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By Jennifer Cooper Social Security Manager in Redding The month of February is a time to recognize a number of unfortunate ail- ments that disable and take the lives of too many people. February is American Heart Month, focusing on heart disease and how to prevent it. Every year more than 700,000 Amer- icans have a heart attack and about 600,000 die from heart disease — making up about a fourth of the nation's deaths. National Wear Red Day, Feb. 7, also focuses on heart disease — the num- ber one killer of women. Feb. 4 is World Cancer Day, a chance to raise our collective voices in the name of improving knowledge about cancer. February 14 is National Donor Day, encouraging everyone to become an organ donor, giving the ultimate Valentine to someone in need. These awareness cam- paigns remind us how crit- ically important Social Security disability bene- fits are for people with severe disabilities and their families. Many people do not like to think about disabil- ity. However, the onset of disability is unpredictable and can happen to anyone at any age. The unfortu- nate reality is that one in four 20-year-old workers become disabled before reaching retirement age. When severe illness or injury robs a person of the ability to work and earn a living, Social Security dis- ability benefits can pro- vide a critical source of financial support at a time of need. When you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn credits. These credits count toward retirement, survivors, and disability benefits. The number of credits you need to qualify for disabil- ity benefits depends on your age, and some of the work must be recent. For example, the younger you are the fewer credits you need to have. For most people, you need to have worked at least a total of 10 years, but if you are younger, you may qualify with as little as a year and a half of work. You don't need to have had a heart attack, organ transplant, or cancer to qualify for disability bene- fits. However, you must have a disability that is severe enough to render you unable to work and that is expected to last a year or longer, or result in death. If you have such a dis- ability, you should start your application now. That's because it takes time to determine whether you qualify for benefits. It usually takes three to four months for a medical deci- sion from the state agency that evaluates your condi- tion. If your application is approved, your first Social Security disability pay- ment will be made for the sixth full month after the date the state agency determines that you quali- fy for disability benefits. For example, if the state agency determines you qualify for disability bene- fits effective January 15, your first disability pay- ment would be paid for the month of July. (Your July payment would be received in August.) It's in your best interest to do everything you can to help speed the process. The best first step is for you to read our online publication, Disability Benefits, at www.socialse- curity.gov/pubs. It will tell you all about the process, including the information you will need to apply for benefits. Then, take advantage of our online disability starter kits. We have one starter kit for children and one for adults, and both are available in English and Spanish. The starter kit will help you get ready for your disability inter- view or online application, and provides information about the specific docu- ments and the information that we will request from you. You will find the starter kits on our disabili- ty website at www.socialsecurity.gov/di sability, under Apply for Benefits. Once you complete your online disability starter kit and you're ready to apply, the most conve- nient way to accomplish this is also online. Just visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ap plyfordisability to begin. 2B Daily News – Wednesday, February 5, 2014 Amazing Finds Two Locations - 30,000 square feet RED BLUFF 530-917-1138 REDDING 530-917-7797 22660 Antelope Blvd. 3351 S. Market St. amazingfindsredbluff.com amazingfindshome.com 9am – 7pm Sun.-Fri. 9am – 7pm Sun.-Fri. 50% Red Tag Sale Antiques, Unique Fall Sale NEW & USED FURNITURE & MUCH, MUCH MORE! 530-366-3166 545 Adobe Rd. Red Bluff www.redbluffdodge.com 413 Walnut Street, Red Bluff 530 528-8000 Mon. 10am-4pm • Tues.