Winners of the Lake County Community Co-op Gratitude Raffle include, from left, Vice-Chair Ann Breen, Myra Sherman, Roger Pooleand Director Allen Markowski. Photo by Lori Patotska.

LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Community Co-op celebrated its first anniversary with a potluck and free raffle on Dec. 13.

The Gratitude 2008 gathering hosted more than 30 co-op members and friends. The winners of the raffle received donated items from the co-op community including organic wine, cheese, bread, fresh produce and gift certificates for locally grown produce, as well as gift certificates for advertising with the co-op, all enclosed in the co-op’s newly designed recycled-canvas bags.

Co-op member and marketing communications designer, Kathy Wolden, expressed what a joy it was to give away the bags as gifts of gratitude.

The co-op had its first organizing meeting in January of 2008, from which arose a farmers’ market, buying club, monthly educational series, newsletter and the upcoming community garden at the senior center in Clearlake.

Co-founder JoAnn Saccato expressed wonder and delight at the gathering and quoted Meister Eckhart’s familiar saying, "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was 'thank you,' that would suffice."

The co-op, in celebration of their first anniversary, is launching a month-long membership drive in January for the buying club that includes their canvas bag ($11 retail value) free with a fully paid annual membership of $24.

For more information call 707-993-4270 or go to http://lakeco-op.org.

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

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Epidendio Construction of Lower Lake has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for guardrail repair from Verna Way to Paradise Cove beginning Monday, Jan. 5. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent one-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 5-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 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 29

– A slide repair project from the Lupiyoma Creek Bridge to Bar X Ranch will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect with intermittent one-way traffic control. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 281

– Caltrans will continue routine maintenance from 0.9 miles west of Tenino Way to the junction of Route 29/281. Work hours are 8:30 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

– AT&T of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility work between Philo Greenwood Road and Navarro Bluff Road. 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.

Highway 101

– 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.

– 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.

Highway 162

– 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.

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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SACRAMENTO – The Resources Agency will adopt a new name, the California Natural Resources Agency, on Jan. 1, 2009, to better reflect its primary mission.

Since 1961, the Resources Agency has been responsible for the safeguarding and stewardship of California’s precious natural resources.

From water and wildlife management and conservation to wildland fire protection, energy, ocean and coastal policy, land stewardship, climate change adaptation, sustainable living, and the promotion of outdoor recreation, the agency oversees most all of the state’s functions designed to protect California’s natural resources.

In July, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 1464 (Maldonado) authorizing the Resources Agency to change its name to the California Natural Resources Agency.

The new agency logo will remain largely the same and the change will be phased in gradually as new supplies are ordered. In this way there will be little or no cost to the agency or any of its departments, boards or commissions save for any replacement costs that would normally be incurred.

The names of state agencies have been changed occasionally to better reflect their missions.

For example, California’s Business and Transportation Agency was changed to the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, and the state’s Health and Welfare Agency was changed to the Health and Human Services Agency.

Similarly, in 2007 the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection changed its primary identification from CDF to CAL FIRE.

Many other states also have natural resources departments or agencies. The state of Washington has a Department of Natural Resources, which has responsibilities similar to California’s. This is also true in Wisconsin, Maryland, Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, Illinois, Alaska, Utah, and Michigan.

Pennsylvania and Nevada have Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources that house departments and programs much like those within California’s Natural Resources Agency.

California’s Natural Resources Agency is responsible for the state’s natural resource policies, programs and activities. It has 17,000 employees and oversees 25 departments, commissions, boards and conservancies. Visit the agency online at www.resources.ca.gov.

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CLEARLAKE – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will hold its next meeting on Thursday, Jan. 8.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Redbud Library Community Room, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake.

Meetings usually are held on the first Thursday of the month but have been changed in January due to holiday.

The meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 263-4529 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The committee's Web site is www.lakecountydemocrats.org.

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The team will meet at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at its headquarters at the Northshore Fire Protection District's Upper Lake Fire Station, 9420 Main St.

A training session will follow the meeting.

Everyone is welcome to attend – both divers and non-divers. If you like the water you are invited to join the team.

For more information, call team leader Capt. John Rodriguez at 275-2446.

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Many people responded to the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce's Residential Holiday Decoration Contest. It was a tough choice this year to award one winner – they were all beautiful.

Thomas and Tonya Biasotti at 3025 Sylvia Court were declared the winner of this year's decorating contest. They will be awarded a $10 gift card provided by Wal-Mart.

If you wish to view this year's Christmas lights, take a look at these wonderfully decorated homes:

• 14965 Putnam;

• 2815 Robin Lane;

• 6125 Spruce Ave.;

• 3644 McKinley Drive;

• 3268 Bowers;

• 14925 Laguna;

• Most of Cottonwood Street also is decorated very nicely.

The chamber would like to thank all of the participants and even those who decorated and didn't get their name into the contest for all of their hard work. They gave everyone the opportunity to slow down and enjoy our beautiful town in lights. What a gift! Christmas is best enjoyed one special moment at a time.

The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce wishes everyone all the best this holiday season.

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