From left, Second District Assemblyman Jim Nielsen honors Kenneth Tyler as one of the 2011 Veterans of the Year. Nielsen will speak at the Republican Party of Lake County's annual fundraiser on Saturday, October 8, 2011, in Upper Lake, Calif.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Republican Party of Lake County's annual fundraiser at The Lodge at Blue Lakes will take place on Saturday, Oct. 8.

The fun takes place at the Lodge at Blue Lakes, 1535 W. Highway 20, Upper Lake, with cocktails at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m.

This year the group will host Second District Assemblyman Jim Nielsen as the event's guest speaker. Nielsen will speak beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Dancing to the Southern Comfort Band will follow at 8 p.m.

Nielsen graduated with a bachelor of science in agribusiness in 1967 from Fresno State College.

From 1974-1975 he also participated in the Agricultural Leadership Fellowship, a two-year leadership training program comprised of agriculturalists selected from throughout California. He was the first fellow elected to the California State Legislature in 1978.

Assemblyman Nielsen was the recipient of multiple certifications and enrolled in continuing education courses relative to agricultural management and consulting.

He lives in Gerber with his wife, Marilyn, who is currently serving as interim director of the California Arts Council. They have two daughters, three sons and three grandchildren.

Advance tickets cost $50 per person; a table of eight costs $350.

To purchase tickets call Sherrye, 707-987-9997; Jackie, 707-279-4062 or 707-490-8278; or Penny Lunt, 707-998-1386.

The grant application was written by Jo Bennett with assistance from Irehne Dishman, chairperson of Friends of the Library.

The grant provided for the purchase of children’s books for the four branches of the Lake County Library.

From these grant funds, 424 new children’s books were purchased with 106 books going to each branch.

Due to state budget reductions, the library book and materials budget was severely cut for the 2011-12 fiscal year.

The support of the Friends of the Library and the grant from the Wine Alliance has helped the library to purchase much needed new materials for the children’s collections.

Susan Clayton is the Lake County librarian.

The event will be held on Sunday, Oct. 16.

There will be more categories to enter than ever before. The contests will start at 2:30 p.m. at the PumpkinFest Children’s Stage at the corner of School and Standley streets.

Dog owners can sign up to enter the contests and races at the Blue Ribbon Pets booth at the corner of School and Standley streets only during PumpkinFest until 2 p.m. on Oct. 16. Absolutely no sign ups will be accepted after 2 p.m. Sign-ups will only be accepted from the dog’s owner.

Start sewing those cute little costumes for your canine friends and come join the fun.

For more information, please call 707-463-6231 or 707-272-7311.

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– AT&T of Fort Bragg has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from Le Trianon Resort to 0.1 mile west of the Bachelor Creek. 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.

– Robinson Rancheria of Nice has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit to construct a road approach at Reclamation Cutoff. 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.

– A pavement repair project from the junction of Routes 20/53 to the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. In two-lane sections, one-way traffic control will be in effect and motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. In three-lane sections, traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel and motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa. LC#C20WA, ZA

Highway 29

– A pavement repair project from the Lake/Napa County line to Spruce Grove Road will continue. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 8 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Bottle Rock Road to Thomas Drive will begin Monday, Sept. 19. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – V A P Construction, Incorporated, of La Miranda.

Highway 53

– Highway widening from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 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 – Sierra Equipment Rental of Glenn.

Highway 175

– A pavement repair project from the Lake/Mendocino County line to the junction of Routes 29/175 in Kelseyville will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Installation of a roundabout at Simpson Lane will continue. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Fedco Construction Inc. of Santa Rosa.

– Storm damage repairs near the Union Landing Viaduct will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Valentine Corporation of San Rafael.

Highway 20

– Bridge deck repairs at the Russian River Overhead will continue on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 19 and 20. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

Highway 101

– Bridge deck repairs at the Russian River Bridge just south of Geysers Road will continue on Monday, Sept. 19. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka. LC#C101AD

– Slide repairs north of the Korean War Veterans War Memorial Bridge 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 – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– Installation of cable median barrier from the El Roble Overcrossing to the junction of Routes 20/101 will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday afternoon. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Ghilotti Brothers of San Rafael.

– A pavement repair project from the Robinson Creek Bridge to Uva Drive will continue. Work hours are 5 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. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– Bridge deck repairs at the Orr Springs Road Undercrossing will continue on Monday, Sept. 19. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– Fence repair from Casteel Lane to 0.5 mile north of the Upp Creek Bridge will begin Tuesday, September 20. 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 – V A P Construction Inc. of La Miranda.

– Construction of retaining walls from Bell Springs Road to 0.7 mile south of the Cummins Road Undercrossing will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – J F Shea Construction Inc. of Redding.

– Fence repair north of the Empire C a.m.p Rest Area will begin Thursday, Sept. 22. Work hours are 7 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. Contractor – V A P Construction Inc. of La Miranda.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the Jitney Gulch Bridge on Monday, Sept. 19. Work hours are noon to 4 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Confusion Hill to the Humboldt/Mendocino County line. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 128

– A pavement repair project from the Mill Creek Bridge the Indian Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– The Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold a parade through Booneville on Sunday, Sept. 18 from noon to 1:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Culvert repairs from 0.6 to 1.3 miles east of Mountain House Road will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Team Ghilotti of Petaluma.

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.

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).

Equipment such as traffic-counting hoses will be set up at selected locations throughout the county.

In addition to automated equipment, some of the traffic counts will be performed by staff.

These traffic counts are being undertaken as part of a traffic modeling project in partnership with the Lake County/City Area Planning Council.

The data collected will be used to help model current and future roadway conditions, and to evaluate proposed improvement projects.

Caltrans asks that motorists drive with caution through all areas where road crews are present.

For more information, please contact Senior Transportation Planner Rex Jackman at 707-445-6412.