The Millstone Times April 2022

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2022 State Championships USA Gymnastics NJ The Level 3 State Championship was held at Head Over Heels in Parlin, NJ, on March 19th. Action Gymnastics, based in Freehold, NJ won the Level 3 USAG NJ 2022 State Championship with a (116.050), breaking the State Record set in 2014 By ACE Gymnastics (116.025). Coach, Ashley Quinn, used positive motivation working with these young ladies. She instilled confidence in them and taught them a great work ethic. She helped forge a great relationship with them all, one that will last for years to come. Teammembers, Gia Shanks, Emiliana Polito, Hadley Shanks, Ellie Simmons, Mia Guberman, Jemma Percodani, Ariella Figliolia, and Anabelle Polito, excelled at their indi- vidual competitions; each having a place on the podium in their respective age groups. Twelve plus hours of gymnas- tics a week, along with their school work, and other activi- ties, didn’t slow down their determination to do the best job that they could. All of their hard work paid off as they “Took Action” and put themselves in the NJ history books! Read our full article written by Pam Teel on page 57

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April 2022

Footloose ... A Night to Remember! By Pam Teel

Millstone Township Middle School drama club students kicked off their Sunday shoes on March 4th and 5th at the Millstone Performing Arts Center. The crew, composed of 48 students, danced and sang their hearts out in a live performance of the musical, “Footloose,” a high energy 80’s dance show. The musical is based on the 1984 film “Footloose” and is a collaboration between Di- rector, Lisamarie Cappuzzo, Musical Director, Heather Philhower, and Choreographer, Emily Dotsey, who are all teachers at the Middle School. The teachers were assisted by 4 student stage managers and 10 crew members. Some of the popular show tunes the students sang were “Almost Paradise,” “Let’s Hear it for the Boy,” “Holding out for a Hero,” “Footloose,” and more. “It’s impossible not to sing along, and sway in your seats,” Musical director, Heather Philhower remarked. The play was a great success. “This show was so much fun,” stated, eighth grade student Brian Deniz, who played one of the leads, as Ren McCormick- a free-spirited teen from Chicago who relocated to a Midwest town where dancing and rock and roll were outlawed. It was the first time that Brian was in a play. "At first I was so nervous, but after that first scene, all those butterflies seemed to go away, and I got more confident. I was able to do what I worked so hard for the past two months. I'm so glad I did this. If I didn't try out for this play, I never would have known how much I loved it. I will try out for plays when I go to high school,” Brian stated. “I can’t imagine going a day without dancing,” said 6th grader Bella Baldino, who plays another lead, Ariel Moore, the minister's rebellious daughter. This was also her first time in a play. “I would definitely do it again,” she stated. "I loved performing in front of a live audience. I feel so free on stage. I have been dancing since I was two years old, and it's my passion. But this was my first time singing and acting in front of a crowd. I had no idea how quickly I would fall in love with the theater. I'm so grateful that Mrs. Cappuz- zo, Mrs. Philhower, and Mrs. Dotsey, believed in me and took a chance on a 6th grader. I gave it my all, and I had the most amazing time. I am really sad it's over."

Main leads Brian Deniz and Bella Baldino

For some students, this was their first time singing and dancing in a musical. Teachers spent several weeks guiding these young actors and actresses with a warm heart. “I love watching the students gain confidence on stage and blossom right in front of our eyes,” stated Emily Dotsey. You were also able to catch a glimpse of eight of Millstone’s own teachers, who were in a special dance number, while Art Teacher, Jaclyn Dawson, and the art club, brought the audience back in time with spectacular scenery for the production. “It is thrilling to experience the magic of theater coming to life again through these students,” stated Lisamarie Cappuzzo. “The energy and enthusiasm they bring to the stage is contagious, and it sure did fill the audience with the spirit and energy of the 80’s.” “This was the second play for Seventh grader, Jacob Hamulewicz, who played the character, Willard Hewitt. "My favorite part was learning the dances, which was not easy for Willard. Learning my lines was easy. It came naturally. Willard's character is funny,” Jacob stated. “I used the crowd's reactions when they laughed as motivation. My favorite part of being in the play is meeting new people. We are all learning together and working together towards the same goal. I would definitely try out for another play.” "Memorizing the choreography and lines were easy,” stated eighth grader, Isabella Merse, who played the character, Rusty. This was her second play. "I was nervous at first, but after the first note, I said to myself, I am going to have fun with it, and picture the crowd empty like it was during tech week. I just really felt prepared. The best part of doing this play for me was getting closer to friends and meeting new ones. The whole ensemble is like one big family, and it's easy to be myself around this cast." "For some of the cast it was their first time doing this. I can't believe howmuch talent was on this stage,” stated eighth grader, Gargi Patel, who played the character, Vi Moore. "I loved finally being in person and on a stage with a live audience. It was so much more fun than being virtual. I definitely will do this in high school.” Eighth grader, Greta Vitug, who played the character, Ethel McCormack stated, "This cast grew as a family and we all have a mutual understanding for each other. Last year, the play was virtual, so it was almost like filming a movie. I will definitely continue doing plays in high school. Congratulations to the whole cast and crew for a job well done. There are so many lessons to be learned working together as a whole. I’m sure every child who participated in this play will carry this experience with them throughout their lives. The world needs more of you dedicated teachers who took the time to teach, guide, and inspire them. If you want a child’s mind to grow, you must first plant a seed! Great job teachers! “Footloose” is a Stage Adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Robbie, based on the Original Screenplay by Dean Pitchford. Music by Tom Snow. Lyrics by Dean Pitchford. Additional Music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Logins and Jim Steinman. Cast of Footloose

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IN THIS ISSUE: Pet Pages........................................ 9 Family Matters.............................. 13 Home Improvement....................... 16 Real Estate. ................................... 25 Health and Wellness. .................. 34 Monroe TWP News-As We Age....... 41 Food and Dining. ............................ 46

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April 2022

CONFRONTING HIS FEAR By Pam Teel In last month’s issue we ran an article about people’s fear of heights. We were so happy to receive a response from 82-year-old Mel Meszaro, of Monroe Township, who told us about his fear of being in high places and how he learned to overcome that fear. After high school, and two years of college, where he felt he was wasting his time not concentrating on his schoolwork, Mel joined the Marines. He was determined to make something of himself. He was in the air wing division where he learned aviation electronics, and radar. His work kept him on the ground. He earned the coveted title of “Marine” and “Outstanding recruit of his platoon” from Parris Island, SC. That was and still is the proudest day of his life. After his stint in the Marines, he became an iron worker. He was not very happy with scaling tall heights, especially since, back in his time, there were no safety procedures or precautions as there are now. They weren’t skyscrapers he was working on, but it was enough to give him wobbly knees and the sweats. He would have to sit on beams and walk across them to get from one place to another. Iron workers made pretty decent money in those days. This was incentive enough for him to continue in that field. Mel also worked at different bar/ lounges that his father owned, around New Jersey, and learned the restaurant/ bar business most of his adulthood. In 2005, when he was 65, Mel took a tour to Mt. Suribachi to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the battle of Iwo Jima. Little did he know that he would be one of the marines chosen to once again raise the American flag on. Iwo Jima. For the last twenty years, Mel still goes back to Paris Island to honor new Marines coming out of boot camp. He is still involved with the Ma- rine Corp League, as a color guard, paying his respects to fallen soldiers. Mel loves his flag and he loves his country and would do anything he could for it. He is the type of person who doesn’t like to stand still. He even creat- ed his own bucket list of the things that he wants to accomplish in his life. Mel also participates in the Polar Bear plunge every year, for charity pledges. Later in life, Mel decided to confront his fear about heights by parachuting out of a plane. When asked why he decided to jump, he stated that it was an ego thing. He wanted to face his fear and maybe lessen the sick feeling he always got when he was up high. He would even get that same anxious feeling when he went on rides at Great Adventure. What better way to face his fear by going as high as you can. He took three parachute jumps, at 70, 75, and 80 years old (one static and two tandem jumps). His advice: don’t look down. Jumping from the plane did help Mel, to some extent, face his fear of heights. Mel stated that he will always have some concerns of panic relating to his parachuting, which is normal, such as his shoot not opening. Most shoots are equipped now with two cords in case one doesn’t work. Call it ego, call it facing your fear, Mel Meszaro has a lot of guts! MEL MOTTO'S

Moving targets are hard to hit; keep moving. You only live once. Semper Fi Marine Mel!

