SACRAMENTO – North Coast State Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) earned a perfect 100-percent on the Consumer Federation of California’s recently-released scorecard for state lawmakers.

She was one of only four Senators to vote correctly on all of the federation’s targeted legislation in 2008.

The San Mateo-based Consumer Federation of California (CFC) is a nonprofit advocacy organization. Founded in 1960, the CFC campaigns for state and federal laws related to privacy protection, food and product safety, and other matters of importance to California consumers.

For this year’s CFC legislative scorecard, State Assembly Members and Senators were evaluated on a number of issues, including campaign finance reform, financial privacy protection, health care reform, telecommunications subscribers’ rights, assistance to low-income consumers, and safety standards for consumer products.

Wiggins and her colleagues were graded on legislative proposals that the CFC sponsored, supported or opposed. Scores were based on the percentage of votes in which the lawmaker sided with consumers.

The CFC sponsored or otherwise supported five pieces of legislation (or bills) which were approved by both houses of the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008.

Wiggins voted for all five, which are summarized as follows:

• AB 372, which reduces fees and shortens waiting time for consumer security freezes on credit reports;

• AB 583, which created a pilot project whereby candidates for Secretary of State will be eligible to receive public campaign funds for the 2014 and 2018 elections;

• AB 1860, which bans manufacture or sale of products recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission;

• SB 31, which makes it illegal to “skim” or surreptitiously read data from an RFID (radio frequency identification device) without the knowledge and consent of the ID holder;

• SB 1420, requiring restaurant chains to post nutritional information on menus or menu boards.

This year, Wiggins authored pro-consumer legislation of her own, including two bills – SB 780 and SB 1419 – protecting residents of rural and high-cost areas of the state against astronomically-high telephone bills. Both were signed into law.

She also co-authored SB 840, which would have made all California residents eligible for specified health care benefits under a single-payer system, but that bill was vetoed by the governor.

Wiggins, who is mid-way through her first term in the Senate, represents the state’s 2nd District, which includes parts of all of six counties: Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma.

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The family and their friends celebrate the home's completion. Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Lake County.

CLEARLAKE – Smiles, laughter, tears of joy, and a pleasant surprise were the order of the day at the celebration of the completion of the 11th Habitat for Humanity home in Lake County on Nov. 22.

The new homeowners, Nick and April and their 3-year-old son, Steven, along with many others from the community celebrated the joy of the family becoming a homeowner. This will be their first Christmas ever in their very own home.

The surprise to the family was a load of groceries and household supplies that were delivered personally by Jeff and Jackie Hansen, owners of the Grocery Outlet in Lakeport.

Pastor Karl Parker lead a prayer of dedication and the music group from the Clearlake Methodist Church filled the home with beautiful sounds of joy.

The mission of Habitat for Humanity, Lake County is the elimination of poverty housing in the community. Currently Habitat for Humanity has another two homes under construction.

If you are interested in joining the volunteer team, please call 994-1100 for further information.

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More than 50,000 lights make up the 10 displays lining the main thoroughfare of the Lake County Fairgrounds for the huge nonprofit fundraiser. The Avenue of Lights is open every evening through Sunday, Dec. 21, except for Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 15 and 16.

An eclectic mix of eight nonprofit groups from throughout Lake County are helping to put together the Avenue of Lights by building 10 large holiday light displays between them. Lake County Fair has added building accents and some smaller features as well.

The groups include Hospice of Lake County, Scotts Valley 4-H Club, Lakeport Women’s Civic Club, Clearlake Church of the Nazarene, Knights of Columbus, Konocti Christian Academy, Kelseyville High School's Future Farmers of America and a new group this year, Wiloth Equine Therapy Riding Center.

Each organization has put up at least one display, and is providing volunteers to operate the event by directing traffic. The organizations will all share in the revenues from the entire event.

In addition, each car load of patrons which enters the "Avenue of Lights" receives a ballot with which to vote on the "People's Choice" for favorite displays. The top three displays will earn an extra financial prize for the organization that built the display.

The competitive nature of the "People's Choice" awards provided the nonprofit organizations with incentive to be as creative as possible with their displays, and gave them incentive to market the fundraiser to as many of their supporters as possible.

The Avenue of Lights opened Dec. 10 and runs through Dec. 21 at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

As of Thursday, Dec. 11, the Kelseyville Future Farmers of America were the clear favorite in the People's Choice balloting, with 36 percent of the votes.

The display, a huge holiday scene celebrating agricultural education, includes a large menagerie of lighted farm animal cutouts, a babbling brook and a student working on a welding project.

"Kelseyville FFA won the people's choice award in 2007, and they clearly aren't resting on their laurels this year," said Lake County Fair CEO Richard Persons. "I think they've doubled the size of the display this year, and just Kelseyville FFA's display is larger than any other display that I've seen in Lake County. When you add in the other nine displays, the avenue is pretty cool."

Other displays include one from Konocti Christian Academy, titled "The Reason For The Season," which features traditional manger scene. Konocti Christian Academy is in second place in the "People's Choice" balloting with 23 percent of the votes cast.

Scott's Valley 4-H Club's "Holiday Carousel" and Lakeport Women's Civic Club's "Holiday Home Scene" are tied for third, each with 18 percent of the votes.

Other notable displays include an animated carousel from Scotts Valley 4-H, a pastoral display of a shepherd and his flock, a nativity scene from the Knights of Columbus and the patriotic "Home for the Holidays" scene from the Lakeport Women's Civic Club, which features a soldier returning home to his family.

Vehicles are admitted to the Avenue of Lights starting at 5:30 p.m. each evening through Sunday, Dec. 21, with the exception of Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 15 and 16. The grounds close at 9 p.m.

