Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/774672
Dear Mary: I have al- ways valued your com- ments about various products and can honestly say that I have never been dis- appointed in any- thing I bought af- ter reading your rec- ommendations. Have you done any research on the Instant Pot mul- tifunctional pressure cookers? I was think- ing one might be a good gift. Thank you so much. — Conni Dear Conni: Thank you for your kind words and trust. It means the world to me. Yes, I am very famil- iar with Instant Pot, a single electric appli- ance that functions as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, maker, steamer and warmer and also sau- tes and browns. Its on- board microprocessor (think computer) is pro- grammed with adjust- able cooking modes, up to 24 hours of delayed cooking and automatic keep-warm for up to 10 hours. When it comes to modern technology, In- stant Pot is it. This ap- pliance can turn out perfectly poached eggs in two to three minutes and baked potatoes in 12 minutes. Instant Pot has the power to change your life. Really, I can't say too many good things, and I agree wholeheart- edly that an Instant Pot would make a wonder- ful gift for a very lucky foodie! While there are a number of differ- ent Instant Pot models, my pick for the best in- expensive option is the 6-quart 1,000-watt In- stant Pot IP-DUO60 7-in-1 Multi Functional Pressure Cooker. It is sweet. It costs about $120. Dear Mary: I have read your advice for years and gained so much from your tips. My husband and I are thinking of buying a big-screen TV. We have been told to get a smart one. Can you give me any recommendations? Thanks. — Judy Dear Judy: I agree that if you're going to invest in a new televi- sion, it really should be a smart TV, one that is internet-enabled and supports movie stream- ing from content pro- viders, such as Netf- lix, Amazon and Hulu. These days, there are so many to choose from. They all have their own features, and prices range from as low as $150 for an entry-level 32-inch model up to $20,000 for an 88-inch curved screen model that broadcasts in 4K Ultra HD! Here's my advice: First, decide where you will put this television. That will help you de- termine the best size. Next, determine how much you are willing to spend. If you live within driving range of either Costco or Sam's Club, go there. You can get a day pass if you are not a member, so you can look around. Talk with the folks in the TV de- partment. You'll learn a lot. And you'll see some great prices for beauti- ful smart TVs. With all of that said, if you would rather just order one online and have it delivered to your home with free shipping (like me), here's my pick for the best inexpensive smart TV: the TCL 55- inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV. It's a great TV for the price — about $400. Need a bit more help? Amazon has introduced a great new online fea- ture that will take all the guesswork out of finding the right TV for your needs. Check it out. Dear Mary: I am look- ing for a formula to wash down a vinyl-sided house. I read about it here years ago. I recall that one of the ingredi- ents was Spic and Span. I hope you can help. Thank you. — Connie Dear Connie: I can — here it is: Vinylsidingcleaner You'll need 2/3 cup Spic 'n Span, cup powdered Tide laun- dry detergent, 1 quart liquid chlorine bleach and 3 quarts very hot water. Mix ingredients very well in a 2-gal- lon bucket, and allow them to stand for 4 to 5 hours. Pour this con- centrate into an ordi- nary hose-end garden sprayer set to the mid- point, and apply the cleaner to the vinyl sid- ing. Leave solution on siding for five minutes, remove the sprayer, and rinse the siding well with a hose. Hope that helps. Let me know how it works for you. By the way, you can always find past col- umns on the Everyday Cheapskate website. Use the handy search bar to type in a keyword. 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 Best inexpensive Instant Pot and smart TV Mary Hunt Paskenta Band of Nom- laki Indians granted Cal Fire $125,000 for the pur- chase of a fire rescue squad vehicle for Fire Station 12 in Corning. "This generous donation allowed us to replace our aging rescue vehicle with one that has a greater car- rying capacity of first re- sponders and equipment such as the jaws-of-life and breathing apparatuses," said Christine Thompson, Cal Fire unit chief. "The rescue squad will carry equipment and personnel to medical emergencies, traffic collisions and fires in the Corning area and southern Tehama County." Latisha Miller, vice chairwoman of the Tribal Council, said the tribe rec- ognized a need in the com- munity. "When we heard the fire station that served our community needed a res- cue squad, we felt it was important to grant the funds to purchase one," Miller said. "This grant continues our tradition of partnering with our com- munity to make Tehama County a safer, healthier place to live." The squad is not the first vehicle to roll into the area with help from the tribe, which owns Rolling Hills Casino in Corning. In past years, the tribe helped pur- chase an ambulance, a 75- foot ladder fire truck and lifesaving equipment. "When minutes matter, the rescue squad will help save lives," said Andrew "Dru" Alejandre, tribal chairman. "The tribe is honored and grateful to be able to donate the funds for such a vital resource to the County of Tehama." Since opening Rolling Hills in 2002, the tribe has granted more than $7.5 million to local law enforcement, hospitals, fire departments, schools, government agencies and charitable organizations. The tribe also estab- lished the Rolling Hills Clinics in Red Bluff and Corning, which provide quality healthcare and dental care that is afford- able and convenient. DONATION Cal Fire receives new rescue squad vehicle As property owners look to make repairs this week- end after a series of severe storms pounded northern California, the Contractors State License Board is offer- ing advice so they are not taken advantage of by un- licensed or unscrupulous