Thursday, March 31, 2011

Today in History!

Happy Friday and Happy April Fool's Day! It looks like Mother Nature played the biggest trick on all of us here in New England today with this snow! Just as I had put my snow boots and heavy coat away last weekend time to drag them back out again...hopefully for the last time! You just truly never know with NE weather...at least the spring snow melts fairly quick!

Well since it is Friday that means time for our facts!

  • 1700 – The April Fools Day tradition becomes popular with young English children playing pranks on each other. Historians also believe there are several other reasons why this day became known for pranks and tricks, including in 1582 when the French changed from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, and people who still thought the end of March was the end of the year were teased and pranked for being “foolish”.
  • 1789 – The first U.S. House of Representatives, meeting in New York City, elect their first speaker of the house, Pennsylvania Representative Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg.
  • 1946 – A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Alaska triggered a devastating tsunami which caused extensive damage on the Hawaiian islands and claimed the lives of 159 people.
  • 1984 – The “Prince of Motown” Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his father, one day before his 45th birthday.
  • 1985 – The Villanova Wildcats complete one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history, beating the Georgetown Hoyas 66-64 for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship!
Hope you all have some exciting plans this weekend!























Until next time...


Dog Trick Thursday!

We hope all you New England dog owners have taken advantage of the spring weather these last fews days and taken your doggies out for nice walks! It looks like Winnie and Phinn will be having a snow day tomorrow so we are letting them run around and burn off lots of energy today!

We taught Winnie and Phinn the trick of "crawling" a while back in puppy class and we gave them a refresher on it last night. They will really do anything for a treat!

Here's what you do to teach your dog! First, you need to get your dog in the sit position. Once he is sitting nicely, have him lie down. Make sure he stays.










The next part is a bit tricky, and if your dog is anything like Winnie and Phinn, you’re going to need some patience. Phinn just wanted to eat the snack and give you a lick to say thanks!










When you have them laying down, hold the treat in your fist closed up, and put it by their nose. Now you’ve got his attention! Kneeling down, hold your fist a few inches from his nose, and slowly drag you hand along the ground. Sometimes you might have to gently place your hand on his back to remind him to stay on the ground. Now as you pull your hand away, and he starts to “crawl”, praise him with a “good boy!” and give him the treat! It’s going to take some practice, but with clear instructions and lots of praise and patience, and your puppy will be “crawling” just like Winnie and Phinn!

Let us know how the trick training goes with your dogs!

Until next time...





Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Insurance for Pets in Cars

As you can certainly tell from reading this blog, we are huge dog lovers! Winnie and Phinn love to give helpful tips and share insurance knowledge, but one thing they haven’t done is explain what would happen to them if they were injured while riding in the car. Is your pet covered by your insurance if they needed veterinarian care?













Here's a picture of Winnie getting ready to leave on vacation with us.

Previously, unless you purchased separate pet insurance, any injuries or veterinarian bills would be paid out of pocket. However, due to increased consumer demand, several carriers have broadened the coverage provided on their personal auto forms to include injuries and costs incurred with pets.

Depending on your carrier if you’re traveling and you get into an accident, vet bills up to $1,000 will be paid for from your policy. Also, if a “comprehensive” loss happens (other than collision) like fire, theft or glass breakage, any injuries to your pet are covered, again up to $1,000.

We love taking Winnie and Phinn for car rides with us, and it is comforting to know they are protected too! Again, this is an important question that should be discussed with your agent at Coffey Insurance to see if you have the coverage, and if it can be provided.

Until next time...



Tuesday, March 29, 2011

From the Kitchen!

Looking for a new dinner idea tonight? Try this delicious recipe we found on BettyCrocker.com for Grilled Lemon Thyme Chicken Breasts. It is super easy and a great healthy dinner paired with a side salad!













Total Time: 35 min
Servings: 4

Ingredients:
4 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
(You can use 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried thyme leaves instead of fresh thyme)
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon peel
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lbs)

1. Heat the grill and prepare for grilling

2. In a small bowl mix all ingredients except chicken. Sprinkle mixture over chicken

3. Cover and grill chicken, medium high heat 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut. Garnish with additional fresh thyme if desired.

Enjoy!

Until next time...




Monday, March 28, 2011

Flood Insurance!

Flood Insurance...Do you have it? Do you need it?

With March coming to an end and "April showers" around the corner now is a good time to make sure you have coverage for flooding. Living in New England we never know how wet of a spring we will actually have so it a good idea to be prepared! Winnie and Phinn hate too many rainy days in a row the yard gets all soggy and they can't run around in the mud!
















Here's a picture of Winnie relaxing after running around the yard on a nice spring day!

It is important to know flood coverage is not included in your homeowner’s policy. Water backing up from your sewer or drains can be added as an endorsement, but surface water flooding has to be purchased from surplus carriers or the National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP).

Regardless of your dwelling limits, the NFIP plan provides up to $250,000 for the building and up to $100,000 for contents. The building is valued on replacement cost (no depreciation) but the contents are valued on actual cash value (depreciation is taken into account). Separate limits are included for contents that might be stored in your basement or below ground.

If you live in a predetermined flood zone, you’ll be required to purchase a flood policy. Mortgage companies also will require it in other zones as well. Even if you don’t live near a river or major body of water, this is an important coverage you should consider with melting snow.

If you require limits above and beyond what is provided by the NFIP, you can purchase excess flood coverage to have higher limits. As always, this is an important coverage that should be discussed with your agent at Coffey Insurance!

Until next time...


Friday, March 25, 2011

Today in History!

On March 25th in history...

  • 1996 - The US issued the newly-redesigned $100 bill
  • 1982 - Wayne Gretzky became the 1st NHL to score 200 points in a season
  • 1967 - “My Fair Lady” opened at St. James Theater in NYC for 384 performances
  • 1971 - Boston Patriots became the New England Patriots!
  • 1965 - Martin Luther King led 25,000 to state capitol Montgomery, Alabama
  • 1954 - RCA manufactured the 1st color TV set, a 12-inch screen that sold for $1000!


Happy Friday! We hope you have a nice weekend! Don't forget if you are looking for something to do, check out the Home and Garden Show at UNH!

Until next time...


Thursday, March 24, 2011

Dog Trick Thursday!

As the official greeters of Coffey Insurance, Winnie and Phinn would like to share with you their second favorite way of saying hello, shaking! (second to licks!)














To teach your dog how to shake, start by getting your dog to sit down. You can then bend down or kneel in front of him and touch the leg you want him to lift. An easy trick is to touch the shoulder muscle, and the paw will lift slightly.

As soon as the paw lifts, place your hand under the paw and lift the leg up and down gently in a shaking motion, while using the command “shake” or “shake a paw”. As this comes naturally to dogs, it won’t take much motivation (treats!) to get your dog to start shaking.

A fun twist to throw on is having your dog “wave”. When the dog can shake confidently on his own, you can step back and he will paw at the air waiting for your hand. You can add the “wave” command, and reward him. Lots of times during dinner, Phinn will wave at us, hoping we’ll drop some, but we just wave right back!











We hope you have fun bonding with your four legged friend while teaching them this trick and come visit Winnie and Phinn at Coffey Insurance they love to "shake" after lots of hello licks of course!

Until next time...



Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Caesar Burgers!

So did anyone out there try our recipe for the Caesar burgers? Winnie and Phinn took over as grill masters last night and whipped them up at our house!

To add a little spin on the recipe Winnie and Phinn decided to serve up the burgers up on a slice of toasted baguette and a side of sauteed yellow squash. They were so yummy!! Who says you can't grill in March?? Here are some pictures of the dinner and feel free to share how the burgers worked out at your house!


















Until next time...


Community Event!

Happy Wednesday!

Ok we are halfway through the workweek…so time to start thinking about the weekend plans, right?! (haha it’s never too early to have the weekend in mind!)

This weekend at the UNH Whittemore Arena in Durham, NH is the 17th Annual Seacoast Home and Garden Show. It is Saturday March 26th from 10-6 & Sunday March 27th from 10-4. Admission is only $8 for adults and if you check the show’s website there is a coupon for $2 off an adult admission!





http://www.homegardenflowershow.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=seacoast.home

It is a great local show to walk around and get ideas for things to do in your own yard this season. There are over 200 exhibitors so it is the perfect opportunity to meet local businesses and see examples of their work. This year there is an emphasis on updating in an eco-friendly manner. UNH will also have their Annual Greenhouse Open House for tours, plant sales, and informational displays.

I saw a few chances for snow on the extended forecast so escaping to see some beautiful flowers and get my mind thinking about spring projects in the yard will be perfect this weekend!

Until next time…


Tuesday, March 22, 2011

From the Kitchen!

All the mild weather last week had us grillin' again and we have a wonderful backyard barbeque recipe to share with you from BettyCrocker.com!

Grilled Onion-Topped Caesar Burgers...yum! Winnie and Phinn's mouths water when we fire the grill up!










Bottled Caesar dressing in and all around the burgers is the flavor secret to this great grilled burger

Total Time: 30 min
Servings: 4

Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup Caesar dressing
1/2 teaspoon peppered seasoned salt
1 small sweet onion, cut into 1/4-to 1/2 inch slices
1 1/2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
2 tablespoons freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
4 burger buns, split

1. Heat gas or charcoal grill. In medium bowl, mix beef, parsley, 2 tablespoons of the dressing and the peppered seasoned salt. Shape mixture into 4 patties, about 1/2 inch thick.

2. Place patties on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 12 to 15 minutes, turning once, until meat thermometer inserted in center of patties reads 160ºF. Add onion slices to grill for last 8 to 10 minutes of cooking, brushing with 2 tablespoons of the dressing and turning once, until crisp-tender.

