MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Lioness Club will hold its eighth annual Christmas Craft Show on Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21.

The craft show will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Lion's Community Building, 15299 Central Park.

There will be quality crafts, a bake sale and great raffles.

Bring your old and broken gold and get cash.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The next free household hazardous waste dropoff event will be held Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21, at Quackenbush Mountain  Recovery & Compost Facility, 16520 Davis St. adjacent to the Landfill, Clearlake.

From Highway 53 turn on to 40th Avenue, take a left on Moss Avenue, follow the signs to the landfill on Davis Avenue.

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 .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – This month the Redbud Audubon Society welcomes Hopland resident Bob Keiffer, who will present a program on the Big Island of Hawaii, “Flora and Fauna – Bits and Pieces.”

The group will meet Thursday, Nov. 19, in the Glebe Social Hall, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 4085 Main Street, Kelseyville.

There will be refreshments at 7 p.m., with the program at 7:15 p.m.

The public is invited to attend this free program.

Keiffer presented his first “Birding in Hawaii,” program last year for Redbud Audubon; this November program will focus on birds of the Big Island.

Those who have seen Keiffer’s programs before know the photography is fabulous and the program is always interesting.

He will enlighten viewers of past and present successes and failures at preserving unique island species. He had the opportunity to be guided for a day by Jack Jeffrey, a retired USFWS biologist and renowned Hawaiian nature photographer.

Keiffer visited the island in 2014, first attending a vertebrate pest management conference and then exploring the island with wife, Beth, for a week. He was able to find the island’s rarest bird – a bird that has an upper bill three times longer than the lower bill.

“The royal Hawaiian robes were made of bird feathers,” Keiffer noted, and “livestock did not result in a paradise island.” Find out the details at the program.

Keiffer was born and raised in Mendocino County and has had a longtime interest in natural resources and specifically a longtime interest in birds and mammals of the oak woodland habitats.

He followed his interest in wildlife by obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management from Humboldt State University in 1979 and he is a certified associate wildlife biologist with the Wildlife Society.

Keiffer was the founder of the Peregrine Audubon Chapter in interior Mendocino County and has been the compiler of bird observations for Mendocino County, reporting to the North American Birds publication (Northern California region) for about 25 years.

He has been at the University of California’s Ag and Natural Resources Division – Hopland Research and Extension Center for more than 30 years, mostly as principal superintendent of agriculture. There he has introduced and presented to many visitors, classes, and groups, the topic of oaks and oak woodland habitat, wildlife, range managements and many other topics.

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
 
– Guardrail repairs from Le Trianon Resort to Blue Lakes Motel 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.

– Installation of a roundabout at the junction of Routes 20/29 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p. m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Pavement repairs from Rosemont Drive to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., or from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility repairs near Foothill Drive beginning Thursday, Nov. 19. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Rocky fire repairs from Walker Ridge Road to the Lake/Colusa County line 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 29

– Valley Fire cleanup from the Lake/Napa County line to Hidden Valley will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6:30 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 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Installation of a roundabout at the junction of Routes 20/29 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p. m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-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 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate 30-minute delays.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans encroachment permit for tree trimming from Fish Rock Road to south Iverson Road. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 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 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.

– Pavement repairs from 0.3 miles north of Nelson Road to the Route 101/253 interchange will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. In two-lane sections, one-way traffic control will be in effect, and motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. In four-lane sections, traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction, and motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. At the Robinson Overcrossing and El Roble Overcrossing interchanges, ramps will be intermittently closed, and motorists should seek an alternate route. No consecutive offramps or onramps will be closed at the same time.

– Highway construction from Sherwood Road to the north Willits railroad crossing will continue. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the Arnold Bridge Overcrossing will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. 

– Pavement repairs from Harwood Road to Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Bridge rehabilitation at the Bridges Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. 

– Bridge rehabilitation at various South Fork Eel River Bridges from Piercy to the Humboldt/Mendocino County line will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
Highway 128

– Roadway repairs from the Shearing Creek Bridge to the Maple Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a. m. to 3:30 p. m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans encroachment permit for tree trimming from Route 101 to the Lake/Mendocino County line beginning Monday, Nov. 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– R&M Backhoe Service has been granted a Caltrans encroachment permit to move oversized containers west of Buckingham Drive. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 271

– Bridge rehabilitation at the McCoy Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. 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).

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Christmas tree permits are now available from the Mendocino National Forest for the 2015 holiday season.

Permits are available for purchase in person or by mail from Mendocino National Forest offices, as well as at area vendors. Vendors are listed below with contact information for the Forest Service.

