Daylight Saving Ends – CAL FIRE Reminds Californians to Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries

This Sunday, Californians will be rolling back their clocks as daylight saving comes to an end on November 6, 2012. CAL FIRE and fire departments across the state are reminding residents to replace the batteries in all smoke alarms as well as their carbon monoxide (CO) alarm when they change their clocks.

“We recommend changing the batteries in your smoke alarms twice a year,” said Acting State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover, CAL FIRE. “While you are spending a couple minutes to change the time on all your clocks, it’s so easy just to add an extra minute to ensure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarm all have fresh, new batteries as well.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths occurred in homes without working smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms increase the change of surviving a home fire by 50 percent.

For decades, firefighters have used the time change as a reminder for residents to change their smoke alarm batteries. This year, officials are adding carbon monoxide alarms to their message following a new state law requiring all single-family homes have a carbon monoxide alarm.

CAL FIRE has the following tips on smoke alarms:

• Test smoke alarms once a month.
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms and CO alarms twice a year.
• Don’t “borrow” or remove batteries from smoke & CO alarms even temporarily.
• Regularly vacuum or dust smoke & CO alarms to keep them working properly.
• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
• Don’t paint over smoke or CO alarms.
• Practice family fire drills so everyone knows what to do if the smoke alarm goes off.

Find more information visit the CAL FIRE Web site at www.fire.ca.gov.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Runner Warns ‘Beware of Misleading Business Solicitations’

George Runner, Second District Member of the State Board of  Equalization (BOE), today reminded taxpayers to be wary of misleading business solicitations from companies that mimic official correspondence from a governmental agency.

“For California business owners it’s tough enough dealing with real government agencies without having to deal with fake ones too,” said Senator Runner.  “We need to make sure California Businesses aren’t being misled.”

Recently, businesses in California have reported to the BOE that they have received notices from the “California Labor Compliance Bureau,” requesting immediate payment of a “processing fee” of $275.  The California Labor Compliance Bureau is not a government agency.  The notices use publicly available information such as BOE account numbers and industry codes to make them appear to be official correspondence.

The “processing fee” is purportedly for labor-related notices that California employers are required to post at their business premises informing employees of their legal rights under the National Labor Relations Act. The notices in question are available free of charge from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on their website here: https://www.nlrb.gov/poster.

The BOE is not affiliated in any way with the California Labor Compliance Bureau. Correspondence from the BOE will always feature the BOE’s title and/or logo and contain contact information.  If you receive a notice and question whether it is official BOE correspondence, you should contact your local BOE office (a list of contact numbers for BOE field offices can be found here:http://www.boe.ca.gov/info/phone.htm), or contact the BOE’s Information Call Center at 800-400-7115.

The NLRB can assist businesses with questions regarding required notices at 202-273-0064.

Elected in November 2010, taxpayer advocate George Runner represents the Second District of the Board of Equalization.  Runner was sworn in as Second District Board Member on January 3, 2011.  Prior to his election to the Board, Runner served twelve years in the State Legislature.  As a thoughtful conservative, his legislative priorities included improving the economy, business growth, education excellence, and public safety for all Californians.  As a member of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, Runner consistently led the fight against tax increases and supported tax relief for families and businesses.

The five-member California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is a publicly elected tax board.  The BOE collects more than $50 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services.  It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.  For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov.

Popularity: 13% [?]

New Local Application Has a Successful First Weekend

iPumpkin Debuts at Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival, Assists Thousands of Users

Half Moon Bay, Calif. (October 19, 2011) – This past weekend marked the launch of the iPumpkin iPhone, iPad and Android application for the 41st annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival. Consumers, vendors and emergency services providers were impressed with the convenience and usability of the app. By the end of the festival,iPumpkin was used in more than 20,000 sessions and received an average rating of five stars on iTunes App Store and Android Market.

“This weekend was an incredible experience in every dimension,” said Joe Falcone, CTO, Managing Partner & Founder of Phondini Partners, the creators behind the app. “iPumpkin was a highlight of this year’s festival.”

Consumers reported that iPumpkin was extremely helpful – from making it easy to find entertainment and food to learning more about the hundreds of artists, including viewing pictures of their wares.

