MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Friends of Middletown Library Board has an opening for a new member.

The board meets at the Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St., on the third Tuesday of each month at 4:30 p.m.

To be eligible, applicants must be members of the Friends of Middletown Library.

The cost for membership is $10 per year. Applications can be picked up at the library.

As millions of children across the state head back to school, AAA warns motorists to be extra vigilant for pedestrians during before-and-after school hours.

The afternoon hours are especially dangerous for walking children. Over the last decade, nearly one-third of child pedestrian fatalities occurred between 3 and 7 p.m.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 miles per hour is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed as compared to a pedestrian struck by one traveling just 10 miles per hour faster.

“More than 330 child pedestrians died in 2013 and 13,000 were injured,” cautioned Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “AAA’s School’s Open – Drive Carefully awareness campaign is designed to curb a trend of unsafe driving behavior in school zones and neighborhoods that can result in children’s injury and death. We must remind motorists to slow down and stay alert as kids head back to school.”

AAA recommends that parents taking kids to and from school not put them at risk and securely fasten them with a seat belt, car seat or booster seat.

AAA offers the following tips for motorists to keep children safe as they navigate their way through school zones:

1. Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 miles per hour is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 miles per hour faster.

2. Eliminate distractions. Children often cross the road unexpectedly and may emerge suddenly between two parked cars. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing.

3. Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles, even those that are parked.

4. Talk to your teen. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and more than one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3 to 7 p.m. Get evidence-based guidance and tips at www.TeenDriving.AAA.com .

5. Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.

6.   Watch for bicycles. Children on bikes are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least three feet of passing distance between your vehicle and the bicycle. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that they wear a properly-fitted bicycle helmet on every ride.

Since 1920, the AAA School Safety Patrol Program has been instrumental in helping students get to and from school safely. As the program marks its 95th anniversary, patrollers across North America and in 30 countries will take their post for another school year, wearing their ‘Lectric Lime belt or vest.

The largest safety program in the world, the AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah School Safety Patrol Program has 8,416 patrollers.

This program has been praised by education and safety groups around the country – and in the world – for reducing injuries and fatalities among school children ages 5 to 14.

In 1949, The AAA Lifesaving Medal was created to recognize patrollers who saved a life in the course of their duties. To date, 411 patrollers have received this award nationwide.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Tire Amnesty Program will begin on Aug. 29 for Lake County residents.

The Lake County Public Services Department has received grant funding from CalRecycle to support this program.

Tire amnesty provides Lake County residents the ability to drop off up to nine passenger tires with or without rims at two locations around the lake free of charge while funding lasts. There will be a charge for oversized passenger tires.

The tire amnesty does not apply to commercial, farm or heavy equipment tires.

California law prohibits anyone from hauling more than nine tires without a permit.

If you have tires bigger than 8R19.5 or more than 9 tires, please call 707-263-1980 for additional information.

Customers are asked to show proof of residency and sign a form showing the number and origin of the tires. No commercial tire, auto repair or salvage businesses are allowed.

Tires can be delivered to either South Lake Refuse & Recycling at the entrance to the Eastlake Landfill on Davis Street in Clearlake or to Lake County Waste Solutions at 230 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport.

Please contact the Public Services Department, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 707-262-1618 for more information.

To protect firefighting and public safety operations in California, state officials have set up a special toll-free tip line for anyone who has information that could help law enforcement investigators locate irresponsible drone operators.

Similar to a crime tip line, those who have information about irresponsible drone operators who have flown close to disasters and emergencies can call 1-844-DRONE11 (1-844-376-6311).

This telephone line is not for reporting emergencies. If a drone is being observed flying dangerously at an active disaster or emergency, the public should call 9-1-1.

Advances in technology now afford the public greater access to hobby drones. As a result, the airspace above some disasters has become more dangerous for firefighters and law enforcement responding to emergencies – in some cases forcing crews to halt aerial emergency operations.

“This new technology is both a blessing and a curse,” said Mark Ghilarducci, director of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. “Most drone pilots don’t necessarily intend to interfere, but those who do put us all at great risk of a mid-air collision with our first responders.”

More than a dozen hobby drones have interfered with or hampered emergency response efforts thus far in California’s 2015 fire season, according to Cal Fire.

During the North Fire, which began on July 17 near Interstate 15 in the Baldy Mesa area, a hobby drone halted aerial tanker operations and delayed firefighting efforts.

“Hobby drones pose a very serious threat to our pilots and crews,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “The public and firefighters on the ground are also at risk from the aftermath of a drone strike. When hobby drone operators fly in fire zones, we can’t!”

Since many people operate unmanned aircraft with little or no aviation experience, the FAA is also promoting voluntary compliance and working to educate hobby drone enthusiast about how they can operate safely under current regulations and laws.

The FAA also has partnered with industry and the modeling community in a public outreach campaign called “Know Before You Fly,” www.knowbeforeyoufly.org/ . The campaign recently reminded hobby drone users to respect wildfire operations.

Cal Fire also produced a video “If You Fly, We Can’t” highlighting the dangers of drones in and around wildfires. That video can be seen above.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Kelseyville Business Association will host its third street dance of the season this Thursday, Aug. 20, on Main Street in downtown.

Featured this week are Billy Watson and his International Submarine String Band.

Music begins at 7 p.m. and lasts until 10 p.m.

Bring a lawn chair and enjoy live music under the stars.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Local mindfulness teacher, author and life coach JoAnn Saccato will present a free workshop based on her upcoming eight-week Compassion-based Mindfulness for Stress Reduction, Personal Clarity and Emotional Freedom courses.

The workshop will be held at Clear Lake Riviera Community Association Meeting Room, 9689 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road), Kelseyville, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25.

The event is free.

Saccato will provide information on the history and health benefits of a mindfulness practice, as well as guide participants through various compassion and mindfulness exercises.
 
Mindfulness is a body-based practice that invites one to purposefully pay kind, non-judgmental attention to direct experience of senses, thoughts and emotions.

Studies indicate that mindfulness can help reduce stress and stress-related illnesses; increase focus and attention; decrease incidences of, and relapses with, depression; help reduce anxiety; aid the immune system; and aid in sleep and digestive disorders.

As well, mindfulness has been shown to help with addictive and compulsive disorders.
 
“Besides reducing stress, compassion-based mindfulness, and the supporting tools I teach in the eight-week course, help participants gain deeper clarity, a new vitality and sense of freedom in their lives,” Saccato said.

Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and be ready for gentle movement exercises.
 
Saccato is author of “Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice” and her forthcoming book, “Compassion-based Mindfulness for Peace, Clarity and Freedom.”

For more information on Saccato and Compassion-based Mindfulness for Stress Reduction, Personal Clarity and Emotional Freedom, visit www.Compassion-basedMindfulness.com or call 707-350-1719.