The reading will begin at 2 p.m. at the Lake County Courthouse Museum, 255 N. Main St., Lakeport.

Bill Groody, president of the Friends of the Lake County Museum will read from an oral history of Bill Hanson.

Hanson, in his later years, wrote down his recollections of crossing the plains by wagon train in 1849, when he was just 9 years old.

His story comes alive with vivid details of surviving a cholera epidemic, watching a buffalo stampede and the suffering he saw and experienced when crossing the desert with very little food or water.

Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

Two more readings are scheduled in this series, on Aug. 20 and Sept. 17.

For more information please call the museum at 707-263-4555.

The meeting will take place at Firehouse Pizza, located at 6232 E. Highway 20.

Pregathering starts at 11 a.m. The public is welcome.

Republican Party of Lake County members enjoying a short break from registering voters. Pictured are, from left, Eldena Russell of Middletown; Janeane Bogner and Penny Lunt, both of Clearlake Oaks; Betty Mueller of Kelseyville; Robert Lanfranco of Upper Lake; and John Mueller of Kelseyville. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Republican Party of Lake County Central Committee's next general meeting will be held on Monday, July 25.

The meeting will be held at the Lodge at Blue Lakes, 5135 W. Highway 20 in Upper Lake. It will be open to the public.

Dinner will start at 5 p.m. with the meeting to follow at 6 p.m. The cost is $20 per person.

Reports will be given on the group's successful registration of voters for June.

Committee membership is open to all registered Republicans.

The central committee is the official governing body of the Lake County Republican Party.

RSVP for the dinner by contacting committee Chair Mark Cabaniss, 707-391-3637 or Vice Chair Walt Christensen at 707-489-6180.

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Bridge deck repairs at the Middle Creek Bridge and the Clover Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– Metal beam guardrail repair from Catholic Church Road to 0.6 mile west of Long Valley Road will begin Thursday, July 21. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

– Slide repairs west of Gravel Plant Road 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 – Figas Construction of Eureka.

Highway 29

– Paving from 0.7 mile south of Clayton Creek Road to the junction of Routes 29/53 will begin Wednesday, July 20. Nighttime work hours are 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Bridge deck repairs at the Scotts Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

Highway 53

– Highway widening from 40th Avenue to Old Highway 53 north will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Sierra Equipment Rental of Glenn.

Highway 175

– Metal beam guardrail repair from 0.9 to 2.3 miles east of the Mendocino/Lake 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 15-minute delays. Contractor – Stewart Dirt and Aggregate of Fairfield.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Loch Lomond Road to Socrates Mine Road. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 281

– Paving from 0.9 mile west of Tenino Way to the junction of Routes 29/281 will begin Sunday, July 17. Nighttime work hours are 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday evening through Wednesday morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Old Stageroad Drive to Manchester through Friday, July 15. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Barry Sloyan of Hayward has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit to pave a road approach 0.3 mile south of Lighthouse Road through Friday, July 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from Irish Beach Drive to 0.5 mile north of the Mallo Pass Creek Bridge beginning Thursday, July 21. 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.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Little Lake Road to Ocean Drive. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Installation of a roundabout at Simpson Lane will continue. 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. Contractor – Fedco Construction Inc. of Santa Rosa.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from Hillcrest Terrace to Westport on Friday, July 15. Work hours are 3 a.m. to noon. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Storm damage repairs near the Union Landing Viaduct 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 – Valentine Corp. of San Rafael.

– Bridge painting on the South Fork Eel River 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 – NY Blastco of Gardenia.

Highway 20

– Highway widening from 2.3 to 3.3 miles east of Gravel Pit Road 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 – Team Ghilotti Inc. of Petaluma.

– Bridge deck repairs at the Russian River Overhead and the Redwood Valley Undercrossing will continue. Work hours are 7 p.m. To 3 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

Highway 101

– Slide repairs north of the Korean War Veterans War Memorial Bridge will continue. 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. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– Installation of cable median barrier from the El Roble Overcrossing to the junction of Routes 20/101 will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Ghilotti Brothers of San Rafael.

– A pavement repair project from the Robinson Creek Bridge to Uva Drive will continue. Work hours are 4 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. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from the junction of Routes 101/222 and the Gobbi Street Overcrossing 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.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for an aerial crossing utility repairs from 0.2 mile south of the Ackerman Creek Bridge to the Lake Mendocino Drive Undercrossing on Sunday, July 17. Work hours are 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Installation of metal be a.m. guardrail at various locations from Reeves Canyon Road to the truck scales will continue. Work hours are 6 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 – Jeff Parrish of Stanton.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from 0.5 mile south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge to 0.7 mile south of the junction of Routes 1/101 will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. In two-lane sections, one-way traffic control will be in effect and motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. In four-lane sections, traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel and motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Wahlund Construction of Eureka.

