Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/195483
4A Daily News – Saturday, October 19, 2013 Opinion DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Utility gives notice to pool professionals Editor: PG&E has been actively working with Foundation for Pool & Spa Industry Education to train and educate swimming pool professionals on the aspects of California's relatively new guidelines for installation of energy efficient circulation pumps and controls. These training classes are a full day's learning for the individual on the aspects of plumbing, water flow, resistance, turbidity, horsepower and variable speed pumps with attached control features. Additionally PG&E provides a rebate to the homeowner for installation of the variable speed pump, but only if the pump is installed by a professional who has been certified by FPSIE and PG&E through this course. Title 20 covers the replacement of pool pumps and motors, regulating the service factor. Essentially when a circulation pump needs to be replaced, the service factor of the pump or motor must not be greater than 1.0. If it is, then the replacement must be 2-speed or variable speed replacement. To determine the service factor of your pool pump or motor and its subsequent replacement multiply the horsepower by the indicated service factor on the motor nomenclature. Currently using the calculation mentioned a 1/2 hp high output pump or a 3/4 hp medium output pump would be the only two choices of installation under Title 20. To achieve greater output, a 2-speed or variable speed pump must be installed. Title 24 stipulates to industry professionals the requirement to install only pumps with a less than 1.0 service factor, 2-speed or variable speed pumps or face to 12 hours per day/365 days stiff penalties as high as $2,500 per year would not only save per incident, for non-compli- hundreds of dollars for the ance. By year end 2013, PG&E homeowner, but could also and the California Energy Com- eliminate two power plants. Running the same mission will implement pump on high speed random checks of comfor 4-6 hours per day pliance to "catch" those Your 365 days per year, is who are still circumequivalent to no gain venting the mandates. in energy savings. It Further, the Title 24 is essential for the guideline stipulates the run time for these pumps to be homeowner to understand the set outside of the High Peak programming of their new times (noon to 7 p.m.) in most pump or if on a pool service locales with the automatic route, to ensure the company they employ is on board with default to be low speed. While variable speed pumps proper programming. If you currently operate your have been on the market for a few years, PG&E has not seen a pool with a variable speed dramatic reduction in energy pump, check your time runs on use among pool owners. What the high and low end. If you are has been found is that the not sure, contact your local pool pumps have not been properly professional who has been certiprogrammed to run efficiently fied by FPSIE and PG&E to or left on high speed. With over have an energy audit on your 1.2 million swimming pools in pool equipment. There is palpaCalifornia alone, running their ble real value to doing so. Sharon Wilkes, Red Bluff pool pumps on low speed for up Turn Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 1550 Humboldt Road, Ste. 4, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 2635 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico, CA 95928, (530) 879-7424, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 5583160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-2253076. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 3930710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary It was my minute The phrase "There's a sucker born every minute" is often credited to P. T. Barnum (1810–1891), a famous American showman; however, it was more likely spoken by a man by the name of David Hannum, who was actually criticizing both Barnum and his customers. Well it really doesn't matter much who coined the phrase, but last week I had my natal minute. On Monday morning, October 7, we were in front of our house working on the front lawn. A young woman approached us from across the street; she asked if we had seen her picture in the newspaper the previous week. She bragged about the Spartan softball team and the fact that they are working to raise money to go to Hawaii by selling magazine subscriptions. She told us she was the "backup pitcher" and that her grandmother lived nearby; she gave a specific address. She did not appear very athletic, but she had a pleasant smile. She gave us a date and time we could watch the Spartan girls pay a game in Hawaii on ESPN. She said the subscriptions would be sent to the UC Davis Children's Hospital, and she recommended either Girls' Life or Boys' Life as appropriate subscriptions. We wrote a check for $48. I asked who the current softball coach was, and she gave an answer that seemed correct. We bought a two year subscription to Girls' Life. The salesperson said she and 12 year old sister would come by on Sunday after church to wash our car as a token of appreciation. On Friday we read a front page article in the Red Bluff Daily News about persons selling magazines in Los Molinos with the same sales pitch; the paper warned of this scam. We called Red Bluff High and they said they were not aware of any magazine sales program to send a team to Hawaii. We looked at the sales receipt; it was from a company named United Circulation LLC of Cedar Falls, Iowa. The fine print on the receipt stated that we could fill out the cancellation form on the back of the receipt, and our cancellation would be honored if it is postmarked "prior to midnight of the third business day after the date of the transaction." That would have been Thursday midnight, before we read the Friday Daily News. (Apparently the company was used to dealing with cancellations and therefore had this minimally convenient policy.) We called the bank and put a stop order on our check. That cost $30. So we went down to the Red Bluff Police Department; while there someone from Surrey Village came in with the same complaint. He was directed to the Sherriff's Department. We were assigned a case number, and left the receipt at the Police Department. About an hour later the Police Officer called to say he had contacted United Circulation LLC, and they were a legitimate company. So we had been scammed, but the company was legal. I went down to the Police Department and retrieved the receipt and called United Circulation when I got home. The company has fairly restricted office hours on Monday through Thursday, but I was assured my call was important and someone would respond to it. On Monday when I was in receiving too many magazines. the middle of raking leaves She said their contractors usually United Circulation called back. I pair up and share expenses and none of them are was less than gentleyoung enough to be manly to start with, but high school students. I finally apologized and The person who earns told the woman on the the most points each end of the line that I year wins a free vacadidn't believe in shoottion or $1,000. ing the mail man. She I was assured that said she gets shouted at they dismiss the indea lot, and then proceedpendent contractors ed to tell me about their about whom they have arrangement with the complaints. This saleslady who misled made me feel that the us. Joe company may indeed All of the magazine have some responsisalespeople who go bility, but I am not an door to door for United attorney nor do I have Circulation are "indetime to fight for our pendent contractors." The company does train their $30.00 stop payment fee. I gave the representative the independent itinerant salespeople who spread out all over the receipt number and she gave me country, but she said they cannot the name of the salesperson, a be responsible for their behavior Katrina Glock from Daytona Beach, Fl. Not only that, but after the training. The representative pointed they had received another comout the very small print on the plaint against her from Redding receipt that said, "This Compa- that same day. She said she ny is not affiliated with students, would report her deception to schools, charities, and fundrais- her boss to handle. I felt she was ers….read the entire receipt a bit vague about the actual dismissal process. before signing." The representative told me I commented that while what they said may technically be she had once sold magazines as true, their "independent contrac- an independent contractor, but tors" are misleading the public she was never deceptive in her and besmirching the company's approach. She said it was okay name. Not only that, but I felt for me to write a column about they and the company were tak- my experiences as long as I did ing advantage of the public with not slander United Circulation, all the small print which is easi- LLC; I think I have avoided doing that. ly covered up with a thumb. Well, I hope my next minute The representative told me they train these independent con- is a long way off. In the meantractors; the contractors receive time I will wash my own car. $10.00 per subscription. The Joe Harrop is a retired subscriptions actually are delivered where the contractor says educator with more than 30 they will be, and, in fact, the rep- years of service to the North resentative told me some hospi- State. He can be reached at tals have complained they are DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Harrop