Just like hamburgers and hot dogs, a sizzling grill is a symbol of summer and grilling isn’t just about great food. Backyard barbecues often create treasured memories with friends and family.

Keep in mind, however, that when you grill, you’re literally playing with fire. Thousands of residents each year learn this the hard way, suffering damage to their homes or even serious injuries in grilling accidents.

There’s good news, though: You can prevent grilling accidents by taking some simple precautions. The tips below can help ensure you cook only your burgers — and not your house — the next time you fire up the grill.

TIPS FOR ALL GRILLS

• Your grill, whether gas or charcoal, should be on a level surface outdoors, away from anything that could be ignited by flames (bushes, fences, etc.).
• NEVER use a grill indoors. Odorless carbon monoxide fumes could kill you.
• Keep your grill clean and well-maintained. Check parts regularly to determine if replacements are needed.
• Never leave a hot grill unattended or let children play near it.

CHARCOAL GRILL TIPS

(From Kingsford.com)

• Do not add lighter fluid directly to hot coals. The flame could travel up the stream of fluid and burn you.
• Never use gasoline or kerosene to light a charcoal fire.
• Use flame-retardant mitts and long-handled barbecue tongs, as coals can reach up to 1,000 degrees.
• To dispose of coals, allow the ashes to cool for at least 48 hours before disposal in a non-combustible container. If you cannot wait 48 hours, carefully place coals individually in a can of sand or bucket of water.

GAS GRILL TIPS

(From the National Fire Protection Association)

• Check your grill’s hoses for leaks before using it for the first time each year. Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If you have a leak, and it will not stop after the grill and gas is turned off, call the fire department. If the leak stops when the grill and gas are turned off, have your grill serviced by a professional.
• If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill.
• Do not keep a filled propane tank in a hot car or trunk. When getting containers refilled, make that your last stop before going home.Store propane tanks in an upright position, and never indoors.

From all of us at Novallus Insurance Brokers, happy grilling, and stay safe this summer!

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 Novallus Insurance Brokers, 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.

SO, WHAT SHOULD I THE MOTHERS IN MY LIFE FOR MOTHER'S DAY?

So, do something different this year. I did a quick search on Etsy.com and found a number of GREAT ideas. Consider finding something unique and handmade. A friend of mine got this beautiful necklace for his wife from there. Each flower represents one member of the family.

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!

When springtime rolls around in Minnesota, almost everyone thinks of cleaning. Personally, I think of GETTING OUTSIDE!

Okay, back to cleaning...that’s fine (we probably all need to do a little more of that, after all), but there’s something even more important to keep in mind: home maintenance.

So, when it’s time to set your clocks ahead for daylight-saving time and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, give your home a checkup, too. Here are some suggestions:

INTERIOR AND APPLIANCES

• Check the basement and/or crawlspace for any signs of standing water or dripping.
• Pull your dryer out and clean the exhaust hose and vent (lint found here is a common cause of house fires).
• Vacuum refrigerator/freezer coils for efficiency.
• Clean exhaust fan outlets and screens.
• Check all air filters and replace, if necessary.

ROOF, SIDING, WINDOWS

• Check for damage to your roof and have a professional inspection, if necessary (I found missing siding up on my chimney. All I could think was "where did that go?")
• Go into the attic. If there is visible moisture or discoloration, your roof might be leaking.
• Examine the paint on your siding and trim. If it is peeling, you might need new paint to  protect against the effects of weather.
• Check for leaks around window and door sills. Improving your seals can lower your energy bills.

YARD AND EXTERIOR

• Check for signs of rodents and other pests. C'mon, we're Minnesotans! You know you have field mice somewhere.
• Clean debris from gutters and downspouts, and make sure they are draining away from the home.
• Trim overhanging tree branches and shrubs.

Remember, winter weather can cause significant damage that is easy to spot, but it often results in wear and tear that homeowners can miss if they aren’t looking closely. It’s well worth it to spend a little time on home maintenance this spring, so that wear and tear doesn’t turn into something more serious.

Oh yeah, and enjoy the outdoors!

People are thinking more and more about the environment — whether it’s something that affects the quality of life here in the Twin Cities or global issues such as climate change and extreme weather.

But more importantly, people aren't content with simply thinking about these things any more. They’re focused on taking action.

Earth Day, which is celebrated April 22, is the perfect time to take action, whether you are looking to take part in a community event or organize your own. Here are some tips to help you get involved — and think about our planet Earth all through the year.

Find an event

It’s easy to find Earth Day events, whether you live in Eden Prairie, White Bear Lake or anywhere in the Twin Cities. City and town Facebook pages are a great place to start, along with the websites of local environmental organizations. Newspapers, radio and TV often publicize events as well.

The Environmental Protection Agency website lists major Earth Day activities.

Here are a few we dug up for you:

• SCHEELS Earth Day Run
• Minneapolis River Gorge Cleanup
• Minneapolis Parks Earth Day Cleanup

So, what are we missing? List in the comments below!

Spring is right around the corner, and the warmer weather often prompts people in the Twin Cities to hop in their cars for weekend (or longer) road trips.

Unfortunately, too many of those trips will end up being memorable for the wrong reasons, due to crashes and other risks that drivers face anytime they hit the road.

You can take control of your next trip, whether it’s across the state or across town, by following these simple rules:

1. Pay attention. Do you know how many drivers around the country are using cell phones or other electronic devices right now? If it’s daytime, the answer is approximately 660,000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says. Anything that takes your eyes off the road or distracts you increases your risk of a crash. Here’s another reason to avoid distractions: If you’re completely alert, you have a better chance of steering clear of that guy who is shaving on his way to work.
2. Stay sober. One bad decision can change lives forever, and driving under the influence is an extraordinarily bad decision. Nearly 15,000 died in 2012 in crashes involving impaired drivers, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). So get a designated driver — or better yet, be a designated driver. Best of all, have the party at your house and let everyone sleep over.
3. Slow down. They say “speed kills,” and, as depressing as it sounds, it’s true. Crashes caused by excessive speed cause more than 10,000 deaths a year on average, the NSC says. Surprisingly, you are most at risk on roads where the speed limit is 55 mph or below. Remember, the posted speed limit isn't always the best speed to travel. Depending on conditions, going slower might be the safest option.

Improving safety on the roads isn't rocket science. Just a little common sense can make a big difference for you, your passengers and your fellow drivers. So be alert and be safe out there on the roads!

In most places in the United States, March 8 is Daylight Saving, when clocks are moved forward one hour. We here at Novallus Insurance Brokers want to remind you it’s also a great time to improve your family’s safety.

Take 10 minutes and check these 3 things every time your clock changes:

1. Smoke Alarms: 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 Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, or elsewhere, practice the plan too – at least twice a year.
2. Carbon Monoxide Alarms:  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.
3. Check your Emergency Preparedness Kit: WHAT?! You don't have one? Here are 2 sites to check for some great material:
   1. Gallon Ideas - Yes, you can turn a 5-Gallon bucket into an emergency preparedness kit. Followthis link to learn how,
   2. Ready.gov - There are definitely some helpful tips here.

We here at Novallus Insurance Brokers hope these tips help and that you’ll consider sharing them with the people you care about so they can live safer lives too.