FORT BRAGG, Calif. – California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Mendocino Unit is alerting the public that the Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) Fort Bragg office is closing for renovations on Friday, Feb. 20.

The building, located at 802 N. Main St. in Fort Bragg, was completed in 1978 and has not undergone extensive renovations since construction.

The building closure is necessary to address maintenance issues, infrastructure deficiencies, upgrade mechanical and electrical systems, and replace flooring.

The office is expected to reopen to the public at 8 a.m. Monday, March 16, but please be aware both the closure dates and reopening dates are flexible and may be changed as necessary due to the nature of the work being done and availability of materials/staff.

Questions regarding the status of roads, recreation, etc., on JDSF during the closure may be answered by accessing the forest Web site at  www.fire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_stateforests_jackson.php or by calling Mendocino Unit headquarters at Howard Forest at 707-459-7414. 

Multiple uses of JDSF for a wide variety of activities that benefit the public, the economy and natural resources are what our demonstration forests are all about.

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

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Scott Valley Road to Bachelor Valley Road through Friday, Feb. 6. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Ogden Road to Bruner Drive through Friday, Feb. 6. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY
 
Highway 1
 
– Emergency roadway repairs from 1.5 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road to just north of Albion will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-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.
 
– Emergency slide debris removal from 0.5 to 0.3 miles south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge 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.
 
– Highway construction from Casteel Lane to the north Willits railroad crossing 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 10-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs near Piercy will continue. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. 

Caltrans wishes to advise 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. (Bold type denotes a change from the previous bulletin.)

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Yacht  Club is hosting its annual two-day Dungeness crab feast on Saturday, Feb. 21, and Sunday, Feb. 22.

The dinner will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. both days.

In addition to crab, the dinner will include pasta, red sauce, salad, sourdough bread and butter. Sodas and water will be available.

The price is the same as last year, $35 per person.

The nonprofit club has supported the North Shore Dive Team and the children's boating fund, though this year – with the high price of crab – there may not be much to split around.

The club is located by the Fifth Street launch ramp.

For more information or tickets, please call Mike at 707-987-9441 or Ed at 707-263-1871.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Are you living in unaffordable, unsafe, unhealthy or overcrowded housing? 

If so, join the Family Selection Committee Open House at Habitat for Humanity Lake County to learn how you can qualify for a partnership in the homeownership program.

The open house will be at the Habitat for Humanity office at 16285 A Main St. in Lower Lake from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21.

Bring your questions, pick up an application and learn how you too can be a homeowner.

For questions and directions, please call 707-994-1100.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The next HazMobile event will be held Friday, Feb. 20, and Saturday, Feb. 21, at Highlands Senior Service/Community Center, 3245 Bowers Ave., Clearlake.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge.

Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear feet), and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.

Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

HazMobile services are provided to residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this taxpayer-funded service and first make an appointment.

Business appointments can be made by calling the Mendocino County Solid Waste Authority, the contracted agency that provides this service in Lake County at 707-468-9786.

Free recycling options for residents and businesses:

Recycled paint is available to both residents and businesses at Lake County Waste Solutions on first-come, first-served basis in five gallon containers. Colors include tan, brown, gray and pink.

Used cooking oil can be dropped-off by businesses and residents, which will be recycled into BioDiesel by Yokayo BioFuels. Drop-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the Northshore Fire Protection District station at 6257 Seventh Ave. in Lucerne.

Used motor oil can be dropped-off by residents for recycling year round at a number of sites in the county. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for locations.

Electronics (E-waste) can be dropped-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and monthly at the Goodwill E-Waste collection held in Lakeport.

Lake County Waste Solutions
230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport
888-718-4888 or 707-234-6400
Monday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
www.candswaste.com

South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center
16015 Davis Street, Clearlake
Open daily 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
707-994-8614
www.southlakerefuse.com

The HazMobile program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County residents.

For more information about recycling, reusing, and reducing, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or call the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Service Director Caroline Chavez announced that the Eastlake Landfill and the Lakeport Public Services office will be closed Monday, Feb. 16, in observance of the Presidents Day holiday.

Residential pickup will be on the regularly scheduled day.

Both facilities will reopen on Tuesday, Feb. 17.                     

Normal operating hours at the landfill are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The Public Services office is normally open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding this subject or any of the solid waste issues in Lake County, please call 707-262-1618.