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Parade ends doubts about future of our nation

If you doubt that America is in good hands for the future, you should have been marching in the New Port Richey holiday parade Dec. 10.

American Legion Post 79 was the first marching unit in the parade, carrying the American flag and the American Legion flag. Without exception, the large crowds of viewers, young and old, shouted, whistled and applauded.

They shouted things like, "Thanks for what you did for America." "Thank you for our freedoms." "We love you for what you did."

Numerous people stood and saluted the American flag and the legion's marchers. Not one unkind word was directed toward us. I was greatly moved and am proud to say God bless America.

I feel confident America is alive and well and in good hands for the future.

Citizens insurance unfair to owners in ZIP code

I have a problem that could affect thousands of property owners in the Tampa Bay area and across Florida. I live in a ZIP code that has been designated a high- risk area for sink holes. As a result, my insurance premiums were raised 100 percent last year along with all the Citizens policyholders in this ZIP code to compensate Citizens for extra losses.

That means our ZIP code is paying 100 percent more on total coverage due to sinkholes. Now Citizens is raising rates 66 to 127 percent in the area for hurricane damages. The policyholders in the sinkhole high-risk areas will have to pay the 66 to 127 percent on their sinkhole coverage. That means the Citizens policyholders in high-risk ZIP codes in Florida will pay 66 to 127 percent more than the policyholders in other ZIP codes for the same coverage.

I contacted the Insurance Commission and told an insurance specialist that I wanted to file a complaint and explained the situation. He told me that it is legal and Citizens can do it and I may not file a complaint even though I am being charged more for the same coverage. He gave me a Web site for insurance companies and said to try to get another insurance company. That was very nice of him, but I wanted to file a complaint for being unfairly billed on my homeowners insurance by a state-run agency. I was told I could not.

Does anyone else in these areas realize that they will be paying more for no reason?

It's time to learn how to store your generator

Now that the hurricane season is over, most likely your generator will become garage clutter. It is time to get out the maintenance manual, read and reread it to be sure you fully understand how to store it. Otherwise, next season an unpleasant surprise is awaiting: Your generator could fail to start.

I have had generators for more than 50 years. There are two types of storing. If you store with gasoline in it, so that it can be used for a temporary outage, shut down the generator by turning off the gasoline supply valve on the bottom of the gas tank and run it until it stops. Gasoline has a shelf life of 60 days. Test run it as prescribed by the manufacture and don't forget to change the oil when needed.

Then there is dry storage. Siphon off most of the gasoline in the generator tank, add a stabilizer and run the generator until it runs out of gasoline.

If you store your generator in the garage and are really interested in keeping it, store it where it is least conspicuous from the street. Chain and lock it to something large or heavy. I didn't, and my new generator of two days was stolen when I left the garage door open.

[Last modified December 14, 2005, 12:33:30]