It will be presented by Dr. Erin K. Espeland, USDA ARS, Northern Plains Agricultural Laboratory, Pest Management Research Unit of Sidney, Mont.

Evolution through natural selection is constantly occurring all around us. Historically people have thought of biological evolution as occurring along time lines of hundreds of thousands of years, but examples such as the accumulation of herbicide resistance in weed species have taught us to think about evolution on human time scales.

The intimacy with which plants respond to their environment, and how populations evolve as a result of this response, is a fascinating way to examine evolutionary processes over short periods of time. Plants tend to occur near other plants, either of the same species or of different species.

Interactions between plants have traditionally been thought of as competitive, with each plant preventing others’ access to water, nutrients, and light. However, it also turns out that plants can actually help one another survive. This positive interaction in survivorship is not only a force of natural selection, but it can also streamline the process of adaptation in a more general way.

Not all plant populations are equal in their ability to adapt, and plant populations have very different evolutionary challenges compared to animal populations.

In a conservation and restoration context, we see that many plant populations will need to undergo adaptive evolution in order to persist when faced with new pest invasions and with climate change.

Dr. Espeland's research at McLaughlin reserve helps us understand that some environmental factors are more important than others in driving evolution in plant populations, and these factors can affect both the direction and the rate of adaptation.

For more information call 707-995-9005, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit

http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/mcl/index.html .

UC Davis - McLaughlin Reserve is located at 26775 Morgan Valley Road, Lower Lake.

Main Street, between First and Second, will be subject to single-lane traffic control between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, and Wednesday, June 17, in order for crews to perform necessary repairs to a sewer main.

Twenty-minute maximum delays are expected during construction hours.

Motorists are requested to use alternative routes.

The Department of Public Works thanks the public in advance for their patience and understanding.

For more information, call the Department of Public Works at 707-263-2341.

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

– A highway widening project from Government Street to Rancheria 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

20-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– Caltrans will continue routine maintenance from Ogden Road to Island Drive. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate

10-minute delays.

– AT&T of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs 0.5 mile west of Gladys Street beginning Tuesday, June 16. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent

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

– A roadway realignment project from 1.4 miles east of the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge to 1.6 miles west of Walker Ridge 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 – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 29

– Bridge deck repairs at Kelseyville Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Contractor – DeBruin Construction, Incorporated, of Stockton.

Highway 175

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the junction of Route 29/175 near Kelseyville to Salmina resort beginning Tuesday, June 16. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for pole replacement near Road 4 beginning Thursday, June 18. 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

– Malan and Karen Sjolund of Manchester have been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a road approach near Creamery Lane beginning Monday, June 15. 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.

– 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.

– Helen O’Neal of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a driveway near Simpson Lane. Work hours are 7 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.

– The city of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for sidewalk and sewer upgrades from Walnut Street to Pine Avenue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Replacement of Ten Mile River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Golden State Bridge of Martinez.

– Baile Oakes of Westport has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to pave a road approach 1.5 miles north of Blue Slide Gulch. 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.

– Storm damage repair about nine miles north of Hardy 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 – Maggiora and Ghilotti Inc. of San Rafael.

Highway 101

– Storm damage repair from 0.6 mile to .8 mile north of Comminsky Station Road will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may

experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

– Bridge deck repairs at the Hopland Overhead Bridge will continue Wednesday, June 17. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – DeBruin Construction Inc. of Stockton.

– 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 0.5 mile south of 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.

– The city of Willits has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs from Evergreen Shopping Center to Shell Road through Friday, June 12. Work hours are 8 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.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Casteel Lane to Big Trails Drive beginning Monday, June 15. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect.

Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– A pavement repair project from the Big Trails Drive to the Arnold Overhead Bridge will begin Monday, June 15. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Windsor Fuel Co. of Pittsburg.

– A pavement repair project at the Long Valley Creek Bridge will begin Monday, June 15. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Windsor Fuel Co. of Pittsburg.

