Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/647901
DEARMARY:Iread your columns in our local newspaper and love them. We need to purchase a new washing machine and would like your recom- mendation. I tried to find a column you previ- ously wrote on this subject but was unsuccessful. We need a large-capacity ma- chine for our large family. Thank you. — Monica DEAR MONICA: Go to the Everyday Cheapskate website and you will find all past columns, includ- ing those that do not show up in your newspaper. I'm thinking you should head over to the Sears Outlet website, since Sears carries so many brands of appliances and they have so many stores across the country. This site consistently offers some of the best deals out there. You will find many new, damaged and refur- bished appliances that are being sold at highly dis- counted prices. When you get to the site, expect to find every dented washer Sears currently has avail- able for sale, along with locations of every Sears Outlet store in the coun- try. I find the Sears Outlet site to be a wealth of infor- mation. It's amazing just how many appliance mod- els each manufacturer has and what the retail price was before it was sent to the outlet. Prices on the site can be as low as 50 percent off. You can study each ap- pliance's specs and even find customer reviews for many items. I am some- times wary of reviews on this site because, as you'll discover, some people give an appliance a lousy re- view for having a dent or scratch, even though that's the very reason they got such a great deal on it. So keep your common sense handy as you research. I love the fact that you can know exactly what's wrong with each item that has landed it in the out- let. Most of the time the flaws are simply cosmetic, like a dent or scratch. You can learn what is consid- ered a refurbished appli- ance with a manufactur- er's warranty. If you want to buy one, check the store locator for the item, in- structions on how to pick it up if you are local, or what the shipping charge will be should you need to go that route. Check these prices daily as they can change quickly. I purchased a clothes dryer from the Sears Out- let online about six years ago. It came from Ohio and arrived on a big truck with no box — just pack- ing materials wrapped in plastic. It had no own- er's manual. But I didn't care. The dryer was ex- actly as pictured on the site, with a big scratch on the side. With shipping, it cost $557, as opposed to the retail price of $1,100. I downloaded the manual from the manufacturer's website and, to me, it was brand new. The scratch was hidden once I set the dryer next to the washer. Our big move to Colo- rado last year turned out to be a learning experi- ence with Whirlpool ap- pliances. We inherited a gas range, microwave, re- frigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer in our new home — all Whirl- pool Gold and 12 years old. I had fully planned to re- place all of these appli- ances but quickly changed my mind after only a week of using them. It helps that they were taken care of so well. Still, these days, 12 years is closing in on be- coming obsolete for many appliances. The washer and dryer set are fantastic work- horses. They don't have digital displays, just ba- sic settings. I couldn't be happier with these appli- ances. As you are looking at washers, I would sug- gest sticking with heavy- duty, large-capacity Gen- eral Electric, Whirlpool or Maytag brands. You'll find many options at the Sears Outlet or another lo- cal appliance store such as Home Depot or Lowe's. Do not go with Samsung ap- pliances — you will regret that decision till the day you die. Samsung appli- ances are, in my opinion, notorious for failing and being very expensive to re- pair, if you can even find someone to repair them. Remember, the fewer electronics and digital bells and whistles on a washer, the cheaper it will be to maintain over the years. You will have fewer expensive machinery pieces that could break- down. A top-load washer without an agitator would be my first choice. However, a front-load washer will give you tre- mendous savings on wa- ter. You just have to make sure you follow the man- ufacturer's instructions carefully. You should san- itize and clean the drum (or basket) of a front-load machine at least monthly to keep mold from grow- ing inside the gaskets, which can be a prob- lem with some front-load washers. Good luck, and let us know what you decide. Would you like to send 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 Wouldyouliketosave $500 in exchange for a scratch or dent? Mary Hunt COURTESYPHOTO From le : volunteers Jan Beck, Roberta Degraw, Paul Stubbs and Elisa Annis. Four people from Com- munity Baptist Church, Jan Beck, Roberta Degraw, Paul Stubbs and Elisa An- nis, will be heading to Bul- garia this summer to fa- cilitate a camp for 40 or- phan children. The age of the children range from 5 years old to 18. Three of the volunteers have been to Bulgaria pre- viously and have estab- lished relationships with the children. They go with the plan to share God's love with them and to give hope to children with un- certain futures. The volunteers will work with other Bulgar- ian adults and with mis- sionaries Spas and Chris- tina Stoimenov. They will leave June 29 for a 12-day commitment. There will be a fund- raising dinner at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Commu- nity Baptist Church, 598 Round-Up Ave. The cost is whatever the attendee chooses to donate. The menu will in- clude pulled pork, pasta salad, rolls and Bulgarian favorites of cucumber and tomato salad and baklava for dessert. No reservations are needed but a heads up call to 529-3556 would be ap- preciated. The Stoimenovs have been ministering to or- phan children for many years. In addition to visit- ing and teaching in the or- phanages, they are estab- lishing a private home to raise children in a loving and secure environment. BenefitdinnerforBulgarianorphanteamset COMMUNITY BAPTIST RED BLUFF The Bureau of Reclamation will hold an open house and pub- lic meeting to solicit input on the Draft Coleman Na- tional Fish Hatchery Adap- tive Management Plan 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 15 at the Hampton Inn Con- ference Room, 520 Adobe Road in Red Bluff. The purpose of the plan is to acknowledge, identify, study