WILLITS, Calif. – The Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) Advisory Group will meet on Monday, Nov. 16.

The group will meet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the community room at the Fort Bragg Library, located at 499 East Laurel St.

This meeting is open to the public and public attendance is encouraged.

The complete agenda is available at the JDSF Web site, http://calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_stateforests_jackson.php .

If anyone has any questions about Jackson Demonstration State Forest, please call 707-964-5674.

Multiple uses of JDSF for a wide variety of activities that benefit the public, the economy and natural resources are what our demonstration forests are all about.

As we honor our military service members on Veterans Day, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has issued a consumer alert to Californians regarding scams targeting seniors who served in the military and their survivors.

These scams have been reported to the California Department of Justice’s Public Inquiry Unit.

“California’s veterans have made extraordinary sacrifices to keep our nation safe and uphold our most sacred values and freedoms,” said Attorney General Harris. “Sadly, many of our senior veterans are being targeted by scam artists seeking to take advantage of them for a quick profit. My office will continue to protect our veterans and ensure that predators who seek to profit from their service are held accountable.”

These reported “pension poaching” scams prey on veterans and target the financial assistance offered through the Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance Program, which provides pension benefits to financially disadvantaged wartime veterans and their survivors over 65 years of age.

Specifically, pension poaching scams involve unscrupulous insurance agents and their representatives posing as unpaid volunteers or accredited VA representatives who offer to help seniors apply for VA pension benefits.

These insurance agents and their representatives lure seniors into buying an annuity or setting up an irrevocable trust to create a false appearance of financial hardship by attempting to conceal the senior’s assets.

Insurance agents and their representatives charge high fees for these services, including undisclosed sales commissions that are paid to the purported volunteer.

Targeted seniors may not be fully aware of the consequences of moving their assets into an annuity or irrevocable trust, such as strict withdrawal limitations leaving them without access to funds they may actually need for their care.

Although a VA pension benefits application based on false financial need may be successful, those who receive this benefit may face significant financial and legal consequences if the concealed funds are discovered, including repayment of benefit amounts received.

Seniors who receive other VA or government-sponsored benefits that require disclosure of funds held in annuities and irrevocable trusts are especially vulnerable to reversal of their VA pension benefit.

What to look out for

The Attorney General offers California consumers the following tips to protect themselves from VA pension benefits poaching scams:

– Anyone who asks you to pay money or move assets in connection with applying for a VA pension benefit is likely not a VA-accredited representative. He or she may be an insurance agent or representative who receives a sales commission for selling you an annuity or irrevocable trust.

– Moving assets into an annuity or irrevocable trust could restrict your access to these funds and may have significant unintended tax or legal consequences that outweigh any financial benefit gained from receiving VA pension benefits.

– If you receive VA pension benefits based on false financial need, you could be required to repay any benefits received back to the government.

What to do if someone offers to help you apply for VA pension benefits

If you are approached by someone offering to help you apply for VA pension benefits and you would incur any costs or fees in connection with the service being offered, contact your local VA to determine whether this assistance is reputable.

Be wary of sharing personal information over the phone. VA representatives will tell you what you need to know and the advice is free.

A directory of VA centers is available at www.va.gov/directory/guide/vetcenter.asp .

Helpful resources

If you believe that you are a victim of a pension poaching scam and do meet the age, military service, and financial need requirements for a VA pension benefit, VA-accredited representatives including Veterans Service Organizations, agents, and attorneys are available to help you file a claim, free of charge.

You can also file a complaint with the California Department of Justice by visiting http://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company .

A searchable list of VA-accredited representatives is available at www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp or call 1-800-827-1000.

For more information about VA Aid and Attendance pension benefits, visit www.benefits.va.gov/pension . 

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission has adjourned its normally scheduled November meeting and will hold another later in the month.

The commission's regular schedule calls for it to have met at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. 

However, since Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, the commission's meeting has been adjourned and a special meeting will take place at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club next week will host a talk on the impacts of the drought.

The club will meet at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Scotts Valley Women's Club House, at 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport. A light lunch will be served.

Local outdoors and environmental writer Terry Knight will be the group's guest speaker, reporting on the effects of the drought on Lake County.

All are invited to attend the meeting to learn and share their experiences with gardening, landscaping and water conservation.

The Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club is a member of the MendoLake District of the California Garden Club Inc. Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

The club welcomes new members and information can be found by visiting www.clttgc.org or call Ginny Cline at 707-262-0675.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Savings Bank of Mendocino County is committed to assist with relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts for the families and businesses affected by the Valley fire.

To support the fire recovery efforts, Savings Bank is accepting financial donations on behalf of Lake County Wine Alliance #LakeCountyRising, North Coast Opportunities Wildfire Relief Fund and Habitat for Humanity Lake County Fire Rebuild Fund.

“These organizations share our commitment towards recovery efforts and rebuilding the affected communities,” said Pete Dodson, Savings Bank Lakeport branch loan officer.

The bank encourages others who wish to make a tax-deductible monetary donation to these Valley fire relief efforts to stop by any of its 10 branch locations in Lake and Mendocino counties or mail checks payable to these organizations to Savings Bank P.O. Box 156  Lakeport, CA 95453.

Local bankers encourage those affected by the Valley fire with financial questions and concerns to call or visit the nearest Savings Bank branch.

For more information, including branch locations, visit the bank online at www.savingsbank.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lee Massie, “The Pie-guy,” has a passion for creating edible works of art with a crust and filling. 

Massie’s grandmother first inspired his passion for pie baking when he was 8 years old. He says that his desire “is to bake the best and most creative pies ever.” 

Just in time for holiday baking, Massie will reveal everything you ever wanted to know about the art and science of baking pies. 

He will explain the tools and ingredients essential to making perfect pastry and fabulous fillings for your next pie at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Lakeport branch of the Lake County Library, 1425 N. High St.

The class is free and no library card is needed to attend. The Friends of the Lake County Library will provide light refreshments. Call 707-263-8817 for more details.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .