KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Taylor Observatory's monthly “Window to the Universe” program will take place Saturday, May 23.

The program will be held from 7:15 to 10:30 p.m.

The cost is $5 per person.

This month's topic is “Pluto - The New Horizons Space Probe.”

Pluto is in the news, and Taylor docent Ed Giannelli is uniquely qualified to discuss Pluto, having met its discoverer, Clyde Tombaugh.

Giannelli will relate fascinating facts about Pluto and its five moons plus details of the impending July 14 rendezvous by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft.

Close-up photos of Pluto are streaming back to Earth already. Did you know Pluto was named by an 11-year old girl and that the letters “PL” were important in the naming of this fascinating “former planet”?

Under clear skies on Saturday visitors will catch spectacular views of Saturn and Jupiter in the Taylor’s telescopes.

Taylor Observatory is located at 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville.

For more information call 415-209-3084.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The North Coast Opportunities Governing Board will meet on Thursday, May 28.

The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. at the North Coast Opportunities office, 850 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.
                   
Timed items are as follows:

3 p.m.: Call to order, roll call, introductions, approval of agenda.
3:05 p.m.: Public input.
3:10 p.m.: Consent agenda.
3:15 p.m.: PPC Update.
3:25 p.m.: April financials.
3:30 p.m.: Final update on the Human Race.
3:35 p.m.: Policies regarding sick leave and temporary employees.
3:45 p.m.: Executive director's report.
3:55 p.m.: Community Action Plan report.
4:15 p.m.: Executive director's evaluation report.
4:35 p.m.: Review board committee assignments and policies.
4:50 p.m.: Brief reports and announcements.
4:55 p.m.: Parking lot (presentation of topics for consideration/agenda for future meeting).
5 p.m.: Adjourn to closed session (if necessary).

For information, or if you need disability modification or accommodation in order to participate in this meeting, please contact the NCO executive secretary 48 hours before the meeting at 707-462-3200, Extension 201.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) is hosting an event on Sunday, May 24, to celebrate his 25th year in elected office.

Thompson was elected to the California State Senate in 1990 and to Congress in 1998.

The anniversary event will take place at 6 p.m. at Hall Wines, 401 St. Helena Highway in St. Helena.

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo will be mistress of ceremonies, with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and other elected officials and community members in attendance.

A portion of the proceeds from the festivities will be donated to the charitable organizations in the five counties that comprise our Fifth Congressional District.

For more information contact Mary Jane Bowker at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-226-8989.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Retiring Lake County Museum Curator Linda Lake was honored by the Friends of the Lake County Courthouse Museum and the Lake County Historical Society at a special event on Thursday, May 21.

Lake is scheduled to retire the first week of June after working for the county museums for 18 years.

She began as a volunteer at the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum for Jane Weaver.

Lake shared with the many attendees, “After volunteering at the museum I was dancing at Konocti when a fellow dancer said, 'You're the Museum Lady.'"

Voris Brumfield is the president of the Lake County Historical Society.

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 Manzanita Road to 0.3 mile east of Catholic Church Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility repairs near Gladys Street on Tuesday, May 26. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 29

– Lower Lake Community Action Group has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for the Lower Lake Parade and Barbeque near the junction of Routes 29/53 on Sunday, May 24, from 11 a.m. to noon. Turns onto Morgan Valley Road will be restricted.

– Pavement repairs from Main Street in Kelseyville to the Manning Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 53

– Lower Lake Community Action Group has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for the Lower Lake Daze Parade near the junction of Routes 29/53 on Sunday, May 24, from 11 a.m. to noon. Turns onto Morgan Valley Road will be restricted.

Highway 175

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance near Arroyo Vista Road on Tuesday, May 26. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for tree trimming from Mill Creek Drive to Abalone Point Access Road beginning Tuesday, May 26. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 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. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs from the Outlet Creek Bridge to Ryan Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs at the Moss Cove and Irvine Lodge Rest Areas will continue. The rest areas will be closed from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays, and may also be closed overnight. 

– Bridge rehabilitation at the South Fork Eel River Bridge (Humboldt/Mendocino County line) will begin Tuesday, May 26. A shoulder closure will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.
 
Highway 162

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for tree trimming from 3.1 miles north of Sand Bank Creek to Short Creek Road beginning Tuesday, May 26. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– R&M Backhoe Service has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit to move a wide load from 1.5 to 2.8 miles north of Buckman Drive on Tuesday, May 26. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to noon. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 271

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Big Dann CreekBridge and the Cedar Creek Bridge will begin Wednesday, May 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 5 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.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – At the July 13 meeting of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club, Sherrye Schwarz will give a presentation on irises.

The talk will include a hands-on presentation of dividing irises for replanting as well as a description of the components of irises and some of the different types or irises, such as the differences between bearded and nonbearded varieties.

There will be some divisions available for attendees to take home with them at the conclusion of the presentation

Meetings of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club are free and open to the public on the second Monday of each month.

They are held in the activities room of the administration building of the HVL Association, 18174 Hidden Valley Road.

A social gathering with refreshments begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by a business meeting and program at 10 a.m.

For further information, contact Cheryl Crawford at 707-987-8254 or e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .