It's the Winter Solstice (and Happy Hanukkah!)

We just want to take a moment to wish everyone a very Happy Hanukkah! May you have a joyous celebration of light with those near and dear to you.

Speaking of light, did you know today is also the winter solstice? Today is the darkest day of the year, with Chicago experiencing only 9.1 hours of daylight while those in Southern California will have nearly 10 hours. If you happen to be in the Arctic, you won't see daylight until, well, tomorrow.

For interesting reading on the solstice - and how Stonehenge fits into the picture - check out this article by ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/winter-solstice-2011-shortest-day-year-december-22/story?id=15206334. Get ready for lighter days ahead!

Keep Warm Safely!

Let's be frank for a moment, everyone turns on the heat in the winter. We add on layers, put our thermostats up a few degrees and even bring out our space heaters. At this time of years, heaters and other heat sources are often the cause of devastating home fires. So what can you do to keep your home safe and warm? Read on for a few tips...

- All heating systems, especially furnaces and other boilers, should be checked annually and adjusted and repaired if necessary.

- Ensure space heaters have a safety label (with the letters ETL, UL or CSA) and that they are at least 3 feet from anything that could burn.

- In rooms where there's a risk of burns or heater-related accidents supervise children and pets and place screens around open fires and hot surfaces.

- Only burn seasoned hardwood in fireplaces and stoves. No trash! The US Fire Administration has a great series of videos at http://tinyurl.com/USFA-safe.

- If you have a chimney or flue used by your heating system, have it checked - and cleaned if necessary.

- Never warm or dry clothes or any fabric near open flames or where they might burn.

- Turn space heating systems off and extinguish open fires before going to bed.

- Have at least one smoke and carbon monoxide alarm on each level of your home. If they're already installed, check batteries and test them.

- If you plan to use kerosene heating, again check for that UL label mentioned above, ensure it's legal to burn kerosene in your area and, please, only use clear K-1 kerosene, never gasoline.

- Make sure you have a fire escape safety plan, just in case the worst happens.

If you're curious about more fire safety resources, visit the US Government's main fire safety resource at http://tinyurl.com/firesafety-gov. Stay warm this winter - and more importantly be smart about it!

It's a Wonderful Life Radio Broadcast

"It's a Wonderful Life", the 1946 film by Frank Capra, is a Christmas classic for many. The story of how George Bailey encountered Christmas Eve and turned his life around is a story that many know and love (and if they don't it's likely playing on television all day on Christmas Eve) but have you ever experienced it as a radio-style broadcast?

Twelfth Night Productions in West Seattle is reprising their holiday tradition of doing a live-radio play of "It's a Wonderful Life". Set in the era of radio, this production is like a behind-the-scenes look at a radio broadcast -actors and their microphones, and even the classic sound effects. For those who love the story, it's a new way of appreciating George's journey.

"It's a Wonderful Life" runs through this Sunday, and more information can be found at http:///www.twelfthnightproductions.org. Have a great weekend!

The 12 Days of Christmas

Today is December 13th and coincidentally, 12 days from Christmas. So it seems appropriate to bring a classic Christmas carol to the forefront. Everyone knows the song, right? And how some very kind true love has very unusual choice in presents. Every day the true love comes up with another unique and special gift increasing in quantity from 1 to 12. But have you ever really considered how much the 12 Days of Christmas would cost in 2011? PNC Wealth Management puts together the Christmas Price Index each year to compare how the cost of life in 2011 has impacted the 12 Days of Christmas.

Turns out, to buy all 12 verses for your true love you'd spend $101,119 - a 4.4% increase from last year. If you decide to cut back just a bit and buy just the final verse, you'd spend $24,263. Want to know how it all breaks down? Here's the list:

1. 
   
   Partridge in a Pear Tree: $184.99


2. 
   
   2 Turtle Doves: $125


3. 
   
   3 French Hens: $150


4. 
   
   4 Calling Birds: $519.96


5. 
   
   5 Golden Rings: $645


6. 
   
   6 Geese-a-Laying: $162


7. 
   
   7 Swans-a-Swimming: $6,300


8. 
   
   8 Maids-a-Milking: $58


9. 
   
   9 Ladies Dancing: $6,294.03


10. 
    
    10 Lords-a-Leaping: $4,766.70


11. 
    
    11 Pipers Piping: $2,427.60


12. 
    
    12 Drummers Drumming: $2,629

Who thought a Christmas carol could be so costly? If your looking for something a little more interactive, PNC Wealth Management made an interactive game to help find all of the different gifts - visit http://content.pncmc.com/live/pnc/microsite/CPI/2011/index.html#educators/welcome. And good luck with the final preparations for the holidays as the countdown continues!

Is Your Antique Auto Ready for Winter?

Winter came a bit late in the Seattle area - while in the past we've gotten snowfall before Thanksgiving this year the chilly temperatures are hitting sea level right now. For those with antique or classic cars, the change in climate can be worrisome. An older car can be a delicate instrument and there are definite steps you should take to keep it protected and running smoothly during the winter months. One of the companies we work with, Hagerty, has put together a few pointers for preparing your car for a cold winter:

1) Top Off Your Levels:
- Fill your gas tank and add a fuel preservative. The full tank keeps out moisture and the preservative keeps the gas from breaking down. Then take one last drive to circulate the preservative.

- Make sure your antifreeze is fresh and topped off.
- To avoid a nasty sludge in the spring, change the oil.

2) Take Preventative Measures
- Give your car a good wash and wax to protect the paint. Protect the chrome with wax or paint sealant.

- Over-inflate tires to avoid flat spotting, or jack up the car to take pressure off of the tires.
- Put a battery manager on your car.
- To prevent rodents nesting in an engine compartment, try a rodent repellent under the hood. Just make sure to remove it before starting up.
- Put down a few moisture pads on the upholstery to absorb moisture and prevent mildew.
- Cover the car with a breathable car cover to prevent corrosion and rust.

3) Re-circulate your oil.
- When a car sits, oil settles into the pan, leaving the engine without lubrication. Disconnect the coil wire and crank the engine over several times. Reconnect the coil wire and you should be good to go.
If you have any questions about protecting your classic car - insurance related or not - get in touch! We are always more than happy to help!

Weekend Recipe: Rum Cake

Everyone around our office knows that we are a big fan of sweets...the office candy dish never stays completely full for all that long. So when a newsletter came in the mail this morning with a recipe for "Mighty Meach's Awesome & Idiot Proof Rum Cake" how could we not share?

Cake:

1 cup chopped pecans

1 package Duncan Hines Deluxe Yellow Cake Mix

1 3-1/2 ounce package of vanilla instant pudding and pie filling

1/2 cup light rum

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup salad oil (vegetable oil)

Grease and flour a 10" tube pan or Bundt Cake pan. Sprinkle chopped nuts over the bottom of the pan (if you're afraid that the nuts will make it difficult to remove the cake from the pan, then put the nuts on just before the glaze).

Combine cake mix, pudding mix, water, rum, oil and eggs. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into pan and bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes (watch your oven though, different ovens take more time and other bake faster). The cake should be tall and lightly brown when it is ready.

Pour the Hot Rum Glaze (recipe below!) slowly over the cake as soon as you remove it from the oven. The glaze usually takes about 5 minutes to make, so plan accordingly. A good idea would be to put the cake on an edged cookie sheet when you remove it from the oven - that way if the glaze overflows, the mess is contained. Add the remaining pecans over the top of the glaze and press gently to make sure they stick.

Let the cake cool for 1 to 1-1/2 hours before you remove it from the Bundt Pan or tube pan.

And just to clarify - this is an adults-only type of dessert. From what we've heard and imagined this cake will be a hit among adults at any festive gathering!

Hot Rum Glaze:

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup light rum

1 stick of butter

1/4 cup water

Combine all ingredients and simmer 2-3 minutes. If you want a thicker glaze, you can simmer it a little longer. You can also adjust the rum flavor by adjusting the ratio of water to rum in the 1 cup of 1/2 liquid the glaze needs.

McDonald McGarry Toy Drive!

It's December and that means its the season of giving and holiday cheer! We've teamed up with ServiceMaster of Seattle again this year to collect toys for Toys for Tots and Seattle Children's Hospital. We believe that there is no better way to share holiday cheer than sharing something special with children in need.

We have a donation box decorated and ready! Come on by - we'd love to see you!

