Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has become one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Enticed by price cuts on electronics, toys, and everything in between, consumers flock to stores in the hopes of completing their holiday shopping in one chaotic, and savings-filled, day.

According the National Retail Federation, 164 million Americans plan to shop during the 2017 Thanksgiving weekend, and holiday retail sales are expected to increase to $682 billion.

With that much money on the table, businesses are doing all they can to attract customers and stand out from the competition.

However, it’s important to do your research: in 2016, consumers nationwide filed more than 1,300 complaints with BBB against retail stores.

Completing your holiday shopping while sticking to a budget is hard enough, so let your BBB help you navigate the complexities of Black Friday with these tips.

Do your research

Before doing business anywhere, make sure to look up the company at bbb.org to see their BBB Business Profile, which includes information about the business, their complaint history, BBB Customer Reviews, and any major advertising issues.

It’s also smart to look up prices, find deals, and comparison shop online before the main event so that you can go in with a game plan.

Make sure to read product reviews of potential purchases before heading out so that you don’t have any regrets.

Protect your identity

Identity theft can happen at any time, and fraudsters might try to take advantage of the swell of shoppers on Black Friday.

It’s OK to use public Wi-Fi to read product reviews and check out businesses on www.bbb.org, but be careful entering any personal information when connected. Steer clear of online banking and social media – your login information could be stolen. It’s also important to be aware of your surroundings and watch your wallet – someone might try to snatch it while you’re occupied comparing TVs.

Watch out for deceptive advertising

You’re bound to see ads for deals that seem too good to be true. Unfortunately, some of these advertisements may be misleading at best and fraudulent at worst.

Make sure to read the fine print, as ads often come with a multitude of restrictions. BBB’s AdTruth campaign can help you identify and avoid common schemes and highlights bad ads. If you see false advertising while out shopping you can report it at www.bbb.org/council/ad-truth/ as well.

Read up on return and exchange policies

Before you make a purchase, make sure you understand the return and exchange policies, and keep your receipts in one place in case you need to take something back.

Some stores may not let you return specific “final sale” items, charge restocking fees, or only refund you in store credit.

If you’re shopping for presents, get gift receipts and save all warranty information in case a problem occurs.

Watch out for phishing

You’re bound to receive emails from brands advertising huge sales. But be careful, some might be phishing.

Fraudsters can create fake, look-alike business Web sites to trick you into entering credit card information, so search for the company’s Web site independently instead of clicking on any link.

Be careful clicking on links on social media or from unfamiliar or unsolicited senders, and look up businesses you don’t know on www.bbb.org before engaging with them.

Check out www.bbb.org to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, report a scam, read tips, follow them on social media and more.

Rebecca Harpster is community outreach coordinator for the Better Business Bureau, serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.

If you have Medicare, you can protect your identity and help prevent health care fraud by guarding your Medicare card like you would a credit card.

Identity theft arising from stolen Medicare numbers is becoming more common. Medicare is in the process of removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards and replacing them with a new, unique number for each person with Medicare.

Medicare will mail new Medicare cards with the new numbers between April 2018 and April 2019.

The new card won’t change your Medicare coverage or benefits. And there's no charge for your new card.

But watch out for scammers!

Thieves may try to get your current Medicare number and other personal information by contacting you about your new Medicare card. They may claim to be from Medicare and use various phony pitches to get your Medicare number, such as:

– Asking you to confirm your Medicare or Social Security number so they can send you a new card.
– Telling you there's a charge for your new card and they need to verify your personal information.
– Threatening to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your Medicare number or other personal information.

Don’t fall for any of this.

Don’t share your Medicare number or other personal information with anyone who contacts you by phone, email, or by approaching you in person, unless you’ve given them permission in advance.

Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call and ask for personal information in these situations:

– A Medicare health or drug plan can call you if you’re already a member of the plan. The agent who helped you join can also call you.
– A customer service representative from 1-800-MEDICARE can call if you’ve called and left a message or a representative said that someone would call you back.

