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Join host, Jamie Bordas, and his often-called-upon guest, Chris Regan, on this week's episode of the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review. In the wake of the gas drilling deaths in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and Belmont County, Ohio, as well as the gas explosion in Marshall County, West Virginia, Jamie and Chris discuss the dangers and difficulties of gas well drilling in the Ohio Valley. In addition to the danger of construction accidents and explosions, science is beginning to explore the toxic exposure issues resulting from the unprecedented shale gas boom. Can the desire to produce and the need for safe practices be reconciled by the companies involved, or will these incidents continue? Learn about all this, and more, on this week's edition of the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review. You can view the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review locally on Comcast Channel 14 or also online, both streaming and in the archive. The current episode is embedded within this post. Click here to view the program on vimeo, or watch the embedded version if your browser supports it. Click this link to see the WLUTV schedule so you can view a live-stream of WLUTV and check this page for a schedule of when the program airs.

Bordas & Bordas is happy to call the friendly city of Wheeling, West Virginia home. The attorneys and staff of the firm are committed to giving back to the community that has given and continues to give so much to us. Below are just a few of the many recent philanthropic sponsorships that Bordas & Bordas is honored to be part of. The Junior League of Wheeling is a driving force in the community that is respected and known for its commitment and service. It is a non-profit organization comprised of women whose purpose is exclusively charitable and educational. The JLW is preparing for its annual "Affair with Wheeling Flair" on May 2 nd that includes food and drink, live entertainment, and prizes. Funds from this year's installment will go towards improving and renovating the Janie S. Altmeyer playground at Heritage Port. Bordas & Bordas is happy to contribute. Wheeling Health Right strives to provide access to free comprehensive and preventative medical care and medications to those who could not obtain it otherwise. They believe that all are entitled to health maintenance and care. The 21 st annual "Chef's Auction" will be held on May 2 nd and feature delicacies from the best chefs in the Ohio Valley. By helping to sponsor the auction, we are excited to give Wheeling Health Right the funding to continue to provide quality health care and medication to low income and uninsured members of our community. At the American Legion Boys' State, participants experience the rights, privileges, duties, and responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training that the young men receive there aligns with practical city, county, and state governments and includes legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, and more. The Legion is gearing up for its 77 th Boys' State this June. We are pleased to be aligned with such a longstanding and constructive organization and event. An organization that Bordas & Bordas is happily associated with is Harmony House. The association provides a safe haven for victimized children and their non-offending family members amidst the legal process. Harmony House is hosting the 10 th installment of the "Toast of the Vineyard" on September 20 th. Festivities include wine and specialty beer tasting, live entertainment, and a silent auction. Proceeds fund Harmony House's purpose and mission. The Ohio County Strings Association is comprised of teachers and parents that provide support to all of the Strings students within Ohio County. As a non-profit organization, they rely on the generosity of others to maintain the program. This past weekend, Ohio County Strings hosted the "Night at the Races" to help raise funds for music education. Bordas & Bordas sponsored this year's successful installment. Bordas & Bordas is honored to be involved with such outstanding organizations and events. We will continue to reach out to community partners who are passionate about making a difference. As always, we encourage everyone to support these very worthy causes in any way possible.

Tune in to this week's informative edition of the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review when our host, Jamie Bordas, and his guest, Chris Regan, discuss the Supreme Court of the United States' recent McCutcheon decision that declared unconstitutional the aggregate limits on campaign contributions that have existed as a matter of federal law for decades. Jamie and Chris also analyze the Northwestern football player union drive and the implications it will have for the law, and college sports in general, if it continues to be successful. You can view the Bordas & Bordas Legal Review locally on Comcast Channel 14 or also online, both streaming and in the archive. The current episode is embedded within this post. Click here to view the program on vimeo, or watch the embedded version if your browser supports it. Click this link to see the WLUTV schedule so you can view a live-stream of WLUTV and check this page for a schedule of when the program airs.

