Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/139932
Wednesday, June 26, 2013 – Daily News 3B FEATURES Home next door is registered to porn site sick. Dear Annie: We live in I have offered cough a quiet family neighbordrops and antihistamines, hood. Recently, a neighbor which she has refused. I suftried to locate the owner of fer from allergies, as well, a rental home next door in but try to keep my symporder to discuss a shared toms to myself. I have talked fence issue. When our to my boss, but she won't neighbor could find no condeal with it. Other co-worktact information through the city department of Annie's ers are unwilling to switch desks with me (understandhousing, he searched the ably). I used to like going to Internet. He was shocked to discover that for the past 10 by Kathy Mitchell work, but I am ready to hand years, the owners have had and Marcy Sugar in my notice. What do you suggest? — Had It with the a porn site registered at that rental home address. None of us Hacking Dear Had It: First be more wants a porn site associated with our neighborhood. How should we direct with this co-worker, explainhandle this? — No Name or Loca- ing your discomfort and asking her to please cover her nose and mouth. tion, Please Dear No Name: While we cer- If that doesn't help, can you comtainly understand your moral objec- plain to the human resources tions, these owners seem to be run- department or a higher-up? Is it ning a legal operation. Most web- possible to move your desk? Would based or home-based businesses are you be willing to wear a surgical fine unless there are customers or mask or filter? Allergies can't employees coming to the house. always be helped, but people There may be a requirement to have should be considerate of one anotha business license, but that's about er. Dear Annie: I read your advice it. You can contact a lawyer in your city to find out whether there are to ''Nervous in Vermont'' with other possibilities, but we suspect much interest, being the parent of a there is nothing you can do, legally, transgender child myself. Even if an initial conversation about this. Sorry. Dear Annie: I share a small may have seemed encouraging, it workspace with someone who con- can be dangerous for trans kids to stantly coughs, sneezes, clears her come out to their parents. Half of throat, blows her nose and grunts. all homeless kids are LGBT, some Worse, she never covers her mouth, as young as 12, and were kicked so I am surrounded by airborne out of their parents' home after germs all day. It's extremely annoy- coming out to their families. And a ing and interferes with my ability to staggering number of trans kids end concentrate on my work. I know up committing suicide if met with some of this is allergies, but she scorn, shame or parental refusal to also doesn't stay home when she is accept or discuss the subject. Com- Mailbox ing out must be done eventually, but unless the child is nearing 18 or has contingency plans, one must take into consideration the things that can go wrong. I'd like to offer a couple of parental resources for such situations: Trans Youth Family Allies (imatyfa.org) is a wonderful group of parents of trans kids that includes a support email list, as well as organized trainings for schools and other organizations. Gender Spectrum (genderspectrum.org) holds a yearly Gender Spectrum Family conference in Oakland, Calif., as well as a transmasculine oriented Gender Spectrum conference in Seattle, Wash. These two groups can be of incredible assistance to parents after their kids have come out. We've found that going through the process of accepting our kids is not dissimilar to the grieving process. What is lost is not the person (thank goodness), but our hopes, dreams and plans for our child. We fear for them and their future. But we support each other and learn to move on, create new dreams and celebrate our children's true identities. — Sara Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. July 4th fireworks safety reminder Fourth of July is just around the corner, meaning that the use of fireworks poses a high potential hazard for fires. With recent high temperatures, the vegetation is dry and the fire danger is rising. The Tehama – Glenn Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) and Tehama County Fire Department (TCFD) want to inform everyone that they need to be careful with fireworks. Severe burns, amputations, blindness, and in some cases death can be the result of 4th of July Celebrations. CalFire/TCFD and the Office of the State Fire Marshal have the follow- ing tips: • Always read directions. • Always have an adult present. • Use fireworks outdoors only. • Never use near dry grass or other flammable materials. • Light one at a time. • Keep a safe distance. • Never point or throw fireworks at another person. • Never experiment with fireworks. • Have a bucket of water and a hose handy. • Never attempt to relight or "fix" fireworks. • Do not wear loose fitting clothing. • Never carry fireworks in your pockets. • Fireworks are not toys. • Use only State Fire Marshal approved fireworks. There is another reason to be careful with fireworks this 4th of July; parents can be held liable