Blogs 12 Long Island

News Hits Home

By: Colleen McVey

My 14 year old daughter is a big Chris Brown fan. Until a month ago his picture on her bulletin board meant nothing to me. Now that has changed.

 A few days ago we were in the car and the latest news on the Brown-Rihanna abuse case came on the radio. My daughter casually remarked that Brown could never have done what he's accused of. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She was defending a man who is now charged with two felonies for what police describe as a brutal argument between the singer and his girlfriend.

I wasted no time using the news story, which she and her friends have been talking about, to talk about abuse - something we had not yet discussed.

First, I told her NO ONE should EVER hit her, but if someone does she should never keep it to herself.  I told her when it comes to abuse - it's a strict "one strike - you're out" rule"!  I told her about the countless news stories we've done about women who were beaten and bruised over and over again. Many blamed themselves or were too frightened to get help and too many ended up dead.

I think my very emotional reaction to her casual comment took her by surprise. I don't think she really understood how serious this issue is - I hope that's changed.

The Brown arrest just started the dialog. This conversation is far from over, especially now that we are hearing reports that Brown and Rihanna may have reconciled. If that's true, after he allegedly bit her on the ear and punched, hit, and choked her - then there are more lessons to be learned. I will make sure my daughter and I follow this story together.

Your rights if the debt collector calls

By Andrew Ehinger

    In our down turned economy, some Long Islanders are falling behind on their bills to make ends meet. That means more and more debt collectors are calling people day and night to get them to somehow pay up. Debt collectors have never had the greatest reputation, but now the heavy handed tactics some collectors use have become the top complaint at consumers rights agencies.

In New York State, the consumer protection board says it's their number one complaint. The Better Business bureau says it's also among their top complaints on Long Island.  Nationally the Federal Trade Commission says Identity Theft is head and shoulders the top complaint, but coming up faster than they expected (in second place) is Debt Collector complaints. It's not a surprise for many that this is happening given that so many people are losing jobs or finding mortgage rates adjusting, but it doesn't mean debt collectors can do anything they want. 

    The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)  was passed to protect consumers and give guidelines for debt collectors who have a legitimate reason to collect a debt. One of the biggest complaints about collectors is how they discuss payment with a debtor. Lots of debtors report that collectors use heavy handed tactics and veiled threats in conversations to get them to make some sort of payment on the debt. The FDCPA outlines strict guidelines on what a collector can do and can't do. Mainly the collector cannot call debtors late at night or very early in the morning. That means they can call between 8am and 9pm. They also cannot call you at work if they are told you are not allowed to get calls there. Some states even have laws on how many time a collector can call in a week. Collectors can't use foul language and threats or harass a debtor to pay either. Collectors aren't allowed to lie about actions they may take or call themselves attorneys if they aren't. Debt collectors can't threaten you with arrest if you don't pay, or even say they will garnish your wages or freeze your bank accounts if they haven't gotten a court order first. Bottom line--consumer rights advocates say if a debt collector calls, make sure you know your rights. The FTC has a great website that can answer lots of questions. Just click here.

    Since the debt collection business is booming, that means scammers are trying to get a piece of the action. I was told by investigators they are hearing crooks are pretending to be debt collectors and cold calling people saying they want to talk about payment of a debt. Even if you don't owe any money WATCH OUT!! These scammers just want your personal information to steal your identity (remember the FTC's #1 complaint). 

No More, Please!

By Lea Tyrrell

I don't like winter.  Specifically, I don't like snow.  And I really don't like a lot of snow.  I did when I was a kid.  What kid doesn't love snow?  But as a grown up, unless you're skiing, it's not fun.  It's just the way I see it.  I know everyone doesn't agree.

So as you can imagine, I was not happy when I first got wind of the forecast that was predicting about a foot of snow Monday.  I was even less happy about it when the snow started falling Sunday night, just as predicted.  And even less happy when I woke up this morning and couldn't open my back door because there was that much snow drifting in my backyard.

What adds insult to injury with this storm is that it's late in the season.  Just as we're holding on to the hope that spring is just a few weeks away, we get walloped with the worst storm of the winter.  That's cruel, Mother Nature!  

