CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday, March 24, the Clear Lake Associated Students from Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College hosted its inaugural Easter egg hunt.

More than 40 young children took part in the festivities, including children of students attending college classes as well as preschoolers from the campus Child Development Center.

They were eager to pick up as many of the 500 eggs spread across the main campus lawn as their baskets could hold.

After the egg hunt and a healthy dose of chocolate and candy, the children were able to take part in three separate crafts.

In one area, the children could dye Easter eggs. Another table contained Easter-related drawings for the children to color. The last activity encouraged the students to paste cotton balls on paper to create a bunny rabbit face.

The children and parents together greatly enjoyed the event as it was a great success in offering a community activity for the youth on Lake County Campus

“This was our first Easter Egg Hunt event, and it will not be our last,” said Rebecca Guerrero, chair of the event committee.

The Associated Students organization is grateful for the community support of the event.

Walmart donated many of the materials used for the craft tables as well the candy and chocolate found in the Easter eggs.

The children loved the hands-on activities that were available and all went home with smiles on their faces.

WILLOWS, Calif. – Starting Friday, April 1, personal use firewood permits will be available for purchase from the Mendocino National Forest.

Permits are $5 per cord of wood, with a minimum purchase of four cords for $20.

The permits are good through Dec. 31, 2016.

The wood does not have to be cut at the same time. All firewood removed must be dead and down. It is illegal to remove firewood from the National Forest without a valid permit.

Permits are available in person or by mail order from one of the Forest offices listed below. Mail order forms are available online at www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .

If a person is unable to cut the wood themselves, they can obtain a third party authorization when they purchase their permit that will allow someone else to cut or gather the wood.

All firewood permit sales are final, with no refunds. Permittees will receive tags and a map of the forest.

Permit holders should be aware that federal and state quarantines to prevent the spread of sudden oak death (SOD) are in effect for Lake and Mendocino Counties.

Any firewood cut in these counties can only be transported into other SOD quarantine counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma.
 
Firewood permits can be purchased from the following offices:

Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s Office/Grindstone Ranger District Office
825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, CA 95988
530-934-3316
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
 
Stonyford Work Center
5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Road, Stonyford, CA, 95979
530-963-3128
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1- 4:30 p.m.

Covelo Ranger Station
78150 Covelo Road, Covelo, CA 95428
707-983-6118
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m. 1-4:30 p.m.
 
Upper Lake Ranger Station
10025 Elk Mountain Road, Upper Lake, CA 95485
707-275-2361
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-4:30 p.m.

Gathering firewood is important to many individuals and families surrounding the Mendocino National Forest. Following are some tips for a safer experience.

· Plan your trip – check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes for spring and fall through winter cutting, water, emergency food, and the appropriate gear for the season when you are gathering firewood. Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains! Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.
· Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources. If there are puddles in the road, mud flipping off the tires or you can see your ruts in the rearview mirror, consider pulling over and taking a hike to look for wood, or turning around and finding a different area to cut your firewood.
· As we enter fire season, be aware of fire restrictions or closure orders that may be in place restricting where you can go. Make sure you have a spark arrester on chainsaws and any other mechanical equipment being used.
· Make sure you are cutting firewood on the Mendocino National Forest and not from other federal, state or private lands.
 
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .

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 repairs from Rosemont Drive to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Coleman Construction of Upper Lake has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for spill cleanup near Butler Street beginning Thursday, March 31. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Rocky fire repairs from Gravel Plant Road to the Lake/Colusa County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Valley fire recovery work 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.

Highway 175
 
– Valley fire recovery work from the junction of Routes 29/175 in Middletown to Loch Lomond 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 30-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Bridge painting at the Navarro River Bridge 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.

– 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.

Highway 101
 
– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work near Gregory Lane on Monday, March 28. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 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 7 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 will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 271

– Storm damage repairs near Piercy will continue through Tuesday, March 29. A full road closure will be in effect 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days per week. Motorists should seek an alternate route.

Highway 222

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work near East Side Road on Thursday, March 31. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The First Assembly of God Church of Clearlake will hold its annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 26.

Festivities start at 10 a.m. at Austin Park, 14077 Lakeshore Drive.

Call the church at 707-994-3122 for more information.

CALISTOGA, Calif. – The Clear Lake/Kelseyville combined high school swim team continued their winning streak on a bright and sunny day in Calistoga on March 17.

“The Calistoga High School team is in building mode and are small but full of heart,” said Clear Lake/Kelseyville swim team head Coach Agustin Merodio. “We enjoy swimming at their incredible pool complex and experience quite a bit of ‘pool envy’ whenever we compete against them.”

Merodio mixed up the races a bit to give the swimmers some experience outside their comfort zones. 

Three swimmers competed in the 500 Free race for the first time – Emma Larson, Catherine Braider and Tasia Jardstrom – and Larson took first place honors. 

Also finishing in first for the girls was Lauren Rudnick in the 50 Free and 100 Butterfly, Larson in the 200 Individual Medley, Kaylie Williams in the 200 Free, Shannon Fronsman in the 100 Breaststroke and Nikki Hanson in the 100 Backstroke. 

The girls relay team of Hanson, Larson, Rudnick and Williams continued their winning streak by placing first in the 200 Free Relay – breaking the team record by 1 second.

Relay teams also finishing first for the girls were Braider, Fronsman, Hallie Holmes and Rainey Vanoven in the 400 Free Relay and Fronsman, Hanson, Rudnick and Williams in the 200 Medley Relay.

The boys team continued their winning streak by finishing first in every race.

Max Madrzyk finished first in the 50 Free and 100 Free, Charlie Adams in the 200 Individual Medley and 100 Backstroke, Nick Dobusch in the 200 Free and 500 Free, and Owen Lawler in the 100 Butterfly and 100 Breaststroke. 

A solid relay team made of us Alberto Sturr, Adams, Madrzyk and Dobusch finished first in both the 200 Medley and 400 Free Relays.

The swim team will have a bye this week and will resume competing after spring break with a meet against Tech High in Rohnert Park on April 7.

The team wants to remind you to come out and support them at Family Bingo Night on April 23rd at the Lakeport Senior Center.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the team is hoping to see everyone come out for this fun event.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Astronomy fans are invited to visit the Taylor Observatory for an open house that will featuring planetarium shows and telescope viewing, plus informal talks by Friends of Taylor staff members.  

The “Ask an Astronomer” open house will take place from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the observatory, located at 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville.

There is no charge for the evening, but donations would be appreciated.

Possible discussion topics from 6:30 to 8 p.m. could include how to choose and buy a telescope or binoculars, help with your telescope and astrophotography. General astronomy questions will be welcomed.

At 8 p.m. there will be a planetarium show and/or viewing of a BBC documentary on the New Horizon Spacecraft’s visit to Pluto last year.

Telescope viewing and discussion will take place from 8 to 10 p.m.

For more information about the observatory visit www.taylorobservatory.org or www.friendsoftaylor.org or call Bill Haddon, president of Friends of Taylor Observatory at 415-209-3084.