Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/129008
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 – Daily News 3B FEATURES Restaurant fiasco causes huge family row Spinal stenosis can be ther would have appreciated Dear Annie: My grandsuch disrespect. My husfather passed away last band and I are tempted to month, and the wake was send the restaurant owner an catered by a close friend of anonymous money order the family who owns a because we doubt he will restaurant. He closed off a otherwise be compensated. section of his dining hall My parents are supposed for our family. to have their 50th anniverThe meal included 15 children under the age of Annie's sary party at this restaurant next month, and the guest 10, and they were absolute list is almost identical. monsters. My nephew threw his shoe across the by Kathy Mitchell They're too embarrassed to room and then tripped a and Marcy Sugar go, but don't want to lose their deposit. Should I send waitress. These kids crawled under the tables, poking us the money order? Whatever hapwith forks and smearing food into pened to manners? — Shocked the carpet. My cousin's 8-year-old Granddaughter Dear Shocked: They apparently daughter put open condiment packets in my purse and a baked potato got stuck with the mashed potatoes. in my mother's coat pocket and then What terrible behavior from the parents who allowed their children mashed it into the fabric. People from the other area of the to run amok. And they do their chilrestaurant complained after my dren a disservice by making them nephew threw food at them. My unwelcome everywhere. We think your parents should go husband and I left, leaving a large tip for the servers. Other relatives ahead with their plans to celebrate did the same. The dining room was at that restaurant but issue invitaan utter disaster. Before we left tions only to the adults. Children town the next morning, my husband who are too immature to behave in and I stopped by the restaurant and public and whose parents refuse to left additional money for the incon- control them should not be included venience of cleaning food out of the in these events. We suspect your carpet. My grandmother asked the parents paid the cleaning bill, so owner for a full bill of the damage instead of ''donating'' money to the and presented it to those children restaurant, you might consider whose offspring made the mess. It doing something special on your started a huge family row, and of folks' behalf. Dear Annie: Every time I look course, nobody is taking responsiin the papers, I see articles about bility for their kids. I've never seen such appalling wars, death, etc., but never about behavior, and I doubt my grandfa- the homeless, especially homeless Mailbox children and runaways. Why is that? These children are our future. There seems to be money for everything from new jails to fixing swimming pools, but not a word about money for the homeless. Why? — Frustrated Dear Frustrated: In the news business, death ''sells.'' Runaways, not so much. But there are articles on the homeless if you look, and shelters are funded through federal, state and city government allocations, as well as by private philanthropy. You sound like a kind person. Please look for a shelter in your area and volunteer your time. It would be much appreciated. Dear Annie: I read the letter from ''Cal in Maine,'' who complained that his grandchildren rarely communicate with him. I have reread and shared that letter many times. I totally agree with him, as my older grandchildren seem to care little about keeping in touch. But I also now remember how little I cared about keeping in touch with my own grandparents 40 years ago. I guess what goes around comes around. — Lois in Omaha 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. Mothers everywhere appreciate extra help By Jennifer Cooper Social Security Manager in Redding Think of all the times and ways that Mom has helped you over the years — when you were a child, and after you became an adult. With Mother's Day upon us, now is a good time to pay Mom back with a little Extra Help — with her Medicare prescription drug costs. If your mother is covered by Medicare and has limited income and resources, she may be eligible for Extra Help — available through Social Security — to pay part of her monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth about $4,000 per year. That means putting $4,000 in Mom's pocket without having to spend a dime! To figure out whether your mother is eligible, Social Security needs to know her income and the value of her savings, investments and real estate (other than the home she lives in). To qualify for the Extra Help, she must be receiving Medicare and have: • Income limited to $17,235 for an individual or $23,265 for a married couple living together. Even if her annual income is higher, she still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments. Some examples where income may be higher include if she and, if married, her spouse: —Support other family members who live with them; —Have earnings from work; or —Live in Alaska or Hawaii. • Resources limited to $13,300 for an individual or $26,580 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. We do not count her house or car as a resource. Social Security has an easy-to-use online application that you can help complete for your mom. You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp. To apply by phone or have an application mailed to you, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA1020). Or go to the nearest Social Security office. Find the Social Security office nearest you by using our online office locator. You'll find it at the bottom of the "Popular Services" section at www.socialsecurity.gov. To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1800-633-4227; TTY 1-877486-2048). Mom has always been there to help you. She's sure to appreciate a little Extra Help this Mother's Day — especially if you can show her how to put $4,000 in her pocket without spending a dime! Keep in mind as Father's Day approaches, you can get the same "free gift" of Extra Help for Dad! Learn more by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/pre scriptionhelp. treated sans surgery weight loss can DEAR DOChelp. The heavier TOR K: I'm a man you are, the more in my 70s with pressure one verspinal stenosis. tebral bone puts What are my suron the bone below gical options? it. DEAR READExercises and ER: Your spine is physical