LOL, BRB…RIP – Katy TX Impacted by Distracted Driving

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Katy TX Distracted DrivingAs a Katy insurance agency, we walk with our clients and community through car accidents and no matter the case they are always tough. But when it involves teens and young parents, it brings additional heartbreak. Within the last few months, the community of Katy, Texas has lost two young women because of distracted driving; one a young Katy mom and the second, a 2012 graduate of Katy High School. In 2010, 18% of injury crashes were reported as distracted affected crashes. You can read that statistic and dismiss it, but when it’s someone you know the reality of these statics begins to hit home.

The term “distracted driving” can refer texting, general cell phone use, grooming, eating, adjusting music or navigational systems or even just talking to fellow passengers. That being said, text messaging while driving poses the biggest threat to drivers. In fact, the risk of texting while driving increases the risk for a crash by 23 times as compared with an undistracted driver.

And of course, teens are at heightened risk for distracted driving. Not only are they inexperienced drivers, but they are also more confident in multi-tasking while using a mobile device. In essence, it’s second nature to the generation that has grown up with mobile technology. In fact, 40% of American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger (Pew).

In 2011, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver (VTTI). What if you knew just one of these people? Would it change your view of distracted driving? We all falsely assume that these statistics and behaviors apply to everyone else. The deaths of these two young women in the Katy community should bring this delusion to a staggering halt.

Educate your teens on distracted driving, whether they are the driver or the passenger. And above all, be an example yourself. For more information and educational tools, visit www.distraction.gov. Please keep the Katy families mentioned in your prayers and don’t let another family have to go through this loss.

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Cinco Ranch Junior High Teacher Honored by ‘Live with Kelly & Michael’

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This is Teacher Appreciation Week across the U.S., but in Katy, Texas we’re shouting extra praise in the direction of one unique teacher. Suzette Steward teaches Special Education at Cinco Ranch Junior High and was honored yesterday on ‘Live with Kelly & Michael’ as winner of the Top Teacher Search which includes a prize of $25,000 going to her school. What a blessing not only for Suzette, but for Cinco Ranch Junior High as well!

As you watch the video of Suzette and the joyous faces of her sweet students, you can tell the impact that she makes in the lives of these kids.

Suzette goes beyond being their teacher during the school week. She has taken it upon herself to provide extra opportunities on weekends as well and has filled many gaps in the breadth of opportunities available to special needs children.

Suzette actually opened a camp for special needs children that she runs in her “spare” time. While many of us in the workforce look to weekends and holidays as time to relax, she uses this time to give back to the students. She’s amazing.

At Dagley Insurance & Financial Services, we want to add our thanks as well to the praise that she is duly receiving from around the nation. We thank Suzette for serving not only the students at Cinco Ranch Junior High, but also our entire community of Katy, Texas.

We are blessed to have such a wonderful woman in our midst. She is a hero. Oh, and did we mention that as part of the prize package Suzette will receive a vacation to Tahiti? It’s much deserved and we hope she enjoys it!

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Celebrating the Life of Katy Historian Roberta Rylander

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Roberta Rylander Katy TX HistorianThe Katy, Texas community lost a beautiful woman this past Sunday. Roberta Opal Rylander not only contributed to the active legacy of Katy, Texas, she has helped to preserve it along the way.

Roberta Rylander was the daughter of Katy’s first pharmacist. She graduated as Katy High School’s Salutatorian in 1936 and went on to earn her degree from the University of Texas. In 1943 she married Fred Rylander and after a few years in Miami, the couple returned to Katy to raise their two children in 1951.

Upon returning to Katy, Roberta immediately became actively involved in volunteering within the community in such organizations as the Katy Literary Club and Methodist Church.

During this time she began to grow more interested in the preservation of Katy history to the extent that with the aid of a few others, formed the Katy Heritage Society.

Roberta and her family contributed their own homestead to the Katy Heritage Society in 1991. “The Wright House” is currently located in Katy’s Heritage Park and houses many local treasures. Through both monetary and volunteer contributions, Roberta was instrumental in the preservation of several Katy landmarks.

Because of the impact that Roberta Rylander had on the Katy community over the last several decades, Roberta Rylander Elementary was dedicated as her namesake in 2004.

Through her ceaseless efforts to better our community, Roberta Rylander has left a legacy that will benefit generations to come. We are grateful to have had such a woman of character, resolve and foresight as a leader within the Katy community.

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Villagio Center Hosts Katy Sip'n Stroll to Benefit Cinco Charities

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Katy Sip'n StrollIt’s just about time for one of our favorite charity events, Cinco Charities’ Katy Sip’n Stroll. The event will take place Thursday, April 18th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the Villagio Center in Katy.

The Villagio Center will be full of wine tasting stations, samplings from local restaurants, specialty brews and local shops. Did we mention there will be live music as well? Last year’s Katy Sip’n Stroll resulted in more than 1000 attendees on a beautiful evening.

The Sip’n Stroll isn’t just an enjoyable evening; its purpose is to benefit Cinco Charities. This local non-profit’s mission is to provide temporary housing for families within our community that are struggling with serious medical conditions or are hospitalized.

Katy’s Sip’n Stroll is a great way to not only spend

an enjoyable evening or two outside, it’s a fantastic way to make sure that an organization that’s doing a lot of good in our community is able to continue it’s work for local families in the future.

For more information on Katy’s Sip’n Stroll and to find out how you can get tickets, please visit www.sipandstroll.com.

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First Annual Houston Barbecue Festival

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HouBBQFestivalDid you know that Houston now has a Barbecue Festival? It’s about time! At Dagley Insurance we think Houston is home to really great barbecue so if you love Houston, spring festivals and barbecue, get ready!

The first ever Houston Barbecue Festival will be held on Sunday, March 24, 2013 from 1:00 PM- 5:00PM at the Bayou City Event Center. The goal of the festival is highlight Houston’s spectacular barbecue and the folks that make it happen. And our favorite…to taste firsthand what makes Houston barbecue so special.

There will be a limited amount of tickets and all will be sold in advance. That means you can’t show up at the festival and

expect to get in, so order them now! It will also mean that you’ll get just close enough to smell that mouth-watering goodness, but will go home without tasting those finger-lickin’ good ribs and brisket. In our opinion, that’s just plain unacceptable!

For more information and to buy tickets to the Houston Barbecue Festival, visit www.houbbq.com.

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