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. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Bartlett Springs Road to Foothill Drive on Monday and Tuesday, July 16 and 17. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work from New Long Valley Road to just east of Gravel Plant Road beginning Monday, July 16. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Ackley Road to the junction of Routes 29/175 near Lakeport on Wednesday and Thursday, July 18 and 19. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– 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.

Highway 20

– A pavement repair project from Road 300 to Irmulco Road will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 3:30 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.

– Installation of rumble strips from Old Sherwood Road to Steele Lane will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – CCFG Construction of Sonora.

Highway 162

– Slipout repairs 1.6 miles east of the Rodeo 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 – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

Highway 175

– A pavement repair project from the junction of Routes 101/175 to the Lake/Mendocino County line will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor ? Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Beckstoffer Vineyards of Talmage has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install entrance walls just west of the Russian River Bridge. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 253

– 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).

SACRAMENTO, Calif. –  Awards were presented to 29 California counties exhibiting in the 2012 California State Fair.

Solano County took Best of Show, but other counties followed closely.

Lake County received a Silver Award in the competition.
 
The Counties Exhibit has been a longstanding fan favorite and continues to draw crowds of fairgoers every year who support their favorite county.
 
Fairgoers have an opportunity to vote in the People’s Choice Award, which will be announced on closing day, July 29.

Results of the judging were as follows:

Best of Show Award – Solano County;
Best Content Award – Placer County;
Best Use of Produce/Products/Artifacts – Sierra County;
Best Marketing Award – Sacramento County;
Best Craftsmanship Award – Solano County;
Best Design Award – Placer County;
Best Visitor Experience Award – Tuolumne County;
Best Use of Special Effects/Animation Award – Glenn County;
Best Agricultural Presentation Award – San Joaquin County;
Superintendent’s Award – Colusa County.
 
Gold Awards

Amador County, Butte County, Calaveras County, Glenn County, Mendocino County, Mono County, Placer County, Sacramento County, San Joaquin County, Sierra County, Solano County, Sonoma County and Tuolumne County
 
Silver Awards

Colusa County, Contra Costa County, El Dorado County, Humboldt County, Inyo County, Lake County, Modoc County, Nevada County, San Francisco County/Alameda County/Marin counties, Santa Cruz County, Stanislaus County, Tehama  County and Yolo County
 
Bronze Awards

Yuba County

The 2012 California State Fair takes place through July 29 at 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Admission is $12 general,  $10 ages 62-plus, $8 children 5-12. Children under 4 free. Parking costs $10.

For more information visit www.bigfun.org .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The third annual Six Sigma Cowboy Cook-off was another memorable event for Six Sigma Ranch and Winery.  

The Cowboy Cook-off is a cooking competition held each year between three members of the Six Sigma Winery Team.

All guests can vote for their favorite cook and dish while sipping on what Six Sigma is known for – award-winning Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon.

This year the cooks were Christian Ahlmann, vice president of Six Sigma, who created a tender pulled pork sandwich; Walt Campbell, direct to trade manager, who wowed the crowd with smoked chicken thighs; and Matt Hughes, winemaker, who made two creative types of chili, one using the Six Sigma wood-burning pizza oven.

Nyla Norris, who helps the team with hospitality, tried out this year to see if her skills were good enough to compete in next year’s cook-off. Her lamb sliders were a hit qualifying her as one of the three chefs in next year’s competition. Christian Ahlmann’s pulled pork took the honors of the best dish.

Many enthusiastic guests arrived in festive cowboy and cowgirl costumes. The winners of the costume contest received gift certificates for Pinzgauer tours of the 4,300 acre ranch. This is a unique opportunity to experience the entirety of the ranch and see the highest altitude vineyard on the property, the Diamond Mine Vineyard.

It felt like a step back in time, watching cowboys and cowgirls surround the historic old stagecoach stop that doubles as the Six Sigma Ranch tasting room. The large, ancient oak trees shaded the guests as they mingled, sipped, and savored the cooks’ masterpieces while listening to original country soul music of Michael Barrish and Scott Sommers.

Kaj Ahlmann, proprietor was particularly pleased with the cook-off, which he said was Jacquelyn St. Martin’s second event as the ranch’s hospitality manager since she joined the Six Sigma Team a few months ago.

“Our release party with Chef Tyler Stone and the Cowboy Cook-off were both sold out which makes me proud of the efforts of our team,” he said.

“The decorations were beautiful,” said proprietor Else Ahlmann. “Judy made lovely flower arrangements and decorated the tasting room in a western theme. The comments about the wine, food, and the ranch were all extremely positive.”

Six Sigma Winery, located at 13372 Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake, is open for tasting every day from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Library invites teens to “S’mores and Camping” on Saturday, July 28.

The event will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the library 1425 N. High St.

Teens will make solar ovens and bake s’mores to snack on while attending “camp” in the library.

This is a free program and no library card is required to attend.

Amy Patton, teen events coordinator, can be reached at 707-263-8817, Extension 17105.

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m.

The library’s Web site is http://library.co.lake.ca.us .

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – All recyclable cans and bottles generated by firefighters at the Mill Fire Incident Command Post will be donated to the Stonyford 4-H fundraising effort.

Members of NorCal Team 2 and the Mendocino National Forest have coordinated with the local 4-H Chapter to collect recyclables in camp. The 4-H youth will pick up, sort and turn them in for the deposit.

The Stonyford 4-H club regularly collects recyclables during the annual Stonyford Rodeo. Chapter President Sara McCabe, 16, delivered collection drums to camp with her father on Friday.

Seventeen youths, ages 8 to 16, in the Stonyford 4-H learn about leadership, teamwork, community service, animal husbandry, farming, home economics, woodworking, leather crafting and other skills. Funds raised are used for the kids’ registration fees and dues.

“I’m always pleased when there is some way we can give back to the community. This will benefit the youth, who use these Rodeo Grounds,” said NorCal Type 2 Incident Commander Matt Johnson.

Mendocino National Forest Supervisor Sherry Tune agreed.

“I am pleased that the Incident Command Team is taking this step,” Tune said. “Recycling is an important part of our ecosystem services program and caring for our environment for current and future generations. Investing the recycling funds to enhance the Stonyford 4H program, benefiting local youth, is so important for this community and I’m excited the Forest Service can be a part of that.”

Grounded in conservation and committed to sustainable resource management, the Forest Service has an obligation to help reduce the U.S. environmental deficit.

The agency has taken a hard look at its own environmental footprint, working to make its operations more sustainable.

Reducing the waste generated from firefighting operations is one way the Forest Service can achieve this goal.

In addition to can and bottle recycling, cardboard and batteries are also being recycled at the Mill Fire Incident.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Mediations is pleased to announce that two new board members were elected to the board of directors at its annual meeting on June 28.

The new board members are Elisabeth Fitzgerald of Lakeport and Reiko Hittori of Clearlake.

Fitzgerald and Hattori will fill the seats of two retiring board members, Catherine Elias Jermany of Lakeport and Glenn Trumble of Nice.

Catherine Elias Jermany has provided leadership and mediation services for Lake County Mediations since its inception in 1992 and has acted as the organization’s vice president for a number of years.

Glenn Trumble has been a board member and treasurer for Lake County Mediations for more than five years.

The Lake County Mediations officers for the 2012-13 fiscal year also were elected.

They include President Mary Heare Amodio of Lakeport; Vice President Gladys Rosehill of Clearlake Oaks; Secretary Linda Garcia-Eckert of Lakeport; and Treasurer Reiko Hattori of Clearlake.

Lake County Mediations is a nonprofit organization formed in 1992 by a coalition of community members and members of the legal community.

The mission of the organization is to advance community-based dispute resolution in Lake County.

The organization provides dispute resolution services to a culturally diverse public through its community mediation program, election monitoring services for tribal governments and mutual benefit corporations, and basic and advanced mediation skills training.

It also provides trained mediators to the weekly Lake Superior Court unlawful detainer (eviction) and small claims court calendars.

For more information visit www.LakeCountyMediations.org or call 707-263-6800 to discuss if Lake County Mediations’ services would be useful to you to settle a dispute or to get on our mailing list for future training programs.