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Still trying to make plans for the holiday weekend? Don't worry, the city of Burlington has you covered. Fireworks begin at 9:30 pm, but food and activities kick off at 5 pm! Entertainment includes: @ Perkins Pier Root 7, 5 – 7 pm Mango Jam, 7:30 – 9:30 pm 98.9 WOKO, 99.9 The Buzz, KOOL 105, WJOY and WIZN, broadcasting, 5:30 – 9 pm @Waterfront Park Sambatucada!, 7 – 8 pm Star 92.9, 101.3 ESPN and Planet 96.7, broadcasting 4 – 9 pm with “Inflatable Family Fun Park” and cash cube Price Chopper Bounce House, 4 – 9 pm Face painting and Henna, 5 – 9 pm @Boathouse Kat Wright & The Indomitable Soul Band, 8 to 9:30pm and 10 – 11 pm Dan Marcotte Biplane Airshow, 8:30 – 8:45, in the sky over the harbor   @Battery Park Burlington Concert Band, 6 – 9 pm @North Beach Eagle Country 97.5, broadcasting 5 – 9 pm Also, check out the Local 44 Fireworks Spectacular! live on July 3rd from 9 to 10 pm on WFFF/Local 44 DO NOT BRING: pet or sparklers. Souvenirs sold at Waterfront Park, Battery Park, Perkins Pier. Food vendors at Waterfront Park, Perkins Pier, Battery Park, and North Beach.

From our fathers at Shearer VW to yours, we wish you a very happy and safe holiday weekend! The history of Father's Day On Sunday, July 5, 1908 the first event exclusively honoring fathers was held in West Virginia.  The ceremony was a Sunday sermon held in honor of the 386 men who had died in a mining accident the preceding December.  Sonora Smart Dodd attempted to establish a state-recognized Father's Day holiday by lobbying local YMCA's, churches, and other public gatherings.  Her efforts paid off as Washington held the inaugural state-recognized Father's Day in 1910.  Six years later, President Woodrow Wilson would institute the first nationally recognized Father's Day in 1916. How to Celebrate Father's Day While there are an infinite number of ways to honor your father, we have compiled a list to help inspire you... Remember that it's father day Wash and wax your dad's car Mow your dad's lawn Take your dad fishing on beautiful Lake Champlain Make your dad his favorite dinner Get along with your siblings Bring your dad to a local brewery to try some of the freshest flavors Take your dad paint balling Schedule a tee time for 18 holes of pure joy at a local golf course Purchase a massage for your dad Tell your dad the you love him.

Who started Earth Day? A peace activist in the San Francisco, California area named John McConnell proposed a day to honor the planet beginning in 1970; however, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin was inspired to take action and get the government officially involved in honoring our planet after the appalling oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. When a Union Oil platform had a blowout, nearly 100,000 barrels of oil were dumped into the Pacific Ocean. Thousands of marine animals died as a result, and the coastline was greatly impacted. With the assistance of Congressman Pete McCloskey and Denis Hayes from Harvard, Senator Nelson succeeded in making April 22, 1970 the first Earth Day, with the intention of teaching everyone about how to be more aware of our environment. 5 ways to drive more eco-friendly We all can play a role in protecting the environment by getting into certain habits each day, including while we are driving. Here is a quick list of eco-friendly driving habits to practice. Keep the tires inflated at the recommended pressure. Reduce excess weight and travel as lightly as possible. Carpool with others, if possible. Try to drive during off-hours if you can so you won’t be stuck in a traffic jam. Use cruise control on highways. Many of these habits amount to ensuring a higher fuel economy, which will also save you money in addition to helping the environment by not using up as much fuel. We only have one chance at this planet, so we have to keep it as clean as we can!

