We hope calendar year 2022 was memorable for all the right reasons and leaves you with only life-long heart-warming memories. As the dawn of the new year approaches, we extend our best wishes for the same throughout 2023. It is truly a privilege to serve you and to be uplifted by you. From all of us here at Lallis & Higgins Insurance we thank you and wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

The holidays have arrived. As we write this, we continue to do our very best to meet and exceed your expectations. Simultaneously, our hearts are filled with Holiday joy, too many to itemize fully. One of our greatest joys is our appreciation of you. Please know how much we value and are personally rewarded by our relationship.

For warming our hearts and for thinking of us when our business can meet your needs, everyone here at Lallis & Higgins Insurance offers our thanks and heartfelt greetings for a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and joyful wishes for your every holiday celebration.

There is still time to make the most of this magical time of year! Get into the holiday spirit and join in some festive fun with these events and activities. There is bound to be something close to home that the whole family will enjoy!

Brewster Gardens Light Up the Night: Plymouth

There’s no need to spend a lot of money to make lasting memories. The gorgeous Brewster Gardens in Plymouth have been filled with Christmas lights and are completely FREE to enjoy! The walkable trail is open from December 3rd to January 1st (5-9pm) so you have plenty of time to plan your visit. The Gardens are located at 57 Water Street in Plymouth, MA.

Winterlights Display at the Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate: Canton

If you’re looking for a full evening of seasonal fun look no further than the Winterlights Display in Canton. The beautiful Bradley Estate has been decorated with thousands of lights and the sparkling display has been organized into a ½ mile walk. There are also activities for the kids and refreshments for all! You’ll need tickets for anyone over the age of two so check out this link and plan ahead. https://thetrustees.org/program/winterlights-massachusetts/

South Shore Celebration of Lights: Marshfield

The Marshfield fairgrounds aren’t just for summer fun anymore! You won’t want to miss the creative light displays that have taken over the space! Stay cozy in your car while you drive through this winter wonderland while listening to accompanying music right on your car radio. Check out this link for more information and tickets. https://www.fiestashows.com/fs/south-shore-light-show/

La Salette Christmas Light Display: Attleboro

Beautiful in any season, the La Salette Shrine is even more of a must-see in December! This year’s display includes more than 300,000 lights over ten acres. The event is free to all (donations welcome) and can be experienced nightly from 5-9pm through Jan 1st. There is no need to reserve a spot ahead of time but if you’d like more information here is the link to the La Salette website. https://www.lasaletteattleboroshrine.org/

Enchanted Village: Avon

The beloved Enchanted Village is on display at Jordan’s Furniture in Avon and is free to explore! Enjoy this vintage and carefully restored collection of toy displays that will warm your heart. If you want to keep the fun going, there are additional ticketed activities available as well, including a ride on the Polar Express! https://www.jordans.com/enchanted-village

Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops Patriot Place: Foxboro

No winter bucket list could be complete without pictures with Santa. Create lasting holiday memories at Bass Pro Shops by signing up for free pictures. There will also be crafts, games, and activities. Sign up here https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/santas-wonderland and enjoy!

Great news! FHA (Federal Housing Administration) must accept private flood insurance beginning on December 21, 2022. Now, homeowners with FHA loans will be able to take advantage of the private flood insurance rates. Private flood rates can be up to 40% off the NFIP required flood policy rates.

With deductibles no higher than the specified maximum amount under a standard National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy, Beyond Floods flood insurance through Lallis & Higgins Insurance offers many options for deductibles.

NFIP still only offers a maximum building limit of $250K for residential and $500K for commercial. The only time NFIP offers replacement cost on building coverage is for a primary single family home that is lived in by the owner 80% of the year with coverage 80% to value or max limits of the program. All other building coverage is actual cash value. Contents coverage is always actual cash value with the NFIP. The private market offers broader coverage options, increased limits and single deductibles. Some of those broader coverages are often a la carte so if you need them you can buy them and if you don’t you aren’t paying extra for unused coverage. Some examples are simple coverages can be loss of use, replacement cost for contents and other buildings on your property like a shed or detached garage (used for parking or storage). With NFIP other buildings coverage is only 10% of the dwelling coverage and is included as part of the dwelling coverage.

Here are some other great benefits of Beyond Floods Floor insurance:

• Limits up to $1.5M for dwelling and up to $750K in contents coverage. Again, NFIP still only offers a maximum building limit of $250K for residential and $500K for commercial.
• Single deductible - One deductible for both dwelling and contents. With the NFIP contents coverage is always actual cash value .
• Loss of Use up to $150k
• The private market offers broader coverage options, increased limits and single deductibles.
• Flexible payment options including monthly installments
• Personalized Flood Outlook Report so you can be educated on your exposure to flood.
• Some examples are simple coverages including loss of use, replacement cost for contents and other buildings on your property.

For more information on private flood insurance, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

While a helmet, goggles, and gloves are a few important things to bring along for a long day on the slopes to stay safe and warm, common sense is probably the most important thing to bring when you’re skiing or snowboarding.

On a busy Saturday, there can be thousands of people at a ski resort. Navigating through dozens of people at varying skill levels on the same run can feel like a game of Frogger as you dodge ski school groups, stopped skiers or snowboarders, and speed demons.

Ski and snowboard injuries are common

While deaths are relatively rare – approximately 38 per year out of over a million ski days per season, according to the National Ski Areas Association – ski collisions and non-life-threatening injuries are much more common. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital estimated that about 600,000 people nationally are injured each year as a result of skiing and snowboarding.

The National Ski Areas Association developed “Your Responsibility Code” to help skiers and boarders be aware of the risks associated with snowsports.

Know the Code

Here are the seven rules of slope safety to keep you and others out of harm’s way:

• Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
• People ahead of you have the right of way. It’s your responsibility to avoid them.
• Don’t stop where you obstruct a trail or aren’t visible from above.
• Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
• Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
• Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
• Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride, and unload safely.
• Ultimately, it’s up to each of us to use common sense, show courtesy to others, and be aware of our surroundings to stay safe on the slopes.

Source: intermountainhealthcare