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Contents

N E WSPA P E R

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hacked. connecting to free wi-fi puts your personal data at risk of being stolen

If you have a smartphone or laptop chances are you have used free Wi-Fi before. But what you may not know is that you are putting yourself at risk to be hacked. CBS4’s David Sutta teamed up with a group called HackMiami to see exactly how it was done.

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blurred lines & the summer of 2013

Forget “Blurred Lines”, “blurred life” may be more appropriate.

According to singer Robin Thicke, the summer of 2013 was a bit of a blur. In an April deposition transcript made public on Monday, Thicke told lawyers he would start every day with a Vicodin and a bottle of vodka, drinking it before and during his interviews.

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Learning To Code Can Lead To Big Money In South Florida

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Adopt a Family 4 the Holidays 2014 is now open!

With laptops open and pen to paper, more than a dozen high school junior and senior girls are learning to write code at a special seminar in downtown Miami. It’s called “Girls Who Code” and it’s sponsored, by South Florida’s tech industry.

Our most popular program of the year, Adopt a Family 4 the Holidays is now open! Navigate over to aaf. neighbors4neighbors.org to get started today. Once signing up, you can search for needy families based on your location or budget.

c b s m i a m i . c o m / To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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24 | Health • • • •

Section Sponsored by:

An Epidemic: Top 10 outbreaks in U.S. history The rising cost of generic drugs FIU expert joins Ebola war in Africa Enterovirus D68: What every parent should know

40 | Real Estate • • • •

Section Sponsored by:

Is buying a foreclosure or short sale right for you?

Properties sold in Miami-Dade and Broward County Luxury properties sold in Miami-Dade and Broward County 6 Red flags your home inspector may not be able to detect

50 | hurricane guide

Nelly Gambirazio Realtor® Associate 305.987.3503

Section Sponsored by:

• Things you should do in a hurricane warning • CBS4 Hurricane Guide & Map

64 | Home Improvement • • • • •

Section Sponsored by:

How to choose the best washer and dryer for your needs How to prevent mold and water damage Simple toilet repairs 5 Tips to make a more sustainable garden Fertilize your lawn

84 | Marketplace • • • • • • •

Section Sponsored by:

Car seat alarm could save lives Miami-Dade public schools launches mobile app ‘Chexting’ breaking up happy homes Miami-Dade schools now drug testing students New website offers quick car recall search MIA announces new flights for fall & winter 6 Must-read books for dog lovers

104 | Automotive

Section Sponsored by:

• Ram launches 2015 heavy duty models

PRINTED IN THE USA, COPYRIGHT © 2014 BY MARCO G, INC. All rights reserved. The CBS4 News Magazine, a free publication, is published monthly by MARCO G, Inc. Material in this publication must not be stored or reproduced in any form without permission from Marco G. Inc. or WFOR CBS4. Requests for permission should be directed to: info@cbs4newsmagazine.com. CBS4 and/or Marco G. Inc do not assume any liability for products and/or services claimed in advertisements herein. CBS4 and its logo (s) are protected through trademark registration. The use of logos, content and/or artwork in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. For more information please contact 305.477.1699.

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If you have a smartphone or laptop chances are you have used free Wi-Fi before.

But what you may not know is that you are putting yourself at risk to be hacked.

C

BS4’s David Sutta teamed up with a group called HackMiami to see exactly how it was done.

The group of hackers at Cyber Pizza in Dania Beach showed how they would need just seconds to steal your usernames and passwords, texts, even your photos all over Wi-Fi. On a rainy Thursday night CBS employee Ezzy Castro used the free Wi-Fi in the restaurant.

Rod Soto with HackMiami set up across the room with his computer and a small antenna.

“Do you know her?” CBS4’s David Sutta asked Soto.

“No I don’t.” he replied.

Sutta asked if he had ever held her phone in his hands?”

Soto shakes his head and replies “No. I have not.”

Soto then started running a program, showing a side of hacking never captured before.

“All I have to do is grep, or look for password and it will show up,” he said.

With the stroke of a few keys, a code flashed by and then suddenly he pulled up a list.

He pointed to a list of names and phone numbers on the screen.

“There’s David. There’s Alex.” It’s all the contacts we had put on Ezzy’s phone. Rod’s just hacked it all over Wi-Fi.

And he’s just getting started.

“Yes. Absolutely. I can grab the SMS (text messages).

I can actually grab the contact of the actual text. And actually I can get pictures from the SD card.”

Sutta asked him to clarify. “So nothing is safe on the phone?”

“No, it’s not,” he said.

Soto told his computer to start pulling photos. A minute later he had one.

“This stuff is obviously dangerous. Now I have your contacts. Now I have your pictures. Now I have your private data. I can use this for identity theft,” he said.

Soto is what you call a “white hat” hacker. They are the good guys who search for vulnerabilities in the tech world then let people know about them before criminals do.

The experiment he ran with his team at HackMiami was at CBS4’s request.

With Ezzy across the room Rod instructed her to go to Facebook and login. As she entered in her information, he saw every keystroke.

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The hackers can mimic the Starbucks WiFi to the point where the phone would think it’s Starbucks but it really isn’t. Once you’re using the hackers Wi-Fi they are grabbing everything you are sending over the internet.

They essentially are tricking people.

The HackMiami team showed how they did it. CBS4 agreed not to show you exactly what they did for security purposes; however, CBS4 found a quick Google search will give just about everything you need to know.

What was most frightening though was how he did it.

The entire hack occurred over those free Wi-Fi hot spots you find in coffee shops, stores, and public places.

James Ball with HackMiami explained “I could set it up and say this is a legit access point. A legit Wi-Fi network and people will log into me and not realize it.”

Essentially, the hacker can clone the login webpage to look like Starbucks or Publix or AT&T Wi-Fi. But it’s really the hacker’s site. And you would never know the difference.

In many cases your smartphone will automatically log into it. If your phone is familiar with say the Starbucks WiFi, when you go in, it often will automatically log in.

Soto shook his head and said, “Precisely. That’s what attackers will do. It’s called social engineering. We’ll present you objects, or words, or pages that look legit.

They will use something that you will trust and by that they will lead you to inputting your information.”

While Ezzy used her iPhone, usernames, passwords, websites she visited, were all being recorded. The information traveled over what was considered a secure network. Soto ran a program that took the jumbled lines of code and put it back together.

Once it was assembled he could see websites along with all the data that was entered. When we switched Ezzy to an Android phone Rod took it a step further.

He required her to update her phone to view the internet. She clicked the update. He inserted an app onto her phone to run in the background. Now he

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could pull anything he wanted.

Soto explained, “There is no limit. With enough resources and enough skill level we can pretty much break into anything.”

The second hack was worse than a Wi-Fi hack. It stayed with the phone even after she logged off the Wi-Fi. “It is there. And as long as I have my listener every time she opens it. It will come back,” Soto said.

Meaning he could pull data for her phone for weeks, months, even years if he wanted to.

Castro found the experience eye-opening. She frequently uses the free Wi-Fi in Target.

“It just makes you think twice. All the places that you use Wi-Fi at and you just can’t trust anyone,” Castro said.

In all, Soto spent very little to pull off the stunt.

“The software is actually open source. It’s free. So you can download it and install it,” he said.

He paid for a laptop and a cheap antenna.

For $250, he’s hacked phones. The number one question we had after witnessing the hacks was how to avoid being hacked on our phone. Soto had a few ideas but his number one was pretty straight forward.

“I personally would not browse or use free Wi-Fi.” he said.

Staying off the free Wi-Fi is hard though. Data plans can cost a bundle. The idea of surfing the web for free is tempting. Certainly there are legitimate Wi-Fi hotspots out there. But how do you know it’s really Starbucks, or Target, or whatever it says they are?

Soto and the hackers at HackMiami agreed that you’ll never really know.

Sutta wondered if this is happening in South Florida. The hackers didn’t blink when they responded “Absolutely.” Rod said he’s seen it personally at Miami International Airport. Others said they had seen it on the Metrorail, in area hospitals, and college campuses.

Frankly with it being so cheap to do and requiring little education the belief is it’s really not a question of if it’s happening.

HackMiami.org also provided this list of tips for people worried about Wi-Fi hacking.

Mitigation measures against Wi-Fi attacks for users and businesses 1. If you are business specify this attack in your WiFi Acceptable Use Policy, making users aware of the possibility of these attacks 2. (User)Avoid using free internet, they are usually honeypots or attack setups like the ones shown in this program.

3. (User) Use a VPN service. This service will encrypt your traffic end to end preventing sniffing.

4. (Business) Use of 802.1X Access Control mechanisms recommended for companies.

5. (User) Disable your wireless adapter in your phone and computer when not using it.

6. (User) Never enter your credentials on these public available Wi Fi spots. Do not conduct credit card transactions either.

7. For businesses use complex passwords for Access points management. Change defaults and disable default and non-used ports/services. Do not have open access to your Wi-Fi service.

8. (User) For services like email or Facebook or iCloud, enable two factor authentication (TFA) Where user must receive a SMS with a code that must be input in addition to the password in order to access those services.

9. For businesses. Make sure your Wi-Fi router or access points is using the latest WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) or WPA2. Do not use WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) as it is easy to break.

It takes an average of 10 to 20 minutes to break into a WEP protected WiFi network.

10. (Business) It is recommended to disable WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) and setup router to WPA2 +AES (128 Bit encryption).Filtering internal network by MAC addresses also mitigates possible man in the middle attacks.

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“South Florida and California are the two biggest coding places in the world right now.�

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Learning To Code Can Lead To Big Money In South Florida With laptops open and pen to paper, more than a dozen high school junior and senior girls are learning to write software code at a special seminar in downtown Miami. It’s called “Girls Who Code” and it’s sponsored, in part, by South Florida’s growing tech industry.

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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eventeen year old Shahrine Islam of Fort Lauderdale is one of the students.

“This is an amazing opportunity for me,” said Islalm.

Aysha Habbaba of Pinecrest also sees great things in her future with the knowledge she’s gaining there.

“I honestly know that me, a Syrian-American muslim girl who’s 17 years old, can sit at a computer and, with the right knowledge, can do anything the CEO of Google can,” said said.

A few miles north in Wynwood, young professionals in their early 20’s are also learning new computer languages.

They’ve each paid $9000 to participate in “Wyncode.” This

camp focuses on the language called ruby on rails.

“Twitter was built on ruby on rails, so was Airbnb and Groupon,” said Wyncode co-founder Johanna Mikkola.

“Software is a major part of what’s happening in business, so learning how to code and understanding that technology will absolutely give you a competitive edge.”

Bryan Perez, 25, is one of Wyncode’s first 14 students.

“I would compare coding to higher level algebra. if you’ve done some of that, it’s kind of the same frame of thinking,” he said. “I’m expecting this to be the launch of my career.”

