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Protection Team News STAY READY THIS HURRICANE SEASON… No Matter the Forecast!
Don’t Wait for the First Storm to Prepare Page 1 VOL 18, ISSUE 6 Summer Favorites (According to Our Staff) Page 2 A Smart Ritual for Overthinking Minds Page 3
Hurricane season is officially here. Are you prepared? Please do not wait until the first storm is named to start preparing. Begin now . Since hurricane season will already be underway by the time you’re reading this, I wanted to share a recent update from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. They reported that El Niño conditions are likely to emerge soon, with an 82% chance during May through July 2026 and a 96% chance continuing into Winter 2026–2027. I’m not much of a betting person, but those percentages seem pretty convincing. So, what does that mean for you and me?
For starters, El Niño can significantly impact hurricane season. Typically, it leads to fewer named storms and a less active season overall. El Niño tends to create stronger upper-level winds over Florida and the Atlantic Ocean, making it more difficult for tropical systems to form and strengthen. However, and this is important, that does not mean Florida is immune to hurricanes this year. It simply means the odds favor a quieter season overall. Do you remember Hurricane Andrew, which devastated Homestead in 1992 and helped spark the insurance crisis Florida has battled for decades? Or Hurricane Michael in 2018, which struck the Florida Panhandle as a Category 5 storm with 160 mph winds? Both storms occurred during El Niño years. Those storms are a great reminder that we must always stay prepared, because it only takes one storm to ruin a year. Now, on a brighter note, how about those Tampa Bay Rays? They must love being back home at Tropicana Field this season. Can you believe they currently have the second-best record in Major League Baseball and are leading the American League East? I know it’s still early in the season and we shouldn’t get our hopes too high just yet, but what a pleasant surprise this has been so far. If the injury bug stays away and both the bats and pitching staff stay hot, this could turn into a very fun and exciting season in Tampa Bay!
Referral Winner Page 4
Wacky June Holidays Page 5
Puzzle Time! Page 5
Cinnamon Roll Peach Cobbler Page 5
May Puzzle Winner and April Referrals! Page 6
Ainsley speaks to Clearwater Bar Assoc. about her experience with Teen Court
–Darren
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VERMOST’S TEAM PICKS: Summer Edition
JOHN O’BRIEN Favorite summer treat: Bomb pops. Song of the summer: "All Summer Long" by the Beach Boys. Favorite beach or day trip spot: The Atlantic Beaches of Florida. I also like to take a day during vacation to visit and climb the local lighthouse. Favorite summer restaurant/patio spot: Crabby’s (New Smyrna, St. Augustine) Dream vacation destination: Hawaii. Current binge-watch recommendation: Every summer, our house has a screening of Elvis’ "Blue Hawaii"! One thing on your summer bucket list: Stay at the Sheraton Waikiki and see all the locations of the "Brady Bunch" in Hawaii, and trace the locations and history of early Exotica music by Les Baxter and Martin Denny.
Favorite beach or day trip spot: Indian Rocks Beach. Favorite summer restaurant/patio spot: The outdoor patio at Crabby’s on IRB. One thing on your summer bucket list: Fixing up the back yard.
rerun show. There are plenty of seasons to get through.
Current series binge: "Supernatural"!
KARLA VOIGHT Favorite summer treat: Karma Coffee in Palmersville, TN, for the homemade ice cream. Song of the summer: Kid Rock's "All Summer Long” best describes the Michigan summers we had, bringing a smile to my face every time I hear it. We spent our summers going to the lakes, parks, camping, boating, and fishing. Favorite restaurant: Moustos Pasta & Grill for the rack of lamb; it is so good. Sammies in Martin, TN, for subs. Dream Vacation: To visit every state in the U.S. Current binge-watch recommendation: "Landman" and "Dept. Q." I can’t wait for the next season, older ones that are great and worth the time. Also, "The Expanse." Don’t rule it out; it’s a great story and a great performance. "Justified" has a great cast and good acting. One thing on your summer bucket list: Replace the door wall and French doors on the house and paint the porch railing. LESLEY BROWN Favorite summer treat: Rita’s Italian Ice. Song of the summer: "Cruel Summer" by Bananarama.
Lesley at the beach with her grandson, August!
