Every year, Independence Day is an opportunity for neighbors to come together to share a meal, catch up, enjoy each other’s company, and celebrate America’s independence. And for many, the evening wouldn’t be complete without fireworks.
A flipside of these celebrations can be disputes between neighbors — usually relating to fireworks and noise levels. Here are some ways to keep the peace and preserve your neighborhood’s sense of community this July 4th.
Whether you’re hosting at home, going to a neighbor’s house, or joining a block party, remember that neighborly respect, courtesy and kindness are key to preventing issues.
Communicate with Your Neighbors
If you’ll be hosting a get-together, give your neighbors a heads up so they’re not taken by surprise. Remember to let them know when the party will end so they can know when to expect some quiet. If you and your family are the ones being kept awake by loud noise or neighbors past a reasonable hour, reach out in person instead of immediately calling the police. They may have lost track of the time or be unaware of how much the noise is carrying. The soft approach is often the best approach.
Extend an Invitation
If you’re hosting a casual gathering, consider inviting your neighbors to stop by. A low-pressure, informal party is a perfect opportunity to get to know neighbors a little better — especially those whom you’ve only exchanged waves with while taking in the trash cans. Hanging out in the front yard or co-hosting a block party is another option to encourage visits and conversation.
Honor the Noise Curfew
Check out your city’s noise ordinance and do your best to abide by it. Many people work on July 5th and/or have young kids who need sleep, etc. so wrapping up parties and noise by the curfew will be greatly appreciated.
Practice Fireworks Safety
If you’re thinking of purchasing fireworks, check your city or county government’s website first. Some areas, for reasons such as wildfire risk, ban all fireworks outright (even those that are legal in other cities). If you are in the clear, find a space that you can designate to light them. This area should be far away from anything that could quickly catch fire (i.e., yours and your neighbors’ houses, wooden fences, trees, and shrubs). Before the festivities start, be sure to read up on these firework safety practices.
Clean Up After Yourself
If you had fireworks at your home, be sure to clean up all lit or unlit fireworks. For one, they are toxic to pets and animals; and two, many leave behind sharp fragments that can injure a barefoot or puncture a tire. If your family attended a block party in the neighborhood or went to a neighbor’s home to celebrate, stay a few minutes afterward and help clean up.
If we’ve learned anything during the pandemic, it’s that we’re not islands unto ourselves. We’re part of communities, neighborhoods, work families, and friend networks. Being considerate and inclusive of our neighbors this holiday is one more way to celebrate the American spirit.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
High summer temperatures usually translate to high energy bills. But there are plenty of ways to stay cool and comfortable this summer while saving money.
Try adopting some or all of the 9 tips below. They’re good for your budget, the planet, and local power grids.
1. Plant Trees For Shade
Shady trees around your house can greatly reduce a “greenhouse effect” in your home by limiting the direct sunlight coming in through windows and beating down on the roof. Also, having shade over your air conditioning unit can increase its energy efficiency.
2. Be Thermostat-Smart
Some best practices: set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible (78 degrees is recommended) and raise it a bit when you’re away. Better yet, install a programmable thermostat for even more time- and energy-efficiency.
3. Lights Out!
Daytime lights give off heat, which accumulates over the day. Incandescent lights are the least efficient, with 90 percent of their energy given off as heat. Try gradually switching to more efficient lighting and consider lighting controls such as sensors and timers. In the meantime, turning off lights whenever leaving a room is always a good rule of thumb.
4. Check Your Filters
Clean or replace air conditioning filters at least once per month. This is one of the quickest ways to lower your energy bill, as a clean AC system uses less energy and has a longer life span.
5. Draw the Shades
Drawing your windows’ shades, blinds or curtains keeps direct sunlight — a concentrated heat source — out. Make it a habit to do this when you’re out of the house. Even when you’re home, drawing the shades in rooms that stay empty or aren’t used often will make a difference.
6. Use Fans
Whether ceiling, table, floor, or wall-mounted, fans create a wind-chill effect that can lower the “real feel” of air temps by 6-7 degrees. No need to leave them on in empty rooms though, as fans cool people, not the air itself.