'Tis the Season for Holiday Traditions

Every December, families around the world take part in their holiday traditions. Some decorate trees together, others partake of a traditional Hanukkah celebration and still others decide that Home Alone is the epitome of holiday movies. For those that celebrate St. Nicholas Day, tonight is a very important night.

Tradition holds that St. Nicholas visits the during the night on December 5th and fills any shoes that are left out with candy and treats. Waking up on the morning of the 6th, children would rush to see what was left for them in their shoes. While different countries and cultures celebrate St. Nicholas Day differently, there is a sense of tradition in the receiving chocolate in your Converse and marking the countdown to Christmas.

Which makes me wonder, what are some of the best holiday traditions in your family? Do you put out your shoes? See The Nutcracker ballet each year? Have a series of detailed ceremonies for Hanukkah? Dance in the snow when it falls the first time? Share in the comments below!

More Safe Driving Tips for Winter!

In the Holiday Newsletter, we discussed a few ways to get your car ready for the winter season that will be upon us sooner rather than later. As we promised, here are some of our best tips for safe driving this winter (courtesy of Edmunds and Safeco Insurance).

1) Check the traction on your tires - it's hard for a tire to stay safely in contact with the road if there's no tread on your tires. There should be at least 6/32 of an inch of tread on each and every one of those tires. If you live in a very snowy area, look for tires with a "snowflake on the mountain" symbol which is a sign of good snow traction.

2) Make sure you can see! Replace windshield wipers, replace fluids and check to make sure you've got ice removal in your car.

3) Run the air conditioning - it helps remove condensation and frost from the windows and keeps things clear. You can put your temperature on heat and just run the air conditioning in addition. Often, when you put the defrost on, this happens automatically.

4) Make sure your headlights are working - you need to see and others need to see you.

5) Watch out for black ice, and remember the trouble spots! Black ice can be hard to spot and it can test a driver's skills. Also, remember that bridges and intersections aren't the only icy spots out there. Anywhere water crosses the road is a possible spot for ice - hose drainage, car wash areas and even sprinkler systems can cause ice.

Stay safe on the roads! And have a great weekend!

A Few Tips for the Starting-to-Get-Darker Commute

With Daylight Savings Time this past weekend, it has started to get dark much earlier. Which means more and more kids are heading home from school (and us adults heading home from work) in a little less light. Some people drive themselves to and from school, or snag a ride with parents or carpool, a good number still take the school bus or metro bus to get from here to there and back again. The fact that schools are in session and it's a little darker both morning and evening makes this a great time to review bus safety. While these tips were originally designed for school buses, I think the general safety tips can apply to any of us catching a bus:

On the Way to the Bus:

- Be alert! Pay attention to the traffic patterns around your bus stop.

- Get there a few minutes early.

- Always walk facing the traffic so they can see you coming, and you can see them.

At the Bus Stop:

- Stand back from the curb. Be sure to give the bus plenty of clearance.

- Try to enter and exit the bus in an orderly fashion - don't push or crowd.

- Use the hand rails and steps when entering and exiting the bus.

- Watch for the bus driver's signals when crossing in front of the bus.

While Riding the Bus:

- As they say in amusement parks, keep your hands, arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.

- Use common courtesy - don't play your music too loudly, have that high-volume conversation on your mobile phone or in person. Good manners matter on public transit too!

And if you're the one driving the car around the bus? Please be careful. It's hard to assume what pedestrians will do, so all drivers need to exercise a bit of caution as we adjust to darker evenings.

A Different Sort of Thanskgiving

Sometimes on this blog I offer safety tips, talk about local events or things that happened in history, but today I want to talk about something a little bit more personal. I'm down in Phoenix for a few weeks working remotely and the community that Sandy and I have our home in here has a few different volunteer opportunities. Last night, they needed help at a downtown Phoenix rescue mission.

Eight of us from the neighborhood volunteered help with and serve dinner to the clients of this shelter. The work itself wasn't too difficult. I was the "Roll Guy", tasked with giving each diner a dinner roll or a biscuit (it was tough, but someone had to do it). While we were on the way there one of the other volunteers remarked that the diners at this soup kitchen are all very polite. Some of them made eye contact and responded with a genuine "thank you" for the roll. Others remained silent and still others, if they didn't want a rolls, just walked by my station in the food line. One man who didn't have any teeth asked if they were soft, otherwise he couldn't eat one.

As the dinner went on, I was perplexed as to the proper response to their "thank yous". How does one make polite conversation, after all it was just a roll? "Have a good evening" didn't seem appropriate as for all I knew that could mean a night sleeping on a bench and I was heading home to a house, a TV and a bed. Though the evenings in Phoenix are still mild, compared to the blessings I have that response seemed almost cruel. After a while, I settled on "You're welcome". Pretty dull.

We served for about an hour and a half, and then a bit of cleanup. When all was said and done, it was about three and a half hours there and back. It feels good to, in a very small way, make a difference in a hundred or so folks' day. It made me count my blessing and also realize that each and every one of those guys (there were only a handful of women) have a story to tell. How did they get there? Was it drugs, alcohol, mental illness or a bad economy and a string of down luck? Regardless of the way, I know each of them needed to be treated with dignity and respect. For through some cruel trick of fate, they are where they are and I am where I am. Worlds apart in daily experiences and comforts.

In a day, we have 24 hours, and of that we spend about 8 working and 8 sleeping, meaning we have 8 hours left to do what we please. It is great to be able to use a small portion of that to help others. If everyone could give 4 hours per month, just think what could be accomplished in our town and in our country.

Thanksgiving is just three weeks off, we all need to be thankful, but the second part of that word is "giving"...

A Bit of Election History!

Election season is in full swing this time of year, and despite the fact that most of the races are at the local or state level there is still a bit of buzz. Commercials, road signs and smiling candidates are waving from the sides of roads and campaigning for local initiatives. For residents of the 50 states, the ability to vote in these elections, and equally important the Presidential election, is a right that is a given. But for one part of the country, having a say in the country's next leader wasn't always an option. Oddly enough, it is the same part of the country that is home to the White House, Capitol building and all those Smithsonians.

In 1961, the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution was passed, allowing residents of the District of Columbia to vote for President. Those living there cast their ballots for the first time in 1964 (Lyndon Johnson vs. Barry Goldwater) giving their three electoral votes to the candidate of their choosing. The only elections that D.C. residents were eligible to vote in prior to that were for party officials and delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

Since those of us in Washington (the state) have been able to vote in elections of any kind for more than 47 years, this could serve as a timely reminder that our Election Day is just around the corner - November 8th. Look for ballot drop-off boxes in your local area or be sure to postmark your ballot by Election Day!

It's Aviation History Month!

The month of November is usually filled with turkey, football and a countdown of shopping days until the official holiday season. But November is also Aviation History Month, and for those of us in the Puget Sound area, there is a fleet of airplanes very near and dear to our collective hearts. Founded in Seattle, Boeing is a part of the culture in these parts (despite their departures to other parts of the country) and there used to be a joke that everyone around here knew someone who worked for Boeing.

Being in a region of aviation greatness (did anyone see the Dreamliner test flights? That's a big airplane) means that we have something unique in these parts - The Museum of Flight. Located near Boeing Field in South Seattle, the museum features some great pieces of aviation history. They have planes from decades past, old airline memorabilia and for those astronauts, an exhibit on spacecraft and artifacts.

As an added bonus, the holiday season is a time for out-of-town guests - and the Museum of Flight is a great place for visitors! You might even be able to work in that it's Aviation History Month (and the Wright Brothers flew for the first time in December). More information can be found at http://www.museumofflight.org.

A Different Kind of Halloween Fright!

If you're anything like Meagan in our office, your favorite candy is a Reese's Peanut Butter cup. She's been known to melt them into s'mores, freeze them during the summer, crush them into cookies or cupcake frosting and eat them at her desk. Obviously, she is a peanut butter fan and can eat them without reservation...but back in her days as a camp counselor she experienced a moratorium on her favorite candy due to a peanut allergy of one of her campers. And with food allergies on the rise, even activities like Trick or Treating are endangered. That's a different sort of scare for Halloween fans...

The Seattle Times had an article on how parents in Chicago are handling Trick or Treating with allergic kids. Since a peanut butter cup can send allergic kids into shock - and those nut proteins are in several candies - Halloween is a juggle between social activities and safety.

One mom, Jenny Kales, started a blog about her daughter's struggles with a peanut allergy and has a post devoted to handling Halloween. She recommends that allergic kids carry two bags - one for candy they know they aren't going to be able to eat (we're looking at you Reese's) and ones that could be safe depending on their ingredient label. Kales then recommends that her daughter try to swap her dangerous candies for her friends' safer ones. Whatever is left that is unsafe is swapped by her parents for lollipops and the like.

