ST. HELENA – Firefighters from the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), along with firefighters from the Napa County Fire Department, Russian River Fire Protection District, and the South Lake County Fire Protection District took to the streets to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to help the group Jerry’s Kids.

Firefighters held “Fill the Boot” fundraisers in numerous locations in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties on Aug. 2 in Lake and Napa counties and again on Aug. 9 in Sonoma County.

Firefighters raised approximately $4,000 in Lake County, $21,000 in Napa County and $15,800 in Sonoma County for a grand total of approximately $40,800.

Each dollar dropped into a firefighter’s boot will go to support local MDA services: research for neuromuscular diseases, the clinic at UC Davis, summer camps, and community education.

The MDA does not receive funding from state, federal, or local governments, nor does it seek or receive fees for services.

The fire service as a whole has been a long running supporter of the MDA. Its history began in 1952 when the father of a child who was burdened with a neuromuscular disease, in desperation, sought the aid of George Graney, IAFF Local 718 member and the help of the Boston Fire Co.

Immediately, 20 firefighters set out to conduct a door-to-door canister drive that raised $5,000 to help with the child’s medical expenses.

In August of 1954, Graney spoke at the IAFF’s (International Association of Fire Fighters) biannual convention and proposed that MDA be established as the International’s “charity of choice”. He gained unanimous approval and this marked the beginning of a formal bond between IAFF and MDA.

Cal Fire took on the challenge to support Jerry’s Kids in 2008, statewide.

This is Cal Fire’s second year of involvement with the “Fill the Boot “fundraisers for MDA and we will continue to do so until there is no need for fundraisers.

UPPER LAKE – The Northshore Dive Team will meet this Friday, Aug. 14.

The group will meet at the Northshore Fire Protection District's Upper Lake Station 90 on Main Street, which is the team headquarters, at 7 p.m. Training will follow the meeting.

Everyone is welcome to attend, from divers to non-divers. If you like the water, come and join the team.

For more information call Capt. John Rodriguez, the team leader, at the Upper Lake station, 275-2446, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The canning of fruits and vegetables will be taught at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Third and Church. Both sessions will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The cost is $20, of which $10 will be refunded the day of the class.

Pears and tomatoes will be featured, as those are the most abundant crops in Lake County at this time of year.

The Hunger Task Force feels that canning is one of the best ways to take advantage of the abundance of crops, but is becoming a lost art.

All participants should come dressed for a hands-on experience in each step of the process. Please do not wear sandals, and remove all rings prior to arrival.

Upon completion of the lessons, each participating household will be given a water bath canner, a book, and a jar lifter, unless they are repeating the class. Please, no children.

Please call 707-277-9227 as soon as possible to register – class size is limited to 12.

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 .