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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Epidendio Construction of Lower Lake has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for guardrail repair from Verna Way to Paradise Cove beginning Monday, Jan. 5. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.

– A roadway realignment project from 1.4 miles east of the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge to 1.6 miles west of Walker Ridge Road will continue. 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. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 29

– A slide repair project from the Lupiyoma Creek Bridge to Bar X Ranch will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect with intermittent one-way traffic control. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 281

– Caltrans will continue routine maintenance from 0.9 miles west of Tenino Way to the junction of Route 29/281. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– AT&T of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work between Philo Greenwood Road and Navarro Bluff Road. 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 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.

Highway 162

– A bridge widening project at Outlet Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

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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SACRAMENTO – The Resources Agency will adopt a new name, the California Natural Resources Agency, on Jan. 1, 2009, to better reflect its primary mission.

Since 1961, the Resources Agency has been responsible for the safeguarding and stewardship of California’s precious natural resources.

From water and wildlife management and conservation to wildland fire protection, energy, ocean and coastal policy, land stewardship, climate change adaptation, sustainable living, and the promotion of outdoor recreation, the agency oversees most all of the state’s functions designed to protect California’s natural resources.

In July, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 1464 (Maldonado) authorizing the Resources Agency to change its name to the California Natural Resources Agency.

The new agency logo will remain largely the same and the change will be phased in gradually as new supplies are ordered. In this way there will be little or no cost to the agency or any of its departments, boards or commissions save for any replacement costs that would normally be incurred.

The names of state agencies have been changed occasionally to better reflect their missions.

For example, California’s Business and Transportation Agency was changed to the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, and the state’s Health and Welfare Agency was changed to the Health and Human Services Agency.

Similarly, in 2007 the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection changed its primary identification from CDF to CAL FIRE.

Many other states also have natural resources departments or agencies. The state of Washington has a Department of Natural Resources, which has responsibilities similar to California’s. This is also true in Wisconsin, Maryland, Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, Illinois, Alaska, Utah, and Michigan.

Pennsylvania and Nevada have Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources that house departments and programs much like those within California’s Natural Resources Agency.

California’s Natural Resources Agency is responsible for the state’s natural resource policies, programs and activities. It has 17,000 employees and oversees 25 departments, commissions, boards and conservancies. Visit the agency online at www.resources.ca.gov.

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The contest was begun as a way to encourage businesses in the downtown to decorate their windows and encourage local holiday shopping. From there it evolved into including residences as well.

This year 14 businesses and five residences chose to participate.

First place in the business category went to Flowers by Jackie at 108 S. Main St. Second prize went to The Kitchen Gallery at 302 N. Main St.

In the residential category, first place went to Della Hance at 1320 N. Forbes St., and second place went to Tiffany and Jared Bussard at 842 Central Park.

The winners were recognized at the Lakeport City Council meeting on Dec. 16.

The first place winners in each category took home a certificate and $300 in prize money. The second place winners took home a certificate and $100 in prize money.

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The team will meet at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at its headquarters at the Northshore Fire Protection District's Upper Lake Fire Station, 9420 Main St.

A training session will follow the meeting.

Everyone is welcome to attend – both divers and non-divers. If you like the water you are invited to join the team.

For more information, call team leader Capt. John Rodriguez at 275-2446.

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Many people responded to the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce's Residential Holiday Decoration Contest. It was a tough choice this year to award one winner – they were all beautiful.

Thomas and Tonya Biasotti at 3025 Sylvia Court were declared the winner of this year's decorating contest. They will be awarded a $10 gift card provided by Wal-Mart.

If you wish to view this year's Christmas lights, take a look at these wonderfully decorated homes:

• 14965 Putnam;

• 2815 Robin Lane;

• 6125 Spruce Ave.;

• 3644 McKinley Drive;

• 3268 Bowers;

• 14925 Laguna;

• Most of Cottonwood Street also is decorated very nicely.

The chamber would like to thank all of the participants and even those who decorated and didn't get their name into the contest for all of their hard work. They gave everyone the opportunity to slow down and enjoy our beautiful town in lights. What a gift! Christmas is best enjoyed one special moment at a time.

The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce wishes everyone all the best this holiday season.

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Members will be reviewing the survey results setting budget and action priorities for 2009.

The Senior Center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive (corner of 10^th and Country Club) in Lucerne.

The Senior Center serves breakfast from 9 a.m. until noon.

The public is invited. Membership in the Lake County Democratic Club is open to registered members of the Democratic Party.

For more information contact the Lake County Democratic Club at 263.4529 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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