NICE, Calif. – Operation Tango Mike will partner with the Sons of Italy for a delicious dinner, the Pasta Feast, on Saturday, June 14.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. for a no-host social hour, with dinner being served from 6 to 8 p.m.

Dinner will include pasta with a choice of authentic meat sauce or pesto, salad, garlic bread and dessert.

Music by the Southern Comfort Band will be played from 6 to 9 p.m.

The event takes place at the Sons of Italy Lodge, 2817 East Highway 20 in Nice.

There will be seating in the air-conditioned hall and outdoor seating available as well.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Sunday, June 1, Lake County's animal advocates worked together to provide the community with an additional option for neutering of the community pets.

The training in the new drug, Zeuteirn – for chemical castration of young dogs – was hosted by Wasson Memorial Animal Hospital in Lakeport.

Veterinarians from Wasson Memorial, Lake County Animal Care and Control, and the SPCA of Clear Lake all learned how to provide the service.

Lake County Animal Services provided support by paying for the cost of the drugs used that day, delivering lunch and by transporting dogs that received the services.

Organizers said it is exciting that these advocates for animals are all working together to provide better services and improve the lives of the animals in Lake County.

The group offered special thanks to Wasson Memorial for providing the space, the vets – especially the two shelter vets – who attended the training, and everyone who make this training possible.  

According to the organizers, the community's animals will all benefit because these vets came together to learn this new procedure.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – The American Red Cross is launching six free Spanish-language apps for disasters and home emergencies with simple lifesaving information that will help keep families safe.

“The free Red Cross Spanish-language apps make mobile devices a lifeline for emergency information for families,” said Kristie Fry, Regional Communications Officer, California Northwest Region. “The Red Cross wants as many people as possible to benefit from the crucial emergency information available via mobile apps.”

The six Spanish-language apps are the Red Cross First Aid, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, wildfire and flood apps.

The Red Cross First Aid App gives people instant access to expert advice for everyday emergencies.

The five Red Cross disaster preparedness apps give people local and real-time information for severe weather or disaster threats, and offer step-by-step instructions that let users know what to do before, during and after a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, wildfire and flood.

The Red Cross apps of special importance to people in Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties are first aid, wildfire, flood and earthquake.

The Red Cross apps have a feature that enables users to easily toggle between English and Spanish language on their app.  

Previously, users needed to set their entire phone language to either English or Spanish. The Red Cross, with its experience working with people during disasters, knows that people behave differently when under stress – such as a First Aid emergency or a weather emergency.

In these times, people want to consume important information in the language they are most comfortable with.

The Spanish toggle makes the life-saving information in the apps easier to get in emergency situations.

Each one of these Spanish-language apps are free and available for iPhones and Android devices in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

They can also be found at www.RedCross.org/SpanishApps (English) or www.RedCross.org/AppsenEspanol (Spanish).

All the apps offer pre-loaded content ensuring that Red Cross guidance is available anytime, anywhere – even if no Internet connection is available.

Another important feature in the disaster preparedness apps allows users to let family and friends quickly know they are safe with a customizable “I’m Safe” alert for Facebook, Twitter, email and text.

The apps also have interactive quizzes allow people to earn badges that they can share with friends on social networks.

The Red Cross created and released the six Spanish-language mobile at a time when smartphone use among Hispanics is surging.

A 2013 study by the Pew Research Center found that Latinos own smartphones and go online from a mobile device at similar – and sometimes higher – rates than other groups of Americans.

“With natural disasters, it’s vital that people can receive and share warnings, preparedness information and their own status immediately with their social networks, and that’s what these Red Cross apps do,” Fry said. “If people can take only one step to make their family better prepared for disasters, they should download these free Red Cross apps and help their loved ones download them too.”

These six free Spanish-language apps build on the Red Cross legacy of teaching life-saving skills to people across the country. Overall, the award-winning Red Cross apps have been downloaded more than 4.7 million times.

The Red Cross is an established leader in teaching people the skills they need to survive life’s emergencies, and wants people to be ready to respond to emergencies and spread emergency information on their social networks, anywhere, anytime – even if they don’t have formal training.

While apps can prepare people for disasters, it’s important to remember that downloading any of the Red Cross apps is not a substitute for training.

To learn more about Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED courses or to register, visit www.redcross.org/TakeAClass .

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 29

– AT&T of Fort Bragg has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from Hofacker Lane to Spruce Grove Road beginning Monday, June 16. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– 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.

– Sidewalk enhancements near the junction of Routes 1/20 will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for tree trimming from Ward Avenue to Hales Grove beginning Monday, June 16. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20

– Sidewalk enhancements from the junction of Routes 1/20 and Boatyard Drive will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Culvert rehabilitation at various locations from 0.9 mile west of the Broadus Creek Bridge to Willits Cemetery Road will begin Monday, June 16. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. 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.

– Ramp improvements from the junction of Routes 101/253 and North State Street will continue. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday morning. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel, and motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Intermittent ramp closures will be in effect at South State Street/Route 253 (Exit 546), Talmage Road/Route 222 (Exit 548A), Gobbi Street (Exit 548B), Perkins Street (Exit 549), and North State Street (Exit 551). No two consecutive ramps will be closed at a time. Motorists will be advised to seek an alternate route.

– Northern Aggregates Inc. of Willits has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit to add turn lanes just south of Black Bart Drive. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week.  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. Nighttime work hours are 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect to allow trucks to enter and exit the highway. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Highway construction from 0.8 to 1.5 miles south of the North Willits Railroad Crossing will continue. Nighttime work hours are 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect to allow trucks to enter and exit the highway. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Culvert rehabilitation just south of the North Willits Railroad Crossing will begin Monday, June 16. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit to move power lines just south of Ryan Creek Road beginning Monday, June 16. Work hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 128

– Vegetation removal in preparation for culvert rehabilitation at various locations from the Robinson Creek Bridge to the Mendocino/Sonoma County line will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Russian 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 five-minute delays.

Highway 253

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs 2.8 miles west of Butler Ranch on Tuesday, June 17. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-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).

LUCERNE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Thursday, June 19.

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The popular children’s Nature Education Program at the Lake County Land Trust’s Rodman Preserve will resume on Saturday, June 21, and be held on the third Saturday of each month through September.

The program is great fun for children ages 7 through 12, or younger if accompanied by a parent.

It is free and open to the public.

A highlight of this first program will be learning about predators and prey by dissecting owl pellets, a fun activity that children enjoy.

The owl pellets contain the remains of small animals, that have been eaten by owls, including bones and skulls.

This popular program is led by Elaine Mansell, a well-known local naturalist and educator.

Mansell is a retired teacher and former Junior Ranger program director at Clear Lake State Park.

Although the program offered at Rodman Preserve is aimed at children 7 to 12, all are welcome.

Mansell likes to “get kids out to look at stuff and learn about nature,” something she is passionate about.

Her programs focus on the many different habitats at the Rodman Preserve and she draws on her experience and knowledge of what children love and encourages them to become “Rodman Explorers.”

Reservations are encouraged, but not required.

Please call Elaine Mansell at 707-263-1637 or Roberta Lyons at 707-994-2024 if you would like more information or to make a reservation for your child.

The preserve is located at 6350 Westlake Road near Upper Lake.

Take the Nice-Lucerne Cut-off between Lakeport and Upper Lake. Turn east onto the Nice-Lucerne Cut-off, then left on to Westlake Road. The preserve entry is to the immediate right after turning on to Westlake Road.

For more information about the Lake County Land Trust, go to www.lakecountylandtrust.org .