In This Issue · 5 Foods You Didn’t Know Contained So Much Sugar Stay away from these five surprisingly sugar-laden foods Auto Insurance Buying Mistakes to Avoid Having insurance

Volume Issue • October 2015

In This Issue:

Members are Cashing in on Fast Cash LoansFCCU’s newest loan is helping members save BIG

Long-Term Investment TruthsKey lessons for retirement savers.

How Your Financial Institution Can Help with Your LoansIdentify the benefits of getting support from experienced, qualified lenders

Teaching Kids to Be Money-SmartThe money lessons your children should know

What to Do if You Max Out Your 401(k)Best ways to save after you reach your 401(k) contribution limit

Maintaining Health Insurance Through DivorceSumming up your options

5 Foods You Didn’t Know Contained So Much SugarStay away from these five surprisingly sugar-laden foods

Auto Insurance Buying Mistakes to AvoidHaving insurance doesn’t mean you have to pay through the roof

Enjoy the Fall Foliage in Burlington, VermontExperience the quaint and earthy charms of the Green Mountain State

How to Clean Your Vehicle’s Air FilterDon’t buy a new air filter—just clean the old one

5 Comic Book Superheroes That Should Make It to the Big Screen NextWhat should be the next comic book movie?

Members are Cashing in on Fast Cash LoansFCCU’s newest loan is helping members save BIG

Back in August I announced the introduction of Fast Cash loans to FinancialCenter’s product line-up. Two months later, I’m excited to report that the newloan product has helped members save big.

There’s nothing I love more than hearing how the Credit Union has helpedmembers improve their financial footing, so imagine how thrilling it’s been toreceive daily reports of how we’ve done just that. For example, last week Ireceived an email from a manager sharing how a Fast Cash loan enabled amember to pay off a payday lender. With the FCCU loan, the member wasable to drop their monthly payment from $530 to $170. The member hadmade more than $6,000 in loan payments over the last year but her loan hadonly dropped from $5,500 to $5,300; if she hadn’t taken advantage of ourFast Cash loan, she would have been making monthly payments to thatlender for years. When the loan was approved, the member told us that she“got the goosies”. I have to admit that I did, too!

There have been countless other members with similar stories; when theywere in need of cash, they had popped into the neighborhood payday store

to get some quick help. Unfortunately, these loans come with exorbitant rates and each loan paymentgoes toward interest instead of reducing the amount of the loan. What starts as a quick loan turns intoyears of frustrating payments.

Refinancing existing loans is just one way members are using our Fast Cash loans. They’re also usingthem to help cover unexpected expenses and for fun things like vacations; getting the same-daymoney they need to keep up with their fast-paced life. All with an affordable, practical payment plan sothey are able to stay on budget.

I share this all with you with the hope that the next time that you (or one of your friends or co-workers)are in need of some quick cash, you will turn to Financial Center for assistance. We'll work with youas a financial partner, whether you come with 20 years of stellar credit or this is your very first loan.

Financial Center Credit Union • 209-948-6024 • http://www.fccuburt.org

Long-Term Investment TruthsKey lessons for retirement savers.

You learn lessons as you invest in pursuit of long-run goals. Some of these lessons areconveyed and reinforced when you begin saving for retirement, and others you glean along the way.

First & foremost, you learn to shut out much of the “noise.” News outlets take the temperature ofglobal markets five days a week (and even on the weekends), and fundamental indicators serve asbarometers of the economy each month. The longer you invest, the more you learn to ride through theturbulence caused by all the breaking news alerts and short-term statistical variations. While the daytrader sells or buys in reaction to immediate economic or market news, the buy-and-hold investorwaits for selloffs, corrections and bear markets to pass.

You learn how much volatility you can stomach. Volatility (also known as market risk) is measuredin shorthand as the standard deviation for the S&P 500. Across 1926-2014, the yearly total return forthe S&P averaged 10.2%. If you want to be very casual about it, you could simply say that stocks goup about 10% a year – but that discounts some pronounced volatility. The S&P had a standarddeviation of 20.2 from its mean total return in this time frame, which means that if you add or subtract20.2 from 10.2, you get the range of the index’s yearly total return that could be expected 67% of thetime. So in any given year from 1926-2014, there was a 67% chance that the yearly total return of theS&P might vary from +30.4% to -10.0%. Some investors dislike putting up with that kind of volatility,others more or less embrace it.1

You learn why liquidity matters. The older you get, the more you appreciate being able to quicklyaccess your money. A family emergency might require you to tap into your investment accounts. Anearly retirement might prompt you to withdraw from retirement funds sooner than you anticipate. If youhave a fair amount of your savings in illiquid investments, you have a problem – those dollars are“locked up” and you cannot access those assets without paying penalties. In a similar vein, there aresome investments that are harder to sell than others.

