Memorial Day weekend in Livingston, Texas can be a busy one for many. The three-day holiday that marks the unofficial start of summer is a great opportunity for family activities, which can leave little time for the original purpose of the holiday: honoring those who have died while serving in America's armed forces.





There is a way, though, that you can participate in Memorial Day commemorations, and it only takes a moment. Here’s what to do: Pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silent reflection in honor and remembrance of those who have died in service to our nation.
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Of course, there are other ways to honor our fallen heroes, too. Here are a few:

• Buy a Poppy From the American Legion Auxiliary. The organization has been selling red crepe-paper poppies for Memorial Day and Veterans Day since 1925. John McCrea's 1915 poem, In Flanders Fields, which honors those who died in World War I, inspired this tradition.

 

• Display the American Flag. On the morning of Memorial Day, raise the flag to the top of the staff before lowering it to half-staff. Leave it at half-staff until noon, when you can once again raise it to the top.

 

• Visit a Veteran’s Grave. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains 131 national cemeteries, and many states have veterans cemeteries as well. Check the VA listings to locate a nearby cemetery, which will likely host a Memorial Day ceremony.

Memorial Day History

The concept of Memorial Day dates back to 1868, then known as Decoration Day, a time to place flowers at the graves of our war dead. Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic established Decoration Day, with the first national celebration occurring on May 30, 1868. In 1971, it was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress that also moved it to the last Monday in May.

We hope you’ll join us at [agency name] in taking part in the moment of silence, known as the National Moment of Remembrance, and other Memorial Day traditions in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We will forever be grateful for their service.

Watercraft Insurance
Most home insurance policies have limited coverage for boats. If you own a boat, watercraft insurance is your best bet: It covers theft, damage, and injuries or accidents while you’re on the water, as well as some of your expensive watersports gear.
 

Every summer, our team gets calls from customers after a fun weekend on the water takes a turn for the worse. Often, these accidents could have been prevented with just a few simple precautions. Here are a few tips we like – courtesy of our partners at Safeco. 
Don’t let an accident wreck your fun!
 
Life Preservers Aren’t Just for Kids. It’s not enough to just have life jackets on board — wear them! In an accident, people rarely have time to reach for a life jacket. This rule applies to adults, not just children: More people in their 30s die in boating accidents than any other age group. Life vests have come a long way in style. Today, you can even get vests for your water-loving dog!
 

Watercraft Insurance
Most home insurance policies have limited coverage for boats. If you own a boat, watercraft insurance is your best bet: It covers theft, damage, and injuries or accidents while you’re on the water, as well as some of your expensive watersports gear.
 

Watch the Back of the Boat. Carbon monoxide kills in minutes. So tell your passengers where your exhaust pipes are located and turn off your engine when people are in the water, and don't let passengers "ski" or “teak-surf” by holding on to the back of the boat. Both Washington and Oregon made teak-surfing illegal in the last few years, after several tragic deaths. Carbon monoxide detectors are standard on most new boats; older boats install devices for less than $100.
 
Alcohol and Boating Don't Mix. More than 50 percent of drowning’s result from boating incidents involving alcohol. You don’t drink and drive, so don’t boat and drive.
 
Boats Need TLC Too. When you're out on the water, make sure your gas tanks are vented and bilges are free of vapors, oil, waste and grease. Carry a charged fire extinguisher. Have your boat's operating systems checked yearly by a certified marine technician. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons also offer free vessel safety checks.
 
Experience Counts! The U.S. Coast Guard says that operator errors account for 70 percent of all boating accidents. Make sure anyone who drives your boat is properly trained. You can also earn boat insurance discounts from Safeco and other insurers if you complete a safety course with the Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons.
 
Sites for Information:
Coast Guard: www.uscgboating.org
Coast Guard Auxiliary: nws.cgaux.org/
Safeco tips: www.safeco.com/insurance-101/consumer-tips/your-boat
 
Call one of our agents at 936-327-4364 or e-mail info@firstcfg.com for more info. Please use the contact link at the top of the page! 

High school is full of defining moments for Texas teens and two of the highlights for most are prom and graduation.
 
However, this time of year often sees other, more tragic defining moments - serious car accidents involving teens who are distracted or even under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
 
At First Community Financial Group, we want to help make this season one to celebrate for you and your teen. So, with the help of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, here are some tips that can keep your teen safe.
 
First, encourage your teen to follow these general safe-driving rules:
Absolutely no alcohol
Always use seat belts
No cell phone use (including texting) while driving
 
Special circumstances
Of course, special events such as prom and graduation often present special circumstances. There may be dinner with dates before the dance, and parties before or after either event. It’s a good idea to discuss your expectations well before each event, putting some guidelines into place before your teen heads out for the night. Here are some ideas:

Make sure you know the itinerary of the evening, as well as who else will be with your teen. You should have contact information for everyone.

Have a way to contact your teen at all times. You may want to require them to check in with you once or twice over the course of the evening.

Set a curfew, whether they are coming back to your home or staying with a friend. If they are staying elsewhere, make sure the curfew will be enforced by a responsible adult.

Discuss with your teen how to handle difficult situations, such as facing pressure to drink, or accepting a ride with someone who shouldn’t be driving. It’s a good idea to provide your child with money for a taxi just in case.

Offer a “no-questions-asked” ride home, should they need one during the evening.

If you’re worried about your teen driving, consider alternate transportation. A car service or limousine will provide a responsible, experienced adult driver. You also will be able to limit changes to the itinerary and contact the driver.
 
Prom and graduation in Texas are special times in a teen’s life. And just a little common sense will go a long way toward making sure your young adult is around to enjoy the other milestones that are sure to come.

​As the second Sunday of May nears, it’s time to think of ways to celebrate mothers - although, of course, that’s a worthy pursuit at any time of year!
 
At First Community Financial Group, we thought it would be fun to give you a little of the history behind Mother’s Day, as well as a few ideas to honor the special women in all our lives.
 
Ancient beginnings
According to MothersDayCentral.com, the ancient Egyptians held an annual festival to honor “the mother of the pharaohs” - the goddess Isis. This is one of the earliest historical records of a society celebrating a mother.
 
How Mother’s Day came to be in the U.S.
In 1870, Julia Ward Howe, a social activist and poet (and author of the lyrics for “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”) had became distraught by the toll of the Civil War. She issued a “Mother’s Day Proclamation” that year, calling on mothers to protest the killing and create a day celebrating peace and motherhood.
 
Howe’s proclamation did not result in a national Mother’s Day, but in 1908, Anna Jarvis of West Virginia took up the cause. She wanted to accomplish her mother’s dream of making a celebration of all mothers. By 1909, more than 40 states were holding Mother’s Day services, even though it was not a national holiday.
 
In 1912, according to Wikipedia, West Virginia was the first state to officially observe Mother’s Day. Jarvis continued to promote the day until President Woodrow Wilson made it an official national holiday in 1914.
 
She later regretted creating the holiday, believing that it had become too commercialized.
 
Enough with the history – where are the gift ideas?
Like us at First Community Financial Group, we know you might have more urgent concerns on your mind, like last-minute shopping, so here are the most popular Mother’s Day gifts, according to MothersDayCentral.com.  And remember, shop LOCAL when you can!

Flowers
Gift baskets
Personalized gifts
Jewelry
Perfume
Spa gifts
Magazines
 
Of course, perhaps the best gift of all is getting in touch and letting the moms in your life know just how much they mean to you. Happy Mother’s Day!

For many of our neighbors in Livingston and East Texas, summer means more than sunshine and vacations. It also means working in the yard - often with tools that can be dangerous if not used properly.

Each year about 400,000 people are treated for injuries from lawn and garden tools, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Don't let your landscaping efforts land you in the hospital! Follow these handy safety tips.
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Tool safety tips from the U.S. CPSC

• Dress appropriately. To protect yourself from debris when using lawn tools, wear eye protection, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, close-fitting clothes and no jewelry. Sturdy shoes are recommended, and ear plugs may be appropriate depending on how loud the device is.
• Before starting, remove objects from your work area that could cause injury or damage, such as sticks, glass or stones.
• Keep children indoors and supervised at all times when any outdoor power equipment is being used. Never let a child ride or operate a garden tractor or riding mower, even if the child is supervised. And never assume children will remain where you last saw them.
  Use extreme caution when backing up or approaching corners, shrubs and trees.
• Teenagers using power equipment should always be supervised by an adult.
• Handle gasoline carefully. Never fill tanks while machinery is on or when equipment is still hot. Of course, you should never smoke or use any type of flame around gasoline or any gasoline-powered equipment.
• Do not work with electric power tools in wet or damp conditions. For protection against electrocution, use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
• Be sure that extension cords are in good condition, are rated for outdoor use, and are the proper gauge for the electrical current capacity of the tool.

Lawn Chemical Safety Tips from Texas A&M University

• If you use chemicals to control weeds or pests in your lawn, read the product label carefully so you understand the potential effects on humans, animals and the environment. Follow all instructions.
• Keep children and animals away from the application area, and protect your skin, eyes and nose during and after application.
• Remember, use only the recommended amount. Using more of the chemical will not do a better job.
• Ask yourself if you truly need to use a general pesticide. Is there a product that will specifically treat only the problem you need to solve?

