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

– Caltrans began routine maintenance from Burpee Drive to Foothill Drive on Monday, Aug. 23. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thusday. One-way traffic control will be in

effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Sidewalk repairs from the Morrison Creek Bridge to Country Club Drive began Monday, Aug. 23. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel and motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Quimu Contracting, Incorporated of Dixon.

Highway 29

– Chip sealing from the Lake/Napa County line to Hidden Valley Road will continue. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – International Surfacing Systems of West Sacramento.

– Paving from the junction of Route 29/175 near Lakeport to Mockingbird Lane will continue. Work hours are 4 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of

travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Ramps at Lakeport Boulevard (Exit 102), 11th Street (Exit 103), Park Way (Exit 106), and Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road (Exit 108) will be intermittently closed. No more than one onramp and offramp will be closed at a time. Motorists will

be advised to use an alternate route and may experience minor delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 175

– Chip sealing from Cobb to the junction of Route 29/175 will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekdays. 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

– Installation of a radar feedback sign near Philo Greenwood Road 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 – Mike Brown Electric of Cotati.

– A drainage repair project from 1.4 miles south of Hales Grove to 2.1 miles south of Mill Bank Resort will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in

effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Green Right O’Way Constructors of Willits.

Highway 101

– A metal beam guardrail repair project at various locations from 0.1 mile north of the Mendocino/ Sonoma County line to 0.3 mile south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge began Friday, Aug. 20. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 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 from Mill Company Road to 0.6 mile north of Carpenter Lane began Sunday, Aug. 22. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday

morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– A pavement repair project from the El Roble Overcrossing to Uva Drive began Monday, Aug. 23. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– Installation of rock slope protection from Reeves Canyon Road to Black Bart Drive will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of

travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

Highway 162

– Storm damage repair east of Sand Bank Creek will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Contractor – Granite Construction 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.

Highway 253

– Construction of a retaining wall from Singley Cattlepass to the Soda Creek Bridge 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 – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

– A storm repair project from 0.8 mile east of the Soda Creek Bridge to Butler Ranch will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists

should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

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).

Miranda Wanzer and her sheep are preparing for the Lake County Fair. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Hi, my name is Miranda Wanzer. I am 14 years old and this is my sixth year in the Scotts Valley 4-H Club.

I am taking a market swine and lamb to the Lake County Fair along with my breeding ewe and my dog, Brody.

Like all of Lake County’s 4-Hers, I have been working extremely hard this summer to make my market animals the best meat quality that they can be.

The 4-H program helps youth achieve and understand the importance of developing responsibility, life skills, ability to work with others, and to grow into a well-rounded person.

It offers a wide variety of projects and ways to achieve their goals to be a more responsible and a better individual.

One of these projects includes the animal projects. The animal species that they raise can vary between rabbits and poultry to sheep, swine, goats, and steer.

Through the ups and downs in raising our projects, us 4-Hers strive to make our animals the best that they can be for your convenience.

I, on behalf of my fellow 4-hers, would like to invite you to the Lake County Junior Livestock Auction on Sept. 4. A free buyer’s luncheon will be held at 10:30 a.m. and the auction starts at 1 p.m.

Please come and support local hard working 4-Hers and purchase high quality meat.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Hunger Task Force will offer canning lessons on Wednesday, Sept. 8.

The canning of fruits and vegetables will be taught at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Third and Church.

The session will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Preregistration is required and the class size is limited to 12.

The cost is $20, of which $10 will be refunded the day of the class. Please call 707-277-9227 to register.

Pears and tomatoes will be featured, as those are the most abundant crops in Lake County at this time of year.

The Hunger Task Force feels that canning is one of the best ways to take advantage of the abundance of crops, but is becoming a lost art.

All participants should come dressed for a hands-on experience in each step of the process.

Please do not wear sandals, and remove all rings prior to arrival.

Upon completion of the lessons, each participating household will be given a water bath canner, a book, and a jar lifter, unless they are repeating the class.

Please, no children.

Please call as soon as possible to register.

Cool beverages, finger food, perhaps watermelons, blankets, utensils and chairs will be welcome additions.

The goal of Transition Towns is to engage the genius of community to transition from oil dependency to local resilience.

It started a few years ago in England and is so successful it's going viral globally.

At the very heart and core of Transition Towns is its grassroots nature. The vision for the future of Lake County is in our hands and hearts. We have the experience, knowledge and creative energy to make our own future, in community, together.

The truth of this was very clear at TLC's first get-acquainted potluck held in a little park in Kelseyville on the afternoon of Aug. 3. Forty-five to 50 people from all over the county and from every walk of life met for a truly great get-together. The food was amazing in its quality and quantity, and the people were even better – full of ideas and positive energy. People were still hanging out and talking long after dark.

At this gathering on Aug. 29, the focus will be on the true beginnings and specifics of change.

Following brief introductory presentations they will break up into groups depending on areas of interest and knowledge: food, water, energy, transportation, education and much more.

Everyone has knowledge, expertise and skills to contribute as we create our vision of a healthier, happier and more resilient Lake County.

What do you have to give? Come and share it.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Vehicle Amnesty Days will be held around Lake County starting Friday, Sept. 10.

This program is available for the unincorporated areas of Lake County and both cities.

This is an excellent opportunity to get rid of those junk cars and parts, and help Keep Lake County beautiful.

Extra motors (without oil), vehicle parts and batteries can also be brought to the amnesty sites for free disposal. However, the vehicle cannot have extra tires or garbage and no motor homes, school busses or travel trailers will be accepted.

The Vehicle Amnesty Days begin on Friday, Sept. 10, and Saturday, Sept. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Middletown Towing and Vehicle Dismantlers, located at 15970 Polk Ave. off Highway 53 in Clearlake. Middletown Towing will accept large trucks and school buses.

The second Vehicle Amnesty Days event will be held on Friday, Oct. 1, and Saturday, Oct. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Last Mile Auto Dismantlers on 1205 West Highway 20 in Upper Lake.

The final Vehicle Amnesty Days event will be held Friday, Nov 5, and Saturday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kelseyville Auto Salvage on 7666 Highway 29 west of Kit’s Corner in Kelseyville.

If you do not have a title for the vehicle, that’s OK. They will take it anyway. If your vehicle is not registered the Department of Motor Vehicles in Lakeport will provide a no-fee one trip permit per vehicle for the amnesty day you choose.

Last Mile Auto Dismantlers, north of Upper Lake on Highway 20, has agreed to provide discount tows for this event in their area. Call 707-275-2259 to set your appointment.

The Lake County Code Enforcement Division and the California Highway Patrol are coordinating the event. If you have questions, call Lake County Code Enforcement at 707-263-2309.

Corey Thomas shows off the turkeys he's raised in 4-H. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Hello, my name is Corey Thomas, age 15, sophomore at Kelseyville High School. I’m in Kelseyville 4-H and participating in the poultry project where I raise turkeys, two of which will be going to the Lake County Fair for showmanship and auction.

This was my first year in 4-H and my first time raising turkeys.

With the help of my group leader, Karen Hayes, I purchased my first turkeys and raised them from week-old poults.

My family and I also decided that besides raising the popular broad-breasted birds that we all eat at Thanksgiving, we should start a couple of flocks of rare American heritage turkey breeds whose existence is threatened because they are no longer grown commercially.

We now have a flock each of Narragansetts and Bourbon Reds. These birds grow more slowly than broad-breasted turkeys and if our flocks breed successfully, some of these beautiful birds may be available next year.