7. Seal Those Leaks
They’re invisible but can wreak havoc on your energy bill. Check throughout your home for gaps and leaks and repair them with caulking or weather stripping to keep cool air from escaping and hot air from entering. While you’re at it, check your ducts — according to the U.S. Department of Energy, air loss through ducts accounts for about 30 percent of an AC unit’s energy consumption.
8. Maintain Your AC
Besides changing the filters, have a professional do regular maintenance annually, which can more than pay for itself in terms of long-term energy savings.
9. Be Mindful of Appliances
Running your appliances (oven, dryer, stove, dishwasher) can build up a lot of heat in the house and send your AC into overdrive. Try to stagger appliance use and see which you can run at night. If you’re due to replace any of them, check out Energy Star-qualified products. Consider air-drying clothes and dishes, and cook on the grill rather than on the stove to reduce in-home heat.
With a few simple hacks and a new habit or two, you can be well on your way to staying cool while saving some cash this summer.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our Inbound Sales Representative, Kevin DeSousa
Kevin is a newer employee at CalCas, he’s almost been with us for a year and is based in our Colorado office.
Let’s get to learn Kevin!
What made you want to work as a Sales Representative at California Casualty?
I really just enjoy talking to people. It feels great when you’re also assisting a customer with a necessity such as insurance.
What is your favorite part about your job?
Besides knowing that we’re helping our teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses!I enjoy really getting to know our customers, I talk to each person on the phone like I’m talking to one of my family members.I don’t want to under-insure my family and I also don’t want to over-insure my family; I want to make sure that everyone is paying for what they need to help take the best care of themselves as possible.
What have you learned in your position at California Casualty?
I have learned so much. Since getting hired on, I have a completely newfound respect for the insurance industry. Before it was just thinking that my car/house is covered from damage if something were to happen. But now, it’s much more than that, knowing what all the numbers mean and why certain people need certain coverages -not everyone needs the same coverage. Literally, within my first month here, I went home and redid my own insurance and made sure that I was covered correctly.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
I enjoy my family and my church family. Anytime we can all get together that is a good day!
I love going camping and enjoying the wilderness, I would say I go fishing, but I have yet to catch anything this season, so we’ll just skip that….
I have also enjoy working on updating my house and working in my yard with my small farm.
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
Been married 10yrs in August; we have an 8-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl.
I am originally from New Hampshire and a HUGE Patriots Fan
I own a lot of animals on my small farm I have: 2 Dogs (1 Grand Pyrenees and 1 Husky), 7 Chickens, 3 Ducks, 1 Bearded Dragon, 2 Hermit Crabs, and 2 Guinea Pigs.
I am 100% Portuguese; for my childhood summer vacation most kids would go to Disney; I would go to the Azores and I LOVED it.
If you want to learn more about Kevin or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with him on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our Outbound Sales Representative, Tanner Pfeifer
Tanner has been with us for 2 years and is based in our Colorado office.
Let’s get to learn Tanner!
What made you want to work as a Sales Representative at California Casualty?
I love marketing and sales and more importantly – helping people.
We help community servants on a daily basis and knowing at the end of the day that we are helping individuals who put community before themselves is very rewarding.
What is your favorite part about your job?
The people! You are anything but a number at California Casualty.
I have developed many tremendous relationships with CSC employees. The people here are inspirational, caring, and most importantly genuine. In addition, the group members we talk to on a daily basis are tremendous. Knowing that we can truly make a positive impact on their lives with our program is very rewarding.
Working at California Casualty has helped me develop my professional career at an exponential level all while working with some of the best people I know.
What have you learned in your position at California Casualty?
I have learned so much about the world of finance and risk management throughout my career at California Casualty. Coming out of college with a marketing degree I had very little experience in the world of insurance. With the help of some tremendous leaders and teachers, I’ve learned more about the insurance world than I thought was ever possible.
Since obtaining this knowledge, I have continued to build upon this base in areas that have both improved my professional career as well as my own financial and risk management decisions at home.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
I love anything that puts me outside! Skiing, camping, hiking, golfing, you name it. Living in the great state of Colorado affords me the ability to dive deep into these activities I love.
In addition, you can’t beat a yoga class with everyone’s favorite HR guy – Cal Turner.