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6 The Millstone Times

April 2022

Q: LEADERS IN LEAST INVASIVE PAIN & SPINE PROCEDURES How can Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment Help Shoulder and Knee Pain?

A:

Platelet Rich Plasma erapy also referred to as PRP erapy, is a progressive non-surgical treatment to treat a variety of conditions including arthritis, ten- don injuries, and ligament injuries. PRP is part of a group of state-of-the-art treatments collectively referred to as Regenerative Medicine. PRP treats an injured area naturally using your body’s own growth factors to accelerate healing. It has been shown to be safe and e ec- tive for numerous joint and so tissue injuries. It has been extensively researched in numerous medical journals and publications all over the world. Some of the many uses of Platelet Rich Plasma include osteoarthritis (degenera- tive arthritis) of the spine, knee, shoulder, hip, hands, and feet, as well as menis- cus tears, plantar fasciitis, and rotator cu tears. e procedure is simple and is performed in the o ce.  e PRP process begins when a small amount of the patient’s blood is removed from the arm and placed into a special container.  e blood is then placed into a device called a centri- fuge which spins the blood to help the separate the portion of the blood which becomes concentrated with platelets, thereby giving the procedure its name. ese platelets are important because they release growth factors to recruit stem cells and to assist in healing an injured area naturally. Once the PRP is isolated, it is injected to the injured area under the guidance of an ultrasound machine to help accelerate healing and reduce pain.

is healing works on the simple principle that your body is perfectly capable of healing itself. Your blood contains all the essential components that the body produces to repair tissue damage. Each time you have an injury, the platelets in your blood along with growth factors, stem cells, cytokines, and other elements create a sca olding on the site. e damaged tissues use this framework to regenerate and repair.  e entire process takes approximately one hour, and pa- tients are sent home the same day. Patients on average report more than 50% improvement in 6 weeks and up to 100% improvement in 12 weeks. is may eliminate the need for more aggressive and expensive treatment options such as long-term medication or surgery. In a recent study, researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery gave patients with early osteoarthritis an injection of PRP and then monitored them for one year. A er one year of the PRP injection, physicians evaluated the knee cartilage with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). While previous studies have shown that patients with osteoarthritis can lose roughly ve percent of knee cartilage per year, the Hospital for Special Surgery investigators found that a large majority of patients in their study had no further cartilage loss. At minimum PRP also prevented further knee deterioration.

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When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones during a thunderstorm. Being outside when lightning is present is not something to take lightly—ever. The weather forecast calls for a slight chance of thunderstorms, but you can only see a few fluffy white clouds overhead. So you and your tennis partner grab your racquets and balls and head for the tennis court. You spend a few minutes warming up and then—wait! Is that thunder you hear? Was that a lightning flash? What do you do? Keep playing until the thunder and lightning get closer? Go sit on the metal bench under the trees to see what happens? Or get in your car and drive home? Correct answer: If no substantial, non-concrete shelter is nearby, get in your car and wait out the storm. Why? Because being outside when lightning is present is not something to take lightly—ever. Risks of Lightning Strikes

Although the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are less than 1 in a million, some factors can put you at greater risk. Lightning most often strikes people who work outside or engage in outdoor recreational activities. Regional and seasonal differences can also affect your risk of being injured by lightning. In 2019, Florida and Texas had the most lightning deaths. Florida is considered the “lightning capital” of the country, with more than 2,000 lightning injuries over the past 50 years. The consequences of lightning strikes are serious. Lightning is one of the leading causes of weather-related fatalities. From 2009–2018, lightning caused an average of average of 27 deaths per year in the United States.

When you see lightning, take safety precautions. Protect Yourself from Lightning Strikes You can protect yourself from risk even if you are caught outdoors when lightning is close by. Safety precautions outdoors

• If the weather forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone your trip or activity. • Remember: When thunder roars, go indoors. Find a safe, enclosed shelter. • Don’t forget the 30-30 rule. After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. • If no shelter is available, crouch low, with as little of your body touching the ground as possible. Lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly over 100 feet away. • Stay away from concrete floors or walls. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring. Although you should move into a non-concrete structure if possible, being indoors does not automatically protect you from lightning. In fact, about one-third of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors. Safety precautions indoors • Avoid water during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through plumbing. • Avoid electronic equipment of all types. Lightning can travel through electrical systems and radio and television reception systems. • Avoid corded phones. However, cordless or cellular phones are safe to use during a storm. • Avoid concrete floors and walls. Lightning strikes may be rare, but they still happen, and the risk of serious injury or death is severe. Take thunderstorms seriously. Learn and follow these safety rules to keep yourself safe from lightning.

8 The Millstone Times

April 2022

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Cats That Act Like Dogs By, Surabhi Ashok Cats are thought to be more distant, independent, and low maintenance while dogs are thought as extroverted, attention-seeking, and affectionate. In case you find yourself about to buy a cat because of their reserved nature, it might be beneficial to know the cat breeds that don’t act like the stereotype at all. These cat breeds might also interest you if you are a pet owner who prefers dogs but can’t get them for one reason or the other or just want a happy medium.

Such cats that act like dogs are referred to as puppy cats. Puppy cats often exhibit behaviors like following their owner, craving affection and acknowledgement, enjoying swimming, and walk- ing with leashes. One such cat is the Abyssinian cat. Similar to dogs, they are athletic, friendly, and crave constant attention. Abyssinians can become depressed if left alone for too long, and they frequently perch on their owners’ bodies. Their need for constant attention and their friendly nature are also seen in Ocicats and Bombays. If considering an alternative to a dog, the American Bobtail is the perfect choice. These large, deep orange felines are very smart as well as loving and de- voted. Coupled with their rather bold nature, they are often seen employed as therapy animals. Birman cats are also a viable option for many pet owners. They don’t need too much attention, and they agree well with children. Birman cats can be trained to follow different commands like retrieving toys, which is not commonly seen in cat breeds. Finally, Rag Dolls are the most common cat breed that act like dogs. Their name comes from their tendency to go limp like a doll when they are picked up. While these cats are more mellow, they voluntarily interact with children and other pets and wait for their owners by the door. While it is important to remember that characteristics are developed based on an animal’s surroundings and interactions, certain breeds, like Manx, Turkish Angora, Main Coon, American Curl, and Burmese, are more prone to craving human contact and forgoing basic feline behavior as it’s assumed. However, you can also just train your cat to act like a dog. Cats are intelligent, and with time, can be trained to act a certain way, especially if they are young. If this sounds like something you want to do, here’s a tip: felines learn more quickly when associating clicker sounds to a behavioral pattern. What- ever you may do, treat your pet with care to ensure they live a long, healthy, and happy life. Source: https://www.newsweek.com/cat-breeds-that-act-like-dogs-1584982 | https://www.prudentpet.com/cat-breeds-like-dogs/

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PET PAGES Best Pet Photo Contest

