UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • JULY 2017 • 19


Resident Wins $25,000! ... continued from page 12 son, a very


fortunate Rosa EKS client, Santa Ivonne


Sonato-Vega, received $25,000 when she was selected as the national Grand Prize Photo Contest winner of the 2017 SaveYourRefund Promotion administered wealth


and America


by Common- Saves.


Ivonne was presented the win- ning check on June 14 at a re- ception hosted and sponsored by Sonoma County Winegrow- ers. SaveYourRefund incentiv- izes savings at tax time by of- fering cash prizes for filers who save at least $50 of their tax refund into a qualified savings product.


In 2017, over 2,800


tax filers entered SaveYourRe- fund and saved nearly $2.5 mil- lion. Of those filers, more than 350 contributed submissions to the Grand Prize Contest which asked them to share their mo- tivations for savings through a captioned photograph. Upon receiving her grand


prize, Ivonne stated, “United Way inspired me to enter the contest and tell my personal savings story about why I needed to save money and what mattered to me in my life. I guess it’s easy to think your story is not harder or any dif- ferent from others.


They re-


ally made me feel like my story was a story of persistence and determination.” In describing how she plans to use her win- nings, the mother of three girls


explained, “Thanks to United Way, Commonwealth, and America Saves, I am able to pursue my dreams to become a NICU nurse and help other families who are in the same situation I was with my pre- mature daughters. It also gives me the ability to save up even more for a down payment for a house.” One tax filer comment- ed on looking forward to filing her annual return, “As a full- time employee and full-time college student, I look forward to tax season or ‘relief season’ as I like to call it.” In referring to the benefits of CalEITC, she continued, “This year, I was given


an additional amount


from the State of California. Normally, I receive under $100 and this year my state refund was nearly $600.” Almost 71% of the clients served said they would use their refunds to pay off existing debt and/or bolster their savings. Mike Kallhoff, United Way


of the Wine Country President and CEO, stated, “It is exciting to see the EKS program contin- ue to expand each year in order to help more local individu- als and families receive much needed tax refunds and credits to help make ends meet.” Unit- ed Way is working to advance the common good by focusing on financial stability, educa- tion, and health. Contact Suzanne Yeomans at 707-528-4485 ext. 108


A Mortgage Coach That Can Help You through the Fine Print from Start to Finish!


Real Estate Mortgages 707-291-6761


BARRY O’MEARA NMLS# 267912


barryo@stearns.com


1260 N. Dutton Ave Ste. 270 Santa Rosa


Branch NMLS# 244074


Stearns Lending, Inc. off ers many loan products. contact a representative to learn more. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. NMLS# 1854. This is not a commitment to lend.


“I do not think we have a “right” to happiness. If happiness happens, say thanks.” ~ Marlene Dietrich UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • JULY 2017 • 19 The Hen House ... continued from page 14


the whole spectrum of beer styles. From the Pale and hoppy to dark and stout. Belgium, sour, lagers, and ales? They cover them all!


If


you like beer, you’re sure to find one that meet your tastes. I like my beers hoppy, and I was not dis- appointed with my “Ride the Sky IPA”. I’m not a fan of Belgium style beer, but if you are, you will not be disappointed when you try” Dubularity Belgian-style Dubbel” or the “Golden Strong Ale”. Next time I visit The Henhouse, I want to try their sour “Check Yourself Before you Brett Yourself”. Be- ing a home brewer, I know a good sour takes a long time to make. I hope it’s still available. The day Paul & I visited, they had 15 beers on tap.


As with all tap rooms, the brew-


ery offers a Growler fills and the newest trend the Crawler (a canned growler).


These are sup-


posed to last long and by using a aluminum can, they also can be recycled. They have started can-


... continued on page 23 Got Credit? item into a current late.


... continued from page 16 It is


better to let that old collection fall off the report. In 2003, Congress enacted the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), which entitles anyone to a free annual credit report. Te “free” report will not provide any “credit scores”, but will pro- vide information that is being reported. To comply with the law, the three reporting agen- cies jointly created the web site www.annualcreditreport.com. Be aware there are imposter web sites out there that will try to sell credit protection plans. I would be cautious about pro- viding information and any commitments made. As for affordability, it may take multiple incomes to achieve a qualifying income.


In this


high cost county it could take a village to buy a home.


The Punitentiary #1


How do you make antifreeze?


What does a house wear?


People don’t get my puns. They think they’re funny.


I have a few jokes about unemployed people but it doesn’t matter. None of them work.


I can’t believe I got fired from the calendar factory. All I did was take a day off.


Q: What do you call the security outside of a Samsung Store?


A: Guardians of the Galaxy.


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