NEW Zoo

Now that spring is here, it’s a good time to visit the NEW (Northeastern Wisconsin) Zoo in Suamico. The Zoo is home to nearly 90 different species of animals. They have over 200 individual animals under their care. Otters, turkeys, foxes, porcupines, snakes, tar swans, deer, lions, tigers and bears (oh my) are some of the animals they have. They also have an albino alligator and a red panda. You can hand feed the giraffes daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00. There’s a children’s petting zoo that have domestic goats, sheep, red corn snakes, African leopard tortoises, lamas, alpacas, domestic chickens, koi fish and fallow deer.

In 2014 the NEW Zoo opened the Adventure Park to the public. It consists of a zip line, rock climbing wall and ropes course. Enjoy a day at the Zoo!

The NEW Zoo is located at 4378 Reforestation Road in Suamico. It’s approximately 10 miles northwest of Downtown Green Bay.

Hours:
April 1st through May 31 - 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
June 1st through August 31st - 9 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Admission:
FREE for Children 2 and under
$5 Children 3 to 15
$7 Adults 16+
$5 Seniors
FREE for Zoo Pass Members

Have a great day at the NEW Zoo!

Post by: Alice E. 

Cars, Cars and More Cars

It’s that time of the year again. All of the car enthuses are gearing up for the 29th Annual NWTC Car Show and Swap Meet on Saturday May 3rd from 10:00am until 4:00pm at the NWTC Campus parking lot. If you have never been to a car show, you are in for a treat. There will be cars of all makes, models and years. So whatever type of car “starts your engine”, you will be able to find it there. Along with all the classic, sports & modern cars, you will also find fun activities for all ages.

There will be Special Contests and Activities throughout the day for all ages, refreshments, Dash Plaques for the first 250 Cars that register, and a swap meet for anyone looking to buy parts for those fixer-uppers. There are also Door Prize Drawings from 10:00 until 2:00. Advanced raffle tickets are available from any NWTC Auto Club Member.

Admission will be $3.00 per person, with 1.00 off if you bring a non-perishable item. Children under 12 and Seniors FREE

So, if you are out and about on May 3rd with nothing to do, and are looking for something inexpensive to do, stop in at NWTC and check out all the cool rides. I know I will be there, rain or shine. 

Post by: Karen S. 

Getting youth to start using their Financial Institution!

Setting up bank accounts for your children can be a grueling process. Do I have both my husband and I on the account, do I add any other family members as joint owners or beneficiaries, do I let the child have access to it… the list can go on and on. There are SO MANY decisions that come into play when opening an account, we here at HCCU understand that and are here to help!

Let’s take a look at an example, if we have children who are still very young and cannot yet make any financial decisions there are two different options here at HCCU: Youth Accounts or Custodial Accounts. A youth account allows the child to access the funds at any age, along with any other joint owner. A Custodial account has a joint owner who is in control of the account, and after the child turns 18, then the child gains access to the funds as well. Both are great options for all children, it just depends on how much access you want your child to have to the funds.

Now let’s take a look at a situation for older children. Many children when they are born or still very little have savings accounts opened up for them by parents or grandparents. When is the right time to open up a checking account? This seems like a big step in the financial world, but really it can be quite simple. Instead of simply letting the reigns go, and letting the kid or young adult have complete control over the money, sign on as a joint signer. There are many products we can introduce to your family such as debit cards, direct deposit, ATM usage, but with you as joint signer, you can still have some control!

There are many different options for youth and young adult accounts. It may involve making a few tough decisions, but remember we are always here to help! Come in during April, Credit Union Youth month, and open any of our great savings products and receive special month giveaways!

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Post by: Emily P.

Final Performance of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra!

The Green Bay Symphony performed their final concert. Not just the final for the season – it’s their very last performance. It’s such a shame! The symphony started in 1913 as a casual community group that performed twice a year. In 1929 they picked a name for their group as the Polyphonia Society. Of course with so many going to fight in World War II they took a break for a few years, then started up again in 1946 as the Green Bay Symphonette. In 1966 they hired their first, full-time, professional music director, Oleg Kovalenko, and officially became the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra. In 1967 they organized the Youth Orchestra Program, which will continue on thru St Norbert College! In 2008 they made their first appearance at Lambeau Field when they played the National Anthem before a Packers home game. They were then asked back the next 5 years! Over the years they've had many contributors and sponsors; Bel Gioioso, Heid Music and Schneider National Foundation being just some of the local businesses that have supported the symphony. One piece of good news is that the Youth Orchestra Program they started in 1967 will continue on thru St Norbert College! Music is so important to youth. It strengthens their math and logic skills and, in this instance, teaches them how to work with a larger group. I will miss the orchestra – but at least we still have the City Band!

http://www.wpr.org/green-bay-symphony-orchestra-marks-100-years-founding

Post by: Mary D.

Top 10 Movies to see in 2015

I may not be a movie critic and I definitely did not major in film, but I feel like I have seen enough movies to know what is worth the money it costs to go and see a movie nowadays. Mark your calendars and get ready for some popcorn because 2015 is a year for some awesome movies. Here is a list of the top 10 movies I recommend you go and see this year:

1. Furious 7. April 3, 2015
After the tragic loss of Paul Walker this movie might be the last movie of the Fast and the Furious franchise.

