Trees are an essential part of California’s climate and are vital to improving air quality and conserving water.

To help educate Californians on the value that trees provide to building successful, healthy cities and neighborhoods, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, and California ReLeaf are announcing the annual statewide Arbor Week poster contest for students in third, fourth and fifth grade.

Rules and details can be found at http://arborweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2016PosterContestRules3rd4th5thGrade.pdf .

In addition, this year Cal Fire and California ReLeaf are also holding a new video contest for students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade.

Rules and details for the video contest can be found at http://arborweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2016VideoContestRules6th7th8thGrade.pdf .

For each contest, students are asked to create original artwork or video based on the theme “Trees & Water: Sources of Life” (Árboles y Agua: Fuentes de Vida). Also new for 2016 are revitalized lesson plans that align with Common Core Standards.

Submissions are due to California ReLeaf by Feb. 12.

Winners will be featured at the State Fair, displayed on the California ReLeaf/Cal Fire Web sites, and awarded cash prizes provided by Cal Fire, the California Community Forests Foundation and California ReLeaf.
 
Cal Fire and California ReLeaf are partnering to encourage cities, nature groups, schools and youth organizations to celebrate California Arbor Week by planting trees in their communities.

California ReLeaf works statewide to promote alliances among community-based groups, individuals, industry, and government agencies working to protect the environment by planting and caring for trees and the state’s urban and community forests.
 
“Trees offer so many more benefits than what we see,” said Cal Fire Deputy Director Helge Eng. “Their importance to the environment, climate, economy and the overall well-being of humanity is critical. This is especially true during times of challenging drought conditions.”
 
The goals of Arbor Week include educating Californians about trees, encouraging tree planting, teaching elementary school children the environmental, social and economic benefits of trees, and protecting the state’s valuable natural resources. 
 
“Arbor Week is a celebration of the coming of spring, honoring the importance of trees for Californians,” said Cindy Blain, executive director of California ReLeaf. “As we face drought and other extreme weather events, trees play a vital role in making our cities and towns more climate resilient. Trees sequester carbon, cool the air to reduce urban heat island effect, and capture rain water to replenish our aquifers. Planting trees is an incredibly simple and effective way to offset the impacts of climate change. We must keep planting trees – especially as we deal with drought.”
 
Contest rules and the new educational materials can be downloaded at http://arborweek.org/for-educators/ .

The contest is sponsored by California ReLeaf, Cal Fire and the California Community Forests Foundation. 
 
California Arbor Week runs March 7 to 14 every year to mark famed horticulturist Luther Burbank’s birthday and to raise awareness of the benefits of trees in our communities.

In 2011, legislation was passed to define California Arbor Week in statute.

Visit www.arborweek.org for more information.

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

– Pavement repairs from Rosemont Drive to Oak Crest Avenue 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.

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work at Foothill Drive on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– 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 cleanup 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.

– Pavement repairs from Thomas Drive to Argonaut Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 175
 
– 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. 7 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.

– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work near Surfwood Estates Road through Monday, Jan. 11. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 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.

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).

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two free community workshops on post-disaster tax matters are being hosted in Middletown and Lakeport.

The first workshop will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Twin Pine Casino Event Center, 22223 Highway 29 in Middletown.

The second workshop is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

Lake County residents whose homes, rentals, businesses or property has been damaged or destroyed in the recent Rocky, Jerusalem and Valley fires, along with community leaders, Realtors, personal finance professionals and income tax professionals are encouraged to attend.

The workshops will feature guest speaker and disaster tax expert John Trapani, CPA.

For more than 20 years Trapani has assisted taxpayers who experience a catastrophic loss with resolving their tax and financial issues that arise out of these extraordinary situations.

Trapani developed a personal perspective on the process of recovering, from his first-hand catastrophic loss experiences in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Topics to be covered include:

– Income tax benefits and reporting responsibilities that can help and hurt people who experienced a disaster loss.
– Is there a loss or a gain?
– Tax year to claim a loss?
– Sell and buy or rebuild?
– Documenting and claiming insured and uninsured losses.
– Tax consequences of insurance settlements, SBA loans, FEMA grants, etc.
– Special rules for federally declared disasters.

The workshops are sponsored by John Trapani, CPA; United Policyholders; and Robertson & Associates, CPAs.

For more information, please RSVP to Robertson & Associates, CPAs at 707-263-9012 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport's Lakeport Housing and Business Loan Committee will convene for its next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

The committee will meet at 1 p.m. in the back conference room at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park st.

Agenda items include approval of the Jan. 8 meeting minutes; comments from staff, the consultant and committee members; and public input.

The committee's main item of business will be the continued review and approval of the York HOME housing loan subordination request.

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture has awarded $249,352 for three projects that enhance agricultural education and leadership opportunities for students, teachers and youth under the 2015 California Special Interest Plate (CalAgPlate) grant program.

Projects funded include farm tours at the California State Fair, classroom resource kits on crop and plant science provided by the Stanley W. Strew Education Fund, and support for California Future Farmers of America’s (FFA) leadership and development programs.

Each of these projects provides educational and leadership opportunities connected to the agricultural sector.

“Agricultural education helps to connect consumers to our farms and ranches and provides a greater appreciated for California’s agricultural diversity,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.

The CalAgPlate program is funded with proceeds generated through the sale of specialized, agriculture-themed license plates through the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Since 2012, more than 25,000 plates have been sold, renewed or transferred.

CalAgPlate project abstracts are available online at www.cdfa.ca.gov/calagplate .

Help to support agricultural education and the CalAgPlate program by purchasing a special interest license plate at your local DMV office or online today.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Bikram Yoga of Lake County will host a free healing clinic and community song circle on Sunday, Jan. 10.

The event will take place at the yoga studio, located at 11455 Clayton Creek Road in Lower Lake.

The healing clinic, which is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, will be held from noon to 3 p.m.

It will include massage, life coaching, Reiki session, healing touch, nutrition, holistic counseling, flower essence and relaxation.

Following from 3 to 5 p.m. will be the song swap and sing-along led by singer/songwriter and frequent visitor to Lake County, Roy Zimmerman.

There also will be potluck from 4 to 5 p.m. Please bring food to share.

For more information call the yoga studio at 707-994-7500.