Central Valley News
June 2013
Brought to you by: CIG Central Valley Insurance Agency & Central Sequoia Ins & Fin Services LLC
The Meaning of Independence Day We all know that On July 4, 1776 legal separation of the original thirteen colonies from Great Britain was declared. However, what everyone doesn’t know is that John Adams had written a letter to his wife Abigail, foreseeing the importance this act would have on the country from then on. The letter read, “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” Unfortunately, his prediction was off by two days. Nowadays, Independence Day is celebrated with fireworks, barbecues and political heads attending public events. Military bases even show their appreciation for this day by performing what is known as a “salute to the union,” by firing a gun for each state in the Americas at noon on July 4. Many traditions have developed over the years as a way for people to join together and celebrate this memorable day. Some of these traditions include the Bristol Fourth of July Parade held in Bristol, Rhode Island which has survived since 1785. Another major tradition involves the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, which was developed on Independence Day in 1916 by four men fighting to prove who was the most patriotic. People all over the country unite on this day to remember how lucky we are to have our freedom, and to honor the military for continuing to fight for it. This day goes out to all of the soldiers who are facing the independence war everyday and to those who have lost their lives for it.
What a Team!
It’s Vacation Time: Does Your Insurance Cover Rental Cars? So you’re going on vacation. Great! But don’t forget, if you’re renting a car, you still need insurance protection. Don’t wait to get to the checkout counter to think about coverage; you may be pressured into purchasing unnecessary rental insurance. If you have comprehensive auto insurance, you might already have car rental coverage, but there could be stipulations. Play it safe; check your personal policy first. Insurance companies may provide rental coverage only up to a certain amount. If the rental car is totaled, your policy may only reimburse the rental company for actual cash value. Many rental car contracts state that reimbursement should be for the full retail value. While you’re reviewing contracts, ask your insurance agent if possible loss of use is covered. If your insurance policy includes a Use of Non-Owned Cars endorsement, you should be covered, but it’s important to know the coverage limits. If the rental company makes a claim for diminished value, your personal policy will not cover this. Driver coverage is an important consideration, especially if you’re traveling out of town. Anyone listed on your policy should be covered, but for others be sure to check first. If you’re traveling abroad and don’t have a comprehensive policy or a high deductible plan, you may need additional coverage. Many agencies require a credit card for purchase and, depending on the card, your rental may be covered. If not, bite the bullet and purchase the rental insurance.
Our agency was a sponsor for the Tulare County Association of Realtors’ Picnic this year. The above group participated in the volleyball tournament. From the left, Katie Oliver, Scott Bosler, Annie Bosler, Ryan Jennings, Mark Jennings, John Bueno and Jon Oliver. They had much more fun than success. Page 1
It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially on vacation.
Are We Cutting the Cord on Traditional TV? In an age of constant connection – through streaming, smartphones, the Internet and tablets – the ability to watch the shows we want, when we want, is literally at our fingertips. So in this age of endless possibilities, have we cut the cord on traditional television? Could be. More than five million homes in the US have given up expensive cable and ugly satellite dishes in favor of Internet viewing, according to a recent announcement by ratings giant, Nielsen. The company, which dubbed these viewers “Zero TV” households because they don’t fit the pattern of traditional TV households, is hoping to track them for its ratings report. Zero viewers are still an important audience to Nielsen and advertisers. The young adults, who are most likely to live
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in this Zero-TV world, keep up with Game of Thrones and worry about Don Draper in the new – and darker – season of Mad Men. They’re still watching their favorite TV shows, but in new ways, thanks to a changing industry. Netflix, for example, recently released two shows available exclusively on its streaming website, allowing viewers to watch on demand all the series’ episodes for a fee. Making money in the Zero-TV age is a hot topic, particularly with traditional broadcasters, who are the losers in this equation. “But that’s life,” as Joan Harris said on season three of Mad Men. “One minute you’re on top of the world; the next minute some secretary’s running you over with a lawnmower.” Broadcasters may lose, but TV still rules.
Welcome, Karen Munger! Karen Munger of Karen Munger Insurance Services now occupies one of our suites at our office in Carmel Plaza. Karen’s agency specializes in health insurance. She is especially active in the Medicare Supplement market with a strong following of age 65+ clients. We heartily recommend Karen and her services for her personable way of doing business and the expertise she provides. If you’re in the market for any type of health insurance, call Karen and she will be able to help you. You can come to our office and visit her or: Call: (559) 737-9660 Go to: www.healthplans2protectu.com Individual Health Medicare Supplements Group
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Worth Reading Spider-Man turns 50: Why the Moody Teenage Webslinger Still Matters By David Brothers The Atlantic Spider-Man, like us, is getting older. But while his narrative heads firmly into middle age, he’s still a boy. And that makes his story as relevant as ever. Peter Parker’s just a good kid, working to help his widowed aunt pay the bills. He’s bullied. He wants to be more than he is, and his desire to atone for his uncle’s death drives his superhero persona. He’s like us, in good and hard ways. More: http://tinyurl.com/ct2cqcz The Bullying Pulpit By Bill Keller The New York Times The Internet can breed a lot of creativity. But it can also reveal just how mean people can be. This piece, inspired by online reaction to one of Keller’s columns, suggests social media encourages bullying; a 140-character insult takes seconds to compose, but is there far longer than we’d like to think. More: http://tinyurl.com/c66wtdd Scrabble is so Annoying Now, Innit? By Craig Brown The Daily Mail The first rule of Scrabble: know how to duck. Apparently, more than a million Scrabble tiles have gone missing since the game was invented. The reason? Angry players slamming the board and scattering tiles after losing. And that number should grow, especially if we’re searching for the word formed by all the Scrabble tiles produced over the years laid end to end. It would wrap around the world eight times. More: http://tinyurl.com/cxbdmun
Don’t Be a Victim of These Contractor Scams The recent popularity in do-it-yourself repairs and renovations has many homeowners rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. Replacing a faucet may be easy, but installing a roof or dishwasher can be daunting.