As one of our viewers said during our snow coverage, "Hey, that's just the way it is!"  He's right.  That is the way it is in winter.  But the dead of winter.  Not as we're just turning that corner.  Those late season snowfalls are easier when a) they're just a few inches or b) the very next day it's in the 40's or 50's and the snow quickly disappears.  Neither of those apply to this storm.  It made me really grumpy.

However, all that grumpiness disappeared when my young daughter burst into my room this morning, full of excitement, exclaiming, "Mommy, there's a lot of snow outside!"  Okay, what I really wanted to do was roll my eyes and say, "Uhhggggggggggg!"  But what I said instead was, "Really??  How much??"  And she stretched out her arms as wide as they could go and said happily, "This much!"  And we both ran to the window so she could show me. 

I still don't love snow.  But I like it a lot better when I see it through the eyes of my daughter!!!!!!! 

A Four Letter Word

by Scott Feldman

Snow. We really got socked today, didn't we. Hope if you had to go out in it, your trip was a safe one. I stopped by the Auto Club of America this morning to chat with Robert Sinclair about driving safely in the snow. First thing Robert told me was that dedicated snow tires are really the way to go in this kind of weather. He says the all season radials really don't cut it when you've got to stop. In fact, it can take a vehicle up to nine times longer to stop in snow and ice if you don't have the right tires. One of my pet peeves is people who don't clear the snow off their vehicles before they hit the road. It might not matter to you, but snow blowing off your car can blind other drivers. And what happens if some of the snow on your roof slides down on your windshield? That could be a big problem, to say the least. Everybody has seen SUV's barreling down the LIE or parkways, but Sinclair says they are heavy and have a high center of gravity and can easily slide when they try to brake. Speaking of sliding, if you go into a skid, steer in the direction you want to be traveling. As to what to have in your car, every emergency winter car kit should contain a flashlight, flares or reflective triangle, a distress sign, first aid supplies, a blanket, gloves, broom, and shovel. Speaking of shovels, I spotted a tip on the web that might help you. If snow is sticking to your shovel, spray it with a little non-stick cooking oil. The snow should come off a little easier. Believe it or not, Spring is right around the corner. Let's hope this is the last real blast of Winter.

Check these sites out for more safe winter driving tips: www.aaa.com and www.roadandtravel.com

Stand by for News!

by Scott Feldman

Paul Harvey. What a distinctive voice. When he came on the radio, there was no doubt who you were listening to. In the mid 70's, I was the anchor at the NBC TV station in Phoenix. Our radio station was just off our main newsroom. One afternoon I was on the radio side talking to a friend when I saw reams of Associated Press wire copy stacked up in a corner. Paul Harvey was in town for a speech and he was doing his ABC Radio Network newscasts out of our station. He normally did his commentaries from  downtown Chicago. His broadcasts always featured little slices of Americana. The kind of stories you didn't always hear on a typical hourly radio news spot. What Harvey did was comb through all of that wire copy to find the material that made his broadcasts so special. And why I loved to listen to them. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet Mr. Harvey. He came in the very early morning hours. I was there from mid afternoon through the 10 o'clock news. So, it was sad to hear this weekend that Paul Harvey had passed away in Phoenix, where he had a winter home. He was 90. And now you know, "The Rest of the Story."

Corporate Wellness: A New Insurance Plan

By Mary Mucci

Finally someone has taken the time to work it out:  An insurance plan that incorporates prevention and saves health care dollars in a way that makes bottom line sense to Long Island businesses.   Right now, so called “health insurance” is actually sick care insurance.  That is the height of waste. Bypass surgery costs tens of thousands of dollars.  Dietary changes, exercise, stress reduction and targeted supplements are relatively inexpensive.    Finally, people are starting to get it.   Edwards and Sons,  an insurance brokerage in Sayville, teamed up with Dr. Matthew Lewis of Creating Wellness in Commack. They came up with a way to save small businesses money on health care costs..all the while offering employees something more:  including monthly lectures and cooking classes,  email tips on wellness….and regular health assessments.

