The Lake County Genealogical Society maintains the Lenore Clark Genealogy Library, which is located inside the Lake County Visitor Information Center building, 6110 E. Highway 20, Lucerne.

The library has a large collection of historical and genealogical information on Lake County. This collection also includes books from other states, maps and charts to do your family research.

Volunteers from the Lake County Genealogical Society are available to assist researchers Thursdays and Fridays and the first and second Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and other times, by appointment.

Contact Research Coordinator Anita Crabtree at 707-275-2144 for more information.

During the month of October Safeway is raising funds for breast cancer awareness which will be donated to important research, advocacy and patient services.

Safeway reported that for four years the corporation has given a $10,000 grant to Cancer Resource Center of Mendocino County, part of this grant goes to fund services for underserved women in Lake County.

On Oct. 6 they will have a “celebrity bagging” event where we ask people to bag groceries for an hour to thank customers and help raise awareness.

The event will take place from noon to 1 p.m.

In conjunction with the event, representatives from Cancer Resource Center of Mendocino County will be on hand to talk to customers about specific resources for women in Lake County.

The Lakeport Safeway is located on 11^th Street.

The term for both seats expires in January, at which time an election will be held to fill the seats.

Nominations will be accepted at a special meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 6, beginning at 7 p.m.

The meeting location is the Calpine Cartwright Geothermal Visitors Center, 15500 Central Park Road, Middletown.

For more information, contact MATH Secretary Mike Tabacchi, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

That’s according to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which is promoting “Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with!” as the theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, October 3-9, 2010.

NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for 88 years.

“By now, most families know that smoke alarms are a vitally important element of home fire safety, and have at least one,” says Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of communication. “Unfortunately, far fewer people are familiar with some of the newer recommendations for smoke alarms. Without incorporating these updated measures, many families may not be as well protected from fire as they think.”

“Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with!” works to better educate the public about recommendations for smoke alarms, and help maximize families’ safety from home fires, as follows:

Installation

• At least one smoke alarm should be located on every level of the home, including the basement, as well as in every sleeping room and outside each sleeping area.

• NFPA strongly recommends either installing combination smoke alarms, or both ionization and photoelectric alarms, in the home. An ionization alarm is typically more responsive to a flaming fire, such as a pan fire. A photoelectric alarm is typically more responsive to a smoldering fire, as might occur where a lighted cigarette is dropped on a sofa. Combination smoke alarms have ionization and photoelectric capabilities.

• Whatever type of smoke alarms you choose, they should carry the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

• Interconnected smoke alarms offer the best protection; when one sounds, they all do. This is particularly important in larger or multi-story homes, where the sound from distant smoke alarms may be reduced to the point that it may not be loud enough to provide proper warning, especially for sleeping individuals.

• A licensed electrician can install either hard-wired multiple-station alarms, or wireless alarms, which manufacturers have more recently begun producing. An electrician can also replace existing hard-wired smoke alarms with wireless interconnection capabilities.

Maintenance and testing

• Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button, and make sure everyone in your home knows their sound.

• If an alarm “chirps,” warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.

• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they’re 10 years old (or sooner) if they do not respond properly when tested.

Fire departments throughout the country will be hosting activities during Fire Prevention Week to promote the “Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with!” campaign locally. These educational, family-oriented activities can help everyone learn more about the power of smoke alarms, newer options for installing and maintaining them properly, and ultimately, how to better protect themselves and loved ones from fire.

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week, smoke alarms and this year’s campaign, “Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with!”, visit NFPA’s Web site at www.firepreventionweek.org.

Wednesday, Sept. 15, saw a festive evening as ladies entered the Seventh-day Adventist Church with well-mannered children and potluck dishes in hand.

The mood was light as they all gathered around a big table to share food, friendship, historical facts and stories; they were celebrating Mexican Independence Day with some friends from south of the border.

This year is the 200^th anniversary of the war of independence of Mexico from Spain. The struggle began on Sept. 16, 1810, with the cry of Delores (“El Grito de Delores”), a town in Mexico where the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla incited people to fight – he is now known as father of the nation.

Mexico did not actually receive independence until 1921, but celebrate this event every year starting on the evening of Sept. 15 when the president of Mexico addresses the people in Mexico City’s square or Zocalo. The president waves the Mexican flag and rings the liberty bell once used by priest Miguel.

You can join our group anytime on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 21640 Hwy 29 at the Seventh-day Adventist church at 6 p.m.

They share food (a healthy cooking class) and healthy lifestyle information including sound nutritional advice, and of course, friendship.

A special thanks to the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the support and a good place to meet. They also thank Earth Goods Health foods, Middletown Hardester’s Market, Linda Barton and Diane Leon, along with Maria Sanchez for working with the precious children.

Annie Barnes, Suzanne Abel, Veronica McGee and Jacque Felber are part of the Sunrise Special Services Reach Out program, which promotes preventive health classes all around Lake County.

For more information call Sunrise Special Services at 707-274-9121.

That means keeping the cell phone locked in the trunk, skipping the drive-thru, and not playing DJ with the radio.

AAA’s Heads Up Driving Week is from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2.

“It only takes an instant for a crash to occur. In fact, a study by AAA found that the odds of being involved in a crash, or a near crash, double when drivers look away from the road in front of them for two seconds or longer,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja. “We hope that by driving distraction-free for a week, which allows people to have their heads up and focused on the road, drivers will end up picking up the habit for life.”

A new study by AAA shows that 52 percent of drivers say they feel less safe on the roads now than they did five years ago.

The leading reason for that sense of unease is distracted driving. Eighty-eight percent of motorists rate drivers who text and email as a very serious threat to their safety.

AAA offers the following tips to minimize distractions:

• Stow electronic devices. Turn off your phone before you drive so you won’t be tempted to use it while on the road. You could also pull over to a safe place to talk on the phone or to send and receive text messages or emails.

• Prepare kids and pets for the trip. Get the kids safely buckled in and situated with snacks and entertainment before you start driving. If needed, pull off the road to safely care for them or pets.

• Satisfy that craving off the road. Eat meals and snacks before driving, or stop for an eating break.

• Get your vehicle road-ready. Adjust seat positions, climate controls, sound systems and other devices before you leave, or while your vehicle is stopped, and store loose gear. Make sure your headlights are spotless so you can see everything on the road and other drivers can see you properly.

• Dress for success before you get in the car. Your car isn’t a dressing room. Brush your hair, shave, put on make-up, and tie your necktie before you leave or once you reach your destination.

• Enlist passengers. Ask a passenger to help you with activities that may be distracting.