LAKEPORT, Calif. – With the November election only two and a half months away, the Lake County Democrat Central Committee has announced the opening of the Lake County Democrat Campaign Headquarters in Lakeport.  

The office, located at 390 N. Main St., will be open Monday through Saturday every week beginning on Sept. 3, until the general election on Nov. 4.

Office hours will be noon to 6 p.m.

Lake County voters can pick up literature, sign and other resources regarding Democrat candidates at the office.  

In addition, residents will be able to register to vote, including new registrations, address changes, name changes, etc.

To kick off the “election season,” the public is invited to an open house at the new office on Sept. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Several local, statewide and congressional candidates will be in attendance to meet their constituency and answer any questions. There will be refreshments and beverages.

In addition, volunteers are being recruited to help in the new office. Even a few hours would be appreciated.  

If you would like to spend some time helping in the office either for a few hour or on a regular schedule, please call 707-533-4885 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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 Long Valley Road to the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 29

– Pavement repairs from the Lucerne Undercrossing to the junction of Route 20/29 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY
 
Highway 1

– Culvert rehabilitation north of Collins Viaduct will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– 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.
 
– Guardrail installation and paving along the Navarro Grade will continue through Friday, Aug. 22. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Geocon Consultants has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit to perform core drilling from Madrone Avenue to the railroad crossing beginning Wednesday, Aug. 27. A shoulder closure will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Camp 1 Tenmile Road to the Hardy Creek Bridge beginning Monday, Aug. 25. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 20

– Culvert rehabilitation from near Two Rock Lookout to Willits Cemetery Road will continue. Work hours are 6 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.
 
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Reeves Canyon Road to Ridgewood Ranch Road beginning Tuesday, Aug. 26. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Northern Aggregates, Inc. of Willits has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit to add turn lanes just south of Black Bart Drive through Friday, Aug. 22. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Caltrans will be performing routine maintenance from the northern Long Valley Creek Bridge to the Ten Mile Creek Bridge beginning Tuesday, Aug. 26. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 128

– Culvert rehabilitation at various locations from the Ornbaun Creek Bridge to Big Oak Drive 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.
 
Highway 162

– Caltrans will be performing routine maintenance from Horsea Creek to Poonkiny Road beginning Monday, August 25. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
Highway 253

– Culvert rehabilitation at various locations from 2.9 miles south of Butler Ranch to Butler Ranch will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 5 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).

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Climate change and global warming have been hot topics for some time. On Saturday, Aug. 23, at 8 p.m. popular Taylor Observatory lecturer and amateur astronomer Stephen Kane presents the scientific side of global warming.

The talk begins at 8 p.m. at the observatory, 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville.

Kane notes that data continue to confirm the models stating that human activity is accelerating a radical change in global climate.  

In his opinion, there is no stopping the mountains of ice that have begun to fall into the sea in the far north and south latitudes. These events and others have huge implications for the future of our existence on earth.  

As always, Kane’s emphasis falls on the scientific data behind global warming phenomena.

The Window to the Universe event includes the lecture, a planetarium show and telescopic viewing of the striking Lake County night sky.  

This month's Windows event nearly coincides with the new moon, so sky viewing should be especially good.

Admission for the talk, planetarium show and night sky viewing through the Taylor telescope is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 12 and under and free to observatory members.  

For further information visit www.taylorobservatory.org or call 707-262-4121.  

Friends of Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium organizes the Taylor lecture series.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – In September Lakeport Library will host a series of five free book presentations by local authors.

The books cover Lake County history, foster children, adventures in the woods of Maine, mindfulness and a mystery novel set in a small town.

On Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 5:30 p.m. JoAnn Saccato will speak on “Mindfulness” and present her book “Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice.” Saccato is a mindfulness teacher and consultant, Reiki Master/Teacher, author, and inspirational speaker.

On Saturday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m. Linda Guebert, a local author and educator, will present her debut mystery novel “The First Lie,” a story of dark family secrets in a small town. The First Lie is a change of genre from Guebert’s previous book, a memoir called “The Hardest Thing I’ll Ever Do: A Journey of Sorrow, Healing and Help.”

On Saturday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. Robin C. Harris will present his book “Journeys Out Of Darkness: Adventures in Foster Care.” Harris has been a teacher, a school counselor and a school principal. With his wife he has operated residential schools and summer camps for children with learning and behavior challenges. Harris distills all of that experience into what he calls a user-friendly book with universal appeal.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m. Dick Immel will present his book “Damn Californians: A Family’s Great Escape,” which tells the story of his family’s escape from a drug-infested environment to the Maine woods. The Immels confronted and survived fires, quicksand, explosions, wild animals, severe winters and hostile neighbors in what they had hoped would be a benign new home.

On Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. Marcia Bishop Sanderson, a writer with Lake County roots, will talk about her book “Images of America: Lake County.” She will bring albums containing the hundreds of photos of people, places and events in Lake County that she and collaborator Maureen Garcia Carpenter collected for the book. Sanderson and Carpenter packed thousands of years of Lake County history into this compact book for the general reader.

The authors and guests will have time to talk following the presentations.

The Friends of the Lake County Library will provide light refreshments.

The Lake County Library is planning more events to promote and encourage local authors and will announce more details about those plans in a few months.

In the past, many local authors have donated their books to the Lake County Library. The library greatly appreciates these donations which make it possible to grow the collection of works written locally.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

For more information contact Amy Patton at the library. The library is located at 1425 N. High St. and the phone number is 707-263-8817.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Do you want to lead younger members, initiate community service projects, discover your passions and make lifelong friends?

From food science to ceramics, from building rockets to raising sheep, 4-H has something for you.

Enrollment for the new year is now under way.

Youth ages 5 to 19 and adult volunteers are welcome.

Learn more about the 4-H program by contacting the Lake County 4-H office at 707-263-6838.

UKIAH, Calif. – The North Coast Opportunities Governing Board's annual meeting of the corporation will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 27.

The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. at the North Coast Opportunities office, 413 N. State St. in Ukiah.
                    
Timed items are as follows:

• 3 p.m.: Call to order, roll call, introductions, approval of agenda.
• 3:05 p.m.: Public input.
• 3:10 p.m.: Consent agenda.
• 3:15 p.m.: Approval of Draft 2014/2015 NCO Budget.
• 3:25 p.m.: July financials.
• 3:30 p.m.: Board member agreement.
• 3:35 p.m.: Audit report.
• 3:40 p.m.: Executive director report.
• 3:50 p.m.: Gardens project update.
• 4:05 p.m.: Brief reports and announcements.
• 4:10 p.m.: Parking lot (presentation of topics for consideration/agenda for future meeting).
• 4:15 p.m.: Adjourn to garden tours.

For information, or if you need disability modification or accommodation in order to participate in this meeting, please contact the NCO executive secretary 48 hours before the meeting at 707-462-3200, Extension 201.