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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Events to celebrate the Christmas season are taking place all around the county in the weeks ahead.
Below is an updated list of celebrations being held through the end of this month.
Wreaths Across America
LAKE COUNTY – Local volunteers and community groups will lay wreaths on the graves of veterans at several cemeteries around Lake County from 9 to 10 a.m.
Participating in this year's commemoration are Hartley, Kelseyville, Lower Lake, Upper Lake and St. Mary’s cemeteries.
For more information, contact Toni Funderburg at 707-263-5422.
Rotary Club of Clear Lake Community Christmas Dinner and Celebration
CLEARLAKE – The Rotary Club of Clear Lake will hold its 23rd annual Community Christmas Dinner and Celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, in the Burns Valley School multipurpose room, 3620 Pine St.
Santa and his elves will be on hand to visit with children, who will receive a photo and a toy.
The free event includes a dinner of ham, scalloped potatoes, yams, vegetables and rolls, and pumpkin pie and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Take home meals are available for a family member who cannot attend. Meals On Wheels delivers the warm meal to the seniors on their list.
The Warm for the Winter program will give away new and gently used coats, warm clothing, sleeping bags and blankets to those in need.
Scandinavian Christmas Open House
KELSEYVILLE – The Sons of Norway Vikings of Lake Lodge No. 6-166 will host its Scandinavian Christmas Open House on Saturday, Dec. 12, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Galilee Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 8860 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville. Admission is free.
There will be Scandinavian Christmas décor with assorted delicacies to enjoy, including Danish Æbleskiver, Krumkake, Rømmegrøt, Lefse, Vafler, open-faced sandwiches and much more.
There also will be the annual Santa Lucia Pageant at 1 p.m. and the singing of Christmas carols around the Christmas tree at 1:30 p.m.
A Viking raffle will feature beautiful baskets filled with goodies, handmade ceramic pieces and jellies. Norwegian, Danish and Swedish calendars will be offered for sale for $12 each, as well as Scandinavian cookies, Lefse and almond cakes available for purchase.
The event proceeds benefit the lodge's Adopt-A-School Community Service Project for Cobb Mountain Elementary School.
For more information call Jo Swenson at 707-279-4698.
Christmas in Middletown
MIDDLETOWN – Christmas in Middletown will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
The day will kick off at noon at the South Lake County Fire Station with a celebration of community and a free pasta lunch with all of the fixings for South Lake County residents.
Santa will be on hand, giving out gift certificates to local merchants for the children, there will be music and carols by local students and the Lake County Fire Victims Relief Fund will present an $800,000 check that will be distributed to residents who lost their homes to the Valley fire over the next several weeks.
In addition, local heroes will be honored at the lunch for their unwavering commitment to the South Lake County community during the Valley fire and the continued recovery efforts.
From 4 to 8 p.m., the celebration moves to downtown, with lights decorating Middletown from one end to the other and Christmas trees lining Calistoga Street.
All Middletown area businesses will be open late for shopping, dining and a Christmas celebration.
Join in the ever-popular “Passport to Fun.” Children and adults alike love visiting the participating businesses to collect stamps in their passports and be eligible to win gift certificates from the local businesses.
Santa will arrive at the new Middletown Park in front of the Senior Center and Library building on a fire truck at 5:30 p.m., with photo opportunities for families while Mrs. Claus gives away stuffed animals to the children.
There will be a band and food booths in Middletown Plaza. Vendors will have booths in the park (no food).
The Middletown Art Center is having an art opening and the MAMA Booth and fire pit with music will be at the corner of 175 and 29.
Pony rides and more vendors (food OK) will be available in front of Organic Home Lifestyles.
Funky Dozen Christmas Concert
LAKEPORT – A “Funky Dozen” celebration of Christmas comes to the Soper Reese Theatre at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18.
Led by Larry Thompson, the band focuses primarily on favorites from the 1970’s, but also pulls the best from the 80’s and 90’s, to provide high energy music that keeps the dance floor crowded.
All seats for this special “Third Friday Live” holiday celebration are $15.
Tickets are available online at www.SoperReeseTheatre.com ; at the theater box office, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport on Fridays 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; by phone at 707-263-0577; or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Santa to visit Ely Christmas Marketplace
KELSEYVILLE – Come and enjoy the “decked halls” at the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum for a Christmas Marketplace featuring local artists selling their handcrafted goods in the barn on Saturday, Dec. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Santa has promised to be at the event and will be roaming the grounds and joining hayrides with the kids, weather permitting. Bring your cameras as Santa will be available for photos with kids of all ages at the museum’s main house.
Handcrafted goods will include jewelry, bath and beauty products, butcher blocks, up-cycled fabrics, wood creations, photography and more.
The Lake County Historical Society’s Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum is located at 9921 Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road), Kelseyville.
For more information, check out www.elystagestop.com , www.lakecountyhistory.org , www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call 707-533-9990, during museum hours, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
'Blue Christmas' service
KELSEYVILLE – Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, located at 5340 Third St., will host a “Blue Christmas” or “Longest Night” worship service at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.
