LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The California State Controller’s Property Tax Postponement Program is available again, after being suspended by the Legislature in 2009.

The program allows homeowners who are at least 62, or who are blind, or have a disability to defer current-year property taxes on their primary place of residence if they meet certain criteria, including 40-percent equity in the home and an annual household income of $35,500 or less.

The filing period is Oct. 1, 2016, through Feb. 10, 2017, and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Funding is limited for the program, and the interest rate for taxes postponed is 7 percent per year.

Applications and information are available online at www.sco.ca.gov/ardtax_prop_tax_postponement.html or by calling 800-952-5661.

To learn more about local resources for those 60 and older, call Community Care’s Senior Information & Assistance Program at 707-468-5132 or toll-free 1-800-510-2020, or visit www.SeniorResourceDirectory.org .

Community Care’s Senior Information & Assistance Program is a free service for older adults in Lake and Mendocino counties, funded largely through the local Area Agency on Aging.

State gas prices remain the second highest in the nation, as refinery issues in California continue to push prices upward.

This week's state prices are registering at $2.73 on average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline – that’s $0.07 less than prices since AAA Northern California’s monthly gas survey of Aug. 9, 2016.
 
Northern California’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.71 – that’s $0.08 more than last month’s AAA reported price.

The highest recorded price ever registered in the state of California was in October 2012, at $4.67 a gallon for unleaded regular. 
     
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville, where regular unleaded gasoline is $2.43 per gallon.

Of all metro areas tracked by AAA in Northern California, South Lake Tahoe, registering at $2.98 per gallon of unleaded regular, is showing the highest gas prices.
 
“Strong demand in the West Coast region is currently pressing on limited supplies,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “The drop in supplies can likely be attributed to issues at two California refineries earlier this month. The region also currently has the highest wholesale price for gasoline, which translates to higher prices for drivers.”

The national average price for unleaded gasoline is expected to keep moving lower as we head into fall, barring any unexpected disruptions in supply or spikes in the price of crude oil.

Pump prices typically decline during this time of year due to lower driving demand after the busy summer driving season has concluded and the changeover from summer-blend to a cheaper-to-produce winter-blend gasoline, which takes place in many parts of the country and begins on Sept. 15.
   
The difference between summer- and winter-blend gasoline involves the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) of the fuel. RVP is a measure of how easily the fuel evaporates at a given temperature. The more volatile a gasoline (higher RVP), the easier it evaporates.

Oil prices briefly spiked last week due to the release of an Energy Information Agency report that stated U.S. crude inventories fell 14.5 million barrels, but quickly retreated when inventory numbers were attributed to import disruption due to tropical storm Hermine. WTI opened this week trading lower, following news that the U.S. oil rig count increased for the tenth consecutive week and the sustained strength of the U.S. dollar.

Traders will continue to keep an eye on discussions surrounding the upcoming OPEC meetings and the possibility of member and non-member countries agreeing to a production freeze.

At the close of last Sept. 9's formal trading session on the NYMEX, WTI was up $1.74 to settle at $45.88 per barrel.

To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair. The way you drive can also impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening your load also help conserve gasoline.

AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.

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

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20
 
– Culvert rehabilitation from Le Trion Resort to Scott Valley Road will begin Monday, Sept. 19. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Pavement marker replacement from 0.3 mile east of Mid-Lake Road to Sayre Avenue will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs at various locations from Manzanita Road to the southern junction of Route 53 will continue. One-way traffic control will also be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 29
 
– Pavement marker replacement from the Siegler Canyon Bridge to north Cruikshank Road will begin Monday, Sept. 19. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175
 
– Culvert rehabilitation from 1.0 mile east of Wild Cat Road to Salmina Drive will begin Monday, Sept. 19. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. LC#C175DA
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1
 
– AT&T has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance from Westward HO to Sunset Drive on Friday, Sept. 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance near Simpson Road through Friday, Sept. 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Highway repairs a quarter-mile north of Ocean Meadows Circle 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.
 
– Mendocino Land Trust has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to construct pubic parking near Abalobadia Creek beginning Friday, Sept. 16. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Roadway reconstruction about one mile north of Blue Slide Gulch 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.
 
Highway 20

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Summer Lane to Chamberlain Creek beginning Monday, Sept. 19. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
 
– Pavement marker replacement from the North Calpella Overcrossing to the Lake/Mendocino County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Caltrans will perform paving at the East Side Potter Valley Road to westbound Route 20 beginning Monday, Sept. 19. A full ramp closure will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. A detour will be provided.
 
– Pavement sealing from the Cold Creek Bridge #5 to the Le Trianon Resort in Lake County will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 101

– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. A northbound lane restriction will be in place. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Pavement marker replacement from just north of West Road to Grider Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Rumble strip installation between Uva Drive and one half-mile south of the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Bridge rail upgrades at the South Willits Overhead will begin Monday, Sept. 19. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
 
– Highway construction near the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Highway construction near the north Willits railroad crossing will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Rumble strip installation at various locations between Willits and the Humboldt/Mendocino County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Pavement repairs from County Road 307 to Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park 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.
 
Highway 128

– The Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold a parade on Sunday, Sept. 18, from noon to 1:30 p.m. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to watch for pedestrians and drive with caution through the area.
 
– Drainage work from Haehl Street to just west of the Mendocino/Sonoma County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 162
 
– Caltrans will perform paving at spot locations from Dos Rios to 2.0 miles west of Poonkiny beginning Tuesday, Sept. 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 175
 
– Emergency pavement repairs from Mathews Road to about 1.1 miles west of the Lake/Mendocino County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 253
 
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at spot locations from the Anderson Creek Bridge to Slide Creek beginning Monday, Sept. 19. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Highway repairs east of Cattle Pass 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 10-minute delays.

