Jamestown june 2014 by AAA East Central

SEE PAGE 3

JAMESTOWN REGION

Vol. 61 No. 6

Ring in 2015 at California’s Tournament of Roses festival MEMBERS SAVE S MUCH A A $200! S PER ROOM

JUNE 2014

AAA Member Rewards Visa Cards offer more security AAA partner Bank of America has begun a gradual rollout of chip-enabled cards to AAA Member Rewards Visa account holders. The cards use an embedded microprocessor to encrypt and store account information. They provide more security and are more difficult to counterfeit than those using strip technology alone. The new-style cards are being issued to customers who have requested them or travel abroad regularly. Chip-enabled cards are also the default offering for cardholders whose cards expire or are reissued for any other reason. Users whose accounts are not up for reissue will begin receiving the new cards early next year. The card also includes the traditional magnetic stripe, used by many U.S. merchants. To apply for the AAA Member Rewards Visa credit card, visit your local AAA office.

Travel | Insurance/Financial | Automotive | Member Savings | AAA.com

YOU’RE IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT WITH HERTZ

AAA’s automatic renewal option saves time and money

SEE THIS FAMOUS PARADE IN PERSON — FROM RESERVED SEATS!

ACH NEW YEAR’S DAY, America focuses on Pasadena CA, home of the Tournament of Roses celebration. More than a century old, it’s a much-loved festival of flowers, music and sports unequaled anywhere in the world. But it’s more than just a parade and a football game: It’s America’s New Year Celebration. And now, through AAA, you can partake in this joyous and spectacularly beautiful occasion, which is just one feature of a Dec 29–Jan 4 “California New Year’s Getaway” vacation. AAA members who book & make a deposit by June 30, 2014, can save as much as $200 per room, based on level of membership. Basic members save $100, Plus members save $150 and Premier members save the most — $200 per room!

A LITTLE HISTORY... The first Tournament was staged in 1890 by Pasadena’s Valley Hunt Club; former residents of the East and Midwest were eager to showcase their new home’s mild winter weather. “In New York, people are buried in snow,” announced Prof. Charles Holder at a Club meeting. “Here our flowers are blooming, and our oranges are about to bear. Let’s hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise.” During the next few years, the festival parade expanded to include marching bands and motorized floats. Games at Tournament Park included ostrich races, bronco busting and a race between a camel and an elephant. In 1902, the Tournament enhanced the festivities by adding football – the first postseason college game ever. Stanford took on the University of Michigan but was flattened

49-0. The lopsided score resulted in replacing football with Roman-style chariot races. In 1916 football returned to stay, and the crowds soon outgrew Tournament Park. In 1923 a new stadium hosted its first New Year’s game and earned its “Rose Bowl” nickname. I LOVE A PARADE... The parade has come a long way since its early days. Each year, this event is the result of 80,000 hours of manpower supplied by 935 volunteers. Today’s elaborate floats feature high-tech computerized animation and exotic natural materials from around the world. Although a few floats are still built exclusively by volunteers from their sponsoring communities, most are built by professional float building companies and take nearly a year to construct. The effort pays off on New Year’s Day

Make sure you never get stuck without your AAA membership with AAA’s automatic renewal option. Each year, your membership renewal will be charged automatically to your credit or debit card. AAA will even send you a reminder. This June, AAA East Central is offering members two deals on automatic renewals. Members who sign up for automatic renewal at any AAA East Central branch office will receive a $15 credit toward their membership renewal. Members who apply for a new AAA Member Rewards Visa credit card and use their new card to sign up for automatic renewal will receive an additional $25 renewal credit, for a total of $40 in credit. (Offers only apply for new automatic renewal enrollments made in AAA East Central branch office locations in June.) Automatic renewal can be added to your membership at anytime, regardless of your membership expiration/renewal date. You’ll rest easy knowing your AAA membership is always there providing uninterrupted service. And, you always have the option of canceling at any time. For more information on automatic renewal, just visit or call your local AAA East Central Branch office, or call our 24-hour service center at 1.800.441.5008 (412.363.5100 in Pittsburgh).

Online Driver Improvement Course Improve your driving skills from the comfort of your home. Whether you need to reduce points against your New York State license or want to brush up on your defensive driving knowledge, AAA’s online Driver Improvement course is for you. Drivers who complete the course may also qualify for a discount on their auto insurance premium. Visit AAA.com/community for details.

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More than a parade! Los Angeles: Beverly Hills, Hollywood Warner Brothers Studio Tour Reagan Library & Museum Pacific Coast Highway: Malibu to Santa Monica New Year’s Eve party on Queen Mary San Diego: Balboa Park, Old Town, La Jolla, San Diego Zoo, Midway Museum, Harbor Cruise Winery Visit & Tasting Lawrence Welk Resort Dinner Show

Falling for Europe with AAA Travel Autumn is a perfect time to see Europe, especially if you hate crowds and high prices. Experience Europe the way Europeans do, when the tourists are gone and summer’s endless lines are reduced to a memory. Shops and restaurants are less crowded, the weather more comfortable. It’s also a great time to save. AAA members who book and deposit a European 7-night or longer air-inclusive fall 2014 vacation with one of AAA’s participating partners between June 1-30, 2014, receive a $100.00 discount per room off the regular rate. (Restrictions may apply.) SEE PAGE 7

