Friday, 22 November 2024

Register

Opinion

Posted On

On Jan. 1, many of us will make resolutions about our health, time management, habits or relationships.

While these all have value, allow me to suggest another idea – resolve to measure your success this year by the well-being of the youngest children in your life.

Did you know that, according to the Harvard Center for the Developing Child, 90 percent of a person’s brain development happens before age 5?

This means that the foundation for lifelong learning, social and emotional development, and good mental and physical health is established before a child ever enters kindergarten.

The building blocks for the future of our county reside in the interactions we have with our youngest citizens. Key factors like resilient families, consistent health care and high-quality child care and education make all the difference.

On the flipside of this, adverse childhood experiences (also known as ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, lack of affection, abandonment, domestic violence, substance abuse in the home, etc., can all create toxic stress in the developing brains of young children.

Toxic stress is stress that isn’t made tolerable by a caring adult, and it erodes the foundation of brain development and increases the likelihood of chronic physical and mental health problems later in life.

In a 2010 Lake County survey of adults about adverse childhood experiences, more than 40 percent of those surveyed indicated that they had experienced at least five or more ACEs prior to age 18.

We live in beautiful place, but it is also a place where generational cycles of toxic stress need to be broken and resilient families need to be built and supported.

So, how can you be part of the solution in 2018?

Think about the youngest children in your life – your own children, grandchildren, nieces/nephews, your friends’ children or grandchildren, your neighbors, the children who attend your church or walk through the doors of your business.

What can you do in 2018 to ensure that these children are getting everything they need to build a solid foundation for future success?

Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Parents: Sign up for a nurturing families parenting class! Attend the safe sleep class at one of our local hospitals. Register your child for the Imagination Library and start receiving free books each month. Look into high quality preschool and childcare settings and ask good questions. Join the Mother-Wise Facebook group and attend one of their weekly gatherings or monthly socials. Find a family doctor or pediatrician who you trust and get a list of key dates to schedule well-child visits. Follow the Lake Bloom Facebook page and engage with their parenting challenges each month. Take good care of yourself and pay attention to how your own stress impacts your children.

Grandparents: Check out the “Just for Grandparents” page on the First 5 Lake Web site and get up to speed on everything that has changed since your children were born. Be a source of unconditional love and security. Keep a collection of toys and books at your house. Introduce your grandchildren to family traditions. Become familiar with local places for safe and engaging outings – First 5 Early Learning Centers, county parks and libraries, museums, etc.

Friends/relatives: Visit or call the Lake Family Resource Center and familiarize yourself with the many resources available to families in our county so that you can offer suggestions for support when needed. Up your language game when you are around young children by interacting with them using a wide variety of words and phrases and by following their lead when reading books or playing with toys. Offer to babysit, particularly when you see a friend could use a break. Make your home/church/business a place where young children are safe and welcomed. Become a Mother-Wise volunteer.

Health care workers: Learn more about ACEs and how they affect your patients’ health and wellbeing. Offer parents the ages and stages questionnaire when they have questions about their child’s developmental milestones (Easter Seals Bay Area can provide these). Keep a variety of children’s books in your waiting room.

Childcare providers: Participate in the Lake County Quality Rating Improvement System, or QRIS. Contact North Coast Opportunities Resource & Referral for information on professional development opportunities. Empower parents to be their child’s first and best teachers. Remind yourself on a regular basis about the high value of your work.

All of us: Pay attention to local, state and federal legislation that could positively or negatively affect critical services for children and be a vocal advocate. Look around your neighborhood and think about ways you can make your block, street, community safer, cleaner and more welcoming for children at play and parents with strollers.

You won’t be in this alone! The First 5 Network (comprised of local First 5 Commissions, the First 5 Association and First 5 California) recently adopted this vision statement: One day, California’s success will be measured by the wellbeing of its youngest children.

Let’s resolve to make this vision a reality together, starting in 2018, right here in Lake County.

Information and links about brain development, ACEs, and all of the resources mentioned in this article can be found at www.firstfivelake.org.

