Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/5964
Pacific Gas and Electric Company offers Breathe Easy Solutions to help indi- viduals and families man- age their energy costs. For assistance in finding the right program to serve your needs, you can call 1-800-743- 5000 or visit www.pge.com. P a y m e n t Arrangements Please contact us if you are having trouble paying your bill. You can request payment arrange- ments to help you catch up on your energy bills. Balanced Pay Plan You can eliminate fluc- tuations in your bill by enrolling in the balanced payment program. By aver- aging your bill, you will generally pay the same amount every month, which can help during extreme weather months. Bill Guaranty A deposit alternative, Bill Guaranty program enables customers to secure their account by having another qualifying customer sign on their behalf. Automatic Payment Service Make paying your bill easier by having payments automatically deducted from your bank account. Automatic Payment can also be used instead of making a deposit. California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) If your house- hold qualifies, the CARE program provides a monthly discount on your energy bills. Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) If your household quali- fies, the FERA program provides a monthly dis- count on your electric bills. Energy Partners The Energy Partners Program offers income- qualified customers who own or rent a home free energy education and weatherization measures to help reduce energy usage, including: Refrigerator replace- ment, door replacement and weather stripping, attic insulation, compact fluo- rescent lighting Customers who qualify for a monthly discount through CARE may also be eligible for this program. Relief Energy Assis- tance through Communi- ty Help (REACH) If your household is income-qualified, has expe- rienced severe or unplanned hardships and is unable to pay for your ener- gy needs, REACH may provide a one-time energy assistance payment. REACH is sponsored by PG&E and administered by Salvation Army. Home Energy Assis- tance Program (HEAP) If your household is income-qualified, you may be able to receive assistance on your energy bills. HEAP is a federally funded energy subsidy program adminis- tered by the California Department of Community Services & Development (CSD) through local agen- cies and community-based organizations. Medical Baseline You may be eligible to receive additional quanti- ties of energy at the lowest (baseline) price if you are a residential customer who, due to certain medical con- ditions, is dependent on life-support equipment and/or has special heating or cooling needs. Third-Party Third-Party Notification allows you to name a friend or relative to receive dupli- cate copies of past-due pay- ment notices. The designat- ed person is not responsible for paying the bill, but can contact PG&E to help resolve the problem. Thursday, January 14, 2010 – Daily News – 5A $ Money $ 2 Lend Cash 4 Notes McKinley Mortgage Co. CA DRE # 01773837 Call 530-241-0977 800-909-1977 Smog Check starting at $ 29 95 (most cars and pick-ups) Pass or FREE retest COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR + cert. All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. Largest Selection In Tri-County • Herbal Medicines • Edibles (Foods) • Clones 1317 Solano St. (530) 824-4811 www.tehamaherbalcollective.vpweb.com Corning Calif. OPEN: 7 days a week 5:30am - 9pm FREE Broasted Chicken Dinner* *Purchase one 4 pc. Broasted Chicken Dinner & 2 Beverages and receive the second Broasted Chicken dinner for FREE! Dinners served with soup and salad, choice of potato or steamed vegetables and corn bread. Enjoy! 259 S.Main St., Red Bluff $ 8. 95 available anytime Not valid with other discounts offer good from 1/4/10 - 2/7/10 Dear Annie: I am one of four sisters, all of us in our 50s. We are a close-knit fam- ily, although we no longer live in the same communities. My niece, ''Tara,'' gave birth to a son while she was still in high school. A won- derful couple adopted the boy, and because the adoption was open, they have stayed in contact. The baby had some health issues, which they ini- tially attributed to the lack of prenatal care. Two years later, Tara gave birth to her second out-of- wedlock son just as her first was diag- nosed with Duchenne's muscular dys- trophy. There is no history of this in the family, and my niece was deemed a spontaneous carrier. Her second child has it, too. When these two were diagnosed, the doctors explained that, barring a miracle, her sons would face an increasingly painful life and an early death. They also told her she could pass along the disease to future chil- dren. Tara didn't care. Five years ago, she met a divorced man with three boys, and they have since had three more children together. Blessedly, two of the children are girls and will not develop the disease, although they could be carriers. The third child is a boy who, astoundingly, is healthy. But she plans to have more children. No one can get through to Tara that she is playing genetic Russian roulette with her children's lives. These are children, by the way, whom neither she nor her part- ner can afford, and we have no idea how she plans to care for a child who might become dis- abled. How do we continue to love and support her when we are all so upset with the situa- tion? — Heartsick in the Heartland Dear Heartsick: You sigh deeply and say nothing. Tara is a grown woman, and these are her choices, smart or not. Be a kind and loving great-aunt to these children, and try to keep your opinions out of it. That's as supportive as you need to be. Dear Annie: My 20-year-old daughter is fantastic. She's smart, funny, compassionate, involved and has a beautiful, warm, friendly face. Her problem is that although she works out, she is short and a little heavy. And she doesn't know how to dress to ''accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.'' I want to help her, but am afraid of hurting her feelings and don't know enough about the details of fashion to teach her. Also, she probably would not take my advice on this topic. Is there a book I could give her? Should I ask her mother to deliver the message? — Loving Dad Dear Dad: Mom may already have done so and met with little success. Your libraries and bookstores are filled with books on how to dress, but they won't help your daughter if she per- ceives your overtures as unwelcome criticism. If she works out, she is prob- ably healthy, so try not to fixate on her weight. If you want her to dress differ- ently but don't know how to do it, talk to her mother about what might be more flattering and buy her a new out- fit for her next birthday. Dear Annie: This is in response to ''Louisville Lass,'' whose children receive too many presents. When my daughter was born, we received mountains of toys and clothes from our families. I didn't want to offend the givers, so now I suggest dif- ferent types of gifts for my daughter: a year's membership to the local zoo or children's museum, or tickets to local, low-cost events, such as kids' concerts, plays or book readings. These gifts allow me to spend time with my child in an educational or cul- tural setting, and we send the giver pic- tures throughout the year of the fun ways she is enjoying their gift. It has worked beautifully for us. — S.W. Dear S.W.: This is a lovely sugges- tion, and we hope those who are look- ing for gift ideas will consider yours. 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, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. Niece playing genetic Russian roulette Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar FEATURES DEAR DR. GOTT: Ten years ago, I was diag- nosed with palin- dromic rheumatoid arthritis. I didn't want to take the medication, so I did a lot of reading. The first informa- tion I found is to avoid foods that worsen the condi- tion. They're usually the ones you eat every day and think you can't live with- out. Corn was a major one for me, and it's in many processed foods. I also found that alternating food families so that each was eaten only once every four days brought me relief. It takes some work to figure out what foods are in the same family, but there are sources. I haven't had any prob- lems for over 10 years and no longer have to be so careful about alternating foods. I mentioned this to someone I knew who was having rheumatoid arthritis problems, too. He also found relief by avoiding the foods and drinks he consumed most often. I mentioned this to my rheumatologist, and he said there were experiments being done with food and the condition. I don't know what they have discovered, but I do know this has been helpful to me. I hope it can help others. DEAR READER: Palindromic rheumatoid arthritis disease is inflam- mation around joints, com- monly affecting the fingers and knees. Pain often appears in two or three joints and might last up to three days and can be severe. Oddly, it can cease as quickly as an episode begins. The condition is characterized by joint stiff- ness, inflammation, warmth and pain. Anti-inflammatory med- icines may be ineffective for pain control; however, a physician may choose to prescribe methotrexate or hydroxychloroquine for better control. Alternative control includes hydrotherapy, herbals and a proper diet. The consumption of meat and dairy products is acceptable when combined with fruits, vegetables and an appropriate amount of water. When consumed inappropriately, dairy prod- ucts can cause bloating, diarrhea and stom- ach pain. Stress and smoking can be detrimental to the condition. A diet for those afflicted with rheumatoid arthri- tis should be restricted to no more than 2,000 calories daily with fruits, vegetables and protein being the foun- dation. If a primary-care physician cannot get a patient started in the right direction, the patient should ask for a referral to a rheumatologist and dieti- cian who can. Readers who are inter- ested in additional informa- tion can request my Health Reports "Managing Chron- ic Pain" and "Medical Spe- cialists." Simply send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 U.S. check or money order for each report to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to men- tion the title(s). DEAR DR. GOTT: After 12 years of profes- sional care and trying many home remedies, I began taking cod-liver-oil cap- sules daily, merely as a supplement. A month later, my dermatitis was gone and has not returned. DEAR READER: Cod- liver oil is rich in omega-3 and other fatty acids, as well as vitamins A and D. It is purported to prevent arthritis, cancer and kidney problems, reduce muscle aches and pains, lower cho- lesterol readings and reduce type I diabetes in children. The usual dose is 1 to 2 teaspoons daily. When it's taken in excess, high blood pressure can result. As you have discovered, the prod- uct is available in several forms, including the easy- to-take capsules to which you refer. And it certainly appears you have found the proper dose for treating your dermatitis. Perhaps other readers can benefit from this useful tip. Thank you for writing. Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of the book "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet," available at most chain and independent bookstores, and the recently published "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook." Arthritis now under control through diet Dr. Peter Gott Utility offers help with energy bills