contractor. Flood victims should be aware of construction laws so they don't become vic- tims a second time. The first step is hiring a li- censed contractor. It is against California law to contract for home improve- ment or construction jobs valued at $500 or more in combined labor and mate- rial costs without a state- issued contractor license. You can verify a contrac- tor's license by going to CSLB's website or calling our toll-free line at 800- 321-CSLB (2752). Penalties for first-time unlicensed contracting convictions include up to six months in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines. "Although it's under- standable that consum- ers want to make flood re- pairs quickly, it's important not to rush the process and hire the first person who comes along," said CSLB Registrar Cindi Christen- son. "Take your time and protect yourself against con artists who will take your money and run—or unskilled contractors who will perform shoddy work. Do your research and know your rights before you sign a contract." CSLB is also reminding contractors that they must hold a valid California con- tractor license, in the ap- propriate classification, in order to perform most work on homes and other structures damaged or de- stroyed by the recent Cal- ifornia flooding and mud- slides. This is especially im- portant in the Sierra where contractors licensed in Ne- vada may cross the state line looking for work. Contractors can utilize either a service and re- pair contract or a standard home improvement con- tract for flood repair work. Consumers should be aware of what is allowed under each: Service and Repair Contract The consumer must be the one who contacts the contractor to request work on short notice, for a spe- cific repair. The total price for labor and materials must be $750 or less. The contract must not in- clude any goods or services beyond what is reasonable and necessary to repair the problem noted in the orig- inal contact by the con- sumer. No payments, includ- ing down payment, are re- quired until the work is completed. The service and repair contractor may charge only one service fee. There is no three-day right to cancel the contract once it's signed. No further work can be done without a standard home improvement con- tract. Standard Home Improvement Contract The contract is not for ur- gent service and repair, and either the contractor or the consumer can initiate con- tact. The total price for labor and materials is $500 or more. The work is not for an emergency replacement or repair of $750 or less. The customer has until midnight of the third busi- ness day after signing the contract to cancel. The down payment can only be 10 percent of the to- tal contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. CSLB, operating under the umbrella of the Cali- fornia Department of Con- sumer Affairs, licenses and regulates almost 290,000 contractors in California, and is regarded as one of the leading consumer pro- tection agencies in the United States. In fiscal year 2015-16, CSLB helped re- cover almost $41 million in ordered restitution for con- sumers. CONTRACTORS LICENSE BOARD Ad vi ce f or t ho se m ak in g fl oo d re pa ir s Shasta Regional Com- munity Foundation's open application period for three funds offering op- portunities for local non- profits and public entities is now open. The application instruc- tions and March deadlines are posted on the web- site at www.shastarcf.org/ grants. Several webinars will be offered to explain how to best prepare applications for these grant opportu- nities and to demonstrate the use of our online sub- mission system. The webi- nars will be held on Feb. 7 and 15. Space is limited so reservations are required. Visit the News section on the home page at www. shastarcf.org to register. Grants from The McCon- nell Fund will be awarded in the spring to organiza- tions in Modoc, Shasta, Sis- kiyou, Tehama and Trinity counties in the focus areas of arts and culture, chil- dren, youth and education, community vitality, envi- ronment, health care, rec- reation and social services. Grants primarily fund the purchase of equipment or building-related projects. Grant dollars are provided for small and large projects in each county. All grant requests for the spring cycle must be submitted online at www. shastarcf.org by 5 p.m. on March 8. The Redding Rancheria Community Fund will be accepting applications for grant requests from Shasta and Trinity County non- profit organizations and public entities in the focus areas of arts and culture, education, environment health and social services. All grant requests for the spring cycle must be sub- mitted online by 5 p.m. on March 22. Funding guidelines and grant making history for each program can be found at www.shastarcf.org. If you have any ques- tions, call Amanda Hutch- ings at 244-1219. COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Grant applications now being accepted CONTRIBUTED Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indian Tribal Council members cut the ribbon as volunteer fire fighters drove their new fire rescue squad vehicle to Fire Station 12in Corning recently. WEARETHEONLYSTATECERTIFIED TRAINED RAPE CRISIS CENTER IN TEHAMA THAT HOLDS CONFIDENTIAL/ PRIVILEGE* *Ourservicesareconfidential,exceptwhenworkinginaschool.WearerequiredbylawtoreporttoChildrenServicesDivision. ALL VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WILL RECEIVE A FREE FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION, regardlessofwhetherornottheychoosetoparticipateinthecriminaljusticeprocess. KNOWYOURRIGHTSABOUTSEXUALASSAULT! If you or someone you know has been sexually violated, CONTACT Rape Crisis Intervention & Prevention. If confidentiality is important to YOU… …WEAREHERETOLISTEN 530-342-RAPE (7273)•24hrCrisisLine-CollectCallsAccepted 2498 S. Main St. Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530) 528-8656 SATURDAY,JANUARY7 TH WEIGH-INS 10AM-12PM $30 ENTRY 10 WEEK WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE. 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