MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A monthly community social will be presented on Monday, Dec. 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. by the Lake Family Resource Center at the Middletown Methodist Church in Middletown.

Located at 15833 Armstrong St., this free family activity is sponsored by the Lake Area Rotary Club and Lake County Rising.

Dinner and fun activities for children is planned. All are welcome.

Middletown High student Elijah Canchola will provide instrumental guitar music for the evening. It is hoped some pianists also may contribute their talents.

These socials have continued monthly since April of this year in Middletown, Cobb and Lower Lake.

Their purpose is to give community members a chance to relax together during the long term recovery effort to restore their neighborhoods after this last year’s Lake County fires.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Santa’s helpers at Savings Bank invite the community to help spread some holiday cheer by assisting local Christmas Efforts.

Tags are available at Savings Bank in Lakeport for the Lake Family Resource Center Christmas Wish Tree.

Stop by the branch at 290 S. Main St. to select a tag to help fulfill the wish lists of needy children in Lake Family Resource Center's domestic violence, sexual assault, differential response, teen parenting, nurturing parenting, Early Head Start and behavioral health programs.

Elsewhere in the bank's coverage area, Ukiah Valley Christmas Effort collection bins are available at Savings Bank on School Street and Airport Park Boulevard in Ukiah as well as the Hopland branch and Redwood Valley branch. Toys and nonperishable food items may be dropped off at any of these locations.

The Ukiah Valley Christmas Effort reports that the popular requests for the younger children this year include: baby dolls and Barbie dolls with accessories, Shopkins, Frozen, Monster High, Trolls, action figures, remote control vehicles, Legos, art supplies, books and sports balls.

Popular requests for the older children this year include: board games, art supplies, headphones, earbuds, books, cosmetics, jewelry, hair accessories and styling tools, remote control vehicles, and gift cards to local restaurants, stores and the movie theater.

The Savings Bank branch in Mendocino accepts nonperishable food donations for the Fort Bragg Food Bank all year long. During the Christmas season they also accept food and toy donations for the Mendocino Presbyterian Church Christmas Effort.

The Fort Bragg and Mendocino branch employees also partner with the Operation Christmas Angel program.

The local Social Services office provides the names, ages, genders and wish lists of the children on the Mendocino coast who are enrolled with Social Services. Stop by either location to pick an “Angel” and then return a gift for that child.

The employees at the Savings Bank Willits branch invite the community to stop by to select a tag for the 28th annual Kids Christmas Program which is sponsored by the Willits Wild Bunch and the Rotary Club of Willits. These gifts will be delivered to children in need by Santa and his helpers!

In Laytonville, the community is encouraged to stop by Savings Bank to drop off nonperishable food items and toys which will be distributed by the Laytonville Food Bank.

The president-elect recently announced his nomination of General James Mattis as secretary of defense in violation of federal law. 

The law prohibits retired military personnel from severing as the civilian head of the Defense Department for seven years following separation from the military. The general retired from duty in May of 2013.

The response from the Republican-controlled Congress was not to advise the president-elect to follow the law but rather to insert a change to that law in an appropriations bill.

This change is a special exemption that applies only to General Mattis – not to any other potential nominee that might be proposed for this position in the future.

The original prohibition was passed for a solid reason. The military of the United States of America, unlike many non-democratic countries, is under the control of our civilian government. That prohibition was intended to help protect that principle.

Is this the type of governance we can expect from the president-elect and the Republican Party?

Dennis A. Rollins lives in Lakeport, Calif.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Due to the wet weather, the “Warm for the Winter” clothing giveaway, originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10, has been postponed a week.

It has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and will be located indoors at the Clearlake Youth Center at 4570 Golf, Clearlake.

Hot cocoa and goodies will be served.

Clothing donations will be accepted through Dec. 17. They are still in need of children's coats, gloves and clothing, as well as sleeping bags, tents and tarps.

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

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from Sayre Avenue to Glenhaven Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. LC#C20CA

Highway 29
 
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance 1.6 miles south of Konocti Forestry Camp on Monday, Dec. 12. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Fish Rock Road beginning Thursday, Dec. 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Bridge deck repairs at the Brush Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20
 
– Pavement repairs from the North Calpella Overcrossing to Cold Creek Bridge #3 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.
 