3. In small bowl, toss lettuce, remaining 1/4 cup dressing and the cheese. Layer lettuce mixture, burger and onion in each bun.

Enjoy!

Until next time...


Monday, March 21, 2011

Renter's Insurance -- What is it, do I need it, and is my roommate covered?

An alternative to owning your own home is to rent one. It can be a great way to save money towards the future purchase of a home. A typical insurance question that comes up often is do I need insurance as a renter? Also people are curious as to what exactly does the insurance cover, and if their roommate is automatically covered under the policy?

A landlord’s policy typically covers the structural damage to the unit and any liability that arises out of their duties as a landlord. For instance, if they are responsible for maintenance around the property and you get hurt, or the roof caves in, the landlord’s policy would cover this. However, your personal belongings, as well as any liability you assume would NOT be covered under their policy.

A renters policy is a relatively inexpensive policy that provides coverage for your items and liability. Your furniture, electronic equipment, clothes, etc are all protected, as well as if your dog bites someone when they are in your home. (Winnie and Phinn would never do this!) You’re also protected if your negligent and cause damage to the property (fire, water damage, etc) your policy will pay to repair the property.

As far as roommates… the answer we would recommend is to have your roommate purchase his or her own policy, so their “stuff” and liability is covered on their end. You could have them listed on your policy, but it is better they purchase their own. As always, Winnie and Phinn are happy to help explain this to you, but you should always talk to your agent at The Coffey Insurance Agency to discuss the coverage a renter’s policy provides in more detail.

Until next time...

Friday, March 18, 2011

Today in History Fridays!

Winnie and Phinn would like to announce the start of “Today in History Fridays”, a fun, quick history lesson!

On March 18th in history…

  • 1852 – Henry Wells & William G. Fargo begin their company, Wells Fargo & Company
  • 1766 – British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act in the American colonies
  • 1837 – Future American President Grover Cleveland is born in Caldwell, NJ
  • 2002 – After an unfortunate fatal accident at a hockey game, the NHL changed rules to include a net behind each goal to prevent pucks flying into the stands.
  • 1925 – The “Tri-State Tornado”, the worst tornado in American history touches down in the Midwest, causing $17,000,000 in property damage and claiming the lives of 695 people.
  • 1932 – In Shillington, PA, famous Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Updike is born. His literary works include contributions to the New Yorker, as well as novels Rabbit, Run, Rabbit is Rich, and Rabbit at Rest.

We hope that you will check back in with us every week for some interesting facts you can share!

Enjoy your weekend and this beautiful spring like weather today!

Until next time…

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Workers' Compensation - Do I need it?

When you buy a house or a car, one of the first things that comes to mind is purchasing insurance to protect the asset. Included in the insurance is liability coverage to protect against lawsuits for bodily injury or damage that you could cause.

Your business is an asset too and insurance is purchased to protect inventory and business income. The insurance also protects from lawsuits that could come from customers and clients. While focusing on your clients, you might overlook your employees. What if one of them were to get hurt, would your business insurance cover this?










The answer is no. Your business insurance (also known as a package policy or a businessowners’ policy [BOP]) would not protect against workplace injuries. A separate policy must be purchased, known as workers compensation.

This policy provides three sections, 3A, 3B, and 3C. 3A provides medical and disability payments mandated by the state (or states) listed on the policy. The policy also provides lost wages and salaries depending on how long the employee is out of work. 3B provides coverage for if your employee sues you due to negligence on your part (but they can’t collect workers’ comp if they lose the suit) and 3C provides coverage in other states.

Workers’ compensation is a complicated yet important coverage that all businesses should have. As always, you should call your agent at Coffey Insurance to discuss your workers’ compensation policies, and the coverage it provides.

Until next time….


Friday, March 11, 2011

What's a Deductible?

When you look at your policy, you’ll notice that next to the coverage limit, there is a “deductible”. You may be unaware of what a deductible is, so Winnie and Phinn are here to explain what exactly this word means, and how it works with your policy!









In addition to your monthly premium, which pays for the insurance contract between the insurance carrier and you, you also have a “deductible” that you pay when you have a loss. When a claim is placed, the insurance company will pay to repair or replace the damaged property, but they’re not going to pay the full amount. The deductible is the amount that you pay out of pocket to eat some of the cost of the claim. For example, if you a fire that causes $100,000 worth of damage in your home, and your policy deductible is $500, the company would pay for $99,500 to repair your home. ($100,000 - $500 deductible).

Deductibles are also found in your auto policy as well for the comprehensive and collision sections. Typically the comprehensive deductible is slightly lower than the collision deductible. The higher you make your deductible, the lower your annual premium payment will be, since you are essentially paying for more of the claim.

Deductibles can also be found in business and liability policies. These can be a little more difficult to explain, but hopefully Winnie and Phinn have given you an idea of what this term means, and what it does for your policy. As always, you should call your agent at The Coffey Insurance Agency to discuss your deductible, and if you have any more questions regarding it. Until next time…