Vol. 19: #45 • Tree Stumps • (11-5-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley by Tidbits of Coachella Valley

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o George Kouri © 2023 "The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read" ® Premiumemail: Front Page 60-320-0997 valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 Property of remium Front Page CMG Home Loans October 22,November 2023 Vol.Media, No. 43 Coachella Valley's Best Loved and Most Widely Read Weekly Paper 760-320-0997 Vol. IXX Issue No. 45 AdVenture Inc. 5, 2023 Mayc/o 28,Week 2023 of Vol. 19 - No. 22 George Kouri Premium Front Page Phone: 760.320.0997

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Yes! Now you can access your home’s equity with a fixed rate Reverse Second mortgage loan, without making 76 any 0payments that loan until you no longer 275-on 59 05 residence GEORGE KOURI live in the property as your primary GEORGE KOURI GEORGE Loan Officer GEORGE KOURI GEORGE KOURI GEORGE KOURI KOURI

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Call me Today! Loan Officer NMLS ID# 248717 PROOF ADVERTISING NMLS ID# 248717 760-275-5905 e: gkouri@cmghomeloans.com e: gkouri@cmghomeloans.com w: www.gkouri.com nal Changes DUE: ADVERTISING PROOF w: www.gkouri.com DVERTISING PROOF 12:00 NOON Loan Officer NMLS ID# 248717 Loan Officer NMLS ID# ID# 248717 248717 NMLS NMLS ID# 248717

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w: www.gkouri.com PALM SPRINGS BRANCH ADVERTISING PROOF ew carefully.DUE: Double check: S.Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours 340 Farrell Dr., Ste A203 l Changes 12:00 NOON PALM SPRINGS BRANCH PALM SPRINGS BRANCH Palm Springs, CA 92262 arefully. DoubleDUE: check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices Hours hanges 12:00NOON NOON 340 Dr.,Ste Ste A20312:00 Changes DUE: 340S.S.Farrell Farrell A203 Branch NMLSDr., ID# 2475202 ct your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. PALM SPRINGS BRANCH

340 S. SPRINGS Farrell Dr.,BRANCH Ste A203 PALM PALM SPRINGS BRANCH Palm Springs, CA 92262 340 S. Farrell Ste A203Dr., Ste A203 340Dr., S. Farrell Branch NMLS ID# 2475202 Palm Springs, 92262 CA 92262 PalmCA Springs, Branch NMLS ID# NMLS 2475202ID# 2475202 Branch

Palm Springs, CA92262 92262 Palm Springs, CA George Kouri ully. Double check: Phone Number(s) Spelling Spelling  Prices  Hours arefully. Double check: Phone Number(s) Prices  Hours our Tidbits representative immediately with changes or  corrections. BranchNMLS NMLS ID# Branch ID#2475202 2475202 Loan Officer 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 0-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 NMLS ID# 248717 our Tidbits representative immediately with with changes corrections. idbits representative immediately changesoror corrections. Borrower is still responsible for taxes and insurance. This ad is not from HUD or the FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency.

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Borrower is still responsible for taxes and insurance. This ad is not from HUD or the FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency. is still responsible forand taxes and insurance. This is not from HUDLicensed or the FHAand and was not approved byby HUD or any government agency. Borrower isBorrower still taxes insurance. isad not from HUD the FHA was not approved HUD or any government agency. CMG Mortgage, Inc.responsible dba CMG Homefor Loans dba CMG Financial, NMLS#This 1820,ad is an equal housing lender.or by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI)Inc. under theCMG California Residential Lending Act No.NMLS# 4150025.1820, To verify our equal complete list of state licenses, CMG Mortgage, dba Home Loans Mortgage dba CMG Financial, is an housing lender. Licensed by the Department of Financial CMG Mortgage, Inc. dba CMG Homeand Loans dba CMG Financial, NMLS# 1820, is an equal housing lender. Licensed by the Department of Financial please visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Protection and Innovation (DFPI) under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act No. 4150025. To verify our complete list of state licenses, Protection please and Innovation (DFPI) under the Californiaand Residential Mortgage Lending Act No. 4150025. To verify our complete list of state licenses, visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

please visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing and www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

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Borrower is still responsible for taxes and insurance. This ad is not from HUD or the FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency.

Borrower is still responsible for taxes and insurance. This ad is not from HUD or the FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency. CMG Mortgage, Inc. dba CMG Home Loans dba CMG Financial, NMLS# 1820, is an equal housing lender. Licensed by the Department of Financial

Protection (DFPI) under theCMG California Residential Mortgage Acthousing No. 4150025. To verify our complete list of state licenses, CMG Mortgage, Inc. and dbaInnovation CMG Home Loans dba Financial, NMLS# 1820, isLending an equal lender. Licensed by the Department of Financial visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Protection please and Innovation (DFPI) under the Californiaand Residential Mortgage Lending Act No. 4150025. To verify our complete list of state licenses, please visit www.cmgfi.com/corporate/licensing and www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

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by Janet Spencer

So you think some boring information about tree stumps sounds pretty lame, do you? Au contraire, dear reader! There's a lot to be said about certain of these woody remnants that is indeed well worthy of mention. Follow along as Tidbits shows why some of these truncated tree remains have earned a deserved claim to fame. THE MAMMOTH

• In 1853, a hunter in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California stumbled upon what was found to be the largest trees on earth, a previously unknown species now called sequoia. Gold miners who came to see the awesome spectacle decided to cut the biggest of the big trees down. It took a team of workers three weeks to saw through the base of the towering 300-foot-tall tree, and on June 27, 1853, it finally crashed to the ground with a loud, earth-shuddering thud. • The huge tree, appropriately dubbed The Mammoth, Famous Stumps: Turn to page 3 INSIDE: Celebrity Extra............................. Page 6 Good Houskeeping Recipes ........ Page 7 Comics & Puzzles........................ 8-9 Pet Column.................................. 9 Your Social Security.................... 11 Doctor's Advice .......................... Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s) 12 Spelling  Prices  Hours Antique or Junque........................ 14 MON., DEC. 31changes or corrections. Contact your Tidbits representative immediately Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s) with  Spelling  Prices  Hours

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Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Vol. IXX Issue No. 45

• As a curious and intelligent woman, in her spare time Hedy loved tinkering with gadgets and inventions. Recalling the knowledge she had One in a series gained from eavesdropping on her husband’s meetings, she conceived the idea of creating Hedy Lamarr a communications system that couldn’t be infiltrated by the enemy. • She teamed up with a musician and composer named George Antheil to create a unique system that would rapidly change radio transmission frequencies, preventing enemy Although once touted as “the most beautiful ships from interfering with the U.S. Navy’s woman in the world,” famous film actress Hedy radio-controlled torpedo guidance signals. Lamarr was much more than just a pretty face. Their method was called “frequency hopping.” This week Tidbits turns our attention to some of • Lamarr and Antheil received a patent for their her more lasting accomplishments. invention in 1942 and offered it to the U.S. • If you’re an old film buff, you’re certain to Navy for free, for use in the country's recent recognize the name of Hedy Lamarr, who had involvement in WWII. Amazingly, and as risen to top box office billing during the 1930s brilliant and effective as the system was, the and 1940s. Born in Vienna, Austria, in 1914, Navy said they weren’t interested. Officials told Hedwig Eva Marie Kiesler was fascinated with Lamarr that, with her beautiful face, she would film and theater and made it her goal at a very be more useful selling war bonds. Some years young age to be an actress. She won a beauty later, the Navy did use another of Lamarr’s contest at the tender age of 12 and landed a film inventions, a method that was effective in role in Germany at 18. detecting submerged enemy submarines. • She caught the eye of Fritz Mandl, a wealthy • But it was decades before the value of her 33-year-old from a family who was known for frequency hopping invention was finally its arms manufacturing. Hedy married him in recognized. The technology behind their 1933, but soon learned he was a Nazi armsADVERTISING “spread spectrum technology” became the basis PROOF dealer with ties to Mussolini and Hitler. She for today’s wirelessMon., communications systems, July 24, 2023 5:00 DUE: discovered he was a controlling andFinal jealousChanges including cell phones, Bluetooth, GPS, and Please reviewher carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  P man who prevented her from pursuing WiFi. acting career by keeping her at home and out Contact your Tidbits representative changes • At last, in 1997, immediately three yearswith before Hedyor corr of the limelight. Hedy accompanied Mandl Lamarr’s death, she was finally recognized and 760 Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: to several business meetings with diplomats, officially given credit for her inventions. Sadly, scientists, and German leaders, where she paid Antheil had already died and didn’t live to see Mike Pendley Construction close attention to their military discussions the many accolades and awards received for his 16th pg, BW, 6x about technology and applied science. contribution. July 30, 2023 • Vol. 19 - No. 31 • After four years of Mandl’s oppression, Hedy • It was Hedy’s goal to live to see the new devised a plan to escape. The couple attended a millennium, which she accomplished, passing lavish dinner party, where she wore every piece away 19 days into 2000 at age 86.  of jewelry she owned, worth a small fortune. A packed bag contained her expensive furs. Slipping out of a back door of the dining hall, I do it ALL. she fled on a hurried trip to London. No job too • Fortunately for Hedy, Louis B. Mayer, the small. Since 2002 head of MGM Studios in Hollywood happened Curbless Shower Specialist to be in London, ready to set sail for home. It ADVERTISING PROOF Vanities5:00 • Countertops so happened that Hedy had booked passage Final Changes DUE: p.m.. Custom Showers • Tile Work on the same ship. Mayer, familiar with her four German films, agreed to bring her to Creative Design Hollywood, changed her name from Hedwig Lighting • Storage • Dry Wall  Kiesler to Hedy Lamarr, and began publicizing Move Plumbing • MORE! SUPERIOR her as the “world’s most beautiful woman.” HOME FREE Estimates • Affordable Prices IMPROVEMENTS CO. • Her first film role in America came along six EST. 2002 Call Call Mike Mike months later in 1938. She had starred in 11 films TODAY! TODAY!  Quality by 1942, and later went on to star in 19 more. Quality Workmanship Workmanship SuperiorHomeImprovementsCo.com