March 7th through March 13th is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week! Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues, specifically the central nervous system. In humans, the nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. MS is a chronic and often disabling disease where symptoms vary greatly from person to person; they can be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. Vermont continues to have the highest prevalence per capita of people with MS, as one on 400 Vermonters have been diagnosed. This month help build awareness and help support those who are affected by this disease! Raise Awareness & Get Involved: 2016 Vermont MS Walks Burlington, April 2, Burlington High School Montpelier, May 14, Montpelier High School Rutland, May 14, Rutland High School Upper Valley, May 14, Hartford high School St. Johnsbury, September 24, St. Johnsbury School Bike MS: Green Mountain Getaway Saturday, August 6, 2016 Burlington, VT Make A Donation: Support an Event Participant Donate Online Give in Honor or Memory

This week is Random Act of Kindness Week! Throughout the week Shearer Volkswagen's employees will be doing Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) and we encourage you to join in and spread the love and kindness. KINDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS! Here are a few suggestions on things you could do: Tweet or Facebook message a genuine compliment to 3 people right now Bring doughnuts (or a healthy treat, like cut-up fruit) to work Cook a meal for a friend If you walk by a car with an expired parking meter, put a quarter in it. Offer a homeless person your leftovers bag from the restaurant Leave a nice server the biggest tip you can afford Be the person who puts a tip in the tip jar at the coffee shop Give someone a hug Send anonymous flowers to someone Play board games with senior citizens at a nursing home Purchase some extra cat or dog food and drop it off at an animal shelter Buy something for the person in line behind you Put gas in someone’s car Make two lunches and give one away Say yes at the store when the cashier asks if you want to donate $1 to whichever cause. Volunteer at a food bank Pet or babysit for free Be a designated driver Let them merge Smile at 10 Strangers Let someone go in front of you in line Make cookies for someone else Buy someone their groceries Tell us about your Random Act of Kindness on our Facebook wall and continue to spread the love!

January is National Soup Month and there is no better way to warm up your belly on a cold winter's day than a cup or bowl of soup. Where did the word "soup" come from: "Our modern word "soup" derives from the Old French word sope and soupe. The French word was used in England in the in the form of sop at the end of the Middle Ages and, fortunately, has remained in the English language in its original form and with much its original sense. We say "fortunately" because it is clear that nowadays a "sop" is not a "soup." The distinction is important. When cooks in the Middle Ages spoke of "soup," what they and the people for whom they were cooking really understood was a dish comprising primarily a piece of bread or toast soaked in a liquid or over which a liquid had been poured. The bread or toast was an important, even vital, part of this dish. It was a means by which a diner could consume the liquid efficiently by sopping it up. The bread or toast was, in effect, an alternative to using a spoon...Soups were important in the medieval diet, but the dish that the cook prepared was often a soup that consisted of both nutritious liquid and the means to eat it. The meal at the end of a normal day was always the lighter of the two meals of the day, and the sop appears to have had an important place in it. In fact it was precisely because of the normal inclusion of a sop in this end-of-the-day meal that it became called "souper" or "supper." ---Early French Cookery, D. Eleanor Scully & Terence Scully 1995 (p. 102) What type of soup is your favorite? Here are some of our favorites here at Shearer Volkswagen: Beef Stew Chili Potato Leek Broccoli Cheddar Cheddar Ale Tomato Bisque

Volkswagen has a great array of women apparel and accessories. Below are the top 6 gift ideas perfect for her for the holidays! 1. Ladies' Stripe Tunic Comfy and stylish, this Ladies' Stripe Tunic will be your new favorite go to. This eco friendly tee features recycled and organic materials, making it both stylish and cute. Gray with black stripes. 50/38/12 polyester (6.25% recycled)/cotton (6.25% organic)/rayon. VW logo screen printed on black stripe on hip. MSRP: $39.95 2. Commuter Tote You'll turn heads wherever you go with this sophisticated tote. With an easy magnetic snap closure and white accent stitching, it's both classy and practical. The roomy interior will hold everything you need for daily business meetings or a day of shopping! MSRP: $18.95 3. Dub Luv Beanie For fashion or warmth our Dub Luv Beanie gets the job done! Black cable knit. Black woven label on front with Volkswagen word logo stitched in white. MSRP: $19.95 4. Logo Earrings Made especially for the genuine VW enthusiast. The VW logo earrings are Nickel plated with lever back hook. Comes in a black jewelry box. MSRP: $24.95 5. Yoga Pants These comfy yoga pants feature a fold down waistband with no side seams. Constructed from 6.5 oz cotton/spandex, these stylish pants provide flexible movement and comfort. The straight leg hits just below the knee giving it a cropped feel. VW logo on left hip. Black. MSRP: $29.95 6. Drink Up Bottle Sip or gulp - choose how you drink with this leak-free lid featuring sipper flow buttons. Script Volkswagen word screen printed down one side in silver. Double-wall, stain and odor resistant, durable Eastman Tritan™ material. Lid is top rack dishwasher safe. BPA Free.  22oz. MSRP: $19.95 View more gifts for Her

Volkswagen has a great array of men apparel and accessories. Below are the top 6 gift ideas perfect for him for the holidays! 1. Ski Visor Beanie Hit the slopes in our Ski Visor Beanie and you'll be warm enough to shred all day. Gray. Knit. Volkswagen logo embroidered on left side of cap in gray. MSRP: $19.95 2. T1 BBQ Tool Set Our T1 BBQ Set is a unique gift for your VW pitmaster. Hop in the van and you'll tailgate in style. Features stainless steel, T1 embossing with bamboo wood handles. Approximately 17" long. Includes a convenient zippered carrying case. MSRP: $39.95 3. Dubium Hooded Sweatshirt One of the most important elements of a Volkswagen: Dubium. Get to know this unique periodic table with the Dubium Hoodie. 50/50 cotton/poly with reduced pilling and softer air-jet spun yarn. Dark heather gray. VW Dubium screen printed on front in green. MSRP: $29.95 4. Contrast Quarter Zip You will be ready take on anything the day brings in our Contrast Quarter Zip. Made of 100% polyester mesh, this pullover is sure to keep you cool. Charcoal with neon orange accents. Volkswagen screen printed on left shoulder in black. MSRP: $39.95 5. Make VW Time Watch It's always a great time to cruise in your VW with our Make VW Time Watch. Features a silicone strap, 3 hands Japan movement, and hour markings. Navy. Screen printed VW logo on face. MSRP: $33.95 6. Seatbelt Buckle Belt Keep your pants on V-Dub style. Made with an authentic metal seat belt buckle. Belt is 1.5 inches wide. One size fits most, adjusts to fit 24 to 38 inch waist. Black. VW logo on buckle. MSRP: $29.95 View more gifts for Men

'Tis the season to GIVE! This month we are going to help provide warmth to those in need for the holidays by donating a new fleece blanket to COTS ( The Committee on Temporary Shelter) with every vehicle purchase ( new and pre-owned). COTS provides emergency shelter, services, and housing for people who are homeless or marginally housed in Vermont. In addition a portion of our profits this month will also go towards full filling children's Angel Tags for the The Burlington Salvation Army. Angel Tags list clothing items and sizes for a child in need. These kids  are fortunate enough to receive toys and gifts from "Toys for Kids" but are in dire need of warm winter clothing. Help us support these wonderful organizations this holiday season by volunteering, donating and/or spreading awareness. Together we can make a difference in our community!

The week of November 3rd - 9th is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. Shearer Volkswagen is teaming up with Human Society of Chittenden County this week to help promote their services and animals. Human Society of Chittenden County mission is to foster compassionate treatment of animals and to prevent animal suffering. We will be featuring an animal available for adoption each day this week on our Facebook page to help find these wonderful pets a new home and/or sponsor. Do you know anyone who might be interested in adoption or sponsoring a pet? Help us find these lovely pets a home by sharing our posts and spreading the awareness. Available Animals for Adoption: Cats Dogs Small Animals Learn more about Human Society of Chittenden County

'Tis the season to GIVE! This month Shearer Volkswagen is giving away a FREE TURKEY with every vehicle purchase. Enjoy a free turkey for the holidays OR donate your turkey to the Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf to help out another family in need this year. Shearer Volkswagen will be dropping off turkey donations weekly. See sales for details. Shearer Volkswagen will purchase and deliver donated turkeys to the Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf every week. Offer valid during the month of November 2015 only.

The hairiest month of the year is here! MOVEMBER The name "Movember" is a combination of two words: Mo - Aussie slang for mustache November - The event duration Movember is an annual event where men grow and women support a Mo (mustache) during the whole month of November to raise awareness of men’s health issues – specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives. Join us this month and grow a Mo (mustache), show it off proudly and help change the face of men's health with Shearer Volkswagen. THE OFFICIAL RULES: Begin the 1st of November with a clean shaven face. For the entire month of Movember you must grow and groom a mustache. There is to be no joining of the mustache to your side burns. That's considered a beard. There is to be no joining of the handlebars to your chin. That's considered a goatee. Post updated photos of your mustache to our Facebook Page and help us build awareness and show your support Go to Movember .com for more information and to sign up to raise funds and awareness for men's health. The goal is to increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments, and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths.