LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – For those wanting to catch up on the latest in the District 5 supervisorial race, video of a debate held this week is available online.

Incumbent Supervisor Rob Brown of Kelseyville and challenger Joan Moss of Cobb took part in a debate on Wednesday, April 18, in the board chambers at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport.

McKenzie Paine of Velocity Video, the event's videographer, has posted the video of the debate at his Web site, http://www.velocityvideoonline.com/2012/04/19/district-5-supervisor-candidates-debate/ .

The debate was cosponsored by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Lake County News and Velocity Video.

The primary election is June 5.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Time banks are part of a growing phenomenon, not just here in the United States, but all over the world.

They generally incorporate specialized software for members to post their service requests and offers, and to keep track of the time each member has invested in helping others.

This, however, is the least interesting part of the story.

Time banks allow their members to trade their time for the important services they need, in a democratic venue where each members time has the same value as all other members.

It can work like this: The talented self trained seamstress offers mending services to the community. A local electrician and a bookkeeper arrange with another time bank member to have their mending dropped off and picked up.

The seamstress then spends her banked mending hours to have her fence repaired, while the person doing the deliveries uses her time for a foot reflexology session.

While the exchanges themselves are valuable to the participants, other values are growing too.  

People begin to see themselves and their skills as valuable, they begin to rebuild the self confidence that our flagging economy has thwarted, and their personal networks and friendships grow – all through time banking.

You are invited to learn more at the Time Bank of Lake County's free orientation on Wednesday, April 25, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

Participants will learn more about time banking and how to sign up, meet current time bank members, have an opportunity to ask questions and get an introduction to the time bank software.

If you are unable to attend visit the group's Web site for more information, http://timebanklakeco.com/ .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday, May 12, attorney Dennis A. Fordham, will present a free educational seminar, “Why a trust and not a will.”

The seminar will begin at 10 a.m. at the Lake County Resource Center, on the first floor at 55 First St. in Lakeport.

Refreshments will be offered.

An RSVP appreciated at 707-263-3235 or www.DennisFordhamLaw.com .

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 29

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for tree trimming near Central Park Road through Friday, April 20. 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.

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 – Teichert Construction of Davis.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E of Santa Rosa has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work just north of Gualala through Friday, April 20. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– 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.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the Russian River Bridge beginning Wednesday, April 25. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Slide repairs just north of the Pomo Lane Undercrossing will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Southbound  traffic will be restricted to one lane. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 162

– Slipout repairs 1.6 miles east of the Rodeo Creek Bridge 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 ? Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

Highway 222

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility repairs in Talmage on Friday, April 20. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-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).

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Senior Activity Center will be hosting free Skype video calls on Monday, April 23. and Monday. April 30. from 9 a.m. to noon.

This is a wonderful opportunity to talk to anyone with a Skype account anywhere in the world.

You must sign up in advance, so drop by the Lakeport Senior Activity Center at 527 Konocti Ave. in Lakeport and reserve your time slot.

Remember, the recipient must have a Skype I.D.

Call 707-263-4218 for more information.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Children and their parents will find many free activities designed just for them at this year’s Heron Festival on Saturday, May 5, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Redbud Park in the city of Clearlake.

“We want to encourage families to spend fun time together outdoors with nature, and the festival is a great time to do that,” said Joyce Anderson, education chair for Redbud Audubon Society.

Returning for the fifth year is the very popular “Raptor Speak” with live owls and birds of prey.

This show offers an opportunity to see raptor behavior up close. Learn about these lively non-releasable birds in a fun and informative talk and bird demonstration. This special presentation by Native Bird Connections is one of the activities designed especially for families with children.

More than 200 people in all attended “Raptor Speak” last year, which again will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Big Tent. Because of its popularity, the show will be repeated at 2 p.m.

The Children’s Activities Area near the Big Tent offers several nature-inspired educational activities for children including instruction on how to make small bird feeders by spreading peanut butter and seeds on mini-bagels, creating owl masks to wear, and taking home a window decal to discourage birds from flying into glass windows.

A children’s My Audubon Bird Journal will be available for kids to record the birds they see as they walk around the park. Those who bring back a completed journal will be awarded bird stickers for their booklets.

Another annual highlight is the colorful display of children’s artwork from several local public schools, displayed in the Children’s Activities area. The creative drawings feature herons and local birds.

Besides all these special children’s activities, the Heron Festival offers 90-minute pontoon boat tours into Anderson Marsh. Expert Audubon bird guides accompany each boat tour to point out the heron nests and explain heron behaviors. Since the boat tours are a sell-out each year, advance reservations are strongly advised.
 
All activities during the Heron Festival are free of charge, except for the pontoon boat tours, which are $20 per person.

This 18th annual Heron Festival is sponsored by Redbud Audubon Society.

Eighteen years ago, the chapter initiated this festival so the general public could learn about and witness, first-hand, Clear Lake’s amazing population of local birds and wildlife and to generate awareness for the need to conserve and protect the area’s natural resources and habitat.

To see the full schedule of activities, go to www.heronfestival.org , or call 707-263-8030. Entrance to Redbud Park is free.