PEOPLE WORTH REMEMBERING

TRIVIA NEWSFRONT

(Answers on page 16)

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Week of November 5, 2023

Famous Stumps (from page one) was revealed by its growth rings to be 1,244 years old. The stump, measuring 93 feet across, was turned into a dance floor. A bowling alley was built inside the log. A hotel erected nearby brought in tourists, who attended concerts, lectures, banquets and weddings on its surface. A cross-section of the tree was shipped in sections to the World’s Fair in London. • Logging companies planned to cut down more sequoias, but public outcry over the death of one of the world’s largest and most stately trees resulted in the establishment of the nation’s first government-protected refuge areas, Yosemite National Park. Today the stump of the Mammoth Tree still remains, located in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. THE SENATOR

��

QUIZ BITS

• The charred stump of The Senator now stands a mere 25 feet tall. In October 2013, county officials allowed a select group of artists and woodworkers to create works of art for the county from its blackened remains.

c/o Kathleen Coplen

• Previous researchers had named one tree Prometheus, after the mythical god who brought fire to humans. Currey named the tree WPN114, denoting the 114th tree he had sampled in the White Pine area of Nevada. The tree reached ADVERTISING PROOF P.E.O. Southern California Desert Reciprocity Final Changes DUE:Presents a 5:00 p.m..a height of 17 feet, with a circumference of 252 inches. Large portions of it were dead, but a ease review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. single 11-foot branch was still alive. the ragged andrate the Senator quickly 1/16th pg. 4C interior Non-Profit caught fire.2023 Rather than for 45 help, Sara took Nov. 5 + 12, Vol. 19call - Nos. + 46 pictures of the blaze. She made a video recording

• He tried to take a core sample, but twice his drill bit broke off inside the dense wood. He asked the district ranger for permission to cut the tree down at ground level. The district ranger convinced his superiors that the tree was not particularly notable, and so Prometheus was felled on August 6, 1964.

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The world's shortest Property of tree is theAdVenture dwarf willow, reaching a Media, Inc. height of only two inches. Its cousin, the weeping willow, can grow up to FREE of Coachella Valley spread out 65 feet in height and Phone: 760.320.0997 to about 40 feetFax:in760.320.1630 width. The valleybits@msn.com dwarf willow grows almost as a All Rights Reserved grass in flood plains and on the tundra in the Arctic. They are dioecious, meaning they produce both male and female catkins. 4 Million Readers Weekly Nationwide!

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of its rapid progress as the flames roared upward • When Currey and his team sectioned the ancient tree, they were surprised to find it was much through the hollow trunk like a chimney. By the older than they expected, much older than any time firefighters eventually arrived, it was far too of the other trees in the area, in fact, at least late to try to salvage the fully engulfed tree. 4,900 years old. Donald Currey was horrified to • The fire was first thought to have been started realize that he had just cut down and killed the by a lightning strike, but Sara Barnes proudly oldest known living thing on Earth. showed her pictures and video around to her Famous Stumps: Turn to page 15 friends, one of whom turned her in. She was sentenced to 250 hours of community service, ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution, and given a 30-month suspended sentence provided she abided by terms of her probation. But she failed to comply, and in 2016 she was sent to prison to 1. True or False: Trees growing in jungle serve the full sentence as originally ordered. tropics have no rings to indicate

• A bald cypress tree located in Longwood, Florida, was estimated to be at least 3,500 years Many forest creatures depend on trees as a vital old, making it the fifth oldest tree in the world. food source. The common English Oak can support It was the biggest bald cypress in the U.S., as hundreds of different species, including 284 species of insects and 324 varieties of lichens living well as being the largest tree of any species directly on the tree. These in turn provide food for east of the Mississippi River. Standing 125 feet birds and small mammals. The acorns of oak trees are food for dozens of animals, including jays, tall with a trunk diameter of 17.5 feet and a pigeons, pheasants, ducks, squirrels, pigs, mice, circumference of 35 feet, the tree, named The badgers, and deer. ADVERTISING PROOF Senator, was already an ancient tree during the OCT. 23 time of Jesus Christ. MON., It was already old when 5:00 p.m.. al Changes DUE: PROMETHEUS the Roman Colosseum was being constructed. w carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours • In modern days, The Senator was a popular • In 1964, Don Currey was a graduate student, t your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections. studying the history of the climate using tourist attraction, with a winding boardwalk dendrochronology, which is the study of tree 760-320-0997 email:directly valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 leading visitors to the tree. On January rings. He knew that the bristlecone pine trees 16, 2012, local resident Sara Barnes hid inside living in the mountains of California and the hollow trunk of the tree as the park closed, Nevada were known to be among the oldest trees a secret practice she had done many times on Earth. Currey began taking core samples of before to privately smoke her meth pipe. It these trees, routinely finding specimens that Coachella of P.E.O. was dark, Valley and she Chapters lit some papers on fire to were over 3,000 years old. provide light. But this time the flame ignited

9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Page 3

their age.

2. The blackest wood comes from ebony, but what tree produces the whitest wood? (Answers page 16)

1. 2.

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 4

Everyday CHEAPSKATE

by Mary Hunt By Lucie Winborne

* Australia is the only continent without an active volcano. * A world championship for throwing mobile phones has been held annually in Finland since 2010. Contestants are judged on their technique as well as the length of their throw. * The Sky Beam that shoots out of Las Vegas’s Luxor Hotel attracts so many insects that it’s established a new ecosystem of moths, bats and owls. * You’ve undoubtedly heard of wishing upon a star, but how about an eyelash? An old superstition held that if one lost an eyelash, they should place it on the back of their hand, then throw it over their shoulder while picturing their desire. Or they could place it on the tip of their nose, then blow it off. But if the lash got stuck, they were out of luck! * The term “grumble” is used to refer to a group of pug dogs. * According to Greek historian Herodotus, a solar eclipse ended a six-year war in 583 B.C. when the act of “day turning into night” resulted in a draw that led to a peace treaty. * A statue of Nikola Tesla in Silicon Valley provides free Wi-Fi. * Not that we expect them to attempt it anytime soon, but cows cannot descend stairs. First, they can’t easily see the ground after their feet, but their knees and hips also make it difficult for them to move at a downward angle (like some humans!). Plus, their weight would leave them off-balance and at risk of toppling forward. *** Thought for the Day: “Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson (c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

CLIP AND SAVE

11-30-23

Help! Our Mortgage Lender Is Not Reporting Activity to Credit Bureaus! Everyday DEAR MARY: We just built a new home CHEAPSKATE and got our loan through a local bank that does not report loan activity to the major ®

by Mary Hunt

credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), which we think is strange. Is there anything bad about that? -- Jon and Lori

Dear Jon and Lori: This is not unusual. Lenders are not required by any law to report. The only reason this might be of concern to you is if you will be relying on your payment history with this company to improve your credit score. Since you qualified for this mortgage, I will assume that you maintain a great credit history. That this bank does not send these reports should be of no concern. Congratulations on your beautiful new home. I hope you enjoy many happy years there! *** FIRST THE BAIT, THEN THE SWITCH DEAR MARY: The ad promised a great interest rate, but my rate was much higher when I got approved for the new credit card. Is this right? Did I get scammed? -- Earl Dear Earl: I don't know if I'd call it getting scammed, but you've definitely experienced the old bait and switch. They drew you in with promises of a lowinterest rate (it was a tease), got you to apply, and when they decided you didn't qualify for the better deal, they made the switch. These days, only people with good to excellent credit scores -- typically above 740 -will get those low advertised rates. If you have a lower score, your application will be rejected, or you'll be offered a card with a higher interest rate. It's in the fine print. Always read the fine print - carefully. *** EXTENDED WARRANTIES FAVOR RETAILERS DEAR MARY: My son works for a large home improvement store. He said that because planned obsolescence is even worse than 20 years ago, buying extended warranties on products is now important. I have always disagreed, thinking they are a rip-off, preying on customer fears. My son purchased two warranties within the last five years on two major brand appliances (Whirlpool and Hoover) and had to use both. Do you think he's right? Should we now consider buying extended warranties? -- Lynn Dear Lynn: It's a matter of dollars and sense, no pun intended. I wish you'd given me the figures -- the amount he spent for extended warranties compared to the repair costs. I cannot say that an extended warranty is a bad deal in every situation. But we have to deal with the law of averages. It's like insurance. You consider your exposure, weigh the odds and react accordingly. Never forget this: Sales commissions

Vol. IXX Issue No. 45

on extended warranties are quite handsome. Why do you think that is? It's because extended warranties are a huge profit maker for retailers. They give salespeople a big incentive (commission) to sell them. If retailers and manufacturers lost money on these warranties, would they keep selling them at the current price? No way. They'd either stop offering them or boost the price. You be the judge. *** SAVE THE BIG SCREEN Dear Mary: My daughter colored on our TV screen with a non-washable crayon. The screen is not a smooth surface but slightly textured. The owner's manual says to use a damp cloth, but that is just not cutting it. I am scared to just use anything. Any answers? -- Samantha Dear Samantha: Oh my, such a creative little princess! Ha. OK, first let me say that whatever you try, test it first in an inconspicuous place, like along an edge or bottom corner. The manufacturer of Crayola crayons suggests using WD-40 (available in any automotive or home improvement store) to remove nonwashable crayon wax from hard surfaces like glass, tile and porcelain. Simply apply the product to a soft cloth and then to the crayon stain. This will soften the wax and allow you to wipe it away. Follow with mild dish soap and water. Another option is baby oil. Apply it instead of WD-40, allow to soften, and follow with dishwashing soap and water to remove all oil residue. I am hopeful one of those options will work well. * * * Got a question? You can send it to: DearMary@ everydaycheapskate.com. Then keep your eyes open. You just might get an answer in an upcoming column. Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https:// www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, "Ask Mary." This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living.

Week of November 5, 2023

iPHONES

You might take your iPhone for granted, even if you think you can’t live without it. But how much do you actually know about its introduction and development? This week Tidbits dials up some facts about this must-have revolutionary invention. • Apple started working on its secret project, the iPhone, in 2005 under the code name “Project Purple 2.” Only a very limited number of engineers and employees were privy to the confidential venture. A touchscreen smartphone had been in their minds long before. • Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone to the world in San Francisco on January 9, 2007 with the words, “Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone.” It was a 16 GB phone with 128 MB of memory and a 2.0 megapixel camera offering internet access -- on a phone! About 300,000 were sold over the first weekend after the debut, with a sticker price of $499, about $700 in today’s dollars. • The first iPhone was sold only with AT&T (Cingular) contracts, and buyers were unable to use any other carrier without unlocking the device. AT&T charged a fee of $175 for those who discontinued the service before the end of their contract. • There was no iPhone 2. In June 2009, Apple introduced the 3G and the 3GS, which weren’t much different than the original, except the 3GS had a 32GB storage option. And although every smartphone today comes pre-installed with an app store, Apple was the first to offer consumers the App Stores that offered the legal download of apps, added to the 3GS. • When a consumer purchases an Apple device,

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an End User License Agreement is included with the product. It’s likely that most people don’t read it, considering that the document is about 18,000 words. • Why do Apple devices start with the letter “i”? According to Steve Jobs’ statement when he debuted the iMac in 1998, the “i” stands for “internet.” He later added the words Inspire, Instruct, Individual, and Inform.

is responsible for about 55% of Apple’s total revenue. During 2022, they earned about $205 billion strictly from sales of the iPhone.

• Selfies became the new thing in 2010 with the launch of the iPhone 4. It was the first iPhone to have a front-facing camera. In October of the following year, the 4S was released, with sales of 4 million in the first week. Eleven months later, the iPhone 5 experienced sales of five million units in its first week.

• There are over 900 million iPhone users worldwide, with the majority of them in China. The U.S. has upwards of 110 million iPhone users, accounting for 45% of all smartphone use in the nation. The estimated value of the Apple Corporation is close to $2.75 trillion.  CLIP AND SAVE

• Major improvements were made to the phone’s camera in 2016, with the release of the iPhone 7, with continued advancements since then. From the first iPhone to today, the camera has increased from 2 megapixels to an astounding 48 MP. The current phone’s battery is able to support 28 hours of non-stop video playback. • Since the beginning, Apple has released close to 40 new iPhones. The lastest iPhone 15 Pro, with a minimum of 128 GB storage capacity and available up to 1 TB, has a starting price $999, while the Pro Max, with its minimum of 256 GB, starts at $1,199. • Of the many products offered by Apple, including Mac Pro, iPad, Apple watch, iTunes, Apple TV, and a host of others, the iPhone

THERE'S STILL TIME TO ENROLL

sode, there was a statement that said “In Loving Memor y of ...,” but I didn’t recognize the names. werecompany they? --awarded K.J. 1. WhatWho cosmetic salespeople

Q: What is the color of dripping water? A: Pink, pink, pink, pink

by Dana Jackson King Features News Syndicate

Q: Which “Property Brothers” twin is Zooey Deschanel dating? How did they meet? Is the other brother married? -- P.I.

Depositphotos

A:the Zooey Deschanel, best“Pink known for “New 1. Name singer who released Cadillac” Girl,”inand Jonathan Scott of the “Property Brothers” 1984. home renovation showcan onyou HGTV met dolphins? while sing2. In what large river find pink ing together on “Carpool Karaoke: The Series.” Jonathan and his twin brother, Drew, appeared with Zooey and her sister, Emily Deschanel (“Bones”). Apparently, Jonathan was so smitten and flirtatious with Zooey during filming that Zooey Deschanel (“New Girl”) Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires, Argentina, producers later told and Jonathan Scott is the and office of him they hadofficial to cut aresidence (“Property Brothers”) that country’s president. Translated bunch of the footage. “Pink its paint was through white paint TheirHouse,” relationship lasted the panmixed with animal blood to combat demic and their own home renovation project. the damaging effects of humidity. The Now, four years later, they are engaged to be marstructure’s balcony the scene ried. Both have very busywas careers. Zooeyofis aacting speech by “Physical,” then-President in thefamous Apple TV+ series andJuan Jonathan Peron in 1951. is six Peron’s seasonswife intoEva the“Evita” show “Celebrity IOU” with Drew on HGTV. Both of the lovebirds also sing. Zooey is one half of the duo “She & Him” -- him being M. Ward -and Jonathan has released several singles with his brother. He’s also opened for “She & Him” and has a side gig as a magician with a private group of illusionists. As for Drew, he’s been happily married to Linda Phan since 2018. They met eight years earlier at a Toronto Fashion Week event. They have one11/5 son together, be(2:00 two next DaylightParker, Savingswho Timewill Ends AM) May. *** 11/6 National Healthy Eating Day Q:U.S. I was watching the new season of 11/7 Election Day “Bosch: Legacy.” At the beginning of an epi11/8

National Cappuccino Day

11/9

World Adoption Day

with pink Cadillacs? A:Tennessee “Bosch: Legacy” is a spin-off of 1955 the Am2. What singer owned a pink azonCadillac Prime Video series “Bosch,” which aired from Fleetwood 60 Special? 2014-2021. “Bosch: Legacy,” airs“A onWhite Amazon 3. Marty Robbins released which the song Freevee, had its second season premiere recently Sport Coat” in 1957. What kind of flower was and he paid tribute to actors Lance Reddick and Annie wearing? Wersching, passed away this yearfeatured from heart 4. The 1992who movie “Reservoir Dogs” a disease and cancer, character named respectively. Mr. Pink. Who starred in the role?Both were recognizable character actors in Hollywood. Wersching played rookie officer 5. If you’ve been dismissed from police your job, Juliayou’ve Brasher ongiven a recurring basis throughout the been a ____ ____. run of “Bosch,” and Reddick played police Chief Irvin Irving on all seven seasons. The first four episodes of season two of “Bosch: Legacy” are available to stream now. Subsequent episodes will premiere in pairs each Friday through Nov. 10. *** “A profusion of pink roses bending Q: Have they found a new host of “The ragged in the rain speaks to me of Daily Show” now that Trevor Noah left? Are all gentleness and its enduring.” – they going to keep having guest hosts? -- J.K.

William Carlos Williams

Vol. IXX Issue No. 45

Many thought Ray Wood Jr., who was a correspondent on the show for eight years, would be named. However, when it became apparent that he wasn’t the chosen one, Wood Jr. announced that he was leaving showout altogether. Whenthe I went with my girlfriend the other More recently, it appeared night, I wore a pink T-Shirt. that Sheformer said I correspondent Minhaj (2014-18) themy frontlooked Hasan like a flamingo. So I had was to put runner, but his name was marked off the list after foot down. the New Yorker did an unflattering exposé on him. Comedy Central has issued a vague statement that a permanent replacement will be announced sometime in 2024. * * * Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

LNIKDTCIEPK To be absolutely delighted - (2 words)

A: It’s been about two years since Trevor

Noah exited Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” but a new permanent host has yet to be announced. Luke Hemsworth 11/5/80 Emma Stone

11/6/88

Joni Mitchell

11/7/43

Gordon Ramsey 11/8/66 Lou Ferrigno

11/9/51

Miranda Lambert 11/10/83 Leo DeCaprio

11/11/74

1. Mary Kay Cosmetics 2. Elvis Presley 3. A pink carnation 4. Steve Buscemi 5. Pink slip

Cold temperatures bring tire pressure down accompanied by lessened fuel efficiency. Give your tires a quick check and inflate to the proper setting. And Swift: while you’re tires, look 1. Taylor Thechecking Eras Tour at the tread to ensureSwift, it’s good enough(PG-13) for good 1. Split ................................ (PG-13) Taylor Amanda Balen navigation during upcoming storms. James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy 2. Killers of the Flower Moon

4th Quarter 2023 Week 45

(R) Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily (PG-13) 2. Rings ............................... Gladstone Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe 3. The Exorcist: Believer 3. A Dog’s Purpose ..................(PG) (R) Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid 4. PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie 4. Hidden Figures ....................(PG) (PG) Mckenna Grace, Taraji P. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer Henson 5. La La Nightmare Land .................... 5. The Before (PG-13) Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone Christmas TICKLED PINK 1. Bruce Springsteen 6. Resident TheChris FinalSarandon (PG) DannyEvil: Elfman, 2. The Amazon 6. Saw X Chapter ...................................... (R) (R) Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen 7. The.......................................(PG) Creator 7. Sing (PG-13) John David Washington, animated Madeleine Yuna Voyles 8. Lion ................................ (PG-13) 8. A Haunting in Venice Dev Patel, Kenneth Nicole Kidman (PG-13) Branagh, Michelle 9. The YeohSpace Between Us .. (PG-13) Gary Oldman, 9. The Blind Asa Butterfield Seamstresses known about pinking shears, scissors that cut in a zig-zag line to prevent fabric from fraying. These shears derive their name from the Aron von Amelia 10.(PG-13) xXx: of Xander 14th-century verb “to pink,” which means “to decorate with aReturn perforated orAndrian, punched patter Eve Cage .................................... (PG-13) The Nun II Yen Vin10.Diesel, Donnie

11/10

Sesame Street Day

11/11

U.S. Veterans’ Day

(Go Figure solution page 14)

February 13, 2017

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Week of November 5, 2023

Good Recipes from

parsley and additional pecorino. Serves 6.  Each serving: About 490 calories, 16g fat (6g saturated fat), 24g protein, 62g carbs, 4g fiber, 450mg sodium.

Spaghetti Carbonara Skillet Pie We’re giving the classic Italian dish a deliciously crispy update.

Pimiento-Cheese Deviled Eggs Here's a great way to serve this alwaysa-hit dish that your guests will love.

4 ounces chopped pancetta 2 teaspoons olive oil 3 medium shallots, chopped 6 large eggs 1 cup reduced-fat (2 percent) milk 1/3 cup grated pecorino cheese, plus more for garnish 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon pepper 1 pound spaghetti, cooked Parsley, for garnish

12 hard-cooked large eggs, peeled and cut lengthwise in half 1/3 cup mayonnaise 2 teaspoon hot sauce 1/2 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese 1 jar (4 ounces) pimientos, drained well and finely chopped 1 green onion, finely chopped Paprika, for garnish

1. In oven-safe 10-inch skillet, cook pancetta in olive oil on medium 6 minutes or until crispy, stirring often. Add shallots; cook 2 minutes, stirring.

1. In medium bowl, mash egg yolks, mayonnaise, hot sauce and 1/4 teaspoon salt until almost smooth. Fold in Cheddar, pimientos and green onion. Spoon into egg whites. Garnish with paprika.

2. In large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, pecorino cheese, salt and pepper; add spaghetti and pancetta mixture, tossing to combine. 3. Transfer to same skillet. Bake at 375 F for 20 minutes or until egg has set. Garnish with

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2. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered with plastic, up to 1 day.  Each deviled egg: About 140 calories, 11g total fat (3g saturated), 8g protein, 1g carbohydrate, 195mg sodium. * * *

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Vol. IXX Issue No. 45

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

(Solution on page 16)

Donald Duck

by Walt Disney

Crossword Answers on page 16

NEST HEADS

By John Allen

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Week of November 5, 2023

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NEXT WEEK in

Cody’s

TIDBITS HAS AN APPITITE FOR 2.

Corner

THANKSGIVING FACTS

Dog Talk with Uncle Matty By Matthew Margolis Creators News Service

The Hollywood ManChild and Your Dog’s Maturation

3. The Weekly “Brain Breaker”

Print Your Answers Here:

11/5

Daylight Savings Time Ends (2:am)

11/6

Stress Awareness Day

11/7

Men Make Dinner Day

11/8

National Parents as Teachers Day

11/9

Kristallnacht Remembrance

Let’s play a game. I’m thinking of a movie in which grown men act like little boys. Can you guess the movie? What? You’re overwhelmed by the possibilities? “Old School,” “Failure To Launch,” “Stepbrothers,” “Anchorman,” “The Hangover,” “Grown Ups,” “Grown Ups 2” or just about any other Adam Sandler vehicle. If you’ve seen any one of these movies, then you know that the state of being fully grown has absolutely nothing to do with maturity. And the same is true of dogs. Say you get a puppy -- a real live eight-weekold as-young-as they-come pup. Say he’s a retriever -- round and gold and puffy like a dandelion seed head perched on four large and awkward paws. Say a handful of months later your little fluffball can pull himself upright and tall and plant his snout directly onto your dinner plate. Don’t be fooled when those oversized paws suddenly take on a sense of proportion. He may no longer be puppy-sized, but a puppy he remains. All dogs go through the same basic stages of maturation: puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood and the senior years. Puppyhood is full of energy and antics. Adolescence is less hyperkinetic but possibly more unpredictable depending on the dog and his training. Adulthood is when things smooth out, and the senior years are when things slow down. Generally speaking. While all healthy dogs go through these stages of development, size and breed have a say in the speed of maturation. Smaller dogs tend to mature faster and live longer. Large breeds mature later in life and typically experience shorter periods of adulthood and fewer senior years. So if you’re crossing off the days to the time when you and your mischievous Maltese will wave goodbye to puppyhood and adolescence, plan on about 730 X’s: two full calendar years. For your beagle, two and half years. Your lab will need threeplus years. And give that Great Dane a good four years before you start sniffing for signs of adult-

11/10 Marine Corps Birthday 11/11 Veterans Day

Wuzzles solution Page 16

Tidbits® Word Search

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(CryptoQuip Solution on page 14)

Cody's Corner: Turn to Page 10

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(Word (Word Search Search solution solution page page 16) 16)

Mega Maze solution Page 14

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SENIOR NEWS LINE by Matilda Charles © King Features Synd., Inc.