Vendors found the application helpful as well. Food vendors outside the central food court were easy to locate on the app’s interactive map and reported an increase in sales. Artists reported the app made it easy for customers to find them, increasing their sales as well.

iPumpkin’s easy-to-use four-layer map was not only a boon for consumers during the festival; the Sheriff’s and Fire Department also found the app convenient for their needs, including quickly locating an emergency call at one of the 400+ booths and having push messages available for emergencies like lost children.

Unlike most festival apps, local sponsors who purchased 200,000+ ad impressions and 25,000+ push messages funded iPumpkin.  The advertising was oriented around new visitors, suggesting places to go for souvenirs, pumpkins or meals during the festival.

iPumpkin is completely functional in environments with jammed cell phone networks and no Internet access, which is frequently the case in small-town events like the Pumpkin Festival. “We’re extremely pleased with the performance of the app here in Half Moon Bay and we are eager to apply our expertise to similar festivals across the country,” added Falcone.

iPumpkin was developed by Phondini Partners, a company that builds mobile applications for iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry platforms using local resources. For more information about Phondini Partners visit www.phondini.com.

Popularity: 5% [?]

CAL FIRE Completes Conservation Easement in Sonoma County

Over 4,000 acres preserved from future development

Sacramento – After six years of working to conserve over 4,000 acres on the Baxter Ranch in Sonoma County, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and Baxter family have completed a “working forest” conservation easement.

The 4,036 acre easement, located east of and adjacent to the Lake Sonoma Recreation Area, allows for sustainable commercial timber harvesting, grazing and hunting, but restricts future development, subdivision and conversion to other uses such as vineyards.  Additionally, the Baxter family wished to protect 38 acres known as the “Otis Grove” from commercial harvest. The grove includes redwoods over 600 years old and over 11 feet in diameter. Permanent conservation measures will be taken to the portions of the Wheatfield fork of the Gualala River, Strawberry Creek and Rancheria Creek within the easement.

“We are pleased that our goal of permanently protecting our ranch has finally been accomplished,” said Barbara Baxter, who has lived on this ranch since 1947, “The outcome is certainly worth the time and effort the process took”

Jeff Calvert, Forest Legacy Program (FLP) Coordinator for CAL FIRE said, “The Baxter family should be extremely proud of this accomplishment.  The family can to continue manage their ranch in the manner they desire while providing tremendous, permanent resource protection values to the public.”

Federal USDA Forest Service FLP funding, Proposition 12 grant funding through the California Wildlife Conservation Board, and a substantial landowner donation made purchase of the easement possible.   Also important was the considerable effort by attorney Ellen Fred of the law firm of Conservation Partners who partnered with the San Francisco law firm of Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass in representing the Baxter family.

CAL FIRE will hold the conservation easement and monitor compliance with it over time. For more information on CAL FIRE’s Forest Legacy Program: http://www.fire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_forestryassistance_legacy.php

Popularity: 8% [?]

ZERO MOTORCYCLES TEAMS WITH THE BRIDGE SCHOOL TO CELEBRATE 25^TH ANNIVERSARY

– Donates 2011 Zero S for Fundraising Gala –

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., (Oct. 6, 2011) – Zero Motorcycles, the global leader in electric motorcycle technology, today announced that it is donating a 2011 Zero S to The Bridge School to assist in its fundraising efforts. The Bridge School is celebrating its Silver Anniversary of providing innovative education to children with severe speech and physical impairments. Founded in 1986 by a group of dedicated parents and professionals in speech and language pathology, the founders envisioned an environment where children with complex communication needs could learn, grow and thrive while developing specific skills and abilities each child needs to be successful as adults and to realize a high quality of life.

The highlight of The Bridge School’s fundraising efforts is a benefit concert held each year hosted by Neil and Pegi Young. This year’s concert is scheduled for October 22 and 23 at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, Calif. In addition, this year, a fundraising gala will be held the week before the concert to help raise money for the organization.

“Zero Motorcycles is very proud to be able to support the efforts of this amazing organization, its staff, parents, students and founders,” said Scot Harden, VP of Global Marketing for Zero. “I attended last year’s benefit concert and was thoroughly amazed by the work The Bridge School is doing on behalf of the children involved. As a corporate neighbor and progressive company, we believe we have a responsibility to help support worthwhile organizations like The Bridge School. We hope our small gift will help raise much needed money that can be used to affect the students’ lives in a positive way.”

