Community Event!

If you're looking for something to kick off your Memorial Day Weekend, check out Nashua High School South's spring concert started at 7pm at South, located at 36 Riverside Road off exit 5!

Involving nearly 300 students, the concert will consist of NHSS Concert Band, Freshmen Choir, Chorale, Concert Choir and Jazz Choir. Music and songs will be performed from a broad range of eras, including selections from the hit show "Glee!".

Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students, and children under 5 are free, but a ticket must be obtained to reserve seating. All tickets are available at the door. For advance tickets and questions, you can contact South's music department at 603-589-8534.

Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.

Until next time...

Is your jewelry covered?

When you purchase homeowners or renters insurance, your “stuff” is covered, like the house you own and your furniture and fixtures inside of it, but is everything covered?

One of the most important items people want covered in their homes is jewelry, and most assume that your personal property limit provides coverage for such. While the policy does provide a small amount of coverage (typically $1,500 on a standard policy) it rarely fulfils an amount high enough to cover everything.

Your homeowners policy can be endorsed in two ways to provide jewelry coverage. First, you can endorse a higher limit. This is the cheaper option, but there is a limit per item. For example, you might raise the jewelry limit to $5,000, but you can only claim $2,000 per item.

The second option is to “schedule” each piece of jewelry. Accompanied by an up to date appraisal, this is the best method to ensure that you’re insured. It can be a little more expensive, but you have the comfort of knowing that if something happened to Grandma’s diamond brooch, or that expensive engagement ring you’re hiding, that you’re covered.

Jewelry is only one of the many items that can be scheduled on your policy, and as always this is an important topic you should discuss with your agent at The Coffey Insurance Agency.

Until next time…

Community Event!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out the annual Greek Food Festival at St. Phillip Greek Orthodox Church on Exit 5!

The festival runs May 20^th and 21^st from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. There is free parking, free shuttle service from nearby Stellos Stadium, and best of all, free admission! There will be plenty of excellent Greek food local families and businesses. Authentic music will be performed by the band Ta Pedia, and a dance performance by the Hellenic Dance Troupe!

If you’re looking for more information, you can find it on St Philip’s website!

Until next time…

From the Kitchen!

On a gloomy day like this we have the perfect treat to share with you and make you think of summer! Today our yummy recipe for Key Lime Cupcakes comes from Bon Appetit!

Makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

Cupcakes

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup self-rising flour

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

2 large eggs

2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel

1/4 teaspoon neon-green food coloring

3/4 cupe buttermilk

Frosting

1 8oz package cream cheese, room temperture

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperture

1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350F. Line standard muffin pan with paper liners.

Whisk both flous in medium bow. Beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add sugar; beat to blend. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then next 3 ingredients (batter may look curdled). Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions.

Spoon scant 1/3 cup batter into each liner. Bake until tester come out of center clean, about 20-25 minutes.

Frosting: Beat all ingredients in medium bowl until smooth. Spread over cupcakes!

We made these over the weekend and they were a big hit! We hope everyone at our house enjoys them too!

Until next time...

Snapshot from Progressive!

You may have heard commercials or seen the ads on TV, but now The Coffey Insurance Agency is pleased to announce we’re now offering the Snapshot, or "Pay As You Drive" program from Progressive!

The Snapshot is a device that plugs into your car’s computer, and actually provides Progressive a “snapshot” of your driving habits. It tracks the number of miles you drive a day, what time of day you’re driving, and if and how often you make sudden stops. While your premium will never go up from the Snapshot, if your driving habits meet the Snapshot’s qualifications, you’ll be eligible for a discount. You can even login online to view your policy, track your driving habits and see your estimated discount. The best part is this is no cost to you!

If you want more information on this exciting new product, please give your agent a call at The Coffey Insurance Agency.

Until next time…

Today in History Fridays!

On May 13^th in history...