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10 The Millstone Times

April 2022

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St. Patr i ck ’s Day 2150 W. County Line Road Jackson, NJ 08527 (732) 363-7095 St. Patr i ck ’s Day Sa Must present coupon to get this offer. Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Disposal fee may apply. Additional charges for shop supplies, up to 7% or $25 maximum may be added. See store for complete details. Coupon Expires 4/15/22 $ 1O OFF any Oil Change OIL CHANGE Must present coupon to get this offer. Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Disposal fee may apply. Additional charges for shop supplies, up to 7% or $25 maximum may be added. See store for complete details. Coupon Expires 4/15/22 1O% OFF any mechanical work of $100.00 or more MECHANICAL Must prese discounts for shop su W CHE A WIN 21 POINT WINTERIZATION CHECK FREE WITH ANY SERVICE! WINTERIZATION Coupo xpires 5/15/22. Must present coupon to get this offer. Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Disposal fee may apply. Additional charges for shop supplies, up to 7% or $25 maximum may be added. See store for complete details. Coupon Expires 4/15/22 $ 1O OFF any Oil Change OIL CHANGE Must present coupon to get this offer. Most vehicles. No other di counts apply. Disposal fee may pply. Additional charg s for shop supplies, up to 7% or $25 maximum may be added. See store for complete details. Coupon Expires 4/15/22 1O% OFF any mechanical work of $100.00 or more MECHANICAL Coupon Expires 5/15/22. Must present coupon to get this offer. Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Disposal fee may apply. Additional charges for shop supplies, up to 7% or $25 maximum may be added. See store for complete details. Coupon Expires 4/15/22 1O% OFF any mechanical work of $100.00 or more MECHANICAL Must present coupon to get this offer. Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Disposal fee may apply. Additional charges for shop supplies, up to 7% or $25 maximum may be added. See store for complete details. Coupon Expires 4/15/22 21 POINT WI TERIZATION CHECK FREE WITH ANY SERVICE! WINTERIZATION Coupon Expires 5/15/22. We perform dealer scheduled maintenance. I f you see these l ights please come in for service. Drive Right In! No Appointment Necessary. Must present coupon to get this offer. Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Disposal fee may a ply. Addit onal charg s for sh p supplies, up to 7% or $25 maximum ma be ad ed. See store for comp ete details. Coupon Expires 4/15/22

Jackson Fireston e (Bryant Automotive, Complete Auto Repair Facili y) St. Patr i ck ’s Day Savings

St. Patr i ck ’s Day Savings

Must present coupon to get this offer. Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Disposal fee may apply. Additional charges for shop supplies, up to 7% or $25 maximum may be added. See store for complete details. Coupon Expires 4/15/22 $ 1O OFF any Oil Change OIL CHANGE Family owned and operated for over 40 years. We service ll makes and models! Bridgestone Firestone Total Car Care 2150 W. County Line Road Jackson, NJ (732) 363-7095 | JACKSONFIRESTONE.COM

Fami ly owned and operated for over 40 year s. We ser vice al l makes and models! Br idges tone F i res tone Total Care Care Must present coupon to get this offer. Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Disposal fee may apply. Additional charges for shop supplies, up to 7% or $25 maximum may be added. See store for complete details. Coupon Expires 4/15/22 1O% OFF any mechanical work of $100.00 or more MECHANICAL Must present coupon to get this offer. Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Disposal fee may apply. Additional charges for shop supplies, up to 7% or $25 maximum may be added. See store for complete details. Coupon Expires 4/15/22 $ 1O OFF any Oil Change OIL CHANGE

We perform dealer scheduled maintenance. I f you see these l ights please come in for service.

We perform dealer scheduled maintenance. I f you see these l ights please come in for service.

We perform dealer scheduled maintenance. I f you see these l ights please come in for service.

Drive Right In! No Appointment Necessary. Drive Right in! No Appointment Necessary! Drive Right In! No Appointment Necessary.

Drive Right In! No Appointment Necess

www. TheMillstoneTimes.com 11 St. Patr i ck ’s Day Savings

Apple AirPods Will Be Able to Recognize Users Based on Their Ear Canals By, Surabhi Ashok

Multinational corporation Apple is filing a patent for an in-ear device that would use the differences in an individual’s unique ultrasonic signals reflected from the surface of their ear canals to verify the identity of the user. In a case where the AirPods are lost or stolen, the device will not operate for anyone but an authorized user. How would this work? Well, variations in each person’s ear canal may cause an ultrasonic signal and resulting echo that is slightly different from the orig- inal users. The technology could identify the smaller reverberation time of an echo from someone who has a smaller ear canal compared to a larger one. Instead of ultrasonic sounds, Apple may also utilize a person’s gait, or the style of their walk, to the same purpose of user identification. A lumbering walk for instance can be detected by the long and swaying strides and slow pace. The current headphones are prone to security risks like unsanctioned phone commands and breaches of other private information available on one’s mobile device. They do not consider whether or not the person wearing the headphones would be permitted to have access to various features of the smartphone like the receiving of messages. The new biometric device, potentially being released under a different name than the Airpod, would change this. Biometrics is the automatic recognition of unique characteristics, used as a replacement for passwords and a tool for law enforcement among other things. Acting similar to facial recognition and fingerprint recognition on phones, user identification in headphones would add to customer security. Considering the new technology, the protections, and the fact that the most recent pair of AirPods are $179, Apple’s future device will definitely be priced highly. However, the quality of the product and the benefits it will offer will surely be worth it! Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10460575/Apple-AirPods-soon-identify-based-shape-EAR-CANAL-patent-suggests.html

