LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Thirteen community leaders from a wide range of positions have been selected to participate in the fifth year of the popular AgVenture program.

Members of the 2014 class include: Scott Alonso, field representative, California Assemblyman Marc Levine; Paula Britton, environmental director, Upper Lake Pomo Tribe; Jim Brown, Health Services director, county of Lake; Michalyn DelValle, senior planner, county of Lake; Rev. Oscar Diaz, pastor, St. Mary Catholic Church; Bill Dodd, Napa County supervisor and candidate for State Assembly, District 4; Nanette Dutcher, owner, State Farm Insurance Agency.

The class also includes Natasha Ibrahim, produce department manager, Nylanders/Oaks Red & White Food Store; Melissa Kinsel, development officer, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake; Susan Mesick, manager, Tallman Hotel; Kenny Parlet, owner, Lakeview Market, and mayor, city of Lakeport; Karlene Rebich, ag liaison, State Senate candidate Mike McGuire; and Jill Ruzicka, senior administrative analyst, county of Lake.

AgVenture is an innovative concept in agricultural education designed for non-farming community leaders and others who wish to understand more fully the workings of the local agricultural industry.

The sessions will cover such topics as economics, labor, history, marketing, water and land use, agro-tourism, and sustainability.

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

Community leaders were invited to participate and the members of the class were selected based on their interest in the program, professional position in the community, and ability to help maintain a viable agricultural industry in Lake County.

The first session on Aug. 8 will focus on the pear industry in Lake County with orchard and packing house tours.

Speakers will include Alan Flora, deputy administrative officer for Lake County and a graduate of AgVenture 2011; Broc Zoller, PhD, PCA, “The Pear Doctor”; Myron Holdenried, owner of Holdenried Ranches; Pat Scully, General Manager, Scully Packing Co. and Paula Bryant, vice president/commercial relationship manager, Umpqua Bank.

Diane Henderson of Henderson Orchards, Kelseyville, will provide a tour and discuss cultural practices, integrated pest management and sustainability, regulatory compliance, and the challenges faced by pear growers.

Toni Scully of Scully Packing Co., Finley, will talk about issues faced within the pear industry and provide an escorted tour of a packing house in full operation.

The second session on Sept. 12 will focus on the winegrape industry and include presentations by Scott DeLeon, director of Lake County Department of Public Works ; Terry Dereniuk, executive director, Lake County Winery Association; Eric Seely, county administrative officer – special projects; Randy Krag, PCA, viticulturist with Beckstoffer Vineyards; and Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

The day will include a luncheon at Vigilance Vineyards and a tour of the Gregory Graham Winery to demonstrate a small winery operation and compliance with regulations.

The third session on Oct. 17 will focus on the walnut industry in Lake County.

Speakers will include Katherine Blyleven, agricultural biologist and weights and measures inspector, Lake County Department of Agriculture; a representative from California Department of Pesticide Regulation; Marc Hooper, PCA, AgUnlimited; Rick Coel, Lake County Community Development director; and Sky Hoyt, retail vegetable grower and instructor, Mendocino College.

A tour of the Suchan Farm and Nursery, Upper Lake, and an overview of the walnut industry, including nursery, orchards, and dehydrator operations by Alex Suchan will conclude the day’s session.

The final AgVenture session for 2014 will be held on Nov. 7 and will include Brian Little, director of Labor Affairs, California Farm Bureau chief operating officer, Farm Employers Labor Service, and Karri Hammerstrom, past president of the State CWA.

Other presenters for this session will include Emilo dela Cruz, mill master for Chacewater Winery and Olive Mill in Kelseyville, and Terry Dereniuk, executive director, Lake County Winery Association.

Back by popular demand is a panel discussion on Lake County agriculture from the farm worker perspective. Diane Henderson will moderate this panel discussion.

The fourth day will conclude with a graduation presentation by each class member sharing the experiences that they will remember from the program.

Generous sponsors for the 2014 series of seminars include the following businesses: Lake County Winegrape Commission, Adobe Creek Packing, Umpqua Bank, The Pear Doctor, Six Sigma Winery, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Scully Packing, Bob Bartley Pump, Westamerica Bank, American AgCredit, Hillside Honda, Polestar Computers, Lucerne Roofing, Garton Tractor, Stokes Ladders, Kelseyville Lumber, Westamerica Bank, RB Pest Control, Bengard Marketing, Barra of Mendocino, Olof Cellars, and the Lake County Marketing and Economic Development Program.

Individual sponsors are Judy Cortesi, Bernie Butcher, Tibor and Petra Major, Alan Flora, Peggy Campbell and Claudia Street.

Additional support has been provided by Tallman Hotel, Gregory Graham Winery, Chacewater Wine and Olive Mill, Vigilance Vineyards, 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 and Sharron Zoller.

