Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
Protection Team News FROM EUROPEAN ADVENTURES TO HURRICANE RECOVERY
VOL 15, ISSUE 22
A DEVASTATING END TO SUMMER
A Summer of Storms Page 1
Wow! Whoever did the rain dance, it’s time to take a break! This summer’s rainy season has certainly lived up to its name. Before Hurricane Helene struck, we experienced over 10 inches of rain in just two days! All summer long, street flooding around the Tampa Bay area was intense, and we are fortunate that our office sits safely above Belcher Road, which has been underwater at times. Driving through the flooded streets has been eye-opening and serves as a reminder of the importance of flood insurance. It’s always wise to ensure your coverage is in place before weather like this hits. By the time you read this, we will be deep into recovery mode from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. This storm brought unprecedented flooding and storm surge to the Tampa Bay area. The images, videos, and reports, as well as the loss of lives,
The Cutthroat Competition Behind Coney Island Page 2 Flood Insurance Is a Must for Complete Home Protection Page 2
have been truly heartbreaking. Unfortunately, many of the fatalities occurred due to drowning, as some residents did not heed the mandatory evacuation orders issued by authorities. The volume of flood claims for both homes and vehicles that we are currently processing is staggering. The power remained on at the office to support your claims and questions. We are incredibly grateful that our office escaped damage. Before the nasty weather and hurricane hit, Melanie and I were able to celebrate our belated 25th wedding anniversary. We had an incredible time in Europe, flying into Amsterdam and embarking on a cruise down the beautiful Rhine River. We did, however, experience one hiccup — our return flight was canceled! But kudos to KLM for ensuring we returned the same day despite the setback. It was a small blip on an otherwise perfect trip. As we clean up from a horrifying hurricane season, I look forward to some cheer — football is back! Whether you’re rooting for high school, college, or the pros, it’s exciting to have fall sports in full swing again. Let’s not forget that the Tampa Bay Lightning are also gearing up for their season. Here’s to a great season ahead for the Marauders, Bulls, Gators, Bucs, and Lightning!
Your Guide to Wildlife Tracking Fun Page 3
Referral Winner Page 4
Wacky October Holidays Page 5
Puzzle Time! Page 5
Pumpkin Pie French Toast Page 5
August Referrals and September Puzzle Winner! Page 6
Until next month, stay safe and take care!
–Darren
Darren and Melanie enjoying Amsterdam!
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Toll free (800) 828-2226 Fax (727) 577-4991
www.vermost.com newsletter@vermost.com
DON’T LET FLOODING DRAIN YOUR FINANCES WHY HOMEOWNERS NEED SEPARATE FLOOD INSURANCE Did you know that your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover any damages resulting from flooding? Flood insurance must be obtained separately, and failing to have it can leave you with significant out-of-pocket expenses if a flood occurs. Flood insurance offers protection against the financial impact of flooding, whether it’s heavy rainfall, storm surges, or other natural events that cause it. Without this coverage, the cost to repair structural damage, replace belongings, and restore your property could be overwhelming. In addition to covering the repair costs, flood insurance policies can reimburse you for the preventive actions you take during a flood, such as sandbagging, moving furniture, and debris removal. This means any efforts you or your family make to protect your home during a flood are also covered. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) flood maps are an important factor in determining the necessity of flood insurance. These maps indicate the flood risk level in specific areas,
Coney Island’s Cutthroat Carnival The Rivalry That Redefined Entertainment In the early 20th century, Coney Island was the beating heart of America’s burgeoning amusement park industry. Three rival theme parks — Steeplechase Park, Luna Park, and Dreamland — engaged in fierce, cutthroat competition that dramatically reshaped this iconic destination. A TAWDRY REPUTATION TRANSFORMED Coney Island’s reputation was once far from wholesome. Known as “Sodom by the Sea,” it was considered a tawdry, vice-filled destination. That began to change in 1897 when Steeplechase Park opened. Its founder, George Tilyou, sought to bring clean fun to the masses, creating a lighthearted atmosphere exemplified by his iconic “Funny Face” caricature. STEALING IDEAS AND UNDERHANDED TACTICS Tilyou’s success soon drew the attention of rival park operators. In 1902, he lured away the founders of the popular “A Trip to the Moon” attraction from the upcoming Luna Park. These underhanded tactics were common, as the parks constantly copied each other’s rides and acts to one-up the competition. RAPID INNOVATION DRIVES CHANGE This competitive spirit drove rapid innovation at Coney Island. Over just a few years, the parks introduced groundbreaking new attractions like the Rotating Barrel, Thunderbolt roller coaster, and the world’s largest Ferris wheel. They transformed the public’s perception of amusement parks, elevating them from sideshows to immersive, technologically advanced experiences. THE BIRTH OF THE MODERN AMUSEMENT PARK The era of Coney Island’s dueling theme parks was short- lived, lasting only from 1904 to 1911, but its impact can still be felt today. The parks’ relentless one-upmanship drove the rapid evolution of the amusement park industry, laying the foundation for the iconic destination Coney Island has become. What began as a vulgar locale became a glittering symbol of American ingenuity and the pursuit of wholesome fun. While the tactics of these rival parks may have been underhanded, the lasting legacy of their fierce competition is undeniable. The rapid innovations, technological advancements, and shifts in public perception from this crucible of competition continue to shape the amusement park experience today.
Vermost Insurance Now has a relationship with Chuck Chucri, who offers financial planning and investment
Did You Know ...
advisory services!
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1200 Belcher Rd. S., Suite 1 Largo, FL 33771-3315
Phone: (727) 748-2886
and if your home is located in a 100-year flood plain, purchasing flood insurance is recommended and sometimes required. If you need a mortgage for your home in a high-risk flood area, federal law mandates that you carry flood insurance as a loan condition. However, flood insurance is still a wise investment even if you live outside of these high-risk zones or no longer have a mortgage. Flooding can happen anywhere, and FEMA estimates that nearly 25% of flood insurance claims come from low- to moderate-risk areas. Flood insurance ensures you’re not left vulnerable in the aftermath of a flood and provides peace of mind that your property is secure, no matter where you live. Vermost Insurance Agency offers free, comparative quotes on flood insurance from multiple insurance carriers — call us today to be sure your home is properly protected.
Have you ever discovered a mysterious set of animal tracks? Reading those footprints can be your ticket to uncovering the hidden world of wildlife right under your nose. Whether you’re on a camping trip hoping to spot one of your favorite critters or simply curious about the pawprints you stumbled on at home, we’re here to show you how to become a nature detective. PREPARE AND OBSERVE You’ll have the best luck spotting tracks or other signs of animal life in places where wildlife is known to frequent. Find watering holes or other areas where animals may feed or gather. Tracks need a suitable medium, like snow, mud, sand, or soft dirt, for them to show. Regardless of where you’re heading, bring a field guide, a map of the area, hiking supplies, and tools for tracking, like a ruler, magnifying glass, and a camera. COUNT THE TOES Your main clues to the owner of these natural calling cards are the number of toe and claw marks on the print. Canines, like wolves, and felines, like cougars, all have four toes, but you can see a significant difference between their claws. Cats have retractable claws, so their pawprints won’t always have claws. In contrast, birds have distinctive tracks with three long, skinny, forward-facing toes. IDENTIFY YOUR PREY When you have identified what animal family left the print behind, you can begin to home in on its exact species. Use a small ruler to measure the size of the track to give you clues. A wolf, for example, has similar prints to a dog, but they are about 2 inches wider. Context is also a crucial factor when you’re tracking. Think about the animals that live in the area. Would there be any domesticated dogs in the woods where you are hiking? Document your tracks with photos and notes in a nature journal. If you’re still unsure, go online and look at various animal tracks. You may find what you’re looking for! So, next time you stumble upon animal tracks, get out your ruler and camera! Those prints could lead you on a great adventure! BECOME A NATURE DETECTIVE Unlock the Secrets of Animal Footprints
CALL FOR DETAILS OR TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY (727) 748-2886 Chuck Chucri, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, FLMI Financial Advisor The Prudential Insurance Company of America Prudential.com/advisor/chuck-chucri Our financial advisors and financial planners offer financial planning and/or investment advice through Pruco Securities, LLC (Pruco), under the marketing name Prudential Financial Planning Services (PFPS). A financial advisor or financial planner offers securities products and services as a registered representative of Pruco and offers insurance products as an agent of issuing insurance companies. (800) 778-2255 Vermost Insurance is an independent organization and is not an affiliate of Prudential Financial.
