Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

Dude,  where did your neck go?

You wanna play rough?

Looks like the Rabbit has been eating one too many Milk Duds.

BEAUPORT FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC., A WEALTH ADVISORY AND RISK MANAGEMENT FIRM CELEBRATES THEIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY, GUIDED BY THEIR CORE PRINCIPAL “WHERE CARE MEETS CRAFT”

Beauport Financial Services, LLC., an independent, locally owned, client-centered advisory firm based Gloucester, with a proprietary, custom, partnering approach to client services, and an innovative community service program involving their clients,  announces a milestone event, their 30th Anniversary, founded in 1985 by managing partner David McKechnie, CLU®.  

“In celebrating Beauport’s 30th Anniversary, there’s a measure of pride in having a hand in David’s entry in financial services, the firm’s beginning, subsequently watching the practice grow and evolve into a respected, leadership focused, caring and creative entity…emphasizing staff’s continuing education, while recognizing the firm’s responsibility in community service,” explained Richard D. Wilson, mentor, community activist

In achieving this singular benchmark, prudently growing their client base and creating distinctive ways to provide community service, managing partners David McKechnie, CLU® and Derek Reed, CFP®, CLU® and the Beauport team are guided by their core principal, “where care meets craft”.  The “care” component embodies a dual purpose.  New clients are introduced to the Beauport Unique Experience, a client-centered process where the care-component is a true collaborative relationship with each client. Together, through detailed processes, each client’s unique vision is identified, goals are set and custom recommendations are crafted to assist with each client’s aspirations for a secure financial future and with it peace of mind.  To ensure wealth goals and retirement planning take shape as planned, in-person client reviews during the year measure progress further supported by the firm’s extensive network of national and regional specialists, combining to provide a level of quality personal service, expertise and integrity clients have relied on for three decades.

“It is wonderful to see the growth of this firm and perhaps, more importantly, the impact the people in this firm have on their clients, their community, their peers at ValMark and wonderful causes around the world. My best wishes to Dave and Derek on the 30th Anniversary of Beauport Financial Services.“ observed Larry J. Rybka, President & CEO, ValMark Securities.

Active commitments and leadership roles with civic and charitable organizations have long been staples for McKechnie and Reed. In 2006 fueled by the firm’s success and a desire to expand their community support through an originated initiative, the managing partners developed a program to uniquely apply their care principal.  Beginning as “The Uncommon Citizen Award” to recognize North Shore individuals of rare character who provide noteworthy community service while avoiding the spotlight, the program advanced in scale, becoming the “Richard D. Wilson Community Response Fund”, named for their friend and mentor.  A plan was crafted to engage their clients in the service of individuals and families with the greatest needs through North Shore charities – www.beauportfinancial.com/community-response-gift-fund/

Clients identify non-profit, tax-exempt charities in their communities that meet the Fund’s eligibility criteria and offer services clients determine meet significant needs. With this due diligence, clients nominate charitable candidates and together fulfill and submit a grant proposal that accepts requests up to $5000.  Proposals are reviewed for compliance by Beauport and sent to the Essex County Community Foundation to verify the standing of the charity.  All Beauport employees share in making final selections.    

Each year at the firm’s holiday open house in December, the centerpiece event is awarding grants to charities, and the occasion to recognize the effort of each participating Beauport client. To make all this possible, Beauport sets aside 10% of its profits to fund the grants.   

“The Richard D. Wilson grant program is a great opportunity for non-profit organizations of any size, to request funds for new or ongoing projects. As a grant recipient, I feel it is an effective way to tell the story of non-profits through their good works,” explained Jane P. McNally, Director of Development, Beverly School for the Deaf. “Our school in Beverly serves deaf and physically challenged children throughout the North Shore and beyond, working within budgetary constraints. Being a grant recipient, we were able to purchase special equipment aiding our students learning to walk, providing assistance in their daily tasks, changing the lives of these most deserving students.”

“On this occasion we are privileged to express our deep gratitude to the people, organizations, and our revered team that continue to influence our thinking in shaping the principals that guide our firm’s work and success in serving our clients, partnering to assist in reaching their aspirations.  Equally gratifying is the opportunity and responsibility to share accomplishments, empowering our clients to work with stellar charities in serving our communities’ most pressing needs,” announced David McKechnie, CLU® and Derek Reed, CFP®, CLU®, Beauport Financial Services, managing partners. “Going forward, we continue to refine our business model, adhering to our guiding principal ‘where care meets craft’, informing all we do for our valued clients and communities.”

Founded in 1985 by managing partners David S. McKechnie, CLU, and subsequently joined by managing partner Derek J. Reed, CFP®, CU, Beauport Financial Services, LLC provides comprehensive personal and business wealth management services employing an advisory approach to solving the needs, and accomplishing the goals of individuals, businesses, and organizations.  The depth of experience and expertise of the Beauport team is further enhanced by its affiliation with Valmark Securities, providing comprehensive third party money management services.  Based in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Beauport Financials’ client base encompass Boston’s North Shore, Greater Boston and New York.

first row: Kevin Bilenchi, Ashley Murray, Serena Low, Phyllis Parady, Scott Forsythe

second row: Dave McKechnie (managing partner), Jon Park, Derek Reed (managing partner)

Gloucester Dog Park Solar Lighting Dedication

Pictured from (lf to rt) City Councilor Paul Lundberg, Cornerstone Donor Linzee Coolidge, Solar Lighting Donors Tom & Kristin Zarella, Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, and Solar One Representative Ilze Greene

Congratulations to all who attended the Solar Lighting Dedication at the Gloucester Dog Park Tuesday night! The dedication was a big success and a culmination of a three year protect to install four new solar lights at the Gloucester Dog Park! Now, many more dogs & owners can use the park even when it gets dark outside earlier in the winter months! The lights are on a photo sensor so they turn on shortly after dusk and are set to turn off at 9:00 PM. This greatly increases the hours of use and enjoyment for dogs and owners at the Gloucester Dog Park and is beneficial for the environment too!
A special thank you to Tom & Kristin Zarella for their very generous donation of the solar lights to the Gloucester Dog Park. Thank you to the many individual donors who helped to contribute funds to install the solar lights at the dog park including a very generous gift from the Schmidt Family Foundation. And thank you to Nikki Bach of Bach Builders who took the lead, organized and supervised the entire installation of the solar lighting job. And thank you to all the Gloucester Dog Park Board members for helping to make this project happen. This is a true benefit to the City of Gloucester and one that will be enjoyed by the citizens and dog owners of Cape Ann for years to come!
Thanks,
Tom

MG Makers! Present Workshops at Maritime Gloucester

MG Makers: Present Workshop-“Gyotaku” Fish Printing for Adults

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015, 6:30 PM TO 9:00 PM,

REGISTRATION : MEMBER FEE: $20.00 AND NON-MEMBER FEE: $25.00

AUDIENCE: ADULTS

REGISTER HERE.

MG Makers: Family Holiday Present Workshop

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2015, 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM,

REGISTRATION : $5.00 PER CHILD (MEMBERS), $8.00 PER CHILD (NON-MEMBERS)

AUDIENCE: FAMILIES

REGISTER HERE.

This fall, partners across Gloucester collaborated in a successful push for local food in schools to celebrate Food Day and National Farm to School month. A FoodCorps Massachusetts service member at community nonprofit Backyard Growers brokered a partnership between the Gloucester school food service program and the new West Gloucester Orchard to bring over 2,000 local apples into Gloucester school cafeterias. Backyard Growers’ FoodCorps service member also set up 4 Apple Crunch events at schools to celebrate healthy food, local farms, and local farmers. Click here to read more on the Backyard Growers website!

Thanksgiving Dinner and Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship

On Monday, November 23, the First Baptist Church in Gloucester, 38 Gloucester Avenue, will host its annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner. A free dinner for all who wish to attend, the traditional meal will be served beginning at 5pm. Then, come up to the sanctuary of the church at 7pm as the Cape Ann Clergy host an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service of Worship. There will be hand bell music, traditional Thanksgiving hymns, and an offering that will benefit the feeding programs of Cape Ann. Donations of cash or non-perishable food will be accepted. Come for a great dinner and stay for a lovely worship service. Call the church at 978-283-4808 for more information.

Thank you,

Mark Spreer

Gloucester High School Student Receives Honorary Award in JROTC

LEGION OF VALOR BRONZE CROSS FOR ACHIEVEMENT, CASE OF AMY-ELIZABETH GERAGHTY

1. Please note: Award presentation ceremony at Gloucester High School will be held on Thursday November 19^th at 8am in the school auditorium.

2. Miss Amy Elizabeth Geraghty, a senior in the Gloucester High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC, has recently been selected as one of only 5 cadets nationwide to receive the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement. She has been selected as the top MCJROTC cadet in Region 1. This region encompasses Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

3. This award takes into consideration the following criteria:

academic class standing and overall GPA, Class standing in the MCJROTC program, leadership billets held, MCJROTC activities (drill team, rifle team), MCJROTC awards, school leadership position, athletics, school academic awards, school clubs / activities and community service.

So last winter after checking different electricity providers I shared what I signed my mom up with for locked in 6 months rates.

Now that her contract is up a different company has the cheapest electricity rates. If you don’t lock in you are at the mercy of National Grid and their winter price spikes.

GMG FOB also did some research and he locked in at 10.4 cents per kWh (but a better price is being offered right now by Direct Energy)

Here’s what Marc wrote-

Hey Joey – thought this might interest you…
I just recently re-upped with ThinkEnergy for 12 months @ 10.4 cents/kWh.

Attached is a pdf showing supply rates for Nat Grid – past and present.
Looks like ThinkEnergy is still a steal through April, 2016. Below are the 4 recently rate histories. Following that trend, it seems that at worst 10.4 will probably break even after April 2016, but can still cancel at any time. Thanks again for tips via GMG.

