Placer County Announces Public H1N1 Vaccination Clinics

With the arrival of additional vaccines, Placer County Health and Human Services' Public Health Division is announcing a schedule of upcoming free public vaccination clinics for the H1N1 flu, sometimes referred to as the "swine flu," in partnership with the respective cities.

The upcoming round of clinics will be:

• Monday, Dec. 14, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., at the Rocklin Sunset Center, 2650 Sunset Blvd., Rocklin, CA
  
• Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., at the North Tahoe Event Center, 8318 North Lake Boulevard, Kings Beach, CA
  
• Thursday, Dec. 17, from Noon - 4 p.m., at the Roseville Maidu Community Center, 1550 Maidu Dr., Roseville, CA
  
• Friday, Dec. 18, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the Gold Country Fairgrounds, 1273 High St., Auburn, CA. This is a drive-through clinic; patients don't even need to get out of their cars. Please enter the Fairgrounds from Auburn Folsom Road at Fairgate.
  

These public clinics are intended to make the H1N1 vaccine available to Placer County residents who are at higher risk for complications of H1N1 flu, and who haven’t yet been able to obtain the vaccine. The target groups, as identified by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include:

• Pregnant women;
  
• People who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age;
  
• Health care and emergency medical personnel;
  
• Anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age;
  
• Anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions or a weakened immune system.
  

Since early November, Placer County has been conducting school-based vaccination clinics, ensuring that hospitals and those involved in emergency response are able to vaccinate staff and higher risk patients, and ensuring that obstetricians, pediatricians, and family practice physicians have vaccine to vaccinate higher risk patients. Placer County will continue these school-based clinics and outreach efforts along with the new public clinics so that as many individuals in higher risk groups that wish to be vaccinated for H1N1 flu have the opportunity to receive it.

As additional vaccine arrives later this month, Placer County will schedule additional H1N1 vaccine clinics, including clinics for all Placer County residents.

Physicians in the community are beginning to receive additional vaccine as well, so individuals may wish to contact their healthcare provider to see if they now have vaccine available.

Placer County will provide information through its web site, http://www.placer.ca.gov/. To receive future information about flu clinics through direct e-mail, consider signing up for the county’s free e-newsletter, available at the above web address.

The upcoming vaccinations will be free of charge.

Blog Post Courtesy of Jason Probst, Communications Analyst with the City of Roseville.

First-Time Homebuyer Credit Extended to 2010; Current Homeowners Also Qualify

Some interesting information from our friends at Professional Solutions Group, one of our guest bloggers!

"A new law that went into effect Nov. 6 extends the first-time homebuyer credit five months and expands the eligibility requirements for purchasers.

The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 extends the deadline for qualifying home purchases from Nov. 30, 2009, to April 30, 2010. Additionally, if a buyer enters into a binding contract by April 30, 2010, the buyer has until June 30, 2010, to settle on the purchase.

The maximum credit amount remains at $8,000 for a first-time homebuyer –– that is, a buyer who has not owned a primary residence during the three years up to the date of purchase.

But the new law also provides a “long-time resident” credit of up to $6,500 to others who do not qualify as “first-time homebuyers.” To qualify this way, a buyer must have owned and used the same home as a principal or primary residence for at least five consecutive years of the eight-year period ending on the date of purchase of a new home as a primary residence.

For all qualifying purchases in 2010, taxpayers have the option of claiming the credit on either their 2009 or 2010 tax returns.

A new version of Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit, will be available in the next few weeks. A taxpayer who purchases a home after Nov. 6 must use this new version of the form to claim the credit. Likewise, taxpayers claiming the credit on their 2009 returns, no matter when the house was purchased, must also use the new version of Form 5405. Taxpayers who claim the credit on their 2009 tax return will not be able to file electronically but instead will need to file a paper return.

A taxpayer who purchased a home on or before Nov. 6 and chooses to claim the credit on an original or amended 2008 return may continue to use the current version of Form 5405.

Income Limits Rise
The new law raises the income limits for people who purchase homes after Nov. 6. The full credit will be available to taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes (MAGI) up to $125,000, or $225,000 for joint filers. Those with MAGI between $125,000 and $145,000, or $225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers, are eligible for a reduced credit. Those with higher incomes do not qualify.

For homes purchased prior to Nov. 7, 2009, existing MAGI limits remain in place. The full credit is available to taxpayers with MAGI up to $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers. Those with MAGI between $75,000 and $95,000, or $150,000 and $170,000 for joint filers, are eligible for a reduced credit. Those with higher incomes do not qualify.

New Requirements
Several new restrictions on purchases that occur after Nov. 6 go into effect with the new law:

• Dependents are not eligible to claim the credit.
  
• No credit is available if the purchase price of a home is more than $800,000.
  
• A purchaser must be at least 18 years of age on the date of purchase.
  

For Members of the Military
Members of the Armed Forces and certain federal employees serving outside the U.S. have an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and still qualify for the credit. An eligible taxpayer must buy or enter into a binding contract to buy a home by April 30, 2011, and settle on the purchase by June 30, 2011."

For more details on the credit, visit the First-Time Homebuyer Credit page on IRS.gov.

Thanks guys for sharing this information with our readers!

About Professional Solutions Group:
Professional Solutions Group, LLP is a Certified Public Accounting firm headquartered in Roseville, California. Founded in 2000 by managing partner Sherif Boctor, PSG has developed into one of the fastest growing CPA firms in Northern California, with more than a dozen employees and nearly 2,000 individual and corporate clients. For more, visit their web site: http://www.prosolutionsllp.com/

Please note that this information is for general guidance only. Professional Solutions Group, LLP and Style Media Group cannot be held responsible for any decisions made as a result of information contained herein. You are encouraged to seek legal and financial advice before making any financial decisions.

Best Barbecue Sauce in Folsom -- The Faceoff!

We just got this email about a friendly little contest from our friends at Acorn Cafe in Folsom...check it out:

It's a faceoff between Head Chef Jeff and cafe owner Susan. The Challenge? The best barbecue sauce in Folsom!

Who will be the judges? YOU!

During the week of December 7th (yes, that's this week people!), a BBQ Beef Sandwich Special will be offered, priced at $5.75 -- it will include 2 BBQ Beef Sliders -- one made with Chef Jeff's barbecue sauce and the other with Susan's!

The sauce with the most votes will be the BBQ sauce used exclusively in the cafe.

Um, yum!!

Check out Acorn Cafe in Folsom at http://www.theacorncafe.com/.

Calling All Real Brides! It's Real Weddings Magazine's Cover Model Contest!

Calling all recent brides or soon-to-be brides in the Sacramento area!

Have you ever wanted to be in the pages of a magazine?

Well, then you need to enter Real Weddings Magazine's cover model contest!

Each issue, hundreds of local area brides enter to be one of three cover model finalists.

Are you interested in entering? If so, click here to download the entry form -- hurry, all entries need to be in by February 1, 2010!

If you're going to enter...one word of advice, show your personality through the answers to the questions -- Real Weddings Magazine loves to work with brides who have a lot of spunk, personality, humor and who are just darned cool girls. Be sure that your answers really reflect who you are! Oh, and don't forget to include photos that really show your personality coming through as well!

Also, be sure to read all of the rules to make sure that you're eligible to enter.

For more about Real Weddings Magazine, log on to http://www.realweddingsmag.com/.

I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty!

My friend Wendy Stedeford is an amazing acupuncturist, not to mention just a cool gal!

I recently discovered her blog, and she graciously agreed to let me steal this entry for our blog!

"Everyone wants to feel pretty (or handsome) right? It’s said that life is easier for the beautiful. Well, here’s a 5 minute, one step spruce up for becoming more beautiful from the inside out.

There is, actually, one specific acupuncture point we sometimes call the point of facial beauty. It’s the point located in the web of the hand between your thumb and index finger. If you hold your left thumb along your left index finger you create a line. Follow this line with your right index fingertip going toward your heart. At the end of the line, slip your right index fingertip off toward your left index finger side of the line. Feel for the slight dip and you’ve found the point. If it’s tender, you’re at the right spot.

This is the fourth point on the large intestine meridian. This line of energy ends at the face. By stimulating large intestine 4 you activate the energy along the length of the meridian. By increasing the blood and qi of the meridian, everything associated with that meridian benefits. That includes not only your face but your hand, elbow, shoulder, neck, upper jaw, sinuses, nose and of course, your large intestine.

Before trying this course of acupressure take a minute to look at yourself in the mirror. Look at yourself overall then look at the details. Make sure you can list at least 4 things you like about your face. Then choose 2 or 3 or 4 things you would like to improve. For two weeks commit to looking into a mirror as little as possible. Take 5 minutes morning and evening everyday for two weeks to rub this spot on both hands. After two weeks go back and check on the things you wanted to change. Acupressure usually doesn’t change things as quickly as acupuncture but change they will.

Not only should you see an overall improvement in the tone and appearance of your face but you might also see change in headache frequency, upper jaw issues, large intestine issues, pain, or hand, arm, elbow or shoulder issues too. It’s a “handy” point to know."

How cool is that? Thanks Wendy!

So take a break from your holiday shopping and your stress-filled day and check out Wendy's blog for yourself -- it's filled with all kinds of interesting and useful stuff for your well-being: wstedeford.wordpress.com or log on to her Web site: wendystedeford.net.

Style Media Group's Editorial Policy

Recently the FTC has changed/updated its regulations regarding advertiser sponsored content, particularly advertiser sponsored content on blogs.

These new regulations give us the opportunity to reiterate our editorial policy as it applies to our magazines, our Web sites and our blogs. Let me just simply state this:

From day one when we launched our company, we have always held ourselves to the highest possible editorial standards. While we love our advertisers and couldn't do what we do without the support of our advertisers, we've always made it clear that just because someone advertises with us, it doesn't guarantee that they'll be featured in our editorial; and just because we feature a business in our editorial, it doesn't mean we're going to force that business to buy an ad. It's the way it is in our magazines and the way it is on our Web sites and blogs. There is no quid pro quo. It's that simple.

Our editorial team writes on products, services and stories that we think our readers will find interesting, entertaining and helpful. Sometimes we utilize resources for this editorial -- sometimes they happen to be advertisers and sometimes they are not. But I can ensure you that if we use an advertiser in our editorial, it's because we feel that they're the right resource to use. We do not let anyone "buy" our editorial in our magazines, our Web sites and blogs.

If you have any questions at all about this policy, you are welcome to email me directly: wendy(at)stylemg.com.

Blog Post by Publisher/Editor Wendy Sipple.

Folsom Photography Contest Winners!

The results are finally in and Style would like to congratulate the winners of the 2009 Folsom Patrons of the Arts contest! The contest, now in its fourth consecutive year, accepted photos under six categories including Bridges, Faces, Fun, Old and New, Outdoors and Black and White.

The Best of Show prize went to Rachel Zirin, a junior at Vista del Lago High School, for her black and white photo entitled “Black Hat.” Rachel created the winning photo while in her photography class under the direction of Lori Emmigton. Her plans for the future include studying journalism at California State University, Chico.
Local photographers Richard Jones and Allister Oliver, Don Chaddock of the Folsom Telegraph, and our own Wendy Sipple here at Style judged the contest. So make sure you make it out to The Gallery at 48 Natoma sometime before January 7 to see a little bit of Folsom portrayed in these award-winning photos!

Congrats to the First Place winners in the individuals categories:

(Under 12 age group)
Andrew Callanan, Amanda King and Emmi Warford

(Under 18)
Robbie Agar, Ashli Christ, Riley Stair and Nathan Vetter

(Over 18)
David Alvarez, Menka Belgal, Mike Ekern, Tina Kehoe and Darin Slade

Second place third place and runners-up:
Chris Callanan, Holly Janelle Cardosa, Karen Diffley, Jennifer Duval, Marisa Franz, Stella Kim, Ron Knight, Traci Miller Stephanie Redhair, Elena Sheskier, Noah Swartz and Penni Warford.

Photo caption: Rachel Zirin

Blog post by Chloe Daley, Editorial Intern.