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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.

THINK PINK this October with Shearer Volkswagen for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We will be sporting more Pink (physically and digitally) this month to show our support and help build awareness. We are also proud to be a part of Making Strides of Chittenden County and participating in the Walk on Sunday, October 18th, 2015. The money we raise for the walk helps the American Cancer Society: Fund ground breaking breast cancer research. Provide free, comprehensive information and support to those touched by breast cancer. Help people take steps to reduce their breast cancer risk or find it early when it is most treatable. Fight with us and get involved. Make a donation Sign up and walk with us Spread the word and help us build awareness

How to Enter: “Like” our Facebook page, if you haven't already, at www.facebook.com/shearervw Upload your fall foliage photo to our Wall including the location of here the picture was taken Make sure your friends “Like” Shearer Volkswagen and vote for your photo by "Liking" the photo The picture with the most votes by October 23rd, 2015 at 5pm wins. Winner will receive the following: Their photo featured as our social media header images for the month of November $100 Shutterfly Gift Card Free Service Oil & Filter Change with Tire Rotation* 11"x 14" canvas photo print Dates: Begins Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015 Ends Friday, October 23rd, 2015 at 5pm   * Valid only at Shearer Volkswagen. Offer applies to gas vehicles only. Up to 5 qts. Excludes all Volkswagen Touareg Models. Coupon must be presented at time of write-up. One coupon per customer, per visit. Not to be used to reduce outstanding debt. No cash value. Not retroactive. Void where prohibited by law. Expires February 2016.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and this year we would like to continue to help support Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. Camp Ta-Kum-Ta is a wonderful non-profit organization located in South Hero, Vermont that helps support children who have or have had cancer and their families. During the whole month of September we are going to donate $20 for every vehicle we sell ( new and pre-owned) to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. We are also hoping to be able to check off items on Camp Ta-Kum-Ta's 2015 Wish List this month. We are asking our local community and YOU to get involved and donate item(s) from the wish list below. Donate an item and we will give you an additional $100 OFF your vehicle purchase this month.* Camp Ta-Kum-Ta Wish List: Sharpie Pens & Markers in Assorted Colors Paint Brushes (Various Sizes) Acrylic Paint DVD Movies & Wii Games (Ages 8+) Blank Journal Books (for Male & Females) New, Plain White Cotton T-Shirts (Child & Adult Sizes) & Pillow Cases for Tie Dying Velcro Catch Ball Set Tennis Ball & Rackets Basketballs Swim Goggles & Flippers New One-Piece Swimsuits (Children & Adult Sizes) New Board Games Face Paint (Water-Based) New Beach Towels Volleyball Net for Swimming Pool We have an empty children's pool in the center of our showroom to fill up with your wonderful donation(s). Any contribution helps and is greatly appreciated. Together we can make a difference! You can also mail your donation(s) to the following address: Shearer Volkswagen Att: Kate - TKT Wish List 1030 Shelburne Rd. South Burlington, VT 05403 *Special offer is only valid during the month of September 2015. Donation item must be present at the time of purchase. Max of $100 discount per vehicle per customer. Restrictions may apply. See Sales Department for details.

July is UV Safety Awareness Month. Protect your eyes from sun damage all year long by following these tips from eyeSmart: Sun damage to eyes can occur anytime during the year, not just in the summertime, so be sure to wear UV-blocking sunglasses and broad-brimmed hats whenever you're outside. Don't be fooled by clouds: the sun's rays can pass through haze and thin clouds. Never look directly at the sun. Looking directly at the sun at any time, including during an eclipse, can cause damage to the eye's retina from solar radiation. Don't forget the kids and older family members. Everyone is at risk, including children and senior citizens. Protect their eyes with hats and sunglasses. Volkswagen offers a wide array of Sunglasses and Hats to protect your eyes from the sun. Shop online and purchase some VW gear today!

Here are a few driving precautions to keep in mind during National Safety Month: 1) Don’t Drink and Drive: Although this one is quite obvious, some people still need to be reminded that drunk driving can ruin not only your life, but the lives of others. 2) Put Away the Cell Phone: Don’t talk on your cell phone while you are driving. No mater how “good” you may think you are at doing two things at once, it is a distraction and you never want to be distracted while you’re driving. Same goes for texting. 3) Turn Down the Radio: We know that blasting your favorite song is a part of summer driving, but it also makes it hard for you to hear the sirens of emergency response vehicles who need to pass you to get to their destination. Likewise, you will be unable to hear the horns of motorists trying to alert you to something of importance. 4) Wear Your Seat Belt: They actually do save lives. If you have small children, make sure your car seats are installed correctly. Your local police station is happy to provide a car seat safety check if you are unsure. 5) Slow Down: The place you are trying to get to will still be there regardless of if you drive 20mph or 80mph. If you want to get their quicker, just leave earlier. Speeding is a major cause of traffic accidents and traffic violations. Save your money and your life all at the same time by slowing down. 6) Be courteous to other drivers: Driving aggressively only raises everyone’s risk of an accident. Even if you already know these rules, chances are you regularly break at least one of them. Do yourself a favor and pay extra attention to the road this June. Stay safe and happy traveling.

National Donut Day is on the first Friday of June each year and celebrates not only this wonderful treat and it's history but also honors a special group that arised during World War I.  This holiday was created by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor those who served doughnuts, "Donut Lassies," to American soldiers in France during World War I. Doughnuts have been around since long before the First World War, and we have the Dutch to thank for them. The Dutch would make "olykoek," which translates to oily cake. The first Dutch doughnuts didn’t have a hole, but they were fried in hot oil and the dough was sweet. It wasn’t until 1847 that then 16-year-old Hanson Gregory claims he created the holed-out doughnut we know and love today. Sick of doughnuts with a raw center, he used a pepper pot to punch out holes to help his doughnuts cook more evenly. By 1920, Adolph Levitt, a Russian living in New York, had invented a doughnut machine. Thirteen years later, doughnuts were proclaimed the “Hit Food of the Century of Progress” by the World’s Fair in Chicago. We’ve come a long way since then. There are doughnut glazes, fillings and toppings galore. In 2011 alone, more than 200 million doughnuts were sold in the United States.

