NORTH COAST, Calif. – Pets are an important part of many families, and a new Red Cross pet first aid app puts lifesaving information right in the hands of dog and cat owners so they can provide emergency care until veterinary assistance is available.

The 99 cent pet first aid app gives iPhone and Android smart phone users instant access to expert information so they learn how to maintain their pet’s health and what to do during emergencies.

“Pet owners learn how to recognize health problems and when to contact their veterinarian,” said Tim Miller, chief executive officer, California Northwest Region. “The pet first aid app provides step-by-step instructions, videos and images for more than 25 common first aid and emergency situations including how to treat wounds, control bleeding, and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies.”

Additional topics include burns, car accidents, falls and what to do for cold- and heat-related emergencies.

Other features in the app allow pet owners to:

• Create a pet profile including tag identification number, photos, list of medications and instructions.
• Use the list of early warning signs to learn when to call their veterinarian.
• Use “click-to-call” to contact their veterinarian.
• Find emergency pet care facilities or alternate veterinarians with the “animal hospital locator.”
• Locate pet-friendly hotels.
• Test their knowledge with interactive quizzes and earn badges that they can share on their social networks along with their favorite picture of their pet.

History shows that people have not evacuated during disasters because they did not want to leave their pets behind.

The Red Cross app contains resources to help owners include pets in their emergency action plans.

Pet owners also may take a Red Cross pet first aid course so they can practice the skills and receive feedback. People can go to www.redcross.org/takeaclass for information and to register.

The Red Cross has made great strides in making emergency information available whenever and wherever people need it.

The pet first aid app and other Red Cross apps can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to www.redcross.org/mobileapps .

LAKEPORT, Calif – The Lake County First 5 Lake Commission will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. at the Child Welfare Services conference room, 926 S. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The commission will elect its officers for the new year and consider this year's meeting calendar.

Agenda items also include approval of a three-year contract with Jensen Smith, CPAs to conduct the commission's annual audit. The proposed contract amount is $18,600.

There also will be approval of a $1,500 mini-grant to American Sign Language instructor Lana Doolaege to teach sign language to parents and young children.

Other agenda items include commissioners' reports and the report from Executive Director Tom Jordan, and public comment and announcements.

There also will be a closed session for Jordan's annual performance review.

For more information call the Lake County First 5 Lake Commission at 707-263-6169 or visit www.firstfivelake.org .

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

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– AT&T of Santa Rosa has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs near Hudson Avenue on Friday, Jan. 17. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs near West Seventh Street on Friday, Jan. 17. Work hours are 9 a.m. to noon. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs near Foothill Boulevard on Friday, Jan. 17. Work hours are noon to 2 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs just south of Lake Street on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs just south Manchester Monday, Jan. 20, through Wednesday, Jan. 22. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– 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.

– Bridge rehabilitation at the "green" Russian River Bridge will continue. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. One way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor ‐ J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga.

– Striping near from the South Ukiah Overhead will begin Monday, Jan. 20. Work hours are 7 p.m. to noon, weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor ‐ Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for tree trimming from 1.2 miles south of the junction of Routes 1/101 to just south of Confusion Hill beginning Monday, Jan. 20. 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.

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. – In efforts to help Lake County residents succeed in achieving healthier lifestyle choices for the new year, Lake Co-op announced three new incentives that are available throughout the month of January, including a subscription discount, a $10 credit for customers returning after a lapse of purchasing, and a refer-a-friend credit of $5.

The subscription promotion was in response to the Co-op receiving near-record orders the first week open from their holiday closures.

“We know the new year and resolutions are at the core of this sudden increase and we really want to support our customers' inclination to turn the resolution into a long-term healthy lifestyle change,” remarked Robyn Bera, the co-op's new operations manager.

Customers that commit to a minimum six week subscription to their favorite items available from the Co-op will receive a 10 percent discount.

Customers who commit to a minimum 20 week subscription will receive a 15 percent discount. The co-op offers over 30 different fresh organic fruits and vegetables to choose from weekly.

