Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/798666
DEARMARY Mydebtis huge, and my husband does not know the extent. This has happened before, and each time the debt has gotten big- ger. I have a problem with being honest about money. Instead of tell- ing him we are in trouble, I take out another card and get a cash advance to pay bills. Shopping is not the problem. The problem is that I look at available credit as available cash. Why my husband hasn't left me is a good question. He is a very honest, loyal and moral person, and I don't deserve to be with him or raise our daugh- ters. His company (he has worked there for 15 years) is about to do a credit check on him. If he loses his job because of me, I don't know what I will do. I feel at this point the only option is to confess and leave. I will get a better job and give him money toward the bills. Thank you for listening. —Cyndi DEAR CYNDI Tell him ev- erything — and I mean ev- erything — but don't leave. You need to stay and take full responsibility with no expectation of his forgive- ness or help with the debt. If you get either, that will be mercy that you do not deserve. You need to de- vise a plan to right this wrong. You have a problem, and it goes much deeper than what you've written here. That doesn't mean there is no hope. I believe you and your husband could bene- fit greatly by seeking pro- fessional help from a rep- utable and compassion- ate counselor who deals with issues of addiction. Or, if I were you, I would find a Celebrate Recovery group. These groups meet in churches. You will find compassionate people who share your addictive per- sonality and struggles, people who have found the help, hope and the forgive- ness they seek. Celebrate Recovery is a wonderful organization, and I hope you will check it out. Your situation, while grave, is not hopeless. It's just that until now you have never wanted to change badly enough. Your love of credit far out- weighs your love for your husband. DEAR MARY Is it a good idea to go into debt to pay for a solar power system for our home? My power bills get very high in the summer. Instead of paying the electric company all that money each month, I could pay the loan for the solar power and eventually not have a power bill. The estimate we received to fully power our home was about $42,000, including installation. Thanks. — Denise DEAR DENISE No.? That is not a good idea. Look, if you have $42,000 cash, in- vesting in solar power for your home might be advis- able. But given the infor- mation you offered, going into debt to do it would be really dumb. Let's say you put this on a credit card with 7.99 percent interest. Let's say you paid $300 a month on that debt (I'm assuming you will reduce your elec- tricity bill by at least $300 a month, which would al- low you to use that savings to pay off the debt). It will take 403 months to repay that debt. That's 33 years! Does that make sense to you? Doesn't to me either. 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. EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE Availablecreditisnotthesameascash Mary Hunt "An artist in our book" is Jeanne Woodstrup, Red Bluff Art Association's pick as Artist of the Month for March. "When you call Jeanne an artist, she will always say 'Marvin's the artist, I just tag along.' Well that's not really true," said asso- ciation President Debby Sipes. "Since she has started coming to our weekly art sessions Jeanne has ventured out working on different projects. She is open and curious about what everyone is doing and how they do it. When we have had demos, she's right there trying things out and marveling at the talent and generosity and sharing of the artist. I don't know but it sure sounds like she's an artist to me. It doesn't hurt to live with an artist ei- ther. The Woodstrups are a joy. Drop by the Tehama County Library to view both Jeanne and Marvin's art work this month." Jeanne was born in San Diego and adopted by her parents Jacob and Emma Utley who knew the teen- aged birth mother and her parents while stationed in Panama during WWII. Jeanne's mother Emma was a Supervising Nurse and delivered her as the doctor did not get to the hospital in time. Although Woodstrup loved music and drama she wanted to be a nurse like her mother and began the nursing program at LA General but soon gave it up, married and had 3 children. After becoming a sin- gle parent, Jeanne contin- ued to be active on com- mittees at her children's school where she was asso- ciated with Marvin Wood- strup, the school adminis- trator in Fairfield. "He was and still is a nice guy with a weird sense of humor, quite the water- colorist and humorist," Jeanne said. "Realizing I was now a single parent he asked me out for coffee and we've been together ever since, over 40 years." They were married and Jeanne taught English and drama. Coming to Red Bluff Jeanne substituted in many Tehama County Schools even teaching In- troduction to Art. "In fact, I had the stu- dents try to teach me," Jeanne said "Believe me, they soon gave up." After retiring the Wood- strups traveled, attending elder hostels now known as Road Scholar, and many that included art classes. "Marvin did the art, I read a book," Jeanne said. This changed however when their adventures took them to the Grand Canyon, where lessons in pastels were offered. The instructor was from the community college in Se- dona. "I was caught," Jeanne said. "She showed me how to go with the flow, how to hold the chalk, make shad- ows and the use of color. I was hooked." Although that didn't last long, according to Wood- strup, she was drawn back into art when she became ill a year ago. "My Santa Claus, Mar- vin, gave me an adult color- ing book and colored pen- cils for Christmas and then started taking me with him to the Red Bluff Art Association every Thurs- day," Jeanne said. "I met these wonderful men and women and saw their beau- tiful works. They made me feel welcome and made me feel that I too could be a part of them. They started teaching me things that would help me." Jeanne spends a lot of time with the coloring books and hopes to get back into pastels one day. Her next adventure may very well be playing out- doors with pastels and coloring in the mountains with local artist Marji Raymond and other artist friends. The Art Association meets 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays at the Tehama District Fairground, 650 Antelope Blvd. in Red Bluff. For more informa- tion, call 528-2438, visit redbluffartassociation.com or find the association on Facebook. ART ASSOCIATION Wo od st ru p na me d Artist of the Month CONTRIBUTED Jeanne Woodstrup The 24th annual North- ern California Pheas- ant Championship will be conducted March 25- 26 at Clear Creek Sports Club at Rolling Hills Ca- sino in Corning. Teams consisting of two hunters and one dog will attempt to bag up to six birds within a 30-min- ute time period, using as few shells as possi- ble, maximum of 12. The event will be split into two divisions — flushing dogs Saturday and point- ing dogs Sunday. To register or for more information, call Wes Henman at 828-2021. PHEASANT Hu nt in g co nt es t se t fo r Ma rc h 25 -2 6 United Way of North- ern California recently an- nounced the opening of the application process for Community Impact Grants. Under the program, UWNC will provide grants of $2,500 to $10,000 to agencies in its nine-county region, which includes the counties of Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plu- mas, Shasta, Siskiyou and Trinity. The competitive applica- tion process is open to all local 501 (c) (3) non-profits that support UWNC's mis- sion to fight for the health, education and financial sta- bility of all residents in the region. Applications will be eval- uated by United Way staff andacommitteeofcommu- nitymembers.United Way's boardofdirectorswillmake the final decisions in June. Grant money will be dis- tributed beginning in Jan- uary 2018. Last year, the board awarded a total of $121,000 in grants to 22 agencies. A list of past grantees is avail- able at http://www.nor- calunitedway.org/partner- agencies. "We are particularly interested in programs aligned with our Prosper- ity Initiative, focusing on youth enrichment and fi- nancial stability for fami- lies," said Larry Olmstead, United Way CEO and presi- dent. "Also, we want to con- tinue to support organiza- tions that provide vital ba- sic needs in areas such as substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, seniorservicesandthelike." Grant applications are available at www.norcal- unitedway.org. Applica- tions are due at 11:59 p.m. March 31. For more information, visit the website or write to Norma Mosqueda at nmosqueda@norcalunit- edway.org. COMMUNITY United Way to accept grant requests A free immigration in- formation fair will be held 1-5 p.m. Saturday, March 18 at Orland High School Career Center, 101 Shasta St. Childcare will be pro- vided, space is limited, so call Orland Student & Family Resource Center, 865-7685 and make an ap- pointment today. Topics will include the following. Know your rights: In- formation sessions with immigration attor- neys. Everyone has ba- sic rights, including non- citizens in the US. Learn more about your rights. Naturalization clinic: As- sistance with citizen- ship applications for lawful permanent resi- dents — green card hold- ers. Call 865-7685 to make an appointment. Immigration options screenings: Assistance for individuals who have not had access to an immi- gration attorney. Screen- ing on your eligibility for any change in status. Call 865-7685 to make an ap- pointment. Attorneys, law students and interpreters will be available to offer free as- sistance. Local commu- nity resources and the Mexican Consulate will be available to provide addi- tional information. ORLAND Free immigration information fair set ServicesNowAvailable&AcceptingNewPatients!!! FrontierVillageFamilyHealthCenter,Inc. 530-528-7650 WHO NEEDS AN EYE EXAM? • If you have diabetes, you need a retina eye exam every year • If you have dry eyes • A stinging, burning sensation • A gritty or sandy sensation of the eyes • Sensitivity to light • Excessive tearing of eyes • Blurry vision or difficulty seeing at night • Every child should have an eye exam KindergartenRegistration & Transitional Kindergarten for Bidwell, Metteer & Jackson Heights School Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Time: 1:00 - 6:00 PM at Jackson Heights School 225 S. Jackson Street Kindergarten: MUSTbe5yearsofageonorbefore September 1, 2017 Transitional Kinder: Children whose 5th birthday falls between September 2, 2017 & December 2, 2017 RedBluffUnionElementary School District 1755 Airport Blvd., Red Bluff, CA (530) 527-7200 Please Bring: Address Verification, Child's Birth Certificate, Immunization Records AllAbout Seniors 1155 Walnut Street, Red Bluff P: (530) 529-4595 • F: (530) 529-4544 CA Lic# 525002150 ACOMPASSIONATECAREFACILITY CALLOR VISIT TOURS DAILY ♥ TheSaturday Market SlowFood Shasta Cascade ® 9-12:30, every Saturday Home Depot parking lot Your community YEAR-ROUND Certified Farmers & Artisan Market LocalProduce- Always Good Eatin'! 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