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AAA MOTORIST

AAA Premier is the perfect summer travel companion

Enhanced member benefits include 200 miles free towing

othing matches the independence and adventure of a summer road trip. If you’re hitting the open road this year, upgrade to AAA Premier membership. You’ll enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ll be able to continue your vacation no matter what surprises you may encounter in your travels. AAA Premier offers AAA’s most comprehensive package of services and roadside benefits, providing members with the highest level of protection while away from home. AAA Premier includes one car tow of up to 200 miles per household per membership year, in addition to three remaining calls, which can be tows of up to 100 miles. Extended road service coverage allows you to have a greater selection of trusted mechanics to repair your vehicle, including the more than 8,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America. If your vehicle does need to be towed, you’ll also qualify for a one-day complimentary standard rental car (up to $55). If you rent from Hertz, you will receive a second day’s rental free on a minimum two-day emergency rental. There is no need to worry about incurring additional costs while waiting for your car to be repaired. AAA Premier also includes trip interruption protection. Members are eligible for up to $1,500 toward the cost of accom-

JUNE 2014

AAA DIRECTORY INTERNET WEB SITE: www.AAA.com AAA MEMBER SERVICES • ADDRESS CHANGE triptiks, tourbooks, maps, license 412-363-5100 or 1-800-441-5008 APPROVED AUTO REPAIR 412-365-7411 or 1-800-233-9733 EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE 412-362-1900 or 1-800-222-4357 EXPRESS TRAVEL RESERVATIONS

airline tickets, tours, cruises, rental cars

412-363-7283 or 1-800-354-8761

INSURANCE SERVICES: 1-800-207-7947 MEDIA RELATIONS: 412-365-7274 SAFETY: 412-365-7211 TDD for the hearing-impaired: 412-363-7144

AAA BRANCH OFFICE LOCATIONS

STEP UP TO AAA PREMIER — AAA Premier will go as far as life can take you. modations and transportation, should travel plans be delayed or interrupted overnight (when driving 100 miles or more from home) due to an accident, mechanical breakdown, car theft or illness. In addition, members qualify for up to $500 in vehicle return coverage if car issues result in the use of substitute transportation. You’ll soon be back on the road and en route to your summer getaway.

AAA Premier benefits continue throughout your trip. Call the toll-free phone number on the back of your AAA Premier card to receive personalized concierge services while traveling on a domestic or international trip of at least 100 driving miles from home. The concierge service can help with everything from restaurant reservations to golf tee times to shopping and more. If you lose your wallet or need medical referrals or prescription replacement while away, you’re covered thanks to 24/7 Global Emergency Assistance, also included in AAA Premier membership. Call the same toll-free number on the back of your card, and you’ll be connected to a local contact who can help you figure out the next steps to take to solve your problem. AAA Premier membership benefits last all year, and extend to all AAA members in your household. Most will pay for themselves in just one use. Even if you may not have summer plans, or aren’t a frequent traveler, chances are someone in your family will use Premier benefits at least once this year. Additional AAA Premier benefits can be found at your local AAA branch office. Premier members can receive passport photos or personal notary service at no charge. In addition, the $35 per person airline reservation fee is waived for AAA Premier members who book flights at their AAA Travel Agency. AAA Premier is available for an annual fee of just $35 per household, in addition to the members’ basic and Plus membership dues. Premier can be added at any time to an existing membership (benefits subject to 7-day waiting period). TAKE AAA TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Call or stop by your local AAA branch office, to upgrade to AAA Premier, or contact the Club’s Member Service Call Center at 800.441.5008. Visit AAA.com/Premier for details.

Altoona 1634 Valley View Blvd. ............................. 814-946-1277 Butler 138 Clearview Circle .................................... 724-287-2713 Cranberry The Village Shoppes, 20510 Rt. 19 .......... 724-772-1122 Erie 6660 Peach St. Unit #2 .............................. 814-866-0246 Franklin 102 Sugar Creek Town Center Rd. ........... 814-432-3960 Greensburg Eastgate Shopping Center 5142 Route 30, Suite 135 ......................... 724-834-8300 Grove City 24 Pine Grove Village Dr. .......................... 724-458-8930 Harborcreek 4430 Buffalo Rd. ........................................ 814-897-9508 Hermitage 1749 E. State St.......................................... 724-981-9141 Indiana 1169 Wayne Ave........................................ 724-349-4193 Jamestown (New York) 111 W. Fifth St., Jamestown, N.Y.. ........... 716-488-1981 Kittanning Franklin Village Mall. ............................... 724-543-1924 Lewisburg 530 1/2 North Derr Drive . ....................... 570-524-7455 Lower Burrell/New Kensington Area Crossroads Plaza 2503 Leechburg Rd.................................... 724-339-4440 McKean County (Bradford) 587 South Ave. .......................................... 814-368-3113 Meadville 18939 Park Avenue Plaza Unit #7 ............ 814-724-2247 New Castle 40 East St.................................................... 724-658-8551 Niagara-Orleans 7135 Rochester Rd, Lockport, NY. ............ 716-434-2865 Pittsburgh–Century III Area (Pleasant Hills) 9 Clairton Blvd. (RT 51). ........................... 412-655-6100 Pittsburgh–Downtown 538 Smithfield St. ...................................... 412-338-4300 Pittsburgh–East Liberty/Shadyside 5900 Baum Blvd. ........................................ 412-365-7196 Pittsburgh–Monroeville 2725 Mosside Blvd. .................................... 412-858-4640 Pittsburgh–North Hills Area (Ross Township) 4790 McKnight Rd. .................................... 412-367-7600 Pittsburgh–Robinson Township Robinson Town Centre 1760 Park Manor Blvd. ............................. 412-809-2800 Pittsburgh–South Hills Area (Bethel Park) 160 Ft. Couch Rd. ...................................... 412-833-5203 Rochester 300 Adams St. ............................................ 724-775-8000 St. Marys 1375 Bucktail Rd. ...................................... 814-834-7838 Somerset 110 N. Center Ave. .................................... 814-443-6526 Sunbury 1001 Market Street. .................................. 570-286-4507 Uniontown 111 W. Main St. ......................................... 724-438-8575 Warren 2285 Market St. ......................................... 814-723-6660 Washington 196 Murtland Ave. .................................... 724-222-3800 Waynesburg 184 Greene Plaza, US 21 & I-79 ................ 724-627-3434 White Oak/McKeesport Area Oak Park Mall, 2001 Lincoln Way ............ 412-675-3400

