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Candle fire in converted garage badly damages structure, contents By Peggy Kelly Santa Paula News Published:  November 23, 2011

A candle started a fire Thursday evening that destroyed a detached garage where a man had been staying while he reportedly worked on the main house.

According to Santa Paula Fire Captain Steve Lazenby, the report of a structure fire came in at 9:44 p.m. October 27 at 116 N. Oak Street off East Main Street and near Rancho Sunset Market.

Santa Paula Fire Engines 81 and 82 as well as Ventura County Fire Department Engine 26 and Battalion 5 were dispatched to the scene, as was Santa Paula Police.

More than 245 buildings were entered in the competition from across the country. by making improvements in operations and maintenance and upgrades to equipment and technology, competitors were able to cut energy costs by a total of $5.2 million annually. the total reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the buildings equaled the amount used by more than 3,600 homes.

Each building’s energy was measured for a full year – from Sept. 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. Competitors tracked their building’s monthly energy consumption using EPA’s Energy Star online energy tracking tool, Portfolio Manager. the University of Central Florida had the largest percent-reduction in energy use, adjusted for weather and the size of the building.

Central Florida pulled off its enormous energy reduction in two phases, according to the EPA. first worked on the garage’s interior, installing high performance T-5 Fluorescent lights in place of 150-watt high-pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures. then, during Phase II, the top deck of the garage was retrofitted with 16 Cooper LED 236-watt lights in place of the existing 400-watt HPS fixtures. “Ultimately, the lighting retrofit not only yielded significant energy savings and reduced the lighting bill by more than half, but also provided better visibility for the UCF community and visitors,” the EPA said.

Coming in behind Central Florida was Twinsburg High School and Sports Complex, in Ohio, which had a 46.3 percent reduction in energy use. In third place was the Polaris Career Center in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, with a 43.4 percent reduction. according to the EPA, energy use in commercial buildings accounts for nearly 20 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

The full report on this year’s competition is available online as a PDF.

Reprinted with permission from EarthTechling

This is a big day for craft fairs and fine-arts sales around thecity. there are also several fundraisers. Here is a summary, asprovided to the Star-Tribune.

VFW Post 9439, 1800 Bryan Stock Trail, hostsits second annual Fall Craft Fair from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. there is noentrance fee for the public, but everyone is invited to bring agift of nonperishable food to be donated to a local food bank forthe holidays.

The Wyoming Crafters Guild will hold its secondannual Craft Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Parkway Plaza.Admission is $1 or one pet product that will be donated to theCasper Humane Society.

A Guatemalan Clothing and Crafts Sale will beheld at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2300 E. 15th St., from 9a.m. to 2 p.m. After administrative costs, more than 90 percent ofthe proceeds go back to the Guatemalan cooperatives and smallbusinesses to support their orphanage, school, scholarships, eldercenter and disaster relief. At the same time, visit the PoPpreschool Craft and Bake Sale. a Sloppy Joe lunch begins at 11 a.m.Proceeds from the sales will be supplemented by the Natrona Countychapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Casper MOPS at College Heights is having acraft fair at the College Heights Baptist Church Community Center(Old Garfield Gym at 21st and Walnut streets) from 9 a.m. to 3p.m.

Join Casper artists Lynette Fransen and James Reed at theirannual holiday open house, Paintin’ the Town, from10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the C’mon Inn, 301 Lathrop Road. this year’sevent benefits the Holy Cross Center. Anyonebringing cereal, peanut butter, jelly or a monetary donation forHoly Cross Center will be entered in a drawing for door prizesawarded at the end of the show.

An Art Supply Garage Sale by the CasperArtists’ Guild will be held for one day only at the West WindGallery, 1040 W. 15th St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. whether you arelooking for basic supplies for your beginning art experience oradding to your existing supplies, this is a great cost savingopportunity to purchase paints, art books, frames and muchmore.

The 12 Days of Christmas store, 3233 CY Ave.,opens today and remains open through Dec. 23. there are a total ofeight members and 22 consignees, with mostly “Made in Wyoming”products. The charity receiving a portion of the proceeds this yearwill be the Natrona County School District’s Homeless Children’sProgram.

More than 40 artists from across the region fill theNicolaysen Art Museum today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.for the 18th Annual November Art Show and Sale. Daily admission is$5 at the door.

The second annual Christmas PJ Party and Danceto provide Christmas PJ’s for underprivileged children in NatronaCounty is 7 to 11 p.m. at the Casper Elks Lodge, 108 E. Seventh St.everyone 21 and over is welcome. Music is provided by SteelKickin’. Admission is $9 per person at the door for dancing, doorprizes, a 50/50 raffle and more. You are welcome to wear yourfavorite pajamas.

The ninth Annual Stories of Light Wine Tasting, Dinnerand Auction to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wyomingis 6 to 10 p.m. at the best Western Ramkota. Tickets are $90 each.The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wyoming is a nonprofit organizationthat grants the wishes of children ages 2½ to 18 with lifethreatening medical conditions.

The Wyoming Adoption & Foster Care Alliance presents aone-day seminar, ”The Road to Adoption,” from 9a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Casper College Physical Science Building.Admission is $20 per person or $30 per couple and includes lunch.Guests will be treated to a broad range of workshops, includingdomestic adoption and infertility, beginning the adoption journey,consider those with special needs, and financing your adoption.

The final distribution day for the Casper Kiwanis ClubCoats for Kids Drive is today from 10 a.m. to noonat the Salvation Army Center for Hope, 441 S. Center St. Anyoneneeding a warm winter coat is welcome to go.

Natrona County Republican Women are hostingtheir annual Style Show and Brunch at 11 a.m. in the Tiffany Roomat the Parkway Plaza. Cost is $25 per person and reservations arerequired.

Girl Scouts of Casper are having a food drivefor Restoration Church and St. Mark’s Food Pantry. The food drivewill go until Friday, collecting nonperishable foods in time tohelp the families in need for Thanksgiving. The boxes are atWestern Grill; Eggington’s Restaurant; the Child DevelopmentCenter; Pool Hall; Girl Scout House (check for open times); theFenway Business Building, 301 S. Fenway St.; Lil’ MikiZoo Daycare,2023 Linda Vista Dr.; and Friends are forever Daycare. there aretwo additional locations today, the eastside Albertsons from 11a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Sam’s Club from 2 to 4 p.m.

The Girl Scouts are joining with the American Red Cross in theHoliday Mail for Heroes program to create cards toensure that members of the U.S. military, veterans and theirfamilies, especially those who will be far away from home, receivea touch of home this holiday season. Girl Scouts will be makingcards today from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Casper Scout House, 1011 BonnieBrae St. for more information, call Michelle at 262-6891 or

A veterans ceremony will be held at the CasperElks Lodge today at 1 p.m. in the ballroom. All veterans will behonored and the public is welcome.

Dance to the variety music of TheRunaway Band plus Russ at the Senior CitizensCenter from 7 to 10 p.m.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at307-266-0520; ; read her blog attrib.com/dishin; or follow her on Twitter @WYOSAS