Keene Pumpkin Festival is getting some extra media attention from the national cable channel HGTV.  Drew Scott from the hit show Property Brothers will be traveling to Keene, NH for The Keene Pumpkin Festival, while his twin brother Jonathan Scott will be traveling to Highwood, Illinois for The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival. 

Each brother will be trying to help their respective town reach their goal of setting the Guinness World Record for The Most Lit Jack–O–Lanterns In One Location.  This competition dubbed Pumpkin Wars will be broadcast on October 31st on HGTV at 9pm.

This competition must be a bit of a sore spot for Highwood, Illinois.  In 2011 it was widely reported in Illinois news, and even nationally, that they broke the world record at the Highland Pumpkin Fest.  Unfortunately according to the Guinness Book of World Records this was not the case.  I contacted Guinness World Records regarding the current record and this was their response:

“Hi Cate, thanks for the question. The current record is:

The record for the most lit Jack-o’-lanterns on display is 30,128 in an event organised by Camp Sunshine at the Life is good Pumpkin Festival in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, on 21 October 2006.

Highwood may have had a large number of pumpkins displayed last year, but we have not received a suitable claim for this, so the 2006 record stands. Prior to the current record, Keene held it 5 times beginning in 1996.”

So it is questionable how many pumpkins The Highland Pumpkin Fest 2011 did display but there is no doubt that it was a close call.   Last year, The Keene Pumpkin Fest 2011 was only able to display 16,186 pumpkins.  They would need to almost double their participation in order to beat the the current record of 30,128 pumpkins.

The Keene Pumpkin Fest has been a local favorite for the past 20 years in Keene, NH and was almost lost due to a lack of resources.  It was saved by the creation of a non-profit organization, Let it Shine, Inc. Their one and only purpose is to continue the magical pumpkin tradition for Keene, NH. 

Sterling Design and Communications has been tasked to manage this years hyped up festival.  The additional pressure of competing on a national stage and the addition of new events has not kept them preparing for a fantastic show.  They have done an exceptional job and and we should expect one of the grandest Pumpkin Fests to date.

This year’s Keene Pumpkin Fest has a busy schedule and is adding may new events such as The Great Pumpkin Mile Race that will run through the pumpkin lined streets of Keene.  Also a children’s costume contest, pumpkin bowling, food and craft vendors, and the Pumpkin Dump Derby a race to clean up all the pumpkins with competing cleanup teams.

This is for sure an exciting time for the Keene Community.  I can’t wait to see how many pumpkins they can crank out this year!  Don’t miss Pumpkin Wars that will air on HGTV on Halloween, October 31st at 9pm. 

Massachusetts State Fire Marchall Steven Coan states that this new law is in response to the many mulch fires in MA that spread to buildings, and have unfortunately caused tremendous damage.  One example is the 2008 apartment complex fire in Peabody, due to a cigarette that was discarded in mulch next to the building, that cause 7 Million dollars of damage.

This type of fire is preventable and should be taken very seriously.  At Downey Insurance we have seen the devastation that a building fire can cause, and the disruption to your business that may follow.  Most business insurance policies have an endorsement available called business interruption that will help cover you in the event of this type of tragedy.

To request for a professional insurance review please visit our website at www.downeyinsurance.com or call us at 888-875-7539.

The NCCI, the National Council on Compensation Insurance, recently released their plan to change the Primary/Excess Split Point Rating System for Workers Compensation Insurance in the United States. This new system is slated to take effect January 2013 in most states, and is planned to be fully implemented over the next 3 years. Some states such as Massachusetts have an independent rating bureau that most likely will be implementing a similar system. This new system will change the way Experience Modifications Factors are calculated for every Workers Compensation Policy.

How It Works

In the process of experience rating, each loss is divided into a primary and excess portion, depending the the amount of the loss. Currently, the split point is $5,000. So for any one claim, the amount under $5,000 would be considered primary, and the remainder over $5,000 would be considered the excess portion. So using the current rates, a $20,000 loss would have a $5,000 primary loss, and $15,000 in excess loss. Any loss under the $5,000 split point would only be considered primary.

