Taxpayers who received unemployment benefits in 2009 are entitled to a special tax break when they file their 2009 federal tax returns. This tax break is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Here are five important facts the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know about your unemployment benefits.

1. Unemployment compensation generally includes any amounts received under the unemployment compensation laws of the United States or of a specific state. It includes state unemployment insurance benefits, railroad unemployment compensation benefits and benefits paid to you by a state or the District of Columbia from the Federal Unemployment Trust Fund. It does not include worker's compensation.

2. Normally, unemployment benefits are taxable; however, under the Recovery Act, every person who receives unemployment benefits during 2009 is eligible to exclude the first $2,400 of these benefits when they file their federal tax return.

3. For a married couple, if each spouse received unemployment compensation then each is eligible to exclude the first $2,400 of benefits.

4. You should receive a Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments, which shows the total unemployment compensation paid to you in 2009 in box 1.

5. You must subtract $2,400 from the amount in box 1 of Form 1099-G to figure how much of your unemployment compensation is taxable and must be reported on your federal tax return. Do not enter less than zero.

For more information, visit www.irs.gov/recovery .

MIDDLETOWN – A spaghetti dinner to help Middletown High School junior Jereomy Hoefer go to Europe to play basketball will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20.

The dinner will be held at the Middletown school multi-use room beginning at 6 p.m.

All proceeds will be used to help send Hoefer to Europe.

Dinner tickets are $10 and include spaghetti, salad, dessert and drinks, as well as karaoke and fun.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling Alexis Rockwell at 707-292-6917 or Carrie Hoefer at 707-217-3285.

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

Caltrans will suspend work on Northern California highways from Friday, Feb. 12, through Monday, Feb. 15, in observance of the President’s Day weekend. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary for Caltrans Maintenance forces to respond to emergency situations.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Clearlake Oaks Water District has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Pingree Road beginning Tuesday, Feb. 16. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Spruce Road to A Street beginning Tuesday, Feb. 16. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Construction of a retaining wall about three miles north of Elk 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 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 20

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from Wildwood Camp Ground to 0.7 miles east of Wildwood Camp Ground beginning Tuesday, Feb. 16. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– A culvert replacement project from Forestry Station Road to 0.1 miles east of Blosser Road will continue. 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. Contractor – Kapel Construction of Willow Creek.

– Construction of a retaining wall 0.4 mile east of Three Chop 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 – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 101

– Verizon of Garberville has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to relocate utilities 0.4 mile south of Redwoods River Resort beginning Tuesday, Feb. 16. 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.

– An emergency culvert replacement project at the northbound 101 onramp of the junction of Routes 101/271 will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A full ramp closure will be in effect. A detour is available. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Service of Willits.

Highway 222

– Preparation for replacement of the Russian River Bridge will begin Tuesday, Feb. 16. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – CC Meyers 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).

LOWER LAKE – Slip on your running shoes and pump up your bike tires: Lake County 4-H is hosting a bike race and run on Saturday, Feb. 20.

Bring your family and friends for a morning of fun, camaraderie and beautiful scenery at one of Lake County’s most picturesque vineyards, Six Sigma Ranch in Lower Lake.

There will be events for all levels including 1k, 5k, and 10k bike and foot races.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. The 1k event starts at 9:10 a.m. Parents are welcome to accompany smaller children on the sideline. Prizes will be awarded; water, snacks and a kid’s play area will be provided.

Pre-event registration is $15, day-of-event registration is $20 per person.

Proceeds support the 4-H Citizenship and Leadership group’s July trip to Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City.

U.S. history and current events will highlight the Washington portion of their journey, including meetings with elected representatives.

In New York, they will see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and experience the hustle and bustle of America’s largest city.

From New York, the group will travel to Philadelphia, where they will see where our Founding Fathers came together to create this great nation.

To register or for more information, please contact 4-Her Grace Nowak, event coordinator, at 707-396-8916 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Six Sigma Ranch is located at 13372 Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake. For detailed instructions go to www.SixSigmaRanch.com/direct.cfm or call 707.994.4068.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Events may be canceled due to rain.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge. A charge will be made for amounts above 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, 5-gallon propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, dry cell batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 feet free) and other toxins that cannot be put in the trash.

Excluded items that cannot be accepted are televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

Used oil can be recycled year round at a number of sites in the county.

To learn how and where to properly dispose of these items, please contact the Public Services office at

707-263-1980.

This is a residential service. Charges apply to businesses; phone 707-468-9786 for more information and business appointments.

The HazMobile program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department Solid Waste Division. If you have any questions regarding this or any of Lake County’s Solid Waste programs, please call 707-262-1760 or the Hot Line number at 707-263-1980.

Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club members gathered to put together goodie bags for Meals on Wheels recipients. Photo courtesy of Claire Grieve.

LAKEPORT – This is the third year Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club members have remembered people who receive Meals on Wheels with “goodie bags” filled with candy/cookies and Valentine’s Day cards (many are handmade).

Members held a workshop at Chairman Claire Grieve’s home to put the bags together, and then afterwards enjoyed visiting while having coffee and a dessert.

June Beto delivered 50 bags to the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center and Jo Douville delivered 150 bags to the Lakeport Senior Center. Cards were also made to give to the drivers. Then Meals on Wheels drivers will deliver the bags when delivering the meals.

The club meets at 12:00noon on the third Tuesday of the month at the Scotts Valley Women's Club House, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport.

Members, guests, and all interested are most welcome. President Jo Jameson, 707-263-4039, invites interested gardeners to join us.

Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club is a member of Mendo-Lake District, Calif. Garden Club, Inc., Pacific Region, & National Garden Clubs Inc.

For more information see www.clttgc.org .

Members of the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club packed the goodie bags at Claire Grieve's Lakeport home. Photo courtesy of Claire Grieve.