LAKEPORT, Calif. – All branches of the Lake County Library system will be closed Sept. 5 to observe Labor Day.

Normal hours at all branches will resume on Sept. 8. Call your local branch if you have any questions.

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is normally 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 normally 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 normally open Tuesday to 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 normally open Tuesday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The phone number is 707-275-2049.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

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

– Installation of a roundabout at the junction of Routes 20/29 will continue through Friday, Aug. 28. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Pavement repairs from Rosemont Drive to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Lake County Special Districts has been granted a Caltrans encroachment permit to perform utility work from Paradise Cove to Mitchell Road. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans encroachment permit to perform utility work near West Lakeview Drive on Friday, Aug. 28. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 29

– Pavement repairs from Main Street in Kelseyville to the junction of Routes 29/175 near Lakeport will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Installation of a roundabout at the junction of Routes 20/29 will continue through Friday, Aug. 28. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 175
 
– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans encroachment permit to perform utility work about 1.0 mile west of Lakeport beginning Thursday, Sept. 3. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-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.

– 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.
 
– Drainage repairs at various locations from Hardy Creek to the South Fork Eel River Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. 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.

– Pavement repairs from 0.3 miles north of Nelson Road to the Robinson Creek Bridge will continue. In two-lane sections, one-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekdays, and motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. In four-lane sections, traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays, and motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. At the Robinson Overcrossing and El Roble Overcrossing interchanges, ramps will be intermittently closed from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays, and motorists should seek an alternate route. No consecutive offramps or onramps will be closed at the same time.

– Mitigation work from the North Willits Railroad Crossing to the entrance of Georgia Pacific will continue. Intermittent full highway closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 128
 
– Culvert rehabilitation at various locations from Paul M. Dimmick Park to the Mendocino/Sonoma County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Roadway repairs from the Shearing Creek Bridge to the Maple Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. 

– A retaining wall project on Route 128 in Sonoma County will impact Mendocino County traffic. Full nighttime road closures from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be in effect Monday evening through Friday morning. Motorists will need to seek an alternate route such as Route 253 to U.S. Highway 101.

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Service’s Director Caroline Chavez announced facilities closures for the upcoming Labor Day holiday.

Chavez said the Eastlake Landfill in Clearlake, Lake County Waste Solutions at 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport and the Public Services office in Lakeport will be closed Monday, Sept. 7.

Residential and commercial collection will occur one day after your normal pickup day.

Normal collection schedules will resume the week following the holiday. All facilities will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Normal operating hours at Lake County Waste Solutions transfer station on Soda Bay Road in Lakeport is open Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Normal operating hours at the landfill are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The Public Services office is normally open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information visit the county Web site at www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or call 707-262-1618.

DAVIS, Calif. – USDA Rural Development announced today affordable mortgages are available for low-income homebuyers in rural California.

Mortgage loans are made directly from USDA Rural Development through the agency's Single Family Housing Direct Home Loan Program.

“This is a great program that helps folks who have good credit and a steady income, but can't get traditional financing,” said USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Program Director Ron Tackett. “Many will find that their mortgage payment is equal to their rent, so it just makes sense to buy.”

Highlights of USDA Rural Development's program include no down payment, no mortgage insurance, and interest rates as low as one percent for eligible buyers.

Homes must be located in rural areas, generally communities of 35,000 or less, and must be modest in size. Loan limits will vary by location, as will income limits.

Homeownership provides a strong foundation to help build household wealth, start a business or fund education through home equity.

Since 2009, USDA Rural Development has helped more than 3,300 homebuyers in rural California access the American dream of homeownership through this program.

Interested applicants in California can find more information, including a local office, online at www.rd.usda.gov/ca .

USDA Rural Development offers more than 40 programs supporting housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure in rural America.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Children’s Museum of Art and Science (CMAS) will hold its annual fundraiser dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Aromas Café on the Yuba College Clear Lake campus.

Tickets are $25 per person.

The college Culinary Class under the direction of Chef Robert Cabreros will prepare a delicious meal with local foods donated by the owners of Adamson Ranch Produce, Joan and Russ Cremer.

Dinner will be served all-you-can-eat buffet style. Guests always rave about the tasty plates and sumptuous desserts, and compliment the service and knowledge of the culinary students.
 
In addition, live music by The Rotarianz, a local group comprised of the service clubs’ members, will keep your toes tapping to favorite tunes.

A raffle of baskets and gift certificates from local vendors like the Aromas Café will also be a part of the evenings’ events.
 
Tickets are available at Marie’s Feed in Clearlake, the Travel Center in Lakeport, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 707-994-2878. Tickets also will be available at the door.
 
CMAS is a nonprofit volunteer organization whose mission is to provide free art and science activities and events for Lake County youth.

The Lake County Rocket Club, the annual art and science camp at Ely Stage Stop and the Taylor Observatory, and Lego robot workshops are the main focus of our efforts.

In addition,CMAS also has been involved with Power to the Youth and Trunk or Treat, and will provide an art station each day at the Lake County Fair.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Circle of Hope group from Clearlake Oaks United Methodist Church is hosting an ice cream and root beer float social on Sunday, Aug. 30.

The social will take place from noon to 2 p.m. following services.

It will be held in the Fellowship Hall, located at 12487 The Plaza, Clearlake Oaks.

Donation of $1 is welcomed but not required.