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.

Caltrans will suspend work on Northern California highways on Monday, Feb. 20, in observance of President’s Day. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary for Caltrans maintenance forces to respond to emergency situations.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 29

– A pavement repair project from Spruce Road to Putah Lane will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 175

– A pavement repair project from the junction of Routes 29/175 near Kelseyville to the junction of Routes 29/175 in Middletown will continue through Friday, Feb. 17. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E of Santa Rosa has been issued a Caltrans encroachment permit for utility work from Gualala to Old State Highway beginning Tuesday, Feb. 21. Work hours are 8 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.

Highway 20

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Cold Creek Bridge to Potter Valley Road through Friday, Feb. 17. 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 101

– A pavement repair project from Gobbi Street to West Road will continue. Work hours are 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

Highway 128

– PG&E of Eureka has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for tree trimming from 0.1 mile west of Philo Greenwood Road to Philo School Road beginning Tuesday, Feb. 21. 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.

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).

SACRAMENTO – The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture’s 39th annual Fisheries Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 4202 in the State Capitol in Sacramento.

“The Fisheries Forum is the primary opportunity in California for those involved in fishing and aquaculture to come together and speak directly to the Legislature about issues of critical importance to them,” said Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast), who chairs the Fisheries Committee. “California’s fisheries and aquaculture industry are vital to the state’s economy and serve as an indicator of the health of our entire aquatic environment.”

Former Senate Majority Leader Barry Keene started the annual hearing, formerly known as the Fishermen’s Forum, in 1973. Initially established to address issues confronting North Coast commercial fishermen, the Forum has since expanded to cover issues statewide concerning commercial and sport fisheries, aquaculture and fisheries research.

Since 1981 the Forum has been hosted by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture. Many laws protecting fisheries, aquaculture and marine interests were developed as a result of information gathered at past Forums.

The public is welcome to attend the Forum. There is no cost.

After opening remarks by Chesbro and other legislators who serve on the committee, the agenda includes presentations from Charlton Bonham, director of the state Department of Fish and Game; Sonke Mastrup, executive director of the California Fish and Game Commission and Rod McInnis, regional administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The forum also will feature reports from the California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout, the California Salmon Stamp program, the California Dungeness Crab Task Force, the Sea Urchin Commission and the Aquaculture Development Committee.

“We will also hear from many of our hardworking fishing men and women, members of the aquaculture community, and conservation groups,” Chesbro said.

There will also be time for public comments.

The final forum agenda will be released on Monday.

NICE, Calif. – The Sons of Italy club has announced that it is canceling its dance on Saturday, Feb. 25, in order to conduct building maintenance.

The group's regular dance schedule of second and fourth Saturday dances will resume March 10 and March 24.

For more information call 707-274-2244.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The local band “Without A Net” invites the community to come out and dance for a good cause on Saturday, Feb. 18.

The band will perform beginning at 7 p.m. at Silk's Bar and Grill, 14825 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

Proceeds from the evening will go toward the medical fund for Nova Fox, injured in December in a car crash on Cobb Mountain.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Jim Dempsey, environmental scientist from California State Parks, Northern Buttes District will guide volunteers in planting valley oak seedlings at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park on Saturday, Feb. 25.

Teams of two to four people each are needed to carry tools and materials to the planting sites and to dig holes to transplant the young trees. All ages are welcome.

After almost 100 years of ranching and grazing from the mid-19th to mid-20th century, the park has had little or no regeneration of valley oak trees in the broad field visible from Highway 53.

Whatever happens during the current state budget crisis, State Parks will continue to own the park.

In addition to recreation, the park department’s mission is to protect and enhance the park’s natural resource values.

New oak trees will benefit wildlife and birds and help further self-regulation of future oaks.

The work will begin at 9 a.m. and the gates close by 4 p.m.

Bring lunch, water, work gloves and lots of enthusiasm. And for the next 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or even 60 years you can visit your tree and watch it grow.

Contact Jim Dempsey at 707-990-2448 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LUCERNE, Calif. – North Lake Garden Club will present a workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 28, titled “Do the Rot Thing and Support Global Worming.”

It will be an informative hands-on presentation by Gabriele O'Neill, University of California Cooperative Extension Lake County Master Gardener.

She will share how and why you can become part of the solution to the garbage crisis, plus do your garden a world of good in the process.

The workshop is all about the magical transformation of garbage into gardeners' gold, also called composting.

Attendees will get to see and feel the many possible ingredients that make a great recipe for our creepy crawly friends, worms.

Participants will see what it takes to produce great compost in a relatively short time and how to make your own simple worm bin.

There will be discussion on what to do with all that compost that can be made and why its benefits reach far beyond a personal garden.

The club had a great class last month on getting gardening tools maintained for the spring by Don Smith.

This composting class will now get members and guests ready for their gardens.

The meeting will be held at Lucerne Community Church, 5870 E. Highway 20.

It begins at 6:30 p.m. with sharing plants and refreshments. The meeting and workshop will follow.

If you are interested in joining please come. You can check other activities coming up on the group's Facebook page at North Lake Garden Club.

The club is a member of California Garden Clubs Inc., National Garden Clubs Inc. and Mendo-Lake District, with meetings held on the fourth Tuesday September through May.

If you have a public place where a tree should be planted or need more information about the garden club call President Kimberly Marsh at 707-274-8775.