The official event for the unofficial start of the summer. Prepare for a heat wave of savings and start summer off on the right foot. During Shearer Volkswagen's Memorial Day Red Tag Sales Event you can get great deals and savings on your favorite models - like the sporty Jetta and powerful Passat. PLUS Get $500 Memorial Day Bonus towards the lease or purchase of a brand new 2015 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan or Passat (Gas & TDI). Going on now through June 1st, 2015. Lease a 2015 Jetta for only $189 Down & $189/mo. 36 Month Lease, 10,000 Miles Per Year Inception fees are first payment, no security deposit and $189 cap cost reduction. The total due at signing varies depending on model and trim. See Sales for details. Tax, motor vehicle and doc are additional. Subject to VW credit approval and 700 FICA score. Offer expires 05/31/2015 Lease a 2015 Passat for only $299 Down & $299/mo. 36 Month Lease, 10,000 Miles Per Year Inception fees are first payment, no security deposit and $299 cap cost reduction. The total due at signing varies depending on model and trim. See Sales for details. Tax, motor vehicle and doc are additional. Subject to VW credit approval and 700 FICA score. Offer expires 05/31/2015 Huge savings and discounts on our entire inventory with prices clearly marked on Red Tags! Hurry in to the Shearer Volkswagen Memorial Day Event, May 22nd - May 30th, 2015. We will be closed on Memorial Day, May 25th, 2015. See Sales for Details.

There is no better place to enjoy National Physical Fitness & Sport Month then in Vermont with its natural surroundings. Here are a few great places you can go in Vermont to be active, enjoy the nice weather and everything Vermont truly has to offer. Hiking: Mansfield Mountain - Sunset Ridge - Long Trail Loop (Underhill) Rated: Moderate Distance: 5.7 Mile Camel's Hump (Waterbury) Rated: Difficult Distance: 7.4 Mile Hunger Mountain (Waterbury Center) Rated: Difficult Distance: 4 Mile Stowe Pinnacle Trail (Stowe) Rated: Moderate Distance: 3.2 Mile Long Trail North to Sterling Pond Trail (Jeffersonville) Rated: Difficult Distance: 3.4 Mile Mount Elmore (Wolcott) Rated: Moderate Distance: 3.4 Mile Other Hiking Trails Biking: Snake Mountain (Middlebury) Rated: Moderate Distance: 4 Miles Haystack Mountain Trail (West Rupert) Rated: Moderate Distance: 4 Miles Burlington Waterfront (Burlington) Rated: Good For All Skill Levels Distance: 7.5 Miles Pine Hill Park (Rutland) Rated: Moderate Distance: 16 Mile Loop Huntington Gorge (Richmond) Rated: Good For All Skill Levels Distance: 14 Mile Loop Other Mountain Biking Trails Trail Running: Camel's Hump State Park (Huntington) Rated: Difficult Distance: 8 Mile Loop Mount Tom and The Pogue Trail (Woodstock) Rated: Moderate Distance: 5 Mile Loop Weathersfield Trail (Perkinsville) Rated: Difficult Distance: 4 Miles Haystack Mountain Trail (West Rupert) Rated: Moderate Distance: 4 Miles Pine Hill Park (Rutland) Rated: Moderate Distance: 16 Mile Loop Other Trail Running Trails Walking Trails: Burlington Waterfront Bikeway (Burlington) Distance: 7.5 Miles Shelburne Pond (Shelburne) Distance: 0.5 Mile Loop Stowe Recreation Path (Stowe) Distance: 5.5 Miles Other Walking Trails Paddling: Waterbury Center State Park (Waterbury) This park offers great opportunities for paddling, swimming, fishing and picnicking. Camp Plymouth State Park (Ludlow) The park has canoe, kayak and pedal boat rentals.  Because the lake is so long and narrow, it makes for some interesting paddling. Burton Island State Park (St. Albans Bay) Accessible only by boat or passenger ferry, Burton Island sits just off of St. Albans Point in the northern reaches of Lake Champlain. Burton Island has tent, lean-to and paddlers-only campsites. Lake Carmi State Park (Enosburg) Lake Carmi, with a 1375-acre surface area, is the fourth largest natural lake entirely within Vermont. It is 7.5 miles around, averages about 20 feet deep, and is 33 feet at the deepest point. Wilgus State Park (Ascutney) is situated on a peaceful stretch of the river in Southern Vermont, where paddlers of all abilities will enjoy a single or multi-day float.  The park has cabins, tent and lean-to campsites as well as a group camping area.  Hot showers, wood and ice, canoe and kayak rentals are available.

Show off your pet and enter to win up to $200! How to Enter: “Like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shearervw Upload your pet’s photo to our Wall include your pet’s name and age Make sure your friends “Like” Shearer Volkswagen and vote for your pet by "Liking" the photo The picture with the most votes by June 30th, 2015 at 5pm wins a $200 gift card to PetSmart and a $1 per “like” donation to a local pet shelter from Shearer Volkswagen. If you do not have a Facebook account please email the picture or bring your picture to the office and we will gladly put your pet’s picture on! Prizes: 1st - $200 Gift Card to PetSmart & $1 per like Donation to local pet shelter 2nd - $100 Gift Card to PetSmart Dates: Begins Thursday, May 7th , 2015 Ends Tuesday, June 30th, 2015 at 5pm View Contest Entries