The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

Commissioners will discuss projects eligible for Lakeport Planning Commission certificates of appreciation.

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MaryAnn Worth, co-chair of the garden club's wreath making project. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – Once again in 2008 the Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club wove its magic – specifically, over the holidays, in the form of beautiful holiday wreaths – to support local young people in their schooling.

Each year the club collects fresh greenery, then works for three days at a workshop creating fresh greenery wreaths that are sold to community members.

This money then goes towards scholarships for local students.

At the club's Christmas luncheon, Mary Ann Worth, co-chair of the garden club's wreath making project, reported on and thanked all the workers.

Nora Gerrard, treasurer, reported that enough profit was made so there is enough money to give two $1,000 scholarships again this coming spring.

The club also thanked the community for its support of the effort.

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Luncheon Chair Betty Atwood-Reyna standing by Christmas tree with gifts. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club members recently attended their Christmas luncheon at Murphy's on the Green.

Items were placed under the tree for "gifting" to Freedom House, a program providing a safe house for woman and children.

Luncheon Chair Betty Atwood-Reyna received a list of suggestions they need for the house: bathroom towels and rugs, kitchen supplies, and all beds are twin size (new and gently used items).

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Winter rains prepare the elderberry tree for 2009 flowers and fruit. Courtesy photo.

CLEAR LAKE STATE PARK – For a great start to the new year, join park docent Walt Lyon on Sunday, Jan. 11, for a walk on Clear Lake State Park’s Indian Nature Trail.

Meet Lyon at the front entrance parking lot at 8:30 a.m. to start the ascent of this intriguing hillside trail.

Lyon will describe how Native Americans used the natural resources along this trail to enrich and sustain their lives. Many plants were prepared for medicinal uses and others for food. The remarkable elderberry tree had many uses.

The Indian Nature Trail was designed in 1959 to give park visitors a great walking experience as well as showing the importance of the natural resources in the park. Winter starts the renewal for the flowers of next spring. Take time out of your busy schedule to enjoy this trail for all seasons.

Rain cancels the walk. There is no entrance fee to the park for participating in walks.

Docent led walks are scheduled for the second and fourth Sunday of each month. The next walk will be on Jan. 25.

Clear Lake State Park is located at 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.

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Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact local 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 five-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 five-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 175

– PG&E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from the junction of Route 29/175 in Kelseyville to the junction of Route 29/175 in Middletown beginning Tuesday, Jan. 6. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

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 Company, Incorporated of Rancho Cordova.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Rodeo Creek Bridge to Hosea Creek beginning Tuesday, Jan. 6. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

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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Wiggins, who represents the state’s 2nd Senate District, was recognized for her authorship of two telecommunications bills that were signed into law this year: SB 1149, extending the Rural Telecommunications Infrastructure Grant Program, which provides grants for the development and improvement of telecommunication services in rural communities; and SB 780, extending California’s High-Cost Funds A and B, which are utilized by companies that provide telecommunications in high-cost-of-services areas and communities.

The 2nd Senate District is comprised of portions or all of six counties: Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma.

Both of the bills authored by Wiggins impact residents of those counties – SB 1149, because it allows phone lines and cellular providers to receive grants and build infrastructure in rural and high-cost areas, and SB 780, because nearly the entire 2nd Senate District receives subsidies by ratepayers enabling telecommunications companies to provide affordable phone services.

“Telecommunications providers rely on subsidies paid by all ratepayers to continue providing basic phone service to rural areas of my district and elsewhere in California,” Wiggins said after receiving her award. “Had we not been able to extend the high-cost funds, rural residents across the state would have been with astronomically-high phone bills.”

SB 1149 extends the Rural Telecommunications Infrastructure Grant Program to January 2013. SB 780 extends the California High-Cost Fund A & B to 2012, and 2013, respectively. The latter bill also requires the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to report to the Legislature on the affordability of basic phone services in rural areas of the state that are subsidized by the B-Fund by July 1, 2010. Wiggins said the purpose of the report is “to ensure that residents in such areas have access to reliable and affordable telephone service.”

CalCom is a statewide trade association, representing 21 companies (including AT&T, Surewest and Verizon, along smaller telephone companies such as Foresthill and Sierra) that provide telecommunications services to nearly every corner of California. The association was founded in 1917.

Today’s CalCom members range from small high-tech, high-investment communications companies bringing reliable, high-quality service to the most rural and remote areas of the state, to medium and large providers serving diverse rural, urban and suburban markets. Together, CalCom members employ over 61,000 Californians.

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