Grant applications must be received by Monday, Dec. 22.

The program offers grants to local, state, and federal governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations for projects to mitigate environmental impacts caused by new or modified state transportation facilities.

Grants generally will be limited to $350,000 per project and are given in three categories:

• Highway Landscape and Urban Forestry: Projects designed to improve air quality through the planting of trees and other suitable plants.

• Resource Lands: Projects for the acquisition, restoration, or enhancement of watersheds, wildlife habitat, wetlands, forests or other significant natural areas.

• Roadside Recreation: Projects for the acquisition and/or development of roadside recreational opportunities.

The Resources Agency will evaluate proposals and in early Spring 2009 provide a list of recommended projects to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for funding consideration. It is anticipated that the CTC will give preliminary approval to projects to be funded in late Spring 2009. The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) administers approved grant agreements.

To access the EEM Program Guidelines and Application or learn more about project evaluation criteria, visit www.resources.ca.gov/eem/.

For more information about the EEM Program, visit www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/EEM/homepage.htm.

Hardcopies of the application are also available from the Resources Agency, 1416 Ninth St., Suite 1311, Sacramento, CA 95814 or by contacting EEM Program Coordinator Laurie Heller at 916-651-7593 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Applications for chipping, with instructions, can be obtained at local fire stations or from Bruce Anderson, 928-5232, coordinator for the Loch Lomond/Cobb area or James Ott, 987-9869, coordinator for Anderson Springs, Hidden Valley and Middletown areas. Information also can be found online at www.southlakefiresafecouncil.org.

When material to be chipped has been properly stacked, mail your completed application to Bruce Anderson (for the mountain areas) at P.O. Box 2, Cobb, CA 95426, or to James Ott at P.O. Box 942, Middletown, CA 95461 (for Anderson Springs, Hidden Valley and Middletown areas).

Applications must be received by Thursday, Nov. 20, so that chipping piles can be inspected before chipping begins.

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Habitat for Humanity's 2007 benefit dinner. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE – Saw Shop Gallery Bistro’s seventh annual benefit dinner for Habitat for Humanity Lake County will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

The event is the one of the main funding events for Habitat for Humanity.

The multi-course, sitdown dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Guests will be serenaded by the sweet piano music played by David Neft.

After dinner, two elegant handmade quilts will be auctioned to the highest bidders.

All funds received will go to support the construction of homes in our community for low wage earner families who need a safe and decent place to live.

All costs of the dinner are donated to Habitat for Humanity including the food, wine and the staff hours of the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro. This is truly a fun event!

Tickets are $100 each and table sponsorships are also available. Please call the Habitat office at 994-1100 for reservations.

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– A highway widening project from Polk Jones Cattlepass to Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 12 noon, weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– Mediacom of Clearlake Oaks has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility installation at Carson Street on Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 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 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 29

– A slide repair project from the Lupiyoma Creek Bridge to Bar X Ranch will begin Friday, Oct. 31. 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.

– Installation of a rockfall fence and planting from Hofacker Lane to 0.5 miles north of Hofacker Lane will occur Monday, Nov. 3, and Tuesday, Nov. 4. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – North Bay Construction of Petaluma.

Highway 175

– PG&E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs 0.2 miles west of Loch Lomond Road on Thursday, Nov. 6, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 281

– Caltrans will continue routine maintenance from Point Lakeview Road to the junction of Route 29/281. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Blunt Trauma, LLC of Gualala has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to construct a residential driveway 0.7 miles north of Pirates Drive beginning Monday, Nov. 3. 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 20

– A highway widening project from Old Willits Road to Gravel Pitt Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 101

– A pavement repair project from 0.1 miles north to 1.5 miles 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.

– A paving project from Center Street to the junction of Route 101/253 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 – Martin Brothers Construction of Sacramento.

– Roadway repair due to pavement deterioration from 3.6 miles south of Ridgewood Ranch Road to 1.9 miles 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.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the truck scales to Reynolds Highway beginning Monday, Nov. 3. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 128

– Caltrans will perform tree trimming from 1.0 mile east of the junction of Route 1/128 to 0.4 miles east of Flynn Creek Road beginning Monday, Nov. 3. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162

– A bridge widening project at Outlet Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

Highway 253

– A bridge widening project at Anderson Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

– A bridge widening project at Soda Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

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).

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Matican will be educating the members and guests on bee colony collapse disorder (BCCD). This mysterious and highly threatening phenomenon has surfaced in recent years affecting agricultural systems worldwide.

The gathering is at 14773 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake beginning at 10 a.m. and will conclude with Matican's presentation and questions from the audience.

For more information see the group's wikispace at http://lakecountycommunityco-op.wikispaces.com, or call Allen Markowski at 707-621-0057.

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Wiggins was a perfect seven for seven in voting for the Sierra Club’s targeted bills when they were considered on the floor of the Senate.

In a recent letter to the Senator, Sierra Club California Director Bill Magavern noted that she had voted to “protect California’s families from toxics in the products they use every day, to safeguard your home state against fire danger, and to give kids an opportunity to learn and play outside.

“You backed Senate Bills 974, 1113 and 1313, and Assembly Bills 1879, 2175, 2447, 2911 and 2989,” Magavern wrote, “casting strong, green votes that exemplify a genuine commitment to sustainability and environmental health.”

Wiggins introduced a number of environmental bills that were signed into law this year, though they were not included on the Sierra Club’s priority list.

Among them were SB 562, which provided $5.3 million for coastal salmon and fishery restoration projects to preserve and improve their habitat, and SB 1690, protecting the state’s crab fishery by creating an industry task force to help state legislators prevent fishery depletion like that which has occurred in the salmon industry.

She also introduced SB 1431 (also signed into law), to enable the state Department of Parks and Recreation to expand the use of conservation easements to protect open spaces and create buffer zones around pristine wildlife areas.

Wiggins represents California’s 2nd Senate District, which includes portions or all of six California counties: Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma.

Visit her Web site at http://dist02.casen.govoffice.com/.

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