Here & There Column 2-4-14

It's A Real Winter

  It definitely is a real winter with bitter temperatures this year and New York along with the Northeast is anchored in a deep freeze.

  Guess a lot of folks don't remember how to deal with the temperatures since we've experienced several mild winters the past few years.

  Slippery icy conditions create many injuries from falls and then there is the problem with dealing with frozen pipes.

  Hard to believe the many residents we have talked to who have experienced their water pipes freezing.

  I remember well what my grandfather told me many years ago.....flowing water will not freeze and best to let the faucets drip a little water particularly at night when no one is using any water.

  The sale of fuel oil and propane has been as brisk as the weather with everybody using more so the demand for heating fuel has now reached record levels in some regions.

  We are seeing fuel delivery trucks making increased deliveries with natural gas prices showing almost a 6 to 8 percent price increase and crude oil prices up 2 percent. 

  The Natural Propane Gas Association says the U.S. Department of Transportation has ordered the expedited delivery of propane in 33 states, as suppliers seek to work with tighter supplies, infrastructure issues and weather-related challenges.

  For many folks on tight budgets these seasonal price jumps hurt but the so called experts say the price jumps aren't unusual for the heating fuel industry. Some anti-poverty agencies are struggling to provide heating assistance during the prolonged deep freeze.

  It's cold in the southern states so right now that's not a good alternative.... hunker down folks and hopefully our deep freeze will ease up..... but just a reminder we still have February and March left.

  Not easy keeping warm.