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

Caltrans will suspend work on Northern California highways on Monday, Feb. 21, in observance of President’s Day. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary for Caltrans maintenance forces to respond to emergency situations.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Gladys Street beginning Tuesday, Feb. 22. 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.

Highway 29

– Metal beam guardrail repair at the Saint Helena Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

Highway 175

– Metal beam guardrail repair 3.0 miles east of the Lake/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 – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the junction of Route29/175 near Kelseyville to the junction of Route29.175 in Middletown beginning Tuesday, Feb. 22. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 101

– A pavement repair project from the Robinson Creek Bridge to Uva Drive will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day from 8 p.m. Sunday through 3 p.m. Friday. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Northbound ramps at Lake Mendocino Drive (Exit 552), Calpella (Exit 555A), and Route 20 (Exit 555B) as well as southbound ramps at West Road (Exit 557), Route 20 (Exit 555B), and Calpella (Exit 555A) will be intermittently closed. Motorists will be advised to use an alternate route and may experience minor delays. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

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.

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).

The group will serve polenta, chicken Parmesan, salad, bread and dessert.

The bar will be open at 5 p.m. for socializing and dinner will be served at 6 p.m.

After the meal there will be dancing to the music of the High Notes.

Tickets are $15 at the door, dancing-only tickets at 7 p.m. Cost $10.

You do not have to be Italian to join in the fun.

For information about this event or having your own event at the lodge call 707-274-9952.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lucerne Friends of Locally Owned Water (Lucerne FLOW) will host its monthly meeting on Saturday, Feb. 19.

The meeting will take place at 11:30 a.m. at Firehouse Pizza, 6232 E. Highway 20 in Lucerne.

The pre-gathering starts at 11 a.m.

The public is welcome.

Wake up in your private condo to fresh, floral air and end your day on a balcony offering majestic Pacific Ocean sunsets.

If this sounds like your dream vacation you have a terrific chance of winning it in the Hospice Services of Lake County Maui Dream Vacation Raffle.

The Maui dream vacation includes one week in a private condo located in the prestigious Valley Isle Resort in Kahana, Maui along with $1,500 in cash for airfare, meals and an extra pair of flip flops.

Raffle tickets go on sale Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Hospice Services of Lake County office located at 1717 S. Main St. in Lakeport (right next door to the Hospice Thrift Shoppe).

The tickets cost $50 each and can be purchased by cash, check or credit card.

Ticket sales are limited to 200.

The condo will be scheduled according to availability.

For more information on the Maui Dream Vacation Raffle, or to enter, please contact Hospice Services of Lake County at 707-263-6222.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Main Street Association (LMSA) is initiating a plan to revitalize downtown Lakeport based on a National Trust model called The Main Street Program.

“If you want to be involved in building a better downtown Lakeport, have ideas about how that can be done and want to see it get done, then we need you,” said Lakeport Main Street Association Executive Director Carol Hays.

Volunteers are needed to serve on one of four major committees.

These groups will be planning and executing programs and ideas for such activities as festivals and events, public art, building facade improvement, historic preservation, merchant assistance and visitor attraction.

Volunteers can expect to spend six to 10 hours per month.

For more information, see the Main Street FAQ sheet and sign-up form at the Lakeport Main Street Association Web site (www.lakeportmainstreet.com) or contact Carol Hays at 707-263-8843; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Committees are forming now and will begin meeting in March.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Saturday, Feb. 26, Zachary Kimbell-Auth, his brother Gabe, and fellow Konocti Christian Academy student Irish Ely will be just a few of the many brave souls taking a plunge for a good cause at the 2011 Polar Bear Plunge.

These polar bear plungers will take a quick dip in the chilly waters of Clear Lake in Lakeside County Park to raise funds for Special Olympics Northern California. They are inviting their friends and family to help.

Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

But it is much more than a sports program. It is training for life, empowering these individuals with self-confidence and self-esteem that carries over into their every day lives.

What is most amazing is that Special Olympics is free to all for over 13,000 Special Olympics athletes in Northern California; but it costs approximately $500 to support one athlete's participation in Special Olympics for an entire year.

As team captain Zack Kimbell-Auth is trying to raise $500 (he says $3,000) and has asked his team members to try and raise at least $100 each (or $500). Will you help the Whackadoodle Dragons hit their goal? Here is how you can help:

Visit the team Web site and make a donation. You can make a donation to the team in general, Zachary, Gabe or Irish and it will all count towards our goal. You can find them at www.PolarPlungeLakeCounty.com.

Click on the Whackadoodle Dragon link under team rankings to the right of the page. You can also make your donation to the Whackadoodle Dragons in Honor or Memory of a loved one and it will show on our Honor Roll.