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You’ve probably read a restaurant guide or review before going out for a special dinner. And you’ve probably scanned a consumer review or two before buying a new or used car.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a place where you could get information on the quality of hospitals in your area?

Well, there is. It’s called Hospital Compare and you can find it on the Medicare Web site, at www.medicare.gov .

Hospital Compare contains a wealth of information on how well hospitals perform certain surgeries and treat certain medical conditions. The data varies from hospital to hospital. Because the reality is that some hospitals do a better job of caring for patients with certain conditions than others.

The idea behind Hospital Compare is that making quality-of-care information easily available to the public will motivate hospitals to improve their care. Medicare has similar “compare” Web sites for nursing homes, home health agencies, and dialysis facilities, too.

You can search Hospital Compare by zip code, city, or state. The data you’ll find are intended to provide a “snapshot” of the quality of care at about 4,000 hospitals throughout the United States. You don’t have to be a Medicare beneficiary to use Hospital Compare – it’s open to everyone and it’s free of charge.

If you’re having a medical emergency, go to the nearest hospital. Get care as fast as you can. But if you’re planning to have surgery, or if you have a condition like heart disease and you know you’ll need hospital care in the future, talk to your doctor about the local hospital that best meets your needs.

Find out which hospitals your doctor works with, and which hospitals he or she thinks give the best care for your condition. If you’re a Medicare beneficiary, ask if the hospitals participate in Medicare.
 
At that point, you may want to spend some time on Hospital Compare.

Hospital Compare shows the rates at which hospitals provide recommended care for patients being treated for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and children’s asthma, and for patients having surgery.
 
It also displays information on hospital outcome measures. These include the rate at which Medicare patients who were treated for heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia had to be readmitted to the hospital with complications, and 30-day risk-adjusted death rates. (The 30-day period is used because this is the time period when deaths are most likely to be related to the care patients received in the hospital.)
 
In addition, you can see results from patient satisfaction surveys, such as how well patients thought the hospital controlled their pain and how well doctors and nurses communicated with them.
 
Hospital Compare is no substitute for talking with your doctor and family members and friends who’ve been treated at a hospital you’re considering. But the website can give you a general idea of how well various hospitals handle certain kinds of patients.
 
How can you find information about Medicare coverage of hospital services?
 
Original Medicare helps cover certain medical services and supplies in hospitals. If you have both Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), you can get the full range of Medicare-covered services in a hospital.
 
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) or other Medicare health plan, read your plan materials. These plans provide all your Part A and Part B coverage.

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan or other health plan, Hospital Compare doesn’t have information about whether your care will be covered in a certain hospital. Check with your plan.
 
For more information about Medicare-covered hospital services, look at your “Medicare & You” handbook that’s delivered in the fall each year to all people with Medicare. View it online by visiting http://go.usa.gov/iDJ . You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) with your questions. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
 
David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories. You can get answers to your Medicare questions by visiting www.Medicare.gov or calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Few Americans today study the motivations and expectations of those very peoples our young warriors and peacemakers are currently shedding their blood and lives for in the Middle East.

The ancient dividing lines between Shiite and Sunni tribesman, both devout followers of Muhammad and believers in Islam, seem locked in a vortex of conflict that ignores any passage of time.

Though the majority of the individual followers of Islam have moved beyond medieval thought, there are those who tenaciously hold onto ancient views of the world and their religion.

This hesitancy to let go of long-held traditional views – dogmatically attempting to preserve what they perceive as authentic Islamic thought – resembles our Conservative Christian community adamantly opposing any reinterpretation of scripture or change in time-honored mores and values.

One must remember that medieval methods, punishments and values of the followers of Islam (and the church) were products of a time in which horrific acts of supreme violence toward people and nations were considered reasonable and were, in fact, commonplace in practice among both religions.

The beliefs, motivations and practices of ISIS are throwbacks to those medieval times. They are that way, not by any haphazard design, but because they are specifically linked to certain prophetic beliefs they hold irrefutable and immutable in time. I believe it is important for Americans to understand those prophecies.

The Islamic State, known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), follows a distinctive variety of Islam whose beliefs about the preordained path to the Day of Judgment are all that matter to its strategy.

The prophesied Islamic Caliphate requires immense territory to remain legitimate, as well as a functional bureaucracy divided into civil and military appendages to rule it.