Should you misgauge your need for liquidity, you can end up selling at the wrong time as aconsequence. It hurts to let go of an investment when the expected gain is high and the P/E ratio islow.

You learn the merits of rebalancing your portfolio. To the neophyte investor, rebalancing whenthe market is hot may seem illogical. If your portfolio is disproportionately weighted in equities, is thata problem? It could be.

Across a sustained bull market, it is common to see your level of risk rise parallel to your return. Whenequities return more than other asset classes, they end up representing an increasingly largepercentage of your portfolio’s total assets. Correspondingly, your cash allocation shrinks as well.

The closer you get to retirement, the less risk you will likely want to assume. Even if you are stronglycommitted to growth investing, approaching retirement while taking on more risk than you feelcomfortable with is problematic, as is approaching retirement with an inadequate cash position.Rebalancing a portfolio restores the original asset allocation, realigning it with your long-term risktolerance and investment strategy. It may seem counterproductive to sell “winners” and buy “losers” asan effect of rebalancing, but as you do so, remember that you are also saying goodbye to someassets that may have peaked while saying hello to others that you may be buying at the right time.

You learn not to get too attached to certain types of investments. Sometimes an investor willsuccumb to familiarity bias, which is the rejection of diversification for familiar investments. Why doeshe or she have 13% of the portfolio invested in just two Dow components? The investor just likes whatthose firms stand for, or has worked for them. The inherent problem is that the performance of thosecompanies exerts a measurable influence on the overall portfolio performance.

Sometimes you see people invest heavily in sectors that include their own industry or career field. Aninvestor works for an oil company, so he or she gets heavily into the energy sector. When energycompanies go through a rough patch, that investor’s portfolio may be in for a rough ride.Correspondingly, that investor has less capacity to tolerate stock market risk than a faculty surgeon ata university hospital, a federal prosecutor, or someone else whose career field or industry will be lessbuffeted by the winds of economic change.

You learn to be patient. Even if you prefer a tactical asset allocation strategy over the standardbuy-and-hold approach, time teaches you how quickly the markets rebound from downturns and whyyou should stay invested even through systemic shocks. The pursuit of your long-term financialobjectives should not falter – your future and your quality of life may depend on realizing them.

Frank Feng may be reached at 209-948-6024 Ext 50140 or [email protected].

Securities sold, advisory services offered through CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. (CBSI), memberFINRA/SIPC , a registered broker/dealer and investment advisor. CBSI is under contract with thefinancial institution to make securities available to members. Not NCUA/NCUSIF/FDIC insured, MayLose Value, No Financial Institution Guarantee. Not a deposit of any financial institution. *The CFP®certification marks are not affiliated with CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. ϯCRPC® is a registeredservice mark of the College of Financial Planning®.

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views ofthe presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed tobe accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of futureresults. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. Ifassistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. Thisinformation should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on forthe purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation topurchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon assuch. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.

Citations.

1 - fc.standardandpoors.com/sites/client/generic/axa/axa4/Article.vm?topic=5991&siteContent=8088[6/4/15]


How Your Financial Institution Can Help with YourLoansIdentify the benefits of getting support from experienced, qualifiedlenders

