NORTH COAST – 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 175

– AT&T of Santa Rosa has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from the Cobb Post Office to Anderson Springs Road on Friday, Jan. 24. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– AT&T of Santa Rosa has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from Anderson Springs Road to Bush Street beginning Monday, Jan. 27. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– 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.

– Guardrail repairs at various locations from Albion to Little River Airport Road will continue Tuesday, Jan. 28. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

– Replacement of a culvert with a bridge at Dunn Creek 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 – Shasta Construction of Redding.

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.

– Striping near from the South Ukiah Overhead will continue through Friday, Jan. 24. Work hours are 7 p.m. to noon, weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for tree trimming from 1.2 miles south of the junction of Routes 1/101 to just south of Confusion Hill through Friday, Jan. 24. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– AT&T of Santa Rosa has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work at the Mignon "Minnie" Stoddard Lilley Memorial Bridge and the Elizabeth Jane Rosewarne Memorial Bridge on Monday, Jan. 27. Work hours are 8 a.m. to noon. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 128

– Vegetation removal in preparation for culvert rehabilitation at various locations from Wendling Street to 0.7 mile east of Mountain House Road will begin Monday, Jan. 27. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Outlet Creek Bridge will begin Wednesday, January 29. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. LC#C162CA

Highway 175

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Russian River Bridge will begin Wednesday, Jan. 29. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays. One way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. LC#C175BA

Highway 253

– Willow Creek Water District of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs near Stipp Lane beginning Monday, Jan. 27. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

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).

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Chamber of Commerce is extending an invitation to the public to attend the casting call for the fifth annual Celebrity Lip Sync, to be held this spring.

The casting call will take place Thursday, Jan. 23, at 6 p.m. at Lakeside Family Fun Center, 872 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport.

The casting call is open to anyone who would like to be involved in this years’ production.

Whether you want to volunteer to be in an act, help backstage, in the actors tent, work on wardrobes/costumes, help in the lobby area or a myriad of areas, plan to attend this meeting. It won’t be a long meeting, but it will be fun.

Come see the songs that are on the list; the theme this year is “Anything Goes.”

If you have a song you would like to suggest and/or do, bring it along. Remember, in Lip Sync you are not actually singing. Most of the acts in Lip Sync require a lot of people which means backup dancers, etc.

Many of the event's actors are beginners, people who just want to get out and have fun. There are choreographers to help, costume ideas and suggestions from the Lip Sync Committee, and all sorts of help for anyone who wants to participate.

Lip Sync is a production of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and takes place on April 12 and 13 at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre.

For more information, contact the chamber at 707-263-5092.

California’s wild plants and animals need your help, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) makes it easy for you.

When you prepare your California individual income tax return, simply make a voluntary contribution on line 403 and/or line 410 of Form 540.

By donating any number of dollars you can support the Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Fund and/or the California Sea Otter Fund. What you donate this year may be deductible on next year’s tax return.

“The voluntary contributions Californians make at tax time are incredibly helpful in our efforts to save threatened and endangered species,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “These funds have provided critical support for many state-listed species, including the greater sandhill crane, desert tortoise, large-flowered fiddleneck, riparian brush rabbit, California condor, Owens pupfish and many more. These donations help us protect California’s exceptional biodiversity.”

More than 200 species of plants and 80 species of animals are listed by the state as rare, threatened or endangered.

Money raised through the tax check-off program helps pay for essential CDFW research and recovery efforts for these plants and animals, and critical efforts to restore and conserve their habitat.

For example, since 1983 the tax check-off fund for Rare and Endangered Species has raised more than $18 million and supported numerous projects, including intensive recovery efforts for California condors and the Owens pupfish.

The Condor Recovery Program oversees research on condors in captivity and in the wild. The program works to develop protocols for the captive breeding program, identify research needs, address threats to condors in the wild, and manage the captive and wild populations. It is because of this monumental effort that more than 100 condors are flying free in California today.

Support from California taxpayers has enabled wildlife biologists to achieve important recovery milestones to conserve vulnerable species. More information about how CDFW uses funds in the tax check-off program is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/taxcheck .

A second tax check-off fund was created in 2006 specifically to facilitate recovery of the California sea otter, which is listed as a Fully Protected Species under state law and threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.

According to the 2013 survey, there are fewer than 3,000 sea otters in California waters. This small population is vulnerable to oil spills, environmental pollution, predation by white sharks and other threats.

Donations to the California Sea Otter Fund support research by CDFW scientists, who have discovered that a substantial proportion of sea otter mortality has been caused by diseases, parasites and toxins.

In the last decade, connections to many of the things that make sea otters sick and kill them in the ocean have been related to human activities on land.

The cumulative effects of various types of pollution are contributing to the premature deaths of otters that should live longer and produce more pups.

This fund consists entirely of voluntary contributions from taxpayers of the state of California. There are no other dedicated state funding sources available to continue this important work.

CDFW works with the California Coastal Conservancy, Friends of the Sea Otter, Defenders of Wildlife and others to promote the Sea Otter Fund.

Visit www.dfg.ca.gov/taxcheck and Facebook, www.facebook.com/SeaOtterFundCDFW .

If someone else prepares your state tax return, please tell him or her if you want to make a voluntary contribution to the California Sea Otter Fund on line 410 or the Rare and Endangered Species Protection Program on line 403.

If you use Turbo Tax, when you’re near the end of your tax return it should ask if you want to make a voluntary contribution to a special fund. Click “Yes” and go to lines 403 and 410.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In 2013 the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum held a picnic table raffle called “Quick Draw” to help raise funds for a set of tables to enhance Ely’s event space.

The beautiful table and bench set was made here in Lake County by the Konocti Conservation Camp CC No. 27.

The ticket sales started in July with the winning ticket, belonging to Lake County resident Chris Skarada, drawn at the Lake County Historical Society Thanksgiving Dinner.

Skarada has been involved professionally in the wine industry since her arrival in Lake County and has also volunteered for many worthwhile causes including the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, the Wine Alliance, the Winery Association, the Wine Auction, the Lake County Arts Council, Soper-Reese Community Theatre and the Road Scholar (formerly Elder Hostel) program.

Skarada has now joined the Lake County Historical Society and they are hoping she will become an Ely Stage Stop volunteer later this year.

Operated by the Lake County Historical Society, the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum is located at 9921 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville.

Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Visit www.elystagestop.com or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – More than 50 people gathered at the brand new Middletown Senior Center to enjoy lunch and listen to District 1 supervisor, Jim Comstock, present his annual “State of the County” address at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

This event marked the inauguration of an auspicious relationship between the Middletown Luncheon Club and the Middletown Senior Center.

The 85-year-old Middletown Luncheon Club moved its monthly lunches, that feature various speakers, to the senior center in an effort to serve more of the South Lake community while utilizing our beautiful new county building.

“The first lunch went very smoothly,” said Senior Center Executive Director Lori Tourville. “Of course, our kitchen and servers at the senior center are accustomed to serving large groups, so they were able to turn out a delicious, well-balanced meal for both our regular seniors and the luncheon club guests.”

Middletown Luncheon Coordinator Beth Rudiger agreed that the event was a success. “The Middletown Luncheon Club is thrilled with this new partnership and the opportunities it offers for both groups. We hope that all the citizens of Lake County will feel welcome to join us for lunch and enjoy the social network, information, and camaraderie provided through this venerable tradition.”

The club meets on the third Wednesday of each month (with the exception of the month of December) from noon to 1 p.m. at the Middletown Senior Center on Washington Street, one block off of Calistoga behind the new park. Each month features a different speaker.

The February luncheon will be on Feb. 19 and will feature Melissa Kinsel, the development director of Adventist Health in Clearlake. Kinsel will be enumerating the many valuable resources available to our community through Adventist Health.

As the seating for lunch is limited, reservations are required and may be made by joining the event posted on the Middletown Luncheon Club Facebook page, by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by leaving a message at Lake County Jazzercise, 707-260-2900.

You may also request to receive monthly notification by email of the next luncheon club date and speaker.

Lunch is $4 for ages 60 and better and $5 for all others. If you do not require lunch and just wish to hear the speaker, no reservation or fee is necessary.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Konocti Lioness held a gift basket fundraiser in December.

Two baskets were raffled off and the winning ticket was drawn on Dec. 21.

Debbie Johnson won the “It's all about girls” gift basket, with the “Kids basket” going to Kathie Folk.