-Fri. 10am-5:30pm • Sat.10am-4pm www.angelsamongusall.com www.redbluffgoldexchange.com 19 Years of Merchandise HUGE Inventory Reduction 50 % off All Jewelry Shop Early - Save "Serving our Community for over 19 years" Gold Exchange Where to find good free stuff Every day, perfectly serviceable items find their way to landfills simply because they are no longer wanted or needed by their owners. And that's a shame because there are so many people who could real- ly use the very items being cast off by others. There's a fabulous movement in this country that is matching up useable cast-offs with anxious users. FIND FREE STUFF. The web- site FreeCycle.org is a great resource to find free furniture and all kinds of items in your local area. If you have usable items that you don't want or need anymore, instead of filling up the landfills, post them on FreeCycle and let someone else take the item for free! Anyone is welcome to sign up and post or to take free items. -- Tamara W., email TABLECLOTH STORAGE. My great hint for storing tablecloths is to fold them the long way and hang them from a hanger in the closet. They are easy to find and can be stored by the season. -- Dawn W., email OPENING A JAR. I have a great tip when a jar lid won't open. Put on a pair of leather gloves, grasp the jar and the lid and twist. The gloves give each hand some traction and make it easier to remove the lid. -- Linda M., Pennsylvania CHEAP TUB CLEANER. Keep a bottle of cheap sham- poo on hand to clean your tub and sinks. Just spread the shampoo around, let set for half an hour or longer and then rinse when you are ready. This even cleaned up the rust-col- ored deposits of organic iron from our well water. -- Linda H., email RUST REMOVER. Everyone needs a can of Bar Keepers Friend, a household cleanser avail- able in the cleaning sup- plies aisle in most super- markets or online at Bar- KeepersFriend.com. It has many uses, but my favorite is for removing rust. It removes rust from countertops and stainless steel in the kitchen. It does a great job of removing rust from fabric without damaging the garment (be sure to test on a hidden area first). It even removes rust from concrete! Best of all, it is cheap. -- Jacqueline G., Georgia BOWL COVERS. When we go on vacation, I always take the little unused shower caps home. I then keep them in a kitchen drawer, and when I have a bowl or cake pan that needs to be covered, I just use one of these little bowl "caps" and put it around the container. The elastic keeps it snug and the show- er cap is puffy enough that it doesn't stick to the food. -- Janet K., Iowa NO-RUST STEEL WOOL. My steel wool pads (the kind with soap in them) were rusting before I could use them up. I dis- covered that when I put them in a plastic bag and put the bag in the freezer, I can use them for a longer time because they won't rust. I take a frozen pad, dip it in warm water, and then it's all ready to scrub. - - B.C., South Carolina Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630. Include your first and last name and state. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 24 books, including her 2013 release "The Smart Woman's Guide to Planning for Retirement." Mary Hunt Everyday Cheapskate Rubes By Leigh Ruben Local Calendar Submit calendar items to P.O. Box 220, Red Bluff, 96080 or clerk@redbluffdailynews.com. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Red Bluff Adult Carving Class, 1o a.m.-noon, Red Bluff Veteran's Memorial Hall, Corner of Jackson and Oak streets, 527-0768 Al-Anon, noon, Presbyterian Church, Jefferson and Hickory Alcohol, Anger and Abuse Group, Call for group time and loca- tion, 528-0226 Nurturing Parenting Dads Program, 10 a.m. to noon, 1860 Wal- nut St. #D, Shasta Room, call Keith at 527-8491, ext. 3012 Nurturing Skills for Teen Parents, 9 to 10 a.m., 1900 Walnut Street, 527-8491, ext. 3012 PAL Martial Arts Women's Self Defense, 5:30-6:30 p.m., 1005 Vista Way, Ste. C, 840-0345 Penny Bingo, 10 a.m., Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. 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 Senior Dance, 7 p.m., Westside Grange, Walnut Street 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, Youth Empowerment Services, 1900 Walnut St., 527- 8491, Ext. 3012 Tehama AIDS Consortium, 5 p.m. committee meeting, 5:30 p.m. public meeting, St. Elizabeth Home Health Care, 1425 Vista Way, 527- 6824 Tehama County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board Meeting, noon, 1850 Walnut St., Ste. G, 527-7893 Tehama County Education Foundation, 7:30 a.m., Department of Education, 1135 Lincoln St. Tehama County Library story time, 9:30 a.m., 645 Madison St. 527-0604 Tehama County Technical Advisory Committee, 9 a.m., Board of Supervisor's Chambers Tehama Shooters Association, 6:30 p.m., Red Bluff Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. 527-8727 Waterbirth Class, 6:30 p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospital Columba Room, 529-8026 Weight Watchers meeting, 5:30 p.m., 485 Antelope Blvd., #N, 1- 800-651-6000 Widowed Persons Breakfast, 8 a.m., Tremont Cafe Y-FI Middle and High School Youth Group, 6:30-8 p.m., North Valley Baptist Church, 345 David Ave., 527-0543 Corning Corning Rotary, noon, Rolling Hills Casino: Timbers Steak House, 2655 Barham Ave., corningrotary.org Nutrition Classes Spanish, 12:30-2 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., Corning 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 Take Off Pounds Sensibly — TOPS, 8:30 a.m., 25160 Josephine St., 385-1068 Cottonwood Cottonwood Library Story Time, 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., Cotton- wood Library, 3427 Main St., 347-4818 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6 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, Anita 529-8377 Fun Senior Aerobics, 8-9 a.m., $1, Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. 