Category: Should take note

Buying a Cable Modem to replace the Optimum Modem

Recently Optimum began charging a monthly rental fee for the Modem. The cost is &4.99 per month. I have been receiving a great many inquiries regarding can you buy your own Cable modem and then return the Optimum Modem.

The Quick answer is yes. but beware of the many options and cost,

  • You can get a very good modem that will work for under $100 however these modems will not contain VOIP. (voice over internet protocol)
  • What does that mean??? Simply if the modem doesn’t have VOIP you will no longer have phone access. You would loose the tripple play on the optimum plan and thus need to use a cell phone as your primary phone.

A good modem with VOIP will cost more than a $100 more in the rage of $175-$200 unless your an online shopper which can find some deals. Example: NEWEGG ( online retailer) has an Aris very similar to optimum for $140

In summery keep in mind the following:

  • If you want to keep a house phone then make sure any modem you buy has VOIP
  • Keep in mind cost vs your outlay vs warranty ( example a $200 modem vs $60 a year which takes 4 1/2 years to break even. If the unit you buy has problems over the 4 1/2 years you will not have any internet and phone while unit is repaired or replace only if you take out a service contract (an additional expense.

To Optimums credit, they thought this out.

There is no right or wrong here but inconvenience and not much savings may not make it a wise choice.

Question: why do they charge for the modem and not the router?

Answer: Because you can get a better router for way under $100

 

New Security Added to Google

If you use a pc or any computer, tablet, smartphone that uses the GOOGLE APP (which I highly recommend) there is a new feature you may be unaware of.

Websites that require users to use passwords for access or transact money using credit or debit cards for buying or selling are supposed to have an SSL certificate. This certificate promises that their site is safe to use. 

How do you know if one of these types of sites are secure? You look on the search bar that you typed to find the site you are looking for. In the left side before the site name or HTTP:/ or www. there should be a padlock indicating secure. If it is a “i with a circle around it it is not secure”

see below:

You will also note that sites like ours is also not marked secure. SSL Certificates cost as they are Licenses and must be renewed. Since we have no secure information be transferred or money being collected; we do not need a SSL Certificate. There are many such sites like this. Sites that need them but don’t have one; you can still look for ideas to buy from but be careful before entering any secure data.

Examples of sites that have sensitive data and should be secure: Any Doctor, Hospital, pharmacy, online retail, charity,Insurance, Bank, schools, Churches,credit cards,investments,social security, IRS,all tax prep companies, cell phone co., cable co. and the list can go on.

Site plan for additional stores at the Brixmor/Costco site

Bob Hall and Barbara Ross have been active in keeping the best interest of our community protected by staying up to date on changes along Route 58. Brixmor has petitioned the Town to add 5 additional stores to the property where Costco is. These are the site plans They are seeking approval for. In Picture 1&3, Foxwood would be to the left, Rte 58 to the right. Costco is located at the Bottom of the picture and Millbrook at the top.

For further information, a town planning board meeting is on 10/6/16 at 7 PM in the Town Hall

Picture 1img_4451

Picture 2

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Picture 3img_4454

Spot Zoning Approval by Town Board

The following is an excerpt from the Greater Calverton Civic Association asking for your help to get the Town Board to reconsider it’s recent approval of “spot Zoning” approval allowing The Riverhead First Baptist Church to Build on Protected Farm Land. Along with that while what they propose can be considered a very needed and worthwhile community enhancement; they chose to retain their full tax exempt status for the property which means the housing units would added additional residents to our overburdened Town and schools at added costs to the residents who do pay taxes especially seniors on a fixed income. Please consider this proposal and if so inclined write or email the members listed below.

“This letter pertains to the Riverhead Town Board approving “spot zoning” in order to allow the Riverhead First Baptist Church’s plan for community life center along with apartment complex and business incubator.

“This is not just about this particular project but rather the precedent
this “spot zoning” will set for other protected land throughout the
Riverhead Township.

Some people try to insinuate if you are against this proposed project, it is
a race issue……. I am not going to tiptoe around this rhetoric because that is completely false, absurd and insulting! This is a dollars and
common sense issue and what is best for our township and its residents.

There is so much to be said, as all residents of Riverhead are feeling the
greater and greater burden of tax increases. This new district would
include a “life center”, daycare, senior care, AND 125 housing units, yet as
a property of the church, it would be tax exempt, adding tremendous costs to
already overcrowded schools, and all other town services. They are also
attempting to use county credits for low income housing in place of TDRs.
Don’t worry, the good old tax paying folks of Riverhead will have to bear
the increased costs!

This is our home and township. It is important you let the town board hear
your voice no matter what your perspective is on this matter. It is
imperative we start writing our Supervisor, Sean Walter and the Town Board
to let them know where we stand and that we stand united.

The phone number for Town Hall is 727-3200, ask for Sean Walters’ office or
any of the sitting town board members.

Writing letters always holds more weight with town officials.

We can write to:

Riverhead Town Hall
Attn: Sean Walter / Town Board Members
210 Howell Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901

OR
Emails are as follows:

Town Supervisor: Sean Walter
Mr. Walter’s deputy, Jill Lewis)
Lewis@townofriverheadny.gov

Town Board:
James Wooten,
wooten@townofriverheadny.gov

Jodi Giglio,
giglio@townofriverheadny.gov

John Dunleavy,
dunleavy@townofriverheadny.gov

Tim Hubbard,
hubbard@townofriverheadny.gov

Other Civics throughout our community are doing the same as us. This is our
first step of many, in our fight to preserve our township and our way of
life.

Together we can make a difference but we need you to act now before its’ too
late.”

About the Turkeys

Foxwood Residents

Anyone interested in getting an update on the ongoing increase of the turkey population here at Foxwood Village, please feel free to contact Chip Hamilton at FREDERICK.HAMILTON@DEC.NY.GOV.  He will be happy to address your concerns and update you on the ongoing problem.

Tom Coppola  #126

***Editors Note: Not everyone in the community is upset regarding the Turkey population. You too can express your opinion to Mr. Hamilton as well at FREDERICK.HAMILTON@DEC.NY.GOV