Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/162168
2B Daily News – Friday, August 30, 2013 FEATURES Family members fed up with unruly boy Spinal fractures lead coming to these parties uninDear Annie: My grandvited. But a 6-year-old boy children are 6 and 3. My on the autism spectrum can brother has a step-grandbe a handful, and his grandson, also age 6, from his mother undoubtedly doesn't wife's daughter. want him excluded from Two years ago, at my family functions. The boy is eldest grandchild's birthday 6. It will take some time party, my brother and his before he can learn to socialwife brought this stepgrandson along. He was not Annie's ize in a more acceptable manner. We know it's asking invited because he is an a lot for you to be accommounruly child. He has a mild form of autism. Then his by Kathy Mitchell dating, but please try. Pergrandmother became upset and Marcy Sugar haps your daughter would consider having a party for when my daughter didn't provide a goody bag for him. My her child's friends, followed later by daughter had made enough only for a cake-and-ice-cream celebration those kids who were invited. My for family members. The family brother's wife then said, ''Make will tolerate the boy's behavior betsure to have enough for next year.'' ter, and the schedule of events will The following year, my daughter, allow the boy to arrive after the a kind person, prepared an extra other children have left. Dear Annie: My parents have goody bag, even though the boy was not invited. He showed up anyway. decided that for their 40th wedding This year, when my granddaughter anniversary, they should have a had her birthday party, she did not professional photo taken of all of invite any extended family members their children and grandchildren. in order to avoid having this boy in That's fine. But Mom also insists that we all wear blue jeans and attendance. The younger child's birthday is white sweatshirts. I said no. I'd be coming up. Is there any way to stop happy to wear a suit and tie, but no my brother and his wife from bring- white sweatshirt. I do not look ing this 6-year-old with them? We good in white and don't want to know the boy has problems, and end up in ''Awkward Family Phowe've tried the ''open arms'' tos.'' Mom calls me day and night approach, but it always backfires. The boy acts out and ruins the party begging, badgering and asking for the rest of the children. Any why I can't swallow my so-called dignity and ''just grin and bear it.'' advice? — Not Unsympathetic Dear Not: We understand that My father moans about how famiyou don't want a disruptive child lies do things to make each other Mailbox happy. My parents and I have always had a stormy relationship. I am 30 years old and don't want to take orders from them. If I tell them to give up, they will be disappointed. How do I get them to leave me alone? — Unwilling Son Dear Unwilling: Your parents have a point about going along for the sake of family harmony. After all, it's their 40th anniversary, and this is a gift to them. You all sound amazingly pigheaded, but there is no reason for such a fuss over a white sweatshirt. Be conciliatory rather than stubborn. Enlist the help of a sibling. Ask your folks to work with you on a compromise. Maybe a beige sweatshirt would do the trick. Or you could all wear holiday scarves to add color. See what you can come up with. Dear Annie: This is in response to ''Need Help,'' the 16-year-old who has mood swings, painful headaches and often feels weak. Please advise her to get tested for Lyme disease. This disease can easily go undetected, as the symptoms can be attributed to other causes. The good news is, it can be treated. — Concerned Reader 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. Give withholding and payments a check-up Some people are surprised to learn they're due a large federal income tax refund when they file their taxes. Others are surprised that they owe more taxes than they expected. When this happens, it's a good idea to check your federal tax withholding or payments. Doing so now can help avoid a tax surprise when you file your 2013 tax return next year. Here are some tips to help you bring the tax you pay during the year closer to what you'll actually owe. Wages and Income Tax Withholding • New Job. Your employer will ask you to complete a Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate. Complete it accurately to figure the amount of federal income tax to withhold from your paychecks. • Life Event. Change your Form W-4 when cer- tain life events take place. A change in marital status, birth of a child, getting or losing a job, or purchasing a home, for example, can all change the amount of taxes you owe. You can typically submit a new Form W–4 anytime. • IRS Withholding Calculator. This handy online tool will help you figure the correct amount of tax to withhold based on your situation. If a change is necessary, the tool will help you complete a new Form W-4. Self-Employment and Other Income • Estimated tax. This is how you pay tax on income that's not subject to withholding. Examples include income from self-employment, interest, dividends, alimony, rent and gains from the sale of assets. You also may need to pay estimated tax if the amount of income tax withheld from your wages, pension or other income is not Oh Snap! The Daily News wants your photos: Cute kids, Adorable pets, Inspirational sights, Any shot you think readers would enjoy You might just see it in the Daily News Send pictures to editor@redbluffdailynews.com or drop off at 545 Diamond Ave. in Red Bluff. Include a caption. enough. If you expect to owe a thousand dollars or more in taxes and meet other conditions, you may need to make estimated tax payments. • Form 1040-ES. Use the worksheet in Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals, to find out if you need to pay estimated taxes on a quarterly basis. • Change in Estimated Tax. After you make an estimated tax payment, some life events or financial changes may affect your future payments. Changes in your income, adjustments, deductions, credits or exemptions may make it necessary for you to refigure your estimated tax. • Additional Medicare Tax. A new Additional Medicare Tax went into effect on Jan. 1, 2013. The 0.9 percent Additional Medicare Tax applies to an individual's wages, Rail- road Retirement Tax Act compensation and selfemployment income that exceeds a threshold amount based on the individual's filing status. For additional information on the Additional Medicare Tax, see our questions and answers. • Net Investment Income