Happy Valentine's Day from your friends at Brownstone Insurance. Whether it's your husband, girlfriend, a grandchild or furry friend, we hope everyone has someone to spend the day with.]]>Happy Valentine's Day from your friends at Brownstone Insurance. Whether it's your husband, girlfriend, a grandchild or furry friend, we hope everyone has someone to spend the day with.]]>Their program is being called Fair Pay Insurance - - a product that rewards "good" drivers with a lower premium.
The idea behind the program is that drivers are given "control" over their auto insurance premium by proving their good driving skills which is recorded by a device installed in their car.
Drivers who sign up for this new program will have the specially-developed TomTom PRO 3100 navigation device installed in their car, which aside from being a traditional GPS system also includes Active Driver Feedback and LIVE Services. This means policy-holders can be alerted to driving events, such as harsh cornering and sharp breaking, and benefit from accurate traffic information updated every two minutes.
They will also have a tracking unit fitted in their vehicles, allowing driver behavior and habits to be monitored by underwriters of the Fair Pay Plan.
Though this program is only offered in the UK at the moment, it's possible that similar plans will be available in the U.S. in the future.
SkivieGivie was the focus of Brownstone's 2011 'We Like to Help" campaign. For each new "like" that the Brownstone and Murphy & Jordan Insurance Facebook pages received, we donated 1 new undergarment to their cause (plus a little extra).
We'll be making the donation by the end of next week, so stay tuned for more photos and a final tally of what we were able to donate with your help!
Jack shows employees the proper arm placement for the heimlich maneuver with Brownstone employee, Melissa Greene.On Tuesday, Brownstone Insurance and Murphy & Jordan Insurance employees spent the afternoon completing CPR and defibrillator training. The office also invested in a defibrillator to keep handy in case of emergencies.
Jack Smith, an experience firefighter from the town of Scituate trained the employees first how to recognize the signs of distress and then how to determine the best course of action.
Jack began by teaching employees the heimlich maneuver -- a great skill to know in case someone in your presence is choking.
He then described the biology of a heart attack and how life-saving methods have changed throughout the years.
Employees "practice" the heimlich maneuver on each other."They used to want you to count one, one thousand, two, one thousand, during CPR," explained Jack. "But now doctors have determined that a regular, quick rhythm with no hesitations while performing CPR is the best method."
Employees spent just over 2 hours completing the training, during which they learned proper techniques for CPR and how to operate the defibrillator. Employees were rewarded with their CPR and AED certification.
Recognizing the signs of distress is important!
Jack demonstrates proper CPR technique.
after a space heater ignited a bed that it was located near.
The blaze was very smoky, but fairly small, so Boston firefighters were able to extinguish the flames quickly, containing it to the 3rd floor Tremont Street apartment.
No injuries were reported, and residents were ushered into MBTA buses and different parts of the complex to keep warm while firefighters worked.
Officials estimated $10,000 damage, including possible water damage to the apartment below. The majority of the residents were able to return to their homes this morning.
Moral of the story: do not leave space heaters unattended or on for extended periods of time. Going to bed with a space heater on is definitely not a good idea. Also, do not place them near any flammable materials.
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The non-profit group Alliance for Biking & Walking, has published a new report that names Boston as the #1 city in the nation, for having the most bikers and walkers and least number of biker and pedestrial fatalities.
The 2012 report was created after looking through data provided by government agencies, advocacy groups and surveys.
You may also be surprised to learn that Boston also ranked 3rd for safety, education and advocacy efforts regarding bikers and pedestrians in the city.
Not to surprisingly, perhaps, Boston does rank in the bottom third of the funding and policy category.
For more on this report, visit the Alliance for Biking and Walking website.
use of hand-held cell phones while driving.
The Joint Transportation Committee unanimously approved the bill, taking the state of Massachusetts one step closer to becoming the 11th state to ban hand-held cell phone use while driving.
The House sponsor of the Bill, Joseph Wagner of Chicopee, told reporters that it's a "common sense measure." He goes on to explain that the ban will help save lives and that because more cell phones allow hands-free use while driving, it makes more sense to enforce it now.
As community associations across the country continue to deal with the consequences of a struggling 
economy, the Community Associations Institute (CAI) conducted a survey of approximately 600 associations. Nearly half of those cited that their associations are dealing with "serious" problems as a result of the downturn, while 10% stated that the impact felt by their association was "severe."
Among the problems cited were:
Condo associations indicated that they are taking a variety of steps to address shortcomings, among them:
It's not all bad news though. Rental property owners have a promising year ahead of them, thanks to 
reports of strengthening occupancy rates and rising rents. Landlords and property managers have been reporting an improvement in the quality of residents measured by their credit history and income, due largely to the housing market and fact that many would-be buyers are turning to the rental market.
Though data compiled in this report shows only a 1% increase in household income during the previous year, rental property owners are seeing positive movement within their market.
Brownstone Insurance has the knowledge to help your multi-unit property this year. We know what coverage you should have, how you can save money and how to streamline procedures. Contact us or complete one of our simple forms to get a quote today and make 2012 a good year for your property!
hospitalized after a fire broke out in the early morning hours yesterday. One of the male students who escaped the inferno was listed in serious condition following the ordeal.
Some of the students were forced to jump from upper-story windows, dressed in nothing but pajamas onto the snow-covered ground to save themselves from the fire.
Neighbors noted that the home was completely engulfed by the flames, with fire shooting out of windows and the roof of the structure.
Officials have estimated the damage to be around $500,000, but the investigation is ongoing. One fire official stated that he believes the home will have to be torn down, as it sustained too much damage for repair.
The wood-frame Victorian home is was assessed by the city as a single family dwelling, but the investigation uncovered that the students had been living in apartments set up in the basement, first and second floors and the attic.
No word yet whether the owner of the property will face fines for operating what could be construed as a rooming house.
If you remember our December newsletter, we touched upon the topic of rooming houses or lodging houses. According to the Massachusetts Appeals Court, whenever a group of four or more unrelated people live together in an apartment, the landlord is operating an illegal lodging house in violation of state law. This is regardless of the number of bedrooms in the apartment or the size of the dwelling.
The staff at Brownstone Insurance is well-versed and educated in insurance law and keeps up-to-date with new legislation. Contact us today or get a quick online quote to protect your property with a company you can trust.
Are you living in Boston and realize you need help shoveling this winter? Does a relative of yours live in Boston and you know they can't shovel themselves? Or would you like to volunteer your time to help your neighbors shovel out?
Boston's Neighbors for Neighbors website has a new feature you'll want to check out then. It's called SnowCrew, and Boston residents can utilize the website or their mobile app to either request shoveling assistance based on age, illness or disability, or offer their assistance in helping out their neighbors who need a hand.
What a fantastic idea! So be a good neighbor when the snow falls this weekend and check out SnowCrew to see where shoveling help is needed! Remember, Massachusetts law dictates that all homeowners and business owners are responsible for keeping their property reasonably clear of snow and ice, so check out this great service before you find yourself in a bind.