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FROM DROUGHT CONDITIONS TO INSURANCE RATE REDUCTIONS Encouraging Updates for Floridians
Rain, Relief, and Reasons for Optimism Page 1 VOL 18, ISSUE 7
Take Us Back to Summer Break! Page 2
Our wishes were answered! The rainy season started early, and the drought is slowly easing. We’re not completely out of the woods yet, but at least the grass is no longer crunchy when you walk on it. Things are finally starting to turn green and showing signs of growth again. While this is certainly a positive sign, we still need more rain to get back to normal, and hopefully we can do that without any tropical activity filling up the rain gauge. Speaking of tropical weather, please take some time to ensure your hurricane plan is in place and that your supplies are stocked. We have all seen the firsthand impact of storms, and none of us want a repeat performance. On a brighter note, more insurance companies have been filing rate reductions for home and auto insurance. In addition, I’ve noticed several new and creative discounts being offered to help retain clients while rewarding them with lower rates. Beyond the rate reductions, we are also seeing new insurance carriers enter the Florida market and begin writing business again. More providers is good for everyone because it creates additional options and opportunities to help reduce insurance costs. Our team continues to work hard on your behalf, and we appreciate the trust you place in us. I recently returned from a two-day intensive Mastermind meeting with 40 other insurance agency owners from across North America. The discussions were eye-opening, energizing, and thought-provoking. One of my biggest takeaways was that artificial
Your Wallet vs. Gas Prices Page 3
Referral Winner Page 4
Wacky July Holidays Page 5
Noelle & Jonathan in Zakopane, a popular mountain resort in Poland, known for its skiing, hiking, and thermal baths.
intelligence (AI) will not replace the trusted insurance advisor. What it will do is help eliminate many of the routine administrative tasks we deal with every day. Yes, we are exploring which technologies and processes make sense for our agency. As we evaluate these opportunities, every decision will be made with you, our customer, at the center of the process. This is not simply about efficiency or financial gain. We value the relationships we have built with each of you and never take your trust for granted. Until next month,
Puzzle Time! Page 5
Flank Steak Tacos Page 5
June Puzzle Winner and May Referrals! Page 6
–Darren
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Toll free (800) 828-2226 Fax (727) 577-4991
vermost.com newsletter@vermost.com
TAKE US BACK TO SUMMER BREAK! Hear From Our Vermost Team!
Favorite neighborhood summer activity growing up? Playing games with neighborhood kids like Red Light/Green Light, hide-and- seek, tag, and basketball. Running in a
DARREN VERMOST When the ice cream truck came down your street, what was your
MARY RIVERA When the ice
sprinkler! Camping every summer, fishing in my dad’s boat (named after me!), and riding bikes.
cream truck came down your street, what was your go-to treat? Ice cream: Cho Cho bar. What's going in your beach bag? Big floaty/raft shaped like a blow‑up donut. What was your favorite summer snack growing up? Snow cones. Favorite neighborhood summer activity growing up? Sitting on the front porch steps with the neighbor kids at night with our jammies on, it was so fun! What was the unofficial rule of your neighborhood during summer break? If you have a water hose, we have on our swimsuits! CHRISTINE EARLE When the ice cream truck came down your street, what was your go-to treat? Italian ice or a chocolate eclair bar. What's going in your beach bag? A bucket and shovel. I love making sandcastles! What was your
go‑to treat? A push pop. What's going in your beach bag? Books. Favorite neighborhood summer activity growing up? Playing kick the can.
What was the unofficial rule of your neighborhood during summer break? You had to go home when the streetlights came on. Yes, we drank water from a garden hose! LESLEY BROWN When the ice cream truck came down your street, what was your go-to treat? We had a Good Humor truck, and there was an ice cream bar that had a piece of dark chocolate in the center. Whatever that was called! Plus Bazooka gum for the comics! What's going in your beach bag? A radio when I was a teen. Nothing as a child, as we didn’t have any toys for the beach. You body surfed the Atlantic Ocean and were happy about it. What was your favorite summer snack growing up? A trip to Carvel Ice Cream parlor was our big treat. Favorite neighborhood summer activity growing up? Riding bikes, playing in sprinklers, and seeing who had a pool we could play in. What was the unofficial rule of your neighborhood during summer break? Be home when the streetlights come on.
What was the unofficial rule of your neighborhood during summer break? Be home when the streetlights come on. JOHN O’BRIEN When the ice
cream truck came down your street, what was your go-to treat? Always Bomb Pops. Even now, this big kid gets one almost every day on beach vacations.
What's going in your beach bag? Gayla Baby Bat kite and a playlist of 60’s surf classics. What was your favorite summer snack growing up? Grilled hot dogs with mustard and kraut. Favorite neighborhood summer activity growing up? BMX in a small town, we rode our bikes from dawn until the streetlights came on. What was the unofficial rule of your neighborhood during summer break? Wash with the hose before you come in.
favorite summer snack growing up? Corn on the cob or mom’s potato salad for sure!
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1200 Belcher Rd. S., Suite 1 Largo, FL 33771-3315 Phone: (727) 748-2886
Watching gas prices climb higher and higher can feel like a punch to your wallet. However, there’s a positive way to look at it, and you don’t need a hybrid or a total lifestyle overhaul to save money on fuel. With smart habits and small tweaks, you can make every gallon go farther and keep more cash in your pocket. DRIVE SMARTER, NOT HARDER. Aggressive driving habits like speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking can significantly reduce fuel efficiency. In fact, driving faster increases drag, meaning your engine has to work harder and burn more fuel. Instead, aim for steady speeds and use cruise control when possible. Slowing down, even slightly, can make a noticeable difference over time. Smooth driving doesn’t just save lives, it saves you money, too. KEEP YOUR CAR IN SHAPE. Think of your car like an athlete … if it’s not in prime condition, it won’t perform efficiently. Regular maintenance, such as oil changes, clean spark plugs, and proper engine tuning, helps your vehicle use less fuel to do the same work. Don’t overlook your tires either. Even slightly underinflated tires can hurt fuel economy, while properly inflated ones can improve it and extend tire life. LIGHTEN THE LOAD. Your car isn’t a storage unit! Carrying unnecessary weight forces your engine to burn more fuel. Even an extra 100 pounds can reduce fuel economy by around 1%–2%. Roof racks and bulky cargo also create drag, reducing your car’s aerodynamic efficiency. If you’re not using them, remove them to achieve better fuel economy. PLAN AND COMBINE TRIPS. Short trips on a cold engine use more fuel than one longer, well-planned outing. That’s why combining errands is such a powerful (and simple) strategy. Try grouping your grocery run, school pickup, and other stops into one trip. Not only will you conserve gas, but you’ll also save time. It’s a win-win! TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES. Many gas stations offer loyalty programs that knock a few cents off each gallon, which adds up over time. You can also shop around using apps or local price comparisons to find the cheapest fuel nearby. Even minimal differences per gallon can lead to significant yearly savings. Pump Prices Got You Stressed? GIVE THIS A READ BEFORE YOUR NEXT FILL-UP
COLLEEN SPARKMAN When the ice cream truck came down your street, what was your go-to treat? Strawberry Shortcake Bar. They are still my favorite to this day. What’s going in your beach bag? Sunscreen. It’s required for an Irish complexion.
What was your favorite summer snack growing up? Fresh-squeezed orange juice. My grandparents had three massive trees that would produce enough oranges to supply the neighborhood. Favorite neighborhood summer activity growing up? Swimming in my grandparents’ pool. The best, most chaotic times were when all eight of the grandkids were staying with them. RONNIE SPARKMAN When the ice cream truck came down your street, what was your go-to treat? SpongeBob ice cream. What’s going in your beach bag? A JBL speaker. What was your favorite summer snack growing up? Watermelon. What was the unofficial rule of your neighborhood during summer break? Bike riding from dawn to dusk. Favorite neighborhood summer activity growing up? Gaming with your friends until the sun comes up, but go to bed early enough that no parents know you were awake. MICHAEL CONSTANTINE I always had a bucket and shovel to dig for seashells. What was your favorite summer snack growing up? Seedless watermelon. Favorite neighborhood summer activity growing up? When I was finally allowed to play the tag game, Man Hunt, with the older kids after dark. What was the unofficial rule of your neighborhood during summer break? Before cellphones, check in with someone’s parent before dark. When the ice cream truck came down your street, what was your go-to treat? Ice cream sandwiches. What’s going in your beach bag?
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Toll free (800) 828-2226 Fax (727) 577-4991
vermost.com newsletter@vermost.com
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: Humane Society Of Pinellas
$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 July Holidays
• July 1 – National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day • July 3 – National Compliment Your Mirror Day • July 4 – National Hop-a-Park Day • July 5 – National Graham Cracker Day • July 6 – National Fried Chicken Day • July 7 – National Father-Daughter Take a Walk Day • July 8 – National Freezer Pop Day • July 9 – National Dimples Day • July 10 – National French Fry Day • July 11 – National Blueberry Muffin Day • July 12 – National Different Colored Eyes Day • July 13 – National Beans N’ Franks Day • July 14 – National Mac and Cheese Day • July 15 – National Give Something Away Day • July 16 – National Cherry Day
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
July 17 – National Yellow Pig Day July 18 – National Hot Dog Day July 20 – National Fortune Cookie Day July 21 – National Junk Food Day July 22 – National Mango Day July 23 – Gorgeous Grandma Day July 24 – National Drive-Thru Day July 25 – National Thread the Needle Day July 26 – National Coffee Milkshake Day July 27 – National Love Is Kind Day July 28 – National Milk Chocolate Day July 29 – National Chicken Wing Day July 30 – National Cheesecake Day July 31 – National Avocado Day
FLANK STEAK TACOS
WORD SEARCH
Ingredients
• 1 tsp paprika • 1/2 tsp ground cumin • 1/2 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp chili powder • 1/2 tsp dried oregano • 1/4 tsp onion powder • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper • 1 tsp sea salt, divided • 1 lb flank steak
• 2 tbsp olive oil, divided • 1 small red onion, finely diced • 1/3 cup cilantro • 1 ripe avocado, diced • 1 tbsp lime juice • 8 small flour tortillas
Directions 1. Heat grill to medium heat. 2. In a small bowl, combine first 7 seasoning ingredients with 1/2 tsp sea salt. 3. Brush steak with 1 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle seasoning mixture on both sides. 4. Grill steak for 2–4 minutes per side. 5. Remove steak from grill and let it rest. 6. In a bowl, stir together 1/2 tsp sea salt, 1 tbsp olive oil, onion, cilantro, avocado, and lime juice. 7. Heat flour tortillas on the grill. 8. Slice the grilled flank steak into 1/4-inch strips. Assemble your tacos with the onion avocado mixture and enjoy!
BARBECUE BASEBALL
FIREWORKS ICE CREAM INDEPENDENCE PARK
RUBY SHADE STARGAZING VACATION
CYCLING FISHING
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 May: • Richard Cummings • Kurt Hendrickson • George Redick • Jeffrey Sherman/ O.L. Products Inc
› 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
• Amber Jade Johnson • William Wroblewski • Dana Kelley
• Justin Orr/Priority One LLC • Charles Park/Properties of TI
June Puzzle Winner: Catherine DeHaan May Referral Winner: Kurt Hendrickson
• Jeff Sherman/ Lotion on the Ocean LLC • Mark Street/ Clearwater Affordable Service Inc • Joe Lanfranchi/Clear Cut Marble & Granite LLC
› 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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