Make Tobys Dream a reality

This is an open letter to everyone in the Lakes Region area who is a friend and supporter of the Windham veterans and our past president Toby Pennels.

While president of the Windham Veterans Association from June of 2012 until his death in September 2014, Tobys Dream plan was to pave the Windham Veteran Center parking lot and access road to connect with the parking lot pavement behind the Windham Mall as a way to move the Windham Veteran Center into a better position.

One of Tobys first acts for improvements of the center as a public rental hall in order to increase our rental income, was to establish an account within our WVA budget labeled Paving. We have been making deposits in this account when able and the balance today is $4,168. The goal to complete this project is $50,000.

The WVA has dedicated this fundraising project in honor and memory of Toby and we have obtained town approval to rename the paved entrance drive starting at the mall pavement, Toby Pennels Veterans Memorial Drive.

The WVA feels sure there are lots of people who will want to donate to this project to ensure Tobys name will forever be remembered in connection with his beloved veterans center as people drive in and out of our driveway. We truly believe a veteran has not really died as long as his name continues to be said everlasting. In case we are fortunate enough to receive more money than is needed specifically for the paving, we hereby promise every penny received for this project will be used to further perpetuate Tobys name.

For example, if received funds allow us to, we would like to expand and enhance the entrance to our drive with more robust and elaborate granite pillars and signage. Also, on the right side of the drive, going in, people have suggested a row of appropriately spaced evergreen trees to cover the unsightly brush. Also, on the left side of the drive, going in, people have suggested a paved sidewalk for people who often walk our driveway with their dogs.

The expected long-range outcome of this successful project will be a significant increase in rental income, Tobys dream, which will allow the WVA to make significant improvements and upgrades on the inside/outside of the building and grounds, thereby creating additional rentals which will therein make the WVC financially self-sustaining.

For the record, all of WVA income is spent on the maintenance and betterment of the building and grounds. There is not ever even one penny paid to any veteran for all the hundreds of hours of volunteer work they do.

The community, the people of the Greater Windham area, have been physically and financially involved and supportive of the successful building of the building in 1999 and also in the creation and town dedication of Veterans Memorial Park in 2005 and Memorial Gardens in 2006. For those that helped us financially in the past, we thank you. We could not have what we have today without your help. However, in order to maintain and sustain what we have today, we need to find a way to increase our rental income. We believe in Tobys business skills and his decision to choose paving as the answer to our financial income problems.

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Letters: 1/16/2015

Updated: Friday, January 16 2015, 06:38 PM EST

Rochester, N.Y. - Hes facing felony charges for defrauding at least 33 people. 13 WHAM News has uncovered new information about this snow plow operator, raising new questions about his past.

39 year old Scott Romero may have avoided prosecution and jail in Buffalo in 2011, but as part of the lawsuit filed by the attorney general he agreed to pay his victims back. Now theres evidence of other claims made in Rochester before that date.

Claims were filed against Romero, who was doing business under a different company name. While the claims are not part of the current criminal case, they do help to paint a pattern of behavior required to prove a felony.

As soon as I saw him on the news on television, I said, 'oh my God thats the guy who sat right here in the kitchen,' said Sue Bianchi.

His name may be Scott Romero, yet thats not the name on the contract he signed when he agreed to plow Sue and Joe Bianchis driveway in Greece this season. Instead, he used the name Andy Stewart.

At least 33 people in eight Monroe County towns contracted with Stewart and his company Metro, or Met Construction. They claim they never received the services they were promised.

Romeros lawyer says it will be difficult to prove this was intentional and not simply bad business.

Intent is what the person was thinking at the time. If the matter proceeds to litigation, that is something that we will challenge, said Attorney Dan Aureli.

Questions remain whether Romero changed his name to cover up a past that included the settlement of a lawsuit brought by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in Buffalo in 2011.

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Alleged Snowplow scammer facing thousands in past claims

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SANTA CRUZ -- Seven of the 14 contractors cited in a November sting in Aptos for contracting without a license pleaded guilty or no contest in court Monday and were ordered to pay a $750 fine plus court costs, according to county prosecutor Bill Atkinson.

Jail time will be suspended pending payment of the fine and efforts to obtain the license required from the Contractors State License Board, he said, noting two of the seven indicated they will not seek a license.

The other seven are scheduled for a court date later this month or February.

"It's a win-win for everybody if they can get their license, then they become accountable," Atkinson said, noting cases will be reviewed in nine months giving those cited time to study for the closed-book exam.

Atkinson said any work requiring more than $500 in labor and materials must be done by a licensed contractor who has posted a bond.

The Contractors State License Board application fee is $300, and the initial license fee covering two years is $180, for a total of $480. The fee for each additional classification, such as roofing, is $75.

Penalties for a first offense of contracting without a license are a fine of up of $5,000, six months in county jail, or both, said Steve Breen of the Contractors State License Board, noting a second conviction carries a mandatory 90-day jail sentence.

Atkinson said none of the 14 cited in Aptos had a prior conviction.

During 2013-14, the Labor Enforcement Task Force, a coalition including the Contractor State Licensed Board, district attorney's offices and Department of Industrial Relations, inspected 1,399 business statewide, 45 percent in construction, to combat the "underground economy," which puts operators who follow the rules at a disadvantage and results in tax revenue shortfalls. Santa Cruz County had 39 businesses inspected; no details were available Monday.

In November, investigators posed as homeowners and contacted contractors for a project estimate in Aptos, using a list of unlicensed contractors kept by the DA's office.

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Seven cited in Aptos for contracting without a license plead guilty

POTTSBORO Another step was taken toward Pottsboros newest apartments at the meeting Monday night of the Pottsboro Planning and Zoning Commission. The commission met to approve the site plan for the Abbington Junction apartments, plans which were already approved by the citys fire department, City Secretary Denise Smith said.

There is one hiccup in the plans to which City Manager Kevin Farley alerted the commission: The plats drawn up by the apartment engineer include a driveway entering the apartments from Spur 316 a driveway that has not yet been approved.

Between the architects and maybe the city and TxDOT, there was a miscommunication on the access driveway permit, he said.

Normally the city issues the access permits on Pottsboro highways, but with a project such as this, Farley said that TxDOT and city regulations require a traffic impact analysis to be performed on the proposed driveway.

This survey will be conducted by the engineer and the property owner, Cole Philips Engineering. Farley said he believes a traffic impact analysis will indicate that a turn lane will be necessary, so the exercise will be more of a formality.

Commissioners expressed their appreciation to Farley for keeping them informed before approving the site plans for the Abbington Junction Apartments, paving the way for construction to begin.

The building permit is approved now, but (the entrance needs) a driveway permit; (the engineers) cant build that driveway without that permit, City Secretary Denise Smith said. If they request variance, (that could be approved) by the first of February.

The apartments will be located at 601 Spur 316 and will consist of 56 units at both market-rate and below market-rate rents.

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Site plan approved for new Pottsboro apartments

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Cowboy builder left coded pattern in driveway of an elderly couple in 2009 Since then they have had a series of rogue traders knock on their door Tradesmen have called round asking for 6,000 for work they do not need Police believe the pattern was left to identify house as a 'potential target' There are fears the symbol could have been used on other properties

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 07:36 EST, 9 January 2015 | Updated: 19:28 EST, 9 January 2015

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An elderly couple who were tricked into letting a rogue builder pave their driveway were mystified when a series of dodgy tradesmen kept calling at their home.

The visits took place over five years but the homeowners could not work out why they were being singled out.

But now police have the answer the original builder had left a code pattern in the driveway to tip off other cowboy traders that the owners were an easy target.

The builder, who massively overcharged them, at 4,000, left the job unfinished in August 2009 but at the centre of the driveway he had placed a squared pattern of different coloured blocks.

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Rogue builders' in Devon leave code on driveway that says target this home again

Cowboy builder left coded pattern in driveway of an elderly couple in 2009 Since then they have had a series of rogue traders knock on their door Tradesmen have called round asking for 6,000 for work they do not need Police believe the pattern was left to identify house as a 'potential target' There are fears the symbol could have been used on other properties

By Ollie Gillman for MailOnline

Published: 07:36 EST, 9 January 2015 | Updated: 09:32 EST, 9 January 2015

A cowboy builder who fleeced 4,000 from an elderly couple left a coded pattern in their driveway to let other rogue traders know they were an easy target.

The builder called round the home of the vulnerable couple, who did not wish to be named, and convinced them to let him repave their driveway.

He left the job unfinished, overcharging them 4,000, but laid a distinctive pattern of square, differently coloured bricks at the centre of the driveway.

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Since the distinctive pattern was laid, a series of rogue traders have called round the house offering unwanted services

A cowboy builder left a coded pattern in the driveway of an elderly couple to let other rogue traders know they were an easy target

The homeowners thought nothing of the pattern - until other tradesmen started calling at their semi-detached home in Plymstock, Devon.

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Cowboy builder left coded sign in driveway to let other rogue traders know they were an easy target

The house calls included four different builders offering to re-do the work the original trader left unfinished.

The couple, of Plymstock, Devon, eventually called in police who say they believe the pattern in the drive was a code to cowboys that the homeowner is vulnerable.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "There are grounds to suspect it is there to identify the house as a potential target for these type of offences."

The 70-year-old victim said: "We paid for the work to be done, but they never sanded or sealed the driveway.

"A second lot came along, then another group, then another. I believe the paving symbol, which I didn't ask for, is a signal for other people to look out for.

"My concern is they could be targeting other elderly people. There could be some gullible old woman living by herself thinking she has to pay up.

"I think these people will continue to try their luck with others."

The elderly couple paid unscrupulous workers 4,000 for a paved front drive which was left unfinished but included a design featuring five squares.

Since then a series of different groups of workmen have turned up at the terraced property offering to do work and asking for up to 6,000.

It is feared the pattern may have been included in driveways elsewhere and pensioners are being urged to remain vigilant.

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Cowboy builder leaves 'code' pattern in driveway letting others know homeowner is an easy target

SWNS

One dodgy builder left a distinct square mark with different coloured blocks at an elderly couple's home after massively overcharging them by 4,000.

The 70-year-old resident, who was convinced they needed the work by the cowboy, thought nothing of the pattern until other rogue traders kept calling over a period of five years.

The elderly couple from Plymstock, Devon eventually called police who said they believed the pattern left in the driveway was a code to encourage other rogue traders.

Homeowners have also been warned to look for other "codes" left by cowboy builders such as chalk marks on walls, a single discoloured roof tile or marks left on the guttering.

SWNS

I believe the paving symbol, which I didn't ask for, is a signal for other people to look out for

The victim of rogue traders

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "There are grounds to suspect it is there to identify the house as a potential target for these type of offences."

The unnamed pensioner who had the "code" left on their home paid unscrupulous workers 4,000 for a paved front drive which was left unfinished in August 2009.

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Police warn Britons to check home for 'code' left by rogue traders marking them as targets