Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

HAVERTOWN, PA It may have been a tough year for some local businesses. But, in Havertown, that hasn't stopped you from honoring your favorites.

Whether it's the restaurant that made special accommodations for your takeout, the shop that opened early so you could pick up curbside, the pizzeria that went out of its way to deliver to your home or the hardware store owner that offered you invaluable advice when a repairman wasn't available we want to hear about the businesses that have impacted your life this year in Havertown.

Below are the nominees so far, along with a comment from the person who nominated them. If you'd like to put in a good word for your own favorite Havertown and Haverford business, follow the link above. We will be accepting nominations through Dec. 10

All Brands Appliance and Computer Services 2517 Hirst Terrace, Havertown

"If you have a computer problem or a problem with an appliance, All Brands can fix it. I've used All Brands for both. They're trustworthy and provide excellent service. I would highly recommend them."

"Frank LeVeque has been in the appliance repair business for over 40 years and his younger son, Andrew, has recently joined him in the business. They provide prompt, courteous service to customers in Delaware County as well as surrounding counties, too. When customers call, Frank will ask them what their problem is with their appliance or computer and many times he can help them fix the problem over the phone. Customers appreciate this service."

The Bead Garden 2122 E Darby Road, Havertown

"As a bead shop, The Bead Garden is a mecca for local bead artists to gather and enjoy their craft or to take classes or simply enjoy browsing and picking up supplies for their next creation. When the pandemic hit, small 'nonessential' businesses like the Bead Garden were forced to close for business. What the owner did during this time was to make and donate masks when supplies were short, helping our essential health care workers protect themselves. Tina Freels then began to respond to individuals' requests for masks and provided porch pick up. She has been working long hard hours sewing away making masks that people now come to her shop to pick up. As the seasons changed, and the holidays are upon us, Tina continues to make masks for people in the local communities. Her hard work not only provides a needed commodity in our area, she has also saved her business through this hard work."

"In spite of months of work making masks (in addition to the upkeep of her store), Tina always has a welcoming smile and an offer to help every customer. No matter what your level of expertise in jewelry making, Tina is willing to offer advice and appropriate products. The Bead Garden is welcoming to interested tweens and teens who want to learn. She also does repairs on your 'special' jewelry pieces. She is a very experienced beader and teacher, and I will be so happy to see the time when she is able to resume classes and spend her time teaching and creating beaded 'pretties' exclusively. She is the only employee and works countless hours. Tina is "the best" and her store reflects it."

"Friendly atmosphere, great place to shop."

"Tina Freels the owner is hardworking, gives back to the community and offers a wide array of beads, supplies, masks and offers repairs. She holds classes and is an asset to the community."

"This bead store is chock-full of a variety of beads on display, accessories and supplies. The owner Tina is always available for support or suggestions. The store has a warm, friendly atmosphere. Repairs are accepted along with your creative desires."

"Tina, the owner, and her staff are very helpful, knowledgeable and lovely helpful, knowledgeable, and lovely to deal with."

Brick and Brew 2138 Darby Road, Havertown

"Brick and Brew is a charming, friendly neighborhood restaurant. The employees are welcoming, warm, and efficient. The food is fantastic and the drinks are even better! We are so lucky to have Brick and Brew walking distance from our home."

Cenzo's Pizzeria 1619 Darby Road, Havertown

"We always have a good experience at Cenzo's. The staff is pleasant & efficient. Our favorite is the White Special on Sicilian crust."

"Best pie around! Excellent service! Reasonable prices!"

The Crossbar 2225 Darby Road, Havertown

"A local pub/restaurant that was fortunate to have ample outdoor seating while weather cooperates, keeping patrons distanced and able to have someplace to go in these troubled times. Staff is very friendly."

"A rare gem for soccer fans and people looking for a neighborly hang."

"Friendly staff, good pub food, beer selection."

"Excellent service, friendly bartenders, small but easy menu, neighborhood gem."

Crust 2415 W Darby Road, Havertown

"Awesome Detroit pizza!"

Cute Little Nails & Spa 2120 Darby Road, Havertown

"Andy and Ann are the best. Makes you feel at home. Truly recommend this place for your nails."

Dynamic Image Hair Salon 28 Brookline Blvd. #3802, Havertown

"Debbie and her wonderful staff treat everyone with so much kindness and respect. I always feel so welcome and they are working very hard to keep everyone safe during this trying time. So many precautions are taken each time. The atmosphere is warm and very friendly and it makes me always want to come back!!"

"Everyone at the salon is very pleasant and welcoming. They are careful to observe the pandemic protocols. I feel safe. It is easy to make an appointment. Debbie and her staff are terrific!"

"It puts me in a good mood when I'm here cause the conversation is interesting. Debbie and the girls are truly caring."

Fisher's Ace Hardware 1305 West Chester Pike, Havertown

"It was open at the beginning of Covid when everything else is shutting down. They were there when we needed them for every little household thing."

Havertown Grille 2409 W Darby Road, Havertown

"Great breakfast and lunch menu with fabulous selections. Everyone is kind and friendly from owner, servers and cooks. Exceptionally clean!"

The Hearth 1901 Darby Rd, Havertown

"Great food & personable staff."

Jacob Low Hardware 1231 West Chester Pike, Havertown

"Always goes out of way to be helpful:whether repairing a broken window or screen, putting batteries in a light or clock, helping to find the right size screw or bolt even though only 1 was needed; always pleasant and accommodating; prices are a lot cheaper than the larger than hardware stores"

"Owner very personable, knowledgeable and helpful!"

Kettle 1 Brookline Blvd, Havertown

"Wonderful workers & owners. The food & costumer service is outstanding."

Learning Express of Havertown 1305 West Chester Pike, Store #23 Manoa Shopping Center, Havertown

"Great service, very helpful staff, competitive prices, excellent selection. This store and their associates are always willing to go above and beyond to help their customers select the right gift or toy for boys or girls. We like to support this local business versus shopping on-line because of the many "extras" they offer in addition to their quality merchandise, such as free gift wrapping, free customization, curbside pick-up, phone orders, and more."

Mark Anthony Paisano's Pizza & Catering 105 W Eagle Road, Havertown

"I order pizza from Paisano's a couple times a month. I'm always greeted with a warm smile and pleasant conversation. Very rarely do I ever wait longer than 15-20 minutes for my food. I've grown to build a relationship with the owner and a few of the employees that work at this pizza place. Normally when I'm ordering food from Paisano's, it is on a Friday night during their busiest time and I have my two children with me. You'd never know this though due to the way they treat me. It always feels like I'm their only customer and the most important customer due to their phenomenal customer service. The owner and employees now know me and my children by name.The food that Paisanos serves is always delicious. I've never had a bad meal from there. You can tell that a whole lotta love goes into their dishes. If you've never been to Paisano's, it is 100% worth checking it out!"

RejuvaNew You Spa 28 W. Eagle Road, Suite 203, Havertown

"Paula is fantastic. Makes me feel like family. A very trying year for me as everybody has during this pandemic."

More:
See Whos Been Nominated As Havertowns Best Businesses - Patch.com

Acquire and her sons.*Photo taken prior to COVID-19

According to Beth Acquaire's three sons, she can fix anything. 'I guess that's my hidden talent,' she jokes. It's not surprising then that Acquaire oversees gas distribution and appliance repair for more than 130 municipalities in central and northern New Jersey as PSE&G's senior director for Gas Field Operations North.

Fixing things and ensuring everything runs smoothly is a talent that has served Acquaire well since she joined the company 33 years ago.

'I had two job offers right out of college. PSEG just felt like the right fit,' explains the Butler, New Jersey, native and the third generation in her family to work for the company.

Finding new opportunities to expand her skills

*Photo taken prior to COVID-19.

Acquaire's first role was in Customer Operations, where she worked for 10 years as a supervisor in both the meter reading department and collection department and in the 24/7 Customer Inquiry Center. Feeling ready for a change, she looked into Gas Operations which, at the time, was just starting to enter the air conditioning replacement and repair business.

'It was so exciting - it was a growing business with so much energy,' she said. 'That's where I wanted to work.'

She became one of only two women working at that time on the Appliance Service team.

'It was a big transition,' she said, 'especially because my female counterpart was in a different region and we didn't interact much.'

But she made it work, even attending school in the evening to get certified in plumbing and heating, as well as her MBA and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

'I wanted people to know that I wanted to learn the work,' she said.

Acquaire left Gas Operations for a time, taking a rotational assignment in internal auditing.

'It gave me a whole new perspective on the company and a new avenue for networking.'

When she came back to Gas Operations, she moved into the dispatching department.

'There are so many different areas within PSEG and opportunities to try something new and different.'

Her recommendation: Take on a role that excites you and that you can grow into.

Creating a culture of support and inclusion

Photo taken in 2006

Looking back over her three decades at PSEG, Acquaire sees a huge and welcome shift in the growing level of support among and for women. Three years ago, Acquaire was the founding member of Pursuing Opportunities for Women in Energy Resources (POWER) in Gas Operations. The group has since expanded to an enterprise-wide Employee Business Resource Group.

Last year, POWER focused on professional development, helping members craft elevator pitches, hone their interview skills and tell their own personal and professional stories. This year, the focus is on empowering relationships through mentoring, with nearly 50 mentorships already in place.

POWER also takes time to give back to local nonprofits such as Home Front, a group focused on ending homelessness, and Habitat for Humanity, which works to provide affordable housing around the world.

Now that her sons are grown, Acquaire says, 'POWER is my baby - I love the opportunity to build the network and relationships with the other members.'

Looking back

Since joining PSEG in 1987, Acquaire hasn't regretted her choice, or any of the opportunities or roles she has had.

'Every day is different,' she said. 'You are always busy, always learning. That's what makes PSEG great.'

For more information on career opportunities at PSEG, please visit jobs.pseg.com.

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Disclaimer

PSEG - Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. published this content on 10 December 2020 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 10 December 2020 17:44:05 UTC

More:
Beth Acquaire: Thirty years of development and growth - Marketscreener.com

The pandemic temporarily knocked the wheels out from under Adrienne Cooper's idea for an adults-only roller lounge in Chattanooga, but now her distinctive line of skates is selling fast enough to make her head spin.

"Skates, inline skates, skateboards, bikes, anybody on wheels is more relevant than ever as people are trying to be outdoors as much as possible," says Cooper, who launched her Moonlight Roller brand in March 2019.

Cooper's initial business plan was to open up a roller rink that combined the social aspects of a bar with the fun of roller skating. On the verge of signing a lease when the pandemic hit, she quickly pivoted to online skate sales. She developed a line of funky, cool, comfortable skates called Moon Boots and dropped her first batch of 1,500 on Instagram in May.

"They sold out," Cooper says. "You would not believe the look on my face I was on Instagram Live with people watching my jaw drop to the floor."

Now, as quickly as the skates come into her Chattanooga warehouse from a manufacturer in China, they are gone, says Cooper, who moved here from Illinois for college in 2013, did a stint in the Navy, and then returned to town in 2018.

"For the foreseeable future, we'll place as large an order as we can 10,000 to 18,000 pairs of skates and we get them in at a rate of 4,000 a shipment every 20 days," Cooper says.

The business has showed up in a Vogue magazine article about reclaiming the joy of roller skating, and Netflix has called about featuring her products in a show in development.

"I still kind of can't believe it," Cooper says. "It's a very surreal feeling."

While the pandemic has delivered body blows to industries including travel, lodging, dining and entertainment, the crisis has also dropped an avalanche of demand for other businesses.

Moonlight Roller tapped into a big appetite for outdoor and sporting equipment, which has driven up sales of everything from bikes to kayaks and camping gear. According to industry analytics group NPD, sales of bikes were up 63% year-over-year in June 2020.

Closer to home, furniture stores have scrambled to keep up with demand as people working and attending school from their couches and kitchen tables grow weary of their furnishings at the same time they've saved money on travel and dining out.

"These families went a whole summer with kids not having as many activities, people at home on a daily basis, mom and dad working from home," says Michael Turner, the owner of Huck and Peck furniture store in Chattanooga. "They're saying, 'We've been talking about getting a new sofa for 3 or 8 or 10 years maybe we can get it now.'"

His business is up over last year, but there's a catch, says Turner, who opened his store on West 31st Street 5 years ago. The pandemic has bogged down supply chains at the source, and slowed shipping at just the moment demand is soaring, he says.

"We've definitely had to explain to people why things are going to take longer," he says. "They need to get on it now if they come in tomorrow and something is sold, it may be January, February, even March before we get it again."

At Southern Champion Tray, widespread demand for to-go dining has dramatically altered the market for the paper products the 93-year-old manufacturer churns out, says Sarah Williams, director of sales.

"Things like carryout containers, we can't make them fast enough," Williams says. "To-go drink holders, there was a national shortage of those for a while if we had millions of them, we could have sold them at one point."

Meanwhile, demand for paper plates and the red-checked open food trays that typically hold hot dogs or fries has tanked, along with the appetite for boxes for big sheet cakes that feed people at large gatherings, Williams says.

"Right now, everyone needs covered, closed containers they can stack," she says. "We've done a lot of pivoting in terms of moving employees to different equipment, trying to streamline as much as we can."

Their client mix has changed, too, Williams adds. "Catering is not a big thing now," she says. "People are not doing the corporate Christmas parties."

Southern Champion Tray is in a good position because it's versatile, producing a broad mix of products that serves a variety of sectors spanning bakery and food service, she says. But that doesn't make planning in this environment any easier.

"What I keep telling our customers is there is no forecasting tools for COVID," Williams says. "Just when you think you have a plan, it changes again."

For Stoney Standridge, planning during the pandemic has meant planning to be busy. His appliance repair business has run nonstop since people started staying home and using their dishwashers, washing machines and other appliances all day, every day.

"I would say we've got 30% busier because of the pandemic," says Standridge, who launched his business in 2016 after spending 22 years with another appliance repair outfit. "We've got so busy I've had to hire someone to answer the phone."

When the shutdowns first hit, Standridge was inundated with calls from folks who had been postponing appliance repair. Home all day, they finally had the chance to hang out and let him into the house, Standridge says.

"The first two months of COVID, business probably doubled," says Standridge, whose repair business covers a region that spans from his home base of Ducktown, Tennessee, to Blue Ridge, Georgia, and points in between.

He had already added a new employee in February to help keep up with the demand for repair work in his growing business, but he's had to add two more since then. As with so many other booming businesses, his biggest problem now is getting the parts he needs to do the work, Standridge says.

"Parts are not being made, or manufacturers are behind," he says. "That's my biggest thing is trying to track down parts."

There's also a sense of sadness that his business is thriving while so many others are suffering, Standridge adds.

"Our business, we have been blessed, and you hate for people to have problems," he says.

At Huck and Peck, Turner says he struggles with the same conflicting emotions. He and his customers are weathering the pandemic well so far, and that just isn't the case for so many people, he says.

"This is not the folks who have suffered from job loss," he says. "This is not an easy moment for the service industry."

For the founder of Moonlight Roller, the fast and timely switch from planning a roller lounge where people gathered to selling skates online probably saved her a world of financial heartache, she says. She had raised $10,000 in a Kickstarter campaign and over $100,000 from three investors, and she's already been able to pay it all back and take sole control of her company.

"Had we signed [the lease], I'd be bankrupt right now," Cooper says. "I think about that all the time."

Before COVID hit, Cooper had developed a mobile business hosting pop-up skate parties and renting skates at venues including Bonnaroo and Comic Con in Atlanta, and every single event fell through.

She did host a pop-up event on Halloween, and she'll get back to those earlier plans for a skate lounge and mobile business, but in the meantime, she has hired 11 employees since June.

"We're so slammed with roller skates that we don't have the time anyway," she says.

READ MORE

*Might as well: Entrepreneurs across the country are going for it, anticipating better days ahead

*Wear it out: Local businesses expand their brands through smart, fun swag

*Changing clothes: Pandemic frays small businesses built around getting dressed

Visit link:
On a roll: For some Chattanooga businesses, demand for what they do is at fever pitch - Chattanooga Times Free Press

FARGO In the season of porch pirates, we often hear about people putting dog poop or glitter bombs in decoy boxes to get revenge. But what is legal to when deterring these thieves?

