Love My Stainless Steel Water Bottle!

Whether it’s for the health of the environment, the health of your body or the health of your wallet switching from plastic disposable water bottles to re-usable stainless steel bottles is the way to go.

At first I thought I was going to have a problem replacing the convenience of little .5 liter bottles of water sold in 24 packs. They were portable with a nice screw on top to prevent leaks and fit nicely in a cooler. It always nagged me a little thinking about how many of these bottles my family of 4 went through in a week so I got a few plastic re-usable bottles. I filled them with ice and water. They leaked and sweat so much that I had to wrap the bottles in paper towels to absorb the moisture that they sweat out or I would have a puddle on my desk! We only used them occasionally and stuck with the disposable ones until the State of New York decided to add a five cent bottle deposit to all water bottles under a gallon. Well now, Albany already sees enough of my hard earned cash and I was in no rush to give them more. So I began to search in earnest for the perfect water bottle.

What I found was a company called Pure-Hydration (pure-hydration.com). They make insulated stainless steel water bottles. They claim that the bottles will not leak, even if upside down, and will not sweat. After much emailing between myself and a company representative, I decided to give it a try. I bought 4-25oz bottles and used them as stocking stuffers at $27.99 a piece. They also have a 17oz bottle for $24.99 and a 12oz for $17.99 (prices quoted from Amazon.com).

Here’s what I found:

• Double wall construction for MAXIMUM temperature retention.
• Stainless Steel Interior & Exterior.
• Polypropylene Spout, made from BPA free material, that is non-leaching and non-toxic.
• Wide mouth accommodates even the largest ice cubes, and is easy to clean.
• 2 internal screens. One to reduce blockage created by ice, and the other to strain loose and herbal tea.
• Outside of bottle remains at room temperature despite the temperature of its contents.
• No inner liner, so water tastes like water.
• Ergonomic shape makes bottle easy to hold.
• Convenient carrying handle.
• Reusable, recyclable, reduces landfill waste. 

Most importantly for me was the bottles did not leak and did not sweat. Being insulated was an added bonus and one that I’ve come to appreciate. Living in the Hudson Valley means terribly hot and humid summers. I can spend the day running errands leaving the bottle in the hot car and have a nice cool drink every time I got back in. No need to buy a cold drink at every other stop.

Don’t even bother buying a cheaper bottle. You will be unhappy and will end up buying one of these anyway!

CTEC SkillsUSA Annual Food Drive

Help feed the families of Rockland County this holiday season. Please contribute non-perishable items to the Annual CTEC SkillsUSA Food Drive. Baskets will be created with your donations and delivered to People to People of Nanuet as well as other needy families in the county.

November 1 – 22

Drop off non-perishable items in the food boxed placed in the main office Buildings 3, 4, 7, & 10.

Turkey & Hams are also being collected at Building 3.

November 22

CTEC staff and SkillsUSA members will be collecting donations at the Pathmark Store in Nanuet, 9-2pm.

For More information call 845-627-4784 x4784 - Rosalie Sauter, Food Drive Coordinator

Are There Too Many Businesses?

As an after thought from yesterday’s headlines regarding the “25%”  reduction in Chrysler dealers around the country, with quite a few from the east coast, brought to mind dueling thoughts.  Sympathy for the soon to be departed, from the dealer principle down; adding to the rise in unemployment, unless the more creative who saw the (obvious) coming, found alternatives.  Reality contentment,in knowing there were (and still is)entirely way too many dealers to begin with.  It almost bordered on the ridiculous.  This brings to mind a few other areas that I believe need a reduction.  Look around,,,aren’t there entirely way too many nail salons and pizza shops??  Yikes.  Not only on almost every street corner but in the middle of the blocks as well.  True, similar businesses bring about competition, which usually is a good thing, but in these cases, overcrowding brings about more businesses than customers and that my friends, is the downside of quality and creates ultimately a listless economy and more unemployment.  I welcome your comments…?

Everything is Scooterific!

…that is the optimistic feeling expressed by members of the Rockland Scooter Club, when thinking, riding or talking scooters.  The RSC, as it is called (aka Vesparados.com) was formed a couple of years ago by co-founders Gary Blankfort and Jack D’amico, who is the owner of Cafe Portofino, located in Piermont, New York, also the delightful headquarters of the club.  The RSC now boasts over 65 members (their motto: “..if you have a scooter, you’re in the club..”) and counting.  In today’s world of financial drama, many members turned to scootering as a means to an end; the end being huge savings at the gas pump.  Many commute and enjoy the savings but adding to that, nothing could be better than a beautiful spring day ride to the office.  Others enjoy the same excitement, regardless of the weather.  Jack usually commutes to the restaurant on his Vespa everyday, the only exception might be if there is a blizzard or rainstorm taking place at departure time, if it is just forecasted, he goes anyway.  On many occasions, he peeks out the door, after serving the last few glasses of wine that night and if it wasn’t snowing heavy or a drenching rain, he still rode the scooter home.  (Jack has a zany saying,,,”let no man leave his scooter..” whatever that means??)  Recalling the club’s first organized ride, we met one early Sunday morning at Cafe Portofino, lining up our scooters along the roadway of the restaurant.  The New York Scooter Club (the parent club of New York scootering – the real magilla) were invited to join in and so scooters arrived from various parts of the city and elsewhere; new scoots and vintage ones, all different brands and descriptions, as eclectic as the drivers themselves.  It looked a little bit like some small village in europe; Piazza Portofino?   I remember meeting “Sandy” with her shinney Vespa tucked neatly into the row.  You couldnt mistake her, she was scooter fashioned to the nines but equally timid, as she was about to embark to Nyack, the Nyack State Park, then into New City, NY, via the picturesque South Mountain Road, where the High Tor Vineyard once stood,  then taking a return loop back to Piermont,  on the ride to be led by Jack, who rides a red Vespa 250.  Sandy made it only to Nyack before bailing out, after all, she came from Franklin lakes, New Jersey and was a bit nervous.  Fast forward to more recent times, Sandy now leads many of the rides, regardless of what the destination.  New York City, upstate New York, all over New Jersey and plans are being considered for a scooter vacation in Italy. (see La dolce Vespa and www.scooterbella.com). (Editor’s note:  I have yet to ride over the George Washington Bridge for some reason).  There are two scooter dealers serving Rockland County, one being Vespa of Rockland, which is the Prestige Harley-

Davidson dealer in Congers, New York.  The other Metro Scooter, on the Rockland County border, in Northvale, New Jersey.  

Between the two, we find Alan (owner) of Metro Scooter to be a knowlegable enthusiast who exclusively deals with scooters (only scooters and in most varieties), service, parts and accessories, whereas Vespa of Rockland is dwarfed by intimidating (but beautiful) Harleys.  If you are thinking of buying a scooter, or already have one, visit the Rockland Scooter Club at: www.rocklandscooterclub.com      You will find a wealth of information, can ask questions, get advice and above all, meet a really nice bunch of people.  You can also visit Cafe Portofino, most any night and chat with Jack about scooters while enjoying their amazing pasta bolognese.  As for me, I always enjoy the pasta, the wine, my Vespa, the RSC group and of course, Jack; maybe this spring, I’ll even enjoy going over the bridge.

Bail Out Doom & Gloom, or?

“Our Demise is Greatly Exaggerated”… Looking at the headlines, minute by minute or listening to the news reports, second by second, they would have us believe that doomsday is upon us.  Well much to their chagrin, the United States is very much alive, as is New York and as is Rockland County. The “patient” may be ailing, but will most certainly recover and perhaps better and stronger than ever before.  I still cannot imagine a better place to be.  I’m not particulary flag waving, just tired from reading about our funeral.