LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 2013 Lake County Fair will have some large exhibits this year, but none will be bigger than the display of G gauge backyard model trains from Movie-Mix Productions of Santa Clara.

The garden scale train layout will cover nearly two thousand square feet, and will feature garden scale trains running on more than half a mile of track. Replicas of the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, Burlington Northern, and Denver and Rio Grande railroads will run continuously during the fair.

Various scale model towns, mountains, and people are included in the display. The display is sponsored by Featherbed Railroad of Nice.

G scale is a scale for model railways, and because of its size and durability, G scale is often used outdoors. Such installations are known as garden railways.

G scale was introduced by Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk under their brand name of LGB, meant for indoor/outdoor use.

Lehman was, until its recent bankruptcy, the major European manufacturer of G scale trains, and considered the one that really made garden railways popular. Their trains are sold as the Lehmann Gross Bahn (or “Lehmann Big Train”).

Lehman Patentwerk was founded in 1881 and started producing LGB in 1968. It produced models of European and US originals, of steam, diesel and electric prototypes as well as a large range of coaches, trucks and accessories.

The term “scale” is a misnomer, as the actual scale of the trains that run on it vary from system to system and country to country.

G scale is more correctly called “G Gauge”, as the gauge of the track, 45 mm or about 1.75 inches, is the one consistency.

Movie-Mix Productions has been running this display for more than five years and some of the trains that will be running are more than 20 years old.

In addition to the G gauge trains, the Lake County Model Railroad Club will have it's permanent train display open to the public.

The Lake County Model Railroad mostly features HO gauge trains, and is open each day of the fair.

Regular admission prices for the 2013 Lake County Fair are unchanged from 2011. Prices are $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a senior over age 60, and $6 for children ages 6 through 11. Children under 6 years old are admitted free every day.

Visit www.lakecountyfair.com for more information.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around the North Coast during the coming week.

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

Caltrans will suspend work on Northern California highways from Friday, Aug. 30, through Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of the Labor Day holiday weekend.

However, due to unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary for Caltrans Maintenance forces to respond to emergency situations.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 29

– Paving from Coyote Creek to 1.1 miles south of the junction of Routes 29/53 will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor ‐ Windsor Fuel Co. of Pittsburg.

Highway 53

– Mediacom of Clearlake Oaks has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs near Kugelman Street on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor ‐ Teichert Construction of Davis.

Highway 175

– AT&T of Santa Rosa has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from Anderson Springs Road to Bush Street. 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.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Guardrail repairs at various locations from Manchester to the Navarro River Bridge 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.

– 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.

– Bridge painting at the Salmon Creek Bridge and the Albion River 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 15-minute delays. Contractor ‐ Jeffco Painting and Coating of Vallejo.

– 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. 2. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A full road closure will be in effect. A detour will be available.

– Replacement of a culvert with a bridge at Dunn Creek 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 ‐ Shasta Construction of Redding.

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.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs near Henry Station Road on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Work hours are noon to 4 p.m. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Highway construction from 1.0 mile south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge to the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Daytime work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Tuesday evening through Saturday Morning. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor ‐ DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin.

– Highway construction from 0.8 to 1.5 miles south of the North Willits Railroad Crossing will continue. Daytime work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Tuesday evening through Saturday Morning. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor ‐ DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin.

– Pavement repairs from Cummins Road to the junction of Routes 1/101 will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect, and motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Ramps at Cummins Road will be closed, and motorists will be advised to use an alternate route.

Highway 162

– Covelo Round Valley Lions Club has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold the 25th Annual Round Valley Rodeo & Parade between the Town Creek Bridge and Howard Street on Saturday, Aug. 31, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A full road closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to use an alternate route.

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).

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County 29ers Cribbage Club will be starting their 2013-14 tournament season on Monday, Sept. 9, at 5:15 p.m.

They meet at Cheese’s Main Street Pizza, 145 N. Main St., Lakeport, in the upstairs meeting room.

New players – no matter the skill level, from first time, beginner to hardcore – can join this grass roots club any time during the season.

The club meets every Monday night. Come by to visit this club with character.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Linda Guebert, local educator and author, will read from her memoir, “The Hardest Thing I’ll Ever Do,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St.

Guebert lost her husband Ken Kysely in a car crash nine months after their wedding.

Her book lays bare the sorrow and pain that she felt as she learned to live as a widow and to find hope and joy again.

Guebert says that she hopes that sharing her experience will help other people with their own losses.

This free program is open to the public.

For more information, contact Amy Patton, coordinator of adult programs, at 707-263-8817, Extension 17105, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Thursday, Aug. 22, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake held its first-ever Cirque du SoLake charity benefit at the Twin Pine Casino & Hotel Event Center in Middletown.

An initial count reveals that this charity benefit successfully raised over $54,000.

With the limited space and tickets sold for $85, the attendance exceeded the hospital’s expectations.

“It was inspiring to see such an amazing turnout for our inaugural event,” said Melissa Kinsel, officer of development. “The community’s support for our hospital was beyond our expectations.”

Guests sported their cocktail attire as they enjoyed music, entertainment and hors d’oeuvres as well as bidding in both live and silent auctions.

A professional auctioneer offered a variety of live auction lots from Disneyland tickets to helicopter rides, which led to the auction alone netting over $20,000.

The ringmaster of the Picklewater Circus introduced clowns, jugglers, stilt walkers and acrobats as the entertainment for the evening.

As the various performances kept the crowd interested, President and CEO Terry Newmyer was kept on his toes as jugglers tossed knives to each other, inches from his face.

Cirque du SoLake would like to share a special thank you to Lionakis, Mendo Lake Credit Union, Brassfield Estate Winery and REACH Air Medical Services for all of their support in successfully putting on this event.

Also, with gratitude, they thank Beth Havrilla with Lake Event Design for dedicating her time and effort to making this event a huge success.

“It is easy to work with a team so motivated to truly making a difference in the community. This is why I love working with St. Helena Hospital,” she shared late Thursday evening.

The renovations for the new emergency department, which began in October 2011, included expanding and upgrading the original cramped space to provide faster, better care for patients, and adding new physicians and patient care staff.

Improvements include the addition of 4,100 square feet, private patient care rooms, new entrances and waiting areas, cutting-edge equipment, and support systems upgrades.

Adventist Health, St. Helena Hospital’s parent organization, provided initial funds for the project, and challenged the hospital to fund the remainder from within the community.

The community responded with generosity, with gifts large and small from hundreds of donors providing the needed funds.

“It has been a blessing to receive such support from the community at a time when we are so close to the finish line,” Kinsel said.

LUCERNE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Thursday, Sept. 5.

The group meets at the First Lutheran Church, 3863 Country Club Drive across from the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Social worker Jenny Johnson is the facilitator.

The group is sponsored by Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (1-800-834-1636) and the Social Day Programs in Lake County.

For more information call Jenny Johnson at 707-350-3030 or Caroline Denny at 707-263-9481.

Respite is provided by the centers at no charge.