SACRAMENTO — Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced legislation Thursday that would strengthen elder and dependent adult financial abuse protections by clarifying the duties of banks and financial institutions to safeguard against fraud.

“Banks must do a better job of preventing the most vulnerable Californians from getting ripped off,” Sen. Dodd said. “This bill clarifies that if these institutions assist in financial elder abuse — either knowingly or otherwise — they can be held liable. It will motivate them to detect predatory practices before victims are robbed of their resources, dignity and quality of life — losses from which they may never recover.”

Financial elder abuse cases are on the rise in California. The breadth of predatory practices is staggering, with victims coming from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Perpetrators can be family members, trusted professionals or large financial institutions. Such institutions are uniquely positioned to detect financial abuse and take action.

Unfortunately, the language of California’s current financial elder abuse law is unclear, leading to conflicting court rulings regarding the standard of proof for holding accountable a financial institution.

Now, when victims attempt to sue their bank for assisting in a scam, the institution can avoid responsibility by claiming it did not have actual knowledge of fraud.

But Sen. Dodd’s legislation, Senate Bill 278, would clarify that victims of financial elder abuse can continue to hold institutions accountable when they should have known of the fraud but negligently assisted in the transfer anyway.

The clarification would support victims of financial elder abuse in meeting their burden of proof.

SB 278 is supported by elder rights advocates and Consumer Attorneys of California.

“At a time when online and phone scams — specifically designed to defraud senior citizens — are running rampant, banks are on the front line as mandated reporters to protect seniors from devastating losses of their life savings,” said Kathryn Stebner, president-elect, Consumer Attorneys of California. “By adding a simple clarification to existing law, SB 278 will assure justice for countless victims of financial elder abuse.”

“Older Californians are the fastest growing segment of our population and face a particularly high risk of financial fraud and abuse,” said Caleb Logan of Elder Law & Advocacy and bill co-sponsor California Low-Income Consumer Coalition. “Fortunately, banks can prevent seniors from losing their life savings to a scam. SB 278 will clarify existing law to revitalize important safeguards against financial abuse. We are proud to support this important bill and applaud Sen. Dodd’s efforts on behalf of seniors throughout California.”

Sen. Bill Dodd represents the Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Area Agency on Aging, or AAA, of Lake and Mendocino Counties is hosting Karol Swartzlander, executive director of the California Commission on Aging, at its next advisory committee meeting Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m., via the Zoom platform.

Swartzlander will speak about the role of the Commission on Aging in creating policy and services for seniors in the state.

Additionally, she will discuss the status of the state’s Master Plan on Aging initiatives.

Meeting attendees will have the opportunity to interact with and ask questions of the presenter.

“Ms. Swartzlander’s presentation to the AAA Council will give the area’s seniors and policy makers a picture of the state’s plans to improve the quality of life for seniors, to consider how we get more involved in the effort and access resources for our local older adult residents,” said Council President Paul Branson.

To receive a meeting invitation, contact Staff Services Analyst Virginia Peeke by calling 707-995-4652, Extension 16652, or sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Area Agency on Aging of Lake and Mendocino Counties plans, coordinates and implements the development of, and access to, community-based support services for seniors and their caregivers, allowing older individuals 60 years of age or older to maintain their dignity and quality of life, and stay safe and independent in their own homes and communities.

For more information on the AAA, visit the website at www.lakecountyca.gov/727/Area-Agency-on-Aging or call 707-995-3744.

Janine Smith-Citron is director of development for Hospice Services of Lake County.

UKIAH, Calif. — Now, more than ever, local families are struggling to make ends meet.

Starting in February 2023, local residents can receive valuable help at tax time, from North Coast Opportunities, or NCO.

NCO is providing free tax filing assistance through the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! program in Lake and Mendocino counties.

At local tax sites, IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers work with low to moderate income families and individuals to help file their tax returns and ensure that they receive the tax credits for which they qualify.

In addition, some sites can direct their customers to no-fee bank accounts, credit repair services or financial education classes.

