Margo Frank will be Val Muchowski’s guest on Women’s Voices on KZYX 90.5 FM and KZYZ 91.5 FM on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at 7 p.m.

Margo Frank is a licensed clinical social worker with almost 20 years of experience working with older adults and their families. This experience has helped her understand the challenges of growing old in a culture that worships youth.

Many folks find themselves caring for elderly parents in the last years of their lives. How can people honor their parents’ needs as well as their own and their partner’s needs?

As we age, what does it mean to be an elder. It is important to mark the time when we cross that threshold into our later years, to review the lives we have lived and to honor the precious years that remain.

Listen to Margo Frank and Val Muchowski on Jan. 3, 2011.

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– The county of Lake has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for sewer repairs from 0.3 mile west of Red Hill Lane to Nice-Lucerne Cuttoff Road. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– The county of Lake has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for the construction of Alpine Park through Friday, Dec. 23. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 29

– Pavement repairs from the Lake/Napa County line to Hidden Valley Road will continue Tuesday, Dec. 28, and Wednesday, Dec. 29. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – International Surfacing Systems of West Sacramento.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance 4.0 miles south of Elk on Wednesday, Dec. 29. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 101

– A metal beam guardrail repair project at various locations from the El Roble Overcrossing to 2.3 miles north of Reeves Canyon Road will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. The southbound offramp to Route 222 (Talmage Road Exit 548A) will be intermittently closed from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday morning. Motorists will be advised to use an alternate route and may experience minor delays. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– A metal beam guardrail repair project at various locations from 2.2 miles south of Ridgewood Ranch Road to the Haehl Overhead will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– A metal beam guardrail repair project at various locations from Big Trails Drive to the northern Long Valley Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– Pavement striping from 0.1 mile south of Harwood Road to 2.5 miles south of Rattlesnake Summit will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Mercer-Fraser Company of Eureka.

– A metal beam guardrail repair project at various locations from the Cummings Road Overcrossing to 0.6 mile south of the junction of Route 101/271 near Reynolds will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance 1.0 mile south of the Dora Creek Bridge on Tuesday, Dec. 28. Work hours are 9 a.m. to noon. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

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).

Miss Lake County Loren Berlinn, gift basket winner Patricia Beedle and Lioness President Carol Thompson at the Konocti Lioness Club's Christmas luncheon meeting on Thursday, December 16, 2010, in Kelseyville, Calif. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – At the Dec. 16 Christmas luncheon meeting held at the Riviera Hills Restaurant in Clearlake Riviera, the Konocti Lioness Club had as its special guest Miss Lake County Loren Berlinn and her Director Sandra Orchid.

The club asked Berlinn to draw the winning ticket for the Christmas gift basket for which the Lioness had sold tickets to raise funds for their camperships for youngsters with special needs.

Funds are also donated to assist needy youngsters and families at Christmas time.

The winner of the Christmas basket was Patricia Beedle of Kelseyville.

In January, The Coach Potato Giveaway begins where customers have the chance to win a 60-inch flat screen high definition TV and leather sofa packages along with other cash and prizes.

It begins on Jan. 3 and continues through Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 6.

Also beginning in January the Love Bug Giveaway begins. Twin Pine will be giving away a VW Beetle to a lucky customer on Feb. 13.

On Wednesdays in February the Sweetheart Getaway Giveaway takes place. Twin Pine casino guests are eligible to win vacation packages, hotel stays, his and her massages and more.

February also features the Show Me the Lincoln’s promotion on Presidents Day, Feb. 21. There will be hot seat drawings for cash and free play as well as $5 food and drink specials.

The Keep the Points Promotions continue throughout January and February. Casino customers can earn complimentary meals for points earned daily Monday through Friday and can also receive free gift giveaways each month.

For both promotions, Harvest Club members simply earn the rewards based on the points they accumulate and receive the premiums with no points deducted from their accounts.

The featured wineries of the month are Beringer Vineyards in January and Domain Chandon in February. Wine tastings will take place on Jan. 21 and Feb. 18.

Twin Pine Casino & Hotel also will be hosting a Big Game Party on Feb. 6 with food and drink specials in the lounge and a scratch off promotion for all customers with cash prizes awarded each quarter and a chance to win $25,000.

The Manzanita Restaurant has a special menu in store for Valentines Day, Feb. 14, and the casino will continue its entertainment schedule in the Grapevine Lounge with DJs on Fridays, live bands on Saturdays and comedy nights every other Thursdays.

For more information visit www.twinpine.com or call 800-564-4872.

Twin Pine Casino & Hotel is located at 22223 Highway 29 at Rancheria Road, Middletown.

Pictured are Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians Tribal Council Chairman Carl Rivera, Christina Diaz, Debra Sanchez and Tribal Council Representative Tim Rivera. Courtesy photo.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Twin Pine Casino and Hotel recently concluded its annual holiday food drive.

During the drive, the casino collected more than 8,000 canned and dried food items, which have been donated to the Spirit of the Season Rural Food Project.

The food is distributed to families in need throughout the Lake County area to help make their holidays a little bit brighter.

“We are happy to be a part of this community effort and be able to participate in such a worthwhile cause,” said Carl Rivera, tribal council chairman of the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians, which owns and operates the casino.

If anyone is interested in donating more food items or making a tax-deductible donation to the Spirit of the Season effort, contact Hedy Montoya at 707-987-8139.

Twin Pine Casino & Hotel is located at 22223 Highway 29 at Rancheria Road in Middletown, telephone 707-987-0197 or 800-564-4872.

Visit the casino online at www.TwinPine.com .

From left to right, Barbara Breunig, Lakeport Main Street Association Board of Directors president; Ari Lopez, association board vice president; and association Executive Director Carol Hays about to draw the winners from the Christmas bag and award the checks on Tuesday, December 21, 2010, in Lakeport, Calif. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The downtown Lakeport “Shop for Cash” contest concluded Tuesday with a drawing at Museum Square where the winners of three cash prizes were announced.

First prize of $500 went to Lyle Madeson of Kelseyville. Second place winner, bringing home $250, was Lilly Fiora of Clearlake Oaks. In third place, winning $100, was Gary Dromi of Lakeport.

The contest was sponsored by the Lakeport Main Street Association (LMSA).

More than 200 shoppers competed in “Shop for Cash” by purchasing from a local merchant in amounts of $50 or more and spending a total of $250 at one or all of 12 participating stores over a three week period.

Downtown Lakeport merchants taking part in the contest were Campos Casuals, The Game Shop, ENVY Tanning Salon, Healing Earth Gifts, Hillside Honda, The Kitchen Gallery, Lakeport Tire & Auto, Main Street Gallery, Main Street Gifts, Pieces Boutique, Shari’s Secret Garden and Watershed Books.

The Lakeport Main Street Association was formed to unite businesses in the downtown Lakeport corridor with a common goal.

This goal, ultimately, is to improve and maintain a thriving downtown, thereby attracting diners as well as shoppers to our city.

From left to right, Lakeport Main Street Association Executive Director Carol Hays and Lilly Fiora of Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Fiora was the second place winner of downtown Lakeport's Shop for Cash contest, taking home $250 in cash on Tuesday, December 21, 2010. Courtesy photo.