12 The Millstone Times

April 2022

FAMILY MATTERS

DO YOU NEED A LAWYER IN MUNICIPAL COURT? BY JOHN BAZZURRO As indicated on our website, there are numerous charges that are heard in the Municipal Courts in the State of New Jersey. These range from low level motor vehicle violations such as going through a stop sign, careless driving, failure to maintain your lane and other charges that generally carry very low fines and two or less motor vehicle points. If you have been charged with any motor vehicle violation that carries more than two motor vehicle points upon a conviction, we suggest that you obtain the advice of counsel before going to court. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with some information as to whether or not they need legal representation in Municipal Court on a low-level motor vehicle violation that carries two or less motor vehicle points. As most citizens of New Jersey know, municipal prosecutors will, generally, as a matter of course offer a “no point” or “zero point” violation as part of a plea bargain if you are charged with one of these low-level motor vehicle violations. The monetary cost of these “no point” or “zero point” violations are rather excessive in that you are required to pay a $250.00 surcharge for this “privilege.” The statute which provides this “no point” plea is called the unsafe driving statute. The basic theory in accepting a “no point” or “zero point” plea bargain is to potentially avoid motor vehicle points on your license in order to keep your auto insurance premiums lower and, potentially, to avoid the suspension of your driving privileges where you are in danger of accumulating 12 motor vehicle points which will result in a temporary suspension of driving privileges. However, it should be pointed out that there are a number of situations in which your acceptance of such a “no point” or “zero point” plea bargain may adversely affect your rights without your knowledge. One such situation is where you have already previously pled guilty to unsafe driving on more than one occasion. Your third guilty plea to unsafe driving within a certain period of time will subject you to four motor vehicle points when you may be under the mistaken belief that you will not be receiving any motor vehicle points. Another such situation where you potentially will need legal representation is where the low-level motor vehicle violation is the result of a motor vehicle accident. The bottom line is that, regardless of what type of motor vehicle violation you are charged with, you should seek the advice of an attorney before appearing in Municipal Court by yourself and entering into a plea bargain which may subject you to other legal ramifications of which you were not aware. Typically, when we receive a call for a motor vehicle violation, we initially attempt to obtain as much information as possible from the potential client to determine whether or not they will require legal representation given their individual circumstances. Accordingly, please feel free to contact us to discuss your individual situation to determine whether or not legal representation is required.

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David P. Levine, Esq. Of Counsel to the Firm Michael B. Shaw, Esq., Associate Attorney 200 Meco Drive, Millstone Twp., NJ Email: jtbazzurro@bazzurrolaw.com 732-410-5350 • www.bazzurrolaw.com

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Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney Member of New Jersey and New York Bars

www. TheMillstoneTimes.com 13

FAMILY MATTERS

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14 The Millstone Times

April 2022

FAMILY MATTERS What You Should Know About Tech Support Scams During the pandemic, we’re doing more online – working, connect-

ing with family and friends, shopping, and banking. So, if something goes wrong with your device, you want to fix it right away. Scammers are preying on this, offering phony tech support services. Here’s what

you should know about tech support scams. How to spot tech support scams

Scammers take advantage of your reasonable concerns about virus- es and other threats, but their real goal isn’t to protect your computer. Instead, they want to sell you useless services, steal your credit card number, or install malware, which lets them see everything on your computer. How do you know if you’re being scammed? Here are three common scenarios: Scenario #1: Unsolicited call from tech support You get a call from someone who says he’s a computer technician. Maybe he claims to be from a well-known company. He says there are viruses or other malware on your computer to trick you into giving him remote access to your computer or buying software you don’t need. He may ask you to pay by gift card or wire transfer.

