LAKE COUNTY – Lake County Fair’s contest program is now open for entry, with a number of new contests offered for 2010.

The contests offer local residents the chance to show off their skills in their hobbies and professions, have their work compared to the work of their friends and neighbors, and win cash prizes for the results.

New contests in 2010 include an open rabbit show, a variety of baking contests using recipes published by the Fair, a contest for “recycled” art made from discarded goods, contests for honey, and an olive oil competition with variety of different olive oil classes.

In addition, the clothing and textiles competitions, which expanded in 2009 to their own building, also have a variety of new categories.

Fair industry professionals often talk about how special the contest programs at county fairs are. Many of the other activities at a fair can be found other places. Amusement parks and family fun centers offer rides, games, and food. Zoos, aquariums, and wild animal parks offer a glimpse at many exotic creatures.

Specialty festivals offer contests that are focused on one product or industry. Live music can be found in many places. But only the county fair offers such a huge diversity of contests that just about everyone can participate in something.

Lake County Fair offered contests in 2,265 classes in 2009, a number which has grown slightly in 2010.

More than $40,000 in prize monies are offered each year, with around 40 percent of that amount actually being won in any given year.

Prize winners took home $16,800.70 in total cash prizes in 2009, an increase of more than 6.5 percent over 2008.

Contests are divided into various categories depending upon the types of items to be exhibited, starting with departments, then divisions, and then classes of goods.

Departments include flowers and plants, fine arts and photography, home arts, agriculture and horticulture, livestock, and horses.

As an example, the agriculture department has a division for vine crops, which further breaks down into twenty classes for different types of cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and squash. Every class represents a unique contest.

Lake County Fair prints a contest handbook, with details of all departments, divisions and classes, along with all of the rules for entering and the prizes available.

The contest handbook is available from more than twenty outlets around Lake County, and also is available on the fair’s Web site at www.lakecountyfair.com.

Actual entry forms must be filled out online, with the information deposited directly into the contest database. The forms must then be printed and signed. The signed entry forms and payment of entry fees will be accepted anytime in June or July, but must be received before Aug. 13 at 6 p.m.

Contestants can access the entry forms from any computer with Internet access at the fair's Web site, www.lakecountyfair.com. A high speed Internet connection is required.

Computers are available in a variety of places, including schools, libraries, and the fairgrounds office. Fairgrounds staff will be happy to assist contestants who visit the fairgrounds office during regular business hours. Contestants are well advised to avoid the last minute rush and get their entries completed early.

Most classes at the Lake County Fair require an entry fee, usually from $1 to $3, although some classes are free to enter and others cost a bit more, usually in classes where the prize monies are greater as well.

Contestants paid a total of $10,773 in entry fees in 2009. Obviously, these fees don’t cover the costs of the cash prizes, never mind the costs of judges, clerks, ribbons, trophies, and all the other things that go into putting on the contests. But hopefully, the contestants bring their families and friends to visit the Lake County Fair to see if they’ve won a prize, and help to offset all those other costs when they buy admission tickets.

Judges for contests at the Lake County Fair are chosen for their expertise in a given subject, and come from outside of Lake County to provide impartiality.

There are no guidelines for how often a judge may return to the fair, but Lake County Fair tries to follow a policy of a maximum of two years in a row for any given judge. County fairs work together, circulating their lists of judges and giving each other feedback about any given judge.

The Lake County Fair also accepts recommendations from exhibitors, other judges, and the public in order to find and secure judges for all the classes at the fair.

The Lake County Fair Board has chosen "Fun for the Whole Herd!" for the theme of the 2010 Fair. The Lake County Fair traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport.

The 2010 fair dates are Sept. 2 through Sept. 5. More than 37,000 people visit the Lake County Fair each year. For more information please call the fair office at 263-6181, or visit the Fair on the Internet at www.lakecountyfair.com.

SACRAMENTO – The State Assembly has approved a bill jointly authored by Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) and Assemblyman Ira Ruskin (D-Redwood City) that will ensure California is prepared to cope with climate change in the coming decades.

“A new report this month by a panel of respected marine scientists warns that over the next half century climate change will have a severe impact on California’s coastline,” Chesbro said. “In addition to rising sea levels, warmer ocean waters will generate more intense storms, the report forecasts. Mendocino County could lose more than eight square miles of cliffs and dunes to erosion, according to the report, and warming rivers could threaten the survival of Coho salmon and steelhead.”

AB 2329, which received strong support in the Assembly, will codify Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2005 Executive Order (S-3-05), which created California’s Climate Action Team.

Sponsored by the Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy, AB 2329 ensures the Climate Action Team will continue to meet and deliver on its mission of coordinating climate-change policy activities across state agencies. Specifically, the multiagency group is coordinating California’s efforts to meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals and adapt to a changing climate.

