Stanberry Insurance Agency raised $2,200, overwhelmingly reaching the original goal of $1,000. Through hard work and dedication, the Stanberry team held a profitable yard sale earlier in the spring to raise money as well as teaming up with O’Malleys Pub and Grill for a percentage night. To continue fundraising at the event, our team sold Root Beer and Coke Floats as well as a few hamburger meals.

Throughout the evening and into the early morning hours, team members walked the track which was lighted by luminaries to honor and remember those who have battled cancer. A deejay provided entertainment those wee morning hours to keep the crowds spirited and to energize the tiring walkers. Stanberry had four team members who camped out at the event and walked all night long—even through a light drizzle of rain!

Stanberry Insurance Agency is honored to be part of such a wonderful cause. Not only was the event a great opportunity for the community to come together and have some fun but it was for a great organization that fights to save lives every day! Stanberry will continue to help fight cancer by participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life for years to come.

When people look at homes, they tend to focus on factors such as property taxes, neighborhoods, school districts and available recreational and cultural opportunities but an often overlooked item is the insurance implications of a specific house. You will be paying for insurance for as long as you own it, so you should factor the cost of insurance into the home buying process. You don’t want to find out that your dream home is more expensive to insure than you thought after you own it.

When looking at prospective new homes, Stanberry Insurance suggests asking the following questions:

• How far is the home from the fire department? Houses that are near a fire station with professional firefighters usually cost less to insure.
• What is the condition of the plumbing and electrical systems? Poorly maintained, unsafe and/or outdated systems can cost more to insure.
• Is the home vulnerable to wind damage? Find out if private insurance is available, or a state-run insurance program. Is there a windstorm deductible, and how high is it? A home on or near the beach may be more costly to insure than one inland.
• Is the house at risk from flooding? Flood insurance is not covered under a standard homeowners insurance policy. However, it is available from the National Flood Insurance Program, which is serviced by private carriers, and from a few specialty insurers.
• What about earthquake risk? Earthquake insurance requires an endorsement or a separate policy.
• Is the house well built and well maintained? Homes built by reputable builders using disaster resistant materials and designed to meet current building codes are likely to better withstand natural disasters.

A knowledgeable home inspector and your insurance agent can be helpful in answering these questions. Keep in mind, that the size, location, construction and overall condition of the house can affect the cost, choice and availability of home insurance. Also, you should note any renovations or upgrades you make to the home.

The second for this month is Doris Cody’s Layered Sausage Casserole. If you try the recipe, please tell us about it in the comment section below.

Layered Sausage Casserole

You Will Need:

1 lb. sausage – cooked and drained from grease

½ cup raw rice

potatoes – thinly sliced

carrots – thinly sliced

onions – thinly sliced

1 large can chopped or diced tomatoes – drain and reserve juice

Directions:

1.  Layer in 9” x 13” casserole dish in order as listed above.

2.  Sprinkle salt and pepper (to taste) and 2 Tbs. sugar over tomatoes.

3.  Pour juice over top of casserole

4.  Cook on 350 for 1 ½ – 2 hours (until vegetables are tender)

Leftovers are great to freeze in single servings.  Just take from freezer and

microwave until heated and eat!

But what can the iPad do for health IT?

Laptops have already become a staple for many doctors, but many tech experts believe the iPad will prove the perfect companion for physicians and other healthcare providers looking to embrace health IT technology.

The primary reason the iPad is thought to be a perfect fit for health care workers is convenience. Not only is the iPad far lighter than a laptop–weighing in at just 1.5 pounds–but its battery life, 10 hours, nearly doubles the 6 or so hours touted by most high-end laptops. With a starting cost of $499, it’s a bargain compared to most laptops on the market today.

Just imagine: An iPad application (or even a physician-specific operating system, perhaps) designed for physicians would undoubtedly offer a user-friendly interface. And adding EHR (Electronic Health Records) technology to a sophisticated piece of equipment like the iPad would be a cinch.

Physicians who are able to pull up medical records and other necessary data quicker could spend more time speaking directly with the patient, including more eye-contact, an element studies have shown to be crucial in boosting patient satisfaction. The number one complaint patients have about medical care and treatment is the lack of time doctors are able to spend with them. In a 15 minute appointment, the doctor might only actually see and talk to patient for 5 minutes. Doctors spend over 50% of their time wading through administrative paper work and documentations so in essence the iPad might be the solution to this problem.

But even those experts who believe the iPad will become ubiquitous in the health care industry don’t believe it will happen overnight. The iPad, released April 3, has been on the market just a month so it’s too early to tell whether or not it will catch on.

The iPad can be useful for personal health, too. The iPad, like the iPhone, brings a wealth of health and medical information to your fingertips. One application, Carter’s Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine, was specifically designed for the iPad. It offers 1,800 pages of medical information, totaling 12,000 entries. It also offers full-text search, an interactive diagram of the human body, browsing history and more.

The iPad also offers applications to help users keep fit. Hundreds of applications offer information such as nutrition labels for different foods (340 calories for one cup of egg nog?), tools to track the user’s daily calories consumed, body mass index, exercise history and more.

As it relates to health care, the iPad could be a game-changer, or it could be much ado about nothing. Only time will tell.

The first for this month is Heather’s Blueberry Lime Tiramisu. If you try the recipe, please tell us about it in the comment section below.

Heather’s Blueberry Lime Tiramisu

You will need:

1 pint heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 pound mascarpone cheese, at room temperature

3 (3-ounce) packages unfilled ladyfingers

1 (6-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed

1 (21-ounce) can blueberry pie filling

Fresh mint leaves, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, beat cream with an electric mixer at medium speed until thickened. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Gently stir in cheese until combined; set aside.

Split ladyfingers in half. Line a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish with ladyfingers, cut side up. Brush ladyfingers with limeade concentrate. Spoon half of cheese mixture over ladyfingers. Top with half of blueberry pie filling. Repeat procedure for the next layer with remaining ladyfingers, limeade, cheese mixture, and pie filling. Cover and chill 8 hours. Cut into squares to serve. Garnish with fresh mint, if desired.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the amount of support we have received from the community and we hope everyone can join us at O’Malley’s to enjoy good food, good friends, and a worthy cause!” said Amy Reams, Personal Lines Agent at Stanberry Insurance Agency.

Relay For Life is a fun-filled, overnight event that mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate survivors, remember loved ones, commit to fight back through healthy lifestyle changes, and raise money for the fight against cancer.

“The funds raised through our Relay For Life events enable us to continue our investment in the fight against cancer through research, education, advocacy and patient services,” added Linda Proctor, a Stanberry employee and cancer survivor. “Thanks to the generosity of our volunteers and donors, the money raised by Relay For Life participants goes directly to the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving research and programs.”

For more information contact Stanberry Insurance at 828-586-8926. Information about how to form a team or become involved in Relay For Life is available from the American Cancer Society on the Web at www.RelayForLife.org.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States.

UPDATE:

Photo by Nick Breedlove NickBreedlove.com

As published in They Sylva Herald, the total donation by O’Malley’s of Sylva was $300.00.

Thank you to all that came out to support the cause and have a good time with us. A very big thank you to Lynn Stanberry and her staff for a fantastic night of food, fun and fund-raising!

Spring travel in the mountains offers stunning flowers bursting with color, as well as countless ways to experience a healthy getaway to rejuvenate and shed those extra winter pounds. A few calories burning activities could include a hike to Devil’s Courthouse on the Blue Ridge Parkway or sightseeing in a quaint village like Dillsboro. Scenic drives are a wonderful way to experience the majesty from the highest peak east of the Mississippi, to see flowers actually go from buds to blooms, or drive to an authentic spa town with hot spring waters.

If flowers are your passion, think about checking out the 25^th Annual Festival of Flowers at Biltmore Estate. More than 100,000 tulips will kick off the start of the festival which begins in April and runs through May. The stunning floral display sprawls across the estate and celebrates the 25^th anniversary of the festival. Expect live music daily in the garden house and conservatory, with daily seminars offered. The restaurants feature special menu items, drinks and desserts, with the Winery offering a commemorative Festival of Flowers wine, wine programs, and children’s activities on the weekends.

The 2010 French Broad River Festival is an annual festival has grown steadily from a one night benefit party on the banks of the French Broad to an all weekend family festival featuring some of the best music in the area and a number of outdoor events in celebration of this beautiful river and setting. The 13th annual festival is set for April 30 – May 2, 2019 where the French Broad River meets the Appalachian Trail at the beautiful Hot Springs Campground & Spa (www.camp.nchotsprings.com ). Festival begins at 4:00 on Friday, April 30 and ends Sunday, May 2. Visit our website www.frenchbroadriverfestival.com for details or call 828-253-1240. Proceeds from the festival will be donated to American Whitewater and the new Hot Springs Community Learning Center.

Saturdays in Waynesville beginning at the end of May kick off the BLOCK PARTY or Downtown is Alive at Night with live music and dancing. Eats and treats are offered on the street and restaurants are open. A children’s area near Fun Things, Etc is available to keep the kid’s entertained. On Saturday night’s downtown Waynesville is the place to be.

With 53 miles of track, 2 tunnels and 25 bridges, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers a variety of excursions that explore the amazing landscape of Western North Carolina. With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, guests on-board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will enjoy scenic train journeys across fertile valleys and through river gorges in a spectacular region near The Great Smoky Mountains.

There is plenty to do in the mountains of Western North Carolina during the spring months depending on your tastes. You will find something to entertain yourself no matter what you are interested in. We hope you’ll visit us in the beautiful mountains.

With tables of clothing, toys, house wares, shoes and other accessories, the folks began lining up to purchase their items with all proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society.

Among the donated items were delicious baked good such as breads, muffins, brownies, cookies and Rice Krispy Treats donated by the staff. These baked items were a number one with the crowd who enjoyed having a little homemade treat.

The weather was very pleasing with a slightly overcast sky earlier in the day but turning into a brilliant spring day full of sunshine. The weather was absolutely perfect for attending the various yard sales and car washes set up throughout the community on Saturday.

The Stanberry Insurance Relay Team raised a grand total of $462 which will benefit the Relay event in June.

“We were very pleased with the overall success of the yard sale and look forward to contributing this money to a good cause,” said team captain, Heather Hyatt.

Relay for Life will be held at the Jackson County Recreation Center on June 4 beginning at 6:00 pm. For more information on this event and participation, visit our Relay page.

Update…04/21/2010

We have reached 76% of our goal of  $1,000 by getting donations in the amount of $758.36 including the yard sale  & luminaries as well as the individual donations made on our behalf! Way to  go team! Now if we can just earn $250 more our team will have reached it’s goal.  Email your friends and family—the smallest donations can make a big difference!

Our first fund-raising event, a yard sale, will be held on Saturday, April 17th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. We are hosting the sale at our own Stanberry Insurance Agency parking lot located at 715 East Main Street in Sylva, North Carolina.

We have all been eager to raise money for our team. Everyone has been cleaning out closets and clearing out attics in hopes to find some “treasure” for interested buyers. We’ve collected everything from clothing to books to house wares for the sale. We’re expecting a solid turn out because the weather will be beautiful on Saturday and we know Sylva is a community that is invested in giving back to others.

Today, we all know someone who has been touched by cancer-a family member, a friend, or a co-worker. It feels good to give back to the community as well as help in some way to find a cure for this disease. We are looking forward to a successful fund-raising event as well as the Relay For Life event on June 4. Stanberry Insurance Agency is committed to help fight cancer!

Duke is usually seen as a tournament favorite. But this year might be different. This year, Duke is a No. 1 seed, but few people are talking about the Devils as the team to be feared. Instead of touting their chances at another national title, analysts are touting them as a potential upset victim.

This could be good for the Devils. For years, they went into March weighed down by expectations. They were like the New York Yankees, judging themselves by a different standard. For most teams, making the Final Four was a dream comes true. For Duke, anything less was a disappointing season.

A long time Stanberry Insurance Agency customer, Harold Morgan, was asked who would win this year. His response, “Duke, of course!”

Blood runs blue for many in our home state of North Carolina, though that is not always Duke blue. Many hardcore Tar Heel fans are saddened to see their favorite team didn’t make the cut this year after a disappointing season.

“With Carolina out of the picture, I am not even following it this year,” says Linda Proctor, Personal Lines Agent.

The Jayhawks are clearly ahead of the pack. Not only because of their talent, which is considerable (at least three future pros), but its diversity. Bill Self can go small, big, fast or have his team win a game playing entirely in the half-court. That’s what happened Saturday when Kansas State tried to ugly it up in the Big 12 tournament title game.

Receptionist Heather Hyatt says, “Kansas is probably the most talented team in the tournament but I don’t think it’s going to come easy. I still think it will come down to Duke and Kansas with Kansas winning.”

Earning the No. 1 seed, Kansas was rewarded with sites close to home. The proximity to Oklahoma City in the first and second rounds and St. Louis in the regional means that KU will be playing with the home court advantage until Indianapolis.

There have been questions about Kentucky all season long, about how young they are and how they haven’t really been tested in the SEC. Kentucky has yet to play a lot of close games against good teams. But there is no question that they’ll be tested in the East region with a wide range of opponents. If Kentucky makes it to the final four, they will have earned it. The East Region does not seem to be as difficult as the Midwest, but it’s definitely tough.

“I think it will be either Kentucky or Kansas even though it seems like Kentucky has the hardest bracket, I wouldn’t be surprised if Duke rolls through to the final four since their bracket has to be the easiest.  The sleeper to me is Pitt,” says Ken Peck, our Personal Lines Manager.

Many are predicting Cornell might be an upset team because of the amazing amount of attention they have received. However, the game against Kansas seemed to be one fluke right after another. Cornell has consistently kept things close against good teams because they can shoot the three well, but when things get close late in games, Cornell struggles handling the ball against teams that press.

Commercial Lines Agent Carolyn Jordan is rooting for Syracuse. “Syracuse all the way! My husband went to school with the coach and my grandfather is alumni. I root for Cornell too but I don’t think they stand a chance to win.”

The Syracuse Orange emerged from being something of an afterthought that was considered to be a middle of the pack Big East team to a conference champion and now a +600 betting favorite in March madness 2010 NCAA tournament odds. Syracuse did falter at the end of the season though which has scared off some of the gambling public’s money as they lost their regular season finale at Louisville and then lost their only game in the Big East tournament to the eventual runner up Georgetown. Syracuse still had an impressive season and is considered to be one of the favorites to make the Final Four in 2010 NCAA tournament odds.

Agent Mike Deitz believes “Duke will probably get knocked out during the second round. I don’t think they’ll make it all the way. I do think Syracuse will go far!”

“Baylor is going to upset Duke. In the end, Syracuse is going to beat out West Virginia in the finals,” says Kevin Stanberry.