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Fifty-five-year-old construction company owner James Gerace Jr. and 14-year-old Daniel Critser, a freshman at Kelseyville High School, died in the fire at a campground near Trinidad in Humboldt County early on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 20, as Lake County News has reported.
Gerace heroically helped his fiancée, Michelle Critser, and her 4-year-old son David get out through a window after the vehicle caught fire.
Before Gerace could evacuate Daniel and himself from the vehicle it exploded. Fire investigators reported finding Gerace’s remains slumped against a rear side window, cradling Daniel’s body in his lap.
Little David is in serious condition at Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento, where he is undergoing skin grafts and other treatments.
Family friends said rehabilitation may take months and his mother, Michelle Critser, needs to be at his side during that period, which will be a costly undertaking.
Friends and relatives have created the Critser-Gerace Memorial Fund to help defray expenses.
The fund was set up at WestAmerica Bank, 150 S. Main St. in Lakeport, however, any WestAmerica branch in Clearlake, Kelseyville, Middletown or Upper Lake also can accept contributions.
The account number for the donations account is 121140218-2352175851.
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On Tuesday California Attorney General Kamala Harris released the California Department of Justice's Annual Report of Commercial Fundraisers, produced by the Charitable Trusts Section.
The report showed that commercial fundraisers in California raised $362.9 million in 2010, of which charitable organizations received less than 45 percent.
This represents an increase from the 2009 total of less than 43 percent, the report showed.
"The data in this report allows donors to make informed choices this holiday season," Harris said. "Commercial fundraisers play a role in supporting charities in California, but it's important for donors to know how much of their money will be used to support the charity's programs, and how much will go to fundraising expenses."
Among numerous other tables, the annual report contains an alphabetical list of charities that hired commercial fundraisers in 2010, along with the total revenue raised in those campaigns and the dollar amount and percentage of total funds raised that went to the charity.
Commercial fundraisers, who are hired by charities to raise money on their behalf, typically charge a flat fee for their services or a percentage of the contributions they collect.
By law, commercial fundraisers must register with the Attorney General's Office prior to fundraising in California and must file annual financial disclosure reports detailing income and expenses for each fundraising campaign.
According to reports filed with the Attorney General's Office, commercial fundraisers collected $362.9 million in donations in 2010. This figure excludes thrift store operations and vehicle donation programs, which are accounted for separately.
On average, $161.1 million – or 44.38 percent of the funds raised – went to the charities. The remainder was retained by the commercial fundraisers as payment of fees and expenses.
The Attorney General's Office also publishes the Guide to Charitable Giving for Donors that provides advice, guidelines and information to help donors make informed decisions about giving.
The guide suggests that donors:
Ask the solicitor how a donation will be distributed.
Ask what percentage of donations will be used to pay for fundraising expenses.
Ask if the solicitor works for a commercial fundraiser and is being paid to solicit.
Avoid cash donations.
Avoid giving credit card information to a telephone solicitor or in response to a telephone solicitation.
Learn about a charitable organization, its activities and its fundraising practices before giving. The Attorney General's Office maintains a searchable online database on registered charities and registered professional fundraisers at http://rct.doj.ca.gov/MyLicenseVerification/Search.aspx?facility=Y. Donors also can check the Web sites of the Wise Giving Alliance at http://www.bbb.org/us/charity/ and the American Institute of Philanthropy at http://www.charitywatch.org/.
The Guide to Charitable Giving for Donors is available online at http://ag.ca.gov/charities/publications.php#guides.
The Attorney General's 19th annual report on commercial fundraisers can be found at
http://ag.ca.gov/charities/publications/2010cfr/cfr2010.pdf.
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Fallen power lines that were said to be on fire were reported just after 5:30 p.m. on Highway 175 at Forest Lake Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Cal Fire, which responded to the scene, reported a small vegetation fire resulting from the downed lines.
Cal Fire notified Pacific Gas & Electric of the fallen lines, and PG&E handled a road closure that resulted in traffic being rerouted onto Golf Drive, the CHP reported.
The roadway was reopened shortly before 8 p.m. but then closed again later in the evening as PG&E crews worked at the site, according to reports from the scene.
Community members posting on Lake County News
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Downtown Kelseyville will open its doors for its annual “Christmas in the Country” celebration on Friday, Dec. 2.
The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Included in the festive evening will be the Kelseyville Parade of Lights and Merchant Open House.
Every Christmas the Kelseyville Business Association kicks off the Christmas shopping season by showing off what it does best: some down home country hospitality and a great light show.
The spirit of spontaneity may be part of what makes the combined parade and open house so charming.
Holiday music fills the air all along Main Street starting at 5:30 p.m., and the shops have their doors open to welcome all to stop in, have a tasty treat and warm beverage, and discover our country town.
Visit Studebakers Coffee House, Dusty’s new antique store across the street then stroll down to the Rosa D’Oro and Wildhurst tasting rooms to sample local wines and visit all the merchants.
Enjoy a free mule-drawn wagon ride through town in the crisp winter air with Eleven Roses Ranch, and take in all the sights and sounds.
Stop at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro and see the miniature quilt display then down to Kelseyville Pharmacy for holiday treats and a beautiful display of holiday gifts and ornaments.
Come early at 5 p.m. to the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, 5340 Third St., for the church’s annual chowder and chili dinner, or stop in at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Main Street for hot dogs and beans, and holiday treats and hot cocoa.
Kelseyville Methodist Church, 3810 Main St., will have free treats also and a choir singing holiday music. Bring some canned food to help the support their holiday food baskets for local families in need.
The parade is at 6:30 p.m. with Santa riding atop the fire truck, starting the amazing parade of lights.
Immediately after the parade walk down to Kelseyville Fire House for the town tree lighting. The new live tree has grown a whole foot since last year.
Follow Santa over to Westamerica Bank, where you can whisper your wishes and have a photo with Jolly Old St. Nick taken by Dawn Smith of Color Splash Photos.
While you’re waiting for Santa enjoy the Sweet Adelines singing holiday songs and be sure and visit Carolyn Morris in Westamerica Bank, where she’ll be showing her artwork. She’ll have prints to purchase of Kelseyville and beautiful Lake County.
Be sure and notice the big candle ornaments on the light poles. They have seen many Christmases in Kelseyville and had gotten very tired. However, the Brookes family, Lynne and their daughter Becca, wanted to restring the lights this year, making them beautiful once again.
To finish off the evening, Taylor Observatory will present “The Mystery of the Christmas Star” at 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12.
The observatory’s new state-of-the-art projector provides an awesome experience for all ages. For more information, call 707-262-4121.
So mark your calendars, wear your carves and mittens, and visit with old friends and make new ones while starting off your holiday season in a Christmas country town.
For more information or if you want to be in the parade contact Mary Morse at 707-279-8559.
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Isaiah Neil, 34, died at the scene of the two-vehicle crash, which the California Highway Patrol said occurred in the 7600 block of Highway 29, south of Bottle Rock Road, just before 11 p.m.
The other driver in the collision, 26-year-old Jarret Parmenter of Kelseyville, sustained major injuries, the CHP said Monday morning.
The CHP said Neil was driving a 1991 black Honda Accord southbound on Highway 29, with Parmenter driving a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder northbound, both at undetermined speeds.
For reasons that are yet to be determined, Neil’s Honda entered the northbound traffic lane and hit Parmenter’s Nissan head-on, according to the report from CHP Officer Adam Garcia.
Garcia’s report said the Nissan continued on in a northeasterly direction, traveling off the road’s east edge and overturning, coming to rest on its right side facing in a southerly direction.
He said the Honda came to rest on its wheels facing in a southerly direction along the west shoulder.
The collision caused major front-end damage to the Honda, with major inward intrusion, Garcia said.
The Nissan also sustained major damage and caught fire as a result of the crash, Garcia reported.
Parmenter was taken via Kelseyville Fire ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment after radio reports indicated REACH and CalStar declined to offer out-of-county transport because of concerns over weather conditions.
The crash closed the highway completely for more than an hour as firefighters from Kelseyville and Lakeport worked to take care of the crash victims, according to reports from the scene. The highway was fully reopened about two hours after the incident occurred.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
The two-car crash was reported at around 11 p.m. in front of 7640 Highway 29, south of Bottle Rock Road, according to the California Highway Patrol and radio reports.
Debris was spread all over the roadway, which blocked by the vehicles involved as well as arriving emergency vehicles, the CHP said. Kelseyville Fire, Lakeport Fire, CHP and sheriff’s deputies responded.
When firefighters arrived they found one of the vehicles on fire and one of the crash victims out of their vehicle.
The only vehicle description given initially was that of a black car that was involved, with no information given on the second vehicle.
Shortly after arrival a battalion chief reported that one person had died at the scene, with another person suffering from major injuries.
Incident command requested an air ambulance to transport a patient, with clear skies reported overhead. However, Central Dispatch indicated that REACH and CalStar declined to transport out of the county due to concerns about the weather.
A Kelseyville Fire ambulance transported a patient to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, arriving shortly before midnight, according to reports from the scene.
The roadway was reopened to one-way traffic at approximately 12:13 a.m., with the roadway completely cleared and open exactly one hour later, the CHP reported.
Firefighters were released from the scene at about 12:50 a.m., according to radio reports.
Names of the crash victims were not available early Monday morning.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at