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 20

– Emergency highway repairs from the junction of Route 20/53 to Long Valley Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

Highway 53

– Pavement repairs from Route 29 to 40th Avenue will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

– Highway widening and rehabilitation from 40th Avenue to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Teichert Construction of Davis.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Shoulder improvements at various locations from Curley Lane to Alder Creek Beach will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– 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.

Highway 20

– Electrical upgrades just west of Gravel Pit Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Cal Electro Inc. of Redding.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs from 0.5 mile west of Wildwood Campground to Forestry Station Road. 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.

– A pavement repair project from 1.4 miles west of Little Lake Road to Three Chop Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

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 128

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for tree trimming from 0.4 mile east of Philo Greenwood Road to Philo. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Pavement repairs from 0.4 mile east of the Robinson Creek Bridge to the Mendocino/Sonoma County line will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – OC Jones and Sons of Berkeley.

Highway 253

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility repairs just west of the Anderson Creek Bridge on Tuesday, Dec. 11, and Wednesday, Dec. 12. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 271

– Metal beam guardrail repair at various locations from the southern junction of Routes 101/271 to the Humboldt/Mendocino County line will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Coral Construction of Wilsonville.

– Electrical upgrades 0.9 mile south of the Caltrans Maintenance Yard will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Cal Electro Inc. of Redding.

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).

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Mark your calendars – Santa Claus and his elves are making a special stop in Upper Lake this holiday season at Running Creek Casino on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.

St. Nick will be transported to Running Creek in a different kind of red sleigh – a fire truck, courtesy of the Northshore Fire Protection District Upper Lake Station.

Families who want to visit with Santa can wait for him under the Porte Cochere outside the casino and may park in the newly paved lot.

A special tree lighting ceremony will take place once Santa has arrived with hot chocolate, cider, and donuts for children and their families.

“We wanted to do something special for local children this holiday season,” said Running Creek Casino General Manager Michael Schrader. “What better way to celebrate the holidays than a visit from Santa Claus himself? We hope that this visit with Santa and tree lighting will be an opportunity for the local families and kids in the Upper Lake area to gather and kick off the holiday season right.”

Running Creek Casino will celebrate the holidays during the entire month of December with a Friday and Saturday promotion called “Christmas at the Creek,” where they will give away $40,000 during the entire month. Rewards Club members may also cash in their club points for special holiday gifts.

A Christmas Day meal will be part of the menu at the Wildfire restaurant consisting of a four-course prime rib dinner including a cup of soup, Caesar salad, and a chef’s special dessert for just $29.

The holiday celebration will culminate in a big bash on New Year’s Eve at Running Creek, with free hors d’oeuvres, $1 champagne, music, party favors and cash giveaways every half hour starting at 7 p.m. with special drawings of $2,012 at 11:30 p.m. and $2,013 at midnight.

The party will continue with additional drawings of $500 every half hour until 2 a.m.

Running Creek Casino is located at 635 E. Highway 20, Upper Lake.

Visit the casino online at www.runningcreekcasino.com , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/runningcreekcasino and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/therunningcreek .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The docents and volunteers of the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum are hosting a jewelry party given by Mackenzee Taylor to help benefit the ongoing barn project.  

The jewelry sale will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9, at the museum, located at 9921 Soda Bay Road, about half a mile off Highway 29 in the Clear Lake Riviera.

This is a drop-in party and the jewelry items are there to buy and take with you.  

The price of each piece of jewelry averages $5.

This is a great opportunity for those last minute gifts for friends and family and there will be refreshments.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Strong Financial Network is supporting the community by holding its third annual canned food drive now through Dec. 21.

All donations will directly benefit the Lake Family Resource Center and all of the services that they offer to those in the community who are in need.

Please bring your nonperishable food items to Strong Financial Network, located at 1105 N. Main St. in Lakeport between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Anyone who makes a donation will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to the restaurant (or local charity of their choice). But of course, you can bring canned goods out of the goodness of your heart too.

For more information, call Strong Financial Network at 707-262-1880.

NICE, Calif. – The Sons of Italy will host a Christmas Craft Faire on Saturday, Dec. 8.

The faire will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sons of Italy Hall, 2817 E Highway 20, Nice.

More than 20 local vendors will sell their Christmas products.

Hot dogs and Italian sausage sandwiches will be available for purchase.

For more information call 707-274-2244.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The December monthly meeting for the Redbud Audubon Society on Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church Social hall will be the traditional bird identification program.

This is a popular program and is great for both beginners and veterans of birding.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. with refreshments, followed by the program at 7:15 p.m.

The bird identification program is a great way to learn about the common and not-so-common birds of Lake County, especially if you are planning to participate in the Christmas Bird Count, slated for Dec. 15.

Even if you are not participating in the bird count, learning about common birds is very fun and gratifying.

Brad Barnwell will give a power point presentation featuring amazing photographs of many of Lake County’s birds. The program emphasizes the field characteristics of birds likely to be seen during the count.