“We thank Assemblymembers Chesbro and Ruskin for their leadership and commitment to the environment in guiding AB 2329 successfully through the Assembly,” said Louis Blumberg, director of the Nature Conservancy's climate-change work in California. “AB 2329 will ensure that the state’s actions to address climate change are coordinated, and that its scarce resources are efficiently and effectively used to tackle this major environmental problem.”

KELSEYVILLE – Taylor Observatory is hosting a star party for amateur astronomers on Saturday, June 12, from 7:30 p.m. until midnight.

This event will give local amateur astronomers an opportunity to share in an evening of observation and conversation.

The event will be held on the observatory premises. Restroom facilities are available, along with access to the observatory's 16-inch telescope. Coffee, tea, cocoa and snacks will be available.

To participate in this event, please register by completing the email form at www.lakecountyskies.com.

There is no charge for registering. You will receive an email confirming your registration. In the event large numbers register, it may be necessary to limit the number who may attend due to limits on the number the observatory can accommodate.

In the message area of the registration form, please include the following: telephone, mailing address, telescope you plan to bring and others who may attend with you, such as family and friends.

Taylor Observatory is located at 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville.

LAKEPORT – If you want to learn more about the equestrian art and sport of dressage, then come hear USDF Gold Medalist Sharon Marshall talk about how to be your own dressage trainer at her free lecture.

Marshall will speak at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 18, at the Lakeport English Inn, 675 N. Main St.

Then, join the group on Saturday, June 19, for Marshall's dressage clinic in Scotts Valley.

The cost is $50 per rider with free auditing.

Marshall is an outstanding teacher who you don't want to miss.

For more information, call Winnie at 707-994-3756, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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 Spruce Grove Road to 0.3 mile south of Hofacker Lane beginning Tuesday, June 15. 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 175

– AT&T of Sacramento has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance from 1.5 miles west of Socrates Mine Road to the Putah Creek Bridge beginning Monday, June 14. 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.

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.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance near Tenino Way on Monday, June 14. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the work area and may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Bruce Raabe of Kentfield has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a driveway 3.6 miles south of the Elk Creek Bridge through Friday, June 11. 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.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance near Abalobadiah Creek on Tuesday, June 15, and Wednesday, June 16. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– 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 101

– A culvert repair project from the 0.7 mile east of Buckley Road to 1.0 mile west of the North Fork Mad River Bridge will begin Tuesday, June 15. 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 – Roger Brown Construction of Willow Creek.

– Bridge deck repairs at the Cummings Road Undercrossing will begin Monday, June 14. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – DeBruin Construction, Incorporated, of French Camp.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for tree trimming from 0.5 mile south of the Jitney Gulch Bridge to 0.4 mile south of Confusion Hill. 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.

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.

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 10-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.

– A storm repair project from 0.8 mile east of the Soda Creek Bridge to Slide Creek will begin Monday, June 14. 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 – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

Highway 271

– Riverview Productions Inc. of Piercy has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for the annual Redwood Run from Friday, June 11 through Sunday, June 13. Route 271 will be restricted to

local traffic only.

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).

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced that thousands of additional gas and electric customers may now be eligible to receive a discount on their monthly energy bill thanks to an adjustment in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program’s income qualifications.

With hot summer temperatures right around the corner, now is an ideal time for PG&E’s eligible customers to sign up for a discount on their energy bill.

Every year, the California Public Utilities Commission adjusts the maximum qualifying income levels for CARE to reflect current federal poverty guidelines.

The latest adjustment means more PG&E customers may now qualify for the program based on their pre-tax annual income, as follows:

Size of Household                         Previous Income                                       Guidelines New Income Guidelines

                                                     (June 1, 2009 -May 31, 2010)                  (June 1, 2010-May 31, 2011)

1 – 2                                             $30,500                                                   $31,300

3                                                   $35,800                                                   $36,800

4                                                   $43,200                                                   $44,400

5                                                   $50,600                                                   $52,000

6                                                   $58,000                                                   $59,600

Each additional person add        $7,400                                                     $7,600

On average, CARE saves households $46 per month on their gas and electric bill. Since the program's inception in 1989, PG&E customers enrolled in CARE have saved more than $3.7 billion on their energy bills.

Currently more than 1.4 million customers throughout PG&E's service area are enrolled in CARE. Thousands of additional households in Northern and Central California are eligible for CARE, but not yet enrolled.

Eligible PG&E customers can apply for CARE by going online to www.pge.com/care and be enrolled in the program within two business days. Customers may also enroll through the toll-free multi-lingual assistance line at (866) 743-2273. The discount will appear on their bill after a full billing cycle.

In addition to the CARE program, PG&E offers a host of other programs to assist customers during challenging economic times. PG&E's Breathe Easy Solutions™ help customers manage their energy costs when life brings financial challenges or unexpected changes. Additional details, as well as eligibility requirements and enrollment instructions, can be found at http://www.pge.com/myhome/customerservice/financialassistance/.