Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/517770
DearMary:Ihopeyou can help me. My furni- ture was in storage for six months. Ev- erything was fine be- fore that, but now the ice cubes from my ice maker taste stale. That's the best de- scription I can give. I have repeat- edly washed the freezer and the ice cube container with vinegar. I've tried putting baking soda in the freezer. I cannot get rid of this taste. Other items in the freezer taste fine. I am embarrassed to serve my guests ice. Can you help? I love your column. Keep up the good work! — Joanne Dear Joanne: It sounds to me like the problem may be in the water com- ing into the icemaker. When did you last replace the system's water filter? Most manufacturers rec- ommend that we do this twice a year. Or if this appliance was in storage for six months, it's also possible some- thing has built up in the water line that connects the icemaker to the water source. You may need to re- place that as well. Take a look at your owner's man- ual or visit the manufac- turer's website for spe- cific information. This may be a simple do-it- yourself job. I sure hope that helps! Dear Mary: Recently we moved from the big city with public utilities to a home that came com- plete with a septic sys- tem. In previous columns, you've suggested us- ing white vinegar in the laundry as a cleaning agent and also to remove hard-water buildup. Can you tell me if vinegar will harm the system or de- stroy the beneficial bac- teria? Thank you in ad- vance. — Anne Dear Anne: I know this may come as a big shock to you, but septic tanks have never been high on my list of "things I need to know about." Your question sent this city girl on a research mission. I learned that not only is vinegar OK in your system, it is recom- mended. You should use mild detergents or bak- ing soda, borax, vinegar and rubbing alcohol rather than stronger and poten- tially system-damaging chlorine and commercial household cleaners. Take a look at my ebook "Cheap- skate Solutions" for dozens of recipes and formulas for how to use non-toxic household items for every kind of cleaning and laun- dry product imaginable that you can make your- self. Your septic tank will love you. Dear Mary: I just might be the ultimate cheap- skate. Because birthday cards can be pricey and my husband doesn't pay much attention to detail anyway, I've found an- other way to save money. About three years ago, I bought him a birthday card. We displayed it on the television. After a week or so, I stuck it back in the envelope and saved it until the following year and gave it to him again. I plan to do it again this year. So far he hasn't caught on. Friends of ours may have me beat. On Valen- tine's Day they went into a card shop. He picked out a card for her, and she picked one for him. They exchanged cards in the store, read the verse inside the card, gave each other a kiss, put the cards back into the rack and left. — Name With- held Dear N.W.: Well, you sure gave me a good laugh. But I don't know how much longer you'll be able to pull this off. If your husband hangs around with you and your friends much longer, your next birthday card may be one they've retired and handed off to him with along with one of those white-out pens. Wouldyouliketosend a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@ everydaycheapskate. com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Ste. B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE Help, my fridge is making icky ice Mary Hunt The National Park Ser- vice is requesting letters describing people's impres- sions and stories of Whis- keytown National Recre- ation Area to celebrate the park's 50th Anniversary as a national park site. All letters will be placed inside a Children's Time Capsule and sealed for the next 50 years to be opened in 2065. The park is asking people through- out Northern California to collect individual letters and photographs describ- ing their thoughts and sto- ries about Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. The capsule's information will be used to compare to- day's visitor experiences to those when the park turns 100 years old in 2065. All contributors are urged to include photo- graphs and answer the fol- lowing questions: What do you enjoy most about visit- ing Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and what are your favorite memories of Whiskeytown? All children and families who participate in writing their time capsule letter are asked to clearly sign and print their name and include their email address for historical documenta- tion purposes. All letters will be reviewed and only letters that are appropriate will be sealed in the Chil- dren's Time Capsule. A fi- nal list of names for the submitted letters will be recorded prior to the Chil- dren's Time Capsule being sealed. Children who sub- mit a letter or email can re- turn to the park for the re- opening of the Children's Time Capsule and view the capsule's contents in 2065. National Park Service his- torians will use the let- ters, emails and artifacts to compare the differences between these two periods in the park's history. Send the letters to Su- perintendent Jim Mile- stone, National Park Ser- vice, P.O. Box 188, Whis- keytown, 96095. Emails can be sent to Jim_Mile- stone@nps.gov with the subject line Time Capsule. For more information, call Milestone at 242-3460. WHISKEYTOWN Le tt er s fr om n or th -s ta te r es id en ts s ou gh t fo r ti me c ap su le COURTESYPHOTO The slide from Reeds Creek School was recently purchased and installed at Whittenberg Country School. DEDICATION Ne w lif e fo r ol d sl id e at W hi tt en be rg C ou nt ry S ch oo l Whittenberg Country School has a new piece of playground equip- ment with a local his- tory going back almost a century. Reeds Creek School re- cently put its old slide out to bid. Thanks to the generosity and talents of Whittenberg families and friends, the slide was pur- chased for $1,200 is now reassembled in its new home. It is thought that the slide was first purchased from the P. W. Manufac- turing Co. in 1925, when the former Reeds Creek School building was built. It was moved to the new Reeds Creek School site in 1965, where it was first up on top of the hill and later moved to the bottom of the hill. Whittenberg will hold a ribbon-cutting for its new slide at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 at the school, 12245 Wil- lard Road. The graduation and award ceremony will fol- low. For more informa- tion, call Zachary Whit- ten at 526-7649, visit www.whittenbergcoun- tryschool.org or look for the school on Face- book. Thankyou! PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. As it finalizes a plan to improve transportation be- tween regions throughout California, Caltrans is ask- ing for the public to review the Draft 2015 Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan (ITSP) and offer com- ments on how California can improve interregional travel in a safe, integrated and sustainable way. The plan's purpose is to be a guiding document for all investment in the interregional transporta- tion system, identifying the best ways to invest in interregional corri- dors to strengthen Cal- ifornia's economy and livability while reducing the greenhouse gas emis- sions that cause climate change. The plan evaluates the basic connectivity and ac- cessibility of the interre- gional transportation sys- tem to ensure all major re- gions in the state can be reliably accessed. The Draft 2015 Interregional Trans- portation Strategic Plan is posted on the Caltrans Sys- tem Planning website at www.caltrans-itsp2015.org/, where the public can submit written comments and ask questions through June 8. Written comments or questions can also be submitted via email at HQ.System.Planning@dot. ca.gov. CALTRANS Input sought on regional transportation The Salvation Army is cordially inviting your children 1 st grade through 6 th grade to attend Vacation Bible School. We will be running our "Everest" themed VBS from 9:00 to 3:30, June 15 - June 19, 2015. If you are interested in details and would like to enroll your child please call Maria Navarrete at 530-527-8530 or come by our office at 940 Walnut Street, Monday to Friday from 1:00 to 3:30. An entry fee of $20 per child will be asked at time of registration. Space is limited so respond quickly. The Salvation Army is also sponsoring a "Reading Literacy" program to help increase a child's reading skills and improve their comprehension. At this time our "Reading Literacy" program is designed for children 1 st grade through 6 th grade each Friday afternoon from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. The "Reading Literacy" program is free. On Friday's 5:00 to 6:30 pm The Salvation Army offers Troop programs, Sunbeams (girls 1 st to 6 th grade) and Explorers (boys 1 st to 6 th grade). These Troop programs are fun Bible based lessons and activities that enhance a child's life. The Salvation Army offers Troop programs for teens called "YPL" or Young People's League. This program is also Bible centered lessons and activities that are designed to help teens with self-esteem, peer pressure and life skills for today's Teen. programs at programs at The Salvation Army Please call Maria Navarrete at 530-527-8530 for information and enrollment of any of our Children's programs. LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Wednesday, May 27, 2015 » MORE ATFACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A5