David Zamora, just 43, died Saturday of crush injuries at a drilling site in Belmont County, Ohio. The Big Foot Pad off Ohio 149 was the location of the incident. The Sheriff indicated this was the first such death in the county, but loss of life at drilling sites has become common regionally, with a Greene County man losing his life in an explosion earlier this year, and multiple explosions and deaths occurring in West Virginia. The drilling of the Marcellus and Utica shale has brought an economic boost to the area, but the unprecedented pace of the work and company haste to cash in has also led to too much tragedy. Workplace injuries, wrongful deaths, burns, and drilling-site injuries continue to rise as regulators fail to keep pace with the various end-runs around the safety rules that companies attempt in order to keep the gas flowing. David Zamora had only been in Ohio a very short time. He leaves a young son (10) behind and other devastated family members in Texas. Our hearts go out to them and our wish is that companies learn to hold the line on safety better than they have thus far. No exigency of operation should take precedence over doing the jobs safely and correctly. No more workers should have to die before this lesson is learned.

On March 19, 2014, Fred Phelps, founder of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church, passed away at the age of 84. Though his death was not unexpected, due to his advanced age and declining health, it still sparked a tremendous response from the American public and media. Unlike deaths of other widely-recognized public figures, Phelps' death was not met with tears or candlelight vigils of remembrance. Many Americans instead expressed feelings that ranged from indifference to delight. Unfortunately, expressions of celebratory emotions in response to Fred Phelps' death are the very best tribute that could be paid to a man who dedicated much of his life to advocating hatred and making active efforts to disturb the peaceful remembrance of deceased American citizens, particularly military servicemen, by staging loud protests at funerals nationwide. Furthermore, not only does applauding the death of Fred Phelps essentially honor his memory and legacy of hatred and disruption, it does nothing to combat hateful actions of the Westboro Baptist Church, or other groups with similar messages, or to help protect and preserve the rights of those citizens the WBC aims to harm and oppress. Media outlets have been fairly vocal in their responses to celebratory or joyful reactions to Phelps' passing, taking the position that to express delight or to picket or protest the funeral of Fred Phelps ( an event which will not even occur) is to give homage to the deceased founder's goals. Interviews with Christian leaders of different branches of Christianity have reminded us that it is directly contrary to Christian values to fight hatred with hatred, and that Christianity calls upon us to love even our enemies. Despite being the group most aggressively targeted by Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church, gay and lesbian rights organizations have also spoken out in opposition to a celebratory reaction to Phelps' passing. Many have been quick to remind Americans that there is an important difference between taking delight in the death of Fred Phelps, or any other WBC member or any other anti-gay activist, and taking delight in the end of the Westboro Baptist Church's hateful messages and actions. Phelps' death does not signify the end of hatred for the WBC or any others who share in the groups' mission or positions. Phelps' death does not guarantee any greater amount of respect or acceptance in the United States. And celebrating Phelps' death does not guarantee progress either. Regardless of your opinion about Fred Phelps, his death, the Westboro Baptist Church, and the church's messages and missions, civil society requires us to hold and share our opinions in a way that is respectful to all. Celebrating the death of human being is not a respectful way to express an opinion, and does nothing to advance the messages of tolerance, acceptance and love needed to undo damage done by Phelps and the WBC. People can, and should, continue to celebrate victories against hatred, bigotry, oppression and violation of human rights in the United States, but the objective should be proactive, rather than reactive. Instead of reveling in the death of Fred Phelps, we can take positive actions that help to reduce his footprint on our society. Take the time to listen to a person whose choices or lifestyle you may not quite understand. Resist the urge to make a negative, mean, or hateful comment, even when you may have been offended by another's words or actions. Write to your representatives in Congress advocating for human rights issues about which you feel strongly. Refrain from passing judgment or characterizing an entire group of people based on the actions of one individual member. Donate to an organization that helps those struggling with mental, physical or emotional problems beyond their control. But whatever you do, just remember that death is never a victory.

A few months back, my husband and I purchased a white leather sofa set that was absolutely gorgeous and placed it in our formal living room. After a mere three weeks of admiring these pieces, I noticed red ink smiley faces eloquently drawn on different spots of the larger sofa. As you can imagine, my face must have been as red as the ink! I immediately went to the source - my 4 year old, Shauney. She looked downward as she explained she found the red pen and just couldn't help but make these beautiful smiles on the blank slate she had before her and simply couldn't resist. Thankfully, the ink came out, and now you can hear my 4 year old recite the happenings of that day. "When I have a pen in my hand, I must think - what am I going to do, and use only paper for ink pens, just put it down." Over and over she will repeat this as she tells the story of that Saturday morning. Today, a few months later, I can chuckle a bit as I realize the temptation this huge white blank slate must have presented to my precious child and it has prompted me to reflect upon some of the things that these kids have gotten into over the years. They've all made an imprint in my memories some of which I am sure they prefer to forget. Let's start with my oldest, Samantha. She was cleaning her room to help Mommy and couldn't have been more than 5 or 6, if that, at the time. She dusted the entire bedroom with baby powder. In her defense she had good intentions. I mean, makes sense to me, after all, you put on baby powder after cleaning yourself in a shower, right? Charles, my 16 year old. As I hopped in the shower, he managed to get into the Hershey's syrup and squirted it on the living room pale gray carpet when he was just a wee tot. To this day, neither of us can figure out why he did this. Aleigha, my 13 year old. One summer day while I was at work, she went to play with my mother-in-law's neighbor. She was probably around age 6 or so. I received a nervous telephone call from my mother-in-law stating that Aleigha's friend seemed to think she could give Aleigha a little hair cut. Her bangs were mostly gone. When I arrived home from work that day, Aleigha was excited because she felt she had the look of the new Willlie Wonka. So, she loved her new look. No big deal...I mean, after all, at age 4 she wore a band aid in the center of her forehead as she simulated the look of the pop artist Nelly that year! Remember that? I am a bit perturbed as they always seem to find that few minutes as a window of opportunity to prepare these surprises for me. I've thought of so many things I could have written and submitted to the Reader's Digest section Laughter is the Best Medicine. Translating is a fun job too. Shauney will tell the big kids - stop coughing me. Translated, stop copying me. Charles fell to the ground in his full Steelers uniform one Sunday as his hero, Tommy Maddox, was seriously injured on the field, giving way to the beginning of a very successful career for Ben Roethlisberger. But, he could onlysee the end for Tommy and shouted, "I hate Ben Roffwisberger." That's right - said it just how I spelled it here. Years ago, my husband had an office in our house and almost daily, the Fed Ex man would come with a package. This day in particular, he had signed for his package noticing he still had on the nail polish he let Aleigha put on him the evening before. What a good man he is --  Hopefully, the Fed Ex man didn't really notice! So, many stories, so much fun. Looking back, I wouldn't change any of it. Somehow, someway, it works out. All is well! If you have a story to make us chuckle, share it, after all laughter is the best medicine and children can make the grumpiest of them all smile.

With the azaleas in bloom and green jackets on full display, The Masters Golf Tournament gets underway this week in Augusta, Georgia. While most of the traditions of the golf tournament billed as "A Tradition Unlike Any Other" will be gracing our television sets, there will be one notable absence this year --- Tiger Woods. For the first time since he was in high school some twenty years ago, Woods will not be teeing it up at golf's grandest stage. Instead, he will be at home recovering from back surgery, the latest in a string of setbacks that have occurred since Tiger last won a major tournament in 2008. It is almost inconceivable that Woods has not won a major in nearly six years. After all, he had become the most famous athlete in the world. He was a once in a generation type player who completely revolutionized the way that professional golfers are watched, paid, and play the game. He was the Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Jordan of his sport. Yet, it all seemingly came crashing down on him both figuratively and literally when his car slammed into a tree in November 2009 after an incident at his home with his then-wife. Most of you know the story from there. It soon came to light that Tiger had not only been unfaithful in his marriage, but had been so in epic proportions. Woman after woman came forward stating that they had relations with him. Some reports indicate that there were well over 100 women. Tiger checked into an addiction clinic and ultimately made several other changes in his life, including firing his coach and caddie. Since that time, Woods has suffered numerous injuries, including those to his knee, Achilles, wrist, and back. He has failed to win a single major tournament. He has withdrawn from several other tournaments for various reasons. He has missed cuts in tournaments, something almost unheard of for him. And perhaps most shockingly, he has been accused of multiple rules violations, with some in the media and others going so far as to call him a cheater (on the golf course, not just in his marriage). Now, he has undergone back surgery and is missing the tournament that means the most to him for the first time in his career. All of this has led some people to state that God is punishing Tiger Woods for his infidelity and sexual escapades. While Tiger has certainly seemed to have quite a negative run of fortune in many ways, I would dispute that God is punishing Tiger for his behavior. First, Tiger was actually winning and wildly successful professionally when he was carrying on the way that he was. Just because we didn't know about his actions until November 2009 doesn't mean that God didn't know until then. God knew all along. Second, Tiger is still the number one ranked golfer in the world. And third, and most importantly, I don't believe that God is a merciless God who looks to inflict harm after harm upon us because of our transgressions. Just as we are sometimes disappointed with the actions of our own children, God is sometimes disappointed in our actions. But, at the same time, just as we would never inflict harm after harm upon our own children just because they disappoint us, God too acts in that manner. He continues to watch over us, want the best for us, and love us no matter how badly we may behave. Tiger Woods is no different than the rest of us. We all have ups and downs in our lives. We all face health issues at some point. We all make our fair share of mistakes. Despite that, God loves us. So, I feel confident in saying that whatever Tiger Woods has had to battle, it isn't because God is punishing him. It's because he is human.

