SACRAMENTO – Legislation authored by Assemblymember Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) to strengthen the economic development powers of local governments passed the legislature with unanimous bipartisan support.

The bill enables cities and counties to create economic opportunities through the acquisition, sale or lease of properties and to boost rehabilitation of commercial buildings by offering loans to owners or tenants. 

“Ensuring the economic vitality of our local communities should be a top priority for our state, and I’m happy to work with Assemblymember Frazier to advance that cause,” said Dodd. “As a former county supervisor and business owner for over 25 years, I know that local businesses are essential to creating jobs and vibrant communities. This bill will help strengthen the economy in communities around the state.”

The bill, AB 806, is sponsored by the city of Fairfield and the League of California Cities to offer communities additional tools that can be used to rehabilitate deteriorated areas, attract and retain jobs, and improve local quality of life.

In 2012 redevelopment agencies in California were eliminated as the state coped with massive budget deficits.

Many of the tools previously used by redevelopment agencies were transferred to local governments to assist with economic development.

With this authority, counties and cities are able to enter into agreements that can help create job opportunities and promote affordable housing projects.

Dodd and Frazier’s legislation, Assembly Bill 806, will simplify the process by which local governments can assist with economic development. 

“I am pleased to be joint authoring this legislation with Assemblymember Dodd and look forward to our continued partnership in the future,” said Frazier.

“AB 806 clarifies that cities have the power to create and provide vital economic development opportunities in their communities,” said Fairfield Mayor Harry Price. “The city of Fairfield greatly appreciates Assemblymembers Dodd and Frazier for joint authoring the legislation and for their efforts to strengthen our local economy.”

The bill now heads to Gov. Jerry Brown. The governor has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the measure.

Assemblyman Bill Dodd represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo and Colusa counties. Visit his Web site at www.asm.ca.gov/dodd .

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Northshore Community Center will host its Open Mic Lucerne event from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17.

There is no charge for attending or performing.

Performers are on stage with house band FOGG starting the evening at 6 p.m. with classic, heavy metal rock and roll with original numbers and covers of your favorites. FOGG and other entertainers will wrap up the evening by 11 p.m. Assistance is available with amplification. 

Bands and individuals are already signing up for scheduled 20-minute set-up and performance slots. Past events have seen full venues, so sign up early. Call the center at 707-274-8779, text Peter at 707-295-5076 for your reserved time, or come and sign up beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your talent. Being in the audience is great fun and free too. Music, comedy, mime, readings, and any other activity that is family-oriented is appreciated.

Room also is available for dancing and relaxing.

A spaghetti feed also is offered with traditional and vegetarian full meals available for $5.

There also will be a 50/50 raffle (you need not be present to win), fresh-popped popcorn and ice-cold beverages.

Bring the whole family. All proceeds benefit Northshore Community Center, a not-for-profit serving the Northshore's families and senior populations with on-site lunches, Meals on Wheels, personal advocacy, activities, food pantry and other services.

For more information about events, call Northshore Community Center at 707-274-8779 or stop by at 3985 Country Club Drive, Lucerne.

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 marker replacement from 0.3 mile east of Mid-Lake Road to Government Street will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs at various locations from Manzanita Road to the southern junction of Route 53 will continue. One-way traffic control will also be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Great Lakes Environmental and Infrastructure has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for miscellaneous work near the Colusa County line. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 29
 
– Lower Lake High School has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for the Lower Lake High School Homecoming Parade near the junction of Routes 29/53 on Friday, Sept. 9, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Turns onto Morgan Valley Road will be restricted.

Highway 53
 
– Lower Lake High School has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for the Lower Lake High School Homecoming Parade near the junction of Routes 29/53 on Friday, Sept. 9, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Turns onto Morgan Valley Road will be restricted.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY
 
Highway 1

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance near Simpson Road beginning Monday, Sept. 12. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Highway repairs a quarter-mile north of Ocean Meadows Circle 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.
 
