LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Horse Council is kicking off the new year with its January members’ meeting and saddle fitting clinic in Hidden Valley Lake on Saturday, Jan. 11.

The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hidden Valley Lake Activity Center, 18174 Hidden Valley Road.  

Admission is free for this educational event and opportunity to meet and greet new and ongoing members in the south county area.

This is the first of three “general meetings” with the membership in 2014, open to the public, providing a chance to give input on LCHC activities, projects and priorities in the new years.

Learn from the experts about what to look for in the right saddle fit and see a unique collection of saddles on display by council members. There will be a potluck, snacks and beverages.

Access is on Hartmann Road. Please call to RSVP to 707-631-8857; your name is needed for clearance at the gate.

The council has had a great 2013, and it would like to thank its generous sponsors: A&B Collision, Ag Unlimited, Animal Hospital of Lake County, Bamboo and Bit Exchange, Carlton Tires, Cole Creek Equestrian Center, Cowgirl Consignment, Fischer Development, Highland Springs Equestrian Center, Holdenried Harvesting, John’s Market, Kelseyville Lumber, Lake County Farm Bureau, Lake County Rodeo Association, Lake County Wine Studio, Middletown Animal Hospital, Mt. Konocti Truck & Auto Repair, Peter Windrem Law, Rainbow Ag, Rancho de la Fuente, RB Peters, Tallman Hotel / Blue Wing Saloon, TNT Storage, U.C.C. Rentals, Wildhurst Vineyards and Working Hands.

The 2014 membership drive starts now. Please join or renew to ensure continuation of your benefits, including a 10 percent discount at Ag Unlimited for all your feed and supplies.

You can renew online using PayPal or send a check to LCHC, P.O. Box 1551, Kelseyville CA 95451.

Memberships are $25 for families, $10 for individuals and $75 for organizations.

The Horse Council is 150 members strong and growing. Horse enthusiasts of all disciplines are welcome.

Visit http://www.lakecountyhorsecouncil.com/index.html for a complete listing of all equestrian events in Lake County. The group also can be found on Facebook or contacted at 707-245-9091.

The Lake County Horse Council is incorporated as a nonprofit, public benefit, membership organization. All donations are 100-percent tax deductible.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – All branches of the Lake County Library will be closed Jan. 1 to observe New Year’s Day.

Normal hours will resume on Jan. 2.

Call your local branch if you have any questions.

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., telephone 707-263-8817.

Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake, is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m. The phone number is 707-994-5115.

Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St., is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The phone number is 707-987-3674.

Upper Lake Library, 310 Second St., is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., telephone 707-275-2049.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – On Saturday, Dec. 14, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Auxiliary, Flotilla 8-8 of Lake County, held its annual change of watch ceremony at the Greenview Restaurant in Hidden Valley Lake.

This ceremony commemorates the changing of the flotilla commanders and its officers for the year of 2014.

Attending from the “Gold Side” were USCG personnel BOSN Curtis Barthel of Coast Guard Sector, Humboldt Bay and BM1 Kevin Cornell of Station Noyo Harbor at Ft. Bragg.

The auxiliary is known as the “Silver Side” to the USCG and it consists of more than 30,000 volunteer members throughout the country.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Yolonda Avelar, a Salvation Army coordinator in Lake County, won the first prize of a hand-sewn quilt in a recent draw at the Lakeside Family Fun & Event Center.

The quilt was created and donated by Joyce Pierson of Lakeport as part of the fundraising effort for “Yes on M,” the senior rent control measure on next June's ballot.

The “Save Our Seniors” campaign collected signatures earlier this year to place the initiative on the ballot.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around the North Coast during the coming week.

No work is planned in Lake County. Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

In observance of the New Year's Day holiday, Caltrans crews and contractors will not be performing any activity on state highways that would include lane closures on Tuesday, Dec. 31, and Wednesday, Jan. 1. However, Caltrans will respond to emergency situations with traffic control as required.

Have a happy, healthy and safe holiday season.

LAKE COUNTY

There is no major roadwork scheduled for Lake County from Friday, Dec. 27, through Thursday, Jan. 2.

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.

– Replacement of a culvert with a bridge at Dunn Creek 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 – Shasta Construction of Redding.

Highway 101

– 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.

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).

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Soper-Reese Community Theatre has lined up a great group of films of all genres for its 2014 Classic Movie Series.

The Classic Movie Series runs on the second Tuesday of every month.

Featured in 2014 will be the following classics:

• Jan. 14: “Casablanca.”
• Feb. 11: “The Love Bug.”
• March 11: “Charade.”
• April 8: “Singin' In The Rain.”
• May 13: “The Birds.”
• June 10: “The Maltese Falcon.”
• July 8: “It Happened One Night.”
• Aug. 12: “Dr. No.”
• Sept. 9: “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
• Oct. 14: “The Man Who Knew Too Much.”
• Nov. 11: “Mr. Roberts.”
• Dec. 9: “The Manchurian Candidate.”

For the matinee showings, doors open at 12:30 p.m., with the shows starting at 1 p.m.

For the evening showings, doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the films starting at 6 p.m.

Donations are gratefully accepted.

Popcorn, candy, soda, water and coffee will be available for purchase.

The Soper-Reese Community Theatre, located at 275 St. Main St. in Lakeport, is a restored, historic, performing arts venue established in 1949 and seating 300 patrons.

Check the theater's Web site, www.soperreesetheatre.com , its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Soper-Reese-Theatre/117392951610902 or call 707-263-0577 to find out about other upcoming events.