4th issue tc final

1 February/March Peninsula Life Magazine

February/March

Preparing For My Wedding Day

Old Point National Bank

Celebrates 90 Years In

Hampton Roads

Keeping Your Car

Clean During The

Winter Months

Mega Auto Spa


Publisher

Timothy A. Caffey Sr.

Managing Partner

Antonio Grace Sr.

Editor-in-Chief

Kathleen Stanco

Graphic & Arts Director

Tim Caffey

Senior Marketing Director

Debbi Wiggin

Senior Advertising Director

Debbi Lee

Contributing Writers

Kathleen Stanco

Peninsula Life Magazine, Inc.

1769 Jamestown Road Ste. 204

Williamsburg, VA 23188

Office. 757.206.9321

The Peninsula Life Magazine is a free, full

color publication that specializes in spotlight-

ing individuals and businesses in the Peninsu-

la. No part of this publication may be repro-

duced or transmitted in any form without the

written permission of Peninsula Life Maga-

zine. The information contained herein are

opinions of sources and interviews. Peninsula

Life Magazine Inc. is published for reference

purposes only and is not materially responsi-

ble for errors. The Peninsula Life Magazine is

published bi-monthly and is distributed to over

100 locations throughout Williamsburg,

Gloucester, Yorktown, Newport News, Hamp-

ton and Poquoson as well as subscriptions,

direct mail and Peninsula Life Magazine web-

site.

07 15


After 90 years of banking, Old Point has a lot

to celebrate in 2013. Since they first

opened in 1923, Old Point National Bank has

been committed to their customers and….

12

A car free of grease and grime might be the best way to ensure its value over time. The way to maintain your car’s value can be…

Put The Pride Back In The Ride Computer Crash ?

That question was asked in a

recent marketing survey. Seven

out of ten responded with the...

Preparing For My Wedding, 17

Urban myth or not, Pasteur called

wine the purest liquid to drink. You

may be wondering how Pasteur and

wine have anything in common?

Wine & Louis Pasteur

19


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fter 90 years of banking, Old Point has a lot to

celebrate in 2013. Since they first opened in

1923, Old Point National Bank has been com-

mitted to their customers and our community. Old Point has

grown to 21 convenient branches throughout Hampton Roads

and offers customers surcharge-free access to over 50,000

ATMs worldwide as part of the Allpoint ATM network. Even

though Old Point has grown substantially over the decades,

they still operate under local management, with the same trust-

ed name, and the same genuine concern about their customers.

From the beginning, it was clear that banking with Old Point

was going to be a very sweet experience. Old Point launched

operations from a counter inside Cooper’s Confectionary store

in the Phoebus section of Hampton in January of 1923. A local

doctor, a seafood dealer, and a merchant, who cared about

their community, founded Old Point because they believed it

would be a help to area citizens and businesses. They named

the bank after Old Point Comfort lighthouse to demonstrate

their commitment to being a steady, trusted resource in all

kinds of economic conditions.

Old Point National Bank served a key role in Hampton during

the Great Depression. In 1933, the federal government closed

all banks temporarily to keep panicked citizens from making a

run on them. At one point, Old Point was the only bank in town

that made it possible for employees of the local veteran’s ad-

ministration to cash their pay checks. This spirit of public ser-

vice has continued through the years, with Old Point committed

to helping their community prosper by supporting over 300

Hampton Roads charitable organizations. Old Point employees

live, work, shop, and eat in the footprint in which they serve,


Celebrates 90 years of

Serving Hampton Roads

A


and pride themselves on creating a better community, every-

day. Over 275 Old Point volunteers, which is nearly 90% of

Old Point’s workforce, participated in community service pro-

jects in 2012. Last year, employees donated thousands of

hours of community service to the Hampton Roads area in

addition to collecting approximately 3,200 pounds of food in

Old Point branches for local food banks. Old Point puts com-

munity first and part of this commitment is offering state of

the art products and services to help personal and business

financial futures grow. Old Point’s Corporate Banking solu-

tions, such as imaged lockboxes, remote deposit capture, and

advanced merchant services, allow their business customers

to operate more efficiently and increase cash flow. As com-

petitors charged additional fees, discontinued free checking,

and imposed penalties on their customers, Old Point takes a

different approach by offering forward-thinking solutions to

enhance their client’s business and personal financial lives.

Despite a challenging economy, Old Point’s experienced and

dedicated lending officers continue to differentiate Old Point

from its competitors by providing guidance and support to

borrowers. In addition to these services, Old Point Mortgage,

LLC, of which Old Point National Bank is 49% owner, offers an

experienced team that delivers quality loans and service.

They also offer wealth management services through Old

Point Trust & Financial Services. Old Point National Bank was

granted trust powers in 1926, and Trust was a part of the

Bank until April 1999, when Old Point Trust & Financial Ser-

vices, N.A. was chartered as a national trust company. Old

Point Trust is the largest trust company headquartered in

Hampton Roads. Their experienced staff carry a number of

advanced certifications, degrees and professional designa-

tions and are ready to help you manage your assets. They

offer investment research, asset management, performance

analysis, estate and trust administration, estate and retire-

ment planning, and more.

Old Point has grown substantially since those early days. From

their sweet but humble beginnings in a candy store, they now

have locations stretching from Williamsburg to Virginia Beach.

Old Point expanded into Williamsburg in 1989 and then into

Southside Hampton Roads in 1999 with a branch in Chesa-

peake. Old Point’s first building, completed later in 1923 on

the corner of Mellen and Mallory Streets in Hampton, was

described by The Daily Press as “one of the most modern in

the state, with a splendid vault and safe.” The intricate 12-

ton vault door would prove to be a steadfast feature of the

bank. Nearly a century after its fabrication, it is still in use and

has been installed in the new headquarters currently under

construction in downtown Hampton.

Due to the previous discovery of historic artifacts in Hampton,

Old Point took the unusual step of delaying construction on

their headquarters to commission an archaeological excava-

tion. During the course of the dig, more than 4,000 members

of the public visited the site and over 1,000 artifacts dating

back to the early 18th century were found. In addition to reus-

ing the vault door from their original location, Old Point has

also incorporated several sustainable design elements. Old

Point carries on the traditions that have served Hampton

Roads well from their start in 1923.

Old Point’s vision is to continue to provide their customers

with innovative products and services and to help their com-

munity prosper. Visit OldPoint.com to find a branch near you

or find them on Facebook and Twitter.


706 Town Center Drive

Newport News, VA 23602

757-596-1011


Put The Pride Back In The Ride By Kathleen Stanco

A car free of grease and grime might be the best way to ensure its value over time. The way to maintain your car’s value can be best served by investing in keeping its surfaces – the glass, trim, paint and wheels –clean!

Car enemies abound from industrial emissions and contami-nants which will eat through paint and metal to acid corrosion from bugs, bird droppings and tree sap; when left on your car and activated by heat, will cause permanent stains in the car’s finish. The longer on the car surface the greater the probability of permanent damage.

Neglected cars bring down the resale or trade-in value, all be-cause you failed to wash your car. The asthetic look of your car is a top consideration to most people. It is important to keep your car looking its best and never too late to change your ways.

Located right here in Williamsburg at 5117 John Tyler Hwy. is a first class car wash/auto spa from start to finish. Mega Car Wash Spa is a family business owned and operated by Matthew Blanchard, his wife, Denise and sons Allain and Mark. Together they have developed a unique philosophy of total car care with a business model of full flex service. Using the latest technology and best industry practices for the environment, they have cre-ated a time, energy and cost effective car wash for every kind of vehicle. Their goal is to earn customer loyalty. I personally toured the “Brain hub” of this system and learned how the PH of the water is controlled at each of three washings to

maximize the removal of car surface dirt followed by numerous rinse cycles using wrap around brushes with soft touch applica-tors and the addition of drying agents to create a spot free fin-ish.

After exiting the “tunnel” a customer has flex-serve options to use the self-vacuum provided or select an interior detail wash performed by a team of experts. The interior of you car is dressed to perfection. Vacuuming car and trunk, cleaning the dash and console, windows and doors including those nooks and ledges that are hard to reach are just some of the services offered. Select express detailing is on a first come basis or by appointment. Relax in a warm comfortable customer lounge and watch the process unfold.

A rainy day you say, no problem for Mega Autospa. Send your car in for the works! You can have basic interior cleaning or ad-ditional custom services like compounding, waxing, deep carpet cleaning, leather treatment and polishing by appointment.

I arrived one day, to clean my investment, and was exposed to the most incredible journey you and your car can take together. As I pulled up to the automatic pay station an attendant was immediately at my door to take me through and explain my options. After making my selection and payment, I simply put the car in neutral, sat back and enjoyed the relaxing sound and motion of the process.

The wheels were given special treatment in the tunnel and cleaned thoroughly by the banana peel conveyor. Be sure to go online to watch the video of how this happens. With the use of ninja brushes, spider wrap cleaning and spot free drying, you car is treated to the ultimate of carwash care. This entire pro-cess is environmentally friendly; it is designed to capture 100% of the wash water and reuse up to 90%.

I call that a win, win. They have earned my loyalty. For more information, go to the website www.MegaAutoSpa.com and preview the process in detail.

http://www.megaautospa.com/


Kathleen Velez

Independent MICHE Representative

kathleenvelez.miche.com

PH. 757.254.1969

Email: [email protected]


Custom Vinyl Products, LLC

“Replacement Windows

Custom Built For You Right Here In

Hampton Roads ”

Welcome to Custom Vinyl Windows

Custom Vinyl Products specializes in the manufacturing and delivery of new, custom, and replacement vinyl products.

We offer a complete line of noise reducing window and door products including exterior metal doors, fiberglass doors,

bay windows, and bow windows. Our maintenance free windows and doors are ideal for your residential and commer-

cial applications. All our products are manufactured and serviced locally offering you the maximum choice and specifica-

tion. Custom Vinyl Products has the superior product you need.

Custom Vinyl Products LLC

260 Enterprise Drive Newport News, Va. 23603

757.251.9251

www.customvinyl.net


inter words warm, soft and creamy cashmere, hot chocolate, white marshmallows, green pine trees and

hot steamy cider , flickering white lights, burgundy aged to per-fection, cinnamon scented candles making shadows on the wall, fire, warm & cozy.” Such are the flavors and colors of winter.

Getting your home ready for this season is really a matter of outlook. What makes you feel warm, secure, peaceful and se-rene?

Natural fabrics are still a favorite material, warm, soft, and creamy cashmere provide both sensual texture and an eye ap-pealing calm; “But Christmas is over”, you say. It’s time to pack up those holiday things and store them once again in the attic for next year.

Not so, let’s continue that feeling of serenity and warmth. Look for throw pillows, nicely textured in chocolate, white (velvet and brocades), beige, wine, cinnamon, deep jewel tones of green, purple or persimmon and add a cashmere throw over the arm of a favorite chair. This makes it an attractive, inviting place for someone to curl up with a good book.

Use textured greens such as magnolia and holly boughs to cre-ate the essence of living beauty indoors and bring out that fa-vorite item you love. Feature this item on a table or use as a centerpiece along with seasonal accessories such as pinecones, dried hydrangea blooms, clippings from berry bushes or other outside greens. Clear surfaces of unnecessary items and go for a clean

uncluttered look. A simple bowl filled with cranberries and a string of white lights will add color and warmth to any room. Fill a clear bowl with water and float tea lights on the surface with rose petals, or cut flower tops from fading arrangements. It will both lengthen the life of flowers and add color to the room.

Don’t let the early dark evenings make you feel tired.

Dress up those dark looking windows with a pair of warm drapes to keep the heat in and the cold out. Add white birch branches across your curtain rods to bring in that natural feeling and look around for your games and cards; keep them handy while you spend those nice long evenings in front of the fire with a hot drink. Have plenty of books available on the coffee table for viewing. Candles bring ambiance and romance to each room, look for battery flickering ones to leave unattended.

Create a space to group items of special interest to you. These could be family pictures, your collection of miniature birds or that one piece you have over on a shelf that you would like to feature. Bring out a pair of special eyeglasses belonging to a loved one, a collectible doll, an antique collection of kitchen gadgets, a special bowl or any item that elicits good memories for you. Grouping them together creates a focal point of inter-est and discussion for you or your guests. Remember to clear other items and store for this season in order to make room for your new collection.

Don’t forget to keep your front door fresh and inviting with a wreath or basket filled with seasonal flowers, greenery and something personal about yourself. Then, simply add greens, holly, berries, or a winter bird such as a cardinal to the existing wreath with a fabulous bow. Dress up this look with a pair of old ice skates, golf clubs, horse reins or put a sled dressed in greens on your porch. Boxwood cuttings make a glorious addition to wreaths. Remember those empty planters outside. Fill them with magnolia greens, pine boughs, holly and add strings of small white lights for warmth and contrast.

Hint: put them on a timer – you’ll thank me when it’s time to go to bed. Now sit back and find a cozy place in your home to en-joy your efforts and relax.

Starting The New

Year Feeling

Warm & Cozy

“W


rban myth or not, Pasteur called wine the purest liquid to drink. You may be wondering how Pas-teur and wine have anything in common? Mr.

Pasteur did not espouse the pasteurization of wine to kill bacte-ria as he had with milk. Pasteur had a significant role in clarify-ing the use and process of yeast in wine making. In his research with milk pasteurization, he found the byproduct of yeast fer-mentation in sour milk might be helpful in other areas. He con-cluded that yeast is a beneficial organism for wine making and contributes to the process of fermentation by converting the sugars to alcohol. This process is what makes wine so enjoya-ble.

In the mid 1800’s, Pasteur presented a paper titled “Note on Alcohol Fermentation”. His paper made clear that yeast grow-ing and reproducing by feeding on grape sugar, brix (French term for sugar used by wine makers) in the crushed grapes caused fermentation. The fermentation process by the yeast continues until the sugar consumed produces a high enough quantity of alcohol to kill the yeast or can be also stopped by the wine maker by lowering the temperature to leave some residual sugars for sweetness. We are thankful to Pasteur for his early contribution to the technical process of wine fermen-tation. It helps spread and perfect wine production around the different wine regions bringing its own taste to our table.

Wine making is a complex pursuit that must pull together vari-ous steps to accomplish this goal. The French term “terror” en-compasses the climate, nutrients derived from the soil and ori-entation of the vines (i.e.) high on the hill, mountain slope, south facing sunny side, rain amount, percolation and of course the varietal chosen for that region. Include hot or cold weather, hail, insects, and other anomalies, it’s a wonder why wine is made by the truckload. There is a saying that wine grapes must

“suffer” in order to produce a good/exceptional bottle. The translation to me is the grape vineyard had a minimal amount of rain, marginal amount of sun so the vines have to root deep-er into the soil for nutrients and the cluster of berries are small but hardy, rather than plump and juicy. You see, the more suffering by the grapes is believed to produce a concentrated juice, which in the hands of a skillful wine maker, can produce an excellent wine.

Herein lies the art and science coming together where all deci-sions and work by the wine maker leading up to picking the grape clusters at its peak time, it comes down to a skill set in knowing what yeast amount to use if a mix varietal, what per-cent to blend, amount of time the crushed juice left in contact with the skins, fermentation time and temperature. If all of the right decisions are made, add a little luck maybe a great wine will be made for our enjoyment.

Rather than give you suggestions on which bottles of wine to buy, I will leave you with a rough rule of thumb:

1. What type of wine have I enjoyed in the past? Sweet/hightannins or an acidic backbone. (2). What regions? USA, Europe, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand. (3). What varietal have I had in the past? (4). Favorite label or wine maker? (5). What price point to pay? Everyday wine, under$12.00, better wine under $20/ Best under $30.

It maybe harder, but is a joy when you find a bottle at a lower price point. That is why I suggest building a rapport with your local wine merchant who can help you find the right bottle. Be sure to tell the person your taste and blend preference so the selection will meet your expectations.

Wine and Louis Pasteur By John A Stanco, Wine Partisan

UU


Preparing For My Wedding

By Barbara Smith


f you’re planning to be married, let me first congratu-

late you. You are about to embark on a journey that is

intended to be and can be the most wonderful experi-

ence of your life. Yet this can also be a time of stress if

you’re not prepared. Planners regularly get asked, how much

should my wedding cost? The answer…weddings are as individu-

al as you are. The real question should be how much value can

we receive based on what we spend for our wedding. There are

strategies that can help you determine what cost is best for you.

I have compiled a list of 10 areas to consider when coming up

with what your wedding should cost. Focusing on these 10 cost

areas is by no means intended to be an exhaustive list but simply

a starting point for major areas that cause concern during wed-

ding preparation.

#1: The bride and groom should agree to make two lists: 1) the

“must have’s” & 2) the wants and put both lists in order of priori-

ty. This planning approach allows the couple to quickly identify

costs of lower priority. If costs escalate, lower priority items can

easily be reduced or eliminated.

#2: Set a date. Based on the day you desire, a Saturday wedding

is more costly than a Sunday wedding. However travel costs and

hotel stays may be more expensive on Sunday than on Saturday.

When setting the date, consider whether your prospective wed-

ding date will fall on a holiday weekend. The good news is it

could mean having an extra day included with your day of bliss

but don’t forget to consider how it may affect your guest list.

Remember, your guests have families and they may have holiday

plans that cannot be rearranged.

#3: Determine your spending limit. This seems logical, however,

once all of the people in your life start adding suggestions that

you feel are all great ideas, your budget can quickly grow into an

unrecognizable financial monster. Here’s where the two lists

(“must have’s” & wants) play a major role. When determining

what spending limits should be, sit down together and consider

the following: How many guests do we want to attend, less than

50 or more than 500? What type of wedding do we plan to have,

casual, formal, themed, unique, etc.? Are we planning to hire

experienced professionals (wedding/consultant planners,

hairstylists, photographers/videographers, limousines, caterers,

musicians, djs, etc)? Will our reception include alcohol with a

cash bar or are we providing the alcohol with the food? Are we

planning to purchase designer labels, custom or unusual prod-

ucts including the wedding dress, rings and accessories? Do we

plan to have our wedding at a popular location? These are the

major items of consideration associated with cost.

#4: Start planning as early as possible. If you’ve chosen a

popular ceremonial or reception venue, you must secure it early

to get the date of your choice. The most popular venues book

weddings up to three years in advance. As an alternative, se-

lecting a quaint location that may not be as popular could save

hundreds even thousands of dollars.

#5: Decide how many people to include in your bridal party.

Smaller wedding parties might indicate less expense, however,

that is not necessarily the case, especially if the bride and groom

provide a rehearsal dinner with gifts for the members of the par-

ty.

#6: Make a decision about the bridal gown, wedding colors &

theme. Planning for the brides gown/dress is a HUGE considera-

tion. Depending on the designer, bridal gown selections can take

anywhere from one month to six months to arrive once ordered.

#7: Make a decision about the cost of the honeymoon. Will it be

a weekend getaway or two weeks on an exotic island? Based on

the honeymoon destination the cost can be small or extremely

expensive.

#8: Decide on how much to spend on wedding invitations, thank

you cards and programs. Depending on the number of invitees,

printing style and whether or not you’re using a professional

printing service this cost will also vary tremendously.

#9: Moving expenses should be included as part of the budget if

both the bride and groom currently have separate households.

#10: Lastly, if there are any pets involved budget an amount for

house sitters any/or kennel stays if necessary.

Though by no means an exhaustive list of costs to consider in the

planning of a wedding, the items listed above should help the

prospective couple get off to a good start in determining how

much their special day will cost.

I


WHAT WOULD

YOU DO IF YOUR

COMPUTER CRASHED?

hat question was asked in a recent marketing survey. Seven out of ten responded with the run-of-the-mill “that company I always hear about on the radio”, or “I’ll check for one on-line ... no, wait, I wouldn’t be able to” or “I just

saw an ad in the newspaper …”. Two out of ten answered “I know this guy …” And one out of ten said “I’d buy a new one.”

So there you have it. The place to go is to the one that ad-vertises the most in your area. Any questions?

How much will it cost to fix it? Depends. Is the problem software-related, firmware-related (rarely) or hardware-related? Thinking it’s a software problem, you might pay someone $70 or more per hour to come in and find out it’s defective hardware. Now pack up the computer, take it to a repair service and plan on spending anywhere from $50 to $70 per hour (minimum one-hour charge) … plus parts.

How long will it take? Depends. Is it a simple fix? A couple days may-be, if you’re lucky. Is it not so simple of a fix? Does the shop have the parts needed for your specific computer in stock? Well then …

What is it worth to you to take the guesswork out? Because let’s face it, within one year of owning a given comput-er, approximately 57% of you will run into some sort of problem at least once. Within two years, almost 100% of you will. (If you have never had a problem with your computer, I have three words for you – play the lottery!)

How about a service, for less than $20 a month, that will take care of any and all of your computer problems, hard-ware or software? And for that price will service up to four devices – desktop, laptop, and tablet (sorry, no smartphones). And unlike other services advertising on the

radio or newspaper, there is no set up fee. Oh, and if they

can’t fix it, they’ll replace your computer.

And what if I told you that unlimited software issues are handled via a toll free number at the tech support center in Utah (not somewhere overseas). And for unlimited hard-ware repairs, you will have free shipping (yes, you read correctly – free shipping) to and from the repair facility in Illinois – where 90% of all repairs are done within 3 days. Over 1,000,000 devices have been repaired since 2007.

So, great, I spill a coffee or other brown bubbly beverage on my keyboard and they’ll fix it for free. Well, unfortunate-ly, it’s not as simple as that. Accidental/physical damage and liquid spills are not included in your membership. However you do get an unbelievable benefit that you will not get anywhere else. In the spirit of offering the best cus-tomer service in the world - if you have a computer with a liquid spill or cracked screen or some other accidental damage, you will be quoted the wholesale price of the part needed to repair your computer plus the cost of ship-ping the part to the repair facility! No mark up on the part and no charge for labor. What does this mean?

Take an all-to-common cracked LCD screen on a laptop. Most repair companies will quote you anywhere between $250-$375 to fix it. Through this service, that entire repair will cost you around $65-$75 most of the time.

Let’s hear from Greg R. He’s been a member for two months. His 8-year old computer broke. Here’s what he had to say. “Online technicians, Marvin and Alicia spent more time with me online today installing new software. I’m now completely back up and running. The hardware technicians replaced the motherboard, the fan and a metal heat shield.” Conservative estimate for the motherboard, fan and heat shield is $260. Add labor for 2 hours at $50-70/hour. You do the math!

Become a TechGuardianUSA member TODAY!!

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