Kales also suggests that allergic kids go Trick or Treating on a full stomach. Candy that is dangerous will likely seem less problematic on an empty stomach (especially with younger ones who may not have had a reaction for some time). Some parents even tag along with EpiPens in case something sneaks by the snack food censors.

If you're interested in more of what Jenny Kales has to say, check out her blog at http://www.nut-freemom.blogspot.com/.

It's an Edmonds Kind of Halloween!

Halloween is just around the corner...and that means Monday night will be packed with trick or treaters. Downtown Edmonds is getting in on the action with the annual Halloween event. Merchants and businesses around Edmonds are getting together in the spirit of the spooky holiday. In past years, the center of town has been full of families and friends - some planning to get together and others running into each other in the spirit of the holiday. Music, candy, and everyone decked out as princesses, superheros or pumpkins make for a great night!

Wear a costume, bring dogs, cats, parents and a bag to grab treats. In past years, as many as 5,000 adorned, costumed boys and ghouls came to Edmonds to take part in this tradition. The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce website has all of the information you need about the event - included street closures event locations, and vendors that are involved - http://www.edmondswa.com/events/halloween-extravaganza.html.

Come out for the Happy Hauntings....if you dare (as they say).

Have a great weekend!

It was 86 Long Years...

In honor of Game Six of the World Series taking place tonight, it's time to discuss a historical event very near and dear to the hearts of those in Boston. In 2004, the Boston Red Sox won the world series and broke the Curse of the Bambino.

For those who don't know, the legend it involves Babe Ruth, 86 years of play off disappointment and a whole lot of superstition. In the offseason of 1919-1920, the Red Sox sold slugger Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees (which could be part of the rivalry between those two teams). Once Babe Ruth left the team, the Red Sox couldn't seem to win. They went from the winner of the first World Series and several playoff titles to a team that went title-less for decades. The Yankees, on the other hand, became one of the most successful teams in baseball.

Understandably, it was thought that Babe Ruth's departure had to do with the change, and that he is the "Bambino" in question. Fans tried different ways to break the curse, from painting street signs to say "Reverse the Curse" to purifying Fenway park.

Nothing worked until October, 2004 when the Red Sox took on the Cardinals...and won in a 4 game sweep. Eighty-six years later, the Curse of the Bambino was broken.

Makes you wonder if the Red Sox are afraid it'll take another 86 years for a title...

Make Yourself at Home at the Home Safety Council

Everyone knows how important it is to keep your home safe - new parents baby-proof, older adults put in safety bars and everyone puts safety mats in the bathtub. But what if you have a safety situation you haven't encountered before? Or are just curious as to what you could be doing differently around your house? We found a great website for you to check out!

The Home Safety Council (we mentioned their fire safety tips in the post about the Great Chicago Fire) has a website full of resources for kids, adults, seniors and people of all ages. Their resource section provides information for specific types of safety issues, fire escape planning guides, games for kids and even resources in Spanish. Visit http://bit.ly/u2Cnvx to see what all they have available for you!

As an added bonus, keeping your home safe helps prevent insurance claims, which helps keep your premiums low year after year after year.

Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips!

With Halloween a week away, people are starting to carve pumpkins and get involved in the festivities of the holiday. While some of us are content munching on candy (it's on sale, how could you not?) others don costumes and facepaint. One tradition that holds true across all age groups is carving pumpkins...and we've compiled a few tips to help you carve that pumpkin with care.

-First of all, make sure you're using the right equipment. Many stores sell kits with specially designed saws for the sole purpose of creating the perfect Jack O'Lantern.

-Whether or not you use a special kit or a knife, make sure you point the knife away from your hands and fingers, and the hands and fingers of everyone else.

-Make sure you're paying attention! Most of the injuries seen from carving pumpkins happen because someone is distracted while holding a knife.
-Finally, once your pumpkin is carved, be sure that you never leave lit candles inside unattended or too close to anything. Candles in a pumpkin are just like candles anywhere else.

Safe and happy pumpkin carving! If you have a great work of pumpkin art send a picture to info@mcdonaldmcgarry.com. We'd love to see them!

Are You Ready for "ViaDoom"?

On the off chance you've not been around Seattle for long, it's time to remind you about a very important traffic disruption happening for the next nine, or so, days. The Alaskan Way Viaduct, the highway that rises just above the city's waterfront is becoming a tunnel and the Department of Transportation is starting work on that project this weekend.

As of 7:30 tonight, the section of Alaskan Way between the West Seattle Bridge and Royal Brougham Way will be closed. While northbound lanes will be open intermittently for events, drivers are told to prepare for detours and alternate routes until the roads open again in the early morning hours of October 31st.

So what can you do? Plan for more traffic. Since the Viaduct serves as one of the main north-south thoroughfares, people will probably divert to I-5...meaning more traffic for us. We'd recommend you either find an alternate route or plan extra time to get to your destination.

Want more information? Check out the Seattle Times, or the SeattlePI online and the Washington Department of Transportation has great information at www.wsdot.gov.

Have a great weekend!

7 Things to Know About Auto Insurance

When considering auto insurance there are a lot of ideas and suggestions being tossed around in cyberspace and in the real world. With that said, we are always looking to clarify and explain some tips about your auto insurance. Here are 7 things you should know about your auto insurance:

1) Some of the Really Helpful Coverages are Inexpensive!
There are several coverages on your policy that you make choices about - collision and comprehensive, rental car coverage, towing protection. Some of those coverages, especially towing and rental reimbursement are inexpensive for the value they provide. Definitely something to consider when looking at your insurance.

2) A Lot of Things Can Affect Your Car Insurance Rate

Obviously, your driving record and claims history impact your rates. Insurance companies also look at zip codes (living downtown provides more risk than a rural neighborhood) and your credit history (people with higher credit scores often file less claims and pay their bills on time more regularly). All of this means that your rate my differ from your friends or coworkers.

3) If Your Policy Lapses, It'll Cost You More in the Long Run

Most insurance companies prefer that you have continuous coverage - being licensed and uninsured is frowned upon. Even if you're planning on switching companies, make sure you keep your old coverage in place until you have your new policy in force.

4) Higher Deductibles Can Mean a Lower Premium

I've discussed this before, but a higher deductible means you are willing to shoulder some of the costs of a claim, and insurance companies reward that with a lower premium. You shouldn't, however, raise your deductible too high or you risk digging deep into your own pockets.

5) Look for Discounts!

Is your college student far away? Are their grades good? Do you have multiple policies with the same companies? Can you afford to pay in full? Would you be comfortable signing up for an EFT plan? All of these questions can lead you to discounts!

6) Coverage Affects What You Pay

Like I mentioned above, the coverage levels you choose impact your premium. But does that mean you should put yourself at financial risk in the event of an accident? Definitely not! The trick is to find the balance between an affordable premium and great coverage (and hint: we can definitely help with that!)

7) The Car You Drive Can Impact Your Rates

Insurance companies look at the safety ratings of the cars their insureds drive...and the safer the car, the less expensive it might be to insure. Just something to consider...

While these don't cover all of the finer points of deciding the best auto insurance for your situation, they are some interesting things to consider when looking at your coverage. Of course, if you have any questions, call us - that's what we're here for!

Want a Burger? Dick's Drive In Opens in Edmonds

Almost everyone in Seattle has a story about Dick's Drive In. And they likely know the locations of all of them - Queen Anne, Broadway, Wallingford, Lake City, Holman Road and Edmonds. You read that last one correctly - as of tomorrow at 3pm Dick's Drive In is opening in Edmonds! Those of us used to trekking into the city for the crave-able burgers, fries and shakes will no longer have to spend more for gas then for food.

Dick's is having their official Grand Opening tomorrow at 3pm....and then we're guessing they will operate the same hours as their other locations 10:30am-2:00pm. In case you want to get in the action right away, the Edmonds Dick's is located at 21910 Highway 99 in Edmonds - just north of the Top Foods and Starbucks.

Our family has quite a few memories involving a stop for Dick's Deluxes. We've gone looking at Christmas lights, often times stop there on the way from the airport (Meagan spent a summer studying in Italy and she requested a burger on the way back to Edmonds!) and with two kids going to high school on Capitol Hill, the Broadway Dick's was a nearby lunch spot.

