Fireworks - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood City's Monthly ...
Fireworks - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood City's Monthly ...
Fireworks - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood City's Monthly ...
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Insurance Tips: Risk Retention and Reduction for Low Auto Insurance<br />
By Hector Flamenco, Special to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong><br />
Everyone knows one of the most dramatic ways to lower your car insurance<br />
rate is to eliminate coverage. Some do this by dropping liability limits while<br />
others drop collision and comprehensive coverage on older vehicles. When<br />
you do this, you are assuming more risk and creating less risk for the insurer.<br />
If your car is worth less than $2,500, why insure it with collision and<br />
comprehensive? <strong>The</strong> extra cost to insure it will probably surpass the value of<br />
the car within a year or so.<br />
<strong>The</strong> truth about deductibles is that having a higher deductible will lower<br />
your premium. Do you really want to pay up to $1,000 to get your car<br />
repaired or replaced? For many people, $1,000 isn’t all that easy to come<br />
by. A common deductible — and a better choice for most drivers with<br />
comprehensive and collision — is $500. <strong>The</strong> deductible is the amount paid by<br />
you for each incident.<br />
In summary, anytime you put the risk on yourself, you’ll pay less in<br />
premiums. Risk retention is accomplished by selecting lower limits of<br />
coverage and higher deductibles.<br />
Reducing risk is the second-best way to lower your auto insurance rates.<br />
According to insurance companies, your risk is reduced when you buy the<br />
sedan versus the sports car, when you drive less than 7,500 miles each year<br />
and when you keep your driving history clean of tickets and car accidents.<br />
<strong>The</strong> final way to make sure you are getting lower auto insurance rates is by<br />
comparing the wide variety of plans available. Some insurance companies are<br />
built to save more for senior citizens while others are set up to save more for<br />
newer drivers. It’s really tough to tell which company will offer the best rate<br />
since each company rates so many factors — differently.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is a chance that if you own your own home, you will be seen as a<br />
more responsible individual. Or perhaps the insurance company will offer<br />
you a lower rate in hopes of also selling you homeowners insurance either<br />
now or down the road. <strong>The</strong>re are many ways we show our responsibility. Of<br />
course, maintaining a clean driving record is one of the best ways to maintain<br />
a low auto insurance rate.<br />
Editor’s note: Please note that this article is for general information only and is not a<br />
professional consultation. Always seek specific information from a licensed insurance<br />
professional. Hector Flamenco is an agent with State Farm Insurance. Visit his website at<br />
www.flamencoinsurance.com.<br />
Let your opinion be heard!<br />
Send your letters to letters@spectrummagazine.net or<br />
Opinions & Letters, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Spectrum</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, P.O. Box<br />
862, <strong>Redwood</strong> City, CA 94064<br />
Letters to the editor should be no longer than 300 words.<br />
Columns should be no longer than 750 words. Illegibly written<br />
and anonymous letters will not be accepted. Please include a<br />
daytime phone number where we can reach you.<br />
Senior Activities<br />
<strong>The</strong> following activities are open to the public during the month of February<br />
at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Ave., <strong>Redwood</strong> City.<br />
Please note: <strong>The</strong> center will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, to celebrate<br />
Presidents Day.<br />
Friday Movies for Everyone<br />
Every Friday, 1:15 p.m. (unless otherwise announced)<br />
Come to the Veterans Memorial Senior Center for a free feature movie in our<br />
state-of-the-art movie theater!<br />
Feb. 3: “Money Ball”<br />
Feb. 10: “Ides of March”<br />
Feb. 17: “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”<br />
Feb. 24: “Real Steel”<br />
AARP Tax Assistance<br />
Wednesdays, Feb. 2 through April 11<br />
By appointment only<br />
Call to make your AARP tax assistance appointment at 650-489-6023. Leave<br />
your name and phone number and an AARP volunteer will return your call<br />
to make the appointment.<br />
Valentine’s Day Luncheon<br />
Tuesday, Feb. 14, noon<br />
<strong>Redwood</strong> Room<br />
$7<br />
Come join the fun! We will have a special Valentine’s Day menu. Call 650-<br />
780-7259 to make your reservation now.<br />
3rd Annual Hot Rod Bunko<br />
Saturday, Feb. 25, 4:30–9 p.m.<br />
$50 per person<br />
This fun-filled event benefits our <strong>Redwood</strong> City Special Needs Program<br />
and is hosted by Golden Gate Street Machines Unlimited and Chuck and<br />
Anne Camilleri. <strong>The</strong> event includes Bunko, dinner and door prizes. Kick<br />
back and spend the evening with great people having a great time for a great<br />
cause. <strong>The</strong> event will be held at 975 Industrial Road, Suite A, San Carlos. For<br />
further information, contact Chuck or Anne at acamil1462@sbcglobal.net or<br />
call 650-568-0565.<br />
SAVE THE DATE<br />
AARP Driver Safety Renewal Class<br />
Saturday, March 17, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.<br />
Wellness Center, Room 20<br />
$12 AARP members, $14 nonmembers<br />
This is a renewal class. You must have taken the full two-day class within<br />
the past three years. You may be able to receive a discount on your insurance<br />
after completing the class. To enroll in the class, call 650-780-7270, leave<br />
your name and number and you will be contacted to confirm your enrollment.<br />
To learn more about the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, call 650-780-<br />
7270. <strong>Redwood</strong> City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department<br />
provides recreational facilities and activities for all ages and interests, and<br />
supplies building and custodial services for city buildings. <strong>Redwood</strong> City<br />
Parks also operates the Veterans Memorial Senior Center and the Fair Oaks<br />
Community Center, providing social, educational and cultural activities, as<br />
well as information, referral and counseling services to persons living in<br />
<strong>Redwood</strong> City and neighboring communities. <strong>Redwood</strong> City Parks is more<br />
than you think! Its website is located at www.redwoodcity.org/parks.<br />
www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net