The mission is to provide free tax preparation service as a tool to help local residents become financially stable.

“Many workers pay tax preparers high fees and face excessive interest on refund anticipation loans. Our tax assistance sites help families and individuals maximize their tax credits and use them to make ends meet or to save for the future,” said Yvett Reeve, VITA Program coordinator.

Household income must be $70,000 or less to qualify. For those that qualify, they can call 707-467-3236 for information (English and Spanish) about tax preparation site locations in Clearlake, Ukiah, Lakeport and Fort Bragg.

Now, more than ever, our families deserve to keep their money, especially during tax season. Earn It! Keep It! Save It! provides free, quality tax return preparation to low-to-moderate income individuals, families, and seniors. This program is supported by United Way of the Wine Country.

Visit www.unitedwaywinecountry.org to learn more.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County California Women for Agriculture has awarded mini-grants to three Lake County K-6 elementary schools for their school garden projects.

The criteria for application was K-6 school garden projects to enhance student learning about where food comes from with one $250 grant to be awarded per school.

Dorothy Torres, teacher and garden coordinator, will work with Kelseyville Elementary students starting seeds for spring planting. Vegetables and flowers will be planted in their garden beds.

Coyote Valley Elementary’s principal Matt Coit’s students will be filling their raised garden beds with new plants. Specifically fruits and vegetables with a special sensory section for herbs and flowers for the students to touch, feel and smell.

At Riviera Elementary School volunteers MIchelle Malm and Leslie Gray are re-opening the Riviera Roots School Garden. The garden has many needs to get up and running, from equipment, bulk compost, soil, seed trays and one gallon plastic planting pots.

“We are delighted to assist these dedicated volunteers in helping students understand how food is grown,” Lake County California Women for Agriculture said in its Thursday announcement of the awards.

NORTH‌‌ ‌‌COAST, ‌‌ ‌‌Calif. — Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌reports‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌following‌‌ ‌‌road‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌will‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌taking‌‌ ‌‌place‌‌ ‌‌‌around‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌North‌‌ ‌‌Coast‌‌ ‌‌during‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌coming‌‌ ‌‌week. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Included‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌Mendocino‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌may‌‌ ‌‌impact‌‌ ‌‌Lake‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌commuters, as well as work in Del Norte and Humboldt counties.
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Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌advises‌‌ ‌‌motorists‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌drive‌‌ ‌‌with‌‌ ‌‌caution‌‌ ‌‌when‌‌ ‌‌approaching‌‌ ‌‌work‌‌ ‌‌areas‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ prepared‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌stop‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌traffic‌‌ ‌‌control‌‌ ‌‌stations. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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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. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

For‌‌ ‌‌updates‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌this‌‌ ‌‌list‌‌ ‌‌check‌‌ ‌‌QuickMap‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌‌www.dot.ca.gov‌‌‌ or‌‌ ‌‌1-800-GAS-ROAD‌‌ ‌‌‌(1-800-427-7623). ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

— Utility work west of Upper Lake near Mid Lake Road will begin on Sunday, Jan. 29. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays.

— Tree work west of Upper Lake near Mid Lake Road will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays.

Highway 29

— Road work north of Spruce Grove Road continues. Lane closures will be in effect and motorists should expect up to five-minute delays.

— Road work at Route 281 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays.

Highway 175

— Bridge work in Cobb at Estates Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

— Tree work from the Mendocino County Line to south of Navarro Ridge Road will begin on Friday, Jan. 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays.

— Tree work from north of Ocean Drive in Gualala to Hearn Gulch will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

— Emergency work south of Jct U.S. 101 near Leggett continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Motorists should expect up to five-minute delays.

Highway 20

— Tree work east of Fort Bragg from Road 8114 to Road 350 will begin on Monday, Jan. 30. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists can expect up to five-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Slide removal at Pieta Creek Bridge continues. Northbound lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate up to five-minute delays.

— Bridge work at the Crawford Creek Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights. Motorists should expect up to five-minute delays.

