UKIAH – An impressive slate of wine professionals – top wine writers, winemakers, educators, authors and sommeliers – will convene on Friday, Aug. 6 in Anderson Valley for the 34th annual Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition.

Their mission: to evaluate and award medals to the very best wines from “America’s Greenest Wine Region.”

Immediately following the judging, award winners will be announced at a grand reception and tasting open to the public.

More than 200 wines from Mendocino’s 12 growing regions – from Mendocino Coast to Anderson Valley to Hopland to Redwood Valley and more – will be considered for bronze, silver, gold medals and the cherished double gold.

Judges will also select Best Red and Best White Sweepstakes wines, as well as the Best Green Sweepstakes winner. The Green Sweepstakes award goes to the best of the gold medal wines made from organically or certified-sustainably grown grapes.

Following the judging, an Awards Announcement and Reception takes place on Friday, Aug. 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The public is invited to mingle with competition judges and Mendocino grapegrowers and winemakers at a reception to be held at Goldeneye Winery in Mendocino’s Anderson Valley.

Competition medal winners will be announced, and attendees will taste award winning wines accompanied by a sumptuous sampling of foods paired especially for this event.

Judges for this year’s competition include:

– Gillian Ballance, sommelier whose experience includes PlumpJack Group, Bacara Resort & Spa, Miro Cellar, Picholine, and Windows on the World, New York City.

– Dan Berger, wine writer and wine competition expert, author of "Beyond the Grapes: An Inside Look at Napa Valley.”

– Laurie Daniel, wine columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, contributor to Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast and more.

– Ziggy Eschliman, wine and spirits expert, wine educator and The Wine Gal on KRSH and KNOB radio.

– Jeff Hinchliffe, winemaker at Hanna Winery.

– Laura Ness, contributor to Vine Times, Wine Business Monthly, Vineyard and Winery Management.

– Steve Pitcher, veteran judge and contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle and Wine News.

– GM Pooch Pucilowski, respected chief judge for the California State Fair wine competition for 25 years.

– Renato Sardo, wine consultant and past Wine Curator at Slow Food Nation.

– Christopher Sawyer, wine writer, sommelier at the Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar in Sonoma, recently named Sonoma County’s 2009 Best Sommelier.

– Linda Schmitt, wine education consultant, Culinary Institute of America-Certified Wine Professional.

– Tom Simoneau, The Wine Guy on KSRO and adjunct professor in Santa Rosa Junior College’s viticulture program.

– Forest Tancer, former winemaker at Iron Horse Vineyards.

– Larry Van Aalst, sommelier at Equus Restaurant in Santa Rosa, and radio talk show host.

The awards reception and tasting will take place at Goldeneye Winery, 9200 Hwy 128, Philo, Anderson Valley.

Tickets for this festive soiree are $25 per person and advance reservations are required. Checks should be made out to MWWC and mailed to Ryan Henderson, Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission, P.O. Box 1409, Ukiah, CA, 95482.

Call 707-468-9886 or visit www.TrueMendocinoWine.com for more information.

Award-winning wines will also be poured at the Mendocino County Fair in Boonville on Saturday, Sept. 18.

The Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition is sponsored by the Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission and the Mendocino County Fair.

LAKEPORT – Entries for the mutton bustin’ event at the 81st Annual Lake County Rodeo are still open for youngsters age 8 and under.

The children must weigh no more 50 pounds when they weigh in on either Friday or Saturday evening.

Call 707-245-7431 to confirm there are still slots available.

The annual Rodeo Parade takes place on Saturday, July 10, at 11 a.m. in Lakeport on Main Street.

The 2010 Grand Marshall is Monte Montana Jr., the TV cowboy star.

This year the parade is open to all equestrian related entries, antique tractors, farm equipment and there will be a pet parade as well.

There is a special raffle for all entrants in the parade and there is a rumor that Davey Crockett will be in the parade. Entry forms are available around Lake County.

The parade lines up at the fairgrounds and for parade related questions, contact Parade Chair Lonne Sloan at 707-995-2515 or 707-349-0820.

A list of CCPRA participants who have signed up for the parade has been received by the Lake County Rodeo Association and it reflects a large increase in the number of cowboys and cowgirls coming to Lakeport and Lake County for the 81st Annual Lake County Rodeo.

For general rodeo information, contact the Lake County Chamber at 707-263-5092 or 707-245-7431.

LAKEPORT – Chef Christina Basor will teach a class using raw foods on Sunday, July 11.

The class will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hartley Lodge, 375 N. Main St., Lakeport.

The cost is $35, which includes lunch.

Basor will teach a class about raw foods that includes essential raw kitchen equipment, where you get your protein, how to open Thai coconuts, energy packed super foods, green and fruit smoothies, fresh almond nut milk, whole food dressings and will share a recipe for German chocolate cake.

Call Basor at 707-489-3600 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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

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

Caltrans will suspend work on Northern California highways Friday, July 2, through Monday, July 5, in observance of the Independence Day weekend. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary for Caltrans Maintenance forces to respond to emergency situations.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– The Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake have been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for installation of light poles near Government Street beginning Tuesday, July 6. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Ogden Road to Hillside Lane. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Hartman Road to 0.3 mile south of Hofacker Lane. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 281

– North Bay Construction of Petaluma has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for paving on Soda Bay Road. Work hours are 7 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

– The city of Point Arena has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit to hold the annual Independence Day Parade between Iverson Lane and Main Street in Point Arena on Sunday, July 4. A road closure will be in effect from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Motorists are advised to use an alternate route.

– Paving from 0.1 mile north of Navarro Ridge Road to Woodstock Drive will continue. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– The Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold the July 4 fireworks from the junction of Highways 1 and 20 to South Street on Saturday, July 3, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Turns onto Ocean View Drive will be restricted. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for an aerial crossing at Airport Road on Thursday, July 8. Work hours are 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 101

– A culvert repair project form Waterplant Road to the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Work hours are 8 p.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– The city of Willits has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold the Frontier Days Parade between Franklin Avenue and Commercial Street on Sunday, July 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A full road closure will be in effect. A detour will be provided.

Highway 162

– A bridge widening project at Outlet Creek 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 15-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

Highway 222

– Replacement of the Russian River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays during work hours and five-minute delays at other times. Contractor – CC Myers of Rancho Cordova.

– Rogina Water Co. of Talmage has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a water line from Sandford Ranch Road to Talmage Court. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 253

– Construction of a retaining wall from Singley Cattlepass to the Soda Creek Bridge 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 – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

– A bridge widening project at Soda Creek Bridge 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 – 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).

LAKEPORT – Construction activities on the Forbes Street Overlay Project in the City of Lakeport will continue the week of July 6.

Construction will consist primarily of grinding and paving activities and will occur within a rolling four block single lane closure.

Two-way traffic on Forbes Street will run through a lane shift adjacent to the construction zone and access to and from any side streets adjacent to the rolling closure will be prohibited.

This phase of construction is anticipated to continue from July 6 through July 14.

For further information please contact City Engineer Scott Harter at 707-263-5614, Extension 11.