Whether it’s a personal loan or motor vehicle financing, receiving financial assistance from a financialinstitution can be scary, especially for consumers who are making major purchases for the first time.Conducting research, asking the right questions and understanding the terms of a loan might seemoverwhelming, but there are several ways that your financial institution provides crucial support withpersonal loans and motor vehicle financing. Reliable assistance at any timeYour financial institution will make the terms of an agreement perfectly clear to customers. Every stepof the loan process is highlighted in detail, and consumers will appreciate the first-rate assistance theyreceive from lenders that help them complete larger purchases without delay. Competitive ratesToday’s economic climate is filledwith lenders that will compete forbusiness. It is a buyer’s market, soyour financial institution will bewilling to work with clients toensure their satisfaction for anextended period of time. With competitive rates readilyavailable from lenders around thecountry, customers can find loansthat correspond to their long-termbudgets. Getting the best-availablefinancial support has never beeneasier, and consumers can receiveassistance that fulfills their requestsimmediately. Calculate the estimated costsRelying on lenders helps people fully understand how much they will be paying for their loans everymonth. Mapping out a long-term budget can be difficult, but financial institutions provide essential support soconsumers can fulfill their financial obligations. Items like advanced calculators help customers stayon track with their loans and maximize the value of their investments. Improved credit scoresA loan can have far-reaching effects on consumers, including those who make payments on time. Buying a house or making other major purchases down the line could require credit checks in which

consumers’ credit scores are evaluated. However, financial institutions can help clients bolster thesescores. Get preapproval for car financingHaving financing in hand enables car buyers to shop for vehicles that satisfy their budgets. Financial institutions make it easier to get preapproval for car financing, which allows consumers tofocus solely on their automotive purchases. If they are preapproved for financing, car buyers canspend plenty of time finding vehicles that match their personal styles and tastes without having toworry about how they will cover the costs of these vehicles.


Teaching Kids to Be Money-SmartThe money lessons your children should know

When raising your children, it’s only natural to want to do right by them. And one way to do that is toteach them essential life skills, like being financially savvy. In fact, many adults run into financialtroubles simply because they weren’t given any lessons on finances at a young age.

“The majority of the clients weserve always say, ‘I wishsomebody had taught me thiswhen I was younger,’” says JessicaCecere, regional president of theSouth Florida branch of CredAbility,a national nonprofit creditcounseling and educationorganization, who helps clientsdevelop budgets.

That’s just one of the reasons it’simportant to share money lessonswith your kids before they have achance to experience any financialhardships of their own.

“While schools can reinforce theselessons, it really needs to comefirst from the parents,” says Cecere.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when teaching your youngsters to be money-smart:

The earlier, the better - It’s best to start a finance discussion when your children are young, beforethey actually are required to manage their own money.

“When children are 5, 6 and 7, they can’t really understand the idea that one day something mayhappen, and you may need to rely on your savings,” says Cecere. “But if somebody has a habit ofsaving and they always have, they will get that when they need it.”

So how do you explain this in terms they can understand?

“Begin by explaining to them why you work—to make money for the family,” says Stephen Rhodes, aCFP and managing partner at Strategic Partners Wealth Management in Creve Coeur, Missouri.“Explain to them the reality that the items they use each day all cost money, and you must work tomake and save enough to make sure all things are paid for.”

Take them on family shopping trips - This may sound like a nightmare if your children are known tothrow temper tantrums over what kind of candy they want, but if that’s so, it’s all the more reason tobring them. Experts suggest trying a farmers market first.

“Send (your kids) to one section of the market with a list of fruits and vegetables that you want andgive them $20 to spend,” says Cyndi Finkle, a mother and blogger for “Practical and Meaningful.”“They will ask questions of the vendors, figure out how much of each thing they can get and start to

“They will ask questions of the vendors, figure out how much of each thing they can get and start tounderstand the principles of money.”

Avoid the temptation to run to their rescue - When they grow up, they won’t necessarily havesomeone to bail them out if they’re low on cash, and that’s something they have to learn the hard way.

“If, for example, your child was saving for a big purchase but does not have all the money, don’t givein and give it to him or her. Instead, make sure they work for it or, dare I say it, make them wait,”Rhodes explains.

If it’s a situation when you feel bad not helping out, “[l]end them the money and then explain that whenit is paid back, they will have to pay you more,” Rhodes suggests. “Helping them to learn thediscipline of money management while they are children making only $6 is far better than [their]learning as an adult when they are making $60,000.”

Lead by example - Monkey see, monkey do. Chances are, if you practice good money habits, so willyour offspring.

“Be a role model,” advises Richard Bavaria, Sylvan Learning’s senior vice president for educationoutreach. “Show how you have a savings account, how you shop wisely, how you’ve put off your ownwants until you can afford them comfortably, one at a time. Postponement of pleasure is a grown-upcharacteristic, learned from grown-ups.”