Highway 101

– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 25 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Reeves Canyon Road to Black Bart Drive beginning Monday, Dec. 12. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Steele Lane on Tuesday, Dec. 13. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park 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.
 
– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near the Elizabeth Jane Rosewarne Memorial Bridge on Monday, Dec. 12. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to noon. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162
 
– Geotechnical studies near the Middle Fork Eel River Bridge will begin Tuesday, Dec. 13. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

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).

Jonathan W. R. Davies
May 29, 1963 – Nov. 20, 2016

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Dr. Jonathan W. R. Davies of Lakeport, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, at age 53.

He was the fourth child born to Clifford and Beryl Davies on May 29, 1963, on the island of Guernsey in the British Isles.

Jonathan came to Lake County in 2001 and opened his private practice in obstetrics and gynecology. 

He joined the staff at Sutter Lakeside Hospital where he currently served as director of Women's Care as well as serving on the Medical Executive Committee.

He also served in the past as chief of staff, as a member of the board of directors and was chosen as Physician of the Year.

Jonathan had a passion for medicine, for women's health and for bringing new life into this world. He loved nature and enjoyed many outdoor activities.

Jonathan is survived by his wife of 16 years, Lisa Davies; his older brothers, Stephan and Phillip Davies; older sister, Elisabeth Tegeler; children, Caitlin, Christopher, Jennifer, Alexis and Alyssa; step-children, Cameron, Shelby and Brooklyn; and step-grandson, Cabe. He is predeceased by his parents.

At Jonathan's request, there will be no services. A memorial fund has been established at Umpqua bank for his children.

Jonathan was an asset to our medical community and will be missed greatly by many.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) announced they will begin using the new Automated Email Notification Services to better serve and communicate with crime victims starting in December 2016.

The new Automated Email Notification Services will allow for a 90-day in advance email notification of release to crime victims whose offender is in CDCR custody.

The system also will be able to immediately email victims and notify them of an escape or death of an offender. With the addition of this new service, CDCR will discontinue sending notifications through the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) service effective Dec. 31, 2016.   

In an effort to streamline notification requests and offender updates, CDCR began providing more electronic tools and services to victims and their family members over the past year.

For instance, during this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, OVSRS unveiled the new e1707, Request for Victim Services web form, which gives victims and their family members the option of using online services from their smartphone or any computer.

This electronic service allows the victim to update their contact information and change requested services quickly and on their own time. Also, the CDCR Inmate ID Locator, http://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov allows victims and other members of the public to confirm an offender’s CDCR number and current prison location any time of the day.    

Currently, CDCR delivers more than 20,000 notifications every year to victims of CDCR offenders. CDCR has approximately 117,000 offenders in its 35 institutions and another 14,000 offenders in its out-of-state correctional facilities, community correctional facilities and conservation camps.    

If you or a family member is a victim of a crime, it is vital that you register for available services provided by CDCR.

Registering with the department will allow you access to a menu of services including notification of release, escape or death of an offender, collection of court ordered restitution, assistance with the parole hearing process and requests for special conditions of parole.

Also, if you have been a victim in the past of an offender that is currently in a CDCR prison or has been under the jurisdiction of CDCR in the past, OVSRS may have collected restitution on your behalf.

Contact CDCR toll free at 1-877-256-6877 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  

Crime victims can register for services online at https://e1707.cdcr.ca.gov/ .

UKIAH, Calif. – The Associated Students of Mendocino College and college staff joined efforts to provide a free holiday meal to students on Tuesday, Dec. 6, inside the Student Center.

The Associated Students supplied turkey, ham and mashed potatoes and college staff brought salads, rolls, vegetables and stuffing. 

The management group also provided pumpkin pies, whip cream, green beans and all of the paper products.

More than 150 students participated and were extremely appreciative of the free hot meal. 

Twenty lucky students also walked away with $25 gift cards generously provided by Schat’s Bakery and Café and the Mendocino College Foundation. 

“This is just another way we work together to support our students at Mendocino College. This event is so well attended each year and with everyone’s participation, it has become an annual event,” said Ulises Velasco, interim Dean of Student Services. 

For more information about Mendocino College, visit www.mendocino.edu .