According to Dr. Vicki Casella, The Bridge School Executive Director, “We are very pleased to have Zero joining us in support of our 25^th Anniversary.  We are very proud of the work done here at The Bridge School and realize that it is only through the donations and support of individuals and organizations that we are able to achieve our mission of supporting our students as they achieve full participation in their communities and reach their maximum potential.”

A Zero S will be raffled off at The Bridge School Gala on Oct. 14. The event is hosted by Neil and Pegi Young and features Dave Matthews as the entertainment.

About Zero Motorcycles
Zero Motorcycles is the next step in motorcycle evolution and represents the ultimate electric motorcycle technology. Unencumbered by conventional thinking about how they design, manufacture and sell high performance electric motorcycles, they are on a mission to turn heads and revolutionize their industry by combining the best aspects of a traditional motorcycle with today’s most advanced technology.

FOR MEDIA: For more information, contact (951) 719-1040 ormedia@zeromotorcycles.com. For press information, videos and photos go tohttp://www.zeromotorcycles.com/press.

For more information on Zero Motorcycles or to learn more about its complete motorcycle line including the Zero S, Zero DS, Zero XU, Zero MX and Zero X motorcycles, visit: http://www.zeromotorcycles.com.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Car Donation Charities in California

Oct., 2011 - The act of donating a car to charity is one of the most rewarding things you can do.  When you donate your car, you do more than just support a charity. You actually help to improve someone’s life.  To help a needy person, please donate car to one of these respected charities in California.

Established in 1946 in Davis, California, Freedom From Hunger has been fighting chronic hunger and poverty in the world through innovative programs designed to help families achieve long term food security. Their programs are serving over 18 million people in some of the poorest countries in the world.

Teach for America works to ensure that children in low income areas get an excellent education. Less than half of the children in California are on grade level for reading and math, and it ranks 48^th in academic performance. Teach for America works to recruit leaders who work to expand educational opportunities in low income areas in Los Angeles and the Bay area, they then teach for two years in those areas.

The Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation is dedicated to the treatment and a cure for neuromyelitis optica. NMO is a very rare disease that can affect the optic nerve and spinal cord. People with this horrible disease can develop vision loss, or weakness, numbness, and sometimes paralysis of the arms and legs along with sensory disturbances and loss bladder and bowel control. Although there are some treatments available a lot more research is needed to find better ones and a cure.

A Home Away From Homelessness is dedicated to supporting and nurturing the needs of homeless and formerly homeless children and families in San Francisco and Marin. Their homes provide a physical, emotional and spiritual break for children along with educational, social and recreational opportunities.

Family Builders believes that every child has the right to grow up in a permanent, nurturing family regardless of the child’s age, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or medical, physical or emotional condition

Cars4Charities is quite proud that each of these fine California charities has asked us to handle their car donations. The process is easy and the pickup is free. You can donate your car even it no longer runs or is in poor shape. In return, you will get a tax deduction and a sense of pride knowing you have done a really good thing. For complete details on how to donate car, please go to our website; http://www.cars4charities.org/ or call us toll free at 1-866-448-3487.

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Media contact:

Karen Campese

karenc@cars4charities.org

Phone: 1-866-448-3487

Popularity: 7% [?]

Next week, there is a free educational workshop on Wildfire Preparedness and Protection.

Tonya Hoover, Acting State Fire Marshal will open the program at 9:30 a.m. and State Senator Ted Gaines, Roseville, Chair of the State Senate Insurance Committee will speak at 11:00 a.m. The program is presented by the California Fire Safe Council and Farmers Insurance. All Fire Safe Council members, homeowners, business owners, renters and media are invited.

Other Speakers Include:

A panel of experts will discuss fire insurance and state laws.

Popularity: 9% [?]

ADL Caring Companions

The Leaders in Home Health Care

There is a generation that gave each and every one of us their love, respect, compassion, support, and helped us to become the people we have become.  This is the generation who now carry the highly respected titles of great-grandfather, grandmother, and more.  And they are NOT being given the same amount of respect that they have given to us.  THIS is unacceptable!

