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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Great Barrington Fire, Police Respond to Chimney Fire

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Fire Chief Scott Turner called for mutual aid as soon as he saw flames. 
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Firefighters made quick work of a chimney fire on Tuesday afternoon and two police officers aided the occupant in escaping the building. 
 
Fire Chief Scott Turner said the blaze at 205 North St. was reported about 12:38 p.m.
 
"When I arrived on scene, we had a small amount of flames coming out of the eaves of the roof over by the chimney for the wood stove, and then we had light smoke conditions on the second floor," he said. 
 
Police Officers Andres Huertas and Elias Casey were first on the scene and immediately entered the single-family home to find the occupant was on the second floor. 
 
They helped her out of the building, Turner said, "they did a great job."
 
The chimney is a metal chimney and burn marks could been seen where it meets the eaves on the side of the building. 
 
North Street is a narrow residential way and firetrucks from Alford, Egremont, Monterey, Richmond, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge were parked along nearby streets. Scene support was provided by police, Southern Berkshire Ambulance, and National Grid. 
 
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