While many people still don’t understand the huge impact of their poor habits, the staff at Lewis Wellness is on the job educating them.  Up until now where have we gotten our health education?  In high school…while half asleep….from pharmaceutical ads?  The fact is few of us really get it:   the powerful influence of everything we do or don’t do has over how we feel and how fast we age.

Edwards and Sons is not only selling this new insurance concept to its clients--theyre using it in-house on their own staff.  So far thirty eight of the fifty employees have signed on. And they are already influencing the rest.  The three o’clock cookies are no longer regularly available.  Instead, people are bringing in fruits, nuts and salads.  The staff is walking at lunch and executives get approval when they choose breathing exercises as a way to handle stress.  As I said in my story:  the new habits create a work climate in which health is rewarded. 

It’s starting to have an impact …  People are learning to take care of themselves and to take  responsibility for how they feel.  People are learning they can affect how they feel.  For example: Food choices are not just about weight…although that is a powerful barometer of well being.  Food choices affect how we feel:  happy or not; tired or energized….

So consider this:  You can have a well care plan. You can learn to live a healthier life and still get all the coverage you need for unexpected accidents. You can learn to prevent chronic illness, rather than medicate it.  You can learn how it feels to be really healthy.  It’s now available…  It is the beginning of a new era.

To Your Health,

Mary Mucci

Contacts:

Frank Gallina, VP of Risk Management

Edwards and Sons Insurance Brokerage,  Sayville…631 472 8418

 Dr. Matthew Lewis, Chiropractor,  digestive nutrition specialist

Creating Wellness of Commack,  631 462 0801

Bigger Better Bottle Bill

By Andrew Ehinger

    I'll admit it--I do return my soda bottles.

    Every time I finish a bottle of soda I wash it out and then throw it into a bag that I'll eventually take back to the store. It's not a huge amount of money, but it's the principal. I paid the deposit--I want it back. I also take the same care of bottles of non-carbonated beverages. However, they don't go in the same bag. They get taken out to the regular recycling bin. But if Governor Patterson has his way my bottle deposit bag may be getting a little bigger.

    The Bigger Better Bottle Bill would add a 5 cent deposit on non-carbonated beverage containers. That means water bottles, and sport drink bottles would now get a deposit. Governor Patterson is pushing for the legislation in his new budget feeling it would help clean up the environment and add needed money to state coffers.

    Many people don't realize this, but not everybody returns the bottles and cans that have a deposit. Those nickels - millions of dollars worth - went unclaimed (sort of). You see, wholesalers who collect the 5 cent deposits would keep those extra nickels if people didn't return all of the bottles and cans. Off the bat you're probably thinking that the wholesalers are getting a pretty sweet deal but they tell a different story.

    Clare Rose inc. is the islands main wholesaler for Budweiser in addition to lots of other beverages. For more than a quarter century the company has been collecting and recycling its containers after people redeem them for the nickel deposit. But Clare Rose and other wholesalers say it costs more than a nickle to collect, sort and transport the recycled containers. In fact ,they say it costs about 7-to-8 cents per container. That means they are losing money right off the bat when they recycle the container. Even selling the glass, plastic, aluminum and cardboard as a raw material doesn't really help. So, how do they stay in business? Those unclaimed nickles. But to help with environmental projects and balance the budget, Governor Patterson, in his Bigger Better Bottle Bill, wants those nickles. You can imagine that's not making wholesalers happy.

     Environmentalist say the Bigger Better Bottle Bill will encourage more people to recycle containers which are ending up as trash or clogging landfills. On the surface that sounds great - but if the state takes those unclaimed nickles from the wholesalers the industry says it will have to make up the money for recycling somewhere else.. You can guess where that's going to come from - you and I. Wholesaler's say they'll have to tack on a couple dollars to a case of beverages to pay for the recycling. 

    Hey, it's important to keep the environment clean, and most would say recycling is a good thing.  The main question here is what should happen to the unclaimed nickles.  Here are our options: Do we help the state's fiscal crisis with the millions in unclaimed nickles and then pay higher beverage prices because of recycling costs, or do we leave the system as it is right now, or finally do we add a deposit on non-carbonated beverages and let wholesalers keep the unclaimed nickles. The choice is yours.