Raise your paw if you love summer!

Summer in Maine has endless adventures in store for all Mainers – including ones of the four legged variety. From runs on the beach, hikes in the woods, or even in this recent heat wave, lounging in front of an air conditioner, having a pet to enjoy the season with makes summer even sweeter.

The long warm days may inspire you to look for a new furry family member. While it’s easy to focus on what you’ll get from your new pet (unconditional love, a happy face to greet you, and the inability to stop talking in a baby voice), it is also important to consider what your new friend will mean to your wallet.

Here are just some of the expenses that pets can pack on:

• Price of your pet: Whether you buy your pet from a breeder, or adopt him, there will be some initial price to pay. Knowing how much you are willing to pay will help you decide the type of pet you will get, and where you will get him.

• Food: While puppies are small, they do get bigger. The bigger the dog, the more food they will eat. Something to think about!

• Pet care for when you travel: If you travel, there will likely be times where you cannot bring your pet, and may need to pay for boarding or someone to come and “babysit”.

• Vet bills/Medicine: Even healthy pets need shots and checkups, and with the summer often meaning tick season in Maine, anti-tick medication is often a must.

• Toys/supplies: Here’s where you can get creative! My new puppy is currently in love with an old tennis ball, as well as older toys my other dog has discarded…while the older dog now must have the puppy’s new toy. Bottom line - puppies don’t need the fanciest toys to be entertained, so don’t break the budget there. Instead, invest in necessities such as a quality collar, leash and crate.

• Replacements items: All puppies seem to have something they just MUST chew. When my older dog was a puppy, we went through four remote controls in a very short time. No matter how hard you try, where there are puppy teeth, there will be some damage.

If you think these are expenses you can fit into your budget, then it is time to start the puppy search! And in the end, how can you say no to that face?



-Diana D., Maine Credit Union League

From North to South, Maine’s Young & Free Spokester Celebrates Summer with Maine’s Credit Unions

In a trip that led him from the potato fields to the baseball dugout in the span of a few days, Young & Free Spokester Seth Poplaski recently spent time connecting with Maine’s 25 and under crowd at popular summer events. He began his journey in Fort Fairfield at the Annual Potato Blossom Festival, where the now famous, brightly-colored Young & Free vehicle was a part of the festival’s parade on July 16. Poplaski was joined by representatives from local credit unions, who helped hand out giveaways to the crowd.

“I had a great time in Fort Fairfield being a part of the Potato Blossom Festival. I was able to talk to many people about Young & Free Maine and the impact it could have on their lives, and also the benefits of joining a credit union,” Poplaski said. “It was my first trip up to that area of northern Maine, and it definitely opened my eyes to how big of an economic impact potatoes have on our economy.”

The colorful Young & Free car could then be spotted on the highway as Poplaski headed south to attend a Sanford Mainers baseball game on July 18. There, he greeted fans, and even took part in a water balloon toss.

“As an avid baseball fan, I jumped at the chance to go watch a summer game featuring the Sanford Mainers. Although they didn't come away with a win, I enjoyed watching the teams compete and talking to the fans of the Mainers and credit union members,” he said. “I was also invited to go on the field in the sixth inning and be a passenger on the ‘Moose Mobile’. What a great opportunity!”

Find out what's next for Seth at youngfreemaine.com!

The Sounds of Summer Music in Maine

The hills of Maine are alive with the sound of music. From Brownfield on the New Hampshire border to Lubec’s easternmost point in the United States, our summers are filled with extraordinary music and musicians.

Our favorite venue for music is Carol Noonan’s Stone Mountain Arts Center in Brownfield. She uses Maine’s vacationland image to capture big acts that like to visit here in the summer. Down East in Lubec, an amazing collection of international musicians gathers each summer, putting on Wednesday evening performances.

From Rockland’s now-famous Blues Festival, scheduled for July 15, 16, and 17, to Saddleback Mountain’s Bluegrass Revival August 12 and 13, you can see world-class musicians right here in Maine.

The American Folk Festival in Bangor puts a punctuation mark on our summer each year. This must-not-miss-event is scheduled for August 26, 27, and 28 and is international is scope, with venues small enough to get you close to the musicians, great food, and a terrific celebratory air. Linda and I plan to be there the entire weekend this year.

And if those kids or grandkids are getting antsy, consider a visit to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Maine Wildlife Park in Gray. Every weekend they offer special programs for kids as well as adults, and the animals there are sure to keep the children entertained.

Sing your way through summer!


- George Smith.

For more travel news, go to a www.georgesmithmaine.com for the Travelin Maine(rs) Blog.

Central ME FCU Member Wins Cash For Sharing Unique Money Saving Tip!

One Maine credit union member received more than savings on his electricity bill when he shared his money saving tip, “I bought a voltage reader and the electronics that use the most energy remain unplugged until ready for use.” Central ME FCU member Michael Albert of Lewiston, ME won $250 for this winning entry in Maine Credit Unions’ Shared Branching Savings Tip Competition.

Albert was the June winner in this competition, which is part of a Shared Branching Campaign by Maine’s Credit Unions. Credit unions throughout the state are involved, directing members to a microsite, ShareItAndSave.org, where they can share their own financial tip. Each month, the member who shares the most unique tip is awarded $250! The site also features a Shared Branch Locator, with which users can enter an address or intersection to find the three closest Shared Branches.

There are currently over 140 Shared Branching locations in Maine, and over 4,300 locations across the country and internationally. To find a location near you, or to share your savings tip, visit ShareItAndSave.org. Or, for a listing of the thousands of nationwide locations, visit www.cuservicecenter.com.