Wheeling - The Ohio Seventh District Court of Appeals has upheld a $10 Million verdict awarded in January 2012 that was awarded to two families as a result of Personal Service Insurance Company's wrongful denial of insurance coverage benefits stemming from an April 2003 crash that claimed the life of one man and seriously injured two others. The court upheld the jury's verdict that PSIC's denial of coverage and refusal to provide an attorney to Donald and Kathy Cox was done in bad faith and awarded $8 million in compensatory damages and that PSIC, a Pennsylvania Corporation, consciously disregarded the rights of the Coxes and awarded punitive damages of $2 million. The Coxes' attorney, Jamie Bordas, of Bordas & Bordas, said that this decision sends a message that insurance companies cannot treat their client's customers in this manner. "The court reviewed and upheld the jury's decision regarding this large insurance company's total disregard for the rights of these Belmont County residents," Bordas said. "It sends a message to insurance companies everywhere that when they promise to provide coverage and protect people who use their hard-­-earned paychecks to buy insurance, the insurance company had better make good on that promise when it is their turn to protect those people." The Appellate Court also approved the attorney fee award of Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Sargus that was in excess of $1 Million. The court stated that Judge Sargus had praised the quality of the legal wok performed stating that it had not been surpassed at any time in her career as a judge. The 2012 trial spanned two weeks and included testimony from numerous experts, including Charles Miller of Berkeley, California and Paul Dolbow of Safety Harbor, Florida, on insurance industry standards. The case stems from an April 2003 crash that resulted in the death of Brian Bigler and serious injuries to his father, Howard Bigler. Donald Cox had hit the Biglers after going left of center while trying to adjust his sun visor on his car. Cox and his wife had automobile insurance coverage with PSIC. However, after being notified of the crash by its agent, PSIC refunded the Coxes' premiums four days after the wreck, claiming that the company had effectively cancelled the policy over a month earlier. Judge Sargus presided over the trial and had previously held that under Ohio law, PSIC had not effectively cancelled the policy before the collision and that the policy was in full force and effect on the day of the accident. Because PSIC had refused to provide coverage and had refused to meet the Bigler family's settlement demand of only $50,000.00, the liability limits under the policy PSIC had sold to the Coxes, which would have completely released the Coxes from further liability, the Biglers sued Cox and obtained a judgment of $3,000,000.00 against him. Cox later assigned his claims against PSIC to the Bigler family so that the judgment that the family had obtained against Cox could be satisfied through any recovery against his insurance company. Attorney Harry White of the law firm Banker & White in St. Clairsville represented the interests of the Bigler family at the trial and on appeal. Tom Mulvey and Lisa Haase of the Columbus, Ohio law firm of Curry, Roby, and Mulvey Co., LLC, represented PSIC that had previously been headquartered in Columbus. Bordas & Bordas is a plaintiff's litigation law firm of 16 attorneys based in Wheeling, West Virginia that also has offices in St. Clairsville, Ohio and Moundsville, WV. It practices throughout the region in diverse areas of law. For more information, please contact Jamie Bordas or Carrie Scanlon, Director of Communications and Philanthropy at 304.242.8410 304.242.8410.

