MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Friends of Middletown Library group will hold its first movie night on Friday, Feb. 20.

The movie is titled “The Box Trolls” and starts at 6:30 p.m. in the activity room at the Middletown Library.

This showing is free to the public.

The Middletown Library is located at 21267 Calistoga Road.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Caity Bowe is the featured speaker at this month’s Middletown Luncheon Club luncheon, which will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Lunch will be served at the Middletown Senior Center at 21256 Washington St., behind the new park off Calistoga. 

Bowe, 16, is a resident of Hidden Valley Lake, and a homeschooled high school senior who will matriculate at the University of Minnesota in the fall.

She spent three weeks last summer volunteering in a small town in Africa.

“I knew there was more to life than just sitting at home all summer and I was ready to see it,” she said.

Bowe chose this project, raised funding for her trip and traveled by herself.

This independent young woman will share her experience living near the Anlona elementary school in Ghana and helping build and teach there.

Space is limited for lunch. Please make your reservation by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling the Middletown Senior Center at 707-987-3113 (specify that you are with the Luncheon Club). 

All ages are welcome at only $5 per person. Enjoy beef with broccoli, brown rice, and pineapple fluff salad. Dessert and beverages are included. This month’s serving group is the Middletown Lionesses.

You are also welcome to come hear Bowe for free without buying lunch.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Saturday, March 7, Kelseyville Presbyterian will again be showcasing its fabulous cooks with the 12th annual Housing Task Force Dinner, held in the Friendship Hall at 5340 Third St.

The fun starts at 6 p.m.

Along with a melt-in-your-mouth brisket dinner, the evening will include a silent auction of many interesting items from local businesses, as well as the always fun and delicious dessert auction.

If you have ever been to an event at KPC, you know the food is out of this world, and the desserts are even better.

Tickets are priced at $12 per person for adults and $8 for children under 10.

Tickets are available at KPC during business hours, or after worship on Sundays.

Please call ahead if possible to reserve a seat. Auction items are always welcome.

Call 707-279-9740 if you have a donation.

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
 
There is no major roadwork scheduled for Lake County from Friday, Feb. 13, through Thursday, Feb. 19.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY
 
Highway 1

– Emergency roadway repairs from 1.5 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road to just north of Albion will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the Casper Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. 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 the north Willits railroad crossing will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility work just south of Sherwood Road (north) on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Pavement repairs near Piercy will continue. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Caltrans wishes to advise 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.

SACRAMENTO – The California Natural Resources Agency has released a draft schedule detailing the benchmarks for the first year of the ten year expenditure period of the water bond (Proposition 1) that was passed by voters in November 2014.

Also, draft guidelines for applications for grants made available by the bond will be available on the Bond Accountability Web site, http://bondaccountability.resources.ca.gov/Guidelines.aspx?PropositionPK=48 , to assist grant-making organizations and applicants.

“Voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition 1 in November because they understand how important it is to California’s water future to make sound, strategic investments,” said California Natural Resources Agency Secretary John Laird. “With funding from the bond, the California Water Action Plan provides a roadmap for investments in projects that provide water reliability, restore critical natural habitat, and ensures the resilience of our water delivery infrastructure.”

Laird continued: “The draft schedule and grant guidelines are a vital part of ensuring the transparent, expeditious, and accountable spending of the $7.5 billion bond.”

The requirements from the bond that must be met prior to funds being distributed are outlined below:

The water bond requires that the creation of grant guidelines is a transparent and public process. Prior to disbursing grants or loans pursuant to the bond measure, each state agency that administers a competitive grant or loan program must develop and adopt project solicitation and evaluation guidelines.

Additionally, before disbursing grants or loans, at least three public meetings are required throughout the state to consider public comments prior to finalizing the guidelines.

Also, the draft solicitation and evaluation guidelines are required to be posted on the website of the issuing state entity at least 30 days before the public meetings.

For two of the past bonds (Proposition 84 and Proposition 1E), a centralized database has been used to store information on all bond programs and projects.

This information is reported to the public via the Bond Accountability Web site, which posts information about how bond funds are spent and details about funded projects, and provides allocation balances twice-yearly. Proposition 1 information has been added to the website.

All Proposition 1 guidelines will be reviewed by the Secretary for Natural Resources and all guidelines will be posted to a central place on the Bond Accountability Web site.

Learn more about the California Water Action Plan at http://resources.ca.gov/california_water_action_plan/ .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Friends of the Middletown Library group is offering an incentive to new members or those who are interested in renewing their memberships in the organization.

Join or renew your membership with the nonprofit Friends of the Middletown Library through March 31 and you will be automatically entered into a drawing for a new Kindle HD 6.

Memberships run Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.

Support the Middletown Library with your tax-deductible donation.

The cost is $1 for juniors, $10 for individuals and families, and $20 for businesses.

Membership forms are available at the Middletown Library. There is one ticket per membership.

The drawing will take place on April 2 at the library. You need not be present to win.

The winner will be notified by phone by April 3.