UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Redwood Empire Civil War Round Table will hold its next meeting on Monday, March 7, at 6:15 p.m.

The location will be at the historic Tallman Hotel in downtown Upper Lake.

The featured speaker will be Dr. Bill Cornelison, former Lake County schools superintendent.

Dr. Cornelison will be speaking about the leaders of the two sides in the conflict, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.

This will be followed by a short presentation by Phil Smoley on other events that transpired in March 1861 that led up to the start of the war.

A discussion of the presentations will follow.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

The management of the Blue Wing Saloon (restaurant next door) is offering an “early bird special” – 10 percent off the bill of any round table attendee (reservation must be for 5:30 p.m. or earlier to receive discount). Call 707-275-2233 for reservations if you want to have dinner there prior to the round table.

For more information contact Zane Jensen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Phil Smoley at 707-264-4905.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Cole Creek Equestrian Center is pleased to announce the return of popular author and clinician Jec Ballou for a series of clinics for 2011.

This year's first clinic is Saturday, April 9,and Sunday, April 10.

The newly constructed Cole Creek Equestrian Center is centrally located in Kelseyville off Steelhead Road and features a large covered arena with state of the art footing, round pen, and guest stabling with paddock and stalls, surrounded by miles of scenic trails.

Jec Ballou has taught in Lake County for five seasons, and brings her good communication skills and keen eye to both her private and group lessons.

She has studied with numerous European dressage masters, and currently is mentored by Manolo Mendez, past head rider for the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Arts in Jerez, Spain.

In addition to her solo clinics in the North and East Bay areas and in Santa Cruz county, she has recently collaborated with accredited fitness trainers and natural horsemanship coaches to produce clinics which address human and equine fitness for every rider and horse discipline.

Ballou also was a featured speaker at the 2010 Horse Expo Sacramento and the Equine Affaire in Southern California last month.

Ballou's second book, “Equine Fitness,” published in 2010, presents a collection of ridden and in-hand exercises targeting specific muscle groups in your horse, leading to increased stamina and suppleness appropriate for all riding endeavors, and producing a healthier, happier horse.

Her basic philosophy is, “Dressage principles for every equine athlete.”

Private and group lessons are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please contact Kate Schmidt-Hopper for detailed information and to request a registration packet at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 707-987-0421 or 707-355-0358.

A visit to Ballou's Web site will offer more information about this clinician, www.jecballou.com.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A forum on SmartMeters will be held on Friday, March 4.

It will take place beginning at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

Clearlake resident Leslie Sheridan, a health consultant in the area of protection from “electro-pollution,” and editor and publisher of the online publication The Carpe Diem Voice will facilitate the meeting.

Guest speakers will include Lloyd Morgan, an internationally-recognized expert in the electromagnetic frequencies/radiation (EMF/EMR,) and electronic engineer with 38 years of industrial experience, and William Stranger, Lake County resident and program director of the Calistoga Institute, a Napa-based policy institute dedicated to developing effective and sustainable community-based health care systems.

They will tell the untold story of why the public is or should be concerned about these meters, share information about alleged health dangers surrounding this technology, discuss what different legislators and counties/cities are doing to protect citizens and share how to stop the meters' installation.

The event is free, and in the spirit of an inclusive discussion, will provide an opportunity for public comment as well as a question and answer period.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– AT&T of Walnut Creek has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs 0.8 mile east of Rosemont Drive beginning Monday, March 7. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Metal be a.m. guardrail repair at the Saint Helena Creek Bridge will continue beginning Tuesday, March 8. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

– Metal be a.m. guardrail repair at the Coyote Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield. LC#C29IG

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming 0.2 mile north of Airport Road through Friday, March 4. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming 2.0 miles south of Blue Slide Gulch through Friday, March 4. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 101

– A pavement repair project from the Robinson Creek Bridge to Uva Drive will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 4 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Southbound 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. Northbound ramps at Lake Mendocino Drive (Exit 552), Calpella (Exit 555A), and Route 20 (Exit 555B) as well as southbound ramps at West Road (Exit 557), Route 20 (Exit 555B) and Calpella (Exit 555A) will be intermittently closed. Motorists will be advised to use an alternate route and may experience minor delays. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– Repair of a slipout from 3.4 to 1.2 miles south of Ridgewood Ranch Road will continue. 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. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

Highway 222

– Replacement of the Russian River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays during work hours and five-minute delays at other times. Contractor – CC Myers of Rancho Cordova.

All projects are weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans wishes to advise 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.

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).

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Join Transition Lake County and the East Lake Grange this Saturday, March 5, for a fun-filled day of events in building resilient community.

The event will be held at the East Lake Grange Hall No. 727, 12982 Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks.

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. a re-skilling workshop will take place.

Re-skilling is the process of sharing skills that will improve our lives – particularly those skills that build community resilience, our ability to meet our needs here locally now and into the future.

Join in one of several re-skilling classes planned for this event – or teach your own. Workshops currently planned include:

• Energy efficiency and affordable weatherization with Trina Johnson: Participate in weatherizing the grange hall, and learn about insulation and energy efficiency. They also will build window-box solar collectors, a fun hands-on project.

• Beginning a community garden with Lindsay Dailey: Join them behind the grange's back parking lot (weather permitting) to begin a small community garden patch. Help sheet-mulch the space, and learn about what it takes to start your own garden.

• Holistic health: There will be two workshops. Catherine Hammond will teach about local medicinal herbs and share her vision for a community herb garden space in Lower Lake. Nils Palsson will share and demonstrate self-healing strategies, including Reiki (hands-on healing with intention), the Fluid Body Model and Language of Healing (because your body believes every word you say), and a short presentation on how to make your own colloidal silver at home.

Want to teach a class? There will be plenty of future re-skilling events, and they would love for you to participate (or create your own).

If you'd like to get involved, write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit the re-skilling working group page at www.transitionlakecounty.org, or call 707-928-0159.

From 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dailey will offer an introduction to permaculture talk with a question and answer session.

Learn about the basics of permaculture (or share what you know) in this accessible and free talk, open to the public, introducing the topic of permaculture and discussing some of its core principles and key applications.

This talk also will include information about the upcoming permaculture design course, coming to Lake County this spring.

From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (or later) there will be live music performances, a potluck and community jamboree.

Enjoy live performances by local singer/songwriter Allen Markowski, Idaho songwriters and performers Mitch and Will Sevy, and Lee Penn Sky, followed by a community musical jam. Bring your instruments, your voice, and your dancing shoes.

Also feel free to bring a healthy dish to share – as well as your own re-usable plate, cup, silverware and napkin.

For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-928-0159.