Carla Ritz is executive director of First 5 Lake in Lake County, Calif.
Posted On

Nov. 25 marks the eighth annual “Small Business Saturday”! This special shopping day, which falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, aims to support and bring attention to local small businesses during the holiday shopping season.

Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, two days known for large sales offered by even-larger retailers, Small Business Saturday offers an opportunity to recognize the small businesses that are often the cornerstones of communities.

Shopping at small businesses helps the local economy, promotes entrepreneurship and helps preserve neighborhoods and their unique identities.

BBB strives to support businesses of all sizes every day by setting standards for marketplace ethics and behavior and by connecting consumers to trustworthy businesses.

According to the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, in 2016 “112 million consumers reported shopping at small businesses on Small Business Saturday” – a record high!

Do you want to get involved in supporting local small businesses? Follow these BBB tips to get started:

– Find trustworthy businesses in your area. Visit bbb.org to search for, and research, businesses near you. You can filter your results by distance, type of business, and accreditation status. You can also visit shopsmall.com to find a list of participating businesses. To maximize your experience, make sure to read reviews and look up sales before you head out. For more holiday shopping tips, visit BBB Holiday Helper at bbb.org/holidayhelper.

– Spread the word. Invite your friends and family – shopping small together can be a fun-filled way to explore your community. If there’s a small business you appreciate, consider writing them a Customer Review on their BBB Business Profile to spread the love and help them get noticed by other customers.

– Use social media. Look for the hashtag #ShopSmall on your favorite social media platform to find small businesses participating in the movement. Take a picture at your favorite small business and show the world why you shop small by uploading it to social media using the same hashtag.

– For businesses: Join the movement! Shopsmall.com has tips to help you get started and customizable resources you can download to promote your business. Get in on the social media action by advertising yourself using #ShopSmall. Consider offering special deals for Small Business Saturday to attract new customers. Get in touch with your customer base to let them know about the special holiday. Encourage them to get involved and spread the word about you and other small businesses.

Small Business Saturday, created by American Express (a BBB Accredited Business), is the perfect time to take a break from crowded shopping malls and maze-like stores, and connect with your community. You might find that perfect and unique gift that you’ve been searching for, and your family and friends, as well as the small business community, will appreciate the thoughtfulness.”

Rebecca Harpster is community outreach coordinator for the Better Business Bureau, serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.
Posted On

Greg Dill, Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories. Courtesy photo.


If you have Medicare, you can protect your identity and help prevent health care fraud by guarding your Medicare card like you would a credit card.

Identity theft arising from stolen Medicare numbers is becoming more common. Medicare is in the process of removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards and replacing them with a new, unique number for each person with Medicare.

Medicare will mail new Medicare cards with the new numbers between April 2018 and April 2019.

The new card won’t change your Medicare coverage or benefits. And there's no charge for your new card.

But watch out for scammers!

Thieves may try to get your current Medicare number and other personal information by contacting you about your new Medicare card. They may claim to be from Medicare and use various phony pitches to get your Medicare number, such as:

– Asking you to confirm your Medicare or Social Security number so they can send you a new card.
– Telling you there's a charge for your new card and they need to verify your personal information.
– Threatening to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your Medicare number or other personal information.

Don’t fall for any of this.

Don’t share your Medicare number or other personal information with anyone who contacts you by phone, email, or by approaching you in person, unless you’ve given them permission in advance.

Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call and ask for personal information in these situations:

– A Medicare health or drug plan can call you if you’re already a member of the plan. The agent who helped you join can also call you.
– A customer service representative from 1-800-MEDICARE can call if you’ve called and left a message or a representative said that someone would call you back.

Only give personal information like your Medicare number to doctors, insurers acting on your behalf, or trusted people in the community who work with Medicare, like counselors from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

If someone calls you and asks for your Medicare number or other personal information, hang up and call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

There are other steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft that can lead to health care fraud.

Don’t ever let anyone borrow or pay to use your Medicare number. And review your Medicare Summary Notice to be sure you and Medicare are being charged only for items and services you actually received.

