January 4, 2007

NEWS BRIEFS

Almaden Valley Counseling Service accepting sign-ups for
winter session of popular ‘Positive Parenting’ classes

Almaden Valley Counseling Service is holding its winter session of positive parenting classes starting the week of Jan. 22. The classes are for parents and are divided into age groups. Instructors offer a class for parents of preschool, school-age, and teenage children. The class instructors are counselors from the agency and the course is based on the Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) model.

The classes are held one night a week for seven weeks, from 7:15–9:15 pm.

The schedule is: Teen—Tuesday, starting Jan. 23; Preschool—Wednesday, starting Jan. 24; and School-age—Thursday, starting Jan. 25.

The fee is $95 for one parent or $100 for the couple. The fee includes the STEP Parenting Book.

If you are interested in attending this session, or would like to be added to the mailing list for future classes, call the agency at (408) 997-0200, or e-mail at staff@avcounseling.org or download the class registration form at www.avcounseling.org.

Keep safety in mind as when putting away your holiday decorations

Now that the holidays are over, take down your decorations and start the new year safely, advises the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), the not-for-profit product safety testing organization.

According to the NFPA, 20 percent of home fires attributed to Christmas trees occur in January. "Christmas trees can be a significant fuel source if a fire occurs in your home," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA assistant vice president of communications. "Dried-out trees burn easily and should not be left in a garage or placed against the house. We recommend you remove your tree from the home and dispose of it properly as soon as your Christmas celebration ends."

"Even well-watered trees dry out after four weeks," John Drengenberg, consumer affairs manager for UL, explained. "So if your real tree went up right after Thanksgiving, it should be discarded after Christmas and not New Year's Day."

Carli and Drengenberg also remind you that Christmas trees aren't the only holiday decorations that need prompt attention after the holidays.

"Leaving your decorations out for several months or even all year not only aggravates your neighbors," Carli said, "but it also leaves the wires exposed to rain, snow, cold, the sun, squirrels and birds longer than intended by the safety standards."

"Many people don't realize that holiday lights should only be up for a limited time," Drengenberg continued, "The safety standards are developed anticipating a maximum of 90 days of use per year because these decorations are considered seasonal.