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Forty NorCal Girl Scouts (grade sixth through 12) and adult chaperones participated in a barbecue, classroom activities, a planetarium show, telescope viewing and a Perseids meteor shower party.
The meteor shower party included camp fire pits to roast marshmallows for their s’mores while they watched the meteor fireworks in the sky. The Friends of Taylor Observatory provided the barbecue and s’mores. Kelseyville Lumber and Piedmont Lumber helped by discounting the cost of the fire pits.
Observatory Assistants Edward Giannelli and Stephen Kane were there to assist the girls with understanding sky maps, identifying constellations and telescope viewing of deep sky objects. Not only did the girls and their chaperones have a great time, Taylor Observatory helped fulfill several of the requirements necessary for the Girl Scouts to earn their Space Exploration Interest Project Award.
All girls, grades fourth through sixth, are invited to register with the Girls Scouts and join the campout at Taylor Observatory in an upcoming event on Oct. 10. Junior Girl Scouts will be earning the Sky Search Badge and Cadettes in 6 th grade will earn the Space Exploration Interest Project.
Anyone interested in participating, should contact Michelle Meese at
Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium, a program of the Lake County Office of Education, holds public events on the third Saturday of each month from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The observatory is available for school groups, scout groups, birthday parties and other private functions. Call 707-262-4121 or visit www.taylorobservatory.org for more information.
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SAN FRANCISCO – A new study from AAA finds a shocking number of mature drivers are unaware of the dangers of driving while under the influence of medication, and the problem gets worse with age.
The study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety surveyed drivers 56 and older. The study finds 78 percent of those with a medical condition use one or more medications. However, only 28 percent were aware those medications could potential impact their driving performance.
The study further showed that only 18 percent received a warning from a healthcare professional about the medications possibly impairing their driving. Additionally, the study found that even if a person has multiple medications or health conditions, this doesn’t increase their chances of being warned by a healthcare professional.
Commonly used medications that can impair driving behavior include ACE inhibitors, beta blockers and sedatives. Previous research shows using just one potentially impairing medication can increase a driver’s risk of being in a crash.
The survey used data from those aged 56 to 93. It shows the awareness of medications that could impair driving decreased with age, while the number of prescription medications people were taking increased with age. Of those surveyed, 69 percent use one or more medications that could impair their driving, and 10 percent use five or more medications that could impair their driving.
“Health care professionals need to educate patients about medications that could potentially impair driving to help them make safe driving decisions,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja. “One of our goals is to help older drivers stay mobile as long as safely possible. So, it is imperative that we do a better job of educating drivers on known risks, such as the side‐effects of medications.
By 2030, the number of drivers 55 years of age and older is expected to increase by more than half. That means the issue of medications impacting driving will only grow unless measures are taken to increase awareness. Potentially high‐risk groups include those with multiple medical conditions, those taking multiple medications, and those with less education about the overall risks.
“Seniors and their families need to be aware of health and wellness issues which can affect their ability to drive safely,” said Skryja. “By using the tools and resources available at www.aaa.com/seniordrivers , families can identify and address these issues to help maintain safe mobility throughout their lives.”
AAA Northern California offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance, DMV, financial services and consumer discounts to nearly 4 million members. AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers since it was founded more than 100 years ago.
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The first algae volunteer committee meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at Main Street Bar & Grill, 14084 Lakeshore Dr., Clearlake.
Clearlake City Council member Joyce Overton said 15 people have signed up to take part so far, which she said is a great start.
Anyone is interested in joining the group or attending is asked to call Overton at 707-350-2898 or Dian Gibson at 707-994-6642.
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Beginning Aug. 17 and lasting for approximately two months, State Street between Main Street and Gaddy Lane will be subject to single-lane traffic control.
Work will take place Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for pavement rehabilitation and drainage improvements, holidays excluded.
A maximum 20-minute delay is expected.
Please drive with caution in this area.
For more information call the Lake County Department of Public Works.