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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– A T & T of Walnut Creek has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work at the junction of Route 20/29 beginning Friday, Jan. 11. 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 175

– P G & E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work near Putah Creek Bridge on Wednesday, Jan. 16. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 20

– A highway widening project from South Harbor Drive to Gravel Pit Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays, weather permitting. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– A curve realignment project from 0.3 miles east of Three Chop Road to 0.5 miles west of Two Rock Lookout will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – North Bay Construction of Petaluma.

– A T & T of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for pavement repair from 1.3 to 2.3 miles east of Two Rock Lookout on Wednesday, Jan. 16. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– A T & T of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for pavement repair from 0.2 to 1.1 miles west of Broaddus Creek Bridge on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– City of Willits has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for pavement repair 0.4 miles west of Willits Cemetery Road on Monday, Jan. 14. Work hours are 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– A T & T of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for pavement repair 0.3 to 0.1 miles west of Willits Cemetery Road on Monday, Jan. 14. Work hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– A highway rehabilitation project from Road A to Marina Drive will continue. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 1 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 101

– A pavement repair project from 0.1 miles north to 1.5 miles north of Comminsky Station Road will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Roadway repair due to pavement deterioration, from 3.6 miles south of Ridgewood Ranch Road to 1.9 miles south of Ridgewood Ranch Road 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.

– Laytonville County Water District has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to move a water line from 0.9 miles south of Harwood Road to 0.5 miles north of Branscomb Road. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Verizon of Manteca has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to replace utility poles 0.4 miles north of Spy Rock Road beginning Friday, Jan. 11. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Construction of a retaining wall near Confusion Hill will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – MCM Construction of North Highlands.

Highway 162

– Covelo Community Services District has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work from 0.2 miles east of Grist Creek Bridge to Howard Street. 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.

Highway 253

– A slide removal project from Anderson Creek Bridge to Singley Cattlepass 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 – Steve Manning Construction of Redding.

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).

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The new officers are: Craig Bach, president and treasurer; Ed Moore, vice president; James and Arthur Wilkie, co-secretaries.

The group advocates for fair water rates for Lucerne customers.

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The first organizing meeting is Saturday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m. at Wild About Books, 14290 Olympic Drive, Suite A, in Clearlake.

For more information contact go to http://clearlakecommunityco-operative.wikispaces.com, call JoAnn Saccato at 707-350-1719 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner is served at 6 p.m.

Dinner includes pasta, salad, bread, crab, dessert and coffee. The cost is still only $40 per person and includes door prize chances.

All proceeds go to local and international humanitarian projects and programs.

More than 70 great silent and live auction items have been donated so far, including wine and wine tastings, airplane rides, original art and jewelry, live music, overnight accommodations and shows, a time-share in Mexico, ski lift passes and much more.

Auction donations will be received until Jan. 22nd. Sponsorships are also available at $100 or more.

This is a sellout event every year, and pre-paid reservations are available until Jan. 15.

If you are in a group and would like to reserve seats together, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your ticket numbers, names and phone numbers, plus the name of the group.

Tickets are available from any Middletown Rotarian, or can be picked up at Tri-Counties Bank, Westamerica Bank or Neft and Neft Realtors in Middletown. Or, you may make checks payable to RC of Middletown and mail to P.O. Box 981, Middletown CA 95461. Give us the names of the people in your group so we can seat you together.

For more information, tickets, auction donations or sponsorships, call Helen Whitney at 928-9812.

Rotary is a worldwide all-volunteer service organization. “Service Above Self” is its motto.

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A new federal safety regulation, designed to reduce the risk of lithium battery fires, will continue to allow lithium batteries in checked baggage if they are installed in electronic devices, or in carry-on baggage if stored in plastic bags.

Common consumer electronics such as travel cameras, cell phones and most laptop computers are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage. However, the rule limits individuals to bringing only two extended-life spare rechargeable lithium batteries, such as laptop and professional audio/video/camera equipment lithium batteries in carry-on baggage.

"Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires," said Krista Edwards, deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Lithium batteries are considered hazardous materials because they can overheat and ignite in certain conditions.

Safety testing conducted by the FAA found that current aircraft cargo fire suppression system would not be capable of suppressing a fire if a shipment of non-rechargeable lithium batteries were ignited in flight.

"This rule protects the passenger," said Lynne Osmus, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assistant administrator for security and hazardous materials. "It's one more step for safety. It's the right thing to do and the right time to do it."

In addition to the new rule, PHMSA is working with the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the battery and airline industries, airline employee organizations, testing laboratories, and the emergency response communities to increase public awareness about battery-related risks and developments.

These useful safety tips are highlighted at the public Web site, http://safetravel.dot.gov.

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A potluck supper will be open to members and guests, who are always welcome.

Following the potluck will be the installation of 2008 officers.

You do not have to be Scandinavian but interested in learning the heritage and culture of Norway and other Nordic countries to join the Sons of Norway, a fraternal benefit society offering maximum benefits to its members.

The meetings are held in the Community Center of Galilee Lutheran Church, 8860 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville. Children are welcome and will meet Youth Director Souleah Scarbrough.

Call the membership secretary for information at 998-3583.

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