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SenseiTerryShackleford is training a few PAL Mar- tial Arts students for an up- coming tournament spon- sored by Scott Halsey's Kenpo Karate in Redding in February. PAL's core style is Ju- jutsu but it also trains students in sport Karate. Students have previously participated in Halsey's tournaments in sparring and forms and will soon participate in weapons forms. PAL students have performed well, bringing home second and third place trophies in sparring and forms. PAL Martial Arts train- ing is free but costs for out- side tournaments are borne by the students. PAL is non- profit and donations for the students may be made by calling the PAL Board of Directors at 529-7950. The location for PAL Martial Arts is 1005 Vista Way, next to the Red Bluff Airport. PAL programs include boxing and wrestling in Corning. The wrestling program has a tournament coming up on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Corning High School. The Women's Wellness & Empowerment Self-De- fense program, WWE, will be held 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays. Call the in- structor at 840-0345 for more information. The training is free and was inspired by a request from Alternatives to Violence (ATV) in 2013. "Damsels in Defense" from Redding will be par- ticipating once a month with legal self-defense items for purchase at rea- sonable costs. Street Hockey season is also approaching. Ju- nior Giants is the origi- nal Tehama County PAL program. For more in- formation on all of these free programs, visit http:// www.tehamso.org/ or call 529-7950. PAL Martialartsstudents train for tournament By Colette Bauer For 10 years I taught first grade in the small town of Metolius in Central Ore- gon (zone 1A), which is lo- cated about one hour north of Bend, Ore. I loved going to school every day, partic- ularly in the fall. You prob- ably think that this was because of the outstand- ing students, or maybe the great staff, or even the in- volved parents and sup- portive community. You would be right. But there was one more element that made teaching at Metolius such a pleasure, and that was the environment. Metolius Elementary School sits atop a knoll at the edge of town. From my classroom window, look- ing to the west, I could see the nine peaks of the Cascade Range beginning with Mt. Bachelor to the left and going right around to Mt. Hood. What a view. However, that wasn't the only reason the environ- ment was so spectacular — there was also a field of dark green spearmint surrounding the school. In the spring and sum- mer the mint smelled nice, especially if a tractor crushed (bruised) some of the leaves. In the fall it was heavenly with the smell of mint permeating the air. In the winter the field was covered with snow or ice. In September they would harvest the mint which was wonderful, and when they distilled it, the at- mosphere became almost euphoric. Oh, yes, I for- got to mention that there was a mint distillery right next to the school. When I moved back to California, some of my friends gifted me with a vial of mint oil "so I would always remem- ber them." Of course, growing com- mercial mint and grow- ing mint for home use is vastly different. In our per- sonal gardens one or two plants is usually plenty for kitchen use as flavor- ing and aromas. Here are some hints to remember when planting mint: 1. Mint is invasive. This is the number one fact you must remember when planting. Plant your mint in a container preferably on your patio. This will prevent the roots from tak- ing over your yard. Think of mint as a wonderfully aromatic and flavorful Bermuda grass and you'll be fine. 2. Mint likes to be planted in a spot that has morning sun and after- noon shade. Be kind to your mint plant and it will reward you. 3. Keep your mint moist. I allowed my chocolate mint to dry out and it did not survive. At least I was able to make a batch of mint jelly before it crashed. 4. Replant your mint ev- ery three years. This is true of commercial mint, too. 5. There are many ver- ities of mint. There are three that we usually think of as being best for use in garden planting: Pepper- mint, Spearmint, and a new mint to me — Apple Mint. Mint is a wonderful ad- dition to any garden and can be easily dried, used in tea, used to add flavor to many foods, used as a potpourris and a garnish and yes even made into jelly. Don't, however plan on distilling your mint and don't forget the number one hint about mint-it's in- vasive. Happy gardening. RedBluffGardenClubis a member of Cascade Dis- trict, California Garden Clubs, Inc. and Pacific Re- gion, National Garden Clubs, Inc. RED BLUFF GARDEN CLUB A hint of mint and tips on growing it A new book by Califor- nia State University, Chico biology professor Kristina Schierenbeck on the evo- lution of the Golden State contains implications for responding to climate change. In "Phylogeography of California," published by UC Press in August 2014, Schierenbeck tells the story of how California's unique location and geog- raphy has helped the state develop into one of 25 bi- ological hot spots world- wide. She begins about 1 bil- lion years ago and explains how the landscape formed and how organisms evolved on the changing landscape. Over time, she writes, the area's relative isolation—surrounded by