How to block unwanted calls on your cell phone or cable phone service – Kenosha News

Posted On: August 4, 2019

In a prior column, I covered the simple instructions on how to block unwanted calls by number on your cellphone.

To recap, on an iPhone, use the steps below:

Go to your missed call log

Tap the i icon at the right of the number

Scroll down and tap “Block caller.”

If you still have a home phone number, you probably get a great number of unwanted calls. Within a two-week period, we got at least 15 spam calls from two different numbers.

We use Internet-based phone with service provided by Spectrum (Time Warner), our Internet service provider, and they have options for blocking calls by number or more generally.

Note that we have only used the “block unwanted callers” option so far. To explore or turn on call-blocking options for Time Warner telephone service, follow these steps.

Across the top of the page, you should see Overview, My Profile, My TV, My Internet, My Phone. Click My Phone.

On the right, in the Settings section, click the “Peace and Quiet” link.

Relatively near the top are tabs/button in blue, each with various options for blocking calls.

Block Unwanted Callers allows you to block up to 30 specific numbers. To use it,

Click in the circle next to “On”

Enter the phone number in the boxes, then click the “Add to Block Unwanted Callers List” button

Block Anonymous Calls allows you to block any calls that would show as Anonymous.

Nomorobo is an option that allows you to eliminate robo-calls with recorded announcements from telemarketers, political parties and so on. Once pre-election season arrives, this will be a handy feature.

Accept Selected Callers is more aggressive, allowing you to block all calls except those from numbers you specify. Read the description carefully when considering using this feature.

Block Outbound Caller ID allows you to do just that — NOT send your name or phone number to the caller ID on the other end. That will allow you to call without people seeing your number or name.

Whenever you make any changes, be sure to click the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the screen.

By using these features on your cellphone and home phone, you can cut down on potential scams and other unwanted calls.

If you have a landline phone service such as AT&T, or if you need additional general help, instructions can be found at https://www.wikihow.com/Block-a-Call or by contacting your telephone provider’s customer service.

TALL SHIPS PARADE OF SAIL

Tall Ships Festival sails into Kenosha

Tall ships cruised the lakefront before making their grand entrance on Thursday, patiently waiting for what is poised to be a weekend to remember in downtown Kenosha.

Nearly 15 months of anticipation and picture-perfect weather could attract huge crowds for the Tall Ships of America’s Tall Ships Challenge, which opens at 10 a.m. today and runs through Sunday.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $9 for kids (ages 6-17). A family pass is available for $45.

The three-day festival returned to Kenosha for the first time since making back-to-back appearances in 2003 and 2004. The event, which now takes place in the Great Lakes every three years, relocated to Chicago before Kenosha successfully won its bid to host this year’s event.

“It’s very much a celebration,” said Kris Kochman, city community relations liaison. “Our city is so patriotic. Fourth of July and the parade is a really big deal. People come out in droves every year, and it never gets old.

“This is something new. We haven’t had an event like this for more than 10 years. People are excited to see the ships and the festival that goes along with it.”

Kochman said attendance could easily top the original 30,000 estimate.

General admission tickets are available at the gate or can be purchased online at www.kenoshatallships.com. Those tickets include access for boarding the ships as well as entrance to the art fair, food court, children’s area and the Miller Lite Music Stage. A limited number of sail-away tickets, ranging from $55 to $75, are still available.

“I noticed the sail-away tickets ramped up quickly in the past week,” Kochman said. “We went from 600 tickets sold to 1,000 in the snap of a finger. I think those remaining tickets are going to be sold out.”

American English, a Beatles tribute band, performs 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Tickets to the concert are $20 or included for anyone who purchases a general admission ticket before 4 p.m. Friday.

Seven ships

Seven ships are taking part in the festival in Kenosha, one of 11 Great Lakes ports of the Tall Ships Challenge. The ships set sail from Green Bay on Tuesday and began arriving in Kenosha on Wednesday.

Ships docking in Kenosha include the Barque Picton Castle, Bluenose II, S/V Denis Sullivan, U.S. Brig Niagara, Appledore IV, Pride of Baltimore II and Kenosha’s own Red Witch.

Appledore IV and Red Witch are offering 80-minute excursions from the Kenosha Sailing Center and Yacht Club, 5130 Fourth Ave.

Boarding is allowed on the five other ships docked on the south side of the harbor. Crew members will be available to answer questions during the self-guided tours.

Taking a tour

Touring the ships adds an entirely different perspective from watching them sail.

The U.S. Brig Niagara, which is 198 feet long and 120 feet high, is a replica ship from the War of 1812. It includes a sub-deck complete with sleeping quarters and a wood-fired stove.

“You haven’t had the full experience until you’ve gone on board,” Kochman said. “They’re all very unique. People will want to explore them and stand at the ship’s wheel for a picture. It’s kind of the iconic thing to do.”

Chicago initially committed to host this year’s tour and canceled due to ongoing construction at Navy Pier. Kenosha gladly obliged to take over and will have priority to host the event again when it returns to the Great Lakes in 2022.

“The mayor (John Antaramian) wanted this event to come here in the worst way,” said Patricia Lock, the city’s tall ship festival consultant. “It’s good for Kenosha. It’s good for tourism. It’s a great way to showcase the city. When we had this event in 2003 and 2004, the people who came downtown said they had no idea it was this nice down here.”