While food is the primary cause of childhood choking, holiday decorations and other seasonal hazards can also be dangerous. If an item fits in a tube that's one and three-quarters inches wide, a child can choke on it. As you decorate, unwrap presents and eat during holiday celebrations, take six precautions that keep your young guests safe.

1. Hang ornaments, lights and tinsel out of reach. Shiny and inviting, these tree decorations should be kept on the upper half of the tree or placed on wreaths that are out of a toddler or young child's reach.
2. Remove fake berries from the table centerpieces. Kids are usually hungry, and fake berries look just like the real thing. So for safety, remove fake berries and any other artificial table centerpiece component that resembles something edible.
3. Pick up small items like spare change, buttons and jewelry. Especially if you're not used to having youngsters around, you may store these choking hazards in jars throughout the house or lying loose on counters. For safety, move them to a high shelf where little hands can't reach.
4. Give toy batteries to parents after the celebration instead of wrapping them with the gift. You don't want kids to suck on or accidentally swallow batteries that are supposed to power their new toys.
5. Toss wrapping paper, tape and ribbon as soon as the presents are opened. Have a trashcan handy, and use it to dispose of these choking hazards after each gift is opened.
6. Store food out of reach. While you prep the meal, keep an eye on the serving area and table. Little ones may grab food, whether it's bite-sized or full sized, and stuff it into their mouths. To be safe, prep a few kid-safe snacks in advance for hungry kids to enjoy between meals.

Create a choke-free holiday when you implement these six precautions. With them, everyone can enjoy a safe and happy holiday.  

Since 1984, Monterey County has participated in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This participation, as well as the continued compliance with federal regulations, allows county residents to purchase flood insurance. Even if your business is far from any form of water such as rivers or creeks, it could still be affected by the intricate system of drainage improvements and facilities that the county maintains in an effort to protect its residents and their properties. Federal Mandates If you wish to relocate your business to an area that lies within the 100 year floodplain as determined by Monterey County engineers, or build within that area, federal regulations mandate that you purchase flood insurance in order to take advantage of any federally backed financial assistance for doing so. Even if you are not planning to move your business and you are happily ensconced in your current location, purchasing flood insurance is a wise business decision. Weather Conditions Warranted Protection Businesses that are not located within the flood plain are still at risk for being damaged due to flooding. Weather occurrences such as El Nino, for example, can cause extreme amounts of water to be dumped in areas that are ill-equipped to deal with such an onslaught of weather. Weaken structural supports like building foundations, or even elements of the property itself such as hills, can allow water to breech the boundaries of your business and cause flooding. Industrial Accidents Pose a Concern Water main breaks are incidences that do not occur often but the results can be devastating if you have not prepared for the possibility prior to it occurring. Not only will you need to be concerned with paying for the costs of replacing your damaged inventory and property out of your own pocket, you might struggle with losing sales from your customers during this period of time. Flood insurance is a way to gain peace of mind that allows you to rest easier at night. Knowing that your business - and its assets - are protected in the event of an unexpected flood is a smart business move for the longevity of your company.    

Being a business without workers' compensation insurance in California is a serious matter. If an employee is injured during the course of business duties and the business is not insured, it does not mean that the business is absolved of its responsibilities. The Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust Fund was established to ensure that employees are still compensated for their medical expenses even if the business did not comply with the law. Using the power vested in this entity, it can pursue many avenues to ensure that the injured employee is compensated, including placing a lien on the business, imposing a stop order so that the business can no longer legally and delivering fines, penalties and jail time. If you should decide that you do not want to carry workers' compensation insurance on your employees and one of them becomes injured or sick while on the job, you will be responsible for paying 100% of the cost of their bills. Without obtaining adequate workers' compensation insurance, an injured or sickened employee can sue your company to obtain the funds necessary to cover their medical bills. In addition, there is the potential that your business will be fined, penalized and even more for not meeting its obligations to its employees. The California state labor board, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, is responsible for ensuring that businesses comply with a range of labor standards, including having an adequate amount of workers' compensation insurance. If the Division determine that the business was lacking in this regard, in addition to fines and penalties, it is possible that you will serve a jail sentence in the county jail. A stop order is also likely to be issued that prohibits the business from using the labor of those employees who are not covered. It is a misdemeanor to not comply with such an order.

While the current economy shows signs of improvement, news reports often report an increase in filing of employment-related suits when the job markets are difficult. Keep in mind, California tends to be an "employee-friendly" state and no business, regardless of their size is safe from employee lawsuits. Even if you have done everything "by the book" this is no guarantee an employee will not file a lawsuit claiming unlawful termination, sexual harassment or even a pay-related claim against you. Employment practice liability coverage and your business Should you face legal problems after you have fired an employee, your coverage can help minimize the legal costs you could be facing. Additionally, should the courts rule in favor of the employee, these policies can help cover the amounts you would otherwise have to pay from your business. Employment related claims can include:

• Sexual harassment - long gone are the days when only women complained about sexual harassment on the job. Today, nearly 7% of all claims filed are by men.
• Wrongful termination - whether an employee was an "at will" or had a written contract, there is a potential you could be sued for wrongful termination. Employees who are let go for cause or as part of a mass layoff could potentially file suit against your business.
• Family medical leave act violations - employees who feel the rights afforded to them under the family medical leave act (FMLA) may file suit. This includes employees who were refused time off, or employees who were terminated in a layoff during a covered absence.

Federal and California employment laws are very specific regarding discrimination and the employees right to a safe workplace. Many employers will never have a disgruntled employee file a suit against them but, if you are one of the unlucky ones, having the appropriate employment practice liability coverage can save you thousands of dollars. Check with your insurance agent about your coverage today.

You need to protect and insure your business. Accidents happen. Fires, floods, slips, falls, sicknesses and even fatalities. They all happen. Everyday. That's why no matter what size business you're running, from a two-man operation or a corporation worth millions of dollars, you SHOULD ALWAYS have commercial property insurance. Not everyone who is looking for business insurance actually understands what it is, though. Or why they need it. Here's our brief but informative round-up of information to get you started. 3 Frequently Asked Questions about Commercial Property Insurance My Business is Brand New...Do I Need Insurance on my Commercial Property Already? Absolutely. Think of it this way: If you could suffer a loss then you need insurance. It doesn't matter if you're on day 1 of business or day 1000...you need the insurance. If I Work From Home Do I Still Need Commercial Property Insurance? Yes. In most cases you'll only be insured and reimbursed for up to $2,500 of damage or loss to business assets that occurr within a homeowner's insurance policy. It is best to purchase additional insurance and protection under your home coverage or add on a commercial property insurance policy to cover anything over the $2,500 amount. What Steps Can I Take to Lower My Commercial Property Insurance Premiums? Every policy and insurance premium is based upon the amount of risk involved. Show high risk and you'll pay more. Mitigate that risk and you'll pay less. Here are some simple steps you can take to mitigate the risk and lower the premium on your commercial insurance policy:

• Have a well-lighted work place (in and out).
• Keep electrical systems maintained.
• Install adequate sprinkler and fire safety systems.
• Teach and preach on the job safety to every employee and keep records of safety training.
• Keep the minimal amount of cash needed on hand. Make daily or twice daily bank deposits.

Those are our most FAQ and the answers we give. If you have any more questions or require any further detail, please contact and ask. Source: http://legalzoom.com

How important is cyber-security business insurance? With every passing moment technology is advancing. That’s great for your business because it allows you to be more dynamic and more productive in your day-to-day online operations. Technology also helps you keep track, store and access vital company information. Your company’s stats and assets, as well as your employee's and client's personal identification information, is most likely stored on a computer somewhere. That’s the good news. The bad news is this; with every technological advancement that the business world makes, hackers are also hard at work, and often successful, in breaking into computer networks and accessing personal and confidential information. It pays to be prepared and stay ahead of the hackers. One thing that you can do to secure your business is to ensure that you have the most up-to-date security software and protocols on your computers and internal business network. However, this is still no guarantee that you will not get hacked. The most common ways to get compromised, according to Verizon, are as follows: network “break-ins” or weak/stolen credentials, hacking (52%!), malware, and misuse of privileges by those who already have access to information. Cyber-Security Liability Insurance is a crucial part of your protection plan and is a vital part to protecting yourself, your business, your clients, and your employees. Remember, it is ultimately the business’ duty to protect all of this data and to keep it secure. There are many cyber-security insurance options and plans available today. With some plans, you can add it on to a current commercial property insurance term while other plans are available as a stand-alone. Regardless of the size of your company, you need some form of cyber-security insurance. Whether you collect personal contact and identification information or credit and debit card payments, the threat of cyber-attack is real. Don’t be left out in the dark. Ask about some of the better cyber-security insurance programs so that you can ha ve peace of mind that your business, customers and employees will be protected. Source: http://www.verizonenterprise.com/solutions/security/  

