LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sutter Lakeside Hospital welcomed Brownie Troop No. 10514 for a hospital tour on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

The troop, along with their parents and families arrived at the hospital and toured the clinical laboratory, medical imaging, surgery and emergency departments.

“We love to give tours of our emergency department to be able to share the great things we have to offer with our community,” said emergency department nurse Cyndy Forbes. “It’s especially rewarding for me to host the Brownie Troop as I am a former Girl Scout and know how important interactions like these are for young girls.”

“With the tour of the hospital and learning about hospital care of patients, the Brownies have now all qualified for the First Aid Badge,” said Brownie Troop Leader Leslie West. “We are very happy to be collaborating with Sutter Lakeside Hospital to help our Brownies learn about health care.”

Myra Dawang, clinical lab scientist, showed how laboratory tests can take a small sample of blood and discover all kinds of things about a person, including a fondness for eating fatty foods.  

In the imaging department, director Jose Aponte showed the children various pieces of equipment and demonstrated the lead-lined aprons used for patient and staff safety.

Diana Iniguez, surgery director, displayed the hair nets and foot coverings that surgical clinicians are required to wear to protect patients and families from germs.

Iniguez also showed the troop the “red line” in the surgery department that requires anyone crossing it to have full-protective coverings.

Diane Pege, MD, talked to the children about preventing the spread of germs and everyone was encouraged to use the many, many hand sanitizer dispensers located throughout the hospital.

“I am a former Girl Scout myself and I was thrilled to be able host a hospital tour for them,” said Chief Administrative Officer Siri Nelson. “Doing things like this for community groups gives our staff the opportunity to showcase what they do. We all decided on a career in healthcare to give back so this was an honor for us. We sincerely want to thank the Girl Scouts for their time and attention. They’re a great group of girls.”

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 20

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs 0.4 mile west of Saratoga Spring Road on Tuesday, March 19. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

– AT&T of Santa Rosa has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from 0.7 mile south to 1.5 miles north of Diener Drive beginning Monday, March 18. 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.

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.

– Slipout repairs 1.6 miles south of Navarro Bluff 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 – Green Right O'Way Constructors of Willits.

– Bridge painting at the Salmon Creek Bridge and the Albion River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 1five-minute delays. Contractor – Jeffco Painting and Coating of Vallejo.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Little River Airport Road to Casper Vista Point 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.

– Soroptimist International of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold the annual Whale Run and Walk Race between Redwood Avenue and Laurel Avenue on Saturday, March 16, from 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– 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 routine maintenance from just south of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge to the Pieta Creek Bridge through Friday, March 8. 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 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.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance just south of the Outlet Creek Bridge on Friday, March 15. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from 0.3 mile east of Harrison Street to 0.3 mile west of Old Toll Road through Friday, March 15. 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 253

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for tree trimming from 0.2 mile west of Slide Creek to 0.6 mile west of Stipp Lane through Friday, March 15. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

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).

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The next HazMobile event will be held on Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23, at Kelseyville Lumber, 3555 N. Main St.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge. Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear feet) and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.

Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

HazMobile services are provided to residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this taxpayer-funded service and first make an appointment.

Business appointments can be made by calling the Mendocino County Solid Waste Authority, the contracted agency that provides this service in Lake County at 707-468-9786.
 
Free recycling options for residents and businesses:

• Recycled paint is available to both residents and businesses at Lake County Waste Solutions on first-come, first-served basis in five gallon containers. Colors include tan, brown, gray, and pink.
• Used cooking oil can be dropped-off by businesses and residents, which will be recycled into BioDiesel by Yokayo BioFuels. Drop-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the Northshore Fire Protection District station at 6257 Seventh Ave. in Lucerne.
• Used motor oil can be dropped-off by residents for recycling year round at a number of sites in the county. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for locations.
• Electronics (e-waste) can be dropped off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and monthly at the Goodwill e-waste collection held in Lakeport.

Lake County Waste Solutions
230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport
888-718-4888 or 234-6400
Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
www.candswaste.com

South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center
16015 Davis St., Clearlake
Open daily 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
707-994-8614
www.southlakerefuse.com

The HazMobile program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County residents.

For more information about recycling, reusing, and reducing, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or call the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Farm Bureau and the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture will recognize National Ag Day on Tuesday, March 19, at the Lake County Board of Supervisors meeting in the Lake County Courthouse at 9 a.m.

A proclamation will be presented declaring March 19th as National Ag Day in Lake County.

The Agriculture Council of America began the National Ag Day program in 1973 to acknowledge agriculture producers.

Do you know where your food comes from? If you're like many Americans, the answer is the grocery store.

However, the correct answer is your food comes from farmers and ranchers who plant the seeds, nurture the crops and tend the livestock that helps to feed the entire world.

California’s farmers and ranchers grow and produce more than 400 different commodities. The state produces nearly half of US-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables.

Across the nation, US consumers regularly purchase several commodities produced solely in California.

Here in Lake County, primary crops include winegrapes, pears and walnuts. Additionally, an abundance of seasonal vegetables, fruits, grains and dairy products are carefully grown and prepared by our local growers.

National Ag Day serves to create awareness about the enormous contributions that American farmers and ranchers make to our tables every day.

Today, each American farmer feeds more than 144 people and the need for food produced in the United States is dramatic.

Agriculture is the nation's No. 1 export and is vitally important in sustaining a healthy economy. National Ag Day offers an opportunity for Americans to recognize our farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses for providing us with food, fiber, clothing and shelter.

On March 19, please join the Lake County Farm Bureau and the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture in showing our local producers how much they are appreciated.

For more information, contact Lake County Farm Bureau Executive Director Claudia Street at 707-263-0911.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – This month’s Redbud Audubon Society meeting at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum on Thursday, March 21, 7 p.m. ventures into the world of the very photogenic, intriguing and endangered giant panda.

Sandy Moura, a Redbud Audubon Society member, will share her experiences from last summer when she traveled to China “On the Trail of the Giant Panda,” with the Earthwatch organization.

Earthwatch is a nonprofit group that supports research and education worldwide through grants to scientific researchers to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.

Earthwatch funds 65 projects in 35 countries in four topic areas: ecosystems and wildlife; ocean health; climate change; and archaeology and culture.

Supporting the research, volunteers assist with ongoing fieldwork at locations around the world, which is what Moura was doing.

The primary goal of the Panda project is to increase the population of the giant pandas (about 1,500 in the wild at this time) through captive breeding programs and reintroduction of pandas into the wild.

Moura was at a site in the mountains outside the city of Chengdu in southwest China. She worked at the Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base that focuses on breeding and behaviors of breeding females and their offspring.

The public is invited to this interesting program.

For more information about the Redbud Audubon Society, go to www.redbudaudubon.org .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Town Hall (MATH) group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 14.

The group will meet at the Calpine Visitor Center, 15500 Central Park Road, Middletown.

The public is invited to attend.

Under new business, the group will consider nominating Mike Tabacchi as the alternate board member and a letter to Lake County Animal Care & Control Control will be read.

They also will discuss the Middletown Square Park pump house door, the state of the county building and the Highway 29 project.

There also will be board and committee reports, and the April 11 meeting agenda.

MATH meetings are subject to videotaping. Meeting proceedings may be available for viewing on public access television and/or the Internet.

MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.

The group’s current board of directors include Chairman Fletcher Thornton, Vice Chair Claude Brown, Secretary Ken Gonzales and members Tom Darms and Laura Helton.