LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club honored outgoing President Helen Turley during the club’s September meeting by presenting her with a “Penny Pines” certificate.

CLT&TGC has participated in the statewide “Penny Pines” program since 1990, whereby the public may purchase a “plantation,” which is an acre of burned forest that will be replanted with new trees as a memorial to honor someone.  

The club has donated a total of $4,080 towards this forest replanting effort; those funds are all direct donations from members.

Penny Pines Chair Ann Blue presented Turley with Certificate No. 60 to honor her past and ongoing service to the club and to her community.  

An acre of burned forest in the Mendocino National Forest will be planted with approximately $350 seedlings and Turley’s name will be placed on a standard Forest Service sign in the 2006 Hunter Fire and 2008 Back Fire area.

The CLT&TGC meets at noon on the third Tuesday of the month (except July and August) at the Scotts Valley Women’s Clubhouse, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport.  

New or prospective members are always welcome and more information can be obtained from its Web site, www.CLTTGC.org or by contacting President Leanne Harvey at 707-263-0850.  

CLT&TGC is a member of the Mendo-Lake District, California Garden Club Inc., Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A free foster care information session will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13.

The session will take place at 1 p.m. at Redwood Children’s Services Inc. at 320 First St., Lakeport.

Have you ever thought about opening your home to a child in need? Do you love children and have extra room in your home?

Redwood Children’s Services would like to offer you information on how you can help children in our community.

Join them and learn the process for foster care and what options may fit your family best.

For more information please contact Willow Anderson at 707-467-2010 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Eight members of Soroptimist International of Clear Lake will travel to Santa Rosa on Saturday, Oct. 13, to attend the Soroptimist International Founder Region District 111 meeting.  

The all-day meeting will be held at the Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa and will serve to bring the leaders and attendees of the 13 clubs in District 111 up to date on the latest projects and challenges for the remainder of the fiscal year ending in July 2013.

The officers of Soroptimist International Clear Lake attending the event include President Wanda Harris, Vice President Kathy Freeborn, Treasurer Reiko Hattori, Director Arlene Grimes, Public Relations Officer Marti Foltz, and members Sally Munger, Kelley Slater and Fawn Williams.

The group has a mammogram program to assist women who need help paying for mammograms, which are done at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. Women in need of this program should contact Kelley Slater, who chairs the mammogram committee, at 707-994-9174 for more information.

Two other awards programs with Dec. 1 entry deadlines are in the works as well, for information contact President Harris at the number below and ask about the Violet Richardson Award for young women 14-17 and the Women's Opportunity Award.

The group meets twice monthly at noon at Howard’s Grotto. There is a business meeting on the second Thursday of each month and a program meeting with a speaker on the fourth Thursday of each month. Lunch is $12 and all interested women are invited to attend.

The next meeting is at noon Thursday, Oct. 11, at Howard's Grotto. All women are invited to attend.

Women who are interested in learning more about the organization are encouraged to contact President Wanda Harris at 707-987-9027 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

It only takes seconds for a fire to grow out of control, making escape from a fire impossible.

That’s why Cal Fire is urging people to “Have 2 Ways Out” of their home.  

In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts, so you and your family must always be prepared. Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly.

Prepare and practice your fire escape plan regularly with everyone in your household, including children and people with disabilities.

Cal Fire and fire departments across the state are taking this opportunity during Fire Prevention Week to remind all Californians of the importance of creating a fire escape plan for your home and practicing it regularly.  

Most home fires occur at night when people are the least prepared. Tragedy can be avoided by knowing in advance and practicing two escape routes from each room.

“In 2011, 70 percent of structure fires in California reported to the Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal were residential and accounted for 90 percent of fire deaths,” said State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover. “Everyone should take steps to help prevent home fires and ensure their family is protected.”

Making an escape plan is simple:

• Draw a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used to get out of every room.
• Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet after they’ve safely escaped. Draw a picture of your outside meeting place on your escape plan.
• Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on your escape plan.
• Check your smoke alarms regularly and have practice escape drills so everyone knows two ways out.

Practicing fire-safe behaviors and knowing what to do in an emergency can give your family the seconds needed to escape.

For more fire safety tips, visit the Cal Fire Web site at www.fire.ca.gov .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Shannon Michele of Cache Creek Catering and Lake County Wine Studio are presenting a monthly food and wine series featuring gourmet appetizers paired with select Lake County wines.   

Locally produced foods are proudly featured as key ingredients in recipes created by Cache Creek Catering.
 
The series is held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. The per person cost is $20 and reservations are required.

The next event takes place Oct. 12.
 
September’s event featured Vigilance and Cache Creek Chardonnay wines with fresh, locally harvested pears.  

The first course was a salad of pears, Yerba Santa Dairy Chevré, toasted almonds and lemon/honey dressing, followed by a pear and chicken sausage pizzette with dry jack and fresh thyme.  

The final pairing of roasted bosc pears dusted with lavender sugar, fresh raspberries and vanilla ice crease paired with Robledo Family Winery White Port completed the three-course event.

Oct. 12 will feature Lake County heirloom walnuts grown in Upper Lake and old vine wines (old for Lake County!).

The first course will be eggplant rolatini with walnut pesto made from Hartley walnuts paired with Catfish Zinfandel, followed by a meatless walnut ball made with Poe walnuts from Dancing Tree People Farm, with a Petite Sirah and fig reduction sauce paired with Langtry Estate Petite Sirah.

The final course will be a walnut crepe and chocolate sauce paired with Robledo Family Winery Red Port.

Nov. 9 will be the next date to follow for the Local Cuisine Scene event.
 
For reservations and additional information, contact Susan Feiler at 707-293-8752.

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

– Pavement striping from Red Hill Lane to Stokes Court will begin Monday, Oct. 8. Work  hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Lake  County Special Districts has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work from Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road to Ogden Road through Friday, Oct. 5. 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.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work near Keyes  Boulevard from 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, through 4 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Route  20  (31.6/34.3) –  Emergency guardrail repairs from the junction of Routes  20/53 to New Long Valley Road will continue.  Work hours are 7AM to 5PM, weekdays.  Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel.  Motorists  may  experience minor traffic slowdowns.  Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.  LC#C20DA

– Pavement repairs from Clayton Creek Road to Lee Barr Road will continue through Friday, Oct. 5. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way  traffic  control  will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute  delays. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

Highway 53

– Pavement repairs from Wilson Street to 40th Avenue will continue. Nighttime work hours are 4 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect, and motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Daytime  work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect, and motorists are advised to drive with caution  through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

– Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Highways 20/53 will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6 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

– Replacement of the Greenwood 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 – Golden State Bridge Inc. of Martinez.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Blue Slide Gulch to Hales Grove began Friday, Oct. 5. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way  traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

Highway 20

– Electrical  upgrades just west of Gravel Pit Road will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect, and motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Cal Electro Inc. of Redding.

–  A pavement repair project from 1.4 miles west of Little Lake Road to Three Chop Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect.  Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– A pavement  repair project from the James Creek Bridge to Irmulco Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will  be  restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 128

– Pavement repairs from 0.4 mile east of the Robinson Creek Bridge to the Mendocino/Sonoma County line will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should  anticipate 30-minute delays. Contractor – OC Jones and Sons of Berkeley.

Highway 253

– Culvert repairs at various locations from Cattle Pass  to 0.5 mile west of Slide Creek will continue.  Work hours are 6AM to 6PM,  weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Team Ghilotti of Petaluma.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Cattle Pass to Robinson Creek Road will begin Wednesday, Oct. 10. Work  hours  are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.  

– Slipout repairs about 5.6 miles west of Butler Ranch 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.

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).