BIG TRUCK DAY - GUILDERLAND HIGH SCHOOL SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2 10:00-1:00 Big Truck Day is fun on wheels for the whole family. Check out big trucks and meet the people who drive them! Construction trucks, dump trucks, emergency vehicles, cement mixers, a News Channel 10 truck, Jim Becker and his race car, and many more will be on site. Cost: $5.00 per child/$1.00 per adult There will also be a complimentary bounce house and refreshments that can be purchased by DC's Pizza Truck! The village of Mamaroneck, in Westchester County, is the first community in New York state to ban pet stores from selling commercially bred puppies. Mamaroneck joins nearly 125 American municipalities with similar laws. The goal is to choke off distribution outlets for "puppy mills," with animal-welfare groups hoping more New York lawmakers will follow suit statewide. Mamaroneck's legislators should be commended for fighting animal cruelty—an honorable war to wage—but the law attacks a small, soft target when a major, hard target is in New York state's sights.

The Mamaroneck law affects a single pet store. New York state lawmakers could set a significant national example by instead targeting one of the biggest marketing assets that puppy mill owners have: the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Bans similar to Mamaroneck's began taking effect across the United States in 2007, with the majority hitting the books from 2013 to the present. The Humane Society of the United States has encouraged many of the enactments. But the result, so far, is unclear. A proposed ban in New Jersey cites HSUS statistics that an estimated 10,000 puppy mills now produce more than 2.4 million puppies each year. That estimated number of puppies is up — by nearly 18 percent, from 2.04 million — since 2014, even as the bans have begun taking effect. Amy Jesse, public policy coordinator for the HSUS Puppy Mills Campaign, said what is increasing is the number of puppy mills the federal government is licensing. "In terms of ordinances," she said, "most of them have not been in effect long enough to have a noticeable, national impact."

Los Angeles and Albuquerque have seen shelter intake and euthanasia rates drop since their bans went into effect, she said, but HSUS has no evidence of causality versus coincidence. "We cannot point to exact puppy mills that have shut down due to ordinances because pet shops source from a wide variety of mills," she said, adding, "but that is not to say that ordinances aren't having an impact on the industry. House For Sale In Cabanatuan City Philippines Possibly, but there's a far clearer explanation for those numbers: consumer demand. Dogs For Sale BlenheimThink about Prohibition during the 1920s. Houses For Sale On Lake St Catherine VtThe liquor stores closed, but people still found the booze they craved. Supply of the banned product shifted into the shadows.

The same consumer forces exist in the dog business. Merely prohibiting the sale of commercially bred puppies likely will be no more effective in shuttering the puppy mills than the Women's Christian Temperance Union was at shuttering bourbon distilleries. That's why New York state lawmakers must also aim at a target that drives consumer demand. Every February, Manhattan welcomes the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. It's the most prestigious conformation dog show in America, one among many the American Kennel Club sanctions. Westminster is promoted on television as celebrating the sport of dogs, but the AKC, when it's talking to commercial puppy farmers, explains the purpose differently. Mike Ganey, vice president of marketing for AKC until 2013, wrote in the breeder magazine Kennel Spotlight, "So how do these AKC events help breeders? By helping create preference and demand for purebreds, no matter where the consumer chooses to buy their purebred dog." A main goal of televised events like Westminster is to drive demand at commercial breeding farms, which then turn out millions of puppies eligible for AKC registration at a fee.

This is the very business that Mamaroneck's law is meant to stem. If the goal is to shutter the worst farms, then banning one of their biggest marketing assets would send a far stronger message. In addition to considering Mamaroneck's example, New York state lawmakers should either evict the Westminster show or prohibit its broadcast from within state lines. Doing so would make New York a model for other states and major media markets, including Philadelphia, which just passed a puppy mill pet-store ban while welcoming the televised, AKC-sanctioned National Dog Show. Our lawmakers must understand that ending cruelty is a fight requiring multiple fronts. Only then can we truly let slip the dogs of war. Kim Kavin is author of ">The Dog Merchants: Inside the Big Business of Breeders, Pet Stores, and Rescuers>." Making the decision to live in a rental can be a difficult and important one. There are many factors to take into consideration, such as price, location, space, landlords, roommates, lease clauses and more.

As with anything, it is important to consider the positives and negatives of renting. This page is designed to give you an insight into what it’s like to live in a rental and things you need to know and consider before you do so. Living in a Rental Potentially wide range of neighbors; opportunity to develop relationships with neighbors; wide choice of neighborhoods. Renting is often a more stable option in a sometimes uncertain real estate market; varied options in terms of price, commitment and neighborhoods. More urban - rentals tend to be closer to city centers than homes, giving renters better access to shops, work and schools. Maintenance and repairs are performed by someone else; depending on the rental, some are furnished or have access to additional facilities such as swimming pools. Short-term or transitional living options; saving more money (no taxes or maintenance); flexibility in terms of relocation and commitment. Things to consider when renting

Moving to a new rental might seem stressful at first, but it doesn’t have to be. If you do your research, and have a list of necessary amenities in mind before you start looking, it will make the process much easier. Here are some things to consider when searching for a rental (there will, of course, be more, but these are a great place to start). Size Determine what size rental you need first. What is the size of the bathroom? How about the kitchen? Will your current furniture fit the space? Price Research neighborhoods and rentals that are within your price range. Look at other rentals in the area to see if the one you like isn’t over-priced. Location Is the rental in a neighborhood you can see yourself living in? What are the nearby streets like for cars/pedestrians? Is there easy access to local transportation? Are you close to work/school/shops, etc? Utilities Find out which utilities you will be responsible for, and how much they will cost you. Some rentals include heating or central air, others don’t.

Parking Find out where you can park your car. Is there off-street parking? Will you require a permit to park on the street? Amenities Is there a dishwasher included in the rental? What is the washer/dryer situation? Is the rental furnished? The landlord This is the person who will be responsible for performing maintenance. Make sure you can trust your landlord. Check everything Open cupboards and storage spaces: you will want to check there is enough space for all of your belongings. This also allows you to check for any signs of damage or pests. Test that the windows open easily. Make sure the taps work properly and check for water heat and pressure. How to read a lease One of the most important things when renting is reading and understanding the lease. It may be tempting to skip past the legal jargon and just sign on the dotted line, but you must know what kind of deal you are signing in to. If you don’t read the lease carefully, you could end up in serious trouble later.

Here are some things to think about when reading the lease. Is all the necessary information included? A lease should include basic information such as the landlords address and contact details, the rent cost and payment deadlines, security deposits, clauses for breaking the lease and any penalties for late rent.Is there a limit to the number of people allowed to live in the property? Some leases only allow visitors for a set number of days per year. Are you able to sublet an open room? Maintenance and modifications It is important to know who is responsible for making any repairs in the rental. You should also find out if you are allowed to make any modifications to the unit. Utilities Are utilities such as gas, internet and heating provided, or will you have to pay for them all yourself? Get some help If you are struggling to understand some of the terminology, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Show the lease to a family member or friend who is well-versed in these things, or even a broker if you are working with one.

How to negotiate rent When looking for a rental, it may seem like the listed price is set in stone. However, a landlord needs to fill an apartment or home just as much as you need a place to live. By doing some prior research, and coming in with a realistic price in mind, you may be able to get a better deal than you thought possible. Using these strategies could help you: Do your homework Before viewing the rental, discover what the local market is like. Have a look at similar listings in the area and see what prices they go for. Investigate the state of the market. How long are listings staying active? Be flexible in your commitment If you are open to signing a lease that lasts longer than the typical 12 months, this will benefit the landlord greatly. When a landlord has to rent their property out every year they encounter significant costs. If you’re planning on staying for a while, highlight this early in the negotiations. Sell yourself as a tenant Landlords will look for stability in their tenants.

Be prepared to show recent pay stubs that prove you have a stable income, maybe even a recommendation from a previous landlord. Stay calm If you believe you are negotiating from a position of strength, this doesn’t mean you should be confrontational, nor does it mean appearing too timid. Be respectful to the needs of the landlord and remember that this is the person who will be managing your property. Use effective negotiating techniques Support your price with arguments as to why it is reasonable. Ask for a lower price than you have in mind. If you’re lucky, you may get it. If the landlord wants to negotiate, meet some way between the listing price and your opening offer. Most renters insurance policies have a number of standard coverages, but you may want to select a number of add-ons to make sure you are fully covered. You will also want to make sure you understand all of the language used in the policy as well as the claims procedure involved with your policy.

‘Perils’ Most standard renters insurance policies cover what are known as “named perils”. If these perils are listed in your policy, you are covered against it. The most common perils are: fire or lightning, smoke, windstorm, theft, vandalism or malicious mischief and accidental discharge of water (a burst pipe for example). Personal Property Coverage Choosing a dollar amount for personal property in the event that a peril occurs will cover your belonging up to that amount. For example, if you take a policy with $20,000 in coverage and your rental is damaged by fire, you will have up to $20,000 with which to replace your belongings. Personal Liability Coverage This part of a policy covers any injuries sustained by someone on your property as a result of your negligence - i.e., if someone trips over a ball that you left in the yard or in the hallway. This also covers against accidents away from the premises. Loss of Use In the event your rental is damaged by a covered loss and you are unable to live there for the time it takes to make repairs, this type of coverage pays the expenses for your temporary residence as well as your regular monthly rent and expenses.