Fighting Cancer

Not all stem cells are good cells. Researchers have recently found a way to target harmful stem cells in patients suffering from breast cancer.

Using chemotherapy and a newly developed drug the team at Baylor College of Medicine is finding that relapses can be better prevented by targetting these cancer-causing stem cells instead of just the main tumors. Studies in mice and a small group of women have shown the promise of this technique.

Curing breast-cancer won't happen all at once, but hopefully these breakthroughs mark another step forward in battling this enemy.
source

True Love

How much are parents worth? For newly-married Julie Robson the answer would be "priceless."

While most of us appreciate and love our parents, very few have received a kidney transplant from a parent. After receiving a kidney transplant from her father 10 years ago, Julie's body rejected it on the eve of her wedding. Rather than having to endure dialysis for the rest of her life, Julie was able to receive a second transplant from her mother.

Julie was able to re-schedule her wedding and the surgery was a great success. Thanks to medical science and a lot of love, she will be able to enjoy her life. The love of a parent is always priceless. Our local agency can't offer you that kind of love, but we can promise to be there when life is unexpected. Give us a call today and ask about how our competitive insurance rates can help your family.
source

Canine Rescue

80 year-old Paul Paff can now be sure that dogs really are "man's best friend."

The elderly man had a close call on September 22 when he went to inspect the septic tank behind his house. "I had seen this square hole. I knew it was above the septic tank and looked up and was trying to look into it," he recalled, right before the ground beneath him collapsed, sending him to the bottom of a 15-foot well.

After hours of being stuck knee-deep in cold mud and water Paff heard the sound of a dog barking. He barked back, trying to get the dog's attention. Eventually the dog was able to alert neighbors who brought rescue personnel to the scene.
source

Lost Cash Looking for Owner

What would you do if three-thousand dollars fell from the sky?

This Tuesday a pile of bills adding up to $3200 dollars showed up at a local recycling plant in Sunnyvale, California. Reports are pouring in from across California and the rest of the country about misplaced cash stuffed in boxes, pantries, and cans of shaving cream.

It's up to the police to sift through the competing claims and find one that can be fully proven, otherwise the money will be placed in the city's general fund. The excitement around this story demonstrates just how rare it is for money to "fall from the sky." True wealth is built up slowly and steadily. Talk to us, your local agent about how you can save money on your insurance premiums today and keep your belongings more secure than a stash of cash.
source

A Helping Hand

Americans love to give and now Taiwanese-Americans in the Bay Area are finding an urgent cause to give to their friends and distant relatives in Taiwan.

Typhoon Morakot devasted the small island nation of Taiwan for a three-day period earlier this August. The local population experienced horrific mudslides, flooding, and more than 400 deaths. The typhoon reached record limits and is considered the worst typhoon to hit the island in 50 years.

The Taiwanese-American Center in San Jose is focused on raising half a million dollars to aid victims of the typhoon, mainly through benefit concerts. Caring for those in need is a universal urge, and their efforts should be applauded. When disaster strikes, people want to know that they can be helped so that life can return to normal. Talk to us, your local agent and ask us about how you can be ready for the next big flood or storm in your area; don't expect the worst, but do expect quality service and a helping hand when things get rough.
source

A year after Ike, are you ready?

Hurricane Season has begun, and severe weather will threaten most areas located along the Gulf Coast. The National Weather Center is predicting at least 15 named storms this year. Due to the unpredictable nature of hurricanes and tropical storms, it is imperative to have a plan now to protect your home, family and pets. Even though the season has been slow so far things are changing fast. Some of the United States worst hurricane seasons started off slow.


Hurricane Ike made everyone realize that we need to be more prepared when trying to evacuate before the storm and survive after. To start your Tropical Storm plan you need to have multiple evacuation routes or a place to stay. It is good to know where the nearest official shelter and Red Cross are in case you need help before, during and after a storm. Always think about your animals and make sure you have a place for them to go in case you can’t take them with you.


It is always good to have a “Go Bag” of items that are a necessity for survival for you and your family. Your “Go Bag” should be able to be taken with you at any time you need to evacuate the home. Some of the items in my “Go Bag” are a first aid kit, flashlight, lighters, knife, clean drinking water, non perishable food, any medications and a battery operated radio. My “Go Bag” is in the closet and all I need to add is food, water, prescriptions and any important documents, and I am ready to go. My animals have their own “Go Bag” loaded up with leashes and a small first aid kit. The only items I will need to add to their bag is food, water and prescriptions. The “Go Bag” can be a plastic storage bin or even a backpack. Make sure you don’t get to big of a storage bin that you can’t carry it easily.


When your family makes the decision to not evacuate it is good to have enough supplies for up to a week per person. Each person in your home will need one gallon of clean drinking water per day and plenty of food. Make sure and have some tools in a place you can find them. You’ll never know when you might need to make a quick fix to keep the house together. Remember, the electricity will probably be out so you will need a manual can opener, a lighter for cooking and a lantern or flashlight. Mosquito and bug spray will be ideal since you will probably be outdoors cleaning up debris. We can not rely on the Red Cross and Government to provide food and water to everyone. Be prepared!


Today, you need to read your flood and home policies to understand the coverage. Flood and home insurance does not cover everything you think it does. Make sure your insurance amounts are based on the current reconstruction cost. A 2,000 square foot home might sell for $135,000 but would need coverage at $175,000 or higher to be reconstructed. Remember the insurance company is not going to buy your home but they are going to remove all debris and reconstruct the home with new materials. Many agents are selling people inferior policies just to make some money. Make sure you know what is going on with your insurance.
Now is the time!

3000 miles to a World Record

Few would dare to undertake a voyage around the world. Fewer still would be confident in their teenage son taking aim at the record for the youngest solo sailing trip around the world.

Mike Perham, a 16 year-old from England with immense talent and ambition, is seeking to break a recent record set by a young American, Zac Sunderland. Mike isn't undertaking his trip solely for glory, however. He's using the trip as a fundraising tool for two of his favorite charities (see Mike's blog for more details).

Mike is a veteran yachtsman and despite delays he is now only 15 days from completing his global voyage and making a mark in the record books.

Reaching for your goals isn't easy, but with hard-work and support it can be done. Talk to us, your local agent, about your dreams. Whatever they are, we'll be there by your side, protecting what matters so that you can reach your goals.
source

Living Well

Good friends can be hard to come by, but Fredericksburg, Virginia, resident Larry Haubner has friends willing to make sure he spends the rest of his long life in comfort.

Larry is a senior citizen who maintains a vigorous excercise routine. More precisely Larry is 107 years old, and almost too healthy for his own good. Social security and money from his life savings kept him comfortably housed at Greenfield Assisted Living until 2007. Larry's friends and the community rallied to make up the difference.

Today Larry faces a similar crisis as the previous fundraising has run dry. This time the community has expanded the call to the internet and Facebook.

Larry's story is a reminder that while life can be short, friendships can be enduring. Larry has touched many lives through his warm personality and charm and now his life is benefiting from the generosity of others. Life should be about spending time with those who care about you, not worrying about your finances. Get in touch with us, your local agency, today and we'll help you wherever you're at, so you can stop worrying and start living again.
source

Giving Back

Good news may seem hard to come by these days, but for the children of Alexandria, Indiana, this summer will be full of happy memories.

Recent budget cuts at the state and municipal level have forced community pools out of commission. But, where there is a will there is a way and across the country local businesses and individuals have been teaming up to ensure that pools stay open.

Alexandria is a small town of 6,000 residents. Bake sales and other fundraisers brought in over 40,000 dollars needed for maintaining the pool.

When people help their community they feel a sense of pride and wellbeing. As a local insurance agency we are always looking for ways to give back to our community and we will always strive to bring that same feeling of pride and satisfaction to our valued customers.
source

A Challenging Climb

What would cause someone to tackle the legendary Appalachian trail? For Trevor Thomas it was proving to himself that macular degeneration, a form of blindness, would not hold him down.

The rugged Appalachian trail, stretching across 14 eastern states, has often been attempted but rarely completed in whole. Only about 8,000 hikers have made it through the entire 2,175 mile journey. History records that only five of them were blind.

Trevor, an extreme sports enthusiast prior to the onset of his condition, had his very nervous sister drop him off at the trail's start point in Georgia. When his guide didn't show up Trevor was bold enough to ask passing strangers for help navigating the trail. Eventually he found someone willing to guide him through the mountains. Trevor would have the help of many strangers, but his greatest ally was a determined spirit. Injuries and exhaustion dogged him by the end of the hike in Maine. He pushed on and scaled the steep sides of Mount Katahdin, an incredible accomplishment for anyone.

Trevor's story is a good reminder that when life is difficult the best response is not always to run away. Some times we just need a way to see how strong we really are. Like Trevor, you don't have to face hardship alone. Contact us, your local agent, today. We can help you on your journey.
source

Dealing With Disease

When 14-year-old Spencer Lane was diagnosed with Crohn's disease he found a unique way to cope with the frequent symptoms and interruptions to his schoolwork. Spencer and his parents decided to enroll him at the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center, a nearby campus of the Old Dominion University.

Rather than slowing down, this kid is speeding up and tackling a tough problem head on. He's smart enough to keep up in college level courses, but is enrolled part-time in order to manage his symptoms.

Besides his smarts and determination, Spencer is also an activist. Last year Spencer raised more than $6,000 for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

Changes to his diet have reduced the vomiting that is common with the disease. More important than any conventional treatment is the fact that setting goals has allowed Spencer to push through a difficult circumstance and define himself by what he can accomplish, and not by the disease he has.
source

Bet Your Life On It

Confronting the harsh reality of cancer may come in the form of a yellow wristband, pink ribbons, or, in the case of Jon Matthews, a chance to beat the odds in a very literal sense.

The 59 year old British widower placed a bet with a professional booking agency that is more used to dealing with sports than real life or death situations. When Jon told them that placing two bets at odds of 50 to 1 would help motivate him to fight mesothelioma, the agency agreed.

So far Jon has won 10,000 pounds and will be able to double that if he makes it to June 2010. He has promised to donate most of his winnings to charity.

While Jon's story won't serve as advice for everyone facing a crisis, it does illustrate the value of persistence and self-confidence. When you insure what matters you display the same type of confidence by making a bet that you can't lose.
source

FW: Texas Windstorm comes up with funding

 

 