Shocking statistics have been reported about nursing and retirement homes, such as:  90% of nursing homes have staff levels too low for adequate care; the average annual cost for a private nursing home room MAY be $175,000 by 2021; one out of four nursing homes has been cited for death or serious injury to a patient!  And this frightening list goes on.  There are many issues and difficulties facing the world – starvation, the horrific economy, war – but a situation that involves a threat to our own mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers – OUR FAMILIES – is something that needs to be addressed and changed right now!  Human beings should be honored and respected, and that is exactly what ADL Caring Companions are all about!

ADL Caring Companions was founded in 2002 in San Antonio, Texas, and has gone on to make a tremendously positive impact in the communities they serve.  In fact, after just three years in operation, the San Antonio office of ADL Caring Companions was ranked in the top ten of San Antonio’s home health agencies (ranked by the San Antonio Business Journal based upon number of patients served in 2005).  After the huge success in San Antonio, ADL Caring Companions opened a second office in 2004 in Dallas, proving that the ADL idea of in-home private duty senior care was one that would work!  AND was desperately needed by people across America!

ADL Caring Companions is not just in the “business” of providing home health care.  In fact, the entire concept was created by president and founder, Patrick O’Hare, who saw the very desperate need for top-quality care for the elderly after facing his own difficult experience.  Having a maternal grandmother who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer, members of the O’Hare family dropped everything to care for their mother around the clock.  Though there were great stories shared, as well as laughter and tears during those final days, the amount of strain it placed on the family was overwhelming.  But, unlike so many nowadays, the wonderful upside was that a truly amazing lady who deserved the best care possible received it, and was able to pass away peacefully in her own home surrounded by her family and friends.
Unfortunately, there are a great many families that are not able to do this for their loved ones.  They want to with all their hearts but money and time – two hardships that sometimes can not be overlooked – get in the way.  Other seniors do not have family members, and find themselves in the home health care or nursing home system where they are lost, literally, and…lonely.

With ADL Caring Companions, your loved one receives the highest quality non-medical in-home senior care possible.  With ADL, people are able to live their lives with dignity and respect – in their own homes – having one of the best caregivers in the industry by their side to provide them with everything they need from help to support to friendship.  ADL Caring Companions is exactly what they say they are.  These are high-quality caregivers who provide flexible care based upon an individual’s specific needs and requests – seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.

ADL Caring Companions actually matches each and every one of their clients with the perfect caregiver for them. These caregivers not only serve a person’s health care needs, but they also provide every client with a solid life enhancing relationship with a new, true friend.  With all the amazing services, and the best care offered in the industry, it comes as no surprise that ADL Caring Companions is now the largest provider of private duty senior care.  And, what’s even better, is the fact that ADL Caring Companions continues to expand by developing ADL franchises, and helping them to learn and use the ADL system to develop and grow their own senior care business.

ADL Caring Companions, with their highly successful operations in two major metropolitan areas, decided that this is the path they would take in order to bring every senior in this country the care they should expect!  With their successful system combined with the increasing need for quality private duty senior care, ADL decided the best way to share their dream, vision, and philosophy was to offer ADL Caring Companions as a franchise opportunity.  ADL is looking for serious people to expand the ADL mission across this country, getting to the point where ADL exists in every town and city across the land, making sure that every member of the senior generation is being treated with respect!  ADL is committed to the same level of quality in their franchises as they demand from themselves every single day.

The services offered to clients are never-ending.  In fact, ADL stands for Activities of Daily Living.  The six basic ADL’s are eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring (walking), and continence.  In addition to these, the ADL experienced and trained staff carefully design a unique, individual plan of care that specifically meets the varied needs of each one of their clients.  The “Caring Companions” at ADL take the time to get to know their clients – who they are and what they like.  In this personal way, ADL can match clients with the best “Caring Companion” for them and their situation.

The ADL goal is to build a network of successful franchise owners who do as well in their own franchise areas as ADL Caring Companions is doing in their original locations.  And ADL is currently looking for people with the right combination of talents, abilities, and skill sets – as well as a very real desire to learn – in order to open up a franchise in their town and follow the ADL system.