“The subscription could include anything from fruits and greens for smoothies to our signature Organic Fruit N' Veggie box,” Bera said.

If customers are not sure which items to subscribe to, they can commit to a minimum dollar amount $20 or more for the six or 20 weeks and receive the same discount.

For example, if customers want to commit to purchasing $35 per week for six weeks, by paying in advance they would pay $210 and receive $231 worth of products.

“Not only do you get the discount, but you know you have this money earmarked for healthier food choices,” Bera said. “It's a real win-win for new and returning customers alike.”

Customers can commit to any dollar amount of at least $20 per week.

The second promotion for January seeks to discover and bridge any challenges customers may have with shopping through the co-op's online ordering system.

Customers who have not purchased in the last six months are encouraged to let the co-op know why they stopped and will receive a $10 credit on their account for doing so.

Just email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the co-op at 707-513-5226 and tell them why you discontinued your shopping with the co-op and they will put $10 on your account to spend as you wish.

“It's that simple!” said Bera.

“We recognize that shopping through our online ordering system, while quite convenient, is a change in habit for most food shoppers in Lake County,” said JoAnn Saccato, co-op manager. “We want to discover where the barriers are to purchasing more local and healthy food and find the solutions.”

The final incentive will be available throughout all of 2014 as the co-op continues its effort to grow its co-op community.

Current customers who refer a friend that register on their website ( www.lake.coop ) and make a purchase of a minimum of $30 will receive a $5 credit on their account for a future purchase.

“The success of our local producers and the support of our local economy are strengthened the more customers we have,” said Co-op Board President Jim Leonardis of Leonardis Organics.

There are no limit to the number of referrals a customer can make to receive the $5 credit.

The public can shop through Lake Co-op's online ordering system Sunday through Tuesday and pick up their orders on Thursday at their home or office (for a fee) or one of 12 convenient locations throughout Lake County.

They also can purchase overage (items not pre-sold through the site) on Thursdays at 307 N. Main St., Lakeport.

Lake Co-op offers discounts to those that become owners of the co-op through their share purchasing program and further discounts for those owners that become owner-workers for the co-op.

The co-op offers home or office delivery (in most cases), telephone ordering (for those with limited or no internet access), case discounts, and wholesale purchasing.

For more information on the co-op, visit www.lake.coop or call 707-513-5226.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Sunrise Special Services Foundation Inc., a nonprofit health and social services agency, will offer a second grants research/proposal writing workshop in Lakeport on Thursday, Jan. 23, and Friday, Jan. 24.

Class will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days in the Umpqua Bank Community Room, 805 11th St., Lakeport.

The workshop will help nonprofits develop better skills in researching potential funding sources and writing successful proposals.

Instructor Linda Mundel has conducted training programs nationally for organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and The Grantsmanship Center, among others.

Some participants’ comments in last week’s Middletown workshop were, “I’m glad to know that Linda’s expertise is available in Lake County,” “It was better than the class I took in Santa Rosa,” and “Will recommend the workshop to others.”

The workshop is interactive as participants learn the key elements of successful proposal writing with a focus on researching public and private funding sources, key elements in program planning, and how to prepare compelling applications.

Participants will also have an opportunity to write a short component of a grant application. Each participant should be familiar with the mission, purpose of their organization, history, sources of support, target population, board structure and have a general idea of the current needs of their organization.

The overall purpose of the workshop is to help increase the internal capacity of local nonprofits, government agencies, schools and tribal governments to identify and secure alternative sources of support.

There are a few slots remaining as the workshop is limited to 25 participants.

Mail registration fee of $95 to Sunrise Special Services, P.O. Box 479, Upper Lake, CA 95485.

For information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Jerry Mundel at 707-350-1335.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Animal Hospital will hold a low-cost vaccination clinic on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Rabies vaccine and licensing, Da2p+L, kennel cough, heartworm medicine/testing, feline leukemia vaccine and testing, FVCRP, and once-a-month flea/tick medications also will be available.

Healthy animals only, please. Cats are required to be in carriers and dogs on leashes.

For further information, call 707-987-2000.