Free Ice-Skating in Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT

On December 10, the public ice-skating rink in Bushnell Park in Harford, CT was opened, so if you’re looking for something festive and fun to do right before the holidays, you should check it out! The rink can hold up to 75 skaters at a time and each session is limited to 45-minute intervals. The best part? Skating and skate rentals are FREE! You can even take the family ice-skating on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 11am to 5pm. For hours and more details, click here.

Of course, if they can make water freeze in the middle of Bushnell Park, that means it’s cold enough to have water freeze on the roads, so be careful this holiday season. Be sure to contact your local Encharter Insurance agent today to review your Watertown CT Car Insurance policy. They want to help you understand your policy and find you the best possible policy for the best possible price.

Call us today at 888-865-1244, visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or visit one of our local offices. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

“Eye” on the Back of his Head, Literally!

Parents and teachers alike are known for seemingly having a third eye that can see any troublemaking that occurs behind them.  This mystical power has always contained no evidence, just the fact that they always seemed to know what was going on all around them.  Sometimes they use tricks, such as using a mirror or simply listening.  However, a New York University professor has gone above and beyond and implanted a camera on the back of his head.

Obviously one would think this would involve wearing a hat that has a video camera attached to the back, but Wafaa Bilal took this project one step further.  Bilal actually had surgery to implant a camera on the back of his head for an art project.  Clearly, he is dedicated to his craft and the camera will take a picture once every minute for a whole year.  His project will be released next year in Qatar. 

Reporters in warzones use a similar technique to have a 360 degree view while shooting abroad.  For many people, a camera for looking behind is used for safety.  Personal Umbrella Insurance from Encharter Insurance can be seen as a “third eye” of sorts.  Umbrella insurance helps protect against the unexpected.  It extends your liability coverage by about $1 million. 

So although you might not need an extra camera or Spy Sunglasses, Encharter can help protect you against the unwanted and unexpected.  Give your Watertown CT Insurance Agent a call at (888) 865-1244 or find us on Facebook and Twitter.  Visit Bilal’s website at http://www.3rdi.me/ when he gets the project fully underway.

French Court Rules Continental Airlines and Employee Guilty

Anybody remember the Concorde Crash of 2000 in France? The accident killed 113 people at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris and, according to a recent article, “a French court found Continental Airlines and a mechanic at the airline guilty on Monday of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the…crash.” I’d be willing to bet that Continental Airlines was not expecting that kind of verdict…don’t let that be your business. Don’t allow the unexpected losses of a lawsuit threaten the health of your business.

Call your local Encharter Insurance agent today to look at your Watertown CT Business Owner’s Policy and review your liability limits. They can tell you if you’re sufficiently covered or if it may be a good idea to purchase a Watertown CT General Liability Insurance policy or Watertown CT Excess Liability Insurance policy.

Contact us today at 888-865-1244, visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or visit one of our local offices. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter!

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

13th Annual “Light Up Watertown” Decorating Contest

Live in Watertown, CT? Are you looking for something festive to do with the family for the holidays? How about decorating the outside of your home? The Watertown Recreation Department is hosting their 13^th Annual “Light Up Watertown” decorating contest. The fee is $20 and the contest is open to all Watertown/Oakville residents and businesses. All entries will receive prizes, but all proceeds will go to needy Watertown families so that they can be sure to have a nice holiday season. All entries must be received by December 3 and all displays must be ready for judging by December 10. You can call the Watertown Recreation Department at 860-945-5246 with any questions and you can register online at the website.

Of course, all of us at Encharter Insurance would like to encourage you to be safe this holiday season and check your lights before you use them. Be sure they are safe to use so that you can protect you, your family and your home from the threat of fire. Click here for safety tips.

Another way that you can stay confident this season is by reviewing your Homeowner’s Insurance policy with your Encharter agent. They can tell you how you’re protected and if your coverage has any vulnerability.

Contact us today at 888-865-1244 or you can visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com. Also visit our local offices or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

Protect Your Jewelry Gifts with Jewelry Floater Policy with Encharter

The holidays are coming and what are some of our favorite gifts? Jewelry! However the Jewelry Insurance Brokerage of North America warns us about jewelry purchased from ‘big-box’ retailers and department stores. Their warning comes from the appraisals that you receive when you purchase a new piece. Many times you will see a piece of jewelry from one of these stores accompanied b y a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certificate and an appraisal. The GIA grades the stones and describes them for color, cut and clarity but they do not assign values. Often these appraisals are done by a third party who provides inflated appraisals over the real value and should be watched out for.

If you receive a new piece of jewelry for the holidays you should have it appraised by a reputable, local jeweler. At Encharter Insurance we can then help you get the coverage you need for your jewelry. Many Watertown CT homeowner’s insurance policies provide limited coverage for jewelry and do not cover the loss of a stone or the piece itself. With a jewelry floater insurance policy from Encharter Insurance you have more comprehensive coverage and we can insure that your jewelry is protected.

So call us today at 888-865-1244, visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit one of our local offices. Also be sure to find us on Facebook and Twitter!

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

Electric Vehicles On The Rise?

I think it’s safe to say that most smart business owners have to learn (and be willing) to adapt. Change is inevitable in any industry and the people at GE and Chevrolet seem not only to be taking things in stride, but it also looks like they are a bit ahead of the curve (wow…I don’t think I could have fit any more clichés in there if I tried!). With the invention of electric “plug-in” cars such as the Chevy Volt, GE’s invention of the equipment that will eventually charge the vehicles can be put to good use. And in an effort to show their faith in the technology, GE has agreed “to buy 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015 for its corporate fleet and to lease to customers…”, according to MSNBC.com.

Another industry that is changing drastically is marketing. Internet and social media marketing are slowly (or shall I say “rapidly”?) taking over. No longer are the days of the phone book ads, newspaper ads, faxes, or mailings. Google, and search engines like it, are the new Yellow Pages and if you want to be found anymore, you’ve got to make sure your name and logo are on the first page of those search engine results lists; but how?!

Talk to your Encharter Insurance agent today about our Partners of Encharter Insurance Program where we help you grow your business through the use of social media. Don’t believe us? Click here to see all the benefits of the program and click here to see the other businesses who have become members FREE OF CHARGE!!

If our Partners Program is something you would like to know more about or you would just like to grow your business, then call us at 888-865-1244 or email us at heiphanie@encharter.com. We want to help you grow!

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

Encharter Insurance Reminds You to Clean Your Gutters

When November comes around everyone begins to slowly turn on their heat and prepare for winter hibernation.  It is the month with football, hockey, and basketball all in the regular season and when trees start to really look bare.  Halloween night marks the end of October; Thanksgiving marks the near end of November.  Most people will look forward to (or dread) gathering the family together for a turkey meal, watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade, or huddling around the television to watch the annual football game.  Unfortunately, November also marks the time to clean your gutters.

Gutter cleaning is crucial to maintaining your property and New England has received quite a bit of rain in the last month. This rain leads to extra leaves on your house, but more importantly, wet leaves.  The first frost has already arrived, and frozen leaves in gutters can cause trouble.  Gutters are only made to hold a certain amount of weight, and need to be clean for rain and melting snow to pass from the roof to ground.  Also, the water could drip over the gutter and leave walls moldy. 

Gutter cleaning can be a pain, but the bigger pain would have a gutter fall off or roof damage from water not being able to flow to the ground.  Protecting your home against preventative measures is what Encharter Insurance tries to do.  However, there are those accidents that cannot be prevented, unlike gutter cleaning.  Encharter offers home, auto, and personal umbrella insurance.  Make sure you are getting the best coverage possible by call an agent at (888) 865-1244 and be sure to clean those gutters!

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

Get an Extra Hour of Sleep on Sunday and Check Your Smoke Detectors

Really wish I could approach the morning like these people…Good news? They’re actors, and reality says that most of them probably woke up wishing for what I did this morning: an extra hour of sleep. Especially on the cold, rainy and raw mornings that Connecticut experienced yesterday and today, I found myself wrapped up in my cozy bed wishing that the clock read 6:00am instead of 7:00am. Well folks, for one day out of every year, our wishes come true and that day arrives for us this Sunday, November 7. Aren’t you excited?

You know what else you can do on Sunday? Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. It will surely help to keep you, your family and your belongings safer in the event of a house fire. Also be sure to talk to your local Encharter Insurance agent about your current Watertown CT Homeowner’s Insurance policy. They can help you find the best possible policy for the best possible price so that you can be sure that you’re protected should tragedy strike.

Call us today at 888-865-1244, visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or visit one of our local offices. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter!

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

Long-Term Storage for Your Antique Car

With the leaves no longer at peak, some of them have taken on a rather depressing shade of yellow-brown. Here in New England, we know what that means: winter is coming. If that’s the case (which we know it is), then it’s take in those precious antique cars and store them up so that they can enjoy another summer. Courtesy of eHow.com, here are some tips on long-term storage for your car:

• Wash the car: be sure to wash the exterior AND interior; clear out the trash; “To prevent musty smells and eradicate existing odors, leave activated charcoal bricks in a pan on a car seat. Activated charcoal is a porous substance that is effective for deodorizing.”
• Check the fluids: the gas tank should be full; change the oil; replace the antifreeze and brake fluid.
• Take one last drive for the season: this is to make sure the new fluids have had a chance to flow through the systems.
• Storage: “keep the car indoors for long-term storage; purchase a cover to protect from dust; remove the car battery and store it in a cool, dry location; inflate your tires to a higher pressure than normal as they are likely to lose a little air over time; remove any important documents and valuables.”

 Of course, another way you can be sure to protect your car is by talking to your local Encharter Insurance agent about an Antique Car Insurance policy in Watertown CT.  You do everything you can to preserve your car’s timeless beauty—let us help!

 You can call us at 888-865-1244, you can visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit one of local offices. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter!

 At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

Prevent Ice Dams and Save Yourself the Headache

Whether we like it or not, winter is on its way and that means that everything that is associated with winter is on its way too: snow, ice, cold weather, etc. And with the snow come the hazards that it poses to your property, ice dams being one of them. If you have a poorly ventilated roof, ice dams can form and cause leaks. Click here to see a very informative article to help you avoid this potentially damaging problem.

Should your home experience any damage this winter, are you sure that your current Watertown CT Home Insurance policy is adequate? If the answer is not a resounding “Yes!”, then you should give the agents at Encharter Insurance a call. They can review your policy and advise you on the coverage that best suits you.

So visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com, call us at 888-865-1244 or visit one of our local offices today! You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook!

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”