South End Citizen 12-26-2018

PRITZKER-STRATTON ADMINISTRATION MAKES PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENT — PAGE 3

Citizen Week of Dec. 26, 2018

| Vol. 51 | No. 46 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

SOUTH END

The Illinois Tollway recently announced the launch of ConstructionWorks, a new workforce training and careers program for job-seekers in Northern Illinois. Photo Caption: Illinois Tollway

ILLINOIS TOLLWAY LAUNCHES CONSTRUCTIONWORKS PROGRAM

Illinois Tollway Board Chairman, Bob Schillerstrom, along with the Illinois Tollway executive director, Liz Gorman, recently announced that the agency’s new ConstructionWorks workforce training and careers program is ready to launch and will serve job seekers across Northern Illinois, including in Cook County. PAGE 2

BUSINESS

NEWS

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PAGE 7

Could Saving With An Online Bank Help Your Money Grow Faster?

REAL ESTATE

Advocate South Suburban and Advocate Trinity Names New President

Check out our real estate listings for important foreclosure information PAGES 8-10

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NEWS briefly EDUCATION

FEDERAL COMMISSION ON SCHOOL SAFETY RELEASES COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE GUIDE FOR KEEPING STUDENTS, TEACHERS SAFE AT SCHOOL After months of research, visiting successful programs around the nation, and receiving testimony from experts and concerned citizens, the Federal Commission on School Safety (Commission) recently released a 177-page report detailing 93 best practices and policy recommendations for improving safety at schools across the country.

Utilizing the information gathered, the Commission report offers a holistic approach to improving school safety, ranging from supporting the social and emotional well-being of students to enhancing physical building security. Acknowledging there can be no one-size-fits-all solution to this complex problem, the final report serves as a resource guide for families, educators, law enforcement officers, health professionals, and elected leaders to use as they consider the best ways to prevent, mitigate, and recover from acts of violence in schools. The recommendations are based on efforts that are already working in states and local communities.

HEALTH

SLEEPING IN CONTACT LENSES PUTS YOU AT RISK OF DANGEROUS INFECTION Contact lenses are worn by an estimated 45 million Americans. Improper care or wear, like going to sleep without removing your lenses, can lead to infections of the cornea like microbial keratitis, which can lead to serious health problems.

Six tales that should serve as warnings are the latest in a series on infections featured in the January issue of Annals of Emergency Medicine and developed through a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the EMERGEncy ID Net, an emergency department-based collaborative surveillance network. The CDC reports that an estimated 1 million annual outpatient and emergency visits were due to keratitis.

LAW & POLITICS

GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL CREATING SCHOOL DESIGN-BUILD PILOT PROGRAM Gov. Bruce Rauner recently signed HB 5593 establishing a pilot program for school districts to use the design-build construction delivery method.

The method allows architects, engineers and construction contractors to pick their partners and be hired as a team, expediting project completion by allowing early phases of construction to begin as the building design is still being developed. The legislation permits up to five design-build demonstration projects to be undertaken in Illinois. Each must be shown to be in a school district’s best interest as determined by the State Board of Education. “The State has proven the benefit of using the design-build method on vertical infrastructure projects,” Rauner said, “and by piloting this valuable delivery method tool in the K-12 system, it will help to explore ways to increase efficiency and speed in school construction projects.”

“As a state, we are always looking for better tools to enable Illinois public entities to construct and renovate buildings more effectively and cost-efficiently,” said state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City. “Design-build has proven in national studies to deliver the lowest cost, fastest schedule and highest quality. As Representative, I will look to work with local officials to implement this important cost savings tool.”

Illinois Tollway Launches ConstructionWorks Program Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Illinois Tollway Board Chairman, Bob Schillerstrom, along with the Illinois Tollway executive director, Liz Gorman, recently announced that the agency’s new ConstructionWorks workforce training and careers program is ready to launch and will serve job seekers across Northern Illinois, including in Cook County.

ConstructionWorks will be administered by The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership and will provide free pre-apprenticeship training and support services to underemployed and disenfranchised individuals seeking training and career opportunities in the highway construction industry, including members of minority groups, women and veterans, according to a press release announcing the launch of the ConstructionWorks program.

