COOLING CENTERS OPENED IN HEAT DRINKS, READING MATERIAL HANDY.

Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- Three air-conditioned county facilities were opened Tuesday as part-time refuges for people who need to beat the heat away from home.

With temperatures shooting above 100 degrees and power outages knocking out air conditioners, some need a temporary home away from home.

``I don't know anyone who hasn't been affected by this terrible heat,'' said Mave McConnell, a spokeswoman for the north county Department of Parks and Recreation. ``There are people for whom it presents a real danger, and we welcome them to come sit in the cooling station and bring something to read, or some knitting.''

Cool drinks are provided, magazines and newspapers are on hand, and referrals for health care and social service programs are available.

The centers, in Newhall, Castaic and Val Verde, will remain open during the day until the heat wave subsides, said Tony Bell, a spokesman for Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

Humidity, combined with highs of up to 108 degrees, made it feel like 114 degrees in some parts of the Santa Clarita Valley, said Bonnie Bartling, a weather specialist for the National Weather Service.

Temperatures have surpassed the 100-degree mark on all but two days so far this month.

The weather service issued another excessive heat warning through 7 p.m. Tuesday. Today is expected to be cooler.

Tuesday's air was unhealthy for sensitive people and today is expected to be the same, according to a health advisory from the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The agency urges susceptible people, who include the elderly, children, and those with heart or lung disease, to curtail outdoor activities.

In the past three weeks, about seven people have sought emergency room treatment for heat exposure at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. None were hospitalized or suffered complications, said Vivian Rebel, the hospital's director of emergency services.

The centers are in part a response to the record heat wave.

Some Castaic residents were without power Tuesday, but Monday night's outage in Stevenson Ranch was repaired early Tuesday, said Alis Clausen, a spokeswoman for Southern California Edision. Power was restored for most by early Tuesday afternoon and while Edison crews remained in the field, Clausen could not say when all services would be restored. A transformer was replaced in Stevenson Ranch on Monday night.

The utility declared a Stage 1 emergency Tuesday, after Stage 1 and Stage 2 alerts Monday. Clausen said this is the worst heat wave since 1998, and since it began, field workers have been pulling 16-hour shifts and mutual assistance has been requested from neighboring utilities.

Bell urged people to help relatives and friends whose health or welfare might be compromised by the hot weather.

``Our main concern is frail elderly and homebound people, who are called every day,'' said Brad Berens, executive director of the Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging, which operates the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center. Helpers call about 350 people who receive care or home-delivered meals, arranging to have staples or medicines delivered or personal care given, if needed.

Fans have been delivered to some people without air conditioners, people are lingering longer at the Newhall center and the center's bus drivers are pulling double duty, Berens said.

Berens has dispatched the housing rehabilitation crew to repair about a dozen air conditioners, but tries to schedule visits early in the day to dodge the heat. Berens may purchase a device that emits an air-cooled barrier head-to-toe to chill seniors who deliver meals to the homebound.

Despite closing all of its evening programs and activities weeks ago due to financial hardship, the center will serve as a cooling center. About 450 people eat lunch or participate in recreation programs daily and about 750 receive some kind of service, Berens said.

judy.orourke(at)dailynews.com

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GETTING COOL

Respite from the heat is available at three ``cooling centers'' from noon to 8 p.m.:

Hart Hall at William S. Hart Park, 24151 San Fernando Road; Castaic Sports Complex, 31230 N. Castaic Road; Val Verde Park clubhouse, 30300 W. Arlington Road.

Seniors can also visit the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, 22900 Market St., Newhall, where classes, games and activities, a TV and piano, books and magazines, and meals are available. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.

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GETTING COOL (see text)