Highway 128

– Sierra Nevada World Music Festival of Ryde has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit to hold a festival from the Caltrans Maintenance Station to Hutsell Road beginning Thursday, June 18. A

shoulder closure will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– AT&T of Walnut Creek has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work from the Dry Creek Bridge to 1.6 miles east of Dry Creek Bridge beginning Friday, June 12. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from Sand Bank Creek to the Short Creek Bridge beginning Monday, June 15. 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.

Highway 175

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for pole replacement between Harrison Street and Wooldrige Ranch Road on Friday, June 12. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 271

– Kiwanis of the Redwoods of Piercy has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for the annual Redwood Run from Friday, June 12 through Monday, June 15. Route 271 will be restricted to local traffic only.

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 Waste Watchers site allows state employees and other Californians to go online and report any government waste they may be aware of, either anonymously or by name. The administration will monitor the site and investigate submissions.

“I am committed to making state government more accountable to the people of California,” said Schwarzenegger. “With this new Waste Watchers feature, I am asking those on the front lines of state government to report any waste they may see. The knowledge of Californians who work in and around state government is a critical component to ensuring that we are operating efficiently and people are getting the most for their tax dollars.”

The new Web site feature came from a reader’s suggestion during a Sacramento Bee editorial board last Friday. Any Californian can submit a report on the Waste Watchers site, but the Administration anticipates that state employees, in particular, will have government waste to report and new efficiency measures to recommend.

Earlier this month, the governor signed an executive order requiring all state contracts valued at $5,000 or more to be posted online by June 19, as well as both the internal and external audits of state departments and agencies, including information on operations, budget and programs, dating back to Jan. 1, 2008.

In April, Schwarzenegger launched the Web site to make publicly available the statement of economic interests, Form 700s and the travel expense claims for the governor’s office senior staff and deputies, agency secretaries, agency undersecretaries and department directors.

LAKE COUNTY – First 5 Lake County is pleased to announce the release of their request for applications (RFA) for the 2009-2010 mini grants.

The commission is seeking applications from qualified agencies and organizations interested in initiating or continuing a unique service or program to children 0-5 years of age and their families.

The application deadline is Wednesday, July 1.

If you are interested in applying for a mini grant, you may either pick up an application packet from the office – located at the Lake County One Stop, 55 First St., Suite 222 (second floor) in Lakeport – or request an electronic package by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

An applicant’s conference will be held on Wednesday, June 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the conference room right outside the First 5 offices. Anyone applying for funds, especially new applicants, is encouraged to attend this conference.

If you have any questions, or need additional information, please contact First 5 Lake County at 707-263-6169.

The public is invited to hear storyteller/author/entrepreneur Tedde McMillen of Hidden Valley Lake at the Middletown Luncheon Club on Wednesday, June 17, at noon at the Social Hall of the United Methodist Church on Armstrong Street in Middletown.

How McMillen’s daughter discovered an ancient beverage in India after a harrowing experience in China and how those experiences led them to starting the Oregon Chai company is an exciting and well-told story.

Samples of chai tea will be available to round out the lunch served by Oro Fino Rebekah Lodge. And there will be door prizes. Lunch is $5, payable at the door. Reservations are not required.

McMillen and her daughter started making chai tea in their kitchen, and in three years developed Oregon Chai into a million-dollar annual sales company. They sold the company less than a decade later for $75 million.

McMillen’s book, “Million Dollar Cup of Tea” is out on the market plus her workbook, “How to Take Your Food Product to Market.”

If you don’t know about the Middletown Luncheon Club (MLC), here is the perfect opportunity to tap into the 108-year continuum of community and fun.

MLC meets every third Wednesday of the month from January through November. A nonprofit organization is selected to provide lunch, and there is a different program each time to keep things lively and informative.

For more info on the MLC, contact Helen Whitney 707-928-9812.