 According to USA.gov, these are the most common new years resolutions for 2015. I know a couple of these are on my list in some fashion! What're your resolutions?
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 The wood is stacked, the flue is open and the match is in hand. You’re about to enjoy a wonderful winter evening by the fire. Just know this first: Heat sources ignite more than 50,000 home fires in the U.S. each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
We’re not trying to put a damper on the mood. We just want your fire to be as safe as it is warm, so here are five fireplace safety tips to remember: 1. Maintain your fireplace, chimney and the surrounding area. Each year, ideally before your first fire of the season, bring in a certified professional to have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned. Make sure you don’t have any flammable decorations or other debris around the hearth – an errant spark might ignite them. And check the venting systems for all heating equipment. Vent pipes should extend at least three feet from your roof. 2. Have the right safety equipment. Whether you regularly build fires or not, your home needs to have at least one fire extinguisher, as well as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level, inside and outside of sleeping areas. Remember to change the batteries when you change your clocks in the spring and fall. According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms reduce the risk of home fire deaths by half. As for your fireplace, it should have glass doors or a metal mesh screen (both is ideal) to block wayward sparks. 3. Build a safe fire. Use seasoned hardwood stacked – not too high – on a sturdy grate at the rear of the fireplace. In addition to being easier to control, smaller fires produce less smoke and are more likely to burn out completely. Always ensure the flue is fully open before starting a fire, and never use flammable liquids or other debris, such as cardboard or trash, to get it going. While the fire’s burning, leave the glass doors open enough for the fire to get adequate airflow but close the metal mesh screen. 4. Make sure it’s out before leaving — or sleeping. It’s dangerous to leave any fire unattended, so only start one when you know you’ll be home (and awake) for an extended period. Whenever possible, let the fire die out on its own – slowly spreading out the logs will help. Trying to extinguish a fire in your fireplace with water can result in a lot of smoke and ash coming into your home. 5. Think ahead and be prepared for the worst. No matter how diligent you are about fireplace safety, you still want adequate protection for your home should something happen. You need enough homeowners insurance coverage to completely rebuild your home, replace its contents and live somewhere else in the meantime, should it come to that. If you’re unsure whether you have all of that, your independent insurance agent can help with a yearly review of your homeowners policy and other coverages. Cold winter nights and warm fires will always go hand in hand. With just a little bit of preparation and precaution – and the right insurance – you can make sure safety is part of that equation, too.  To plunge or not to plunge. That is the question for some as New Year’s Day approaches – and one best posed to a physician. Because, before taking the polar bear plunge into freezing cold water, you should first make sure your heart can handle it.
For others, the question is moot. They wouldn’t take the plunge, period. Whether the plunge is a New Year’s Day tradition or just plain crazy depends on how you look at it. But, one thing’s for certain, the polar bear plunge is a worldwide phenomenon – and not just for New Year’s. Wikipedia estimates that 30,000 people brave the Netherland’s New Year’s plunge, known as “Nieuwjaarsduik.” And it happens in Canada and Russia, too. In 2014, Australian researchers in Antarctica even marked the June 22 solstice (winter for them) with a dip in an ice-filled pool. Why? Some say there are health benefits, such as stress relief, increased energy and rejuvenation. But there can be dangers, too, particularly for people with a family history of stroke, aneurysm, blood pressure problems or hypertension. The cold water causes blood vessels to constrict. But, they also do it for a good cause. In the U.S., polar bear plunges across the country raise money or collect goods to help others. Here are a few groups and events that take on the cold for a charitable cause:
If you do plan to plunge, be sure to seek your doctor’s advice first.  It’s a wonderful time of the year to be charitable.
Unfortunately, some see the holidays as a wonderful time for scams – taking donation dollars from unsuspecting donors and the charities and people who would otherwise benefit from them. Oftentimes they do so by posing as a charity or a representative from one themselves. All to steal credit card numbers, bank account information and even identities to use for their own good, rather than for the good of others. So it’s a great time to go over some tips on how to donate to those less fortunate while keeping your personal information secure. To help ensure your donation is safe for you and meaningful for those in need, here are three important tips: 1. Find out as much as you can about the charity. In its 2012 Holiday Giving Poll, the American Red Cross found that 46 percent of survey participants consider a friend’s endorsement the most trustworthy source of information about charities. However, you really want to investigate a charity yourself if you’re considering donating to it. Find out how much of your donation will go to those in need rather than to administrative costs and salaries. You can do some research through the Better Business Bureau or Charity Navigator. Also check the organization’s own website, as well as any news reports you can find. 2. Be careful where you click when donating online. Only 11 percent of participants in the Holiday Giving Poll consider social media to be a trustworthy source of information about charities. And that's smart. Clicking on a social media link or even a link from an email could lead to a scam and expose you to identity theft. To donate online, type in the charity’s URL carefully. A typo could take you to an imposter site run by criminals. Also ensure the URL on the donation page begins with “https,” indicating a secure site, rather than “http.” 3. If someone asks for a piece of your life, think twice before giving it. In an ideal world, you could give without hesitation to people over the phone or at the door claiming to be collecting donations. It feels good be generous, after all. However, you can’t be sure these people represent the organization they say they do. Plus, donating over the phone decreases the amount you give – call center agents have to be paid. So instead of donating over the phone or at the door, ask the solicitor for information about the charity, such as its website, so you can do some research and donate later, if you like. Don’t be pressured into giving right then in order to enter a drawing or other giveaway. With a little research and caution, donating this holiday season will benefit those in need and help keep you safe at the same time. Happy giving, and happy holidays!  Nothing wows at the Thanksgiving dinner table – and keeps people coming back for more – like the crispy skin and moist meat of a deep-fried turkey.
But, unless you’re very careful, getting that great taste can come at a great cost. Just search Google for “deep-fried turkey fire,” and you’ll get a few hundred results. A few hundred thousand, that is. The best way to keep Thanksgiving from going up in flames? Buying your deep-fried bird rather than cooking it yourself. Many stores and restaurants offer them now, and they’ve got the proper equipment — and experience — to make them safely. If, however, you’re set on setting up the fryer this Thanksgiving, please proceed with caution. These turkey deep-fryer safety tips will help: 1. Don’t go for the biggest bird. The ideal turkey for deep frying is one that’s 12 pounds or less. Anything bigger and it has to fry too long, which can over-cook the skin. 2. Do completely thaw and dry your turkey. Submerging a wet, frozen or partially frozen turkey can cause the oil to bubble out of control and cause a fire. 3. Don’t stuff it. To ensure your bird cooks evenly and thoroughly, keep the stuffing separate. 4. Do set up your fryer in a safe spot. Keep it at least 10 feet from your house and other structures and place it out of the wind on a flat, non-flammable surface. 5. Don’t fry inside. It may be cold out, but that’s no excuse for using a propane turkey deep fryer in your garage or another enclosed area. Keep it outside. 6. Do use the right type and amount of oil. Choose an oil with a high smoke point, such as peanut, canola or safflower. Just be mindful of anyone with a peanut allergy. To determine how much water you need, place the turkey in the fryer (before turning it on) and add enough water to cover it. Then take the turkey out and note the water level. Dump the water out, dry everything completely and pour in oil up to the water line, being mindful of the oil level limits of your fryer. 7. Don’t leave it unattended. Keep a close eye on the oil temperature throughout the process and keep a suitable fire extinguisher (multipurpose, dry-powder) nearby just in case. 8. Do cook your turkey 3-5 minutes per pound. Be sure to use a thermometer to ensure it is fully cooked to perfection. 9. Don’t let kids or pets play near the fryer. The fryer will be hot to the touch and, if it gets knocked over, it can cause serious injuries and damage. 10. Do let it cool before carving. Give yourself about 20 minutes between the time you remove the turkey from the fryer and the time you start carving. By using your turkey deep fryer safely, you’ll have a tasty meal and plenty to be thankful for. Bon appétit! Carolina Insurance Alliance to present scholar athlete awards at Apex High School vs. Cary High School rivalry game!
