“Street Skills” representatives held an event at Eureka High School this week, during which laptops were available for teens to go to www.slowfortheconezone.com to watch safety videos, take a quiz and enter a sweepstakes. On-campus activities will take place at more than 40 high schools through Nov. 8 to alert teens about safe driving.

New drivers will have a chance to win their own 2009 Toyota Scion XB (donated by Clear Channel and upgraded with tires, wheels and a high-end sound system) and $1,000, which may be used toward auto insurance (donated by campaign partner AAA). No state dollars are being used for the sweepstakes. The grand prize winner will be awarded these prizes at a press conference in December. AAA will also award roadside assistance memberships to 20 lucky runners-up.

Caltrans has taken increasingly innovative approaches this year to reach teens and young adult drivers. Earlier this summer, it launched Slow Mo Films, an online entertainment community. Ultimately, Caltrans wants to remind teen drivers to drive safely in cone zones: slow down, watch for sudden stops or other drivers merging at the last minute and avoid distractions such as text messaging, eating or changing the radio station.

Caltrans has sent educational materials to approximately 320 public high school drivers’ education teachers in California and 600 private driving schools. Kits include safety materials from other partners as well, including CHP, Office of Traffic Safety, MADD, DMV and AAA.

Funding for the “Slow for the Cone Zone” public education program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For more information or to enter the New Driver Sweepstakes, please visit www.slowfortheconezone.com.

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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

– A highway widening project from Polk Jones Cattlepass to Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road will continue through Friday, Sept. 19. Work hours are 5 a.m. to 12 noon, weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– Caltrans will continue routine maintenance from Ogden Road to Bruner Drive. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– A roadway realignment project from 1.4 miles east of the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge to 1.6 miles west of Walker Ridge Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 29

– A shoulder widening project from Hofacker Lane to 0.5 miles north of Hofacker Lane will continue. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – North Bay Construction of Petaluma.

– Bridge rehabilitation from the Adobe Creek Bridge to the Park Way Overcrossing will continue. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Monday night through Friday Morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – American Civil Constructors of Benicia.

– Installation of a changeable message sign and paving from Highland Springs Road to 0.2 miles south of Lakeport Boulevard will continue. Work hours are 8 p.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday evening through Friday afternoon. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 53

– Modification of the traffic signal at the intersection of 40th Avenue/Lakeshore Boulevard 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 – North Bay Construction, Incorporated of Petaluma.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– A paving project from Main Street to the Brush 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 – North Bay Construction, Incorporated of Petaluma.

– AT&T of Sacramento has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to relocate utilities from 1.4 miles to 0.4 miles south of Navarro Bluff Road on Friday, Sept. 19. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Mendocino Unified School District has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a water line between Jackson Street and Lansing Street. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Turns onto Little Lake Road will be restricted. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– A paving project from Walnut Street to Pudding Creek Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– The city of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a new sewer line between Elm Street and Airport 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.

Highway 20

– A highway widening project from Old Willits Road to Gravel Pitt Road will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

– Caltrans will continue routine maintenance from the Chamberlain Creek Bridge to the Broaddus Creek Bridge. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays.

Highway 101

– A paving project from the Mendocino/Sonoma County line to the Russian River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Martin Brothers Construction of Sacramento.

– A pavement repair project from 0.1 miles north to 1.5 miles north of Comminsky Station Road will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– A paving project from Center Street to the junction of Route 101/253 will continue. Work hours are 9 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday evening through Friday afternoon. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Additionally, on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 7 a.m. to 12 noon, traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – Martin Brothers Construction of Sacramento.

– Roadway repair due to pavement deterioration from 3.6 miles south of Ridgewood Ranch Road to 1.9 miles south of Ridgewood Ranch Road will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Bridge deck rehabilitation on the South Willits Overhead will continue. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel 24 hours per day, Monday through Friday. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor – American Civil Constructors of Benicia.

– A paving project from Long Valley Creek Bridge to Harmon Drive will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 12 midnight, weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Mercer Fraser of Eureka.

– A curve improvement project in Laytonville will continue. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 128

– International Surfacing Systems of Modesto has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for pavement repair from 2.3 miles west of Paul Dimmick Park to 0.1 mile east of Nash Mill Road beginning Monday, Sept. 22. 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.

Highway 162

– Bridge deck rehabilitation on the Long Valley Creek Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday evening through Friday morning. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – American Civil Constructors of Benicia.

– Caltrans will continue routine maintenance from the junction of Route 101/162 to the Short Creek Bridge. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– A bridge widening project at Outlet Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

Highway 253

– A bridge widening project at Anderson Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Viking Construction Co. Inc. of Rancho Cordova.

