Spring and summer makes for many home projects. When using ladders you need to be careful and keep in mind some of the following safety tips:

• Always face the ladder when climbing it.
Maintain 3 point contact. Use a tool belt or hoist
to lift tools.
• Don’t over reach! Take time to reposition the
ladder.
• When working on ladders on elevated porches
and balconies, remember a fall could send you
all the way to the ground.
• Don’t place ladders in front of doors without
blocking the door.

Have fun with your projects and be safe.

Massachusetts experienced very unusual and severe weather Wednesday night June 1st. For those of you who were impacted  and lost property or business, here are some helpful steps intended to offer some guidance on what you should do.

First and foremost, make sure that you and your family are safe. Second, if possible make reasonable and necessary repairs required to protect your property from further damage. Third, keep an accurate record of repair expenditures as these may be reimbursable under your insurance policy. If it is safe to do so, try to photograph the damage and obtain an estimate to repair the damage. We recommend hiring a professional who has the equipment and expertise to do the job safely.  Fourth, if you do not have access to your home or business, provide your insurance agent with an alternative mailing address, such as your temporary location for prompt payment when emergency funds are needed.

If necessary, please be advised that the Massachusetts Division of Insurance has activated its consumer hotline at 617-521-7777.

What is the difference between a Tornado Watch & a Tornado Warning?
Tornado Watch
A Tornado Watch is issued to alert people to the possibility of a tornado developing in your area. At this point, a tornado has not been seen but the conditions are very favorable for tornados to occur at any moment.

Tornado Warning
A Tornado Warning is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted or has been picked up on radar in your area. This means that you need to take shelter immediately in a safe sturdy structure.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness and is on the rise in New England. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks, which feed on the blood of animals and humans, can harbor the bacteria and spread it when feeding.

 Symptoms

• Rash – A small, red bump may appear within a few days to a month, usually at the site of the tick bite.   Over the next few days, the redness expands, forming a rash that may be as small as your fingertip or as large as 12 inches (30 centimeters) across. It often resembles a bull’s-eye, with a red ring surrounding a clear area and a red center.
• Flu-like symptoms- Fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and a headache may accompany the rash.
• Migratory joint pain- If the infection is not treated, you may develop bouts of severe joint pain and swelling several weeks to months after you’re infected. Your knees are especially likely to be affected, but the pain can shift from one joint to another.
• Neurological problems-  In some cases, inflammation of the membranes surrounding your brain (meningitis), temporary paralysis of one side of your face (Bell’s palsy), numbness or weakness in your limbs, and impaired muscle movement may occur weeks, months or even years after an untreated infection.

Exposure

To contract Lyme disease, you must be bitten by an infected deer tick. The bacteria enter your skin through the bite and eventually make their way into your bloodstream.  Only ticks that are attached to your skin and are feeding can transmit the bacteria. An attached tick that has a swollen appearance may indicate that enough time has elapsed to transmit bacteria. Removing the tick as soon as possible may prevent infection.

Treatment

If you notice any of the symptoms of Lyme disease you should promptly contact your doctor and follow their advise. Antibiotics are commonly prescribed.

God bless all those who serve our country both at home and abroad and put their lives on the line everyday to protect our freedom.  With gratitude and love we remember all those who have given their lives in the line of duty in the name of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

 A special thank you to Fr. Austin Fleming for his beautiful Memorial Day Prayer. 

http://concordpastor.blogspot.com/2011/05/memorial-day-prayer-2011.html

This week kicked off the beginning of National Hurricane Preparedness Week and June 1st marks the start of what is predicted to be another active hurricane season.  It is never too early to be prepared!
The 21 names chosen for 2011 hurricanes are: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince and Whitney (the letters Q, U, X, Y, Z were not used).