SACRAMENTO – The California League of Conservation Voters and Green California honored First District Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) for his outstanding environmental voting record at a reception Tuesday night in Sacramento.

In presenting the award, the League of Conservation Voters cited Chesbro’s record of pro-environment votes on bills during the 2009 legislative session and his overall environmental leadership encompassing his entire legislative career that includes his eight years in the state Senate (1998-2006).

In 2009 Chesbro voted for the environment on 22 bills the League tracked. He was one of just 12 members of the 80-member Assembly to be so honored.

Among the legislation that Chesbro was honored for supporting were bills that:

Protect fisheries. Chesbro voted for SB 670, which places a moratorium on the destructive practice of suction dredge mining until the Department of Fish & Game can conduct an environmental impact review, and subjects any future suction dredge permits to the California Environmental Quality Act. Suction dredge mining destroys the aquatic environment by disrupting streambeds, killing fish eggs and immature eels, and churning up mercury left over from the gold mining era. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed this bill into law.

Preserve state parks. Chesbro voted for SB 372, which sought to protect state parks by requiring the State Parks and Recreation Commission to approve modifications or adjustments to the boundaries or the uses of a state park, and SB 679, which would have safeguarded state parks by ensuring that land acquired for state parks is not used for any other purpose unless authorized by the Legislature. Both bills passed the Legislature but were vetoed by the governor.

Expand recycling. Chesbro voted for AB 473, which would have required owners of apartments and other multifamily dwellings to provide access to recycling services for tenants. Multifamily residences such as apartments have a meager 15 percent household recycling rate, compared to the statewide average of 50 percent. Chesbro also voted for AB 402, which would have expanded California’s successful bottle bill and provided funding for the California Conservation Corps. Both bills passed the Legislature but were vetoed by the governor.

The California League of Conservation Voters is a nonpartisan political action organization whose mission is to protect the environmental quality of the state by increasing public awareness of the environmental performance of all elected officials.

Green California is a coalition of more than 70 environmental, health and justice organizations working collaboratively to speak to the Legislature with a single voice.

LAKE COUNTY – Lake County Public Services Director Kim K. Clymire has announced that the Eastlake Landfill will be closed Sunday, July 4, and the Lakeport Public Services office will be closed on Monday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day.

The Eastlake Landfill will reopen on Monday, July 5, and the Public Services office will reopen Tuesday, July 6.

Normal operating hours at the landfill are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The Public Services office is normally open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding this subject or any of the solid waste issues in Lake County, please call 707-262-1760.

LAKEPORT – Join local UFO investigators at their monthly meeting of the Lake County Flying Saucer Club this Saturday, June 26, at 1 p.m.

The free meeting will be held in the McDonald's meeting room on Todd Road in Lakeport.

For more information call Chip at 707-263-3391 or visit http://meetup.com/lcflyingsaucerclub.

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday the US House of Representatives passed HR 5241, which grants subpoena power to the commission investigating the British Petroleum oil spill.

North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson is an original co-author of this bill.

The commission, which was established by executive order and based on legislation introduced in the House in early May, will investigate the causes of the devastating oil spill and report back to the president with recommendations for how to prevent and mitigate the impact of any future spills that result from offshore drilling.

“It is essential that the commission be given subpoena power to ensure that BP and other oil companies are held accountable and that the commission has the tools it needs to make sure this type of spill does not happen again, “ said Thompson. “I have always opposed drilling off the coast of northern California and will continue to support legislation to help the gulf and the oil spill clean up efforts.”

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate (S. 3462).

LAKE COUNTY – “Women's Voices” on KPFZ 88.1 FM will feature a discussion on fire safety on its July 1 show.

The show will be broadcast from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The July 1 show will feature Linda Juntunen, project coordinator for the Lake County Fire Safe Council, and her colleague Jeff Tunnell, a fire mitigation and education specialist with the Bureau of Land Management's Ukiah Field Office.

Listeners will hear practical and important information about creating a fire safe environment around their homes and in their communities.

Join hosts Lenny Matthews, Rae Eby-Carl and Loretta McCarthy for the discussion.

The show encourages listeners to call in. The studio phone is 707-263-3435.

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

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Ogden Road to Hillside Lane. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Hartman Road to 0.3 mile south of Hofacker Lane. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 281

– North Bay Construction of Petaluma has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for paving on Soda Bay Road. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Paving from 0.1 mile north of Navarro Ridge Road to Woodstock Drive will begin Friday, June 25. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Pavement repairs at Blue Slide Gulch, just south of Westport, will continue. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Mercer-Fraser of Eureka.

– A drainage repair project from 1.4 miles south of Hales Grove to 1.2 mile south of Mill Bank Resort 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 – Green Right O’Way Constructors of Willits.

Highway 20

– A drainage repair project from Three Chop Road to the Chamberlain Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Kapel Construction of Willow Creek.

Highway 101

– A culvert repair project form Waterplant Road to the Haehl Overhead Bridge will continue. Nighttime work hours are 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

– Black Oak Ranch of Laytonville has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to allow access for the Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival to be held 4.5 miles north of Laytonville at Black Oak Ranch Friday, June 25, through Monday, June 28. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

Highway 162

– A bridge widening project at Outlet 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 15-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

Highway 222

– Replacement of the Russian River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays during work hours and five-minute delays at other times. Contractor – CC Myers of Rancho Cordova.

– Rogina Water Co. of Talmage has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a water line from Sandford Ranch Road to Talmage Court. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 253

– Construction of a retaining wall from Singley Cattlepass to the Soda 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 – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

– A bridge widening project at Soda 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 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

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).