LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Community members are invited to join the Lake County 29ers Cribbage Club.

The group meets every Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – or later if there is a tournament – in the meeting room at the Lakeport McDonald's, 1400 Todd Road.

The next meeting is Monday, Sept. 10.

The Lake County 29ers Cribbage Club is affiliated with national and international clubs, including the American Cribbage Congress, and plans to develop a team to play in tournaments around the state.

For more information call Bob Burrows, 707-274-1519.

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday signed into law legislation authored by Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) that streamlines the process and reduces the cost of acquiring conservation easements under California’s Forest Legacy Program.

AB 2169 ensures these acquisitions are not subject to needless duplicative review.

“Gov. Brown recognized this legislation accomplishes his goal of streamlining governmental processes while protecting the public’s interest,” Chesbro said. “His signature on AB 2169 helps ensure we can continue to preserve critical ecosystem habitat and maintain employment for rural communities under the Forest Legacy Program.”

The Forest Legacy Program was created by legislation Chesbro authored in 2000 when he served in the State Senate. The program helps forest landowners protect environmentally important forestland threatened with conversion to non-forest uses, such as residential subdivisions or commercial development, through the purchase of conservation easements.

“Easements acquired through the Forest Legacy Program are a valuable conservation tool to preserve California's fish and wildlife resources while keeping timberlands available for harvest,” Chesbro said. “Not only do these privately owned forestlands create jobs, they also continue to generate tax revenue for the state.”

A problem arose last year when Cal Fire acquired a Forest Legacy conservation easement on Sonoma County’s Baxter Ranch. The purchase was forced to go through the State Public Works Board, which added $18,000 in costs to the project.

“When I authored the Forest Legacy legislation 12 years ago, it was not the intent to involve the Public Works Board in purchases,” Chesbro said.

AB 2169 expressly exempts Forest Legacy Program conservation easement purchases from the Public Works Board’s process, and clarifies that these projects should go through the standard California Wildlife Conservation Board process, “which is what the original legislation intended,” Chesbro said.

“The Wildlife Conservation Board’s expertise on forestry-related projects makes it uniquely qualified to oversee Forest Legacy Program purchases,” Chesbro added. “Forcing them to go through an additional process is duplicative and adds unnecessary costs to the program.”

"Sometimes little things make a big difference,” said Paul Mason of the Pacific Forest Trust.  “Clarifying that Forest Legacy projects are treated the same as other conservation easements will save money, eliminate delay, and make California more competitive in the national competition for securing federal funds for these projects."

AB 2169 takes effect Jan. 1.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Sons of Norway Vikings of Lake Lodge No. 6-166 will hold its Heritage and Culture Night at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19.

The group will meet at Galilee Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 8860 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville.

Dinner will consist of Danish meatballs, red potatoes, red cabbage and carrots at a cost of $7 per person.  

After dinner there will be a DVD to watch entitled “Denmark beyond Copenhagen.”

For more information call Vale Hanzel, 707-928-1060.

Visit the lodge’s Web site at www.vikingsoflakelodge.org/ .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Historic Reading Series continues at the Courthouse Museum on Saturday, Sept. 15.

The reading begins at 2 p.m. at the museum, 255 N. Main St., Lakeport.

Linda Guebert will read part two of “The Life and Death of a Quicksilver Mine” by Helen Rocca Goss.  

There is no admission charge and refreshments will be served.  

Other readings in this series will take place on Oct. 20 and Nov. 16.

For more information, please call the museum at 707-263-4555.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Electronic books are coming to the Lake County Library.

The new service, which began this week, will allow library cardholders to download e-books to their Kindles and other electronic readers at no charge through the library’s Web site, http://library.co.lake.ca.us .

The Lake County Library, in partnership with Sonoma and Mendocino County libraries, has contracted for the e-book service with Overdrive, the company that supplies the library’s downloadable audiobooks.

Patrons will find a selection of more than 1,000 titles in the Overdrive catalog.

To check out e-books, patrons with valid Lake County Library cards can sign up with Overdrive. The library’s Web site displays a link to Overdrive, where patrons can select and download e-books.

Books will remain on the e-reader device until the due date, at which time they will disappear.

Patrons may have five books checked out simultaneously and may request a maximum of five titles.

Patrons can learn more about the program and get assistance through Overdrive’s online tutorials and help desk.

Overdrive displays a list of compatible devices at www.overdrive.com/resources/drc .

For more information about the Lake County Library and its services, the phone number of main library in Lakeport is 707-263-8817.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.
    
LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Construction of a roundabout at the Route 20/Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road intersection will continue. Temporary all-way stop signs are in place. A shoulder closure will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road is closed at Route 20; a detour is available. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work from Island Drive to Shady Lane through Friday, Sept. 7. 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 53

– Pavement repairs from Wilson Street to 40th Avenue will continue.  Nighttime work hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday Morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect, and motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Daytime work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect, and motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

– Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– AT&T of Fort Bragg has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work near Creamery Lane through Friday, Sept. 7. 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.

– 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. Contractor – Golden State Bridge Inc. of Martinez.

– The Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold the Winesong Food and Wine Tasting 2012 from Tregoning Drive to just south of Simpson Lane on Saturday, Sept. 8. Event hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 20

– A pavement repair project from 1.4 miles west of Little Lake Road to Three Chop Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– A pavement repair project from 0.8 mile west of the James Creek Bridge to Three Chop Road will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

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.

– Crosswalk improvements at Gregory Lane will continue. Work hours are 5 a.m. to noon, weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Cal Electro Inc. of Redding.

– Shoulder widening and installation of rumble strips from just north of Ryan Creek Road (south) to just south of Big Trails Drive will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Legg, Inc. of Livermore.

Highway 128

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from 0.6 mile east of Route 1 to 0.6 mile west of Navarro Ridge Road will continue through Tuesday, Sept. 11. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.  Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from Philo Greenwood Road to Indian Creek. 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.

– Paving from Con Creek to Robinson Creek will continue through Friday, Sept. 7. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– Pavement repairs from 0.4 mile east of the Robinson Creek Bridge to the Mendocino/Sonoma County line will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – OC Jones and Sons of Berkeley.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance just west of the Dry Creek Bridge beginning Wednesday, Sept. 12. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Beckstoffer Vineyards of Talmage has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to pave a commercial driveway through Friday, Sept. 7. 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 253

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Singley Cattlepass to Stipp Lane will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

– Culvert repairs at various locations from Cattle Pass to 0.5 mile west of Slide Creek will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Team Ghilotti of Petaluma.

– Slipout repairs about 5.6 miles west of Butler Ranch 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. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

Highway 271

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from 1.1 miles north of the southern junction of Routes 101/271 to the Humboldt/Mendocino County line will begin Monday, Sept. 10. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

Work on all these projects is weather permitting and subject to change. 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.

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).