Only give personal information like your Medicare number to doctors, insurers acting on your behalf, or trusted people in the community who work with Medicare, like counselors from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

If someone calls you and asks for your Medicare number or other personal information, hang up and call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

There are other steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft that can lead to health care fraud.

Don’t ever let anyone borrow or pay to use your Medicare number. And review your Medicare Summary Notice to be sure you and Medicare are being charged only for items and services you actually received.

We’re in the midst of Medicare open enrollment season right now. This is the time every year when you can sign up for, switch, or drop a Medicare health plan (Part C) or a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D). Open enrollment ends Dec. 7.

Scam artists often try to take advantage of open enrollment season. So if someone calls and tries to get you to sign up for a Medicare plan, keep in mind there are no “early bird discounts” or “limited time offers.”

Don’t let anyone rush you to enroll by claiming you need to “act now for the best deal.” And be skeptical of promises of free gifts, free medical services, discount packages or any offer that sounds too good to be true.
It probably is.

To learn more about protecting yourself from identity theft and health care fraud, visit www.Medicare.gov/fraud or contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol (www.smpresource.org).

Greg Dill is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Please know that all agencies involved are doing their best to prepare for the repopulation of the areas that are still under mandatory evacuation.

It has been a slow day today as half of our resources have been taken away to deal with fires that are currently threatening other residential areas.

For the most part from what I saw today taking a boat tour with the sheriffs, there were only a few hot spots left on the Clearlake area of the fire, but there were more very visible hotspots in the Elem Tribe area on the north and northeastern part of our peninsula.

Be vigilant if you live in this area, just in case that something flares back up as the winds are blowing at a decent speed.

I have not heard of any reason to be frightened or panicked about the situation, just make sure you have a full battery charge on your phone, gas in your car, just in case something does happen.

I just woke up from a long nap that obviously my body and mind needed to deal with the lack of sleep that I've endured, as well as others, during the past couple of days. I know I've been trying my best, as have many others, to keep you posted on the fire status, but I have not had the chance to say my thank yous.

To our local Fire Departments, CalFire, and local police enforcement, your efforts at saving lives, and saving homes are beyond outstanding. I have watched you working tirelessly day in and day out until we reach 100% containment. You are organized, you are thoughtful and the respect given is incredible. I'll quote one of the officers that came to help when we asked what their agency was willing to do. "You tell us what we need to do we're here to help you in any way we can. This is your house and we're here to help." Thank you.

To our Salvation Army, Red Cross, Twin Pine Casino and Grace Church, your volunteerism to help those displaced by fire is honorable and memorable. You are our first line in supporting people's hierarchy of needs. Mental support, food, sleep, and you even helped with the animals. I can't thank you enough. I want to single out Twin Pine Casino for being our rock through each and every fire in our county. You don't even blink an eye before you say "yes, we need to help." Thank you.

To our city staff here in Clearlake. We had Public Works, our Parks Department, Code Enforcement and more working 12-hour shifts all through the night and day to keep those barricades up. I know from doing my own barricade at Burns Valley near the public library and helping at the Lakeshore and Olympic barricade that it is a difficult task to hear everyone's story as to why they need to go back into the evac zone. You are possibly the most hated in this event as you are the ones holding people back from going back to the lives they believe they may have lost, but your efforts kept people safe, kept people's homes safe, and provided the space needed for our first responders and agencies to complete the work to get people back home as soon as possible. Thank you.

Last but not least, I want to single out some people. Russ Perdock, Phil Harris, Nick Bennett and Joyce Overton, Greg Folsom, Tim Celli and Doug Herren. Because of you, the process to repopulate was done days in advance of what we originally estimated would happen. Because of you, communication to the public was constant and the organization of the town hall meetings allowed evacuees and residents to know what was happening.

I know that I worked and stood side by side with Russ and Phil for more than 16 hours each day, sometimes even longer, especially on day one. Thank you. This is the type of leadership that Clearlake needs.

While some have found their homes intact and have repopulated others are still waiting to go home or waiting to look at what is left of their homes. We all have friends that have lost something in this fire and it's important that we support one another.

Even the roller coaster ride of not knowing and finally finding your home intact requires a certain amount of support. Support is not needed only for those who have lost something.

