{ title: 'The beacon. (Babylon, N.Y.) 1972-current, October 28, 2010, Page 2, Image 2', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn84031349/2010-10-28/ed-1/seq-2/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn84031349/2010-10-28/ed-1/seq-2.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn84031349/2010-10-28/ed-1/seq-2/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn84031349/2010-10-28/ed-1/seq-2/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: Suffolk Cooperative Library System
I Sen* Owen Johnson helps support annual Babylon to Beaches Soldier Ride Sen. Owen H< Johnson and other state and local Town Hall to Overlook Beach in Islif officials gathered with Leslie DeMarco, Secretary was raised for the Wounded W of the Long Island Blue Star Moms, Chapter NY6, The Blue Star Mothers of America i showing their support at the third annual Babylon organization of mothers who have o: to Beadies Soldier Ride on July 23. Over 700 rid- dren honorably serving in the militar ers participated in the 22-mile trek from Babylon support and programs for injured se ^OTHEfts Shown, ¡eft to right, Phil Nolan, blip Town Supervisori Steve Stern, S.C. Leg.; Ralph Scordino, Babylon Village Mayor; Carol Quirk, Babylon Town Cleric; Leslie DeMarco, secretary o f the Long Island Blue Star Moms, Chapter NY6; Assemblyman Robert K. Sweeney; Sen. Owen H. Johnson; Robert Romano; and As~\ semblyman Andrew P. Rata _______________________________________________________________ 2 . BEACON NEWSPAPER, & T K o o i e t y c M a q A e n , October 2 8 ,2 0 1 0 •Get well wishes to both Uwe Pauls en (former owner of LaGrange) and Paul Steinberg. Fortunately, both Bill France and Fred VanBourgon- dien are both on the mend. • BEWARE! There’s a scam re garding furnaces and chimneys that has h it Babylon and the surrounding area recently. I got a phone call early last week from a woman who called from “PSE&G” and National Grid. She said that National Grid’s insurer was re quiring them to inspect their customers’ furnaces and chimneys at no charge to make sure they were in good working order. I set up an appointm ent for the next day but was a bit suspicious about it. The following day, two nice young men showed up at the appointed time. Their white van was rather worse for the wear and had white plastic letters af fixed to it, reading “P-S-E-N-G”. Now I was very suspicious. I asked for their IDs and they came back with some forms from National Grid instead. Fortunately, my furnace is in an area that has no access to the rest o f the house. Curious about what was going to happen next, I led the young man to the furnace and the chimney. My chimney needs work. I have been talking to a contractor who is going to come and take a look at it. But now this young man is looking at it and reeling off a list of problems, most of which were legitimate. He recommended that these problems be fixed as soon as possible. He spoke to his su pervisor and then told me that with a senior citizen discount and an extra discount for disability he and his partner could do the work there and then for a mere $499.99. (No tax, if I paid in cash.) I told them it sounded good but I would have to ask someone to lend me the cash. W hen I went into the house, I immediately called the Suffolk County Police Department. The woman who answered said I should call Suffolk County’s De partm ent o f Consumer Affairs, so that was my next call. The man I spoke to said there was no such busi ness with a license to operate in Suffolk County. The young man who had done all the talking had given me a written estimate. On the paper was a company letterhead for NYC, with no zip code. A phone num b er was listed that had an area code that sounded like a cell phone area code. I called the phone num b er and a man growled, “What?” I asked “W hat company is this?” and he responded suspiciously, “W ho is this?” I hung up right away. Out in front o f the house, the two young men were waiting very patiently. I told them the friend who was lending me the money wanted me to see their Suffolk County license. “No problem,” I was assured. “Our office is nearby and we’ll just run over there to get it for you.” They pulled away and I never saw them again. This scam has been going on for years, although I never heard about it locally. But they’re here and apparently the police don’t particularly c a re.. .every one just passed the buck. At a friend’s suggestion I called Channel 12 News. I explained what had hap pened and the reporter said he’d get back to me. I haven’t heard from him either. If someone out of the blue calls you about a free inspection, be suspicious. Demand to see the work er’s ID and make sure to look at it very carefully. Chimneys and furnaces are only one type of scam. Be careful not to let anyone into your home With out proof that they are who they say. Call Suffolk County Consumer Affairs and ask if this company is registered and licensed. S t u d e n t s f r o m B a b y lo n a n d W e s t I s lip w in A s t o r ia F e d e r a l S a v in g s E s s a y C o n t e s t In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, Astoria Federal Savings held its fifth annual essay contest for children, ages five to 12, asking them to complete the statement: “If I save a lot today, in the future I could...” Hundreds of essays were received from the participat ing neighborhood branches throughout Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Brooklyn and Westchester. Astoria Federal Savings judges selected one winner from each branch, and 12-year-old James Marsden sub mitted the winning entry at the Babylon Village branch. James’s winning essay describes how with his savings he plans to go to college and join his local fire department. James would also like to volunteer at an animal shelter and at an organization that helps keep beaches clean. He visited the Babylon Village branch to receive his awards including a $50 U.S. Savings Bond, a Teach Chil dren to Save Certificate, and an Education First medal and teddy bear from Branch Manager Andrew Mul- lane. In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, Astoria Federal Savings held its fifth annual essay contest for children, ages five to 12, asking them to complete the statement: “If I save a lot today, in the future I could.. ” Hundreds of essays were received from the participat ing neighborhood branches throughout Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Brooklyn and Westchester. Astoria Federal Savings judges selected one winner from each branch, and nine-year-old Adrianna Cigliano submitted the winning entry at the West Islip branch. Adriannas winning essay describes how with her savings she plans to go to college, start her own business, donate to charities, buy a house and build a house for poor peo ple. She visited the West Islip branch to receive her awards including a $50 U.S. Savings Bond, a Teach Children to Save Certificate, and an Education First medal and teddy bear from Brandi Manager Maryellen Nelson.