— Bridge work near Henry Station Road continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Road work south of Willits continues. A lane closure will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns in the area.

— Emergency work north of Willits at Creekside Cabins will conclude on Friday, Jan. 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Irvine Lodge Safety Rest Area will be closed through January 2023.

— Road work in Piercy from Route 271 to the Lowell Allen Memorial Bridge will conclude on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Lane closures will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect minor slowdowns in the area.

Highway 162

— Bridge work at the Outlet Creek Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect and motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C162GA

— Road work south of Dos Rios near the Rodeo Creek Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Highway 101

— Construction in the Last Chance Grade area. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate up to 25-minute delays.

— Tree work near Dr. Fine Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

Highway 199

— Electrical work near the Collier Tunnel Rest Area will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect and motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Highway 36

— Shoulder work from Route 101 to Rohnerville Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays.

— Utility work at Payton Lane will occur on Monday, January 30. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Slide removal east of Swimmer’s Delight will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 4 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 30-minute delays.

— Road work near Burr Valley Road will begin on Monday, Jan. 30. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

— Slipout repair near Burr Valley Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 96

— Emergency storm damage repair between Weitchpec Road and New Village Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

Highway 101

— Slipout repair from the Mendocino County Line to just north of Hartsook Inn will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 12:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Bridge work south of Phillipsville will continue. Lane closures will be in effect weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Bridge work near Myers Flat will continue. Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Tree work between the Barkdull Road Undercrossing and Greenlaw Creek Bridge will conclude on Friday, Jan. 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

— Slide removal south of Scotia will continue. A northbound lane closure will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Emergency work from ‘B’ Street to ‘D’ Street will continue. A northbound lane closure will be in effect from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Shoulder work from Route 200 to Georgia Pacific Road will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

Highway 211

— Emergency work at Fernbridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect and motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays.

Highway 254

— Utility work at Hooker Creek Road will occur on Wednesday, February 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Tree work between Sorenson Road and Holmes Flat Road will occur Friday, Jan. 27, through Tuesday, Jan. 31. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

— Part of Avenue of the Giants north of Redcrest is currently closed due to flooding. Motorists should choose an alternative route.

— Tree work between Barkdull Road and Jordan Road will conclude on Friday, Jan. 27. One-way traffic control will be in effect weekdays between 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays.

Highway 299

— Falsework installation from Route 200 to Route 101 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.

— Roadway excavation between Willow Creek and Old Three Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The first meeting of 100+ Women Strong in Lake County of the New Year will take place at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

The meeting will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Come and enjoy all the excitement and meet your new Steering Committee: Michele Carson, Gretchen Ferguson, Kim Darnell and Nancy Johnson.

There will be mingling, networking, food and beverages, and, most importantly, at the end of the night, a local Lake County charity will be selected to receive a very generous donation that is made possible by women of Lake County.

Women who are interested in joining this organization are welcome to preregister before Jan. 31 to be able to vote in at the February meeting.

If you don’t get your application in by Jan. 31, no worries you’ll be able to vote at the next meeting in May 2023.

Visit the group's website to download the commitment form. You can also visit their Facebook page and find all the information on being a part of this special, amazing group of women making a huge impact on Lake County.

The Lake County chapter, founded in 2017, is part of a worldwide coalition of similar organizations and was created as a community effort to fundraise for Lake County based nonprofit organizations.

The group consists of women in Lake County from all ages, walks of life and professions united by their commitment to donate $400 per year to different Lake County nonprofit organizations.

It meets once every three months and three local, pre-vetted, nonprofit organizations are invited to give brief presentations in hopes of being selected by 100+ Women Strong.

One of the three nonprofits is selected by a majority vote of the group after the presentation and receives $100 from each and every member of 100+ Women Strong, Lake County.

At the conclusion of the event, a winner is chosen and the winning nonprofit will receive a generous donation, made possible by women of Lake County.

For more information about this organization or to register to join, please visit www.100womenstronginlakecounty.com.