LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Soroptimist International of Clear Lake has launched a “gift card” program to support Valley fire survivors.

Gift cards valuing up to $250 will be made available to help fire survivors, many who have lost everything.

Some of the cards are generic debit cards that can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted and some are business-specific.

The gift card program was the inspiration of Founder Region Governor-Elect Pam Parker. Within a day or so, Governor Bobbie Enderlin, in full support of the idea, sent out a request for donations to all the clubs in the region and the gift cards began coming in.

“We have already received gift cards valuing $1900 from members in Soroptimist clubs throughout Northern California and as the word spreads, we expect that number to grow,” said Soroptimist International of Clear Lake President Olga Martin Steele. “In addition our own club voted to donate $1000 to the project. Who knows how many donations we will ultimately receive, but we are eager to get the cards in the hands of those most in need and grateful to the other clubs for their generosity.”

Steele added, “We’ve all been touched by the devastating nature of the Valley fire. Some of our own members were evacuated and we all know someone dear who lost everything. Many of our members have been volunteering since the first day of the fire. Now, with the help of Founder Region clubs, we can reach out with a little financial support to those in our community who have lost so much.”

Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is part of an international organization that works to improve the lives of women and girls locally and internationally. Anyone interested in becoming a member is welcome.

For more information about the gift card project or to find out more about our mission and programs, contact Steele at 707-998-1302 or send a private message on the Soroptimist International of Clear Lake Facebook page.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – 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.
 
LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20
 
– Guardrail repairs from Blue Lakes Road to Saratoga Springs Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs from Rosemont Drive to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 to 9 a.m., or from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Lake County Special Districts has been granted a Caltrans encroachment permit to perform utility work from Paradise Cove to Mitchell Road. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29
 
– Valley fire cleanup from the Lake/Napa County line to Hidden Valley will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs from Main Street in Kelseyville to the junction of Routes 29/175 near Lakeport will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., or from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
Highway 175

– Caltrans will be performing drainage work from the county line to five miles east on Route 175 beginning Monday, Oct. 5. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Fire recovery work from the beginning of Route 175 in Middletown to Loch Lomond will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY
 
Highway 1

– Highway repairs just 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.
 
Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from the junction of Routes 1/20 to just east of Road 350 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
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.
 
– Pavement repairs from 0.3 miles north of Nelson Road to the Route 101/253 interchange will continue. Work hours are 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon through 3 p.m. Friday morning. In two-lane sections, one-way traffic control will be in effect, and motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. In four-lane sections, traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction, and motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. At the Robinson Overcrossing and El Roble Overcrossing interchanges, ramps will be intermittently closed, and motorists should seek an alternate route. No consecutive offramps or onramps will be closed at the same time.
 
– Highway construction from Sherwood Road to Reynolds Highway will continue. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening through Friday evening. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Geotechnical drilling from Reynolds Highway to Scow Road will begin Monday, Oct. 12. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the Arnold Bridge Overhead will continue through Friday, Oct. 9. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Pavement repairs from Harwood Road to Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the Jitney Gulch Bridge, Rock Creek Bridge, Dora Creek Bridge, and the Bridges Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the South Fork Eel River Bridge will begin Friday, Oct. 9. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the South Fork Eel River Bridge will begin Friday, Oct. 9. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
Highway 128

– Culvert rehabilitation at various locations from the junction of Routes1/128 and the Mendocino/Sonoma County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. LC#C128AA
 
– Sink repairs from Shearing Creek to Maple Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

A retaining wall project on Route 128 in Sonoma County will impact Mendocino County traffic. Full nighttime road closures from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be in effect Monday evening through Friday morning. Motorists will need to seek an alternate route such as Route 253 to U.S. Highway 101.

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).

UKIAH, Calif. – On Sunday, Oct. 11, the Vans Valley Fire Relief Tour will be at the Freedom Skateboard Shop in Ukiah to offer support for fire victims.

The event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at the shop, located at 435 N. State St.

Vans co-founder Paul Van Doren and the Vans RV will be on  hand to serve food and donate apparel to the fire victims.

Please bring proof of residency for affected areas.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County Special Districts and the UC Lake County Master Gardeners will host two free public workshops about planting drought tolerant plants and landscapes.

Fall is the best time to plant drought tolerant plants as they will develop a strong root base during the winter and will not require much water by summer.

The workshops are identical and located at the Lake County County Museum, 255 N. Main St. in Lakeport on Friday, Oct. 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and again on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Everyone attending the workshops will receive a free moisture meter (while supply lasts) to help determine the moisture of soil below the surface and know exactly when it is time to water.

In addition, drawings will be held for free starter plants of lavender or rosemary. All attendees also receive resources from the UC Lake County Master Gardeners including a helpline that can be used when questions arise.

Special Districts received a mini-grant from the Department of Water Resources and the California Urban Water Conservation Council to fund these workshops.

These workshops are open to the public and they invite anyone interested in drought tolerant landscapes to attend.

The Department of Water Resources is offering a rebate program for removing turf and replacing it with low water using landscapes for single family residences to support the state’s drought response.

Up to $2 per square foot of removed and replaced turf will be rebated up to a total of $2,000 per household.

Information about rebates can be found at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 844-642-7410.

An aesthetically pleasing, low water use, low maintenance garden that is in harmony with local climate and resources, and provides habitat for native pollinators and beneficial insect species is attainable. These gardens reduce water use, and the need for pest and disease control.

Participants will learn what and when to plant, how and when to irrigate, sources for suitable plants, seeds, soil, compost and more.

If you have questions, call Jan Coppinger at Special Districts 707-263-0119.

CLEAR LAKE RIVIERA, Calif. –The Clear Lake Riviera Community Association is launching its inaugural “Be Safe, Clean Your Space Day” on Saturday, Oct. 17.

The association is encouraging residents to hold yard/garage sales and take action to create a defensible space around homes by cutting back brush, limbs and weeds.

Families holding yard sales will receive free advertising, signage and a spot on the map provided to yard sale customers.

Participants may have leftover items picked up by Hospice Thrift Store on the event day or may dispose of items in a community dumpster.

Individuals interested in having their yard sale identified on the map should contact the association office by Oct. 12.

Residents disposing of yard debris from their their properties will be provided with “brush bucks” valued at $10 and redeemable at Quackenbush, the landfill in Clearlake or with the association-sponsored chipping program.

The event will culminate in a free barbecue at the community center starting at 4 p.m.

The “Be Safe, Clean Your Space Day” was established as part of an effort to become a certified Firewise Community.

The Firewise Communities program sponsored by the National Fire Protection Agency teaches people how to reduce their vulnerability to the devastation of wildfires with an emphasis on neighborhoods working together to make it happen.

To have yard sales placed on the map, obtain brush bucks, learn more about the Oct. 17 event and how to become in the Firewise program, call the Clear Lake Riviera Community Association at 707-277-7281 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – This Saturday, Oct. 10, Pay it Forward Humboldt will conduct a toy giveaway in Middletown.

The giveaway will begin at 2 p.m. between Westamerica Bank, 21058 Calistoga Road, and Hardester's store next door.

Pay it Forward Humboldt has been collecting toys around Humboldt County in order to offer the toys to children impacted by the Valley fire.