Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/522801
DearMary:Whatisa safe disinfectant for col- ored clothes, such as un- derwear and bath towels? I can't use chlorine bleach, and since I usu- ally wash my colored clothes in cold wa- ter, I do not feel like I am getting them sanitized enough. Thanks. — Sherri Dear Sherri: Research- ers at the University of North Carolina at Cha- pel Hill tested conven- tional household disin- fectants, hospital dis- infectants and natural alternatives to measure each product's ability to kill specific hazardous microbes. Their results show that white vinegar killed 90 percent of germs without regard to the temperature of the water. Sounds pretty good until you realize that leaves a 10 percent chance for Salmonella, Streptococcus and Staph- ylococcus viruses, Influ- enza A2 virus and Her- pes Simplex Type 1 to live on. A product like Lysol disinfectant, on the other hand, kills 99.9 percent of those germs. For fabrics that can- not be washed with bleach, add a liquid dis- infectant according to product instructions, such as Lysol, NokOut or Mr. Clean Antibacterial to the wash. Just a reminder that water at 120 F (hot) plus laundry detergent is suf- ficient to kill ordinary household germs without the need for an added dis- infectant. Dear Mary: I have a sticky situation. My par- ents are in their mid-50s, and I think they spend way too much money. They have been in big fi- nancial trouble in the past and have gotten out of it, but I am starting to see the same type of spend- ing that got them in trou- ble before. They both work and make very good money. However, I know that they are not saving a lot of it. They are paying for student loans (theirs not mine) and home im- provement loans. I also see them spending a lot of money on other things. These are not extravagant things like cars or trips, but like you said before it appears to me that they are 5- and 10-dollaring themselves to death. I am worried about their future. My mother makes comments about how her children will hopefully help them out if they need it when they are elderly. At this rate, I know they will need help if they don't start cutting back and saving. Retirement age is coming quickly. I have my own family, plus college educations to pay for. Of course, I love them and would do anything I could to help them in the future, but at the same time, I feel like they should start worrying now about their future and not rely on their kids. What can I say or do that can help them? I don't want to offend them, but I also want them to be able to have a happy retirement. — Mary Alice Dear Mary Alice: While it's impossible to force change in a person who doesn't want to change, never underestimate the influence you might have on them. Your enthusiasm for what you are learning and doing to prepare for your future can be conta- gious. Without criticizing their lifestyle or perceived spending habits, tell your parents what you've just told me, that you are wor- ried for their future. Sta- tistics say they're going to live many years in retire- ment. But most of all, talk about your own successes with saving and planning for your kids' educations. Your genuine concern for them might just be the catalyst that gets them thinking in new ways. MaryHuntisthefounder of www.DebtProofLiving. com, a personal finance member website. 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 Don'trelyon vinegar to disinfect Writers Forum will hold its popular twice-a-year read-around 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 13 at All Saints Epis- copal Church Memorial Hall, 2150 Benton Drive in Redding. Members and any nonmembers, time permitting, may sign up for five minutes of micro- phone time to read from any of their published or in-progress material. Before the readings, a brief few minutes will be set aside to allow the gen- eral membership to vote on a bylaws change. The June meeting will in- clude a finger food potluck. Guests are welcome to at- tend up to two Writers Fo- rum programs free. After two meetings, an- nual dues are $25. Writers Forum does not meet in July or August. Meetings resume in Sep- tember. The Authors Fair takes the place of the November meeting. For further informa- tion, write to writers- for umprogramchair@ gmail.com. WRITERS FORUM Popularread-around program scheduled Mary Hunt Thankyou! PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. COURTESYPHOTOBYBENHUGHES ThelastSacramentoRiverDiscoveryCenterBirdWalkoftheseasonisscheduledfor8a.m.Saturday,June6 at the center, 1000 Sale Lane. The bird watching has been outstanding the last two weeks, with walks being offered for first- and third-grade classes. Among the birds spotted were bald eagles, hawks, mockingbirds, white pelicans, scrub jays and ospreys, including the one pictured here carrying off a fish it caught. The walks, scheduled on the first Saturday of each month, will resume Sept. 5. DISCOVERY CENTER BIRD WALK SATURDAY Passages Health Insur- ance Counseling & Advo- cacy Program is present- ing Welcome to Medicare workshops for those turn- ing 65 this year or younger adults who will be entitled to Medicare due to a dis- ability. Workshops are sched- uled for 2-4 p.m. June 11 at Lakeside Pavilion, 2565 Lakeside Village, Chico, and 1-3 p.m. June 16 at Red Bluff Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. As people get closer to Medicare eligibility, there are several things to con- sider. In light of the fact that Medicare's coverage is much like employer group coverage it's impor- tant to know what ques- tions to ask: How will my retiree plan work with my Medicare, can I delay enrolling into Medicare and not be penalized, do I need a drug plan and are there programs avail- able to lower my Medi- care health and prescrip- tion costs? Registration is required by calling 898-6716. This free workshop is designed for boomers and others who will be new to Medi- care this year who want to understand how their Medicare benefits work. Family members or care- givers are also welcome to attend. People who are new to Medicare will be deluged with information from dif- ferent insurance compa- nies marketing their prod- ucts. Ronda Kramer, program manager for Passages HI- CAP warns signing up with the wrong plan, or not doing anything may cost new Medicare recip- ients thousands of dol- lars, and they may not be able to make changes if enrollment deadlines are missed. For more information, call HICAP at Passages at 1-800-434-0222. If your group or agency would like a workshop, call Katherine Tilman at 898- 5927. HICAP does not sell or endorse any insurance products. SENIORS Me di car e wo rk sh op s off er ed f or b oo mer s Staff Reports CHICO Grant Adams, who is graduating from Chico High School and his brother, Walker Adams, a junior there, will ride their bikes from the West Coast to the East Coast in sup- port of Bridging the Gap by Giving, a nonprofit that supports clean water in Af- rica. The brothers will begin their ride Sunday, by dip- ping their back wheels in the Pacific Ocean at Flor- ence, Oregon and com- plete their ride at the At- lantic Ocean in Yorktown, Virginia. The founder of Bridg- ing the Gap by Giving is Shirley Adams of Chico, the boys' grandmother. She and their grandfather, Grant Adams, have biked coast to coast three times to raise money and aware- ness for the cause. Shir- ley Adams said her grand- sons came up with the idea themselves to do the ride, and their parents support the effort. Shirley and Grant Ad- ams also are planning an- other ride in the fall. Their trip will begin on the Ca- nadian border and end in Fort Bragg. The Adams brothers are paying their own expenses. Their journey can be seen at Facebook: 4 Wheels For A Thirsty World. Visit www.btg4water. org. CHICO Br ot he rs off o n ri de t o ra is e mo ne y fo r Br id gi ng t he G ap Professional Personal Convenient •PremiumDigital Hearing Aids for every budget • FREE hearing evaluations • Service/Repair, all makes and models • Batteries & accessories • Preferred provider for most insurance plans: Including PERS, Carpenters, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, etc. • Low monthly payment plan available • Trial Period/ Satisfaction Guaranteed AskaboutourOpenFitTechnology Discreet and Comfortable Limited Appointments CALL 1-800-488-9906 Performedforproper amplificationselectiononly. RedBluff Community Center 1500 So. Jackson Wed., June 10, 2015 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Take15%offyourmeal with this ad dineinonly 723 Main St. 527.5470 www. palominoroom .com Prime Rib on Fridays nights Open Tues-Sat LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, June 4, 2015 MORE ATFACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A4