Macy’s sponsors this extravaganza that dates back to 1958. The staff at A.C. Marmo wishes you a safe and enjoyable 4th of July weekend. Our New Jersey weather will be terrific. Enjoy it wherever you are.

Let’s hope the angry sky lightens up, the thunderstorms blowout over the ocean and return its water to the sea, and those NJ residents who have the weekend off enjoy friends and family.

For those who must work, the ocean will wait for you to come on your day off, the gulls still fly on Mondays through Fridays, and enjoyment awaits at your favorite beach or place of relaxation.

Crossword Puzzle: Father in Languages

Make a Copy of Your Passport

Before you leave on your trip, make two copies of your passport identification page. Leave one copy at home where a family member, a friend or relative can find it. Take the other with you. Keep the copy in a separate place from your passport. It’s also a good idea to bring along two or three passport photos. Ideally, these should be identical 2″ x 2″ photographs taken within the last six months. The photos should feature a front view of your face on a white background. In addition, you should have another form of photo ID, for example your driver’s license, and a copy of your birth certificate (or another document to prove your citizenship). If your passport is lost or stolen, having these will speed up the replacement process.

You may want to register with the U.S. embassy in the country you are visiting if you plan to stay for two weeks or more.

Do not be too conspicuous with your passport. You may risk having the passport stolen, as well as your other identification, credit cards and money . Show it only when you need to provide it to officials. At all other times keep it on your person.

Do not leave your passport in checked luggage. Leave a photocopy of it in your luggage, a handbag or an exposed pocket. When you leave your hotel, when possible, put your passport in a hotel safe. Do not leave it in an empty hotel room. One person should never carry all the passports for an entire group. Never lend your passport to anyone. Do not use it as collateral or ask someone to hold it for you.

Replacing a Lost or Stolen Passport

If you discover that your passport is missing, contact the nearest police authorities, U.S. embassy or consulate. You will be asked to fill out a DS-11 form, which is the standard passport application form. You are not required to know the passport number or issuance date to apply for a new passport. But if you have your copy with you, that information is available.

If the passport is still valid, you must also complete the DS-64 form to report the lost or stolen passport. You will be asked to report how, where and when you lost your current passport, what you did to recover it, and what the end result was. This form must be submitted with the DS-11 application.

In emergencies, you may contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) for support. You may reach an operator Monday through Friday from 8 a.m until 10 p.m. ET by calling (877) 487-2778; an automated system is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you want to find out the status of an application, you can now check online.

If you plan to travel from Paterson to Paris, Butler to Berlin, Alpine to Austria or from any New Jersey city to another country, take the time to ensure the security of your passport. These tips are brought to you by A.C. Marmo & Sons, Inc. Visit our website: www.acmarmo.com.

In this age of digital photography, it is easy to take photos and share them with our friends and colleagues.

We’d like to feature your prized photos on our blog site. At this time, we request photos that capture the look and feel of summer in New Jersey. Things that come to mind are white sandy beaches, blazing red and orange sunsets, white crested breakers in the surf, a peaceful scene in one of our parks, the mountains in the northern part of the state, colorful gardens, and so on. It can be a very long list because there are many beautiful places in New Jersey to visit and enjoy.

If you’d like to share one or more of your photos, send them to jguider@acmarmo.com. Please include the location where you took the photo. Include your name and we will be happy to post it on our site along with your photo.

Here are three photos from the Lavalette beach.

Enjoy your summer. Best wishes from the insurance professionals at A.C. Marmo and Sons.

Enjoy your weekend. Give thanks for our freedom.

Here are some holiday photos from the Intrepid museum in New York and the beach at Lavalette, New Jersey.

Helping contractors to find the right liability insurance, workers compensation, vehicle policy, bonds, and more at competitive premiums is our specialty. Plus, we understand that the lower your premiums are, the lower your job bids can be. This means that you can focus your attention on finding and keeping new customers instead of having to worry about your insurance.

Let’s talk about better protecting your operation. Call (973) 340-9100 or visit our website at www.acmarmo.com for a fast, free, second opinion.

We’ll know instantly if we’re right for each other.

A.C. Marmo & Sons, Inc. is a leader in providing NJ contractors insurance.

In a 2009 survey, the LIFE Foundation found that in contrast to this savings trend, most Americans are spending more now on life insurance than ever before. In fact, of the 1,000 people surveyed, only 9% saw a decreased need for life coverage. A whopping 56% “say the economic downturn has made it more important to have life insurance.” While this may seem counter-intuitive, it reflects a growing awareness that when times get tough, people want more assurances their families are going to be taken care of.

Rather than cut back, 71% of the survey participants left their life insurance coverage untouched. Almost 39% increased their coverage and 28% were planning on buying life insurance for the first time! This can be attributed to the fact that life insurance has been a traditional hedge against the unforeseen and the unexpected. As the economic climate becomes more and more turbulent, Americans need a financial shelter they can trust.

Marvin Feldman, president and CEO of the LIFE Foundation, put it best when he said, “Americans realize that life insurance can be the safety net that catches their family when tragedy strikes.” The key is making sure the net is intact and inclusive. If you haven’t reviewed your policy lately — or if you’re interested in expanding your coverage — let’s schedule a call to make sure your needs and concerns are being addressed.

A.C. Marmo and Sons, Inc. has provided insurance coverage for individuals, families, and businesses in New Jersey since 1929.

Enjoy.

Crossword Puzzle: Retired Yankee Numbers

A.C. Marmo and Sons is a leader among the insurance agencies that provide small business insurance in New Jersey.