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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County Websites & Computer Repair offers monthly computer workshops for novices every fourth Saturday.
This month’s workshop features hands-on learning using Microsoft Windows and will focus on how to clean up, upgrade and maintain your PC to make it run more efficiently.
It will be held Saturday, Oct. 27, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 15642 Armstrong St. in Middletown in the Jazzercise Center (two blocks behind the post office).
If you have questions about getting rid of junk files and programs that slow your computer down, ways to remove viruses and how to avoid them, upgrading your RAM, and improving the overall system of your Microsoft Windows computer, you will get answers at this workshop.
The presenter, Mark Rudiger, is the owner of Lake County Websites & Computer Repair in Middletown and has more than 18 years of experience installing, troubleshooting and working with computers.
If you have a laptop, bring it along and connect to the high speed Internet. If you don’t, you will still get all the same information as Rudiger’s laptop screen will be projected on a 120-inch screen so you can follow along.
To keep informed and receive information on future workshops, go to www.facebook.com/LCSMGroup and “Like” the page.
To register, email
No registrations will be accepted the day of the workshop. Admission is $10 per person. Space is limited.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Kelsey Creek Brewing invites the public to its grand opening celebration on Saturday, Oct. 13, from noon to 8 p.m.
The event kicks off at noon with an official ribbon cutting by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
The all-day celebration will feature an Oktoberfest theme, refreshments, games, drawings for Kelsey Creek Brewing merchandise and gift certificates, and even growler giveaways.
Although not required, Oktoberfest costumes are very much encouraged with prizes for best costume.
Husband and wife team Ron and Cheryn Chips opened the brewing company in June, and in just a few short months, Kelsey Creek Brewing has become a favorite gathering spot in the friendly country town of Kelseyville.
As Brewer, Ron Chips said he has been careful to ensure his brew-making capacity could keep up with customer demand. Behind the bar, he recently added a third fermenter to keep pace.
The selection of handcrafted brews includes Red Irish Ale, Scottish Ale, American Pale Ale, and seasonal selections throughout the year. A Holiday Spiced Ale will be introduced at the event.
Cheryn Chips, who is listed on the company’s business card as “Beer Wench,” focused on creating a welcoming atmosphere with seating at a lovely wood bar, at tables, in a corner conversation nook, and in an outdoor gathering area.
The décor reflects a casual vibe complete with peanut shells on the floor and a flat screen TV for catching the latest sports action.
Open Monday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., Kelsey Creek Brewing is located at 3945 Main St. in downtown Kelseyville, telephone 707-279-2311.
Visit the brewery online at www.kelseycreekbrewing.com .
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SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang on Monday announced a settlement agreement with Forethought Group Inc., a company that sells end-of-life policies through funeral planners.
The company will return approximately $25 million to California beneficiaries, and has agreed to adopt strict business reforms to ensure prompt payment of benefits in the future.
The controller has already reached similar agreements with three other insurers.
“Those who purchased policies from Forethought wanted peace of mind that their spouses, children and loved ones would not be burdened with the expenses and inconvenience associated with paying and planning for a funeral. It’s a shameful betrayal of trust when this insurance company – either through wanton greed or careless neglect – did not honor their obligation to pay,” said Chiang. “The settlements my office has negotiated are proof that we are moving the insurance industry in the right direction and policyholders will be better-protected in the future.”
Forethought generally sells funeral plans that are funded by life insurance.
The company uses a network of funeral planners to sell to consumers, who choose the funeral home and service and merchandise they desire.
The funeral home then contracts to provide service when needed, and is paid through the guaranteed insurance policy.
Controller Chiang began auditing insurance company practices in 2008, and revealed an industrywide practice of companies failing to pay death benefits to the beneficiaries of life insurance policies, despite having access to federal records indicating that policyholders had died.
This information is contained in the “Death Master File” – a database maintained by the Social Security Administration and regularly scanned by companies that sell and administer life insurance policies.
Despite having access to these records – or having direct confirmation that the policyholder had passed away – some companies would draw down the policies’ cash reserves in order to continue collecting premium payments from the deceased.
Once the cash reserves were depleted, the company would cancel the policy.
But unclaimed property laws are in place to protect private property from being lost during mergers or bankruptcies, drawn down by service or storage fees, or simply used by private interests.
Administered by the controller, the California unclaimed property program generally provides that businesses must send lost or abandoned financial accounts to the State after three years of inactivity.
The controller maintains an unclaimed property database accessible by any California resident to identify all unclaimed property the State has collected on their behalf. The database is available at www.claimit.ca.gov .
Monday’s settlement requires Forethought Inc. and its subsidiaries to do the following:
- Restore the full value of impacted accounts;
- Fully comply with California’s unclaimed property laws and cooperate with the Controller’s efforts to reunite millions of dollars in death benefits and matured annuities and other policies with their owners Use the date of death as reflected in the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File to establish the start of the three-year unclaimed property dormancy period.
- Pay the state of California 3 percent compounded interest on the value of the held amounts from 1995, or from the date of the owner’s death, whichever is later, for failure to comply with unclaimed property laws.
Forethought is the fourth insurance company to settle with Controller Chiang.
The controller reached similar agreements – worth more than an aggregate $135 million for California, alone – with insurer John Hancock in May 2011 and with Prudential Insurance in December 2011 and MetLife in April 2012.
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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Marketing Program and Lake County Chamber of Commerce will host the final event in their Summertime Tourism Networking Series on Thursday, Oct. 18.
The roundtable will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Lodge at Blue Lakes, 5135 W. Highway 20 in the Blue Lakes area of Upper Lake.
Lake County is a great destination in the off-season with beautiful fall colors and family-friendly harvest and holiday events.
Attend this session – “Fall into the Holidays,” “Partnering to Generate Off-Season Business” – to learn how to leverage existing events to create packages that attract new guests and customers.
Find out how to develop a successful coupon-based promotion and get even more business-critical social media hints and tips from Lake County's resident social media guru.
Don't miss the feature presentation – “Clear Lake, A Natural Treasure.” Clear Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake within California and possibly the oldest lake on the continent. Learn about the lake, what makes it unique, and how to answer those questions that your guests and customers ask.
Mix, mingle, and enjoy. There will be delicious appetizers by Running Creek Casino's Wildfire Restaurant, local wine tasting by the Lake County Winery Association and music by Michael Barris and Scott Sommers beginning at 5 p.m.
The first four events were a resounding success with more than 300 attendees. Business owners and tourism professionals from around Lake County have attended.
Comments included “All the speakers were enthusiastic and informative!” “Very informative, extremely happy I attended.” “Fun and interesting – very applicable.”
The series is presented by the Lake County Marketing Program and Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
The goal is to meet, learn, network, and create ways to partner with each other to create an even more powerful visitor experience.
Invite others. Bring a friend or colleague.
Who should attend: Tourism and hospitality professionals involved in all areas of Lake County’s tourism industry – lodging, restaurants and caterers, wineries and tasting rooms, events, attractions, galleries and shops, hiking and fishing guides, boat and water sports rentals, tours, transportation, spas and massage, and more.
Please RSVP by Oct. 16 by calling 707-263-5092.