LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lower Lake Historical School Preservation Committee will host its annual Quilt and Fiber Arts Show from Aug. 8 through Sept. 5 in the Weaver Auditorium.

Featured artists this year are Sheila O’Hara, Sherry Harris and numerous quilters from throughout Lake County.

Antique quilts and an 1807 spinning wheel will also be on display.

An artists' reception will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8.

Quilt and textile artists will discuss their work, and there will be several demonstrations on weaving, spinning and basket making.

If you are a quilter or fiber artist and want your work shown during this event, please contact Curator Tony Pierucci at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call at 707-995-3565.

The deadline for submissions is Friday July 31.

The Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum is located at 16435 Main St. It's open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The SPCA of Clear Lake is facing financial issues and is asking for the community's help in meeting the challenges ahead.

Recently, the SPCA Board of Directors voted to discontinue providing animal services to the city of Clearlake under the current agreement with the city.

This decision was due to a combination of the large number of animals being brought to the shelter by the city, as well as the city's refusal to increase the amount of money paid to the SPCA commensurate to the cost of caring for the animals.

The SPCA of Clear Lake is a nonprofit corporation that relies heavily upon community contributions, as well as income generated from it's spay, neuter and vaccination services in order to function within the county of Lake.

During the past year, the organization has held many adoption events and fundraisers, and reached out to schools and senior centers in order to better serve all of the residents of Lake County.

The veterinarian on staff at the SPCA of Clear Lake, Dr. Glenn Benjamin, has volunteered his services free of charge.

Unfortunately, the organization is now struggling financially as it finds itself still legally obligated to accept animals from the city of Clearlake through Oct. 1, and at the same time, no longer able to hold spay/neuter clinics to produce income due to the temporary loss of its veterinarian to a medical leave.

Several grant applications are in the works, a fundraiser at DJ's Pizza has been scheduled for Sept. 2, and another fundraiser featuring a silent auction and dinner has been scheduled for Oct. 17.

The SPCA reported that its board of directors and staff are working hard to keep its shelter at 8025 Highway 29 in Kelseyville – the only alternative shelter to Lake County Animal Control in the county – open. But they said they can't do it without the community's help.

How can you help? In so many ways. Currently, there are more than a dozen donation boxes placed throughout the county where you can contribute your dollars and coins.

An Amazon Smile account was recently set up so that when you purchase something from Amazon, the SPCA of Clear Lake can benefit. The SPCA of Clear Lake has a Paypal account ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) where you can make contributions. Or you can send money directly to the organization at 8025 Highway 29 in Kelseyville, CA 95451.

There are other ways to contribute as well. The SPCA of Clear Lake is always in need of paper towels, laundry soap, hand soap, newspapers, blankets, sheets and so much more.

You may considering volunteering your time walking the dogs or playing with the cats. Maybe even adopt one of the friendly furry pets and take it home with you.

The SPCA of Clear Lake has been in existence in this county longer than any other animal shelter services. However, there is a possibility that in the near future, without public assistance, it may no longer be able to afford to keep its doors open.

How would that impact the animals in this county? In 2014, the SPCA took into its care 1,156 dogs, cats, goats, rabbits and even a bird.

In 2014 the SPCA of Clear Lake performed 1,588 low cost spay or neuters on Lake County's dogs and cats. Many of the county's low income population and seniors cannot afford the high costs of going to a conventional veterinary office.

If you would like to adopt one of the adorable animals at the SPCA of Clear Lake, volunteer or make a donation, the staff at the SPCA would love to hear from you.

The SPCA is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Have a question? Give them a call at 707-279-1400. The SPCA would love to hear from you!

Brenda Crandall is the public information officer for the SPCA of Clear Lake.

SACRAMENTO – New consumer protections were ushered in on Thursday when Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 426 (Leyva) into law.

Sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, the new law protects seniors and their beneficiaries from financial losses incurred when insurers apply surrender penalties to annuities paid as a death benefit.

Seniors often buy annuities to protect themselves from outliving their money, although these contracts also contain death benefit provisions in case the annuitant dies before the annuity begins paying benefits.

Surrender penalties are often charged by insurance companies in the first few years of an annuity contract because insurers typically invest in longer duration, liquid assets.

Current law allows companies to apply those penalties to death benefits in the same way that a voluntary surrender is charged a penalty.

Because of this, early death in an annuity contract can result in minimal interest earnings or even a death benefit that is lower than what was actually paid in premiums.