So, in honor of the first brand-new Dick's Drive In since 1974 (bonus if you can name the last one built)...what are your memories of the burgers, fries and shakes? Share on our Facebook Page or in the comments below!

Stay in Touch!

One of our jobs as your insurance agent is to partner with you in the protection of what matters to you. Making sure you've got the coverage you need is what we are here for. One of the challenges, however, is that people have changing contact information! We need to make sure that we know how to reach you in the event of an emergency. Often times, we have a mailing address and a home phone number...but people rely on cell phones and email and we'd love to be able to reach you that way too! If you've changed contact information lately, call our office at 425-774-3200, email info@mcdonaldmcgarry.com or visit http://www.mcdonaldmcgarry.com/contact-us and fill out the quick contact form. Thanks in advance!

Tips to Protect Yourself While Working at Home

Changes in technology, not to mention the economy, are making it easier for people to work from home. Looking at the total of self-employed people and those that telecommute, a sizable percentage of the population is working from home - and the numbers are growing.

What people don't often realize is that working from home can impact your insurance protection. A homeowners policy has specific limits for what it will and will not cover. If you're employed by someone else, you should check with them to see how their insurance covers you. Running your own business means that you need to look into coverage for yourself. If you have visits from clients, you'll need to include liability coverage in addition to your product and property liability. Here are a few ideas of coverages to consider:

1) Call us - we can evaluate whether or not your business would be eligible for an endorsement to your homeowners policy. Sometimes it isn't in your best interest or protection to do so, but that is an option that we are more than happy to explore.

2) If you're business brings in a sizable profit, you will want to look into a home business policy - one including loss of use or interruption coverage should your business be put on hold due to a damage to your home.

3) For the most protection you should consider a Business Owner's Policy. This covers you against business risks at home and away, often provides a higher limit of coverage and protection against more hazards.

Of course, the best first step is to talk with us. We've been insuring small businesses for a long time and can advise you on the best coverage for your situation.

School Activities and Auto Insurance

Fall is in full swing, and for those parents with school-aged kids, it means that it's time to go to ballet, soccer games, and field trips. But what does this mean for your auto insurance?

In an auto accident, there is always the possibility that the driver could be legally liabilty for all of the injuries sustained in the accident. Most personal auto policies provide for that, and we encourage our clients to carry high liability limits for that reason. But depending on the vehicle you're driving - if you've rented a van or are driving a small bus - your insurance coverage can change. School employees face this risk the most, as they often have access to the vans, classifying them as a vehicle provided for your regular use. If you know you'll be driving an unusual vehicle for a school or team event, you can call our office and we can advise you on what your policy covers, and options to protect you and your passengers.

We recommend that our clients carry the highest liability limits possible, and we even recommend coverage above and beyond the limits of the auto policy in the form of an umbrella. An umbrella policy can offer more than one million dollars in additional coverage.

If you have questions about what your auto policy covers, let us know! We are always happy to advise you on whatever insurance matters you encounter! For more information on this particular article, visit www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Articles/Transporting-Kids.asp

One of the great things about working with several different companies is that we have a wealth of information from a variety of sources. We work with the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau - the WSRB - that provides information about the fire protection and territories throughout the state. Recently I got an update from them that included an article about the largest companies today and compares them with the largest companies from 1955. Take a look (any of the ones from 1955 sound familar?).

In 1955, the Fortune 500 listed these businesses as the nation's largest employers:
1) General Motors
2) Chrysler
3) U.S. Steel
4) Standard Oil of New Jersey
5) Amoco
6) Goodyear
7) Firestone

Today, these companies made the list:
1) Walmart
2) Target
3) Sears
4) Kroger
5) IBM
6) Hewlett Packard
7) Dell
8) Google
9) Cisco
10) Oracle

Interesting trend from auto-related industries to retail and technology, don't you think?

We're Still Giving Away Faucet Covers!

In the latest edition of McNews, we announced that we are giving away faucet covers again this fall! Last year we passed out faucet covers to the first 25 people that came by our office and we are doing that again this year. We've handed a few out so far, but we have still have a few left.

If you haven't noticed it yet, the rain is starting to come, leaves are falling and despite the fact that there are a few holidays in between, people are counting down to Christmas. Chances are we will get some wet, cold weather in the area come November, and having your faucets protected before the first freeze is a great way to prevent water damage claims. As an added bonus, if you cover your faucets sooner rather than later, you have a better chance of finding a dry, marginally warmer time to trudge outside.

Come by our office to get your faucet cover! We have just a few left, so the sooner the better. Visit www.mcdonaldmcgarry.com for directions or give us a call at 425-774-3200 and we can help you find us!

Turn Over a New Page...

While catching up on local news the other day, I noticed a business in downtown Edmonds was asking an important question: how would it feel not to be able to read a book? Or read the directions on a bottle of medicine?

October is Literacy Month, and while there is a lot of publicity about getting kids to read and helping to end illiteracy, Comstock Jewelry is doing something about it. Comstock Jewelry is collecting books to be distributed by Page Ahead (www.pageahead.org) that ensures the books are given to at-risk children.

There are several studies that show that academic success can be due in part to having books around the home and being read to regularly. Further, developing reading activities helped 91% of children become more interested in readying, and 74% of parents became more involved with their child's reading habits. Page Ahead, teamed up with the Seattle Alumni chapter of Pi Beta Phi, is working with Comstock to collect books for those children who would need them most. For more information about Page Ahead visit their website -www.pageahead.org.

Comstock Jewelry will be collecting books from October 1-29 at their store in downtown Edmonds - 411 Main Street or visit www.comstockjewelers.com.

Mrs. O'Leary & Her Cow...Fire Safety Tips!

On the night of October 8, 1871, a pile of hay in a barn caught fire, and began the two-day ordeal known as the Great Chicago Fire. For two days, the fire destroyed the city. At that time, most of the buildings were made of wood, and between the recent drought and high winds the fire was hard to stop. It jumped from neighborhood to neighborhood, crossing bridges, rivers. When all was said and done, the fire burned over 30 blocks. Luckily, 140 years after the fact, we've learned our lessons and have smartened up a bit about fire safety. Which brings me to the "tips" part of today's blog. With the weather cooling down people are starting to move inside and use space heaters instead of air conditioning, stove tops instead of barbecues, and candles and matches are making their way out of drawers. Fire prevention and safety is a concern each fall, and it is important to discuss some tips for keeping you and your family safe.

The Home Safety Council is an incredible resource for safety tips. They have articles on keeping seniors safe, and even evaluating situations for babies and toddlers. What I'm looking at today is the page they have discussing how to reduce the chances of fire in your home. Here are some of the most valuable suggestions:

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  As their name suggests, space heaters need space. Keep them at least 3 feet away from things that can burn - newspapers, blankets, curtains. And make sure you turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.


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  Make sure your candle holders are sturdy, and not flammable. Using a metal or glass candle holder that is big enough for the candle and a bit of room can help keep mishaps to a minimum.


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  Install smoke alarms inside or near every bedroom, and make sure there is at least one on each level of the home. There are two different types of sensors in smoke alarms - photoelectric and ionization. It would be smart to have a few of both, or alarms that contain both types of sensors.


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  This is also a good time to check the batteries in your smoke detector...it does need to be done twice a year!


• 
  
  If there are children in your home, be sure that candles are only lit with adult supervision. It's also recommended that you blow them out when you leave the room.


• 
  
  Keep all matches and lighters in a safe place where small children can't access them. Every year, many young kids are burned from playing with matches and lighters.

For more information about home fire safety, or to learn more about keeping your home safe, visit the Home Safety Council's website at www.homesafetycouncil.org/safetyguide/sg_fire_w001.asp.

While the origin of the Great Chicago Fire is still being debated (was it a cow? a milk thief? a rogue craps game?), we can be assured that building standards, fire protection, and the fact we don't rely on lanterns can prevent such an event. Small home fires do happen, however, and it is important to keep these important tips and tricks in mind while planning to keep your family safe.

Stop, Thief!

I'm sure it's happened to everyone...you park your car and head off to dinner, a ballgame, a concert or just for a quick walk. You get back to your car, or where your car should be, and it's not there. If you're lucky, you're just a bit directionally impaired and you're car is safely parked a few blocks or aisles from where you are. If not, you're car has been stolen and that's not always a good thing.

As I mentioned in a recent newsletter article (that should be getting to your mailbox any day now), there is a study every year that covers the Top 10 Most Frequently Stolen Vehicles in U.S. While I gave you the list of cars in the newsletter, there is a bit more information that the article provided. Here is a bit more of the information from the National Insurance Crime Bureau's "Hot Wheels" study:

On the list, the majority of the cars were made before 2000 (and that includes the top 5)...and thieves often target these vehicles because of the resale value of their parts. For cars that are more than a few years old, the value is found mostly in the parts rather than the whole car. Newer cars, the study found, are often sold intact - more expensive and insured vehicles are often sold with counterfeit VIN numbers or shipped overseas.

The study, of course, would like to reassure its readers that car thefts are declining. If the numbers hold true, the year 2010 will be the year with the least amount of car thefts since 1967.

Most importantly, if you have comprehensive coverage, or "comp" coverage, on your vehicle, should your car go missing you ARE covered. Not sure if you have comp? Give us a call.

P.S. Here's the link to the article: www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2011/08/03/209303.htm

P.P.S. Did your newsletter make it to your mailbox? Email info@mcdonaldmcgarry.com if it didn't and we'll send one your way!

Do You Know How to Handle a Gas Leak?

Do you know how to prevent a gas leak? Good for you if you answered yes!

The reason I ask is fairly simple...early this week a home in the Pinehurst neighborhood of Seattle exploded (and, no, I'm not exaggerating) because of a natural gas leak. Investigators are fairly certain that the couple living in the home smelled the natural gas before they went to sleep and decided not to report it. Luckily they survived with injuries, but their home wasn't so lucky. Now Puget Sound Energy and local utility companies are canvassing the area looking for leaks..and 4 have appeared in a 5-mile radius since Monday's explosion.

Which brings me to my first question: do you know what you can do to prevent a gas leak? And if you suspect a leak, do you know what to do? I'll go over a few safety tips for those of us with natural gas, and then explain how to detect a leak and what to do if you do find one.

Natural Gas Safety Tips:

-Check furnace filters monthly and change them as needed. The goal is to keep your heating and cooling appliance operating safely and efficiently.

-Have your furnace inspected yearly to make sure it's operating properly.

-If your pilot light goes out and you aren't sure about how to relight it, call Puget Sound Energy at 1-88-225-5773.

-Keep your gas meter clear of debris, landscaping, shrubs or even icicles.

-Don't keep combustible materials or liquids near furnace or water heater vents or pipes.

-Maintain your natural gas pipes.

How to Detect a Leak:

- SMELL: Natural gas is odorless...until a gas company adds a rotten-egg smell to it. If you smell rotten eggs that could indicate a leak.

- LOOK: If you see dirt blowing or bubbles rising in a puddle, that could be a good reason for concern.

-LISTEN: Hear a hissing sound near a pipe? That could be the gas forcing it's way out in the open.

If you notice ANY signs of a natural gas leak, call Puget Sound Energy or 911 RIGHT AWAY!

While most of these tips are fairly common sense, it's always a good idea to know what to do in case of a natural gas emergency.

A Little Bit of Prevention...

Most of us have had the opportunity to use our water heaters, and often on a daily basis. But when water heaters start to leak, they create quite a mess, and are a headache to clean up. One way to make sure you know if your water heater springs a leak is to install a Water Heater Alarm that detects leaks or seepage from your water heater. Honeywell makes a Water Detection Alarm (we found one at Home Depot Online) that picks up on small amounts of water heater with a very loud noise. If water damage is something that you are worried about, consider getting an alarm...sometimes stopping a small leak is a smaller headache, and smaller claim, than discovering a large puddle.

How Trusted Choice Agents Rebuilt the Metrodome

For those of you that are football fans, you might remember the December, 2010 collapse of the Metrodome in Minnesota. After a massive snow storm, the roof of the Metrodome began to leak, tear, fall apart and then the field was covered in falling snow and ice. Needless to say, they called their insurance agent.

There is a group of Insurance Agents that are independent agents committed to high standards of service and protection - Trusted Choice. You'll see their logo, and know that they hold themselves to a high standard of client protection. Our agency is proud to be a Trusted Choice agency and hope that our clients appreciate the fact we put the client and their needs first.

But why am I discussing Trusted Choice Insurance and a rather unfortunate collapse of a football stadium's roof? Because the Metrodome's building was insured with a Trusted Choice Independent Agent. In this video that Trusted Choice put together, Bill Lester - Executive Director of the Metrodome - credits the timely repair, and quality of the claims experience to his Trusted Choice agent. Check out the video here: http://www.vimeo.com/29451341. While they didn't technically use their hammers and nails to put the Metrodome back together, the agent was on-site overseeing the process every step of the way.

And thanks for choosing us as your Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agent. Have a great weekend!

A Flood of Information...

In the weeks since Hurricane Irene visited the East Coast, we've discussed what your insurance covers after a disaster, what you should know about filing a claim and even gave you insight into what the CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers thinks of the situation. One thing we haven't discussed much, however, is the flooding that happened in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal published an article online about the sudden interest in flood insurance. And if you saw the images of people rowing down their streets, it's hard to be surprised at that. But what is interesting is that people in landlocked states are inquiring as to flood insurance - Chubb Insurance, one of the companies that we work with, saw a 30% increase in flood inquiries and applications since late August.

While we were spared the severe rains and sudden flooding that storms Irene and Lee unleashed on the northeast, flooding is still a concern in the Pacific Northwest. Between snow-packed mountains, several rivers, and a wet winter, we face our share of flooding. That is why we feel it is important to remind our clients to consider flood insurance.
With the companies we work with for flood insurance, there is a 30-day waiting period for policies to take effect. Meaning that by the time your toes are wet and there's a dark gray cloud it's a little late. CALL US IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FLOOD INSURANCE! As we learned from our friends back East, rising rivers and urban flooding are risks. We are more than happy to chat with you about your options, your risk and what, exactly, flood insurance offers. Our goal is to make sure you have the best protection possible, and to educate you on what your coverages mean so you can make an informed decision. We are always able to share our knowledge and expertise, and offer advice. That's why you chose an Independent Insurance Agent, right?

By the way, to read the rest of The Wall Street Journal article, here's the link: http://on.wsj.com/ng0wYY.

It Was Just a Little Backing Accident...

I heard a story once from another insurance agent (who actually shared this story with her clients) and so now I'm telling it to you. On Mondays, I like to start off the week with insurance tips and safety ideas. This story might enlighten you as to why you or your family should consider umbrella coverage - and I know its something I've discussed before.

It started out as a little backing accident...a Washington driver was in a typical commercial warehouse area with a big parking lot. I'm sure everyone has seen these - big warehouses, garage doors, not a lot of other cars. And every so often there is a fire hydrant. Well this driver reportedly backed his pickup truck into one of those fire hydrants.

The incident had a domino-effect of repairs, and costs. The resulting damage and expenses included:

- Fire hydrant replacement and cost of installation

- Damage to the parking lot caused by the sinkhole resulting from the damaged fire hydrant (did you know that a 6-inch water main connection to a fire hydrant can flow between 1,000 and 1,500 gallons of water per minute)

- Bill for hundreds of thousands of gallons of water

- Creation of a large lake in the remaining parking lot requiring special handling, pumping and resulting in possible additional damage to structures.

- Cost of business interruption due to lack of access to the parking lot until repairs are made.

- Extra security to block off the damaged areas to prevent other accidents

Suddenly, it doesn't seem like such a little backing accident anymore, does it? With the right insurance protection, some of these expenses could be covered. Which is why umbrella protection is so important - where the limits of your home or auto policy leave off, it picks up. And umbrella policies add at least a million dollars of coverage. Most of these policies are fairly inexpensive for the amount of coverage they offer. Give me a call to discuss your options - we can determine what coverage you would need and whether or not an umbrella policy is good for you.

Catch a Mystery at The Driftwood Players

It's Friday! And that means a few days of good times with family and friends ahead. While Friday is a "community events" sort of day, I've been looking for outdoor happenings. It looks like the weather is going to be turning this weekend, so I found something that I think could be an entertaining evening indoors.

Edmonds loves its arts and culture - we are known for the Arts Festival, Art Walks, numerous galleries and more than a few concerts in parks around the city. If you're in the mood for a whodunit, however, The Driftwood Players (one of our team members is very involved with their costume department) are showing "A Murder is Announced" this weekend and the next.

In Agatha Christie's "A Murder is Announced", a newspaper column announces that a murder will take place that afternoon. Next thing you know, Miss Marple is on the case. We won't tell you the ending (though if you've read the book you might remember the murderer), but we will tell you that Agatha Christie keeps the audience on their collective toes.

