Friday, August 30, 2013

Miller's Ale House celebrates Labor Day


Healthcare Scams

This post comes from Christine DiGangi at partner site Credit.com.
Regardless of how you feel about the health insurance debate, some industry insiders have argued that one facet of it is indisputable: The Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, is a great opportunity … to scam people.
Fraud.org, a project of the National Consumers League, issued a warning about fraudsters looking to capitalize on the confusion surrounding Obamacare.
Here’s what happens: Con artists call consumers, peddling fake insurance plans. The scammers say they need to verify personal information; otherwise the person on the other end of the call won’t get their insurance benefits. Or they’ll face fines. Or legal action.
“We’re seeing a significant number of scams because of Obamacare,” said John Breyault, vice president of public policy for the NCL. The Federal Trade Commission has received more than 1,100 complaints of this nature since May, he said.
Breyault said they expect scam reports to spike in October, when the health insurance exchanges or marketplaces open. Such spikes occurred when the Affordable Care Act was under debate in Congress and when the Supreme Court upheld the law.

How to spot a scam

“What consumers need to know is that they’re not going to get calls from the Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services, HHS, Obamacare, asking them to divulge sensitive personal information, like a Social Security number, like bank account numbers, like date of birth,” Breyault said.
Scammers may pose as navigators — organizations and people trained to help consumers understand the marketplaces — and ask for this sensitive information. If you think you’re a victim of Obamacare fraud, Breyault said you should file a complaint with Fraud.org or the FTC.
Those looking to buy insurance on the exchanges can register with Healthcare.gov and explore the pages of information posted there. Though Breyault said the NLC is concerned about scammers targeting senior citizens, he said no single demographic seems to be the lone target for thieves. “This is a scam that could affect anyone.”
If you’re worried that you have fallen victim to this or a similar scam, monitor your credit by checking each of your credit reports once a year for free at AnnualCreditReport.com, and you can use Credit.com’s free Credit Report Card for a concise overview of the information in your credit reports, along with your free credit scores.


Read more at http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2013/08/29/watch-out-for-these-obamacare-scams/#hSahmQlIUyThiOOU.99

11 Really Dumb Things You Do With Your Email

Identity Theft

11 Really Dumb Things You Do With Your Email

Comments 1 Comment
As political battle lines are drawn over the case of Edward Snowden and the NSA’s sophisticated program of electronic surveillance, it’s easy to forget our simplest and most common vulnerability to spying eyes: email.
Just in the past few months, databases at LivingSocial and Evernote were hacked, exposing roughly 100 million email addresses to identity thieves. Facebook allegedly exposed 6 million users’ emails to unauthorized users, a “glitch” the company admitted was not detected for a year. All this comes on the heels of mega-breaches like the one at Epsilon, which provides marketing services for more than 2,500 financial and lifestyle companies. Epsilon admitted hackers stole “only” 2 percent of its customer data. But since its databases may contain upwards of 250 million email addresses, that means “only” 5 million people were placed at risk.
So what’s the big deal, you may ask? Email has grown up. It’s no longer a convenient secondary conduit for saying hello to friends. It’s plugged directly into our lives. Messages sitting in our email accounts can expose not just our address and contact numbers, but also our bank and brokerage account numbers, credit card information, online financial transaction receipts and confirmation of forgotten or changed passwords in all of our other accounts. That’s why email is now the single most common vector of attack for fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission. It’s ubiquitous. It’s laden with valuable data. And scammers know their chances of getting caught are slim to none.
Bottom line: The best way to stay safe is to aggressively protect yourself. No one else can guard your email better than you. Here are the top 11 things you can do right now to reduce your risk of getting your email either hacked or scammed.

1. Checking your email on an unsafe network.

A computer in an Internet café, library or any other business may be loaded with malware to steal your passwords. Public WiFi systems are vulnerable too, even at places like coffee shops, airports, hotels and conference centers that require passwords, since any ID thief can afford a $3 cup of coffee and get the same password.
What to do: Unless the computer and network you’re using belongs to you or your employer, don’t sign into email. (While your employer’s network may give you more security, it may not assure your privacy, as many employers reserve the right to review email on their computers and network.)

