Sixty-seven nominations were received this year, according to Lake County Chamber President Armand Pauly.

Once again the residents of Lake County have identified individuals, organizations and businesses which they feel go above and beyond to make life better in Lake County.

Tickets are going quickly, Pauly said, and can be obtained at the Lake County Chamber office at 875 Lakeport Blvd., at Vista Point in Lakeport.

Tickets are $60 per person for the reception and awards dinner.

Music is being provided by Tony Barthel, a chamber director and owner of the Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast in Nice.

To round out the evening for all attendees, there will be dancing following the awards program where 22 nominees will receive their 2011 Stars of Lake County Awards.

The Lake County Chamber is pleased to partner with Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino and the Lake County Record-Bee to bring this premier event to the community each year.

Without the sponsorships of local businesses, this event could not happen.

Where it takes a village to raise a child, it truly takes a County to acknowledge all these wonderful nominees comments Pauly.

For questions about tickets or the event in general, please call the chamber at 707-263-5092.

Wake up in your private condo to fresh, floral air and end your day on a balcony offering majestic Pacific Ocean sunsets.

If this sounds like your dream vacation you have a terrific chance of winning it in the Hospice Services of Lake County Maui Dream Vacation Raffle.

The Maui dream vacation includes one week in a private condo located in the prestigious Valley Isle Resort in Kahana, Maui along with $1,500 in cash for airfare, meals and an extra pair of flip flops.

Raffle tickets go on sale Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Hospice Services of Lake County office located at 1717 S. Main St. in Lakeport (right next door to the Hospice Thrift Shoppe).

The tickets cost $50 each and can be purchased by cash, check or credit card.

Ticket sales are limited to 200.

The condo will be scheduled according to availability.

For more information on the Maui Dream Vacation Raffle, or to enter, please contact Hospice Services of Lake County at 707-263-6222.

The SLFSC is operated solely by volunteers. Its mission is to allocate significant resources to wildfire education, prevention and preparedness projects in the South Lake County area.

In 2010 the community's support helped the council to provide inexpensive chipping at more than 100 residential sites.

The council was able to create over a mile of shaded fuel break each on Shenandoah Road and Bottle Rock Road.

In 2011 they will again be providing inexpensive chipping to supporting members.

A $25 support membership entitles the member to half an hour of chipping.

Chipping will be done for supporting members in May, July, September and November.

Requests for chipping in May are due by May 26.

Chipping request forms are available at fire stations in Middletown, Cobb, Hidden Valley Lake, Cobb Area Water District and Loch Lomond Mail Express.

The forms also are online at www.southlakefiresafecouncil.org.

The community's support enables the council to do the projects that help make the community safer.

Even if you don’t need chipping, making each part of the South County area safer helps all areas to be safer.

Supporting memberships enable the council to get funding to do the projects necessary to keep all residents safe.

Your contributions are tax-deductible.

Supporting membership forms are available at the Fire Station on Highway 175 in Middletown or at www.southlakefiresafecouncil.org.

The South Lake Fire Safe Council meets on the first Saturday of each month at the Fire Station on Highway 175 in Middletown at 10 a.m.

All interested people are invited to attend.

Since the council's efforts are all voluntary, you probably have some skills that will help.

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

Caltrans will suspend work on Northern California highways on Monday, Feb. 21, in observance of President’s Day. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary for Caltrans maintenance forces to respond to emergency situations.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Gladys Street beginning Tuesday, Feb. 22. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Metal beam guardrail repair at the Saint Helena Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

Highway 175

– Metal beam guardrail repair 3.0 miles east of the Lake/Mendocino County line 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. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the junction of Route29/175 near Kelseyville to the junction of Route29.175 in Middletown beginning Tuesday, Feb. 22. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

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 24 hours per day from 8 p.m. Sunday through 3 p.m. Friday. 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.

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.

Please keep in mind work on all these projects is 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).

The group will serve polenta, chicken Parmesan, salad, bread and dessert.

The bar will be open at 5 p.m. for socializing and dinner will be served at 6 p.m.

After the meal there will be dancing to the music of the High Notes.

Tickets are $15 at the door, dancing-only tickets at 7 p.m. Cost $10.

You do not have to be Italian to join in the fun.

For information about this event or having your own event at the lodge call 707-274-9952.