LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Margaret M. Howard, known as Peg to her friends, passed away at home on Dec. 14, 2016.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Ed Howard, and her son, Larry Howard.

She is survived by her daughter, Connie Taylor; son-in-law, Wayne Taylor; grandson, Gary Taylor; granddaughter, Staci Taylor; and two great-granddaughters, Amanda and Emily Weller.

She was a 40-year resident of Clearlake, moving from Concord, Calif., when her husband retired.

She made many dear friends over the years in Lake County, and began an O.A. Group at the then-Redbud Hospital with Candy Hagler in the 1970s. She kept score for the bowling team Ed belonged to, and cooked all the fish he could catch out of Clear Lake.

There will be a private service, and the family requests anyone wanting to honor Margaret at this time to send a donation in her name to Hospice Services of Lake County, 1862 Parallel Dr. Lakeport, CA  95453, telephone 707-263-6222.

Arrangements under the care of Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel. Please share your loving memories of Margaret by signing her online guestbook at www.jonesandlewis.com .

The upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holiday season will see record-breaking travelers in California. The traveling period is defined as Friday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Jan. 2.

According to the latest travel survey from AAA Northern California, more than 12.4 million state residents will celebrate the end-of-year festivities with an excursion out of town, representing a 1.8 percent increase from last year.

“More Californians will travel to celebrate the holidays than ever before,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Cynthia Harris. “Rising incomes and a desire to gather with family and friends should make this the most traveled holiday season ever recorded.”

AAA estimates approximately 10.9 million Californians traveling during Christmas and New Year’s will choose to drive to their holiday destinations, representing a 1.7 percent increase compared to last year.

The air travel industry will experience an increase of 4.8 percent over last year, as more than one million Californians are expected to fly.

More than 400,000 state residents are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, such as boats or trains. This represents a decrease of 1.3 percent compared to last year.

Nationally, AAA projects more than 103 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the holiday festivities. That’s a 1.5 percent increase compared to last year.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes are six percent lower this year, falling to an average of $204 per round trip ticket for the top U.S. air routes.

Rates for AAA Two and Three Diamond Rated lodgings are expected to increase 7 percent, with travelers spending an average of $128 and $160 per night, respectively. Daily car rental rates will average $66, slightly lower than last year’s rates.

According to www.AAA.com vacation bookings, mostly warm weather destinations top the list of most popular holiday destinations:

· Las Vegas;
· Orlando;
· New York City;
· San Diego;
· Anaheim, California.

This holiday season, millions of travelers could be easy targets for thieves and scam artists.

AAA advises all travelers to broaden their peripheral vision while on vacation and always remain diligent about their personal security and surroundings.

AAA travel theft and safety tips:

· Enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): By enrolling in this program U.S. citizens have easy access to U.S. embassies or nearby consulates to contact in case of an emergency.
· Always be aware of your things on your person or left behind you. Whenever leaving a hotel, your car or home, tap your pockets to double check that phone, keys, wallet are there. When in travel mode, always add in passport and ticket.
· Separate your sources of cash: If all your sources of money are in your wallet and it gets stolen, it will be difficult to access any funds if in a foreign country. Credit cards have a system set up to send you emergency cash when your card is stolen. Make sure to carry your credit card company’s international phone numbers to call to report theft. Wear a money belt with some cash under clothing and keep extra cash and credit cards safely behind in a hotel room safety lock box.
· Scan and photocopy your travel documents: Should your credit cards get stolen, the first thing to do is cancel your cards and file a police report. Having a scanned driver’s license, passport and travel documents will speed up the re-application procedure for new credit cards and allows you access to online details relevant to your car rental, hotel reservations or flight itinerary.  
· Buy travel insurance: Most travel insurance providers offer reimbursements for travel interruption, lost luggage, medical evacuation and other services. Inquire from your provider to make sure you are covered for any other travel emergencies you might need.
· Share travel plans and itineraries with family and friends:  When traveling alone, make sure someone has copies of your itinerary, and check in with them while on the road. Make sure to let a friend or family member be aware of your movements, or ideally have a contact in the same city who can help in case of an emergency.
· If traveling overseas, be respectful of local customs: The best way to bring unsolicited attention to yourself is by being unaware of local ways and behaving inappropriately. Study up on the area you are visiting and be informed about local greetings, and what behavior and dress code is considered appropriate when visiting religious, government or tourist sites. 
· Walk facing the traffic or on a part of the sidewalk that gives you maximum visibility: Motorbikes zooming past you can snatch your purse or smartphone right from out of your hands and then drive off. Avoid flaunting your possessions; keep them out of sight.

