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- Written by: Editor
The event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. in Eastlake Elementary's gym, next door to the Eastlake Grange.
There will be handcrafts, art, gifts, live music, food and fun.
Come and get into the spirit of the season.
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- Written by: Editor
In 2009, the largest number of Peace Corps volunteers called California (920), New York (432) and Illinois (378) home. The greatest number of volunteers per capita came from Vermont (9.7/100k residents), the District of Columbia (7.8/100k residents) and Maine (5.7/100k residents).
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area (339) produced the greatest number of volunteers, followed by the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (334) and the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (271) metropolitan areas. The Ithaca, N.Y. (12.9/100k residents); Corvallis, Ore. (11.0/100k residents); and Boulder, Colo. (9.9/100k residents) metropolitan areas led the nation in the per capita volunteer ratings.
Peace Corps’ nine regional recruiting offices across the United States work to recruit and provide information and guidance to prospective Peace Corps volunteers. Over 15,000 Americans applied to the Peace Corps this year – an increase of 18 percent over last year. Individuals can connect with a local recruiter and locate their local regional recruiting office by visiting the Peace Corps Web site at www.peacecorps.gov/ .
The following are the top-ten volunteer producing states and Metropolitan areas:
2009 Top Ten Metropolitan Areas (Volunteers, 2009):
1. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (339)
2. New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (334)
3. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (271)
4. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet (245)
5. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue (199)
6. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy (170)
7. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont (169)
8. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington (164)
9. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (159)
10. Denver-Aurora (130)
2009 Top Ten Metropolitan Areas per capita (Volunteers per 100,000 residents):
1. Ithaca, N.Y. (12.85)
2. Corvallis, Ore. (11.0)
3. Boulder, Colo. (9.89)
4. Longview, Wash. (9.88)
5. Charlottesville, Va. (9.77)
6. Cheyenne, Wyo. (9.14)
7. Burlington-South Burlington, Vt. (9.11)
8. Olympia, Wash. (8.57)
9. Columbia, Mo. (8.52)
10. Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine (7.78)
2009 Top Ten States (Volunteers, 2009):
1. California (920)
2. New York (432)
3. Illinois (378)
4. Washington (343)
5. Virginia (335)
6. Texas (318)
7. Ohio (317)
8. Michigan (309)
9. Pennsylvania (294)
10. Colorado (275)
2009 Top Ten States per capita (Volunteers per 100,000 residents):
1. Vermont (9.66)
2. District of Columbia (7.77)
3. Maine (5.70)
4. Colorado (5.57)
5. Oregon (5.54)
6. Montana (5.38)
7. Washington (5.24)
8. Alaska (4.52)
9. Minnesota (4.33)
10. Virginia (4.31)
Peace Corps also releases its “Top College” rankings annually. The list will be released in early 2010.
As Peace Corps approaches its 50th anniversary, its service legacy continues to promote peace and friendship around the world with over 7,600 volunteers serving in 75 host countries.
Historically, nearly 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps to promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age.
Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment. To learn more about the Peace Corps, please visit our website: www.peacecorps.gov .
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- Written by: California League of Conservation Voters
OAKLAND – The California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) – the political arm of the environmental movement in California – released its annual California Environmental Scorecard this week.
North Coast Sen. Patricia Wiggins was among the legislators receiving a percent 100-percent score for her voting record.
The scorecard provides a behind-the-scenes look at the best and worst results for the environment in the 2009 legislative session.
Among the worst: economic fear and severe budget deficits dominated Sacramento’s attention this year. Environmental opponents exploited this fear to polarize the legislature, attack California’s landmark environmental laws, and secure vetoes of good legislation.
Only a modest amount of “green” legislation was enacted as environmentalists played defense to protect parks, oppose new offshore drilling and fight bills to bypass bedrock environmental laws. Unfortunately, even progressive legislators voted for some bad bills.
To compound the problem, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed two-thirds of the 15 high-priority environmental bills that reached his desk in the regular legislative session.
This year’s Environmental Scorecard reflects the governor’s record-setting vetoes of priority environmental bills which earned him a 28 percent score – the lowest of his career. This contrasts with his scores of 60 percent and 63 percent in previous years.
“The weak economy and budget deficits required tough decisions, but they also created opportunities,” said Warner Chabot, CLCV’s chief executive officer. “But, rather than seize opportunities to protect our natural resources and create clean energy jobs, Gov. Schwarzenegger rejected the vast majority of well-considered environmental legislation that landed on his desk. This is an unfortunate retreat from the leadership that the governor has often provided.”
The governor’s vetoes included bills to increase the state’s supply of renewable electricity to 33 percent in 2020; to prohibit cancer-causing chemicals in infant bottles and cups; and to prevent state park lands from being used for non-park purposes without proper approvals. His approval of three bills that undermine the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) combined to produce his career-low score of 28 percent, lowering his lifetime average score to 53 percent.
“This year’s legislative record demonstrates that environmental voters must work together to elect a ‘greener’ governor in 2010 – a governor who will maintain California’s position as an environmental leader in the nation and the world,” said Chabot, who urged Californians to join the effort to “Build a Greener Governor” by signing up on the campaign Web site: www.GreenGov2010.org .
Members of the state legislature were scored on 22 total bills in 2009. Senate Republicans’ average score was 9 percent, while Senate Democrats averaged 82 percent. Assembly Democrats averaged 87 percent in stark contrast to Assembly Republicans, who averaged 13 percent.
Three newly elected senators earned 100 percent scores—Loni Hancock (Berkeley), Mark Leno (San Francisco) and Fran Pavley (Santa Monica). In addition, several Assembly newcomers scored 100 percent: Tom Ammiano (San Francisco); Bonnie Lowenthal (Long Beach); Bill Monning (Santa Cruz), Nancy Skinner (Berkeley) and former Sen. Wes Chesbro (Eureka).
In other positive results: Several CLCV-endorsed members of the freshmen class of 2006 once again earned perfect scores and carried successful environmental bills. Assemblymember Jared Huffman (San Rafael) authored AB 920, which requires utility companies to pay customers for any surplus electricity they produce from solar or wind power—a change long sought by the renewable energy industry.
Huffman and fellow Assemblymember Mike Feuer (Los Angeles) jointly authored AB 49, which requires a 20 percent per capita reduction in urban water use by 2020 and requires agricultural water suppliers to implement a range of best management practices to reduce water use and use it more efficiently.
The bill became the template for the conservation portion of the comprehensive water package enacted by the legislature in early November 2009. (Note: The legislature acted on the water policy package as the scorecard went to press – the package was not scored in the 2009 Scorecard.)
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- Written by: Judy Comoletti
But as we do these things, fire safety is rarely a thought. It may seem that the holidays and home fires are two completely different topics, but they’re not; national statistics show that the holiday season turns sorrowful, and sometimes even fatal for so many households each year as the result of home fires. Cooking, Christmas trees, candles and holiday lights – all key parts of the holiday season – are significant causes of fires that occur this time of year.
While it’s quite a somber perspective on the holiday season, the good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. With just one or two minor changes, often taking a few minutes, or even seconds, of time, the holidays can stay festive and safe for everybody. It’s important for people to take basic but vital fire safety precautions as they plan and prepare for the upcoming holiday season.
These simple steps can greatly reduce the risk of fire and its potentially devastating impact on homes and families:
Cooking: NFPA statistics show that unattended cooking is the leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries. Stay in the kitchen while you’re frying, grilling or broiling food. Most cooking fires involve the stovetop, so keep anything that can catch fire away from it, and turn off the stove when you leave the kitchen, even if it’s for a short period of time. If you’re simmering, boiling, baking or roasting food, check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking. Create a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food and drinks are prepared or carried.
Candles: Candles are widely used throughout the holidays, and December is the peak month for home candle fires. More than half of all candle fires start because the candle was too close to things that could catch fire. Consider using flameless candles, which look and smell like real candles. However, if you do use traditional candles, keep them at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn, and remember to blow them out when you leave the room or go to bed. Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over and are placed on uncluttered surfaces. Avoid using candles in the bedroom where two of five U.S. candle fires begin or other areas where people may fall asleep. Lastly, never leave a child alone in a room with a burning candle.
Christmas trees: U.S. fire departments annually respond to 250 structure fires caused by Christmas trees. Nearly half of them are caused by electrical problems, and one in four resulted from a heat source that’s too close to the tree.
Here are some guidelines for picking, placing and lighting a tree:
If you have an artificial tree, be sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant.
If you choose a fresh tree, make sure the green needles don’t fall off when touched; before placing it in the stand, cut 1-2 inches from the base of the trunk. Add water to the tree stand, and be sure to water it daily.
Make sure your tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, candles and heat vents or lights.
Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use.
Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.
After Christmas, get rid of the tree. Dried-out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside the home.
Think green. Check to see if your community has a Christmas tree recycling program.
Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.
The holidays are a truly special time of year. Following these fire safety precautions and measures will ensure it remains one. For more tips, advice and information about holiday fire safety, please visit http://www.nfpa.org/holiday .
Judy Comoletti is the Division Manager of Public Education for the National Fire Protection Association, which has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, buildin, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA’s Web site at www.nfpa.org .