First day of Summer!

Most of us feel that summer has been here for a while now, but actually today June 21st is official the first day of summer, also known as Summer Solstice. After a bit of researching on the web I came across some very interesting facts that I would love to share with you about the “longest day of the year”.

The summer solstice occurs exactly when the Earth's and the moon's axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun, at its maximum of 23° 26'. Though the summer solstice is an instant in time, the term is also colloquially used like Midsummer to refer to the day on which it occurs. Except in the Polar Regions (where daylight is continuous for many months), the day on which the summer solstice occurs is the day of the year with the longest period of daylight. The summer solstice occurs in June in the Northern Hemisphere north of the Tropic of Cancer (23°26'N) and in December in the Southern Hemisphere south of the Tropic of Capricorn (23°26'S. The Sun reaches its highest position in the sky on the day of the summer solstice. However, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, the highest sun position does not occur at the summer solstice, since the sun reaches the zenithhere and it does so at different times of the year depending on the latitude of the observer. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the summer solstice occurs some time between December 21 and December 22 each year in the Southern Hemisphere, and between June 20 and June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied among cultures, but most have held recognition of sign of the fertility, involving holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around that time.^[3]

The word solstice derives from Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still).

Source: Wikepedia

People all over the world celebrate this remarkable act of nature with rituals, dances, picnics, etc. There is the “Tour of Stonehenge – Summer Solstice Festival“this annual celebration is held at the world heritage site of Stonehenge on England’s Salisbury plain.

(for more information click here)

If you can’t make it to England lets keep it local our lovely Town of Hingham has an annual celebration of summer as well and it’s held at the World’s End where family’s gather for a community picnic. This year will be held from 6 to 8:30 pm. live music by the Aldous Collins Band. (for more information click here

)

So whether you are flying to England or just keeping it local, make sure to enjoy the longest day of the Year as much as possible.

Other interesting links:

Washington Post - Summer Solstice

IB Times - Summer Solstice

National Geographic - Summer Solstice

Happy Father's Day!

We at Lamb Insurance is wishing all the dad's out there a Happy and Relaxing Father's day!

Some helpful links to what to buy for dad:

Bestbuy's Father's Day deals

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Macys Father's Day deals

Teen Safe Driving Tips

As a parent of a teenage driver, it is critical that you continuously remind your child to remain safe. Although your teenagers are now more independent, your parental responsibilities continue. Now, more than ever, your teen needs your guidance on how to drive safely.

Some tips include:

Set a good example for your child

Don’t text & drive
Don't use your cell phone when driving
Drive within the posted speed limits
Teach your child to be a defensive driver, not an aggressive driver.

Tips you should share with your child

Know your child’s travel companions
Remind your child frequently of the inherent dangers of operating a motor vehicle with anything less than 100 percent concentration
Choose a safe car and make sure the car is in good order
Remind your child not to drive while distracted:
Don’t text & drive
Don’t speak on your cell phone and drive

You and your teenager should take our safe
driving pledge! Drive safely

copied from: Plymouth Rock

Text and Drive Law in Massachusetts

The Safe Driving Law becomes effective in Massachusetts on
September 30, 2010. The law creates a series of new violations, which the RMV
Division, MassDOT IT staff and the Merit Rating Board are working to program and
implement.
These new violations include:

1. Ch 90/8M- Use of a Mobile Phone or Mobile Electronic Device by a Junior Operator
Civil Offense- No Surcharge (Mobile electronic device includes mobile telephone, text messaging device, paging device, PDA, laptop computer, electronic equipment capable of playing video games or video disks or can take/transmit digital photographs or can receive a television broadcast. Mobile electronic device does not include any equipment permanently or temporarily installed to provide navigation, emergency assistance or rear seat video entertainment. Reporting an emergency is the only exception. Drivers are encouraged to pull over and stop the vehicle to report the emergency.)

• 1st offense-$100, 60 day license suspension & attitudinal course



• 2nd offense-$250, 180 day suspension



• 3rd or subs offense-$500, 1 year suspension
  

2. Use of a Mobile Phone by a Public Transport Motor Vehicle Operator Civil Offense-No insurance surcharge

• $500 assessment each offense

3. Use of a Mobile Phone by a Public Transport Non-Motor Vehicle Operator Civil Offense-No insurance surcharge (MBTA Trolley)

• $500 assessment each violation

4. Improper Use of a Mobile Phone by Operators 18 and Over
Civil Offense-No insurance surcharge (One hand must be on the steering wheel at all times and no use of device can interfere with driving)

• 1st offense-$35 assessment



• 2nd offense in 12 months-$75 assessment



• 3rd offense in 12 months-$150 assessment

5. Sending/Reading Text Messages

Civil Offense-No insurance surcharge (Operators cannot use any mobile telephone or handheld device capable of accessing the Internet to write, send, or read an electronic message including text messages, emails, and instant messages or to access the Internet while operating a vehicle. Law applies even if the vehicle is stopped in traffic.)

• 1st offense-$100



• 2nd offense-$250



• 3rd or subs offense-$500
  

6. Negligent Operation & Injury from Mobile Phone Use
Criminal Offense- Insurance surcharge

JOL Suspensions:

1. 1st offense-180-day suspension



2. 2nd or subsequent offense within 3 years-1 year suspension



3. $500 reinstatement fee

Over-18 suspensions

1. 1st offense-60-day suspension



2. 2nd or subsequent offense within 3 years-1 year suspension



3. $500 reinstatement fee

Additional Suspensions:

The law repeals the current suspension for 5-surchargeable incidents in a 3-year period and replaces it with a new suspension for 3 surchargeable incidents in 2 years. Violations with an incident date on or after 9/30/2010 can be factored into the new suspension calculation. However, older violations will still be considered a basis for operators that accrue 7 surchargeable incidents. Similar to the current suspension process for 5 surchargeable incidents, operators will have 90 days from the suspension notice to complete a National Safety Council course to avoid going into suspension.

EXAMPLE: An operator receives a citation on October 1, 2010 and is cited for 3 offenses on the ticket: speeding, failure to yield, and a marked lane violation.Under the new law, this driver will receive a notice that they must complete the NSC course in 90 days or have his/her license suspended until completion of the class.