NORTH‌‌ ‌‌COAST, ‌‌ ‌‌Calif. —‌ Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌reports‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌following‌‌ ‌‌road‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌will‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌taking‌‌ ‌‌place‌‌ ‌‌‌around‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌North‌‌ ‌‌Coast‌‌ ‌‌during‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌coming‌‌ ‌‌week. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Included‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌Mendocino‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌may‌‌ ‌‌impact‌‌ ‌‌Lake‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌commuters, as well as work in Del Norte and Humboldt counties.
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Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌advises‌‌ ‌‌motorists‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌drive‌‌ ‌‌with‌‌ ‌‌caution‌‌ ‌‌when‌‌ ‌‌approaching‌‌ ‌‌work‌‌ ‌‌areas‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌‌prepared‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌stop‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌traffic‌‌ ‌‌control‌‌ ‌‌stations. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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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. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

For‌‌ ‌‌updates‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌this‌‌ ‌‌list‌‌ ‌‌check‌‌ ‌‌QuickMap‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌‌www.dot.ca.gov‌‌‌ or‌‌ ‌‌1-800-GAS-ROAD‌‌ ‌‌‌(1-800-427-7623). ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

LAKE‌‌ ‌‌COUNTY‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Highway‌‌ ‌‌20

— Paving work will begin in Lucerne at Rosemont Drive on Friday, June 10. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Guardrail work in Clearlake Oaks at East Hillside Lane continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Utility work in Clearlake Oaks at East Hillside Lane continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Paving work will occur in Clearlake Oaks at Red Rock Road on Monday, June 13. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 29

— Road work continues near Hidden Valley Lake at Spruce Grove Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Road work will occur in Lower Lake north of Clayton Creek Road on Sunday, June 12. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Paving work west of Lower Lake at Point Lakeview Road is scheduled on Sunday, June 12. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Road work will occur at Route 281 on Friday, June 17. Lane closures will be in effect from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Motorists should expect up to 15-minute delays.

— Road work will occur in Lakeport near Robinson Rancheria Road on Friday, June 17. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

Highway 53

— Paving work in Clear Lake at Dam Road will occur on Sunday, June 12. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

Highway 175

— Utility work will conclude in Cobb at Bottle Rock Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

— Tree work in Gualala from Pacific View Drive to Pacific Wood Road continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

Highway 20

— Paving work will occur east of James Creek on Friday, June 10. One-way traffic control will be in place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Guardrail work in Willits at Franklin Avenue continues. One-way traffic control will be in place from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect five-minute delays.

— Emergency work is scheduled to begin south of Willits at the Jct 20/101 Bridge on Friday, June 10. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Slide removal at Pieta Creek Bridge will continue. Northbound Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Guardrail repair will occur at the Hopland Overhead Bridge on Tuesday, June 14. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Motorists should expect up to five-minute delays.

— Bridge work continues in Ukiah at Route 222. Lane closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

— Fence work in Ukiah at the East Perkins Street Overcrossing continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns through the area.

— Caltrans has granted an encroachment permit for the Hog Farm Hideaway event, north of Laytonville from Friday, June 10 to Sunday, June 12. Lane closures will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Empire Camp Safety Rest Area will be closed through July 2022.

Highway 162

— Road work from Route 271 to Red Mountain Creek south of Dos Rios near the Rodeo Creek Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

Highway 271

— Slide removal continues south of Piercy near Reynolds State Park Road. A lane closure is in effect and motorists should use an alternate route.

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Highway 101

— Construction work from the Route 169 junction to north of Klamath will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Bridge work north of Klamath near Old Hunter Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Construction in the Last Chance Grade area will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 25-minute delays at all hours.

— Construction work near Rowdy Creek to the Oregon State Line will begin on Friday, June 9. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Highway 199

— Construction work near Kings Valley Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Bridge work at Hiouchi Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate minor slowdowns.

— Permitted cleanup and repair work between Hiouchi and Gasquet will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute

— Bridge work from Mary Adam Peacock Bridge to Wagon Wheel Cafe will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor slowdowns.

— Bridge work at Middle Fork Smith River Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor slowdowns.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Highway 36

— Road construction from Route 101 to Buck Mountain Road will occur from Monday, June 13 to Wednesday, June 15. Moving traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays.

— Construction work from Johnson Lane to Hely Creek Bridge will begin on Monday, June 13. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Construction work from Buck Mountain Road to the Trinity County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 96

— Tree work south of Hoopa near Shoemaker Road will begin on Monday, June 13. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Construction work south of Orleans will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Bridge work south of Phillipsville will continue. Lane closures will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. A northbound onramp closure will also be in effect. Motorists should use an alternate route.

