February is National Heart Month

February is National Heart Month. Near and dear to my heart, is Cooper's Cause Foundation, a non-profit foundation started by our Agency Exec., Kristi, benefitting pediatric heart patients. During February, Cooper's Cause Foundation will be raising funds for Raelynn's Rock Stars, which recognizes and honors siblings of pediatric heart patients, as they too, ride the emotional journey. Stop by any of the following local businesses during February to make a donation to this very worthy cause!

Orange Leaf
Sheer Perfection
Eileen's Cookies
J&S Coffee
Dunn Bros Coffee
Eccentricity
Laugh Out Loud

Or visit www.cooperscause.com to make a donation.

Tax-Saving Tips for Small Businesses

With tax season quickly approaching, now is a good time to make sure you're taking advantage of all the tax savings you can to yield your best bottom line. I've put together the small list below of tax savings that has certainly helped my tax bill over the past 20 years of business:

-Equipment and software purchases: Purchased any new office equipment lately? Keep your receipts! The American Taxpayer Relief Act allows businesses with up to $2 million in annual revenue to deduct up to $500,000 in qualifying capital expenditures in 2013. Furniture, vehicles, etc. are examples of common qualifying deductions.

-Insurance costs: There are numerous items that are often deductible as a business expense such as insurance premiums associated with liability, malpractice, workers’ compensation and property coverage. Learn more about insurance deductions in the “Insurance” Section of IRS Publication 535, “Expenses.”

-Charitable Contributions: Doing some spring cleaning? Donations to qualified organizations may be tax deductible to your business.

-Energy Efficiency Credits: If you have recently updated your heating or cooling equipment, be sure to take note of these valuable tax credits.

-Tax Credit for Qualified Employers: Hired any new employees lately? Tax credits and deductions are available to businesses that hire veterans for employees with disabilities.

These are just a few, handy tax-saving tips that have helped my bottom line over the years. I have more small business advice to share, so come back and view our blog regularly! We make weekly updates.

I hope you find this information useful. Do you have other tax saving tips? If so, I would love to hear them! Knowledge sharing is key. Contact us at 785-843-7511 or stop by our office, 3200 Mesa Way, Suite D, Lawrence, KS anytime!

 

Please Provide Us with Your Feedback!

In an effort to increase our online presence, we are asking for feedback from you, our customers.  It only takes a few minutes! By letting us know what we need to improve and what we're doing right, we can modify our practices and offerings to ensure we are keeping you and your family covered!

Simply click the link below to our agency page on Yelp and click on the red button, "Write a Review."

http://www.yelp.com/biz/thomas-j-pollard-farmers-insurance-Lawrence


We appreciate your time and feedback!

With the New Year, it's a good time to review your policies, making sure everything is current and up-to-date and that you're receiving all applicable discounts. Contact us at 785-843-7511 to schedule your Farmers Friendly Review or stop by our office, 3200 Mesa Way, Suite D, anytime!

Farmers® Friendly Review

 

 

As 2014 draws to a close, now is a good time to review your insurance policies, gauging against your family's ever-changing needs and life circumstances. Contact us at 785-843-7511 and we will schedule a quick meeting to review your policies, ensuring everything is current and that you're getting all applicable discounts. I look forward to meeting with you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Weekend of Holiday Fun for the Whole Family!

A plethora of holiday events to choose from to get you into the holiday spirit!


December 12, 2014

•     Canadian Brass: A Holiday Concert , The Lied Center of Kansas

•     Diode Greeting Cards,  Lawrence Public Library

December 13, 2014

•     Breakfast with Santa , Hy-Vee on 6th Street

•     Breakfast with Santa-Chris Cakes, LPRD Community Building

•     Cookies with Santa,  Douglas County Bank

•     Picture With Santa ,  Wal-Mart

•     Santa Clause Express , Midland Railway

•     Festival of Nativities , Centenary United Methodist Church

•     Santa Visit, Taco John’s

•     Photos with Santa, Weaver’s Department Store

December 14, 2014

•     Breakfast with Santa, Relevate Church

•     Picture With Santa , Wal-Mart

•     Santa Clause Express , Midland Railway

•     Festival of Nativities ,  Centenary United Methodist Church

•     Santa Claus Visits,  The Toy Store

•     Photos with Santa, Weaver’s Department Store

 

 

Mark your calendars for this weekend's Winter Wonder Weekend!

Spend this weekend downtown, experiencing the heart of the holidays in our great Lawrence community! Shopping, dining and entertainment for the whole family!

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

Saturday December 6th
7:00am – 11:00am:The Eldridge Hotel’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Buffet- Eldridge Hotel
Fill up and warm up with the ultimate breakfast buffet. Then step right outside to view the Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade! Check out the menu above!
$10.95 Ages 55+; $12.95 Ages 54-13; $6.9 Ages 12-7; FREE Age 6 and under!
8:00am – 4:00pm:
Big Brothers Big Sisters Gingerbread Festival & Auction - Abe & Jake’s Landing
Pancake Breakfast,Family Activities & Santa Sighting
9:30am – 4:00pm:
“Tails & Traditions”  Family Program - Watkins Museum
A free family festival featuring crafts, activities, games and treats celebrating holidays from around the world. Perfect for families!
FREE program!
10am – 5pm:
43rd Annual Lawrence Art Guild Holiday Art Fair- Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire Street
10:30am – 8pm:
Ice Skating - at the Downtown Skate Rink  next to the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont Street
11am:
22nd Annual Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade – Massachusetts Street between 7th & South Park
12:30- 5:30pm:
LOLA Giant Arts & Crafts Show – Van Go Inc., 715 New Jersey Street
Lola (Ladies of Lawrence Artwork) will be hosting their 9th annual Lola Giant show at Van Go Mobile Arts. Featuring 25 vendors of varying crafts, oh snap photo booth, and elevate massages! Swag bags to the  first 50 guests both days.
1:00-4:00pm
Lawrence Busker Festival Presents Winter Wonder Weekend Workshops – Lawrence Arts Center Black Box Theater
PRE REGISTER for this childrens’ entertainment HERE (Limit 40 Children)
Drop the kids off for entertaining workshops and a clown performance while you get your holiday shopping done!
1:30-3:30pm
Horse-drawn Wagon Rides in Downtown Lawrence – South Park (12th & Massachusetts Street) ***Weather Permitting*** 
Robin Dunn of Dunn’s Landing in Wellsville, KS and Cecil Carter of 3C Carriage Co. of White City, KS will take you on a nostalgic 10 minute holiday ride in Downtown Lawrence!
$5 per person – tickets on sale at South Park on parade day only
1:00-5:00pm
Live Caroling by Lawrence Civic Choir - Massachusetts Street
Santa Sightings at The Toy Store, Weaver’s, and the Gingerbread Festival

Sunday December 7th

11am – 1pm:
Santa Visits The Eldridge! – Come and see Santa while he takes a break at our historic hotel! Bring your camera and snap a photo with him when you make your gift request!
noon – 5:00pm:
Big Brothers Big Sisters Gingerbread Festival & Auction - Abe & Jake’s Landing, 8 E. 6th Street
Family Activities & Santa Sighting
12:30- 5:30pm: 
LOLA Giant Arts & Crafts Show - Van Go Inc., 715 New Jersey Street
Lola (Ladies of Lawrence Artwork) will be hosting their 9th annual Lola Giant show at Van Go Mobile Arts. Featuring 25 vendors of varying crafts, oh snap photo booth, and elevate massages! Swag bags to the  first 50 guests both days.
1 – 6pm:
Ice Skating at the Downtown Skate Rink next to the Lawrence Public Library
2:00pm – 5:00pm:
Winter Wonder Sunday – Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont Street
Another kids days out activity! We’ll provide the fun (crafts, movie, and snacks) and supervision while you shop for the holidays ’til you drop downtown!
FREE program for children ages 5+ (Limit 60 Children)
1:00-5:00pmLive Entertainment in Downtown Lawrence! - Massachusetts Street 
Live Caroling by Lawrence Civic Choir 
Live Holiday Characters
Santa Sightings at Weaver’s and the Gingerbread

Festival of Trees

We saw some beautiful trees tonight at the annual Festival of Trees. The auction is tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. Come out and support our great community!