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Recalls This Week: wine openers, bicycles

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

A line of devices used to puncture a hole in a wine bottle cork are being recalled because they can cause the bottle to burst or crack. Other consumer products recalled this week include faulty bicycles and air conditioning systems with improper grounding.

Here’s a more detailed look:

WINE ACCESS SYSTEMS

DETAILS: Coravin 1000 Wine Access Systems, which use a hollow needle to penetrate a wine bottle cork and allow wine to be dispensed without removing the cork. The Coravin name and logo appear on the front side of the tube. The system comes with a silver storage base and two argon gas capsules. They were sold at Coravin.com and other online retailers and at wine shops from July 2013 to June 2014.

WHY: The system can cause wine bottles to break during pressurization, posing a risk of lacerations.

INCIDENTS: 13 reports of bottles breaking, including one in which a bottle burst into four pieces and resulted in an injury involving two chipped teeth and a laceration that required stitches, four in which the bottles cracked and leaked, and eight in which bottles broke into two pieces.

HOW MANY: About 65,000 in the U.S. and about 640 in Canada.

FOR MORE: Call Coravin at 844-267-2846, send email to update@coravin.com, or visit www.coravin.com, and click on “Important Safety Announcement – Recall to Repair” for more information.

BICYCLES

DETAILS: Link Uno, Link D7i, Link D8, Link P9, Link P7i, and Link P24h models of Tern brand adult folding bikes. “Tern” is printed on the front end of the top tube and on other portions of the frame. The model name is printed on the middle of the top tube. Recalled bicycles have a 10-character alphanumeric serial number that begin with either AI1133 through AI1137 or AI1151 through AI1213 stamped on the bottom bracket shell of the bike. An alphanumeric service tag number is located on the front of the seat tube and this number can be used to determine if the bicycle is affected by going to the firm’s website. The bicycles were sold from November 2011 to April 2014.

WHY: The bike’s frame can crack at the hinge on the top tube, posing a fall hazard.

INCIDENTS: No incidents or injuries reported in the U.S, but there have been 11 reports of the bicycle frames cracking including five reports of minor scrapes and bruises from outside of the U.S.

HOW MANY: 650 in the U.S. and about 20 in Canada.

FOR MORE: Call Stile Products at 888-570-8376 or visit www.ternbicycles.com and click on “Product Recall Information” for more information.

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS

DETAILS: Trane XB300 and American Standard Silver SI Air Conditioning Systems. This recall involves 37 models of Trane XB300 and American Standard brand Silver SI split system outdoor cooling units. They were sold at Trane and American Standard independent distributors and dealers nationwide from February 2010 to March 2014. The Trane or American Standard logo is affixed to the front and model numbers are printed on the silver nameplate on the back of the unit. Information on the models included in the recall can be found at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/Recall-Alerts/2014/Trane-Recalls-Air-Conditioning-Systems/

WHY: The ground screws used in some units do not have the two threads required to provide sufficient grounding, posing a shock hazard to consumers.

INCIDENTS: None reported.

HOW MANY: About 100,600.

FOR MORE: Call Trane at 888-731-7561 or visit www.trane.com/residential and click on “XB300 Product Recall” for more information. Consumers can also log onto www.americanstandardair.com/residential and click on “XB300 Product Recall” for more information.

BICYCLES

DETAILS: SR Suntour forks on model year 2011 through 2013 Scott and Trek bicycles. They were sold from May 2010 to November June 2014. The Scott bicycles have 700c wheels, disc brakes and one of the following Suntour front fork models: NEX or NCX. Bicycle model names and numbers are on the main frame of each bicycle in a location that varies by model. The model year can be identified by the color scheme of the bicycle frame. The fork’s model name is printed on the outer sides of the fork. Model information on the recalled bicycles can be found at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Scott-Trek-Recall-Bicycles-with-SR-Suntour-Front-Forks/

WHY: The front fork can break, posing a crash hazard.

INCIDENTS: One report of a broken SR Suntour fork. No injuries were reported. Trek has received 28 reports of broken forks. Five injuries have been reported, including minor bruises, a separated shoulder and broken bones.

HOW MANY: About 5,200 forks on Scott bicycles and about 120,000 forks on Trek bicycles.

FOR MORE: Call Scott USA at 888-607-8365, ext. 2012, or visit www.scott-sports.com and click on Safety and Recalls at the bottom of the page for more information. Call Trek at 800-373-4594 or visit www.trekbikes.com and click on the Get Support button at the bottom of the page, then click on Safety & Recalls under Owner Resources for more information.

WOMEN’S SCARVES

DETAILS: Julie Vos women’s scarves, which are 100 percent modal fabric, a type of rayon, and were sold in two prints, Anchor and Sierra. Anchor was sold in three colors, including blue, green and orange. Sierra was sold in four colors, including raspberry/magenta, orange/peach, cream/gray and blue/purple. Julie Vos is printed on a tag sewn into the back of the scarf. They were sold at specialty boutiques nationwide and online at www.julievos.com from January 2014 through February 2014.

WHY: The scarves fail to meet the federal flammability standard for wearing apparel and pose a risk of burn injuries.

INCIDENTS: One report of a shawl catching fire. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 324.

FOR MORE: Call Julie Vos at 646-448-4345, send email to info@julievos.com, or visit www.julievos.com and click on “Recall” for more information.

PROPANE GAS FIREPLACES

DETAILS: Napoleon GD3200-P and GD3200B-P Propane Gas Fireplaces. The model number GD3200-P and GD3200B-P can be found in the center of the rating label. The rating label is located on the base of the fireplace behind the lower louvered access door. They were sold at hearth Fireplace specialty stores nationwide from August 1992 through May 2001.

WHY: The pressure from the ignition of the propane gas can cause the glass front to break, posing a laceration hazard.

INCIDENTS: One incident report occurring in Canada where the glass shattered resulting in cuts to the face and neck that required medical attention. No incidents were reported in the U.S.

HOW MANY: About 600 units in the U.S. and 2,400 in Canada

FOR MORE: Call Wolf Steel at 866-539-2039 or visit www.napoleonfireplaces.com and click the SUPPORT tab listed as the first item in the left side FAQ column.

ELECTRIC PIANOS

DETAILS: Roland model RD-800 Electronic Digital Pianos. Pianos within the following serial number ranges are being recalled:Z6D0015 to Z6D0019, Z7D0174 to Z7D0423, Z8D1 056 to Z8D1255, Z9D2131 to Z9D2333. The model number is on the front left of the piano. “Roland” and the model number are in large type on the back of the piano. The serial number and model number are on a data plate on the right side of the rear of the piano between the XLR output connectors and the AC IN connector. They were sold from January 2014 to April 2014.

WHY: The AC power cord can be connected to the XLR output jacks, posing an electrical shock hazard.

INCIDENTS: One report of a consumer connecting the power cord to an XLR output jack. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 640.

FOR MORE: Call Roland at 877-339-5492, send email to rd800update@rolandus.com, or visit www.rolandus.com and click on”RD-800 Recall Notice” under Support at the bottom of the page for more information. Or call the Consumer Product Safety Commission toll-free hotline at 1-800-638-2772.

FIREWORKS KITS

DETAILS: Contraband 24 fireworks kits with canister shells and firing tubes that are designed to be used multiple times. The kit came in a brown cardboard box about 28 inches tall, 9 inches wide and about 5 inches deep. The front of the box has the words “Contraband 24,” ”24 Cannister Shells,” ”Maximum Powder Load” printed in black and red. The front also has a warning stating the product should only be used under close adult supervision and outdoors. Model number JP-933 is printed on the left front of the box above the warning. The back of the box has color photos and descriptions the effect each shell should create. They were sold from February 2014 to June 2014.

WHY: The shell can blow up in the tube during firing, posing impact and burn hazards to the user and bystanders.

INCIDENTS: Two reports of the firing tubes being too narrow, including one report of a shell blowing up in a tube and causing minor burns and cuts to the legs of a store employee.

HOW MANY: About 4,500 kits.

FOR MORE: Call Winco at 888-697-2217 or visit www.wincofireworks.com then click on the News tab at the top of the page, then click on Contraband 24 Artillery Recall.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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