— Bridge work at the Route 101 South Fork Road Undercrossing will occur from Monday, June 13 to Thursday, June 16. A full off ramp closure will be in effect from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Construction from the St Louis Road Overcrossing to Mad River Bridge will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Guardrail repair will occur at the Loleta Drive Overcrossing on Tuesday, June 14. A full southbound ramp closure will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

— Construction work from Murray Road Overcrossing to Georgia Pacific Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. In addition, the following intermittent full ramp closures will be in effect: the School Road Overcrossing on and off ramps, the Murray Road Overcrossing on and off ramps, the Crannell Scale southbound on and off ramps overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and the Westhaven Drive Undercrossing on and off ramps overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should follow signage and use an alternate route when necessary.

Highway 255

— Permitted utility work between Young Lane and Pachaco Lane will begin on Friday, June 10. One-way traffic will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 299

— Construction near Route 200 will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor traffic slowdowns.

— Construction east of the Burney Vista Point will continue. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Construction from Willow Creek to Old Three Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Hospice Services of Lake County is beginning another series of meetings to help adults who have experienced the death of a significant person either recently or in the past.

Recognizing there is not just a single way through grief, Hospice Services’ bereavement program will present “The Journey of Grief,” a free, educational series. The grief and loss group will meet once a week for eight weeks starting June 9.

Hospice Services invites interested individuals to attend in person from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursdays at the bereavement center in Lakeport located at 1862 Parallel Drive.

To register for the group meetings or obtain additional information, call Jennifer Nystrom at 707-263-6222, Extension 130, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Group sessions are structured with combined instruction and discussion in a safe environment, facilitated by Bereavement Services Manager Kathleen Bradley and Bereavement Counselor Jennifer Nystrom.

“In our world today, we are being challenged by losses of all kinds,” said Bradley. “In addition to these, many of us are trying to also navigate grief due to the death of a loved one. In our groups, we companion and support each other as we attempt to find our footing and a new normal. During the weekly group sessions, education will be provided about grief, mourning, and what is ‘expected,’ as well as support toward healing.”

Weekly topics are presented in a meaningful sequence, so attendance at all sessions is essential. Examples of topics covered in groups include setting intention to heal, dispelling misconceptions about grief, exploring personal feelings of loss, seeking resolution, and self-care.

Hospice Services reminds individuals they do not have to navigate grief and loss alone.

“Often, when we lose a loved one, we don’t know where to turn for emotional support,” said Bradley. “Additionally, during these uncertain times, Lake County residents are coping with multiple losses and stress related to natural disasters and COVID-19. The ‘Journey of Grief’ sessions are designed to help individuals through the loss.”

Hospice Services of Lake County provides high quality medical, emotional and spiritual care to help patients and their families navigate their end-of-life journeys. For more information, call Hospice Services of Lake County, 707-263-6222. Visit the organization’s website at www.lakecountyhospice.org.

Janine Smith-Citron is director of development for Hospice Services of Lake County.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Habitat for Humanity Lake County announced its submission of a request for funding from the USDA Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant.

Funds from the “Brush of Kindness” grant will be used to assist very low and low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in Lake County.

The public is invited to comment by contacting Tammy Brigham at 707-994-1100 or by mail within 15 days of this announcement.

The statement of activities for this grant is available at Habitat for Humanity Lake County, 15312 Lakeshore Drive, in Clearlake.

With drought conditions and high temperatures threatening an early start to the wildfire season, the California Senate approved legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would enhance wildfire prevention through implementation of a $20 million prescribed fire claims fund.

“In light of our worsening wildfire seasons, it makes perfect sense to bolster one of the most effective means of wildfire prevention,” Sen. Dodd said. “That’s why I wrote the law last year to encourage greater use of prescribed fires. This bill continues our efforts by ensuring practitioners of this time-tested technique can be protected from unintended costs. This vote brings us a step closer to achieving that goal.”

Prescribed fire, also known as controlled burning, has been used for centuries to clear tinder-dry trees and brush that are known to fuel runaway wildfires.

Rarely do prescribed fires escape their bounds and cause damage to neighboring properties. If they do, Sen. Dodd’s new bill, Senate Bill 926, would establish a fund to help cover costs.

It is a follow-up to Senate Bill 332, written by Sen. Dodd and signed into law last year, which protects landowners and prescribed fire managers from having to pay fire suppression expenses unless they have acted with gross negligence.

SB 926 is sponsored by The Nature Conservancy. It was approved in the Senate with overwhelming support and heads next to the Assembly.

“Science shows that prescribed fire is vital to curbing catastrophic megafires in California,” said Jay Ziegler, director of policy and external affairs at The Nature Conservancy. “In the big picture, if we are going to restore our forests at a pace and scale, we need to reduce barriers to burning, our most effective long-term landscape fire management tool. SB 926 will do that. We thank Sen. Dodd for his leadership on SB 926 to establish a prescribed fire claims fund.”

