The “Lake County Has Talent” contest is for all residents of Lake County, and students of all ages are especially encouraged to apply.

The application deadline is Friday, Oct. 16, and the nonrefundable application fee is $10.

An applicant may ask a sponsor for a $25, $50 or $100 sponsorship in lieu of the $10 application fee.

Lower Lake High School Auditorium is hosting the event at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

Prizes are: Grand prize, $150; first runner up, $100; second runner up, $75.

Admission costs $20 for a family, $10 per adults and $5 per student. Admission to the Halloween carnival is free although there are ticket fees for individual carnival events.

Applications for the talent show/contest may be picked up at Lower Lake High School Attendance Office from Peggy or Clearlake City Hall front desk from Julie.

Proceeds go for the Lower Lake High School Music Program and TV PEG Channel 8.

Contact Barbara Christwitz at 707-995-0940 and/or www.talentcontest.wikispaces.com for more information as well as an on-line application blank.

The group hosts the Bob Reese Memorial Ride in May (a fundraiser for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation) and the Lake County Toy Run in December each year.

Prior to the December toy run Taylor's Tavern in Redwood Valley hosts a chicken barbecue in support of the Lake County Toy Run.

This year Taylor's is hosting the event on Oct. 10 with live music by Lake County Diamonds, 50-50 raffle and door prizes. There is an open invitation to all who are 21 years old and up. Funding from this event helps make the holidays a little nicer for approximately 900 Lake County children.

The group also volunteers for the adopt-a-highway program. Their area is between Park Way and the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff on Highway 29. The club's most recent collection included 13 bags of trash and $15 in recyclables (funds go to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation).

They will use any excuse for a ride – milkshakes at St. Helena; Eureka for lunch or to the coast to cool off; whitewater rafting in Oregon and the American River in California. Larry and Suzanne Schneider rode the USA-Four Corners Tour in 16 days.

For information about Clear Lake Road Riders or any of our events please contact president Lynn Hollenback (707-263-7101 or 707-245-4270) or call Hillside Honda (707-263-9000).

The Lake County Land Trust is a local 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to preserving valuable open space and natural habitats in Lake County.

The organization is celebrating 16 years of preserving land in Lake County.

This year’s dinner will be at the Clearlake Community/Senior Center in the City of Clearlake at 3245 Bowers Lane.

Tickets are just $50 per person and include a complete dinner and wine served at the table.

This year the Blue Wing Saloon and Cafe is catering the event. Wine is being generously donated by the winery members of the Lake County Winery Association, including Ceago Vinegarden, Tulip Hill, Wildhurst, Six Sigma, Steele Wine and the Kelseyville Wine Co.

Sponsors include The Livermore Family Ranch and the The Lake County Winegrape Commission.

Social hour is 6 p.m. and the popular Blue Collar Band will be entertaining during the social hour before dinner which is slated to be served at 7 p.m., followed by a short program and presentation of the Land Trust’s annual “Supporters of the Year” awards.

A great silent auction, featuring local art and many other interesting items and services is also planned.

For information about tickets, call the Lake County Land Trust at 707-262-0707 or Roberta Lyons at 707-994-2024, or simply send your payment to: Lake County Land Trust, POB 711, Lower Lake, CA 95457.

Tickets will either be mailed or can be picked up at the door.

For more information about the Lake County Land Trust and the upcoming dinner, go to www.lakecountylandtrust.org .

The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Clearlake City Hall main council room, 14050 Olympic Drive.

Tippett will share her many years of knowledge and also demonstrate the basics of canning tomatoes and making jam.

She has been in the food business for many years, and initially became interested in canning when she saw apples in a nearby orchard going to waste. So she picked up a well-known book, “The Joy of Cooking,” and taught herself how to can.

Fast forward to the present, Tippett is selling her canned goods to five boutiques in Lake County. She is a self-taught chef as well, owning two cafes in the past and is currently the chef at the Corkman’s Clipper Irish Pub in Clearlake.

Join Tippett and the co-op this Saturday and be inspired to can all those fruits and vegetables in your garden, so they, too, won’t go to waste.

For more information, contact Lori Patotzka at 707-994-1618.

Celebrating over one and one half years in existence, the Lake County Community Co-op envisions cultivating an evolving community by nurturing values of social, economic and environmental responsibility. The Co-op wishes to support our local farmers and producers and provide a forum for community activities. For more information or to become a member of the LCCC, follow the links at lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270.

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– A highway widening project from Government Street to Rancheria 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 20-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– A paving project just east of Walker Ridge 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 – Knife River Construction of Chico.

Highway 175

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from Snead Drive to the Putah Creek Bridge. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– North Gualala Water Co. has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a water main from Big Gulch Road to Glennen Drive. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– 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.

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

– Anthony Faga of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a road approach between 0.7 mile west of Old Lake County Road and Old Lake County Road. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 101

– Storm damage repair from 0.5 mile north of the Mendocino/Sonoma County line 1.6 miles south of East Side Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – North Bay Construction of Petaluma.

– A pavement repair project from the West Road Overcrossing to Moore Avenue will continue. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, from midnight Sunday to 3 p.m.

Friday. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Professional Concrete Services of Pleasant Hill.

– Roadway repair due to pavement deterioration and a slipout from 1.1 miles north of Reeves Canyon Road to Ridgewood Ranch Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of

travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – North Bay Construction of Petaluma.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Shell Road to Gregory Lane on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Work hours are 7 a.m. to noon. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane. Motorists may

experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Bridge repairs at the Rattlesnake Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Parsons Walls of Roseville.

– Paving near Hermitage Vista Point will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic

slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 128

– A culvert replacement project from 2.8 miles east of the junction of Route 1/128 to the Mendocino/ Sonoma County line will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control

will be in effect at one location at a time. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Coast Construction Inc. of San Rafael.

– 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 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic

control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Repair of a slipout near the Mendocino/Sonoma County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Fedco Construction of Santa Rosa.

Highway 162

– A highway reconstruction and realignment project 1.6 miles east of Rodeo Creek Bridge 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 – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 175

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming 0.3 mile east of Harrison to 0.2 mile east of Wooldridge. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic

control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 253

– Construction of a retaining wall about two miles west of the junction of Route 128/253 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 – Mendocino Construction Services Inc. of Willits.

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).

LAKE COUNTY – Spirit of the Season is holding registration for its Christmas food and gift distribution program.

Anyone who is in need of food for Christmas dinner and/or gifts for children and cannot provide such is urged to sign up.

All registration for Spirit of the Season will be held at the Catholic Charities office at 21257 Calistoga Street (between the car wash and the library) on Highway 29 in Middletown on the following days and times:

• Monday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.;

• Tuesday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.;

• Wednesday, Oct. 14, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.;

• Thursday, Oct. 15, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.;

• Friday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.;

Those registering will need to bring:

• Proof of residency in Hidden Valley Lake, Cobb or Middletown (areas include Anderson Springs and Jerusalem Grade). Current license or utility bill will suffice.

• Proof of income.

• Birth certificate copies for your child or children. Bring a list of three items for each child for their Christmas wish (only if you have children living in your home and they are in high school or lower grades and you wish gifts for them at Christmas).

• These are the only dates for registration to Spirit of the Season 2009.

The Spirit of the Season distribution will be held on Saturday, Dec. 19, from St. Joseph’s Church from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Contact Hedy Montoya at 707-987-8139 for more information.