SAN FRANCISCO – As area residents enjoy some welcome hot weather, AAA Northern California is warning motorists about heat-related dangers and offering advice for how to beat the heat.

In extreme heat such as the current weather, a parked car can become a virtual oven. The combination of extreme heat, direct sunlight and closed windows can heat a car up to about 190 degrees Fahrenheit. To put that in perspective, health experts advise that chicken should be cooked to 175 degrees Fahrenheit.

“While many people are enjoying the hot weather, it’s important to remember this kind of heat can also cause expensive damage to cars and make breakdowns more likely,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Jenny Mack.

AAA Northern California encourages motorists to follow some easy tips to prevent drivers from being injured and reducing the damage caused to your car by extreme heat.

Using a reflective sunshade in the windshield can cool the interior of a car by an average of 43 degrees. Sunshades reflect sunrays by blocking the sunlight coming through the windshield, helping to reduce the heat and block 99 percent of damaging UV rays. Also, a sunshade can help protect a car's interior, preventing possible fading, cracking or discoloration.

Here are some other easy tips to follow to protect your car from the hot summer sun:

• Park in the shade whenever possible.

• Use a fabric-based steering wheel cover to help protect your hands.

• Open doors and let the air circulate in the car for a few minutes before getting into the car.

• Set your air conditioner to regular or fresh air before switching to maximum cooling.

Motorists should also do a complete checkup of the vehicle for conditions that often develop into problems in hot weather.

Areas to check include:

• Tires: Examine tires for uneven and excessive tread wear. Make sure all tires, including the spare, are properly inflated.

• Belts and hoses: With the engine off, look for worn or cracked belts and damaged, blistered or soft hoses.

• Antifreeze/coolant: Inspect the antifreeze/coolant level and condition. Make sure the proper 50/50 mixture of water and coolant is present.

• Motor oil and lubricants: Check the oil and lubricant levels and condition. If you are planning to drive in extreme conditions such as hot weather or while towing a heavy trailer, switch to motor oil with higher viscosity. Check your owner's manual for specific oil and lubricant recommendations.

In addition to performing the automotive checkup described above, AAA suggests motorists carry an emergency kit in case of breakdown. The kit should include a flashlight with extra batteries, a warning device such as flares or reflective triangles, heavy gloves, water, coolant, jumper cables, and a first-aid kit. A cellular phone provides an easy way to call for emergency assistance.

When driving in extreme heat, it’s also important to pack enough water for all passengers in the event your car experiences an unexpected breakdown. And of course, don’t forget your AAA card when hitting the road in hot weather.

LAKE COUNTY – The PEG Channel, TV Channel 8, has released its schedule for the coming week.

The following schedule is for Tuesday, Aug. 11, through Saturday, Aug. 15.