2. Staying signed in.

Signing into email every time you pick up your phone can be a real pain in the butt. Deal with it. By staying constantly signed in, a hacker can gain immediate access to the most important information of your life.
What to do: Signing out is inconvenient. Do it anyway.

3. Repeating your email login name and password.

Just this year, hackers cracked databases containing the passwords of up to 50 million LivingSocial users, and another 50 million users of Evernote. If the password to your checking, credit card, social media or any other account ends in @gmail.com, @yahoo.com or any other email address, those thieves possess an important piece of your identity puzzle. Since many people mistakenly use the same password or User ID for multiple accounts, identity thieves know the skeleton key that may fit many doors.
What to do: Never use your email address and corresponding password for any other accounts. Beyond that, don’t use passwords based on things like your birthday, your kid’s name or your street. The more random, the better.

4. Not deleting old emails properly.

Many people never delete old messages in their inbox, or delete their caches of trashed and sent emails (though most email systems purge deleted email after 30 days). Those messages may contain addresses, account usernames and passwords, contact information for all your friends, financial data and a host of other sensitive information.
What to do: Delete sent, trashed and old messages. Delete email with any sensitive information (like your tax paperwork, health insurance applications, etc.) immediately after sending it.

5. Falling for a “guaranteed” loan or credit card offer.

If an email promises a loan or credit card worth a guaranteed amount of money at a low interest rate, it’s a scam. Nobody will give you credit without first checking your credit report.
What to do: In credit as in life, there are no guarantees. Don’t click on links in these messages, and delete them posthaste.

6. Clicking on ambiguous emails from “friends.”

Since hackers have raided our email contact lists, even messages from our best friends could be vectors of attack. Hackers often pose as friends stuck penniless in Europe or Asia and in need of an immediate wire transfer, or friends imploring us to “Check out this funny video!” with links stuffed with spam or laden with malware. Sometimes the tipoff is an email from a “long-lost friend,” or a close buddy using a very old account. Some of these emails come with no text at all… just a link.
What to do: Read emails from enemies closely, and emails from friends even more closely. If you receive a suspicious email from a friend, don’t click on any links or download any files. Delete the email, and call your friend. If it turns out the email was legit, he or she can resend it.

7. “Verifying” personal information via email.

It could be your bank or credit card company asking to verify your account information. Or it could be from UPS or FedEx trying to “confirm” your address for a missed delivery. It could even be from the IRS claiming you owe them, or they owe you, money. None of these institutions send personalized emails, and none ask you to “verify” personal information by email.
What to do: If an institution handles important things like money or packages, it doesn’t use email to communicate, and certainly not to confirm personal information. Delete the suspicious email, and call the business or institution in question to inquire about the matter at hand.

8. Talking to strangers about money.

Many scams involve sending money to people we’ve never met. There’s the “Wall Street insider” with the hot investment tip, the foreign company that needs you to cash a check or process transactions, the marketing company asking you to be a secret shopper or offering an irresistible work-at-home or franchising opportunity, the email chain letter inviting you to “get in early” on a pyramid scheme, the Irish Lottery, even the lawyer of a deposed politician trying to get his money out of the country (this age-old ruse is actually growing more sophisticated, with better-written emails and virulent malware). Every one of them is a scam.
What to do: If someone you’ve never met offers you money, run… that is, delete!

9. Getting tricked into thinking your credit card has been stolen.

You may receive an email that says “Thank you for your recent order!” Except — you never ordered anything. You assume your credit card has been stolen and in a panic, you open the email and click the button that says “Cancel Order.” Congratulations, you just became an ID theft target.
What to do: Think twice before clicking any button, link or attachment in an email. Even if it’s from a business you know, or one from which you have ordered something. If you need to cancel, call the company and cancel, or do so on their website. If you’re really worried that you’ve been victimized, you can check each of your credit reports for free once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com, or you can use Credit.com’s free Credit Report Card monthly for an easy to understand overview of the information in your credit file.