for the cost of fighting any fires that their children start. Parents need to watch their children closely this holiday and report any fires immediately. Every year, across the state, children take fireworks out into fields or vacant lots and start fires. If reported quickly, firefighters can usually put the fire out when it is still small. But if the fire gets away, the costs can become expensive. Make sure you purchase only fireworks with the approved California State Fire Marshal seal which can be viewed at the following link: http://www.osfm.fire.c a.gov/strucfireengineer/p df/fireworks/SafesaneSEAL.pdf Safe and Sane fireworks are sold at authorized stands within California. Remember fireworks are not toys so use common sense. CalFire/TCFD personnel will be out patrolling this 4th of July and will be available to answer any questions the public may have in regards to fireworks and other fire safety issues. Sierra Club outings for July The Sierra Club, Yahi Group, is hosting the following events for July. Unless otherwise noted, trips are free and open to the public and begin at the trailhead. For more information, call Wayland Augur at 530-519-4724 or email wba@acm.org. For all events please see http://www.motherlode.sierraclub.o rg/yahi/outing.htm. July 7, Sunday. Upper Bidwell Park/Big Chico Creek Hike. Meet at the parking lot at Horseshoe Lake at 10 a.m. Bring lunch, swimwear, and shoes that are good for walking through the creek. We will explore various swimming spots. Return around 3 PM or when desired. Leader: Sharon, 899-7105. July 19–21, Friday–Monday. Volunteer to Work on Pacific Crest Trail in the LaPorte Area. Join other PCTA volunteers for a great weekend project! They will be doing brushing, treadwork, and log-out on the PCT in the shadows of Mt. Etna and Stafford Mountain. Volunteers will meet on Friday evening for dinner and set up camp. Trail work will start the following morning. Project components will include one or more of the following: hiking 3–8 miles each day; the trail may be rough, steep, and/or rocky; elevation change over 1,000 feet during the course of the hike; and moderately physical work activities. This project may be physically challenging to some people, participants need to be in good physical conditioning and aware of their physical abilities and limits before joining this project. All meals provided along with car/tent camping. Contact PCTA Volunteer Programs at 916- 285-1838 or email volunteer@pcta.org. July 24–28, Wednesday–Sunday. Yosemite Backpack. Our annual trip to Yosemite, this time to enjoy the stunning scenery in the Vogelsang area. After driving down on Wednesday and car camping at the Backpacker's Campground in Tuolumne Meadows, we'll pack in 6–7 miles and climb 2,100 feet to set up camp near the Vogelsang High Sierra Camp. On Friday we will day hike to the pass to enjoy the vistas and visit a lake. On Saturday we will travel cross country (class 2) over a pass to Reymann Lake and camp at 10,000 feet and explore the area. Sunday we cross country out to Nelson Lake and then pick up the Elizabeth Lake trail back to Tuolumne Meadows. Bring standard backpacking gear including tent, pad, sleeping bag, stove, warm clothes, and food. Prior backpacking or cross country experience required and you should be acclimated to higher elevations. Cost $15 to cover Yahi Group expenses. Contact leader to sign up, make advance payment, and get meeting time and place. Leader: Alan, 8918789 or ajmendoza777@comcast.net. July 26–28. Friday–Sunday. Little Grass Valley Reservoir Campout. Fourth annual camping trip to this wonderful outdoor recreation site. Past participants have hiked, swam, canoed, kayaked, paddle boarded, biked single track trails, photographed, and observed Clamper initiation weekends. This year we won't see Clampers, but we can do all of the rest and more. A very relaxing weekend with lots of fun. Come Friday afternoon or Saturday, a few miles east of LaPorte. Bring campground fee and driver $, food, toys (kayaks, etc.), and camping gear. Contact leaders: John 8728258, Jeanne 321-7279, or Michelle 865-9491. New boarding float at Canyon Dam The Lassen National Forest has awarded a contract for the supply and installation of a new boarding float at the Canyon Dam Boat Launch. The float is scheduled to be delivered and in place by the weekend of July 20. The contractor, Bay Ship & Yacht Company, will make every attempt to keep the boat ramp open during the installation. However, safety of the public during this time will be a priority, and boaters may experience slight disruption in access to the ramp. The new float will have a steel frame and wooden walking surface. The Canyon Dam Boat Launch has been without a float since last fall when the previous structure was removed for safety reasons. General questions regarding this action may be directed to Almanor Ranger District Recreation Officer Michelle Ahearn at 530258-2141. For technical questions, you may contact Heather Blevins, Assistant Forest Engineer, at 530-257-2151. Have a news tip? Call 527-2151, Ext. 112 Don't flush your unused drugs tals and nursing DEAR DOChomes. And we TOR K: I've heard can do our part as that when people well: don't