mountain ranges, deserts and the Pacific Ocean— coupled with its mild cli- mate and topographical diversity allowed a great variety of species to thrive here. Today, California is home to 4,800 of the 19,000 species native to the United States. Of those, about 30 percent are found only in the Golden State. In terms of species, the state is home to half of the nation's mammals and a tenth of its fish. But pressure from hu- man development and a changing global climate continue to threaten the future of those species, she said. "I wrote the book for two reasons," said Schie- renbeck, who teaches courses in evolution and plant diversity. "First, I wanted to understand my- self as a biological evolu- tionist. And I'm extremely concerned about biodiver- sity, so the book contains recommendations for Cal- ifornia." She identifies several re- gions needing protection, including the Tehachapi Pass, a major conduit for or- ganisms between the Sierra Nevada and Coast ranges; the Central Coast, home to the greatest diversity and the greatest pressure from humans; and the Klamath- Siskiyou ecoregion, where water movement and stor- age issues abound. Schierenbeck's book has been reviewed by several prominent scientists, in- cluding Missouri Botanical Garden President Emeritus Peter Raven. "This is a novel and com- pelling treatment of a whole new body of information that has not been reviewed in this way before," wrote Raven. "While it informs scholars in the fields of geog- raphy and biology about the origins of the very diverse and wonderful set of organ- isms found in [California]… it could certainly be used in the classroom as well." "Phylogeography of California" is available in the CSU, Chico bookstore and online at UC Press. Schierenbeck can be fol- lowed on Twitter at @bot- anyrules. CHICO STATE New book provides insight into climate change COURTESYPHOTO Sensei Terry Shackleford trains PAL Martial Arts students. SACRAMENTO The In- ternal Revenue Service and the Free File Alli- ance recently announced the launch of Free File, which makes brand-name tax software products and electronic filing available to most taxpayers in Cal- ifornia for free. Free File software can help taxpayers with tax preparation, including the health care law that will affect almost every- one. California taxpay- ers can use Free File soft- ware immediately and the filing season officially be- gan Tuesday. Free File is available only at IRS.gov/FreeFile, thanks to a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, a con- sortium of 14 leading tax software companies. "About 70 percent of all federal tax returns come in below the $60,000 in- come level," says IRS Spokesman David Tucker II. "Millions can use it to file a federal income tax return for free." Nationally, more than 3.2 million people used Free File last year with nearly 270,000 coming from California. Since 2003, more than 43 mil- lion people have used Free File, saving $1.3 bil- lion based on a conserva- tive $30-fee estimate. "You don't have to be an expert on taxes or the new health care law. Free File software can help walk you through the rules and help you get it right," said John A. Koskinen, IRS Commis- sioner. "For 12 years, this partnership between the IRS and the Free File Al- liance had helped taxpay- ers save both money and time. The real winner in this partnership has been the nation's taxpayers." Taxpayers who earned $60,000 or less last year are eligible to choose from among 14 software prod- ucts. For those who earned more, they are still eligi- ble for Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic ver- sion of IRS paper forms. This more basic Free File option is best for people comfortable preparing their own tax return. Free File offers easy- to-use products that ask questions and supplies an- swers. The software will find the right forms, find the right tax credits and deductions and even do the math. Free File also can help taxpayers with the new health care requirements. Almost everyone will need to do something new when filing a tax return this year. For each month in 2014, you and every- one on your return must: Report health care cover- age, claim an exemption from coverage or make a shared responsibility pay- ment with your tax return. Most people will simply have to check a box to re- port health care coverage for the entire year. Free File will be avail- able through October 2015. Taxpayers who can- not meet the April 15 tax deadline can also use Free File to file a six-month ex- tension. Here are some common tax-related documents you will need to complete your tax return. Remember, you must also have documen- tation of any credit or de- duction you are claiming as well. A copy of last year's tax return; valid Social Se- curity numbers for your- self, spouse and children; all income statements, i.e. W-2 forms, from all employers; interest/divi- dend statements, i.e. 1099 forms; Form 1099-G show- ing any state refunds; un- employment compensa- tion amount, if any; Form 1095-A if you purchased coverage from a Health Insurance Marketplace; proof of health care insur- ance coverage for you and everyone on your return. IRS IRS, Free File Alliance announce free tax so ware products for Californians PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. Thankyou! 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