MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Thursday, June 27, Soroptimist International of Clear Lake held its installation of officers at Chic Le Chef in Middletown.

New officers for the upcoming year are Marsha Willard, secretary; Joy Swetnam, treasurer; Judy Conard, vice president; Wanda Harris, president; Olga Martin-Steele, director; Pollyann Johnston,
public relations chair; and Mary Benson, public relations co-chair.

Soroptimist International is dedicated to women’s causes; Soroptimist is a term coined to mean “Best for Women.”

They meet the first and third Thursdays of the month at Howard’s Grotto in Clearlake at noon; all interested persons are invited to attend.

For more information, call Wanda Harris at 707-987-9027.

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

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 53

– Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

Highway 175

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility maintenance 1.1 miles west of the junction of Routes 29/175 near Lakeport on Wednesday, July 17. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– City of Point Arena has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work from Main Street to the Cal Fire station. 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.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from Sunset Drive to Garcia River Overflow Bridge will continue through Friday, July 19. 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.

– 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.

– 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 10-minute delays. Contractor – Jeffco Painting and Coating of Vallejo.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the Route 1/Simpson Lane intersection on Sunday, July 14. Work hours are 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Metal beam guardrail repair at the Wages Creek Bridge will continue Monday through Wednesday, July 15 through 17. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

– 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.

– Highway construction 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 through Friday, July 12, and motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. At other times a shoulder closure will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin.

– Highway construction from 0.5 mile north of Casteel Lane to the North Willits Railroad Crossing will continue through Friday, July 12. Nighttime work hours are 12 midnight to 6 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – DeSilva Gates Construction of Dublin.

– 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.

– Bridge rehabilitation at the Ash Creek Bridge will continue. Nighttime hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., weekdays. One way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – J. McLoughlin Engineering of Rancho Cucamonga.

Route 162 (0.2/33.0) ‐ PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for tree trimming from 0.3 mile east of the junction of Routes 101/162 to Short Creek Road through Friday, July 12.  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. LC#P162AA

Highway 162

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from the Outlet Creek Bridge to the Corral Creek Bridge will continue on Thursday, July 18. 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 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).

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Local author Alethea Eason will read from her book “Hungry,” a comic tale about flesh-eating aliens interacting with human middle-schoolers, on Wednesday, July 17, at the Lakeport Library.

The reading will begin at 6 p.m.

The event is part of the library’s summer reading program “Reading is so Delicious.”

Eason, a teacher at Minnie Cannon Elementary School in Middletown, has written numerous short stories and two other novels, “Heron’s Path” and “Starved.”

This event is open to the public and no library card is required to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

The Lakeport Library is located at 1425 N. High St.

For more information about this library event, contact Amy Patton at 707-263-8817, Extension 17105.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Town Hall (MATH) group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11.

The group will meet at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.

The public is invited to attend.

Under new business, the group will get a “State of the District” update from Supervisor Jim Comstock, discuss Meadowmont Farms with Calistoga Bakery and the name of the Middletown Community Center.

They also will get reports on the Highway 29 project, development of a property at Highway 29 and Wardlaw, hear from the park committee, and take up new business as well as the Aug. 8 agenda.

MATH meetings are subject to videotaping. Meeting proceedings may be available for viewing on public access television and/or the Internet.

MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.

The group’s current board of directors include Chairman Fletcher Thornton, Vice Chair Claude Brown, Secretary Ken Gonzales and members Tom Darms and Laura Helton.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A rummage sale will be held at the Middletown Senior Center on Saturday, July 13.

The sale will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

New and used art, artifacts and art supplies will be offered at great prices.

The Middletown Senior Center is located at 21256 Washington St.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The fourth annual Six Sigma Cowboy Cook-off was another memorable event for Six Sigma Ranch and Winery.   

The Cowboy Cook-off is a cooking competition held each year the July 4 weekend between members of the Six Sigma Winery team.  

All guests can vote for their favorite cook and dish while sipping on what Six Sigma is known for – the award-winning Six Sigma Ranch wines.  

This year the cooks were Christian Ahlmann, vice president of Six Sigma, who created smoked pork ribs; Walt Campbell, direct to trade manager, who made a turkey chili made from wild turkey from the ranch; and winemaker Matt Hughes and his wife Nancy, who made a delicious gumbo.  

Alma Galvan, who helps the team with hospitality, decided to challenge the team this year with her homemade salsa that definitely wowed the crowd.  

Although the votes were extremely close, Matt Hughes was crowned the 2013 champion although he was very reluctant to accept the award alone.

When he gave his acceptance speech he said, “the true champion is my wife, Nancy. I want to give credit to the real winner – my beautiful and obviously talented wife.”

The grounds were filled to capacity as many enthusiastic guests arrived in festive cowboy and cowgirl costumes.  

The winners of the costume contest received gift certificates for Pinzgauer tours of the 4,300-acre ranch.  

This is a unique opportunity to experience a part of the ranch and see the highest altitude vineyard on the property, the Diamond Mine Vineyard.

It felt like a step back in time, watching cowboys and cowgirls surround the historic old stagecoach stop that doubles as the Six Sigma Ranch tasting room.  

The large, ancient oak trees shaded the guests as they mingled, sipped, and savored the cooks’ creations while listening to original country soul music of Michael Barrish.

Kaj and Else Ahlmann, proprietors of Six Sigma Ranch, were particularly pleased with the cook-off.

“We were happy to see so many friends enjoy the place we call home,” said Else Ahlmann. “The event went very smoothly, and we are grateful for our hard-working team and all the friends who step in and give us a hand with events like this.”  

Six Sigma Winery at 13372 Spruce Grove Road is open for tasting every day at 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.