The hall is located at 2817 E. Highway 20, Nice.

The bar opens at 5 p.m. with dinner served buffet-style at 6 p.m.

All the trimmings cooked by great chefs will cost just $15.

The meal will be followed by dancing to Jim Williams playing some tunes.

Call 707-274-2244 the morning of the event or RSVP here for a table as a lot of people go to this dinner because it is so yummy.

Everyone is welcome.

Festival weekends take place in Fort Bragg, Mendocino and Little River.

Savor local cuisine, quaff microbrews, purchase a piece of art, enjoy local wine tastings, take a nature walk, and of course – watch migrating Gray whales – from coastal bluffs, by boat, even on horseback.

With some 20,000 gray whales migrating north from birthing grounds in Mexico to their winter home in Alaska, visitors have an excellent vantage point for viewing this unforgettable spectacle.

The festival is organized by the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce. Call 707-961-6300 for most tickets or more details.

Festival highlights include the following.

MENDOCINO: March 5-6, 2011

Wine tasting and whale watching are among the featured attractions. Many wineries will set up tasting stations in inns, galleries and shops throughout Mendocino Village and Little River, while the area's top chefs produce their favorite seafood chowders in a tasting event. A marine mammal art exhibit, live outdoor painting demonstrations, and docent-led walks are all part of the two-day festival.

LITTLE RIVER: March 11-13, 2011

Food and wine tastings and whale watching will be among the featured attractions. Six Little River gourmet chefs pair up with local wineries to deliver a Taste of Little River. From artist studio tours and history museum grand opening, to docent-led walks and photo workshops, this year's Little River Whale Festival has something for everyone. Stay two nights during the festival and get the third night free! Call your favorite Little River lodging establishment for details. Turn in your passport for a chance to win exciting Little River travel prizes.

FORT BRAGG: March 19-20, 2011

Microbrew tasting, whale watching and chowder tasting are among the featured attractions. Along with dozens of microbrews provided by the Fort Bragg Rotary Club, the area's top chefs will produce their favorite chowders. A marine mammal art exhibit and crafts fair are also part of the two-day festival.

Visit www.mendocinocoast.com .

“Living and Loving a Life of Compassion” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, at the Seventh-Day Adventist School, 21640 Highway 29 South, Middletown.

With catastrophic climate change becoming more a reality each day, an epidemic of chronic degenerative diseases and obesity, and the exposure of horrible cruelty in animal agriculture, now is the time to make a New Year’s Resolution for positive change in your life and your diet.

The Bohanecs have been active in animal protection and environmental activism for over 15 years.

Hope Bohanec is a nationally recognized leader in the animal protection movement, and a well-known presenter throughout the Bay Area and across the U.S. She now offers her organizational talents to In Defense of Animals (IDA) as their Grassroots Campaigns Director.

Cogen Bohanec has studied vegan nutrition formally and is currently applying for a PhD program at Berkeley.

Just prior to the talk, the public is also welcomed to participate in the monthly Lake County Vegan Food Potluck, being held at the same location, beginning at 5 p.m.

The Lake County Vegan Food Potlucks have become a well anticipated event each month since their inception in April of 2009. They are held the first Sunday of each month at a different location throughout Lake County.

Participants are invited to bring a vegan dish to feed six to eight people that includes no animal products (no meat, fish, cheese, dairy, honey, eggs or animal-based broth). But do be generous with veggies, fruits, nuts, beans, grains, mushrooms and seeds.

Please also bring your own re-usable plates, eating and serving utensils and non-alcoholic drinks.

For those who want to hear the talk only, please arrive before 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call Lori Patotzka at 707-994-1618.

The show will be aired from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

KPFZ 88.1 FM's favorite political satirist and songwriter Roy Zimmerman and his guitar will join host Herb Gura live in the studio to entertain with what he calls “humanist cheer.”

Zimmerman has been all over America since his last appearance on “The Law Show” and will have songs and stories to share.

Phone lines will be open for requests. Call 707-263-3435.

Riviera Elementary School Student Council collected Toys for Tots this year. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Local children have pitched in this year to create a Merry Christmas for less fortunate children.

The Riviera Elementary School Student Council collected Toys for Toys this year under the guidance of Lori Mahar.

The toy collection effort was part of the community service project the students do every year.

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– The County of Lake has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for sewer repairs from 0.3 mile west of Red Hill Lane to 0.2 mile east of Nice-Lucerne Cuttoff Road. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– The County of Lake has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for the construction of Alpine Park. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 29

– AT&T of Sacramento has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance at Diener Drive beginning Friday, Dec. 17. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Replacement of signal heads from the junction of Routes 1/20 to Chestnut Street will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Republic ITS of Novato.

Highway 101

– A metal beam guardrail repair project at various locations from the El Roble Overcrossing to 2.3 miles north of Reeves Canyon Road will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. The southbound offramp to Route 222 (Talmage Road Exit 548A) will be intermittently closed from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday morning. Motorists will be advised to use an alternate route and may experience minor delays. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– A pavement repair project from Gobbi Street to Moore Street will continue. Work hours are 8 p.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday evening through Friday afternoon. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– A metal beam guardrail repair project at various locations from 2.2 miles south of Ridgewood Ranch Road to the Haehl Overhead will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– Pavement striping from 0.1 mile south of Harwood Road to 2.5 miles south of Rattlesnake Summit 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. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Mercer-Fraser Company of Eureka.

– A metal beam guardrail repair project at various locations from 0.2 mile north of Hermitage Vista Point to the Bridges Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

Highway 222

– Replacement of the Russian River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays during work hours and five-minute delays at other times. Contractor – CC Myers of Rancho Cordova.

Please keep in mind work on all these projects is weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans wishes to advise motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to be prepared to stop at traffic control stations.

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).