– Traffic striping from Muir Canyon Road to Casteel Lane will begin Wednesday, July 20. Work hours are 6 p.m. to 11 a.m., Wednesday evening through Friday morning. A moving lane closure will be in effect. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Apply-A-Line of Anderson.

– Bridge painting at the Arnold Overhead Bridge and the Long Valley Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Certified Coatings Company of Fairfield.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Scandia Separation to 0.6 mile south of the junction of Routes 1/101 beginning Monday, July 18. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 128

– North Gualala Water Co. of Gualala has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs 0.3 mile east of Haehl Street on Saturday, July 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Culvert repairs from the Beebe Creek Bridge to the Sonoma County Line will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Team Ghilotti of Petaluma.

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.

Highway 253

– Culvert repairs from Butler Ranch to the junction of Route 101/253 will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Team Ghilotti of Petaluma.

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).

Lake County Energy Watch, which was launched in November 2010, has programs available for qualified residential and non-residential customers.

Most recently, Lake County Energy Watch has partnered with Richard Heath and Associates (RHA) who oversees the Energy Fitness Program, an energy efficiency program available to all nonresidential PG&E customers in Lake County whose electrical demand is 200 kW or less including city, state and federal facilities located in Lake County – as well as nonprofit organizations, small businesses and special districts.

The Energy Fitness Program offers lighting retrofits (remove and replace existing lighting for high energy efficient lighting) at no- or low-cost.

The retrofits include four and eight foot linear fixtures, high bay fixtures, Energy Star compact fluorescent lamps, LED exit signs or retro kits, occupancy sensors, vending machine controllers, faucet aerators, as well as additional LED and other cost effective savings measures.

Most of these measures are at absolutely no cost – including removal and installation – with just a few of the options requiring a nominal surcharge.

Lake County Energy Watch was awarded $10,000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to assist 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Lake County with paying any applicable surcharge for lighting retrofits.

When a 501(c)(3) nonprofit receives services from RHA through the Lake County Energy Watch program, RHA will invoice Lake County Energy Watch on behalf of the eligible organization.

For residential customers, Lake County Energy Watch is helping to promote A.B.S, an Energy Savings Assistance Program contractor previously known as the Energy Partner Contractor with PG&E that can provide qualified residents with free energy education and weatherization on homes, apartments or mobile homes which can include attic insulation, weather stripping, caulking, energy-efficient lighting and refrigerators, window repair and more.

Lake County Energy Watch is administered by PG&E using funding from California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

Energy Watch partnerships are designed to help local governments and their communities lower their energy bills and enjoy a cleaner environment.

For more information about the Lake County Energy Watch program, contact Michalyn DelValle at 707-263-2221 or visit www.energy.co.lake.ca.us.

Time Bankers meet at the Time Bank table at the Clearlake Friday Night Farmer's Market. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Members of the Time Bank of Lake County gathered at the Clearlake Farmers' Market on Friday, July 9, where they got to know each other better and learned more about how they could help each other through the Time Bank.

“Time banking is a social movement in 22 countries and six continents,” said Carol Cole-Lewis, one of the co-coordinators of the Time Bank.

“Every hour is worth the same, whether you're providing legal help or doing someone's dishes,” Cole-Lewis explained. “And, for every hour you spend doing something for someone, you earn one Time Dollar in return. Then you have a Time Dollar to spend on having someone do something for you. It's that simple. Yet it also has profound effects. Time Banks change neighborhoods and whole communities.”

Col-Lewis continued, “The Time Bank keeps track of the time used in giving and receiving services. This means the time trades are not one to one – that is, I can get gardening help from Kathy and then give piano lessons to Joe.”

Time Bank members have used the time bank to get and give services like yard work, runs to the dump, houses painted, electrical work done, child care, business brochures made and more.

The Time Bank of Lake County began in January of this year. It is currently at 103 members and performing roughly 25 hours of trade a month. The Time Bank of Lake County is a member of Timebanks USA.

The Time Bank's next meetup will be at the Steele Winery Farmers' Market in Finley on Saturday, July 30, at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited.

To find out more about the Time Bank and to join, visit its Web site at http://timebanklakeco.com.