the Ornbaun Creek Bridge to 0.3 mile west of Elkhorn Creek will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – OC Jones and Sons of Berkeley.

Highway 175

– Beckstoffer Vineyards of Talmage has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to pave a commercial driveway beginning Tuesday, Sept. 4. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 253

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Singley Cattlepass to Robinson Creek Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

– Culvert repairs at various locations from Cattle Pass to 0.5 mile west of Slide Creek will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Team Ghilotti of Petaluma.

– Slipout repairs about 5.6 miles west of Butler Ranch 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 – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

Work on all these projects is weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans advises motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to be prepared to stop at traffic control stations.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

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).

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Beneath the black starry night skies, at the foot of Mount Konocti, lies Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium.

In continuous operation since 1980, thousands of families have enjoyed the views through the facility's telescopes and entertained by shows in the Norton Planetarium.

Lake County's Window to the Universe, a public event, is held on the third Saturday of each month.

Join them from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, as staff member Edward Giannelli provides an update on the Mars Science Laboratory Rover, Curiosity. The Mars Rover left Earth last November and landed on Mars on Monday, Aug. 5.

Then enjoy a planetarium experience and night sky viewing.

The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children age 12 and under.

For more information, visit www.taylorobservatory.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – It just wouldn't be the Lake County Fair without a barn full of livestock raised by local youth, shown Thursday and Friday in fierce competition to see who has raised the best lamb, hog, or steer, and then sold to the rhythmic patter of the auctioneers and the roar of the crowd on a warm Saturday afternoon.

The annual Junior Livestock auction kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, and is expected to offer around 230 lots of prize winning livestock, poultry, and rabbits for potential buyers from throughout Northern California.

The auction is sponsored by Umpqua Bank, which provides immediate payment to the youthful sellers, then collects from the buyers in the days just following the sale.

The Lake County Fair takes place this year Thursday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, Sept. 2.

A record livestock auction sale occurred in 2011, with more than $300,000 in sales for the first time in Lake County Fair history.

Organizers are hoping to set another record in 2012, with nearly all of the auction proceeds going to Lake County youth.

A registered buyer's luncheon immediately precedes the sale at 10:30 a.m., offering a tri-tip barbeque to all registered buyers. The luncheon is provided in part by Hi-Way Grocery and Sentry Market of Upper Lake, and Foods Etc of Clearlake, and ends when the sale starts at 1 p.m.

In recent years, the sale has been split into two sales rings which operate at the same time, making for a total sale length of around three and a half hours and providing buyers with plenty of time to visit the rest of the Lake County Fair. An average of around 230 lots have been offered for a number of years.

“It's a real indication that the community supports youth programs like 4-H and the Future Farmers of America,” said fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Persons.

“Those programs teach kids about agriculture, which is Lake County's largest economic sector, and about teamwork, sportsmanship, honor and responsibility,” he said. “We're hoping the community continues to support these programs, and we'd like to set a new record sale this year. Many of these kids save the money for college or other educational efforts, and eventually return to Lake County to become farmers and ranchers, so in the long run the whole community benefits.”

Steers, lambs, hogs, meat goats, turkeys, rabbits and chickens are offered during the auction, with grand champion winners crossing the auction block at the start of the program.

Two buyers are allowed to join together for the purchase of one lot, and buyers who are unable to attend can arrange for a proxy to buy on their behalf.

People who don't have enough space in their freezer to purchase at the auction may still have a chance to purchase prize winning meats, as a number of local grocers purchase at the sale and then offer the prime cuts at the meat counter in their stores.

Regular admission prices for the 2012 Lake County Fair are unchanged from 2012.

Prices are $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a senior over age 60, and $6.00 for children ages 6 through 11. Children under 6 years old are admitted free every day. Children through age 11 are admitted for $3 on Thursday, Aug. 30, only, for “Kid's Day.”

A special admission program is in place for Friday, Aug. 30. Anyone who brings four cans of food to the gate between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. will receive free admission, with the food benefiting local food pantries through Lake County CAN.

SACRAMENTO – A bill by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D – North Coast) to protect California’s renowned big-game wildlife has passed both houses of the Legislature with bipartisan support and is on the desk of Gov. Jerry Brown.

