LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Rose Duncan is disabled and needed a ramp connected to her deck that would give her access to both the front and backyard. Habitat for Humanity Lake County made her dream come true.

The ramp is eight months old now and affords Duncan a new freedom and opportunity that she hadn’t had before. She can visit her neighbors and tend to her garden. Being outside gives her a “whole new purpose in life.”

Habitat for Humanity Lake County established the “A Brush of Kindness” home repair program two years ago.

It was created to reach out to low income homeowners that are in need of home repairs but have no financial means of paying for such work.

The goal is to repair the dwellings so that they are safe and healthy to live in.

The project combines contractors, volunteers, friends and family all working together to meet a common goal.

Virginia applied in 2010. She heard about Habitat for Humanity through a friend. She filled out an application in the office and construction started shortly thereafter.   

Virginia’s home had a severe plumbing problem. The drain system in her home needed to be redone. She was so impressed with “the quality of work” that she came in person to the Habitat for Humanity office in Lower Lake to give her thanks.

“The contractor and volunteers conducted themselves in a professional manner and had such pleasant attitudes” on the job, she said.

Habitat for Humanity President Richard Birk said the organization was pleased to announce that the “A Brush of Kindness” program will be available once again in 2012 in Lake County.

Since its beginning two years ago the “A Brush of Kindness” repair program has serviced 25 homes in Lake County. The program will only continue to do so with the co-operation of volunteers and community support.

Funding is a vital part of the program. Many local merchants and many businesses of Lake County have given their support to keep this much needed program alive, Birk said.

Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to providing low income homeowners with safe and healthy homes. The Habitat for Humanity motto is “a hand up, not a hand out.”

Please submit donations to Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 1830, Lower Lake, CA 95457 or at their office at 16285 Main Street, Lower Lake, CA.

To apply for the Habitat for Humanity’s home repair program or to volunteer some hours to help with this program, please drop by their office, 16285A Main St., Lower Lake, call them at 707-994-1100 or visit them on the Web at http://www.lakehabitat.org .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – For those wanting to catch up on the latest in the District 5 supervisorial race, video of a debate held this week is available online.

Incumbent Supervisor Rob Brown of Kelseyville and challenger Joan Moss of Cobb took part in a debate on Wednesday, April 18, in the board chambers at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport.

McKenzie Paine of Velocity Video, the event's videographer, has posted the video of the debate at his Web site, http://www.velocityvideoonline.com/2012/04/19/district-5-supervisor-candidates-debate/ .

The debate was cosponsored by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Lake County News and Velocity Video.

The primary election is June 5.

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 29

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for tree trimming near Central Park Road through Friday, April 20. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 53

– Highway widening 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

– PG&E of Santa Rosa has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work just north of Gualala through Friday, April 20. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 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.

– Replacement of the Greenwood Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
Contractor – Golden Gate Bridge Inc. of Martinez.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance at the Russian River Bridge beginning Wednesday, April 25. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Slide repairs just north of the Pomo Lane Undercrossing will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Southbound  traffic will be restricted to one lane. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 162

– Slipout repairs 1.6 miles east of the Rodeo 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 ? Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

Highway 222

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility repairs in Talmage on Friday, April 20. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

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).

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Time banks are part of a growing phenomenon, not just here in the United States, but all over the world.

They generally incorporate specialized software for members to post their service requests and offers, and to keep track of the time each member has invested in helping others.

This, however, is the least interesting part of the story.

Time banks allow their members to trade their time for the important services they need, in a democratic venue where each members time has the same value as all other members.

It can work like this: The talented self trained seamstress offers mending services to the community. A local electrician and a bookkeeper arrange with another time bank member to have their mending dropped off and picked up.

The seamstress then spends her banked mending hours to have her fence repaired, while the person doing the deliveries uses her time for a foot reflexology session.

While the exchanges themselves are valuable to the participants, other values are growing too.  

People begin to see themselves and their skills as valuable, they begin to rebuild the self confidence that our flagging economy has thwarted, and their personal networks and friendships grow – all through time banking.

You are invited to learn more at the Time Bank of Lake County's free orientation on Wednesday, April 25, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

Participants will learn more about time banking and how to sign up, meet current time bank members, have an opportunity to ask questions and get an introduction to the time bank software.

If you are unable to attend visit the group's Web site for more information, http://timebanklakeco.com/ .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Senior Activity Center will be hosting free Skype video calls on Monday, April 23. and Monday. April 30. from 9 a.m. to noon.

This is a wonderful opportunity to talk to anyone with a Skype account anywhere in the world.

You must sign up in advance, so drop by the Lakeport Senior Activity Center at 527 Konocti Ave. in Lakeport and reserve your time slot.

Remember, the recipient must have a Skype I.D.

Call 707-263-4218 for more information.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday, May 12, attorney Dennis A. Fordham, will present a free educational seminar, “Why a trust and not a will.”

The seminar will begin at 10 a.m. at the Lake County Resource Center, on the first floor at 55 First St. in Lakeport.

Refreshments will be offered.

An RSVP appreciated at 707-263-3235 or www.DennisFordhamLaw.com .