And don’t just do it and hope your kid notices—point out your good financial skills whenever you can.

“You have a budget and spending priorities. So should your child,” Bavaria says. “Show how you setup a budget and stick to it. If you’ve had money troubles in the past, tell your child how it made youfeel and the difficulties it caused. Talk about your work and how your salary is based on the work youdo. Show how your earnings reflect the health of your business and the economy. If your family isenduring a difficult time, find a way to talk about it in an age-appropriate manner.”

Offer an allowance—with some rules - Don’t just shell out $20 a week for no reason—make yourchildren work for it. Depending on their age, you can give them guidelines like if they make their bed,make the bus for school on time or finish their veggies all throughout the week, they earn the fullamount you’ve allotted them—but if they don’t, they get less. You might also tell them that they canuse their allowance for whatever they want, but once it’s gone, they don’t get any more. That willteach them to have their own financial responsibilities, and will also eliminate arguments when yourchild asks to buy something; you could simply ask them how much of their allowance they have saved.You can make whatever rules you’d like, so long as your child recognizes the value of a dollar.

Teaching children to be financially responsible and money-smart can have a lifelong impact, so getstarted today.


What to Do if You Max Out Your 401(k)Best ways to save after you reach your 401(k) contribution limit

If you are maxing out contributions on your 401(k), you’re on a great path toward a comfortableretirement. This is an awesome feeling, but it may also leave you feeling a little lost about the bestway to continue saving. So, which accounts should you turn to once you can no longer contribute toyour 401(k)?

The first thing to do is ensure thatyou have actually maxed out your401(k). That may seem obvious,but the regulations do change fromyear to year. The contribution limitin 2015 is $18,000, which is $500more than in 2014. It is important tonote that some workers earn toomuch to contribute up to thismaximum.

Another thing to consider is yourage. If you are age 50 or older, youcan make catch-up contributions.For 2015, workers in this age groupcan contribute $6,000 more thanyounger workers can, giving thema contribution limit of $24,000.

“Older workers need to save$2,000 per month or $1,000 per[bi-weekly] paycheck to take maximum advantage of their 401(k) account,” says Emily Brandon, senioreditor for retirement at U.S. News. “Older workers who manage to max out their 401(k) will reducetheir income tax bill by $6,000.”

If you are saving for retirement while saving for your child’s college education, you should considerinvesting in a taxable account after you’ve reached the contribution limit on your 401(k).

“If you come up short while your child is in college, you can tap your taxable account without payingincome taxes and early-withdrawal penalties,” says Sandra Block from Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

Many investment experts suggest that this is the ideal next step for workers at the limit of their 401(k),regardless of whether they are also saving for college. So, it is a strategy that is definitely worthdiscussing with your financial planner.

When saving in a taxable account, you can keep the taxes lower by using a combination oftax-efficient investments like those that qualify for long-term capital gains rates, such as stock indexfunds. Investing in tax-free municipal bonds will also help keep the overall taxes down for the account.

“The most tax-efficient—that is, the lowest-taxed—stock investments are individual stocks that youbuy and hold rather than actively trade. That’s because you get taxed on the dividends (if any) everyyear, but you don’t get taxed on the capital gains until you sell,” states CNN Money’s Ultimate Guideto Retirement.

If you are still looking for other savings options aside from taxable accounts, consider nondeductibleIRAs. Withdrawals are taxed as income and not at long-term capital gains rates (which are lower). So,they are better for people with long-term investment plans, such as those saving for retirement, thanfor people looking for short-term investments.

“Unlike [with] a deductible IRA, anyone with earned income from a job or self-employment can openone,” says Bill Bischoff from MarketWatch. “And since these accounts grow tax deferred, if you have along investment horizon, the tax savings can be significant.”

In 2015, the contribution limit for nondeductible IRAs is $5,500 for people under 50 and $6,500 forworkers who will be age 50 or older at the end of the year. Stop by today to find out more or to speakwith one of our retirement specialists.


Maintaining Health Insurance Through DivorceSumming up your options

Divorce is hard enough on a couple, but having to think about mundane yet crucial logistics like yourhealth insurance options just adds to the stress of the situation. Here are some basic facts aboutmaintaining your health insurance through divorce.