“Consumer protection and helping seniors avoid possible financial hardship is paramount to the mission of the Department of Insurance,” said Commissioner Dave Jones. “While many companies do not currently pay out a death benefit that is less than the premium paid, some insurers do apply surrender penalties reducing the death benefit below the total premiums, which is the reason for this important legislation. I thank Senator Leyva for partnering with me on this change in law.”

The new law codifies a current best practice for insurers by requiring that the death benefit for fixed deferred annuities be at least equal to the annuity amount or the accumulation value for those annuities issued to consumers 65 years of age or older.

This bill also prohibits companies from charging a surrender penalty on the death benefit payment.

Taking effect on Jan. 1, 2016, SB 426 earned strong bipartisan support in the Legislature and was supported by the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, California Health Advocates, Congress of California Seniors and the Elder Financial Protection Network.

EMERYVILLE, Calif. – Older adults who have stopped driving are almost twice as likely to suffer from depression and nearly five times as likely to enter a long-term care facility as those who remain behind the wheel, according to a new report released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Columbia University.

The study examined older adults who have permanently given up driving and the impact it has on their health and mental well-being.

The importance of understanding the effects this lifestyle change has on older adults is essential, as the number of drivers aged 65 and older continues to increase in the United States with nearly 81 percent of the 39.5 million seniors in this age group still behind the wheel.

“The decision to stop driving, whether voluntary or involuntary, appears to contribute to a variety of health problems for seniors, particularly depression as social circles are greatly reduced.” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Cynthia Harris. “When the decision is made to relinquish the keys, it is vital to counteract the negative effects through participation in programs that allow seniors to remain mobile and socially connected.”

The AAA Foundation’s report on Driving Cessation and Health Outcomes for Older Adults examined declines in general health and physical, social, and cognitive functions in former drivers. For seniors who stopped driving, the study found:

· Diminished productivity and low participation in daily life activities outside of the home.

· Risk of depression nearly doubled.

· Fifty-one percent reduction in the size of social networks over a 13-year period.

· Accelerated decline in cognitive ability over a 10-year period.

· Former drivers were five times as likely to be admitted to a long-term care facility.

As a leading advocate for senior driver safety AAA provides many programs and resources for senior drivers including Roadwise Review. Roadwise Review Online is a free, confidential screening/self-assessment tool developed by AAA to help older driver’s measure certain mental and physical abilities important for safe driving.

In as little as 30 minutes, users can identify and get further guidance on the physical and mental skills that need improvement – all in the privacy of their own home.

For more information on all the free resources AAA offers to older drivers, visit www.SeniorDriving.AAA.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County libraries and 4-H youth invite the community to participate in the 2015 Lake County Fair.

Members of the Lake County 4-H Youth Tech Team are visiting libraries during July to help people enter the Lake County fair online and to answer questions about the 4-H program.

The libraries will have a limited supply of Lake County Fair premium books for the workshops.

The 4-H teen leaders and the Lake County 4-H Youth Tech Team welcome all ages to drop by during any of the four free scheduled workshops.

Upcoming sessions are set to take place at Upper Lake Library, 310 Second St., on Saturday, July 25, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St., on Saturday, July 25, from 2 to 4 p.m.; and Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road in Clearlake on Wednesday, July 29, from 2 to 4 p.m.

For more information about the workshops call the local 4-H office at 707-263-6838. For library information call 707-263-8817.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Have a talent you want to show off?

Each year the Lake County Fair offers the chance to show off your creativity in a variety of competitive exhibits from baking, quilting, photography, art and more.

You can win the bragging rights and cash prizes by entering your masterpiece in one of the fair's many competitive departments.

All entries into the Lake County Fair are made online at www.lakecountyfair.com/participate/enter-now/online-entries .

The Lake County Fair office at 401 Martin St. in Lakeport has computers that are open to the public during regular business hours through Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Internet access also can be found in a number of other public places, including libraries and at Umpqua Bank branches.

Exhibitor Contest Handbooks are available on the Lake County Fair’s Web site and in a variety of locations around Lake County, including Lake County and Clearlake Chambers of Commerce, the 4-H Office, CVS, Kelseyville Drug, Bird Brain Designs, Cobb Mountain Hardesters, Red and White Market and Tower Mart in Clearlake Oaks, Riviera Foods, Rainbow Ag, CJS Ranch Supply, Lakeshore Feed, Barreda’s Lower Lake Feed, Pet Acres, Sentry Market and various senior centers. 

Contest deadlines are 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.

More than 3,000 entries were displayed last year at the Lake County Fair with winners receiving $13,090 in premiums.

The Lake County Fair traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport.

The 2015 fair dates are Sept. 3 through Sept. 6.

The Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year.

For more information visit the fair online at www.lakecountyfair.com or at its Facebook page.