LUCERNE, Calif. – Lake County Public Works officials reported that a portion of Bartlett Springs Road is being closed immediately due to roadway deterioration.

The agency said Thursday that it was closing the road at mile post marker 1.5.

The roadway will remain closed until the damaged section of the road can be stabilized, Public Works said.

Public Works said repairs are estimated to be completed by Jan. 31.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Caltrans this week started brush and tree removal work in preparation of the State Route 29-Troutdale Creek bridge replacement project in northwest Napa County.

To ensure worker and public safety, one-way traffic controls will be in effect on Highway 29 near the Troutdale Creek Bridge in Napa County beginning the week of Jan. 6.

The brush and tree removal will be completed in approximately eight weeks after the work commences.

During one-way traffic controls, one lane of traffic will remain open at all times with flaggers alternating northbound and southbound traffic.

Regular work hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

All work is weather permitting. Motorists should allow for extra travel time.

Caltrans will replace the existing Troutdale Creek bridge with a new bridge and widen the northbound and southbound Highway 29 bridge approaches.

The existing bridge must be replaced because of years of wear at its base from the Troutdale Creek.

As part of the work, the bridge approaches will also be realigned to conform to the new bridge, and improve sight-lines for motorists. 

The project is scheduled to be completed as early as late 2016.                      

Additional project information will be posted on the Caltrans SR-29 Troutdale Creek Bridge project Web page at http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist4/29troutdalecreek/ or follow Caltrans on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CaltransD4 .

SACRAMENTO – State Controller Betty T. Yee has announced the appointments of key deputies to her executive team.

Karen Greene-Ross will serve as the state controller’s chief of staff.

Greene-Ross most recently served as assistant chief counsel and deputy director of legislation at the California High Speed Rail Authority.

Her previously held positions include deputy controller for investments for State Controller Steve Westly; deputy secretary for legislation at the former Business, Transportation and Housing Agency for Gov. Gray Davis; and legislative and policy positions in the State Senate and Assembly.

Greene-Ross is a California licensed attorney with a degree in finance from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School.

Nicole Winger will serve as deputy state controller for communications.

Winger most recently served as deputy secretary for communications for California Secretary of State Debra Bowen.

She previously served as a senior consultant for Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, Assemblymember Nicole Parra, and as a communications director at the California Department of Education.

Winger graduated from Whittier College, earning her bachelor's degree cum laude in political science and English.

Becca Doten will serve as assistant deputy state controller in the controller’s Los Angeles office.

Most recently serving as the campaign manager for McDonnell for LA County Sheriff, Doten directed the crisis response team for the office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Prior to that position, she served as chief of staff and communications director in the office of Richard Alarcon.

Doten is a sworn reserve officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California magna cum laude in film production.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Thursday, Jan. 15, Redbud Audubon Society program meeting will be presented by Dr. Floyd Hayes, professor of biology at Pacific Union College.

Dr. Hayes will present his work on grebe conservation at Clear Lake.

All are invited to attend this meeting at the group's new location, Lower Lake Community United Methodist Church Social Hall, 16255 Second St.

Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m., with the meeting beginning at 7:15 p.m.

During the past five summers, from 2010 to 2014, the Redbud Audubon Society has joined two other chapters of California Audubon in a cooperative project promoting the conservation of Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes on several lakes in northern California.

Financed by oil spill mitigation funds administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Fish and Wildlife Federation, the project has focused on monitoring the breeding success of grebes, documenting nesting disturbances, deploying warning signs and buoys around the perimeter of nesting colonies, and educating the public about various threats to the grebes’ reproductive success and how the threats may be reduced.

The Redbud Audubon Society has focused on the grebes of Clear Lake, which supports one of the largest breeding populations of grebes in California.

Dr. Hayes, an ornithologist, has been contracted by Redbud Audubon to work on this project, studying the grebes of Clear Lake.

“Each summer I have been monitoring their breeding activities with the assistance of several students from Pacific Union College and a few local birders. We usually visit the lake twice a week and canoe five to 15 miles in search of active grebe nests, which we count and monitor for disturbances,” Dr. Hayes explained.

Join Redbud Audubon Jan. 15 to learn about grebes, how they are monitored, their colonies, and where they nest in Clear Lake, Rodman Slough, Manning Creek, Rumsey Slough, Long Tule Point and Anderson Marsh.

Redbud Audubon meetings through April will be held at the Lower Lake Community United Methodist Church Social Hall.

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. The church is on the right.

The move to Lower Lake is a way to accommodate Audubon members countywide.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Service’s Director, Caroline C. Chavez announced that the Eastlake Landfill and the Lakeport Public Services office will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Residential pickup will be on their regular scheduled day.

Both facilities will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Normal operating hours at the landfill are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The Public Services office is normally open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information visit the county Web site at www.recycling.co.ca.us or call 707-262-1618.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Under the leadership of President Marva Brandt and her officers the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club continues to meet club objectives.

Those objectives include:

– To study and enjoy amateur gardening in its various aspects and applications.

– To encourage civic beautification and roadside development.

– To assist in projects for the conservation of our natural resources.

– To encourage members to participate in various local, district and state projects.

During 2014's monthly club meetings members shared information regarding flowering plants they have under cultivation and enjoyed educational programs presented by the club. Members grow and pool their plants for an annual fundraiser. 

Civic beautification projects include maintenance and planting at the Veterans Blue Star Memorial, Library Park, Lakeport Library, Hartley Cemetery Chapel and the Ely Stage Stop.

The club donated to the National Forest Reforestation Program, which has planted 27 million trees on 88,000 acres of burned over land. 

As a member of the Mendo-Lake District, which includes five clubs, three meetings are attended where an exchange of ideas is  encouraged. 

Educational programs are presented and information from California Garden Clubs Inc. is discussed and passed on each of the five garden clubs. 

Other scheduled activities include garden therapy, flower arranging classes, a mum show, the daffodil tea, wreath making, scholarships, field trips and tours and Christmas luncheon.  

They have the privilege of "kicking off" 2015 with a program presented by JoAnn Saccato, MA, teacher, inspirational speaker and published author with a thought-provoking title of "How to increase your gardening pleasure through mindfulness.”

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport. 

You're invited to visit a garden club meeting which meets at noon on the third Tuesday of each month (except July and August) in the Scott's Valley Women's Clubhouse.

As a member you can share your knowledge and learn more about all aspects of gardening.  

For more information please call Marva Brandt at 707-279-1625 or visit www.clttgc.org .

CLTTGC is a member of Mendo-Lake District, California Garden Clubs Inc. Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

Jerry Shaul is publicity chairman for Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club.