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
I graduated from Kansas State University in 2018 where I founding father of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.
My wonderful wife and I are building a home in Colorado Springs and just decided to adopt a Lab/Catahoula Leopard puppy.
I am a podcast junkie.
I would like to someday give back to the community by offering free personal finance tutoring to college students and recent college grads.
If you want to learn more about Tanner or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with him on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our Senior Learning Instructor & Designer, Melinda Patton
Melinda, who is sporting her new CalCas mask below, has been with us for 23 years!! She is based in our Colorado office.
Let’s get to learn Melinda!
What made you want to work as a Learning Instructor at California Casualty?
When I was searching for a career, California Casualty was new to Colorado and offered many great job opportunities. I also really liked the idea of working for a family-owned company and not some giant corporation, so I was drawn to apply 23 years ago and here I am!
What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part about my job is working with the new employees and helping them learn all about the company and the jobs they will perform. The best part is watching them grow and become successful in their career with CalCas.
At California Casualty there is a strong sense of collaboration – we all share the same vision and are dedicated to the mission. I like to brainstorm and think outside the box – the company encourages employees to have an outward mindset. My job can be very challenging at times, but it pushes me and my senses to full potential. I have a great sense of pride working for this family-owned company that protects our AmeriCAN Heroes.
What have you learned in your position at California Casualty?
SO MUCH!
This company has graciously offered me the opportunity to move through various departments and increase my knowledge of the insurance industry.
In my 23 years, I have worked the following positions:
2 years as a Senior Underwriter
2 years as a Claims Adjuster
7 years in Partner Relations (2 years in CA and 5 years in CO)
Almost 12 years in Learning & Development
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
I love to travel – to date, I have been to 5 of the 7 continents.
I also love skiing, aside from locally, I meet up with friends from California at least once a year for a six-day ski trip – we have skied in CO many times, but also Canada, Nevada, Utah, and Montana. I even taught my 10-year-old niece, Stazja, how to ski this spring at a ski resort in New Mexico called “Ski Apache”.
My favorite summertime activities are golfing and hiking.
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
I love analyzing property contracts and endorsements.
My favorite trip has been an African photo safari.
My shortest job: one day at Taco Bell. (I quickly realized the fast food industry was not for me!)
If you want to learn more about Melinda or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with her on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our Customer Care Representative, Rafael Romero
Rafael has been with us for almost 2 years and is based in our Colorado office.
Let’s get to learn Rafael!
What made you want to work in Customer Service at California Casualty?
I felt like a needed a change, for the better, from my old job. I saw California Casualty had a posting for this job, so I thought I’d give it a chance.
Ever since my first interview, I knew I really wanted to work here. During the interview process, before I was even hired, the recruitment staff and my managers immediately made me feel like family, and I can honestly say, it has been the same family-like environment ever since.
What is your favorite part about your job?
The very best part about my job is when customers call in hoping they can save some money on their policy and I end saving them hundreds at a time. At that point you can basically see their smile through the phone and it makes me really happy knowing I helped bring it to their face.
I love my job here because this is a company that has shown great appreciation for me and the work that I do to help our customers. I’ve never felt anything but valued since I’ve been here.
This is a very caring, team-centered environment and everyone is constantly looking to help each other and our customers.
What have you learned in your position at California Casualty?
To be honest, before I started working here I didn’t know anything about insurance. So in my 2 years, I’ve learned TONS of information about this industry. So much so, that it was almost overwhelming, but with all the resources available to me and awesome training we have, it has been much easier to compartmentalize everything.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
I really enjoy playing pool; I am part of the American Pool Association and really like playing in leagues and get to know new people!
I also love basketball, I have been a Lakers fan since I can remember and Kobe (R.I.P.) will forever be my idol.
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
in 2009, I joined the Army straight out of high school in Puerto Rico. Next thing I know I’m stationed in Ft Carson, CO, and getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan, where I spent a year. I got out in 2013 after I got married and had my daughter, Jaelynn, who is now 7 years old and in 2015 I had my son, Rafael, who is now 4.
I am currently working and going to school to get my accounting degree (I love numbers) and, thankfully, I am less than 20 credit hours away!
If you want to learn more about Rafael or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with him on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