All primary losses are given full weight in the experience rating process, and excess losses are given a reduced factor. The rational for this type of rating is as follows… When an organization has a large primary loss history, it is usually the result of many small claims indicating a larger frequency of losses, which signifies an increased risk of future losses. One severe excess loss is not nessasrly equivalent to the same risk level for future losses, as the frequency of primairy losses.

For example, if a company has 1 large loss due to a non-frequent injury or accident, this will be given less weight dollar for dollar over the split point rating figure than a company that had 6 consecutive smaller losses. The frequency of the 6 losses is considered more of a risk factor for a major or castistrofic loss down the road. So the primary loss figures reflects the frequesncy of losses, and the excess loss figures reflects severity.

The New Plan would increase this split point gradually over 3 years from $5,000 to 15,000. Year 1 would be the largest increase to $10,000, year 2 would increase to $13.500, then year three would take it to the full $15,000.

Why Is This Change Being Made?

This change is being made to bring the rating system up to date with the crrent claim environment, to account for claims inflation. The last change that was made to this system was two decades ago. Since this change, the average cost per Workers Compensation insurance claim has tripled. So this has reduced the effectiveness of this type of split point rating. The system has move more toward an all-risk average, instead of reflecting the insureds actual claims experience.

So Will the Price of My Policy Go Up or Down?

That depends on your prior loss history. If you have small losses under the current $5,000 limit you may see a reduction in your experience rating. If you have losses that fall between the current $5,000 and the proposed $15,000 eventual limit, or above, you may see an increase. It is difficult to say without exact underwriting and rating figures.

If you have any questions regarding your current Workers Compensation Policy, or if you would like us to take a look at your insurance program, please visit our website www.downeyinsurance.com for details.

I hope everyone is staying cool and having some fun this summer! To continue our Summer Fun Series this week I wanted to highlight a New England favorite: Whale Watching. I recently had the pleasure of taking a whale watch with my family. It had been a very long time and honestly I was not expecting the level of excitement that we experienced. The children were especially excited but I also found myself running from one side of the boat to the other to catch a glimpse of one of the 5 whales that graced us with their presence.

The boat ride was comfortable, with snacks and coffee available and an inner seating area to take a break from the sun and wind which makes things comfortable. Our boat left from Provincetown, Massachusetts but there are other ports along the coast that offer Whale Watching trips that you could explore. But, I highly recommend The Dolphin Fleet if you are going to be in the Cape Cod area. The Dolphin Fleet has a naturalist on ever boat that narrates the trip with facts about whales and about the marine ecosystem that keeps everyone engaged and entertained through the trip.

Over all our whale watch was a great experience, seeing the whales was amazing but spending time with our family has been the running theme in our summer activities. No matter what you do with your family this summer, enjoy making the memories that are going to last forever.

I hope everyone is staying cool and having some fun this summer! To continue our Summer Fun Series this week I wanted to highlight a New England favorite: Whale Watching. I recently had the pleasure of taking a whale watch with my family. It had been a very long time and honestly I was not expecting the level of excitement that we experienced. The children were especially excited but I also found myself running from one side of the boat to the other to catch a glimpse of one of the 5 whales that graced us with their presence.

The boat ride was comfortable, with snacks and coffee available and an inner seating area to take a break from the sun and wind which makes things comfortable. Our boat left from Provincetown, Massachusetts but there are other ports along the coast that offer Whale Watching trips that you could explore. But, I highly recommend The Dolphin Fleet if you are going to be in the Cape Cod area. The Dolphin Fleet has a naturalist on ever boat that narrates the trip with facts about whales and about the marine ecosystem that keeps everyone engaged and entertained through the trip.
Over all our whale watch was a great experience, seeing the whales was amazing but spending time with our family has been the running theme in our summer activities. No matter what you do with your family this summer, enjoy making the memories that are going to last forever.
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In conjunction with our Summer Fun Blog Series here at Great Insurance People, Downey insurance is running a Photo Contest for our fans on our Facebook Page for a chance to win a $50 Prepaid VISA Card to help you celebrate your fun filled summer memories!