– A bridge widening project at Soda Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal is in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. 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).

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SPRING VALLEY – The Spring Valley Lakes Property Owners' Association will hold a general meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The meeting will take place at the community center, 3000 Wolf Creek Road, Clearlake Oaks (Highway 20 west, left on New Long Valley Road, right on Spring Valley Road, right on Wolf Creek Road).

Association officers are President Gayle Christian, Vice President Mark Currier, Secretary Win Cary,

Treasurer Sonja Madden-Jones and Building Coordinator Helen Mitcham.

The agenda follows.

OPEN MEETING:

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Welcome new members and visitors

READING OF THE MINUTES:

OFFICER’S REPORTS:

1. Treasurer: Sonja Madden-Jones

2. Building Coordinator: Helen Mitcham

SPECIAL REPORTS:

1. Campground: Helen Mitcham

2. Sunshine Lady: Linda Mann

3. CSA2 (County Service Area District 2): Jim Hershey

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1. Architectural Committee: Gary Pickrell

2. Bylaws Committee: Sonja Madden-Jones

3. CC & R Committee: Helen Mitcham

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Community Center tables

2. Business Expo on Oct 25

3. Halloween Party on Oct 31

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Community Wildfire Protection Plan: Helen Mitcham

ADJOURNMENT

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The car seat safety check will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kathy Fowler Chevrolet-Pontiac, 1175 Parallel Drive, Lakeport.

Event sponsors include the California Highway Patrol, Lake County Office of Education, Cal Fire, South Lake County Fire Protection District and Sutter Lakeside Hospital.

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LAKE COUNTY – Community Care HIV/AIDS Project Drop In Center's AIDS Walk will take place this Saturday in Clearlake.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Austin Park Resort.

Keynote speakers will be Supervisor Denise Rushing and Dr. Marshall Kubota.

Community Care HIV/AIDS Project Drop In Center is a non-profit program serving the HIV community for more than 20 years.

In this time of limited resources and skyrocketing costs of basic human needs such as food, gas and utilities and housing, the AIDS Walk hopes to raise an emergency fund to help clients who may otherwise fall through the cracks.

The center also wants to expand the food cupboard that clients can shop once a month. The food cupboard is experiencing record usage and the center's monthly gas vouchers barely cover enough for clients to make their doctor appointments.

As reported in the press, there has been an underreporting of AIDS statistic, with an additional 45,000 added to numbers since 2006. One of the highest reported AIDS cases is among young people ages 15 to 24. Women and especially African-American women also represent inordinately high numbers. Families need to talk about these issues and make AIDS a part of the national dialog.

Folks are invited to sign up for the AIDS Walk in corporate groups of four for a $25 fee and many of those groups get sponsors. You do not need a sponsor to walk laps around the beautiful lakeside at the resort.

A registration fee of $5 is all that is required to walk the half-mile path and you can walk as many laps as you wish. All donations are going to a worthy cause – a self-help endeavor.

Many community organizations will be represented with vendor booths and tables, giving the event an air of family fun. Water tables will be set up around the walk path.

There will be great musical entertainment by Lefty and the Clearlake Oaks Community Choir.

The Department of Public Health will be there offering free and easy HIV testing to the public. There will be quick and easy swab tests that will render fast results, along with counselors on-site. Free condoms and life-saving information will be abundant.

Donations will be gladly accepted in the name of loved ones affected by HIV or AIDS. Checks should be made out to Community Care AIDS Walk.

For more information, visit the Community Care Web site, www.communitycare707.com/events.html, or call Michelle White or Ken Young at the center, 995-1606.

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KELSEYVILLE – Local and state dignitaries will be speaking at the “Wild Affair In Your Park” celebration at Clear Lake State Park on Oct. 4.

This celebration also will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Outdoor Education Pavilion.

Congressman Mike Thompson, a longtime supporter of state parks, is very familiar with this project. Former State Senator Wes Chesbro has also championed parks, and in particular Clear Lake State Park during the last critical staff shortage of 1998.

State Park Director Ruth Coleman has taken a keen interest in our local Outdoor Education Pavilion. She sees it as a shining example of merging local community support with state parks to create more educational opportunities.

Both Supervisors Rob Brown and Denise Rushing have recently been involved with the county's purchase of a considerable portion of Mount Konocti. This acreage is contiguous to Clear Lake State Park.

“I am extremely pleased with the support of these dignitaries and the local community for our project, the Outdoor Education Pavilion,” said Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association President Madelene Lyon.

“Our goal for the project is to leave 'No child left inside,' Lyon added. “We will showcase the local restaurants, wineries and musical talents at this grand finale fundraiser.”

The cost is $35 per person.

For further information and reservations please call 279 4395.

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