In the upcoming weeks, we are going to delve into the amazing world of ADL Caring Companions.  Millions are going to want this service; a company that actually helps and supports the amazing people who loved and watched over the rest of us.  People will now be able to stay in their own homes and have someone care for them every single day.  ADL Caring Companions is a fantastic program that the world has needed for a very long time, and as we unveil ADL, readers will see first hand the wealth of services they offer including:  Companionship; Personal Assistance Services; Respite Care; Medication Reminders; Meal Preparations; Laundry and Light Housekeeping; and, Transportation.

ADL Caring Companions is NEEDED for our loved ones, and is also a remarkable business opportunity for others to bring ADL Caring Companions into their own hometowns and cities, to offer a premiere senior care franchise to the ones who deserve it the most!  We will also be going over all the franchise opportunities, and speak about the system that is designed to give those interested in opening a senior care franchise the information they need to become part of the phenomenal ADL organization.

No one can match the wondrous services and the truly compassionate and skilled staff that IS the solid foundation that ADL Caring Companions was built upon.  It is time to return the respect, dignity, and love that our seniors have shown to us!  And we can do that…with ADL Caring Companions!

For more information go to:

www.adlcaringcompanions.com

Popularity: 15% [?]

Small business owners and entrepreneurs are invited to hear John Suh, CEO of LegalZoom, speak with Small Business Journalist, Karen E. Klein, about what it takes to build a successful business in a live interactive broadcast at CredibilityLIVE.com. During the broadcast, Mr. Suh & Ms. Klein will discuss thoughts on recruiting talented people, where to look for the “next” big idea, and the keys to building a successful business.

Mr. Suh is the CEO of LegalZoom and has been instrumental in building the company into the most recognized brand in the legal industry. A serial Internet entrepreneur himself, Mr. Suh has deep experience across the B2B and B2C space. He has taken multiple businesses from start-up to $20M+ in revenues, and has also helped existing companies grow to $100M+ in revenues.

Mr. Suh has served as CEO of StudioDirect as well as co-founder/CEO of Castling Group, where he launched category leaders such as jcrew.com and hifi.com. Mr. Suh received his B.A. from Harvard College, and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Ms. Klein is a Los Angeles-based columnist for Bloomberg BusinessWeek and The Los Angeles Times. She has also written for Newsday, The Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, The Los Angeles Daily News and Sunset magazine. For more than a decade, she has focused her writing and reporting on small business and retirement planning.

She is the “Smart Answers” columnist for Bloomberg BusinessWeek and the “Q&A” columnist for the L.A. Times’ Small Business section. Her “Smart Answers” podcast won a gold medal at the 2009 Azbee Awards sponsored by the American Society of Business Publication Editors. For more information on Karen E. Klein, please visit Financially inKleined.

“I am very excited to be interviewing John Suh, a CEO I have long admired, about his company, his management philosophy and his entrepreneurial drive,” stated Klein.

“The most successful business owners I write about all share a creative spark that motivates them to venture out on their own and keep going when times are tough. I look forward to learning how John has done that and how he has assembled the terrific teams that have backed him up over the years.”

Popularity: 12% [?]

For National Electrical Safety Month, Southern California Edison and the Electrical Safety Foundation International urge Californians to have a healthy respect for electricity and to be aware of electrical hazards.

Around 51,000 home fires each year involving electrical failure or malfunction injure more than 1,400 people in the US. These cause around $1.3 billion in property damage. Close to 400 people are electrocuted.

Southern California Edison recommends seven simple safety rules:

• Put plastic safety caps in unused wall outlets to prevent children from pushing objects into outlet openings.
• Never remove the third prong from a three-pronged plug. The third prong grounds electricity. If you don’t have three-hole outlets, adapters are available at the hardware store.
• Repair or replace damaged or brittle electrical cords. They can cause shorts, shocks or electrical fires. Check appliances to make sure cords are in good condition.
• Use electrical cords properly. To avoid damaging cords, remove them from outlets by pulling the plug, not the cord. Never attach a cord to another surface with nails or staples, which can break the insulation. Avoid kinking, twisting, binding or walking on cords.
• Use ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, to protect yourself from shock. These special outlets prevent electric shock by detecting electrical faults and shutting off electricity to the outlet when necessary. They are especially important in kitchens, bathrooms and other places where water is present.
• Keep water away from electricity and electrical appliances.
• Know how to safely care for and replace fuses and how to reset circuit breakers.

Get more electrical safety information at www.sce.com/safety

Popularity: 9% [?]