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4C Daily News – Thursday, September 22, 2011 FEATURES Equestrian endeavor engenders edginess Dear Annie: I have been seeing ''Captain'' for three years. His 13-year-old daughter, ''Rosie,'' is horse crazy after riding at sum- mer camp and is now tak- ing lessons locally. As a former horse train- er, I am thrilled at her inter- est. However, she expresses resentment with the sparse guidance I have given. So now when I take her to lessons, I stay out of the way. I understand this is not unusual. Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar My problem is, Captain wants to provide a facility with horses at his home. Due to my experience, he expects me to be the person who manages the barn, provides guid- ance to Rosie and acts as her riding partner. I am reluctant to assume this position. Rosie and I have a peace- ful relationship, mostly because I am consistently pleasant and sup- portive. I sense this is a fragile time for Rosie, who is a little spoiled, but who I know will someday become a thoughtful young woman. I don't want to risk the little compatibility we have. Captain will likely follow my stance on whether or not to proceed with a barn at his home. What do you say? — Montana Gal Dear Montana: You have a good grasp of the boundaries a girl- friend should respect when dealing with her partner's teenage daughter. Although it is possible the barn will bring the two of you closer, it's equally likely that Rosie will chafe if you are in a position of authority over her. Ask yourself whether you can maintain the neces- sary boundaries if you accept this responsibility, and explain your concerns to Captain. It is OK to say no. But if you decide to do it, we recommend bringing Rosie into the conversation. After all, her father is doing this for her benefit, and she should have some say in the matter. Dear Annie: I've been with my girlfriend for seven months. She is incredible, and I can easily see myself spending the rest of my life with her. The only problem is that she is still listed as ''single'' on Facebook. This makes me feel ignored and hidden away. My girlfriend says she likes her status to be private and doesn't pay that much attention to her Facebook page anyway. I explained that it hurts me to feel nonexistent, but she won't change it. What should I do? — Tom Dear Tom: Find a new girl- friend. Listing her status as ''sin- gle'' is no more private than listing it any other way, and she can keep it hidden if she chooses. The fact that she won't change it after you have told her it is hurtful indicates that she doesn't much care how you feel. We'd say she does not consid- er your relationship as promising as you do. Sorry. Dear Annie: ''Cold in Michi- gan'' said his family always makes him sleep on the sofa when the other relatives use the bedrooms. I understand his dilemma. Being a single 40-year-old woman, my fam- ily thinks the couch is OK for me. What they forget is I need privacy like any other normal adult. Why should my teenage nieces or my younger brother and his girl- friend have more privacy than I do? I would like to lay out my clothes, toiletries, contact case, etc. and wake up on my time, not necessari- ly when the 4-year-old wants to watch ''Thomas the Train'' at 6 a.m. Also, since I am in the living room, I am hostess from morning until night, and everyone else uses the space where I am expected to relax and sleep. So I started staying in local cottages. My family says I am a snob. I say I saved my sanity. — Black Sheep of N.H. Dear Black Sheep: We agree that everyone needs privacy, but homes can only provide so much of it. You are smart to stay elsewhere. We would, too. Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.OM Statewide summit to build agritourism support The first California statewide agritourism summit will be held Nov. 4 in Stockton, hosted by the University of Califor- nia Cooperative Exten- sion and the UC small farm program. The conference will be a chance for farm trails groups and everyone else involved in California agritourism to share tools and strategies for support- ing California farmers and ranchers in develop- ing successful agritourism operations to meet the growing demand for local food and authentic agri- cultural experiences. While California agri- tourism has so far been primarily organized at the county and regional level, other states have orga- nized statewide agri- tourism associations. At the November summit, experts will help partici- pants explore the relation- ships and benefits involved in both statewide and local/regional agri- tourism programs. The gathering will help newer local agritourism IF YOU GO: Date: Friday, Nov. 4 Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. Location: Robert J. Cabral Agricultur- al Center / UC Cooperative Exten- sion San Joaquin County 2101 Earhart Ave., Stockton Cost: $20 includes continental breakfast, lunch and handouts Information: Penny Leff, UC small farm program, paleff@ucdavis.edu, 530-752-7779 associations build stronger connections with more experienced groups and with supportive agri- cultural, tourism and community development professionals throughout the state. "We look forward to talking with other Califor- nia agritourism organiz- ers," said Tim Neuharth, pear grower and founding member of the new Sacra- mento River-Delta Grown Agritourism Association. "People from Apple Hill, Sonoma County Farm Trails and Sacramento County Farm Bureau have been very kind in helping us set up our organization. We have big plans for our fledgling group of Sacra- mento River Delta grow- ers." Speakers include Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; Martha Glass, executive director of North Caroli- Poison Ivy is an itchy dilemma DEAR DR. GOTT: Living in a wooded area, I often get repeated bouts of poison ivy — either from walking in over- grown areas or perhaps from my dog, who always accompanies me. Well, this year is a particularly bad one for me, and I would like your recommenda- tions for how to treat it. I feel my only help at this point is to see my doctor for a prednisone prescrip- tion. Dr. Peter Gott alternative. This natural element is believed to block the respiratory metabolism in bacteria. Viruses are rendered inef- fective when sil- ver particles block infection, causing them to be unable to repli- cate. When it comes to heal- na's Agritourism Net- working Association; and representatives from the Apple Hill Growers Asso- ciation. The workshop will include regional breakout sessions for networking, discussion and planning. Participants will also take away a toolkit of practical ideas, resources, social media tools and starter projects to organize agri- tourism associations in their own regions. This conference is for agritourism operators and associations; agricultural, tourism and community development profession- als; county staff and offi- cials; and others involved in California agritourism. Registration is open now at http://ucanr.org/agtour- summit.2011. This project was par- tially funded by the West- ern Sustainable Agricul- ture Research and Educa- tion Program, with addi- tional support from the Delta Conservancy and the Sierra Nevada Conser- vancy. Caltrans, CHP partner to protect highway workers Concerned about a spike in highway worker deaths, the Cali- fornia Department of Transporta- tion (Caltrans) has partnered with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to provide enhanced speed and DUI enforcement in highway construction and maintenance zones across California. Four Caltrans workers have died in traffic-related incidents in the last year. Three of them were killed within 48 days, during May and June. Those deaths reversed a steady trend of reduced fatalities, which is partially attributed to the Slow for the Cone Zone public awareness campaign established in 1999. A total of 178 Caltrans workers have died on the job since 1924. "Motorists often automatically slow down when they see police or CHP officers," said Caltrans Inter- im Director Malcolm Dougherty. "We also want them to slow down for Caltrans vehicles and equip- ment." The CHP officers will park their patrol vehicles within work zones. Caltrans hopes that the presence of the officers will help to slow traffic or encourage vehicles to move over at least one lane from a highway work zone, as required by the Move Over law. "Adhering to this law can mean the difference between life and death," said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. "The only way to pre- vent tragedies from occurring on the side of the road is by giving emergency personnel, highway workers and the public some space." The CHP will also employ one DEAR READER: I am not prone to poison ivy, oak or sumac, but I have two members of my office staff who are. One has had the problem for years and was treated as a child with pink calamine lotion smeared all over her. The other who was convinced she had no problems and prided herself on cleaning flowerbeds where poison ivy was known to grow. Well, this year she was quite surprised to get a case that was tough to control. She had it near her eyes, between her fin- gers, on her ears and in various other locations. She tried some over-the- counter products, gauze pads dipped in alcohol and a host of other things, but found the best thing to be Ivy Wash, which was available at her local inde- pendent pharmacy. When I looked at the packaging, I noted it contains natural jojoba and glycerin that may have provided the relief in a more soothing manner. One home remedy you might also consider is a paste of white vinegar and baking soda applied to affected areas. My recom- mendation is that you give one of these two sugges- tions a try before asking your physician for a steroid. Readers who would like related infor- mation can order my Health Report "Com- pelling Home Remedies" by sending a self- addressed, stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 U.S. check or money order to Dr. Peter Gott, P.O. Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title, or print an order form from my website's direct link: www.AskDr- GottMD.com/order_form. pdf. DEAR DR. GOTT: I or more additional enforcement vehicles at some work zones. Offi- cers will be on hand to ensure safe- ty, and will ticket violators that are traveling too fast in work zones. The need is significant. Caltrans currently has some 800 ongoing construction contracts valued at more than $10 billion. The Move Over law, which took effect in 2007, requires drivers to move over a lane when emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights are present. It was amended in 2009 to add Caltrans vehicles with flashing amber lights. Caltrans, the CHP, the Califor- nia Office of Traffic Safety, and the Department of Motor Vehicles are working as partners to increase awareness of the law – through the Internet, public service announce- ments, billboards, and the media. have recently heard sever- al testimonials about ionic silver water used to heal open sores and also hav- ing drinking benefits. Can you enlighten me on the use and safety of this product? DEAR READER: Ionic silver has been used for countless years as the "ultimate" antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral ing wounds, there are dif- ferences in silver. Total silver content is actually divided into two forms — ionic silver and silver par- ticles known as colloidal silver. Colloidal silver is most common, but more expensive and less effec- tive than ionic silver water. The daily intake for dietary silver has not been determined, as it is not considered an essential mineral. Studies indicate the average diet contains between 23 and 88 mcg of silver daily. General daily maintenance doses, when taken, are between 1 tea- spoon and a maximum of 1 tablespoon daily; how- ever, these figures vary dramatically. Side effects include a feeling of malaise, mild headache, flu-like symp- toms and diarrhea, referred to as part of a "healing crisis." They are the result of the silver killing off too many pathogens too fast. Con- sumption must be daily because the liver filters out silver ions within two days. Ionic silver water is available through the Internet and offline, enabling patients and doc- tors to create specific sup- plement protocols that should be of great benefit to each individual. But without specific cause, I personally would not endorse taking this sup- plement. Rather, I would eat well-balanced meals, get plenty of exercise and forget the whole darned thing, but I'm sure I will be brought to task with this view. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including "Live Longer, Live Better," "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet" and "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook," which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com If readers want to contact Dr. Gott, they may write to him at his website, or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott, c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Connecticut address listed above. Blood Drive in Corning BloodSource is holding a community blood drive to meet the local need for blood and blood products from 3-6:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 10 at the Veterans Memo- rial Hall, 1620 Solano St., in Corning. Blood donations are used to treat burn victims, trans- plant patients, people who must undergo surgery, those injured in accidents, patients with leukemia and more. To give blood, you must be in generally good health, free from cold symptoms for at least 48 hours; be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent); and weigh at least 110 pounds. There is no upper age limit for donating blood. Prospective donors must bring a photo ID. The entire process takes about an hour. For more information about the blood drive please call BloodSource at 1(866) 822-5663. Diabetic support group The Diabetes Support Group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of every month in the Columba Room at the Coyne Center in the Columba Room. The Coyne Center is across the road from the main entrance of the hospital with parking both in front and to the side. Speaker will be Gail Locke, MA, RD and the topic is How to read the Food Label and Sugar Substitutes. The Nov. 7 meeting will have guest speaker Kim- berly Williamson, Owens Pharmacy Marketing Rep, talking on "Your Glucometer Questions, Graphing on the Computer, Etc. & More". For more information call 529-8113