The Eastlake Landfill in Clearlake will be closed Saturday, Dec. 24, and Sunday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday, and the Lakeport Public Services office will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, and Monday, Dec. 26.

The landfill will reopen Monday, Dec. 26, and the Public Services Office will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Normal landfill operating hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The Public Services office normal operational hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding this subject or any of the solid waste issues in Lake County, call 707-262-1760.

Join local musicians and Santa Claus for an enjoyable afternoon at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. Courtesy photo.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The annual old-fashioned Christmas Open House at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The park is located on Highway 53 between Lower Lake and the city of Clearlake.

Santa Claus will be there to greet children and hand out treats. Christmas songs will be performed by local entertainers with the public invited to join in.

The Christmas tree, decorated with the help of local elementary students, will be on display in the parlor of the historical ranch house at the park.

Free hot cider, coffee, and lots of cookies and other treats will be provided.

Entertainers include Dr. Harry Lyons from Yuba College, Rick McCann, Tom Nixon, Middletown’s David Neft, bluegrass musician Don Coffin, Anna McAtee, Gae Henry, Joan Moss and more.

This is a great opportunity to visit the historical ranch house at the park.

The event has been a favorite holiday tradition for many years; and is continuing this year with the help of many local volunteers. Christmas at the Ranch was started by the original members of the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA) and is continuing to be presented by the association.

The event is designed to welcome visitors to the house to enjoy the warm and festive atmosphere.

Christmas music is enjoyed by all and Santa waits in the parlor for youngsters to tell him of their Christmas wishes. A fire burns cheerily in the dining room where cookies, hot coffee and cider are served.

The public is warmly invited to attend this traditional, relaxed, and fun holiday event. Join the volunteers of the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association for an old-fashioned Christmas open house at the ranch.

For more information, contact Roberta Lyons at 707-994-2024.

The post is helping veterans and the family of veterans that are in need, this coming Christmas, by providing a turkey and all the fixings for making Christmas dinner.

Post members also will help by getting presents such as winter coats, hoodies, boots or shoes, and toys for the children of the families.

This is the fourth year that the post has been able to do this program because of the help of donations though their yard sales and fundraisers.

Last year the post was able to help 60 families and this year, because of the economy, they plan on helping 80 to 100 families.

If you are a veteran in need or know a veteran who needs assistance please contact Kirk at 707-263-8449. You also can contact Nancy at 707-263-2384 at the Veterans Service Office in Lakeport at 285 N. Main St.

The post thanks everyone in Lake County who supports the post and makes it possible to help local veterans.

“The goal is to provide every child in our local communities with a toy for Christmas this year, regardless of their family's circumstances,” said Mike Mayfield, president of Mendo Mill and Lumber.

“With many people unemployed and others struggling to make ends meet in this difficult economy, it's a real challenge for them to purchase gifts for their children, and we hope to give them a helping hand,” Mayfield said.

As an incentive to generate support for the campaign, Mendo Mill will offer a 15 percent discount on all purchases made until Dec. 20 by persons who bring a new, unwrapped toy or cash donation of $10 or more to any Mendo Mill store, Mayfield said.

In addition to a 15 percent instant discount on their entire purchase, customers will receive a coupon for a 15 percent discount on their next purchase at Mendo Mill.

Mendo Mill will collect the toys and cash and deliver them to the Toys for Tots organizations that serve Ukiah, Lakeport, Clearlake, Willits and Fort Bragg, the communities where Mendo Mill owns and operates home improvement stores.

Mendo Mill has consistently supported local charitable causes over the years, including a Toys for Tots drive and food bank fundraiser in 2010 and a major campaign that raised more than $168,000 for local charities in 2009.

“I have great confidence in the good will of our people and I am hopeful that together we can make this a very special and happy Christmas for every child in our local communities,” said Mayfield.

Major Bill Hendricks of the US Marine Corps Reserve started Toys for Tots in 1947.

Mayfield said the organization “has become an enduring American symbol of Christmas charitable work.”

He added, “Mendo Mill is honored to join hands with the Marine Corps to help needy children in our local communities.”

“For far too long, seniors have been victimized by the aggressive marketing and sale of annuity products that may not be suitable for them,” said Commissioner Jones. “Consumers have unwittingly bought these products not realizing that their invested funds will not be available to them, or their funds are terribly expensive to recover if they want to withdraw their money to pay for immediate expenses. This can be financially devastating to seniors on a fixed income. A new law, AB 689, sponsored by the Department, will help protect the hard-earned financial security of the growing number of older Californians.”

New census figures show the number of individuals 65 and older is rising faster than the total U.S. population. According to the 2010 Census, there were 40.3 million people in that age group – increasing by 5.3 million since the 2000 Census.

“These statistics point to an even greater need for the new law, which gives us the tools to go after scam artists preying on innocent seniors,” said Commissioner Jones.

AB 689 will require insurers to verify that an annuity purchase, replacement or exchange is reasonably suitable for the consumer based on an evaluation of the individual’s age, income, liquidity needs and financial objectives, among other factors. It also requires that a consumer receive a tangible net benefit from the purchase of the annuity.

The commissioner can revoke an agent’s license, impose fines, and/or order that lost funds be restored to the consumer when unsuitable annuity is sold.

Another new law, taking effect in January, will protect seniors from being persuaded to use the proceeds of a reverse mortgage to buy unsuitable insurance products. AB 793, sponsored by the Department, will stop agents and brokers – knowing a senior has just acquired a reverse mortgage – from soliciting those same funds from the individual for a non-casualty insurance product.

“A reverse mortgage should be a senior’s last option when needing cash to meet an immediate need,” said Commissioner Jones. “This new law will help return the concept of a reverse mortgage to its original intent and protect seniors from being sold something they simply don’t need.”

Commissioner Jones encourages consumers to learn more about their options by visiting the California Department of insurance web site at www.insurance.ca.gov.