LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – “Wings of Hope,” a family bereavement program under the Hospice Services of Lake County has received a monetary gift from the Konocti Art Society.

Jeannie Landon-Myers of the Konocti Art Society recently presented a check for $500 to Hospice Services of Lake County Executive Director Anja Koot.

The gift will be used to fund therapeutic art projects for children.

The money was earned by Konocti Art Society artists from decorated boxes they created and offered at this year's Kelseyville Pear Festival.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Mulligan's Bar and Grill in Hidden Valley Lake will host a Halloween dance party on Friday, Oct. 31.

The party will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the bar, 19210 Hartmann Road.

There will be no cover charge.

The Mark Weston Band will perform.

There also will be dinner and drink specials.

For more information call 707-987-3146.

With any number of spooky creatures wandering around Northern and Central California this week, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is helping its customers shield their energy bills from budget-sucking Vampire Appliances.

“Unlike their fanged cousins, Vampire Appliances suck away money from customers’ wallets day and night by using energy even when they appear to be turned off,” said Tim Fitzpatrick, PG&E’s chief communications officer.“

Every year, these budget-suckers account for about 10 percent of an average household's energy bill, according to the Association of Energy Services Professionals, and idle gadgets waste more than 100 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, reports the Environmental Protection Agency – costing consumers a terrifying $10 billion each year.

To help raise awareness of the threat posed by Vampire Appliances, PG&E is announcing its list of Top Ten Vampire Appliances for 2014, in order of their energy-sucking appetite:

1. Flat screen televisions
2. Home computers (laptops and desktops)
3. Video game consoles
4. Digital video recorders
5. Cable boxes
6. Cable modems
7. Laser printers
8. DVD players
9. Cell phone/tablet chargers
10. Small appliances – microwave/toaster oven/coffee maker

“While garlic and wooden stakes won’t kill this waste, we want to pass along our Top Five Anti-Vampire Appliance Tips that every household can use to save potentially hundreds of dollars every year,” Fitzpatrick said.

Among the top five tips PG&E is recommending that every household adopt are:

1. Unplug: Unplug appliances, electronics and chargers that aren’t in use or turn them off using an inexpensive power strip.

2. Buy smart: By spending as little as $20 for advanced power strips households can achieve energy savings of nearly 50 percent. See http://www.pgecurrents.com/2014/04/17/drive-a-stake-through-energy-vampires-with-advanced-power-strips/ .

3. Go green: The more energy efficient appliances aren’t simply good for the environment, they will help save you money.

4. Home energy checkup: Consider taking a home energy checkup. It will help you learn more about your energy usage so you can become an even smarter energy consumer. See http://www.pge.com/en/myhome/saveenergymoney/analyzer/index.page .

5. Auto-power down: Turn on an automatic power-down feature on your TV or game consoles and set the right predetermined inactivity level for your household.

For more budgeting tips, and other ways to save and conserve energy please visit www.pge.com/saveenergymoney .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – All branches of the Lake County Library system will be closed Nov. 11 to observe Veterans Day.

All branches of the Lake County Library system will be closed Nov. 27 to 28 to observe Thanksgiving.

Normal hours at all branches will resume on Nov. 29.

Call your local branch if you have any questions.

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The phone number is 707-263-8817.

Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake, is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon to 7 p.m. The phone number is 707-994-5115.

Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St., is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The phone number is 707-987-3674.

Upper Lake Library, 310 Second St., is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The phone number is 707-275-2049.

COBB, Calif. – The Village Pub on Cobb is having a Halloween costume party at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.

Dance to the local band Twice as Good.

There will be a  $100 prize for the best male and female costume.

A $5 cover will be charged.

The Village Pub is located at 21365 Highway 175, telephone 707-928-4500.

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 Le Trianon Resort to Blue Lake Motel on Monday, Nov. 3. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Renfro Drive to Highland Springs Road beginning Tuesday, Nov. 4. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 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 tree work from 0.7 mile south Iversen Road to 1.4 miles south of Elk Creek through Friday, Oct. 31. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Noyo River Bridge will continue through Friday, Oct.  31. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 20

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Alder Creek Bridge to the Navarro River Bridge on Friday, Oct. 31. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for tree work from 0.4 mile west of Wildwood Campgrounds to 1.4 miles east of Parlin Fork Camp Road. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Culvert rehabilitation at various locations from just west of Two Rock Lookout to Willits Cemetery Road will continue through Friday, Oct. 31. 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.
 
– Highway construction 1.0 mile south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge to the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. A long-term detour is in place with a 20 mile per hour advisory speed. Motorists are urged to drive with caution and will experience minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the Arnold Bridge Overhead will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., weekdays. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the Mignon "Minnie" Stoddard Lilley Memorial Bridge will begin Thursday, Nov. 6. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs from the Elizabeth Jane Rosewarne Memorial Bridge to Piercy will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.
 
Highway 128

– Pavement repairs from Philo School Road to Road 150B 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.
 
– Culvert rehabilitation at various locations from Mountain House Road to the Mendocino/Sonoma County line 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.
 
Highway 253

– Culvert rehabilitation at various locations from the Soda Creek Bridge 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).