 AAA projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA earlier this year as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.

AAA Travel is the nation’s largest travel organization. AAA Travel offers trips, cruises, tours, and vacation packages throughout the world. Call 888-937-5523 for more information or visit us at your local AAA Travel office or online at www.aaa.com/travel .

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released two annual reports on Friday that provide information about health care-associated infections, or HAI, and influenza vaccination rates among health care providers.

While California hospitals have made progress in preventing health care-associated infections, HAIs continue to be a significant public health issue in the state.

In 2015, hospitals reported 19,847 health care-associated infections to CDPH. From 2014 to 2015, 56 hospitals demonstrated significant improvement in preventing one or more HAI type.

Hospitals are making progress in preventing HAI with the exception of C. difficile diarrheal infections (CDI), which increased 8 percent since 2011. CDPH offered infection-prevention assistance to 73 hospitals with high infection rates.

The department’s influenza vaccination report indicates that vaccination rates among health care providers have improved in the past five years. Since 2011, vaccination rates increased 21 percent for hospital employees and 11 percent for non-employee health care providers, such as physicians or other contracted staff members.

Both the HAI and influenza vaccination rate reports include data reported by 392 licensed general acute care hospitals representing 419 campuses. The reports are on the CDPH Web site, and the data will also be made available on Dec. 19 on the California Health and Human Services Agency Data Portal.

Due to various factors in the way data are classified and validated, the information in this HAI report is not directly comparable to previous annual reports the department released. The report provides additional details about these changes.

Using data from these reports, CDPH created an interactive map for the public, Healthcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination in California Hospitals and updated the data for the My Hospital’s Infections Map.

“Hospitals can utilize the data in our HAI report to implement and improve infection-prevention strategies,” said Dr. Karen Smith, CDPH director and state public health officer. “This same information can help Californians stay informed about what their local hospitals are doing to protect against health care associated infections.”

Links to reports:

·  HAI in California Hospitals, 2015

· 2015-2016 Healthcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination Annual Report

Boats leaving Pyramid Lake and Castaic Lake are subject to restrictions to help prevent the spread of quagga mussels, which were discovered last week in a tunnel that connects the two Los Angeles County lakes, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced Thursday.

Effective Thursday, boats are subject to inspection as they leave Pyramid Lake and Castaic Lake and Castaic’s Lower Lake Lagoon.

Boats will be inspected by the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department to ensure all water is drained from outboards, bilges, live-wells and any other areas where water may have collected.

As with boating anywhere in California, it is advised that boaters contact the destination waterbody so they are informed of any inspection requirements before their arrival. As a general practice, boats and equipment should be cleaned, drained and dried after every use to prevent spreading invasive species.

Boats leaving Pyramid and Castaic lakes will not be granted a “clean boat” tag, which normally is attached to boats upon departure. The tag is an indicator that the boat has only been used in mussel-free lakes and may not require inspection prior to entering other bodies of water, depending upon a lake’s specific launching requirements.

Additionally, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) urges other waterbody managers with quagga prevention programs to consider Pyramid Lake, Elderberry Forebay, Castaic Lake and Castaic Lagoon as infested waters. Watercraft originating from these waterbodies should be considered high-risk and managed accordingly.

The quagga mussel is a small, non-native freshwater mollusk that DWR had successfully prevented from infesting the State Water Project since the species was first discovered in California in 2007.  The mussels, native to the Ukraine, pose an ecological threat to California’s native species and can colonize hard surfaces, clogging water intakes, screens and pipes.

