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2B Daily News – Tuesday, January 7, 2014 How to make a simple fruit fly trap Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, and I go way back to my high school biology class and a unit on genetics. We raised fruit flies in little Petri dishes. Then we'd anesthetize them so we could look at them through the microscope to see how our genetic predictions sized up with the number and gender of babies born overnight. It was great fun. The most amazing thing, however, was not how easy it was to understand dominant traits and inherited characteristics, but how fast those suckers multiplied. Fruit flies live to find fermenting fruit. They can detect the smell of ripe fruits and vegetables from miles away. If there's a bowl of fruit on your kitchen counter, there's probably a swarm of fruit flies looking for a way into your home to get to it. Because these insects are so tiny, they can get in through window screens or crevices around windows or doors. Once inside, they reproduce. Before you know it, you're dealing with a full-fledged fruit fly infestation. While I remember them as being so adorable in their little Petrie source sitting out and available. Next, assemble these three dishes, fruit flies are anything but cute buzzing around your items: A small glass bowl, plastic wrap head or dive-bombing anyand apple cider vinegar. thing that could Any other type of vinegar be considered ediwill not work. It must be ble. Even a single apple cider vinegar. critter can be so Pour some vinegar in the annoying. bowl. Cover the bowl tightConventional wisdom ly with plastic wrap, says that if you are carepulling the wrap back just a ful to remove every tiny bit at one edge to allow trace of detectable food for entry. source, you will have no That's it. Just set it out fruit flies. Don't believe on the counter and go about it. For days this one tiny your business. drosophila was driving Mary It took a day to nail that us crazy at DPL Central. little pest who flew in to I promise you that I enjoy his final meal. And scoured this place while I was quite sure there upside down and inside was only one fly driving us out to make sure there crazy, apparently it was a was not a single morsel family of five. of food out in the open. That sent me on a misMary Hunt is the founder of sion to put an end to this once and www.DebtProofLiving.com, a for all. personal finance member website. I tried several home remedies, can email her at which didn't work to nab that fly. You Then I found it -- the single effec- mary@everydaycheapskate.com, tive fruit fly trap. It is quite simple: or write to Everyday Cheapskate, First make sure that you have P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA fruit or another detectable food 90630. Hunt Everyday Cheapskate Social Security questions and answers GENERAL Question: I recently applied for a replacement Social Security card, but I might be moving before it arrives in the mail. What should I do if I move before I get it? Answer: Once we have verified all your documents and processed your application, it takes approximately 10 to 14 days to receive your replacement Social Security card. If you move after applying for your new card, notify the post office of your change of address and the post office will forward your card to your new address. If you do not receive your card, please contact your local Social Security office. To get a replacement, you will have to resubmit your evidence of identity and United States citizenship, or your lawful immigration status and authority to work. You can learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov. Question: What's the average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker? How is the retirement benefit amount calculated? Answer: The current average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker is $1,294. Social Security benefits are based on earnings averaged over most of a worker's lifetime. Your actual earnings are first adjusted or "indexed" to account for changes in average wages since the year the earnings were received. We calculate your average monthly indexed earnings during the 35 years in which you earned the most. We apply a formula to these earnings and arrive at your basic benefit amount. Learn more by visiting us online at www.socialsecurity.gov. RETIREMENT Question: My cousin and I are both retired and get Social Security. We worked for the same employer for years, Rubes but he gets a higher Social Security benefit. Why is that? Answer: Your payments are based on your earnings over your lifetime. Unless you are both the same age, started and stopped work on the exact same dates, and earned the very same amount every year of your careers, you wouldn't get the same benefit as your cousin. Social Security benefits are based on many years of earnings — generally your highest 35 years. To learn more about Social Security retirement benefits, v i s i t www.socialsecurity.gov and select the "Retirement" link. Question: I am nearing my full retirement age, but I plan to keep working after I apply for Social Security benefits. Will my benefits be reduced because of my income? Answer: No. If you start receiving benefits after you've reached your full retirement age, you can work while you receive Social Security and your current benefit will not be reduced because of the earned income. If you keep working, it could mean a higher benefit for you in the future. Higher benefits can be important to you later in life and increase the future benefit amounts your survivors could receive. If you begin receiving benefits