Home insurance in California is frustrating right now. Premiums are up, policies are getting non-renewed, and options are shrinking—especially in wildfire-prone areas. When the stress builds, it’s tempting to throw in the towel and let your bank handle it.

"I’ll just cancel my policy and let the mortgage company force-place insurance."

​The 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm was one of the most devastating urban wildfires in California history. The inferno, which ignited on October 20, burned over 1,500 acres, destroyed nearly 3,000 homes, and resulted in the deaths of 25 people. With insured losses exceeding $1.5 billion (equivalent to approximately $3.22 billion today when adjusted for inflation), the disaster sent shockwaves through the California homeowners insurance industry, leading to major changes in policy structures, underwriting standards, and risk assessment strategies.

Since the recent discovery of a methane gas leak in Porter Ranch, California at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility has received a lot of attention in the news over the last few months little has been discussed of how insurance companies are looking at the situation. Thousands of families have either fled the Porter Ranch community or been relocated due to health concerns as a result of the gas leak. Their relocation has left homes vacant until the leak has been properly fixed.  Schools, such as Castlebay Lane Elementary and the newly built Porter Ranch Community School, have been closed indefinitely and relocated to nearby facilities as well.

I can’t tell you how much I enjoy being a part of the local community here is Southern California.  A few weeks ago I was able to work a booth at a concert in Woodland Hills for Queen Nation where I was able to meet many local individuals and families.

From time to time, my wife and I talk about how we wish we could freeze time and enjoy our family as it is forever. Townsley Portraits has made that possible.

Stuart Townsley was actually our wedding photographer and has been a friend ever since. When he started his own photo studio, we decided to ask Stuart if we could set-up a session for us and our son. We met him at the Santa Monica Pier,  in Los Angeles,  and spent about 30 minutes just playing around the area and letting Stuart snap away. A few weeks later, we met again at the Townsley Portraits photo studio and showroom and saw the amazing photographs he had taken. They were breathtaking, and we wanted every one of them.

While walking from an amazing breakfast at Joe’s Cafe, I decided to drop by and check out Madison Avenue Salon.  While there are many beauty salons in the North San Fernando Valley, I was amazed at the quality of care I received at Madison Avenue Salon in Granada Hills, California.  The salon boasts a sophisticated flair typically found in the Beverly Hills, but sits on Chatsworth Street in charming Granada Hills.

Additional products and services include sate of the art safes and fire Today, while in the Sherman Oaks, I had some extra time before my lunch appointment and decided to walk into my trusted locksmith’s shop to get a better understanding of his business and how he can best assist my clients. Frank “Jack” Flam of Flam’s Lock & Key welcomed me with open arms without any appointment and gave me a full tour of his shop. We discussed the importance of having a qualified, and bonded, locksmith. It had never occurred to me to ask a locksmith if they were bonded before, but he explained to me that when working with a locksmith you are giving someone complete access to your home or business and should make sure they are working in a manner that would give you an ability to feel as if they operate professionally with the necessary credentials.