properly dis— Limit bulk pose of their medpurchases. Big ications, they bottles of expired make their way pills are more into the drinking likely to end up in water. Should I be worried? Dr. K the water. — Do not DEAR READby Anthony L. unused ER: The water that Komaroff, M.D. flush medicines or pour flows through our faucets is generally clean them down the drain. and safe. But there is This is the most basic increasing concern about thing that we all can, and chemicals from unused should, do. Instead, throw medicamedications making their way into our drinking tions into the trash. Medications disposed of this water. Drugs can get into the way are incinerated or water in a variety of ways. buried in landfills. This Many people flush unused isn't ideal, but it's preferor expired drugs down the able to flushing or pourtoilet or pour them down ing them down the drain. — Better yet, use drug the drain. Some nursing programs. homes and hospitals do take-back the same. Drug manufac- These programs allow turing facilities contribute you to drop off unused to pharmaceutical pollu- medications at specified tion. Agricultural waste, locations in your commufrom poultry and livestock nity. Drug take-back progiven antibiotic- and hor- grams are organized by mone-laced feed, is anoth- state and local governments and also by private er major source. Sewage treatment institutions, including plants and water treatment pharmacy chains. I learned from a colfacilities are not designed to remove pharmaceuti- league that the most cals from water. As a recent such government result, some pharmaceuti- program provided pickup cal pollution does wind up spots in nearly 6,000 in the water we drink. So locations around the far, only trace amounts of United States. In total, drugs have been found in nearly 3 million pounds drinking water, far below of outdated or unused have levels thought to affect pharmaceuticals been safely disposed of humans. It's possible that ingest- through drug take-back ing even tiny amounts of programs. While we don't know these drugs could, over time, affect our health. of any harm to humans But for now, there's no from the current low levevidence that drugs in the els of old drugs in our drinking water, the truth water are harming us. The drugs we pour is that we can't be sure down the drain, however, there is no harm. That's could be affecting fish. why I urge my patients to For example, water use these programs. It's sources polluted with just one of many ways to estrogen and estrogen- be a good citizen — not like chemicals (from birth just to your fellow human control pills and hormone beings, but also to fish! treatments) contain more Dr. Komaroff is a fish who have both male and female characteristics physician and professor Harvard Medical — when they should have at To send only one or the other. The School. go to impact of this on fish questions, AskDoctorK.com, or breeding is unclear. New guidelines write: Ask Doctor K, 10 encourage responsible Shattuck St., Second drug disposal for hospi- Floor, Boston, MA 02115. Marriage, the sequel for 'Star Wars' creator Lucas LOS ANGELES (AP) — It's marriage, episode II for George Lucas. A Lucasfilm spokeswoman confirms the ''Star Wars'' creator married longtime girlfriend Mellody Hobson in a weekend ceremony at Skywalker Ranch north of San Francisco. It's the second wedding for the 69-year-old Lucas, who was married to film editor Marcia Lucas from 1969 to 1983. It's the first marriage for the 44-year-old Hobson, an investment firm president and an analyst for CBS News. The two have dated since 2006. Former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley walked her down the aisle. The Saturday afternoon ceremony was performed by journalist Bill Moyers, who was once a Baptist minister. Guests included filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, who said on Twitter that the wedding was ''a joy to behold'' and Moyers' service was ''nothing short of profound.'' Feds want to drop 4th charge v. Whittemore RENO, Nev. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have decided against pursuing a fourth felony against an exNevada developer and lobbyist convicted of three charges related to making illegal campaign contributions to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Harvey Whittemore originally was charged with a fourth count of lying to the FBI about the illegal fundraising but the jury deadlocked on that charge during his trial last month in U.S. District Court in Reno. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Myhre requested in a motion filed Monday that the fourth charge be dropped. But he indicated they want to reserve the right to change their mind in the future. Whittemore is appealing the convictions. He faces up to 15 years in prison and $750,000 in fines. Sentencing is set for Sept. 23. Calif. businessman embezzled to fund football SAN DIEGO (AP) — A former San Diego businessman has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $1 million that he used mainly to fund a proposed U.S. football league. U-T San Diego says Jaime Cuadra entered pleas Monday to wire fraud and filing a false federal income tax return. He faces up to 22 years in prison.