This Mother's Day Help Your Mom Save $3,000!

By Linda Zamfino
Social Security Bay Area Public Affairs Specialist

People all over the country are helping their moms save as much as $3,600 per year on the cost of prescription drugs. You can too!

We all know the high cost of medicine can be a burden on mothers who have limited income and resources. But there is extra help — available through Social Security — that could pay part of her monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. The extra help could be worth up of $3,600 per year.

To figure out whether your mother is eligible, Social Security needs to know her income and the value of her savings, investments and real estate (other than the home she lives in). To qualify for the extra help, she must be receiving Medicare and also have:

* Income limited to $15,600 for an individual or $21,000 for a married couple living together. Even if her annual income is higher, she still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. Some examples where income may be higher include if she or her spouse:

—Support other family members who live with them;
—Have earnings from work; or
—Live in Alaska or Hawaii; and

* Resources limited to $11,990 for an individual or $23,970 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. We do not count her house and car as resources.

Social Security has an easy-to-use online application that you can help complete for your mom. You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov. To apply by phone or have an application mailed to you, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Or go to the nearest Social Security office.

To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).

So this Mother’s Day, help your mom save up to $3,600 a year on her prescription drugs. Long after the candy and flowers are gone, the extra help through Social Security will keep on giving.

Go Green -- Go Online -- Social Security Dot Gov

By Linda Zamfino
Social Security Bay Area Public Affairs Specialist


With Earth Day recently behind us, many people have stepped up their efforts to go green. And there are a number of things you can do, including planting a tree and recycling your plastic, glass and paper.

But what’s even better than recycling your paper is not having any paper to begin with.

Going green is yet another of the many reasons to complete your business transactions with Social Security online. You can complete all of your paperwork with a lot less paper.

Whether you want to apply for retirement benefits, request a replacement Medicare card, report a change of address or direct deposit if you are currently receiving benefits, or take charge of your retirement planning, you can do it on our website.

There’s no need to drive to your local Social Security office. Don’t wait in traffic when your Social Security business can be done from the comfort of your home or office Save a trip and go to www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices to get started.

Many of these services can be completed online without taking another step. Some services require you to mail in documents and information. Regardless, you’ll be ahead of the pack by using our online services.

You can rest assured that doing business with Social Security online is fast, easy and secure. And it is environmentally the cleanest, greenest way to do your Social Security business.

Many of our online services are available as automated phone services as well. Just call 1-800-772-1213 to take advantage of them.

Earth Day is a great time to step up your efforts to go green, but you can go green any time during the year. Save a tree, save some gas and cut back on pollution by visiting us online instead of at an office. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov or call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Mobile Blood Drives – Open to the Public

American Red Cross, Northern California Region

Mobile Blood Drives – Open to the Public

March 2008

Updated on 2/19/2008 and subject to change.

For further information, phone 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.BeADonor.com


Walnut Creek
Tuesday, March 4, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Rossmoor Lions
1001 Goldenrain Rd., Walnut Creek

Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or go to www.BeADonor.com
(Code: ROSSMOORLIONS) to schedule an appointment.



Walnut Creek
Wednesday, March 12, noon – 6 p.m.

John Muir Medical Center
Ball Auditorium, 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek

Please call John Muir's Health Management dept. at:
(925) 947-5355 to schedule an appointment.

Tara L. Weekes
Communications

American Red Cross Northern California Blood Services Region
Phone: 510.594-5204
Fax: 510.601.7954

Pinole Recall Wins Landslide Victory

Alegria and Tilton swept out of office!

PINOLE, February 5, 2008 - In a landslide referendum on the politics and policies of two members of Pinole's city government, 15-year Councilwoman Maria Alegria and first-term Councilman Stephen Tilton were swept out of office Tuesday in a landslide recall vote, and three new council members were elected.

The final vote to recall Maria Alegria stood at 3,083 YES (58.73%), and 2,166 NO (41.27%). Roy Swearingen, a former councilman in 1986-90, won the election to replace Alegria with 1,838 votes (45.06%), followed by Steve Denlis with 1,215 votes (29.79%), John Bender with 887 votes (21.75%), and 139 write-in votes (3.41%).

Alegria had served on the council since 1992, and was in the last year of her fourth term.
Stephen Tilton, elected to the council in November 2006, was also voted out of office by a wide margin. The number of YES votes to recall Tilton was 2,957 (57.68%), with 2,170 NO votes (42.32%) cast. Virginia Fujita, a retired City of Pinole personnel specialist, won Tilton's seat with 3,420 votes (92.78%). She ran unopposed. There were 266 write-in votes (7.22%).

In the race for the council seat vacated when David Cole resigned last August, long-time planning commissioner Debbie Long trounced former Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ivette Ricco. Long had 3,201 votes (67.21%), while Ricco garnered 1,496 votes (31.41%). There were 66 write-in votes (1.39%).

For more information, please visit www.PinoleRecall.com.

JEFF RUBIN
Spokesperson
Concerned Citizens of Pinole for the Recall of
Maria Alegria and Stephen Tilton
(510) 724-9507, office and home (try this first)
(510) 303-2700, cell
jeff@thenewsletterguy.com
www.PinoleRecall.com

ADAS Pioneer Art Gallery & Studios Reception

ADAS Pioneer Art Gallery & Studios
"SURF-N-TURF" EXHIBIT




Alan Ryall & Catherine Lindberg

Meet these two talented oil painters at our reception
on Saturday, January 19th (4-7pm)

Weekly Hours: Fri 3-7 pm, Sat 11 am - 7 pm, Sun 1-5 pm

This is Danville's newest and largest fine art gallery that will be open for your enjoyment through Spring 2008. All sales support local arts and art education grants.

Alamo Danville Artists Society
Pioneer Art Gallery & Studios
524 Hartz Ave, Danville CA

Submit your announcements to San Ramon Tribune

High School Artists & Musicians are Showcased in Downtown Danville

January 25-27, 2008 -- High School Artists & Musicians are Showcased in Downtown Danville

The Pioneer Art Gallery in downtown Danville (sponsored by the Alamo Danville Artists Society (ADAS)) is hosting an exhibit of students' work from the six San Ramon Valley High Schools: California, Del Amigo, Dougherty, Monte Vista, San Ramon and Venture. Musical entertainment will be provided by San Ramon High School.

This is a unique opportunity for young artists to publicly display their work, win awards and gain recognition in our local press. And folks who attend the exhibit can gain further appreciation for:

* The importance of encouraging our young people to develop their creative talents.
* How the arts are an integral part of all professions that students are encouraged to pursue these days.
* And that art can be a viable career path, too!

Each school's art department will do an initial jurying of their students' work, and then submit up to two 3-D and four 2-D pieces per school; show could have up to twelve 3-D and twenty-four 2-D works. The Danville Arts Commission will judge the finalists and award ribbons.

There are so few opportunities and venues for artists (of all ages & abilities) to be showcased along the I-680 corridor, so this is a very important event. We have invited the Mayors, Council members and city staff of both Danville and San Ramon to attend the reception to help us bring attention to the creative achievements of these students.

The exhibit will be at the ADAS Pioneer Art Gallery from January 25-27, with a reception on Sunday, Jan. 27 (3-6pm) for the artists and their families -- public is welcome, FREE!

The ADAS Pioneer Art Gallery is Danville's newest and largest fine art gallery; open for your enjoyment through Spring 2008. All sales support local artists and arts education grants in the San Ramon Valley Schools. 524 Hartz Ave, Danville. Weekly gallery hours: Fri 3-7p, Sat 11a-7p, Sun 1-5p. For more info, email artpromoter@sbcglobal.net or visit www.adas4art.org

Submit your articles for publication to San Ramon Tribune.

January 10 Pinole recall debate will be held despite Councilman Tilton's defection

PINOLE, January 5, 2008 - Despite Council Stephen Tilton's announcement that he is pulling out of participating in the January 10 recall debate and candidates' night at the Pinole Senior Center, the event will he held as scheduled.

Former mayor and current councilwoman Maria Alegria, at the 11th hour on Friday, accepted the challenge of a debate against Concerned Citizens of Pinole (CCOP) advocate Cindy Trego. Alegria and Tilton are the targets of a recall by the CCOP, which collected 2,700 signatures on petitions last summer to place the recall on the February 5 ballot.

As recently as Thursday, Alegria had said she was not participating. She sent an e-mail to open-government watchdog group and debate sponsor Common Cause that said, "I have many reservations about your organization providing a forum for a political action committee that has conducted a vile, slanderous, and disingenuous campaign over the last seven months."

However, moderator Lisa Vorderbrueggen, political editor of the Contra Costa Times, which is co-sponsoring the event with Common Cause and the League of Women Voters, responded by saying the event would go on, with or without Alegria or Tilton.

"As a moderator, I will attempt to bring up all the relevant issues, but we will not be held hostage by elected officials who decline to participate in a public forum for the voters."

Alegria will debate Trego at 6 p.m. If Tilton decides to change his mind again and participate, Jeff Rubin, spokesman for the CCOP, will join the mix as the second recall proponent.

"You never know what Tilton will do, because he changes his mind every few minutes," Rubin said. "I am prepared right now, so even if he shows up at one minute to six, I'll be ready."

A candidates' debate, featuring Alegria, Tilton, and recall replacement candidates Virginia Fujita, Roy Swearingen, and Steve Denlis, will follow at 7 p.m. Debbie Long and Ivette Ricco, who are running in a special election for the vacant seat created when David Cole resigned from the council last August, will also participate in the candidates' debate.

In backing out, Tilton sent Common Cause an e-mail that said he "cannot be a part of the 'spectacle' they (Trego and Rubin) are attempting to have you help them create."

Tilton said in late November that he would not attend the January 10 forum, explaining that to do so would set a bad precedent, a point Alegria also alluded to in her e-mail last week.

In a November e-mail, Tilton wrote that Trego and Rubin "have shown they can do nothing more than intimidate, harass and lie to Pinole citizens. I would not be serving the citizens of Pinole by giving them a sanctioned forum to spread more lies, half-truths and innuendoes."

But in an apparent turnaround in an e-mail last month to Rubin that was forwarded to Vorderbrueggen, Tilton wrote: "(I) look forward to answering any and all questions Lisa brings forward and I would never miss the event."

**************************************************

JEFF RUBIN
Spokesperson
Concerned Citizens of Pinole for the Recall of
Maria Alegria and Stephen Tilton
(510) 724-9507, office and home (try this first)
(510) 303-2700, cell
jeff@thenewsletterguy.com
www.PinoleRecall.com