2. Avengers: Age of Ultron. May 1, 2015
This movie will likely be the biggest movie of 2015.

3. Jurassic World. June 12, 2015 
This is a remake of the 1993 classic.

4. Terminator: Genisys. July 1, 2015 
This could very well be the first Terminator movie since 1991 that is worth watching.

5. Minions. July 10, 2015 
Who doesn't love those little Minions? This one will surely be a favorite among the kids.

6. Mission Impossible 5. July 31, 2015
Got to love Tom Cruise as the heroic Ethan Hunt.

7. Sinister 2. August 21, 2015 
The first movie was probably the scariest movie I have ever seen so the second movie has a lot to live up to, but I definitely can’t wait for the release of this one.

8. Spectre. November 6, 2015 
James Bond is back!

9. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2. November 20, 2015
The final adventure of Katniss Everdeen. This movie is the one I am most excited about!

10. Star Wars: The Force Awakens. December 18, 2015
Will this movie be just as good as the original three or will it disappoint like the previous three prequels? Guess we will have to watch and find out.

So there you have it. Which movies are you excited to go and see?
Source: Den of Geek

Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Post by: Katie B. 

Road Trip!

Road trips are inevitable. At some point or another, we all have to take them. So might as well make the most of them! With a little preparation, you can make your road trip go by faster and more smoothly. Here’s what I do to before taking a road trip:

1. Review the route. I’m a big fan of Google Maps, and because I’m so directionally challenged, I’ll end up relying on it completely. But I do try to actually look over the route before I start the trip so that I have a basic idea of where I’m going and what major highways I have to take. That way if Google Maps fails me, I’m not totally lost.

2. Come up with a great playlist. Depending on how long the trip is, you might have to come up with several playlists. But it’s totally worth the time it takes to set them up. Listening to the radio on a long car trip means you’re probably going to end up endlessly changing radio channels or listening to the same ten songs that play over and over again. Having great new music you’re excited to listen to or having songs you know by heart can make the trip go by a lot faster.

3. Bring snacks. We all know how tempting it is to buy all sorts of snacks and junk food when you stop to get gas. Not only is this expensive, it also adds time to your trip. If you’re really pressed for time, searching the aisles is not going to help. Instead, plan to pack some snacks with you. Nuts are great because they take a while to eat, and they fill you up. You can even bring a small cooler to keep drinks cold.

4. Plan your stops. When figuring out how long the trip is going to take, make sure to take all your stops into consideration. If you know when and where you’re going to take stops, you’re less likely to make unnecessary stops or waste time finding a good place to stop. If you have the time, consider making a stop at a park. It feels great to walk around and get some fresh air. And you never know when you might be driving that way again, so take advantage of any local landmark or famous restaurants. Leave home a little bit earlier and make the trip more memorable.

Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Post by: Noelle C.

Free Up Cash & Increase Your Financial Cushion

As a nation, America is not great at saving. More than 55% of American households have less than one month worth of income in liquid savings (cash, or savings or checking account). Are you one of them? Even taking into consideration retirement accounts and investments, the average family can only replace four months of income in the case of an emergency. Here are a few tips for increasing your savings and curbing your spending:

Consolidate Debt: By consolidating credit cards or loans, you can often save on interest and lower your total monthly payment, not to mention simplifying it, by just having one payment to make. The key to consolidation is to cut up those old cards, then, or close them all together. Consolidating won’t help you at all if you turn around and run up even more debt again!

Refinance Your Mortgage and Vehicle Loans: You may qualify for lower rates if you refinance. Mortgage rates are still low, so if you haven’t refinanced in the last five years or so, check your rate and compare it to offered rates in your area. If you had a mortgage loan with private mortgage insurance (PMI) see if you have paid your balance down enough to remove that coverage. If it makes sense for you, you could also extend the term of your loans to decrease your monthly payment.

Go Green: Many companies offer a discounted loan rate for borrowers who set up automatic payments for their loans. Check to see if this is offered at your financial institution. Using automatic payments can also help prevent late fees by making your payment for you, on time, every month.

Review Insurance Coverage: When is the last time you really reviewed your insurance policies? Check the rates that you’re paying and compare your rates to those of other companies on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website. You could save money on your monthly premiums if you raise your deductible. Make sure you’re covered for what you need, but not paying for things you don’t need. You may be able to get rate reductions or discounts if you have vehicles you only use seasonally, if you have children off at college who are not typically driving, or if you have a high school student getting good grades.

At Horizon Community Credit Union, our loan officers would be glad to review your current debt and look for ways to save you money. We have great, low rates on mortgage loans and vehicle loans. You can get loan interest rate rebates for having a checking account with HCCU, for having direct deposit and automatic payments, or for being a Gold or Platinum SunDrops member. Finally, we also have partnerships with insurance companies including Liberty Mutual and TruStage. If you don’t have a savings cushion, don’t wait for a financial setback, start taking steps today to keep more money in your pockets each month!