10. Donating to fake charities.

After Hurricane Sandy and the giant tornado in Oklahoma, fraudsters sent emails requesting donations for relief efforts. The money went instead to scammers all over the world.
What to do: Only donate to established, well-known aid groups, and do so on their website or over the phone. Don’t navigate to these sites from emails, and don’t call the phone number in the email. Look those up.

11. Clicking on too-good-to-be-true travel deals.

Many of us receive legitimate emails alerting us to cheap flights, hotels and cruises. But when the offers seem just unbelievably low, and they come from companies and email addresses you don’t know, don’t get sucked into the waterspout.
What to do: What’s that old line about something seeming too good to be true? If some new travel site is running a special deal, rather than click a link in an email, search for the deal on the Web. Find out if anyone has reported it as a scam. If it checks out, then you can dip your toe in.
There’s no silver bullet here (even if you do all of these things). If you are on the wrong database at the wrong moment and the wrong person gains access, you may still have your personal information stolen. That said, the better you can minimize your exposure and operate cautiously, the longer you can hold off the Cyber Barbarians at the Gates.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Women's Emotional Wellness Center Open House


Wellness Fair - Free Screenings and Preventive Health


PathWays PA



Please join us for the
3rd Annual Delaware County Wellness Fair!



Free screenings,
educational materials and
the latest information
about preventive health - 
for everyone. 

Wednesday, September 18
10:00 AM until 1:00 PM
Delaware County
Government Center
201 Front Street
Media, PA 19063
apple and measuring tape


Sponsored by:
Delaware County Council
Delaware County Women's Commission
Delaware County Department of Intercommunity Health
Friends of the Delaware County Women's Commission
Crozer-Keystone Health System
Mercy Health System/ Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital
Main Line Health System/ Riddle Hospital




Tuesday, August 20, 2013

How to Cancel Your Credit Card

The Correct Procedure for Canceling a Credit Card

Are you sure you want to do this?
When you cancel your account, it could negatively impact your credit scores in two ways:

·         If you have balances outstanding on other cards, it could raise your credit utilization ratio, which could hurt your credit scores. For example, say you have two cards, each with a $5,000 limit. One card has a $5,000 balance, and the other, the one you’re canceling, has a zero balance. Since you have $10,000 of credit available and $5,000 outstanding, your credit utilization ratio is 50 percent. You’ve used half of your available credit. Canceling a card means you’re using all of your available credit: 100 percent. That could lower your credit scores.
·         Part of your credit scores is based on the length of your credit history. Having a bunch of old accounts is better than a bunch of new ones.
Important: Neither of these things is critical. If it’s time to break up with your card company, do it. But if you’re about to apply for an important loan, like a mortgage, you might want to wait until you’re approved for that loan just to be sure.
Got your mind made up? Let’s get to it.

Step 1: Pay it off
While you can close an account to new charges, even though there’s a balance, to completely close it, you should pay it off. So if it’s time to say goodbye, it’s time to zero that balance.
Got any automatic payments hitting the card? Move them.
Once the balance is zero, don’t use the card. Wait a week or two, then check your account online and make sure no charges show up.

Step 2: Break the news — twice
Balance paid? It’s breakup time.

Call the customer service number on the back of your card or on your monthly statement. When you get a customer service rep, confirm you have a zero balance. Then tell the rep you’re canceling your account. If for some reason you don’t have a zero balance, don’t cancel.

Just as you’d do if you were leaving your lover, it’s best not to let the issuer know you’re on the way out until you’re ready to make your move.

While you’re on the phone, ask the rep for a name and address where you can send a letter to make it official. When you hang up, write a short letter to that name and address. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just include your name, address and account number. Say you’re canceling your account and want your credit history to reflect you requested that the account be closed.
Use certified mail and request a return receipt so you can prove the company received your letter. 

Step 3: Follow up
Let a full 30 days go by, then go to AnnualCreditReport.com and pull a copy of one of your credit reports. The account should show “closed by customer.” It shouldn’t say “closed by creditor.” If it does, don’t contact the credit reporting agency — it’s not their problem. Instead, get back on the phone with the credit card company’s customer service, then follow up with another certified letter to your card company explaining the problem. Include a copy of your original letter as proof of their mistake.
Wait another month, then check again.

Job Posting - Director of Education.


The General Building and Contractors Association, Inc is looking to fill a Director of Education position.
Interested candidates must follow the directions on the attached posting to apply.


Director of Education

Center City-based trade association is seeking a full-time Director of Education to develop, schedule and implement educational courses and seminars for the commercial building and construction industry. 

The Director of Education will develop, schedule and manage the development and implementation of a business plan and departmental budget that generates revenue, plan marketing strategy, identify industry educational needs, plan event promotions, evaluate new courses, manage the site selection process and keep appropriate records of courses and participants. 

The Director of Education will also work with the association’s Education Committee and others to identify subject matter experts, instructors, and topics.


 The Director of Education reports to the Executive Managing Director. A resume and salary requirements should be submitted no later than August 30 to: mpinto@gbca.com.  Please put Director of Education in the subject line of the email.

Job Fair, Free Hands-On Training and More

Regional Career Fairs
 
Job Fair Philadelphia
Thursday September 12, 2013
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown
1201 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
10AM to 2PM
(Vendor setup begins at 9AM)

This event will be held in Sections 5,6,7 of Franklin Hall located on the 4th floor

Business attire & resume are required!

For more information, please contact
Come Visit Us!
Offices 
PA CareerLink® at Chester City
Open Mon. through Fri. 8AM -4PM 
701 Crosby Street, Suite B
Chester, PA 19013
 PA CareerLink® at Media
Workforce Entry Center at Delaware County Community College
Open Mon. through Thurs. 8:30AM - 4:30PM
(Closed on Fridays until August 23rd
901 South Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063
The 21st Century Job Search 
Unless you've worked in recruiting or HR, you might be unfamiliar with a little thing called an "Applicant Tracking System" or "ATS." Nonetheless, you are probably sending your resume to a company that uses an ATS every day, since more and more companies are using this technology. So what exactly is an Applicant Tracking System? Basically, it's a kind of resume scanning software that shuffles you and other applicants into a database that makes it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to find candidates that meet their needs.
Unfortunately, an ATS is not very forgiving--as it relies on specific keywords to target potential candidates.

If you haven't had to look for a new job until recently, you may find that you're applying to twice as many jobs and getting half as many responses. Consequently, you might find the whole online application process frustrating.

Ben Bradford's article Job Applicants: How to Game Resume Scanners, on the New Tech City blog, offers a great overview of how Tracking Systems work, and how you can use this knowledge to break through the ATS barrier and get noticed! Check it out here.   

JobTrakPA Update
Delaware County Community College is still offering qualified adults free, hands-on training that can help you quickly acquire the skills and industry recognized certification you need to obtain employment in fields where jobs are plentiful, such as health care, advanced manufacturing and energy. If you are already familiar with the JobTrakPA programs, you may be surprised to see that Welding has been added to the list of Advanced Manufacturing training!

Candidates must have either lost their job due to overseas trade (Trade Adjustment Assistance worker,) been laid off or terminated, or been employed in a job beneath their skill level (underemployed.)

Training Courses at Delaware County Community College:

Health Information Technology/Electronic Medical Records Technology, Advanced Manufacturing (CNC operation, Welding,) Energy (Geothermal, PV Solar)
 
Getting Started!
Prospective students should call 610-723-4095.  