Around the country, vigilante mail recipients are taking matters in their own hands and posting about it online. There is the common practice of putting dog poop in a decoy box, using glitter bombs, and even going as far as rigging shotgun blanks to scare off patio patrons.

"You put blanks in there and it blows someone's hand off potentially, we might not be talking defense of property," explained Luke Heck, a criminal defense attorney with Vogel Law Firm in Fargo.

While North Dakotans and Minnesotans do have the right to defend their property with force, Heck believes putting blanks and explosives in boxes will invite litigation. If your the decoy is less hardcore, then you are probably not breaking the law.

Other stories:

"They didn't have the lawful authority to take the package, whether it was a dummy package or an actual package in the first place," Heck said. "So there's a pretty weak argument to where there could be criminal charges for a glitter bomb type situation."

"Open up a box and it takes someone's eye out with glitter, you could be opened up to other types of liability and different areas of the law there too," Heck added.

So what should you do to fend off porch pirates?

Law enforcement officials recommend tracking your package, require a signature or request in-store pickup, be home during delivery or ask a neighbor to bring packages inside.

Call the police if you become a porch pirate victim.

"First and foremost, call the police if something is being stolen from you," Heck urged. "Engaging in self help oftentimes causes more problems than it solves."

A Fargo police spokesperson says their officers are not seeing an increase in package thefts this year.

See more here:
Local lawyers warn against the act of revenge against porch pirates - INFORUM

Police in Bloomfield are seeking three men they say stole packages off residents' porches this month.

According to BloomfieldPublic Safety Director Sam DeMaio, the following incidents occurred earlier this month:

The first was on Dec. 2, on the 100 block of North 17th Street.The suspect was captured stealing a package containing $60 sneakers from his front porch on the resident's ring doorbell.

that same day, officers responded to Myrtle Street, where a resident said packages containing aNike Jacket, Vapor max shoes, Nike pants and a Nike Jacket valued at $740 were stolen.

On Dec. 3, Floyd Avenue residents reported two package thefts between 4 and 4:30 p.m. Their Ring doorbells captured the below suspect stealing their packages from the front steps. Both packages were worth approximately $50 dollars. First, was a childs clay toy mold and second was a pair of slippers.

On Dec. 4, anAmpere Parkway resident reported a package theft around 2 p.m., in which a man on a blue bicycle took a $170 package from the front porch.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Bloomfield Department of Public Safety.

Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.

The rest is here:
RECOGNIZE THEM? Rash Of Porch Thefts Under Investigation In Bloomfield - Rutherford Daily Voice

Around the world, folks have begun to scramble in order to obtain that perfect gift for the special people in their lives. Although much more of that shopping will be done online this year, it still continues. Toys and dolls, electronics and new tech, kitchen gadgetry, and (my favorite) delectable edibles will all be neatly wrapped and exchanged in only a couple of weeks. And despite the vast array of possible gifts, there remains one item, something we all need, which is rarely gifted. That item is shoes.

So why dont we present those on our Christmas list with a new pair of kicks every now and then? Too expensive? No, even shoes are on Black Friday sales. Too difficult to find? Though there may be a toilet paper shortage, Ive heard no such similar news about sneakers or pumps. No, the reason we dont often gift shoes is because shoes are so very unique to the individual wearing them. Im not necessarily speaking about style, though we do have variant opinions on what makes a good-looking shoe. More importantly, Im referring to the fit. Even if I knew my wifes shoe size (I admittedly dont), I wouldnt dare begin to pick a pair to gift her, because inevitably, they just wouldnt fit right. Only one person knows if a pair of shoes feel right and that is the person wearing them. Im reminded of the old adage, Try walking a mile in my shoes.

How often do we remind ourselves of that maxim and evaluate anothers situation before making a decision or judgment? Too infrequently, I fear. When we take the opportunity to examine the unique experiences of those around us though, and relate them to our own, we can begin to develop empathy which is what the saying is truly all about. We should all make that our goal.