Permits are $10 per tree at Forest Service offices. Customers are advised to call vendors to verify permit price and availability. The permits will be sold at Forest Service offices through Wednesday, December 23. Trees may be cut and removed any day of the week in authorized areas of the Mendocino National Forest.

There is a limit of one permit per household, with each permit using a valid name and address. Up to four additional permits may be purchased for additional households, using separate names and addresses. Individuals must be 18 or older to purchase a permit. All Christmas tree permit sales are final, with no refunds. Permittees will receive a tree tag and Forest map.

To purchase a permit by mail, send a printed name and mailing address for each permit purchased, a daytime telephone number, and a check or money order made out to “USDA Forest Service” for $10 for each permit to either the Willows, Stonyford, Upper Lake or Covelo offices with “Christmas Tree Permit” written on the outside of the envelope.

Mail-in requests received after December 14 will not be filled. A form can be found online at www.fs.usda.gov/main/mendocino/passes-permits/forestproducts under “Christmas Tree Permits.”

If you are planning on cutting a Christmas tree for someone who isn’t present, a Third Party Authorization must be in the possession of the cutter. This form is also available on the Forest website and should be completed prior to leaving for the forest.

Permit holders should be aware that federal and state quarantines to prevent the spread of sudden oak death (SOD) are in effect for Lake and Mendocino Counties. Any Christmas tree cut in these counties can only be transported into other SOD quarantine counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma.

All Mendocino National Forest offices will be closed Thursday, Nov, 26, in observance of Thanksgiving, Christmas tree permits can be purchased from the following Forest offices for $10:

Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s Office
825 N. Humboldt Ave.
Willows, CA 95988
530-934-3316
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Stonyford Work Center
5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Road
P.O. Box 160
Stonyford, CA 95979

530-963-3128
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon, 1-4:30 p.m.
 
Paskenta Work Station
13280 Paskenta Road
Paskenta, CA 96074
530-833-5544
Hours: Saturday, Dec. 5 and 12 ONLY, 9 a.m.-noon, 12:30-3 p.m.

Covelo Ranger Station
78150 Covelo Road
Covelo, CA 95428
707-983-6118
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Upper Lake Ranger Station
10025 Elk Mountain Road
Upper Lake, CA 95485
707-275-2361
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, 1-4:30 p.m.

Christmas tree permits are available from the following vendors. Please call for prices and availability:

Sacramento River Discovery Center
(Only 60 permits available)
1000 Sale Lane, Red Bluff
530-527-1196
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Hi-Way Grocery
160 E. Highway 20, Upper Lake
707-275-2380
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

M&M Feed and Supply
74540 Hill Road, Covelo
707-983-6273
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Keith’s Family Foods
76201 Covelo Road, Covelo
707-983-6633
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Cutting a Christmas tree on the National Forest is a great holiday tradition for many families and also helps with hazardous fuels reduction by removing smaller trees from the Forest. Following are some tips to make your experience more enjoyable.

· Plan your trip – check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes, water, emergency food, tire chains, shovel, a saw or axe to cut your tree, and a tarp and rope to bring it home. Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains! Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.

· Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources. If there are puddles in the road, mud flipping off the tires or you can see your ruts in the rearview mirror, consider pulling over and taking a hike to look for a tree, or turning around and finding a different area to cut your tree.

· Cut your tree early in the season before favorite cutting areas can’t be reached because of snow.

· Make sure you are cutting a tree in approved areas on the Mendocino National Forest and not from other federal, state or private lands.

· Cut the tree as close as possible to the ground and leave as little of a stump as possible.

· Attach the permit on the tree where it will be easily visible with the tree packed or tied on your vehicle for transport home.

· To help keep your tree fresh, cut at least one inch off the base when you get home and stand the tree in a container of water in a cool, shaded area, checking the water level daily.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .

COBB, Calif. – The UC Master Gardener Program of Lake County is hosting a free workshop titled “Preparing for El Nino” on Saturday, Nov. 14.

The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at Cobb Mountain Elementary School, 15895 Highway 175.

They will welcome David Layland from Napa as a guest speaker. Accompanying him and also taking part in the workshop will be Gayle Nelson, Lynda Bogner and Patty Peterson, who are also UC Master Gardeners from Napa County.

This workshop will focus on measures to take now to prepare your home and garden for heavy rain.

You will also learn steps to take during and after a flood.

No RSVP is necessary to attend.

If you have questions, call 707-263-6838 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .