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In post-Brexit Britain, trips to the European Union will get a little more expensive for millions of Brits in search of a continental break.The European Commission confirmed on Friday that UK travelers will be required fill out an online form and cough up €7 (.90) for visa-free travel, which will be valid for three years.Natasha Bertaud, a spokeswoman for the commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker, likened the "simple form" to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) scheme used by the United States -- which requires travelers to pay to apply for permission to enter the country.She also pointed out that the EU's version, called ETIAS, will be "way cheaper."But this all comes with a major caveat. If the UK crashes out of the EU with no agreement in place, Brits will be required to get a visa to travel to the EU, a commission spokeswoman told Reuters on Friday.ETIAS, which is expected to come into force in 2021, will apply to countries outside the EU whose citizens can currently travel in Europe visa free. There are currently 61 such countries, including the United States, Israel and Singapore.It will cover the so-called Schengen group of 26 European countries that share largely open land borders.The electronic visa waiver system was conceived to "identify any security or irregular migratory risks posed by visa-exempt visitors traveling to the Schengen area while at the same time facilitate crossing frontiers for the vast majority of travelers who do not pose such risks,"?according to the commission. 1554

It is a county-approved program that is supposed to help you pay for energy efficient home improvements, but some homeowners blame the program for big tax increases they cannot pay. At least three homeowners who received financing through the PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program say they were misled. The PACE program allows you to pay for home improvements, like solar panels, through your property taxes.  Maria Silva said her Del Cerro home is her life. ¡°It¡¯s very important¡­ it¡¯s my home for 28 years,¡± Silva said.  It is a home she is in danger of losing. Silva said it started with a man coming to her doorstep about two years ago. Silva said he offered a deal on home improvement projects like double pane windows.  At first, she said no. However, she said the salesman was persistent. For Silva, it was more than a money problem.  She is legally blind. She wanted to wait for her son.  ¡°He told me well, this promotion ends,¡± Silva said of the salesman.  She said she told the man she was visually impaired, but he told her not to worry and he ¡°was going to read everything for [her].¡± She did not want to miss out on what she thought was a good deal. At the time, Silva said she was told she would be paying no more than ,000 a year. Silva said she understood the payment would be going on her property tax, but when she got the bill, it showed an increase of more than ,000 this year.  ¡°It seems very predatory,¡± said her son, Allan Silva.  On top of that, Allan Silva says the company who upgraded their air conditioning unit never removed the old one like promised. ¡°It kind of seems like some shady things happened to my mom,¡± Allan Silva said. Carolyn Reilly with Elder Law and Advocacy has heard of deception with this program.  ¡°They're telling them it's a free product, it's a free government program,¡± Reilly said. Reilly said loans are approved for seniors on fixed incomes who cannot afford them and she¡¯s handling many cases from the elderly who say financing was not explained.  ¡°They're desperate because at some point, it's going to lead to foreclosure for them,¡± Reilly said. One Poway woman, who did not want to use her name, said she wound up with a ,000 bill added to her taxes. She said A1 Solar sold she and her husband on solar panels, but she had no idea a lien would be placed on her home in addition to increased taxes. She also alleges that her husband was not the one who signed the documents. ¡°I was not happy with the salesman coming in and going to the computer and signing Jim's name to the documents. I don't think Jim fully understood what was happening,¡± she said. Her husband, Jim, is dealing with numerous medical issues. Michele Glen is their caretaker and also signed on with A1 Solar. Team 10 examined the contracts, which say the amount would be added to the homeowner¡¯s property tax. However, Glen said the salesman ¡°rushed [them] through it.¡± ¡°He says, everything is fine,¡± Glen said.  Team 10 called the salesman they say went to their home. He said he had nothing to do with A1 Solar and hung up before Team 10 could ask any more questions. According to the Contractors State License Board, A1 Solar¡¯s license was suspended for multiple complaints, including misrepresentation to obtain a contract. A lawyer who worked for the company says A1 Solar is now out of business. San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said the PACE program has generated about 0 million in projects and has created thousands of jobs. She has received a few complaints, but believes overall, the program is working. ¡°Frankly, if there are bad apples in the barrel, you need to get them out of the barrels,¡± Jacob said. She told Team 10 the county will continue with the PACE program because overall it has ¡°been very helpful to a lot of people.¡± Experts at the Approved Home Pros, a contractor¡¯s association, say the PACE program can be a good fit for some homeowners, but it is important to be educated before committing to it.  Recently, Governor Brown signed legislation that aims to provide more oversight and strengthen consumer protections with the PACE program.     4297

IRVINE, Calif. (KGTV) -- A new study claims that hookah could be more dangerous than other forms of smoking. According to the University of California study, one in five college students in the US and Europe have tried it. According to researchers who conducted the study, one draw from a pipe can contain as many substances as an entire cigarette. ¡°Hookah mainstream smoke ¨C that which is directly inhaled by the user ¨C has many toxic and harmful chemicals, such as nicotine, which can lead to tobacco addiction; irritating carbonyl compounds; and benzine, a known carcinogen,¡± said lead author Veronique Perraud, a UCI assistant project scientist in the Department of Chemistry. ¡°And due to the greater volume inhaled for every puff and the longer duration of a smoking session, the hookah oftentimes delivers a higher dose of those chemicals to the smoker.¡±The study also found that the hookah produces an outsized amount of carbon monoxide mainly due to the burning charcoal. According to the university, the study is the first to look at ultrafine particles. Particles researchers say pose a significant health risk. ¡°One of the big myths about hookah usage is that the water in the bowl actually filters out the toxic chemicals, providing a shield for the smoker,¡± Perraud noted. ¡°In the study, we show that this is not the case for most of the gases and that, possibly due to its cooling effect, water actually promotes ultrafine particle formation.¡± 1465

It¡¯s Giving Tuesday, a day to give to different charities and a variety of causes. But if money is tight or you don¡¯t have a lot of time to give, don't feel guilty.There are easy ways to give by doing things you may already be doing.How many times do you go online a day? How many times do you open up a new browser tab? Well, Google is offering an easy to way to give. After installing the Tab for a Case extension, each time you open a new browser on Google Chrome, the company will donate money to the charity of your choice. It¡¯s a simple way to give.Another easy way to give is to sign up for a charity rewards credit card like the Susan G. Komen cash rewards Visa. Matt Shultz with creditcards.com says your cash back will be donated to the charity.   "Then, there are other cards like Charity Charge MasterCard, which gives you 1 percent cash back on everything you spend," Shultz says.If your New Year¡¯s resolution is to get fit, you'll like this one to keep you motivated¡ªa free app called Charity Miles. For every mile you move, you help raise money for your charity.   And for all you Amazon shoppers, have you heard about Amazon Smile? If you log into Smile.Amazon.com and select the charity of your choice, each you make a purchase, Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of the price of your eligible purchases to your charity.   Also, remember donating blood, gently-used clothes and toys, as well as giving your time, are all great ways to give back year-round. 1522

It¡¯s that time when San Diegans start to focus on a healthy start to the New Year. Regardless of what resolutions you make, the goal is to make positive changes. Although a popular choice like living healthier through the year is great, how can you do that? If you have a plan, and a coach or support from someone you trust, it makes success that much easier. Regular exercise. Drinking more water. Adding fresh fruits and whole grains can keep your body healthy. Making sure you get your flu shot and knowing your numbers! Whether it¡¯s eating healthy, adopting a pet or getting out in your community there is something out there for you! ? Get more exercise in by hiking trails at our County parks. ? Get a new furry family member and adopt a pet from Animal Services. ? Trying to eat healthier? Visit a certified farmers market.What are some simple steps to take that will help you get moving in the right direction? Checking your mental health is equally important. Taking time to relax, reducing stress or beginning your day with easy meditation techniques. NAMI San Diego has some great APPS available for free download that have guided meditations, helpful resources, education and more. Available on iOS, Android and Windows platforms, oscER will give you information, resources and peace of mind. YMCA of San Diego County is a proud Live Well partner helping families thrive every day with our focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The YMCA is much more than a gym or a pool. And while they ARE so much more than a gym, NOW is a great time to join the Y and work on your resolutions! January is FREE when you join in the New Year. The YMCA offers a variety of tools to support individuals health & wellness goals. ? KickStart program- a personalized wellness plan to get you started ? Free Child Watch and Kids Club during workouts ? Over 100 free group exercise classes throughout our locations ? Indoor and outdoor swimming pools for lap swimming, aquatic classes ? State-of-the-art fitness centers ? Workshops, seminars and health screenings ? Build friendships, strengthen your body, your relationships and so much more.For more details or to locate a YMCA near you, visit ymca.org.There are a lot of ways to Live Well San Diego. Make it a great year! 2315

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