JUNE 2014

AAA MOTORIST

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Let Hertz put you in the driver’s seat Jamestown Region Official publication of AAA East Central Published monthly (except bimonthly Aug./Sept., Nov./Dec.) by AAA East Central 111 West Fifth St., Jamestown NY 14701-5035 USPS 002-112 ISSN 0898-4158 Periodicals Postage Paid at Jamestown NY Postmaster: Send address changes to AAA Motorist Jamestown Region c/o AAA, 111 W. Fifth St., Jamestown NY 14701-5035 Subscription Rate: $1 included in Primary Membership dues. All others: $2/year.

Publisher.....................................James E. Lehman Managing Editor ....................... Doug O’Neil Editorial Office 5900 Baum Blvd, Pittsburgh PA 15206-3854 e-mail: motorist@aaaec.com

AAA EAST CENTRAL Chairman: ................................................Richard S. Hamilton Vice Chairman:....................................... James E. Broome, Jr. Vice Chairman:....................................... Douglas W. Caldwell Vice Chairman:.........................................Mary Lynn Laughlin Vice Chairman:.................................... Martha Hartle Munsch OFFICERS: President: ....................................................James E. Lehman Assistant Treasurer: ........................................ Edith W. Martel Secretary: ................................................ Robert H. Compton GOVERNING BOARD OF DIRECTORS James E. Broome, Jr., Steve D. Bullock**, Douglas W. Caldwell, Charles O. Casto, Edward C. Coaxum, Jr., Robert S. Collins, Robert H. Compton, Jon E. Denney, Debra A. Dinnocenzo, Pamela C. Fritz, Richard S. Hamilton, James H. Kanicki, Mary Lynn Laughlin, Richard D. Linderman**, William Duff McCrady, James M. McDonnell, Thomas V. McKernan Jr., Martha Hartle Munsch, Gary K. Munsie** EAST CENTRAL REGION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Neil D. Bassi, Chairman, Robert S. Collins, Vice Chairman, Carol Asam, Christian Asam, Jack A. Barkley, William E. Bierer**, Ellsworth T. Bowser**, Peter Burton, Marianne B. Campbell, Michael A. Cochran, Daniel J. Collins Jr.**, Robert H. Compton, Debra A. Dinnocenzo, James J. Dodaro, Jack G. Ellis, Mona N. Generett, Charles W. Groce , Richard S. Hamilton, Mark Henschen, Luke Howe, Richard Kallenborn, Herbert G. Koenig, Mark S. Mansour, W. Duff McCrady, Martha Hartle Munsch, W. Lee Oswalt, III, Michael Parkes, John D. Petruso, Louis Pomerico, Leonard L. Scheinholtz**, James C. Stump, Jr., James F. Ward *ex officio **emeritus directors

Regional Board of Directors Susan V. Abdella, Gordon W. Black, Hans P.B. Christensen, Alison Churchill, Charles Heinz, Bradley E. Long, Dennis H. Lundberg, Samuel P. Price Jr., Philip E. Ruslink, John L. Sellstrom, Beverly Ungerer

Jamestown Office: 111 W. Fifth St. Jamestown NY 14701-5035 (716) 488-1981

Notice to AAA Members regarding AAA Insurance Services: Due to Statutory restrictions, AAA East Central is prohibited from offering products and services to AAA members residing in the State of New York.

Copyright ©2014 by AAA East Central. Publication of an advertisement in the AAA Motorist does not constitute an endorsement of the product or service by the AAA Motorist or by AAA East Central, except in the case of products and services which are being offered by AAA East Central.

Travel with safety and confidence this summer By Richard Hamilton Chairman, AAA East Central hoosing a rental car may look easy, but locking in the right deal can be tricky. Rental car companies use something called yield-management technology, which constantly adjusts pricing depending on how many cars are available. You also need to factor in things like vehicle type, fuel costs and any additional fees, taxes and insurance that add to your bottom line. It’s usually a good idea to book well in advance to ensure your choice of vehicles, or avoid being blocked out during peak travel periods. Check with your AAA travel agent, or reserve early at AAA.com. One of the benefits of AAA membership is the special package of savings available when you rent from Hertz. Exclusive AAA member benefits include: • Discounts up to 20% on daily, weekend, weekly and monthly rentals. • FREE Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership and a FREE rental day. • FREE use of a child, infant or booster seat, a savings of $11.99 per day. • Reduced fee on Hertz NeverLost GPS rental of $6.99 per day, a savings of $6 per day. • Additional qualified AAA drivers are FREE, a savings of $13 per day per driver. In addition, Hertz frequently offers AAA members special single and double upgrades and dollars off coupons. These are available from AAA travel offices, in your club publication and at AAA.com.

Richard Hamilton The key to these exclusive Hertz savings and benefits is “215,” your Hertz CDP number and the same number as the club code on your AAA membership card. The Hertz system will automatically assign the best rate available at the time of your reservation. Most leisure and/or promotional weekly rates require that a car be rented over Saturday night, but AAA members are entitled to these low weekly rates with no Saturday night requirement. Gas prices are on the rise, and rental car fuel economy is an important consideration. More than 75 percent of the Hertz fleet averages 28 plus mpg. Their Green Traveler Collection offers a variety of alternate fuel vehicles, including electric vehicles, clean diesels, compressed

natural gas vehicles and hybrids. Gold Plus Rewards — Hertz’ premier frequent renter program — lets you skip the counter and get right on the road. Plus AAA members enjoy the benefits of Hertz Gold Service for free! • With Gold Service, there is no stopping at the counter at over 40 of the world’s busiest airports. • At over 1,000 locations worldwide, simply show your driver’s license; pick up your keys and go! • Choose a car you like better on the spot with Hertz Gold Choice. • Enjoy expedited drop-off with eReturn. • Receive notification of exact car location through Mobile Gold Alerts. • Receive vehicle updates or select an upgrade right from your phone with Mobile Gold Alerts. • Earn free rentals with points that don’t expire. When you enroll, AAA members receive 675 Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Bonus points, after their first Gold rental, enough for One Free Rental Day! AAA Premier members receive 1,100 Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Bonus points, after their first Gold rental, enough for Two Free Weekend Rental Days! AAA demands the very best for its members. That’s why Hertz is the only car-rental company endorsed by AAA. Their Member Satisfaction Guarantee is your assurance that the rate and car class, or a higher car class, will be available as reserved. The next time you need a rental car, let Hertz put you in the driver’s seat.

membersonly

Members save on gifts for dads & grads Get more for your money with AAA Discounts & Rewards

ather’s Day and graduation season are here. Save on the best gifts for the dads and grads in your life with AAA Discounts & Rewards, an online shopping portal exclusively for AAA members. This innovative shopping experience on AAA.com offers deep discounts and daily deals from approximately 30,000 participating online merchants nationwide. Imagine the gifting possibilities! You can save on electronics from Best Buy, apparel from Brooks Brothers and sporting gear from Nike. This June, members also enjoy limited-time offers from Game Stop and Kenneth Cole. You can now access AAA Travel offers through AAA Discounts & Rewards, as well. You can even purchase discounted restaurant certificates, so you can treat your loved ones to a celebration dinner or tickets to the big game. AAA Discounts & Rewards makes

it easy to start saving right away, thanks to the site’s intuitive, easyto-navigate interface. View the latest specials and currently trending offers on the Discounts & Rewards home page. Search for a retailer by name, or browse by category to find the perfect present. You can even sort and filter results by type of offer, such as limited-time discount or free shipping.

Earn while you save

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could be rewarded for your purchases – even when shopping for others? That’s where WOWPoints come in! When you shop through AAA Discounts & Rewards, you earn one hundred WOWPoints for every dollar you spend. You can redeem your WOWPoints at any time, using them just like cash at participating retailers on the AAA Discounts & Rewards site. Best of all, your WOWPoints will never expire as long as you are a AAA member. Save

them all for a special purchase, or use them a little at a time – it’s up to you. Look for special offers that earn you 3X, 6X, or even 10X the WOWPoints. Earn 5,000 WOWPoints in one calendar year and receive 5 STAR Status. You’ll earn 50 percent more WOWPoints on each purchase — even when you’re redeeming WOWPoints.

Start stacking up the savings

To begin using AAA Discounts & Rewards today, register online at AAA. com/discounts. Registration is completely free — a valid AAA membership and email address are all you need. Then shop, save and earn on national and local brands, tickets, travel, restaurants and retailers. Soon your AAA membership will have paid for itself, thanks to the savings. For more information on AAA Discounts & Rewards, visit AAA.com/ Discounts.

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AAA MOTORIST

JUNE 2014

AAA MOTORIST

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AAA MOTORIST

JUNE 2014

Louisville celebrates Centennial Festival of Riverboats Louisville Belle has been rolling on the river for 100 years

teamboats ruled America’s rivers for over a century. They carried settlers to a new life west of the Alleghenies, and delivered raw materials and finished goods up and down inland waterways. Glittering showboats brought music and culture to the rough and tumble river towns where tales of brawling keelboat men, daring river pilots and wily gamblers gathered like driftwood along the levees. “The steamboats were finer than anything on shore,” Mark Twain wrote in Life on the Mississippi. “Compared with superior dwelling houses and first-class hotels in the valley, they were indubitably magnificent, they were palaces.” Celebrate riverside America’s rich heritage with a cruise on the mighty Ohio River this fall, during Louisville’s Centennial Festival of Riverboats. From October 14 to 19, historic riverboats will provide a timeless backdrop as Louisville plays host to a six-day festival of food, music and art at the acclaimed Waterfront Park. Enjoy live music, sample Kentucky’s finest spirits and experience history first-hand on a variety of riverboat cruises, along with all that life on the river has to offer. The steam whistle blows, the calliope plays, the big wheel keeps on turning in a thrilling blend of Americana, regional cuisine, and showboat-style entertainment.

paddlewheel from The Delta Queen. A party like this will only happen once and events leading up to Belle’s big day include a riverboat parade, live concerts, artist markets and the Bourbon pavilion. On Friday evening, marvel at the luminescent shimmer of hot air balloons during Belle’s Balloon Glow, then get ready for the fiery spectacle of the grand fireworks finale on Saturday night. A number of riverboats from across the country will be joining the Belle of Louisville to help celebrate her 100th year on the river. These include the Spirit of Jefferson, Anson Northrup, Belle of Cincinnati, The Spirit of Peoria, The River Queen, and The American Queen, the largest steamboat ever built.

