SACRAMENTO – The State Assembly has approved a bill jointly authored by Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) and Assemblyman Ira Ruskin (D-Redwood City) that will ensure California is prepared to cope with climate change in the coming decades.

“A new report this month by a panel of respected marine scientists warns that over the next half century climate change will have a severe impact on California’s coastline,” Chesbro said. “In addition to rising sea levels, warmer ocean waters will generate more intense storms, the report forecasts. Mendocino County could lose more than eight square miles of cliffs and dunes to erosion, according to the report, and warming rivers could threaten the survival of Coho salmon and steelhead.”

AB 2329, which received strong support in the Assembly, will codify Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2005 Executive Order (S-3-05), which created California’s Climate Action Team.

Sponsored by the Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy, AB 2329 ensures the Climate Action Team will continue to meet and deliver on its mission of coordinating climate-change policy activities across state agencies. Specifically, the multiagency group is coordinating California’s efforts to meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals and adapt to a changing climate.

“We thank Assemblymembers Chesbro and Ruskin for their leadership and commitment to the environment in guiding AB 2329 successfully through the Assembly,” said Louis Blumberg, director of the Nature Conservancy's climate-change work in California. “AB 2329 will ensure that the state’s actions to address climate change are coordinated, and that its scarce resources are efficiently and effectively used to tackle this major environmental problem.”

KELSEYVILLE – Taylor Observatory is hosting a star party for amateur astronomers on Saturday, June 12, from 7:30 p.m. until midnight.

This event will give local amateur astronomers an opportunity to share in an evening of observation and conversation.

The event will be held on the observatory premises. Restroom facilities are available, along with access to the observatory's 16-inch telescope. Coffee, tea, cocoa and snacks will be available.

To participate in this event, please register by completing the email form at www.lakecountyskies.com.

There is no charge for registering. You will receive an email confirming your registration. In the event large numbers register, it may be necessary to limit the number who may attend due to limits on the number the observatory can accommodate.

In the message area of the registration form, please include the following: telephone, mailing address, telescope you plan to bring and others who may attend with you, such as family and friends.

Taylor Observatory is located at 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville.

LAKE COUNTY – On Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. listen to the KPFZ show “Women's Voices,” which will discuss this past Tuesday's primary election.

The show airs on 88.1 FM.

Thursday's guest will be District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing, who won reelection on Tuesday night.

Hosts Lenny Matthews, Rae Eby-Carl and Loretta McCarthy will discuss the local elections with Rushing.

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

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 Spruce Grove Road to 0.3 mile south of Hofacker Lane beginning Tuesday, June 15. 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 175

– AT&T of Sacramento has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance from 1.5 miles west of Socrates Mine Road to the Putah Creek Bridge beginning Monday, June 14. 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.

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.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance near Tenino Way on Monday, June 14. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the work area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Bruce Raabe of Kentfield has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a driveway 3.6 miles south of the Elk Creek Bridge through Friday, June 11. 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.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance near Abalobadiah Creek on Tuesday, June 15, and Wednesday, June 16. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– 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 101

– A culvert repair project from the 0.7 mile east of Buckley Road to 1.0 mile west of the North Fork Mad River Bridge will begin Tuesday, June 15. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Roger Brown Construction of Willow Creek.

– Bridge deck repairs at the Cummings Road Undercrossing will begin Monday, June 14. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – DeBruin Construction, Incorporated, of French Camp.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from 0.5 mile south of the Jitney Gulch Bridge to 0.4 mile south of Confusion Hill. 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.

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.

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 10-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.

– A storm repair project from 0.8 mile east of the Soda Creek Bridge to Slide Creek will begin Monday, June 14. 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 – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

Highway 271

– Riverview Productions Inc. of Piercy has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for the annual Redwood Run from Friday, June 11 through Sunday, June 13. Route 271 will be restricted to

local traffic only.

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).

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced that thousands of additional gas and electric customers may now be eligible to receive a discount on their monthly energy bill thanks to an adjustment in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program’s income qualifications.

With hot summer temperatures right around the corner, now is an ideal time for PG&E’s eligible customers to sign up for a discount on their energy bill.

Every year, the California Public Utilities Commission adjusts the maximum qualifying income levels for CARE to reflect current federal poverty guidelines.

The latest adjustment means more PG&E customers may now qualify for the program based on their pre-tax annual income, as follows:

Size of Household                         Previous Income                                       Guidelines New Income Guidelines

                                                     (June 1, 2009 -May 31, 2010)                  (June 1, 2010-May 31, 2011)

1 – 2                                             $30,500                                                   $31,300

3                                                   $35,800                                                   $36,800

4                                                   $43,200                                                   $44,400

5                                                   $50,600                                                   $52,000

6                                                   $58,000                                                   $59,600

Each additional person add        $7,400                                                     $7,600

On average, CARE saves households $46 per month on their gas and electric bill. Since the program's inception in 1989, PG&E customers enrolled in CARE have saved more than $3.7 billion on their energy bills.

Currently more than 1.4 million customers throughout PG&E's service area are enrolled in CARE. Thousands of additional households in Northern and Central California are eligible for CARE, but not yet enrolled.

Eligible PG&E customers can apply for CARE by going online to www.pge.com/care and be enrolled in the program within two business days. Customers may also enroll through the toll-free multi-lingual assistance line at (866) 743-2273. The discount will appear on their bill after a full billing cycle.

In addition to the CARE program, PG&E offers a host of other programs to assist customers during challenging economic times. PG&E's Breathe Easy Solutions™ help customers manage their energy costs when life brings financial challenges or unexpected changes. Additional details, as well as eligibility requirements and enrollment instructions, can be found at http://www.pge.com/myhome/customerservice/financialassistance/.

LAKE COUNTY – The new 2010 Lake & Mendocino Counties Senior & Disabled Resource Directory has just been released and is available at senior centers, public libraries, and social services offices throughout the both counties.

Provided courtesy of the Area Agency on Aging of Lake and Mendocino Counties and Community Care’s Senior Information & Assistance Program, this free directory provides valuable information on local resources for seniors.

It is also available online at www.SeniorResourceDirectory.org.

The Senior Information & Assistance Program, which operates out of Community Care’s central office in Ukiah, provides free information to Lake and Mendocino County seniors who have questions about area services to meet their needs.

Callers within the counties are invited to call toll-free 1-800-510-2020, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. From outside the county, dial 707-468-5132.