There has been a massive gas explosion in Marshall County, West Virginia. Apparently, a gas line between Wayman's Ridge and Middle Creek that was as much as 12 inches in diameter ruptured, sending a column of flames into the sky. Thankfully, no one has been reported injured. Marshall County West Virginia has been a center of the shale gas "fracking" boom. Massive gas infrastructure has been installed so companies can reap the benefits and profits of this newly-available gas. But maintenance and safety practices have not kept up. A Tyler County, WV explosion last year killed two men and severely injured another. A Sissonville, WV, blast destroyed homes and made national news for its incredible size and power. A month ago, many died in a New York City gas explosion, so the problem is not limited to West Virginia by any means. Aging infrastructure needs to be maintained and the pace of work on new wells and pipelines needs to be consistent with doing the job safely. Without following those common sense rules, we cannot assure that fatal explosions will be prevented

It has happened to me again! I missed the red hot episode of Criminal Minds that has caused a Social Media frenzy. My Facebook newsfeed was inundated with statuses setting forth opinions on Wednesday night's episode of Criminal Minds that was supposedly set in Wheeling, WV. Several friends who had obviously not watched the episode, but had only heard about it, commented on how awesome it was that little Wheeling, WV was on this hit CBS show and how amazing it was that the Wheeling Police Department was mentioned. Other friends, who stuck out the duration of the grueling episode, were irritated and embarrassed by the inaccurate depiction of our city. So... again, I had to watch it. I logged on to CBS.com and watched the episode several hours after it aired to see what all this Facebook fuss was about. For those of you, like myself, that missed the airing of the show, here is a summary of what you missed. The Criminal Minds episode titled "Blood Relations" began with the words OUTSIDE WHEELING, WV plastered across the TV screen, letting the viewers know that this episode was supposedly taking place in our city. The episode was wrought with horrific and gruesome murders that turned household, farm, and hunting accessories into murder weapons(barbed wire, bear traps, chains). The actors and actresses portraying the Wheeling natives spoke with heavy accents, wore flannel clothing and boots, lived on farms, and had a family history of incest. CBS wanted its viewers to think that the Wheeling natives made their money selling moonshine or making meth. The episode seemed to allude to the historical West Virginia feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys as it depicted the family dissention between the "Howards" and the "Lees." You may have even caught the subtle poke at the Wheeling natives' intelligence in the reference to the complaints and motions filed with nonsensical expletives. The killer in the episode was portrayed as a shirtless, overall wearing, psychopath who we learn is deformed as a result of his being conceived from incest relations when his mother was impregnated by her brother at the age of 16. He also keeps his "adoptive" dead mother on ice and possibly has sexual relations with her as well (necrophilia). Throughout the entire episode there seems to be a demeaning depiction of our city and its citizens. What I wonder is whether the writers of the show did any research at all before depicting Wheeling and its citizens this way? Given the fact that I was born and raised in Wheeling, and saw absolutely no similarities between the depictions and the city itself, I have to assume that the huge TV network, CBS, and its show's writers, in fact, conducted no research and instead decided to depict this city based on the many stereotypes that West Virginia cities hold - uneducated, incestual, strong-accented farm hicks with no "real jobs." Sadly, not only is this depiction wrong, but it gives national viewers a very wrong and unrealistic view of our city. What is the harm in that? Consider this scenario... Have you ever been curious when you watch TV shows and wondered whether the depictions of people or a profession are accurate? For those of you who were fans of the legal drama "Boston Legal" did you ever wonder whether we attorneys really sit on a balcony and drink expensive scotch and smoke cigars after a big case victory? How about those of you that watch