Sunday, 23 March 2025

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Acorn woodpeckers are a common sighting in Lake County. Photo courtesy of Redbud Audubon.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Redbud Audubon Society will present a comprehensive Bird Identification program on Thursday, Dec. 12, starting at 7 p.m.

The program will be presented on Zoom by Donna Mackiewicz who is an avid birder and naturalist.

The program is in preparation for Redbud’s 50th annual Christmas Bird Count.

Mackiewicz spends her days either viewing birds at her Clearlake Oaks Keys residence or visiting the many prime birding spots in Lake County.

The program will consist of extensive images with discussion centering on distinguishing features of birds that are often seen in Lake County and expected to be seen during Redbud’s annual Christmas Bird Count that is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14.

To register for the program, go to www.redbudaudubon.org and click on the registration link on the home page. The link for the program will be sent to you the day of the program.
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LOWER LAKE, Calif. — A collaborative of fire practitioners will be working together to conduct an ecocultural broadcast burn in the Lower Lake area, on the lands of Middletown Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, tentatively scheduled for Friday, Dec. 6.

The burn date is subject to change due to weather or other conditions.

Please check the Watch Duty app (app.watchduty.org) and the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance, or TERA, Facebook and Instagram (@tribalecorestoration) for the most current information regarding this burn.

This is a fully permitted burn and will be led by a coalition of TERA and other Lake EcoCultural Cal-TREX partners. If the conditions, such as weather or vegetation are not conducive for burning, the burn will be rescheduled.

Ignitions are anticipated to begin mid-morning with firing operations concluding by late afternoon.

People traveling near the burn area may see smoke on the day of the burn. In the event the public smells smoke, they are urged to take precautions and use common sense to reduce any harmful health effects by limiting outdoor activities.

Local residents are advised to close windows and doors to prevent smoke from entering their homes. There is potential for some residual smoke overnight and into the following days. The burn area will continue to be patrolled until all heat has been extinguished.

This burn is taking place as part of the Lake EcoCultural Cal-TREX, a prescribed and cultural fire training exchange led by the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance, or TERA, in partnership with agencies, tribes, and community organizations including Middletown Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, Cal Fire and the Watershed Research and Training Center.

The goals of the burn include to support cultural revitalization, improve the health of oak savanna, grasslands, enhance wildlife habitat, provide capacity building and training around beneficial burning, and reduce fuel loading and increase wildfire resilience.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — The Clearlake Environmental Research Center, or CLERC, is administering a free, countywide, year-round chipping program to Lake County residents.

Upcoming dates for Kelseyville are Dec. 4 to 13.

Those dates are not for Kelseyville Riviera HOA residents.

For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., call 707-261-0008 or visit the CLERC website: https://www.theclerc.org/chipping-program.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Hospice Services of Lake County’s Festival of Trees Spectacular Party and Christmas tree auction this weekend will pay tribute to a longtime Lake County advocate.

The event will take place beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at Sophie’s Day Spa, 3855 Main St., Kelseyville.

The Festival of Trees will showcase up to 23 brilliantly designed Christmas trees donated by community members, organizations and businesses.

One of those trees will be in memory of Brad Onorato, a longtime district representative and deputy chief of staff for Congressman Mike Thompson who died in September.

Onorato was dedicated to meeting the needs of the Lake County community and advocated on its behalf for more than 30 years.

The Brad Onorato memorial tree will be showcased and rather than being auctioned off like the other trees, it will be delivered to Congressman Mike Thompson's office for his staff to enjoy.

Event attendees and others will be asked to make a donation in memory of Onorato. Those who would like to make a memorial donation can do so online at this link.

Community members are invited to view the trees for this year’s event from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, in conjunction with the annual Kelseyville Christmas in the Country and Light Parade.

Tickets for the event are on sale now. Individual tickets will be sold for $85 each. Tables of eight may be purchased for $750, and tables of 10 for $950.

For further event and ticket information, please call 707-263-6222, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the event website, https://secure.qgiv.com/event/festot202.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – During the annual Christmas in the Country celebration, Kelseyville Presbyterian Church will once again host its popular chili and chowder dinner.

The dinner will take place from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, in the church Fellowship Hall.

There will be chili and clam chowder, plus cornbread, beverages and dessert.

The cost for a full meal is $15 per person for adults, and $5 for children under age 12.

For dessert and a beverage only, the cost is $5 for all ages.

Kelseyville Presbyterian is located at 4021 Church St., at the corner of Third and Church streets.
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday urged shoppers to be on the lookout for common scams this holiday season and offered tips on how to shop safely.

As Black Friday and Cyber Monday quickly approach, Californians should stay alert and take action to protect themselves and their loved ones from purchases that can cause headaches and heartbreak.

“As the holiday season approaches and folks look for the best deals, consumers should slow down and check their safety list twice,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I urge Californians to know their rights, familiarize themselves with shopping pitfalls, and report scams and illegal activity to my office and local law enforcement agencies. Happy and safe shopping, California!”

Be on the lookout for the following.

Gift card draining

Gift card draining is a scam in which bad actors record pin numbers and other information from unpurchased gift cards. Once those cards are purchased by unsuspecting consumers, and money is loaded into the card, the scammer immediately uses the numbers to make purchases, leaving buyers with worthless gift cards.

When purchasing a gift card, make sure the card is sealed and the protective cover and tape covering the pin is intact; remember to keep the store receipt in case the gift card you purchase is found to have been compromised. If a purchased gift card is compromised, report it to the gift card company directly, ask for a freeze on the card, and request a refund. You may also file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report.

Hidden fees

Check your receipts! In California most hidden fees are illegal. Senate Bill 478 (SB 478) requires that the price listed includes all mandatory charges consumers will pay. SB 478, which went into effect on July 1, 2024, makes it illegal for a business to advertise or list a price for a good or service that does not include all required fees or charges except for certain government taxes and shipping costs.

Mandatory fees charged by restaurants, bars, and other select food vendors are exempted from SB 478’s requirements so long as the fee is clearly and conspicuously displayed on the menu. Consumers who observe apparent violations are encouraged to have a conversation with the business about coming into compliance. Consumers, employees, and competitor businesses who observe apparent violations can also file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report.

Gender-based price differences

Under AB 1287, businesses are prohibited from charging different prices for substantially similar goods based on the gender of the product’s target audience — a practice known as the “Pink Tax” when it is used to charge women higher prices than men for essentially the same goods. If you have seen or believe you are the victim of illegal gender-based price differences, please file a complaint at oag.ca.gov/report.

Lack of a gender-neutral products section

Does your department store have a gender-neutral children section? As of Jan. 1, 2024, large retail department stores that sell childcare items or toys must maintain a gender-neutral section for these items.

Under AB 1084, retail department stores that have physical locations in California and 500 or more employees across all California locations must maintain a gender-neutral section, where a reasonable selection of the childcare items and toys for children that they sell must be displayed, regardless of whether these products are traditionally marketed for boys or girls.

By requiring large retailers to maintain a gender-neutral section, AB 1084 makes it more difficult for these retailers to engage in gender-based pricing discrimination and reduces the imposition of gender stereotypes on children.

If you do not see an adequate gender-neutral product section in a large retail department store in California that you believe is covered by this law, you may take pictures, document, and file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report.

Tips for safe shopping:

• Take time to compare products. To get the best deal, do research, check product comparison sites, and read online reviews.
• Be suspicious of a price or deal that seems too good to be true. Chances are, it probably is. There is always the possibility that the seller may not send you anything, or the item you get may be counterfeit or stolen.
• Check to see if a business is legitimate. Search online for customer feedback, complaints, and other information that will help you determine whether a seller is legitimate or trustworthy. More information on how to check a company’s background can be found here.
• Use a credit card when shopping. Shopping with a credit card allows you to dispute charges if something goes wrong. Cash, money order, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers do not provide you with the same ability to reverse the charge. If you receive an unauthorized or incorrect charge on your credit card, you can follow these steps to dispute the charge.
• Give gifts, not personal information. Before providing any personal or financial information online, always make sure that the website you are on is secure. You can check this by looking at the URL address to see if it begins with "https" (the “s” indicates it’s secure) and/or has a lock icon displayed, typically on the left-hand side. Do not provide your credit card number, checking account, or social security number via email, as this is never a safe way to transmit financial information. You can find more tips regarding online purchases here.
• Don’t open links from unsolicited text messages. You may receive text messages from unknown numbers offering discount codes or access to exclusive sales. Think twice before clicking on these links, as they may expose you to a scam, hacker, downloadable malware, or add your number to a calling list without your consent.
• Close accounts on websites and apps that you no longer need. By closing your accounts, you remove private data from services you no longer use and minimize your digital footprint. You have the right to delete your personal information under the California Consumer Privacy Act. More information on data privacy and security can be found here.
• Understand the pitfalls of zero-interest financing offers. While a company may advertise a zero-interest rate, be aware that not everyone will qualify. Oftentimes, qualifying for zero-interest financing requires you to have a near-perfect credit score. Zero-interest financing may also come with certain restrictions, and in many cases the offer may just be an introductory rate, with a very high-interest rate once the introductory period ends. You can find additional information on zero-interest financing here.
• Be cautious about “Buy Now, Pay Later” financing. Buy now, pay later offers can come with hefty interest rates and late fees, especially if you aren’t able to make payments on time. Late payments can also hurt your credit and result in lawsuits by debt collectors. You can find additional information on buy, now pay later financing here.

Upcoming Calendar

23Mar
03.23.2025 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Adult & Youth Concert Orchestra
26Mar
15Apr
04.15.2025
Tax Day
20Apr
04.20.2025
Easter Sunday
21Apr
04.21.2025
Easter Monday
5May
05.05.2025
Cinco de Mayo
11May
05.11.2025
Mother's Day
26May
05.26.2025
Memorial Day
14Jun
06.14.2025
Flag Day

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