From http://watsonville.patch.com
On Wednesday’s episode of “Restaurant: Impossible” featuring Ristorante Barolo in Aptos, owner Cristina Locke said she often feels like she takes “one step forward and five steps back.”
With Food Network’s help, the progress is now moving forward, but not quite at the pace that Locke may have hoped.
FoodNetwork.com caught up with the folks at Ristorante Barolo and shared this update on their site:
In Aptos, Calif., Robert and the “Restaurant: Impossible” team faced the daunting task of turning things around at Ristorante Barolo. Owners Giovanni Guerisoli and Cristina Locke struggled with the changing economy as well as family health problems, and could barely keep their 10-year-old business afloat. We checked in with the couple to see how things were going afterRestaurant: Impossible.
Three months later, sales at Ristorante Barolo have increased by 37 percent.
“The new decor and also all the publicity because of the show have brought new customers,” said Cristina. “People watch and really like ‘Restaurant: Impossible.'”
With Atilio in charge of the kitchen and Giovanni running the front of house, Cristina is finally able to spend more time with her children.
“Atilio is doing a great job,” she said.
Despite her best efforts to reduce stress, Cristina recently suffered a stroke and is still recovering. Because of the stroke, she was unable to finish cleaning out her office. When she recovers, she plans to ask Jessica to help her finish the task.
Giovanni’s health has remained a challenge for him, but he continues to run the front of the restaurant.
“Giovanni is doing the best he can while still dealing with his health issues,” Locke said.
He never sold his collectibles at auction and continues to buy more.
“Doing the show was an amazing gift,” Cristina said. “I will be forever grateful for what Robert and the whole crew did for the restaurant and for my family.”
Scurich Insurance
320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170
Watsonville, CA 95077-1170
Office: 1-831-722-3541
Toll Free: 1-800-320-3666
Email:[email protected]
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From http://www.santacruzsentinel.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: Each week the Sentinel publishes a list of the Most Wanted’ criminals in the county as determined by local law enforcement. Agencies participating include the four city police departments, the Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, District Attorney’s Office and State Parks. The information is provided by the Sheriff’s Office based on active investigations and/or arrest warrants. If you have information on anyone listed below, law enforcement asks you to call 911.
Amanda Niemczyk
Wanted for: Felony theft with prior convictions for theft and possession of a controlled substance
Age: 27
Description: 5-foot-3, 160 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes
Residence: Santa Cruz
Details: Niemczyk was arrested on suspicion of felony theft with prior convictions of theft and being in possession of a controlled substance. She failed to comply with the terms of her probation and a warrant has been issued for her arrest.
Agency: Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office
Hernan Coto
Wanted for: Terrorist threats and violation of a protective order
Age: 32
Description: 5-foot-7, 120 pounds, black hair and brown eyes
Residence: Unknown
Details: Coto is wanted for making terrorist threats and violating a protective order.
Agency: Watsonville Police Department
Nancy Morales
Wanted for: Resisting arrest and driving under the influence
Age: 21
Description: 5-foot-6,
170 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes
Residence: Watsonville
Details: Morales was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and resisting arrest. She failed to appear in court for the charges and a warrant has been issued for her arrest.
Agency: Watsonville Police Department
Philip Willis
WANTED FOR: Parole violation and stolen property
Age: 31
Description: 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes.
Residence: Unknown; frequents Sheldon Street, Santa Cruz
Details: Willis has violated his parole terms and failed to show up for scheduled court appearance. He has prior arrests for vehicle thefts, possession of stolen property, narcotics violations and resisting arrest.
Agency: Santa Cruz Police Department
Diana Quiroz
Wanted for: Identity theft, theft of an ATM card and multiple thefts
Age: 30
Description: 5-foot-5, 130 pounds, black hair and brown eyes
Residence: Santa Cruz
Details: Quiroz was arrested on suspicion of identity theft, theft of an ATM cards and multiple other thefts. She failed to appear in court for the charges and a warrant has been issued for her arrest.
Agency: Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office
Scurich Insurance
320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170
Watsonville, CA 95077-1170
Office: 1-831-722-3541
Toll Free: 1-800-320-3666
Email:[email protected]
Read more
Are you safe outside this summer?
Think about it: summertime usually revolves around things like grilling, fireworks, camping, and lazy afternoons in the hot sun.
What else does it mean?
Burns from those grills, firework explosions, tick bites…you see where we’re going here.
With the cost of health care steadily going up, it’s become ever more important to lower your risk for accidents and other health issues.
And don’t worry: this doesn’t mean you have to avoid all the good stuff this summer. Here are some easy ways to prevent these summer health issues…
Let’s think about grilling for a minute. There’s nothing better than burgers and hotdogs cooked on the grill, right?
But, grills are more dangerous than you might think. According to Consumer Reports, over 5,000 people went to the emergency room in 2007 because of grill related injuries (source:http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2008/07/grilling-safety.html).
What can you do to avoid that costly trip?
- Never grill in an enclosed area like the garage. Always pull your grill into an open area.
- If you’re cooking with charcoal, never spray the grill with lighter fluid after the fire has been lit. Flames can often follow the fluid back to the container that’s in your hand.
- Keep the grease pan empty. Grease easily catches on fire, and can cause flare-ups.