FLOATING MUSEUM — The Belle of Louisville is a National Historic Landmark. The signature event of this year’s festival will be Belle’s Big Birthday Bash, marking the 100th birthday of the Belle of Louisville. The oldest operating Mississippi River-style steamboat in the world was constructed in Pittsburgh in 1914, for the West Memphis Packet Company. Hauling passengers and cargos of cotton, lumber and grain on virtually every navigable inland waterway she earned the distinction of being the most widely traveled river steamboat in the nation. The Belle was named a

National Historic Landmark in 1989. Visitors can experience more steamboat history in the Howard Steamboat Museum, located in Jeffersonville, Indiana, directly across the Ohio River from Louisville. The museum is housed in a 22-room Romanesque-revival mansion, where generations of the Howard family operated the largest inland shipyard in the nation. In addition to period furnishings, the museum’s collection includes steamboat artifacts, memorabilia, tools, ship models and the original

TAKE A AAA DRIVE TRIP

Longing for the freedom of the open road? AAA Drive Trips feature more than 100 flexible, two- to five-day driving itineraries for popular U.S. and Canadian destinations. Just click on AAA.com/drivetrips.

Smart technology is helping bridges inspect themselves High-tech sensors can help solve problems before they occur

ust as patients communicate their symptoms to doctors, smart technology is allowing infrastructure to tell highway engineers when something is wrong. Sensors installed on bridges, in roadways, and on maintenance vehicles are communicating realtime performance and weather data. Across the county more than 65,000 bridges are rated as “structurally deficient” by the American Society of Civil Engineers. That does not necessarily mean they’re unsafe, only that they require significant maintenance and repair to remain in service. Pennsylvania owns the dubious distinction of leading the nation with one in four of its nearly 32,000 bridges classified as “structurally deficient.” Now a new generation of micro sensors is allowing bridges to report their own structural defects. Hundreds of sensors are implanted throughout the new I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis. In 2007, the old I-35 or St. Anthony Falls Bridge collapsed plunging more than 100 cars into the Mississippi River. The collapse is believed to have been caused by a design flaw in the bridge’s gusset plates with additional weight a contributing factor. The sensors in the new $234-million bridge provide data on vibration and corrosion and they can activate anti-icing systems, alert

WHERE DOES IT HURT? — Implanted sensors are allowing bridges to report their own structural defects. authorities to security breaches and detect bridge strikes by anything ranging from a barge to a natural disaster. The Nevada Department of Transportation teamed up with the University of Nevada, Reno, to make the Galena Creek Bridge in Pleasant Valley, a smart bridge. One of the largest “Cathedral Arch” bridges in the world, the 1,700 foot long structure has twin arches spanning 690 feet, supporting a bridge deck 295 feet above Galena

Creek. The instrumentation system on the arches allows for “structural health monitoring” to evaluate the day-today performance of the bridge over its lifetime. Real-time data is supplied by strain gauges, accelerometers, and communication equipment installed when the bridge was constructed and is communicated via the Internet. Sensors are also being added to existing bridges to extend their lifespans and detect anomalies that can be the

first sign of trouble. Engineers with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and other emergency responders are notified automatically when sensors measure large magnitude barge impacts on two piers of the U.S. 41 North Bridge over the Ohio River. The bridge connects Henderson, Kentucky, and Evansville, Indiana In Florida, GPS sensors have been installed on a flyover bridge in Miami and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa. Data is collected continually throughout the day on how the bridges are behaving — measuring the movement, shrinkage, and cracking of concrete. By studying variations in the data, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) can detect potential problems in the concrete or the cables that hold segments of the bridge together.

MAKING AMERICA STRONGER

AAA’s Making America Stronger campaign is about reforming, modernizing and funding our nation’s transportation network. It is resigned to help raise awareness about the crucial role a safe and well-maintained transportation system plays in our everyday lives. Visit at makingamericastronger.aaa.com.

JUNE 2014

AAA MOTORIST

Member Benefits • Exclusive Offers

1-800-354-8761 • AAA.com/travel

FALL... is a great time to visit Europe

f you’re thinking about visiting Europe, think about visiting it in the fall. But think fast — because now is the absolute best time to lock in the best availabilities in transportation and accommodations. Rates for transatlantic airfares to Europe and hotel accommodations there historically tend to "fall" in autumn, as does the number of tourists. Fall's also the ideal time to rake in further savings with special limited-time offers from AAA’s travel partners and enjoy the Old World and all of its charms for lots less while getting more pleasure out of the experience. Plus, there are value-added AAA Member Benefits! Fewer Americans "cross the pond" in fall; that (as well as fewer tourists from other areas of the world) means you're less likely to stand in long lines for highly popular landmark attractions such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, St Peter’s Basilica in Rome or the Tower of London. And, frankly, who cares if it’s raining when you can spend your day at the Louvre? You’ll also find that making reservations for popular restaurants and securing seats for many arts performances — London’s West End theaters, for instance — are much more easily accomplished in fall than in summer. If you enjoy symphonies or opera, Europe’s cultural calendar comes to life after summer. (Sure, in summer you may be able to hear short chamber music in Vienna structured for a tourist's attention span, but you’ll have to wait until the real symphony and opera seasons begin in the fall to hear the best European orchestras playing serious music for hours on end.) Another benefit of fall European travel is weather. Fine weather over most of the continent extends into late October and practically guarantees that you won’t encounter uncomfortable heat or humidity. Mediterranean countries see the start of their rainier season but, over the ages, many cities devised ways to deal with the inconvenience; Bologna in Italy features

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a huge network of arcaded streets that allow you to walk from one side of town to the other without getting wet. Medieval European houses with overhangs in the older parts of a city were designed in part to protect strollers from the elements. The Old Town sections of many European cities offer seductive cafes; in the event of a shower, pop in and nurse a coffee, soda or snifter of brandy while waiting for clear skies...or use a railpass to take a scenic train ride.) Contrary to summer, you may even enjoy a more “authentic” sense of daily life among the locals, who seem to relax a bit after the summer crowds dwindle. The mad rush to sell mellows into a slower paced style of commerce. Admittedly, daylight in late fall does gradually diminish, but you’ll still have plenty of time to sightsee; with fewer fellow tourists to contend with, you may be able to see and do even more than you would in the high season of summer. Besides, if you find moonlight strolls more seductive than daylight ones, fall’s for you; exploring “downtown” in a European city after dark isn’t the same as in the US; European city centers are safer than most American ones at these hours because the culture favors convivial meetings in public places along with moderate alcohol consumption. (Filling streets with fun-loving sober people is probably the all-time best defense against street crime.) Calculate just how much daylight you’ll have at eurometeo. com/english/ephem. Pick your destination and the date, and you’ll see the hours of daylight to expect. There are all sorts of reasons for traveling in fall, as opposed to summer. Even food. For instance, you may not fancy eating the traditional tourist favorites of Germany, Switzerland or Austria in summer; their cuisines can be a bit “heavy” for the heat. But after a crisp fall day walking the Black Forest or cruising the Rhine, steaming mounds of sausages and spaetzle and a glass of homemade Riesling can hit the spot!

& a great time to save!

AAA Members booking & depositing on a fall 2014 European 7-night or longer air-inclusive vacation with one of AAA’s participating partners (on next page, with their AAA Member Benefits) receive a $100.00 DISCOUNT per room off the regular rate. New bookings only June 1-30, 2014. Not combinable with any other offer. Restrictions may apply.

If you like meeting folks on their own turf, have a hankering for high culture or just like to lounge around a roaring fire listening to a foreign language and dreaming of learning it — traveling to Europe in fall is something you should try.

AAA SPOTLIGHT VACATION

Country Roads of Bavaria, Switzerland & Austria

— an intimate journey of discovery along vine-clad shores, through fortified towns and flower-filled meadows amid stunning Alpine panoramas.

· Ascend to the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein by horse & carriage. · Cruise along the Wachau Valley, a charming stretch of the Danube. · Enjoy a private, guided tour of Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace. · Journey through the Swiss Alps on the Glacier Express. · Ascend a mountain by rail or cable car for panoramic views. · Savor Vienna’s vibrant restaurants on a Dine-Around evening. · Dinner at a mountaintop restaurant near Lucerne. · Special AAA Vacations® inclusion: Hitler’s notorious Eagles Nest Other highlights include... · Munich: Marienplatz, Town Hall, Glockenspiel · Bavarian Alps: Oberammergau Passion Play Theatre, Wieskirche · Salzburg: Mirabell Gardens, Mozart’s birthplace, Cathedral · The church featured in The Sound of Music · Wachau Valley: Medieval Dürnstein & its castle · Vienna: Ring Road, City Hall, Parliament · Kindberg: colorful maypole · Friesach: mysterious moated town · St Viet an der Glan: Plague Column, Rathaus · Dolomites: Cortina d’Ampezzo · Innsbruck: Golden Roof, Imperial Palace · St Moritz: the spa quarter, sgraffito façade on the museum house · Lucerne: Lion Monument, Jesuit Church, Chapel Bridge · Scenic drives: BavarianAlps, GermanAlpine Road, Semmering Pass, the Dolomites, Engadine Valley, Grisons Alps

Several departure dates • from $3,965

AAA Member Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes accommodations, in-Europe tour director, motorcoach sightseeing, admissions per itinerary, 16 meals (including Welcome Dinner), Welcome Reception with drinks, hotel & restaurant tips and more. Ask about available add-on airfare.

This is just one sample of the hundreds of other European vacations available at AAA. Log on to AAA.com/travel, visit your local AAA Travel Agency or call 1-800-354-8761.

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1-800-354-8761 AAA.com/travel

JUNE 2014

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

Fall in love... with Europe this fall

BE SURE TO SEE THE PREVIOUS PAGE!

AAA Members booking & depositing on a fall 2014 European 7-night or longer air-inclusive vacation with one of the AAA partners below receive a $100.00 discount per room off the regular rate.

New bookings only June 1-30, 2014. Not combinable with any other offer. Restrictions may apply.

Participating Travel Partners & their AAA Member Benefits

AAA Vacations®: $25 voucher per person toward payment of selected optional tours/excursions on escorted motorcoach tours operated by Insight Vacations® or Trafalgar AAA Member Choice Vacations®: $25-$100 savings based on purchase price

Celebrity Cruises: During selected booking periods on selected sailings, benefits may include: Oceanview & veranda stateroom amenities • Value-added gifts

General Tours: $55 per person savings on published “Freestyle Travel” packages of 5 nights or more • $115 per person savings on all Small Group Escorted Tours, Small Ship Cruising, River Cruising and published Private Tours Insight Vacations®: $40 voucher per person toward the payment of selected optional tours on escorted motorcoach tours (with exceptions) Pleasant Holidays: $50 per booking savings off package price

Trafalgar: $40 credit voucher per person toward an optional excursion Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Collection: $125 per person savings on cruises of 3-13 days • $250 per person savings on cruises of 14 days or more

Viking River Cruises: $125 per person savings on cruises of 8-13 days • $200 per person savings on cruises of 14 days or more