– Roadway reconstruction at Blue Slide Gulch will begin Monday, Sept. 12. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.

Highway 20
 
– Pavement marker replacement from the North Calpella Overcrossing to the Lake/Mendocino County line will begin Monday, Sept. 12. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Pavement sealing from the Cold Creek Bridge No. 5 to the Le Trianon Resort in Lake County will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 101
 
– Bridge deck repairs at the Comminsky Station Viaduct and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge will continue through Friday, Sept. 9. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. A northbound lane restriction will be in place. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Bridge deck repairs at the Robinson Overcrossing, Doolan Creek Bridge, Gobbi Street Overcrossing, and the North State Street Overcrossing will continue through Friday, Sept. 9. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Pavement marker replacement from the junction of Routes 20/101 near Calpella to Grider Road will begin Monday, September 12. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. LC#C101QC
 
– Rumble strip installation between Uva Drive and one half-mile south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Highway construction near the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Highway construction near the north Willits railroad crossing will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Rumble strip installation at various locations between Willits and Confusion Hill will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Geotechnical work from Reynolds Highway to Scow Road will continue through Friday, Sept. 9. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs from County Road 307 to Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-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.

Highway 128

– Drainage work from Haehl Street to just west of the Mendocino/Sonoma County line will begin Friday, Sept. 9. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Emergency pavement repairs from Mathews Road to about 1.1 miles west of the Lake/Mendocino County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 253

– Highway repairs from Cattle Pass to Butler Ranch 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.

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).

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Soroptimist International of Clear Lake will gather for its monthly luncheon business meeting on Thursday Sept. 8.

The group will meet at noon at Howard's Grotto, 14732 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

Everyone is welcome. Lunch costs $13 per person.

The agenda includes putting the finishing touches on the upcoming mystery dinner fundraiser “Sour Grapes of Wrath,” a report on the recent baby shower at The Nest and the Oct. 1 district meeting in Vallejo.

Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is part of Soroptimist International, which includes Soroptimist International of the Americas, Soroptimist International of Great Britain & Ireland, Soroptimist International of Europe and Soroptimist International of South West Pacific. It is a global volunteer movement working together to transform the lives of women and girls.

The network of around 80,000 club members in 132 countries and territories works at a local, national and international level to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women and girls.

Projects take place all over the world focusing on issues such as violence against women, safe sanitation, displacement, education, leadership – anything that effects the lives of women and girls.

To learn more about Soroptimist International of Clear Lake and the group's activities contact Membership Chair Wanda Harris 707-225-5800 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or President Olga Martin Steele at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 916-849-8170 (cell) or 707-998-1302 (home).

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Citizens Caring for Clearlake is hosting two free mattress and box spring collection events on Friday, Sept. 16, and Saturday, Sept. 17.

The collection events will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 16 and 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 17 at 14061 Lakeshore Drive, at the corner of Olympic and Lakeshore drives in Clearlake.

Mattresses and box springs will be accepted for free and recycled through the Mattress Recycling Council’s California Bye Bye Mattress Program.
 
Bye Bye Mattress is California’s mattress recycling program. Established by law and operated by the nonprofit Mattress Recycling Council, the program uses a recycling fee collected on each mattress and box spring sold in the state to make recycling easier in our communities.

Whether a city picks up your discarded mattress, a retailer takes it back with your new purchase, or you drop it off, the Bye Bye Mattress program diverts your old mattress from waste to recycling. Now, our landfills will be less crowded as old mattresses are recycled into new, useful products.
 
Mattresses must not be severely damaged, stained, ripped, twisted, soiled, wet or bed bug infested.

Only mattresses and box springs will be accepted – no other sleeping products like sleeping bags, pillows, cushions, bedding, air mattresses, water beds, futons or hideaway beds are taken as part of the program.
 
Each event is limited to accepting 150 units.

Please call Barbara Christwitz at 707-995-0940 to reserve spots for your mattress units.

For more information about the program, visit www.ByeByeMattress.com or call 1-855-700-9973 for more information or connect with them on Facebook or Twitter.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The newly remodeled Walmart store located at 15960 Dam Road in Clearlake will host a grand reopening celebration Friday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m.

The company said the project represents its reinvestment in the store, its customers and the community. 

The remodel includes an expanded deli, more bakery options and touch-screen self-check-out registers also have been added for an enhanced customer experience.

Customers can also expect a new and improved customer service center with Money Services and Walmart Pickup. Clearlake residents also can shop millions of items on Walmart.com, many of which can be shipped for free to any Walmart store through Walmart Pickup.

The store includes a pharmacy with a full range of products, immunizations and services. Walmart pharmacists are ready to assist customers with product and prescription questions. Clearlake residents can easily transfer prescriptions and order refills on the go with the Walmart mobile app.

Local associates will provide a special welcome to members of the Clearlake community with a grand reopening celebration. 

A brief ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Friday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m., followed by family activities and free BBQ in the parking lot.

As part of Walmart’s commitment to the Clearlake community, a check for $65,000 will be presented to the Redwood Empire Food Bank to support its Farm to Family School Pantry program which provides nutritious food to low-income families with children.

The grant will support the program’s launch in Lake County schools and will also help sustain eight existing sites in Sonoma County.

“Our Farm to Family School Pantry program has proven to be a vital nutritional resource for vulnerable children, allowing us to alleviate childhood hunger by providing essential nutrition to nourish their growing bodies and minds,” said David Goodman, REFB’s chief executive officer. “Thanks to the Walmart Foundation, we’ll be able to provide up to 25 pounds of food – including fresh produce, healthy staple foods and perishable/ non-perishable protein – to children at nine sites. Because of Walmart’s generosity, we will reach an average of 800 families, including 2,000 children at eight sites in Sonoma County. We’ll also be able to open one new site in Lake County which will serve approximately 100 families, including 250 children.”

Editor's note: Originally the company had referred to this as a “supercenter.” It has since issued a correction, as the Clearlake store is not a supercenter.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Women’s Civic Club will host its annual fall craft faire on Saturday, Nov. 5.

The event will be held beginning at 9 a.m. at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, 5340 Third St.

Twenty five talented artists will be gathered to share their handcrafted gifts and art wares with you just in time for Christmas shopping and holiday hostess gifts.

There will be a selected item from each artist given away every half hour. Maybe you will win a lovely handcrafted bar of soap made from the milk of goats raised by the Cole Creek 4H Club.

That’s just the beginning. The club will host a bake sale to end all bake sales, with coffee, fresh muffins and hot homemade soup available all day as well.

This is a great opportunity to get out with a friend, or three, to do a little shopping before the holiday madness strikes. With 25 vendors, you will need a little time to look around. Plan to make a day of it.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Chapter of the California Dressage Society will present the second annual “Dancing Horses: A Dressage Festival” on Saturday, Sept. 10.

The event will take place at the Highland Springs Equestrian Center at 8900 Wight Way in Kelseyville.

Doors open at 3 p.m., with the performances beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Admission is free.

The event will feature entertaining, talented horses and their riders performing dressage to music.

Delight in the many different breeds of horses as well as the adorable miniature horses showing off their driven dressage skills.

There will be wine tasting and barbecue for purchase to enjoy while watching the show, as well as a silent auction.

For more information call 415-350-1540.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The members of the Konocti Art Society have created many fine art pieces with the theme of “Faces”

They are currently on display at the WestAmerica Bank on Main Street in Kelseyville.
 
All art is original and has been done in several medias such as painting or sculpture.

The display will remain throughout September.

An opportunity drawing will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, during the 24th annual Kelseyville Pear Festival.

Tickets are on sale in the bank for $1 each or six for $5.
 
Proceeds will go to the Summer Youth Art Camp sponsored by the Lake County Arts Council in Lakeport.