LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Public Works Department is advising the public that maintenance work from Monday, June 12, through Thursday, June 15, will cause minor delays on several streets.

Maintenance work will take place on the following streets during that timeframe:

• S. Estep Street between Armstrong Street and Third Street;
• Fifth Street between N. Estep Street and N. High Street;
• Fourth Street between N. Main Street and N. Forbes Street.

The department asks that drivers be aware of workers and drive with caution in these areas, and thank the public for its patience as they work to improve city streets.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Wednesday, June 7, the Lake County Historical Society broke ground on phase two of the long-awaited Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum Blacksmith Shop.

Lake County Supervisor Rob Brown, Ely Executive Director Greg Dills, Ely Executive Committee Member Bill Lane and Lake County Historical Society President Voris Brumfield met early Wednesday to celebrate the start of the 2017 construction.

Blacksmithing is an ancient craft believed to have been started in 1,500 B.C. Over the centuries it has been used to make everything from weaponry and armor to early kitchen appliances and tools.

It is the desire of the Lake County Historical Society to keep this art form alive and well at the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum for residents and visitors.

In 2015 the docents and volunteers built phase one of the shop. Phase two of the project will add the south wing to display more of the historical society’s artifacts.

The center section, phase three, will house the repair facility where wagons, tractors and other equipment will be staged for tear down and repair.

The entire building will be open for display and allow historical society members to participate in the repair and restoration of Lake County’s artifacts.

The building will be a living display with artisans fashioning items for the repair and upkeep of the collection, but also to fabricate items for the Ely gift shop, allowing visitors to acquire mementos of an era gone by.

The line-shaft machine shop will be powered by the Peerless 12 HP vertical hit-n-miss antique gas engine.

Once restored, it will provide the power to run the overhead shafts and pulleys that are belted to the machinery below. This will be an outstanding display of early machinery brought back to life for visitors to enjoy.

Since the opening of Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum in 2011, volunteers have presented many special events, science camps, history on the porch, monthly Fiddler’s Jam, weddings and much more.

The Lake County Historical Society and the Ely volunteers have been diligently raising funds for the materials and supplies needed to begin phase two, but we are short of the necessary funds to complete phase three of the building.

The society asks that community members consider making a tax-deductible donation to help complete it vision of living history.

You can join the Historical Society and donate funds to the Blacksmith Shop via mail LCHS, P.O. Box 1011 Lakeport, CA 95453, visit the organization’s Facebook page or its Web site at http://www.lakecountyhistory.org/ .

SACRAMENTO – The California Forestry Association, or Calforests, Chairman Arne Hultgren announced Wednesday that former Assemblyman Rich Gordon has been named its new president and chief executive officer, effective July 17.

“We’ve worked with Rich for years and are pleased to have him join our Association. We’re confident his leadership and policy experience will continue to create great policy results for California and for our membership,” said Chairman Hultgren.

Gordon brings more than 20 years of public service experience to Calforests, having most recently completed three terms in the State Assembly, where he served in leadership and successfully carried legislation supporting sustainable forestry.

He also served as a member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, during which time he sat on the Board of Directors of the California State Association of Counties, or CSAC. Gordon was president of CSAC in 2008.

Gordon has extensive nonprofit experience and was the founder of Youth and Family Assistance, an agency in San Mateo County serving at-risk youth.

As president and CEO of Calforests, Gordon will succeed retiring President David Bischel, and will be responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for the Association.

In this capacity, Gordon will represent more than four million acres of private and family-owned forests, 95 percent of the state’s forest product manufacturers, producers of renewable biomass energy and forestry-related professionals.

“Healthy forests are crucial to the sustainability of our planet. It is an honor to have been chosen to lead an industry association that plays a key role in California’s environment and economy,” said Gordon. “I look forward to working on behalf of Calforests for the benefit of all Californians.”

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NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20
 
– Curb and sidewalk repairs from Foothill Drive to Ogden Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Guardrail repairs from Linden Street to Mitchell Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29
 
– Pavement repairs near Bar X Ranch will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Emergency culvert repairs from Spruce Grove Road to Hofacker Lane will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Pavement repairs from Route 281 (Soda Bay Road) to Bottle Rock Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 175
 
– Emergency highway repairs from east of Forest Lake Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs from the Collins Viaduct to Ocean View Drive beginning Monday, June 12. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from Happy Lane to Beach Access Road beginning Monday, June 12. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Emergency storm damage repairs south of the Wages Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20

– Guardrail repairs from Blosser Road to Road A will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 101
 
– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Guardrail repairs at various locations from the Austin Creek Bridge to the Willits Cal Fire station will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. weekdays, and motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. Ramps at Gobbi Street and Route 20 east will be closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and motorists will be directed to use an alternate route.

– Routine maintenance south of Ridgewood Ranch Road will continue. Southbound traffic will be restarted to one lane from noon to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Emergency slide removal near Hermitage Vista Point will continue. Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Emergency slide removal near the Dora Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, and 15-minute delays at other times.

– Emergency slide removal near Piercy will continue. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 128

– Roadway repairs west of Yorkville will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary traffic signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 162

– Emergency storm damage repairs near Sand Bank Creek will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary traffic signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Emergency storm damage repairs south of Pookiny will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Guardrail repairs from Route 101 to McDowell Street will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Emergency storm damage repairs at various locations from 1.7 miles east of Buckman Drive to the Lake/Mendocino County line will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary traffic signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 30-minute delays.

Highway 253
 
– Highway repairs near Singley Cattlepass 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.

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 Lakeport Senior Activity Center is excited to announce some coming changes to its Second Sunday Breakfast this fall. 

The current monthly breakfast will be postponed starting in June until its relaunch with exciting changes to the time and menu options. 

The center has numerous opportunities to volunteer and make a difference in the senior community. 

With more than 60,000 meals served and delivered each year, the center has to raise more than $150,000 to cover the shortfall provided by grants in order to keep the meals going to those who have come to rely on them.

 This is only possible by the generous donations and volunteers in the community. 

The Lakeport center is looking for volunteers to be a part of the new breakfast, the new Friday Bingo Night and other upcoming fundraisers including a talent show and Chinese New Year sweetheart Dance.

Call 707-263-4218, visit www.facebook.com/lakeportseniors/ or stop by the senior center to get involved or find out more information.