Bavarian markets are the Treat yourself to a wunderbar escorted tour full of history, scenery & traditional crafts & foods. Visit markets in... Nuremberg • Rothenburg • Bamberg • Bayreuth Regensburg • Munich • Fussen

of this popular holiday tour

ing. And, because they’re usually in the heart of the community, they’re ideal bases from which to explore surrounding landmarks German like cathedrals and castles, as well as year-round brick-and-mortar Christmas shops and restaurants. This unique tour operates on the same principles of convenience Markets and efficiency. Spend 4 nights in Nuremberg and 3 in Munich; Granted, Christmas may not be on your mind at this very you’ll be able to comfortably “settle in” in those cities, taking NEUSCHWANSTEIN Bavaria’s “shy king” built this moment...but it should be! Especially considering everything short rides each day to the markets and landmarks surroundfairy-tale castle in that AAA’s Dec 2-10 German Christmas Markets tour offers! ing them. Forget traipsing from a hotel in one town one day to order to withdraw Experience the Old World tradition of welcoming the another hotel the next day to yet another hotel the following from public life. Ironically, now 1.3 Christmas season at public marketplaces large and small, day, and so on. Best of all, forget about packing and unpackmillion people visit where walkways lined with rustic stalls hum with holiday ing each time! With only 2 base hotels, you’ll have more time here every year. strollers and shoppers young & old. Local artisans exhibit to see and do (or rest and relax) — whatever your travel style This tour includes a half-day visit! traditional handmade decorations, art and craft may be. All in all, it makes for a much more pleasant, items; purveyors of aromatic seasonal culinary satisfying experience...and it maximizes your valuable delights tempt passersby with gingerbread cookies time and energy. and spice-mulled wine; and musicians and And all the while, you and your fellow travelers will performers add a festive note to the ambience. enjoy the company and insider knowledge of your Some markets even sport carnival-type rides and professional English-speaking native European guide. amusements. From start to finish, you’ll have peace of mind knowMost German cities of any signifiing an experienced expert is at your cant size present at least 1 Christkindlside and at your service to provide Dec 2-10 • AAA Member Rate: $3,305 markt; on this get-in-the-spirit tour practical information and interestin the southeastern state of Bavaria, ing background about all you see and Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Buffalo-Frankfurt, Munich-Buffalo), you get to visit at least 7 (yes, 7!), each tour. He’ll even be able to offer suggesroundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, motorcoach transportation, unique in size and style — from some tions about what to do during free. hotel taxes/service charges, hotel baggage handling, 13 meals, Neuschwanstein tour, of the most famous and popular to Visit AAA.com/GoEurope for more services of a AAA tour manager (if participation goal is met) and in-Germany escort. some of the most intimate and charminformation!

JUNE 2014

AAA MOTORIST

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1-800-354-8761 AAA.com/travel

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

AAA Featured Vacations

ERIENCES

PEAK EXP

are specific cruise, motorcoach or air tour vacations created or selected by AAA Travel for their value, amenities and/or inclusions. Look for the AAA Featured Vacations logo to identify out-of-the-ordinary offerings.

JAMESTOWN . . . . . . . . . . .716-488-1981 LOCKPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . .716-434-2865 GENERAL TRAVEL DISCLAIMER: AAA Travel Agency makes every effort to provide accurate, up-to-date prices as of press time and cannot assume responsibility for typographic errors. Rates/offers are per person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise indicated, and are subject to availability and airline/operator changes. International rates/offers are subject to currency fluctuations and additional tax & security charges. Rates that include airfare include all taxes, government fees and surcharges. Additional restrictions may apply. Rates/offers are available at all AAA East Central travel agency locations. For tour details, contact AAA or visit AAA.com/travel. AAA Featured Vacations are specially priced, unique departures; therefore, tour operators, cruise lines and other travel providers often exclude them from additional discounts or specials they offer. AAA Featured Vacations include services provided by third-party tour destination service companies; see your AAA Travel Agent for details. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for more details or visit the air carrier’s website for baggage allowance and fee information.

Rocky Mountaineer Train Summit Helicopter Tour

CANADIAN ROCKIES: Seattle to Calgary Discover the pleasures of a Rocky Mountaineer journey; enjoy the highest-level GoldLeaf Service on 3 daytime train rides. Witness stunning mountainscapes...alpine lakes of hues more often associated with jewels...star-bright nights, silent but for sounds of the wild… forests redolent of evergreen and what can only be described as the smell of “clean.” This extraordinary 10-night tour includes rides from Seattle to Vancouver, Vancouver to Kamloops and Kamloops to Jasper. Even more extraordinary? They’re just 1 highlight of this tour! Also visit natural wonders in 3 national parks that form the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. And enjoy hotel stays in Seattle, Vancouver (3 nights), Kamloops, Jasper (2 nights), Lake Louise, Banff and Calgary.

Exclusive AAA MEMBER BENEFIT: Each adult receives a $100 onboard Rocky Mountaineer souvenir credit!

Aug 29–Sept 8 •

AAA Member Rate: $6,099

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Buffalo-Seattle, Calgary-Buffalo), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, 10-night hotel accommodations, luggage handling (1 piece per person), 3 train rides, 5 meals and taxes on included items. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply; contact your travel agent for details. Visit AAA.com/travel for details. Passport required.

THIS THANKSGIVING Wouldn’t you rather “roast” in the Caribbean? Leave cooking & cleaning to someone else this year; cruise for 10 relaxing days on Celebrity Equinox.

and save up to

$348.00

with AAA’s exclusive rates!

Receive these AAA MEMBER PERKS!

AAA’s special 9-night Hawaiian vacation features a 2-night pre-cruise stay in Honolulu, a tour of the USS Arizona Memorial and a 7-night Pride of America cruise featuring 4 islands (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii & Kauai). OCT 30–NOV 8 INSIDE

PUBLIC RATE $2,160 AAA RATE $1,985 YOU SAVE $175.00

OUTSIDE

VOUCHER FOR A BOTTLE OF WINE $75.00 ONBOARD CREDIT MARTINI TASTING

Nov 21–Dec 1 AAA Member Rate from $1,685

BALCONY

$2,786 $2,953 $2,505 $2,605 $281.00 $348.00

Rates are per person (double occupancy), are subject to availability at time of booking and include hotel/pier transfers, 2 nights at Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, Arizona Memorial/Pearl Harbor tour, 7-night cruise accommodations/entertainment, most onboard meals and government taxes/fees. Ship’s registry: USA. Ask about available add-on airfare.