We all know each other in this city, let's hold each other up, let's offer one another a hand. I say this not only for moral and mental support, but also for physical support. In the days ahead we are already preparing for a cleanup effort. It will be vital to get this done ASAP so that our lake and our environment does not get any more negatively affected by this fire.

Lend a shoulder, and lend a hand when and wherever you can when the opportunity arises. Make sure to stop and thank those people above that I mentioned. I am so proud to have worked with them. I am filled with sadness in my heart as I've held close friends in my arms who have lost homes in this fire, but we have been brought closer together than any other time I've ever felt.

To those in Middletown, Lower Lake, Cobb, and other fire survivors. I thought I empathized and understood your emotions and your experiences. I lied, I thought I did, but I didn't. I have never wanted to cry as much as I have in the past two days knowing that we can feel that helpless when faced with such danger. I understand, and my heart goes out to everyone affected by this fire and all previous fires.

Lastly, to those unknown heroes who helped their neighbors, or took a boat from across the lake to help save people in harm's way, or those who randomly brought food and water to evacuees. Your love in your hearts will never be forgotten and I can't thank you enough.

Stay strong, be safe, and let's keep our neighboring brothers and sisters in our thoughts and in our hearts as they battle other blazes that surround us.

Sorry so long, but my mind has been busy with my thoughts.

Bruno Sabatier is vice mayor of the city of Clearlake, Calif., which has suffered significant loss during the Sulphur fire.

Growth, both personal and as a people, simply doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

While we draw great strength from our tribal history and internal cohesion, our outside partnerships with the surrounding community have been essential for the people of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake to live up to our full potential.

It is the links that we have forged with our neighbors and the surrounding region that provide us with a complete, sturdy foundation from which to grow and continue to improve on all fronts.

The benefits of our location have not been lost on the tribe. The natural landscape of Northern California provides a constant source of inspiration and reinforces on a daily basis our connection to the land from which we came.

It is on this land that we have been able to develop our tribe and engender growth in a multitude of ways. We understand that with the fruits of this development comes a responsibility to share with our neighbors not only tangible things, but amiability and appreciation.

Our tribe has continually fostered a warm, caring relationship with our neighbors in Lake County. In perpetuating this relationship, we have been able to show our gratitude through assistance to local organizations and municipal institutions.

Without the support that these establishments provide to our neighbors and the area as a whole, this region would not be the place it is today. We believe part of being good citizens means stepping up and doing our part to keep the county a great place to live and work.

Contributions from the tribe have also gone directly to Lake County, which helped the county office produce public relations material to help share its message of natural beauty and goodwill out to the world at large.

Another gift, to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, bolsters the Child Safety Identification Program. The safety of the children of the community, inside our tribe and out, is always a priority. It fit in perfectly with our neighborly mission to partner with law enforcement so that they can continue to provide the best security possible.

On that same course, we have also gladly supported our local fire department by helping them bring jobs in-house that had previously been outsourced.

When locals can take an active part in providing local services, we’re all participating in making our region a better one. It means a great deal to be able to help bring jobs to those neighbors who have helped us so much.

When improvements are made in the lives of young people, the future potential of the whole region is placed in better hands. The children of our area make up the providers of tomorrow, the people who will guide this land we love so much into the next century and beyond. We would be dreadfully remiss if we didn’t have them in mind when we reach out to help the area around us.

Our youth education initiatives have also been an opportunity to work with our local schools, the places our children learn the citizenship skills to become members of their outside community along with our own.

Outside of sending our children to these local schools to join their peers, the tribe offers educational programming to bolster those crucial early lessons. Our Early Childhood Development program has been a great help to parents looking to get their children prepared for school with foundational lessons.

Many young people in the area have attended our after school tutoring program to help with their skills. We strongly believe in education as a bridge between our people and those with whom we share this bountiful land, and our engagement with local education is a point of pride for us all.