Check out our Summer Fun Photo Contest on our Facebook Page!

This contest will be open for entries through August 31, 2012 and voting will remain open through September 14th, 2012.  The photo with the most “Likes” wins, the winner will be announced via our Facebook Page.

To Enter: Before August 31, 2012 send a Direct Message of your photo and the location it was taken to Catie Downey Potenza-Downey Ins, or send an email to Catie@Downeyinsurance.com and include a link to your Facebook page so we can tag you. Please make sure you are a current fan for eligibility.  When “Sharing” you photo please make sure to ask your friends to click through to the Album to vote, only “likes” in the Summer Fun Photo Contest – 2012 Album will be counted.

To Vote: “Like” your favorite picture in our Album!  There is no restriction on the number of photos you can vote for.  Pleas make sure you are a current fan of our page for voting eligibility.

Welcome to the Downey Insurance Group’s Summer Fun Series!  This summer we thought it would be a blast to highlight some of the exciting summer destinations and activity’s that New England has to offer.

This week’s adventure: Visit a New England ski resort for summer fun! 

Most of us would not think of visiting a winter playground in the summer but most New England Ski resorts have a tremendous amount to offer for summer fun.  You can ride a zip line, take a gondola ride, swim, kayak, canoe, hike, mini-golf, rent ATVs, horseback ride, ride a luge track, take a tour on a Segway, and so much more!   If you think about it why wouldn’t they take advantage of the summer months in New England?   We have beautiful weather, clean crisp air, and some of the best views around!

Two of my favorite options would be Smugglers Notch in Smugglers Notch, VT and Sunday River in Newry, ME.  Smugglers Notch offers a water park and a skate park that is enjoyed by many kids visiting from all over New England and the world.  Sunday River has one of the most unique mining tours that leads to the world’s largest beryl crystal!  Every resort has its own unique feel and options for fun, a trait that applies to  everything New England making the north east one of the most interesting summer destinations.

As you can see New England Ski resorts have WAY more to offer than winter skiing.  Many have camping options on-site or nearby or visit a cozy bed and breakfast.   All of this makes for a very affordable vacation or weekend trip that also supports our local economy.  Boston.com has put
together a very comprehensive list of resorts here.

If you do visit and love it, let us know!  We would love to hear about it and know we inspired someone.  Happy summer from Downey Insurance Group!

Image courtesy of I Am Vermont Strong Faceebook Page

The state of Vermont and the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles has approved the use of the “I Am Vermont Strong” license plate for Vermonters. The plate may be displayed over your current Vermont registration on the front bumper of your vehicle through June 30^th 2014.

You may pre-order your one of 10,000 license plates for $25, for shipment on 2/1/2012. More license plates may be created if there is a strong demand, but pre-ordering will get you on the list for the first edition.

The idea for the plates arose the of the “I Am Vermont Strong” movement that was started by Lyz Tomsuden and Eric Mallete of Rutland, VT. Originally “I am Vermont Strong” started as a Facebook photo that went viral. Vermonters loved the message so much that they started requesting t-shirts by the hundreds. So far they have sold over 4,500 t-shirts to Vermonters and Vermont supporters.

“I am Vermont Strong” will be donating $18 to the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund, and $2 to the Vermont Food bank for every license plate sold. Irene cause so much damage to the state of Vermont and donations are starting to decline, new sources of revenue for the relief funds can only help our cause. The resiliency and resourcefulness of our people never cease to amaze me as we travel on this journey to recovery.

To Pre-Order Your “I am Vermont Strong” plate you may do so through Vermont Life, and to read more about the “I am Vermont Strong” movement check out their website http://vtstrong.vermont.gov/ or Facebook Page.

Looking around Flat Street it is hard to envision what it looked like during the flood.  We found this video on You Tube, we don’t know this guy but I would like to thank him for this crazy footage of Flat Street during the flood.  Check out this video of our office building being ravaged by the flood waters…

To get the whole story read our first Flood Blog post.