Scenario #2: Unknown pop-up appears on your screen A pop-up window appears on your computer screen with a message warning of a security issue on your computer and tells you to call a phone number to get help. The person who answers may pretend to run a diagnostic test and claim to identify more problems. Scenario #3: Unsolicited email about a suspended account You get an email saying your account has been suspended. In a recent twist, scammers are sending emails saying your Zoom account has been suspended or you missed a meeting. If you click on the link, it will install malware allowing the scammers to see what’s on your computer. How to avoid tech support scams Here are four tips to protect against tech support scams : • Never give control of your computer to someone who contacts you out of the blue. Criminals can spoof phone numbers, so you can’t rely on Caller ID. Avoid giving anyone you don’t know access to your computer, or your credit card information. • Don’t click links in unsolicited pop-ups or emails. If an unknown pop-up appears on your screen, avoid clicking on any links. The same is true for unsolicited emails. Instead, navigate to the company’s site by typing in their URL. • Maintain your anti-virus software. Use trusted anti-virus security software and make sure to update it regularly. • Recognize legitimate tech companies. Legitimate companies won’t contact you by phone, email or text message to say there’s a problem with your computer. Security pop-up warnings from real tech companies won’t ask you to call a phone number. Act quickly if you’ve been scammed If you’ve been scammed and you paid by credit or debit card, contact your credit card company or bank to ask them to stop the transaction. If you paid with a gift card, immediately contact the company that issued the card , and tell them you paid a scammer and ask if they can refund your money. You should also report any tech support scams to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov . For more information on fraud and scams, download the CFPB and FDIC’s Money Smart for Older Adults resource guide.

www. TheMillstoneTimes.com 15

HOME IMPROVEMENT Trending Wood Burning Stove Tops By Valeria Mancuso

Wood Burning Stoves Effect on Pollution Data has been collected from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to convey the affect wood burning stoves have on the pollution problem in the world. Even though the data shows a decrease in small particle pollution that comes from wood burners from 38% to 17%, they are still a major prob- lem. The revised data also shows that manufacturing and con- struct open represent the largest single contributor to tiny particle pollution, called PM2.5. Word-burning is responsible for 17% of PM2.5. According to Defra Particulates, which are found in wood burn- ers, are a group of pollutants that can enter the bloodstream, lodg- ing the heart, brain and other organs which can cause serious im- pact on health because they are such tiny particles. However, there as been a decrease in particulate air pollution between the years 1970 and late 2000’s because Britain has revoked using coal as a source of power. A Defra spokesperson explained, “We recognize that some households are reliant on solid fuels for heating, hot water, and cooking. The measures we have introduced will protect health by phasing out the sale of the most polluting fuels and by encourag- ing a transition to less polluting fuels.” Opinions of Experts Simon Birkett, founder and director of the campaign group Clean Air, said, “It is still an enormous percentage of the most powerful pollution. Whether it is 17 percent or 38 percent, it's still an ex- tremely serious problem. In policy terms, the key thing is that the number has gone up 35 percent in the past 10 years, and is still growing at 3 percent a year, so wood-burning stoves are clearly a problem.”

Last year showed that the deadliest form of pollution rose by 3% because of the increase in trendy wood burning stoves. Annual emissions from wood burn- ers have increased by 3% each year since 2003. Thus, making wood burning a larger contributor to particulate pollution than cars, which contributed to 12% of PM10 and 13% of PM2.5 while wood burners were contributing to 35%. Professor Alastair Lewis, National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of York said, “Burning wood for home heating, particularly in cities, undoes many of the recent improvements seen in PM2.5 - hard won gains that have been achieved from our collective investments in cleaner cars, buses and lorries.” Professor William Collins, professor of climate processes, University of Reading, said, “Domestic wood burning is now the single largest contributor to fine particle pollution in the UK. These particles can increase the risk of cancer and heart disease. Strong pollution controls have been very successful in cleaning up particles from vehicle exhausts. Cutting down on pollution from wood burning would therefore make significant inroads into reducing the particles in the air we breathe.” Resources: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10515799/Trendy-woodburning-stoves-drive-levels-dangerous-air-pollutants-3-year-UK.html

16 The Millstone Times

April 2022