CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Youth Center will host an open house for the community on Saturday, June 1.

The free open house will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the center, located at 14750 Golf Ave.

There will be music, food, vendors and community resources.

Vendors are wanted. If you have a youth-related program or business and would like to be a vendor, call Karlon Baker at 707-350-3245 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . A $15 donation from vendors would be appreciated.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – June marks the sesquicentennial of two of the most important military campaigns ever to happen in the Western Hemisphere.

In June 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant and the Union army were besieging Vicksburg, Mississippi, attempting to capture the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River.  

Meanwhile, Confederate General Robert E. Lee was beginning his invasion of Pennsylvania in an attempt to win a victory that give the South their independence.  

More than 300,000 men were involved in these campaigns, and when they were over, nearly 100,000 were out of the war, either killed, wounded or captured.

These will be the topics at the next Redwood Empire Civil War Roundtable on Monday, June 3, at 6:15 p.m. at the Tallman Hotel in historic Upper Lake.

Dr. Mark Cooper will make the presentation on the Vicksburg campaign.  

Dr. Cooper has studied the subject for years, and has visited the battlefield sites. He will cover the maneuvering of the armies, the 45-day siege of Vicksburg and its ultimate surrender.

Phil Smoley will discuss the Gettysburg campaign, taking events right up (but not including) the Battle of Gettysburg.

He also will weave in an interesting side story that tells of the fascinating contrast of the cultures between the North and the South at that time, and how war can bring out brutality in some and chivalry in others.

The Redwood Empire Civil War Roundtable was formed to honor the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War and meets on the first Monday of each month to review the events that month 150 years ago.

Admission is free, all are welcome.  

For more information, contact Zane Jensen at 707-349-6390 or Phil Smoley at 707 264-4905.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Hospice of Lake County’s annual ‘A Taste of Italy’ dinner fundraiser at Park Place restaurant on Monday, May 20, was so well attended the 6 p.m. seating overflowed to the outside tables and the upstairs deck.

The gourmet dinners consisted of an antipasto platter, Caesar salad or Tuscan soup and a choice of Osso Buco Di Maiale, Pollo Marsala or Scampi Fra Diavolo for a main course, plus a dessert of either orange ricotta cannoli or Amalfi lemon cake.

Wines from Gregory Graham, Ceago, Wildhurst, Shannon Ridge, Shed Horn and Castello di Amorosa wineries were poured throughout the evening.

Classical guitar was provided by Dr. Paul Farley and a medley of guitar instrumentals was performed by Bert Hutt.

Each dinner ticket was entered in the raffle for a one week stay at the Valley Isle condominium resort on the Lahaina coast of Maui, Hawaii.

The beautiful condo was graciously donated by long time Hospice supporter, Muriel Schroeder-Carter.

The winner of the Maui resort vacation was Kathleen Smith, owner of Nature’s Own Health Food Store in Clearlake.  

“I told my friend at dinner: wouldn’t that just be totally cool if I won? I could use a vacation,” said Smith when contacted.

The event raised more than $12,000. All proceeds go to support Hospice Services of Lake County’s Wings of Hope community bereavement programs which include children’s grief groups conducted onsite at Lake County schools.

Park Place owners Nancy Zabel and Barbara Morris generously donate the restaurant, food prep and cleanup for this annual event.

The servers and kitchen staff at the event volunteered to work on their night off to support Hospice’s efforts to bring bereavement counseling programs to residents of Lake County.

Anja Koot, executive director of Hospice Services of Lake County, thanked the crowd toward the end of the event.

“My thanks to all of you, who bought raffle tickets, attended the dinner and offer your continual support to Hospice Services of Lake County,” she said. “We could not serve the patients and families without your support and dedication.”

For more information about hospice and community bereavement programs, call 707-263-6222.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Office of Education, Lake County Literacy Task Force and Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake have partnered to promote literacy in Lake County.

“It is through partnerships like this one with the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake that we continue to provide books and ensure literacy for all residents in Lake County,” said Superintendent Wally Holbrook in reference to the newest partnership with the Lake County Office of Education Literacy Task Force and the Imagination Library program.  

The Literacy Task Force supports literacy for all residents in Lake County.  

One of the four initiatives sponsored by the Literacy Task Force is the Imagination Library, which provides a book a month for each child between the ages of 0-5 who is registered for the program.

Thanks to a partnership with the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, they now have more children signed up for this program.  

Books will arrive in the mail each month for a year in the homes of the children registered within the tribe.  

For $25 annually, each child who resides in Lake County and is sponsored by the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake will receive a book each month.  

The goal of this program is to support families in building the habit of literacy at home with the child’s first teacher: the parent.

For more information about the Literacy Task Force or to make a donation to the Imagination Library, contact Stephanie Wayment at Lake County Office o f Education at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-262-4163.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The monthly meeting of the Lake County Flying Saucer Club will be this Sunday, May 26.

The meeting will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the McDonald's meeting room on Todd Road in Lakeport.

Meetings are free and open to the public.

Come with your stories and questions. No purchase necessary.

Call Chip at 707-263-3391 or email at 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 the North Coast during the coming week.

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from 0.4 mile east of Blue Lakes Road to Scott Valley Road through Friday, May 24. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Morrison Creek Bridge will begin Wednesday, May 29. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Wednesday evening through Friday morning. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga.

Highway 29

– Lower Lake Community Action Group has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for the Lower Lake Annual Parade and BBQ near the junction of Routes 29/53 on Sunday, May 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Turns onto Morgan Valley Road will be restricted.

Highway 53

– Lower Lake Community Action Group has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for the Lower Lake Annual Parade and BBQ near the junction of Routes 29/53 on Sunday, May 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Turns onto Morgan Valley Road will be restricted.

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Cache Creek Bridge will begin Tuesday, May 28. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga.

– Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. Tuesday morning though 3 p.m. Friday afternoon, 24 hours per day. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

Route 1 (20.6) – PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs near Creamery Lane on Tuesday, May 28. Work hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3 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.

– Slipout repairs 1.6 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road 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 – Green Right O'Way Constructors of Willits.

– Bridge painting at the Salmon Creek Bridge and the Albion River 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 – Jeffco Painting and Coating of Vallejo.

– 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 various locations from the Pieta Creek Bridge to the Route 20/101 interchange will begin Tuesday, May 28. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga.

– Vegetation removal just south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin.

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Haehl Overhead Bridge will begin Wednesday, May 29. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Reynolds Highway to Ryan Creek Road. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Southbound traffic will be restricted to one lane. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 128

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Navarro Ridge Road to the Robinson 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 – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

– Tetra Tech Inc. of Rancho Cordova has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for spill cleanup 0.1 miles west of the Mendocino/Sonoma County line beginning Wednesday, May 29. 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 162

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from the junction or Routes 101/162 to Eberle Street 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 – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

Highway 253

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Singley Cattlepass to the Robinson 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 – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

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).