Most cars take about one half hour to tour all of the displays and vote on the "People's Choice" award. The admission price is $10 per car. A concession stand operated by the nonprofits and offering hot chocolate, mulled cider, coffee and other snacks is available at the entrance gate.

A low power FM broadcast plays continuous holiday music on 87.9 FM, and can even be heard a short distance from the fairgrounds. Patrons can tune in their car radios and sip a hot drink while enjoying the lighting spectacle. Vehicles should enter the fairgrounds through the main entrance gate on Martin Street, and will be directed through the fairgrounds by volunteers.

The lighting displays were provided by a grant for new activity programs at county fairgrounds in California, and will remain for use in future years.

The Lake County Fairgrounds are located at 401 Martin St., Lakeport.

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Kelseyville High School Senior Amanda Bronson has done an incredible job in the old Pharmacy space, now vacant. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE – Kelseyville sure has the Christmas Spirit, thanks to the efforts of a local high school student.

Kelseyville High School Senior Amanda Bronson decorated an empty shop on the corner of Main Street for the Christmas holiday season.

Amanda and her mother, Michelle Nelson – owner of Huggins Uniform – got the community involved to undertake this heartwarming project.

Decorations were donated by Carolyn Fifer of CJ's Hairworks, some of which were her own hand-sewn teddy bears.

Also donating decorations were Lora Darling of Darling's Vitamin Connection and Dallas Shaul of Dallas Shaul Massage and Skin Care.

The building owners, Mike and Gary Lampson, were kind enough to allow access to the space and donate the cost of running the lights.

It is just amazing to see what this young woman has done, said Darling.

Another window Amanda Bronson decorated for the holiday season. Courtesy photo.

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CLEARLAKE – Clearlake inaugurated the holiday season in style Dec. 6 with a lighted parade and celebration.

Pastor Bean lead prayer with a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus and a few elves, Davis Photography with photos with Santa and Konocti Dance Academy dancers. Lakeshore Lions Club gave out cocoa and neon necklaces and Konocti Love Choir singing Christmas carols.

“This was the best turnout for this parade in many years due to the nice weather,” said Tom Hewlett, President of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event. “Everything flowed seamlessly from the parade to the tree lighting.”

Parade float award winners, were as follows:

– Most Appropriate to Theme (this year's theme was Christmas Carols Come to Life): Cactus Grill “Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer.”

– Most Imaginative Float: Bob Murray and Linda Baker, "Picked up Frosty the Snowman hitchhiking to Clearlake!"

– Best Choir: Tony Bordessa Construction, The Singing Santa.

– Best Automobile: Rex Claytor, 1932 Ford Roadster.

– Best Costumes: Clearlake Church of the Nazarene, "Away in the Manger" depicted with Shepherd and Angels.

– Funniest Group/Float: Cactus Grill "Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer.”

– Best Group: Associated Students of Yuba College.

– Best Float: Konocti Dance Academy, piled high with dancers of all ages!

– Best Use of Lights: Lakeshore Fire Department, brought Santa and Mrs. Claus with Elves to Austin Park.

– Most Unique: Elliott Naess, "Pear County Chopper" Kinetic Sculpture Amphibious Tricycle

All of the floats were wonderful this year. The chamber thanks all of the participants for making this parade a huge success!

The following individuals, groups and businesses participated: Clearlake Police Department, Lakeshore Fire Department, Yuba College, Konocti Dance Academy, Elliott Naess, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2337, Clearlake Waste Solutions, Bob Murray and Linda Baker, Clearlake Church of the Nazarene, Lake County Shrine Club, Rick Bonds, Rex Claytor, Lake County Model As, city of Clearlake, Tony Bordessa Construction, Spruce Grove Storage, Shore Line Realty, Aero Airport Shuttle, West Alert, Performance Mechanical, Mendo Mill, Four Corners Building Supply, SC Productions, TV8 and Allen Markowski, Foods Etc., Adamson Ranch, Americorps, Jones and Lewis Memorial Chapel, Walmart, Thomas Hewlett DDS, Wild About Books, Shannon Ridge Tasting Room and Winery and Westamerica Bank.

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Individuals who must take required minimum distributions from their IRAs may want to consider making a tax-free donation to Mendocino College Foundation, says Mark DeMeulenaere, director of development for the Foundation. Contributions will fulfill all or part of the IRA requirement.

“The IRA Charitable Rollover is a unique opportunity for individuals to take advantage of reducing their taxable income while supporting their favorite charities,” said DeMeulenaere. “We encourage individuals to contact their financial advisors quickly to arrange the transfer of funds before the end of the year.

“It’s a great opportunity to give to the College Foundation or any charity,” he added. “The foundation would be very appreciative of such a gift.”

Monetary gifts help the Foundation in its efforts to support Mendocino College students and programs. The foundation provides student scholarships, funds improvements to educational programs and staff development at the college district’s campuses in Mendocino and Lake counties, and works to cultivate additional backing for the college.

Originally established as a provision of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, an IRA charitable rollover allows an individual at age 70 ½ or older to withdraw up to $100,000 from an IRA and donate it to a qualified nonprofit charity, school, or organization.

The allowance is back as a bonus of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, according to information distributed by certified financial planner Jennifer Strong of Lakeport.

The donation will reduce the individual’s taxable income for the year and must be done as a transfer, either by the individual’s financial advisor or by working with the IRA custodian, notes Strong.

DeMeulenaere suggests consulting personal, legal, and financial advisors to obtain additional details before making a gift. For more information about contributing to the Mendocino College Foundation, call the Foundation Office at 707.467.1018 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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