The fighters of the Islamic State are fanatic throwbacks to a medieval form of Islam and are attempting to graphically and authentically copy the most horrific and terrorizing norms of war.

This behavior includes a number of practices that modern Muslims (and Christians) prefer not to acknowledge as integral to their early original sacred texts.

Slavery, crucifixion and beheadings are traditional methods of that time, and are not simply being adopted to freak-out the weak-stomached West and its people. Islamic State fighters support traditional medieval tradition and are dragging it, kicking and screaming, back into the mainstream.

Though the Islamic State must also support the followers of the Caliphate (including providing services like collecting garbage and keeping the water running), nevertheless the “end of days” is the primary leitmotif of its propaganda.

For true believers – the kind who long for epic good-versus-evil battles – visions of apocalyptic bloodbaths fulfill a deep psychological need.

This is the driving force behind the ISIS Caliphate – to fulfill prophecy.

This includes the belief that the armies of Rome (interpreted today as those of the West – and primarily the United States), will mass to meet the armies of Islam in northern Syria, at or near the Syrian city of Dabiq, near Aleppo.

It is here, the Prophet reportedly said, that the armies of “Rome” will set up their camp. The Caliphate will meet them and emerge victorious – for a time. After its battle in Dabiq, the Caliphate will expand as far as Istanbul.

However, at that time, an anti-messiah or Antichrist, known in Muslim apocalyptic literature as Dajjal, will come from the Khorasan region of eastern Iran and overwhelm the Caliphate’s fighters, until just 5,000 remain, cornered in Jerusalem.

Then, just as the anti-messiah Dajjal prepares to finish them off, Jesus (yes, THAT Jesus) – the second-most-revered prophet in Islam – will return to Earth, spear Dajjal, and lead the Muslims to victory!

I bet that 99 percent of the people reading this article never would have guessed that it is Jesus himself that ISIS expects will save them from annihilation at the hands of the Anti-Christ!

The Islamic Caliphate – adhering to a medieval form of morality – is preparing to face its own near-obliteration, while remaining confident that it will receive divine succor from the Messiah, Jesus, if, and only if, it stays true to the prophetic model it believes.

Surprisingly, conservative fundamentalist Christians are also closely following events in the Middle East and point to many similar prophetic events in the book of Revelation and the book of Daniel, chapter 11, to support their own ideas of their view of an “end of days.”

They too look to Jerusalem as the location of final resolution, and to the return of the messianic Jesus to bring about the culmination of the human story. How ironic is that?

What we and our leaders must understand is that this is not a typical movement for power and politics but a sincere fanatical belief that the salvation of their very souls depends on them establishing the Caliphate and fighting the precursor battles with the West, in order to be almost destroyed themselves so as to bring about Jesus return and their final victory.

All the tactics and strategy we employ should be toward NOT fulfilling their prophecy. The problem is that they surround themselves with innocents.

Every step we, or any other force, take toward a final confrontation in Syria – short of a total annihilation of their followers – will simply make them stronger.

James BlueWolf lives in Nice, Calif.

Weddings can be very expensive, so it’s understandable that couples want everything to go according to plan.

Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy. Weddings have many moving parts: planners, venues, officiants, caterers, cakes, DJs, dresses and tuxedos, limos, photographers and more. No wonder they’re so expensive.

Things can go wrong for a few reasons; honest mistakes are inevitable, but there are also dishonest individuals and businesses that will wreak havoc on your special day.

You can avoid the latter by always doing your research on www.bbb.org to find a business you can trust, and considering the following advice.

Exercise restraint at wedding expos

At a wedding expo, you might be presented with one-day deals or discounts for advance payment.

Watch out for high pressure sales tactics, read all contracts carefully, and make sure to get three estimates for anything before signing on the dotted line. Keep a level head and don’t act on emotion!

Find the perfect venue

The venue is usually the most expensive part of a wedding. Make sure to visit many locations and get multiple estimates so you can compare costs and amenities.

Ask questions. Can you bring your own alcohol or caterer? What’s the parking situation? Who is responsible for flowers and decorations?

Know if there are unexpected costs such as “plate-splitting”, “cake-cutting” or “corkage” fees. There may be fees beyond the cost-per-person, gratuities and room rental.

If you’re hiring your own caterer, do your research at www.bbb.org to find one you can trust. Read the contract very carefully before signing.

Get down with a great DJ

In 2016, more than 150 complaints were filed with BBB nationwide about musicians and DJs.

Complaints include being charged unexpected fees and late appearances. Ask for references from friends and family and do your research on www.bbb.org ; you shouldn’t just rely on a Web site, demo tape or phone conversation.

Ask who will actually perform at the reception and get a written commitment from the band or musician, including the amount of time they will play and costs to extend the time the night of the event.

Work with the DJ ahead of time on what songs you want them to play.

Do your research when buying an outfit

Look up bridal shops at www.bbb.org to see their rating, complaint history, and reviews from past customers.

In 2016, consumers nationwide filed nearly 500 complaints about bridal shops. The leading causes of complaints were issues with repairs and alterations, refunds and exchanges, and guarantees.

Make sure to give yourself enough time for the shop to order the gown and then alter it. Ask about any hidden fees. The same goes for grooms buying or renting a tuxedo.

Ride in style

Consumers nationwide filed more than 600 complaints with BBB on limousine service businesses in 2016.

The leading cause for complaints was poor service, and many consumers complained that limos showed up late or not at all.

You should have a written contract that includes the hours of service, required fees including gratuities, maximum capacity allowed and amenities of the vehicle.

The service should also be licensed and insured – you can check that they have the required TCP license at www.cpuc.ca.gov .

Be careful when choosing a photographer

Your wedding only happens once, and you want to make sure you’ll get the pictures so that you can preserve the memory.

Many couples have complained of photographers and videographers that never deliver photos or hold them hostage for extra money.

Consumers nationwide filed more than 850 complaints on photographers and videographers with BBB in 2016.

The most common cause for complaint was receiving the pictures months after the event – or sometimes never.

Consumers also complained about late photographers and poor quality photos. Get everything in writing: time, price, timetable for getting the pictures and whether they’ll be edited.

Read the fine print and make sure there aren’t any hidden fees.

Consider insurance

In case something goes wrong, wedding insurance can save you thousands of dollars. It’s also wise to pay with a credit card, as they offer more protections than debit cards and cash.

Before making any purchase, know the refund policy, ask about any extra fees, and read the contract carefully and keep a copy after signing.

A wedding planner can help simplify many of the above steps, but they come with their own cost.

Do your research on www.bbb.org and talk to multiple planners before making a decision.

Rebecca Harpster is community outreach coordinator for the BBB serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.

I was working on the East Coast when I received news of an unprecedented wildfire in southern Lake County.

The Valley fire, as it would come to be known, was growing at an extreme rate.

When my emergency flight back to California landed, more than 50,000 acres had already been engulfed and the fire was only 5-percent contained.

As I drove north on Highway 29, clouds of dark smoke still filled an otherwise blue sky.

The next morning I was set to receive an emergency briefing in Lake County where I would visit the hardest hit areas.

I had been receiving routine updates on the fire. I knew how quickly it was spreading and the damage that it had already caused.

But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw as I made my way over the Napa County line down into Lake County.

As I drove through communities that I’ve represented for 25 years, the smell of smoke filled the air. Fires were still raging in the distance. And once vibrant communities looked like long-deserted ghost towns.

In places where homes and businesses previously stood, only ashes were left. Once beautiful and flourishing hillsides were burnt black. Cars were melted to the pavement. Livestock, grazing areas and farms were decimated. Lives and livelihoods were lost. Families who have called Lake County home for decades were left with nothing.

At the evacuation centers, the sense of personal loss was inescapable. At the Calistoga fairgrounds which housed more than 1,000 survivors, I spoke with one man who told me he simply wanted to return home to sort through the ashes. He hoped to find a family keepsake or two that may have survived the fire.

When I told him that I had just visited his community and not all of the homes had been destroyed, he said he was certain that he was not so lucky. He watched his home burn in the rearview mirror as he raced to escape the fire.

Tragedies have a way of showing what a community is made of, and the Valley fire is no different. This is one of the worst fires in California’s history, but it’s shown the absolute best of us. We are a community of strength, resolve, gratitude and generosity.

Firefighters ran into clouds of dense smoke and dangerous, unpredictable and rapidly expanding flames to save people’s lives and homes.

Families that lost everything still found the strength to thank our first responders for their extraordinary efforts.

Armies of Pacific Gas and Electric workers took to the streets. Infrastructure that took years to build was replaced in days. The power was turned back on and phones were up and working.

Volunteers flooded evacuation centers to cook for, shelter and comfort the thousands who had been displaced.