Your ex cannot stay on the policyholder’s plan

This is one of the most common questions received by Certified Divorce Financial Analyst JeffLanders. The laws are very straightforward on this matter, so once you are divorced, you cannot stayon the same health insurance policy; however, your children can.

Obtaining temporary coverage

After a divorce is finalized, thenon-employee spouse can applyfor coverage through theConsolidated Omnibus BudgetReconciliation Act (COBRA) healthbenefit provision.

This amendment provides acontinuation of up to 36 months ofcoverage when group healthcoverage is terminated due tocertain specific events, such asdivorce.

“If you’re divorcing, my advicewould be to get your own healthinsurance as soon as possible,because if you develop a conditionwhile on COBRA, a new insuranceplan may look at that as apre-existing condition and eithernot insure you or only do so with much higher premiums,” says Landers in Forbes.

Getting your own policy

Another reason you will want to get your own policy as soon as possible is that COBRA continuationcoverage is typically more expensive than is most group health coverage, due to the fact that whengroup health coverage is offered through work, the employer usually pays part of the cost of theemployee’s coverage; with COBRA, the insured is responsible for the whole premium.

There are other options as well, including “mini-COBRAs” that apply to health insurers of employerswith fewer than 20 employees, as well as more affordable or more generous coverage options offeredthrough the Health Insurance Marketplace or Medicaid, if you qualify. Furthermore, states withmandated health coverage may offer their own options, such as MassHealth in Massachusetts.

Legal separation vs. divorce

Although maintaining health insurance coverage is such a concern for divorcing couples that theysometimes opt for a legal separation instead, Landers warns against it.

“Some health insurance companies view a legal separation as essentially the equivalent of divorce,and so they will not continue coverage for a separated spouse,” he notes.

In any case, always check with your health plan provider regarding restrictions on its policies, andconsult with an attorney to help you comprehend divorce and insurance laws as they apply to yourspecific circumstances.


5 Foods You Didn’t Know Contained So Much SugarStay away from these five surprisingly sugar-laden foods

It’s no secret that the amount of sugar you consume affects your overall weight and belly size, but whyexactly is that? Men’s Fitness Magazine reports that people who eat too much sugar usually take inmore calories than they are able to exercise away–and it’s not just the obvious suspects such as sodaand chocolate that cause people to pack on the pounds. There are many foods that people eat everyday that contain more sugar than expected.

Jarred spaghetti sauce

Half a cup of Bertolli VineyardMarinara sauce contains 12 gramsof sugar. For reference, oneteaspoon of granulated sugar isequivalent to four grams of sugar,according to WebMD. So thathalf-cup of marinara consumedwith your pasta adds threeteaspoons of sugar to your dailyintake. By contrast, the WorldHealth Organization advises thatyour total daily sugar intake shouldbe between six and 12 teaspoons.

BBQ sauce

Bad news for grill masters whothink grilling is the healthiestcooking option: the condimentscommonly used on grilled meats are also loaded with sugar. For example, two tablespoons of SweetBaby Ray’s Honey Barbecue sauce contain 15 grams of sugar, while two tablespoons of Bull’s EyeBrown Sugar & Hickory contains 14 grams of sugar.

Bread

According to Cosmopolitan, eating packaged bread from the local supermarket is not as healthy aseating fresh bread from a bakery or that you bake at home. Packaged bread can contain up to threegrams of sugar per slice, or six grams of sugar per sandwich. Fresh bread from a bakery, however, orbread that you bake yourself, only needs a smidgen of sugar so that the yeast can be activated.

Yogurt

Yogurt can be very healthy, but that’s only if you’re eating the plain kind, suggests Shape.com.Fruit-flavored yogurts, such as Yoplait’s Original Flavored Yogurt, contain seven teaspoons of sugar.To enjoy flavored yogurts in a healthier way, WebMD advises creating your own yogurt flavors usingplain yogurt and fresh fruit, like berries and bananas.

Granola bars

Granola bars sound healthy in theory–and they can be if they are made with unrefined sweeteners,like raw unsweetened cocoa or dates. On the other hand, one Quaker Oatmeal To Go Brown Sugar

Cinnamon bar contains 19 grams of sugar, and one bar of Nature Valley Oats ‘n Honey contains threetablespoons of artificial sugar; both options are much too high in sugar for daily consumption.

The high sugar content of some foods, which many people assume are healthy, illustrates theimportance of reading the ingredients lists on food items before serving the foods to your family.