How Much Exercise Do We Need? What does “vigorous physical activity” mean? Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it means the hard stuff, like playing basketball or singles tennis, or swimming laps or running, ideally for 75 minutes per week. “Moderate intensive activity,” such as playing doubles tennis or pushing a lawn mower, requires that we double the number to 150 minutes per week. Those are the kinds of numbers that will keep the sedentary among us from even trying. The first step would be to check in with our doctor, certainly, to make sure we can start vigorous exercise. And the second step would be to find a basketball court. At the very least, for moderate exercise, we would need a walking partner or a lawn to mow. Leave it to the Brits to come up with a study that we can get behind. This study concluded that a mere 15 to 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week was associated with

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Vol. IXX

Issue No. 45

Cody’s Corner (from page 9)

a 16-40% lower mortality. Bump that up to 50 or 57 minutes per week, and the numbers are even better. What this says to us is that small amounts of exercise per week can add up to reduced mortality and chronic disease.

hood.

Even the CDC agrees that at least some amount of physical activity is better than none. Get out of the chair, walk around ... take an exercise class for seniors. SilverSneakers, a seniors exercise program, is available online if you have a membership. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, see if the SilverSneakers membership is part of your plan. If so, you can attend in person in your area or sign in and watch online. The National Institute on Aging has a section with exercise information videos for seniors that you should see. Check them out at www.youtube.com/@NIHAging. Included are videos on balance, endurance, flexibility,strength and standing on one foot. While you’re on YouTube, do a search for “exercise for seniors” and see if anything appeals to you. It's well worth your time and only takes a few minutes. * * Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com.

This is one of the reasons why the common thinking that “one human year is the equivalent of seven dog years” fails. It’s not about years, and it’s not about looks. It’s about maturation. In two short years, that Maltese will cover the 18 human years of infancy, childhood and adolescence -- or in the case of the typical Sandler character, the 40 and counting human years. At the age of five, that Great Dane will be the canine equivalent of a 40-year-old. Whether he’s a 40-year-old Charlie Sheen or a 40-year-old Matt Damon is up to you and fate. Maturation is an important factor in your dog’s learning. I reject the cliched notion that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But it is easier to teach a young dog who hasn’t yet developed bad habits. People often resign themselves to living in compromised circumstances because they hear: “You have to train them when they’re still a puppy, or it’s just impossible.” It’s never impossible to improve on a bad scene. But it’s also helpful to know what “when they’re still a puppy” means. Just because your dog doesn’t look the part of a pup anymore doesn’t mean he’s not a pup. For a human example of this phenomenon, I direct you to Vince Vaughn's classic, “Delivery Man.” Woof!

* * *

Dog trainer Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series “WOOF! It’s a Dog’s Life!” Read all of Uncle Matty’s columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com. COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM

DESIGN by Joseph Publillones

Bedrooms for Rest and Relaxation

ADVERTISING PROOF Final Changes DUE: 5:00

2024

ANNUAL ENROLLMENT

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. His website is www.josephpubillones.com. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Medicare Changes? N

Believe it or not, master bedrooms, not living rooms, are the most troublesome rooms to decorate for most homeowners. While the desire to make the room attractive and design-worthy is on the top of the list, comfort and personal needs are sometimes at odds with some aesthetic goals. There are so many things to consider: the furniture layout, lighting, window treatments, fabric and even colors that will make your room into a haven of restfulness and relaxation. In difficult rooms such as these, my advice as always is to engage an interior designer before making any purchases or major decisions for your room. Here is an abridged guide to bedroom R and R: Beds are always the centerpiece of any bedroom. Buy the best mattress, pillows and bedding you can afford. These items are essential in creating a comfortable cocoon for sleeping and resting. Today’s mattresses are better than ever. Some are technological and can adjust firmness. and even the pitch angle for head or feet height. Laying out your room should be straightforward. You should be able to see the doorway or entrance to your room while lying in bed. This is best because you can see who comes into your room, as recommended by feng shui principles. You should also avoid placing any mirrors across from your bed, as it reflects energy, counteracting relaxation. Avoid drama in the bedroom. Keep bold and trendy colors for public rooms. Science aside,

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The Art of

designers can tell you that there is plenty of research to indicate that most people like to sleep in airy pastel-colored rooms akin to sleeping in the clouds, or in darker-colored rooms such as navy blue or dark gray to resemble nighttime. Keep it simple. “Streamline” should be the mantra in this room. Keep surfaces and decoration to a minimum. Your environment should MON., SEPT. 25 1 be peaceful and without clutter. This also means Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling paring your bedding down to the essentials for sleeping. A hundred pillows to remove from your your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or bed at bedtime is no fun and can elevate Contact your email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: mood when you should be winding down. Office: 760-320-0997 We all love a light-filled room, but in a bedroom, the task at hand should be how to control light coming in. The best sleep is obtained in a pitch-dark room. That means no TV on, cellphone blue light or computers should be near your bed or sleeping area. Wright Advice Outside light can be con- 1/12 pg 3BW 26x disc. rate 11-30-2 trolled with blackout shades October 1, 2023 Vol. 19 - No. 40 or lined drapery. Needless to Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  P say, lamps for reading a good book before going toContact bed areyour Tidbits representative immediately with changes or cor Are youemail: aware and ready for theFax: 760 necessary and should be Office: 760-320-0997 valleybits@msn.com within reach to make it easy to turn off while drowsy. These recommendations WI N seem simple enough, but 2 many homeowners are dumbfounded when approaching a master bedroom. Of course, there RD are many other issues to combine into a design, ETHICS AWA such as required medical equipment, comfort(Oct. 15 -- Dec. 7) height chairs for taking shoes and clothing on and off. All of these components can be comThis is your once-a-year bined stylishly. These guidelines are a bit of opportunity to make any common sense -- something that is often lacking when planning our most important space in the changes to your Drug Plan Doug & Linda Wright Property of home. Local Independent and Medicare Advantage.AdVenture Media, Inc. Agents * * *

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Week of November 5, 2023

YOUR

SOCIAL SECURITY by Tom Margenau

Mailbag Hodgepodge I usually like to have a theme to my columns. For example, I might write a column that centers on widow’s benefits. Or another column might explain the Social Security disability program. But today, I’m just going to reach into my mailbag (well, actually I’m opening up my email folder) and I’m just going to answer random questions. Q: I was planning to start my Social Security benefits when I reach my full retirement age in November 2023. But a friend told me I could collect up to six months in retroactive benefits. I’ve done the math and even though I would get as slightly smaller monthly rate, the big back pay check I’ll get more than makes up for that. So how do I set this up?

A: Sorry, but you won’t be able to set any-

thing up -- as far as retroactive benefits. Why? Because the law doesn’t allow the payment of retroactive benefits before your full retirement age. And as long as I’m on the topic of retroactivity, I’m always puzzled by those who choose that option after reaching full retirement age. Here is an example. Let’s say Alice, whose full retirement age is 66, was going to start her Social Security at age 70 in October 2023. But when she filed for benefits, she learned she could take the option of up to 6 months in retroactive benefits. So, she jumped at the chance to get that big retroactive check, even though it would mean a slightly smaller ongoing monthly benefit rate. In effect, it would be as if Alice chose April 2023 (six months before October) as her starting month. Of course, Alice can do whatever she wants. So why am I puzzled? Well, if Alice wanted April to be her starting month, why didn’t she file for benefits in April? Why did she let the government hang on to her money for 6 months, and then file for those benefits in October and get the money back -- without interest? Oh well, I guess it’s just the idea of that big retroactive check that is so tempting. But to repeat the point I made at the start of this answer: no retroactive benefits can be paid prior to your full retirement age.

Q: I am planning to file for my Social

Security in December, when I reach my full retirement age. My 67-year-old wife has been getting her own, and much smaller, Social Security benefit since she was 62. She will be due a little extra money in spousal benefits on my account. In a prior column, you said that a guy has to be getting benefits before his wife can file on his record. So, does that mean I have to wait until I have been getting a Social Security check for a month or two before my wife can file for spousal benefits?

