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NORTH COAST, Calif. – Authorities have reported that seniors in the North Coast region have been targeted in a scam related to Social Security benefits.
The scammers contact seniors claiming that their Social Security benefits have been suspended.
The goal of the scam is to get personal information or hard-earned savings from unsuspecting seniors.
Even if their call is not answered, the scammers may leave an “urgent” callback request.
Be aware that the Social Security Administration will never solicit your personal information from you over the phone or by email unless you initiate the contact.
If you do have questions or concerns about your benefits you can always contact the Social Security Administration directly by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visit www.ssa.gov .
Authorities urge seniors to never give out personal information to someone you don’t know, and to hang up immediately on callers who request such information.
Consider screening all calls to avoid answering a call from scammers. Seniors also can work with the phone company to block these unwanted callers.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Rothstein Ensemble opens the Christmas season on stage at the Soper Reese Theatre on Friday, Dec. 2, with a unique concert encompassing the silly, sentimental, sacred and serious.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m.
All ages are welcome.
Don your ugliest Christmas sweater and join the Rothstein group for an intimate evening of stories and songs, many personal and original.
They will play original compositions and jazzy pop songs including the iconic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and the whimsical “Christmas Is All Around” from the hit film, “Love Actually.”
Matt and Jill Rothstein are accomplished musicians, arrangers and composers. Both were raised in Lake County and the pair have been co-leading musical ensembles for nearly a decade.
Matt Rothstein was recognized by DownBeat Magazine and the Grammy Foundation as a prodigious talent while in high school.
Jill Rothstein began composing music at the tender age of 8 and was the 2007 award winner for music theory and composition at Azusa Pacific University.
Currently they are music directors at a large church in the Sacramento region.
Joining the Rothsteins on stage are Lake County’s own master musician, Tom Aiken on piano and organ, as well as Dan Meyer, vocals; Raj Sodhi, bass; Jacob Turner, guitar and tuba; and Randy Wimer, percussion.
Tickets are on sale now. The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children 18 and under. All seats are reserved.
Tickets are available online at www.SoperReeseTheatre.com ; or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 707-263-0577.
The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol on Saturday released some additional details about an early morning solo-vehicle wreck that killed two local men.
The crash at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 29 took the lives of a 27-year-old Lakeport man and a 21-year-old man from Kelseyville, the CHP said.
On Saturday, the CHP did not release their names pending family notification.
The Saturday report from CHP Officer Ryan Erickson said that just before 12:15 a.m. the Lakeport man was driving his 2009 Chevy Malibu northbound on Highway 29 at an unknown rate of speed with the Kelseyville man riding as his passenger in the right front seat.
For reasons that Erickson said are yet to be determined, the driver was unable to negotiate the roundabout and allowed his vehicle to run into the roundabout head-on.
The crash caused the Chevrolet to become airborne, and it came to rest on its roof in a walnut orchard just to the north of Highway 20, Erickson said.
Radio reports that came in shortly after the crash indicated that an off-duty paramedic arrived at the scene and found both the driver and passenger trapped and unresponsive in the overturned vehicle.
When Northshore Fire paramedics arrived a short time later, they determined that the two men had died, the CHP said.
Erickson's Saturday report said speed was a factor, but it was not known at that point if drugs or alcohol had contributed to the wreck. Both crash victims were using their seat belts.
The collision remains under investigation by Officer Erickson.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – This past summer, Justin Hingston, Boatswain and crew member of Lake County’s Sea Scout Ship Konocti Phoenix, checked off one of his bucket list items: Sail aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, also known as “America’s Tall Ship.”
Most Sea Scouts can only dream of the experience. Of the 6,500-plus registered Sea Scouts in the US, few would qualify for the program, and only six Sea Scout applicants per year are considered for three week-long cruises each summer aboard the 295-foot long tall ship.
Sea Scouts work alongside 60 assigned enlisted year-round crew members, and 150 US Coast Guard cadets who train on the ship the summer prior to commencing their first year at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
Sixteen-year-old Hingston went through a demanding, competitive screening process: attainment of the Sea Scout “Able” rank (second to the highest Sea Scout rank of quartermaster); completion of the Sea Scout Experience Advanced Leadership, or “SEAL” training; an essay on his personal motivation to join the program; another essay on how he would utilize what he learned; and a school résumé, scouting résumé and community service résumé.
Being an active crew member and leader with the Konocti Phoenix Sea Scouts over the last four years gave Hingston the experience, leadership, and seamanship skills to work with confidence alongside seasoned Coast Guard crew members and “swabs” (first year cadets).
Dressed in his Sea Scout uniform with ticket in hand, the young man flew to Boston and set sail on the tall ship from Salem, Mass., on July 30.
“I had a lot of different duties on the ship,” said Hingston. “Engine duty, polishing brass and metal, working the helm, navigation, trimming sails, and washing dishes in the scullery which was the most efficient dishwashing operation I’ve ever seen.”
Among his many duties, Hingston operated the main (center) mast along with 6-8 crew members. One of his memorable experiences was having to raise a 6-ton yard (a pole on which sails are set) just 5 feet higher. It took 150 cadets to work the sophisticated pulley system to accomplish the task.
The physically demanding duties also challenged the Sea Scout to step up his leadership abilities.
“One evening, I was on the 8-to-midnight watch, and we needed to trim the sails to go faster. The officers looked for someone to lead the crew. I was thinking, I’ll do it, I know the commands, I can do it and I have people willing to work with me. And so I just did it,” said the scout.
After a week of fair weather, Hingston and his crewmates docked the tall ship next to the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid on the Hudson River by New York City’s West side. He flew back home, energized by life-changing, unforgettable experiences aboard a phenomenal sailing vessel.
Hingston’s confidence and abilities grew from years of experience working on Konocti Phoenix’s sailboats and “flagship” vessel – a decommissioned 40-foot US Navy Liberty Launch boat moored at Braito’s Marina in Buckingham.
Several times a year, Konocti Phoenix Sea Scouts also cruise with neighboring Sea Scout Ships such as the SSS Chaser out of Napa with its 90-foot long steel-hull boat formerly used by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
In addition, Sea Scout “regattas” or competitions between Sea Scout units in the region take place throughout the year, allowing crew members to hone their skills. Working with other crews and officers exposes local Sea Scouts to a wide pool of maritime experts, as well as different ship cultures and leadership styles.
Konocti Phoenix Skipper Bob Penny emphasized that Sea Scouts need to develop abilities to work as part of a team. This means that leaders need to learn how to delegate.
“Justin is one of the best all-around leaders I’ve had in a long time. He’s really taken over the ship in directing and training the crew. It’s much easier to do things yourself rather than delegate to make the work a team effort, but over the years, Justin has caught on and lives the concept,” he commented.
Hingston, currently a senior at Middletown High School, wants to design and build ships. He has applied for admission at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, renowned for its Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering program. But he is also considering the Coast Guard Academy in New London as well as CAL Maritime Academy in Vallejo where two of his fellow Sea Scout crew members are currently attending.
To prepare for a career in the maritime industry, Hingston also plans on achieving the highest Sea Scout rank, Quartermaster, by the time he graduates high school in June 2017. Only 0.5 percent of registered Sea Scouts achieve this rank.
The Sea Scout Ship Konocti Phoenix is a unit of the Sea Scouts program under the Boy Scouts of America. The ship invites young men and women ages 13 to 21 to come to their meetings to learn about Sea Scouting.
The Scouts meet from 7 to 9 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Kelseyville in the fall-winter months, and at Braito’s Marina from spring to early fall.
For more information contact Skipper Bob Penny at 707-263-5235 and visit the Ship’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SeaScoutKonoctiPhoenix .
“When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us.”– Arapaho
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – More than 100 years ago the land comprising California was home to over 100 distinct tribal groups of Indians who spoke different languages, and held different customs.
Many of the tribal groups had a common food staple, that of acorns. The Indians who lived in what is now Lake County, the Pomo, Miwok, Wappo, Patwin and Yuki were hunter-gatherers.
Much of the land of California and Lake County was bountiful and gave richly of waterfowl, great herds of elk and deer, and an abundance of fish in the rivers and streams.
Fall was, then, as it is now, a time of thanks for this abundance. Historical writer and archaeologist Robert Heizer indicated that there were over 500 varieties of flora and fauna garnered by the California Indians.
Conservation land practices were in place then, so as to assure that the rich quality and quantities of these resources would continue. The landscape was often control-burned to keep the understory of the oak woodlands cleared.
The fall season was a harvest time; it was a time to gather acorns. There was a cadenced rhythm to the season for generations.
In California we have about 20 different species of oaks which produce edible acorns. According to Heizer, one healthy oak tree was capable of netting 500 to 1,000 pounds of acorns in a good fall season.
Tanoak was considered a premier, tasty variety. Acorns were frequently gathered by climbing the oak and hitting the branches with a pole.
After a shower of acorns fell to earth, nets and burden baskets were put to use then to collect the tan nuggets. The acorns were often left to dry prior to shelling. The drying process usually took a few weeks.
Acorns provided bread, mush and more. One ounce of acorn meal contains about 140 calories, 9 or more grams of fat, about 6 percent protein, some calcium and iron among other nutrients.
To begin the acorn meal process a keen eye was needed to gather only the acorns with no insect holes or rot. Then, acorns were ground up with a mortar and pestle.
Some women used basket hoppers to keep the acorn meal from spilling while they pounded and ground the nuts. A sand bowl could be devised, by a stream, for the next step which was leaching.
The leaching process involved the pouring of water over the meal to rid it of bitter tannins. After the leaching process the meal could be cooked into a variety of products, such as soup or mush.
The Pomo Indians were expert basket weavers and cooked the mush inside a basket through the use of hot rocks. The rocks were stirred frequently to keep the basket and meal from burning.
For an in-depth look at the process of acorn preparation view this excellent UC Berkeley video below.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control is once again filled with many dogs needing new homes for the holidays.
This week's dogs include mixes of Australian Cattle Dog, beagle, border collie, Chihuahua, dachshund, hound, husky, Labrador Retriever, pointer, pit bull, Rottweiler, Shih Tzu, terrier and Viszla.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
Chihuahua-dachshund mix
This male Chihuahua-dachshund mix has a long white coat with tan markings, gold eyes and floppy ears.
He's in kennel No. 2, ID no. 6519.
'Buddy'
“Buddy” is a little male Shih Tzu with a white coat and some gray and black markings.
He already has been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 3, ID No. 6599.
Female Chihuahua
This adult female Chihuahua has a short black coat.
She's in quarantine kennel No. 5, ID No. 6567.
Chihuahua-dachshund pup
This male Chihuahua-dachshund mix puppy has a short black coat with white and brown markings.
He's in quarantine kennel No. 5a, ID No. 6569.
Chihuahua-dachshund pup
This female Chihuahua-dachshund mix puppy has a short black coat with white and brown markings.
She's in quarantine kennel No. 5b, ID No. 6570.
Terrier mix
This male terrier mix has a short red coat.
He's in kennel No. 5, ID No. 6568.
Labrador Retriever-pit bull mix
This female Labrador Retriever-pit bull mix puppy has a short black coat with white markings.
She's in kennel No. 6, ID No. 6576.
'Lucy'
“Lucy” is a terrier mix with a short tricolor coat.
She's in kennel No. 7a, ID No. 6597.
'Cappi'
“Cappi” is a male terrier mix with a short black and gray coats.
He already has been neutered.
He's in kennel No. 6598, ID No. 7b.
Shepherd-beagle mix
This female shepherd-beagle mix has a short tricolor coat.
She's in kennel No. 9, ID No. 6517.
Terrier mix
This male terrier mix has a short black coat with white markings and floppy ears.
He's in kennel No. 11, ID No. 6505.
Labrador Retriever-pit bull terrier
This young female Labrador Retriever-pit bull terrier has a short tan and white coat.
She's in kennel No. 12, ID No. 6581.
Labrador Retriever
This male Labrador Retriever has a short black coat and brown eyes.
He's in kennel No. 15, ID No. 6463.
Australian Cattle Dog
This female Australian Cattle Dog has a short black and white coat.
She's in kennel No. 16, ID No. 6529.
Australian Cattle Dog
This female Australian Cattle Dog has a short blue and tan coat.
She's in kennel No. 17, ID No. 6511.
Vizsla mix
This female Vizsla mix has a short black and brown coat.
She's in kennel No. 6537, ID No. 22a.
Vizsla mix
This male Vizsla mix has a short black coat with white markings.
He's in kennel No. 22b, ID No. 6538.
Pit bull terrier mix
This female pit bull terrier has a short black and brown coat.
Staff said she is very scared in the shelter and needs some tender loving care.
She's in kennel No. 24, ID No. 6506.
Labrador Retriever-border collie mix
This male Labrador Retriever-border collie mix has a short black and white coat and brown eyes.
He's in kennel No. 26, ID No. 6438.
'Kali'
“Kali” is a female pit bull terrier mix.
She has a short blue and white coat, brown eyes and cropped ears.
She's in kennel No. 27, ID No. 6424.
Labrador Retriever
This male Labrador Retriever mix has a short black coat and brown eyes.
Shelter staff said he is a sweet, energetic boy who would do wonderfully with an active family. He has been introduced to several dogs at the shelter, with all of those encounters ending playfully and happily.
He has typical lab energy and would be a great running companion. While he pulls on the leash he responds appropriately with correction.
He's in kennel No. 28, ID No. 6415.
Dachshund-terrier mix
This female dachshund-terrier mix has a short red and white coat.
She's in kennel No. 30a, ID No. 6531.
Cattle dog-boxer mix
This female cattle dog-boxer mix has a short black and white coat.
She's in kennel No. 30b, ID No. 6532.
Husky mix
This male husky mix has a medium-length tricolor coat.
He's in kennel No. 31, ID no. 6582.
Rottweiler mix
This male Rottweiler mix has a short tricolor coat.
He's in kennel No. 33a, ID No. 6571.
Rottweiler-hound mix
This female Rottweiler-hound mix has a short brindle and white coat.
She's in kennel No. 33b, ID No. 6580.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at