Auto Insurance Buying Mistakes to AvoidHaving insurance doesn’t mean you have to pay through the roof

Everyone knows that having the right insurance is crucial in the event of the unforeseen, but thatdoesn’t mean all insurance is the same. A few helpful tips can help make sure you don’t pay morethan you need to.

The first thing you want to do ismake sure that you have the propercoverage. Some people sacrificethe proper coverage to save a fewdollars, only to find they’re not fullycovered when they need thatcoverage most. Simply put, thecheaper policy isn’t necessarily thebest policy. You also want to makesure that you understandeverything your policy covers.

“Make sure you’re shopping applesto apples and getting quotes basedon the same coverage that youhave,” says Lori Conarton, aspokeswoman for the InsuranceInstitute of Michigan.

Not getting the cheapest policydoesn’t mean you can’t find anydiscounts. In fact, some insurance companies offer discounts for being accident-free or for havingspecific features, like auto alarms or vehicle telematics, like OnStar from GM or Blue Link fromHyundai. There are also occasional discounts for being a member of a group like AARP or even AAA.You can always ask what discounts are offered so you can see what you may qualify for.

Kiplinger magazine noted that setting your deductible too low is a big mistake too:

“With low auto and homeowners insurance deductibles, you often pay more in premiums than you canrecover in claims. Low deductibles also encourage you to make small claims, which could cost you aclaims-free discount or prompt your insurer to drop you.”

They added that raising your deductible from $200 to $1,000 can lower your premiums by as much as40 percent. Just be sure to use some of those savings to build a fund in case you ever do need to paya deductible.

As with any important decision, you always want to do your homework so you can be fully prepared. Ifyou don’t know your needs, you may pay too much or, as mentioned before, not have the propercoverage. You also have to be truthful, as lying on your application can lead to a policy cancellationand even a refusal to pay your claims.

Auto insurance, as well as your life, health and other policies, is a crucial piece of your financialwell-being. Stop by today to learn more.


Enjoy the Fall Foliage in Burlington, VermontExperience the quaint and earthy charms of the Green MountainState

As Vermont’s largest city, Burlington serves as the state’s cultural, historical and educational hub. Acollege town that’s home to the University of Vermont (as well as two smaller private colleges),Burlington exemplifies all of the qualities that make New England so appealing: scenic waterfrontviews, Revolutionary War-era historical sites, delicious regional cuisine and a friendly and invitingcommunity of residents. And don’t forget the beautiful scenery as the leaves begin to change for thefall foliage.

Where to stay

Since it opened in 2013, the HotelVermont has found its way ontoseveral “top hotels” lists, thanks toits rustic charms, local art andexcellent views of Lake Champlain.The hotel’s restaurant, Juniper,offers local food and local brews.There’s even a “Beer Concierge”who can provide you with drinkrecommendations and who leadsthe comprehensive Hotel VermontCraft Brew Tour every Wednesday.Learn more about lodging optionsat the Hotel Vermont’s website:http://hotelvt.com/home.

If you’re looking for a place with amore at-home feel to it, thefamily-owned Bel-Aire Motel offersa much more inexpensive option and is close to Burlington’s downtown. Book your stay online athttp://belairevt.com.

What to do

Burlington is filled with classical architecture and important landmarks, but the city’s most importanthistorical site is the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum. Built in 1787, this spot was once home to thefounder of Vermont, as well as his wife, Fanny. Other places of interest include the University ofVermont’s Fleming Museum of Art and the fun and educational ECHO Lake Aquarium & ScienceCenter.

If you’re looking to do some shopping, the Church Street Marketplace is your best bet. This open-airmall in the heart of downtown Burlington features tons of local shops like Lake Champlain Chocolatesand the Vermont Flannel Company as well as local art galleries and more. In fact, Church Street isn’ta street for vehicles at all – the entire “street” is marked off for shoppers to walk up and down freely.And be on the lookout for street performers, who go through a rigorous auditioning process to performfor you right on Church Street.

If you are a fan of microbreweries and all things craft beer, you’re in luck. Burlington is one of the topplaces to visit in the country for beer aficionados . One of the more famous breweries in the area isthe Magic Hat Brewing Company, located in South Burlington just a few miles outside of Burlington.And the best part is the free guided tour, as well as the free tastings at the Growler Bar. Other localbreweries in the area include the Vermont Pub & Brewery, Switchback Brewing Company, CitizenCider, and Zero Gravity Brewery.

Where to eat

Burlington is a gourmand’s paradise, and the city’s best fine dining can be found at Hen of the Wood.Here, local meats and vegetables mingle to create exceptional entrees. The house specialty is adelectable mushroom toast served with house-cured bacon and a poached farm egg, but guests areencouraged to be adventurous when confronting the ever-changing menu. Make reservations orbrowse the menu online at http://henofthewood.com.

Bleu Northeast Seafood specializes in sustainable, regionally-sourced seafood, while providingpatrons with a great view of Lake Champlain, from which the restaurant’s popular fried perch comes.Vermont is at the forefront of the current microbrewery craze, and the Farmhouse Tap and Grill is theideal place to pair these local beers and ciders with good food. Other local favorites include Leunig’sBistro, the Red Onion Café, Henry’s Diner (breakfast only), A Single Pebble and American FlatbreadBurlington Hearth. There are also a number of bars on Church Street including Ri Ra’s Irish Pub,Akes’ Place, and Church Street Tavern.

Ready for dessert? Burlington is the birthplace of Ben & Jerry’s, so true ice cream aficionados mustbe sure to visit their location on Church Street, or hit the road to Waterbury (about 30 minutes away)to take the 30-minute guided factory tour, which features samples of new flavors.

From the gorgeous waters of Lake Champlain to the tasty beers of Vermont, Burlington has much tooffer visitors with a thirst for fun. Come to see the leaves, and stay for the adventure.


How to Clean Your Vehicle’s Air FilterDon’t buy a new air filter—just clean the old one

The air filter in your car acts like a shield against any debris that could travel into your cabin throughthe air system. The filter catches dust, pollen, flying dirt and many other airborne materials that couldmake driving a particularly unpleasant and sneeze-filled experience. Matters will only be made worseif you suffer from respiratory problems.

Given their important role, you will want to make sure you have a clean filter at all times, as thesefilters can grow very dirty and thus ineffective over time. However, new air filters can cost up to $50 ormore. Instead of purchasing a new one, consider cleaning the filter you already have.

Finding the filter

Before you can do anything elsewith it, you first have to locate theair filter. Most of the time, thisinformation will be in your vehicle’sowner’s manual. If you do not haveyour manual or if the manual doesnot detail the filter’s location, trysearching online—there arenumerous guides and videos thatcan help you find the filter. Most ofthe time, the filter is easy toaccess, inside a canister held shutby a wing nut or clamps. Once thecanister is open, simply pull thefilter out.

Cleaning the filter

There are two general methods tocleaning a filter. The first method involves washing it with soap and water; the second method requiresvacuuming the filter. Both have strengths—washing the filter will get it cleaner and ensure all of thecontaminants are removed, whereas vacuuming the filter is quicker and easier. However, both alsohave weaknesses—if you wash the filter, you have to make sure that it is absolutely dry before puttingback in the motor, or it could damage the engine. On the other hand, vacuuming will not get all of thecontaminants out.

If you decide to use soap, CarsDirect.com suggests putting the filter in a bucket filled with soapywater, then swishing it around and removing it. Shake it vigorously to get out as much liquid aspossible, then put it on a towel to dry. Give it lots of time.

If you are vacuuming it, CarsDirect.com says to run the vacuum over the filter for roughly a minute oneach side before removing any remaining material manually.

Cleaning the canister

Unfortunately, the filter is not the only item that requires cleaning. The canister that houses the filtercan get filled with dirt and contaminants just like the filter, so use a paper towel or soft cloth to wipe itout, making sure not to leave any bits of paper towel inside. If you use water to help with this, make

out, making sure not to leave any bits of paper towel inside. If you use water to help with this, makesure the canister is absolutely dry before replacing the filter.

Replacing the filter

This is the easiest part of the process. After checking again to make sure that neither the filter nor thecanister is wet, simply slide the filter back inside, close the canister and secure it shut.

So there you have it—the process is quick and simple, and could potentially save you a little money. Ifyou are constantly sneezing in your cabin, if the air flow through your HVAC system seems impaired,or if there is a persistent bad odor, check your air filter right away. For that matter, you should get inthe habit of routinely checking it once every year yourself. It is rather easy after all.