In the end though, we can never truly know what someone else is going through; we can never walk that mile in someone elses shoes. And its a good thing, for I reckon our feet would really begin to hurt by the end of some of those walks.

But despite the fact we cant walk that mile and we dont know what shoes are comfortable to others, much the same way we dont know what those people are going through in their lives, I expect a Size 12 worth of understanding and a shoestrings length of compassion might go a long way in making those miles easier to traverse.

Many blessings of Christmas to you and yours this season.

P.S. I stand corrected Perhaps a few of you realized that I incorrectly referenced Thanksgiving as falling on the last Thursday of November in my last column. Thanksgiving falls, in fact, on the fourth Thursday of each November, which is sometimes, but not always, the last Thursday of the month. A thousand apologies to those who may, as a result of my misinformation, now celebrate Thanksgiving 2023 on November 30th, rather than the 23rd.

Read more here:
PORCH SWING POINT OF VIEW: Empathy and Shoes - Record Delta

Pride flag Photo Credit: Kevin Goebel/flickr.

An Ohio family claims someone stole an LGBTQ Pride flag that they had hung from their front porch and burned it.

The Fitzpatric family of Wyoming, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati, claims the unknown person came onto the porch to steal the flag and apparently tripped over their Christmas lights. Then the thief burned the flag at the corner of Beech Avenue and Worthington Avenue.

Its a real sense of violation to have somebody come onto your property, Michele Fitzpatric, the mother, told local Cincinnati affiliate FOX19. Its an act of violence; its a threat.

The Fitzpatrics said they put up the flag in June after they discussed the meaning behind the flag, and because their daughter, Maggie, said she was disturbed by the bullying of gay or transgender kids in school.

I think [people] dont necessarily realize the hurt that they are causing for those that are part of that community, Maggie Fitzpatric said.

She said several friends reached out after the flag burning.

They were speechless, Maggie said. They never thought that this type of thing would have happened, especially in Wyoming, adding that she previously believed Wyoming was a very accepting community.

The family told FOX19 theyve ordered a new, bigger flag to replace the burned one, and said that several of their neighbors have ordered similar flags as a show of support.

Bill Fitzpatric, the father of the family, posted on his Facebook page that he and his wife had initially struggled with how to address the incident.

See also:Michigan couple believes their home was vandalized over Trans Pride flag

While the financial impact of this crime is low, the emotional impact is high. We fly that flag to show support for groups of people that are marginalized and victimized just for having the courage to honor their true selves and to pursue loving, fulfilling relationships, he wrote. That someone carries enough hate in their heart to walk up to a house blazing with Christmas lights to steal and burn a gay/trans pride flag shows why we as a community need to be even more vocal in our support.

My flag, just like a gay or trans person living their authentic lives, is not harming anyone and is not offensive to anyone who is not a bigot, Fitzpatric wrote, adding he hopes the incident sparks a larger discussion about the type of community in which we want to live and raise our kids.

Clearly bigotry starts at home, he wrote. Kids arent born hateful; they are taught by their parents, and it can either be reinforced or mitigated by their teachers and peers. If youre not a bigot, please talk to your kids explicitly about hate of all kinds. Dont assume they know how to be against hate, not just passive in the face of it. Give them the tools and support to actively stand up against hate. Your kids are the peers of kids being taught hate at home and can help a good kid born to bad parents be a better person.

Read more:

Conservatives are fuming over Ritzs pro-LGBTQ ad

Read this article:
Ohio family claims someone stole their Pride flag and burned it - Metro Weekly

Chehalis Police Department

Assault Reported

At 9:52 a.m. on Monday, an assault was reported in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

Hit and Runs

At 2:24 p.m. on Monday, a hit and run was reported in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

At 7:35 p.m. on Tuesday, a hit and run was reported in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

Theft

At 2:24 p.m. on Monday, a third-degree theft was reported in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

Trespasser Reported at Fairgrounds

At 6:44 p.m. on Monday, a trespasser was reported in the 2500 block of North National Avenue, at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds Office.

Victim Reports Being Hit in Head by Bat

At 8:51 p.m. Monday, police received a report of an assault in the 100 block of Southwest Sixth Street. The victim was reportedly hit in the head with a bat. Charges are pending.

Sexual Misconduct Reported

At 9:20 a.m. on Tuesday, police received a report of sexual misconduct from the 500 block of Southwest Chehalis Avenue.

Assault Suspect Arrested

At 10:13 a.m. on Tuesday, police received a report of an assault in the 300 block of Southwest Third Street. Bradley G. Dubay, 27, of Chehalis, was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault and malicious mischief.

Shoplifter Reported

At 4:39 p.m. on Tuesday, police responded to a report of a shoplifter in the 1700 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

Man in Underwear and Santa Hat Trespasses on Porch

At 6:22 p.m. on Tuesday, a resident in the 500 block of Southeast Hilltop Drive in Chehalis reported a strange man was standing on his porch in his underwear and a Santa hat.

Centralia Police Department

Saw Stolen

At 8:31 a.m. on Monday, a chop saw was reported stolen in the 2000 block of Johnson Road.

Rochester Suspect Accused of Assault

At 9:37 a.m. on Monday, police responded to a report of an assault in the 1200 block of Alder Street. A 33-year-old Rochester man is being referred to prosecutors on suspicion of fourth-degree assault.

Centralia Man Suspected of Violating Protection Order

At 10:16 a.m. on Monday, police responded to the 800 block of Atherton Street in Centralia for a report of a violation of a protection order. A 48-year-old Centralia man is being referred to prosecutors on suspicion of violating a protection order.

Harassment Reported

At 1:51 p.m. on Monday, a person reported receiving death threats in the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue. The incident is under investigation.

Counterfeit Cash Found

At 1:52 p.m. on Monday, a counterfeit $20 bill was reported in the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue.

Alcohol Stolen

At 2:36 p.m. on Monday, alcohol was reported stolen in the 500 block of South Tower Avenue.

Money Taken

At 4:19 p.m. on Monday, money was reported stolen from a bank account by a person in the 2000 block of Cooks Hill Road.

Centralia Man Faces Malicious Mischief Charge

At 9:19 p.m. on Monday, police responded to the 500 block of South Cedar Street for a report of a person damaging a vehicle. A 24-year-old Centralia man is being referred to prosecutors on suspicion of malicious mischief.

Keys Stolen

At 8:27 a.m. on Tuesday, keys were reported stolen from the 200 block of Centralia College Boulevard.

Package Taken

At 9:38 a.m. on Tuesday, a package was reported stolen from the 1700 block of Harrison Avenue.

Wallet Reported Stolen

At 9:53 a.m. on Tuesday, a wallet was reported stolen from the 1200 block of View Avenue.

Wiring Damaged at Business

At 1:58 p.m. on Tuesday, police received a report of malicious mischief at a business in the 500 block of Harrison Avenue. Wiring was reportedly cut.

Hit and Run

At 2:38 p.m. on Tuesday, a hit and run was reported in the 1000 block of B Street.

Vehicle Tabs Stolen

At 3:21 p.m. on Tuesday, vehicle tabs were reported stolen in the 200 block of Downing Road.

Lewis County Jail Statistics

As of Wednesday morning, the Lewis County Jail had a total system population of 146 inmates, including 130 in general population and 16 in the Work Ethic and Restitution Center. Of general population inmates, 110 were male and 20 female and of WERC inmates, all were male.

Corrections

The Chronicle seeks to be accurate and fair in all its reporting. If you find an error or believe a news item is incorrect, please call the newsroom as soon as possible at 807-8224, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Original post:
Sirens: Man in Underwear and Santa Hat Trespasses on Porch; Rochester Suspect Accused of Assault - Centralia Chronicle

It never fails. Every month we have someone fall victim to cybercrime here in our beautiful community. It happens now on a regularly. These scammers are smart. They have skills of persuasion and are sometimes hard to detect. However, we must follow the basic rules of online safety and avoid being the victim of a crime that may cause not only a headache, stress and aggravation, but may cost thousands of dollars.

