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

In observance of the New Years Day holiday, Caltrans crews and contractors will not be performing any activity on state highways that would include lane closures on Thursday, Jan. 1. However, Caltrans will respond to emergency situations with traffic control as required. Have a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– 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. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate ive-minute delays. Contractor – Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– City of Fort Bragg has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for a sobriety checkpoint at Cypress Street on Saturday, Dec. 27, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Southbound traffic will be stopped and checked. 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.

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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Beginning on Thursday, Jan. 8, Local 28 monthly meetings will be held at Benjamina's Pizza, 5440 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville, across from Kelseyville High School.

The meetings begin at 7 p.m. and all motorcycle enthusiasts/riders are invited to join in.

Election of 2009 officers for ABATE Local 28 Lake County were held at the home of members Ron and Cheryn Chips on Thursday, Dec. 4. In addition to election of officers, some members decorated their bikes for the Kelseyville Lighted Parade held on the following evening. After the parade

Local 28 members held their Christmas dinner at the Saw Shop.

Local 28 is proud to announce our Past President Lori Adams has been elected to the State Board of Directors for ABATE of California. Adams has been extremely active at the State level for the past year, attending many of the board meetings across the State and the runs of other Locals. She reminds

everyone the next state board meeting is in Hesperia on Jan. 10 and invites members to join her.

2009 Local 28 officers are: President Melissa Fulton, Vice President John Fulton, Run Coordinator Chris Taylow, Media Chair Lori Adams, Safety Officer Steve Bellah and Treasurer Melissa Fulton.

The meetings normally last one hour. The group will discuss plans for rides during the year.

Coming up in July will be the second annual ABATE Northern California Rally to be held at Kelly's Kamp in Upper Lake. This will be a weekend campout with bike games, barbecue, vendors and music.

Local 28 also participates in the Lake County Toy Run for Kids, spearheaded by the Clear Lake Road Riders each year.

Plans to be discussed are what out-of-county runs ABATE will be going on to support other motorcycle locals and clubs.

If you ride a motorcycle and want to have someone to ride with, come to the meeting and meet others with the same goal. For more information about Local 28, call John or Melissa Fulton at 263-1845.

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Marie Beery hands a donation check to Habitat for Humanity President Richard Birk, along with Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors members (left to right) Karl Parker, Linda Pyers, Buzz Foote (guest), Angela Birk, Dennis Locke, Gary Lewis and Voris Brumfield. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE – Owner Marie Beery of the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville has honored Habitat for Humanity once again with a donation of 50 percent of the restaurant's annual corkage fees, which this time was more than $2,000.

With the donation of the corkage fees and the annual Habitat dinner, the Saw Shop Bistro has so far raised more than $52,000 for Habitat for Humanity Lake County.

With the addition of these funds, Habitat for Humanity has been able to provide more decent homes for Lake County families in need.

Besides being a restaurant owner, Beery also is known for her hard work in making Lake County a better place to live. Since its inception, she has given her time to produce the Lake County Wine Alliance's annual Wine Auction, which has donated more than $700,000 to local charities.

For those interested in supporting with funds and/or donating their time to Habitat for Humanity, Lake County, please telephone 994-1100 for further information.

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Ray Tate of CastlePoint Ministries said they will hold the free dinner for the elderly and low-income area residents from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There also will be two Christmas services, said Tate. The 1 p.m. service will be led by Rich Roberts of Nice Community Baptist Church, and the second, at 4 p.m., will be led by Dan Pelletier of CastlePoint Ministries.

Tate said they are expecting 500 to 600 people on Christmas day.

They're still looking for volunteers and donations to support the dinner.

For more information, call CastlePoint Ministries, 274-1164.

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Lt. Matt Hardgrove swears in Harry De Lope, center, as commander and Dane Hayward, left, as Vice Commander for Flotilla 8-8 for 2009. Courtesy photo.

COBB – On Dec. 7, 2008, the official change of watch for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 8-8 of Lake County was held at Rob Roy’s Restaurant in Cobb.

This official ceremony is performed annually to transfer the chain of responsibility to the new commander, vice commander and flotilla staff officers.

Representing the U.S. Coast Guard from Group Humboldt Coast Guard Station was Lt. J.G. Matt Hardgrove and BMC Stacy Brown.

A special table was set aside with a white tablecloth, black napkin, a burning candle, white gloves and a hat honoring FSO Allan F. Bride which signifies a missing man who has “passed over the bar.”

Following lunch, outgoing Commander Betty Strach presented numerous awards for the auxiliary members including Auxiliarist of the Year award which went to Harry De Lope.

Members were pleased to hear that Flotilla 8-8 won the prestigious award of Division Flotilla of the Year. To add humor to the otherwise official ceremony, outgoing Commander Betty was “roasted” by Elvis himself.

Lt. Hardgrove was the installing officer for the change of watch and prior to beginning the swearing in of new officers, he thanked the auxiliarists for contributing hundreds of volunteer hours in assisting and educating the boating public, and the numerous Search and Rescue missions.

Harry De Lope was sworn in as flotilla commander for 2009 and Dane Hayward took office as vice commander. The 2009 Flotilla staff officers were then sworn in by Lt. Hardgrove.

The hundreds of Flotillas nationwide which make up the auxiliaries serve under the auspices of the U.S. Coast Guard. Both function under the direction of the Homeland Security Department. The value of the auxiliary to the U.S. Coast Guard is $200 million annually. This reflects an 11-1 return of investment.

The Lake County Flotilla has 49 members who have contributed 9,898 volunteer hours for 2008 as of Dec. 1.

Your Flotilla will be ready when the boating season arrives to once again assist in search and rescue, educate the boating public, and work to insure Safe Boating on Clear Lake for the coming year.