From all of us at First Community Financial Group, here's to keeping both you and your lawn healthy this summer!

On April 22, the 53nd annual Earth Day is expected to include more than 1 billion people in nearly 200 countries taking part in what the Earth Day Network calls "the largest civic-focused day of action in the world."

Since the first Earth Day in 1970 (which was connected to the passage of the Clean Air Act that year), there have been many environmental victories—such as passing and strengthening laws for cleaner air and water, expanding Marine Protected Areas, reducing overfishing, even improving our ability to predict extreme weather events.

Scientists say more progress is needed if we are to slow the impact of climate change, and carbon emissions are a major threat, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Since the mid-1800s, the agency notes, carbon concentrations in the atmosphere have increased by about 40%. Because of their warming effect on the planet over time, carbon emissions can contribute to severe weather, rising sea levels, and other significant issues.

You might think the problem is so big there's nothing you can do about it—but there are many ways you can help reduce these emissions. Here are three things the environmental organization Carbon Offsets To Alleviate Poverty (COTAP) recommends to lower your carbon footprint and do your part to help the planet:

1. Don't drive so much—and when you do drive, be fuel-efficient. Driving a conventional vehicle burns fossil fuels, so the less you drive, the less carbon you emit. (Even electric cars typically have a carbon footprint, depending on the type of energy used to charge them.) You also can lower your emissions by keeping your car well-maintained and driving sensibly: To maximize your gas mileage, don't speed excessively or accelerate suddenly, and make sure your tires are properly inflated.

2. Limit your air travel. Everybody loves vacations, but airplane flights generate a lot of carbon emissions: For every roundtrip transatlantic flight, 30 square feet of Arctic sea ice is lost, according to Climate Central, an independent organization of climate scientists and journalists. When you want to get away, choose shorter flights, or try "staycations" closer to home. Also, if you travel for work, consider videoconferencing tools instead.

3. Look around the house. There are plenty of other ways to lower your impact on the environment—and saving energy in your home is a great start. Make sure your home is insulated properly to keep things warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer without cranking the thermostat up or down. Choose appliances that are energy-efficient. Even something as simple as replacing incandescent light bulbs with LEDs (and turning lights off when you're not using them) can help.

​However you choose to mark Earth Day, remember that little steps can create a big impact. Maybe you can bike to work a couple of times a month. Walk to the market instead of driving. Leave the AC off until the hottest days of summer. It all adds up—for you, for those you share the planet with, and those who will come after you, too.
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Content provided by Safeco Ins. 
First Community Financial Group Incorporated (safeco.com)
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For many, the winter months are a welcome time to escape the short days and chilly temperatures by heading on vacation to Galveston, Florida, Mexico, or beyond. And is there a better way to celebrate the end of winter than to take a spring break?
 
Whether you’re going to hang out at Kemah or the Galveston boardwalk, bask on a sunny, white-sand beach in the Caribbean or hit the slopes for some skiing or snowboarding, you have to take precautions to ensure your home stays safe while you’re away. After all, what could be worse than returning from a relaxing break or an active adventure to find a disaster has occurred, such as a break-in, or water or fire damage?
 
To ensure your vacation doesn’t end in tragedy, follow these tips before you go.
 

• Check for any leaks and fix them. For example, ensure your refrigerator ice maker is not leaking!
• Set your heater at approximately 50 degrees to ensure pipes and appliances don’t freeze. But if you have pets and they are going to be in the house, set it closer to 72 degrees.
• If you have pets, make arrangements for their comfort and safety: either board them or have a friend come over daily to care for them.
• Turn furnace and hot water heaters down.
• Unplug all appliances, such as coffee makers, toasters and exercise equipment.
• Leave a light or two on so the house doesn’t appear deserted at night.
• Lower blinds and close curtains so that passers-by can’t view your valuables.
• Leave a key with a trusted friend or neighbor so they can enter the home in case of emergency.
• Have a friend or neighbor bring in newspapers and mail or cancel delivery for both during  the time when you’ll be away.

 
If you have the opportunity to get away for_spring_break, we wish you happy trails, and hope you come home to a safe and welcoming home!
 
Contact Us!
 
At First Community Financial Group, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at 936-327-4364 or send us a note at info@firstcfg.com (please use the contact buttons at the top of the page). We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!
 
Content provided by Safeco Insurance

In most places in the United States, March 12, 2023, is Daylight Saving, when clocks are moved forward one hour. We here at First Community Financial Group want to remind you it’s also a great time to improve your family’s safety.
 
