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TODAY'S FEATURED CONSUMER QUESTION  

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CITIZENSHIP DOCUMENT: LOCK IT UP, KEEP IT SAFE
Q: I've lost my citizenship certificate. Can Action Line tell me how to get a replacement and what it will cost?


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WHAT A PAIN! WHO'S TO BLAME?
RESIDENTS TOSSING TRASH CREATE THEIR OWN EYESORE
What a Pain: Northeast Third Court, just south of Northeast 135th Street in unincorporated Miami-Dade, often has a trash heap on the roadside far larger than the one pictured here. In addition, a convalescent home nearby has a dumpster positioned near the sidewalk, which encourages illegal dumping and makes for a corner that's perennially unsightly.

NEWBORN'S ARRIVAL
WHEN BABY MAKES THREE, CHAOS CAN QUICKLY TAKE OVER Dear first-time parents: Envisioning the first few months with a baby as fairly peaceful?

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CAN PETS CONTRACT MAD COW DISEASE? Q: In the light of the recent case of mad cow disease, should I be concerned about what I feed my dogs and cats?

HORTICULTURE HEAVEN
POLLINATING BY HAND MAY PROMOTE FRUIT Q: I have a soursop tree in my yard. It's a common and popular fruit tree in Jamaica. My tree flowers regularly and abundantly, but I never get any fruit. The flowers fall off after a few days.

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ASPARTAME: SAFE TO USE OR NOT? Q: A colleague told me that experiments done at the University of Miami Medical School have shown that aspartame can cause brain damage. Is this merely one of the many pieces of nutritional nonsense floating around or should people be wary of drinking diet soft drinks containing aspartame?

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HAZARDOUS WASTE: HOW TO DISPOSE OF IT?
Q: I need to dispose of paints, thinners and other solvents. I know Action Line has told us before about where to take them, but I can't find that column.

INCOME TAXES
TO AVOID APRIL 15 HEADACHES, START PREPARING RETURNS NOW
Earlier is better when it comes to working on your taxes, the IRS says. Not only do you avoid the last-minute rush, but early filers get faster refunds.

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DRIVE-THROUGH GREAT FOR PAYING BILLS
Q: I have been a resident of Hialeah for the past 34 years. I have always paid my water bill at the Hialeah Department of Water and Sewer at 3700 W. Fourth Ave. I have always used the drive-through window because it was convenient and I didn't have to hunt for a parking space.

AMERICAN HISTORY
WHY DID DELAWARE SECEDE FROM PENNSYLVANIA?
Q: I have been looking for an answer to a question for more than five years but still haven't found it.

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STREET NAME CHANGE? START AT COUNTY HALL
Q: Can Action Line tell me the procedure for getting a street named for someone? A: First, you must contact the county commissioner whose district includes the street you want to rename, Miami-Dade Public Works spokeswoman Monique Armbrister said. The commissioner's office must launch the process by working with Public Works to draft a resolution to be voted on by the full Board of County Commissioners.

TREADMILLS NOT CHEAP, BUT AN EASY WAY TO TAKE IT OFF
If one of your New Year's resolutions is to hit the treadmill every day as 11 million Americans already do, hear this: Consumer Reports recently tested 16 models and offers advice in its February issue, on newsstands now.

ASK AL SUNSHINE
HOW DO I KNOW IF EATERIES PASS MUSTER?
Q: Ask Al: How do I know how well a restaurant is doing in the kitchen? Don't some states issue sanitation grades for customers to see?

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`FREE SPEECH ZONE:' WHAT ARE PARAMETERS? Q: I recently heard on TV that the U.S. government is enforcing a ''Free Speech Zone,'' restricting peaceful protesters from demonstrating within a certain distance from the president's motorcade. The broadcast showed a protester being told to leave; according to the commentator, he was at least a half a mile from the motorcade.

YET ANOTHER RECALL
CANDLE CAN'T BURN SAFELY IN HOLDER
Just when you thought there surely couldn't be another candleholder anywhere that was unsafe but had managed to pass inspection, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued yet another recall. It's the fourth time since the holidays kicked in, and, this time, it's on Mr. Christmas of New York, N.Y. The company is recalling 2,300 units of Crownzz candleholders because they don't allow for the safe burning of a candle.

WHAT A PAIN! WHO'S TO BLAME?
UNSIGHTLY TRASH PLAGUES SITE
What a Pain: 655 NW 100th St. in northwest Miami-Dade has a dumpster that's overflowing, derelict vehicles parked adjacent to it and, according to residents who live nearby, rats racing around in the street.


   

  Frequently asked Action Line questions
Action Line receives many questions from readers, some of which are timeless. Here is a collection of some of the questions and answers that the Action Line staff thinks can help you.

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Action Line cuts through red tape, gets answers, solves problems and stands up for your rights. You can contact Action Line by email at actionline@herald.com. Or by writing Action Line, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132 or by calling 305-376-3000. Broward residents can call 954-463-0404.


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  Search the archives for past Action Line columns
Searching is always free. There is a $2.95 fee to view the full text of any article. The full-text archive includes articles published in The Miami Herald since 1982.

   
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  Get the latest consumer news from CBS4's Al Sunshine
Al Sunshine, the CBS4 consumer investigator, helps the public get answers to questions with his Shame on You installments on CBS4.


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