Wheeler & Taylor Adds Insurance Agencies

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Mirick Insurance Agency of Shelburne Falls and Albert B. Allen Insurance Agency of Greenfield each recently entered a partnership with Wheeler & Taylor Insurance, a large insurance agency in Berkshire County.

 
The two long-established insurance agencies joined Wheeler & Taylor, Great Barrington, to broaden their insurance offerings locally, regionally and nationally. Both firms retain their name, staff, location, and management.    
 
"With this new arrangement, we can provide additional insurance products, offer specialized expertise and represent more insurance companies," Mirick president Patrick Shippee said.
 
Brock A. Hines, president of Albert B. Allen, said, "The partnership gives us a national reach and lets us write home, auto and business insurance throughout the country. We will always offer the same personal hometown service."
 
The move is a win for all parties, said Wheeler & Taylor President J. Scott Rote. 
 
"By partnering with Wheeler & Taylor, both agencies can do even more for their personal and business customers," he said. "Local decision-making combined with national resources creates a unique opportunity for agencies like them to preserve their heritage and commitment to the local community while at the same time significantly expanding their access to a broadened marketplace of insurance carriers, knowledge to insure nationwide, and commercial expertise allowing for expanded product offerings."
 
Albert B. Allen Insurance Agency has been serving Franklin County since 1925. 
 
It is located at 277 Federal Street, Greenfield, and online at albertallen.com.
 
Founded in 1980, Mirick Insurance Agency uses the latest in technology to maintain a constant link between its customers and insurance companies. 
 
Mirick is located at 28 Bridge Street, Shelburne Falls, and is online at www.mirickins.com.
 
Founded in 1871, Wheeler & Taylor, Inc. is one of America's oldest continuously operated financial companies. Operating full-service insurance and real estate brokerage operations from its headquarters in Great Barrington, Mass., it has a network of offices in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, and Nevada. Web: www.wheelertaylor.com.
 
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Landing at Laurel Lake Celebrates Renovations

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The stovetops were removed from some of the kitchenettes as safety measures. 
LEE, Mass. — The Landing at Laurel Lake has made renovations to its assisted living building to better help residents continue living with some independence.
 
Some of the changes include carpet removal, shifting tubs to walk-ins, and taking out some stovetops. 
 
The Landing hosted an open house last Thursday for the community to come in and see the renovations.
 
"It's really bringing people in to see the renovations so they know that we have something really cool in our community," said Executive Director Matthew Pinto, a dementia specialist who was hired about six months ago.
 
"The importance of the new renovations is to modernize some things to make it simpler for them. Like the rooms, we are trying to do away with the transitions in the rooms for people that have wheelchairs."
 
Residents sometimes had trouble with the carpeting if using a walker or wheelchair, it's easier for some to walk into their shower, and the stovetops would sometimes be left on. 
 
Pinto said the residents had a hand in the renovations, like helping choose paint colors and what they would like the facility change, which will help future residents with their stays.
 
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