COOLING CENTER TO OPEN AGAIN
The National Weather Service has extended the heat advisory through Thursday.  Temperatures in Santa Rosa are expected to peak at 102 degrees on Wednesday and 105 degrees on Thursday. The heat advisory will remain in effect until Thursday evening.  With the latest round of forecasted high temperatures, the City of Santa Rosa will open a cooling center at the Finley Community Center on Wednesday, June 21 and Thursday, June 22 from 11am-7pm. Water will be provided.

• Bring books, games and/or lap tops and headphones.  Free Wifi available. There is no TV available. 
• Food that is ready to eat can be brought in. Kitchen access will not be available. 
• Due to space limitations, visitors will be limited to no more than one small tote and daypack per person.
• City of Santa Rosa Recreation & Parks will not be responsible for lost or stolen items
• Visitors must comply with the community center Standards of Behavior
• Only service animals will be permitted

 The City of Santa Rosa has partnered up with Sonoma County Animal Services and arrangements have been made to provide for the care of a limited number of pets in their mobile unit that will be located outside the Finley Community Center on Wednesday, June 21 and Thursday, June 22 from  12-4pm.  

 “These prolonged periods of high temperatures may increase the risk of heat related illnesses.  Residents are encouraged to not assume that the cooling center or other places where people could go to find relief from the heat are going to be crowded.  Only 22 people utilized the services of the Finley Community Center this past Sunday”, said Paul Lowenthal, Assistant Fire Marshal. 

 Please be mindful of the heat and heed the following tips to stay safe:

• Never leave children, seniors or pets in a parked car during periods of intense summer heat.
• Drink fluids, particularly water, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool.
• If possible, stay out of the sun and in air-conditioned areas.
• Mow fields in the mornings before 10AM, but never when it’s windy or excessively dry. Lawn mowers are designed to mow lawns, not weeds or dry grass. Metal blades striking rocks can create sparks and start fires.

 As a reminder, in addition to the Finley Center cooling center, Recreation & Parks Department operates several air-conditioned lobbies that are open to the public if citizens need a place to stay cool during the day, including:

• Finley Recreation Complex - 2060 West College Avenue - 8AM-6PM, M-F & Sat 9AM-11AM
• Steele Lane Community Center - 415 Steele Lane - 8:30AM-5PM, M-F
• Person Senior Wing – 2060 West College Ave – 8AM-5PM, M-F

 Temperatures will begin to slowly cool on Friday and continue into the weekend.