problems. Of course, you want it fixed. And not only do you have to pay the scammer, you may have to make a claim on your homeowners insurance. Seniors and people without much repair knowledge can be susceptible to this scam.
These larger projects are better left to the professionals, but hiring a contractor can be a job in itself. Protect yourself from less-than-honest contractors by watching for these telltale signs of fraud.
The negotiator
A knock on the front door
A reputable contractor lets you handle the insurance company.
One prevalent scam occurs when a “contractor” not known to you offers to conduct a free inspection of your home. The contractor then “finds” serious
If a contractor offers to negotiate your insurance claims, walk away. A contractor cannot ensure that your claim will be approved and no amount of negotiating will change this.
A work in progress If a contractor is in the process of repairing your home and asks you to file another claim,
Amir’s Kabob, The Place for Middle Eastern Food! There’s a new restaurant in Visalia you should know about. It’s called Amir’s Kabob and it’s a great place to get authentic Middle Eastern cuisine at affordable pricing. With dishes like Babba Ghanoush, Tabouleh, Falafels, Shawerma Plate, Jerusalem Steak, Jordan River Plate… you immediately recognize this isn’t a pretender, but the “real deal”. Owner, Raed Arafat, will greet you when you walk through the front door and will make your visit special. They’re located at 3129 W Noble Ave next to K-mart. Go by and visit them… you’ll be glad you did! Raed Arafat of Amir’s Kabob
Talking, Texting and Driving: Is it Worth Sure, smartphones have become indispensable in today’s world. But when it comes to talking, texting and driving, these lifelines become deadly distractions. Statistics show that driver distraction is a factor in some four million motor vehicle crashes in North America annually. Driving distracted means that response time increases. According to University of Utah research, drivers are four times more
likely to cause an accident when driving while talking on a cell phone – about the same result as driving while impaired (DWI). When texting, this risk increases to eight times. In response, drivers caught using their cell phones may now face disciplinary action. In many areas, cell-addicted drivers can expect to be fined hundreds of dollars for the offence.
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you may want to get a second opinion. Many contractors will agree to fix repairs cheaply and then intentionally cause more damage. If you agree, you may be participating in insurance fraud. Make sure you aren’t duped into making unnecessary homeowners claims; do your research before hiring a contractor. Successful businesses don’t go door to door. Check your insurance company’s recommended contractor list and the Better Business Bureau. Ensure your contractor has proper licensing. Avoid being scammed, and that kitchen repair that was done properly and came in on time and on budget will make you happy every time you look at it.
Worth Quoting This month, some famous quotes on the subject of D I Y projects Summer is project time: These quotes were submitted to the murphy’s-laws.com website. “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” Murphy’s Law “The rate of instrument failure/ breakdown is inversely proportional to the ease of finding a repairman.” Submitted by Gaylen Hayes “If you drop an unbreakable object, it will always land on something more valuable.” Submitted by Mighty Mole “If it doesn’t fit, force it . . .if it breaks, it needed replacing anyway.” Anon. “Any instrument when dropped will roll into the least accessible corner. Corollary: It will not roll if it falls on shag carpeting and is small enough to hide.” Anon.
Every 3 months beginning in March, we’ll draw a winning ticket for a “Big Screen TV” Keep Talkin’ and Refer
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Front: Miguel Rivera, Phil Oliver, Jon Oliver Back: Scott Bosler, Susan Bueno, Salina Marroquin, Mark Jennings
This newsletter and any information contained herein are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial or medical advice. The publisher takes great efforts to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this newsletter. However, we will not be responsible at any time for any errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, that result from its use. Seek competent professional advice and/or legal counsel with respect
Refer a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or relative to us for insurance… we’ll send you a $5 Starbucks Gift Card, our way of saying “Thanks for Thinking of Us”. At same time get one entry into our quarterly raffle for a “Big Screen TV”. If your referral becomes a client of our agency, we’ll enter your name a second time into the quarterly raffle for a “Big Screen TV”. Then, every 3 months in 2013 (beginning in March), we’ll raffle away a “Big Screen TV”.
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The Protection Team Wishes You and Yours a Happy Independence Day!
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