Tuesday, Aug. 11

Start Time Title

12:50:43 a.m. End Game

3:15:03 a.m. Skull & Bones-part 1

4:04:50 a.m. Skull & Bones-part 2

4:58:05 a.m. Iraq for Sale

6:17:40 a.m. Boat Safe on Clearlake

6:34:28 a.m. White Haze and Jet Trails

7:00:00 a.m. Jazzercise

7:30:30 a.m. Access Humboldt-Interview

9:00:00 a.m. Board of Supervisors

6:03:46 p.m. Bulletin Board

6:38:46 p.m. The Great Turning

8:03:47 p.m. Economic Hitman-John Perkins

9:22:28 p.m. Cafe Victoria Open Mic 03-09

10:24:35 p.m. Behind the Big News

11:29:21 p.m. Innocents Betrayed

Wednesday, Aug. 12

Start Time Title

12:28:39 a.m. Rise of the Fourth Reich

2:10:38 a.m. Martial Law 911

5:15:34 a.m. Access Humboldt-Interview

6:47:50 a.m. What The Heck-News Brief 10

7:00:00 a.m. Jazzercise

7:33:30 a.m. Eating

9:15:10 a.m. Fiat Empire

10:19:00 a.m. Aerosol Crimes

11:58:31 a.m. What The Heck-News Brief 11

12:10:00 p.m. Bulletin Board

12:53:46 p.m. LCCCP-Barber's Country Farm

1:57:27 p.m. KPFZ Gorilla Radio 04-30-09

3:59:40 p.m. Lake Co. Sheriff K-9

4:25:04 p.m. The World According to Monsanto

6:19:02 p.m. Torn From the Land

7:27:22 p.m. Economic Hitman-John Perkins

8:42:17 p.m. Boat Safe on Clearlake

9:00:50 p.m. FRANKENFED

11:06:37 p.m. Innocents Betrayed

Thursday, Aug. 13

Start Time Title

12:05:55 a.m. America-Freedom to Fascism

2:00:00 a.m. Connecting-Evangelist pt-2

2:36:55 a.m. Boat Safe on Clearlake

3:13:07 a.m. Terrorstorm II

5:27:36 a.m. Energy Non-Crisis

7:00:00 a.m. Jazzercise

7:33:30 a.m. Eating

9:11:24 a.m. The World According to Monsanto

11:05:22 a.m. Behind the Big News

12:14:00 p.m. Bulletin Board

12:54:00 p.m. FRANKENFED

2:59:47 p.m. Masters of the Universe

3:52:03 p.m. Access Humboldt-Interview

5:25:19 p.m. White Haze and Jet Trails

5:49:05 p.m. What The Heck-News Brief 15

6:00:00 p.m. Clearlake City Council

10:05:00 p.m. The Obama Deception

Friday, Aug. 14

Start Time Title

12:01:00 a.m. Fiat Empire

1:04:50 a.m. End Game

3:28:10 a.m. 911 In Plane Site

4:45:06 a.m. Assassination of JFK Jr

6:35:45 a.m. Lake Co. Sheriff K-9

7:00:00 a.m. Jazzercise

7:33:30 a.m. Bulletin Board

8:02:16 a.m. Bulletin Board

8:28:28 a.m. Human Rights - 01

8:33:28 a.m. LCCCP-Barber's Country Farm

9:28:23 a.m. Human Rights - 02

9:33:23 a.m. The World According to Monsanto

11:36:07 a.m. Eating

1:09:01 p.m. Human Rights - 03

1:17:50 p.m. Zeitgeist

3:25:33 p.m. Economic Hitman-John Perkins

4:37:28 p.m. News by Joan Moss 08-07-09

4:40:16 p.m. Lake Co. Sheriff K-9

5:00:40 p.m. News by Joan Moss 08-07-09

5:05:40 p.m. Bulletin Board

5:30:40 p.m. News by Joan Moss-Dinius Trial

5:35:40 p.m. 911 Hero-Williaam Rodriguez

6:34:30 p.m. Bulletin Board

7:00:59 p.m. Gorilla Radio-Rattlesnake Island

8:10:04 p.m. FRANKENFED

10:20:56 p.m. Masters of the Universe

11:09:00 p.m. Zeitgeist Addendum

Saturday, Aug. 15

Start Time Title

1:16:23 a.m. Terrorstorm II

3:31:07 a.m. Busted

4:20:43 a.m. Matrix of Evil

6:28:05 a.m. Boat Safe on Clearlake

6:49:52 a.m. Lake Co. Sheriff K-9

7:16:00 a.m. Money as Debt

8:10:06 a.m. Fluoride Deception

9:27:05 a.m. LCCCP-Barber's Country Farm

10:31:16 a.m. Big Valley Tule Boat Festival

11:38:46 a.m. Lakeport City Council 01

1:35:49 p.m. Lakeport City Council 02

2:45:34 p.m. On Any Sunday

4:20:08 p.m. Rise of the 4th. Reich

6:00:00 p.m. Omissions & Distortions

6:54:52 p.m. Behind the Big News

8:00:00 p.m. Cafe Victoria Open Mic 03-09

9:02:00 p.m. Murder, Spies & Voting Lies

10:13:00 p.m. Bush Family Fortunes

11:15:15 p.m. Masters of the Universe

11:59:59 p.m. Depleted Uranium

Visit the station on the Web at http://laketv8.wikispaces.com .

