Summer Safe Driving

According to a recent survey provided to us by Travelers Insurance, 67% of Americans taking a summer vacation plan to drive.  Make sure it is a safe trip by doing the following:

1.  Do not overload your vehicle - keep the load evenly distributed and do not block rear and side view mirror vision.

2.  Be prepared - Pack snacks and entertaining items for the little ones in the backseat to help avoid distractions.

3.  Take a break to avoid fatigue - this helps maintain focus - make sure to pull off in a safe spot.

4.  Know the route - be familiar with the route and do not solely rely on GPS so as to avoid dangerous last minute turns and lane changes.

5.  Use cruise control carefully - it can be easier for the driver to lose focus on the road and become more distracted.  But also remember never to use cruise control when roads are wet due to the slowing of response time when cruise control is engaged

6.  DO NOT TEXT WHILE DRIVING - even using a hands-free device can be enough of a distraction to cause a driver to miss key visual and audio cues needed to avoid a crash.



Enjoy your summer vacation, but please be safe and cautious.

Frank Zimmerman, CIC

My brother is getting married this upcoming June to one of the most wonderful women I have had the honor of meeting.  I have volunteered to throw a bridal shower for them and I wanted to share a couple of the ideas that I have done to make it special for them.
The first game I decided to do for them was a word search.

Going to the Chapel and We’re Gonna Get Married!

The wedding bells are ringing
And the guests are seated. Help
Us find the wedding party so
We can cue the music!

L    B    M   A   R  Y   N  A   T   T    I   R   B

K   D    F    T    I    F    F  A   N  Y   W  R  J

G    Z    D   Q   C   Y   K  C   I    R   T   A  P

C   W   H    J     X   E    E  T   J    C   S   U  T

D   N    C   O    E    L   A   I   P   N   X  C   P

V   R    W   H    Z    L   N  V   Z   Q  U  B   T

W  I     E    N    H    E   A  Y   M  A  R   Y   L

V   E    R    M   P    I   D   H   S   G   O  P   S

O   B    D   T    E   N   Z   T    R   V   D  A  R

T   Q    N   D   S   A   A   O   B   U  R   L   I

W  M   A   Z   O   D   D   M  J   A  V   Q   E

J    S    A   B    J    Y   W   I    J   D  O   Q  O

E   N    P   G   N   W   D   T   P   Z  G   F    J

Andrew      Brittany
Joe             Danielle
Eirn            Dana
John           Mary
Joseph       Sara
Patrick       Tiffany
Timothy      Mary



By Mary Marsh



Everyone at Mars Insurance Agency sends best wishes to the happy couple!

Getting Ready for the Spring Storm Season

We’ve all heard the expression, “take care of your body and your body will take care of you.” Homeowners should apply this wisdom to their home and the premises around it. While it is easy to see physical damage that can be caused by large storms, Mother Nature also is slowly and consistently breaking down a home’s defenses against future weather conditions. The specific weather conditions a home is exposed to, coupled with a maintenance plan similar to that below, play a large part in the strength and longevity of a home and the homeowner’s resulting bottom line.

Roof & Its Drainage Systems
Keep all drains, scuppers, gutters and downspout inlets free of debris that may restrict proper flow. It is also important to keep the roof clear of debris, leaves and vegetation, all of which may retain water. Trim trees near the home and branches that hang over the roof.

Home Joints & Connections
Intersections of the roof to walls, rooftop air conditioner mounts and curbs, window and door frames, and pipes through walls all require some type of transition material that is typically more prone to wear out over time. Rubber gaskets, seals and caulks should be inspected for brittleness, cracks, chips and gaps, and replaced as needed.

Walls
Inspect for and seal all minor wall cracks. Inspect Exterior Insulating Finishing Systems (EIFS) for cracks, chips, holes and other problems, and repair them as needed.

Windows & Doors
Ensure that all doors and windows have proper seals. Water stains below a window sill on the inside of the home are a sign of leaks. Inspect the rubber gasket or glazing putty surrounding the windows for cracks and reseal when necessary, even if stains aren’t obvious. Examine magnetic contacts that may be part of the home’s security systems to monitor when the window is opened or closed, and make sure they are well sealed.

Inspect the wooden threshold, where the door meets the floor. If there are signs of decay, replace the threshold and place new seals around the door.

Home Penetrations
Check and seal all roof and wall penetrations, including all water lines and electrical conduit. A single tube of caulk can likely seal all gaps between utility service lines that enter the walls.

Surroundings
Check downspout outlets to ensure that they are not blocked by debris or by the ground itself. It is best to have the surrounding terrain slope away from your home to prevent storm water runoff from accumulating around perimeter walls. Keep all exterior storm water drains free of debris. Drainage canals and culverts that are designed to shed water from the property should be checked and maintained for proper water flow.

Information courtesy of our friends at Grange Insurance.

Safe Driving on Ice and Snow

Driving safely on icy roads

Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.

Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.

Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.

Keep your lights and windshield clean.

Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.

Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.

Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.

Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.

Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid:

Take your foot off the accelerator.

Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.

If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.

If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.

If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.

If your front wheels skid:

Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.

As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck:

Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.

Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.

Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.

Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.

Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.

Try rocking your vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

Most importantly, if you don't have to drive, stay off the road and stay safe.

Information provided by the Weather Channel.

Vacationing in Mexico - Safety

I recently went on a vacation to Mexico…yes that dangerous place where everyone tells you not to go because something terrible is bound to happen to you. I have heard this from so many different people the last couple of years and I find it very difficult to group an entire country into one statement. There are certain places in Mexico that I feel much safer in than I do in my own town. Today I am going to share 14 safety precautions to take while on vacation in Mexico, or anywhere for that matter, to ensure your safety and also to not get ripped off.

#1 Make sure to never say it is your first time visiting because you are a target to get higher prices.
#2 Do research on how much taxi rides and/or rental cars should be.
#3 If you are a female make sure when you are walking to keep your purse close to your body and on the side facing away from the street. Smaller purses, preferably ones that can be wrapped around your wrist, are better.
#4 If it is your honeymoon, as tempting as it may be, do not say you are honeymooners because you are once again a target.
#5 Always check your bill especially if you have been drinking because in resort and common vacation locations they will try to charge you for extra drinks.
#6 If you do rent a car, gas attendants will require they fill up your tank. Make sure to watch them zero out the amount from the previous driver.
#7 If you meet someone at the airport or on the plane and they seem nice never share a cab with them to your hotel/house/condo that you are renting. They then know where you are staying and can  break in when you aren't there or worse, when you are there. This is a scam that can happen anywhere. Don’t let anyone know where you are staying.
#8 An obvious one is to not walk around after midnight with a group or by yourself. It isn't safe in the States and it isn't safe while traveling.
#9 This is a personal preference, but if you are concerned about getting any jewelry stolen then leave them at home. Vacation is a time to relax, not to be paranoid.

#10 There are dangerous places in Mexico but the best place to go is an island like Cozumel or Isla Mujeres. Their livelihood is based on you coming back. There are typically police and military all over these island for protection, to ensure tourism keeps booming.
#11 Trip insurance is always a good idea. Don’t get it through the airlines because it will only cover your flight and it quite costly. Go through an independent trip insurance provider and it will run you about $60. It could save you a lot of money and hassle.
#12 It is a good idea to make photo copies of your passport, major credit cards and bank account information. This is not to carry with you but to keep in the hotel safe just in case something happens to the originals.

#13 Do not post on Facebook that you will be away because that allows for an easy home invasion.
#14 Ask a neighbor to get your mail instead of stopping it all together. Anyone at the Post Office can then see who is on vacation and, once again, that welcomes in an opportunity for a  home invasion while you are away.


Safe Travels!    

Mary K. Marsh

Wedding Season Is Fast Approaching

If you or someone you know is going to be involved in a wedding this Spring or Summer, you might want to consider wedding insurance.  Travelers Insurance offers a Wedding Protector Plan which provides coverage in the event that something goes wrong.

What if the reception venue goes out of business a month before the wedding?  Or what if severe weather causes cancellation?  What about having the wedding dress damaged or stolen or having the bride or groom becoming suddenly ill and unable to attend?  These and a variety of other sudden or unexpected occurrences can be covered with insurance that will provide reimbursement for lost deposits or additional expenses.

The average wedding can now cost well above $20,000.  Our access to the Travelers policy can not only provide a bride, groom and their family liability coverage for the event, but also the security in knowing that all is not lost if something does go wrong.

The Travelers and Mars Insurance have you covered.

Safety For Your Home While Traveling

It’s so exciting to go on a vacation, isn't it?  To go on a trip to a new, exotic place.  It’s hard not to be excited, right?  There are so many things to do before you go – pack your bags, check with the airline, make sure the camera is charged….did you pack the sunscreen?  One of the most important steps in preparing for a trip is to make sure that your home is secure while you are away.  There are several easy steps you can take to make sure your home and property are safe in your absence.

First and foremost, make your home look like it’s still occupied!  There are several ways to do this.  This is an easy one especially if you have an animal at home that will need tending while you are gone.  Have a trusted friend or neighbor come by daily (at varying times) to take care of your pets.  If you don’t have a pet at home, have someone come by and bring in your mail.  Having your mail service stopped is a sure sign to a burglar that no one is home.  If you are going to be gone for an extended period of time, have someone come by and shovel your walk or mow your grass, water the garden or take out your trash on garbage day.

Most people will use a timer on their interior lights to make it look like they are home.  While this is a good idea, if you set an interior timer to go off at the same time every day, if a would-be burglar is watching your house this will indicate that you are not home.  The trick is to purchase a timer that can be set for varying times of day or if you have the ability, control the lights at home from your cell phone while you are gone – at different times during the day and night.  You also might want to consider installing a motion sensor light inside that way if someone does get into your home they may be fooled into thinking that someone is there after all and change their mind about what they’re doing.

 In addition, DON’T advertise on-line that you are going to be away and for how long!  This is very hard for people to resist.  It’s so tempting to want to tell all of your 300 closest social media friends that you are going on a fabulous trip.  Try to resist uploading vacation photos while you are still away.  I know you think everyone else wants to see the play by play of your vacation but they can wait until you have returned.
Other good rules of thumb are to make sure to have your electronics plugged into a surge protector so that in the event of a power outage your computer and television are not damaged.  Keep your thermostat set between 55 and 80 degrees and have someone run the water for a bit when they come by to check on the house.  This will ward off damage from frozen pipes.   Be sure to take your insurance agents phone number and your insurance policy number with you on your trip.  This way in the event that something does go wrong while you’re away, you will know just who to call.  Bon voyage!