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

– AT&T has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility repairs near Irvine Avenue on Monday, April 20. 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 Manzanita Road to Rosemont Drive will begin Wednesday, April 22. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility repairs about 1.0 mile north of Albion beginning Thursday, April 23. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– 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 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.
 
– Highway construction from Casteel Lane to Reynolds Highway 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 128

– Beverly Burger has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit to construct a commercial road approach near Beebe Creek through Friday, April 17. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility repairs from 1.5 miles west of Mountain House Road to the Mendocino/Sonoma County line beginning Monday, April 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Caltrans advises 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.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Artist Anna Sabalone and Lake County Wine Studio are presenting a series of monthly art classes.

The next class will be held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 19.

During the two-and-a-half-hour-long class, Sabalone will demonstrate in pastel chalks and participants will then paint a scene of a lily pad pond.
 
All supplies will be provided along with a glass of wine for sipping for $40 each class.

Each class in the following months will focus specifically on a different art medium. The May 10th class will focus on acrylic paints.

Sabalone was born and raised in Lake County. She has been involved in the Lake County Arts Council since her teen years.

She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of Leeds, England for her undergraduate degree in English, history and anthropology.

She earned her teaching credential and Master's of Education from UCSB and has been teaching art, English, history and Academic Decathlon at Upper Lake High School since 2008.

For class schedule, reservations and additional information, contact Susan Feiler at 707-293-8752.
 
Lake County Wine Studio is both a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County.

Artists' shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.
 
The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake. It is open Mondays, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 7 p.m.; and Fridays, 1 to 8 p.m.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Great Depression was in full "bloom" as were the patches of Yerba Santa that dotted the hills of Lake County.

A young couple and their two children were living on great-grandpa's 160-acre homestead in High Valley. An old run down shack, broken down Model T Ford, no money, they lived off the land.

It was a hopeless time for a young couple with dreams but Dad used to say, “At least we have a roof over our heads.”

One day Dad came back from a rare trip to town all excited. He said that some darn fools from back East were paying good money for dried and sacked Yerba Santa leaves – they say it's an herb used  to make cough medicine.

Let's go to work! Morning after morning we tramped up the hill to the Yerba Santa patch picking and sacking leaves – leaves that gave hope when needed but not riches.

You're invited to learn more about medicinal herbs and amending soil seaweed as presented by certified herbalists Veronica Cruz and Trish Gallagher at a meeting of the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club on Tuesday April 21.

The garden club meets the third Tuesday of every month except – July and August – in the Scotts Valley Women's Club house at 2298 Hendricks Road in Lakeport.

For more information call Marva Brandt at 707-279-1625 or visit www.clttgc.org .

Clear lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club is a member of Mendo-Lake District, Pacific Region, California Garden Clubs Inc. and National Garden Clubs Inc.

Jerry Shaul is publicity chairman for the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The next general monthly meeting of Lucerne Friends for Locally Owned Water – or FLOW – will be held Saturday, April 18.

The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 3985 Country Club Drive.

Topics will include a discussion of the request for eminent domain and the Friday night town hall.

The public is encouraged to attend.

COBB, Calif. – How can you use your time to get your needs met, contribute to the community, make new friends, and learn about a cool “new” alternative to money?

Come find out at Jellystone Park, 14117 Bottle Rock Road, Cobb on Saturday April 18, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

Onsite babysitting may be available by a time bank member, with advance request.

Time banking communities have formed around the world. Members connect in practical ways – people helping people – and get necessary services by using time as a currency, exchanging time instead of cash. Every hour is valued the same, regardless of the service performed.

Time banking forms connections that strengthen a community and its local economy.

The Time Bank of Thrive Lake County began about four years ago, and has grown to 465 members with over 12,000 hours exchanged.

The Cobb event will feature fun and interactive activities designed to help you get started, learn more, and keep you going with time banking. The formal session will be followed by a yummy potluck and social. Everyone is welcome – from curious community resident to seasoned time banker.

The new Time Bank Special Events group will meet following the formal session. This group consists of vendors, musicians, technical support, event planners and site staff, i.e. anyone who would like to use or earn Time Bank credits through their participation at community events associated with the Time Bank.

At the meet up this month, the group is inviting Time Bank members new and old to assist with a rock concert planned for June 13 at Jellystone Park.

Time Bank membership is open to any Lake County resident, business or organization.

For more information about Time Bank of Thrive Lake County, visit http://timebanklakeco.org , email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 707-413-0220.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Calpine will host its annual Earth Day event on Saturday, May 2.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center, 15500 Central Park Road, Middletown.

During this free, fun-filled event, Calpine will host tours to The Geysers.

The focus of this celebration is the care and nurturing of the planet, people and animals.

Meet the baby animals from 4-H; have your picture taken in the photo van, buy plants for your garden through our schools and make art through the EcoArts tent.

In addition, learn about food with Lake County Co-Op and learn about the Cal Fresh program for those who are in need.

Keep pests away with advice from Vector Control, meet the forestry firefighters who keep us safe. Learn more about our environment through Redbud Audubon and the Sierra Club.

Adopt a pet through Animal Control and find out about the Hero Project, which provides tools for better parenting. And there will be much more.

The 10 a.m. opening ceremonies will feature this year’s poster winners from Mrs. Kies’ third grade class of Kelseyville Elementary.

Enjoy poetry from Lake County Poet Laureates, and listen to great music by Teardrop Trailer and others throughout the day.

The Middletown Senior Center and the Lake County International Charter School will once again provide food and refreshments for sale.

Seats are limited for Geysers tours and reservations are strongly recommended. Please visit www.geysers.com or call 707-987-4270 to reserve your seat.