Donation centers where overwhelmed with food, clothes and other goods.

State, federal, local and tribal government officials were on hand to provide aid and coordinate response efforts.

Families are now starting to return home, but our recovery efforts are just beginning. So many lost so much that can never be replaced, but our neighbors are still in need and we can still help them get back on their feet.

Many friends from across Northern California have asked where they can donate to ensure the funds go to those in need.

Three local organizations – the Lake County Winegrape Commission, Lake County Winery Association, and Lake County Wine Alliance – have come together to form Lake County Rising.

Our community faces a long road back. It will not be quick and it will not be easy. But we will get there together.

In the last couple weeks I’ve witnessed firsthand how we pulled together when times are hardest and people are most in need. That is who we are, and that is how I know Lake County will rise again.

How you can help

You can donate through the #LakeCountyRising Facebook page or on the Lake County Winegrape Commission Web site.

Checks also can be made out to Lake County Wine Alliance, memo “Lake County Rising,” and mailed to Lake County Wine Alliance, P.O. Box 530, Kelseyville, CA 95451.

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

On July 10, President Obama designated 330,780 acres of California’s stunning wildlands as one of our nation’s newest national monuments, “Berryessa Snow Mountain.”

The new monument stretches across parts of seven counties, ranging 100 miles from south of Berryessa Peak to the Snow Mountain Wilderness. The new monument is the second largest in California.

Our nation’s newest monument is far more than beautiful landscapes and pristine rivers and lakes; Berryessa Snow Mountain was home to at least five Native American tribes, hosts cultural sites dating back thousands of years, and reveals a geologic history of more than 140 million years of tectonic plate activity.

The Yuki, Patwin, Pomo, Nomlaki and Lake Miwok Native American tribes all called areas within the new monument home.

We are still discovering cultural sites and learning about these five distinct tribes. By ensuring that this area will remain undeveloped, we can continue to examine evidence and learn about these people and how they adapted to cultural and environmental changes.

Members of the Patwin and Lake Miwok tribes are believed to have resided in semi-subterranean houses in the Cache Creek watershed.

These tribes established permanent territories and communities that were part of a large regional trade and exchange system designed to distribute critical resources throughout the area.

What transpired between these communities has been referred to as a cultural apex, further highlighting the significance of the designation of this area as a national monument.

Located within the monument is the Cache Creek Archeological District (listed on the National Register of Historic Places). Besides being a region of critical environmental concern, Cache Creek and the Cache Creek Wilderness also protect archaeological sites that are still being studied.

Ancient cultural sites in the Cache Creek area contain archaeological evidence of the oldest human occupation in California.

The Yuki and Pomo languages are part of the Yukian and Hokan language families, the two oldest language families in the New World.

Recent archaeological discoveries in the region indicate that people (most likely Yukian speakers) were already residing in the area about 20,000 years ago.

The discovery of 14,000 year-old spear points suggests that the Hokan speakers may have arrived and settled parts of the area at that time.

The present-day Pomo are direct descendants of those early Hokan speaking people. Clovis and Folsom style spear points have also been discovered in the area suggesting 10,000- to 12,000-year-old hunting activities.

The Patwin, Nomlaki and Miwok are more recent arrivals in the area. Linguistic studies suggest that they entered and settled parts of the area about 2,000 years ago.

It is not just the historical sites that make Berryessa Snow Mountain a significant region; it is also a scientifically important area representing 140 million years of tectonic plate activity.

Three plates intersect this region: the North American, Farallon and Pacific. The formations are so significant that geologists are flown to the Berryessa region merely to study certain outcrops.

The rocks found in this new monument are of “profound importance” to our understanding of the geological process that caused this dazzling landscape.

By permanently protecting this ecologically and historically significant region, President Obama has also created a likely economic boon for the area.

With its close proximity to Sacramento, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa, Berryessa Snow Mountain will become a wonderful recreation site, with some studies estimating it could bring in up to $26 million in new economic activity and $500,000 in tax revenue for the surrounding communities in the next five years alone.

President Obama’s designation of Berryessa Snow Mountain as one of our country’s newest national monuments was a historic day.

With this permanent protection, we can continue to examine cultural resources found in the region, uncover details about the formations created from tectonic activity, and enjoy the picturesque landscapes found throughout the monument.

Dr. John Parker is vice president, project review coordinator and collections manager for the Lake County Historical Society based in Kelseyville, Calif.