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. – The Lakeport Police Department has issued a traffic advisory for the Clear Lake High School Homecoming Parade, which takes place Friday afternoon.

Police said the parade will start at approximately 4 p.m. Friday in downtown Lakeport.

The parade starts in the 800 block of N. Main Street (adjacent to the old Natural High School property) and travels south to Martin Street, turns right and then ends behind the Soper Reese Theater. 

To allow for parade vehicle staging, the Lakeport Police Department said N. Main Street between Fifth and Ninth streets will be closed starting at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Just prior to the parade starting at approximately 4 p.m., the street closure will expand south to S. Main and C streets and Martin Street between S. Main and S. Forbes Street. 

All street closures are expected to be removed at approximately 4:30 p.m., police said.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Lake County Zoning Administrator will consider approving MINOR USE PERMIT MUP 16-25 of Nathan Guistolise in accordance with Lake County Code to allow a six (6) foot fence in the required front yard setback and to allow a home occupation located at 3510 Bell Hill Road and further described as APN 008-064-02.

The Planner processing this application is Mark Roberts (707) 263-2221 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The Zoning Administrator will approve this Minor Use Permit if no written request for a public hearing is submitted by 5:00 p.m, on September 28, 2016 to the community Development Department, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, CA.

Should a timely request for a public hearing be filed, one will be held on October 5, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in Conference room C, 3rd Floor of the Courthouse. 


COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Robert Massarelli, Director


By: ______________________________________
Danae Bowen, Office Assistant III
               

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will offer free swan tours near Marysville on Saturdays beginning in November and extending through January.

Co-hosted by local rice farmers, the naturalist-led tours will focus on tundra swans in one of the premier locations for viewing swans in California.

Ducks, geese, shorebirds, herons, egrets and raptors are commonly seen in this area, which contains 23,000 acres of rice fields.

Tours will be held on Saturdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. The driving tours will also involve walking a short distance.

Pre-registration is required at www.wildlife.ca.gov/regions/2/swan-tours . Up to 30 people can register for each tour.

The tours are part of CDFW’s wildlife viewing services program, which includes similar outdoors opportunities at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, Isenberg Crane Reserve and North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve.

For more information on the tours, please call 916-358-2869 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Please also mark your calendar for the California Swan Festival, which is scheduled Nov. 11-13 in Marysville. For more information, please visit www.caswanfestival.com .

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Farm to Fork is currently accepting proposals for the 2017 California Nutrition Incentive Program.

The program was established by Assembly Bill 1321 (Chapter 442, Statutes of 2015) to encourage the purchase and consumption of healthy, California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables by CalFresh recipients. 
 
CDFA is seeking project proposals from qualified entities in a competitive process to distribute incentives at Certified Farmers’ Markets throughout California.

Incentives should be available to all CalFresh participants using their benefits at Certified Farmers’ Markets to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. CalFresh participants should be able to receive the incentives at the time of purchase.

Projects that reach underserved populations will be prioritized, especially communities where a large proportion of the population is eligible for CalFresh and/or have high rates of diet-related disease. 
 
Grants are contingent upon receipt of federal funds by CDFA. Successful applicants will be included as project partners in CDFA’s proposal to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grant program.
 
Applications must be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, Pacific Standard Time.

Further information on the grant program, including timeline and application criteria, are available at http://www.cafarmtofork.com/CA_NutritionIncentiveProgram.htm .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The first field trip of the Redbud Audubon season will be out to the McVicar wildlife preserve at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park on Saturday, Sept. 17.

The park is located off of Highway 53, between Lower Lake and the city of Clearlake.

The walk will start promptly at 9 a.m. Meet in the parking lot at the park, pay the parking fee and join the group.

The preserve was originally donated to the National Audubon Society many years ago and for years the Redbud Audubon Society managed it.

Now, the preserve is part of the State Park system and included in Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

The park maintenance personnel do a wonderful job keeping the trails groomed and it is still a very special place to walk.

Expect a long, but relatively easy walk. They will walk to the border of the preserve and further depending on those attending and how far they want to go.

Expect to see songbirds, raptors, and water birds. They might even spot a pileated woodpecker or two. Bring water and a snack, binoculars, and wear sturdy walking shoes.

SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Mike McGuire’s legislation that helps fight an epidemic that has hit California kids – childhood obesity – by putting California in the lead when it comes to healthy food available to schools in every corner of the state, has been signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

According to the Center for Disease Control, American childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.

Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults and are therefore more at risk for adult health problems.

Schools play a critical role in establishing a safe and supportive environment with policies and practices that support healthy eating behaviors.

“California has been a national model for state policies that strengthen and improve the nutritional quality of foods offered in schools,” Sen. McGuire said. “This legislation helps support local schools by expanding the variety of healthy items that can be sold to students and allows the districts the flexibility to determine the best way to communicate their school wellness policies to families.”

Sen. McGuire’s SB 1169 expands the variety of healthy items that can be sold in schools. These items must meet all current nutritional standards.

For example, items may include beef jerky, edamame, dried soybeans, dried/roasted chickpeas, hummus and dried fruit.

It also caps the calorie limit at 200 for snacks that can be sold during the school day. And it allows a school and district flexibility to determine the best ways to communicate their local school wellness policy to their community.

Increasing the balanced, healthy meals and snacks that are sold in schools will help ensure that every child has access to the nutrition they need to grow into healthy adults.

By providing healthy choices at schools, the state is taking another step towards the goal of reducing childhood obesity and health risks for California’s children.

The legislation was supported by California State Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson.