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February Newsletter

Staff Spotlight - Danielle Gomez
 

Who better to be our February spotlight than one of Apollo's sweetest - Danielle Gomez.  Danielle is our Insurance Operations Support Specialist and she's worked at Apollo since 2010.

Danielle is very organized and handles many administrative duties that keep Apollo running smoothly and efficiently. She's friendly, fun and always willing to lend a helping hand. Danielle also handles our DMV services and helps customers with their registrations and title transfers for a small fee. To learn more about our DMV services, click here.

In her spare time, Danielle enjoys the great outdoors and often spends time with her young son at their family cabin in Big Bear where they enjoy hiking and exploring. This season, they are taking advantage of the great conditions which includes playing in the snow and sledding.

Hope you have the pleasure of meeting Danielle!

Score a touchdown with this Superbowl party dip!

Score a touchdown with this delicious,hot roasted garlic cheese dip! Asiago cheese is the secret ingredient. Your guests may not be able to put their finger on why it tastes so good, but they’ll definitely beg you for the recipe!
 
Ingredients

·         1 head garlic

·         16 ounces cream cheese

·         2 cups shredded asiago cheese

·         ¹⁄₃ cup heavy cream

·         ¹⁄₂ cup sour cream

·         ¹⁄₄ cup parsley, chopped

·         ¹⁄₂ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions

1.    Preheat oven to 400.

2.    Cut the garlic head in half along the “equator" (with root and stem ends representing the poles).

3.    Place the garlic, cut side down on a foil lined baking sheet and roast uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until tender.

4.    (or use your favorite roasting instructions) To remove the garlic, turn heads upside down and gently squeeze the garlic out of the skins.

5.    Reduce oven temp to 350.

6.    With a food processor or electric mixer, blend cream cheese, Asiago cheese, heavy cream, sour cream and parsley until well-blended add garlic and blend again.

7.    Place mixture into a casserole or baking dish and top with shredded mozzarella.

8.    Bake about 20 minutes until bubbly and golden brown on top.

9.    Serve with firm crusty bread, crackers or other dippers of your choice.

Protecting your valuables

Ah, Valentine’s Day is near, and love is in the air. Well, love and a few other things, such as chocolates, romantic dinners, and, of course, jewelry.

If you’re lucky enough to have some new jewelry in your home this Valentine’s Day, you should take a few minutes to think about something you probably don’t find exciting or romantic: insurance.Don’t know where to turn? Don’t worry. At  Apollo Insurance Services, we think it is exciting to help you protect what’s most important to you— so we’re ready to help and can answer all of your questions.Things to consider when insuring jewelry:

You may need to purchase additional coverage
Your homeowner’s policy covers valuable items such as jewelry only up to set amounts and only for certain types of losses such as theft. If the cost of replacing your jewelry exceeds that limit, you will want to purchase scheduled personal property coverage.
 
You might want to reconsider your deductible amounts
As always, this impacts your policy premium. It’s a good idea to take a look at your deductibles whenever you make a change to your policy.

Do you need an appraisal?
You may need to have an independent appraisal if the insurance company requires it or if you don’t know the value of your jewelry. Each item should be listed with a description and value.

What kind of coverage is offered?
You’ll want to determine if items are covered no matter where they are, whether they’re at home or on an international trip, and if the policy offers full replacement cost. You also should ask if you will be required to replace your jewelry if lost or stolen, or if you can simply keep the cash settlement.
 
Pictures can be helpful
Lost or stolen pieces of jewelry sometimes can be recreated if the jeweler has a good photograph as a starting point.

Of course, it’s important to store your jewelry securely when it’s not in use;  a safe at home or a safe-deposit box is best. We want your jewelry to be replaced if it’s lost or stolen, but we’d rather your sentimental and valuable pieces stay with you and your family for years to come.

Here’s hoping your Valentine’s Day is full of fun and romance and possibly a new gem. And to make sure you’re protecting all of your valuables, turn to Apollo Insurance Services.

Online Etiquette

Getting into conversations on social media can be fun so it’s easy to get carried away. But before you express your opinion about something that upset you, be aware that lawsuits involving cyber libel (defaming a person, business or organization in writing by electronic means) and cyber bullying (personal attacks or threats by text, email or online) are on the rise. Teens in particular may not realize they way they act online might affect your family’s legal liability. So here are some guidelines to help everyone mind their social media manners.

No one is anonymous
A fake user name and avatar may deceive you into thinking that no one knows it’s you. But identities can be tracked. And while kids shouldn’t use their real names online, they should pick a name that wouldn’t embarrass them in front of their teachers or grandparents.
 
Comments are Forever
Today, anything you post online may live on even after it has been deleted from the original website or post location. In fact, by the time it’s deleted, it may have already been shared or retweeted many times.
 
Keep it Private
You shouldn’t reveal everything. Many clubs, colleges and employers routinely search online to see how applicants present themselves. Don’t ever list your address, phone number or other identifying details that others might use for the wrong reasons.
 
Think before you post
Carefully word your post and read it over and over to make sure that the meaning is clear. Make sure that you don’t post when you are upset or angry. You may say something that you can’t retract. Your words can be copied and recorded so be sure to be diplomatic and calm when stating your feelings.
 
Think of interacting on social media as you do all your social interactions, be kind and respectful and remember everyone has an opinion which may not be the same as yours.