527-8177 Grief Support Group, 3 p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Coyne Center, Kristin, 528-4207 Imagination Train storyhour, 4 p.m., Tehama County Library Kelly-Griggs House Museum, 1-3 p.m., Thursdays and Sundays, 311 Washington St., tours by appointment,527-1129 or 527-5895 Latino Outreach, noon., Family Resource Center, 220 Sycamore St. Ste. 101, 528-8066 Live country music, 5-7 p.m., dinner, Veterans Hall National Alliance on Mental Illness, Tehama County Chapter Meeting, 6 p.m., County Department of Education, 1135 Lincoln St.., 515-0151 Painting session, Red Bluff Art Association, 10 a.m., Tehama Dis- trict Fairground, 529-1603 PAL Martial Arts, ages 5-18, 3-5 p.m., 1005 Vista Way, Ste. C, free, 529-7950 Penny Bingo, 10 a.m., Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. Pinochle for Seniors, 12:30-3:30 p.m., 1500 S. Jackson St., free, 527-8177 Phoenix Community Support Group for those getting over chemical dependency, 11:30 a.m., Presbyterian Church, 838 Jeffer- son St., 945-2349 Red Bluff Exchange Club, noon, M&M Ranch House, 645 Ante- lope Blvd. #1 Red Bluff Lions Club, 6 p.m., Veterans Memorial, 527-8452 Rock Choir, 4 p.m., 601 Monroe St., free, all welcome Senior Chair Volleyball, 1 p.m. Community Center, 1500 S. Jack- son St. Sunrise Speakers Toastmasters, noon, Rabobank, 500 Luther Road, 529-3556 Swinging Squares Square Dance Club, 7 p.m., Community Cen- ter, 1500 S. Jackson St., beginner or review classes, 529-1615 Tehama County Peace Officers Association, 5:30 p.m., M&M Ranch House Tehama County Public Health Advisory Board, noon-3:15 p.m., 1860 Walnut St., Shasta Conference Room, 527-6824 Widowed Persons Dinner, 5 p.m., La Corona Women's Domestic Violence Information and Support Group, Call for group time and location, 528-0226 Corning Am-vets, 4 p.m., Corning Veteran's Memorial Hall, 1620 Solano St. Cal-Fresh and Healthy Family Appointments, 1-3 p.m., Family Resource Center, 1488 South St., 824-7670 Corning Patriots, 6 p.m., Senior Center, 824-2332 Dance with Juana, noon to 1 p.m., Family Resource Center, 1488 South St., 824-7670 Diabetes Support Group, noon, Senior Center, 1015 4th Ave. Domestic Violence Information and Support Group, call for group time and location, 528-0226 Dual Diagnosis Group, 1:30, 1600 Solano St., 527-8491, Ext. 3309 Improved Order of Redmen # 203, 7 p.m. Independent Grange 470, 20945 Corning Road, 824-1114 Sewing group, 9 a.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670 Soccer training, 4-6 p.m., except for holidays and rain, Woodson School soccer field, 150 N. Toomes, 824-7680 Women's Support Group, 6 p.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Red Bluff Bingo, doors at 5 p.m., early birds at 6 p.m. Community and Senior Center, food available Celebrate Recovery, 7 p.m., Bethel Assembly of God, 625 Luther Road, 527-0445 or 366-6298 Annual sheep and goat day set Saturday The California State University, Chico College of Agriculture is gearing up for its annual educa- tional Sheep and Goat Day and Sale on Feb. 8 at the University Farm on Hegan Lane. More than 850 youth and parents are expected to attend. The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. and include a trade show, edu- cational workshops and a live sale of project sheep and goats. This year's project lamb cosigners include CSU, Chico Sheep Unit, C&E Club Lambs, Three Sisters Sheep, Farinelli Club Lambs, Phoenix Farms, Lanzi Ranch, Spencer Farms, Silver Sage Club Lambs, Heart P Livestock, and Ranchview Livestock. Goat cosigners include Chico State Goat Unit, Raimer Ranches, Blevins Boer Goats, IJ Boer Goats and JVO Boer Goats. Venders that will also be in attendance include Shaul's Manu- facturing, Glamb Jams, Bar Ale, Inc., Showmas- ter Feeds, Northern Cali- fornia Meat Goat Associ- ation and B. True Designs. Topics for educational workshops are nutrition, fitting and grooming, vet- erinary medicine, show animal economics, live- stock judging classes, stockdog demonstrations, showmanship and selec- tion. Breakfast and lunch will be provided by Northern California Meat Goat Association Youth Members to support their awards and scholarship program. After the sale pre- view and lunch, the sale will start around 12:30 p.m. Participants in the sheep and goat selection workshops will deter- mine the sale order by evaluating and placing the animals, and the top selections will be sold first. All project lambs being sold will weigh a mini- mum of 60 lbs., goats will weigh a minimum of 40 lbs., and breeders will provide at least a 5 lb. bag of feed for proper feed transitioning. Additionally, all ani- mals will be dewormed, castrated, goats will be disbudded, and lambs will all be docked. A veteri- narian will be on site to check all livestock prior to sale. For more information, send an email to Celina Phillips at crphillips@csuchico.edu. Disability benefits for what severely ails you