For more information about The Driftwood Players (and their upcoming shows) visit www.driftwoodplayers.com. Have a great weekend!

Questionable Claims Are Rising...

We believe our clients are honest...and we always conduct our business with integrity. But from time to time, there are a few people who take a rather, shall we say, creative approach to their insurance when it comes time to file a claim. According to a study from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (they also make the list of Top 10 Stolen Cars), "questionable claims" have risen 4.5% this year over last year.

Now, the increase takes into account only those claims that are referred to the NICB organization for review because of suspected fraud. There are several reasons that a claim can be flagged, but so far, "Inflated Damages" tops the list this year. With the hail storms, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and hurricanes, there's no doubt a lot of damage out there. But the inflated damages category rose 10% in 2011 (interestingly enough, the only categories not seeing an increase were suspicious loss/theft and fire/arson).

The Pacific Northwest hasn't experienced the brunt of the rough weather this year, but the numbers from across the country are interesting to consider. Thoroughly investigating claims is good because then the companies aren't paying out fraudulent or inflated claims, thus translating into some premium savings. At the same time, does it bother us that people are so willing to bend the truth? Just a few things to consider...

Check This Out: Chubb Insurance on YouTube!

The tricky thing about insurance for many people is understanding the different ways that it works for you. While no two insurance companies are exactly the same, the general policy parts (like collision for an auto policy, or liability for a homeowners policy) are still the same. That's why when I found a valuable resource from one of our companies, I felt compelled to share it - even if your home, classic car or other possessions are taken care of by another insurer.

Chubb Insurance, one of our companies, has put together a YouTube channel filled with videos explaining topics ranging from watercraft coverage, to young driver safety, to what those coverages in your homeowners policy mean. These simple, short videos are a great overview to understanding the different parts of your policy. Luckily, they're general enough to apply to homeowners policies from several of our other carriers. If they raise any questions for you, however, you really should call our office since we can speak specifically to your insurance company and to your specific situation.

Chubb's specialty is high-valued homes, and with that they provide many "extras" from Wildfire Protection to personalized claim service and those videos are on there as well (there is a really touching series of videos about a family who lost everything in a wildfire in California and how they put everything back together again). But for those of us looking for a bit of clarification and explanation, Chubb's videos are a great place to start.

To find them, you can visit this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChubbInsurance. Let me know if they raise any questions for you! I'm always happy to discuss your policy.

Balancing Premiums and Deductibles

When considering auto insurance, one of the great debates is about deductibles. What is the right deductible? While a low deductible may be beneficial in the event of an accident, it increases your premium, while adjusting the deductible upwards to lower the premium may be costly in the event of a claim. Here are a few tips, courtesy of the blog at http://homeinsurance.com/blog to help determine what amount you and your family would be comfortable with for a deductible.

1) Avoid the Very-Highs and the Very-Lows

Let's review how a deductible works. The deductible is the amount you pay in the event of an accident before your insurance policy starts to pay. So with a $250 deductible, and a $1,000 accident, you pay $250, and your insurance pays the balance of $750. So a high deductible, while lowering your premiums, increases your out-of-pocket expense. A low deductible keeps your costs low, but increases your premium. Our recommendation is to find something in-between. Balancing the risk and the premium costs is essential to choosing the right deductibles.

2) Know Your Comfort Zone

The most important thing to think about when looking at your deductibles is your family situation. How much would you really be able to, or comfortable with, spend on a claim right now? If you typically have $1,000 in extra funds to pay for a claim, perhaps a $1,000 would work for you. You can always lower your deductible until it's in your financial comfort zone. While you may pay a few dollars more a month, you wouldn't necessarily face a hardship should you need to make a claim.

3) Examine Your Risk Factors

As anyone will tell you, no one can predict when an accident will occur, but you can try to figure out what your risk might be. If you are the proud parent of teenage drivers your risk factor is a little higher than a middle-aged couple with only a few miles on their odometers. If you have a riskier driving situation then perhaps a lower deductible will pay off in the long run...

The best advice that we can offer in this situation is to give us a call and chat with us about your coverage and deductibles and we can work together to determine what is most advantageous for your situation. Whatever your deductible is or will be it is important to be prepared - if you select a $500 deductible it would be wise to make sure you always have that available for you. That way, in the event of a claim or accident, you wouldn't need to worry about finding the funds.

This Weekend in Edmonds: Classic Car Show!

It's that time again...the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce is hosting the annual Edmonds Classic Car Show Sunday, September 11 from 10am-5pm. The streets of downtown Edmonds are filled with antique autos, classic rides and cars from entirely different generations.

Starting mid-morning cars and their owners will be lined up all throughout the downtown core, and are answering questions, chatting away and checking out the cars too. With Edmonds' old-fashioned charm, it could seem like the plethora of classic cars fit right in. The day wraps up around 5, with ribbons being handed out and the cars packing up for the drive home.

And even if you don't enter the show, but have a classic car or antique auto, let us know. We have a few companies who specialize in taking care of those types of cars and we are more than happy to discuss your coverage options for those situations.

In the meantime, have a great weekend, and enjoy the sunshine!

Fun Facts About the Autumn Sky!

Since it's almost officially fall, and the harvest moon is this weekend, I thought I'd share a few fun facts about the harvest moon and skygazing in the autumn sky.

This year's Harvest Moon is scheduled to come a bit earlier in the year than normal, but tradition holds that the full moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox is the Harvest Moon. Well this weekend, and actually beginning September 10th and going through the 13th, the Harvest Moon will be visible all across the state (and country for that matter). But why is the Harvest Moon special? According to http://earthsky.org, around this particular equinox, the moon starts to rise much earlier than normal for this time of year. Due to the path of the sun and moon and planets, things are much closer this time of year. Which works out well for us, as we can see much more of the beautiful moon this year.

Of course, given that the moon only lasts one weekend, there are other things that can be seen in the sky this time of year. Daylight hours are shrinking so there is much more that can be seen in the sky. According to several resources, winter constellations are starting to take their positions in the sky. Some of this - Orion the Hunter and Canis Major - are only visible in the early mornings at first, then slowly move to being seen in the evening.

For more information, look up the Harvest Moon. Or, even better, look out at the Harvest Moon and enjoy the beautiful September we're lucky to enjoy!

Another Take on Hurricane Irene

A few days ago, I was telling you about what is covered when a hurricane hits, and what isn't. Almost a week after the storm hit the East Coast, clean up efforts are still underway, and the news channels are discussing the fallout of the storm.

On Fox News, Geraldo had a talk with the CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of America, Bob Rusbuldt about the insurance side of the damage. What you'll notice is that Bob mentions a lot of the same things we do - buy flood insurance, buy flood insurance, buy flood insurance. Only a small portion of the country has that coverage, and they have several challenges ahead of them in rebuilding their homes.

Click this link to watch the video: http://bit.ly/r1sDWs.

Hope you have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend! We will be closed on Monday, but will return to the office bright and early on Tuesday morning. In the event of a claims or coverage emergency, we can be reached by pager at 206-610-3200.

Red Light, Green Light

We've all heard about the controversy of red light cameras in our communities...and chances are if you've ever debated testing a light you know how they work. A new study shows that red light cameras actually help prevent fatal traffic accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in a study of the 14 biggest U.S. cities, 159 lives were saved between 2004 and 2008 because of the use of red light cameras. Even better, the combined per capita fatality rate fell 35% in cities with the red light cameras compared with those those cities without the technology from 1992-1996. The per capita fatality rate fell in 48 cities without cameras in either period...but only by 14%. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety predicts that if red light cameras operated in all major cities from 2004-2008 as many as 815 deaths could have been prevented. Just a little something to think about on a sunny Thursday afternoon...and drive safely out there!

After A Hurricane, What Does Your Insurance Cover?

Thousands of people are struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Irene up and down the East Coast. Power companies are struggling to reconnect their customers and towns that are surrounded by flood waters are having supplies, food and water airlifted in. According to an article in USA Today, estimates of damage range anywhere from $3-$7 billion dollars. Unfortunately, most of that is flood-related - and we've repeated time and time again flood damage isn't covered by your homeowners policy. Robert Hunter, director of Insurance for the Consumer Federation of America estimates that less than 20% of the population outside of the Gulf Coast have special flood insurance policies.

People without flood insurance won't be happy that the flood damage isn't covered - the "it couldn't happen to me" attitude may not have been prudent - but other damages caused by the hurricane can be covered under a homeowners policy.

