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2B Daily News – Friday, September 6, 2013 FEATURES Beau's dependent son becoming a drain But they aren't asking for Dear Annie: I am our advice. So this is for involved with a wonderful you: This is not your child, man who has three grown and you need to be careful children. The youngest, age about making demands. 25, is still in college. He Your basic choice is to stay seems to have made college or to go. Are you willing to his career. Dad has put himwait it out, hoping the young self into debt putting his man will eventually get it children through school. This young man was Annie's together? Talk gently to your boyfriend about your confailing his classes, so he cerns, helping him underdecided to take a break and moved back into his by Kathy Mitchell stand that the best gift he father's home six months and Marcy Sugar could give his son is to teach him to be independent. But ago. He does not have a job, nor is he putting any effort into get- don't issue any ultimatums unless ting one. He recently mentioned you are willing to follow through. Dear Annie: For the past 20 that he is planning to go back to school, and it seems that Dad is years, my wife and I have hosted an annual summer weekend for a again going to pay for it. I think it is time to cut the cord. small group of friends. Several What advice do you have for the 25- years ago, one of our guests year-old who is not ready to become brought along her 10-year-old a productive citizen? What about cousin. She didn't ask. The second the father who feels it is his respon- time she did this, I asked her not to. sibility to keep paying for his She apologized, and I thought that child's education? And what about was the end of it. This year, however, she called me? I want us to spend the rest of our lives together, but I have no the night before and announced that desire to be financially and emo- she and a friend would be there in tionally drained by a child who the morning. I was seething. Had doesn't want to grow up. — Stuck she asked, we would have said yes, but I resent the disregard for our Between Dear Stuck: Obviously, a 25- efforts in cooking and preparing. To my astonishment, all of the year-old should get a job and help support himself. If Dad is willing to other guests thought I was overrehelp pay for tuition, that's fine, but acting and the woman hadn't done Dad should not encourage depen- anything wrong. Where has comdency by being overly accommo- mon courtesy gone? To me, her faildating, allowing him to live rent- ure to ask for our OK was blatantly free while he sits around all day. His rude. My friends say I should apologize. — Why Ask When You Can son needs to be held accountable. Mailbox Just Take Dear Why: Your friends are incorrect. No one should bring uninvited guests. It is considerate to ask beforehand whether it is convenient. You can explain this more thoroughly to your guests, saying they cannot bring anyone without asking you first. Or you can choose to consider it a compliment that your friends treat your home as their own, whether you like it or not. Dear Annie: I read the letter from ''Outcast Sister,'' whose sisters resent that she is being paid to care for her mother. Please tell her that the best thing her family can do is see an eldercare lawyer or specialist. When my mother passed away last year, I left my home and career to move in with my elderly father and help him continue his quality of life. My sisters and I consulted an eldercare lawyer, and we are glad we did. The laws are very complicated, and small mistakes now can be very costly later. Please tell your readers who are in similar situations to seek professional guidance. — Prepared in Pennsylvania 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. Tax scams to beware of this summer Are you thinking about taxes while you're enjoying the warm summer months? Not likely! But the IRS wants you to know that scammers are thinking about taxes and ways to dupe you out of your money. Tax scams can happen anytime of the year, not just during tax season. Three common yearround scams are identity theft, phishing and return preparer fraud. These schemes are on the top of the IRS's "Dirty Dozen" list of scams this year. They're illegal and can lead to significant penalties and interest, even criminal prosecution. Here's more information about these scams that every taxpayer should know. 1. Identity Theft. Tax fraud by identity theft tops this year's Dirty Dozen list. Identity thieves use personal information, such as your name, Social Security number or other identifying information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may also use another person's identity to fraudulently file a tax return and claim a refund. The IRS has a special identity protection page on IRS.gov dedicated to identity theft issues. It has helpful links to information, such as how victims can contact the IRS Identity Theft Protection Specialized Unit, and how you can protect yourself against identity theft. 2. Phishing. Scam artists use phishing to trick unsuspecting victims into revealing personal or financial information. Phishing scammers may pose as the IRS and send bogus emails, set up phony websites or make phone calls. These contacts usually offer a fictitious refund or threaten an audit or investigation to lure victims into revealing personal information. Phishers then use the information they obtain to steal the victim's identity, access their bank accounts and credit cards or apply for loans. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. Please forward suspicious scams to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. You can also visit IRS.gov and select the link "Reporting Phishing" at the bottom of the page. 3. Return Preparer Fraud. Most tax professionals file honest and accurate returns for their clients. However, some dishonest tax return preparers skim a portion of the client's refund or charge inflated fees for tax preparation. Some try to attract new clients by promising refunds that are too good to be true. Choose carefully when hiring an individual or firm to prepare your return. All paid tax preparers must sign the return they prepare and enter their IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). The IRS created a webpage to assist taxpayers when choosing a tax preparer. It includes red flags to look for and information on how and when to make a complaint. Visit www.irs.gov/chooseataxpro. For the full list of 2013 Dirty Dozen tax scams, or to find out how to report suspected tax fraud, visit IRS.gov. Golf event to benefit girls group Sevillano Links at Rolling Hills Casino Resort will host its 6th annual Girls Club: Golf Fore a Cause Clinic on Saturday, Sept. 28, to benefit Girls Inc. of Northern Sacramento Valley. Women 18 and older will participate in a fun- filled golf clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sevillano's