NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The upcoming three-day Labor Day holiday is predicted to reflect a significant increase from last year’s holiday, according to AAA Northern California’s most recent travel survey.

AAA’s latest travel forecast predicts that more than 3.9 million Californians will travel 50 miles or more from their homes this upcoming three-day Labor Day weekend. This represents an overall increase of 6 percent compared to last year.

“This resurgence of travel is partly due to improved consumer confidence, which is at a much higher level than 2012,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Cynthia Harris. “Although there are lingering budgetary concerns, Californians will not let this last opportunity to celebrate summer go back without a quick holiday getaway.”

This year Labor Day trips by automobile will be the preferred mode of transportation with more than 3.1 million Californians driving to reach their destinations.

This represents a 6.2 percent increase compared to 2012. More than 514,000 Californians are planning to travel by air, an increase of 4.4 percent compared to last year.

Approximately 300,000 state residents are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, such as rail, bus and watercraft. This represents an increase of 6.1 percent over 2012.

Nationally, AAA projects just over 34 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the Labor Day weekend, representing a 4.2 percent increase compared to 2012.

The AAA Leisure Travel Index shows that airfares over Labor Day weekend are expected to increase by 4.0 percent, with an average cost of $214 per ticket.

Hotel rates at AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to average $161 per night, an increase of 4.0 percent from a year ago. Weekend car rentals are expected to increase 32 percent, with a new average daily rate of $51.

The expenditures for a West Coast family of four are expected to average $622 over the weekend, and the average road trip is predicted to cover 666 miles.

AAA’s survey shows that visiting family and friends, dining, shopping, and visiting beach/waterfront areas will be the preferred leisure activities for West Coast families. Other favorite activities over the weekend are expected to be biking, hiking and sightseeing.

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will be closed in both directions Labor Day Weekend in order to take the original East Span out of service and to open the new East Span to traffic. The closure will begin Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 8 p.m. and the new East Span is scheduled to open on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 5 a.m.

AAA tips for stress-free road travel

• Plan ahead. Carefully consider your route to determine departure and arrival times, taking into account the expected higher level of congestion on the roads.
• Take transit, telecommute or carpool. If possible, avoid driving between the East Bay and San Francisco during the closure. Instead, take public transit or try telecommuting. Several transit operators will provide enhanced or augmented services during the closure.
• Form a carpool. Take advantage of HOV lanes (High Occupancy Vehicle lanes).
• Use detour routes. For those who must drive, use alternate bridges as detour routes for transbay travel.
• Get current traffic conditions. Stay up-to-date on current traffic conditions and driving times by visiting the 511 Traffic page or call 511 and say either "traffic conditions" or "driving times" from the Main Menu. During the closure, 511 will automatically exclude the Bay Bridge and instead provide driving times for the fastest alternative routes.

The free AAA Mobile app for iPhone and Android devices uses GPS navigation to help travelers map a route, find current gas prices and nearby member discounts and access AAA roadside assistance. Travelers can learn about the AAA Mobile app and AAA Mobile Web at www.AAA.com/mobile .

AAA projections are based economic research and research by HIS Global Insight. The Colorado-based firm teamed up with AAA in 2009 as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Docents are on hand to answer questions about displays and activities.

The museum is located at 9921 Soda Bay Road (Hwy 281) in Kelseyville (near Clearlake Riviera).

Visit the stage stop online at www.elystagestop.com or www.lakecountyhistory.org , or visit them at www.facebook.com/elystagestop .

SACRAMENTO –Three measures authored by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) in 2013 are now awaiting action from Governor Jerry Brown.

“I’m pleased that AB 1006, a bill proposed by a local Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer to support at-risk youth, has reached the Governor’s desk,” said Assemblymember Yamada. “Two other modest measures – AB 394 and AB 776 – reflect my ongoing interest in bolstering Alzheimer’s research funding and planning efforts already underway to support our aging population,” she continued.

The bills awaiting Gov. Brown’s signature are:

• AB 394 – Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders research fund tax check-off. This bill allows the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Research Fund income tax check-off to remain on the state income tax form for five additional years by extending the sunset date for the check-off from Jan. 1, 2015 to Jan. 1, 2020.
• AB 776 – Coordinated care initiative stakeholders. This legislation would ensure that Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and Independent Living Centers (ILC) are included as stakeholders as the Department of Health Care Services begins the process of integrating medical and long-term care services for “dual-eligible” Californians under the terms of the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI).
• AB 1006 – Sealing juvenile records. This bill would help reformed juvenile offenders start adulthood with a clean slate by standardizing the process for informing juvenile offenders of their right to seal their juvenile records. Courts and probation officers would be required to provide this information when the youth has fulfilled the requirements of the court or probation.