RONNIE SPARKMAN Favorite summer treat: Rice Krispies Treats. Song of the summer: "Ride the Wave" by Spiritbox. Favorite beach or day trip spot: Home. Favorite summer restaurant/patio spot: Finleys. Dream vacation destination: Germany. Current binge-watch recommendation: "Financial Audit." One thing on your summer bucket list: Moving into the new home! SARA BORGESON Song of the summer: "Dan’s Song" by Frank Turner; "Florida!!!" by Taylor Swift; ft. Florence & the Machine. Dream vacation destination: I haven’t had a chance to go these past couple of years, but my previous yearly summer vacation was going to San Diego Comic-Con in July. Favorite summer restaurant/patio spot: When we landed in San Diego, my friend and I would hit up the Shakespeare Corner Shoppe for a delicious afternoon tea.
Dinner at Crabby’s, St. Augustine location. We have a tradition of the guys wearing Hawaiian shirts to dinner on vacation.
COLLEEN SPARKMAN Favorite summer treat: Cold Stone Creamery. Ronnie never gets a mix-in, so I always get a second one for free. My go-to is chocolate ice cream with peanut butter and brownies mixed in. Dream vacation destination: Somewhere cold! I am not a fan of the sun and heat. Current binge-watch recommendation: "Supernatural." This is always my go-to
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1200 Belcher Rd. S., Suite 1 Largo, FL 33771-3315 Phone: (727) 748-2886
The menu changed every year, but the food was always delicious. Favorite
summer treat: The day before the convention started, we would have dinner at the Spaghetti Factory so I could eat their complimentary spumoni. Current binge-watch recommendation: Enjoying “Widow’s Bay” on Apple+. It’s a horror comedy that feels like the characters of “Parks and Recreation” in a Stephen King-like setting. MARY RIVERA ABRAMS Favorite summer treat: A refreshing gin and tonic type cocktail. Song of the summer: I love an old Beach Boys song, “California Girls.” Favorite beach or day trip spot: Sunsets on any of our Pinellas beaches. Favorite summer restaurant/patio spot: Rumba on Gulf to Bay. Dream vacation destination: Hawaii. Current binge-watch recommendation: “Man on Fire,” which is on Netflix. One thing on your summer bucket list: Weekend trips in our new Honda Goldwing. BECKY JORDAN Favorite summer treat: Strawberry ice cream, and those Spongebob popsicles with the gumball googly eyes that always look like they’re halfway melted. Song of the summer: “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga. Favorite beach or day trip spot: Museums! Especially The Dali, or The Ringling Museum, and Ca’ d’Zan in Sarasota. Favorite summer restaurant/patio spot: Noble Crust; or Bulla for tapas. Dream vacation destination: The Shire in New Zealand. Current binge-watch recommendation: For a top-tier sci-fi action drama, watch “Andor”! For a lighter, feel-good comedy, try “The Good Place.” One thing on your summer bucket list: Find the best Cuban sandwich in Tampa Bay. Sara at the Shakespeare’s Corner Shoppe for Afternoon Tea in San Diego!
You know that feeling when your brain starts planning for every worst-case scenario before you’ve even finished breakfast? Or when you lie down at night and your thoughts suddenly remember every bill, test, and “what if” all at once? If so, you aren’t alone, but there’s a counterintuitive trick that may help with that kind of mental spinning. Therapists suggest that people schedule “worry time.” The approach comes from cognitive-behavioral therapy and is used as a practical way to keep stress from running the show. The idea is straightforward: Once a day, for a short block of time, you sit down and let your mind bring up the stuff you keep circling. During the rest of the day, instead of wrestling with every new “what if,” you write a note about your worries and set it aside for later. Little by little, your worries start showing up more during that set time and less when you are trying to work, relax, or sleep. To get started, pick a block of time, about 15–30 minutes. It could be right before dinner or before you watch a show, but early evenings are often best. Scheduling the block then gives you enough time to accumulate your worries during the day, but also leaves you with time afterward to decompress and relax. It’s also helpful to set a timer and pick an uncomfortable spot to sit so you aren’t tempted to stay longer than the allotted time. When worry time starts, go through every item on your list and ask yourself, “Is there anything I can actually do about this?” If the answer is yes, write down what it is and how you can work toward it. Otherwise, practice letting the worry go and move on to the next one. The goal of all this isn’t to ignore real problems. It’s ultimately about freeing mental space so you can be more present and productive during the day and less likely to experience the harmful effects of stress. Train Your Brain With ‘Worry Time’ A SIMPLE HABIT TO CALM STRESS
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Toll free (800) 828-2226 Fax (727) 577-4991
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BE A LIFESAVER We want to thank everyone who referred their friends, family, and coworkers to Vermost Insurance throughout 2025. When you refer someone to us, you receive rewards for each referral and are entered into 2025 REFERRAL WINNER! 2026 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 2025 referral program was Richard Claybrooke. He received a $500 Amazon gift card plus a $250 donation to the charity of his choice. If you want a shot at the 2026 prize, keep sending referrals our way. Your referrals make us happy, and we hope our referral program makes you happy, too!
Richard Claybrooke was our 2025 referral winner of a $500 Amazon gift card plus a $250 donation to a charity of his choice.
Be Entered in MONTHLY Drawings for • A $50 GIFT CARD • PLUS ... ANNUAL Drawing for a
• EACH Referral • $5 Starbucks Gift Certificate • 3 FL Lottery Scratch-Off Tickets • A chance to win prizes! • $5 donation to our spotlight charity: Pinellas Hope
$500 Amazon Gift Card plus a $250 donation to the charity of the winner’s choice
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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 June Holidays
• • • • • • • • • •
June 1 – National Say Something Nice Day June 2 – National Leave the Office Early Day June 3 – National Chocolate Macaroon Day June 4 – National Hug Your Cat Day June 5 – National Gingerbread Day June 6 – National Applesauce Cake Day
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
June 16 – National Fudge Day
June 17 – National Eat Your Vegetables Day June 18 – National Go Fishing Day June 19 – National Garfield the Cat Day June 20 – National American Eagle Day June 21 – National Peaches N’ Cream Day June 22 – National Onion Rings Day June 23 – National Pecan Sandies Day June 25 – National Strawberry Parfait Day June 26 – National Coconut Day June 27 – National Sunglasses Day June 28 – National Foodie Day June 29 – National Darts Day June 30 – National Meteor Watch Day
June 7 – National VCR Day
June 8 – National Best Friends Day June 9 – National Donald Duck Day June 10 – National Black Cow Day
• June 11 – National Making Life Beautiful Day • June 12 – National Peanut Butter Cookie Day • June 13 – National Blame Someone Else Day • June 14 – National Strawberry Shortcake Day • June 15 – National Megaladon Day
This easy-to-make dessert combines two classic delights for the perfect after-dinner indulgence. CINNAMON ROLL PEACH COBBLER
WORD SEARCH
Ingredients
• 2 (15 oz) cans of peach chunks, drained • 1/3 cup brown sugar • 1 tbsp cornstarch • 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp
vanilla extract • 2 5-count cans
Pillsbury cinnamon rolls (reserve icing)
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a 9x13 baking dish. 2. In a mixing bowl, combine peach chunks with brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and vanilla, then mix until evenly coated. 3. Cut each cinnamon roll into six pieces and place them in the baking dish. 4. Add the peach mixture and gently stir to combine. 5. Bake for 40 minutes until golden brown. 6. Cool for 5 minutes before drizzling with icing.
BEACH BURGERS CYCLING FATHER
JUNETEENTH MUSIC PEARL PRIDE
REFUGEE SAILING SOLSTICE WATERSKI
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
vermost.com newsletter@vermost.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1200 Belcher Road South, Suite 1 Largo, FL 33771 vermost.com (727) 748-2886
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 April: • Thomas & Anna Jean Larson • Marines Aviles Garcia • Lucinda Cain • Nigel & Vera Snelling • Jesslynn Earle Gray • Donna Hussey • Mohan Chaitram/ Mo Air Conditioning • Justin Orr/Priority One LLC • Michael Lowell • Reid Kogelman/Parkside Auto Sales LLC • Amy Bryant/ Arts Foundation for Seniors Inc.
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May Puzzle Winner: This Could Have Been You! April Referral Winner: Donna Hussey
› Umbrella › Workers’
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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