the medical drama "Grey's Anatomy", do you find yourself curious to ask your doctor how realistic the cases and scenarios are that are depicted in the weekly episodes? If you are anything like me, you do. These depictions pique our curiosity regarding issues with which we are not familiar, or make us contemplate the culture of places where we have never been. Now, Criminal Minds has potentially piqued the curiosity of its viewers regarding the small town of Wheeling, WV. And even if it didn't make someone curious about the city, or confirm the state's stereotype, it certainly implanted in the minds of its viewers this depiction of the city and its citizens. What does this mean? It means that when I travel and I meet new people and I say I am from Wheeling, WV these are the thoughts of me that cross people's minds. When you move away and apply for jobs in other states, this is the "picture" of you that your potential employers see. Or when my child applies to an out-of-state college and fills in his address as Wheeling, WV, this is the stereotype the Admissions Officer envisions and now my child has to overcome. Is it fair? Could it be that this purely fictitious show was just running a compelling storyline designed to draw in viewers and impress them to watch the show more? Are we overly sensitive and overanalyzing this one show because of those bold letters -OUTSIDE WHEELING, WV that we saw within the first two minutes of the episode? Does CBS actually make such inaccurate depictions often and we never notice because it doesn't concern us, our profession, our city, or our lives? Stereotypes are oversimplified ways of characterizing groups of people based on the differences between them and other people. Some stereotypes are rooted in fact and others are rooted in prejudice. Stereotypes exist and will continue to exist as long as there are differences between individuals and a tendency of the human brain to compartmentalize knowledge as a way to reduce the effort used when thinking. Stereotypes play a huge part in writing fiction. Storytellers rely on stereotypes and play on them to make their writing a success. When writers use characters that fulfill a stereotype, it requires much less explanation and planning on their part, therefore leaving more time for the "story line." However, even among peers, writers are divided as to the use of stereotypes in their writing. Writer Junot Díaz has said about stereotypes that "they're sensual, cultural weapons. That's the way we attack people. At an artistic level, stereotypes are terrible writing." Unfortunately, it is human nature to make stereotypes. The first time we meet a person, there are inevitably stereotypes about him or her from his appearance and mannerisms. In short, we stereotype him. But when we get to know him better, his individuality reveals itself and we realize he is a unique person who breaks the expectations of his stereotype in many ways. Those of us that live in Wheeling and agree that it is a laid-back, family-oriented community, with wonderful people, friendly children, intelligent businessmen and women, involved parents and a low crime rate, struggle with the inaccurate depiction of ourselves and our peers that CBS set forth in Wednesday night's Criminal Minds episode. Others may simply see the episode as a fictitious and entertaining story line of a hit CBS show. Either way, it is true that the writers played on a typical WV stereotype for the purpose of their show. We, as Wheeling, WV residents have two choices --- to live up to the stereotype or break it down. Myself, I am choosing the latter. I am not a regular viewer of the show. Quite frankly, I only watched this episode because of all of the backlash it was receiving. As a lifelong resident, I can't help but think of the many wonderful things Wheeling has to offer: its gorgeous scenery and two local parks, its great schools and universities, the many lucrative, thriving businesses, and the historical significance of National Road. Wheeling is not a city plagued with murder and crime, but rather a fantastic place to raise children and start a family. CBS did not give us such a view of "The Friendly City", but rather, played on inaccurate and grossly negative stereotypes. Was this irresponsible of CBS? Was it distasteful and unnecessary to the storyline or show? Or are we overly sensitive to this episode because we are, in fact, Wheeling residents? I would love to hear the thoughts and comments of others on this.