There is something magical that happens when you turn a pumpkin into a Jack O’ Lantern or other carved masterpiece.  It is something of a tradition in our family, and every year our creations tend to get more and more elaborate.  This year’s pumpkins are pretty mild compared to some we have done in the past.  It is something our whole family looks forward to in the fall, for us it marks the beginning of the change in seasons we experience here in New England.  Nothing says “fall” to us more than cool crisp air, changing leaves, and a freshly carved pumpkin.  We have come up with some great tips over the years that make for a fun and rewarding pumpkin carving experience. I am happy to share them with our fellow pumpkin carving enthusiasts.

1.) Pick the perfect pumpkin.  It should have a good surface for carving.  Make sure there are no deep ridges or bumps that will make carving difficult.  Keep in mind the size of the carving you are considering.  You want to make sure you have enough height to fit your design.

2.) Choose a design to carve.  There are many kits available that come with pumpkin carving stencils and utensils.  I highly recommend these kits for a professional look that can be created by almost anyone.  They come with many stencil designs that vary from easy to difficult, so there are many different options and degrees of difficulty to choose from.  You also can make your own stencil, or draw freehand on the pumpkin with a Sharpie or other permanent marker.

3.) Prepare your pumpkin for carving.  Cut an access hole in your pumpkin at the top around the stem.  Make sure you do not cut too far down the carving surface of the pumpkin.  Cutting about 2 inches from the stem all the way around usually work well, make sure to angle your cut slightly inward so your top will not fall in when replaced.  Then scoop out the insides of the pumpkin.  If you save the seeds they are great for roasting for a tasty snack (wash the seeds thoroughly, salt lightly, and then bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes).  After you have scooped out the inside of the pumpkin, choose which surface of the pumpkin you will carve.  If your pumpkin is really thick, it is a good idea to scrape down the inside of the pumpkin where you will carve it.  This makes carving difficult designs a little easier.

4.) Transfer your design.  If you are drawing your own design, then go for it.  Just make sure you do not draw where you will not be cutting.  For example, if you are cutting a smile with teeth do not draw the smile first then add the teeth because you will have a black line across your tooth!  If you are using a paper design, tape your stencil onto your pumpkin.  Sometimes you have to fold the paper around the edges to make it fit to the round surface of your pumpkin.   Pumpkin carving kits come with a tool to transfer your design by poking small holes along the cutting lines.  You could also use a toothpick.

5.) Carve your pumpkin.  Using your knife (serrated works best) or pumpkin carving tool, connect the dots of your stencil to cut out your design.  Working in small sections works best.  If you have a large piece to cut out, sometimes it is a good idea to do it in smaller sections, especially if it  is an intricate design.  Don’t be afraid to go back and scrape down the wall of the pumpkin where you are carving, this can make the process much easier if you are struggling!  Another great tip is to let the tool do the work, just like cutting a loaf of bread, let the serration of the tool cut through the pumpkin.  It will be much easier to control your tool if you are not putting a lot of pressure on it.

6.) Light and enjoy.  Tea lights work best because they are encased in metal and they will not burn or melt wax into your pumpkin.  Lastly, light up your pumpkin and display it so it can be enjoyed for the work of art that it is!

Unlike some of the businesses in the area, it is crucial for Downey Insurance Group to maintain complete functionally during this crisis due to the nature of our business. We are responsible for filing claims for our clients during this difficult time.  We are simultaneously working on our own claim for Downey’s Brattleboro office that is currently still unreachable due to flooding conditions.  We have re-routed our phone lines to our only fully operational location in Keene, NH where we currently have power, internet, and phone.   Our Marlborough, MA office is semi-functional  with power and phone, but no internet.  Thankfully as part of our Emergency Management Plan we have the capacity to handle this type of  situation with lists of phone and fax numbers for our insurance companies and paper claims forms.

Charlie Downey sprang into action this morning by driving up to Brattleboro, VT through the devastation zone to reach out to the community to find a temporary office space to house our Brattleboro, VT during the cleanup.  The rest of our team at Downey Insurance is working feverishly to file claims for our clients and to help the people during their time of need.  The teamwork and quick action of the Downey Insurance Group family have made this all possible.