“Sen. Dodd’s legislative leadership on prescribed fire and cultural burning is charting a path forward to a safer, healthier, more resilient California,” said Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy program at Stanford University. “SB 926 is critical to this path because it will provide a substitute for the now unavailable insurance that prescribed fire practitioners need to practice their craft.”

On Thursday, House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) lauded Judiciary Committee passage of H.R. 7910, Protecting Our Kids Act.

This gun violence prevention legislation co-authored by Chairman Thompson includes common sense measures supported by the American people that will help end gun violence and save lives.

The Protecting Our Kids Act is expected to come to the House floor next week for a vote.

“The passage of the Protecting Our Kids Act today by the House Judiciary Committee is an important step forward to help end gun violence,” said Thompson. “By cracking down on gun trafficking, ghost guns and bump stocks, raising the age to purchase certain firearms, strengthening safe gun storage rules, and banning large capacity magazines often used in mass shootings, we can help keep our communities safe and save lives. I look forward to voting on this legislation when it comes to the floor next week and I will continue to do everything in my power to enact common sense gun laws that our nation wants and our country desperately needs.”

Earlier this week, House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (NY-10) and House Judiciary Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairwoman, Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) introduced H.R. 7910, Protecting Our Kids Act.

The House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 7910, the Protecting Our Kids Act, on Thursday by a vote of 25 to 19.

H.R. 7910 would:

• Raise the lawful age to purchase a semiautomatic centerfire rifle from 18 to 21 years old.
• Establish a new federal offense for the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of a large capacity magazine, with exceptions for certain law enforcement uses and the possession (but not sale) of grandfathered magazines; allow state and local governments to use the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to compensate individuals who surrender large capacity magazines through a buyback program.
• Establish new federal offenses for gun trafficking and straw purchasers and authorize seizure of the property and proceeds of the offense.
• Establish voluntary best practices for safe firearm storage and award grants for Safe Firearm Storage Assistance Programs.
• Establish requirements to regulate the storage of firearms on residential premises; create criminal penalties for violation of the requirements
• Build on ATF’s regulatory bump stock ban by listing bump stocks under the National Firearms Act and statutorily banning the manufacture, sale, or possession of bump stocks for civilian use.
• Build on ATF’s regulatory ban of ghost guns by ensuring that ghost guns are subject to existing federal firearm regulation by amending the definition of “firearm” to include gun kits and partial receivers and changing the definition of “manufacturing firearms” to include assembling firearms using 3D printing.

Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, then-Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi appointed Rep. Mike Thompson Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. This group, consisting of more than 185 Members of Congress, is devoted to finding common sense solutions to our nation’s ongoing gun violence epidemic.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — On Tuesday, May 17, Dana Di Ricco Benjamin and Dr. Glenn Benjamin welcomed members and guests of the Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club to their beautiful ranch in Upper Lake for the club's spring tea celebration.

The weather was perfect and attendees were treated to tours of the hosts' gardens of colorful blooms and eye-catching statues and their state-of-the-art horse barn that houses their award-winning Percherons.

As the tea started guests were seated at tables under the ample shade of the large trees that dotted the freshly mowed lawn.

All of the nine tables were covered with crisp white tablecloths and set with the finest bone china and freshly polished silverware. Each table sported artfully arranged floral bouquets.

In addition, because the event was a tea party, each table was further festooned with its own silver tea set. Yes, it was fancy!

And so were the attendees. The women wore their “Sunday best” and several donned festive-looking hats that would have fit in quite nicely at a Churchill Downs racing event. Even the men in attendance seemed to be “styling” a bit in honor of the occasion.

No tea party would have been complete with the requisite little sandwiches (no crusts, please) and sweet treats commonly served at high tea events, and garden club members extended their creative culinary cunning in making delicious dozens of each which were relished by all.

To add even more flavor to the afternoon, at the end of the tea attendees caught a glimpse of Dr. Glenn Benjamin and his “footman” in a white carriage pulled by a pair of snow white horses as they made their way toward the front of the house where they stopped.

Of course, many hurried over to admire the horses more closely. Some even got to take a short ride in the carriage!

A short time later, festivities at the tea continued when Dana Benjamin presented the gathering with a huge cake which we all shared in devouring with gusto as we participated in a gift exchange and final raffle.

At the end of the afternoon, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that they had all shared some wonderful and memorable moments together and would be looking forward to the tea next year.

Membership in the Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club is open to all those who have an interest in gardening. They would like to share a cup of tea with you at our annual tea next spring, or during any of our monthly meetings.

Please call club President Carol Dobush at 707-279-1169 for information. The club is a member of the Mendo-Lake District of the California Garden Club Inc.-Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.