5 Comic Book Superheroes That Should Make It tothe Big Screen NextWhat should be the next comic book movie?

Comic book films have gone from a quaint little source of summer entertainment to a billion-dollarmachine that has dominated cinemas and box office records for much of the past five years. Industrygiants Marvel and DC have shown no sign of letting up: between now and 2020, there are no fewerthan 30 different superhero films in the works, including sequels for mega-franchises like “Guardiansof the Galaxy” and “Avengers” and first-time forays for characters including Black Panther and CaptainMarvel.

Still, there seem to be a few big names that are in dire need of their own films. Here are fivesuperheroes who would transition beautifully from page to screen.

She-Hulk

Commonly perceived as agender-swapped version of MarkRuffalo’s character from“Avengers,” She-Hulk is anincredibly interesting and complexcharacter who would work perfectlyas both a role model for youngwomen and as a harbinger ofjustice in trying times. Thecharacter of Jennifer Walters isn’tmerely a muscle-bound monsterwho can bend steel at will; she’s ahighly intelligent attorney whoworks to right injustice from withinthe confines of the legal system. ACharles Soule-written relaunch in2014 emphasized She-Hulk’s legalsuperpowers with whip-smartwriting and compelling stories, andthat same template would lend itself well to a unique feature film that is part-superhero spectacle,part-courtroom procedural.

Ms. Marvel

Carol Danvers, the original Ms. Marvel, will be hitting the big screen in July 2018 under hernewly-earned mantle as “Captain Marvel.” Upon ascending to her new title, the Ms. Marvel role wastaken up by Kamala Khan, a 16-year-old Pakistani-American from New Jersey. With a beautifullyprescient view of the world—both fictional and real—and cracking, clever dialogue provided by G.Willow Wilson, “Ms. Marvel” has stolen the hearts of readers and critics alike, resulting in the series’first trade paperback earning the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story. Translating Kamala to thebig screen would be a perfect means to capture the attention of a younger audience looking for a cooland transcendent heroine.

Animal Man

Animal Man

Despite being something of an also-ran in the greater context of the DC Universe, Buddy Baker(Animal Man’s alias) has been the beneficiary of two of the most significant comic books of the lastthirty years. After toiling in obscurity for the first 15 years of his existence, Animal Man was handled bythe deftest of hands the comic book industry has to offer: writer Grant Morrison. While Alan Moorewas reinventing “Swamp Thing” and Neil Gaiman was breaking ground with “The Sandman,” Morrisoncreated a legendary 26-issue run that is notable for its reliance on surrealism and emphasis onBaker’s life outside of the costume. Years later, “Sweet Tooth” scribe Jeff Lemire brought thecharacter back to its Morrison-lain roots with an unnerving and visceral tale that is affecting on anumber of levels. Either iteration would make a great contribution to the DC Films Universe.

Squirrel Girl

Squirrel Girl may not be terribly familiar to most casual comic book fans, but diehard fans know her asone of the most powerful beings in all of the Marvel universe and recall fondly her legendary defeatsof ultra-powered baddies such as Doctor Doom and Thanos. As her codename implies, Doreen Greenhas the unique talent of communicating with squirrels, as well as a prehensile squirrel tail of her ownand incredible leaping abilities. Creator Will Murray has stated that he conceptualized Squirrel Girl asa means to break away from more serious comic book titles, and introducing an irreverent characterlike Green would continue Marvel’s trend of balancing dark with light.

Black Widow and Hawkeye

If you enjoyed the first two “Avenger” films, then you’re likely already well familiar with Black Widowand Hawkeye. In the case of the former, Scarlett Johansson’s assassin has also appeared in “IronMan 2” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” meaning that she has featured prominently in fourfilms without top-lining a film of her own. Renner’s Hawkeye could also use a vehicle of his own tocapitalize on some of the charm that made Matt Fraction’s 2012 – 2015 run with the character soentertaining. In order for both to be seen as more viable members of the world’s favorite superherosquad, they both deserve their own films as soon as possible.

If there’s anything the last few years have taught us, it’s that there’s money to be made in makingsuperhero films. Bearing that in mind, it’s entirely possible that we’ll see at least a few of these filmsmade, hopefully sooner rather than later.


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