Update on Tomato Salmonella Outbreak
Advice to consumers
At this time, FDA is advising U.S. consumers to limit their tomato consumption to those that are not the likely source of this outbreak. These include cherry tomatoes; grape tomatoes; tomatoes sold with the vine still attached; tomatoes grown at home; and red plum, red Roma, and round red tomatoes from specific sources listed at:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html
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Keeping A Check On Your Household Spending
Nearly 32 cents of every dollar spent by American families is for groceries and household items. Individuals make an average of three trips a week to the grocery store, and one or more stops at a drug or discount store. In many instances, people are spending money they could otherwise be saving for the future because they fail to compare, and get the most for their money. Stores cleverly display merchandize in locations that do not escape the eyes – all designed to get the shoppers to spend. Read More ...
Fair Debt Collection: Dealing with Creditors
More consumers are finding themselves hounded by aggressive debt collectors who don’t always play it by the rules. According to the Better Business Bureau, preliminary figures show that complaints against debt collectors increased by 20% in 2006 and 26% in 2007. If you use credit cards, have a personal loan, or are paying on a home mortgage, you are a debtor. If you fall behind on any of these payments, or an error is made on your accounts, you may be contacted by a debt collector. As a consumer, here are some things you need to know. Read More ...
Water: How Much Do You Need?
For years we have heard the advice to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. So where did the advice come from and is there scientific evidence behind it? Articles in newspapers and magazines sometimes recommend large amounts of water which creates confusion for consumers. What is the truth? Dr. Heinz Valtin, author of textbooks on kidney function and water balance, noted that he searched for 10 months and could not find any research to support drinking 8 glasses of water per day. What he found was, in the 1940’s, the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine made recommendations on dietary intakes of nutrients, one of which is water. The rule of thumb was one milliliter of water per calorie eaten – 2,000 calories per day would equal 2,000 milliliters (eight 8-ounce glasses) of water. The Institute noted that much of this water can be gained from solid food that we eat. Read More ...
Phase II Water Restrictions
As of Friday, April 18, 2008, the following Phase II water restrictions went into effect.
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Odd street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and/or 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
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Even street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Thursdays and Sundays from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and/or 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Hand-watering with one hose fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle is allowed 10 minutes per day for landscape stress relief and to prevent plant die-off.No restrictions apply to other outside water uses, such as for car and boat washing or for pressure cleaning of paved surfaces.
Start At The Store: Prevent Foodborne Illness
Safeguarding your home against foodborne illness does not begin at home, but at the supermarket, grocery store, or any place where you buy food that will be stored and served. According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year, foodborne illnesses cause about 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,200 deaths nationwide. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends seven steps consumers can do while they shop for food in order to prevent these illnesses. Read More...
Foreclosure Rescue Scams
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued an advisory that provides advice to help borrowers from becoming victims of foreclosure rescue scams. Most foreclosure rescue scams fall within three categories. In lease-back or repurchase scams, the con artist convinces a borrower to sign over his deed in return for a promise to lease back or eventually repurchase the property. Refinance fraud involves a situation where the borrower believes the transaction is a refinance, but in fact, the fraud involves transfer of property ownership to the con artist. Bankruptcy schemes involve repeat bankruptcy filings to get a temporary stay order to delay foreclosure, but can result in damaging the consumers’ credit without saving their homes. Read More ...
Reverse Mortgages: What You Should Know
Reverse mortgages can be helpful to homeowners who want to stay in their homes but are having trouble keeping up with their mortgage payments, or who have no other source of funds to pay bills or meet unexpected expenses. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is urging homeowners who are thinking about reverse mortgages to make informed decisions and carefully weigh all their options before proceeding. If you decide a reverse mortgage is right for you, be sure to make the wisest use of your loan. Read more...
Those High Gas Prices! What Can You Do?
Gas prices keep climbing higher and higher and there might not be much relief any time soon. It’s time to think of some things we can do to help ease the “pain at the pump.”
While a lot of our travel is required such as, going to and from work, picking up kids, we also tend to make many discretionary trips; for example, quick, multiple runs to the grocery store.
Read More ...
Get Coupons to Convert your TV from Analog to Digital
On February 17, 2009 , television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. At that time, you can watch TV using one of the following options:
• Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a converter box.
• Keep your existing analog TV and use cable, satellite, or another pay service (if you already have pay TV services, your TV viewing will be uninterrupted).
• Use a TV with a digital tuner.
If you plan to continue using analog televisions without any pay TV services, you can apply for up to two coupons per household, to use towards the purchase of converter boxes. The coupons, which are being provided by the federal government, are worth $40 each. Visit USA.gov’s link to DTV2009.gov to apply for coupons.
How do I request a coupon?
Between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009 , you can request a coupon while supplies last in one of four ways:
- Apply online
- Call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), TTY 1-877-530-2634
- Mail a coupon application to: PO BOX 2000 , Portland , OR 97208-2000 . Download a Coupon Application DTV2009.gov
- Fax a coupon application to 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)
Source: DTV2009.gov, USA.gov
Bullying is a Serious Matter Bullying is a serious matter. One of every seven school children is either a bully or someone who gets bullied. Bullying can be verbal, like name-calling and teasing; physical, such as hitting and damaging possessions; or emotional as in spreading rumors and making someone feel uncomfortable or scared. Both boys and girls can bully. Boys usually prefer swift and effective physical aggression, while girls tend to favor verbal and emotional intimidation or humiliation as bullying tools.
A few signs that your child might be bullied
- feeling ill in the morning
- not wanting to go to school
- not wanting to ride the school bus
- unexplained bruises
- drop in school performance
- lack of confidence
If your child is the target of a bully…..
- Discuss the problem with your child. Help him identify his feelings and explore what he can do.
- Teach him the assertive responses that deprive bullies of the “reward” of humiliating others.
- Encourage your child to make friends and socialize at school. The most severe bullying is directed at loners.
- Inform school officials immediately about any bullying.
Source: Bullying: What Parents Can DO. Sunburst Visual Media
Planning on getting married?
Current research has shown that there is a 33% lower divorce rate among couples who attend a premarital preparation class.
The Palm Beach County Extension Service has been approved by the 15 th Judicial Circuit to teach the Premarital Preparation class, Before You Tie the Knot. Couples who take this 6-hour class receive a discount on their marriage license and a waiver of the 3-day waiting period to get married.
The next premarital class will be held on September 15 & 16, 2008 from 6pm to 9pm. The couple must attend both classes. The cost is $20.00 per couple. For more information and to register call the Extension Service at (561) 233-1742.
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