therapy made up of a colDr. K are the most wideumn of bones by Anthony L. ly used treatcalled vertebrae. My The vertebrae are Komaroff, M.D. ments. impression, and separated by tough little shock-absorbing that of most of my coldisks that keep the bone of leagues, is that they are the vertebra on top from effective. However, there rubbing against the bone aren't many large, rigorof the vertebra beneath it. ous scientific studies to The vertebrae and disks confirm that opinion. Exercises that are less have a circular space in the center, called the likely to cause the vertespinal canal, through bral bones to pound on which your spinal cord each other are preferred. (the long nerve that So rather than jogging, try extends from your brain swimming, bicycling or down your back) passes. using equipment such as For much of your life, an elliptical cross-trainer. If your symptoms don't your spinal canal is wide enough that it doesn't improve, surgery to touch or push on your remove the structures that are pressing on your spinal cord. However, as the bones spinal cord is often sucand disks grow older, in cessful. People who have some people they begin to this surgery can usually be break down. The disks physically active, with may bulge out and push few or no restrictions, for on the spinal cord, or a long time. However, up pinch a nerve root coming to one in four patients out of the spinal cord. Lig- need a second surgery aments, which connect within 10 years of their your vertebrae to one initial surgery. Sometimes the changes another and allow them to move flexibly, may thick- that cause spinal stenosis en, or small bony growths cause a vertebra to slip may develop and protrude forward. If that's true in your case, you might coninto the spinal canal. spinal fusion Spinal stenosis is a nar- sider rowing of the spinal canal surgery. This fixes the caused by the problems position of the vertebrae with aging disks, liga- permanently, preventing ments or bones that I just future displacement. By mentioned. (I've put an reducing motion in the illustration depicting affected area of the spine, spinal stenosis on my spinal fusion relieves the w e b s i t e , pain caused by abnormal AskDoctorK.com.) It movement. So even though you causes low back pain and discomfort in the thighs or asked about surgery, you lower legs when you stand should know that most up straight, bend back- people with spinal stenoward or walk even short sis never need it. Fortudistances. You're probably nately, simpler approaches more comfortable sitting work for most people. or leaning forward. Dr. Komaroff is a For some people, symptoms improve sub- physician and professor Harvard Medical stantially over time with- at To send out treatment. If your School. go to stenosis is fairly recent, questions, or give yourself some time to AskDoctorK.com, see if your symptoms write: Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck St., Second improve on their own. If you are overweight, Floor, Boston, MA 02115. 3D mammography offers better breast cancer detection Lassen Medical Group is one of the first health centers in Northern California to offer 3D mammography — breast tomosynthesis — for breast cancer screening. Breast tomosynthesis produces a three-dimensional view of the breast tissue that helps radiologists identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue. The center's system offers exceptionally sharp breast images, an advanced ergonomic design providing more patient comfort and the ground-breaking tomosynthesis platform designed to deliver superior screening and diagnostic performance. Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis when combined with a conventional 2D mammography has a higher cancer detection rate than conventional 2D mammography alone. The tomosynthesis screening experience is similar to a traditional mammogram. During a tomosynthesis exam, multiple, low-dose Water transfers open for public review The Bureau of Reclamation has released a Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the transfer of Central Valley Project water by CVP contractors located north of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Transfers would occur through groundwater substitution and would be available for purchase by 10 San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority member agencies located south of the Delta. The Draft EA, which is available for a 15-day public review period, analyzes the potential upper limit of water that may be made available by transfers in 2013. With dry hydrologic conditions and low CVP water allocations, there is a need for water contractors to supplement local and imported supplies to meet demands. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to facilitate the transfer of CVP water from willing sellers to buyers that are experiencing water short- ages in 2013. Reclamation would review and approve proposed CVP water transfers in accordance with the Interim Guidelines for the Implementation of Water Transfers under the Central Valley Project Improvement A c t http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cv pia/3405a/index.html. The Draft EA and FONSI were developed to meet requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and are available for review at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ne pa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Pr oject_ID=13310. If you encounter problems accessing documents online, please contact the public Affairs Office at 916-9785100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov. Written comments on the Draft EA and FONSI are due by close of business Tuesday, May 21, and should be mailed to Brad Hubbard, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-410, Sacramento, CA 95825; or email bhub- bard@usbr.gov or faxed to 916-978-5290. For a copy of the documents or for information, please contact Hubbard at 916-978-5204 (TDD 916-978-5608). images of the breast are acquired at different angles. These images are then used to produce a series of one-millimeter thick slices that can be viewed as a 3D reconstruction of the breast. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Statistics indicate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her lifetime. The stage at which breast cancer is detected influences a woman's chance of survival. If detected early, the fiveyear survival rate is 98 percent. For further information, call (530) 5284451 or visit www.lassenmedical.co m.