A: No, it doesn’t mean that. Your wife can

file for spousal benefits at the very same time that you file for your retirement benefits. In the prior column you mentioned, I think I was answering a guy who asked this question. “My wife is turning 62 and is filing for her Social Security. I plan to wait until I turn 70 in a few years before I file for mine. Can she file for spousal benefits

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on my record now?” And I told him no. I said she can’t get anything on your record until you are getting benefits yourself. And by saying that I was just trying to tell him that his wife can’t get anything on his record until he is eligible for benefits himself. I didn’t mean to imply that he had to have an actual Social Security check in his hand before she could file on his account.

Q: I was planning to file for Social Se-

curity in March 2024. But I also want to get the benefits of the 2024 cost-of-living increase of 3.2%. Do I have to be getting benefits in 2023 in order to get the 2024 COLA increase?

A: No. You’ll get the 2024 COLA no matter

when you file for benefits. If you were getting benefits in 2023, you’d get the COLA increase in January 2024. If you don’t file for benefits until sometime in 2024, the 3.2% increase will just be figured into your benefit computation formula.

Q: All of my older friends are getting widow’s benefits. I also am a widow. But I don’t get any of my husband’s Social Security because my own benefit is more than his was. This doesn’t seem fair.

benefit plus a husband’s benefit on my wife’s record? And then for that matter, should my wife get her own Social Security benefit plus a wife’s benefit on my record? Also, we have a friend who is a fairly well-to-do widower who gets a very generous Social Security retirement benefit. Should he be allowed to get that and also receive a widower’s benefit on his deceased wife’s account? My goodness. If Social Security had always paid these double benefits to everyone, the system would have gone belly up many years ago! One final point to help other readers understand the rules. When I said you get the benefit that pays the higher rate if you are due benefits on two accounts, a better way to phrase that would be to say you get an amount equal to the higher benefit. For example, if one of your friends was due $1,200 on her own account and $2,000 in widow’s benefits, she would be paid her own $1,200 retirement benefit and then she would get $800 in widow’s benefits to take her total benefits up to her husband’s $2,000 rate. She ends up getting one monthly check for $2,000 and probably doesn’t even realize that on the Social Security Administration’s books, it’s coming off of two accounts. * * *

If you have a Social Security question, Tom ADVERTISING PROOF Margenau has the answers. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see MON., OCT. 9 features A: Well, the law has always said that whenChanges Final DUE: 5:00 from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists,

you are potentially due benefits from tworeview different Please carefully. Double check:Syndicate  Phonewebsite Number(s)  Spelling  Pr visit the Creators at www.creators. Social Security accounts, you get the one the pays com. your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corre the higher rate. Your career earningsContact must have Office: email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760been higher than your husband’s because your760-320-0997 Social Security benefit was higher than his was. Perhaps you are advocating that you should get both your own Social Security benefit plus a widow’s benefit on your husband’s account. I’ve ADVERTISING PROOF Carl Moore Locksmithing heard this proposal made many times over the Final Changes DUE: 5:00 p.m.. • Number(s) BW • 26x disc. Prices  Hours years. But I’ve always responded with this point. If review carefully. Business Please Double check:Card  Phone  Spelling 15, 2023 Vol. 19 No. 42or corrections. you should be allowed to get benefits on two ac-Contact your TidbitsOct. representative immediately with-changes email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 counts, why shouldn’t everyone? For example,Office: 760-320-0997 should I be allowed to get my own Social Security CLIP AND SAVE

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Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Vol. IXX

Issue No. 45

as a look inside the bladder every six months, is essential. You are correct that smoking and certain industrial exposures are risk factors for developing these cancers, but so is the place of origin; cancer syndromes such as Lynch syndrome; by Freddie Groves other toxins such as the drug phenacetin; and M.D. traditional Chinese herbs containing aristolochic Please review carefully. Double check:  Phonecomplete Number(s)  Spelling acid. For localized diseases, removal is  Prices  Hours the safestrepresentative approach, since there maywith be changes multiple or corrections. Contact your Tidbits immediately small areas affected by cancer. Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 Living with one kidney is not that different You wouldn’t think that a barber school from living with two, as the other kidney somewould be a hotbed of scams and schemes, but apwhat compensates for the missing one. Some parently it can be. A barber school in a southern medications may need to have lower doses, but state was caught defrauding the Department of DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband has usually, this is not the case. Veterans Affairs by stealing money from veterans’ been diagnosed with Paget’s disease. I would W.O.W. - Widows or Widowers * * * education benefits. like to know more about it; this is the first Dr. Arnold Roach regrets that he is unable to answer c/o Lynne • lynnea1717@aol.com The Post-9/11 GI Bill program pays schools time I have ever heard of it. I would like to individual but will incorporate them in the column BZ BW letters, 13x (N.P. Disc.) ADVERTISING PROOF directly to cover the tuition and fees for veterans know the treatments and how much damwhenever possible. Readers may email questions to Dec. 4, 2022 DUE: Vol. 18 - No. 49 Final Changes 5:00 p.m.. MON., AUG. 28 ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. attending those schools. To be paid, the schools age affects the bones. He is 76, had prostate Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours to submit a thick stack of documents, includcancer and underwent radiation treatment. Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spellingneed  Prices  Hours Contact your Tidbits representative immediately withAT changes or corrections. JOIN THE FUN ing an initial application. Once approved, they then -- C.W. Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 (Widows or changes or Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with corrections. need to provide information about the courses, the Widowers) Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 number of hours per week, the dates of enrollment, ANSWER: Paget’s disease of the bone We meet every Wednesday - 10:00 am the costs and so on. Part of this is an agreement to is a common disease in people of European Cathedral City Senior Ctr. • 37-171 West Buddy Rogers charge veterans the same tuition and fees that civilancestry, with a lifetime prevalence of approxiInteresting & enjoyable weekly program with a guest speaker, games and ian students pay. mately 3%, although it remains undiagnosed in business; and other social getProperty of That is where this particular barber school many. The cause of the disease appears to be togethers weekly & monthly. J Arthur Law Firm AdVenture Media, Inc. went over to the dark side. Where civilian stua defect in bone reabsorption by the osteoclast, 12thCome pg by 4C-- see 13xif you like it! dents were charged $2,400, veterans were charged a specialized cell that normally helps maintain Each us needs this19 at certain Sept. 3, of2023 Vol. - No. times 36 of our life. $22,400 for the course. Not only did the owner bone health. Paget’s disease is not a cancer. It is Call 406-696-4859 for more information charge more for veterans, but accurate records normally diagnosed over the age of 55. Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 weren’t kept, and worse, the students weren’t givMost cases of Paget’s disease are asvalleybits@msn.com en their certificates of completion when they finymptomatic; however, without treatment, some All Rights Reserved Property of ished. people will develop arthritis, pain, deformities AdVenture Media, Inc. The total scammed was in excess of and fractures. The bone deformities may lead to ● Wills $235,000. The government is seeking treble damnerve compression and, in the case of the tiny ● Trusts ages, three times that amount, as penalty. bones in the ear, hearing loss. X-rays and a high FREE ● Power of Attorney of Coachella Valley Thankfully, not all schools engage in scams The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read alkaline phosphatase (ALP) blood test are sug● Healthcare Directives Property of Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 AdVenture Media, Inc. and theft like the barber school. Most are probably gestive of the diagnosis. A bone scan is recomvalleybits@msn.com and Living Wills legit. If you want to go to school, the VA might pay mended to see the extent of damage from the ● New to California? All Rights Reserved FREE for it if you qualify. Take a look at www.va.gov/ disease. UpdatePhone: your existingFax: 760.320.1630 760.320.0997 education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11 for valleybits@msn.com Fortunately, highly effective treatments Estate Planning All Rights Reserved the dates and number of days of service required. are available. Bisphosphonate drugs, the same Documents! On this page you’ll also find information on benedrugs that are used to treat many people with osJoshua Arthur, Esq. “Don’t die without it!”  fits such as payment for tuition and fees, textbooks, Attorney at Law teoporosis, are very effective. A single treatment housing ... and even moving expenses. (If you’re with zoledronic acid is effective at stopping (not in a very rural area with fewer than six people per reversing) the progression of the disease, and 777 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way square mile, you could qualify.) fewer than 20% of people will need a second Suite 200 To compare the various VA educational dose. Diagnosing and treating early are ideal. Palm Springs, CA benefits at different schools, see www.va.gov/ I don’t think his prostate cancer or radiaTel: (760) 201-3215 education/gi-bill-comparison-tool. Or call the tion treatment has anything to do with his diagPlease review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling   Hours GIPrices Bill Hotline for more information: 888-GIBILL-1 Email: josh@jarthurlaw.com nosis of Paget’s. Web: www.JArthurLaw.com (888-442-4551). *** Contact your Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.  Licensed in California and Florida Remember: If you see something wrong, DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 76-year-old Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: 760-320-1630 some type of fraud or a scam or scheme, report it. male who was recently diagnosed with transiIt’s veterans’ benefits that you’ll be protecting. tional cell carcinoma of the ureter, but I don’t Please review car have a history of smoking or any occupa * * * tional exposure to chemicals, plastics, rubber Freddy Groves regrets that he cannot personProperty of Contact ally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them you or dyes. My cancer was found through a CT AdVenture Media, Inc. into his column whenever possible. Send email toOffice: colum- 760scan with contrast dye after having asympnreply2@gmail.com. tomatic hematuria. It’s isolated to the proximal ureter and a kidney. How rare is that? Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 I have to have the kidney and ureter valleybits@msn.com removed. Can you talk about living with one kidney and the adjustments that I’ll have to All Rights Reserved make? -- R.P.