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  Downed Trees: Any time a hurricane or tropical storm comes along, it brings high wind speeds for sustained periods of time. Even the strongest trees might have trouble standing up to 110 mile-per-hour gusts. If that tree blew over and hit your house or another structure on your property, your insurance should cover the costs of removing the tree and repairing the damage. If you were lucky and the tree missed your home, insurance won't pay for the cost of removal.


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  Damaged Cars: Of course, homes aren't the only thing in the way of the hurricane-force winds and rains. Cars are often flooded or hit by trees or other debris. If you have comprehensive coverage on your car, these types of damage would be covered.


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  Living Expenses: Most polices will cover temporary housing and living expenses if you can't stay in your home. Some will even cover the costs of evacuations if your home or others nearby were damaged. The best thing to do is to check your policy to see what is covered and where you'd be on your own.


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  Spoiled Food: If you have the sort of luck where a natural disaster would happen on a full refrigerator, you'll be happy to know that most policies will cover the cost of replacing food that has gone bad. There is a limit in your policy for food that you can't eat so be sure to review your policy to see how much you'd be covered for.

For more information about what would and wouldn't be covered, and tips for filing a claim after a disaster, visit www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/insurance/story/2011-08-29/Homeowners-insurance-and-the-aftermath-of-Irene/50180862/1. Of course, if you have any specific questions about natural disasters and your policy, feel free to give us a call. We are always happy to help!

Keeping in Touch With WSDOT

You know how it is around here - there always seems to be some sort of traffic. Whether the 520 Bridge is being updated, or the Mercer Street project is taking up another weekend. Which makes the Department of Transportation's plethora of resources so helpful. WSDOT has their website meant to alleviate traffic woes - or at least keep you up-do-date on the latest happenings. The main traffic site - www.wsdot.gov/traffic/ - provides the links to statewide transportation. You can check out the ferries, border crossings and even pass conditions.

My favorite part of the site, however, is the traffic cameras. By clicking the links to Seattle area traffic, you can see how heavy traffic is all over Seattle, and for those of us used to fighting a commute one way or the other that knowledge is very valuable. You can also check out travel times from major destinations around the sound so you can plan your trip. I know there have been times when I have tickets to the 5th Avenue, and looking at how heavy traffic is and what the travel times are have helped me get there.

Of course, if you are a social media fan, you can find the WSDOT on Twitter at @wsdot_traffic for Puget Sound traffic news. Sometimes being in the loop on the traffic in the area can be the difference between a stressful drive and one where you know what's ahead of you.

Should You Look Over Your Insurance Policies?

Common sense says that you should review your insurance policies every so often to make sure that they match your life. There are the obvious changes - you bought a new car, your dream house at the ocean just became a reality, your "little girl" just earned her drivers license - that most of our clients know to give us a call about, but there are some that are a little less clear. Here a few major life events that require you to revisit your insurance protection.

1) Getting Married

Once the wedding is over and you're home from the honeymoon, it is time to look at your insurance. First on the list should be your auto insurance. If you haven't already decided to combine your policies, now would be a good time to do that. Call your agent and let them know that you are now married, and you may also need to update your mailing address. We can also guide you through that process of adding your spouse, and changing any other information that needs updating after your big day. With some companies, married people often qualify for lower insurance rates...which might offset any tickets your new spouse failed to mention!

The next piece of insurance you should consider is your homeowners coverage. Did you two just move in together? Are you renting? Did you just buy a home? Depending on your situation - and whether or not you just combined all of your belongings - your homeowners coverage may need adjusting. We are always more than happy to help determine the right coverages and the right amount of those coverages.

Lastly, take a look at your respective health insurance plans. Would you benefit from adding a spouse to one or the other? Sometimes employers offer coverage for spouses at favorable rates and it would be a good idea to make sure you have the coverage you need.

2) A New Baby

If you are expecting a new baby, congratulations are in order! But there are a few other things that need to be put in order as well...have you and your spouse considering life insurance? As depressing as it sounds, new parents (and current parents with another on the way) should consider life insurance. Typically, life insurance helps support the surviving family members in the event one spouse or parent passes away. With rising childcare costs and other such expenses, it is something to seriously consider.

Along that line, take a look at your health insurance plan. What new-baby coverage is there? You might want to consider what is covered, and what isn't and whether or not that is enough for your comfort level.

3) Moving Day

Moving to a new home is a very exciting, and often stressful, time. If you are buying, we will need to secure coverage for both the home itself and your belongings inside. And if you're renting, you may need to adjust some of the coverage on your belongings since most of us have a tendency to redecorate when we move to a new home.

Secondly, auto insurance rates are often based in part on zip code. Depending on how far you'd moved, your auto rates may shift. Give us a call and while we update your home insurance we can adjust your auto insurance to reflect your new address.

And as a final note of common sense, make sure you change your mailing address on all your insurance policies...and the other important things in your life.

For more information and tips on when to re-evaluate your insurance after life events, visit the research center on our website: www.mcdonaldmcgarry.com/research-center. And, of course, you are always more than welcome to call our office!

In the Mood for an Outdoor Festival?

It's Friday and the sun is shining, and according to the weather reports, the warm temperatures intend to stick around for the weekend. For those of us that realize what a gift the warm weather is, we look for opportunities to get out and enjoy. Well there's a festival this weekend, that caught our eye: The Duwamish River Festival.

It might be a little strange that one of the nation's most toxic rivers is the host to a family event, but the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition hosts this even as a way to make sure that the communities surrounding the river can learn about the project as well as comment on the progress of the cleanup. The festival will also highlight the connection between healthy communities, human health and the health of the wildlife in the area.

The festivities begin at 9am, when the Walk-Bike-Paddle along the Duwamish kicks off. The length of the each of the routes vary, but the destination remains the same - everyone ends up at the Festival! At 12pm, the family-friendly festival begins at Duwamish Waterway Park. Activities include kayak tours on the river, water taxi rides, children's activities, yard care tips, and, of course, food.

For more information about the festival, visit www.duwamishrivercleanup.org/programs.html. Have a great weekend!

Riots, Civil Disorders and Insurance

This month has been quite the hotbed for, well, rioting. London, and other cities in the United Kingdom, received a lot of publicity for their destructive actions. As everyone saw on the news, stores were damaged, cars were burned and there was what could kindly be called chaos in many cities.

Comparatively, things here in the United States have been pretty calm lately. The last riots in Seattle were the Mardi Gras riots in 2001, and the rather well-known WTO situation in 1999. But with the United Kingdom situation in mind, The Insurance Information Institute put together some numbers on what they term "civil disorders" here in the US. They looked at the most expensive riots for insurers...and discovered that 7 of the costliest civil disorders took place in the 1960s (for a look at the graphic, click this link: www.iii.org/facts_statistics/civil-disorders.html).

Since those 7 events cost insurance companies quite a bit of money (if you look at the graphic, remember those numbers are in the millions) they were reluctant to insure homes in high-risk areas. To the people living and working in those areas, it seemed unfair that they were unable to get insurance because of risk factors that they couldn't often control. As a result, the first Fair Access to Insurance (FAIR) Plans were developed for the purpose of providing insurance protection for those at-risk properties.

A lot of times, we don't know how insurance came to be (rumor has it, it just sort of appeared) so when I come across an explanation for a certain type of coverage I like to share that. It's interesting to know that national events impacted the world of insurance, isn't it?

Are You Ready to Shake, Rattle and Roll?

Yesterday's earthquakes on the East Coast and in Colorado were clearly unexpected (and thank goodness the damage wasn't too extensive). Those of us on the West Coast are a little more acclimated, shall we say, to the idea of the earth moving under our feet. We remember rather vividly what to do when a quake starts - go to the nearest doorway, dive under your desk and avoid anything that could fall on you. Despite the fact that we know what to do, the yesterday's pair of earthquakes serve as a reminder that we do need to prepare more than just a sturdy object to "duck and cover" under.

The Seattle PI has a put together a few articles about Washington State's readiness for an earthquake - including the fun fact that Washington is second highest state for earthquake coverage after, of course, California. Here's one article that most homeowners should glance at since it outlines the 5 steps homeowners should take to make their homes quake-safe: http://bit.ly/n6ux0r.

For those of you more interested in where the quakes can happen, this graphic from the US Geological Service shows earthquake risks across the country. Their site also has a lot of information about recent quakes, and possible risks.

