SACRAMENTO – Four bills by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) are moving forward to a vote by the full Assembly after winning approval this week from the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

The bills are as follows.

AB 2134, a bill supported by owners of small microbreweries, would make it legal for beer manufacturers and importers to conduct and advertise to their customers “beer maker dinners,” featuring craft beers paired with food at local restaurants. The bill would grant the beer industry the same status as the wine industry, which has had good success marketing new products at winemaker dinners. AB 2134 is sponsored by the California Small Brewers Association.

AB 2615, the “Ocean Fisheries Improvement Act,” would advise the Ocean Protection Council of the Legislature’s intent regarding funding priorities that focus on sustainable fishing practices. AB 2615 is sponsored by the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations

AB 2675 would provide for additional training for those who care for people with disabilities. It would provide those who operate Immediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled (ICFs/DD) with eight additional hours of training on the business side of running a facility. Currently, IFCs/DD licensees are required to complete eight hours of training on California’s developmental disabilities system and program and regulatory requirements. Feedback from new operators and oversight agencies finds that new licensees often struggle to manage the financial aspects of their businesses. Adding a business orientation program would double the required training to 16 hours for licensees. AB 2675 is sponsored by the California Association of Health Facilities.

AB 2351 would help California’s State forests by allowing Cal Fire to establish recreational user fees for overnight campgrounds, including the Jackson State Forest in Mendocino County. Fees collected by Cal Fire would benefit California’s State forests. AB 2351 is sponsored by Cal Fire and supported by the Sierra Club of California, the California Licensed Foresters Association and the California Native Plant Society.

Visit Chesbro's Web site at http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a01/.

LAKE COUNTY – On May 1, Robert Hesterberg of Upper Lake, a candidate for the District 3 supervisorial seat, will join Herb Gura in the studio for a one-on-one on “The Law Show.”

Denise Rushing and Gary Lewis, who both also are running for the seat, have already been guests and this is a chance for Hesterberg talk to the people.

“The Law Show” has other upcoming shows that will feature candidates in local races.

On Saturday, May 15, all three candidates for Lake County district attorney – Don Anderson, Doug Rhoades, and incumbent Jon Hopkins – will join Gura in the KPFZ studios for a final political slugfest.

The sheriff's candidates have been invited to a May 29 interview as well.

Tune in to 88.1 FM from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and hear what these candidates have to say. Phone lines will be open.

Call the studio at 707-263-3435 or toll-free at 800-763-KPFZ (5739).

NICE – Sons of Italy is hosting its spaghetti feed from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 2.

Come and enjoy homemade Italian sauce, garlic bread and salad. Sausages and meatballs are available, too.

The bar will be open for socializing.

For more information or to order food to go call 707-274-2244.

The hall is located at 2817 Highway 20 in Nice, Calif.

LUCERNE – The Lucerne Alpine Senior Center will host its inaugural poker run to benefit Meals on Wheels this Sunday, May 2.

Sign ups will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the center, located at 10^th and Country Club.

The second stop will be at the Driftwood Bar in Lucerne, then on to Nobles Bar in Middletown, the Roadhouse Bar in Cobb and then back to the senior center. Cards can be drawn at all the stops.

Cars are welcome as well as motorcycles. Participants do not need to do the run around the lake.

A barbecue will begin at noon, with the Bob Coats Band performing from noon to 5 p.m. A no-host bar will run through the day.

Lake County communities have donated wonderful raffle prizes, according to center Executive Director Lee Tyree.

All proceeds will benefit the center's Meals on Wheels program.

Presale tickets can be bought at the center until early Saturday evening for $15. The door price is $20.

The tickets cover the event, lunch and beverages.

For more information contact the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center at 707-274-8779.

NICE – Sons of Italy is holding an indoor flea market, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, May 1, at 2817 Highway 20 in Nice.

Gates open at 7 a.m. to set up inside the building.

Inside and outdoor tables are available for $10, first-come, first-serve basis. There also will be a bake sale.

The club’s kitchen and bar will be open to sell coffee, drinks and Italian sausage and hot dog sandwiches.

Everyone is welcome.

For information about this event or renting the hall for your own call 707-274-9952 or Saturday 707-274-2244.

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 the Lake/Mendocino County line to Bachelor Valley Road on Friday, April 30. Work hours are 8 a..m to 3:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect.

Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Ogden Road to Butler Street through Friday, April 30. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the Lake/Napa County line to the junction of Route 29/175 in Middletown on Friday, April 30. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. One-way traffic control

will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road to the junction of Route 20/29 beginning Monday, May 3. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 53

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from the junction of Route 29/53 to Olympic Drive through Friday, April 30. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 101

– The Hopland Passport Association has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold the Hopland Passport event from East Side Road to 0.3 miles south of the Cal Fire station on Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Brief intermittent closures will be in effect to allow for pedestrian crossing. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Big Trails Drive to the junction of Route 101/162 on Friday, April 30. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane.

Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

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 will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Beginning

Monday, May 3, 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.

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).