VETERANS  POST 

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Educational Benefits Scam

Paget’s Disease Causes Arthritis, Pain, Deformities and More

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A Final C

ANSWER: Urothelial cancers (the new name for transitional cell cancers) come from the lining of the urinary tract and can be present in the kidneys, ureters (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder), bladder and urethra (the tube that carries urine outside of the body). They are not common, about one per 100,000 people per year. About 17% of people with cancer in the ureter will also have cancer in the bladder at the same time, and almost half will develop cancer in the bladder later in life. Careful screening, such

Please review car

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Please review Double free Phone Number(s)  only Spelling choose the wrong plan,carefully. your doctor may not be check: that offers dental coverage may cover a member of that plan’s network, or you may end cleanings and x-rays. Extensive procedures up payingContact out-of-pocket for medically necessary such as rootimmediately canals or crowns may notchanges be covyour Tidbits representative with o care. ered, or the plan may limit the dollar amount it pays. Find out the coverage details so you’re notFax Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com This past September, the U.S. Departsurprised later. ment of Health and Human Services began cracking down on these ads, but you still need to Get help: Reach out to your local State practice self-defense. Here are some tips to help Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  you make a good decision: ShipHelp.org or call 877-839-2775. These are Contact your Tidbits representative with changes or co nonprofit programs of that immediately provide unbiased onec/o Melanie Thomas Property Cover your needs: When evaluating MA on-one Medicare counseling Office: email: valleybits@msn.com AdVenture Media, Inc. and assistance. Fax: 7 BZ BW760-320-0997 26x plans, make sure those you’re considering cover the doctors you like and the health care facilican also October 8, 2023YouVol. 19 -report No.any 41 misleading MA ties you normally go to. Also, make sure all of claims to the Senior Medicare Patrol Resource the prescription medications you take are on the Center at SMPResource.org Property ofor by calling 800AdVenture Media, Inc. drug plan’s formulary. 447-8477. Bgreen, Inc. *** Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 Ashe Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, To help you compare plans, a good first c/o Melanie P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. valleybits@msn.com BZ BW 26x step is to call the office managers of the doctors org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and 8, 2023 Vol. 19 -Senior” No. 41book.Fax: 760.320.1630 Phone: 760.320.0997 you use and find out which Advantage plans theyOct.author of “The Savvy valleybits@msn.com All Rights Reserved accept, and which ones they recommend. Then All Rights Reserved go to the Medicare Plan Finder tool at Medicare. gov/plan-compare to compare plans in your area. ● Kills Plant Diseases! ● Cleans, Lubricates Pruners! R Understand the details: Some MA plans promote no monthly premiums, but the reality is that you are still responsible for your original Medicare costs including your Part B premium Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling and deductibles and copays for covered servicAvailable at Ace & True Value Hardware es. Moreover, you may have to pay more out-ofContact your TidbitsVisit representative immediately with changes or us at: EZpruning.com pocket if you see a doctor outside the network. Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax: Also, if the plan is an HMO, it generally doesn’t cover non-emergency care out of network, so an individual may be responsible for full costs. A PPO on the other hand, allows people to Property of go out of network, but they generally have to pay AdVenture Media, Inc. Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling more to do so.

ADVERTISING PROOF Final Changes DUE: MON., OCT 2 5: 12: Bgreen, Inc.

-- by Jim Miller

Misleading Medicare Advantage Ads: What to Look Out For DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I’m currently enrolled in original Medicare but have been thinking about switching to a Medicare Advantage plan during the open enrollment period. Many of the Medicare Advantage ads I’ve seen offer lots of extra benefits beyond what traditional Medicare offers, and with no monthly premiums. I am wondering what your thoughts are on this plan. -- Considering a Switch Dear Considering: Be very leery of the Medicare Advantage ads on TV, radio, social media and that come in the mail. While many of these ads may tout free vision, hearing, dental and other benefits with zero monthly premiums, they aren’t always what they claim to be. Advantage Basics Medicare Advantage or MA plans (also known as Medicare Part C) are government approved health plans sold by private insurance companies that you can choose in place of original Medicare. The vast majority of Advantage plans are managed-care policies such as HMOs or PPOs that require you to get your care within a network of doctors in a geographic area. You can sign up for one of them during open-enrollment season from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

STOP CROSS-CONTAMINATION!

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DoContact some digging: ManyTidbits MA plans representative tout your immediately with changes o free vision, hearing and dental benefits that are Phone: 760.320.0997 Fax: 760.320.1630 valleybits@msn.com not covered by traditional Medicare, but these Office: 760-320-0997 email: valleybits@msn.com Fax benefits are often limited. For example, a plan All Rights Reserved

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refully. Double check:  Phone Number(s) Spelling  Prices  Hours airways with advertisements, often bycelebrity

pitchmen, that promote low-costwith options with lots ur Tidbits representative immediately changes or corrections. of extra benefits.

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But be aware that the Federal government has deemed many claims in MA ads fraudulent and misleading. Some ads imply that the Catherine Marcy - Real Estate Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services en1/12 pg 4C dorses or prefers a specific plan. Others promise Promo 7-2023 more cost savings than you really get. And if you

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ur Tidbits representative immediately with changes or corrections.

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Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Vol. IXX

Issue No. 45

and is decorated with raised lavender flowers, green leaves and embellished with gold. The background is a matte cream color. Could you please tell about the maker and the vase’s age and value?

ANTIQUE -- OR -JUNQUE

A: Your vase was made by Amphora Works

by Anne McCollam Creators News Service

Silver Cup Serves as Family Heirloom Q: I have enclosed a photo of a cup

that was given to me by my mother. She said it was my grandmother’s and it has her name, Olive, engraved in cursive on it. On either side of the handle, are decorations of leaves, branches and flowers. The cup stands a little over 3-inches high. On the bottom are the words “Triple Plate -- Shelton, Conn. -- The Hard White Metal Co.” There is also the number “32” with the mark. The cup is a dark gray, except for the bottom, which is a light shiny metal. My cup is a family heirloom, and I would like to know its age, composition and value. What does the “32” represent? Thank you for any information about my new treasure. A: You have a cup that is silver plated. It was made by The Hard White Metal Co. that was located in Shelton, Conn., in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Your cup was made of white metal and then triple plated with silver. The number “32” represents the model or design. S i l v e r The Hard White Metal Co. was located plated ob- in Shelton, Conn. jects tarnish and can be carefully polished, unless the silver plate has totally worn away. Your cup was made around 1900, and it would probably be worth $35 to $50. *** Q: Enclosed is the mark seen on the bottom of a vase that I have. I bought it at an antiques shop over 40 years ago. It is in excellent condition, stands about 11 inches tall

Puzzle Solutions

What would everybody call the top official leader of Dear Abby's fan club? Advice President.

GO FIGURE SOLUTION

Reissner. Hans and Carl Reissner, Rudolf Kessel and Edwared Stellmacher founded the pottery in Turn-Teplitz, Bohemia, in 1892. They produced hand-decorated porcelain and earthenware that was popular in Europe and the United States. Your vase was made around 1910 and would probably be worth $225 to $325.

● On Nov. 5, 1605, King James I of England learns of a plot to explode the Parliament building. Guy Fawkes had been found lurking in a cellar with 20 barrels of gunpowder. Fawkes revealed that he was part of a conspiracy to annihilate England’s Protestant government and replace it with Catholic leadership.

Amphora Works Reissner was founded in Bohemia in 1892.

*** Q: I have two tickets to the “World’s Fair Columbian Exposition in Chicago.” They were in a box of miscellaneous things I bought at auction. Each is marked “1st May to 30th Oct. 1893.” Are you able to tell if they have any value?

A: World’s fair memorabilia is collectible. The pair would probably be worth at least $50.

* * *

Antiques expert and columnist Anne McCollam has since retired and no longer receives inquiries nor answers reader letters. Due to the popularity of her column, this publication will continue to reprint previous columns of interest to our readers. To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

● On Nov. 4, 1979, hundreds of Iranian students storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking more than 60 American hostages. The students were demanding the return of Iran’s deposed leader, the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi. After the student takeover, President Jimmy Carter ordered a complete embargo of Iranian oil.

● On Nov. 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th president of the United States over a deeply divided Democratic Party, becoming the first Republican to win the presidency. Lincoln received only 40 percent of the popular vote but handily defeated the three other candidates. ● On Nov. 7, 1944, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected to an unprecedented fourth term in office. FDR remains the only president to have served more than two terms. Roosevelt presided over two of the biggest crises in U.S. history: the Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II. ● On Nov. 8, 1895, physicist Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen becomes the first person to observe X-rays, an advance that became an important diagnostic tool in medicine. In 1897, X-rays were first used on a military battlefield to find bullets and broken bones inside patients. ● On Nov. 9, 1938, Jewish businesses and homes in Munich are destroyed, and Jewish men, women and children are beaten and murdered, in an exercise in terror. The night would be called “Kristallnacht,” or “the Night of Broken Glass,” because of the cost of replacing broken glass in looted Jewish shops -- 5 million marks ($1.25 million). ● On Nov. 10, 1964, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara says that the United States has no plans to send combat troops to Vietnam. By 1969, more than 500,000 American troops were in South Vietnam. (c) 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

Week of November 5, 2023

Tidbits of Coachella Valley

Page 15

Famous Stumps • Currey published his findings in an ecological journal, and then the backlash began. Although he was not at all aware that he was destroying the world’s oldest tree, he never lived it down. Outrage was so great that it led to the formation of the Great Basin National Park in Nevada, so that the other ancient trees in the vicinity will be protected forever. THE TREE OF TéNéRé

• The Ténéré is a desert region in the south central Sahara that stretches over 150,00 square miles. It once had a climate hospitable enough for healthy trees to grow, but as the climate changed, the trees died off -- except for a single remaining hold-out. • This acacia tree, called the Tree of Ténéré, was estimated to be some 300 years old. It was considered to be the most isolated tree on Earth. The closest living tree to it was located 250 miles away. • It was a landmark on caravan routes through the region, so well-known that it was shown on official maps. The Tree of Ténéré was a ceremonial gathering place for traders and travelers as they crossed the desert. Surrounding the tree in all directions was nothing but sand dunes and arid desert. • The tree was considered sacred, and to deface or harm it in any was taboo. Camels were not allowed to eat its leaves. Travelers did not cut its branches to heat their tea. • During the winter of 1938-1939, a well was dug near the tree and it was found that the roots of the tree reached the water table 118 feet below the surface, allowing it to survive in one of the driest environments on the planet. But to everyone's horror, one of the trucks used in digging the well accidentally backed into the ten-foot tree, breaking off one of its two main branches. Still, the tree survived. • Incredibly, in 1973 a drunken Algerian truck driver was somehow unable to avoid hitting the tree -- the only obstruction for 250 miles in any direction! The tree snapped off at the trunk and subsequently died. Its remains are now on display in a museum in Niger, and a metal replica stands next to its stump in the desert, marking where the proud tree once bravely stood. 

STAN SMITH’S TENNIS CLASS

Game Changers by Jason Jenkins

Play Better Golf with JACK NICKLAUS

Open’s Not Right Opening the clubface of a sand wedge or lob wedge can be a visually daunting challenge to many golfers when hitting pitch shots. The most common misunderstanding is that open equals right when it comes to shot direction. The loft of the club plays an important role in solving this short game puzzle. With a three iron (21-24 degrees of loft), the openness of the face will aim the leading edge to the right as well as the face itself. Because the loft is small the face angle and leading edge are similarly aligned. But when lob wedge (60 degrees of loft) is opened, the leading edge does aim right, but the face angle just points more skyward (or more lofted). Yes, there is a slight misalignment to the right, but the clubface is now a 70-80 degree tool more than anything. Trust that open equals high not right!

Read quick posts, fun quotes, and good news on the go.

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Please review carefully. Double check:  Phone Number(s)  Spelling  Prices  Hours JasonJenkins Jenkinswas wasaa16-year 16-yearmember memberofof the the Jim Jim McLean McLean Golf Golf Jason Contact your Tidbits representative changesTop or 100 corrections. School teaching staff one of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 School teaching staff.and He wasimmediately GOLFwith Magazine’s Teacher Nominees Nominees 1999-2010. 1999-2010 and has named onetheof Golf the Teacher He Fax: was been named one of Also on Office: 760-320-0997 760-320-1630 Golf Digest Top Teachers in California. Jason teaches at GOLFTEC Digest Top Teachers in California in 2011. CENTER in Indio. Contact him at jjenkins@golftec.com Contact Jason at 760-485-2452 or devgolfinstr@gmail.com

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Tidbits of Coachella Valley

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1. SCIENCE: What was Joseph Lister’s main contribution to science? 2. HISTORY: Which pro football team won the very first Super Bowl? 3. MUSIC: What is the title of the Rolling Stones’ 2023 album? 4. MOVIES: Who played the monster in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein”? 5. U.S. PRESIDENTS: How much of the popular vote did Abraham Lincoln receive when he was elected president in 1860? 6. GEOGRAPHY: In which country is the ancient city of Petra located? 7. AD SLOGANS: What product was advertised by a man who kept saying, “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing”? 8. FOOD & DRINK: What is often called the national dish of Canada? 9. LANGUAGE: What does an oologist study? by Linda Thistle G O10. TELEVISION: F I G UWhat RE does!SVU Answer peekers' names and photos posted on Facebook stand for in “Law & Order: SVU”? TRIVIA TEST The idea of Go Figure is to Answers arrive at theAnswers figures given at Answers Weekly Weekly SUDOKU SUDOKU the bottom and right-hand 1. Antiseptic surgery. columns of the diagram by fol-Answer2. Green Bay Packers. lowing the arithmetic signs in the order3. “Hackney they areDiamonds.” given (that is, from left to Boyle. right and top to 4. Peter bottom). 5.Use the numbers Lessonly than 40%. below the diagram to complete 6. Jordan. its blank squares and use each 7. Alka-Seltzer. of the nine numbers only once. 8. Poutine: potato fries, cheese curds DIFFICULTY: � and gravy. 9. Eggs. �� Difficult � Moderate �� GO FIGURE! 10. Special Victims Unit. ©©2006 King Features Syndicate, 2010King King Features Synd.,Inc. Inc. ©©2020 2023 Features Synd., Inc. 2022 © 2023 KingKing Features Synd.,Synd., Inc. Inc. 2022 © 2023 Features

Issue No. 45

Games

October 23-29, 2006

Go Figure! answers

Quiz Bits

ANSWERS

1. The bigleaf magnolia 2. The redwood 3. Maple trees 4. Maine is 89% forested 5. Nevada is 0.5% forested BIBLE TRIVIA Answers

1. (B) New testament 2. (B) Seven 3. (A) Exodus 4. (D) 13:18 5. (A) Saul 6. (B) Nahum

23DOHC9163_OE_TB_VerB_10.5x13_Due_10_27.indd

ANSWERS

1. True. Lack of seasonal change prevents rings from forming. 2. The holly tree.

WUZZLES Answers ®

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Vol. 19: #45 • Tree Stumps • (11-5-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley

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Tree Stumps • Vol. 19: #45 • (11-5-2023) Tidbits of Coachella Valley