LAKEPORT, Calif. – Barbara Haddon, a master gardener, will present a free program on local wildflowers Saturday, March 2.

The program will begin at 2 p.m. at the Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St.

Haddon says that the area around Lake County abounds with wildflowers all year long, and that this program will assist people in identifying and appreciating the diversity, abundance and beauty of California's wildflowers.

For more information contact Amy Patton at 707-263-8817, Extension 17105, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m. The phone number is 707-263-8817.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Feb. 6 and 7, representatives from Lake County businesses and nonprofit organizations attended a two-day training on how to expand the concept of time banking within Lake County.

This training was made possible through generous financial contributions from North Coast Opportunities and the Savings Bank of Mendocino County.

Linda Hogan and Terry Daniels facilitated the event. Besides currently representing the hOurworld organization, Hogan and Daniels also have served in leadership positions with the Hour Exchange of Portland, Maine, one of the oldest and largest time banks in the country, with more than 1,000 members and more than 15,000 hours exchanged annually over 16 years.

During the two days, the group learned about the concept of time banking, understood its history, learned how other time bank organizations provide services, explored policy recommendations, and developed an action plan for growing time banking within the community.

The Lake County Community Co-op's consulting operations manager, JoAnn Saccato, participated in the training.

"We've been wondering how we can work more closely with time banking, given we deal with products and not services," Saccato said. "It looks like there are ways we can participate which can help the community obtain healthy organic produce while remaining in integrity with the hour for hour exchange needed for time banking."

Other participants included representatives from North Coast Opportunities, the Lake Family Resource Center, the Enterprise Development Finance Corp., the Health Leadership Network, LakeWorks Community Space, Clearlake Methodist Church, several business owners, and the Lake County Board of Supervisors.

They all left the training with ideas for implementing time banking within their organization, as well as personally in their own lives.

Members of the Time Bank of Thrive Lake County provided food and other assistance during the event, for which they were paid in hours.

They will exchange these hours for services they need that are available from the time bank.

Time banking is considered an alternative economy, where hours are exchanged in a "pay it forward" manner rather than cash. Everyone's hour is worth the same. It helps build both community and economic vitality.

To learn more about time banking, or to join the Time Bank of Thrive Lake County, visit them at http://timebanklakeco.com or send an email to 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 during the coming week.

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 29

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs near Spruce Road on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

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.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Blue Slide Gulch to the junction of Routes 101/271 will continue. 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. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

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.

– AT&T of Fort Bragg has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility installation from Henry Station Road to Nelson Avenue beginning Wednesday, Feb. 20. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.

Highway 253

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from 0.2 mile to 4.7 miles east of Cattle Pass beginning Tuesday, Feb. 19. 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.

Highway 271

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from the southern junction of Routes 101/271 to the Humboldt/Mendocino County line will continue. 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. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

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).

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The Lake County Stonewall Democratic Club will host its monthly potluck and meeting on Monday, Feb. 25.

The group will meet in the social hall of the Clearlake Oaks United Methodist Church, 12487 Plaza Drive.

The potluck begins at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting starting at 7 p.m.

Guest Speakers will be Diane Gunther, R.N. and Doris McConnell from Community Care Hiv-AIDS Program.

This meeting is open to the public and the community is encouraged to attend.

For more information visit www.lakecountystonewalldemocrats.org/ or call group secretary Essie Coons at 707-701-3720.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a special gourmet pizza and Cabernet wine pairing event on Sunday, Feb. 17, with guest chef, Bob Dubrawski.  

Two no-sauce pizzas will be part of the pairing. The first pizza will be topped with extra virgin olive oil, baby bella mushrooms, Italian sausage, caramelized fennel and fennel pollen.

The second pizza also begins with extra virgin olive oil, followed by fresh cracked pepper, sun dried tomatoes, mozzarella, red bell pepper, white onion and brie cheese.

Dubrawski's career in the restaurant business began at the age of 16. He attended the San Francisco Culinary Institute and previously owned Red Boy Pizza in Marin County.

RSVP is recommended. For reservations and additional information, contact Susan Feiler at 707-293-8752.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – “I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree.”

You will be able to decide for yourself at the next Middletown Luncheon Club program on Wednesday, Feb. 20, when Lake County poets offer up their talents.  

Poets include Middletown’s Mona Locke and Michele Krueger, Lake County's representative for Poets in the Schools.

The program takes place at the Middletown Methodist Church Social Hall, 15155 Armstrong at Washington, starting at noon.

All programs are open to the public. Reservations are not necessary.

Lunch still costs only $5 per person and will be served by the Middletown Senior Center this month.

For more information about the Middletown Luncheon Club, or to be a speaker, contact Helen Whitney at 707-928-9812.  

The Middletown Luncheon Club is open to all, meets every third Wednesday of the month from January through November, and provides informative speakers and presentations to the community. Different local nonprofit organizations provide lunch each month and receive a donation.