Regarding Fires in Northern California

As most of you know, the wildfires in Northern California continue to burn at a rapid pace.  All of us at Stanley M. Davis & Co. would like to extend our gratitude to all the tireless firefighters, police, volunteers and families that are working around the clock to try and save the beautiful land that we all love and treasure. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your insurance coverage, please reach out to our office, we are standing by ready to help.

Please donate to the many funds set up to help the families and businesses that have lost so much.

Tom William Natsues of Oakland, California | 1929 – 2016 | Obituary

All of us at Stanley M. Davis & Company Insurance Brokers will miss the smiling face of its past President, Tom Natsues

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[ Link to Article ]

Tom William Natsues
March 15, 1929 – July 24, 2016
Resident of Oakland, CA

 

Tom William Natsues passed away peacefully following a six year battle with cancer on Sunday, July 24, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. Charismatic and full of life, Tom was an avid international outdoorsman whose love of horses, gardening, golf, fly fishing and hunting were extraordinary and reflected in the magnificent home he built for his family in 1954.

   Born in Fresno, CA, to William and Constantina Natsues, Tom is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Krisoula Singares Natsues, daughter Rhea Constance, son Leon-Athan (Molly Lethin); grandchildren Tabatha, Sophia, and Athan. He was predeceased by his brother Chris Natsues and sister Mary Natsues Senna.

   Tom’s family moved to Oakland, CA in 1941 where he later graduated from McClymonds High School excelling in athletics and earning letters in football, basketball and baseball. He attended San Francisco Junior College and served in the Armed Forces during the Korean War where he was in the second infantry division, 38th Regiment, “I” Company in the capacity of Master/Sargeant. In 2013, he received the certificate of appreciation, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, as a Gold Circle Member.

   For over four decades Tom was an Executive and General Manager of the San Leandro base of the Stanley M. Davis Insurance Agency which operated in California, Nevada, and Oregon. Additionally, he served as an Executive Officer of the Stanley M. Davis organizations and retired in 1993.

    With a trio of horses always occupying the stables on his property, his devotion didn’t end there. He was Past President of the Metropolitan Horsemen’s Association whose one of many purposes was to work with the East Bay Regional Park Department to preserve and maintain the horse trails in the area as well as lighting at the Sequoia Arena. He was also instrumental in conducting the first Oakland East Bay Regional Park Trail Ride, sanctioned by the North American Trail Rider Conference where he held the position of President and attracted riders from as far away as Montana. Monies raised from these rides went to the East Bay Chapter of the National Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation.

  He served as Chairman of the House Committee at Sequoyah Country Club in Oakland as well as assisted with its landscaping. He was a Mason with Oakland’s Yerba Buena Lodge and served on the Building Committee at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension in the Oakland hills overseeing its landscaping project as well. For his devoted service, he received Archdiocese’s distinguished Medal of Saint Paul.

   Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 28 at 11 a.m. at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Ave., Oakland CA 94602. Interment will be private.  In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Ascension Landscaping/Greek Orthodox Cathedral, or the organization of your choice. For further information please call:  Harry W. Greer, Funeral Director (FDR-745)alamedafuneral.org

2.5 House Hacks From Kelly

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of great tricks to make life just a bit easier. Here are a few that I love and wanted to share.

What makes a great housewarming gift? Comfort and ease.Soup in a Jar

If you have ever moved into a new home you know it can be many things. Exciting, time consuming and let’s face it, exhausting too. Here is a great housewarming gift that makes a super delicious comfort soup. It requires only a pot and some water.

 

  • First, choose a Mason jar or other jar with a lid – about 1 liter in size.
  • Then layer about 1/2 cup of yellow lentils, 1/2 cup of red lentils, 1/2 cup of split peas. Repeat.
  • Add 6-7 sun dried tomatoes (not in oil).
  • Mix 2 tsps turmeric, 2 tsps curry powder, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder and a dash of salt in a sealed bag. Place next to the sun dried tomatoes.
  • Top with 1-2 chile peppers and 2 bay leaves.
  • Tighten the lid, add a bow and a little tag with “Home Sweet Home” or something cute and you have a nice housewarming gift that requires very little effort to enjoy some homemade soup. For added comfort, include a side of french bread. Hmmmmm 🙂

 

Another great housewarming gift – a bucket or container with tools!

Tool Bucket

While we love us some tool boxes, sometimes it’s easier to have a quick and easy container for more common household things. Hence the tool bucket. Not only has this saved the day for me many times but it also makes a really great housewarming gift. Head to your neighborhood hardward store and choose some items below or any others you feel would be helpful:

 

  • A little bucket
  • A hammer
  • A screw driver with an interchangeable head (flat and phillips)
  • A little package of assorted screws and/or nails
  • A tape measure
  • A level
  • Some tape (duct tape is like gold!)
  • And an extension cord

This is my bucket. As you can see, it’s been put to good use.

Finally, the .5 hack. I saw a really cool idea – to cover up the heat/ac display on the wall with a photo on hinges. Open it when you want to turn the heater on or off, close it and live in bliss right? Seems like it would work like a dream but at the end of the day it can affect the way heating and cooling works. So this hack should be avoided. Do not try to cover up your heater/ac display.

Click here for Ways to Protect Your Home From Mold.