1007626-00005-00
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Toll free (800) 828-2226
Fax (727) 577-4991
www.vermost.com
newsletter@vermost.com
BE A LIFESAVER We want to thank everyone who referred their friends, family, and coworkers to Vermost Insurance throughout 2023. When you refer someone to us, you receive rewards for each referral and are entered into 2023 REFERRAL WINNER! 2024 REFERRAL PROGRAM
monthly and annual drawings for additional, even bigger prizes. Your referrals mean a lot to us, and we want to reward you for helping us grow our Vermost Insurance family. The annual grand prize winner of our 2023 referral program is Paul Burns. He received a 55-inch 4K TV plus a $250 donation to the charity of his choice. If you want a shot at the 2024 prize, keep sending referrals our way. Your referrals make us happy, and we hope our referral program makes you happy, too!
Paul Burns is our 2023 referral winner of the 55-inch 4K TV plus a $250 donation to a charity of his choice.
• EACH Referral • $5 Starbucks Gift Certificate • 3 FL Lottery Scratch-Off Tickets • A chance to win prizes! • $5 donation to our spotlight charity: Moffit Cancer Center
• A $50 GIFT CARD
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1200 Belcher Rd. S. Suite 1 ● Largo, FL 33771-3315 ● Phone: (727) 748-2886 Largo, FL 33771-3315 Phone: (727) 748-2886 1200 Belcher Rd. S., Suite 1
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Wacky October Holidays
• October 1 — National Pumpkin Spice Day • October 2 — National Walk to School Day • October 4 — National Golf Lover’s Day • October 5 — National Do Something Nice Day • October 6 — National Noodle Day • October 7 — National Chocolate Covered Pretzel Day • October 8 — National Fluffernutter Day • October 9 — National Moldy Cheese Day • October 10 — National Cake Decorating Day • October 11 — National Sausage Pizza Day • October 12 — National Gumbo Day • October 13 — National Train Your Brain Day • October 14 — National Real Sugar Day
• October 15 — National Cheese Curd Day • October 16 — National Dictionary Day • October 18 — National Chocolate Cupcake Day • October 19 — National Seafood Bisque Day • October 20 — National Chicken and Waffles Day • October 21 — Back to the Future Day • October 22 — National Make a Dog’s Day • October 23 — National Boston Cream Pie Day • October 24 — National Bologna Day • October 25 — National Greasy Foods Day • October 26 — National Chicken Fried Steak Day • October 27 — National Black Cat Day • October 30 — National Candy Corn Day
PUMPKIN PIE FRENCH TOAST
WORD SEARCH
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Ingredients
• 1 1/2 tsp vegetable oil, or as needed • 1/2 cup half-and-half • 1/4 cup canned pumpkin purée • 3 large eggs • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice • 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts • 8 slices day-old bread • Maple syrup, to taste
Directions 1. Lightly oil a skillet and heat over medium heat. 2. Whisk half-and-half, pumpkin purée, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice together in a bowl. Stir in walnuts until evenly distributed. 3. Place 1 slice of bread in the bowl and let it soak briefly to coat both sides. Lift bread to let excess liquid drip back into the bowl, then transfer to the hot skillet. 4. Cook for 2–3 minutes or until golden brown, then flip and cook the other side until done. 5. Stir batter to redistribute walnuts and repeat with other slices of bread, cooking in several batches if necessary. 6. Serve warm with maple syrup.
AUTUMN BOO CANDY COFFEE
FOLIAGE GHOST GOURD MOON
SPOOKY SOUP TAILGATE TOUCHDOWN
You can fax, email, or mail your completed puzzle for a chance to win our monthly prize!
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Toll free (800) 828-2226
Fax (727) 577-4991 www.vermost.com newsletter@vermost.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1200 Belcher Road South, Suite 1 Largo, FL 33771 www.vermost.com (727) 748-2886
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
You Make Us Happy
We Insure More Than Just Cars and Homes Here’s a list of some of our lines of protection:
People who referred clients to us in August: • William Wroblewski • James Forsythe • Sara Malke • Cheryl Sienko • Fred Lumb • Allstar Surfaces
• Leah Hackney • Deborah Valentine • Dan Mondello • Linda Valentine • Sandra McLaughlin
› Antique vehicles › Annuities › Auto › Boat/RV › Bonds › Builder’s risk › Commercial auto › Commercial property › Condo › Disability
› Flood › General liability › Home › ID theft › Life › Mobile home › Motorcycle/Jet Ski › Notary public
September Puzzle Winner: This should have been you!
› Umbrella › Workers’
August Referral Winner: Sandra McLaughlin
compensation
... and more!
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1200 Belcher Rd. S., Suite 1 Largo, FL 33771-3315
Phone: (727) 748-2886
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