and evaluate uncer- tainties regarding the op- eration of a large scale fish hatchery in a watershed being restored for natu- ral salmonid populations through the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Res- toration Project. The goal of the plan is to provide solutions and pro- cesses to support optimiza- tion of hatchery programs, operations and infrastruc- ture so that the hatchery mitigation goals and ob- jectives are achieved, while maximizing its compatibil- ity with the Restoration Project. The plan is intended to closely coordinate with the Restoration Project plan, so that together the two adap- tivemanagementplansform a single integrated frame- work for adaptive manage- ment in Battle Creek. Since its establishment in 1942, the hatchery has served as an important mitigation component of the federal Central Val- ley Project, partially com- pensating for lost natural salmonid production re- sulting from construction of Shasta and Keswick dams. The hatchery annu- ally propagates three sal- monid stocks: fall-run Chi- nook salmon, late-fall-run Chinook salmon and Cen- tral Valley steelhead. The Restoration Proj- ect is a collaborative ef- fort among Reclamation, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., National Marine Fish- eries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Cali- fornia Department of Fish and Wildlife, various re- source agencies and lo- cal stakeholders to restore some 48 miles of habi- tat in Battle Creek and its tributaries for threatened and endangered Chinook salmon and Central Val- ley steelhead, while main- taining clean and renew- able energy production at the PG&E Battle Creek Hy- droelectric Project. The draft plan on http:// www.usbr.gov/mp/battlec- reek/docs/pd-cnfhamp. pdf. If you encounter prob- lems accessing the docu- ment online, call 916-978- 5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or write to mppublicaf- fairs@usbr.gov. Copies of the document are avail- able at the Tehama County Library, 645 Madison St., Red Bluff and will be avail- able at the meeting. Written comments must be received by close of business Monday, May 2. Written comments will be accepted at the meeting or may be mailed to Mary Marshall, Battle Creek Restoration Project Man- ager, Bureau of Reclama- tion, MP-203, 2800 Cot- tage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825; faxed to 916-978- 5345; or sent to mmar- shall@usbr.gov. Information regard- ing the plan is available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ battlecreek/cnfh.html. Information regarding the Restoration Project is available at http://www. usbr.gov/mp/battlecreek. For more information, call Mary Marshall at 916- 978-5248 (TTY 800-877- 8339). ENVIRONMENT Public meeting set for hatchery management plan The Sierra Club, Yahi Group, is hosting the fol- lowing events for March. Unless otherwise noted, trips are free and open to the public and begin at the trail head. If you have any questions or want further information about specific activities call Wayland Au- gur at 519-4724 or write to wba@acm.org. • Saturday, March 5, Beginner and Interme- diate Snowshoe at Las- sen Park Southwest entrance Kohm-Yah-Mah-nee visi- tor center. Meet at 10:15 a.m. at visitor center The group will snowshoe up park road while avoid- ing x-cross-country ski tracks. Maybe head to the hills. Bring carpool money for drivers, snow- shoes, poles, appropriate winter clothing, snacks, lunch. The park does not rent out snowshoes. Re- serve to ensure trip. Call Barbara at 258-3905 for more information and reservations. • Thursday, March 10, Yahi Program meeting The speaker for the eve- ning will be David Garcia, organizer of Frack Free Butte County. The title of his talk will be "What Do Flint Michigan, the Porter Ranch Methane Leak and the Butte County Fracking Ban Have in Common?" The meeting will be at the Chico Branch Library on the corner of East First Avenue and Sherman at 7 p.m. with refreshments served. • Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20, Antelope Creek Backpack A moderate to easy 2-3 mile backpack down 800' to camp beside boisterous Antelope Creek, east of Red Bluff. Along the way the group will enjoy the wildflowers, spring green- ery, the scenic canyon, an old homestead and beau- tiful meadows. Leader has extra backpacks, tents, pads, sleeping bags, stoves to share. Call leader to sign up. Leader is Alan, at 891- 8789 or ajmendoza777@ comcast.net. • Saturday, March 19, South Rim Loop Hike The group will hike down from Ten Mile House to the Annie Bidwell trail then hike back up the Bloody Rim trail and then back on the Guardians trail. There is a possibil- ity of spring flowers, bring a flower field guide if you like. Rain will cancel the hike. Meet at 10:30 a.m. at Chico Park & Ride. Leader is Julian, 893-1994. • Saturday, March 26, Table Mountain Hike Enjoy the spring wild- flowers and waterfalls of spectacular Table Moun- tain north of Oroville. The group will hike for a total distance of 7-8 miles and visit Beatson Hollow and Coal Canyons and Phantom and Coal Can- yon Falls. Bring lunch, water, camera, hat, sun- screen, boots and money for drivers. Meet at 8:45 a.m. at Table Mountain parking lot Rain cancels. Leader is Julian, 893- 1994. EVENTS March activities planned for Sierra Club, Yahi Group COOK Keep yOur family safer frOm fOOd pOisOning Check your steps at foodsafety.gov dO yOu want that safe Or medium-safe? use a fOOd thermOmeter tO maKe sure yOu COOK raw meat and pOultry tO a BaCteria-Killing temperature. dO yOu want that safe Or medium-safe? Keep yOur family safer frOm fOOd pOisOning Check your steps at foodsafety.gov EarlyMovers Ages: 6-18 months Wednesdays 10:00 am-11am Teeter Toddlers Ages: 18 mo-3 yrs Wednesdays 11am-Noon Wiggle Worms Ages: 4-6 Monday & Wednesday 4:00 pm-5:00 pm Dyanamic Development Ages: 7-12 Monday & Wednesday 5:00 pm-6:00 pm Formoreinformationandpricing contact the staff at TFFC (530) 528-8656 2498 S. Main St., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Regular Haircut $ 2 00 off KWIK KUTS FamilyHairSalon 1064SouthMainSt.,RedBluff•529-3540 ANY RETAIL PRODUCT 20 % off withanychemicalserviceof $50 or more Notgoodwithotheroffers Expires 3/31/16 With coupon Reg. $13.95 LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Wednesday, March 2, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A5