We’re in the midst of Medicare open enrollment season right now. This is the time every year when you can sign up for, switch, or drop a Medicare health plan (Part C) or a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D). Open enrollment ends Dec. 7.

Scam artists often try to take advantage of open enrollment season. So if someone calls and tries to get you to sign up for a Medicare plan, keep in mind there are no “early bird discounts” or “limited time offers.”

Don’t let anyone rush you to enroll by claiming you need to “act now for the best deal.” And be skeptical of promises of free gifts, free medical services, discount packages or any offer that sounds too good to be true.
It probably is.

To learn more about protecting yourself from identity theft and health care fraud, visit www.Medicare.gov/fraud or contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol (www.smpresource.org).

Greg Dill is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Blog Left ad
Posted On

Linda Laing. Courtesy photo.


Holidays can be a difficult time for many who have experienced the death of a loved one.

“If only I can get through the holidays” is often a refrain during this season. In the roller coaster of grief, holidays are, for many people, a low point.

There are many reasons why the holidays can be so difficult.

The holidays are often a time to pause, reflect on all the holiday experiences we’ve had, both good and bad. We remember all the people who have been part of our lives.

We are reminded of that person’s part in our lives. Holidays are full of memories and expectations often intensifying our loss, and we feel the absence of our loved one even more.

Holidays are not only times for past memories, but for fantasies of the present and future as well.

As we shop we may see things that would be perfect gifts for the person who died. We envision how that person would be so delighted when the gift is opened.

Often holidays are stressful times in themselves. There are so many things to do, so much to accomplish, and expectations of how the holiday “should be.” Everyone seems so happy and cheerful. It’s easy to feel isolated, alone and different.

Recognizing that the holidays can be painful often helps ease the sense of isolation. We can acknowledge that this is a normal reaction to grief.

We can make decisions about the best ways to cope, about how, where and with whom we will spend the holidays. Honestly talking over our feelings and plans with family and friends may help us in making decisions.

The key is to be gentle with ourselves. We need to trust and follow our instincts about what we must do, or should do. We need to hope that each year will be easier, and believe that someday the pain will end.

You might tell yourself, “I can and will reach out for support during the holidays. I will become filled with hope and believe that I can and will survive this loss.” Setting your intent to heal is not only a way of surviving your loss; it is a way of actively guiding your loss.

Ideas and activities for surviving the holidays

Be kind to yourself and take care. Grief is a time when it is crucial to take good care of you. Nothing will make a bigger difference than honoring your needs and feelings.

Only do as much as you can comfortably manage, even for a special day. Take care of yourself physically, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually.

Physically, when people are in grief, their bodies often take on some of the stress of the experience. This stress can lead to common bodily symptoms such as trouble sleeping, low energy, muscle aches and pains, headaches, digestive problems, tightness in the throat or chest. It is always a good idea to consult with your physician when in question.

While mourning, make use of the simple things such as exercise, good nutrition, and adequate sleep to help alleviate these symptoms.

Emotionally you may experience a wide range of emotions: disorganization, confusion, anxiety, sadness, fear, guilt and relief are just a few of the emotions you might feel as a part of your grief journey. No emotion is right or wrong, and all are deserving of attention and respect. Find listeners who will accept your feelings without condition.

Cognitively, grief affects our ability to think, absorb information and make decisions and reason logically. Mourners often struggle with short term memory problems and have trouble making decisions. They also may seem confused and unable to pay attention. Cognitive difficulties such as these are normal and temporary. As time passes and as the mourner’s grief needs are met, cognitive deficits will slowly reverse.

Mourning is a spiritual journey of the heart and soul. If you have faith or spirituality, express it in ways that seem appropriate to you. Attend church or your place of worship, reading religious or spiritual texts, and praying or meditating or spending time alone in nature are a few ways of expressing your faith.

