The Murphy Insurance BlogNews, updates and useful tips about insurance products and the insurance industry. We also provide insights on community events, local news and information that affect your everyday life. Enjoy!https://www.dfmurphy.com/blog.aspxNew Year traditions and superstitionshttps://www.dfmurphy.com/blog/PostId/717/New-Year-traditions-and-superstitions.aspxTid BitsThu, 29 Dec 2022 14:00:00 GMT<p>New Year’s Day is the closest thing we have to a worldwide public holiday. Over the years, many traditions and superstitions have grown.<span>  </span>Here are some interesting facts and superstitions that might spark some conversation with friends and family.</p> <p><strong>The famous lowering of the New Year’s Eve Ball in Times Square first happened in 1907.</strong>  It was an illuminated 700 pound iron and wood ball covered with one-hundred 25-watt light bulbs. Today, the ball, designed by Waterford Crystal, is 12 feet in diameter and weighs 11,875 pounds. It’s covered with 2,668 Waterford crystals.</p> <p><strong>* </strong>Dropping the ball was a <strong>practice started in the 1800’s</strong> in England. A "timeball" was dropped daily at one o'clock to allow sailors to synchronize their chronometers. </p> <p><strong>* More vehicles are stolen on New Year’s Day</strong> than on any other holiday according to the <a href="http://www.nicb.org/" target="_blank">NICB</a>.</p> <p><strong>* </strong>Austrian’s consider it <strong>bad luck to eat lobster</strong> on New Year’s because lobsters walk backwards, which might cause your luck to reverse.</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Times_Square_ball.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Happy New Year" src="/Portals/0/Happy%20New%20Year.jpg?ver=2021-01-01-165715-187" style="margin-right: 20px; width: 300px; height: 200px; float: left;" /></a></p> <p><strong>* </strong>All year long visitors to Times Square write their New Year’s wishes on <strong>official pieces of <st1:place w:st="on">Times Square confetti</st1:place></strong>, which are then added to the one ton of confetti that is poured out over the crowd on New Year’s Eve.</p> <p><strong><strong>* </strong>Old Lang Syne</strong> means Old Long Since.</p> <p><strong><strong>* </strong>40%-45% of American’s make one or more resolutions</strong> each year. Most resolutions are to start a new habit than break an old one.</p> <p><strong>* </strong>Italians believe <strong>wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve will bring you luck</strong> in the new year.</p> <p><strong>* </strong>Latinos believe that <strong>holding money in your hand at mdnight will ensure economic prosperity</strong>.</p> <p><strong>* </strong>More than <strong>20% of all champagne bottles</strong> sold in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.A.</st1:place></st1:country-region> are sold in December.</p> <p><strong>* </strong>Around 600 B.C., the ancient Greeks had a tradition of carrying a baby in a basket to honor Dionysus and symbolize his rebirth...starting the <strong>tradition of a baby symbolizing the new year</strong>. </p> <p><strong>* </strong>Brazilian’s <strong>wear white clothes on New Year’s Eve to bring good luck and peace</strong> in the new year.</p> <p><strong>* </strong>Not only are fireworks beautiful to watch, but some believe <strong>setting off fireworks dispels bad spirits </strong>and unpleasant memories.</p> <p>Whatever your new year traditions are, may the year ahead be a happy one. Wishing you much health, happiness and prosperity.</p> 717How to protect your home from water damagehttps://www.dfmurphy.com/blog/PostId/852/How-to-protect-your-home-from-water-damage.aspxTid Bits,Personal InsuranceFri, 09 Nov 2018 19:40:00 GMT<h2>Avoid soggy disasters with these tips</h2> <h3>Water damage and insurance</h3> <p>Different types of water damage are insured by different types of policies.</p> <p><img alt="icicles on roof" src="/Portals/0/icicles%20buildings.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 166px;" title="icicles on roof" />Homeowners and renters insurance provides coverage for burst pipes, wind driven rain and damage resulting from ice dams on your roof. Generally speaking, water that comes from the top down—such as rainfall and burst sprinklers—is covered by a standard homeowners policy.</p> <p>Some policies cover sewer and drain backups, but many do not; however, you can purchase a sewer backup rider to your homeowners or renters coverage.</p> <p>Typically, water that comes from the bottom up—such as an overflowing river—is covered by a separate flood insurance policy, which can be purchased from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and from some private insurers. If you live in a flood prone area, learn more about appropriate coverage.</p> <p>Properly maintaining a home is one of the best ways to prevent water damage from water disasters.</p> <h3>Prevent basement water seepage</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Reseal your basement. </strong>Water in the basement is often caused by cracks in building foundations or floor slabs. If you notice water seepage after heavy rain when you've never had a problem, it may mean that your once-waterproof cement floors and basement walls have deteriorated. Painting vulnerable areas with water sealant can prevent seepage.</li> <li><strong>Make sure water drains away from the building. </strong>Seepage is exacerbated by soil that has settled in a way to make water flow toward the building. After a storm, and especially if the ground is already saturated, rainwater that flows towards the building goes down the outside of the foundation wall potentially through any cracks.</li> <li><strong>Install a backwater valve.</strong> Though less common than other causes of basement water, sewer backups are messy. Learn more about your sewer responsibilities and install and maintain a backwater valve, which allows sewage to go out, but not come back in.</li> </ul> <h3>Maintain and understand your indoor plumbing systems</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Inspect appliance hoses and faucets.</strong> Make it a practice every year to check hoses leading to water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines and refrigerator icemakers. You may also want to invest in a water leak monitoring and shut-off system that can alert you to any leakage issues. Immediately replace any hoses that have cracks or leaks, and replace them all every five to seven years.</li> <li><strong>Inspect showers and tubs. </strong>Check the seal and caulking around showers and tubs to make sure they are watertight and reseal if necessary.</li> <li><strong>When away on vacation,</strong> shut off the water supply to the washing machine and never leave the house while the washer or dishwasher is running.</li> <li><strong>Know the location of the main water shut-off valve in your home.</strong> A damaged hose or a burst pipe can send water racing into your home. Being able to locate and shut off the main water supply quickly will save stress, money and time.</li> <li><strong>Install an emergency pressure release valve in your plumbing system. </strong>This will protect against the increased pressure caused by freezing pipes and can help prevent your pipes from bursting.</li> <li><strong>Check plumbing and heating pipes.</strong> Look closely for cracks and leaks and have any necessary repairs made immediately.</li> </ul> <h3>Repair and protect your home's exterior</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Caulk and seal windows </strong>to guard against water seepage.</li> <li><strong>Inspect your roof</strong> for missing, damaged and aging shingles and make necessary repairs.</li> <li><strong>Check your downspouts. </strong>Remove debris that may have accumulated in downspouts and rain gutters. Position downspouts so that they direct water away from the house.</li> <li><strong>Check sprinklers and irrigation systems </strong>to be sure they are not creating water damage to the walls and foundations of the house. Turn off and drain outside faucets to protect against frozen pipes.</li> <li><strong>Install gutter guards</strong> to prevent gutter clogs and keep water flowing away from the house instead of accumulating on the roof.</li> </ul> <h3>Protect your possessions</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Store off-season and other bulk belongings in waterproof bins</strong>, especially in areas where there are plumbing pipes or that are prone to dampness, such as basements and attics.</li> <li><strong>Never store valuables or memorabilia where there is risk of destruction from water. </strong>Water and damp also brings with it the threat of mold damage.</li> <li><strong>Keep belongings stored on shelving off the floor in basements. </strong>In case of water seepage or sewer backup, they're less likely to get damaged.</li> <li><a href="http://www.dfmurphy.com/personal-insurance/Home-Condo-Renter-Insurance/Creating-a-Home-Inventory.aspx"><strong>Keep an up-to-date home inventory.</strong></a> Having a comprehensive list of your possessions will save time, trouble and stress in case of loss from water damage.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Source: <a href="http://www.iii.org" target="_blank">Insurance Information Institute</a></p> 852Meet our Toys for Tots champion…Dawn Penzonehttps://www.dfmurphy.com/blog/PostId/834/Meet-our-Toys-for-Tots-championDawn-Penzone.aspxTid BitsWed, 06 Dec 2017 21:46:00 GMT<p>Our 2017 Toys for Tots drive is going well with the donation collection deadline of December 11th quickly approaching. Murphy Insurance has been a toy collection location in support of the Marines’ Toys for Tots program for many years. It’s a great way to help kids and families who need help.</p> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Penzones2.jpg" style="width: 350px; height: 295px;" title="" />When Dawn Penzone, Personal Insurance Supervisor in our Marlborough office, joined the Agency in 2013, we learned that Toys for Tots was a passion and major commitment for her family. So, it only made sense that we join forces. Dawn and her husband, Anthony, now coordinate the pick-up of toys donated at our locations and ensure they are received by the Marines for distribution.</p> <p>But Dawn and Anthony’s commitment to Toys for Tots isn’t a small thing. It’s major and it’s impressive! Twenty years ago, they decided to do something personally to make a difference and started their own individual collection effort among family, friends and coworkers. What began as collecting a few hundred toys has morphed into a major undertaking. Now, the amass many thousands of toy donations each year, which requires many months of planning.</p> <p>Dawn and her family put collection boxes in locations all around Hudson, Marlborough and other surrounding communities, which includes all of our Murphy Insurance offices. But even more impressive, they organize a gathering for extended family, friends and coworkers as a focal point for their annual efforts. What started as a small gathering has grown in to a major event involving a pot luck supper, raffles of donated gifts and more attended by hundreds of people including a number of Marines from the Worcester Area Chapter, who then transport the thousands of toys to the central distribution center. It’s an annual celebration of their efforts. Several of our Murphy Insurance staffers recently attended this fun evening!</p> <p>Dawn was recently told that the Penzone’s individual collection effort is the largest in Worcester County and perhaps even the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts this year. What’s truly impressive is that over the 20 years, the value of the donations they’ve collected exceeds $900,000. Wow…imagine how many happier Christmas mornings have happened because of their efforts.</p> <p><img alt="Toys for Tots" src="/Portals/0/Penzone%20Toys%20Event%20sm.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 211px;" title="Toys for Tots" />Kudos Dawn, Tony and family…you are true champions! Thank you to our staff, customers and community members who make donations to help our Toys for Tots drive a success. Murphy Insurance is pleased to have joined with the Penzone’s in their effort, and if you’d like to help too, there’s still time!  Please drop off toy donations at any Murphy Insurance office by December 11th.</p> <p>Happy Holidays! </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> 834We're celebrating our 80th...stop by December 5th - 7thhttps://www.dfmurphy.com/blog/PostId/833/Were-celebrating-our-80thstop-by-December-5th-7th.aspxTid BitsThu, 30 Nov 2017 02:00:00 GMT<h3><img alt="WE'RE 80 YEARS STRONG AND WE'RE CELBRATING" src="/Portals/0/80tht-Cookie-Campaign_1.png" style="width: 600px; height: 400px;" title="WE'RE 80 YEARS STRONG AND WE'RE CELBRATING" /></h3> <p>It's hard to believe that we've been serving Massachusetts and beyond for 80 years! We feel lucky to be part of the community and are having <strong>appreciation days on December 5th - 7th</strong>. Come into your neighborhood Murphy Insurance office to:</p> <ul> <li><span style="color:#cc3333;">pick up your celebratory cookie, and</span></li> <li><span style="color:#cc3333;">ENTER into a drawing to win an $80 gift card to one of our favorite local spots!</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Thank you for all of your support, we are beyond grateful. </strong></p> 833Update - Movie filming in Downtown Hudson, May 2017https://www.dfmurphy.com/blog/PostId/814/Update-Movie-filming-in-Downtown-Hudson-May-2017.aspxTid BitsThu, 27 Apr 2017 18:36:00 GMT<p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Camera.JPG" style="width: 300px; height: 262px; float: right;" title="" />If you saw our last post, excitement is building in Downtown Hudson with filming scheduled for the movie, "Who Do You Think Would Win?".</p> <p>Filming is scheduled to take place on sections of Main Street and Washington Street on May 1st, 2nd and 3rd from approximately 7AM to 10PM each day. Specific locations will include Vic's Barber Shop, Robinson's Hardware, Hudson Gas and driving scenes on Main Street</p> <p>As with all things, there are changes with logistics, so below are some of the details. <strong> </strong>For our customers, <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Murphy Insurance will be open as usual and can assist you by phone or you can visit another office.</span></strong></p> <h3>Detail of what to expect in Downtown Hudson from April 28th - May 3rd.</h3> <p><strong>Friday, April 28 </strong>- No parking & sidewalk closures North side of Felton St to Pope St. (approx. 8 parking spaces). Sidewalk closure between Felton St. and Avidia Bank driveway between 7AM & 7PM.</p> <p><strong>Monday, May 1st</strong> - <u>Filming at Vic's Barber Shop</u> - Felton St. to Russell St. will be closed 6AM to 8PM. There will be parking restrictions along the north side of Main Street between Felton St & Church St. as well as along Washington, Felton, Pope, and Church Streets close to Main Street.  There will also be periodic traffic control near the rotary, Washington Street and South Street near filming locations.  Sidewalk closures northside of Main Street to Pope St.....open only to store customers and also in the area of Victor's Diner and Sago Gas.</p> <p><strong>Tuesday, May 2nd</strong> - <u>Hudson Gas filming</u> - Good news is that the initially planned all day closing of Main Street on May 2nd appears to be cancelled, so it won't cause as much disruption.  However, there will still be parking restrictions along the north side of Main, Felton, and Washington Streets for 24 hours.  As well as sidewalk closures during the day on parts of Main and Washington Streets, and intermittent traffic control at Washington Street between Robinson's Hardware and the Rotary.</p> <p><strong>Wednesday, May 3rd</strong> - <u>Main Street & Robinson's Hardware filming</u> - Main Street will be closed from 7AM to 12PM between the Rotary and Broad Street, and Felton Street will be closed to Russell St.  Again, Murphy Insurance will be open as we're sure other businesses will be, too.  There will be no parking at all along Main Street from 6AM to 12PM.  And, 24 hours of no parking on Church Street (up to the Boys & Girls Club), Felton Street (up to #15 Felton) and Pope St (both sides up to #16).  Sidewalk closure will be in effect from 7AM to 12PM on the north side of Main St. from Felton to Pope St.</p> <h3>Enjoy the fun...this doesn't happen every day</h3> <p>So...there will be some parking challenges and traffic restrictions for a few days, but what a cool event for the Town of Hudson.  While we know it may be a bit inconvenient, we support Hudson. Be sure to support your local businesses even during filming. Your patronage is important...and who knows, you might even see some of the excitement. Something to tell your friends and family about. </p> <p>Our Hudson staff will be working as usual, but if you need to speak with a representative in person and don't want to come to Hudson, keep in mind that our Marlborough office is just a short distance away.  If you've liked this info, you might like the other tips and info we share, too. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  And, if you're not currently a customer and need insurance, we hope you'll remember us.  We'd welcome the chance to assist you!</p> 814Hollywood comes to Hudson...May 2017https://www.dfmurphy.com/blog/PostId/813/Hollywood-comes-to-HudsonMay-2017.aspxTid BitsTue, 18 Apr 2017 19:44:00 GMT<h3>Lights...Camera...Action! </h3> <p><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Camera.JPG" style="width: 300px; height: 262px; float: right; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px;" title="" />Hudson has gotten a lot of press about its restaurant scene and bustling downtown in the last few years, and it seems that Hollywood has taken notice. You may have heard rumors out on the street, but now it's official. Downtown Hudson, MA is going to be the location for a feature film "Who Do You Think Would Win?". Filming is scheduled to take place on sections of Main Street and Washington Street on May 1st, 2nd and 3rd from approximately 7AM to 10PM each day.  Specific locations will include Vic's Barber Shop, Robinson's Hardware, Hudson Gas and driving scenes on Main Street.</p> <p>As you can imagine, there will be traffic and parking restrictions. We've been notified that Main Street from the Rotary to Broad Street will be closed to vehicular traffic and parking  on Tuesday, May 2nd from 9AM-10PM and on May 3rd from 7AM to 12PM.  However, sidewalks will remain open for pedestrian access to businesses.</p> <h3>Murphy Insurance will be open for business during filming</h3> <p>Despite the excitement downtown, we'll be here as usual to assist you. Although getting around downtown might take a little more time on these days, there are a variety of places that you can park on side and parallel streets and then walk to our office. Our staff will all be here ready to take your calls. Who knows, if you're coming to our office, you may get to see some of the excitement or even be captured on film! So maybe it will be a good day to visit us.</p> <p><img alt="Murphy Insurance Hudson" src="/Portals/0/Hudson%20Murphy%20Insurance.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 141px;" title="Murphy Insurance Hudson" />Kudos to all those in Hudson who have been so instrumental in the revitalization of downtown. It's not a coinicidence that there's a lot of buzz about Hudson. We're proud to be a long-time Main Street Business and are excited that Hudson will be immortalized on film....we're sure that many of you are too!</p> <p> </p> 813Welcome to the Murphy Insurance blog!https://www.dfmurphy.com/blog/PostId/694/Welcome-to-the-Murphy-Insurance-blog.aspxTid Bits,Murphy OpinionsWed, 17 Aug 2011 20:36:00 GMT<p>You might be wondering…<strong>”So, what exactly is this blog going to be about?”</strong> Don’t worry we won’t bore you with lengthy descriptions of insurance coverage and contract language. There are plenty of other places that you can get that kind of information if you want it. We know that insurance isn’t a hot topic for most people, but everyone wants to be covered if something happens.</p> <p><strong>This blog is a place where we’ll highlight interesting and useful information about how insurance connects with your life…whether it’s personal insurance, business insurance, or both.</strong> We want to make insurance simple and to offer honest guidance to help you make better decisions about auto, home, business and life insurance. We’ll share insights on protection issues, provide updates, and dispel common misconceptions. Our goal is to keep it fresh and relevant.</p> <p>What separates us from other insurance providers is our knowledgeable, committed and caring team. Hopefully, you’ll get a better sense of the people that make up Murphy Insurance Agency as you read posts sharing ideas and opinions from different members of our staff. To mix it up, we may even have guest bloggers from time to time.</p> <p>One thing we often say here at the agency is that “for us, business is always personal”. It’s about having conversations and creating relationships. Your comments and opinions are important to us, and we hope that you’ll share them. Just be sure to protect your privacy and don’t share detailed personal information on our blog.  Also, keep in mind that our blog isn’t intended to offer specific advice about your individual insurance needs.</p> <p>We’re excited about this new endeavor and look forward to connecting with you and providing a different view of Murphy Insurance.</p> <p>So…stay tuned.</p> 694