Tax. A new Net Investment Income Tax went into effect on Jan. 1, 2013. The 3.8 percent Net Investment Income Tax applies to individuals, estates and trusts that have certain investment income above certain threshold amounts. For additional information on the Net Investment Income Tax, see our questions and answers. See Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, for more on this topic. You can get it at IRS.gov or by calling 1800-TAX-FORM (1-800829-3676). to loss of height tion lags behind DEAR DOCbone demolition. TOR K: Why do Spinal fractures so many people often occur withlose height and out a traumatic develop a stooped cause like a fall. posture as they get Even simple acts older? of daily life, such DEAR READas bending over, ER: You may be surprised by the Dr. K coughing or lifting, can collapse a answer. In many by Anthony L. older people, loss Komaroff, M.D. vertebra weakened by osteoporosis. A of height and stooped posture results minor stress can be the from fractures of the "straw that breaks the camel's back." spine. In many cases, verteWhen you think of a bone fracture, you proba- bral fractures cause little bly picture a long bone or no pain. The main clue being snapped like a twig, that they have occurred is as with a broken arm or a gradual shrinkage or leg. The vertebrae (bones stooped posture. One or of the spine) are not long two compression fractures bones. They are more like in the spine may produce little cubes. When they only a slight loss of break, they are com- height. But many fractures pressed, not snapped. can profoundly affect They get crunched down. appearance, mobility and Picture the way an health. As the number of fracupturned paper cup would be flattened when stepped tures increases, the spine on. (I've put an illustration becomes progressively on my website, AskDoc- more distorted. The upper torK.com, that compares body is thrust down and compressed and normal forward. The abdominal muscles sag, and the space vertebrae.) When the bones of between the ribs and the your spine lose height, pelvis closes. The chest you lose height. The wall becomes cramped; bones of your spine hold abdominal organs are you upright. Those bones compressed and pushed (and other bones through- forward. Breathing may out the body) become become difficult and may be weak and susceptible to digestion fractures because of a impaired. Since walking bone-weakening condi- erect is difficult, a cane or tion known as osteoporo- walker becomes essential. Given the serious consis. Osteoporosis is more sequences of osteoporosis, common in women than you should take steps to men. It affects all of the prevent it: — Get enough calcium spine bones and many other bones. Women who and vitamin D through have had a fracture of one foods and, if necessary, spine bone have a greatly vitamin supplements. — Regularly perform increased risk that other spine bones also will fol- weight-bearing exercises. — Don't smoke. low suit. — Avoid excess alcoThough it may seem solid and unchanging, hol. — If you have recently bone is continually demolished and recon- entered menopause, ask structed. Inside all of your your doctor about prevenbones, even as you read tive medications. this, some cells are adding Dr. Komaroff is a new bone and other cells physician and professor are eating away at the old Harvard Medical bone. Normally, the bone- at To send building process is equal School. go to to the bone-destroying questions, or process, so that your AskDoctorK.com, bones are neither too thick write: Ask Doctor K, 10 nor too thin. With osteo- Shattuck St., Second porosis, bone reconstruc- Floor, Boston, MA 02115. Get your benefit verifcation letter on line By Jennifer Cooper Social Security Manager in Redding Do you need a letter from Social Security verifying your benefits? The fastest, easiest, most convenient way to get a benefit verification letter these days is to go online t o www.socialsecurity.gov. You may need a benefit verification letter for a number of reasons. Perhaps you need proof of income for a loan or to verify your monthly income for housing, or state or local benefits. You may need proof of your current Medicare health insurance status. In some cases, a person may need proof of retirement status, disability status, or age. For any of these situations, a benefit verification letter will provide the proof you need. Sometimes a benefit verification letter is called a budget letter, benefits letter, proof of income letter, or proof of award letter. Don't let the different titles confuse you; they are all the same thing: a benefit verification letter. Whatever the reason you need your benefit verification letter, you can get yours immeThe diately online for free. To get your benefit verification letter, simply visit us online at www.socialsecurity.gov/ myaccount and set up a my Social Security account. To create an account, you must provide some personal information about yourself and give us answers to some questions that only you are likely to know. They are the same types of questions you would encounter if you were trying to open an online account at a financial institution or obtain your credit report. Next, you create a unique username and password that you will use to access your online account. This process protects you and keeps your personal Social Security information private. Once you've established your account, it will be simple for you to come back and transact business with Social Security in the future. For example, in addition to getting another benefit verification letter in the next year or two, you can check your benefit and payment information as well as your earnings record. You also can change your address, phone number, and direct deposit information. So remember: there's no need to fight traffic and visit a busy government office in order to obtain proof of your benefits. Simply visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ myaccount and establish a my Social Security account so you can obtain your benefit verification letter online in a matter of minutes. Community Clip? e-mail: clerk@redbluffdailynews.com or Fax: 527-9251 Over 25 years of experience STOVE JUNCTION BBQ PELLETS The North State's premier supplier of stoves Now in Stock! Popular customer request Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties Tues-Sat 9am-5pm • Closed Sun & Mon 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened Members Welcome 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check $ starting at + 25958 $ 25 certificate (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St.