Come and join with them in sharing and hearing prayers, Scripture, and music that acknowledge that God's presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle – and that God's Word comes to shine light into our darkness.
Everyone, regardless of church background, is welcome. The short service will be followed by a time for a light supper and fellowship.
For more information, please call Kelseyville Presbyterian Church at 707-279-1104.
Lake County Symphony Christmas Celebration
LAKEPORT – The Lake County Symphony will host its annual Christmas Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Soper Reese Theatre, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.
There will be an open rehearsal at 11 a.m., with tickets costing $5 for adults children age 18 and under offered free admittance.
The main concert will begin at 3 p.m., with $25 for general assigned seats and $30 for premium assigned seats. There is a $5 discount for Lake County Symphony Association members.
Holiday favorites including “Sleigh Ride” and “Let it Snow” will be performed, and there will be an audience sing-along of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel's “Messiah.”
Tickets are available online at www.SoperReeseTheatre.com ; at the theater box office, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport on Fridays 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; by phone at 707-263-0577; or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Christmas Eve candlelight service
UPPER LAKE – A Christmas Eve candlelight service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, at the United Methodist Church of Upper Lake.
The church is located at 676 Clover Valley Road, at the corner of First Street and Clover Valley Road.
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Due to historically strong El Niño patterns, recent storms and more wet weather in the forecast, the Mendocino National Forest is encouraging visitors to monitor the weather and check conditions before visiting Forest recreation sites.
The first wet weather closure of the season was implemented today for both the Grindstone and Upper Lake off-highway vehicle trail systems after trails were saturated by more than 2 inches of rain in 24 hours.
The trails will reopen after at least 48 hours of no measurable precipitation.
The closure orders are formally referenced as Order Numbers 08-15-07 and 08-15-08. They are available online at www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .
Recent drenching storms may have impacted roads in the forest. If you come across an area where the road is compromised or washed out, please report it to Forest Engineer Shannon Pozas at 530-934-3316.
As winter conditions return to the Mendocino National Forest, all visitors are asked to be cautious when recreating on the forest, whether they are driving, hiking, camping or enjoying other recreational pursuits – including selecting a Christmas tree.
“While this wet weather gives hope to the drought-stricken Mendocino and many other parts of California, it also presents some challenges for visitors enjoying our Forest during early winter through spring,” said Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson.
“Potential hazards to both visitors and forest resources arise when weather conditions are constantly changing throughout the season,” Carlson added. “We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable trip to the forest, while preserving resources so they can be enjoyed for years to come. To help with this, visitors are asked to be prepared for changing conditions, aware of their surroundings, and minimize impacts to saturated roads and trails.”
Many popular trails and some access points to recreation sites on the Mendocino involve crossing normally small creeks and streams.
Caution should be used at these stream crossings. People and vehicles can be swept away by currents in even relatively shallow water.
Also, conditions can change rapidly and a stream that was easy to cross in the morning can become impassable by afternoon, trapping people on the wrong side.
Following are some additional safety suggestions for those recreating in the forest this winter:
· Plan your trip. Check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes, water, emergency food, tire chains, shovel and any other supplies necessary for the activity. Call to check if the area you are planning to visit is still open and accessible.
· Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains.
· Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back. Cellphone service within the forest can be limited.
· Keep vehicles on designated roads and trails and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources. If there are puddles in the road, mud flipping off the tires or you can see your ruts in the rearview mirror, consider pulling over to hike or turning around and finding a different area.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .
Joint tenancy with right of survivorship, and more recently community property with right of survivorship, is often used by people who are not fully aware of the ramifications involved. Let’s discuss.
Generally speaking, title to important assets – including one’s residence – is not taken in joint tenancy with anyone other than one’s own spouse or registered domestic partner.
If problems arise between the joint tenants, or arise due to the creditors of either joint tenant, the asset can be partitioned and sold.
When people hold title as joint tenants, or when spouses hold title as community property with right of survivorship, each co-owner has an equal and undivided co-ownership interest in the property.
Because joint tenants have equal, undivided ownership interests, any joint tenant can use the property as he or she pleases without accountability.
The property is answerable for each co-owner’s debts and tax liabilities. When a joint tenant dies the property is answerable for the surviving joint owner(s) debts and only those debts of the deceased joint tenant to the extent of any lien in place prior to the deceased joint tenant’s death.
Also, if the deceased joint tenant received Medi-Cal benefits, an estate recovery claim can be made against the deceased joint tenant’s share of the joint tenancy.
A gift occurs when someone is added as a joint tenant. The gift has both ownership and tax consequences. If the gift is to someone other than one’s spouse and the gift exceeds $14,000 (the present annual gift tax exclusion) in value then a gift tax return is required. It is most unlikely, however, that a gift tax will be payable now the lifetime gift tax exclusion is exceeds $5.25 million.
Moreover, it is often more advantageous income tax wise to inherit an interest in an asset at the owner’s death rather than to receive partial ownership as a lifetime gift through joint tenancy.
A surviving joint tenant only receives a partial-adjustment in tax basis when the deceased joint tenant dies (for the portion that he or she inherits at death) and receives a transfer basis for the part that he or she had previously received as a lifetime gift.
Thus, with appreciated assets, a joint tenancy means that capital gains tax will be payable by the surviving joint tenant(s) when the asset is sold.
With the notable exception of bank accounts, all co-owners to joint tenancy assets must cooperate to manage or to sell the property. That is difficult when a joint tenant is incapacitated.
Unless the incapacitated joint tenancy owner has an adequate power of attorney, a conservatorship of the incapacitated joint tenant’s estate may be necessary to sell or manage the asset.
Bank accounts that are titled as joint tenancy accounts, however, can be managed by any one joint tenant acting alone. Thus, some parents title their day to day bank accounts as joint tenancy account to include a trusted child on title.
The hallmark feature of a joint tenancy is its “right of survival” feature: The surviving joint tenant(s) automatically inherits all (100 percent) of the deceased joint tenant’s ownership interest at his or death without probate and without regard to the terms of the deceased joint tenant’s will. This means that transfer of a joint tenancy asset at death is both quick and cheap.
An important exception to the right of survivorship applies when the surviving joint tenant is the decedent’s ex-spouse or ex-registered domestic partner, unless a court order or written agreement says otherwise. Instead, the deceased joint tenant’s interest passes under his or her will or otherwise to his or her heirs.
Due to the risks and limitations of joint tenancy, revocable living trusts are typically used to own the major assets in a person’s estate. Trusts not only avoid probate but also offer more comprehensive estate planning solutions.
Dennis A. Fordham, Attorney, is a State Bar-Certified Specialist in estate planning, probate and trust law. His office is at 870 S. Main St., Lakeport, Calif. He can be reached at
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has begun an up-close investigation of dark sand dunes up to two stories tall. The dunes are on the rover's trek up the lower portion of a layered Martian mountain.
The dunes close to Curiosity's current location are part of “Bagnold Dunes,” a band along the northwestern flank of Mount Sharp inside Gale Crater.
Observations of this dune field from orbit show that edges of individual dunes move as much as 3 feet per Earth year.
The rover's planned investigations include scooping a sample of the dune material for analysis with laboratory instruments inside Curiosity.
Curiosity has been working on Mars since early August 2012.
It reached the base of Mount Sharp in 2014 after fruitfully investigating outcrops closer to its landing site and then trekking to the mountain.
The main mission objective now is to examine successively higher layers of Mount Sharp.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A Lower Lake man was taken into custody on Thursday evening for being in possession of child pornography.
Lee Daniel Buckmaster, 38, was arrested in the case, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
On Thursday Lake County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit detectives served a search warrant at a residence in the 12000 block of Highway 29 in Lower Lake, Brooks said.
He said the search warrant was obtained as a result of several cyber tips the sheriff's office received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, or NCMEC, related to the uploading of child pornography.
NCMEC had identified more than 100 child pornography images that had been uploaded from specific IP and email addresses, according to Brooks.
Through an extensive investigation, Brooks said detectives were able to identify the suspect as Buckmaster.
Detectives also were able to identify the Lower Lake residence where the images were uploaded, Brooks said.
Brooks said detectives seized several media storage devices, some of which contained videos and still images depicting child pornography.
Buckmaster was arrested and booked at the Lake County Jail for possession of child pornography, with bail set at $200,000, according to his booking sheet.
Buckmaster remained in custody on Friday night. Jail records show he is tentatively scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Ahead of his appearance in town set for this weekend, on Thursday evening Santa Claus dropped by to visit with the community and the men and women who help keep Middletown safe all the year round.
The bay of the South Lake County Fire Protection District fire station on Highway 175, usually packed with equipment, was filled with hundreds of people of all ages who stopped in during the two-hour-long event Thursday evening.
Children got to choose gifts from tables stacked high with toys, books and games, with event staff replenishing the tables with still more goodies as the night went on.
The children also lined up to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, decked out in their holiday finest, seated against a backdrop that included a fire truck decked out in lights, holiday decorations and toys.
Everyone who came was invited to enjoy hot cocoa, cookies and popcorn.
This was the first year that South Lake County Fire has had this event, according to Jody Galvan, a district volunteer.
In past years, the district has had its “Candy Cane Run,” but this year decided to go with the Christmas party and toy giveaway, with help from the Fire Family Foundation, which sponsored the event.
The foundation was formed in 2008 by Firefighters First Credit Union in order to offer “immediate assistance to firefighters and their families, fire victims, fire departments, and charities,” according to its Web site, www.firefamilyfoundation.org/ .
In addition to the foundation, Galvan said donations of toys came from fire departments around Northern California, along with private citizens, some of whom also donated cash also donated toward the giveaway.
While a great deal of focus has been placed on helping fire survivors, Galvan said the Thursday night event welcomed everyone.
Email Elizabeth Larson at [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