From the words of Dr. Alan Wolfelt from his book, “Healing Your Holiday Grief, 100 practical ideas for blending mourning and celebrating during the holiday season,” ”This holiday season may be difficult for you. As you now know, one of the basic truths of grief is that it does – it must – involve pain and sadness. But there will be better tomorrows. Over time, periods of grieving tend to soften in intensity and duration. Next holiday season, you will likely experience less sadness and more joy. While they will forevermore remain somewhat bittersweet for you, the holidays can once again become that ‘most wonderful time of the year.’ Believe in a better next year. Believe in your capacity to heal and grow through grief. Believe in the enduring holiday spirit of giving and love.”

Linda Laing, MFP, ATR is director of bereavement services at Hospice Services of Lake County, Calif.
Posted On

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has become one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Enticed by price cuts on electronics, toys, and everything in between, consumers flock to stores in the hopes of completing their holiday shopping in one chaotic, and savings-filled, day.

According the National Retail Federation, 164 million Americans plan to shop during the 2017 Thanksgiving weekend, and holiday retail sales are expected to increase to $682 billion.

With that much money on the table, businesses are doing all they can to attract customers and stand out from the competition.

However, it’s important to do your research: in 2016, consumers nationwide filed more than 1,300 complaints with BBB against retail stores.

Completing your holiday shopping while sticking to a budget is hard enough, so let your BBB help you navigate the complexities of Black Friday with these tips.

Do your research

Before doing business anywhere, make sure to look up the company at bbb.org to see their BBB Business Profile, which includes information about the business, their complaint history, BBB Customer Reviews, and any major advertising issues.

It’s also smart to look up prices, find deals, and comparison shop online before the main event so that you can go in with a game plan.

Make sure to read product reviews of potential purchases before heading out so that you don’t have any regrets.

Protect your identity

Identity theft can happen at any time, and fraudsters might try to take advantage of the swell of shoppers on Black Friday.

It’s OK to use public Wi-Fi to read product reviews and check out businesses on www.bbb.org, but be careful entering any personal information when connected. Steer clear of online banking and social media – your login information could be stolen. It’s also important to be aware of your surroundings and watch your wallet – someone might try to snatch it while you’re occupied comparing TVs.

Watch out for deceptive advertising

You’re bound to see ads for deals that seem too good to be true. Unfortunately, some of these advertisements may be misleading at best and fraudulent at worst.

Make sure to read the fine print, as ads often come with a multitude of restrictions. BBB’s AdTruth campaign can help you identify and avoid common schemes and highlights bad ads. If you see false advertising while out shopping you can report it at www.bbb.org/council/ad-truth/ as well.

Read up on return and exchange policies

Before you make a purchase, make sure you understand the return and exchange policies, and keep your receipts in one place in case you need to take something back.

Some stores may not let you return specific “final sale” items, charge restocking fees, or only refund you in store credit.

If you’re shopping for presents, get gift receipts and save all warranty information in case a problem occurs.

Watch out for phishing

You’re bound to receive emails from brands advertising huge sales. But be careful, some might be phishing.

Fraudsters can create fake, look-alike business Web sites to trick you into entering credit card information, so search for the company’s Web site independently instead of clicking on any link.

Be careful clicking on links on social media or from unfamiliar or unsolicited senders, and look up businesses you don’t know on www.bbb.org before engaging with them.

Check out www.bbb.org to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, report a scam, read tips, follow them on social media and more.

Rebecca Harpster is community outreach coordinator for the Better Business Bureau, serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.

Posted On

Please know that all agencies involved are doing their best to prepare for the repopulation of the areas that are still under mandatory evacuation.

It has been a slow day today as half of our resources have been taken away to deal with fires that are currently threatening other residential areas.

For the most part from what I saw today taking a boat tour with the sheriffs, there were only a few hot spots left on the Clearlake area of the fire, but there were more very visible hotspots in the Elem Tribe area on the north and northeastern part of our peninsula.

Be vigilant if you live in this area, just in case that something flares back up as the winds are blowing at a decent speed.

I have not heard of any reason to be frightened or panicked about the situation, just make sure you have a full battery charge on your phone, gas in your car, just in case something does happen.

