SACRAMENTO – Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) has been appointed to the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care by the Judicial Council of California.

Her term will run from March 1 2012 through June 30, 2014.

The commission is charged with making recommendations to the Judicial Council on strategies to improve the state’s foster care system and juvenile courts.  

“I am honored to serve on a commission that provides access to justice children who need a voice in the system,” said Evans. “The foster care and the judicial systems must work together diligently to protect the children in our care.”

Evans represents the Second Senatorial District, including all or portions of the Counties of Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma. Senator Evans Chairs the Legislative Women’s Caucus and the Committee on Judiciary.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Karan Mackey, owner of Lakeport English Inn Bed and Breakfast, has joined the Lake County Quilt Trail.

The quilt block Mackey chose is dedicated to her mother, Ruth Henry.

She chose Double Wedding Ring because this pattern was her grandmother’s favorite design.

The quilt block was hung on the bed and breakfast located at 675 N. Main St. (at the corner of Seventh Street), on Saturday, March 3, 2012. GPS location:  N39°02’47” W122°54’55”.

“My mother showed me the joy of quilting,” said Mackey. “Her joy is in making quilts and mine is in buying quilts.”

In 1875, Sarchel Bynum built a home on this location and it remains part of the historical inn.

The residence has played an active role in Lakeport’s history.

In 1881, a doctor practiced medicine on the lower level and his family lived upstairs.

In the late 1920s, it became the first Lake County hospital.

Be sure and look for the surgery sign displayed in the inn’s window.
 
In 1946, the hospital moved to Lakeshore Boulevard. Thereafter, the building returned to being a  family residence.

The Manning family and Mackey family lived in the house for  30 years each.

Phase II of the Lake County Quilt Trail is now complete. A total of 25 quilt blocks are hung on family barns and public buildings throughout Lake County.  

For information and a printable map, go to www.lakecountyquilttrail.com .

The all-volunteer Lake County Quilt Trail project team is gearing up for phase III and will begin painting in May or earlier if warm weather arrives.  

To apply for your own quilt barn display, contact Bethany Rose, 707-263-5744, or visit Kerrie’s Quilting Shop at 1853 N. High St., or call, 707-263-8555.

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

– Clearlake Oaks Water District has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs near Spring Road beginning Monday, March 19. 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 175

– Metal beam guardrail repair from 2.4 to 1.9 miles south of Mathews Road will resume Monday, March 19. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Replacement of the Greenwood 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 10-minute delays.
Contractor – Golden Gate Bridge Inc. of Martinez.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the Navarro River Bridge on Wednesday, March 21. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the Salmon Creek Bridge on Tuesday, March 20. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the Albion River Bridge beginning Thursday, March 22. 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.

– Soroptimist International of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for the annual 5K/10K Run and Walk on Saturday, March 17. Turns onto Laurel Avenue will be restricted 7 a.m. to noon. Motorists are advised to use an alternate route.

Highway 101

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs 0.6 mile south of Ten Mile Creek Road on Friday, March 16. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 128

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from 0.4 mile east of the junction of Routes 128/253 to 1.5 miles east of the Dry Creek Bridge beginning Monday, March 19. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the junction of Routes 101/175 to the Lake/Mendocino County line through Friday, March 16. 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.

Work on all these projects is weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans advises 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).

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Join Adrianna Guardado, member of the Blue Heron 4-h club, in raising money for Meals on Wheels through the March for Meals fundraiser.

Lakeport Senior Center provides more than 55,000 meals annually to seniors with less than 25 percent of the cost of each meal covered by government, state and county grants.

The remainder of the money must be raised through fundraising efforts like this March for Meals.

As part of Guardado's emerald star project, she has joined with Lakeport Senior Center in raising awareness and donations for this event.

Every penny counts. Donation jars have been placed in in the following stores throughout Lakeport: Taqueria la Mexicana, Fiesta Market, Touch of Class, Lake Country Furniture, Flowers By Jackie, Park Place, Watershed Books, Perko's, Rays BBQ, Pet Country, Union Tattoo Studio and the Lake County 4H Office.

Donations could also be made at your local senior center.

Guardado encourages everyone to participate in the March for Meals, hosted by Lakeport Senior Center, through the town starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 31. The march begins at the Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave., to the Meals on Wheels new Thrift Store at 120 North Main St.

Come out and show your support for Lake County seniors.

NICE, Calif. – The Sons of Italy club in Nice will have a dinner dance on Saturday, March 24.

The bar is open for socializing at 5 p.m., dinner starts at 6 p.m.

The dinner will include Italian pot roast, mashed potatoes, red sauce pasta, salad, sautéed green beans, French bread, dessert, coffee or tea.  

Dancing to the band The High Notes starts after the meal.

The cost will be $15 for everything. Everyone is welcome.

The hall is located at 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

For information about this event or renting the hall for your own, call 707-274-9952.

Make this St. Patrick’s Day more about St. Paddy and less about the paddy wagon. If you’ve been drinking on St. Patrick’s Day, AAA Northern California will take you and your car home for free.

AAA’s Tipsy Tow program is open to everyone. You do not need to be a AAA member to take advantage of this service to the community.

AAA will offer the service to drinking drivers from 6 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17, to 6 a.m. Sunday, March 18, in Northern California, Nevada and Utah.

Drivers, potential passengers, party hosts, bartenders, and restaurant managers can call 800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for a free tow home of up to ten miles.

Just tell the AAA operator, “I need a Tipsy Tow,” and a truck will be on its way.        

The service will provide a one-way ride for the driver and vehicle to the driver’s home.

If there are additional passengers who need a ride, they will be taken to the driver’s home as long as there is sufficient room for them to be transported safely in the tow truck. You cannot make a reservation.  

According to 2008 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk-driving crashes account for about 36 percent of highway deaths of young people age 16 to 24. As little as one drink can impair vision, steering, braking, judgment, and reaction time.

AAA estimates that a first time DUI conviction in California can cost up to $12,000 in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees, and added insurance expenses. You can’t put a price tag on a crash that causes an injury or death.

“Many people enjoy getting into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, which tends to involve plenty of celebrating,” said Cynthia Harris, spokesperson for AAA Northern California. “If you’ve been drinking alcohol, don’t get behind the wheel. Give AAA a call and we’ll make sure you get home safely.”