Recreation is an important part of a well-rounded upbringing as well. The tribe’s contribution to the Lights of Love charitable fund allowed for a state-of-the-art lighting system to be installed on Upper Lake High School’s sports fields, meaning that students would now be able to play and practice at night during the hot summer months when daytime heat makes exercise under the sun unfeasible and unsafe.

Our children play alongside those of our neighbors on these very fields, sharing in the character development that comes with youth sports.

It’s also important to us that we do not keep our cultural traditions cloistered away, but share them with the community.

We often host our fellow county residents for events and get togethers on our tribal land, opening up our doors for our friends and neighbors.

We enjoy sharing many of the aspects of our culture that we continue today at these gatherings, including traditional song and dance.

To create a new kind of gathering where all can take part gives us the joy of paying tribute to our past, while bringing about a new kind of future.

Protecting the environment is the best way we can protect this future, and our Environmental Department has helped with various projects and events that ensure our land will stay beautiful for years to come.

A tribal presence at environmental cleaning projects, festivals, and other outings both solidifies our local friendships and promotes the idea that we can all achieve more by working together.

We at the tribe are continually inspired by the generosity and kindness of the citizens of Lake County and the entire Upper Lake region. We truly feel lucky to have a presence among the great people that make up this community.

The relationships and bonds that we have forged over the years are, we feel, the best way that we can demonstrate our gratitude.

By partnering with our neighbors, we make our lives a little better, and hopefully make the whole area a welcoming place that we can all be proud to call home.

Sherry Treppa is chair of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Calif.

Warm weather and long days create the perfect conditions for a neighborhood garage sale.

For sellers, a garage sale can be a great way to declutter your home and make some extra money. Buyers can often find items for a steep discount.

Although garage sales are a fun way to spend a weekend and find great deals, there are risks involved for both buyers and sellers. The following tips from your Better Business Bureau, or BBB, will help you steer clear of unsafe items and fraudulent payments.

For buyers:

· Know what you shouldn’t buy. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, recommends skipping the purchase of used bike helmets, infant cribs, car seats and other safety items because there’s no way to tell if they have been involved in an accident or if they have been incorrectly assembled. Visit the CPSC Web site, www.cpsc.gov, for more information, an up-to-date list of used products to avoid, and to check if an item has been recalled. If you’re looking for a particular item, do your research online to see how much it costs in stores. If you want more security when buying an item, find a trustworthy business at bbb.org.

· Test, if necessary. If you’re buying used electronics, ask to plug them in and verify that they turn on and work properly. Make sure to sit on any furniture to test how comfortable it is. But remember, whenever you buy a big-ticket item at a yard sale there’s a risk that it may be low-quality, faulty, or that it might stop working and need repairs sooner rather than later. Talk to the seller and ask questions about any expensive items that you’re considering.

· Ask for documentation. Even though it is a friendly neighborhood garage sale, you can still ask for a written receipt for big-ticket items. Because you’re dealing with an individual and not a company, keep in mind that you won’t be able to file a complaint with BBB - so shop cautiously.

For sellers:

· Watch out for fake checks. According to the BBB Risk Index, fake check scams are the second most risky scam to consumers. Fake check scams can be perpetrated through many types of checks: personal, business, and even cashier’s checks. Oftentimes, the target will deposit the fake check in their bank and it will clear, but it can actually take weeks for a financial institution to realize a check is fake and withdraw the already-deposited funds. If you accept checks at your yard sale, ask for a photo ID and make sure the names match. You can also call the issuing bank to verify the authenticity of a check. Someone may also try to pay you with counterfeit bills. To avoid this, you may want to consider not accepting bills larger than $20.

· Secure your home. Unfortunately, thieves may try to use a garage sale to gain access to a home. Make sure you’re paying attention to all visitors and your surroundings. Keep all home and car doors locked. If possible, keep your garage door closed as well. Don’t allow anyone you don’t know into your home. If you witness suspicious activity, you can alert the local authorities.

· Be prepared. It’s important that you have enough people on hand to provide good customer service and keep an eye on your property. Consider designating one point-person that will deal with all monetary transactions. Plan ahead for the possibility of poor weather – you may want to have a plastic canopy on hand just in case it rains. Make sure to stay hydrated, and protect yourself from the sun!”

