The Colts are coming to town!  We have a new coach and a new training venue located right in our backyards.  Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield will be home to our Colts while they get prepare for their 2018 season.

Training Camp

Camp runs from July 25 through August 18 with lots of fun events scheduled for fans of all ages.  There is no charge to attend the training camp, but you will need to get your hands on a free ticket to enter.  Tickets can be found at Training Camp.

Training Camp Schedule

Now keep in mind if you plan on attending the NFL’s “clear bag” policy still applies even at training camp.

Community Fun with the Colts

Training Camp isn’t the only activity to get in on before the football season starts.  Westfield is hosting their first Touchdown Trail. Get your passport at Centier Bank in Westfield and stop at the marked yard lines as you trek along the Monon Trail.  Touchdown Trail begins on July 13 and runs through July 15. There will be a celebration marking the close of the inaugural event.

Westfield is also hosting a gardening contest welcoming the Colts to town! Participants will decorate their gardens in blue and white to show support to our Colts. The winner will secure bragging rights as the biggest fan in town!

One event we are particularly excited about is the Colts 5K Run/Walk happening on Saturday, August 25.  It’s a double dose of fun… In the morning, there is a 5K through downtown Indy finishing on the 50 yard line of Lucas Oil Stadium. We’ve set up a team and would love to see you all there.  When registering, scroll through the teams and select #RedFriday to join us at the race. Saturday wraps up with a preseason game for all to enjoy. Bring the whole family and enjoy some #familyspecialmoments with the Colts

Register for Colts 5K

Season Starts

First game of the season is 9/9/18 against the Bengals. Go BLUE!

While summertime offers us many activities to choose from, #familyspecialmoments should be at the top of your list. This past weekend, my wife and I had the joy of spending time at a local museum with my son, his wife, and our granddaughter. We had another special moment when our other son connected with us via Duo (a really neat live video app for your phone by Google) allowing us to watch as our grandson picked blueberries. Both of these #familyspecialmoments were priceless. To help you make some special memories with your loved ones this summer, we have put together a list of some hidden gems in our community.  We hope you will take some time to check out what these local farms have to offer. When you do, please remember to use the hashtag #familyspecialmonents in your social media posts so we can all share in your summertime joy!

Spencer Farms

7177 E. 161st St., 

Noblesville IN 46062

317-776-1560

Strawberries

Black raspberries

Asparagus

Blueberries

Red raspberries

Grapes

Waterman’s Farm Market

7010 E. Raymond St.

Indianapolis, IN 46143

317-356-6995

Strawberries

Peppers: chile, banana, habanero

Green beans

Sweet corn

Cucumbers

Tomatoes

Driving Wind Blueberry Farm

6410 N. Michigan Rd.

Indianapolis, IN 46268

317-257-3001

Blueberries

Strawberries

Local honey

Local produce

Homemade blueberry ice cream

Stuckey Farm Orchard & Cider Mill

19975 Hamilton Boone County Rd.

Sheridan, IN 46069

317-769-4172

Apples

Local honey

Tuttle Orchard

5717 N 300 W

Greenfield, IN 46140

317-326-2278

Apples

Strawberries

Squash

Cherries

Green beans

Tomatoes

Sweet Corn

Peaches

Blueberries

Holidays like the Fourth of July and other celebrations can be fun times with great memories. But make sure everyone knows about fireworks safety.

What Are the Dangers of Fireworks?

If not handled properly, fireworks can cause burns and eye injuries in kids and adults. The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home — period. Attend public fireworks displays, and leave the lighting to the professionals.

Lighting fireworks at home isn’t even legal in many areas, so if you still want to use them, be sure to check with your local police department first.

Fireworks Safety Tips

If fireworks are legal where you live, keep these safety tips in mind:

• Kids should never play with fireworks. Things like firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers are just too dangerous. If you give kids sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothing, and hair. Sparklers can reach 1,800°F (982°C) — hot enough to melt gold.
• Buy only legal fireworks (legal fireworks have a label with the manufacturer’s name and directions; illegal ones are unlabeled), and store them in a cool, dry place. Illegal fireworks usually go by the names M-80, M100, blockbuster, or quarterpounder. These explosives were banned in 1966, but still account for many fireworks injuries.
• Never try to make your own fireworks.
• Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.
• Steer clear of others setting off fireworks. They can backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction.
• Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even as a joke.
• Don’t hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear eye protection, and don’t carry fireworks in your pocket — the friction could set them off.
• Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush and leaves and flammable substances. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that local fire departments respond to more 50,000 fires caused by fireworks each year.
• Light one firework at a time (not in glass or metal containers), and never relight a dud.
• Don’t allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.
• Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.
• Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be very frightened or stressed by the Fourth of July and other big celebrations. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they’ll run loose or get injured.

If an Injury Happens

If a child is injured by fireworks, immediately go to a doctor or hospital.

If an eye injury happens:

• Don’t let your child touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage.
• Don’t flush the eye out with water or try to put any ointment on it.
• Cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye, and get medical care right away — your child’s eyesight may depend on it.

If your child is burned:

• Remove clothing from the burned area.
• Call your doctor immediately.

Fireworks are meant to be enjoyed, but you’ll enjoy them much more knowing your family is safe.

