LAKE COUNTY – “Women's Voices” on KPFZ 88.1 FM will feature a discussion on fire safety on its July 1 show.

The show will be broadcast from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The July 1 show will feature Linda Juntunen, project coordinator for the Lake County Fire Safe Council, and her colleague Jeff Tunnell, a fire mitigation and education specialist with the Bureau of Land Management's Ukiah Field Office.

Listeners will hear practical and important information about creating a fire safe environment around their homes and in their communities.

Join hosts Lenny Matthews, Rae Eby-Carl and Loretta McCarthy for the discussion.

The show encourages listeners to call in. The studio phone is 707-263-3435.

LAKE COUNTY – Of the many aspects of the county fair, the commercial exhibits have been the most constant throughout the millennia. Vendors offering their wares have been found at festivals and bazaars, farmers markets and fairs throughout recorded human history.

Lake County Fair’s commercial exhibit booth rental program is in full swing, and spaces are filling quickly.

The fair hosts around 120 commercial spaces each year. In recent years, more than 85 percent of them are filled by organizations from Lake or Mendocino counties.

Due to the economic times and the high percentage of local commercial exhibitors, Lake County Fair has not increased rents since 2008.

In the last survey taken of fair patrons, more than 90 were from Lake County, and the majority of the remaining 10 percent were from Mendocino County.

Lake County Fair provides exposure to approximately 37,000 people in four days, so local businesses can talk to and demonstrate their wares for more local people during the four days of the Lake County Fair then they can at any other event or activity all year long, in either Lake or Mendocino counties.

What are known in the fair industry as “commercial exhibits” are businesses selling their products, nonprofits offering information about their causes and government agencies performing outreach to the public.

In an election year like 2010, fairgoers can also expect to see numerous booths providing information about various candidates, and often have the chance to talk directly with the candidates themselves.

Because of the extra demand from political candidates, booth space often fills more quickly in an election year, and all potential exhibitors are encouraged to contract for space early.

Each commercial exhibitor purchases a booth space, sets up a display and, hopefully, greets fairgoers with a smile. Many stand the test of time, returning year after year to greet fairgoers once again.

Historically, county fairs have seen significant gains during down economies, and the industry trend in 2010 supports this pattern.

Spring fairs are can be poor indicators of how the year will turn out because weather is such a huge influence on outdoor events like county fairs, but so far this year, fairs that have had good weather have also reported good numbers in attendance and in fairgoer spending. This trend suggests that this will be a great year for commercial exhibitors.

Commercial exhibit space is rented on a flat fee basis. At the Lake County Fair, commercial space rents vary between $300 and $700 for a 10 foot wide by 10 foot deep space. Space rent is determined by supply and demand. Spaces located in the highest traffic areas of the event are in the highest demand, and have the highest rents.

Commercial exhibit spaces at the Lake County Fair start selling in January, and are filling quickly for the 2010 event, but spaces are still are available in all price ranges.

Applications for both food and commercial spaces can be found at the Lake County Fair’s Web site, www.lakecountyfair.com.

Rabbit Hill Committee member Jon Ambrose (left) of Hidden Valley Lake and South Lake County volunteer fire fighter Tony Allegra (right) of Cobb. Courtesy photo.

MIDDLETOWN – South Lake County volunteer firefighter Tony Allegra of Cobb has installed a new reflective address sign at Rabbit Hill’s trail head, 21281 Stewart St., Middletown.

Owned by the Lake County Land Trust, the 9.5-acre Rabbit Hill is a distinctive serpentine outcropping with unique vegetation and birds including western scrub jay, Hutton’s vireo, lesser goldfinch, California towhee and western bluebird.

“Nature enthusiasts are encouraged to enjoy Rabbit Hill’s short hike and mountain vistas,” said Hidden Valley Lake resident Jon Ambrose, member of Lake County Land Trust’s Rabbit Hill Committee. “The park is open for hiking from sunrise to sunset.”

South Lake County Volunteer Firefighters Association provides reflective address signs and installation for $20.

Order forms are available at the Middletown fire station, 21095 Highway 175, or P.O. Box 1193, Middletown, CA. 95461.

For more information on Rabbit Hill, see www.lakecountylandtrust.org.

Follow Lake County Land Trust on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/NWPC-Mendocino/126303984061526?ref=ts#!/pages/Lower-Lake-CA/Lake-County-Land-Trust/137282176534?ref=ts&ajaxpipe=1&__a=13 and Twitter at http://twitter.com/lclandtrust.

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 will perform routine maintenance from Ogden Road to Hillside Lane. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Hartman Road to 0.3 mile south of Hofacker Lane. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 281

– North Bay Construction of Petaluma has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for paving on Soda Bay Road. 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.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Paving from 0.1 mile north of Navarro Ridge Road to Woodstock Drive will begin Friday, June 25. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Pavement repairs at Blue Slide Gulch, just south of Westport, will continue. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Mercer-Fraser of Eureka.

– A drainage repair project from 1.4 miles south of Hales Grove to 1.2 mile south of Mill Bank Resort will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Green Right O’Way Constructors of Willits.

Highway 20

– A drainage repair project from Three Chop Road to the Chamberlain Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Kapel Construction of Willow Creek.

Highway 101

– A culvert repair project form Waterplant Road to the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Nighttime work hours are 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Black Oak Ranch of Laytonville has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to allow access for the Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival to be held 4.5 miles north of Laytonville at Black Oak Ranch Friday, June 25, through Monday, June 28. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 162

– A bridge widening project at Outlet Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

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.

– Rogina Water Co. of Talmage has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a water line from Sandford Ranch Road to Talmage Court. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

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 bridge widening project at 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 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

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).

KELSEYVILLE – The Lake County Historical Society (LCHS) will hold its annual potluck picnic from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. this Sunday, June 27, at the Lakeside County Park in Kelseyville.

The day’s first speaker will be Lake County Deputy Redevelopment Director Eric Seely, who will discuss the progress of the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum.

Then LCHS Membership Chairman Nick Voegtly will provide his firsthand account of the Gulf oil spill.

Attendees should bring a chair and utensils, including a plate, and maybe some mosquito repellent.

Donations of salads or deserts are encouraged, as hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks will be provided free for LCHS members.

Guests are welcome, however, they will be asked to contribute a small fee for the meal.

Lakeside County Park is in Kelseyville, between Konocti Vista Casino and the Clear Lake State Park. Take Soda Bay Road to Park Drive and turn toward the lake. Then turn left on St. Francis Drive and follow the crowd and the signs past the baseball fields to the picnic.

LAKEPORT – Entries for the Lake County Rodeo Cutest Cowpoke Contest for boys and girls, ages 4 to 8, are still being accepted.

Entries can be brought to the Soper Reese Theater in Lakeport, on Friday, June 25, at 6 p.m.

The contestants should be dressed in their favorite cowboy or cowgirl outfit (no live props, please).

Interviews of the contestants will be conducted by reigning 2009 Rodeo Princess Jocelyn Bennett.

Children must be accompanied by an adult and children will be judged on poise and personality. One girl and one boy will be selected.

Judging will be done by the reining Miss Lake County Rodeo Queen Nicole Ericksen, plus two guest judges. Each contestant receives a contestant pass and two guest passes to the July 9 rodeo.

For more information, please call 707-245-7431.

Following the Cutest Cowpoke Contest, the 2010 Rodeo Queen and Princess contest will begin at 7 p.m., also at the Soper Reese Theater.

These young ladies will be modeling their outfits, presenting their speeches and answering questions by their judges.

For information on this competition, please call 707-263-0741.