The event will be held at the Sons of Italy Club Hall, 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

The buffet will include Italian marinade barbecue chicken, green and red sauce rigatoni pasta, fresh salad, garlic bread plus homemade strawberry shortcake for dessert.

The bar is open for socializing at 5 p.m. then dinner will be served at 6 p.m.

Enjoy dancing to the Jim Williams Band right after the meal.

All tickets are $14 at the door.

Everyone is welcome.

For information about this event or renting the hall for your own festivities, call 707-274-9952.

Volunteers cook up breakfast on Saturday, August 8, 2009. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – The Kiwanis of Lakeport and the volunteers of the Lakeport Fire Department hosted a most successful fundraiser for the Lake County Channel Cats and Miss Lake County Pageant last Saturday at the Lakeport Firehouse.

Four youth club's funding was sharply curtailed when the Lakeport City Council voted to not issue permits for fireworks sales in the city limits and Channel Cats President Jennifer Hanson, let the public know the impact and their need for financial help through a letter to the editor of the Record-Bee. The Kiwanis Board of Directors voted to offer help to all four organizations affected. The recent pancake breakfast was the result, with the goal met.

All the affected youth organizations were invited but summer vacation derailed the Clear Lake High Boosters Club and the Terrace Middle School Parent Teacher Organization participation.

Hanson reported this fundraiser enables them to make their third and final payment to the city of Lakeport this year, by bringing in over $4,000 from their pancake breakfast ticket sales. She extended her heartfelt thanks to all the swimmers and their families that sold tickets and she will soon announce the winners of the two bicycles donated by K-Mart to the two Channel Cats that sold the most tickets.

With donations from Amerigas for the propane and coffee from Kelsey Creek Coffee Co. the Lakeport Kiwanis were able to keep the breakfast costs down and the profits up. All food products for the more than 450 meals served last Saturday came from local food vendors; with particular thanks to Bruno's Shop Smart for their easy manner in picking up needed supplies as the morning unfolded. Thanks, too, to McDonald's and the Food Outlet for their support.

Fire Chief Ken Wells was particularly pleased the event went off as smoothly as it did and was very happy to hear the financial support for the Channel Cats and Miss Lake County Pageant met their goals.

With Channel Cats, Miss Lake County and the local Girl Scouts helping serve, a tasty breakfast was enjoyed by all that attended. The Kiwanis offered a menu of pancakes, sausage, ham, scrambled eggs, with coffee, orange juice and milk and in the four hours the breakfast was served smiles radiated.

For information about the Channel Cats, contact Jennifer Hanson at 707-263-3131 and for Kiwanis, contact Eric Wheaton at 707-279-4840.

Community members enjoyed breakfast at the Lakeport Fire Protection District in downtown Lakeport on Saturday, August 8, 2009. Courtesy photo.

“We must do everything in our power to provide law enforcement with the resources necessary to protect the public,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger. “Public safety is a top priority and with these bills, we will be able to better monitor and prosecute sex offenders and sexually violent predators to the fullest extent of the law – making our streets safer from these dangerous predators.”

The following bills have been signed into law by the governor:

– SB 583 by Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) requires the Department of Justice to record the type of residence at which registered sex offenders reside and to provide the information to state agencies for investigative and law enforcement purposes. This will allow law enforcement officials, licensing authorities and child care officials to cross check the residencies of sex offenders.

– SB 669 by Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) provides that a sexually violent predator’s refusal to participate in treatment may be considered evidence in a jury trial to show that his or her condition has not changed.