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When Perez and the others complete the course, they have the potential to walk into a entry level job commanding upwards of $60,000, said Wyncode co-founder Juha Mikkola.

“Here in Miami, there’s a big demand. A lot of people are having to relocate from other cities to do it.”

E-Builder of Plantation is one company looking to hire young people who can code.

“We can’t fill the positions we have here fast enough,” said E-Builder President Ron Antevy. “A great software developer, a coder, is extremely hard to find.”

Sean Kelley was among the room full of applicants who visited E-Builder last month looking for a job.

“South Florida and California are the two biggest coding places in the world right now,” he said. “I’d really love to get my foot in the door on this.”

Carecloud is a Miami based company which uses young talent to digitize medical records. Ricardo Morales, the company’s Director of Engineering, looks to courses like Wyncode to fill open positions.

“We think they have the potential to provide us with a lot of great candidates that can join our ranks,” he said.

In fact, Carecloud is offering a $5,000 signing bonus to Wyncode graduates.

“They could actually walk out of that program and start adding value day one,” said Morales.

Back downtown at “Girls Who Code,” Islam beams with excitement and intelligence of a young woman ready to take over the tech world.

“This is a path that hasn’t been walked by very many women,” she said. “Learning to code is empowering.”

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Blurred Lines & The summer of 2013

Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

cbsmiami.com

Forget “Blurred Lines”, “blurred life” may be more appropriate. According to singer Robin Thicke, the summer of 2013 was a bit of a blur. In an April deposition transcript made public on Monday, September 15th, Thicke told lawyers he would start every day with a Vicodin and a bottle of vodka, drinking it before and during his interviews.

“E

very day I woke up, I would take a Vicodin to start the day and then I would fill up a water bottle with vodka and drink it before and during my interviews,” he said. “I don’t recall many things that I said. In fact, I was quite surprised when I read them back sometimes.”

Being high and drunk appears to be Thicke’s defense in a high-stakes lawsuit.

The suit filed by Marvin Gaye’s family accuses Thicke,

Pharrell Williams and Clifford “T.I.” Harris Jr. of illegally ripping off Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up.” In interviews last summer, Thicke said he wanted to do a song similar to the Marvin Gaye hit, but he now says he was lying in those interviews and blamed the drugs and alcohol.

Thicke also copped to lying about just how involved he was in the creation of the track.

“After making six albums that I wrote and produced myself, the biggest hit of my career was written and

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produced by somebody else and I was jealous and I wanted some of the credit,” he said. “The reality is, is that Pharrell had the beat and he wrote almost every single part of the song.”

Pharrell’s April deposition was also released on Monday, September 15th. In it, he says that the 2013 song of summer was his creation, but that “It wouldn’t be what it was — what it is today” without Thicke’s vocals.

But Thicke said, “None of it was my idea.”

Asked early in the deposition whether he considers himself an “honest person,” Thicke said, “No. That’s why I’m separated.” Later, he was asked if he’s selective about when to tell the truth.

“Absolutely not,” he replied. “I told my wife the truth. That’s why she left me.”

Thicke said in April that he had been sober for the past two months, but that he continued to drink alcohol. “My sobriety of is off Vicodin,” he said at the time. “When your wife leaves you, it gives you good reason to sober up.”

Thicke went on to release his “Blurred Lines” follow-up album, “Paula,” dedicated to Patton, in July. It sold only 24,000 copies in its first week — an 86 percent drop-off from the “Blurred Lines” debut.

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Adopt a Family 4 the Holidays 2014 is now open!

Our most popular program of the year, Adopt a Family 4 the Holidays is now open! Navigate over to aaf. neighbors4neighbors.org to get started today. Once signing up, you can search for needy families based on your location or budget.

These families cannot afford the gifts, supplies and food to enjoy a happy holiday, and they need your help! Signing up to Adopt a Family 4 the Holidays is easy and could make a huge difference in the lives of a deserving family.

It is also a jolly and humbling experience for the adopters, and a great way to show your children the virtues in the loving support of neighbors.

The program matches hundreds of families in need with caring businesses, churches, groups and individuals who help make the holidays a little brighter for them by providing gifts.

Last year, 3,689 people were served through this program with toys, food and gift cards.

Families come in all shapes and sizes, and the site allows you to browse families in your area to find one that fits your budget.

So visit aaf.neighbors4neighbors.org and find your family in need today!

2014 LIPS event - A drag event to benefit N4N! Come on out to the 4th annual LIPS event on November 12th, a drag show featuring some of our well-known supporters in full-on drag! The proceeds go to benefit N4N. It's raining men (who want to help their neighbors in need) HALLELUJIAH! Buy tickets by visiting www.neighbors4neighbors.org.

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www.Neighbors4Neighbors.org Our Fall Special is now up on YouTube It's always exciting when we get to release our halfhour specials. This fall, the special covers back-to-school campaigns, Dr. Mars' 25 smiles campaign, the Miami Dolphins Shop with a Fin Event, Advanced Air donating repair of an air conditioner to a needy Ft Lauderdale resident, a young Bahamian athlete who got crucial spine surgery, a Sears Showroom owner who donated a highefficiency washer and dryer to New Jerusalem Camp, Back to School drives and more! The special, hosted by Angela Pellerano, is now available on YouTube. Make sure to subscribe while you’re there! Make sure to tune in and check it out!

Back to School events helped thousands of needy kids across Dade and Broward Back to School events sponsored by the Children's Services Council in Broward and the Kids for Kids club in Miami-Dade were a huge success, raising enough money to supply 6,000 kids in Broward and 600 kids in Miami-Dade with filled backpacks, books uniforms and shoes. There was a resource corridor in Broward for parents and kids with fun stuff and information. Thanks so much to Children's Services Council of Broward County and the Kids for Kids club for making sure no child went back to school with an empty backpack!

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An Epidemic:

Top 10 Outbreaks In U.S. History

Throughout the years, epidemics and plagues have shaken up societies and cultures around the world. The latest outbreak that Americans seem to be concerned about is the Ebola epidemic occurring in the African countries of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. With experts and doctors saying that the outbreak has the potential to become a full-blown pandemic that will become increasingly more difficult to control, the general public is scared.

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W

hile the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continuously keep an eye on public health and any immediate health dangers, the American public still worries about how much control we really have over such outbreaks.

Recently, two Americans were brought back to the U.S. to be treated at Emory Hospital in Atlanta after contracting the Ebola virus in Africa, while a man in New York City feared that he’d contracted the virus while in West Africa.

Add this to vials of smallpox recently found at the CDC and the increasing number of cases of measles in Ohio and it is obvious to see that the health scare is real.

Looking back in history, the number of outbreaks and epidemics that have taken their toll on this nation exceed a minuscule handful.

Below are the 10 epidemics whose threat of taking out our population (both real and imagined) rocked this country.

- Yellow Fever (1668-1853) Major outbreaks of the disease were cited across the country from 1668 to 1853, during which nine percent of Philadelphia’s population was killed.

- Cholera (1832-1851) Claiming the life of U.S. President James K. Polk, this disease has had outbreaks all over the world, officially becoming a pandemic multiple times through history.

- Smallpox (1837) Smallpox is a serious, viral infectious disease that plagued the U.S. as early as 1617, but it was The Great Plains epidemic in 1837 that caused the first big scare in this country.

- Typhus (1837-1837) A major killer during the Civil War, this disease had outbreaks crop up in New Hampshire,

Tennessee, Philadelphia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. - Influenza (1918) Not just an epidemic but a pandemic, the 1918 outbreak killed healthy young adults as opposed to children and the elderly.

- Measles (1989-1991) Responsible for killing 20 percent of Hawaii’s population in the 1850’s, Measles was and continues to be no laughing matter. The scariest outbreak happened in 1989, prompting the Bush administration to take action, but that doesn’t change the fact that outbreaks continue to occur.

- HIV/AIDS (1981-current) A major killer during the

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1980’s and 1990’s, the viral infection has eased more in recent years while new medications and possible vaccinations provide hope for a cure.

- Swine Flu (1998) A major outbreak that occurred in some pigs in the U.S., this illness fell more on the “imagined fear” side with more cases taking place overseas than in this country.

- Avian (Bird) Flu (2005) Again, more of an imagined fear than real, this disease was never actually detected in U.S. poultry, birds, or humans. However, the same can’t be said for Asia, Europe, and Africa.

- Ebola (2014) The most current health scare, Ebola outbreaks have increasingly occurred in West Africa, infecting two Americans so far.

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The Rising Cost Of

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“It’s been happening for about the last two years and it’s still increasing.”

Buying generic brand drugs when filling a prescription used to be a no brainer. However, with a recent spike in prices, some are now struggling to pay for what was once affordable medication. Recent surveys suggest 70-percent of the nation takes at least one prescription medication. Pharmacist Bill Nabors of University Pharmacy in Coral Gables says everyone is feeling the increase.

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ustomers who have insurance plans have not been affected too badly because their co-pays have stayed the same, but patients who have to come in and pay cash, that’s a different story,” said Nabors.

Nabors said it has to do with consolidation in the pharmaceutical manufacturing business for generic brand drugs.

“Instead of five or six manufacturers now there may be just two or three and the price point will have increased five times from what it was originally,” he said.

Some of the generics that have shot up in price include Digoxin for certain heart conditions, Levothyroxine for underactive thyroid, certain pain medications and Prednisolone, a steroid used for allergies, arthritis and rashes.

“Suddenly the market has dried up. Certain milligram amounts we ask for we can’t even find,” said Nabors.

Experts CBS4 News spoke with said there are a number of reasons for the price increases, including drug makers having difficulty getting raw materials, the increased cost of being FDA compliant and other drug producers who are no longer making generics.

“It’s been happening for about the last two years and it’s still increasing,” said University Pharmacy managing partner Gary Bruce Sandler.

He said they try to help customers who come to them with economic hardships.

“We will see how much that drug is really costing us, how much we really need to make to still make a profit and

sometimes we will lose a little bit to give that customer what they need,” said Sandler.

Pharmacists said they know of situations in the past where people wouldn’t fill their prescriptions because of the cost, putting their health at great risk.

“What are they going to do? Go without groceries or pay for their heart medication? It’s become quite the quandary, especially on those with fixed incomes,” said Nabors.

If the high cost of generics is too high for you, Nabors said talk to your pharmacist to see what can be done. “We can try to shave costs here and there as best we can and help you transition into the new cost structure.”

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FIU Expert Joins

Ebola

War In Africa

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An infectious disease expert from Florida International University who was asked to join an international team of experts working to contain an outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa left Miami on Thursday, August 14th, for Nigeria to work with a World Health Organization outbreak alert and response team.

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n over 30 years of practicing medicine, Dr. Aileen Marty spent 25 serving as a Navy doctor specializing in tropical medicine, infectious disease pathology and disaster medicine. Officials say Marty’s team will focus on threat analysis and risk assessment, two specialties at FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. The mortality rate in the current outbreak, believed to be the worst on record, is about 60 percent.

There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola, which can only be contained by strictly isolating the victims, who may or may not survive the virus. It can end with patients bleeding to death internally. It is spread by bodily fluids – sweat, saliva, mucus – in close contact.

“It’s an incredibly serious situation,” Dr. Marty told CBS4’s Gary Nelson in an interview prior to her departure.

“It is very, very scary.”

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Marty said the possibility that she could become infected in Africa “is real,” and admits to having some trepidation about the mission.

“Obviously, I have to bear in mind that this serious condition exists,” she said.

Marty is no stranger to danger. Facing it has been her business for decades.

She has fought all manner of deadly contagions around the world. During a 25 year stint in the Navy, she traveled to many nations to combat diseases such as Dengue and Typhoid, and helped develop anti-biological warfare plans for the United States.

When the call came to go to Africa, she didn’t hesitate.

“Service is part of the fabric of my being, and putting myself in harm’s way to do good is also part of the fabric of my being,” she said.

The trip was a tough sell on some of Marty’s loved ones.

“Some members of my family would prefer that I did not go, and they’ve made that very, very clear, but they understand,” she said.

Marty will be with a team of WHO pros outfitted with the best gear and skilled in using it.

“We will be coming in with more resources – not just more quantity resources, but more quality resources for protection,” she said.

The biggest obstacle may be overcoming social and cultural barriers in the region.

“There is political unrest. There is a dissatisfaction and distrust of government, as well as of the people coming in to

assist in this outbreak,” Marty said. Some aid workers have been attacked by people in the plagued area who believe the outsiders are spreading the virus. Some are in denial of ill family members, and are relying on “witchcraft” to help those who are sick.

Marty will call on her considerable communication skills to win the hearts – and health – of the people. She’ll have to. While airlines are screening passengers from the region for signs of illness, Ebola can take weeks to take hold.

Could the disease be a plane ride away from Miami?

“Inescapably, it is possible for an Ebola-infected individual, who does not yet manifest symptoms, to arrive in Miami,” Dr. Marty said, adding that infectious disease control methods are so advanced here, that it would be unlikely a broad spread could occur. Marty stressed that it is important for healthcare professionals to carefully question patients who may present with flu-like symptoms, asking them where they have been, what airlines they may have flown, to possibly be exposed to Ebola.

WHO officials said the outbreak had killed 1,145 people in four countries across West Africa. At least 2,127 cases have been reported in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria.

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Enterovirus D68: What Every Parent Should Know Parents should be prepared for a new virus that is infecting the Midwest and looking to sweep the nation. Since mid-August 2014, around 82 people have been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be infected with the dangerous Enterovirus D68, or EV-D68, in six different states. Recent reports have shown most cases popping up in Missouri and Illinois, but Southern states like Alabama have gotten their first cases along with more western cities like Denver. With a new outbreak of disease spreading, it’s important to become familiar with what could plague much of the nation this fall and winter. Just in time for flu season.

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What is Enterovirus?

Enteroviruses are actually very common, however it is the strain of Enterovirus D68 that is causing all of the current trouble in the Midwest. Enterovirus D68, though normally occurring less commonly than other enterovirus infections, can cause mild to very sever respiratory illness, with infection mainly occurring in infants, children and teenagers between the summer and fall seasons.

Because of this, major concern has been drawn by parents; especially because of the rarity of the illness.

Enterovirus was first documented in California in 1962, however, until recently, no major outbreaks have occurred.

Symptoms of Enterovirus

Symptoms of Enterovirus D68 may include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough and body aches; much like a common cold or flu. It is these symptoms that make initial identification of the virus difficult for

parents.

Wheezing seems to be the biggest symptom documented so far.

According to WebMD, a majority of the children in this recent outbreak do not have a fever but instead are having difficulty breathing and moving air, with symptoms matching those of asthma; even in children that do not have a history of asthma.

Treatment & Prevention

At the moment, there is no specific treatment or cure for the illness, however over-the-counter medications may be helpful. Should a child be suffering from severe symptoms, hospitalization may be needed.

The most obvious means of prevention is washing of hands, but it is advised that children avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth, and avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing with people who are infected.

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s p o n s o r e d b y:

Listings in this section are based on properties sold in previous months and retrieved from www.zillow.com.

Not all properties sold are listed. Not responsible for typographical errors and/or omissions. Photographs are for illustration purposes only.

Is Buying a Foreclosure or Short Sale Right for You? Purchasing a foreclosure or short sale property may mean finding a great house at a reduced price. But you should be aware that there are often challenges along the way.

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Difference between a foreclosure and short sale When a borrower consistently fails to make mortgage payments over a period of time, the property is foreclosed upon and the lender assumes ownership of the home. A foreclosed property may be sold at auction or through a traditional real estate agent.

While foreclosed properties typically are owned by banks, a short sale property is still owned by the borrower. In a short sale, the seller arranges with his lender to accept a price that’s less than the amount owed on the property.

As part of this arrangement, the lender generally agrees to forgive the rest of the loan. Contradictory to its name, buying a short sale property usually takes a lot longer because it’s not just the buyer and the seller who have to agree to the sale. All the lenders that hold a lien on the property have to agree to the sale; if there’s a second mortgage on the property, that lender is also a lien holder.

To determine whether buying a foreclosure or short sale is right for you, consider these tips: Learn about the processes. Read everything you can about foreclosures, attend seminars and seek the advice of others with short sale- and foreclosure-buying experience. Learning the vernacular and understanding the basics of the process will better prepare you for the journey on which you are embarking.

Get help from pros. If you’re thinking of purchasing a short sale or foreclosure, you’re going to need the guidance of a professional who has experience buying and selling these types of properties. Additionally, real estate agents who specialize in foreclosures often have longterm relationships with local lenders, so they’ll hear about properties that haven’t yet been officially listed. Foreclosure laws and regulations are tricky and they vary from state to state. A real estate agent can help you locate properties and make offers, but you cannot rely on him for legal advice. Be prepared to consult with a local real estate attorney who understands how these purchases work.

Think about the future. Approach any real estate transaction with a long-term perspective. If your plan is to flip the property, make sure you can afford to carry the mortgage if it doesn’t sell right away. If you plan to live in the house, estimate the cost for remodeling or repairs it may require and figure it into your budget. Do the math to ensure that this property fits both your lifestyle and your budget.

Have realistic expectations. If you buy a property at a foreclosure auction, you’ll likely never enter the property before becoming the legal owner. You will also get the property “as is.” That means no inspections and the title you get may be clouded with liens, unpaid taxes and encumbrances. You may even find yourself in the position of needing to evict previous owners, renters or squatters.

Be flexible. Buying a foreclosure property is more complicated than buying a traditional property. The foreclosure process includes waiting periods, which vary from state to state. With a short sale, it can take months or even more than a year to get all involved parties to agree to a purchase price and terms.

Keep your options open. By the time you figure in the costs to remove liens, make repairs and pay back taxes, your short sale or foreclosure may not be the great deal you hoped it might be. In today’s real estate market, you may find a great “traditional sale” property that’s wellpriced and in move-in condition. Plus, if you narrow your search to distressed homes only, you may not end up in your dream neighborhood or your favorite style of house. Be open to many options to ensure you find the best house for your money.

If you’re a first-time home buyer, don’t go through the process alone. Enlist the services of an experienced real estate agent, one who previously has dealt with foreclosures and short sales, who can minimize your stress, anticipate problems, and help you determine if these types of homes are right for you.

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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MIAMI MARKET WATCH Whether you are looking to purchase your first home, purchase a second/vacation home, or sell your property, it is YOUR ultimate responsibility to control the fate of your transaction. The only way that you can do this, is by seeking the advice of a reputable and knowledgeable real estate attorney

A

ccording to market professionals, Miami real estate continues to sell at a rapid pace and at nearly asking price, reflecting strong demand.

The median number of days on the market for single-family homes sold in August was just 47 days, an increase of 34.3 percent from August 2013.

After three years of record sales activity that resulted in an inventory shortage, seller confidence is resulting in more properties being listed for sale in Miami.

These market experts have stated that prices are affordable as they remain at 2004 levels in spite of the 33 months of price increases for single family homes.

Condominium prices have now increased for 38 consecutive months as this market began to recover long before the market for single-family homes. However, prices for condominiums declined slightly in August for the first time in over three years.

Condominium sales fell by 21.4% from 1,592 in August 2013 to 1,252 in August 2014, real estate in Miami is continuing to sell at nearly its asking price and at quite a rapid pace, reflecting strong demand for property in this area and the performance of the Miami real estate market is still comparable to levels seen during periods of record sales activity.

The real estate market in Miami is continuing to recover, especially as the construction industry is gaining momentum and is generating strong demand for new homes, impacting the supply of existing condominiums.

Real estate experts have pointed out that even though the number of single-family homes sold in Miami-Dade County decreased by 4.4% from August 2013 to August 2014, and

We asked renowned Miami Real Estate Attorney, Alfredo Garcia-Menocal, who has helped thousands of property owners with their real estate transactions in the State of Florida for over 12 years, what is his take on all this activity. “Without a doubt the Miami real estate market has been on its way to what I define as a slow and methodical recovery from the national economic collapse of the real

c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r / October 2014

Content provided by AGM Title Services

market that we all experienced. Over the last 33 months, I have personally witnessed a steady increase in regular residential real estate sales, versus distressed or short sales, coupled with a significant willingness of the banks to lend for purchase and/or refinance of residential real estate property. This recovering market represents a balance between Buyers being able to still purchase affordable houses at or slightly below real market prices and Sellers being able to sell their property at or close to their asking prices.�

Mr. Garcia-Menocal also gave us a good heed of advice. “Caveat Emptor has been my mantra of advice to all my clients who are looking to purchase or sell real estate.

It means Buyer Beware and I have always applied it to both sides of any real estate transaction. Whether you are looking to purchase your first home, purchase a second/vacation home, or sell your property, it is YOUR ultimate responsibility to control the fate of your transaction.

The only way that you can do this, is by seeking the advice of a reputable and knowledgeable real estate attorney, before you enter into any contract, who will not only oversee all of the legal aspects of your transaction, but will educate you along the way so that you can make informed decisions. The purchase or sale of real property can be one of the most stressful events in your life, but with the help of the right attorney, it can be the most pleasurable.�

For more information on buying or selling your property, contact Alfredo Garcia-Menocal, Esq of AGM Title Services at (305) 553-3464.

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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Properties Sold in Broward County

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5240 NE 5th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 3 Beds / 2 Bath | 1,406 sq. ft. | 5,227 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1960 Sold: 9/5/2014 | $180,000

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12321 NW 48th Dr, Coral Springs, FL 33076 4 Beds / 3 Bath | 3,189 sq. ft. | 9,375 sq ft Lot | Built in: 2000 Sold: 9/9/2014 | $490,000

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4240 NE 23rd Ter, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064 3 Beds / 2 Bath | 2,069 sq. ft. | n/a Lot | Built in: 1961 Sold: 9/2/2014 | $750,000

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1884 NW 97th Ave, Plantation, FL 33322 3 Beds / 2 Bath | 1,845 sq. ft. | 6,098 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1988 Sold: 9/5/2014 | $290,000

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3945 NW 87th Ave, Hollywood, FL 33024 4 Beds / 3 Bath | 3,813 sq. ft. | 8,624 sq ft Lot | Built in: 2008 Sold: 9/4/2014 | $572,200

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5210 NE 28th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 4 Beds / 3 Bath | 2,414 sq. ft. | 9,368 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1965 Sold: 9/5/2014 | $858,500

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6282 NW 78th Dr, Parkland, FL 33067 4 Beds / 3 Bath | 2,567 sq. ft. | 5,796 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1999 Sold: 8/29/2014 | $390,000

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1705 Vestal Dr, Coral Springs, FL 33071 5 Beds / 4 Bath | 4,672 sq. ft. | 0.42 acre Lot | Built in: 1986 Sold: 9/2/2014 | $645,000

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2861 NE 28th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 3 Beds / 2 Bath | 3,239 sq. ft. | 10,004 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1956 Sold: 9/3/2014 | $927,500

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Properties Sold in Miami-Dade County

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22310 SW 101st Avenue Rd, Cutler Bay, FL 33190 4 Beds / 2 Bath | 2,061 sq. ft. | 3,641 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1992 Sold: 8/26/2014 | $191,000

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15800 Turnberry Dr, Miami Lakes, FL 33014 4 Beds / 3 Bath | 2,792 sq. ft. | 0.32 acre Lot | Built in: 1963 Sold: 8/25/2014 | $485,000

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8690 SW 100th St, Miami, FL 33156 4 Beds / 4 Bath | 3,377 sq. ft. | 0.61 acre Lot | Built in: 1988 Sold: 9/2/2014 | $740,000

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10502 SW 143rd Ct, Miami, FL 33186 4 Beds / 2 Bath | 1,876 sq. ft. | 7,500 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1980 Sold: 8/28/2014 | $296,000

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7963 NW 163rd Ter, Miami Lakes, FL 33016 5 Beds / 3.5 Bath | 3,814 sq. ft. | n/a Lot | Built in: 2005 Sold: 8/25/2014 | $533,500

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2385 NE 214th St, Miami, FL 33180 5 Beds / 3 Bath | 3,059 sq. ft. | 10,481 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1987 Sold: 8/28/2014 | $830,000

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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157 NE 101st St, Miami Shores, FL 33138 3 Beds / 2 Bath | 1,649 sq. ft. | 0.26 Lot | Built in: 1941 Sold: 8/26/2014 | $379,000

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1419 Lisbon St, Coral Gables, FL 33134 3 Beds / 2 Bath | 1,728 sq. ft. | 5,250 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1952 Sold: 8/25/2014 | $610,000

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9454 SW 88th Pl, Miami, FL 33176 5 Beds / 4 Bath | 4,937 sq. ft. | 0.57 acre Lot | Built in: 2006 Sold: 9/12/2014 | $1,180,000

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Luxury Properties Sold in Broward County

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36 Minnetonka Rd, Sea Ranch Lakes, FL 33308 5 Beds / 5.5 Bath | 5,574 sq. ft. | 7,405 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1995 Sold: 8/26/2014 | $4,255,000

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602 SE 26th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 5 Beds / 8 Bath | 3,280 sq. ft. | 9,000 sq ft Lot | Built in: 2005 Sold: 9/5/2014 | $2,090,000

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1245 Hatteras Ln, Hollywood, FL 33019 4 Beds / 4.5 Bath | 4,380 sq. ft. | 10,238 sq ft Lot | Built in: 2004 Sold: 8/21/2014 | $1,600,000

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2400 Bay Dr, Pompano Beach, FL 33062 6 Beds / 6 Bath | 5,876 sq. ft. | 9,889 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1998 Sold: 8/22/2014 | $2,696,000

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1768 Bay Dr, Pompano Beach, FL 33062 3 Beds / 4 Bath | 4,739 sq. ft. | 7,405 sq ft Lot | Built in: 2001 Sold: 8/22/2014 | $1,930,000

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2761 NE 48th St, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064 6 Beds / 6 Bath | 5,130 sq. ft. | 8,800 sq ft Lot | Built in: 2002 Sold: 8/22/2014 | $1,600,000

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2626 Castilla Isle, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 3 Beds / 3.5 Bath | 4,519 sq. ft. | 10,184 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1954 Sold: 9/4/2014 | $2,100,000

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3217 NE 31st Ave, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064 5 Beds / 6 Bath | 4,886 sq. ft. | 8,712 sq ft Lot | Built in: 2000 Sold: 8/29/2014 | $1,850,000

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3911 NE 25th Ave, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064 5 Beds / 5 Bath | 4,076 sq. ft. | 9,005 sq ft Lot | Built in: 2000 Sold: 9/2/2014 | $1,422,500

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Luxury Properties Sold in Miami-Dade County

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211 N Coconut Ln, Miami Beach, FL 33139 5 Beds / 5 Bath | 4,571 sq. ft. | 7,000 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1924 Sold: 8/27/2014 | $6,320,000

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4400 Island Rd, Miami, FL 33137 6 Beds / 5.5 Bath | 10,416 sq. ft. | 0.37 acre Lot | Built in: 1980 Sold: 8/27/2014 | $4,171,000

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9601 Collins Ave APT 1104, Bal Harbour, FL 33154 2 Beds / 2 Bath | 2,160 sq. ft. | Condo - Lot | Built in: 1998 Sold: 8/26/2014 | $2,500,000

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3501 Anchorage Way, Miami, FL 33133 7 Beds / 8 Bath | 8,813 sq. ft. | 0.35 acre Lot | Built in: 1994 Sold: 8/27/2014 | $5,460,000

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9999 NE 13th Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33138 5 Beds / 5 Bath | 3,930 sq. ft. | 0.32 acre Lot | Built in: 1955 Sold: 9/5/2014 | $3,100,000

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5201 Pine Tree Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33140 4 Beds / 4 Bath | 2,675 sq. ft. | 0.32 acre Lot | Built in: 1960 Sold: 8/26/2014 | $2,425,000

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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94 S Hibiscus Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139 6 Beds / 5.5 Bath | 4,728 sq. ft. | 10,497 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1993 Sold: 8/29/2014 | $4,740,000

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1420 W 22nd St, Miami Beach, FL 33140 4 Beds / 4 Bath | 4,172 sq. ft. | n/a Lot | Built in: 1939 Sold: 8/21/2014 | $3,000,000

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5736 Pine Tree Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33140 6 Beds / 4 Bath | 3,899 sq. ft. | 7,750 sq ft Lot | Built in: 1930 Sold: 8/26/2014 | $2,250,000

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6 Red Flags Your Home Inspector May Not Be Able to Detect You’ve signed the contract. Time to start picking out furniture for your new place, right? Not so fast. As easy as it is to settle into your new role as a homeowner, there’s an important step that shouldn’t be overlooked: the home inspection.

B

ill Loden, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) says some home headaches simply don’t reveal themselves during a standard inspection. “There are things homeowners think we can do, but we can’t,” he explained.

To get the most value from your home inspection, it’s important to know a few things that might be missed.

Partially blocked or damaged sewer lines Like some illnesses, some house problems don’t show up overnight. A partially blocked or damaged sewer line often falls in this camp. Inspectors will likely determine the type of drain pipe used and estimate its age. They may also look for trees or stumps in the line of the sewer pipe that

could cause damage. However, when it comes to sewer-pipe scoping (sending a camera down the line), it’s not typically included in a standard inspection.

Failing HVAC equipment Similar to damaged sewer lines, HVAC equipment can be fine one day and stop working the next.

Loden says inspectors can bring an HVAC contractor with them for the inspection, but typically it’s not worth the investment when you compare the cost to buying a new unit.

“It will cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 [to hire a contractor] and could take two to three days to complete,” he said.

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C o n t e n t p r o v i d e d b y Z I L L O W. C O M

Cracked heat exchanger One exception where you may want to pay for a HVAC contractor is an old furnace. “In my area in Alabama, we have a lot of package units [furnace/AC combined] that sit outside. It’s not part of the standard inspection to examine the heat exchanger, but a lot of them develop cracks that can allow the indoor air to mix with combustion air that has carbon monoxide,” he explained. “You don’t want that in the house.”

As a general rule, Loden recommends having a HVAC contractor come out to examine the heat exchanger if a furnace is more than 10 years old.

“If the HVAC contractor does find such a crack, by law he has to replace it before the furnace can be used again,” he said.

Electrical problems Loden says the best way to think about a standard home inspection is a “visual inspection” because when it comes to electrical issues, inspectors can’t always determine the source of the problem.

Structural issues A legitimate question you might be asking is whether the roof is sagging or whether it’s part of the architectural style

of your new home. Luckily, a home inspector should be able to tell.

“All roofs — at least wood roofs — will have some inconsistencies. A home inspector knows what’s normal and what’s not,” Loden said.

However, when it comes to identifying how bad a problem is or how much it’s going to cost to repair, an inspector isn’t the right person to ask.

“Because we’re not licensed structural engineers, we’ll refer homeowners to one,” Loden said.

Leaks Leaks may not be there one day and show up the next.

For this reason, they may be hard to detect by an inspector.

Loden recalls his own home inspection when it was pouring rain. “The roof was not leaking when I moved in, but 6 weeks later it was,” he said. “A home inspection is not a guarantee that the house is not going to have problems in the future.”

The best thing he says you can do is carefully check the drains in cabinets before and during your move. At the end of the day, the key is to take precautions and make sure you find a certified inspector who has been inspecting for a long time in your area.

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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HURRICANE GUIDE

Things You Should Do In A

Hurricane Warning IF YOU’RE TOLD TO GO, THEN EVACUATE! Stay with CBS4 and the CBS4 HURRICANE NETWORK stations for instructions from your Emergency Management Office. If you live near the coast, on barrier islands, in a mobile home, a high-rise building in an evacuation zone, or in the flood plain of a river, you may be ordered to leave.

EVACUATE once the order is given.

Outside Your Home • Install hurricane shutters over windows, doors, and garage doors.

• Bring in all loose items from outside. Objects that are too big to bring in must be securely anchored. Large planters can be placed right next to the house.

• Take down your TV antenna. Unplug your TV first to avoid a shock. Make sure your antenna does not touch a power line.

• Add extra chlorine to your pool to prevent contamination. Turn off the circuit breaker to the pool equipment. If the filter pump is exposed, wrap it securely in plastic.

• Fill your car’s gas tank as soon as possible. The safest place to park your car is in your garage. A carport is your second choice but is nowhere near as good, because carport roofs are vulnerable to damage in the wind. If you have neither, park your car as close to your house as possible to protect it from flying debris. Avoid parking near trees.

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Inside Your Home • Store all important documents and valuables in waterproof containers and place them up high, out of the reach of flood water. Include voter’s registration cards, passports, citizenship papers, social security cards, insurance policies, property records, birth and marriage certificates, divorce decrees, military service records, adoption and custody papers, wills, pets’ registration and rabies license, family pictures, small heirlooms, and your jewelry.

• Scrub bathtubs, jugs, bottles, and cooking utensils thoroughly and sponge them with bleach. Rinse them and let them dry completely. Fill the jugs

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Apartments/Condos • Install shutters on windows and doors.

• Remove any loose items such as potted plants and patio furniture from your balcony.

• If you live in an evacuation zone, LEAVE! • If you live on an upper floor of a high-rise outside the evacuation zone, move to a safe area on a lower floor, preferably the second or third.

•

• • • •

and bottles with water for drinking. Fill bathtubs with water for sanitary purposes.

Turn up the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting. Fill your freezer with extra water jugs or crumpled paper to keep it tightly packed. This will help preserve food for up to 2 days without electricity.

Take pictures off walls and store them in a closet, preferably on an upper shelf.

Put away small objects in drawers for safekeeping.

Close ALL windows and KEEP THEM CLOSED at all times throughout a hurricane.

Make sure to tell a friend or family member who lives outside the area where you will stay during the storm.

Mobile Homes • Turn off the water where it enters your mobile home.

• Turn off propane gas bottles at the tanks.

• Turn off natural gas at the supply valve near each appliance.

• Bring in or secure all outdoor objects.

• LEAVE! Don’t stay in a mobile home during any hurricane.

Pets • Bring in outdoor pets. If you must evacuate, take pets to your pre-determined boarding place.

• If you must leave pets behind, put them in an

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CBSMIAMI.COM

interior room with plenty of food and fresh water.

• Make sure all your pets have identification and rabies tags.

Hurricane Don’ts • Don’t tape your windows. It does not offer protection from hurricane force winds, and gives a false sense of security.

• Don’t drain your pool.

• Don’t leave a window open during a hurricane. It allows the storm inside your home and could force your roof off the house.

• Don’t tranquilize pets. They must stay alert to survive.

• Don’t leave your car next to a tree or in an open area.

• Don’t open the refrigerator unless absolutely necessary.

• Don’t plan on throwing outside furniture into your pool before a storm. Furniture could damage your pool’s finish. Bring these items into the garage or house.

• Don’t use candles or kerosene lamps during the storm. You risk causing a fire that can’t be stopped. If the power goes out, only use flashlights.

• Don’t be tempted to go outside if the eye of the storm passes over your neighborhood. Hurricane winds will return quickly with the same or greater force.

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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Home improvement

How To Choose the Best

Washer and Dryer For Your Needs

Finding the perfect washer and dryer for your home shouldn’t be a guessing game. Here are a few things to consider before you shop. c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r / October 2014

Content provided by lowes.com

1. Think about your laundry habits.

Do you add items after the wash cycle starts? Do you leave for a few hours clothes after the cycle ends? Today’s machines offer features that cater to your unique needs.

2. Consider your cleaning challenges.

Clothing that requires special care calls for a Delicates Cycle; stains and allergens demand steam. It’s important to find a machine that answers the challenges you face over and over again.

3. Go for efficiency.

Most washers and dryers on the market today are already ENERGY STAR® qualified, but it pays to check the washer's performance according to the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). The CEE denotes tiers based on a machine's Modified Energy Factor and Water Factor. The more efficient the unit and the less water it uses, the higher its tier.

4. Sound dampening.

A quiet machine is essential if it’s near a living or sleeping area. Check the machine for vibration reduction and look for added insulation an improved suspension for less noise.

5. Consider capacity.

If you wash large or bulky items, consider a largecapacity washer. Despite their large size, these units can be as energy-efficient as smaller models and offer the same features and wash cycles as conventional models.

Consider Your Drying Needs 1. Check your dryer hookup. Your washer

and dryer hookup dictates what type of dryer you need so check it first. To change your dryer’s fuel source, seek the help of a professional contractor.

2. Rate your space.

When space is at a premium, consider going vertical by stacking a front-load washer and dryer. If your space is flexible, front-loaders, front-loaders on pedestals or top-loaders are all smart options. Pay close attention to the depth and width of your laundry space. Front-loading

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machines are generally deeper, and top-loading machines are generally wider.

3. Set criteria for your settings.

Dryers certified by the National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) use high heat or steam to provide allergy relief. You can also use steam to refresh outfits by relaxing wrinkles and removing odors. Some dryers have express cycles with increased airflow for faster drying, while others dry wool items without shrinking.

4. Keep track of your energy usage.

Some dryers have sensors to measure laundry dampness and dryness. This helps save energy since the dryer doesn’t run as long. Dryers with ecomonitors on the console display

energy usage and cycle efficiency.

5. Go for a matching set.

Your washer and dryer are engineered to work together.

If a washer has a higher spin speed, it means less drying time. Your matching dryer has special cycles and sensors to keep clothes from being overdried, making them last longer.

6. Check your delivery options.

If the washer and dryer set you want is available at your local Lowe’s store, you can have it delivered via Lowe’s Home Delivery. Lowe’s Home Delivery rates vary depending on distance from the store, not by delivery weight.

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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How To Prevent

Mold & Water Damage

c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r / October 2014

Content provided by lowes.com

Water damage in the home is a costly problem, in part because the harm may already be done long before it's detected. Learn to identify and prevent some common household water and mold problems.

Identify Water Problems There are some simple steps you can take to get ahead of serious water problems.

Monitor your water bill and check for unexplainable fluctuations.

Check your water pressure. The water pressure in an average home is approximately 50 to 70 pounds per square inch (psi). High water pressure causes extra stress on pipes and fittings and can cause premature failure. You can test your home’s water pressure with an inexpensive pressure gauge.

Inspect pipes and fittings each year. Check under sinks, ice makers, washing machines, dishwashers and anywhere there's a water supply or drain.

Check Internal and External Water Sources Internal • Shut-off valves • Water supply lines • Washing machines • Dishwasher • Ice maker • Water heater

External • Gutters • Downspouts • Roofs, shingles, flashing (valley, vent pipes, chimney) • Caulking / sealant (vent pipes) • Soffits • Drip edges • Foundations • Plants • Cracks • Mortar joints • Chimneys

Prevent Water Problems Know where your water shut-off valves and household water supply lines are located.

Inspect around your water heater, washer, dishwasher, sinks, bathrooms and refrigerator ice maker. If hoses indicate wear, replace them.

Turn off your main water line when leaving your home for an extended amount of time.

Never leave the house with appliances, such as dishwashers, washers or dryers, still operating.

Repair window and door cracks with caulk. Replace old or dried-out caulk. This helps to prevent water from seeping into the house from outside.

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Clean out gutters and downspouts regularly.

Allow faucets connected to vulnerable pipes to drip during extremely cold weather.

This keeps the water moving and helps to reduce the chance of freezing.

If your bathroom has an exhaust fan, be sure to run it while the shower is on. This helps to remove steam from the room.

Water heater leaks can be deceiving. Before you assume the heater itself is at fault, check the water lines coming in and going out of the unit.

Detect and Prevent Mold Mold can be expected in even the cleanest home. Mold is a fungus whose spores are always present in the air — millions of them. When conditions are right, these spores attach to an accommodating surface and form a colony.

These colonies are commonly known as mold or mildew, terms we tend to use interchangeably. Mold takes on many colors. Shades of blue, green, black, brown, white, red or orange are normal. A musty smell in the house is also a sign that mold may be present.

Mold and mildew can be found (in, on or under) walls, floors, ductwork, attics, crawl spaces, gutters, ceiling tiles, houseplants, window frames and many other spots.

Leaky roofing or roofs where ice dams have intruded

can harbor mold colonies. Today’s energy-efficient homes are pretty airtight. When housing spaces aren’t ventilated properly, moisture and stale air (two of mold spore’s primary environmental triggers) can be trapped.

But don’t blame your home for the majority of mold cases. Mold can occur where three environmental triggers combine. When the correct temperature, food and moisture meet the right species of mold, it won’t be long before a colony appears.

The environmental conditions present after natural disasters, such as floods and hurricanes, are notorious grounds for mold and mildew. The optimum temperature for mold to form depends on the fungus itself. Mold can be equally at home in a refrigerator or an attic, but warmer temperatures primarily trigger mold growth.

Mold feeds on organic matter, which can be found in drywall, insulation, fabric, leather, carpet and paint. Dirt and dust also provide nutrition for a mold colony. These

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food supplies can even rest on unsealed concrete block, shower curtains and glass. Moisture can take the form of liquid (rain or flood water) or vapor (a room’s relative humidity). Moisture can also result from the capillary action of water being absorbed by porous materials, like wood, drywall, carpet and brick. Air can contain a lot of moisture and warmer air holds more moisture.

Several molds may be categorized as hazardous. Stachybotris, more commonly know as black mold, is a black / greencolored mold that occurs mainly on items containing cellulose. These items include paper, fiberboard and wallboard. In order for black mold to form, excessive moisture needs to be present. The catalyst therefore can be high humidity, leaks or other water damage. The space between walls and floors are ideal environments for mold to grow unnoticed. The problem may remain hidden from view for some time, creating a significant problem.

Cleaning Up Mold When you see a spot of mold, clean it. Acting within the first 24 to 48 hours of identification is important to prevent the colony from spreading. But first, determine if you’re faced with an infestation or merely a simple cleanup. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that if the affected area is larger than 3-feet by 3-feet, you should find a professional mold remediation contractor. Always make sure you choose contractors carefully. Hard surfaces, such as tile, can be easily cleaned. Absorbent surfaces, such as drywall, will need to be replaced.

After a Leak: • Turn off water to the house.

• Remove as much water as possible with mopping and blotting.

• Remove all photos, art and small fixtures to a safe, dry place.

• Remove damp books from shelves. Spread them out to dry.

• Wipe wooden furniture dry. Prop up cushions for even drying.

• Open drawers, cabinets and closets for faster drying.

• Put aluminum foil, saucers or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.

• Remove rugs from on top of wet carpet to prevent color saturation.

• Remove items that aren’t colorfast, such as books and magazines, from wet flooring and carpet.

• Immediately use fans to circulate air and encourage drying.

