SACRAMENTO – In a continuing effort to further its new mission to provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability, Caltrans has released the “Complete Streets Implementation Action Plan 2.0,” an updated strategy on how the department will work to continue to address the safety and mobility needs for all modes of transportation.

“This plan illustrates and details all the current efforts underway at Caltrans to further integrate ‘complete streets’ into everything we do, from the earliest stages of system planning through project delivery and maintenance and operations,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “However you choose to travel, Caltrans’ complete streets policy ultimately means you will have more safe and convenient choices for getting around.”

This updated plan includes 109 additional action items to further integrate complete streets into all Caltrans functions and processes. It includes action items such as:

– The development of a State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
– Collecting complete streets data and performance measures.
– Continuing to revise Caltrans’ manuals to be consistent with and supportive of complete streets.
– Complete Streets Overview Training Course for Caltrans staff in all departmental functions.
– Supporting district complete street plans and partnerships.

Streets are made “complete” by addressing the needs of all users of the system – including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders and motorists – in a way appropriate to the local community.

Streets allowing for safe travel by any mode benefit communities, regions and the state by:

– Providing mobility options and access for non-drivers.
– Decreasing vehicle trips and associated air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.
– Supporting increased physical activity and improving public health and safety.
– Improving livability, revitalizing communities and decreasing transportation costs.

The original Complete Streets Implementation Action Plan consisted of 73 action items from 2010-2013, with more than three-quarters now complete or with substantial progress made.

This includes highlights such as a complete streets update to the “Highway Design Manual”; release of “Complete Intersections: A Guide to Reconstructing Intersections and Interchanges for Bicyclists and Pedestrians”; and an update of System Planning Guidelines to include multimodal elements in Transportation Concept Reports.

As new activities related to complete streets occur, they are documented and added to the plan on the Caltrans complete streets Web site at http://dot.ca.gov/completestreets .

Also, as part of its effort to increase the construction of multimodal local streets and roads, Caltrans recently endorsed National Association of City Transportation Officials guidelines that include innovations such as buffered bike lanes and improved pedestrian walkways.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Children’s Museum of Art and Science (CMAS), in conjunction with Middletown Library, will present a Lego robot workshop at Saturday, January 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Billy Gear from CMAS will present the free program for children at Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St. in Middletown.

The library phone number is 707-987-3674.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.co.lake.ca.us and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lake County women are invited to join with members of Soroptimist International of Clear Lake for an opportunity to learn about the organization and its programs. 

Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is part of a larger organization whose main purpose is to help women and girls, locally, nationally and internationally. Soroptimist means, “Best for women.”

This special gathering will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at Girlfriends Salon, 1410 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake.

Wine, cheese, crackers, desserts and other goodies will be served.

They hope you will attend this special event and the opportunity to mingle with local women from all walks of life who are working hard to support women and girls in Lake County.

Everyone is welcome.

Please RSVP to 707-987-9027 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Tuesday, Jan. 27, if possible.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Lake County will hold its 2015 Kickoff Party for the annual event on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

The event will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. at TNT’s on the Lake at 2569 Lakeshore Blvd. in Lakeport.

Organizers said Tuesday that the event was moved to the new location due to last-minute developments beyond their control.

Attendees will have the opportunity to register a team for the Relay For Life event, which will be held Saturday, May, 16, and Sunday, May 17, at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport.

Relay For Life is a community event where teams and individuals camp out at a school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path.

Each team has at least one participant on the track at all times and participates in fundraising that supports the American Cancer Society’s mission to save lives and finish the fight against cancer.

Four million people participated in more than 6,000 events worldwide in 2014.

Last year, more than 400 people participated in Lake County and raised over $60,000.

“The Relay For Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all,” said Danyelle Johnson. “This is our community’s opportunity to fight back against cancer.”

Visit www.relayforlife.org/LakeCountyCA to learn more about the program or contact Danyelle Johnson at 707-350-1774 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Clear Lake Cardinal wrestler Julian Lewis took home the bronze medal from Windsor’s King of the Mat Tournament, held on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Lewis pinned his way to the 220-pound semifinals, where he lost a close match.

He then came back to pin his remaining opponent to take the third place medal.

To date, Lewis stands at 17-5, with three first place tournament medals, one third and two fourths, along with an outstanding heavyweight award.

Also wrestling in the tournament at 113 pounds was Caleb Blyleven, who went 1-2 on the day; Jacob Caldwell, at 145 pounds; and Tyler Buchholz, 160 pounds.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The 2015 debut of the Taylor Observatory lecture series features popular local cosmologist Dr. Stephen Pollaine presenting “The Physics of Interstellar: Worm Holes, Spinning Black Holes, Time Dilation and the Fifth Dimension.” 

Join Pollaine at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Taylor Observatory’s “Window to the Universe” event in Kelseyville.

Christopher Nolan’s popular movie “Interstellar,” which premiered in Lakeport in December, challenges viewers to think beyond our current dimensions into the mysteries of worm holes, black holes, time dilation and the fifth dimension. 

But are these prognostications valid science or is “Interstellar” just another sci-fi flick?

Pollaine will answer these questions in his Taylor talk. Notably, Interstellar has the endorsement of Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of New York’s Hayden Planetarium, and regarded by many as the modern day Carl Sagan.

Pollaine, who is both a qualified astrophysicist and amateur cosmologist, has special qualifications for this talk, having worked for 31 years in the laser fusion project at the Bay Area’s Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Readers may also know Pollaine as a popular local pianist who plays regularly at Lake County events.

If skies are clear on Saturday visitors may be able to view comet Lovejoy, which is making its closest approach to the sun this week.

Admission for the talk, a planetarium show and night sky viewing through the Taylor telescopes is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 12 and under, and free to observatory members.

The location is 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville.

For further information visit www.taylorobservatory.org or call 707-262-4121.

Friends of Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium organizes the Taylor Lecture series.