I just woke up from a long nap that obviously my body and mind needed to deal with the lack of sleep that I've endured, as well as others, during the past couple of days. I know I've been trying my best, as have many others, to keep you posted on the fire status, but I have not had the chance to say my thank yous.

To our local Fire Departments, CalFire, and local police enforcement, your efforts at saving lives, and saving homes are beyond outstanding. I have watched you working tirelessly day in and day out until we reach 100% containment. You are organized, you are thoughtful and the respect given is incredible. I'll quote one of the officers that came to help when we asked what their agency was willing to do. "You tell us what we need to do we're here to help you in any way we can. This is your house and we're here to help." Thank you.

To our Salvation Army, Red Cross, Twin Pine Casino and Grace Church, your volunteerism to help those displaced by fire is honorable and memorable. You are our first line in supporting people's hierarchy of needs. Mental support, food, sleep, and you even helped with the animals. I can't thank you enough. I want to single out Twin Pine Casino for being our rock through each and every fire in our county. You don't even blink an eye before you say "yes, we need to help." Thank you.

To our city staff here in Clearlake. We had Public Works, our Parks Department, Code Enforcement and more working 12-hour shifts all through the night and day to keep those barricades up. I know from doing my own barricade at Burns Valley near the public library and helping at the Lakeshore and Olympic barricade that it is a difficult task to hear everyone's story as to why they need to go back into the evac zone. You are possibly the most hated in this event as you are the ones holding people back from going back to the lives they believe they may have lost, but your efforts kept people safe, kept people's homes safe, and provided the space needed for our first responders and agencies to complete the work to get people back home as soon as possible. Thank you.

Last but not least, I want to single out some people. Russ Perdock, Phil Harris, Nick Bennett and Joyce Overton, Greg Folsom, Tim Celli and Doug Herren. Because of you, the process to repopulate was done days in advance of what we originally estimated would happen. Because of you, communication to the public was constant and the organization of the town hall meetings allowed evacuees and residents to know what was happening.

I know that I worked and stood side by side with Russ and Phil for more than 16 hours each day, sometimes even longer, especially on day one. Thank you. This is the type of leadership that Clearlake needs.

While some have found their homes intact and have repopulated others are still waiting to go home or waiting to look at what is left of their homes. We all have friends that have lost something in this fire and it's important that we support one another.

Even the roller coaster ride of not knowing and finally finding your home intact requires a certain amount of support. Support is not needed only for those who have lost something.

We all know each other in this city, let's hold each other up, let's offer one another a hand. I say this not only for moral and mental support, but also for physical support. In the days ahead we are already preparing for a cleanup effort. It will be vital to get this done ASAP so that our lake and our environment does not get any more negatively affected by this fire.

Lend a shoulder, and lend a hand when and wherever you can when the opportunity arises. Make sure to stop and thank those people above that I mentioned. I am so proud to have worked with them. I am filled with sadness in my heart as I've held close friends in my arms who have lost homes in this fire, but we have been brought closer together than any other time I've ever felt.

To those in Middletown, Lower Lake, Cobb, and other fire survivors. I thought I empathized and understood your emotions and your experiences. I lied, I thought I did, but I didn't. I have never wanted to cry as much as I have in the past two days knowing that we can feel that helpless when faced with such danger. I understand, and my heart goes out to everyone affected by this fire and all previous fires.

Lastly, to those unknown heroes who helped their neighbors, or took a boat from across the lake to help save people in harm's way, or those who randomly brought food and water to evacuees. Your love in your hearts will never be forgotten and I can't thank you enough.

Stay strong, be safe, and let's keep our neighboring brothers and sisters in our thoughts and in our hearts as they battle other blazes that surround us.

Sorry so long, but my mind has been busy with my thoughts.

Bruno Sabatier is vice mayor of the city of Clearlake, Calif., which has suffered significant loss during the Sulphur fire.

Subcategories

Letters

LCNews

Responsible local journalism on the shores of Clear Lake.

 

Memberships:

 

Search