Believe it or not, the Insurance Information Institute found that over one-third of all homeowners liability claims in the U. S. in 2015 were from dog bites. And the cost per claim averaged more than $37,000 per bite. That’s over $570 million in damages paid! In New York State, the average cost per claim in […]
August 28, 2018
We are pleased to announce that Stephanie Northrup has joined our staff as a Commercial Lines Account Manager. She has been in the insurance industry for over 5 years, receiving her broker’s license from the Utica School of Commerce in 2016. President Gary Scalzo said, “We are happy to have Stephanie on board with our […]
August 21, 2018
When most of us think of our lawsuit crazy society, corporate misconduct comes to mind. Law firms advertise on television their expertise with asbestos claims or illnesses caused by certain drugs. And everyone remembers the woman who sued McDonalds after she spilled a hot cup of coffee on her lap. (According to Wikipedia, the suit […]
August 14, 2018
Have you noticed the invasion of wildlife into the Mohawk Valley’s domestic tranquility? One of our friends in Utica told us of a woodchuck taking up residence in his garage. That’s the year after raccoons were born in the rafter of the same garage. And, of course, bird’s nests not only in the garage, but […]
August 7, 2018
Flooding here in the Utica area has become commonplace. Governments and non-profits are doing what they can to help. For example, our local Community Foundation and Oneida County teamed up last year to provide funds after last year’s July 1 flooding. And we published a post widely shared on social media about the value of […]
July 31, 2018
Can this be true? That was our first reaction when we saw the many ways manufacturers are modifying cars to help our seniors drive more safely. So until we get easy access to driverless vehicles, we thought it would be helpful to give you a heads up on what’s available for you or a senior […]
July 20, 2018
Everything is electric! Our Mohawk Valley homes are powered more than ever with sophisticated kitchen appliances, TVs, computers, and home audio systems. Plugs and batteries all over the house. We watch, listen, and cook with the latest equipment as we relax in our “smart” homes. Which makes us all the more susceptible to damage from […]
July 17, 2018
Did you know there were 7,701 motorcycle registrations in Oneida County in 2016? In Herkimer County it was 2,964 and Madison County was 3,058. That’s a lot of bikes on the road during our 6-8 month season. Why ride a motorcycle? People ride for the thrill of it and the heightened enjoyment. In Zen and […]
July 9, 2018
As you probably know, certain fireworks are now legal in Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison Counties. New York State calls the kinds of fireworks you can buy, “Sparkling Devices.” Some of the names they go by are Totally Circus, Pure Fantasy, and Pip Squeak. Sounds like fun! According to NYS law, they must be “ground based […]
June 26, 2018
Many older Central New Yorkers remember back in the day when AM/FM radio and air conditioning were offered only in luxury cars. But satellite radio, phones, GPS, video? Too farfetched to even imagine. Now car buyers get all of that and more in most any new car. A friend of ours told us the other […]
June 19, 2018