Are you looking for something to do and a way to break out of your comfort zone?  Look no further than Specialized Aviation. Specialized Aviation offers a multitude of tours that you can choose from including wine tasting tours, coastal tours, and air charters.  Take a look: Coastal Tours Leaving from Watsonville Airport this charter offers four tours to choose from.  Head up the Santa Cruz coast line.  Want to venture further out?  You can also choose from the Big Sur Coast, Carmel Coast, or an airplane charter.  Pricing ranges from $99/per person to $299/per person and runs from 20-60 minutes.   You will enjoy breathtaking views that you normally would not be able to see anywhere else. Wine Tasting Tours This tour is like no other.  Head up in the helicopter and enjoy.  The wineries that we tour include Wrath Winery, Talbott Winery, Heller estate tour, or the Scheid Vineyard.  Pricing ranges from $350/per person-$475/per person. Air charters can range from $700-$995/per hour and can host up to 4 passengers. The next time you are looking for something fun to do and you are ready to do something unexpected, contact Specialized Aviation. Specialized Aviation also offers training on helicopters and airplanes.  Go on and live life! Content provided by Transformer Marketing. Source:  http://www.specializedheli.com/

Comfort zones are there to tell us that we need to start to break out of our quicksand of comfortability.  In your comfort zone there is no growth, no discovery, your journey gets stagnant, and routine becomes your best friend. Now don’t get me wrong, stability is necessary, but boredom is not.  It’s time to get a little uncomfortable.  Not sure how?  Check out these tips. Go out and socialize, no matter how you feel.  It’s Friday night and you’ve been invited out with your friends but after a long week all you really want to do is curl up on the sofa with a good movie.  Stop right there.  This is where you fight your initial urge to lay up and force yourself to make the move to go out. Talk to someone you don’t know.  You’re riding the bus or standing in line at the store.  Stop and say hi and make small talk.  You could be the sun that brightens their day and vice versa. You know that thing that you’ve been avoiding because you’re terrified?  Yeah?  Do that.  The point is, don’t let fear get the best of you.  You go out and get the best of fear. Try new things.  When you keep doing the same things over and over again, life can get pretty boring.  It’s time to break the habit of your tuna sandwich for lunch and head out to that new restaurant. Break out of your funky, old stagnant life and find the excitement that is ready to meet you.  Your future self will thank your present self.  I guarantee it. Content provided by Transformer Marketing. Source:  http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15436/5-ways-to-live-a-bolder-happier-life.html    

Your homeowner’s insurance policy probably won’t cover any damage from your pipes if investigations prove negligence or poor maintenance.   We have a few tips for you to use to winterize your pipes this fall.

1. For all outdoor watering hoses and sprinklers, disconnect them and drain out the water.  Store them in a dry place.
2. Make sure your shutoff valve is working properly.
3. Check for broken windows or cracks where your pipes are located.  If cracks and/or broken windows are found, seal them up to prevent your pipes from freezing up.
4. Make sure heat can evenly circulate throughout the house, especially around the pipes and water meters.
5. If you have interior pipes, wrap them up with insulation.
6. Don’t close your cabinet door.  Leave the cabinet doors open that are home to pipes so the heat can get to them.
7. You may want to consider allowing your water run a little slower this winter.  It may cost a little more on your water bill, but when you compare the cost of repair your pipes, you’ll find that it’s worth it.

This winter, make sure that your pipes are well maintained and taken care of.  For more information about your homeowners insurance policy, feel free to contact Scurich Insurance Services. Content provided by Transformer Marketing. Source:  http://www.mainewater.com/Customers//media/Files/Bill%20Inserts%20and%20Fact%20Sheets/Winterizing%20Tips.pdf

 It’s the beginning of fall and apple picking season is in full effect.  And the place to be is Clearview Orchards. Organic Fuji and Gala apples are specialties of Clearview Orchards, although they also offer a number of other apple varieties. Bring your family and your picnic basket.  Once you are done enjoying a picnic on our lawn, feel free to pick your own apples.  Other delicious items you can pick up at Clearview:

• Honey.
• Pumpkins (we have red, white, or pink)
• Dried lavender
• Apple cider
• Apple pops

Want a getaway?  We can do that too.  We offer a luxury yurt that boasts such amenities such as a queen bed, a full kitchen, sofa, and full bath with shower.  The yurt is centrally located amongst lavender fields, flower gardens, avocado, and Fuji trees.  An array of wildlife including deer, coyotes, raccoons, and hawks can be viewed from the yurt.  This would be a perfect getaway for you and your partner looking for a romantic country getaway. What:  Clearview Orchards for picnicking and apple picking Where:  646 Trabing Road in Watsonville When:  Saturday and Sundays from 10:00 am-5:00 pm through Sunday, October 26^th. Cost:  $2 a pound for apples Who:  Everyone! Content provided by Transformer Marketing. Sources:  https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3111208?s=QpQT and http://www.clearvieworchards.com/index.html