• 1607 – 100 English colonists settled on the bank of the James River in Virginia, establishing Jamestown as the first permanent English colony in North America. The colonists traveled from England on three ships, the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery, and were led by Captain John Smith.
• 1846 – President James Polk, with the approval of the U.S. Congress, declares war on Mexico over Texas. The war would last about two years, and would end with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was signed February 2, 1848. The United States received California and New Mexico, and Mexico was paid $15 million.
• 1898 – The father of the light bulb, Thomas Edison, sues the American Mutoscope Company over a patent infringement on his Kinetograph movie camera. The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Edison did not invent the camera, but the system that moved the film through the camera. In 1909 he created the Motion Pictures Patents Corp. to block others from entering the industry, but the Supreme Court found this to be an unfair monopoly, dissolved the corporation and in 1918 Edison left the film industry for good.
• 1958 – Vice President Richard Nixon, while on a diplomatic visit to Latin America, has his car attacked by an angry crowd in Caracas, Venezuela. Windows were broken, and the car was nearly flipped over. President Eisenhower sent troops to Venezuela to protect Nixon, but there were no more attacks and Nixon left ahead of schedule.
• 1981 – Pope John Paul II is shot in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, but survives the attempted assassination. He was shot by Turkish terrorist Mehmet Ali Agca, who was an escaped fugitive for a previous murder. He was immediately captured, tried and sentenced to life in prison. However, due to changes in amnesty and penal codes, he was released in 2010.

Until next time...

Community Event!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out Seussical performed by the Peacock Players! The show starts May 13^th and runs through the 22^nd, with shows on the weekends. This family oriented show centers around Horton the Elephant and his friends and their adventures in the land of Suess!

The Peacock Players are located at 14 Court St in downtown Nashua, and this Keith Weirich directed play looks to be a lot of fun. For more information, visit their website here.

Until next time…

From the Kitchen!

Today I thought I'd share what we had for our Mother's Day dessert we made a really easy and yummy strawberry pie! It's almost strawberry season so take note of this yummy recipe to make with some fresh picked strawberries!

Prep Time: 30 min

Total Time: 4 hours

Ingredients:

Crust

1 box Phillsbury refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box

Filling

6 cups fresh strawberries

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup water

Topping

1 cup sweetened whipped cream

Directions

1. Heat oven to 450°F. Bake pie crust as directed on box for One-Crust Baked Shell, using 9-inch glass pie plate. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in small bowl, crush enough strawberries to make 1 cup. In 2-quart saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch; stir in crushed strawberries and water. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens. If desired, stir in food color. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

3. Place remaining strawberries, whole or sliced, in cooled baked shell. Pour cooked strawberry mixture evenly over berries. Refrigerate until set, about 3 hours, before serving.

4. Just before serving, top pie with sweetened whipped cream. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie.

Enjoy!

Until next time...

The 411 on Condo Insurance!

Homeowners insurance is fairly straight forward. It covers the structure, your contents, your liability, etc. But when it comes to a condo unit, what is covered?

Condos are covered by two policies. The first is the “master policy” which covers the building and common areas, such as roof, stairways, hallways, boilers, etc., as well as liability. The master policy does not provide coverage for your contents and possessions, as well as your personal liability.

Your policy covers your furniture, your possessions and your property that makes up your household. Just like a homeowners policy, some items are provided very limited coverage, and you need to purchase a “floater” to cover these items, like jewelry and fine arts.

There are some other important coverages you should consider, such as unit assessment, water back up and umbrella coverages. These important coverages can be discussed with your agent at The Coffey Insurance Agency.

Until next time…

Today in History!

On May 6^th in history…

• 1876 – The most expensive piece of art sold (for its time), Duchess of Devonshire painted by Thomas Gainsborough is of Georgiana Spencer, an ancestor of Princess Diana was stolen a few weeks later from the Thomas Agnew & Sons art gallery by Adam Worth, the “Napoleon of Crime”. The painting was finally returned to England in 1901, and purchased by Wall Street financier J.P. Morgan for a reported $150,000.

• 1937 – German airship and pride of Nazi Germany Hindenburg explodes in Lakehurst, New Jersey as it is docking. The airship was 804 feet long and carried 36 passengers and 61 crewmembers. It fell 200 feet to the ground killing 13 passengers, 21 crewmen and 1 crewman on the ground.

• 1940 – Famous author John Steinbeck wins the Pulitzer Prize for his novel The Grapes of Wrath. The Californian author is also famous for his other novels Tortilla Flat (1935), Dubious Battle (1935) and Of Mice and Men (1937). He also penned the scripts for successful films like Forgotten Village (1941) and Viva Zapata (1952). Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize in 1962, and died in 1968.

• 1954 – Oxford University medical student Roger Bannister breaks the long unobtainable record, the four minute mile, completing the task in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. Although his record would not stand for long, Bannister went on to win several track and field championships before focusing on medicine full time.

• 1994 – For the first time since the Ice Age, England and European mainland are connected thanks to the opening of the English rail tunnel under the English Channel. The “Chunnel” is under water for 23 miles, about 150 feet below the channel floor. Roughly 30,000 people travel a day in the Chunnel, by car, shuttle or freight train.

Until next time…

Community Event!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Join the Souhegan Valley Rotary Club at Amsterdam Bar on Temple Street this Saturday from 1-5 for their first annual Kentucky Derby party!

The newest Rotary club in the area will be celebrating the 137th running with drink specials, appetizers, a hat contest and lots of great raffle prizes donated by local businesses. Tickets are $10 and proceeds benefit a local charity.

The Kentucky Derby is considered one of most popular races in Thoroughbred racing, and is labeled "the fastest two minutes in all of sports". The Kentucky Derby is also known as "the race for the roses" as a blanket of roses is draped over the winner, and is the first leg in the coveted Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing.

Please learn more about this fun event by visiting the Facebook page and feel free to give us a call if you have any questions.

Until next time...

From the Kitchen!

With all this nice weather I have been craving a yummy summer salad from Panera. My favorite the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad is actually not out for the season yet...but I found a recipe online that you can make yourself at home!

Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

Ingredients

4 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped

12 oz fat free poppyseed dressing (or sugar free, whichever suits you)
12 oz canned pineapple tidbits, drained
12 oz mandarin oranges, drained
12 oz fresh blueberries
12 oz fresh strawberries, halved
6 oz chopped pecans

Sliced chicken breast (optional)

Directions

Toss fruit with lettuce, add dressing, toss again, top with pecans.

Enjoy!

We hope you enjoy this salad...its so yummy and very healthy, you almost forget you are eatting a salad!

Until next time...

Happy May!

Now that is seems spring is officially here, Winnie and Phinn would like to share some tips with you to help protect your home this spring!

• Windows & Doors – When cleaning the glass on your windows and doors, check to make sure the locks are properly working, and the wood casings are not rotting out. Consider repairing screens and glass as necessary, and check locks on external doors as well.

• Decks – If you’re like Winnie and Phinn, then you love hosting and entertaining guests on your patio and deck. Check to make sure all boards are screwed and nailed down, or if any paver stones need to be set back into place. It is also a good time to check your grill and make sure the hoses and tanks are connected properly.

• Roof & Gutters – Check your roof and gutters and clean any debris you see. Spring rain and wind can cause loose shingles to blow off, and clogged gutters can collapse.

• Toys – Clean your garage or basement, and inspect any toys your childen and guests might play with. Throw away anything worn or broken that could cause injury. Take a look at your playground equipment too and tighten any loose bolts or screws.

Do you have any other helpful spring tips to share? Let us know we would love to hear from you!

Until next time...

Dog Trick Thursday!

Today is Thursday, and that means Dog Trick Thursday! A trick that is fun to teach your dog, but takes some time to practice is “roll over”.

Start by getting your dog in the “down” position. Once he is down, hold a treat in one hand, and with the other, gently push him to his side. When he is laying on his side, hold the treat near his nose, and move your hand to the side so his head follows. Where his nose goes, his body will follow. When he started to roll onto his back say “roll over” and give him the treat when he gets to his side.

This is a trick that takes some dedicated practice, but once your dog learns it, it is a fun trick to show off. Winnie and Phinn love “roll over” so much, we often find them rolling around in the yard by themselves!

Until next time…

Wedding Insurance

With the Royal Wedding almost here, Winnie and Phinn thought it would be appropriate to share some information with you on wedding insurance!

Wedding (and other special event) insurance can be purchased to reimburse you for if the event is cancelled due to weather, death, illness and serious injury. The policy can also provide coverage for reimbursed costs such as the minister, florist or band does not show up.

Liability can also be purchased in case you end up being liable for property damage or injury due to your event. Additional endorsements can be purchased for the tuxes and gowns, and gifts and jewelry (like the wedding band!!)

The premiums are relatively cheap, ranging from $100 to $500 or so, and provide you with protection in case something causes your special day to be not so special.

Until next time…

Community Event!

Looking for something to do this week? Stop into Gallery 263 at 263 Main Street in Nashua, where they are hosting ART IN BLOOM until the end of April. ART IN BLOOM is a collective art exhibit featuring many artists. Gallery 263 is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5pm, and its free to the public. 5% of sales will go to a children's charity.

Hurry up and get down to Gallery 263 before the end of the month, and view the wonderful pieces of art reflecting on the arrival of Spring!!

Until next time...

Boat Insurance

Winnie and Phinn explained some coverages for motorcycles, but now that spring is here, there is another coverage that many people should have, and that is for their boats!

Many people are unaware that they need insurance on their boats and personal watercraft, and don’t have any. Winnie and Phinn would like to explain boat coverage to you and help you understand what is covered and where you can get coverage.

On a standard homeowner policy, there is typically between $1,000 and $1,500 for physical damage to the boat, motor and trailer. Liability is not included, but can be endorsed to the policy.

Often times, it is easier and relatively inexpensive to purchase a personal watercraft policy. This combines liability for property damage and bodily injury, as well as liability for your guests using your boat, medical expense payments to you and your passengers, and physical damage and theft coverage. Like automobile policies, valuation for the property is often on an actual cash value, meaning depreciation is taken into account, and the approximate market value is used in the event of a total loss. Agreed amount value can be used as well, meaning you and the company determines an agreed value for the boat. This is often times used in collector car policies as well.

If you visit the Insurance Information Institute (iii.org) you can find some safety tips, as well as tips to protecting and caring for your vessel.

We hope you have a nice Easter! Winnie and Phinn sure did!!

Until next time…

41st Earth Day!

Today marks the 41^st Earth Day. Earth Day is an celebration of the environment movement and ecological awareness. Millions of Americans each year pledge to reduce, reuse and recycle, and participate in programs and rallies in their communities for the purpose of helping the environment.

In 1970, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day. “The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy, and, finally, force this issue permanently onto the national political agenda” Senator Nelson said. Senator Nelson’s wishes certainly came true, as in July of 1970 the Environmental Protection Agency was created to enforce pollution legislation, and Earth Day would become an annual event!

You can learn more about Earth Day by visiting the EPA’s site, and find out about events and ways to help in your community. Winnie and Phinn just love the outdoors, and want you to help out anyway you can! Until next time..

.

Dog Trick Thursday!

Sometimes playing with your dogs gets them all wound up, and they need a reminder to calm down. Today, Winnie and Phinn are going to share the "crate" command, but you can also use "go to your spot" and "bed" as well.

1. First, hold a treat in your hand so they can smell it.
2. Direct them to the location.
3. Toss the treat on the bed or in the crate, and say “bed” or “crate” while releasing their collar.
4. Keep practicing until you no longer need the treat!

This is a fairly simple trick that will save you a lot of time when you need your puppy to go to their special area. Sometimes, without even saying it Winnie and Phinn need a little quite time to themselves, and we’ll find one of them snoozing away in the crate!

Until next time...

Community Event!

Today we decided to share information on a Rabies Clinic for your pets in Hudson this Saturday April 23, 2011. The event is hosted by the Hudson Junior Woman's Club and Dr. Allen J. Conti of the Hudson Animal Hospital will be at the Hudson Animal Control Facility at 6 Constitution Dr. in Hudson from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm.

There is a fee of $10 per animal. A responsible adult must accompany every animal treated, and pets must be kept on a leash. For those owners residing in Hudson, a representative of the Town Clerk's office will be in attendance to provide dog licensing. All dogs owned by Hudson residents must be licensed by May 1, and a rabies vaccination certificate is required for licensing. The proceeds from this event will help to fund scholarships and other future projects planned by the Hudson Juniors to benefit the town and its citizens.

This is a great way to make sure your pet is healthy and up to date on their shots! No need to make an appointment just drop in! Winnie and Phinn are all set on their rabies shots!

Until next time...

From the Kitchen!

With Easter around the corner we thought it would be fun to share a cookie we have made as an Easter treat for many years! Everyone in my house always looks forward to these!

Bird's Nest Cookies!

Ingredients

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

2 sticks butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 3/4 cups "M&M’s"®, Plain, Peanut, Almond or Crispy Chocolate Candies for Easter

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Spread coconut on non-greased cookie sheet. Toast in oven, stirring occasionally, until it turns light golden, about 25 minutes.
Remove coconut from cookie sheet and set aside.

2. Increase oven temperature to 350°F. In large bowl, add butter and sugar & whip until light & fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla.

3. In medium bowl, combine flour and salt. Blend into creamed mixture.

4. Form dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Roll heavily into toasted coconut. Place coconut cookies 2 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Make indentation with thumb in center of each cookie.

5. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove cookies and cool completely. Fill indentations with "M&M’s"® Chocolate Candies for Easter.

We hope you enjoy these cookies! We are always open to trying out some new recipes so please share with us some favorites from your family!

Until next time...

Marathon Monday!

Happy Monday and it's Marathon Day in Boston! We want to wish all the runners a great race!

This year there are runners from 67 different countries coming together to race in the 115th Boston Marathon! An estimated 500,000 spectators line the 26.2-mile course each Patriots’ Day to view the Marathon in person. According to the Greater Boston Convention & Visitor Bureau President and CEO, Patrick Moscaritolo, the Boston Marathon will bring 132.2 million in spending to the Greater Boston region. This year there are 26,923 official runners!

Check out this link for marathon updates and to search from someone you know running!

Until next time...

Today in History!

It sure feels like spring is here for real now with this nice weather we have been having! We hope everyone has had a good work week and those taxes are in so you can relax this weekend!!

Time to take a break from your emails, phone calls and work to fill yourself in on a little history of today!

• 1865 – 9 hours after being shot by John Wilkes Booth, President Abraham Lincoln dies in Washington, D.C. His funeral was held on April 19^th, and he would later be buried in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois, two weeks later.

• 1912 – At 2:20 am, a little over two hours after striking an iceberg, the RMS Titanic split in two and sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Based on the protocol of “women and children first” 1,517 people went down with the ship as a result of insufficient lifeboats. In 1913, new regulations were created including an ice patrol to monitor icebergs in North Atlantic shipping lanes, as well as requiring ships to maintain a 24-hour radio watch.

• 1947 – At Age 28, Jack “Jackie” Roosevelt Robinson becomes the first African-American player to play in Major League Baseball, for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and breaking the more than 50 year old color barrier. After serving in the Army, the Negro League, Robinson would become a historic figure in baseball history. He helped the Dodgers win six National League pennants, one World Series, was voted an All-Star six times, won the N.L. MVP award in 1949, and was the inaugural N.L. Rookie of the Year in 1947. On April 15, 1997, 50 years after Robinson’s historic achievement, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig retired the “42” worn by Robinson, the first-ever number retired by all teams in the league.

• 1967 – Between 100,000 and 125,000 people march in parades in New York City to listen to speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Floyd McKissick, Stokely Carmichael and Dr. Benjamin Spoke, protesting the Vietnam War.

Until next time...