 

Originally posted on KidsHealth

Other Articles with Safety Information: Car Safety, Grilling Safety, Summer Safety

According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, NCCP, there is around 15 million children in families across the United States that have incomes below the poverty line.  These are families struggling to make end meet, and their children are being impacted in many ways.  Poverty isn’t just a issue of struggling to find food and shelter it also plays effect in children social, emotional, and cognitive health.

When you hear poverty, you may first think of third world countries, but this is an issue right out our back doors.  You can make a difference:

• Tutor/Mentor: see if you can volunteer at a local school or church to tutor a child in a subject area. Tutors give that one-on-one attention that kids strive for and a bond to help them learn at their level.
• Donate: You can donate food, clothes, and even money to different local programs to help families right in our own area. (Open Doors, Hamilton County Youth Assistance Program, White River Church Food Pantry, Third Phase, Prevail)
• Volunteer: Volunteer your time to local youth programing and community events. There are plenty of events our community puts on and need volunteers to make run smoothly.

We love our community and want the very best for it!

 

Resources used: http://youthassistance.org/westfield/ , http://www.nccp.org/topics/childpoverty.html

If you are like many of our customers, it’s June and you are looking forward to your summer vacation. There are many ways to travel and you have decided to rent a vehicle instead of flying, whether it’s because you simply need more room, want better gas mileage, or you’re saving the mileage on your current vehicle. Here is something to keep in mind: some of you will rent the biggest vehicle you’ve ever driven. Some of you will drive what may be your next personal car. Either way, it’s a car you are not familiar with. For some, you rent vehicles every month, and for some, it will be your first time. We get it…insurance can be confusing, so we thought we would try to answer the most common question we get at the Agency:

Do you need to get the insurance offered through the rental company?

The simple answer: your coverage on the rental vehicle will be the same as the coverage you have on your current vehicles. Your personal auto insurance will have you covered for liability claims and, if you have collision and comprehensive coverage, for damage to the rental car.

However, this is not a simple question. There are some advantages to using the rental company’s coverage, as it can sometimes eliminate your deductible or waive the cost of the loss of use.

I know you have heard “call before you dig;” we recommend you “call before you rent.”

Other tips for traveling in a rental car:

Call your us before the trip so we can get you a “spare” ID card to keep in an email or in your wallet while traveling.

If you are sharing the rental car with another family member outside your household or a friend, we recommend getting the insurance to potentially save a friendship or prevent a family feud!

That said, it’s always a good idea to check with us before your trip since auto policies vary from person to person.

Recently Noblesville was rocked by the shocking event that happened at Noblesville West Middle School. Our hearts, just like everyone else, were breaking to hear about the young lady and teacher that were injured.

While this was a shocking event and brought about a dark cloud for a brief moment. The dark cloud was pushed away from our great community by a great outpouring of prayer and support.

There are several GoFundMe pages set up, and t-shirt fundraisers that have popped up to support the families of both victims. The local daycare where Ella used to attend and her family still uses, is collecting gift cards for local restaurants, gas cards, grocery cards to give to her family while they are spending much time out of their home to be by Ella’s side. Brittany, in our office, has a close connection with this daycare. Ella lives in Dean’s neighbor and we’d love to share our support with the family as well.

If you are out and pick up a gift card you’d like to donate to the family please feel free to drop it by our office, or mail it to us.  We will get it to the right spot. This is a season of life this family will never forget, and easing their day to day expenses could bring great joy as it is one less thing they have to worry about.

 

 

May 18, 2018 is National Bike to Work Day

Wow it’s finally that time of year. Bikes are tuned up and your  helmets still fit. Your ready to hit the road. Well maybe not so fast. In April we shared posts about Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Whether you are biking alone or with your family, our busy streets may seem a bit more overwhelming. Especially since the number of accidents due to distracted driving is every increasing which makes even an avid cyclist a little nervous on the road let alone a family trying to go out for a summer bike ride.

Here are a few things to think about when hitting the street with your bike:

1. Helmet: Everyone should be wearing a helmet that fits.  Remember that a crash unplanned is call a accident and everyone should have their head protected.  It’s a quick and easy safety precaution. You are sharing the road with vehicles that are bigger and moving faster than you are. Even taking cars out of the situation, falling over on a bike in your driveway, trail or roadway will hurt.
2. Reflective Flags:  If you are toting a bike trailer or riding tantum add a reflective flag to your bike set-up to add more visibility.
3. Reflectors and Lights: Turn it into a family decorating contest to make the reflective gear more exciting.  There are many options when looking into reflectors and lights to wear and mount to your bike.  You can find reflective tape to decorate your helmet with or get spoke lights. When riding at night this is essential.  Check out this fun night: The N.I.T.E. Ride starts at 11:00 pm (at NIGHT!) from City Market and takes you on a tour of downtown Indianapolis, The Indianapolis Children’s Museum, Butler University, Hinkle Fieldhouse, The Indianapolis Museum of Art, IUPUI and Monument Circle. Total route length is between 17 and 20  niteride-registration
4. The rules of the Rules of the Road have changed:  When reviewing rules of the road with your family and before heading out. “Please stress don’t assume they see you”. Keep in mind Bikes ride with traffic and are responsible for follow the same rules as cars, ride on the right-hand side of the road.  Stop Lights and stop signs do apply to bike riders when they are riding on the road.  If your family is older you can learn hand signals for turning as well.

Most importantly, have fun! John F. Kennedy said it best, “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.”