The Cary vs. Apex game is Friday night, 10/17/2014, and we at Carolina insurance Alliance are a proud sponsor, along with Safeco Insurance, for this annual matchup as part of the Great American Rivalry Series. We will be presenting a top student athlete from each school with an award and a scholarship check from Safeco Insurance that’s given on our behalf at the start of the game. If you’re at the game, make sure to stop by our Carolina Insurance Alliance and Safeco Insurance booth to say hello. And check out our Facebook and <Twitter > pages> during and after the game for updates on who earns the top awards. You’ll also find more information at GreatAmericanRivalry.com.  It’s an exciting time in teens’ lives when they first begin driving, but it’s also an extraordinarily dangerous time. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for kids and young adults ages 14 through 18. Despite this, the NHTSA says just 25 percent of parents have a serious talk with their kids about the key components of safe driving. So, with National Teen Driver Safety Week coming up October 19-25, here are five recommended rules to spell out before your teen gets behind the wheel: 1. Absolutely no alcohol. There is no legal limit for alcohol when it comes to teen drivers. Having any amount of alcohol in their system is illegal for all those under 21, everywhere. On average, according to the NHTSA, 25 percent of deaths in motor vehicle crashes involve a teen driver with a blood-alcohol content of .01 or higher. 2. Seat belts required. Drivers and passengers ages 16 to 24 historically use seat belts less often than other groups. Let teens know that seat belt use is non-negotiable. It’s the easiest way to protect themselves in a crash. And, set a good example by buckling up yourself. 3. Never speed. Teenagers may like to push the limits, but the road isn’t the place to do so. Speeding doesn’t simply put them at risk for a ticket. It increases the risk of a deadly accident as well. 4. No calls, no texts. It’s never a good idea for anyone to call or text while driving, but, because teens lack experience behind the wheel, distracted driving is all the more risky. Reaction times are slower when someone is distracted. Even worse, sending or reading a text means a driver’s eyes aren’t on the road. 5. Only one passenger (or zero, depending on your state’s licensing guidelines for young drivers). As the number of passengers rises, so does the risk of a fatal crash, the NHTSA says. Think back to when you were a teen driver — how different were your actions when you had friends in the car versus when you were alone? Let young drivers know that driving is a privilege and that you’ll take away the keys if they don’t drive safely. Then, have regular conversations about driving safety and other issues to ensure the lessons don’t fall by the wayside. Soon, you’ll have another trusted and responsible driver in the family – maybe even one that qualifies for a car insurance discount.  Now that fall is here, winter is right around the corner, and an icy road is no place for a vintage drophead coupe or a polished piece of American muscle.
It’s time to start thinking about retiring those classics to the garage for the winter. But it’s more than just a matter of tossing on a cover – storing your car for a prolonged period of time without proper preparation can cause serious damage. To protect your slumbering classic, here are some winterizing tips, though what’s best for your car and climate may vary:
Come springtime, when you get your beauty back on the road with minimal hassle, all the winterizing work will be well worth it. A new Merrill Lynch/Age Wave study found that 47% of respondents age 50 or older who identified themselves as retired have worked or plan to work during their retirement years. What’s more, 72% of pre-retirees in that age range said that their ideal retirement will include some form of work. Retirement, which had been age 62 to 65, is now typically 65 to 69.
The unforgotten financial crisis may be playing a role in such extended working years. Many people panicked after the market crash, got out of stocks and never got back in. They’ve locked in the losses they took then and are still trying to recover. Often overlooked in these situations is the need for life insurance beyond the “normal” retirement years. People are living longer these day and may be afraid of outliving their money. Even those who are financially secure are worried. One solution is to work a few more years. The work might be full or part time, depending on the individual’s health and interests, but often overlooked in these situations is the need for life insurance beyond the “normal” retirement years. If you still need to work to make ends meet after retirement, what happens to your surviving spouse and family members if you were to die? The need for the income does not go away. The solution for this problem is life insurance that stays in effect after your normal retirement age. If you don’t survive long enough to complete your financial goals for that comfortable retirement, life insurance can fill the gap and replace the income which has been lost. |
Jason Thompson-Agent/Founder 
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