Another Yamada bill, AB 602, that would address the ongoing problems of resident safety at State Developmental Centers, will be heard in the Senate in the next few weeks.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – This year Sheila O'Hara and her weaving students dedicated their section of the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum's annual quilt and textile exhibition to Laura Simms.

Simms, a longtime Lake County resident and one of O'Hara's students, died at age 50 on Feb. 3.

“I am very grateful to Laura Simms,” O'Hara said. “She was the person who got me started on teaching weaving classes here in my studio in 2001 in Lake County. With her encouragement I started buying secondhand looms for my classes.

“I met Laura thanks to Holly Brackmann who taught textile art and art history classes at Mendocino Community College in Ukiah for 36 years,” O'Hara recalled. “Holly introduced me to Laura and all her students. Laura found out that I had taught weaving classes at San Francisco State University and College of Marin from 1996-1999 before I moved to Lake County in 2000. She then called me every week for 6 months to ask when I was starting class so she didn't have to drive 75 miles one way to Ukiah.”

O'Hara continued, “She took 149 classes in my home studio over a 10-year period. She was in my first home studio class in Lake County on Feb. 15, 2001, and ended with her last class on April 15, 2010. On May 14, 2010, I went over to her home to help her put her manual dobby loom together, peg up a pattern, put on a warp and thread it to weave. True to Laura's style she soon moved on to other different looms after a short while. Laura had more looms go through her hands since 2001 than any one I know. We affectionately called her Laura 'Loomatic' Simms. She is most likely now up in heaven happily weaving away on a magical loom of some sort. Her energetic, happy, generous, fun loving spirit is surely missed but we are carrying on with her enthusiasm in mind."

O'Hara is an internationally known weaver who has been teaching weaving classes in her home studio in Lower Lake since 2001. This year one of her tapestries was purchased by the Denver Art Museum.

She also gave lectures at the de Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and in Squaw Valley at the Conference of the Northern California Handweavers.

Starting in 2003, O'Hara and her students have included their weavings along with the quilts in the annual Quilt and Textile Exhibition at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum.

They are pleased to have such a great museum to display their work and be able to meet with the public at their receptions for the past 11 years.

Aug. 10 was no exception. A crowd of people enjoyed seeing spinning demonstrations along with beautiful tapestries, tablecloths, dish towel, shawls and scarves all woven with a great care and attention to details, colors and textures.

Featured artists include members of the Clear Lake Quilt Guild and Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild, weaver Sheila O'Hara and her weaving class students (Janis Eckert, Pam Perry, Suzanne Britz, Ellen Hardenburger, Sylvia Anderson, Shellie Taylor, Goldie Pitre, Hana Musgrove, Lorna Rochmann and Nancy Nestegard).

Don't miss the 20th annual Quilt And Textile Exhibition, which continues through Aug. 31 in the Weaver Auditorium of the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum.

For more information, contact the museum at 707-995-3565 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or O'Hara at 707-994-0790, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.sheilaohara.com .

Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visit the museum online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Museums/LowerLake.htm .

NICE, Calif. – In honoring Labor Day, the Sons of Italy will have a pasta feed at the club hall on Sunday, Sept.8, instead of the first Sunday as always.

The club will be changing a few things but the food will be the same home-cooked, Italian-style meal.

It will run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the hall, located at 2817 E. Highway 20, Nice.

Come and enjoy a buffet of red meat sauce spaghetti, freshly made parmasian cheese garlic butter pasta or green pesto linguini, garlic bread, salad plus dessert, coffee or tea for $8. Add $2 for meatballs and/or sausages.

There will be Karaoke for those who would like to practice with Roland. The bar is open for socializing.

Take out is also available, just call in advance at 707-274-2244 or order at the hall and have a beverage while you wait.

Everyone, including children are welcome.

For more information, call the day of the event after 10 a.m.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Konocti Senior Support Inc. hosted an appreciation party for the volunteers of Senior Peer Counseling, one of its two programs.

They have supported seniors in the community through one-on-one counseling relationships with the homebound, whether helping with emotional problems, paperwork or assisting in relationships to other agencies.

They have donated up to four hours per week, one to two hours with a client, also one hour supervision and one hour training. This is a wonderful sharing in these times.

The Adult Day Program at the First Lutheran Church was invited to attend the party as guests.

Director Supervisor Kim Baughan-Young provides training and supervision of Senior Peer Counselor’s volunteers. They had delicious food prepared by Baughan-Young also.

Lake County representative Sarah Deng presented pins that say Mental Health Services Act Lake County Behavioral Health to the volunteers.

Toni Baker of the Konocti Support Services Board of Directors helped provide entertainment by “The Angel Lights and the Harmony Boys.” They have Vaudeville Acts with singing, dancing and comedy skits performed by seniors in the community. Fun, enjoyment and laughter were shared by all.