Have you ever wondered who the real St. Patrick was? Why do we celebrate with parades and big celebrations? Each year millions of people around the world celebrate this patron saint of Ireland without any knowledge if his life or why he is so important to the Emerald Isle.
St. Patrick was not Irish. He was born in Wales, a Roman territory at the time in 385 AD and was raised in a wealthy family. His given name was Maewyn, though some say it was Succat, a Celtic word meaning “warlike”. His father was a Roman official so Maewyn was also known as Patricus. When he was 16 he was captured by a clan of Irish marauders and taken to Ireland as a slave. Once in Ireland, he was sent to County Antrim to be a shepherd. During this time, he worked outdoors away from people. Lonely and afraid he turned to religion for solace becoming a devout Christian.
After six years as a slave, Patrick escaped and made his way back to his family. He began studying in a monastery and there he heard the voice of God telling him to return to Ireland to convert the Pagans to Christianity. This he did as Bishop to Ireland in 432. His first church was in Saul in Northern Ireland. Patrick brought many monasteries to Ireland and was thought to have single-handedly responsible for bringing Christianity to Ireland. Patrick explained that the shamrock with its stalk and three separate leaves represented the father, son and holy ghost, the three aspects of the Christian God.
March 17, 481 is considered to be the day St. Patrick died. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations began in Ireland as a holy day. The first parade was held in Boston in 1737 and in NYC in 1762 as a response to the prejudice against the Irish-Catholic people. In an effort to promote cultural pride and acceptance, the Irish community banded together.
Today the Irish and the Irish-for-a-day around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. From wearing green, green beer, green bagels, and the traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner, St. Patrick’s Day has come far from the recognition of the patron saint of the Emerald Isle.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day and make safety a priority for your celebration.
Winter weather is here and so is the task of driving in snow and ice. Of course, the best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all if it can be avoided. This is not always an option so try not to go out until snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work. Make sure and allow extra time to reach your destination.
Here are some tips to keep in mind for driving safely on icy roads
- Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
- Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
- Turn on your lights to increase visibility to other motorists.
- Keep your lights and windshield clean.
- Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
- Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
- Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
- Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind them.
- Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
Try to incorporate some of these tips into your winter driving experience and have a safe winter weather driving season.
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by Denise Visco
Taking the family on a picnic is an excellent way to get fresh air and enjoy some of the last days of the summer season before the kids head back to school. The ingredients for an unforgettable picnic, however, involve more than just good food. Picking a great location and preparing extra activities can elevate your picnic from boring to amazing.
Choose a memorable location. Having a picnic at a nearby park is a safe choice but choosing a location with interesting features can make your trip unforgettable. Try a local beach or hiking trail.
Work together on the food. Working with your family to create a menu for your picnic is a great way to get everyone involved and make sure everyone has something to eat that they really love.
Bring along activities. Picnics can be about more than just food. Bringing some outdoor activities with you is a great way to extend your outdoor trip and make it extra special.
Take plenty of pictures. A family picnic offers a great opportunity for some fun pictures together. Although smart phone pictures are easy to snap, don’t forget to take some pictures with your digital camera to print later.
Don’t leave home without the essentials. If you forget a few essentials items such as water bottles or sunscreen for everyone, your picnic may quickly turn from fun to disastrous. Prepare a checklist ahead of time to avoid forgetting anything.
End this summer season unforgettably before the hustle and bustle is back for the school year.
Do you have a child heading off to college this upcoming school semester?
If you do, now is the time to look into a renter’s policy to ensure the safety of their personal belongings.
Research shows that 60% of renters do not carry renters insurance. Many consumers think that they can’t afford it, or it’s not important.
The truth is renters insurance is one of the most affordable and most important policies to have when becoming a renter. The average cost of a renter’s policy is about $15 a month! That makes it easy and affordable for you and your hard working college student!
As a renter, you need coverage for your furniture and other personal belongings such as clothes, computer equipment, sports gear, art, jewelry and everything else you own.
Think about how much it would cost you to replace everything you own.
A Renters policy protects you if your covered property is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed regardless of where it is when the loss occurs, such as while you are moving it or even in another’s home.
For more information on renters insurance, please give us a call at 516-249-5200.
Going on vacation often means indulging here and there on purchases. When you travel, you may want to be sure you are spending your hard earned money in the smartest ways.
Here are some suggestions on how to make your next vacation memorable and affordable!
Be flexible – Travelers who are flexible in their departure dates and times can usually find great deals and rates because they have the ability to shop price instead of date.
Pack light – Many airlines now charge extra for baggage fees, especially suitcases. Pack only the necessities.
Use coupons – Coupons aren’t only for getting cents off your brand tissue at the supermarket. Coupon and discount codes are available for just about any purchase – even vacations. Check all travel websites to see if there are any deals and specials going on when booking your trip.
Plan meals – Look into economical restaurants before departing. Know where you’ll be eating and when.
Rent small – If you are renting a car, choose the smallest model that will fit your needs. In addition, there is no need to pay for a large room that you don’t plan to spend much time in.
Consider public transportation – Investigate public transportation options near your destination. Such options may not be as convenient as taxis, but they may be more economical.
Make your next vacation unforgettable!