Image courtesy of iosphere at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Post by: Erin S. 

April is National Credit Union Youth Month!

Horizon Community Credit Union invites our young members to join us as we celebrate National Credit Union Youth Month! The theme this year is getting WILD about saving! Stop by this April to take a look at all the cool things we've prepared for our younger members! You and your children can visit either of our two locations to take a photo in our Safari Photo Booth where we supply fun props for them and a camera to take a photo. And afterwards we hang them up in our lobby and you get a copy to take home with you! Kids 12 years old and under that make any deposit to their account of $5 or more are able to pick a toy from our treasure chest and afterwards, if they haven’t received one yet, will receive a coloring sheet which they can color in and enter it to our coloring contest. The winner receives a prize package that includes a $25 Toys R Us gift card! HCCU is also participating in the National Youth Savings Challenge where any kids up to the age of 18 who make a deposit into their account here at HCCU will be entered to win a $100 cash prize!

Is your child not a member of HCCU yet? Well stop by with them and open up an account! They get a free piggy bank to get them started on saving at home and they don’t miss out on our fabulous services!

Post by: Karla C.

Card Security

We use debit and credit cards for just about everything these days. From paying at the pump for gas, to making purchases at stores, to ordering online, or withdrawing cash at an ATM. With all that convenient access, it is still important to know how to keep your money and your financial data safe! Going back to the days of writing out checks or paying for everything in cash is just not feasible for most of us, but a few easy tips can help you stay protected.

Use Multiple Passwords for Online Accounts: Use a unique password for each of your online accounts, such as online banking, email, Facebook, and retail shopping or payment websites. Using the same password for everything is like using the same key to lock your car, your house, and your office – if a crook gains access to one, they have access to all. Using multiple passwords keeps you better protected.

Always Use Strong Passwords Online: Strong passwords use a combination of letter, numbers and symbols, making them harder to guess. Don’t use obvious passwords like “password” or “123456”, or publicly available information, such as your pet or child’s name, or your zip code or birth date. And always store your passwords securely!

Enroll in Verified by VISA: Verified by Visa is a security piece designed to make buying things over the Internet much more secure. It adds of a member selected password to the online checkout process. Once you've created your own password at www.visa.com/verified you'll be presented with a brief pop up box during online checkout (with participating merchants). You simply enter the password that you selected and boom! Your purchase is complete. The online merchant KNOWS that it's you and you KNOW that your Visa card is more secure.

Be Smart Online: To protect yourself against fraud, never provide personal or financial information such as: Check or Credit Card Numbers, PIN's, Social Security Numbers, or Passwords to unsolicited phone, e-mail, or pop-up website requests. If a webpage you visit seems suspicious, or different than normal, think twice before entering your account information. Be sure to check your account information regularly for possible unauthorized transactions. Be careful when using public Wi-Fi as well. Do not enter passwords or card data over an unsecured, unencrypted connection.

Pay Attention to Card Readers at Stores, Kiosks, and ATM's: Always take a close look at the card reader device before swiping your card or entering your PIN to ensure that it has not been tampered with. Skimming devices are small card readers that fit around the legitimate card reader to capture your card information. These devices are made to look very similar to the normal card reader, as shown below, but they are placed on card terminals by criminals who steal card data then download it from the skimming device.

Left: Skimming Device          Right: No Skimming Device

Top: No Skimming Device    Bottom: Skimming Device

Post by: Erin S.

9 Simple Tips to an Organized Kitchen

I just so happen to be a bit of a neat freak! I like when everything has a home to go to whether it’s a piece of clothing or kitchen utensils. There has got to be people out there that wish they could get organized. Let’s start with the room in the house everyone enjoys, the KITCHEN!

1) Pretend pull outs- Use plastic containers to place inside your kitchen cabinets that way you are able to just pull, grab, and use. It would be best to group together items that belong together and then label the container.

2) Tension Rod Dividers- Isn't it such a pain to have to pull out every pan to get the one you want. With rods placed you are able to easy slide out a pan or cutting board you need.

3) Pantry Wall/Cabinet Storage- Why not use that extra space and add sink caddies to hold your drink mixes, seasonings, or restaurant condiments.

4) Re-purposed Magazine Rack- Attach a magazine rack to the inside of your cabinet to place tin foil, wax paper, etc.

5) Hanging Shelf Dividers- These are a great way to take advantage of extra space by adding light items to the hanging shelf such as Tupperware lids or coffee cup covers.

6) Pocket Organizer- Add a pocket organizer to the inside of a cabinet to store sponges, old scrubbing toothbrushes, or kitchen gloves.

7) Drawer Dividers- Keep drawers organized that contain smaller items with drawer dividers. These might be really good for those junk drawers; I know I can’t be the only one with one!

8) Interior Cork Board Cover- I absolutely love this idea. By adding this inside the cabinet you can hang up a measurement converter sheet. Also, add hooks to hang all of those measuring spoons and cups.

9) Under-Sink Rod- Never have to dig for a cleaner anymore by placing your cleaning bottles on a under the sink rod!

Photo Courtesy: freedigitalphotos.net

Post by: Chelsea F.