NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County in the coming week.

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from 17^th Street to Lakeshore Boulevard on Friday, March 19. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should

anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Olsen Road to New Long Valley Road beginning Monday, March 22. 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

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance 0.5 mile south of Haven Neck Drive on Wednesday, March 24. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– A culvert replacement project from Haven Neck Drive to Navarro Ridge Road will begin Monday, March 22. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 5 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 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 1.0 mile west of the James Creek Bridge on Friday, March 19. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– 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

– An emergency culvert replacement project at the junction of Route 101/271 near Reynolds will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel, and motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. The northbound off-ramp to Route 271 will be intermittently closed, and motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Service of Willits.

Highway 128

– PG&E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from Nash Mill Road to 0.5 mile east of Philo beginning Monday, March 22. 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.

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).

A model of the Cache Creek Dam is going back on display at the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum. Courtesy photo.

LOWER LAKE – The Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum is responding to renewed interest in the Cache Creek Dam by putting the model back on display.

The model has been spruced up and will be ready for viewing at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 3.

Tim O'Halloran, general manager of the Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District, will give a short talk about the dam's origins, flow capacity and water management.

Museum staff will also be on hand to answer questions about the history of the dam and Clear Lake environs.

Following the discussion there will be a tour of the dam. Space is limited to 25 persons and carpooling will be necessary. Please call the museum at 707-995-3565 to reserve a spot. The tour, weather permitting, will last about two hours.

Come join us for a bit of Lake County history. Light refreshments will be served. The museum is located at 16435 Main Street in Lower Lake. Hours are 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

For more information call 707-995-3565.

Mackey’s presentation was a joy to attend, and her Victorian-era costume was endearing, despite the scandalous sight of her ankles.

Many thanks to Karan for sharing her stories and extensive collection of early photographs.

Following the presentation, the crowd enjoyed a bountiful assortment of treats, thanks to the many members who brought goodies to share with the group.

The society also thanks the Historic Courthouse Museum for hosting this event. It is always a pleasure to be in that building and peruse the fascinating displays.

Our next general membership meeting will be Sunday, April 25. More information will follow, but mark your calendars.

And don’t forget our upcoming yard sale at the Nice Clubhouse. We are holding that event on May 29 and 30, so start saving your pennies and box up your most valuable junk!

For more information call Jean Beeson at 707-263-1372.

Franklin Ley is the Lake County Historical Society's publicity chair.

Lake County Chapter of the California Dressage Society's new executive board includes, front row left to right, Cindy Campman, treasurer and show co-chair, and Anna Macomber, chapter chair; back row, clinic chair and newsletter editor Winifred Lea, board member Alexandra M. Vidich and Juliana Vidich, secretary and show co-chair. Also on the board is Barbara Kroboth, vice chair. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY The Lake County Chapter of the California Dressage Society (CDS), which is an equestrian club for people interested in the art and sport of dressage, has announced its new executive board for 2010.

The board includes chapter Chair Anna Macomber; Vice Chair Barbara Kroboth; Cindy Campman, treasurer and show co-chair; Winifred Lea, clinic chair and newsletter editor; board member Alexandra M. Vidich; and Juliana Vidich, secretary and show co-chair.

The new board is looking forward to a great year full of dressage clinics, horse shows, quadrille teams, educational and social meetings and other events. New members and guests are always welcome.

According to the United States Dressage Federation, "Dressage is a French term meaning 'training' and its purpose is to develop the horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to work making him calm, supple and attentive to his rider."

Many dressage enthusiasts like to think of dressage more as dancing or ballet on horseback. Ideally, dressage training makes a horse more beautiful, powerful, graceful, and willing to please his rider, without the use of force or punishment.

Dressage clinicians planning to teach in Lake County this year include Sharon Marshall June 18-19, Judy McHerron on May 8, Jec Ballou April 11-12 and June 5-6, and John Saint Ryan April 30 through May 2.

Two dressage schooling shows are planned for July 11 and October 17, and a show grooming clinic by Barbara Kroboth will occur on April 18.

For more information and a list of the group's events, visit their Web site at www.squidoo.com/lakecountycds , join their Yahoo Group site at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/lakecountycds or call Anna Macomber at 707-489-4981.

Listed below are seven tax credits and other benefits that are available if you or someone else listed on your federal tax return is disabled.

1. Standard deduction: Taxpayers who are legally blind may be entitled to a higher standard deduction on their tax return.

2. Gross income. Certain disability-related payments, Veterans Administration disability benefits, and Supplemental Security Income are excluded from gross income.

3. Impairment-related work expenses: Employees, who have a physical or mental disability limiting their employment, may be able to claim business expenses in connection with their workplace. The expenses must be necessary for the taxpayer to work.

4. Credit for the elderly or disabled: This credit is generally available to certain taxpayers who are 65 and older as well as to certain disabled taxpayers who are younger than 65 and are retired on permanent and total disability.

5. Medical expenses: If you itemize your deductions using Form 1040 Schedule A, you may be able to deduct medical expenses. See IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses.

6. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): The EITC is available to disabled taxpayers as well as to the parents of a child with a disability. If you retired on disability, taxable benefits you receive under your employer’s disability retirement plan are considered earned income until you reach minimum retirement age.

The EITC is a tax credit that not only reduces a taxpayer’s tax liability but may also result in a refund. Many working individuals with a disability who have no qualifying children, but are older than 25 and younger than 65 do – in fact – qualify for EITC.

Additionally, if the taxpayer’s child is disabled, the age limitation for the EITC is waived. The EITC has no effect on certain public benefits. Any refund you receive because of the EITC will not be considered income when determining whether you are eligible for benefit programs such as Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid.

7. Child or dependent care credit: Taxpayers who pay someone to come to their home and care for their dependent or spouse may be entitled to claim this credit. There is no age limit if the taxpayer’s spouse or dependent is unable to care for themselves.

For more information on tax credits and benefits available to disabled taxpayers, see Publication 3966, Living and Working with Disabilities or Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities available on IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

KELSEYVILLE – The next HazMobile event will be held on Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20, at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, 4085 Main St., in Kelseyville.

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.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please contact the Lake County Public Services office at 707-263-1980.

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

Free recycled paint is available at Lake County Waste Solution Transfer Station at 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport on a first-come, first-serve basis. The paint comes in 5-gallon containers – tan, brown, gray and pink.

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

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.