“It’s not uncommon to see residents keeping lights and Christmas trees up past December,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of communications for NFPA. “The reality is, continued use of seasonal lighting and dried-out Christmas trees can pose significant fire hazards in and outside the home.”

Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they have a higher chance of being deadly.

NFPA recommends getting rid of the tree when it’s dry. Dried trees should not be kept in the home, garage, or placed outside against the home. Check with your local community to find a recycling program.

From 2005 to 2009, holiday lights and other decorative lighting were involved in an annual average of 150 home fires, 8 civilian deaths, 14 related injuries and $8.5 million in direct property damage, NFPA reported.

To reduce the risk of holiday light fires and keep equipment in good condition for next year, follow these storage suggestions:

• To unplug electric decorations, use the gripping area provided on the plugs. Never pull the cord to unplug a device from electrical outlets. Doing so can harm the cord’s wire and insulation and even lead to an electrical shock or fire.

• As you’re putting away electrical light strings, take time to inspect each for damage. Throw out light sets if they have loose connections, broken sockets or cracked or bare wires.

• Do not place a damaged set of lights back into the storage box for next year’s use.

• Wrap each set of lights and put them in individual plastic bags, or wrap the lights around a piece of cardboard.

• Store electrical decorations in a dry place where they cannot be damaged by water or dampness. Also, keep them away from children and pets.

Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter months. In fact, half of all home heating fires occur in December, January, and February, according to NFPA's Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment report.

NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration are working together to remind everyone that home fires are more prevalent in winter than in any other season. Learn more information about the organizations’ joint safety campaign, “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires,” at http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=2103&URL=Safety%20Information/For%20consumers/Holidays/.

NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 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.

This winter, the national nonprofit Home Safety Council (HSC) is urging families to create a healthy and safe home environment, which includes taking steps to prevent home fire and CO hazards.

“With the right tools and a little advance planning, families can prevent a real tragedy,” said HSC President Meri-K Appy. “Taking a few simple actions can make a big difference in keeping your family safe and healthy throughout the year.”

The Home Safety Council has released new national survey results revealing that only 37 percent of respondents have taken any actions at home to prevent fires and burns.

To prevent fires and burns throughout the home during the winter season and all year-round, follows these tips:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including near every bedroom, and be sure to change the batteries at least once a year.

• Test your smoke alarms and replace those that are more than 10 years old.

• Keep fire extinguishers easily accessible and know how to operate them.

• If you’re building a new home or remodeling, consider installing a home fire sprinkler system – a great deterrent to spreading fires.

• Every family should create a fire escape plan with two exits out of every room and an outside meeting place, and hold a family fire drill at least twice each year. In multistory homes sometimes the only second exit available is a window.

• You can always be ready for emergencies with a permanently installed fire escape ladder that is easy to access and deploy, and provides the escape route to get your family to safety in 30 seconds or less.

Carbon monoxide is a potentially deadly gas that is produced by fuel-burning heating equipment, such as furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces and kerosene heaters. It is commonly known as “the silent killer” because it is colorless, odorless and tasteless.

Follow these CO safety tips to improve the health of your home:

• Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm near sleeping areas.

• Your home’s central heating system, fireplaces, wood stoves, and gas appliances should be professionally inspected annually, and cleaned or repaired as needed.

• Never use an oven or range to heat your home, or cook on a gas or charcoal grill inside your home or in a closed garage.

• Use portable electric generators outside only. Using them in a confined area can allow carbon monoxide to collect.

The Home Safety Council (HSC) is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to preventing home related injuries that result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year. Through national programs, partnerships and the support of volunteers, HSC educates people of all ages to be safer in and around their homes.

For additional information to keep your friends and family safe in and around the home during the winter and year-round, visit http://www.nfpa.org/index.asp?cookie_test=1 or http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/index.shtm.

The administrative record is the file containing all documents which the BLM has used to support its decisions on appropriate response actions to be taken at the site.

The BLM is performing a “non-time critical” removal action at the site pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

The EE/CA will identify the BLM’s preferred alternative for the response actions to be taken at the Site. Other documents will be added to the administrative record as cleanup work progresses.

The EE/CA and Administrative Record is available for review during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the BLM’s Ukiah Field Office, located at 2550 N. State St., Ukiah, CA.

The Chicago and Research mines site is located in the Dry Creek Mining District southwest of Middletown.

The Chicago Mine was located in the 1860s and worked intermittently until 1968 when it was quit claimed to the owner of the Research Mine.

The Research Mine was located in 1929 and operated intermittently until it closed in 1978. The mines site includes approximately 20 acres of BLM-administered public land.

The BLM strongly encourages interested members of the public to comment, in writing, on the documents contained in the EE/CA as well as the administrative record.

All comments must be received in writing on or before Jan. 6, 2012, to be considered and responded to in the final EE/CA decision.

BLM strongly encourages interested members of the public to comment, in writing, on the EE/CA as well as the administrative record.

Comments received by Jan. 6, 2012, will be considered and responded to in the final EE/CA decision.

Comments must be received in writing and through the BLM's Web site at http://www.blm.gov/ca/ukiah, by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by fax to 707-468-4027, or by mail to BLM Ukiah Field Office, attention Gary Sharpe, 2550 N. State St., Ukiah, CA 95482.

Members of the Kelseyville High School Wrestling Team delivered gifts to the Anderson family. Photo courtesy of Rob Brown.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A group of young athletes reached out to help a local family during this holiday season.

Kelseyville High School Wrestling Team members recently delivered toys to Dominic, Leland and Violet Anderson, whose home was burglarized a few days before Christmas.

All of the children's gifts were stolen during the burglary.

The wrestling team shows up to make sure the Anderson children had gifts and a Merry Christmas.

Hot, nutritiously balanced meals are served at noon Mondays through Fridays, holidays excluded.

The coffee is hot by 9 a.m.

The suggested donation for seniors age 60 and over is $3.50. Nonsenior guests pay $7 and children under age 12 pay $2. The suggested donation for takeout meals is $7.

The center also offers Meals on Wheels, a temporary meal delivery service for homebound seniors with no support network who are unable to cook for themselves.

The suggested donation for Meals on Wheels is $3.50 for seniors age 60 and over.

The center also has volunteer opportunities for Meals on Wheels drivers, in the dining room and kitchen, and in the center's office.

The Highlands Senior Service Center Inc. is located at 3245 Bowers Road, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-3051, fax 707-994-0648 and email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The event will begin at 7 p.m. at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

What's funny about war, poverty, ignorance, bigotry, neoconservatism, homophobia, greed, lust and fear?

Ask Roy Zimmerman. He's been writing satirical songs for 20 years. Zimmerman has played clubs across the country and is currently touring in a one-man show.

Tickets cost $20 each.

Tickets can be purchased at the Soper-Reese box office, at Watershed Books, 305 N. Main St., Lakeport; and at the Catfish Coffee Shop Mall and Self Help Law Center, both located at 14624 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake.

For more information call 707-350-1150.