Texas Lawmakers Come Up With TWIA Funding on Last Day of Session   AUSTIN, Texas June 02 (BestWire) — It took legislators until the waning hours of the session, but the state-run Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is now funded — at least for a $2.5 billion storm. What if TWIA needs more than $2.5 billion, enough to cover a 1-in-50 year storm? Texas appears content to cross that bridge only if it gets to it. The industry said it is pleased in stopping the unlimited assessments they were facing as soon as the wind blew this hurricane season, which began June 1. "The very first dollar they needed was coming from the industry," said Joe Woods, regional manager for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. "We had to get out of that. What the state came up with was a rational plan for growth." Texas' last-resort insurer was in financial crisis. It continues to pay claims from Hurricane Ike last September and has depleted the state catastrophe reserve fund. TWIA used up all of the cash it had on hand after Hurricane Dolly in July 2008 and expects $2.7 billion in losses from Ike. The association has assessed its member insurers $530 million (BestWire, Sept. 15, 2008). In a statement, the American Insurance Association called the bill a "reasoned compromise" and said it was "generally pleased" with the outcome of the measure, which changed dramatically as it moved through the legislative process. Here's how the funding breaks down. There is nothing in the cat reserve, but TWIA has about $30 million-$40 million in cash on hand. After that, the first $1 billion in claims will be funded by post-event bonds, funded by TWIA policyholders. "It was important these were post-event bonds," said Woods. "Otherwise, the industry would be dragged down to buy bonds that might not be needed." The next $1 billion will be funded by class 2 bonds, funded by a 70-30 split of surcharges and assessments, respectively. The 10-year bonds carrying 6% interest would amount to about $40 million per year for insurers. Surcharges would be about 2.8% per TWIA policy in the 14 coastal counties. Unlike in the past, insurers cannot look to recoup assessments but the industry can build in the costs in future rates, Woods said. "While the assessments won't be recoupable, ending unlimited assessments and making them post-event only will go a long way toward maintaining a healthy insurance market in Texas," said Fred C. Bosse, regional vice president at AIA. Lastly, the remaining $500 million also comes via insurer assessments, funded individually by either financing, reinsurance or self-insurance. The cost to insurers for these class 3 bonds is about $70 million per year. According to the bill, which needs to be signed by the governor, TWIA does not look to be buying any reinsurance, Woods said. Funds not used go toward building up surplus, which will now be untaxed thanks to another proposal in the bill. TWIA will now be declared a nonprofit organization. To accomplish this, the board must be reconfigured so that insurers do not occupy a majority. There will now be four representatives from the industry, three consumer representatives and one agent each from the coast and inland territories. "It will be interesting to see how this board works; how it reacts to rate pressure," Woods said. TWIA will be able to increase rates slightly. Should TWIA need a rate increase of below 5% that does not affect any individual class more than 10%, if can file and use rates. Otherwise, there is an annual rate hearing and the commissioner can either approve or deny the filing, Woods said. No one knows what will happen if TWIA needs more money to pay claims from a storm. Woods said legislators would call a special session to determine the best course of action. Sandra Helin, spokeswoman for the Southwest Insurance Information Service, said TWIA will always pay its claims; the question is whether insurers would be able to recoup losses of additional assessments in this scenario. In 2008, the top writers of homeowners multiperil in Texas, according to A.M. Best Co. state/line product information based on direct premiums written, were State Farm Group, with a 29.6% market share; Allstate Insurance Group, with 14.3%; Farmers Insurance Group, with 13.3%; USAA Group, with 7.7%; and Travelers Group, with 5.2%.

Rapid Rescue

Finally, a heavy-duty crane is around when someone needs it!

17-year old Jordan Loomis and Zachary Word (presumably friends) got a lucky break after an accident in Georgetown Township (a moderately sized city in Michigan, population +45,000). Loomis ended up pinned under the Ford pickup truck after it rolled. Both teens were lucky to have survived, as neither had imagined that a seatbelt would come in handy that Wednesday morning.

A crane operator who happened to be in the area offered his services and helped police and firefighters remove the rolled truck, allowing both teens to quickly recieve medical attention.

This story could have had a much worse ending. The driver of the car that hit the teens was not injured and both young men are "in serious but stable condition" according to the local sheriff.
source

Students Learn Math, Shapes, and Culture

Is math an important aspect of culture? If you were to ask 73 year old artist Esther Mahlangu, she would give you a resounding "Yes!"

Mahlangu, an artist from the Ndebele tribe of South Africa, has been teaching students at that country's largest science museum, the Sci-Bono, how ancient geometric artwork is tied to solving complex mathematical problems. The children of Johannesburg still face major life hurdles; even though they now live in a world free of apartheid, South Africa has a staggering 25% unemployment rate and educational opportunities are still limited for poor blacks.

Esther Mahlangu is a world recognized artist, but her primary concern is with passing on local traditions to disadvantaged youth. Her efforts, and the museum's outreach, are aiming to improve lives through meaningful education.
source

(By the way, the word "bono" in "Sci-Bono" means "vision," no relation to the famous Irish popstar.)

Rare Art Finds Home in Texas

Michelangelo is known to have painted only four oil paintings and now one of them, recently verified, will be on display at the Kimbell Museum of Fort Worth, Texas.

The museum director is calling it "one of the greatest rediscoveries in the history of art." The painting had previously been discredited by the art world and left in the hands of private collectors until last summer when an art dealer--whose sale price to the museum was not disclosed--brought the piece to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and had it examined.

Researchers were able to determine not only the authenticity, but almost the exact age of the painting. Apparently Michelangelo got his start as an art prodigy early, at age 12 or 13. Remember that parents: you may not always appreciate your child's "creativity," but someday it might be famous.

source