range and practice center, behind Rolling Hills Casino at I-5 in Corning. This introductory clinic is designed for women who want to learn the fundamentals of golf in an enjoyable environment with an opportunity for networking and celebration, too. Experienced and enthusiastic PGA & LPGA teaching professionals will provide instruction on the primary aspects of the game— drive, chipping and putting. Besides quality golf instruction, participants will peruse a gallery of boutiques stocked with fashion items and apparel. The day will culminate with a Fairway to Foods luncheon at Carlino's in Rolling Hills with an inspirational presentation from author and keynote speaker Debbie Waitkus, founder of Golf For Cause. Each participant will receive an autographed copy of the popular golf book, Get Your Golf On! Your Guide to Getting in the Game, as well as a pair of Paula Creamer Collection sunglasses by Sundog Eyewear. The $40 registration fee includes the Morning Tee Party and Boutique Open, Course of Action Golf Clinic plus a two-pack of Precept golf balls and a ball marker, Fairway to Food Luncheon, Celebrate GolfCelebrate Life Raffle and the presentation, a handy golf resource guide and protective sunglasses. To learn more call (530) 528-4600 or register online a t : http://www.rollinghillscasi no.com/events-and-promotions/golf-fore-a-causegirls-club. The Girl's Club clinic benefits Girls Inc. of Northern Sacramento Valley, a non-profit organization which empowers girls to lead successful lives http://girlsincnsv.org/. Sevillano Links is a supporter of the PGA of America's Connecting with Her Initiative. Eye exams can halt vision loss in diabetics lack of oxygen. DEAR DOC(I've put an illusTOR K: Could tration of this you explain how process on my diabetes affects website, AskDocvision? torK.com.) DEAR READThese changes ER: The high may not alter your blood sugar levels vision. But if fluid that occur in people with diabetes Dr. K leaks into the center of the macula can have serious by Anthony L. c o n s e q u e n c e s Komaroff, M.D. — the part of the retina responsible throughout the body, including the eyes. for sharp, central vision Many of my patients with — your sight will be diabetes are most con- impaired. Swelling of the cerned that diabetes will macula is called macular rob them of the precious edema. As retinopathy gift of sight. People with diabetes advances, the damaged are at greater risk of devel- retina tries to repair itself oping cataracts and glau- by sprouting new blood coma, and keeping blood vessels. However, these sugar under control can new vessels are very fragreduce your risk of devel- ile and don't grow noroping them in the first mally; they tend to leak place. But if you develop blood and break apart. either of these two condi- This can cause a sudden tions, fortunately there are loss of vision. Treatments can help to effective treatments. These days, no person prevent vision loss, or with diabetes should go slow its progression. But blind from cataracts or there is no cure for diabetic retinopathy. You've got glaucoma. However, a third eye to catch it early and stop it problem — diabetic from getting worse. You can significantly retinopathy — is more likely to cause severe reduce your risk of eye vision loss or blindness. diseases by keeping your Diabetic retinopathy blood sugar at near-noroccurs when abnormal mal levels. Controlling blood sugar levels damage your sugar levels also will small blood vessels in the protect against damage to retina, the light-sensing other parts of your body, area in the back of your including your kidneys, eyes. The retina sends heart and brain. Regular vision testing visual images to the brain. Diabetic retinopathy is also vital. Get a combegins when the walls of prehensive dilated eye small blood vessels in the exam at least once a year. retina weaken. They leak These exams can detect fluid into the surrounding macular edema and diatissue, often leaving pro- betic retinopathy in the tein and fat deposits in the earliest stages. Prompt retina. The vessel walls treatment can help prevent also develop tiny bulges or severe vision loss and balloons called "microa- blindness. neurysms" that leak red Dr. Komaroff is a blood cells into the retina. As the condition pro- physician and professor Harvard Medical gresses, the abnormal ves- at To send sels begin to close, rob- School. go to bing the retina of its blood questions, or supply. Nerve fibers in the AskDoctorK.com, retina that are necessary write: Ask Doctor K, 10 for vision begin to die Shattuck St., Second from poor circulation and Floor, Boston, MA 02115. Wreaths Across America fundraiser The Northern California Veterans Cemetery will host a Wreaths Across America fundraiser concert at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at Anderson River Park in Anderson. The event will feature local patriotic singers Chris McCandless and Michael Vasquez. For more informaiton, call Kim Chamberlain at (530) 227-6432 or send an email to bogopyo@yahoo.com. Legal issues affecting writers Learn about the legal basics of concern to both fiction and nonfiction writers, and how to safely prepare and protect your work while not treading on the copyright or privacy rights of others. A webinar regarding legal issues affecting writers, 10:30 am. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 at All Saints Episcopal Church, 2150 Benton Drive in Redding, will discuss how to get the most out of your publishing contract, for both articles and books, fiction and nonfiction.. Topics include: How to protect your copyright, how to legitimately use or quote from other people's work (fair use and permissions), preventing defamation - if you use real people in your work, you may be at risk, whether you write fiction or nonfiction, invasion of privacy issues and the basics of book contracts and article contracts. Speaker Amy Cook is an attorney who has focused on intellectual property and publishing law issues for more than 17 years. She is on the board of directors of Lawyers for the Creative Arts and serves as the Managing Editor of the Chicago Bar Association's magazine, The Record. Cook has had a long association with Writer's Digest magazine, having initiated their "Ask the Lawyer" column. She has written numerous feature articles on legal issues affecting writers. This workshop is intended for memoirists and others who use real people in both nonfiction and fiction work (defamation and invasion of privacy can affect fiction writers, too!), writers who need to use portions of other writers' work and are concerned about copyrighted material vs. public domain, fair use, and how to get permission and those new to publishing who are unfamiliar with publishing contracts or who need a contracts refresher. If you've not yet paid your annual membership fee of $20, please pay at the door when you arrive.