“We are marking the official start of ConstructionWorks to create a pipeline of qualified diverse men and women ready for careers in the heavy highway and related construction industries,” said Schillerstrom. “ConstructionWorks will provide more than just job opportunities, it will allow workers to support their fam-

ilies, send their kids to college and build a better future for themselves.”

The Illinois Tollway is the agency that maintains and operates 294 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway. The Illinois Tollway does not receive state or federal funds to maintain or operate these roadways and relies solely on user-fees, according to the Illinois Tollway website.

It is expected that through the ConstructionWorks program at least 150 individuals will be placed into apprenticeship and training programs during the first three years. The program will also place an emphasis on highway skilled construction trades, according to a press release announcing the ConstructionWorks program.

“Workforce development has always been one of my administration’s top priorities,” said Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board. “I applaud the Illinois Tollway for having the foresight to engage the public workforce system

to champion this effort in an industry that has been historically biased against minorities, especially women and people of color.”

While administering the ConstructionWorks program, The Cook County Workforce Partnership will work to identify underemployed construction industry workers and trainees and place them in construction industry opportunities that are suited for their skills and their career aspirations. In addition to providing direct access to training, ConstructionWorks will work with individuals who are already working in the field to help them progress into more highly-skilled trades.

“I believe very strongly that every single person deserves access to world-class careers, skills training, and job opportunities,” said Karin M. Norington-Reaves, chief executive officer of The Cook County Workforce Partnership. “This announcement aligns with our efforts to ensure we are providing resources for people that are traditionally underrepresented in the construction trade and furthers our mission to create economic empowerment through employment.”

For more information visit www.workforceboard.org.

Duckworth Introduces Legislation to Make Fitness Facilities More Accessible for People with Disabilities U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation recently to make fitness facilities across American more accessible for those with disabilities.

The Exercise and Fitness for All Act would establish new federal guidelines to help ensure people with disabilities have the same opportunity to use fitness facilities as their able-bodied peers, and it would allow small businesses to use the Disabled Access Tax Credit to help cover the purchase of accessible exercise equipment.

“No one should be denied the ability to lead a healthy lifestyle because they have a disability, but many exercise gyms and fitness facilities across our country are not accessible for people with disabilities and do not comply with federal rules,” Duckworth said. “I know how frustrating this problem is. This legislation will help lower the barriers that prevent many Americans from accessing gyms across our country.”

Adults living with a disability experience far higher rates of obesity and chronic disease than those without a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also found that the inaccessibility of many fitness facilities create barriers for those with a disability to exercise due to the lack of accessible space and equipment.

Under current rules issued by the Department of Justice, fitness facilities are required to meet accessible design standards, such as providing sufficient space next to each type of exercise equipment so that a person in a wheelchair can use it. However, many fitness facilities do not currently meet these standards.

The Exercise and Fitness for All Act will help many facilities upgrade their facilities to comply with the law – and it would require the U.S. Access Board, a federal agency that promotes accessibility, to issue guidelines specifying the number and types of accessible equipment at the facility. www.thechicagocitizen.com

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

CITIZEN | South End | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

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NEWS

Pritzker-Stratton Administration Makes Personnel Announcement Governor-elect JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor-elect Juliana Stratton recently announced that Dan Hynes will serve as Deputy Governor. Hynes currently serves as a senior adviser to the transition committee and as a senior executive at UBS Asset Management in Chicago, following a distinguished 12-year career in public service as the Comptroller for the State of Illinois.

Hynes was elected Comptroller in 1998 as the youngest state constitutional officer since World War II. He was re-elected in 2002 and 2006 by wide margins. In 2011, President Barack Obama named Hynes as the United States Observer to the International Fund for Ireland, which makes investments in Northern Ireland for the purpose of promoting peace and stability in the region. Hynes also serves as a member of the Democratic National Committee. He received his Juris Doctor from the Loyola University School of Law and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Notre Dame.

Other personnel announcements included naming Christian Mitchell as Deputy Governor. Mitchell currently serves as a senior adviser to the transition committee, state representative of the 26th District, and executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois. Mitchell began his career as a community organizer on the south side of Chicago before entering politics. He served as a deputy field director on Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s re-election campaign and was Midwest Paid Media and Polling Director for President Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012. He has consulted for state assembly, city council, and congressional races across the country and was a senior adviser to U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s successful 2016 race. Before being elected to office, Mitchell also served on the senior staff for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Chicago and is pursuing a Juris Doctor from the Loyola University School of Law. Jesse Ruiz will serve as Deputy Governor.

Ruiz currently serves as counsel to the transition committee and is a partner in the Corporate & Securities Group of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and a Lecturer in Law at the University of Chicago Law School. Throughout his career, Ruiz has also dedicated time to public service. He currently serves as the President of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners and as a Commissioner on the Public Building Commission. He has also served as Vice President of the Chicago Board of Education, Interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, Commissioner on the

Governor-elect JB Pritzker

U.S. Department of Education Equity and Excellence Commission, Commissioner on the Illinois Supreme Court Character and Fitness Committee, and Commissioner on the Chicago Public Schools Desegregation Monitoring Commission. Jesse received his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School, where he served as an editor of the University of Chicago Law School Roundtable. He received his Bachelor of Arts

in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Nikki Budzinski will serve as Senior Adviser. Budzinski currently serves as transition director and previously served as senior adviser to the JB Pritzker for Governor campaign. Budzinski led JB Pritzker’s exploratory effort for Governor and advised the campaign on political strategy, messaging, and outreach. From 2015 to 2016, she served as

the labor campaign director on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Previously, Budzinski worked in the labor movement for ten years in Washington, D.C., working for the Laborers International Union of North America, International Association of Fire Fighters, and United Food and Commercial Workers Unions. From 1999 to 2004, Budzinski served numerous roles in the Office of the Comptroller in Springfield. Budzinski is a Peoria native and received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Alexis Sturm will serve as Director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB). Sturm has over 20 years of experience in Springfield working on state fiscal policy, debt management, and administration. She currently serves as the director of cash management and bond reporting for Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza. Sturm previously served in the administrations of three Republican governors and Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. From 2015 to 2017, she served as chief of staff and deputy director for debt, capital, and revenue in Gov. Rauner’s GOMB. From 2004 to 2015, Sturm served as director of research and fiscal reporting and senior fiscal advisor for Comptrollers Hynes, Topinka and Munger. Under three governors’ administrations from 1997 to 2004, she worked in senior roles in debt management, revenue and economic analysis after beginning her state government career as a Dunn Fellow in 1997. She grew up in Carbondale, received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Miami University and a Master of Arts in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis.

Erin Guthrie will serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Guthrie currently serves as the regional general manager for Uber Midwest in Chicago where she partners with cities and regulators to create safe, positive experiences for customers and residents. From 2013 to 2017, she was a client engagement manager and partnership portfolio manager at McKinsey and Company in Chicago. Previously, Guthrie worked as a product manager (MBA intern) at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters, as an account executive at 4INFO and as a business development manager at Nokia in San Francisco. She received her MBA from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business and Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from Stanford University.

Guthrie lives in Wicker Park with her husband and son.

Additional personnel announcements will be made on a rolling basis.

Phase out of the tax credit available for purchasers of new Tesla plug-in electric vehicles begins on Jan. 1 The IRS recently announced that Tesla, Inc. has sold more than 200,000 vehicles eligible for the plug-in electric drive motor vehicle credit during the third quarter of 2018.

This triggers a phase out of the tax credit available for purchasers of new Tesla plug-in electric vehicles beginning Jan. 1, 2019.

Qualifying vehicles by the manufacturer are eligible for a $7,500 credit if acquired before Jan. 1, 2019.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the credit will be $3,750 for Tesla’s eligible vehicles. On July 1, 2019, the credit will be reduced to $1,875 for the remainder of the year. After Dec. 31, 2019, no credit will be available.

The plug-in electric drive motor vehicle credit was enacted in the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 and subsequently modified in later law. It provides a credit for eligible passenger vehicles and light trucks. www.thechicagocitizen.com

By law, five quarters after reaching the sales threshold, the credit ends for the manufacturer. Tesla Inc.’s vehicles are eligible for some portion of a credit until Jan. 1, 2020.

Notice 2018-96 details the phase-out. More information on plug-in electric drive motor vehicle credit can be found on IRS. gov. The amounts of the credit for a specific vehicle can also be found at IRS.gov.

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BUSINESS

Could Saving With An Online Bank Help Your Money Grow Faster?

StatePoint - While there’s no doubt that putting money aside with each paycheck is an essential component to a healthy financial future, it’s important to keep in mind that not all savings accounts are going to give you the same pay back or benefits.

It’s estimated that American consumers are missing out on over $50 billion dollars of interest they could be earning every year. The average interest rate on savings accounts is 0.08 percent, according to the FDIC, with many of the largest financial institutions paying as little as 0.01 percent.

But did you know that the top online banks have interest rates 20 times higher than the national average, according to rates published by the FDIC? Because they have no physical branches, they are often able to pass on that savings to customers through consistently competitive rates.

“A traditional bank savings account is certainly a safe vessel in which to deposit money, but it won’t necessarily help that money grow,” says Diane Morais, president, Consumer & Commercial Banking Products for Ally Bank, Member FDIC, which won the title of Best Online Bank in the

Top online banks have interest rates 20 times higher than the national average, according to rates published by the FDIC.

GOBankingRates Best Banks ranking from 2015-2018.

What’s more, online banks can offer greater convenience and flexibility, since consumers can bank from anywhere on computers and mobile

devices, and there’s no waiting in line or waiting for the bank to open. The most common services and transactions (i.e. monthly account maintenance fees, standard or expedited ACH transfers, domestic and international incoming

Report: Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Face More Financing Challenges than Non-Veteran Small Businesses

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wires, cashier’s checks and personal checks) are free at many online banks.

And most online banks are FDIC insured, so a customer’s deposits are equally as protected as they would be at a traditional bank.

To increase your savings, Morais recommends the following: • Pay yourself first. When you save, you are paying yourself, so be sure your monthly budget includes a line item for savings. You can make it easier to commit to this great habit by setting up automatic transfers to your savings account.

• Do a little research. Find a bank that will pay you a more competitive interest rate on your savings. You may have to do a bit of comparison shopping, but the extra money coming your way will make the effort worthwhile. According to the FDIC, the median balance in U.S. savings accounts is around $5,000. At 0.01 percent interest, that equals 50 cents in interest for the year, however if that money was in a savings account at one of the top online banks, it would earn almost $90 of interest.

To learn more about saving with an online bank, visit www.ally.com.

It is estimated that consumers have about $3 trillion in bank accounts earning a relatively low interest rate. If a portion of that figure belongs to you, consider making your money work harder by moving it to an account with greater interest earning potential.

LISETTE GUSHINIERE Owner, LG Consulting

WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the U.S. Small Business Administration recently issued the report Financing their Future: Veteran Entrepreneurs and Capital Access.

The report provides a comprehensive look at the state of entrepreneurship for military veterans, while presenting new small business credit data from the Federal Reserve Banks’ 2017 Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS).

“Clearly, aspiring veteran entrepreneurs can benefit from preparation and training to start their businesses and succeed in the marketplace,” said Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator of the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development. “This report highlights the value of SBA-partnered resources like the Boots to Business entrepreneurship training program, which helps veterans as they navigate the challenges in financing, starting and growing their companies.”

“To solve a problem, it’s critical first to understand its scope. This report presents the most substantial evidence to date of the challenges veteranowned businesses face in accessing capital,” said Claire Kramer Mills, New York Fed assistant vice president. “By understanding how much credit veteran-owned businesses are seeking, where they’re applying, and the nature of their financing challenges, policy makers and service providers can better help veterans overcome financing shortfalls.”

The report found that: • Despite similar demand for financing, veteran-owned small business applicants were more likely than non-veteran-owned small business applicants to experience “financing shortfalls,” where they received less than the amount of credit they sought.

• They have lower approval rates at the most popular lenders, and the amount of SBA-guaranteed loans they have received has increased more slowly over time than for non-veterans.

• This discrepancy in financing experiences could be attributable to the smaller loan amounts that veteran-owned businesses seek, higher credit risk, and lack of information.

For more information on key findings and conclusions of the report, visit https://www.newyorkfed.org

www.thechicagocitizen.com

CITIZEN | South End | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

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Citizen On The Move

The Calahan’s Foundation Gala Highlights

Reverend Jesse L. Jackson along with Johnathan Jackson recently posed for a photo with the Calahan during their Gala festivities held recently. (Photo by Jimmie Lewis)

The Calahans poses with their honoree Mrs. Jamila Trimuel, Founder & Executive Director of Ladies of Virtue, Non-For-Profit.

Mr. and Mrs Calahan poses for a photo with their Foundation Board Members. (Photo by Jimmie Lewis)

Honoree, Ms. Jacki Robinson-Ivy, Senior Vice President, Northern Trust Bank and Rev. Jasper Taylor, Calahan Foundation Exewcutive Director.

Parents of Hedi Pendleton joined Mr. and Mrs Calahan for a photo during the Calahan’s Foundation gala event. (Photo by Jimmie Lewis)

Holiday Cheers From Around Town!

Members of the Fisk University Alumni poses for a photo during their Holiday Season Celebration. (Photo courtesy of Fisk Alumni)

A Jack and Jill Affair!

Christmas in the Schools Ms.Tragil Wade the sister of Basketball’s superstar Dwayne Wade (Miami); poses with a student from the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School during a recent Christmas Holiday celebration.

Jack & Jill of America, Incorporated South Suburban Annual Holiday Affair held at the Olympia Fields Country Club. Pictured left to right: Danielle Broadwater, Chairperson, Holiday Affair; Yolanda T. Payne; Deadra Stokes; Donna Leak; Latosha Mayes; Candance Tyndall; Gigi Gresham Hinton: Dominique Wallace; Jaronda Hall; Kimberly Orlandi, Co-Chair Holiday Affair.

www.thechicagociitzen.com

CITIZEN | South End | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

NEWS

Advocate South Suburban and Advocate Trinity Hospitals recently named Rashard Johnson (left) as their new president to oversee both hospitals. Photo Caption: Alvin Rider

Advocate South Suburban and Advocate Trinity Names New President

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Following a nationwide search, Advocate South Suburban and Advocate Trinity Hospitals have recently named Rashard Johnson, a young African American man originally from South Florida, as their new president.

Johnson has a high level of experience in overseeing multi-facility health networks and a strong passion for patient care.

“As the president of South Suburban and Trinity Hospitals, I’m responsible for directing all daily patient care and activities as well as ensuring the strategic vision and implementing our safety and quality goals. I am also responsible for ensuring patient satisfaction and doing it all in a cost-effective manner,” said Johnson.

Originally from Miami, Johnson holds a masters degree in health administration from the University of Central Florida. After college, he worked in several health networks in and around Miami before moving to Dallas where he was responsible for two hospitals and 16 hospital-based clinics. After working in Dallas, Johnson was recruited to take a position overseeing three hospitals in Houston. After all of that, Johnson made his way to Chicago to begin his role as the new president of Advocate South Suburban and Advocate Trinity Hospitals.

“For my entire career, I have

always had multi-site operations so that was a big draw for me in coming to Advocate. I am happy to have the opportunity to continue to manage multi-site operations,” he said.

As for his style of operating, Johnson said that he is very hands-on and doesn’t like to spend time in his office.

“The best way to learn your operation and to learn the quality of care that you deliver is to get out and about. I spend a lot of my time rounding on floors, meeting with team members, talking to guests and patients as well as physicians in their settings and that’s a typical day for me,” said Johnson.

Aside from the work he does within the hospital, it is very important to Johnson to find ways to give back to the communities he is serving and to help increase exposure to health careers for inner-city youth.

“Growing up, I never knew that this opportunity existed. I was born and raised in Miami and never had an opportunity to be exposed to executives and in particular to health care executives,” said Johnson. “I consider it a true blessing for me to have an opportunity to be at the platform that I’m at and to have been given opportunities for doors to be opened immediately out of school at a young age and essentially that means that one of my passions is to open up doors for those who are in the shoes that I once stood in.”

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CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

SERVICE

inate exposure to secondhand smoke.

8. Pain medication is personal. If you are taking prescription opioids, follow your doctor’s instructions, store them safely to prevent diversion or misuse, and properly dispose of any leftover medication.

9. Make sure your family is up-todate on their vaccines, including the annual influenza vaccine for everyone age six months or older.

10. Manage stress. A good diet and daily exercise are key ingredients to maintaining and improving your mental health, but don’t hesitate to ask for help from a friend or mental health professional when you need it.

The lifestyle choices you make now will have long-lasting impacts. So, this new year, prioritize your long-term health by forming great habits. _______________________________

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HEALTH

10 DoctorRecommended New Year’s Resolutions (StatePoint) With the new year upon us, you may be looking for resolutions that will help to keep you and your loved ones healthy and happy in the year ahead.

“This is the perfect time of year to consider your personal goals, and how you can make positive health choices in the coming year,” says American Medical Association (AMA) President Barbara L. McAneny, M.D. “Small lifestyle changes today can have a lasting effect in improving your health.”

To help you start the year off on the right foot, Dr. McAneny and the experts at the AMA are offering 10 recommendations to help you determine where you can make the most impactful, long-lasting improvements to your health.

1. Learn your risk for type 2 dia-

betes by taking the self-screening test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. Steps you take now can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

2. Be more physically active. Adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity.

3. Know your blood pressure numbers. Visit LowerYourHBP.org to better understand your numbers and take necessary steps to get your high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension -- under control. Doing so will reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.

4. Reduce your intake of processed foods, especially those with added sodium and sugar. Also reduce your consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and drink more water instead.

5. If your health care professional determines that you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed.

Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem and antibiotics will not make you feel better if you have a virus, such as a cold or flu.

6. If consuming alcohol, do so in moderation as defined by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans -- up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, and only by adults of legal drinking age.

7. Talk with your doctor about tobacco and nicotine use and quit. Declare your home and car smoke-free to elim-

(StatePoint) Though Tax Day happens every year, it still seems to take many Americans by surprise. This year, don’t miss the deadline or let this crucial to-do loom large over your head.

To have a smooth tax season, consider the following: • Getting Started Early: If you can, get a head start on your taxes. Filing early is a good tactic for anyone, but particularly those with evolving or complex financial circumstances Not only will doing so help you prevent the anxiety that comes with procrastination, you’ll receive your refund early -if you’re due one -- or give yourself time to prepare to pay any owed taxes.

• Relying on Old Tricks: When it comes to tax preparation, sometimes, using old-school methods is the best way to go. Whether you are just getting started on crunching those numbers or you’re finalizing all the information, a printing calculator like Casio’s HR-170RC includes features that can aid in tax preparation and submission. This model also has some newer tools, like a built-in tax feature that lets you store a frequently-used rate and pull it up at-will, slicing your calculation times by an impressive margin. Other functions include: a reprint key, a check function to scroll up to 150 steps of previous calculations, a grand total function for quick correction of mis-entries, currency exchange calculations and cost/sell/margin calculations.

• Doing Research: The list of what is tax deductible is more extensive than you might realize, so do your research. Keeping good records throughout the year of your expenditures can help you take advantage of these opportunities.

• Having a Refund Plan: Don’t just let your checking account absorb your tax refund only to spend it on an impulse buy. Whether you invest the money in your retirement, sock it safely away for a rainy day or put it towards the purchase of a big-ticket item, such as the down payment of a house, having a plan for your tax refund can help you make the most of

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the money.

This year, have a fuss-free tax season. With a little planning, you can file your taxes efficiently, without headache and at the greatest benefit to your finances. _______________________________

Darrell Garth

President /Publisher

Janice Garth Sales Manager General Manager

William Garth Sr. CEO Emeritus

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