Job Posting - Patient Sitter


Monday, August 19, 2013

Healthy School Lunch Tips

Back To School

Insuring that your child has a healthy school lunch isn't as time consuming as it seems. Follow these easy tips to insure your child enjoys a healthy, nutritious lunch at school.
Switch white bread for whole grain: If sandwiches are a staple in your child's lunch, the easiest way to make a change is to substitute whole grain bread for white. There are many varieties out there to please even the pickiest eater. You can also substitute flour tortillas with wheat ones and white pita with whole grain. Fill them with proteins like turkey slices and cheese.
Pack a rainbow: Fruits and vegetables are great sources of nutrition. Make fruits and vegetables more interesting. Pack green and purple grapes or colorful berries, dried apricots, mangos, cut red and orange peppers into strips and send them with a fun dipping sauce like hummus or yogurt and send oranges already peeled and sliced. The prettier the presentation, the higher the chances are your child will reach for it.
Water, water, water: Juice may seem harmless, especially since the labels read things like "packed with fruit." But juice adds a lot of unnecessary sugar and calories to your child's diet. Consider rethinking what they drink and send a bottle of water along with, or instead of, the juice box. Not only does drinking water eliminate extra sugar from their diet, but it also keeps children from getting dehydrated throughout the day. Low-fat milk is also a good idea since it provides calcium and protein.
Think about temperature: Would you eat warm yogurt or cold rice? The temperature inside your child's lunchbox is just as important as what is inside. Keep hot foods warm by sending them in a thermos, it helps if you first fill it with boiling water for two minutes to retain some heat. Keep cold items like cheese or hardboiled eggs cool by using ice packs. You can also use a refillable water bottle filled with ice cubes to keep things fresh, plus it will provide drinking water at the same time!
Making a healthy lunch does take some thought, but the morning rush, when everyone's trying to get out the door, isn't the best time to get creative. Try to make a routine of packing some items the night before. Cutting up fruit, pre-making sandwiches, boiling whole grain pasta are all time-saving steps. Planning insures that you are not stuck searching the cupboard for last-minute – and unhealthy – options.

Job Posting - Teachers


Now Hiring Highly Skilled Educators!
View this email in your browser
Copyright © 2013 Universal Companies, All rights reserved.


Our mailing address is:
800 S. 15th St Philadelphia Pa 19146

CGRC's The Incredible Years Program


FREE Adult Education in Philadelphia



Managing Chronic Pain Workshop



JFCS general header 
   





Connect Caregiver




Caregiver Action Network* and Care Innovations™ invite you to join the exclusive Care Innovations™ Connect Caregiver beta program. You will receive early, complimentary access to secure, online caregiving tools. Most importantly your feedback and recommendations will shape the product and help other caregivers.

What is Connect Caregiver?

Connect Caregiver is an easy-to-use suite of tools that helps caregivers work together to confidently manage a loved one's care at home.
A calendar, medication organizer, bulletin board, and access to local services help you stay organized, share in providing high-quality care, and keep in touch with other members of your care circle.

For more information visit:  

Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems - Social Skills Group Ages 10-14

Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems
225 S. 69th Street, Upper Darby, PA 19082

has started a new
SOCIAL SKILLS GROUP
 (Self-Esteem, Team Building skills, etc.)

For Boys and Girls Ages 10 to 14

Every Thursday 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM

Call 610-352-8943 Ask for Intake

While you wait…

Informal parents group 1st & 3rd week of the month.

Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems - Social Skills Group Ages 4-9

Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems
225 S. 69th Street, Upper Darby, PA 19082

has started a new
SOCIAL SKILLS GROUP
 (Self-Esteem, Anger Management, etc.)

For Boys and Girls
Ages 4 to 9

Every Thursday
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Call 610-352-8943  Ask for Intake Department

While you wait…

Informal parents group 1st & 3rd week of the month.

Suicide Prevention and Awareness

DCSPATF Banner

August 15,2011 
The 12th Annual Candle Light Memorial will be held September 10th from 7:00-8:30at Rose Tree Park.