“Poaching of trophy wildlife has become a big problem in California.” Chesbro said. “AB 1162 ensures poachers pay back the full value of the wildlife resources they take from the public. This legislation is modeled after laws in other destination hunting states, such as Montana and New Mexico.”

AB 1162 directs the California Fish and Game Commission to develop a new scale of fines for poaching trophy deer, elk, antelope, wild turkey or bighorn sheep based on size and characteristics of the species.

It establishes a new criminal penalty for the poaching of trophy game to between $5,000 and $40,000 or up to one year in county jail, or both.

Wild turkey is also considered trophy game but the penalty for poaching would be between $2,000 and $5,000.

The penalty for illegal bear poaching would be $10,000 per bear part.

“AB 1162 targets the worst types of poaching, such as those that involve the intentional wasting of game meat, the use of artificial lights or taking game out of season,” said Mark Hennelly, vice president of the California Waterfowl Association. “The bill would not only significantly raise fines but also authorize equipment seizure and license forfeiture, all of which should provide an important deterrent.”

“We are pleased to again work with Assemblyman Chesbro to enact legislation that helps our game wardens apprehend poachers who use illegal means to prey on our magnificent wildlife,” added Jerry Karnow Jr., president of the California Fish and Game Wardens Association. “If signed into law, it will be a significant tool to combat wildlife crime.”

The governor has until Sept. 30 to take action on the bill.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Shannon Michele of Cache Creek Catering and Lake County Wine Studio are presenting a monthly food and wine series featuring gourmet appetizers paired with select Lake County wines.   

Locally produced foods are proudly featured as key ingredients in recipes created by Cache Creek Catering.
 
The series is held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. The per person cost is $20 and reservations are required.

The next event will take place on Sept. 14.
 
August’s event featured Moore Family wines with a “farm to table” theme.  

The first course was fregola with roasted tomatoes, corn, sweet onions and basil served with Chardonnay, followed by chicken with cherry barbecue sauce paired with Malbec.  

The final pairing of a melon sorbet with Moore Family’s late harvest Sauvignon Blanc completed the three-course event.

Sept. 14 will feature fresh harvested Lake County pears.

The first course will be a salad of Star crimson pears, Yerba Santa Dairy Chevré, toasted almonds and lemon/honey dressing paired with Vigilance 2011 Chardonnay, followed by a Bartlett pear and chicken sausage pizzette with dry jack and fresh thyme paired with Cache Creek Chardonnay.

The final course will be roasted Bosc pears dusted with lavender sugar, fresh raspberries and vanilla ice cream paired with Robledo Family Winery White Port.

The Oct. 12 event will pair old vine wines with Lake County heirloom walnuts.
 
For reservations and additional information, contact Susan Feiler at 707-293-8752.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Sharpsburg Campaign (Antietam to Northerners) will be the topic of the September Redwood Empire's Civil War Roundtable, to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

The roundtable will meet beginning at 6:15 p.m. at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.

Master presenter Zane Jensen will do an audio/visual presentation entitled “Antietam: The amazing story of how a note wrapped around three cigars changed the history of the world.”

Jensen, who has personally walked the entire Sharpsburg (Antietam) battlefield, will share a unique perspective of the events and characters that played out in the drama that altered the course of the war, and opened the way for President Lincoln to attempt to free slaves in Confederate held territory through the Emancipation Proclamation.

Phil Smoley will review the Confederate invasion of Kentucky, and other goings on in the war during September 1862.

As a follow up to Janis Traub's excellent review of Robert E. Lee, Smoley will attempt to get the group into Lee's “shoes” during the process of his decision to either accept the commanding generalship of federal armies to lead the attempt to end the independence of the Southern people, or to share the fate of his people, defending them as best he could.

He will ask the group to answer the difficult questions: What would you do? Would your loyalty to the central government trump your loyalty to your home and family? What is the line between treason and patriotism? Was his oath to the central government conditional or unconditional? How off course must a government go before it becomes patriotic to resist it, if ever?

“This should make for an interesting roundtable discussion,” Smoley said, “and it should help us all appreciate the difficult decisions so many Americans were faced with 150 years ago.”

The Redwood Civil War Roundtable meets monthly to discuss the events that occurred 150 years ago that month to honor the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

For more information, contact Phil Smoley at 707-264-4905 or Zane Jensen at 707-349-6390.