The holiday season is always a busy time for criminals. Whether it be Black Friday shopping or package theft, they are always on the job. With the impact of the global pandemic, more and more people are turning to online shopping. The usual way of getting those irresistible deals has changed. Amazon and other retailers will probably have their biggest year yet with online orders.

You may ask yourself, how will this affect me? Whether you participate or not in online shopping, you will more than likely get an email that looks like it comes from a legitimate source such as Amazon, Wal-Mart or another online retailer telling you your package may have been delayed. They may say there was a problem with your debit card or credit card or something to bait you into clicking a link. Once you click that link, it may be too late. You may have given a criminal access to your computer and they can see everything. Your banking information, credit card information, and all that confidential information you need to safeguard. They may even have you call a number and before you know it, you have given them your credit card information or even worse, your bank account information.

We have to beware. If you receive an email similar to this, do nothing. Delete it! Call the retailer yourself by looking up the legitimate number on your own, if you suspect there may be a problem with your order. Even if you think there is no way you can be scammed, trust me, it can happen. Always use a credit card for online orders. If you use your debit card and something happens, scammers may be able to wipe out your bank account. Most credit cards come with fraud protection for these type of scenarios. Long story short, believe no emails from retailers telling you there is a problem. Call the retailer if you suspect something is wrong with your order.

So now you have followed the steps of the safe online shopper and your package is set to arrive. The delivery service such as Fed-Ex or UPS or even the USPS lays the package on your porch.

Then what? Are you able to retrieve it once you receive notification it has been delivered? If not, you may be handing a thief a gift. Porch pirates are common in every area in America. They drive around and just look for an opportunity to steal something, especially packages from the front porch.

If you work full-time or cannot be at home, be sure to make arrangements for your package to be received safely. This may be having it delivered to a friends house or your place of work. If this is not possible and you live in Fairfield Glade, call the police department. We will retrieve your package, bring it to the station and lock it up until you can pick it up.

OK, you get home and there is package on your porch addressed to you. It may be clothing, electronics, or anything really. You check your credit card and sure enough, there is a charge to that store and the package is delivered, except you did not order it and it has your name on it.

This is common and this is a huge red flag. Check with your spouse to make sure, they did not order and if they didnt, cancel your credit card immediately and change all your online passwords.

This is a technique criminals use to see if they can get an order through and, if it works, you could have real issues. The next time they order it will be for a lot more money and they may have the package diverted mid-shipment. This is common and can be costly.

Finally remember, no legitimate business will ask you to send gift cards such as Google Play cards or Apple gift cards. This is 100% of the time a fraud.

Happy and safe shopping this holiday season!

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Porch pirates and scammers on the hunt to ruin your holiday celebration - Crossville Chronicle

TORONTO -- One out of three online shoppers in Canada say they have had a package stolen off their doorstep, according to a recent survey by delivery service company FedEx.

Mississauga resident Dennis Santos said he recently had a package stolen from in front of his home. His video doorbell system showed the package delivered by a courier company, but not long after, it was snatched by someone carrying a snow scraper and wearing a mask.

These thieves are grabbing packages even while we are in a lockdown. People have switched to online shopping and they are expecting packages at home," Santos said.

Another CTV News Toronto viewer sent in security video showing someone taking a package of his doorstep that contained a $400 winter coat. The person knocked on his door, spent time checking out the package and then left, only to return minutes later and grab it.

Porch piracy has become a costly problem for retailers and the courier industry. Video door bells and security cameras can help but don't stop the thefts.

Experts say there are delivery pods people can buy that a courier can open to lock a delivery inside to make sure its secure. To prevent porch pirates taking packages, people can also ship them to a trusted friend, neighbour or their work address.

People can also request a signature on delivery or opt for in-store or curbside pickup.

Santos said Amazon reimbursed him for the stolen package. He said he will continue to shop online but take extra precautions.

I'm going to be more cautious now to make sure someone doesn't grab them, or I will put a bin on the porch so that they can be placed inside where they are not visible to people walking or driving by, he said.

Experts say that if your package has been stolen, contact the retailer that sold it to you. Different stores will have different policies, but if you never received the item you should be entitled to a full refund or a replacement.

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Porch piracy on the rise due to more online shopping amid pandemic - CTV Toronto