More information about California Women for Agriculture is available by writing to P.O. Box 279, Finley, CA 95435, visiting the Lake County CWA Web site at www.lakecountycwa.org or visiting them on Facebook at Lake County California Women for Agriculture.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Dr. Stephen Pollaine, former Lawrence Livermore Laboratory physics cosmologist and popular Taylor Observatory lecturer and local pianist, presents "The Physics of Star Wars and Star Trek” at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 19.

Pollaine will offer an interesting answer to a question that's on all of our minds: "Is it possible to travel to the stars?"  

Pollaine notes that most explanations of the physics behind the light sabers of Star Wars involve lasers, but these don’t work. He presents a very different solution.  

Join them on Saturday night as Pollaine explains Star Trek’s warp drive and Star War’s hyperspace.

Admission for the talk, a planetarium show and night sky viewing through the Taylor telescope is $5 for adults, $3 for those 12 and under, and free to observatory members.  

The observatory is located at 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville.

For further information visit www.taylorobservatory.org or call 707-262-4121.  

Friends of Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium organize the Taylor Lecture series.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Pool will remain closed for water maintenance from Friday, July 18, through Wednesday, July 23.

Public Services staff is working to regain water clarity standards and ensure that the chlorine levels are back at a safe level for swimming.

High levels of chlorine are temporarily being used to treat the algae problem.  

A sign will be posted at the pool with the most up-to-date information.

Normal pool hours are noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

The pool season runs through Aug. 10.

Please contact the Public Services Department, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 707-262-1618 for more information.

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 29

– AT&T of Fort Bragg has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work from Bradford Road to Hilderbrand Road beginning Monday, July 21. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. LC#P29CA

– Pavement repairs from the Lucerne Undercrossing to the junction of Route 20/29 will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. LC#C29AA

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Culvert rehabilitation at various locations from Collins Viaduct to just south of Elk Creek will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Replacement of the Greenwood Creek Bridge 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.

– Culvert rehabilitation at various locations from Elk to just south of Little River Airport Road will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Guardrail installation and paving along the Navarro Grade will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. LC#C1AA

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work from Ocean View Drive to just south of the Ten Mile River Bridge on Tuesday, July 22. Work hours are noon to 7 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Bridge repairs at the Blue Slide Gulch Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. 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.

– Northern Aggregates, Inc. of Willits has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit to add turn lanes just south of Black Bart Drive. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work at Monroe Street on Wednesday, July 23. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 128

– Guardrail repairs at the junction of Routes 1/128 will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Vegetation removal in preparation for culvert rehabilitation at various locations from Philo Greenwood Road to the Sonoma County line will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Russian River Bridge 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.

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. – Lakeport Library’s Summer Reading Program “Paws to Read” for tweens and teens in seventh through twelfth grade has several programs and activities in July with an animal theme.

Amy Patton, the program coordinator reminds tweens and teens that there is still time to sign up for the program which ends August 2.

The teen program will have a field trip to Animal Control at 2 p.m. Friday, July 18.

Through July, Lakeport Library is collecting donations of usable bedding materials, animal carriers, unopened pet food and other items to be given to Animal Care and Control.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, July 19, Patton will teach the participants how to make homemade animal treats.

This event also will feature a book reading from the comic mystery “Dog on It” by Spencer Quinn about adventures of private investigator Bernie Little and his crime-solving dog Chet.

At 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, participants will make chia pets, play the Sock Monkey Game and make and eat Monkey Munch treats.

At 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, Gail Gomes of Lifestyle Obedience will bring a dog and demonstrate dog agility for the teens.

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m. The phone number is 707-263-8817.

LUCERNE, Calif. – Thrive Lake County and Marymount California University will co-host a second “Happiness Town Hall” at the Lucerne Senior Center, 3985 Country Club Drive, on Thursday, July 24.

Lake County residents and community organization participation is currently being sought.

This meeting is a follow up to the March 18 “Showcase on Happiness.”

At this meeting, Marymount University will present a summary report based on the data from the March 18 meeting, and will formally request interested parties to participate in a Community Advisory Group to help move the Happiness Index Project (“HIP”) forward throughout the fall semester.

HIP explores the concept of happiness and its role as a true measure of community prosperity. It is the first step towards considering the economics of happiness within Lake County community-wide planning processes.

Denise Rushing, Lake County Supervisor for District Three explained, “Lake County has so many assets – our deep sense of community, beautiful landscapes, clean air, quality of life, high volunteerism – to name a few. These assets are not considered when assessing our community using the traditional measure of economic measurement. Establishing a happiness or well-being index is important, as it would enable us to attract more of what we want, and avoid what we don’t want. Additionally, it would help us assess ahead of time how any proposed action would impact Lake County’s total well-being, not just those attributes measured by dollars and cents."

Both organizations and community residents are invited to contribute during the Town Hall meeting to be held from 7 to 8 p.m., where views on what they feel contributes to Lake County community prosperity can be voiced.

For more information about Thrive Lake County, visit http://thrivelakecounty.org .

For more information about Marymount California University, visit http://www.marymountcalifornia.edu/ .

For further information about this meeting, email Carol Cole-Lewis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .