Buy a Home with No Monthly Payment

By Toni Ryan, First Priority Financial

Borrowers age 62 and older can qualify for a reverse mortgage either on their existing home or to purchase a new home.  Reverse mortgages were developed to give seniors the ability to stay in their home or purchase a home without a monthly mortgage payment.

A reverse mortgage works opposite of a typical mortgage (referred to as a “forward” mortgage) in that the interest from the monthly payment is added to the total loan amount owed hence what is owed goes up, in “reverse” rather than down, as in a regular mortgage. The idea is that as the home increases in value over time, the amount due stays at a level below this value.

Our current economy has shown that values are not guaranteed - but not to worry.  The owner can stay in the home as long as they want, as long as they live on the premises, even if more is owed than the home is worth.  If they decide to move, or their family takes over the property, then if the home is worth more than the loan, it can be sold or refinanced to pay the loan.  If the home is worth less than what is owed, then it is deeded back to the lender.  Mortgage insurance guarantees that the homeowner and or their heirs will not be responsible.
 The requirement is up to 60% equity in an existing home or as a down payment. No credit or income qualifications.  This is a great financial tool.  Check it out!

Blogging: Become an Expert in Meadow Vista

By Ashlei Jackson, Qlixite

Remind me again - What is a BLOG? The word "blog" is one of the most searched words on the internet today. Why? This buzz word is searched because increasing numbers of people are trying to understand what blogging is about. A blog is a log or public "diary" posted online - A journal that is written for others to read. You can create blogs for personal, educational and informational reasons, business and corporate reasons or a multitude of other uses.
 As a marketing tool, blogs offer great potential. Blogs are much easier than newsletters to get your idea across. They can be added to, and they can be updated at any time and from virtually anywhere. Blogs have long lasting shelf lives, as they exist on the internet until you decide to remove them. This contrasts to newsletters which once you send it out, it’s sent, hopefully read but if not...it’s gone.
 Unless you are just posting marketing materials, most blogs offer a large amount of information thus increasing you or your business’ credibility. Whether your blog is a personal blog or a business blog, viewers come to blogs expecting to find frank and personal perspectives on a topic that you are passionate about.
 If you maintain your viewers and you respect the idea that you should be passionate about the content of your blog, then your credibility will go up, and this is what blogging is truly about. Blogs are easy to syndicate, meaning that you can get your information and opinions out there, and can allow them to spread. If you have an opinion to share, a product to sell, a brand to market or something else to say on the internet, and you think that people are going to want to read what it is that you have to say, then blogging is an excellent option.
 If you do not have a blog that is associated with your business or your website, then now is an excellent time for you to start blogging. Blogging is an excellent addition to your marketing strategy. There are completely different dynamics when it comes to e-mail communication and blogging. Nothing facilitates conversation, communication and community the way that blogging does. There is no confusion about blogging being spam the way e-mails can. Blogs enhance your product, idea or brand.  Setting up a Blog is easy - go to "How to Set Up a Blog".  Want ideas to write about - go to 50 Blog Topics
 So the answer to "Why Should I Blog?" is...... "Why Not?"

New IRS Fresh Start helps Taxpayers

By J.C. Harrison, Simplified Business & Tax

The Internal Revenue Service has expanded its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers who owe taxes. The following three items explain the expanded relief for taxpayers.
 Penalty relief Part of the initiative relieves some unemployed taxpayers from failure-to-pay penalties. Penalties are one of the major factors a financially distressed taxpayer faces on a tax bill. The Fresh Start Penalty Relief Initiative gives eligible taxpayers a six month extension to fully pay 2011 taxes. Interest still applies on the 2011 taxes from April 15, 2012 until the tax is paid, but you won't face the failure-to-pay penalties if you pay your tax, interest and any other penalties in full by October 15, 2012.
1.  PENALTY RELIEF
 *Wage earners who have been unemployed at least 30 consecutive days during  2011 or in 2012 to this year April 17 deadline.
 *Self-employed individuals who experienced a 25 percent or greater reduction in  business income in 2011 due to the economy.
 TO QUALIFY for this penalty relief, your adjusted gross income may not exceed $200,000 if married filing jointly or $100,000 if filing status is single, married filing separately, head of household or qualifying widower. Your 2011 balance due can not exceed $50,000.
2.  INSTALLMENT AGREEMENTS
 An installment agreement is a payment option for those who cannot pay their entire tax bill by the due date. The Fresh Start provisions give more taxpayers the ability to use streamlined installment agreements to catch up on back taxes and also more time to pay.
3.  OFFER IN COMPROMISE
 Under the first round of Fresh Start in 2011, the IRS expanded the Offer in Compromise (OIC) program to cover a larger group of struggling taxpayers. An Offer in Compromise is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles the taxpayer's tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed.
 Generally, an offer will not be accepted if the IRS believes that the liability can be paid in full as a lump sum or through a payment agreement. The IRS looks at the taxpayer's income and assets to make a determination regarding the taxpayer's ability to pay.

Massage Therapy Relieves Stress

By Joel Curry, MSW, CMT, Pathways to Health

Stress is the body's reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response. Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or anxious. Stress is caused by an existing stress-causing factor or "stressor." For example, dealing with a serious illness, losing a job or a home or a loved one are obvious sources of stress.  Other stressors may not be so obvious: a difficult boss, a difficult employee,  traffic, deadlines, tax time, teenagers.
 Just becoming aware of what is creating your stress is a first step in dealing with it in a positive ways.  Understanding some of the effects on our bodies is another way we can become more aware. Muscle pain and chronic fatigue are two ways our bodies respond to stress.
• Pain -  Stress gets reflected in the form of firmness and stiffness in Muscles.  This restricts the supply of oxygen, leading to accumulation of lactic acid and waste products in these muscles after prolonged periods of stress, This results in soreness and pain in muscles.                                                        
• Chronic Fatigue- Prolonged periods of tension weaken the muscles. When one muscle gets weakened, its opposing muscle is also compromised; slowly it also gives in. It results in lack of coordination between various body parts  muscles, connecting tendons, joints, etc. Since musculoskeletal system consumes largest share of body's energy, this imbalance brings about a state of chronic fatigue and tiredness.                         
 Massage Therapy can control stress effectively.  It improves blood circulation , relieves tension, increases oxygen flow, boots immune system, and clears the mind  - After a massage session, you feel rejuvenated and more confident. The massage brings about an emotional release and improved balance in body, mind and emotions. It is not going to dissolve away all those things that are causing you tension and stress in the first place, but it surely is going to help in making you mentally and physically more capable of dealing more effectively with stressors.
 Certified Massage Therapists are now licensed by the state of California and trained in various bodywork methods of stress relief. Most can offer guidance in other approaches:  Heat therapies; steam baths and saunas in combination with essential oil therapies, progressive relaxation and meditation, exercise, and nutritional guidance.

From Meadow Vista Trails Association

By Rich Walker, MVTA

The Meadow Vista Trails Association (MVTA) was formed in April 1995 as a membership based IRC §501organization dedicated to the establishment, improvement, and maintenance of multi use trails between  Christian Valley, and Colfax.  We encourage public trail access through the community for use by the community for horseback riding, walking, hiking and biking.   Five years ago an Equestrian Arena was built at the end of Combie Rd, as well as an Agility Dog park and Picnic Area.  Membership gains you access to this facility.
 MVTA has been able to obtain easements from property owners to secure many of the trails in the area.  We were also actively involved in the establishment of the Sugar Pine trail that follows the perimeter of the Winchester Community.  Our members act as agents of the County and are solely responsible for new construction and maintenance of our many trails.
 Some of the organized work completed last year include:  An extensive trail network on the Simpson Ranch,  trails through Walgra Meadows, we opened a section of the trail in Bear River County Park, work on the Sugar Pine trails around the Winchester Community, installed new sand in the arena and round pen at the Arena and on the Esoteric property, and the Cerro Vista trail.
 General Meetings are held @ 6:30 the fourth Tuesday of every month normally at Mountain Mikes Pizza. Please be our guest at the next meeting. We want you to enjoy and use the community you live in. Look for our booth at Pioneer Day as well!

Free Education: Khan Academy

By Deborah Kaplan, Home Tutoring Plus, Inc.

Whether you've never heard of the Khan Academy or you're a seasoned user, read on to explore the out-of-the-box possibilities of this phenomenal site. With about 3,000 videos on a variety of subjects, about 300 math exercises and the ability for both students and teachers to track students' progress, the Khan Academy is achieving its mission: “We're a not-for-profit with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education to anyone anywhere.”
 Wow. Pausing for breath. ;-)
  Students of all ages can use the academy's video library. The videos cover K-12 math, science topics such as biology, chemistry, and physics, and even has videos on finance and history. Each video is a digestible chunk, approximately 10 minutes long, and set-up for viewing on the computer.
 Students can watch a video, try the exercises, get help and tips along the way, track their progress and earn “energy points” and badges for successfully completing work. By logging in, their progress is automatically tracked and they can view it in a variety of motivating graphs. By setting goals, they can continually monitor their progress towards the goals.
 Name yourself or your student's tutor as “coach” and track what your student has done, how long they spent working on Khan Academy and more. Watch this video for a good introduction to the student tracking component.

 We cannot recommend this great resource enough!

Why Travel Insurance?

By Gerry Hinkle, Independent Travel Agent, Goldrush Getaways

In a world of uncertainty, travel insurance has never been more important. According to a recent survey, 17 percent of people who buy travel insurance actually wind up filing a claim.  That's fairly high compared with other types insurance, considering that one of the fundamental reasons for insurance is that most people won't use it - if they did, policies would be unaffordable. 

Just ask yourself the following questions:
• Can I risk losing my vacation investment if something goes wrong due to illness, weather or other unforeseen circumstances?
• If I have to cut my trip short due to an emergency, can I afford the cost of a return airline trip home?
• Does my health insurance provide coverage away from home and out of the country?  What if I become ill or I am injured while traveling?
• If my bags are lost or I have to spend an extra night because of weather-related problems, can I afford to buy necessities and pay for extra lodging? 
 In difficult economic times, it is common for travelers to cut out the insurance element to their vacation to save money, but for some, travel insurance can turn out to be a wise investment.

Recipe: Mother’s Day Quiche

From Christine Schlittenhart’s Kitchen

INGREDIENTS:
½ cup light or regular mayonnaise
½ cup milk or half-n-half
4 eggs, lightly beaten
8 ounces of shredded pepper-jack cheese
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
¼ cup chopped red onion
¼ cup chopped green or red pepper
Garlic salt & pepper to taste
Minced garlic to taste
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell, using a deep dish pie plate

DIRECTIONS:
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil.
• In a large bowl, whisk together mayo & milk until smooth. Whisk in eggs. Add salt & pepper.
• In skillet, saute' onion, peppers, minced garlic & patted dry spinach.
• Layer spinach & cheese in unbaked pie shell, making several layers of each.
• Pour in egg mixture. Place quiche on prepared cookie sheet. Cover quiche with foil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove cover & bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until top is golden brown & filling is set.

From the MV Lions Club

By Etta Gross, Secretary, Meadow Vista Lions Club

On Thursday, February 23, 2012, The Meadow Vista Area Lions with Laura Suddjian support feed 150 people pancakes and sausages at the Sierra Reach Ministries Food Closet.  The Lions Club presented Sue and Chet the Directors of the Food Closet with a check from the proceeds of the See's Candies Christmas sale for $2,600.  Breakfast started when the clients were in line awaiting the food closet doors to open.  The Meadow Vista Lions would like to every three months cook breakfast for those at Sierra Reach Ministries Food Closet.  The Lions Club is looking for future sponsors of financial support for purchasing the breakfast items, if you are interested please contact Lion President Mark Barbier at 878-0484.
Dates of upcoming Lions events to remember:

MOTHERS' DAY
Pancake Breakfast at Sierra Hills Auditorium - All Moms are FREE

PIONEER DAY
Pancake Breakfast (See your local Cub or Boy Scout for advance tickets) & Hot Dog eating contest (At the Meadow Vista Park)

MV Lions meet on the second and fourth Wednesday at the Meadow Vista Grange hall, starting at 7 p.m.

Sugar: More then Cavities

By Dr. Scott Thompson, DDS, Winning With Smiles

Good research is finally clarifying what has been known a long time.  In the 1970's books like “Sugar Blues” told us that sugar was the culprit in our dietary errors, not fat.  Though excess fat in the diet is likely not healthy, it is not nearly the culprit that sugar is.  After all, Eskimo and Northern American Indians lived on fat but did not suffer heart disease or diabetes until after the introduction of refined carbohydrates to their diet by Europeans. Dietary fat is not the issue.  It is refined carbohydrate; sugar.

Sugar is truly addictive, which is why it is difficult to reduce the amount in our diet as well as the reason sugar is added to nearly all our packaged and processed foods to improve our appreciation of their flavor.  Catsup is nearly 40% sugar!  Approximately 50% of the sugar we eat is Fructose.  No system in the body uses Fructose.  It is up to the liver to detoxify the Fructose in our body and change it into something useful.  At 50 grams Fructose per day the liver begins to fail.  Yes, fail.  The average American who ate 15 grams of Fructose in the 1960's is now eating 100 grams of Fructose daily.
 It is time to look at what we are eating.  Read labels.  Vitamin Water is the lowest calorie beverage you can buy in the store today; only 50 calories per 8 oz.  That translates, in grams, to a full 20 oz bottle having 33 grams of sugar.  That is more than the average American ate in an entire day in the 1960's.
 Keep your eyes on the health literature; this is a growing hot topic as degenerative disease claims more of our friends at younger ages.  Keep your eyes on the labels of packaged foods and be surprised!  Consider doing more “cooking” of real food from the vegetable, dairy and meat perimeter walls in your supermarket.  Real food.  Fresh food.