NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans announced that a new website is available offering the latest official news and information regarding the Willits Bypass Project.

The Willits Bypass Project News, located at www.willitsbypass.wordpress.com , will include news releases, multimedia content, and will address trending questions and common misconceptions about the project.

It is mobile phone friendly and has a subscription feature which allows subscribers to receive an email notification of new posts.

The Willits Bypass Project will relieve congestion, reduce delays, and improve safety for traffic and pedestrians along U.S. Route 101 through Willits in Mendocino County.  

This $210 million highway improvement project is funded by $136 million in Proposition 1B funds, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond.

Please direct comments or content suggestions regarding the Willits Bypass Project News to Phil Frisbie, Jr., Public Information Officer, at 707-441-4678 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Lake Water Use Agreement Ad Hoc Committee will meet at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 20.

The meeting will take place at the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District offices, 19400 Hartmann Road.

The committee is a joint meeting of the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District and the Hidden Valley Lake Association.

Under new business, the committee will review the lake water use agreement.

Public records are available upon request. Board packets are posted at www.hiddenvalleylakecsd.com . Click on the “board packet” link on the agenda tab.

LUCERNE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Thursday, March 21

The group meets at the First Lutheran Church, 3863 Country Club Drive, across from the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Social worker Jenny Johnson is the facilitator.  

The groups are sponsored by Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (1-800-834-1636) and the Social Day Programs in Lake County.  

For more information call Jenny Johnson at 707-350-3030 or Caroline Denny at 707-263-9481.

Respite is provided by the centers at no charge.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Rockhounds' next meeting and program will be held on Wednesday, April 3.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

Dr. Harry Lyons, instructor at Yuba College in Clearlake, will give a presentation on volcanism and extrusive rocks.

The group’s last field trip collection also will be on display.   

Interested community members are welcome. Annual dues are $15.

Contact J. Anderson at 707-995-1189 for more information.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Junior and senior high school students are practicing retail management as volunteers in a new teen fashion section of St. John’s Basement Boutique thrift shop the first and third Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Merchandising, presentation and making change are duties for teens volunteering at the shop.

The unique teen clothing section also sells hats, shoes and jewelry at affordable prices.

A responsible adult is present at all times while teens volunteer.

Students interested in donating community work hours, while learning valuable retail management skills, can contact St. John’s Vestry Member Anne Barquist at 707-245-8194 or 707-279-0249.

Regular thrift shop hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the corner of Clearlake Ave. and N. Forbes in Lakeport.

For further information, please call Parish Priest Fr. Leo M. Joseph, O.S.F. at 707-349-6563 or see St. John’s Web site www.saintjohnslakeport.org .

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP) is seeking nominations to fill an additional vacancy on the FRGP Peer Review Committee (PRC).

Pursuant to the Public Resources Code, section 6217, members of the PRC are appointed by the director of CDFW to provide advice, oversight and recommendations regarding grant funding priorities for the FRGP.

Seven of the PRC’s 14 representatives are recommended by the California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout.

The remaining seven represent the following interests: one representative from the agriculture industry, one representative from the timber industry, one representative of public water agency interests, one academic or research scientist with expertise in anadromous fisheries restoration and three county supervisors from coastal counties (county supervisors are recommended by the California State Association of Counties).

Because the FRGP only awards grants to applicants within coastal counties of California, all representatives must reside in or represent interests in coastal counties in which salmon and steelhead exist.  

CDFW will accept nominations from the general public for the agriculture industry position through April 30, 2013.

That appointed representative will serve until December 2016, starting with the PRC meeting scheduled this fall.  

To nominate a representative for the agriculture seat, please send a nomination letter to Patty Forbes, FRGP Coordinator, 830 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95811.

Nomination letters should include a resume of the candidate and verification that they represent coastal counties in which salmon and steelhead exist.