It's been a long, cold, hard winter. Sub-zero temperatures for weeks at a time have kept just about everyone I know (including me and my pups) indoors and anti-social. While Mother Nature has given us a couple glimpses of the spring weather we are usually enjoying in earnest by this time of year, Old Man Winter has been reluctant to release his grasp on the Valley. As the calendar turns to April, it appears that Spring is finally arriving and outdoor activities will be increasing exponentially. Spring brings out the best in both people and animals. It's a time of awakening and activity. It's a time to shake off the winter blues and get out and move! I knew Spring was finally arriving even though there was still snow in the forecast last week when I saw the change in Cassie, my thirteen and a half year old pup. She was helping me take out the trash one evening when she starting running laps around my house going between the back and front yards and playing hide and seek with me. There was a spring in her step that I hadn't seen since the weather had turned cold last fall. She wanted to play and sniff and simply enjoy being outdoors. I am fortunate that Cassie knows her boundaries. She will stay between my yard and her "Aunt Heather's" yard (my neighbor's yard) unless I tell her she can go further and even then she doesn't go far from me. All I have to do when she is off leash is make a noise and she comes right back to my side. Not all dogs are like that and she certainly wasn't always so well behaved. When she was little, she learned to open the storm door on her own. If the front door was open and I didn't have the storm door locked, she would let herself out and would be touring the neighborhood before I knew it. She was fortunate that she never got lost and was never hit by a car. Her best buddy Tripp wasn't as fortunate. He snuck by me one night when I opened the front door to let Cassie in and went full speed into the street and directly into the path of a car driven one of my neighbors, a man who is always on alert for children and animals when driving. Thankfully, he heard me scream and was able to stop. So instead of Tripp getting hit by a car, Tripp hit the car and escaped with relatively minor injuries. As Spring takes hold and the weather continues to warm, more and more of our animal friends are going to want to be outside running and playing with their human brothers and sisters. Children who received puppies as Christmas gifts are going to be outside playing with those puppies and learning how to take their puppies for walks on leashes. It will be a learning experience for both that will likely result, at least once, in the puppy getting loose and the child chasing after it. Hopefully, there will be an adult present to intervene and prevent both the child and the puppy from running into the street, but that is not guaranteed. There is also no guarantee that a child learning to ride his or her bike will not fall into the street or that the child will be able to stop at an intersection. There is no guarantee that the pre-teen practicing her pitching won't overthrow a ball into the street and the "catcher" (either human or canine) will run into the street without looking to retrieve the errant ball. There is no guarantee that the jogger running along the side of the road won't step wrong and fall. What is guaranteed is that the unexpected will happen at some point when we are driving and we must be prepared to deal with the unexpected in an instant. So here is my springtime plea to those driving through our neighborhoods: Please be alert. Watch for children and animals playing in the yards lining the street or walking down the sidewalk. Be prepared to stop if you believe there is even a chance that a child or animal may end up in the path of your car. Don't have your music up so loud that you would not be able to hear a child or adult scream for you to stop. You are not going to receive a prize for seeing how fast you can get from one stop sign to the next. That extra five seconds it may take you to travel the length of the block if you slow down may save the life of a child or a beloved family pet. We can teach children the dangers of running into the street without looking. We can tell children to let the puppy go and get an adult if the puppy breaks free instead of chasing it. Children are children, however. They do not always think rationally and often just react. Children fall. Leashes break. Fence gates come open. Children and pets often escape the safe confines of their yards. Drivers need to be alert, traveling at a reasonable speed in residential neighborhoods and prepared to stop in an instant. So please, as you are avoiding the pot holes left behind by the harsh winter we experienced this year, keep your eyes open for our children and pets as they are enjoying the freedom of spring and being outdoors. And pet parents: please make sure your furry children have identification tags so they may find their way home if they escape the safety of their yards. We, at Bordas & Bordas, strive to make the world a safer place for children and pets. Please help and do your part by slowing down in our neighborhoods and watching out for children out playing both with and without their pets.

Something happened, not too long ago, that made me appreciate what my husband, Eddie, does for a living. At roughly 2:30 a.m. Eddie and I awoke to the ringing of his cell phone. He picked it up and I could hear a deep voiced man tell him that he needed to head down to the office right away. Without hesitation, he jumped out of bed. In the dark I heard the snaps, zips and clicks as he hurriedly dressed. He walked over to my side of the bed and kissed me on the check and told me he loves me, then he was gone. I knew nothing more. I laid awake with my mind racing until the alarm went off. Then, I got up and got ready for work. I had heard nothing from him yet. I woke the kiddos up and got them ready for school. Still nothing. It had been 4 hours. It was not until I am almost at work when the phone rang and I heard his voice on the other end. He is on his way back home. Everything is fine. That night, I realized how dangerous his job is. Not every night is this way, but he never knows what each shift is going to bring. What may seem like a normal "stop" can easily turn into someone pulling a gun on him. A domestic call can easily turn tragic. This is the life of a police officer. I could not imagine my normal dress attire consisting of a lead vest around my chest and strapping a gun to my side before heading to work. I want to thank all of our police officers for their service. They do not do it for the money, for this is a career that most certainly will not make them rich. They are placed in situations that require split second decisions and, many times, those decisions end up being Monday morning quarterbacked. It takes a unique person to risk his/her life to protect ours. Again, thank you to all the men and women dressed in blue.