September Newsletter

Staff Spotlight – Betty Favela

Betty is one of our friendly and helpful Insurance Service Representatives. If you need to change your insurance coverage, add a car or if you’ve been in an accident and need help getting your claim started, Betty is your girl. She’s getting ready to celebrate 15 years here at Apollo. She enjoys helping customers navigate through the insurance world, answering their questions and finding them the right insurance for their needs. Betty explained “I love helping customers and giving them peace of mind so they know they’re protected.” It’s easy to see why she loves the comic book and movie superhero, “Wonder Woman”.

In her spare time, Betty enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, son and two dogs. Her family time is the most important time to her and they all enjoy going to concerts and movies together especially if Keanu Reeves is in the starring role. And of course she’ll be first in line for the next “Wonder Woman” installment.

We hope you get a chance to meet Betty soon!

Fun Facts about Labor Day

Labor day is almost here. This year it falls on Monday, September 3rd. Here are some interesting facts that you may not know:

1. Most Americans think of Labor Day as an American Holiday, but Labor Day started in Canada.
2. Some of the first festivities included speeches, a picnic, an abundance of cigars and beer kegs mounted in every conceivable place. (Why did this stop?)
3. The reason for Labor Day was outlined in the proposal for the holiday – “A street parade to exhibit to the public the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organization.”
4. Nobody knows who actually started Labor Day.
5. The first Labor Day celebration in the U.S. can be traced back to New York City on September 5, 1882.
6. Oregon was the first, then Colorado, New York, Massachusetts & New Jersey followed as the first states to declare Labor Day a state holiday.
7. Labor Day is always celebrated on the first Monday in September. It’s one of the busiest travel days.
8. The “no white” after Labor Day is actually symbolic to the uniforms that were worn.
9. The celebration of Labor Day is for anyone in the workforce.

Labor Day also signifies the end of summer. (Gasp!)

Want a Safer Home? Consider these Inexpensive Fixes.

Home improvement: It’s a never-ending process for many people, and for those of us who aren’t necessarily handy, it can be a hassle too. But there are plenty of simple maintenance tasks and other improvements you can handle to make your home safer – whether you’re handy or not. And you won’t have to break out the power tools (or any tools at all in some instances) or worry about getting in over your head.

Water Works

You need running water in your home – but not water running in your home, if you know what we mean. Even minor leaks can cause major problems, from higher water bills to damage requiring costly repairs (maybe even the kind you can’t tackle yourself). Here are some easy ways to make sure your water stays where it should:

• Check your appliances: They’re the most common source of water leaks in homes, so it’s worth taking a look at least once a year to check for problems. And the hoses that come with your washer and dishwasher can mean big trouble – they break down over time. Look for kinks and cracks, and replace if needed. Consider using reinforced hoses, too; those with steel braiding or mesh won’t hold up forever, but they’re stronger than rubber or plastic.
• Watch the pressure: Water pressure that is set too high can cause pipes, hoses and water lines to leak or burst. Inexpensive gauges are available at home-improvement stores to test your pressure.
• Consider installing water sensors: These can alert you to a leak or other problem soon after it occurs – some can even send messages to your smartphone.

Keep Your Family (and Your Guests) On Their Feet

Millions of Americans – many of them older adults – are injured in falls each year. About 2.5 million were hurt in 2013 alone, according to the National Safety Council and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Look around your home. Should you make some of these fixes?

• Reduce clutter: Everything from small pieces of furniture to area rugs can pose a hazard, so make sure they’re in appropriate places and out of the way if possible.
• Add stability to stairs: Make sure stairways have sturdy rails, and maybe even non-slip strips, particularly outdoors.
• Let there be light: It’s hard to walk safely when you can’t see obstacles or potential trouble spots. Make sure your home is well-lit, and don’t forget night lights, too.

Home improvement doesn’t have to mean a kitchen remodel or adding a deck. Making your home safer, in fact, just might be the best improvement of all. Your friends at Provident Plus Insurance Agency hope you will use these tips to make your home a safer place.

September is Disaster Preparedness Month – there’s an app for that!

Now you can be prepared to protect your property from damage the next time a disaster strikes with a new iPhone® app from the Opens in new window Insurance Information Institute(I.I.I.) and the Opens in new window Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety(IBHS).

The Opens in new window Your Plan app was developed by the I.I.I. and uses a set of resources and checklists from the IBHS to help you minimize property damage from severe weather and other disasters. Preparing yourself and your property against damage can minimize losses and make your homeowners insurance provider happy.

Start with preloaded checklists built into the Your Plan app to learn how to prepare for disasters and minimize property damage. Monitor events with local emergency information right from the app. Set due dates, add notes, track your progress—even create and share custom checklists with friends and family.

The Opens in new window Your Plan app is free to download from the Apple® App Store and is an easy way to help make sure you’re prepared in the event of a disaster.