LUCERNE
Lucerne Town Hall November meeting on Thursday
Special Guest Speaker Officer Herringshaw with Lake County’s Code Enforcement will discuss with community members the homeless sleeping on Highway 20. Also on the advisory council’s agenda is a presentation by Joseph Caminiti from the Department of Transportation to discuss Lucerne’s Complete Streets Improvements survey for Highway 20. Also among other items is a discussion of an inquiry to determine the status of all capacities available at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center for responding to wildfire incidents, public health and safety issues, emergencies and other community needs.
The meeting is scheduled for November 19 at 7 p.m. Conference Call Dial in number: 425-436-6302 Input pin number 193440#
—Submitted
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE
Republican Women Federated host David Santos
The Republican Women Federated group of Lake County had their weekly meeting outside at the Green View Restaurant in Hidden Valley lake on Wednesday November 11. The guest speaker for the event was David Santos, president of Adventist Health Clear Lake (AHCL). Santos has held that position since 2014.
Santos talked to the club membership about the health facility’s new philosophy and updated members on the progress of AHCL, whose goal is to offer the most comprehensive primary care services focusing on prevention, wellness, and lifestyle medicine. Going beyond primary care Santos explained, AHCL’s vision includes expanding the Live Well Institute, establishing partnerships with mental health and addiction recovery services and enhancing relationships with several other community organizations.
Santos said that the innovative Live Well Program includes a partnership with Konocti Wellness Center which is a collaborative effort between AHCL and the Konocti Unified School District and includes a clinic located on the campus of Lower Lake High School. AHCL has also opened Restoration House and is also opening Hope Center. Both facilities are dedicated to helping Lake County’s most vulnerable residents.
AHCL has in the last six years raised its ratings nationally in many categories of health care, and Santos indicated that the current philosophy of total health care is providing positive results.
AHCL according to Santos, will be opening more clinics in Lake County, and his overall health care vision is to not only improve health care per se, but by doing so raise the living standard of Lake County residents in general. For more information about the group contact Richard Koury at 408 839-2857
—Submitted
LAKE COUNTY
First 5 Lake Commission meeting via zoom Wednesday
On Wednesday, November 18th, First 5 Lake will hold its final regular meeting of 2020 online via Zoom. As always, members of the public are welcome to attend. The agenda includes the approval of October 2020 financial statements, approval of 2020-21 mid-year budget revision and approval of sections of the organization’s policy and procedures manual. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020 at 2 p.m. People can join via Zoom: https://lakecounty.zoom.us/join
Meeting ID: 942 5268 4695 Password: 791678, or join by phone: (669) 900-6833
—Submitted
SAN FRANCISCO
It’s Scam Awareness Week; PG&E is seeing an increase in scams
Every day, electric and natural gas customers throughout the country are being targeted by utility scams. These imposters typically target customers online, in-person and by telephone. And, this year is even worse due to the ongoing financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. PG&E is taking a stand against scammers by joining its fellow electric, natural gas, water utilities and Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) in helping customers recognize potential bad actors during Utility Scam Awareness Week from Nov. 16 to 23, 2020.
UUAS, a consortium of more than 145 U.S. and Canadian electric, water, and natural gas utilities and their respective trade associations, continues to create awareness of common scams and new scam tactics being used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through its work, UUAS has succeeded in taking nearly 9,500 toll-free numbers used by scammers against utility customers out of operation.
“Scammers are constantly changing their tactics and tricks, so awareness is more important than ever to keep our customers safe,” said Laurie Giammona, PG&E’s chief customer officer. “If an email, visit to your home or phone call doesn’t feel right, don’t fall for it. Delete it, shut the door or hang up. And, as a reminder, PG&E will never ask for your financial information over the phone or via email.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers have increased calls, texts, emails, and in-person tactics and are constantly contacting utility customers asking for immediate payment to avoid service disconnection. As a reminder, PG&E will never contact a customer for the first time within one hour of a service disconnection, and will never ask customers to make payments with a pre-paid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or third-party digital payment mobile applications.
Scammers can be convincing and often target those who are most vulnerable, including senior citizens and low-income communities. They also aim their scams at small business owners during busy customer service hours.
Signs of a potential scam
- Threat to disconnect: Scammers may aggressively demand immediate payment for an alleged past due bill.
- Request for immediate payment: Scammers may instruct the customer to purchase a prepaid card then call them back supposedly to make a bill payment.
- Request for prepaid card: When the customer calls back, the caller asks the customer for the prepaid card’s number, which grants the scammer instant access to the card’s funds.
- Refund or rebate offers: Scammers may say that your utility company overbilled you and owes you a refund, or that you are entitled to a rebate.
How customers can protect themselves
Customers should never purchase a prepaid card to avoid service disconnection or shutoff. PG&E does not specify how customers should make a bill payment and offers a variety of ways to pay a bill, including accepting payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail or in person at an authorized PG&E neighborhood payment center.
If a scammer threatens immediate disconnection or shutoff of service without prior notification, customers should hang up the phone, delete the email, or shut the door. Customers with delinquent accounts receive an advance disconnection notification, typically by mail and included with their regular monthly bill.
Signing up for an online account at pge.com is another safeguard. Not only can customers log in to check their balance and payment history, they can sign up for recurring payments, paperless billing and helpful alerts.
Scammers getting even “trickier”:
Scammers are now able to create authentic-looking 800 numbers which appear on your phone display. The numbers don’t lead back to PG&E if called back, however, so if you have doubts, hang up and call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. If customers ever feel that they are in physical danger, they should call 911.
Customers who suspect that they have been victims of fraud, or who feel threatened during contact with one of these scammers, should contact local law enforcement. The Federal Trade Commission’s website is also a good source of information about how to protect personal information.
For more information about scams, visit www.pge.com and www.utilitiesunited.org.
—Submitted