Activities Include:

Special Speakers and Music

The Candle Lighting
Presentation of the Maryellen Carpenter Appreciation Award

If you would like to attend and/or would like to have your loved ones' name read please call Linda Falasco at 484-571-8010 or email at lindafalasco@verizon.net. Anyone who would like to be part of the program by speaking, reading, singing, etc. please mention that when you call.  

Sponsored by Survivors of Suicide, Inc.
PO Box 127
Morton, PA 19070
Reading of Loved One's Names by Family and Friends
Event Documents

Sincerely,


Delaware County Suicide Prevention & Awareness Task Force

DelcoWAR Race for Victims Rights

It's that time of year again!  Delaware County Women Against Rape is asking for your support by participating in our 2nd Annual DelcoWAR Race for Victims' Rights 5K Run/Walk. This event will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2013 at RoseTree Park.  Registration begins at 8:30amwith 9am Kids Race, BaBa the Clown, music and opening remarks.10am start of the adult race.  Stay for some refreshments, snacks and awards.  Please see the attached registration form for more information. 

All proceeds directly support victims of crime in Delaware County. For more information about our agency and our services please visitwww.delcowar.org . Thank you! 

Candice L. Linehan

Director of Sexual Assault Services
Delaware County Women Against Rape

September 22, 2013
5K
Packet pick up at 8:30am
Kids Run 9:30am
Race Start 10:00am Sharp

Why:            To support the victim services programs of Delaware County Women Against Rape.  www.delcowar.org
Location:    Rose Tree Park, 1671 N. Providence Rd. Media, PA.  Race kick off by Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan.
Awards:      Overall and Age Groups; Top 1-3 overall; Top male and female in each group; Teams.
Entry:         Pre-Registration for individuals $30; Register as a team $25 ea.; Day of registration $35; Children 12 and under are free!
Amenities:  Enjoy a Sunday Fall morning run/walk in scenic Rose Tree Park, get a T-shirt, enjoy refreshments, prizes, and
                     balloon art by BABA the Clown.        
                  
Questions:  Please contact Candice Linehan, 610-566-4342.
Rules:         NO refunds! All proceeds directly support Delaware County Women Against Rape.
    Race will be held rain or shine!   
    Pre-registration is greatly appreciated.                                                                                                       `                                              
    T-shirts are only guaranteed to those who pre-register. 

Payment:  Make check payable to “Delaware County Women Against Rape”.   Mail payment with this form to:  P.O. Box 211
                   Media, PA 19063.

Or register online at http://www.brynmawrrunningco.com  (click on the Events tab).
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
"By indicating your acceptance, you understand, agree, warrant and covenant as follows: I know that running is a potentially hazardous activity. I should not enter or run unless I am medically able & properly trained. I also know that there will be traffic, debris, poor footing and other hazards on the course and assume the risk for running on it. I also assume any or all other risks associated with running or attending the race including but not limited to falls, contact with other participants, the effects of the weather, the conditions of the roads and getting lost, all such risks being known and appreciated by me. Knowing these facts, and in consideration of your accepting my entry fee, I hereby for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators or anyone else who might claim on my behalf, covenant not to sue, and waive, release and discharge the organizers of this event, all municipalities in which the all owners of properties through which the race crosses, the race committee, volunteers, Delaware County Women Against Rape, all other organizations directly or indirectly associated with the race, any or all sponsors including their agents, employees, assigns or any-one acting on their behalf, or anyone else associated in any way with this race, from any or all claims or liability for death, personal injury or property damage of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of, or in the course of, my participation in this event This waiver extends to all claims of every kind or nature whatsoever; foreseen or unforeseen, known or unknown”.
Signature                                                                                    (If under 18, Parent Guardian Signature)           Date _______________
Name:























Email:
























Address:  _____________________City: ________________________  State: _________ Zip:_____________
Phone: ______________________ Gender:   M     F                                 Age on Race Day: _____________
Shirt Size:                 S           M            L             XL                          Team Name: ___________________________________