• Try to stabilize the indoor air temperature to about 70°F. If possible, use dehumidifiers.

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Simple Toilet Repairs

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Some plumbing repairs require professional help, but there are many simple repairs that you can make yourself. Below you'll find a list of some common easy-to-solve toilet problems and their solutions.

How a Toilet Works To better understand how your toilet works, take the lid off of your tank and flush the toilet a few times. Here is what you will see: When you push the handle, the chain lifts the flapper valve (also called the stopper or tank ball).

Water in the tank flows through the flush valve opening into the toilet bowl.

The water from the tank forces waste water in the toilet bowl through the trap and into the main drain.

Once the tank is empty, the flapper valve closes and the fill valve/ballcock refills the tank.

When the tank is full, the float ball shuts off the fill valve/ ballcock.

replacement bowls are readily available, consider upgrading your toilet.

Water around the base of a toilet could be caused by a wax ring that no longer seals or by a cracked toilet base. If the toilet leaks constantly, the toilet base is cracked and must be replaced. If leaking occurs during or after a flush, replace the wax ring.

Common Toilet Problems If you have water on the floor around your toilet, fix the problem right away so moisture does not damage your subfloor.

Start by checking all connections - the tank bolts, the fill valve/ballcock mounting nut and supply tube coupling nut. Is everything tight? If so, you may need to replace the washers.

If water is dripping from the tank during humid weather, it may be condensation. You can fix this problem by installing a toilet liner kit, a foam panel placed inside the tank. To install a liner, cut off the water, drain and clean the inside of the tank. Cut the panels to fit your toilet and attach them to the tank.

Is the toilet tank cracked? If so, you need to buy a new tank. In fact, unless your toilet is fairly new and direct

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Flushing Problems Toilet Won't Flush: • Check the flush handle, flush lever/lift arm, chain, flapper valve and the connections between each of the parts to make sure all are functioning.

• The handle may be too loose or tight.

• The lift arm may be bent or broken.

• The connection between the lift arm and lift chain may be broken or out of adjustment, so it does not raise the flapper valve far enough.

Toilet Won't Flush All the Way: You may need to remove excess slack in the lift chain.

If the water level in the tank is set below the toilet manufacturer's recommended water line (usually stamped on the inside wall of the tank or on the flush valve overflow pipe), adjust the fill valve to set the water level to the manufacturer's recommended height (setting the water level too low in the tank weakens the flushing performance of your toilet).

Stuck or Loose Handle: Remove the tank cover and clean the mounting nut (located on the inside behind the handle) so the handle operates smoothly.

If there is a buildup of lime around the mounting nut, clean it with a brush dipped in vinegar.

Fill Valve Filling Tank Slowly/Not Filling • Make sure the main water valve is turned completely open • Clean the fill valve/ballcock; some valves can be easily disassembled and cleaned (see valve manufacturer's instructions or website for details) • If water supply line is flexible, turn off the water supply supply line and detach the water supply line from the base of the fill valve/ballcock. Redirect the water supply line into a bucket and turn the main water valve on. If the water flow does not improve, there may be a restriction or problem with your plumbing.

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5 Tips to Make A

More Sustainable Garden c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r / October 2014

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Find out how to make your Florida garden more organic and sustainable. Lowe's Gulf Coast Regional Gardening Expert has five great tips.

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earning how to sustain our environment begins in our own backyard. Here are five tips to help you to grow a more sustainable and organic garden.

Tip 1: Shrink the Lawn Conventional residential lawns and high-maintenance landscaping require an estimated 900 million gallons of water daily in Florida alone. Be wise -- reduce the size of your thirsty lawn. Combine site-appropriate native plants and regionally adapted plants to create more planting beds. A garden that relies predominantly on rainfall saves hundreds of gallons of water each year. Your water bill will reflect the savings, too.

Tip 2: Know Your Bugs This region is plagued with pests and bugs year-round due to a naturally mild climate. Pesticides often don't discriminate and can wipe out beneficial bugs along with nuisance bugs.

Let nature do the dirty work of eliminating the small percentage of harmful insects. I'm always happy to see earwigs crawling through the dirt as I dig. They feed on chinch bugs, mole crickets, and pesky sod webworms.

Nymph and adult dragonflies and damselflies reduce the mosquito population. A balanced habitat means wildlife thrives in my organic garden.

they help improve soil fertility.

Tip 4: Recycle Return valuable nutrients to the soil by recycling yard waste such as leaves and plant trimmings in the compost pile. Kitchen scraps from raw fruits and vegetables feed the beneficial insects that break down the pile.

Grass clippings left on the lawn naturally return nitrogen to the earth. Save money by using your own organic compost in your planting beds to improve sandy soils.

Tip 5: Fertilize Appropriately With abundant waterways in Florida, homeowners are essential to keeping our drinking water free of pollutants and contaminates. Don't overfertilize. Excessive applications can seep past the root zone and run off into the aquifer.

Remember that fertilizer can't cure plants with disease or pest problems. If you do want to use fertilizers, stick with slow-release fertilizers and organics. They are kinder to the environment, provide nutrients longer, and save you money and time.

Tip 3: Mulch Apply 2-3 inches of mulch to your planting beds twice a year to help retain moisture in our sandy soil. This also reduces erosion and storm water runoff.

Make use of natural resources in your yard such as fallen leaves and pine needles. As organic materials break down, To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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Fertilize Your Lawn A lush, inviting lawn is the goal of many homeowners, but your lawn needs help from you to look its best. Like any living thing, turfgrass needs nutrients to thrive, and fertilizing is a way to help it get the nutrition it needs. Selection, preparation and proper application of the right fertilizer are keys to a healthy, green lawn.

Why Fertilize the Lawn?

Your soil supplies some of the nutrients that turfgrass needs but most soils are not able to provide all of them during the entire growing season. A healthy and actively growing lawn uses a great deal of energy. Fertilizer helps your lawn stay healthy by: • • • •

Promoting new leaf and root growth Aiding in recovery from foot traffic and pest damage Reducing and controlling weeds Replacing nutrients lost to leaching, volatilization and grass clipping removal

Types of Lawn Fertilizer

Liquid and Granular Fertilizer is available in two main types — liquid and granular. Choose the one that meets your lawn's needs in the form that is easiest for you to use.

• Liquid fertilizers are fast-acting. Since they are quickly absorbed, they require application every 2-3 weeks. Most are mixed with water prior to application with a garden hose attachment.

• Granular fertilizers are applied with a spreader and must be watered into the grass. Granular fertilizers are easier to control because you can actually see how much fertilizer you are using and where it is being dispersed.

• Granular fertilizers are produced in two different formulations, quick-release and slow-release.

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Quick-Release and Slow-Release Fertilizer • Quick-release fertilizer typically lasts for three to four weeks, depending upon the temperature and the amount of rainfall. For general use, these water-soluble nitrogen fertilizers are also known as commodity or field grade fertilizers.

• Slow-release fertilizers, known as water-insoluble nitrogen, are coated to dissolve over period of weeks for more controlled feeding.

• The effectiveness of both types may vary depending upon the amount of water provided by irrigation or rainfall.

Weed and Feed Weed and Feed is a common term which refers to fertilizer that contains weed killer for broadleaf weeds such as dandelions or grassy weeds like crabgrass. Check the label to see which weeds the product will treat.

Pre-emergents, such as those commonly used to prevent crabgrass, are weed killers which must be applied before the weeds germinate. They are ineffective if the weeds are already actively growing. Pre-emergent weed killers are often mixed with fertilizer and are designed to be spread in early spring. Crabgrass normally germinates when the ground temperature reaches 60° F — the ground temperature at which dogwood trees start to bud and forsythias begin blooming.

The weed killer in post-emergent types of weed and feed fertilizers are contact killers, and are effective only if the weeds are already actively growing. They will not kill weeds which have not yet germinated.

Timing of the application of pre- and post-emergents is critical for success. If sowing grass seed is also in your plan, make sure that there's a proper time interval between applying weed and feed and sowing. Read the package carefully before selecting to be sure which product fits your needs.

Organic Fertilizer Organic fertilizer is an alternative to traditional types of fertilizer that is more environmentally friendly. Like traditional fertilizers, organic fertilizer is available in several forms, including granular fertilizer and liquid fertilizer. As with synthetic products, apply properly and with caution.

For the most ecofriendly option, choose an organic fertilizer that is made from ingredients that are both renewable and sustainable. This includes fertilizer made from feather meal, bone meal, alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal or corn gluten meal. Another organic alternative to fertilizer is compost or composted manure.

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How to Read a Fertilizer Package Label

may also be secondary elements added such as calcium, magnesium, iron or others.

package label The three numbers (often called NPK) on a fertilizer package tell you the percentage of the base elements and nutrient makeup by weight. These percentages in fertilizer compounds are formulated for everything from asparagus to zinnias. The three main components are: • Nitrogen (symbol N) for leaf development and vivid green color. • Phosphorous (symbol P) for root growth. • Potassium (symbol K) for root development and disease resistance.

For example, a bag marked "16-4-8" contains 16 percent nitrogen, 4 percent phosphorous and 8 percent potassium.

In this case, the other 72 percent is usually inert filler material added to aid distribution by your spreader. There

Preparing the Lawn for Fertilizing Step #1 - Identify Your Grass Type Identify your grass as a cool or warm season grass. A large section of the U.S. is considered transitional, which means that both warm and cool season grasses may grow in the area. If you live in this area, a clue to your grass type is the fact that warm season grasses will turn brown after the first frost. Cool season grasses will generally stay green all year long in the cool and transitional zones. They will not survive the summers in the warm season zone.

Step #2 - Do a Soil Test Determine the pH of your soil. The pH level is a measure of the alkalinity or acidity of a substance. The pH of your soil is important because it determines the ability of the grass to use the ingredients in the fertilizer. Your soil test

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will determine which fertilizer is best for you.

Bring your soil as close to neutral as possible to get the most benefit from the fertilizer you use. A pH range between 6.0 and 7.0 is accepted as being the best for growing quality grass.

Step #3 - Determine your Lawn Size Fertilizers, weed-killers and other soil amendments are typically sold by the amount necessary to cover a certain square footage. The fertilizer package will tell you how many square feet of coverage it contains. Determine the square footage of lawn to be fertilized by multiplying the length of your lawn by its width. Then, subtract the square footage of the house, driveway and other areas not to be fertilized.

Easy Steps for Proper Fertilizer Application Knowing when to feed your lawn is essential. Your feeding schedule depends on the type of grass you have. In general, feeding is done when your lawn is actively growing.

It takes commitment - a regular fertilizing schedule is required if you want a great-looking lawn year after year.

Fertilizing Warm-Season Grasses Fertilize when the grass starts to turn green in spring.

The growing season for these grasses, depending upon the geographic area, is during late spring and summer. Warm season grasses grow best when the temperature is in the range of 80 to 95° Fahrenheit, although they will also grow outside of this range.

Use either slow- or quick-release fertilizer, but time your fertilization regimen so the fertilizer will be used up before the onset of severe hot summer weather. Begin fertilizing again after the intense heat of the summer has subsided.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when fertilizing, and ensure that you time the life of the fertilizer so it is not present at the onset of severe hot or cold temperatures. Failing to do so could damage your lawn.

When fertilizing, too much is not a good thing.

Broadcasting Granules

• Make sure the spreader and fertilizer are dry.

• Set the rate-of-flow lever according to the setting listed on the fertilizer bag. If you have any doubts, apply too little rather than too much.

• Close the hopper vent. Place the spreader on a hard surface and fill the hopper slowly. Wear gloves and a dust mask and be sure to keep fertilizer away from eyes and skin.

• For complete coverage, cut the recommended application rate in half and apply evenly in a crisscross manner.

• Clean the spreader thoroughly after use.

• Clean up any excess fertilizer from driveways, patios, sidewalks, etc.

Spraying Liquid Fertilizer Fill the sprayer canister with liquid fertilizer. Carefully attach the canister unit to the end of your garden hose.

Move at a steady pace to cover the entire lawn evenly.

Walk slowly, spraying from side to side.

Do not apply other chemicals, such as herbicides or insecticides, at the same time as fertilizer. Leftover fertilizer does not store very well. Try to buy only enough for the season's needs.

As an added safety precaution, wear goggles, a dust mask, long pants, a long-sleeve shirt and rubber boots when applying fertilizer. Be sure to keep people and pets off the grass for at least 24 hours after the application or until the lawn is dry. For maximum efficiency and safety, do not apply on windy days.

Fertilizer Spreaders Broadcast spreaders (also called rotary spreaders) drop fertilizer from a hopper onto a spinning disc that disperses it over the lawn. Drop spreaders cover straight lines with little waste, but they must be used with care to avoid creating stripes.

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Car Seat Alarm Could Save Lives It’s a headline that strikes fear in the heart of any parent. A child left in a hot car can be dangerous, even deadly. The inside of a car can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. CBS4 Morning Anchor, Rhiannon Ally spoke with a South Florida man and his stepson who have designed a car seat which has an alarm that they say can save lives. c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r / October 2014

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By Rhiannon Ally

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indsey Seitz 15-month old son, Benjamin, died after accidentally being left in the backseat of her husband Kyle’s car. Kyle was supposed to drop the little boy at daycare, but forgot and drove straight to work instead.

In 2012, 44 children died after being left unattended in a hot vehicle; 21 have died so far this year.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue recently showed CBS4 a simulation in which a child’s body temperature rises up to 5 times faster than an adult.

“The body shuts down, literally, you’ll probably start to damage cells irreversibly,” said Dr. Jerry Brooks from Broward Health North.

Jonathan Machado’s stepfather, Dennis Aneiros, created the prototype for the Aneiros Child Car Seat Safety System.

CBS4 installed it in one of our news trucks to test it out.

“The Aneiros child car seat safety system that detects when a parent leaves a child. If it detects the child is still in the car, it will alert the parent via an alarm system. It can even activate the air conditioning system to cool down child to prevent overheating,” said Machado.

They have a patent on the prototype and have contacted car companies, but there is still work to be done before they can move forward to get it into stores.

“The main challenge we have is getting funding in order to start the manufacturing process,” Machado said.

Another high tech gadget, Tomy, makes a smart car seat that sends an alert to parents’ phones if a child is left in a car that is not in motion. There are also several apps out.

The Kids Safe Alert and Precious Cargo are two that can To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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send alerts to your phone.

Experts say there needs be a broader approach.

Sue Auriemma works with www.kidsandcars.org . The advocacy group wants the federal government to fund new research on technology which can detect when a child is left alone. ”Truly the way to solve the problem is to address it in all vehicles, which is why we’re looking to the government to address the issue fleet wide,” Auriemma said.

Until then, experts stress common sense solutions. Keep your purse or cell phone in the back seat. Keep a toy in the front passenger seat as a visual reminder. Also, ask your daycare provider to call you if your child doesn’t show up.

That could have potentially saved Benjamin Seites.

“You never think it could happen to you and then you wake up one day and have a normal day and then in the afternoon you find out that your son is gone. This could happen to anyone,” said Lindsey Seites.

Jonathan Machado and his stepfather have launched a crowdfunding campaign. To learn more go to aneirosllc.com/contribute.

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Miami-Dade Public Schools

Launches Mobile App For Parents, Students and Employees Miami-Dade County Public Schools recently launched a new mobile app to provide parents, students, and employees faster access to up-to-date school information.

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• • • • • •

he official Dadeschools Mobile App is now available to download for free for iPhone and Android devices.

The mobile app features: Student class schedules and bus route information List of all Miami-Dade public schools by school type School information including school website, photos, school address, phone number, enrollment, school colors, and school hours Functionality to contact school via phone or email Ability to view school location on a map Ability to send text, email or Twitter post of the school’s information Ability to receive notifications from M-DCPS Information about The Foundation for New Education Initiatives, Inc. (FNEI) Log in using Dadeschools Portal username and password to receive personalized information tailored to parents, students, and employees

Parents, students and employees can also find information about the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program including which devices qualify and how to connect from your school.

Additional features will be added throughout the school year.

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‘Chexting’ Breaking Up Happy Homes c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r / October 2014

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It’s a disturbing trend that is being blamed for destroying marriages and ruining families. Experts say it starts as an innocent conversation, but evolves into a deep bond.

“He left his Facebook up one day and there was a whole other life,” said one woman. She said her man wasn’t having sex with another woman, but was sharing his deepest feelings with her.

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xperts say it is the latest frontier in betrayal.

So-called ‘emotional sex’ occurs when chatting becomes cheating, either online or through text messaging.

Marriage counselor Dr. Jane Greer said that spouses don’t always set out to cheat, and that things usually begin with an innocent communication like a text saying ‘hello.’

“People start to rely on and depend on the connection they have with the other person and start to expect the texts,” said Dr. Greer.

As Dr. Greer explained, the secrecy adds to the excitement and the attraction.

“The whole emotional experience of texting in and of itself takes on meaning and significance,” said Dr. Greer.

It’s referred to as ‘chexting’ and has been called a new form of betrayal that combines cheating and texting.

People have been talking about it all over the internet.

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“If they’re like, oh, ‘they’re just friends,’ and get really defensive about it and throw a big fit it’s probably a good sign that they’re trying to get with people other than you,” one woman said.

In many ways ‘chexting’ can be a more insidious form of infidelity, according to experts.

“Truly the question becomes, are you texting somebody else things, content, material that you’re not sharing with your partner,” said Dr. Greer.

But where does chatting end and cheating begin?

“If your partner is texting the minute he wakes up or the minute she wakes up, before you go to bed and you’re feeling really disconnected from them, then you might start to wonder what’s going on,” said Dr. Greer.

A partner who is particularly guarded around their phone or one who logs onto the computer at odd hours could also be engaged in ‘chexting’.

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Miami-Dade Schools Now

Drug Testing Students

Students will be randomly tested for drugs this school year, according to a new plan. The Miami-Dade County School Board announced plans to test high school students at random for performance enhancing drugs or steroids. The school board said the pilot program starts this year. MiamiDade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the goal is to stop the use of steroids for athletes and ultimately try to find the dealers preying on kids.

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here is always an adult culprit behind these issues,” said Carvalho.

The announcement was made just a day after seven people were arrested for running a clinic in Coral Gables that pushed performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).

The Biogenesis Clinic distributed PEDs to Major League Baseball (MLB) players and local high school students.

The investigation on the Biogenesis center is what rocked MLB and led to the 211 game suspension of baseball star, Alex Rodriguez.

The timing, however, said Carvalho is just a coincidence but he said the high school students investigated with the Biogenesis Clinic were not in public schools.

“This was focused on private school nonetheless we wanted to be proactive in Miami-Dade County Public Schools,” said Carvalho.

The pilot program started about two weeks after school began. It requires parental consent and the test is noninvasive.

“At the end of the day, this is about safeguarding our kids,” said Carvalho.

Parents gave the plan mixed reviews. Some said there is no harm if there is nothing to hide while others said it is an invasion of privacy.

Carvalho wouldn’t say how many kids would be tested but he did say the testing will be contracted out.

While the pilot program this year focuses on high school students, it could expand later into middle schools.

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New Website Offers Quick Car Recall Search Do you know if your car has been recalled?

What if you didn’t get a call or letter from the dealer? How would you find out?

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ith one out of five cars on the road recalled, the odds are you’re driving one or next to one.

Now, finding out if your car is on the recall list is faster and easier than waiting for the letter or phone call.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a new online database where you can run your VIN to find out the status of your vehicle.

Access the website – safercar.gov – from your phone or desk top.

In just a few clicks and key strokes, you’ll get a list of any open recalls for your vehicles.

The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles reports Florida car dealers are not held responsible for correcting recall issues on used cars.

The state said independent used car dealers which are the majority of the used car sellers have no manufacturer affiliation and, therefore, have no more access to recall information than the public does.

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MIA Announces New Flights For Fall & Winter

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iami International Airport announced new international destinations and new flight options for existing routes.

Carrier American Airlines will launch daily nonstop service to Cap-Haitien, Haiti on October 2 and new nonstop service to Campinas, Brazil on December 2.

American will also increase Miami-London service during the winter season from 14 to 17 weekly roundtrips, with three daily flights on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Beginning October 27, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will increase frequencies on its popular daily Miami-Zurich route to 14 flights per week Qatar Airways, which provides Florida’s only direct service to the Middle East from MIA, will add a fifth weekly flight to Doha, Qatar beginning Monday,

November 17.

On December 1, Air France will join Lufthansa as the second airline to operate the massive Airbus A380 aircraft at MIA. The following day, December 2, Lufthansa will launch seasonal service to Munich using the Airbus A330 aircraft in a three-class configuration.

The flight will operate five days per week – Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – through April 30, 2015.

Finnair will launch two weekly nonstop flights on December 16 between Miami and Helsinki utilizing Airbus A340 aircraft arranged in a two-class businessand economy configuration.

On January 3, 2015, the Miami-Helsinki service will increase to three weekly flights through March 21 when the seasonal service concludes.

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6 Must-Read Books For Dog Lovers

Travels With Casey: My Journey Through Our Dog-Crazy Country By: Benoit Denizet-Lewis “I don’t think my dog likes me very much,” Benoit Denizet-Lewis confesses right before hitting the road with his moody Labrador, Casey. A delightful blend of memoir and travelogue, Travels with Casey pays tribute to the world’s most powerful interspecies bond – and introduces the reader to an irresistible cast of dogs and dog-obsessed humans.

