LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture is pleased to announce its 2015 AgVenture class.

Twelve community leaders from a range of positions were selected to participate in the sixth year of this popular program.

Selection into the AgVenture program is based upon an invitation and on the applicant’s interest in the program, their professional position in the community, and their ability to help maintain a viable agricultural industry in Lake County.

Members of the 2015 class include: Brenna Sullivan, executive director of the Lake County Farm Bureau; Danielle Matthews Seperas, manager, Government and Community Affairs with Calpine; Audrey Knight, principal planner with the county of Lake; Jim Steele, District 3 representative on the Lake County Board Supervisors; Jan Coppinger, Lake County Special Districts utility systems compliance manager; Dr. Karen Tait, health officers with the Lake County Health Services Department; Rick Hamilton, commercial Realtor and owner of RAH; Kerrie Lindecker, district representative for Lake and Mendocino counties for state Sen. Mike McGuire; Tiffany Ortega, assistant administrator for Sutter Lakeside Hospital; Andrew March, constituent service representative for the office of Congressman John Garamendi; Terre Logsdon, Farm-to-School coordinator for North Coast Opportunities; and Lisa Wilson, general manager of Shady Acres Campground and Mobile Home Park.

AgVenture is an innovative concept in agricultural education designed for non-farming community leaders and others who wish to understand the vital role that local agriculture plays in Lake County’s economy.

Class members gain a broad knowledge about agriculture and farming in general, and more specifically about the heritage, culture, economy, and business of local agriculture.

AgVenture sessions cover topics including labor, history, marketing, water and land use, agritourism and sustainability.

“This program has grown exponentially in popularity over the past six years. We had so many stellar applicants this year that our selection process was truly challenging. We feel fortunate that we’ve created something that people find valuable,” said longtime AgVenture Steering Committee member and event creator, Annette Hopkins.

Sessions are scheduled for Aug. 8, Sept. 11, Oct. 16 and Nov. 13. The first session focuses on the pear industry; the second session looks at the winegrape industry; the third concentrates on walnuts; and the last session spotlights olives and labor.

Class members will hear from a wide range of specialists including “The Pear Doctor” Broc Zoller, PhD, PCA; Frances Spivey-Webber, vice chair of the State Water Resources Control Board; and Cecilia Chi-Ham, PhD, leader of Public Property Resource for Agriculture’s Biotechnology Resources Program, among many others.

AgVenture participants also have opportunities to tour local a pear orchard, an olive mill, a walnut orchard and several wineries.

Generous sponsors for the 2015 series of seminars include the following businesses: Adobe Creek Packing, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Calpine, Wilda Shock, Lianne Campodonico, Judy Cortesi, Scully Packing, Umpqua Bank, Bob Bartley Pump Inc., Tibor and Petra Major, Peggy Campbell, The Pear Doctor, Northlake Medical Pharmacy, Quackenbush Mountain Resource, Savings Bank, Lake County Farm Bureau, Harbin Hot Springs, American AgCredit and Mendo Lake Credit Union.

Additional support has been provided by Tallman Hotel, Gregory Graham Winery, Chacewater Wine and Olive Mill, the Lake County Winegrape Commission and the Lake County Winery Association, Laujor Estate Winery, Suchan Farm and Nursery, Beckstoffer Vineyards and Henderson Orchards. Transportation for the field trips and site visits is being provided by the Military Funeral Honors Team van.    

The AgVenture program Steering Committee, all CWA members, are Annette Hopkins, Paula Bryant, Toni Scully, Diane Henderson, Terry Dereniuk, Debra Sommerfield, Sharron Zoller and Rebecca Southwick.

To learn more about the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture, visit www.lakecountycwa.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Clear High School Girls Varsity Soccer team will host its 18th annual soccer camp for all levels and gender of players from ages 5 to 14.

The camp will be held beginning on Monday, Aug. 3, and continuing through Aug. 6.

Campers will meet from 9 a.m. to noon all four days on the fields behind the gym at Clear Lake High School, 350 Lange St., Lakeport.

While the camp is primarily for 5- to 14-year-olds, 4-year-olds will be accepted on parent request.

This is a great opportunity to get ready for the youth soccer season.

The $60 registration fee includes a camp t-shirt. A family discount of $5 per camper also is available if two or more campers register from the same family.

An additional “early bird” discount is available for campers who register in the Clear Lake High School  office or by mail before the first day of camp.

Instruction will be provided by varsity coaches Alice Holmes and Paul Larrea and junior varsity coach, Tommy Burke.

They will be assisted by guest coaches and members of the Clear Lake High Girls soccer team, many of whom have had previous camp experience. 

The camp will emphasize basic soccer skills, offensive/defensive play and team concepts. 

For the younger players it is a great opportunity to learn basic soccer skills and develop a positive “fun” attitude toward soccer.  

There will be various contests, individual awards, snacks and game play each day.

Registration forms are available in the Clear Lake High School office, 350 Lange St., starting July 27.

Campers also may register on the first day of camp. 

Call 707-263-7276 or 707-263-8000 for more information.

Proceeds go to the Clear Lake High School Varsity Girls Soccer team and the Junior Varsity Girls Soccer team, which, because of budget cuts, are no longer funded by the district. The program must raise its own funds for transportation, officials and equipment.

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 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.

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., Sunday evening through Friday morning. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 175
 
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from just east of the junction of Routes 29/175 near Kelseyville to Wildcat Road through Friday, July 17. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– 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.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Blue Slide Gulch to the Georgia Pacific Picnic Area through Friday, July 17. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– 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.

– PG&E has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility repairs just south of the Jitney Gulch Bridge on Wednesday, July 22. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 128

– Culvert rehabilitation at various locations from Wendling Street to Philo School Road 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 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 1954 courtroom drama, “The Caine Mutiny,” screens at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport on Tuesday, Aug. 11, with show times at 1 and 6 p.m.

Entry to the film is by donation.

Humphrey Bogart stars as the obsessive Captain Queeg with a supporting cast of Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray, Mel Ferrer and Robert Francis. 

The movie is sponsored by John H. Tomkins Tax Consultants and is rated PG.

The film revolves around an aging Navy captain who is removed from command during World War II by his executive officer.

The Navy must decide whether this action was outright mutiny or a courageous effort to save the war ship from destruction at the hands of her captain.

Directed by Edward Dmytryk and written by Herman Wouk, Stanley Roberts and Michael Blankfort, the film received seven Academy Award nominations.

The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. Call 707-263-0577 or visit www.soperreesetheatre.com .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Walker Ridge Road east of Clearlake Oaks will be closed for much of the day on Saturday, July 18, for a high speed motorsport event.

The road will be closed from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the Mendocino Rally.

More information about the race can be found at www.mendocinorally.com .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Join the Taylor Observatory on Saturday, July 18, for its special “Pluto Palooza.”

The event takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the observatory, located at 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville.

This event is free and food will be served.

Join them in celebration of the New Horizons flyby of Pluto and its interesting moon Charon.

See exhibits, enjoy a talk by Ed Giannelli, scrutinize the latest photographic data from NASA and visit the Norton Planetarium.

Visit the observatory online at http://www.lakecoe.org/programs/taylor_observatory .