While there are many wood dealers eager to sell at attractive prices, how do you know if you’re getting a good, fair deal? The only way to know for sure is to measure what is sold, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Firewood has its own special unit of measurement called a “cord.” Firewood, in units of 1/8th of a cord and above, must be sold by the cord or fractions of a cord.

A cord of wood by law must equal 128 cubic feet. To determine if you have a cord, the wood must be measured when it is “ranked and well stowed.” This means the wood is stacked neatly in a row with the pieces of wood parallel and touching with as few gaps as possible. If, when measured, the width times the height, times the length equals 128 cubic feet, it is a cord of wood.

Be wary of terms such as "face cord," "rack," "rick," "tier," "pile" or "truck-load," as these terms are illegal to use in the sale of firewood. If a seller uses such terms, consumers should be on alert for a possible problem.

Some wood dealers try to sell firewood from a pickup truck. Be on your guard, because a pickup cannot hold a cord of firewood. An 8-foot truck bed can hold one-half of a cord while a 6-foot bed can barely hold one-third of a cord.

Make sure you get an invoice or delivery ticket that contains the name and address of the seller, the date purchased or delivered, the quantity purchased and the price. The seller is required by law to give you this information in writing. You may want to take note of the license plate of the delivery vehicle.

Finally, if you believe you have not received the quantity you ordered and paid for, call the seller to correct the problem. Try to maintain the wood in the condition it was delivered, take a photograph and do not burn any.

If the seller can’t or won’t correct the problem, contact your local county weights and measures office as soon as possible at www.cdfa.ca.gov/exec/county/county_contacts.html or the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Division of Measurement Standards at 916-229-3000.

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The Carl Moyer Program is administered by the California Air Resources Board in cooperation with local air districts.

The program creates financial incentives in the form of grants for public agencies, agricultural engine electric conversions and private companies that operate heavy-duty diesel engines to replace them with cleaner systems.

The grants cover a portion of the cost of either purchasing new, replacing existing, or retrofitting existing diesel engines with cleaner on-road, off-road, marine engines or electric line power.

Diesel engines contribute about 40 percent of all oxides of nitrogen emissions (NOX) from mobile sources and a significant portion of the particulate. NOX is one of the main contributors to ground-level ozone. A secondary focus of the program is reducing the PM-10 and toxic compounds also contained in diesel exhaust.

The Lake County Air Quality Management District has $180,000 of funding available. Projects will be evaluated on the basis of cost effectiveness with a portion of match funding required.

Heavily used, older engines usually score highest for cost effectiveness. The actual applicant cost varies with the specific application.

Types of projects that may qualify include:

• Repower Projects: Replace older engines with newer lower emission engines or electric line power.

• Retrofit Projects: Install advanced emissions control devices on existing diesel engines.

• New Purchases: Purchasing new alternative fueled equipment to replace an existing diesel engine or purchasing an ultra clean diesel engine for new equipment, when available, with a 30-percent better emissions reduction than required.

Applications are available from the district, 885 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, CA 95453 or by calling Cheri or Doug at 263-7000, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Program information is available online at www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/moyer.htm.

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The meeting will be held at the Mendo=Lake Credit Union Community Room on 11^th Street in the Willow Tree Plaza Shopping Center.

All community board members are welcome to attend the regular meeting starting at 6 p.m.

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The festival will begin at 7 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 600 16th St. in Lakeport.

Each year choirs, instrumentalists and vocalists from the local community present a free evening of holiday music to get the season started off right.

In addition to the featured performers, the audience will be invited to sing Christmas carols.

Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

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The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. at Loconoma High School located on Washington Street.

Agenda items include a call for nominations for the MATH Board, a presentation by Michelle Forney on the Middletown PACK Inc., an amendment to the MATH by-laws and board reports.

District 1 Supervisor Ed Robey also will give his departing remarks to the group.

The MATH December meeting has been canceled.

MATH meetings are subject to videotaping. Meeting proceedings may be available for viewing on public access television and/or the Internet.

MATH is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.

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Costumed players from the Renaissance Christmas Pageant Troupe will give a “performance preview” of this popular holiday event. Come and see what all the fun is about!

The Middletown Luncheon Club sponsors a monthly speakers program every third Wednesday of the month, except in December.

Local nonprofit groups serve lunch each month, and lunch is only $5 per person. This month, the serving group is Oro Fino Rebekah Lodge.

The club meets at the Middletown Methodist Church Social Hall, 15833 Armstrong St., Middletown.

Reservations are not required. For more information, contact Helen Whitney, 928-9812.

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