Spanning four months, 32 states, and 13,000 miles, this is a funny, touching trip into the heart of America’s relationship with dogs.

Animal Madness: How Anxious Dogs, Compulsive Parrots, And Elephants In Recovery Help Us Understand Ourselves By: Laurel Braitman Have you ever wondered if your dog might be depressed? How about heartbroken or homesick? In Animal Madness, science historian and TED Fellow Laurel Braitman uses stories of neurotic parrots, anxious gorillas, and gloomy elephants to explore mental health in the animal kingdom – and makes the groundbreaking argument that understanding the emotional distress of animals can help us connect to them more deeply and better understand ourselves. c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r / October 2014

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Inside Of A Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, And Know By: Alexandra Horowitz Have you contemplated what it is like to experience life from two feet off the ground? Or why a person on a bicycle must be chased? Or how a puppy manages to play with a Great Dane? Inspired by her own dog, Pumpernickel, Alexandra Horowitz draws on her research in the field of dog cognition to paint a picture of what the canine experience is like – how they perceive their world, each other, and that other quirky animal – the human.

Paw And Order: A Chet and Bernie Mystery By: Spencer Quinn If mysteries are more your taste, the bestselling “Chet and Bernie Mystery” series featuring canine narrator Chet and his human private investigator companion, Bernie, is for you. In Paw and Order, the seventh installment in the series, this beloved team goes sniffing around the dogeat-dog world of our nation’s capital only to uncover a devilish plot and get sucked into an international conspiracy. These books can be read in any order – and Paw and Order is the perfect place to jump into this charming series!

Weekends With Daisy By: Sharron Kahn Luttrell When Sharron Kahn Luttrell, still deeply mourning the loss of her family dog, discovered a weekend puppy raiser program for a service dog organization, she knew it was what she needed to help her move on. This memoir chronicles the year that she spent co-parenting Daisy, a sweet Labrador puppy, with Keith, a convicted felon at a medium security prison. When, through an accident of fate, she discovers the crime Keith committed, she is shaken to her core. As the two of them work tirelessly to ensure that Daisy passes her service dog test, the limits of her strength, empathy, and compassion are tested and, in the end, her weekends with Daisy impact her more than she ever could have imagined.

What The Dog Knows: The Science And Wonder Of Working Dogs By: Cat Warren Cat Warren acknowledges that she has an odd hobby: she has spent the last seven years searching for the dead. Beginning as an effort to harness the wild energies of her German Shepard puppy, Solo was soon in training with a police K9 unit to become a “working dog” – a dog that is called upon to seek out missing persons, sniff for explosives in war zones, and locate long-dead remains.

What the Dog Knows is her fascinating exploration of the special place that working dogs have in our society, as well as our hearts and minds.

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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Your Dealership

wants your

car back

Consumer demand is strong for used cars, but supplies are limited. As a result, auto dealers badly need trade-ins and are willing to pay top dollar. Often the notice comes as a flier in the mail, but you might get a friendly phone call from the salesman who sold you a new car a few years ago. The dealership is paying top dollar for trade-ins, you're told, and now is the perfect time for you to sell your vehicle. In sum, your new-car dealer really wants your used car.

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T

here are about 260 million cars on America's roads.

Why is your 3-, 4- or 5-yearold machine so special? It's because, for the car business, these are unusual times.

The changing car market According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 10.6 million new vehicles were sold or leased in the United States in 2012 (the latest year for which the bureau has reports), while 35.5 million used vehicles swapped hands.

That 10.6 million new-car market was a big down year for the industry -- down from 13.5 million units in 2011, 16.5 million in 2010 and more than 17 million in both 2009 and 2008. Used-car sales also dropped between 2008 and 2012, but only about half as much on a percentage basis.

Car sales have recovered somewhat since 2012. Bill McKinney, Director of South Florida's Buy Back Program, project that 2014 new-car sales are likely to come in around 12.9 million units, and, according to program statistics, just under 37 million used cars swapped hands last year.

"The used-car market has always dwarfed the new-car market in unit sales, and many, if not most, dealers make more money on their used-car sales than they do on new cars. But when new-car sales are down, dealers have fewer used-car trade-ins to sell" says McKinney.

So with 2009 new-vehicle sales representing about 60% of what they were in 2008, up to 40% fewer used cars were being traded in.

Those declines have meant there are a lot fewer of the prime, low-mileage, late-model used cars around to sell in dealer lots. In particular, with gasoline prices higher this year, there aren't a lot of late-model small used cars such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus around, and demand for them is up.

"Strong consumer demand for small used cars is driving prices up," Jonathan Banks, a senior analyst with the National Automobile Dealers Association Used Car Guide, said in a news release. "The NADA Guide increase in tradein values for June should come as no surprise because it reflects a shortage of both new and used cars entering the market."

In May, NADA projected trade-in values for small cars to rise 18% during the first half of 2014, compared with the first half of 2013. The differences in value can be

startling. Even in one month, values for used small cars have skyrocketed.

For instance, the NADA Used Car Guide had the tradein value of a 2009 Kia Rio at $6,400 in May and by June had raised that to $7,500. That's a 17% rise in just one month.

"You're not getting that kind of return on your savings account. Even the value of something as old as the 2005 Subaru Impreza RS is rising, up from $6,650 in May to $7,575 in June" McKinney tells us.

Values are up so sharply for some cars that it's tempting to trade in a car that's only about a year old. For instance, a new 2010 Honda Civic DX coupe carried a $15,455 sticker price (plus taxes, license and delivery). Today that same car has a NADA trade-in value of $14,075. That's a drop of only $1,380 over a year.

"A lot of lessees and buyers will find they're on the right side of their leases or loans," Banks told MSN Money. "If they trade in their cars, they'll find they have some money for a down payment."

It's all about supply and demand. Dealers want your car, and are willing to pay more than its worth, because they have buyers for solid late-model used cars lined up, and there simply aren't enough cars for them out there. And they may as well try to get your car now, before it's worth even more next month.

But selling, or even trading-in, your car is not about just walking into any dealer and handing over the keys. For more information on selling/trading your vehicle contact South Florida's Buy-Back Program headquarters at 888-542-5153.

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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Ram Launches

2015 Heavy Duty Models c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r / October 2014

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R

am takes heavy-duty towing and hauling seriously. With this week’s start of 2015 model year Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty production, the truck world’s “King of the Hill” further adds to its mostcapable claims.

Ram 3500 models will offer increased torque ratings of 865 lb.-ft. and an increased payload of 7,390 pounds, while maintaining a class leading maximum tow rating of 30,000 pounds.

Working closely with Cummins, a more aggressive fuel delivery and turbo boost calibration to the 6.7-liter I-6 produces an additional 15 lb.-ft. of torque.

This improvement places the coveted engine ahead of the competition with 865 lb.-ft. of torque, while maintaining performance and EPA compliance. The Ram 3500 continues towing leadership at 30,000 pounds and adds a new notch in its belt with a chart-topping payload of 7,390 pounds.

The payload claim was made possible by challenging the Ram 3500 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 pickup with an increase in GVWR of 100 pounds, now 13,800 pounds GVWR. POWERTRAIN With Chrysler Group’s 6.4-liter HEMI V-8, the Ram Heavy Duty delivers to best-in-class horsepower and best-in-class torque among pickups with gasoline engines. Compelling numbers tell the story of the 16-valve engine with 410 horsepower (306 kW) at 5,600 rpm and a peak torque rating of 429 lb.-ft.(582 N•m), at 4,000 rpm.

Other engine options include the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, standard equipment for the Ram 2500 and 3500 (SRW), the renowned 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel I-6 that is available in three versions and the 6.7-liter Cummins HighOutput Turbo Diesel I-6 for Ram 3500.

FRAME Ram Heavy Duty trucks feature frames built with high-strength 50,000 psi steel, including eight separate

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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cross-members, hydroformed main rails and fully boxed rear rails for optimal strength and mass efficiency. Chassis controls on the Ram Heavy Duty ensure reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) measurements and improve ride and handling characteristics. Standard electronic stability control (ESC) on single and dual-rear-wheel equipped trucks, and body-to-frame hydro-mounts provide improved ride quality.

Center frame rail sections are roll-formed, an efficient means for maintaining consistent strength in less complex longitudinal sections.

SUSPENSION Heavy Duty trucks generally have suspension equipped for constant, heavy payloads. This

leads to a harsher ride when unloaded. Ram innovation leads again. The Ram 2500 takes lessons learned from the Ram 1500 with a segment exclusive five-link coil rear suspension system. Loaded or unloaded, the 5-link coil system provides best-in-class ride and handling. The fivelink coil design incorporates support at all major points of force. Leaf spring suspensions struggle to combat axle wrap by using staggered shock absorbers (one mounted on the front of the axle tube and one mounted on the rear of the axle tube). The superior design of the five-link coil system functionally resists unwanted axle rotation. Additionally, the Ram 2500 offers a rear air suspension system for automatic load leveling and greater versatility.

The Ram 3500 continues to feature the rear Hotchkiss

c b s 4 n e w s pa p e r / October 2014

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leaf spring system, but offers a supplemental air suspension system (late availability).

In the front, the Ram Heavy Duty line features an advanced three-link front suspension to ensure roll stiffness. Greater roll stiffness, also known as body roll, is an important characteristic in taller vehicles and especially trucks with heavy payloads.

BODY The Ram Heavy Duty comes equipped with robust engine, transmission and body mounts, including pioneering hydro-mounts at C-pillar positions for class-leading noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics despite the truck’s aptitude for higher payloads and towing.

The Ram Heavy Duty trucks feature a factory-installed seven-pin trailer tow connector in the truck bed, included

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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with the optional fifth wheel or gooseneck tow prep package. Ram is unmatched in terms of offering the most complete “hitch ‘n go” towing prep package found anywhere in the heavy-duty category. Additionally, Ram features a standard Class 5 receiver hitch, atailgate handlemounted, rear high-definition camera backup system, and a cargo-view camera.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES Ram Heavy Duty customers can enjoy the convenience of an exclusive cargo camera, power folding mirrors and a combination, power rear-sliding window with defrost. Also, central locking includes the RamBox cargo management system and tailgate power locks, creating a convenient

solution for locking all exterior doors and storage with one push of a button. Auto rain-sensing wipers and SmartBeam headlamps also are available, adding to a truckload of content offered in Ram Heavy Duty.

The 2015 Ram Heavy Duty is backed with an unsurpassed five-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty. The powertrain-limited warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair a covered powertrain component – engine, transmission and drive system.

Coverage also includes free towing to the nearest Ram Truck dealer, if necessary. The warranty also is transferable allowing customers who sell their truck during the warranty period to pass the coverage on to the new owner.

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a u t o m ot i v e

To Advertise Call: 305.477.1699

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