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Some very important decisions are coming up regarding cannabis cultivation and use that will significantly affect Lake County; citizens should weigh in.

Developing new rules for an industry is a daunting task by any measure. When doing so, I believe it’s important to seek advice and counsel from those with the most experience in the area under discussion.

In order to gain insight, I traveled to cannabis conventions and panels developed for this learning experience put on by the associations for county governments. It’s apparent some important changes have taken place in California.

Medicinal cannabis laws have been in place for 20 years with each county developing their own approach to ensure that cannabis grows are compatible with neighbors. It’s been a bumpy path as the industry grew.

More cannabis was grown for underground export than could be used within the state and environmental damage also reportedly grew from an industry hiding in the shadows. These were not small personal use grows and much of the product was going elsewhere while the damage stayed local.

Some growers have spoiled it for others by taking water illegally, using inappropriate pesticides that killed wildlife and grading hillslopes that caused erosion. All of which is why some think a ban on grows look like an easier approach since no one wants the bad actors.

But with a ban comes a need for effective enforcement and there is no way to pay for the additional workload.

Finally, the Governor’s Office reacted to the complaints of rural counties overrun with growers who were profiting but causing problems. He directed a phalanx of state agencies to develop a set of operating rules specific for cannabis growers who were presumably growing for a medicinal market.

These rules were to be called the Medicinal Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act or MCRSA. They were to be enforced by both state and county agencies to protect the landscape, wildlife, water quality and reduce nuisance odors through a licensing process.

But the public, perhaps not aware of the problems, voted in Proposition 64, the Adult Use Marijuana Act, called AUMA. The AUMA promises to change the landscape again.

So, the agencies pulled their fledgling rules back, added enough language to include the new provisions and the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, called MAUCRSA was born.

Of course new fees were added to pay for the controls that regulation brings. The new rules go into effect on Jan. 2, 2018, after the public comment period.

Even with new state controls, the counties retain the right to ban or regulate cannabis and control local land use. One exemption from a ban is the ability to grow six mature or 12 immature plants for personal use.

There has been a variety of responses from county governments over the years. Some regulated cannabis, others issued a ban and one had regulations, but because of bad actors changed to a ban.

A couple of counties developed a permit process to ensure compliance and reduce the problems. But to many growers used to hiding from the government, permits probably seem like a bad idea.

Humboldt County reports they have about 2,500 permits applications out of perhaps 12,000 growers. So you would think business at the permit counter would be slow. But land use permits are complex, take time and reviews by many agencies are expensive.

A traditional permit process gets swamped pretty easy and backlogs create the impression that the permit isn’t important. In order to sidestep the permit review backlog, a self-certification approach is being discussed in Lake County.

The Board of Supervisors is considering a complex set of rules that dictate where cannabis can be grown, the size and scope of a garden and requirements to comply with both state and county regulations.

Applicants would have to pay their fee up front, have a proper water source, a proper power source, appropriate permits from the Fish and Wildlife agency and an approved pesticide list and so forth.

The way this would work is the applicant obtains a counter permit by certifying they will be in compliance and gets started, but can expect a field compliance review of the operation within the year. The upfront fee helps pay this inspection cost. Non-compliance could mean a fine or loss of crop depending on the violation. So it would be best to get it right, which has been the issue from the start.

Whether a permit should be required or optional is a question being discussed at the board. I have heard some opinions that a permit should not be required until forced to by the new rules in 2018.

Based on what I have learned from the other counties’ experiences, I personally believe anyone growing more than six mature cannabis plants in Lake County should be required to sign a certification that all the rules will be obeyed and receive an inspection.

Not having a permit should result in a fine and shut down. Anything less gives the green light for the black market growers to continue for as long as they can without oversight and that competes with the cultivators who want to do it right.

If you want to put your two cents into the mix; ban or permit, required or optional, give your local district supervisor a shout. District 3 folks can reach me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., I’d love to hear your views. I’m sure so would the supervisor in your district.

Supervisor Jim Steele represents District 3 – which covers the Northshore – on the Lake County Board of Supervisors.