DWR found six adult mussels on December 8 during an inspection of the Angeles Tunnel, which connects Pyramid Lake to the Elderberry Forebay and nearby Castaic Lake. CDFW has concluded Pyramid Lake is infested and both Elderberry Forebay and Castaic Lake are presumed infested.

DWR has found no evidence of mussel reproduction, and no larval or “veliger” stage mussels have been found in Pyramid Lake or Castaic Lake during DWR’s routine monthly veliger detection monitoring. No young sub-adult mussels were found in the tunnel, and while no mussels have been found in Castaic Lake, infestation there is presumed. Both lakes are actively monitored each month.

CDFW has permitted black bass tournaments in Castaic and Pyramid lakes beginning in January. At this time, these tournaments will proceed. When tournament permits are issued, special conditions are required of the permittee, including boat inspections before entering new waterbodies. The boating restrictions above will be required for all tournament participants.

In addition, tournament organizations and participants must comply with all federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances pertaining to the spread of quagga mussels. These laws include additional responsibility for the tournament organizer and participants to properly clean, drain and dry boats before and after the tournament, and educational briefings and literature must be provided to all participants.

CDFW has authority to take enforcement action for any violation of FGC section 2301 related to the transportation of quagga mussels.

The Boat Cleaning Guide Book can be found at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=4957 .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from Sayre Avenue to Glenhaven Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Road 8067 beginning Tuesday, Dec. 20. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– The Harbor House has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform drainage improvements beginning Monday, Dec. 19. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from the North Calpella Overcrossing to Road 260 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.
 
– Paving operations between a private road and the Lake County Line will begin Monday, Dec. 19. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
Highway 101

– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
– Emergency slide removal work will continue. A full highway closure will be in effect with a detour onto State Route 271. Motorists should anticipate ten minute delays as they navigate the detour.

Highway 128

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform tree work between Nash Mill Road and Anderson Valley Way beginning Monday, Dec. 19. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
 
Highway 162

– Geotechnical studies near the Middle Fork Eel River Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work near the Town Creek Bridge beginning Friday, Dec. 23. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 253

– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to perform utility work near Robinson Creek Road beginning Monday, Dec. 19. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clayton fire started on Aug. 13. By the time the fire was contained, it had burned a total of 3,929 acres and has destroyed 300 buildings.

During those long days, there were hundreds of families displaced. If the Valley fire taught the Clayton fire victims anything, it was to take their animals with them when the evacuated.

Taking the animals brought the new problem; what to do with the animals when you don’t have a place for yourself?

Lake County Animal Care and Control's Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection team and the SPCA of Lake County opened the SPCA facility and welcomed in the evacuated pets.

In addition, the SPCA of Lake County partnered with Orphan Dog Ranch Rescue to provide a place for people to bring donations of pet supplies and a place for people in need to get pet supplies.

The tiny project to provide for pets with the support of the community soon needed a location in Lower Lake.

The people most affected by the fire needed easier access to the pet supplies. It was with the help of Century 21 North Bay Alliance in Lower Lake that Orphan Dog Ranch Rescue, SPCA of Lake County and Jameson Rescue Ranch could start the Pet Pantry in a donated space next to the Century 21 North Bay Alliance office.

The Pet Pantry was open for just over 60 days. During that time, Orphan Dog, SPCA and JARR served hundreds of dogs and cats, along with many rabbits, birds, hamsters, rats, ducks and a couple of turtles.

Orphan Dog, the SPCA and JARR are all proud of the work they did in those 60ish days. They met so many in the community and got a sense of the need there.

They were also able to let the community know about the free spay and neuter programs – the Clearlake Pet Project administered through the SPCA of Lake County and FIX Lake County administered through Orphan Dog.

“Century 21 NorthBay Alliance is a proud sponsor of many local organizations in Lake County,” said Jeff Collaso, manager/owner of the Century 21 office.

The Pet Pantry is so grateful to Century 21 for their support. They also want to thank the community, businesses, and other rescue groups for their support during this difficult time. The donations made a huge difference to a lot of pet families.

