CLEARLAKE – The Lake County Community Co-op announced Friday they are adding three new drop points for their community supported agriculture (CSA) boxes.

Businesses and individuals from the Lucerne, Cobb Mountain and Middletown areas have volunteered to add to the current drop points giving Lake County residents more options for "Co-oparticipation," according to Co-op Chair JoAnn Saccato.

The new drop points, slated to be open between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays beginning March 4, are Cobb Mountain Video and Market, close to Bottle Rock Road and Highway 175; Lovie's Garden Emporium on Highway 29 in Middletown; and a private residence in Lucerne just off Highway 20.

These, as well as the existing drop points in Lakeport (Watershed Books in downtown) and Clearlake (14773 Lakeshore Drive) bring the total number to five drop points throughout Lake County.

In addition, the co-op recently launched a vibrant website co-created by members Eric and Elizabeth Cox, Web solution designers at bennudesign in Kelseyville.

The public and co-op members interested in purchasing weekly boxes can order directly from the new Web site at www.lakeco-op.org or by calling Hileri Shand at 707-995-9054.

Annual membership in the Co-op is $24 and the CSA boxes are $15 each, paid on a monthly basis. The co-op sources the all-organic CSA boxes first from local farmers, then regionally and beyond from farmers and distributors. In addition, members can purchase locally baked organic breads from Main Street Bakery in Kelseyville.

The co-op's intention is to help support a more sustainable food system through local and organic food sourcing and are currently testing a facilitated online ordering and distribution system (FOODS).

The co-op is celebrating over two years in existence, and envision cultivating an evolving community by nurturing values of social, economic and environmental responsibility.

For more information go to www.lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270.

KELSEYVILLE – Have you ever looked up at Lake County's dark skies and wondered about our universe?

Sponsored by Lake County Office of Education, Taylor Observatory will host an educational series entitled “Introduction to Astronomy.”

The guest presenter will be Dr. Gerald de Bané, astronomy professor at Santa Rosa Junior College.

The eight-class series will be held at the Observatory in Kelseyville.

Classes start on Feb. 22 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

To register for the class, arrive 15 minutes early.

For more information, please call Taylor Observatory at 707-262-4121 or visit the observatory's Web site at www.taylorobservatory.org .

CLEARLAKE OAKS – The Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge will have a benefit dinner for South Shore Little League this Saturday, Feb. 20.

The event, which begins at 5 p.m., will be held at the Moose Lodge, located on Highway 20 near the intersection with Highway 53.

The Moose Lodge will serve a full Mexican buffet with carnitas, enchiladas, chile rellenos, menudo, rice, beans and tortillas.

Tickets are available from any South Shore Little League Board Member or at the Moose Lodge.

All proceeds go to fund this years sponsor teams for all boys and girls.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will take place around Lake County during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for an aerial crossing near 15th Street on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from 0.9 mile north of Spruce Grove Road (south) to Hofacker Lane beginning Monday, Feb. 22. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Construction of a retaining wall about three miles north of Elk will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should

anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 20

– A culvert replacement project from Forestry Station Road to 0.1 miles east of Blosser Road will continue. 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. Contractor – Kapel Construction of Willow Creek.

– Construction of a retaining wall 0.4 mile east of Three Chop Road will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 101

– An emergency culvert replacement project at the northbound 101 onramp of the junction of Routes 101/271 will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A full ramp closure will be in

effect. A detour is available. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Service of Willits.

Highway 128

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs 0.4 mile east of Philo Greenwood Road on Monday, Feb. 22. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

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).

CLEARLAKE – The next meeting of the Lake County Stonewall Democratic Club will be held on Monday, Feb. 22.

The group will meet in the conference room at the Redbud Public Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, in

Clearlake.

A potluck will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting beginning at 7 p.m.

The guest speaker will be Francisco Rivero, candidate for Lake County Sheriff.

For more information please contact the Lake County Stonewall Democratic Club, P.O. Box 6950, Clearlake, CA 95422-6950, visit the club online at www.lakecountystonewalldemocrats.org or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY – “Share the road, look twice for motorcyclists,” is the message that millions of Californians awoke to on their Thursday morning commute.

In an astounding show of support, Caltrans posted the message statewide in efforts to increase awareness of motorcyclists.

Traditionally, the high visibility Amber Alert signs were used only to deliver traffic advisories on road conditions and occasionally to alert the motoring public to a case of child abduction.

Now, in addition to their primary purpose, the state’s Amber Alert signs will be employed to display a new message asking the California motorists to be more aware of motorcycles that occupy and share the road with them daily. And the bike community has John Del Santo of the American Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education (ABATE) to thank.

The response among California motorcyclists was overwhelmingly supportive, if not groundbreaking. For some it even brought an unexpected flood of emotion and pride.

Lil David Morena, California state treasurer for ABATE, announced “this morning, coming to work, something just about brought tears to my eyes” as he noticed that the Amber Alert signs on northbound 1-5 near Sacramento were displaying the message.

ABATE Executive Director Anthony Jaime views this decision by Caltrans as a perfect example of putting existing resources to work in a manner that achieves the end result of increased motorcycle safety and awareness without a large capital outlay and investment for the taxpayers.

“These are the kinds of solutions to problems and issues that state officials should try to put into practice on a more frequent basis, especially in the tough economic climate we are currently experiencing,” Jaime said. “This recent action by Caltrans highlights the impact that grassroots organizations like ABATE can have on their government when they actively become part of the process of governance rather than just sitting back and being governed.”

ABATE is a Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO) concerned with the safety of motorcyclists. ABATE members are on the advisory board for the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, which is overseen and administered by the CHP.

As car drivers are at fault in the majority of accidents involving motorcycles it is ABATE’s philosophy that it is pertinent to increase driver awareness and encourage motorists to share the road.

ABATE is also responsible for legislation and governmental issues including declaring May as Motorcycle Awareness Month throughout California, opposing SB435 the Motorcycle Smog Check bill (motorcycles are already a green industry!) and the Annual Freedom Rally, set to educate lawmakers in Sacramento on April 12.

For more information or to get involved with the motorcycling community visit www.abate.org .

In Lake County, contact ABATE Local 28 at 707-245-7431.