MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Luncheon Club's February program will feature an update on the happenings and plans at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport.

Lunch will be served on Wednesday, Feb. 17, by the Middletown Lioness Club at noon at the Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St. The program will end promptly at 1 p.m.

For only $5 per person, enjoy barbecue pork sandwich, sweet potato fries, garden salad and a homemade dessert.

The Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport has surpassed its original goal of providing a professional venue for the performing arts in Lake County and become more of a community center, providing a place for lectures, seminars, educational forums and much more.

Executive Director Mike Adams will expound on the history and programming of Lake County's sole performing arts center.

Adams will offer a taste of what we may have missed and what we might partake of in the future.

Lunch reservations are required. Please call 707-987-3113 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to make a reservation.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Senior Center hosted a sold-out cordon bleu dinner and silent auction recently.  

Executive Director Lori Tourville welcomed guests young and old while hors d’oeuvres were served prior to the cordon bleu dinner prepared by Chef Malori and crew.

Volunteer DJ Bob Krug played dinner music and some after dinner dance tunes.  

Board members Lilo Hanson and Pat Meyer praised the quality of the meal and the many donated silent auction items and summed up the evening as “delicious and fun.”

The evening netted $1,900 toward the Meals on Wheels Program.

Funds raised from this type of event fill out the subsidy received for the Meals on Wheels Program, which delivers balanced nourishing meals each day to home-bound seniors (age 60 and above).

Middletown delivers more than 800 meals per month to housebound seniors in Hidden Valley, Middletown and Cobb.

Although partial funding comes from the Area Agency on Aging and the Redbud Healthcare District, subsidization from the community in the amount of about $28,000 per year is required to fully fund this program. 

Middletown Senior Center is located at 21256 Washington St. For more information about Center activities and menus, call 707-987-3113 or go to the center’s Web site, www.middletownseniorcenter.org , or its Facebook page.

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – On Thursday, Feb. 11, and Tuesday, Feb. 16, the northbound U.S. Highway 101 offramp to eastbound Route 20 will be closed from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The southbound 101 offramp to 20 will remain open.

A detour will be available using the West Road/Redwood Valley interchange.

Motorists should anticipate a five-minute delay taking the detour in addition to the 10-minute delay on Route 20 due to emergency paving.

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.

Caltrans will suspend work on Northern California highways from Friday, Feb. 12, through Monday, Feb. 15, in observance of the Presidents Day holiday weekend.

However, due to unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary for Caltrans Maintenance forces to respond to emergency situations.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from Rosemont Drive to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Rocky fire repairs from Gravel Plant Road to the Lake/Colusa County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 29

– Valley fire cleanup from the Lake/Napa County line to Hidden Valley will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– 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 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

Highway 175
 
– Fire recovery work from the junction of Routes 29/175 in Middletown to Loch Lomond will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate 30-minute delays.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY
 
Highway 1

– Emergency vegetation removal at various locations from Pacific Wood Road to Caspar Lake Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– 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.
 
Highway 20

– Emergency pavement repairs from the North Calpella Overcrossing to the Cold Creek Bridge #3 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-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.
 
– Emergency pavement repairs on Route 20 will continue. A full closure of the northbound Route 101 onramp from Moore Street will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Monday evening through Thursday morning. Motorists should seek an alternate route.
 
– Emergency pavement repairs on Route 20 will continue. A full closure of the northbound Route 101 offramp to eastbound Route 20 will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Monday evening through Thursday morning. A detour will be available.
 
– Pavement repairs from County Road 307 to Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
Highway 271

Route 271 (20.1) – Storm damage repairs near Piercy will continue. A full road closure will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should seek an alternate route.

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 next free household hazardous waste dropoff event will be held Friday, Feb. 19, and Saturday, Feb. 20, at Lake County Waste Solutions Transfer Station and Recycling Yard, 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport. 

Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge. Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks (empty), pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear feet) and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.

Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the recycling hotline at 707-263-1980.

Household hazardous waste dropoff services are provided to Lake County residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this county-funded service and first make an appointment. Business appointments can be made by calling Lake County Waste Solutions at 707-234-6400.

Beginning in June, ask about receiving a free puncture-proof sharps container at one of these events to use for free sharps disposal.

Free recycling options for residents and businesses:

· Recycled paint is available to both residents and businesses at Lake County Waste Solutions and South Lake Refuse and Recycling Center first-come, first-served basis in five gallon containers. Colors include tan, brown, gray and pink.

· Used motor oil and cooking oil can be dropped off by businesses and residents, at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the North Shore Fire Protection District station at 6257 Seventh Ave. in Lucerne. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for more locations.

· Electronics (e-waste) can be dropped off at Lake County Waste Solutions and at South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center.

Lake County Waste Solutions

230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport

888-718-4888 or 707-234-6400

Monday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

www.candswaste.com 

South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center

16015 Davis St., Clearlake

Open daily, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

707-994-8614

www.southlakerefuse.com

The free Household Hazardous Waste drop off program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County households.

For more information about recycling, reusing and reducing, visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us , call the recycling hotline at 707-263-1980 or like Lake County Public Services on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LCPublicServices?fref=ts .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Environmental directors Sarah Ryan and Karola Kennedy will present the results of the tribes’ cyanotoxin monitoring program and the ways it affects both recreational use of the lake and drinking water at the Thursday, Feb. 18, Redbud Audubon Society program meeting.

The program is free and open to the public.

Refreshments will begin at 7 p.m. with the program at 7:15 p.m. at the group's new location, the Methodist Church Social Hall, 16255 Second St. in Lower Lake. The hall is across the parking lot from the Methodist Church. If you are coming through Lower Lake, turn left on Lake Street and then right on Second Street.

Although the blue green algae (cyanobacteria) problem has plagued Clear Lake for decades, a more recent concern is the presence of cyanotoxins, present in and beneath algae mats that can prove poisonous to both humans and animals.

Since the fall of 2014 Big Valley Rancheria and Elem Indian Colony have been conducting regular testing for cyanotoxins produced by the “algae” blooms that have plagued the lake annually.

Ryan and Kennedy will discuss the cyanotoxin “hot spots” as well as show examples of how toxin levels aren't necessarily linked to what the water quality looks like.

The presentation will provide a good background to an important issue that is being dealt with worldwide.
 
Ryan has worked for the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians since 2001 and has headed their Environmental Protection Department since 2006. She works with environmental staff to respond to current environmental conditions and to protect natural resources which support the health and wellbeing of the tribe.

Ryan has worked on and chaired pertinent committees, both local and statewide including the Clear Lake Advisory Committee, the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee and the CalEPA Tribal Advisory Committee. She attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia and obtained a bachelor's degree in government.

Kennedy works for the Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians as the environmental director. She has been in the position and living in Lake County for two years. She is very passionate about the environmental issues in Lake County and Clear Lake.

In her previous career she gained extensive experience in developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others as well as maintaining them over time. She attended the University of Nevada, Reno and obtained a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering and received designation as an engineer in training.