Mosquitoes, ticks, horseflies, bees…now that it’s summer all of nature is out in full force.
And, don’t underestimate these little bugs; according to MSNBC, they send over 500,000 of us to the emergency room each year with potentially fatal allergic reactions (source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19979406/).
So, how can you have fun outside without getting eaten alive?
- Think bug spray. If you’re uncomfortable with the chemicals used in traditional bug spray (like OFF), there are several organic brands that use natural ingredients, like EcoSmart (link:http://www.ecosmart.com/).
- MSNBC suggests spreading a 3 ft. layer of wood chips between your yard and the woods. Ticks can’t cross the chips, so this will keep them out of your yard.
- Also, make sure there is no standing water in your yard. And, this includes your gutters. Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Scurich Insurance
320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170
Watsonville, CA 95077-1170
Office: 1-831-722-3541
Toll Free: 1-800-320-3666
Email:[email protected]
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Scurich Insurance
320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170
Watsonville, CA 95077-1170
Office: 1-831-722-3541
Toll Free: 1-800-320-3666
Email:[email protected]
Read more
While shopping for Health insurance in CA, consumers everywhere should beware of disguised benefit plans. They are often called limited medical benefits or mini-med plans. Although they appear to offer comprehensive coverage, these plans actually might provide very inadequate compensation in the event of illness or injury.
The benefits provided by these plans are not nearly the same as major medical insurance or comprehensive health coverage. Mini-med plans and limited medical benefit insurance policies are usually advertised as inexpensive alternatives to major medical plans. The level of coverage offered by both options can be very low. With major medical plans, there are limits placed on how much a consumer must pay for specific treatments or incidents. However, there are no limits with mini-med plans. In addition to this, there is a cap amount allowed each year. Plan members are responsible for any expenses incurred beyond that amount.
Since health plans with limited benefits come in many forms, consumers must be careful while comparing options. If an individual signs for one of these plans experiences a major illness or injury, inadequate benefits can put that consumer in a difficult financial situation. While the benefits of these plans are not comparable to comprehensive coverage, they are often advertised as such. The following are signs of a limited plan or mini-med plan:
- There are annual limits for what the policy covers.
- The plans require association memberships.
- They are often described as innovative or cost effective.
- The premium offers are only available during the period of open enrollment.
- There are no pre-existing condition exclusions.
- Pharmacy and medical discount cards are often sold as insurance.
- The companies usually make unsolicited calls or send frequent emails.
When shopping for Medical insurance in CA, consumers should always ask questions. It is important to know exactly what a plan offers before agreeing to the terms. To avoid the costly effects of signing up for an inadequate plan, be sure to ask an agent for the following information:
- A detailed explanation of all benefits, exclusions and limits.
- The full address and name of the insurance company’s underwriter.
- A detailed outline of coverage provisions.
- The agent’s full name, address and National Producer Number. Agents should be licensed in the states they operate in.
- An explanation of what percentage of the monthly payment goes toward the premium and how much goes toward other fees.
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Here are more crazy insurance claims we found online!
From www.bloginsure.com
9/10/2010 by Miranda Marquit
“4. Broken nose as a result of ogling women Greece is known as a popular tourist destination. It is also known for beautiful women wearing very little in the heat. While vacationing in Athens, one man couldn’t keep his eyes where he was walking. As he ogled a group of women wearing bikinis, he walked straight into a bus stop shelter. He hit so hard that his nose was broken. The man went to the hospital to have it looked at, and his insurance company picked up the tab.
5. Stressed out due to shooting a monkey Law enforcement jobs are unquestionably stressful, especially considering the strange and often violent situations cops find themselves in. Officer Frank Chiafari, however, found out some emotional duress claims can be considered too far-fetched. In 2009, Chiafari arrived at the scene of a brutal attack by a chimpanzee that left one person seriously injured. He shot the chimp when it tried to enter his police car. Chiafari filed a workers compensation insurance claim for stress the situation caused him, but the city decided that, because it was a chimp and not a human who was shot, Chiafari was not eligible.
6. A bunch of monkeys robbed me When visiting Asia, it’s common to encounter monkeys. They can be playful, but also mischievous. A couple in Malaysia found out the hard way. After heading out on an excursion, the couple returned to the hotel to find their clothes missing, and their room a shambles. A brief investigation uncovered that a bunch of monkeys broke into the hotel room through an open room window and stole the clothes. They scattered them through a nearby rainforest. Lucky for the couple that they had travel insurance – which covered the cost of the clothes.
7. A case of road rash A man allowed his girlfriend ride his motorcycle, which she crashed. However, he was worried that, since he wasn’t driving the bike at the time, the claim would not be paid out. So he told his insurance company that he was driving. But to make it look real, he asked his friend to drag him behind a truck in order to produce a realistic case of road rash. Then, with his evidence on his body, he filed his claim. Unfortunately for him, his girlfriend had already told the police that she had been driving the motorcycle when it crashed. Ouch!”
Do you have any stories to share? Tell us….
Scurich Insurance
320 East Lake Avenue, PO Box 1170
Watsonville, CA 95077-1170
Office: 1-831-722-3541
Toll Free: 1-800-320-3666
Email:[email protected]
Read more