Recent Rate History:

11/1/15 to 4/30/16: 13.038 cents/kWh

5/1/15 to 10/31/15: 9.257 cents/kWh

11/14 to 4/30/15: 16.274 cents/kWh

5/1/14 to 10/31/14: 8.277 cent/kWh

-Marc

So if you don’t lock in at the 10.15 cents per kWh with Direct Energy and then you can look forward to the variable pricing highlighted in the chart above which is way higher (andf way higher in teh months that you use the bulk of your electricity).

There is no penalty for signing up and all you have to do is click on the link and sign up with the cheapest option out there currently- Direct Energy at 10.15 cents per kWh and here’s the kicker- Direct energy not only has the cheapest price I could find out there for locked in 12 months, but they also will give you a $50 bill credit for signing up and give one to the person that refers you.

An absolute no-brainer. If you locked in last year- you saved a ton and as you talk to anyone else that took advantage it was completely painless to do so.

Here are the current rates from different energy suppliers-

If you sign up with Direct Energy using this link you’ll get the cheapest rate currently available and a $50 bill credit to boot.

The referral ID is – RAF-11332844

Copy this link and email it to your friends – www.directenergy.com/refer-a-friend/raf/RAF-11332844

It’s so easy!

1. Copy the Refer A Friend link below.
2. Paste the link into an e-mail, Facebook post, Twitter, etc., and send it to your friends.
3. Instruct your friends to include your Referral ID in the Referral ID box when signing up for Direct Energy online or provide your Referral ID to the call center agent when ordering over the phone.
4. You get a $50 bill credit for each friend who becomes a Direct Energy customer.
5. Your friends will also receive a $50 bill credit because you referred them.

Or go to work at 4:30am and offload a trailer of herring at 8pm and get out at 9:30pm?
Party time…

First barrels smashed off the truck

Five pallets off seventeen to go

Half way home

10:30PM Done

Reading this story From CBS Boston reminded me to get going on our Home Energy series for winter of 2015-16 and to tell you what steps I took.  Many of you have been asking because your contracts are up (and there’s no cost to switch) in fact you can get a $50 bill credit to switch to Direct Energy which is currently offering the cheapest 12 month lock in rate.  Read on-

National Grid Wants To Raise Electricity Rates

BOSTON (AP) — National Grid is asking state regulators for an electricity rate hike of more 20 percent for most Massachusetts residential customers that would drive up bills this winter, but keep them lower than last winter.

The utility, with nearly 1.3 million customers in Massachusetts, says if approved by the state Department of Public Utilities, the typical residential customer would see their bill jump to about $110 a month this winter, up from the current $90.

Last winter’s typical monthly bill was more than $121.

National Grid said “Due to continued gas pipeline constraints, the electric supply prices remain volatile and relatively high, though not as high as last winter.”

If approved, the new rates would take effect in November and run through April.

So last winter after checking different electricity providers I shared what I signed my mom up with for locked in 6 months rates.

Now that her contract is up a different company has the cheapest electricity rates.  If you don’t lock in you are at the mercy of National Grid and their winter price spikes.

GMG FOB also did some research and he locked in at 10.4 cents per kWh (but a better price is being offered right now by Direct Energy

Here’s what Marc wrote-

Hey Joey – thought this might interest you…
I just recently re-upped with ThinkEnergy for 12 months @ 10.4 cents/kWh. 

Attached is a pdf showing supply rates for Nat Grid – past and present.
Looks like ThinkEnergy is still a steal through April, 2016.  Below are the 4 recently rate histories.  Following that trend, it seems that at worst 10.4 will probably break even after April 2016, but can still cancel at any time.  Thanks again for tips via GMG.

Recent Rate History:

11/1/15 to 4/30/16: 13.038 cents/kWh

5/1/15 to 10/31/15: 9.257 cents/kWh

11/14 to 4/30/15: 16.274 cents/kWh

5/1/14 to 10/31/14: 8.277 cent/kWh

-Marc

So if you don’t lock in at the 10.15 cents per kWh with Direct Energy and then you can look forward to the variable pricing highlighted in the chart above.

There is no penalty for signing up and all you have to do is click on the link and sign up with the cheapest option out there currently- Direct Energy at 10.15 cents per kWh

and here’s the kicker- Direct energy not only has the cheapest price I could find out there for locked in 12 months, but they also will give you a $50 bill credit for signing up and give one to the person that refers you.

An absolute no-brainer.  If you locked in last year- you  saved a ton and as you talk to anyone else that took advantage it was completely painless to do so.

Here are the current rates from different energy suppliers-

If you sign up with Direct Energy using this link you’ll get the cheapest rate currently available and a $50 bill credit to boot.

The referral ID is – RAF-11332844

Copy this link and email it to your friends – www.directenergy.com/refer-a-friend/raf/RAF-11332844

It’s so easy!

1. Copy the Refer A Friend link below.
2. Paste the link into an e-mail, Facebook post, Twitter, etc., and send it to your friends.
3. Instruct your friends to include your Referral ID in the Referral ID box when signing up for Direct Energy online or provide your Referral ID to the call center agent when ordering over the phone.
4. You get a $50 bill credit for each friend who becomes a Direct Energy customer.
5. Your friends will also receive a $50 bill credit because you referred them.