KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Dec. 15, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 88 of Lake County, held the its change of watch ceremonies at Zino’s Ristorante in Kelseyville.  

This annual event installs the new flotilla commander, vice commander and the flotilla staff officers for 2013.

The swearing in for the officers was performed by U.S. Coast Guardsman Boatswain Mate First Class Kevin Cornell from Station Noyo River in Ft. Bragg, Calif.

Many of us buy or receive a poinsettia plant for the holidays, but how many of us know how to care for it so that it looks good for the next holiday season?

The UC Master Gardeners of Lake County offer the following tips on poinsettia care.

For maximum plant life, place your poinsettia near a sunny window or another well-lighted area. Do not let any part of the plant touch cold window panes.

Poinsettias are tropical plants and are usually grown at temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Examine the soil daily and water only when it feels dry. Always water enough to soak the soil at the bottom of the pot.

To have a well-shaped plant for the following year, cut each of the old flowering stems or branches back to 4 to 6 inches in height in February or early March.

Leave one to three leaves on each of the old stems or branches as the new growth will come from buds located in the leaf axils.

Keep the plant in a sunny window at a temperature between 60 and 70 degrees F. and water as described above. Fertilize as needed every two weeks.
 
Repot into a larger pot if the plant is too large for the old one. Use any of the common peat moss and vermiculite/perlite potting soils sold at garden centers.

For more information about poinsettias, or to contact a UC Master Gardener with questions about your garden, call 707-263-6838, or visit your local UC Cooperative Extension office at 883 Lakeport Blvd; Lakeport, CA 95453; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around the North Coast this week.

Included are projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

There is no major roadwork scheduled for Lake County from Friday, Jan. 4, through Thursday, Jan. 10. 3.

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.

– Caltrans will perform slipout repairs 1.6 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road. One-way traffic control with temporary stop signs will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20

– Electrical upgrades just west of Gravel Pit Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 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. Contractor – Cal Electro Inc. of Redding.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from 0.5 mile west of Wildwood Campground to Forestry Station Road continuing on Tuesday, Jan. 8. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– 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.

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 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – OC Jones and Sons of Berkeley.

Highway 162

– Highway repairs 0.5 mile south of the Corral 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 5-minute delays. Contractor – Wylatti Resource Management Inc. of Covelo.

Highway 271

– Electrical upgrades 0.9 mile south of the Caltrans Maintenance Yard will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 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. Contractor – Cal Electro Inc. of Redding.

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).

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – “The Checkered Flag Show” will start off 2013 featuring a special young guest.

Nine-year-old Colby Furia, No. 97, who races an Outlaw Go Kart and Bandolero, will be the show’s very first feature guest in 2013.

The show will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, and can be viewed at www.GoLiveStream.tv ; click the “Rampage TV” link.

Colby Furia has been a return guest on the show many times. He has stopped by frequently to share his milestone steps in the auto racing world.

Over the last two years he has moved up quickly in the ranks of Outlaw Go Karting before then moving up to a Bandolero.

He has racked up 50 feature wins from 2008 to present and four Championships.

Colby has stepped into testing a Legend Car which he will discuss on the show.

Come out and show your support for Colby; race fans are invited to be in the studio audience, with free admission.

There will be a fan interactive such as a meet and greet with the live in-studio guests, autograph signing and picture session.

There also will be a live band, the new age rock group No Sympathy from Sacramento. The group is to be the show’s official house band.

Be sure to check out Colby Furia's Web site at www.colbyfuriaracing.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – For several years now, St. Peter’s Church in Kelseyville has provided gifts at Christmas for children involved in the Easter Seals Early Intervention Program in Lake County.  

In 2012 St. Mary’s Church in Lakeport joined with St. Peter’s to supply the presents.

The Easter Seals staff and families thanked the congregations for their continued support of wonderful gifts the children enjoy so much.  

Easter Seals works with children and families to support the developmental growth of children in areas of motor, language, cognitive, social and emotional skills.

The children are ages 0-3 years and with the Early Start support can transition into preschool with much success.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The University of California Master Gardeners of Lake County are proud to present two workshops on winter pruning of fruit trees.

The first will be a classroom presentation, followed by an outdoor, hands-on demonstration.

A donation of $5 is suggested for each workshop to cover costs.

The first workshop, a presentation on “Pruning and Training Fruit Trees in the Home Orchard” will take place on Saturday, Jan. 12, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Agricultural Center, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, CA 95453; a wheelchair accessible facility.

An RSVP to U.C. Cooperative Extension, 707-263-6838, is requested as space is limited.

The second workshop, a hands-on pruning demonstration, will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 2285 Big Valley Road, Lakeport, starting at 10 a.m.

RSVP to 707-263-6838 to reserve a spot. Participants should bring gloves and pruners and be prepared to navigate uneven terrain.

Master Gardeners are a group of selected, trained residents who work as volunteer staff for the U.C. Cooperative Extension.

Master Gardeners provide accurate horticultural information on vegetable gardening, trees, soils, lawns, ornamental horticulture, insects, diseases, use of pesticides, and other related topics based on research of the University of California and other recognized research institutions.

The Lake County University of California Cooperative Extension is the public service arm of the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR).

Contact the extension office at 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-6838, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .