The new officers are: Craig Bach, president and treasurer; Ed Moore, vice president; James and Arthur Wilkie, co-secretaries.

The group advocates for fair water rates for Lucerne customers.

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The first organizing meeting is Saturday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m. at Wild About Books, 14290 Olympic Drive, Suite A, in Clearlake.

For more information contact go to http://clearlakecommunityco-operative.wikispaces.com, call JoAnn Saccato at 707-350-1719 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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This family will soon be moving into a new home on 39th Avenue in Clearlake. Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity, Lake County.

CLEARLAKE – Habitat for Humanity would like to invite the public to come see for themselves and celebrate the completion of the eighth Habitat for Humanity home in Lake County.

The beautiful, four-bedroom home incorporates some of the latest “green building” techniques and energy efficiencies and is the first Habitat home in Lake County completed with solar panels.

The open house and dedication will be Saturday, Jan. 12, 12 p.m., at 15921 39th Ave, Clearlake, (cross street of Phillips Ave).

Come and join the festivities and meet the homeowners, and volunteers who worked so hard to build this home. Refreshments will be served and the event will continue on rain or shine.

This would be the perfect opportunity to see for yourself how our community of volunteers, donors and business supporters came together to help eliminate substandard housing for a Lake County family.

Also, for families who are considering applying for a Habitat home this would be a great time to view a completed Habitat home.

For those who cannot attend the Saturday celebration, we will have the home open for showing on Friday, Jan. 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For further information, or to RSVP for Friday’s showing, please call 994-1100.

Habitat for Humanity, Lake County, currently has two other homes under construction which are scheduled for completion very soon, with plans to build four additional homes in 2008.

All homes are sold at a zero interest mortgage, enabling many more people in Lake County to own a home of their own.

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A new federal safety regulation, designed to reduce the risk of lithium battery fires, will continue to allow lithium batteries in checked baggage if they are installed in electronic devices, or in carry-on baggage if stored in plastic bags.

Common consumer electronics such as travel cameras, cell phones and most laptop computers are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage. However, the rule limits individuals to bringing only two extended-life spare rechargeable lithium batteries, such as laptop and professional audio/video/camera equipment lithium batteries in carry-on baggage.

"Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires," said Krista Edwards, deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Lithium batteries are considered hazardous materials because they can overheat and ignite in certain conditions.

Safety testing conducted by the FAA found that current aircraft cargo fire suppression system would not be capable of suppressing a fire if a shipment of non-rechargeable lithium batteries were ignited in flight.

"This rule protects the passenger," said Lynne Osmus, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assistant administrator for security and hazardous materials. "It's one more step for safety. It's the right thing to do and the right time to do it."

In addition to the new rule, PHMSA is working with the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the battery and airline industries, airline employee organizations, testing laboratories, and the emergency response communities to increase public awareness about battery-related risks and developments.

These useful safety tips are highlighted at the public Web site, http://safetravel.dot.gov.

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A potluck supper will be open to members and guests, who are always welcome.

Following the potluck will be the installation of 2008 officers.

You do not have to be Scandinavian but interested in learning the heritage and culture of Norway and other Nordic countries to join the Sons of Norway, a fraternal benefit society offering maximum benefits to its members.

The meetings are held in the Community Center of Galilee Lutheran Church, 8860 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville. Children are welcome and will meet Youth Director Souleah Scarbrough.

Call the membership secretary for information at 998-3583.

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The public is invited to attend the completion celebration, scheduled to take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Brutacao Schoolhouse Plaza, Bliss Banquet Room, 13500 South Highway 101, Hopland.

Key speakers will include Charles C. Fielder, Caltrans District 1 director; Alan Escarda, Caltrans construction engineer; and J. David Colfax, Mendocino County Board of Supervisors.

A traffic signal could have been used for this safety project, but a roundabout has numerous advantages at this location, which include:

• A smaller footprint than a signalized intersection with left-turn lanes, so less new right-of-way was required.

• Providing traffic calming, resulting in reduced speeds.

• Requiring less maintenance, lower yearly operational costs, and a longer service life.

• Providing a safe place for large trucks to safely turn around.

• Enhancing the roundabout with landscaping will create an aesthetic gateway to the community.

For more information on the advantages of roundabouts, and how to navigate them, see www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/roundabout.htm.

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