before your full retirement age, your earnings could reduce your monthly benefit amount. After you reach full retirement age, we recalculate your benefit amount to leave out the months when we reduced or withheld benefits due to your excess earnings. Learn more about Social Security reading our publication, How Work Affects Your Benefits, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pu bs/10069.html. DISABILITY Question: How does Social Security decide whether I am dis- By Leigh Ruben abled? Answer: For an adult, disability under Social Security law is based on your inability to work because of a disabling condition. To be considered disabled, Social Security must determine that because of one or more disabling conditions you are unable to do the work you did before and unable to adjust to any other work which exists in significant numbers in the national economy. Also, your disability must last or be expected to last for at least one year or to result in death. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or short-term disability (less than a year). For more information, we recommend you read Disability Benefits, available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. Question: What is the earliest age that I can receive Social Security disability benefits? Answer: There is no minimum age as long as you meet the strict Social Security definition of disability and you have worked long and recently enough under Social Security to earn the required number of work credits. You can earn up to a maximum of four work credits each year. The amount of earnings required for a credit increases each year as general wage levels go up. The number of work credits you need for Social Security disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. For example, if you are under age 24, you may qualify with as little as six credits. But people disabled at age 31 or older generally need between 20 and 40 credits, and some of the work must have been recent. For example, you would need to have worked five out of the past 10 years. Note that eligibility requirements are different for Supplemental Security Income, which does not depend on work credits. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/dis ability. S U P P L E M E N TA L SECURITY INCOME Question: I get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because I am elderly and have no income. My sister recently died and left me the money she had in a savings account. Will this extra money affect my SSI benefits? Will my SSI payments stop? Answer: The money inherited from your sister is considered income for the month you receive it and could make you ineligible for that month, depending on the amount of the inheritance. If you keep the money into the next month, it then becomes a part of your resources. You cannot have more than $2,000 in resources and remain eligible for SSI benefits ($3,000 for a couple). Call us at 1800-772-1213 (TTY 1800-325-0778) to report the inheritance. A representative will tell you how your eligibility and payment amount might be affected. Learn more by visiting us online at www.socialsecurity.gov. Question: My parents recently moved into a retirement community and they are signing their house over to me. Can I still get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or will home ownership make me ineligible? Answer: You can own a home and still receive SSI as long as you live in the home you own. In most cases, when determining SSI eligibility we don't count as a resource the home you own and live in or the car you use. For more information about SSI and Social Security, visit www.socialsecurity.gov, or call us at 1-800772-1213 (TTY 1-800325-0778). MEDICARE Question: I didn't enroll in Medicare Part B back when my Part A started a few years ago. Can I enroll now? Answer: Yes — but if you want to do it this year, you'll have to act soon. The general enrollment period for Medicare Part B, medical insurance, began January 1 and runs through March 31. Keep in mind that although there is no monthly premium for Medicare Part A, there will be a premium for your Medicare Part B. And in most cases, that premium goes up each 12-month period you were eligible for it and elected not to enroll. To find out more about Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov or www.socialsecurity.gov and select the "Medicare" link. Question: Will my Medicare coverage change because of the Affordable Care Act? Answer: No, not at all. People who have Medicare coverage are not affected by the Affordable Care Act. Medicare is not a part of the Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Marketplace. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, your Medicare benefits are not changing. You do not need to replace your Medicare coverage with Marketplace coverage. For more information about the Marketplace, visit www.healthcare.gov. For more information about Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, visit www.medicare.gov. Or read our publication on Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. Local Calendar Submit calendar items clerk@redbluffdailynews.com. to P .O. Box 220, Red Bluff, 96080 or TUESDAY, JANUARY 7 Red Bluff American Legion Mt. Lassen Post 167, 7 p.m., Veterans Memorial Hall, 735 Oak St. Childbirth Class, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Columba Room, 529-8026 City Council, 7 p.m. City Hall, 555 Washington St. Cribbage Club, 6 p.m., Cozy Diner, 259 S. Main St., 527-6402 Fiber Arts Group, 5-8 p.m., library, 645 Madison St., 528-8667, free Fun Senior Aerobics, 8-9 a.m., $1, Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. 527-8177 PAL Kickboxing, 6 p.m., 1450 Schwab St., 529-8716 or 200-3950 Penny Bingo, 10 a.m., Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. Pinochle for Seniors, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., 1500 S. Jackson St., free, 527-8177 Red Bluff Derby Girls open tryouts and practice, 6:30 p.m., Tyler Jelly building at Tehama District Fairgrounds Red Bluff Rotary, noon, Elks Lodge Take Off Pounds Sensibly — TOPS, 10 a.m., First United Methodist Church, 525 David Ave., 824-0556 or 529-1414 Tehama County and Red Bluff Landfill Management Agency, 8 a.m., board meeting, 727 Oak St. Tehama County Board of Supervisors, 10 a.m., board chamber, 727 Oak St. Tehama County Tea Party Patriots, 6 p.m., Grange Hall, 20794 Walnut St. Weight Watchers meeting, 9 a.m., 485 Antelope Blvd., #N, 1-800651-6000 WWE self defense training for women, 5:30-7 p.m., 1005 Vista Way, Ste. C Corning Bible reading and noon day prayers for the community, 12:15 p.m., St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 820 Marin St. Sr. Warden Charles Rouse, 824-2321 Corning Community meeting, 7 p.m., Maywood Middle School, 1666 Marguerite Ave. Corning Recreation Commission, 7:30 p.m., City Hall, 794 Third St. Dance with Juana, noon to 1 p.m., Family Resource Center, 1488 South St., 824-7670 Domestic Violence Information and Support Group (Spanish language), call for group time and location., 528-0226 ESL, 9 a.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 8247670 Soccer training, 4-6 p.m., Woodson School Soccer Field, 150 N Toomes, 824-7680 Cottonwood Bowman 4-H, 7 p.m., Evergreen Elementary School Gym, 5273101 Los Molinos Bingo, 4:30 p.m. dinner, early birds 6:15 p.m., regular session 6:30 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, 7900 Sherwood Blvd., 384-2738 Los Molinos Cemetery District, 8:30 a.m., 25096 Taft St., 3841864 School Readiness Play Group, 10-11:30 a.m., up to 5 years, free, First Steps Family Resource Center, 7700 Stanford Ave., 384-7833 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8 Red Bluff Adult Carving Class, 10 a.m. to noon, Veterans Memorial Hall, Jackson and Oak, 527-0768 Airport Commission, 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 555 Washington St. Al-Anon, noon to 1 p.m., Presbyterian Church, Jefferson and Hickory Alcohol, Anger and Abuse Group, call for time and location, 5280226 Elks duplicate bridge, noon, Elks Lodge, 355 Gilmore Road, 2754311 Emblem club dinner, 5:30 p.m., Elks Lodge Nurturing Parenting Dads Program, 10 a.m. to noon, 1860 Walnut St. #D, Shasta Room, call Keith at 527-8491, ext. 3012 Nurturing Skills for Teen Parents, 9-10 a.m., 1900 Walnut St., 527-8491, ext. 3012 PAL Martial Arts Women's Self Defense, 5:30-6:30 p.m., 1005 Vista Way, Ste. C, 840-0345 Parks and Recreation Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 555 Washington St., 527-8177 Penny Bingo, 10 a.m., Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. Red Bluff Cemetery District Board of Trustees, 4 p.m., Oak Hill Cemetery office Red Bluff Kiwanis, noon, Elks Lodge Red Bluff Derby Girls open tryouts and practice, 6:30 p.m., Tyler Jelly building at Tehama District Fairgrounds Retired Public Employees Association, Chapter 18, noon, Cozy Diner Senior Dance, 7 p.m., Westside Grange, Walnut Street Soroptimist International, 5:30 p.m., Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St., siredbluffclub@yahoo.com Team Kid, 5:30 p.m., First Southern Baptist Church, 585 Kimball Road, 527-5083 TeenScreen Mental Health Appointments, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free by appointment, 1900 Walnut St., 527-8491, Ext. 3012 Tehama Coffee Party Loyalists, 6 p.m., Cozy Diner 259 Main St. Tehama County Library story time, 9:30 a.m., 645 Madison St. 527-0604 Tehama County Mosquito Abatement District, noon, 11861 County Road 99W Tehama Shooters Association, 6:30 p.m., Red Bluff Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. 527-8727 Waterbirth class, 5 p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Columba Room, Anita 529-8377 Weight Watchers meeting, 5:30 p.m., 485 Antelope Blvd., #N, 1800-651-6000 Widowed Persons Breakfast, 8 a.m., call 384-2471 for location Y-FI Middle and High School Youth Group, 6:30-8 p.m., North Valley Baptist Church, 345 David Ave., 527-0543 Corning Corning Elementary School Board, 7 p.m., 1590 South St. Corning Rotary, noon, Rolling Hills Casino, Timbers Steak House, 2655 Barham Ave., corningrotary.org Nutrition Classes, 1-2:30 p.m., West Street FRC, 824-7670 Nutrition Classes Spanish, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., West Street FRC, 824-7670 School Readiness Play Group, 10-11:30 a.m., up to 5 years, free, Family Resource Center, 1480 South St., 824-4111 Spanish Adult Education, 5 p.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670 Strategies for Success, Life Skill classes, 1:30 p.m., Family Resource Center, West and south streets, 824-7670 VFW Charity Bingo, 6 p.m., Veterans Memorial Hall, 1620 Solano St., 824-5957 Los Molinos Bible Study, 1 p.m., Sherwood Manor, 7975 Sherwood Blvd.All welcome., Pastor Clyde Brant, 347-1330 Chamber of Commerce, 6:30 p.m., 7904 Highway 99E Take Off Pounds Sensibly — TOPS, 8:30 a.m., 25160 Josephine St., 385-1068 Cottonwood Cottonwood Library Story Time, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 3427 Main St., 347-4818 THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 Red Bluff California HEAT Chorus - Sweet Adelines, 7 p.m., Meteer School Room 26, 695 Kimball Road, 895-0139 Childbirth Class, 6:30 p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Columba room, 529-8377