While we haven't had a serious earthquake in many years, preparing your home and family for one is increasingly important. We've toughed out a few big quakes in Seattle in the past, so the possibility that we could face another one is very real. If you're like me, the events yesterday on the East Coast and in Colorado got you thinking about what to do to get ready for a bit of shaking. These are just a few resources for you - there are many more out there and I'm sure in the wake of yesterday's seismic activity, there will be an increasing focus in the news on earthquake preparedness.

Looking for Local News? Check Out This Website!

One of the great things about having an office in Dowtown Edmonds is getting to be a part of the community. Whether it's walking to the coffee shop down the street, smelling the food from the Taste of Edmonds or seeing the crowds wandering around during the Third Thursday Art Walks, Edmonds is a pretty cool place to be. Which is why I feel like sharing a great local news site would be beneficial for those of you not-so-close to the heart of Edmonds.

The website, www.myedmondsnews.com, is "an online gathering place for neighbors and friends". With a community calendar as well as news articles, the site is a great resource for anyone new to Edmonds or looking to see what's happening around town.

Check it out and if you have any other cool, local news sites to share let us know! We are always looking to see what is happening in the area!

Top Tips for Teen Drivers

For many teens, getting their driver's license is a major milestone; but the privilege of being able to drive requires a good amount of responsiblity. Learning to judge situations and really feel comfortable about maneuvering the roads does take some time. To ease some of that learning curve, I've put together a few tips for brand-new drivers to help guide them through the first years of taking the wheel. Feel free to add any tips of your own!

General Driving Tips:

• Maintain your car. Bald tires, a slipping transmission or a hesitant engine could lead to accidents.


• When driving to a new place, get complete directions before you go. Figure out what exits you need to take and what turns to make beforehand. One visitor hit a divider at an exit ramp location after being told too late tat this was the place to get off the highway.


• Drive into your garage straight, not at an angle. Another teen thought her car would straighten out before she got inside, but instead she denter the car and broke the moulding on the garage.


• Don't drive like you own the road. Drive like you own the car.


• Make sure your windshield is clean. At sunrise and sunset the light reflecting off of your dirty windshield can momentarily blind you from seeing what's going on.


• Don't blast the radio. You might miss hearing a siren or horn that could warn you of possible trouble.


• Don't make assumptions about what other drivers are going to do. The only thing you can assume about another driver with a turn signal on is that he has his turn signal on.

Driving in Bad Weather:

• Keep your windows and windshields clear and make sure your wipers are working. Visibiltiy is especially important in inclement weather.


• Braking in bad weather can be tricky, Be sure you know how long it takes you to stop on slippery roads, and how to handle your braking system.


• Watch for danger spots ahead - you've probably heard that bridges and overpasses freeze before roads do. Be sure you keep an eye out for those ahead.


• If you're stuck in the ice or the snow, try putting your floor mats under the edge of the tire to give them traction.

Tips for Parking Lots:

• Backing out in crowded parking lots can be tricky. If there are perpendicular spaces available see if you can find one you can pull straight out of as opposed to bakcing out.


• Don't leave valuables like wallets, shoes, leather jackets or sports equipment in your car where they can be seen because they invite break-ins.


• Be sure to go slowly and exercise extra caution in parking lots.

And, finally, the "Five Golden Rules" of Safe Driving:

1. Seatbelts. Everyone must wear them all the time.


2. Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.


3. Drive defensively.


4. Don't break the law.


5. Pay attention. Don't use your cell phone, and don't take your eyes off the road.

If you need more information about teen driving tips, and how that brand-new driver can affect your insurance visit www.mcdonaldmcgarry.com/research-center/real-life-situations/teen-will-drive-soon where we've compiled information to help clarify how a teenage driver impacts your insurance plan.

Movies Under the Stars!

One of the great traditions of summer is the outdoor movie. You bring a blanket, a picnic, and, yes, even a jacket and settle in for a classic movie. Tonight, the City of Edmonds is showing the first of their two outdoor movies this summer: "Horton Hears a Who".

At dusk, an inflatable movie screen will be set up on the field at the Frances Anderson Center and the film will start. Bring family and friends to this blockbuster film. And if you can't make it, there's always "Ghostbusters" next weekend, or google outdoor movies.

The Frances Anderson Center is located at 700 Main Street in Edmonds (same venue as the Edmonds Arts Festival).

Let's Get Down to Business...

Around here, we like to think of ourselves as your one-stop insurance resource. We've compiled a website with useful information, created a newsletter with tips, tricks and insurance information and we even send out a calendar once a year to help you keep track of your busy life. But what we don't often mention is that we insure families, cars, homes AND businesses.

Many of our clients insure their personal lives and their professional lives with our office. Because they do, we can make sure that there aren't any dangerous gaps in their coverages. If you are willing to trust us with your family, wouldn't you trust us with your business? And we'd like to think the reverse would hold true as well.

Basically, if you are one of our business clients, we'd welcome the opportunity to see if we can protect your home, autos and family with the same care and consideration we have for your business. And if you own a business, or are thinking of starting your own company, let us know! We'd be more than happy to look through any protection options we can provide for you.

When You Travel Do You Need Special Insurance?

With the political climate in some countries and the financial implications or traveling to others, people are more aware of travel risks. One question that comes up repeatedly is the need for travel insurance. When traveling abroad, this issue takes on a new kind of importance. There are two primary types of travel-related coverage: one that is common called "travel insurance" and covers the cost of cancelled or interrupted travel, and can often reimburse unexpected expenses for changes in travel plans. The second type of coverage is for medical costs, should you become ill while outside the United States.

Fortunately for travelers, the option to buy travel coverage is abundant...when you book flights, hotels, tours and rental cars you are often offered the travel insurance. Unfortunately, the explanations those venues offer are often less clear. Here's what Trusted Choice, an insurance association and resource, has to say about travel insurance in their article "When You Travel, Do You Need Special Insurance?":

"Travel insurance covers the loss of the prepaid travel costs of a trip should it be canceled, interrupted, or postponed. It also can reimburse unexpected expenses incurred due to a sudden change in travel plans due to illness or other causes. Specialty medical coverage protects against personal insurance risks when someone is outside the United States.

Travelers can buy travel coverage in conjunction with their travel tour, hotel bookings or flight reservations. It's also available from providers that specialize in the international insurance market. For example, Continental, a major international airline, offers trip cancellation and interruption coverage through its reservations website. The coverage reimburses the travel for "prepaid, unused, non-refundable travel expenses should your trip be cancelled or interrupted due to any covered reason." Such reasons include: inclement weather, an unexpected illness, death of a traveler, and travel delays.

Trip Interruption insurance is another variation. It can provide reimbursement for extra food and lodgings if a traveler becomes ill during the course of a trip. Some plans cover medical costs. Trip delay insurance covers expenses a traveler incurs in resuming a planned trip or returning home after being quarantined in another county. Often, these various coverages are bundled and sold together in a package.

Short-term medical insurance may be appropriate for the millions of U.S. residents who travel outside the U.S. every year. Those who travel outside of America may be going beyond the boundaries of their medical insurance without knowing it, according to Clements International, a provider of international insurance policies.

The unpredictable nature of the spreading of swine flu that began in April 2009 has heightened awareness of health risks while traveling around the world. Travelers may wish to consider short-term medical insurance if they're traveling outside of the United States for an extended vacation or business trip. To determine whether it's necessary, it's advisable to check if a domestic health insurance policy covers out-of-country travel. If not, short-term medical insurance provides coverage for illnesses or medical evacuations that occur while traveling outside of the United States."

Often international travelers face the same insurance risks while outside the country that they do stateside, but those insurance policies may not transfer exactly. It is always best to double check your policies to make sure they are covering you when and where you'll be going. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to give us a call!

Uninsured Drivers Are on the Rise

In case you haven't noticed, the economy is in a downturn. While we've all heard about the loss of jobs, the falling housing prices in some areas, and the general malaise of the financial forecast, there is another downside to today's economic climate. Unfortunately, more and more drivers are driving uninsured, or underinsured.

According to a recent study from Insurance Research Council, about one in six drivers across the United States may be driving uninsured. If you look around you on any given day, how many drivers could be on the road with you without enough insurance protection? This means responsible drivers who purchase insurance that is appropriate for their situation may end up paying for injuries caused by uninsured drivers.

If you haven't reviewed your liability coverages lately, now might be a good time to revisit them. We are always more than happy to look over your auto policy to make sure that you have the coverage you need on today's roads. And we can often increase your coverages without a significant increase in premiums. Just let us know!