Insurance

Usage Based Auto Insurance.As a certified Progressive Insurance Snapshot agency, here is how it works:

Plug -Day 1The Snapshot device fits right into a little port in your car, generally located below the steering wheel.

Drive – Days 1-30Progressive  looks at your driving habits to see if you could be saving more. You can track your projected savings online.

Save – Day 31Now your rate is fully personalized; any discount you earned is in full effect. Simple! 

And you can also test drive Snapshot without switching your current auto insurance! How? Just call us and it will take 5 minutes to sign you up for a test drive 

EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

Talk to your children about texting and driving. And please set an good example yourself while behind the wheel, and don’t driving distracted. 

Key Facts and Statistics
The number of people killed in distraction-affected crashes decreased slightly from 3,360 in 2011 to 3,328 in 2012. An estimated 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, this was a nine percent increase from the estimated 387,000 people injured in 2011.
As of December 2012, 171.3 billion text messages were sent in the US (includes PR, the Territories, and Guam) every month.(CTIA)
10% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.
Drivers in their 20s make up 27 percent of the distracted drivers in fatal crashes. (NHTSA)
At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010.(NOPUS)
Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times. (VTTI)
Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. (2009, VTTI)
Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use. (VTTI)
A quarter of teens respond to a text message once or more every time they drive. 20 percent of teens and 10 percent of parents admit that they have extended, multi-message text conversations while driving. (UMTRI) 

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Yes, there is a day designated as “Cheeseburger Day.” And you might ask what type of burger does a vegetarian eat on this or any other day?A veggie burger of course. Here is one of my favorite:Black Bean-Quinoa Burgers   Serves 8This a delicious veggie burger you can whip up from scratch. Any steak seasoning (which is just a combination of herbs and spices) will work to give the patties a rich, hearty flavor.  These are great and easy cookouts; bake the patties ahead, and then reheat them on the grill. Serve with your favorite burger fixings.

½ cup quinoa

1 small onion, finely chopped (1 cup)

6 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped (¼ cup)

1½ cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained, divided

2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)

2 tsp. dried steak seasoning

8 whole-grain hamburger buns

Your cheese of choice

1. Stir together quinoa (be sure you’ve rinsed your quinoa) and 1½ cups water in small saucepan, and season with salt, if desired. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. (You should have 1½ cups cooked quinoa.) 2. Meanwhile, place onion and sun-dried tomatoes in medium nonstick skillet, and cook over medium heat. (The oil left on the tomatoes should be enough to sauté the onion.) Cook 3 to 4 minutes or until onion has softened. Stir in ¾ cup black beans, garlic, steak seasoning, and 1½ cups water. Simmer 9 to 11 minutes or until most of liquid has evaporated. 3. Transfer bean-onion mixture to food processor, add ¾ cup cooked quinoa, and process until smooth. Transfer to bowl, and stir in remaining ¾ cup quinoa and remaining ¾ cup black beans. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and cool. 4. Preheat oven to 350°F, and generously coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Shape bean mixture into 8 patties (½ cup each), and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, or until patties are crisp on top. Flip patties with spatula, and bake 10 minutes more, or until both sides are crisp and brown. And don’t forget to add your favorite cheese. Serve on buns.Let me know how you like this recipeCecil WilliamsEMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

Constitution Day falls on 17th September, the anniversary of the official signing of the US constitution in 1787. The document stood as the result of tireless work and compromise between the delegates of the Constitutional Convention – basically to bring about an agreement between the states which would allow a central government the power to enforce its decisions and allow the USA to stand as an international force, while maintaining a reasonable level of independence within the separate states. See more on The History Channel –  The U.S. Constitution.EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884

Make and model are among the most important factors insurance companies consider when offering quotes.

Other features of that car you’re desiring matter too. Consider the following in mind when selecting a new car to buy:What your car says about your driving habits. Parents of young children often go for reliable minivans and smaller SUVs, and their safe driving habits mean savings for all. Sports car fans, on the other hand, are usually in it for the speed and performance, and rates on those types of cars show it.
The latest model will cost more to insure. Buying last year’s model may lose you a style point or two, but it can help you save on car insurance.
Check the safety records. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers invaluable info on model safety and the National Insurance Crime Bureau releases yearly reports on the most-stolen cars. Rates for cars with poor safety histories and frequent thefts will be higher.
Consider adding safety features. Things like antilock brakes and LoJack security systems can help you lock in significant discounts.
Consider a hybrid. While hybrids feature parts and systems that can be expensive to repair or replace, their drivers tend to be safety-conscious, leading to lower rates.
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I saw Charlie Pride, Johnny Cash and other oldtimers perform at the Grand Ole Opry while in school in Nashville, Yes, I do have country music in my digital collection. Do you?Country music is one of the most popular types of music in the world and this special type of music originated in the USA. International Country Music Day was established in the 1950s and is held each year on September 17th.

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It does not have any particularly poetic origin (expect maybe the avocados growers had something to do with it), but Guacamole Day is a terrific excuse to indulge in the tastiest of dipsThere are some weeks that I have guacamole at least twice during that week, and I always have it at least once a month. It’s easy to prepare, taste great, and it quite healthy (when eaten in moderation). OK, grab some avocados and impress your household or friends today and this weekend with this simple and easy recipe.GUACAMOLE Ingredients

3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled

1 lime, juiced

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 medium onion, diced

1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

1 clove garlic, minced

DirectionsIn a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the onions, jalapeno, tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve. Cecil B. Williams EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY 904-677-5448

With gasoline prices reaching new heights on a weekly basis, perhaps the most important information you can have is how to make your gas last longer and how to find the lowest prices.  Try filling up on Wednesdays. Oftentimes, gas stations will hike their prices beginning on Thursdays to take advantage of weekend travelers. Though this may not be true every single week, it is usually the case before a holiday weekend.  Whether you fill up on Wednesday or any other day, try doing so between 8 am and 10 am. Gas station managers often check the competition’s prices in the morning and they’re likely to raise their own prices between 10 am and noon if prices are trending upwards. 

Apart from pumping gas at specific times, there are other ways to conserve gas and therefore save money. Try the following gas-saving tips:

Avoid gasoline with ethanol, whenever possible, because ethanol stores less energy than pure gasoline.

Use the cheapest unleaded fuel that will allow your car to run well.

Make sure your tires have the right amount of air in them.

Avoid idling for more than a minute, even if that means turning off your engine while you wait for a traffic light to turn green.

Coast as much as possible and avoid sudden starts and stops.

Don’t weigh your car down with things you don’t need, especially rooftop carriers, which can cut your mileage by as much as 15%. In a test conducted by Consumer Reports, a rooftop carrier lowered the gas mileage of a Toyota Camry traveling at 65 mph from 35 miles per gallon to 29.

EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY904-677-5884