Be safe in your Texas home
 
Health and safety agencies often use the approach of Daylight-Saving Time to remind people to change the batteries in their smoke alarms. The American Red Cross suggests you test your smoke alarms and talk with your family about your fire escape plan. Whether you live in  Texas or elsewhere, practice the plan too – at least twice a year.
 
Daylight Saving is a great time to check your emergency preparedness kit to make sure it’s fully stocked with fresh supplies.
 
Carbon Monoxide a concern too
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 people die annually in the US from carbon monoxide poisoning. The CDC recommends changing the batteries in your CO detectors when moving your clocks forward this Sunday.
 
The CDC says the most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
 
See the CDC’s site for more ways to prevent carbon monoxide exposure.
 
We here at First Community Financial Group hope these tips help and that you’ll consider sharing them with the people you care about so they can live safer lives too.

Livingston, TX parents, March 2 was Read Across America Day! We here at First Community Financial believe there are so many reasons to encourage children to read.
 
First of all, it’s fun! It’s also an activity that promotes learning and independent thought. But, perhaps most important, becoming a reader can mean the difference between success and difficulty later in life.
 
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, children who read proficiently by the end of third grade are more likely to graduate from high school than those who don’t. They also are more likely to be economically successful as adults.
 
The National Education Association (NEA) is well aware of the impact that literacy can have on a young person’s life. That’s why the organization started Read Across America in 1998. Held on the school day closest to the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss (March 2), the event goes beyond promoting reading for just one day. It also provides tools for educators and parents to create lifelong readers.
 
We here at [insert agency name] want you to have a few tricks up your sleeve to promote reading at home. After all, one of the most crucial factors for the success of young readers is parental involvement. According to the U.S. Department of Education, when involvement is low, reading scores are 46 points below the national average.
 
So how can you encourage your child to read? Here are some tips from the NEA and the Public Broadcasting Service’s “Between the Lions” show:

• Be a reader yourself. Set a good example by letting your kids see you reading every day.
  
  
• Make reading and literacy fun. Have the family read together, and encourage a love of words by playing rhyming and word games and singing silly songs. You can even write poems and stories as a family.
  
  
• Take part in Read Across America on March 2 every year. Check in with your local school, education association, library or bookstore to find out what they have planned. Or plan your own event for the families in your neighborhood.
  
  
• Make it convenient. Carry a few children’s books or magazines wherever you go, whether it’s a car ride, the doctor’s office, etc.
  
  
• Go to the library. And make sure you let your children choose some of their own books.
  
  
• Find used materials. Inexpensive books and magazines are often available at yard sales and secondhand stores. Dedicate a small corner of your home to creating your own library.
  
  
• Give (or get) the gift of reading. Try to incorporate reading into gifts for birthdays and other events. If relatives or friends ask for gift ideas, suggest magazine subscriptions and books.
  
  
• Show why reading is important in everyday life. Read other things with your child, from street signs to restaurant menus, so they see what reading means in the “real world.”

 
Too often, our hectic schedules mean we take less time to do the things we enjoy. So, remember, reading with children isn’t just fun for them — it should be fun for you, too! After all, as Dr. Seuss himself wrote, “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.”
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If you love the water, few things are better than boating season.  Summer just wouldn’t be summer without spending those long, hot days on Lake Livingston, cooling off with a lazy dip in the water, dropping a line in hopes of catching a “big one,” or having an action-packed day of waterskiing and tubing.

Boating is not without its share of pre-summer preparation.  If you’re not on the ball early, it’s easy to find yourself midway through July still on dry land.

​At First Community Financial Group, we want to ensure you’re first in line at the boat launch at the first sign of the season change, so here are a few tips for being ahead of the game.

• Tune it up. It’s always a good idea to have your boat winterized at the end of each season, but whether you did or didn’t get it done last year, make sure to get a full tune-up before you hit the lake this summer.
  
  
• Charge it. Make sure your battery is fully charged.
  
• Clear it out. If there’s a chance any bit of gas from last season is still in your tank, fill it up with fresh gas as well as a stabilizer; this will prevent buildup in the gas lines and injection system.
  
• Give it a test. Before you get the boat all the way into the water and off the trailer, lower your motor into the water and make sure it will turn over.
• Plug it up. Ensure your drain plug is in and the bilge pump is functioning properly.
  
• ​Double- and triple-check. The last thing you want is to be turned away at the ramp for not having an updated registration or missing your ski flag or life vests.  Double check that your documents are updated and that your boat is fully stocked with everything you need.

We at First Community Financial Group wish you a fun-filled and safe boating season on all of the beautiful waters of the State of Texas! Call us today to get a boat quote or check your coverage. We'd love to help!