Anyone needing help to care for their pets should contact the SPCA of Lake County at 707-279-1400. A limited Pet Pantry will be available during spay/neuter and immunization clinics. The SPCA of Lake County is also taking donations to continue the program on a limited basis.

Still need to buy holiday flights or find a room for New Year’s Eve?

If you search online, it’s likely that some of the first results will be from online travel agencies and third party booking sites. They may claim that they offer the best deals, and that it’s hassle-free.

Booking your flight or hotel room online through a third party, not the hotel or airline itself, may have advantages. However, there are also risks involved.

Although there are many legitimate online booking sites, like those that are Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited, there are also some bad actors out there that may try to take advantage of travelers.

So far in 2016, consumers nationwide have filed 2,284 complaints with BBB about online travel agencies. This is a 28-percent increase from last year. Nearly 1,800 complaints had been filed by this point in 2015.

The leading cause for complaints are issues with guarantees, followed closely by problems with refunds/exchanges and poor customer service.

Travel and vacation scams are also a problem. So far in 2016, around 260 have been reported to BBB Scam Tracker – with a median loss of $890. Consumers have reported booking hotels through online third party sites and discovering upon arrival that the hotel simply did not exist.

Scammers may also attempt to phish consumers by creating fake hotel websites imitating legitimate brands in an attempt to steal personal and financial information.

Follow these seven tips from your BBB to protect yourself when booking a trip online:

• Do your research. The first step when booking through an online site is to check www.bbb.org . When you visit a company’s BBB Business Profile, you can see its rating, complaint history and reviews from past customers. If you’re looking for a booking site to use, check out the BBB Accredited Business Directory for trustworthy businesses that are committed to BBB’s Standards for Trust. Reading about a business online can help you avoid issues that others have dealt with already. If you see the BBB Seal on a website, you should still check that it links back to the company’s BBB Business Profile. Just as it’s easy to steal hotel pictures from a legitimate website, it’s also possible for scammers to steal the BBB Seal.

• Read the fine print. When booking through a third party site, it’s vital that you read the fine print. Consumers are often surprised by unexpected fees and angry about poor policies that were actually stated in the fine print. Make sure to read the cancellation and exchange policies, and be on the lookout for “booking fees” and other charges. It’s also important to check the contact information. Consider it a red flag if you can only contact the business through email and there’s no listed phone number.

• Double check the URL. Rogue sites may use URLs that are very similar to legitimate hotel, airline or booking site’s URLs. Double check the URL, hover your mouse over links and make sure the spelling and grammar is correct. This can help you avoid getting scammed.

• Look for a secure connection. A secure connection is especially important when you’re entering personal and financial information. Look for the “https:”, where the “s” stands for “secure”, and other trust marks. The site should have a clear privacy policy as well. At every point in the online process, you should know who is getting your credit card information.

• Use a credit card. In case something does go wrong, it’s best to use a credit card. A credit card may offer more protection than a debit or prepaid card.

• Watch out for too-good-to-be-true deals. You may stumble across a third party booking site offering unbelievably low prices. Be careful – this may be a sign that something fishy is going on. Don’t click on online ads or links in unsolicited emails advertising great deals. It may be phishing.

• Call the company directly. To be extra safe, call the hotel or airline directly to confirm your reservation. You can make sure that the third party site properly booked your accommodations, and also alert the company about any special needs or specific requests you may have.”

Rebecca Harpster works for the Better Business Bureau serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.

COBB, Calif. – After its popular debut last year, the “Winter Wonderland” event on Cobb Mountain will return this holiday season.

The free event will on Friday, Dec. 16, at Blackrock Golf Course, 16451 Golf Road in Cobb.

It will run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Monday, Dec. 19.

There will be a zip line and other activities available for all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Visit Santa’s Workshop for a photo with Santa Claus from noon to 2 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. each day.
 
This event is sponsored by Cobb Community Investment Committee and Funded by Calpine at The Geysers. For more information or volunteer inquiries, please call 707-987-4270 or visit  www.facebook.com/WinterWonderlandCobb .