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes balcony cruise accommodations/entertainment, most onboard meals, services of a AAA tour manager (if minimum-participation goal is met) & government taxes/fees. Ship’s registry: Malta. Ask about available add-on airfare. Visit AAA.com/ travel for itinerary.

AAA Tour Manager at your service throughout this cruise!

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AAA MOTORIST

JUNE 2014

1-800-354-8761 AAA.com/travel

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers ESCORTED TOUR OPERATED BY CIE TOURS INTERNATIONAL

Bunratty Folk Park Medieval banquet in a 15th-century castle Cliffs of Moher Flying Boat Museum Killarney National Park, including Muckross House Ring of Kerry, Skellig Experience & Moll’s Gap Waterford Crystal tour Russborough House Dinner & song at a pub Dublin: tour & free time ...AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

Oct 5-12 •

AAA Member Rate: $1,459

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, guided motorcoach sightseeing, entrance fees, 11 meals (including Bunratty Castle medieval banquet/entertainment & Merry Ploughboy pub dinner/ entertainment), in-Ireland tour director, hotel luggage handling (1 piece per person), hotel taxes & service charges. Ask about available add-on airfare. Visit AAA.com/GoIreland for itinerary and information.

JUNE 2014

AAA MOTORIST

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1-800-354-8761 AAA.com/travel

Member Benefits Exclusive Offers

Irish Pubs

&Folklore

ESCORTED TOUR OPERATED BY CIE TOURS INTERNATIONAL

Sláinte!

May 12-21 AAA Member Rate: $1,899

Cheers!

Feel like a local at friendly pubs full of the craic — Ireland’s unique mix of news, gossip, fun, entertainment and enjoyable conversation! Tour Dublin: St Stephen’s Green, Georgian squares, O’Connell Street, Famine Memorial & more. Quaff a pint at the Guinness Storehouse • Meet the owners of a working beef/ sheep/horse farm. • Tour medieval Kilkenny, then explore it on your own. • Visit the House of Waterford; watch craftsmen transform molten glass into elegant tableware. • Kiss the “Stone of Eloquence” at Blarney Castle. • Browse at Blarney Woolen Mills...or visit a pub instead! • Circumnavigate scenic Dingle Peninsula and sample a local brew at Dingle Brewing Company. • Sit down to dinner & traditional entertainment (including step-dancing) in Killarney. • Ferry across the Shannon to view the Cliffs of Moher. • Stop in Galway on the way to Connemara. • Overnight in attractive Westport. • Cross over to Achill Island and see the Deserted Village (stone cottages abandoned around the time of the Famine). • Tour Kilbeggan Distillery and enjoy an Irish coffee. • Enjoy storytelling at Dublin’s oldest pub. • Spend a day on your own in Dublin, using included vouchers for an open-top bus tour and a visit to Old Jameson Distillery.

May 12-21 •

AAA Member Rate: $1,899

Rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, motorcoach sightseeing, itinerary attraction admissions, local taxes, hotel service charges & baggage handling (1 bag per person), walking-tour audio headsets, 15 meals (including Kate Kearney’s Cottage Irish Night, “Food, Folk & Fairies” dinner show at Brazen Head Pub and 3 table d’hote dinners) and in-Ireland professional guide & driver. Ask about available add-on airfare.

Celebrity Cruises & AAA Vacations® offer some of the best values at sea & great benefits unavailable elsewhere! Priority Check-in

does not grant priority boarding

Enjoy 2 valuable benefits EXCLUSIVELY for members

Up to $100.00 Onboard Credit

BEST-PRICE GUARANTEE

per stateroom

DATE NTS SHIP

7/18 7 7/20 7 10/27 8 11/4 15 11/8 7 11/23 7 11/29 5 11/29 7 12/7 14 12/7 7 12/8 5 12/12 10 12/20 7 12/21 14 12/22 11 12/27 7 12/27 7 12/28 7

Solstice Century Infinity Infinity Summit Silhouette Constellation Reflection Eclipse Silhouette Constellation Equinox Summit Eclipse Equinox Reflection Summit Silhouette

ITINERARY

Alaska Inside Passage: Roundtrip from Seattle WA Alaska Inside Passage: Roundtrip from Vancouver BC Eastern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale FL Panama Canal: Ft Lauderdale FL to San Diego CA Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from San Juan PR Eastern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale FL Western Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale FL Eastern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Miami FL Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Miami FL Eastern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale FL Western Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale FL Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale FL Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from San Juan PR Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Miami FL Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale FL Eastern Caribbean: Roundtrip from Miami FL Southern Caribbean: Roundtrip from San Juan PR Western Caribbean: Roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale FL

New bookings only. Offers listed available only on AAA Vacations® departures. Combinable with exclusive AAA Member Benefits; ask your AAA Travel Agent or visit AAA.com/travel for details & restrictions.

If you find a better rate for the exact same cruise itinerary & experience within 24 hours of booking, AAA Vacations ® will match the lower rate...and you’ll receive a $50.00 future-travel credit certificate.

24 / 7 MEMBER CARE

Get peace of mind whenever you need emergency assistance while traveling — a toll-free domestic number and collect-call instructions for international travelers.

A special kind of cruise stands apart from all others — a AAA Vacations ® cruise available only from AAA Travel. It delivers unique features designed to ensure you have the best vacation experience. Compare a AAA Vacations ® cruise against the same cruise offered elsewhere; see how much more your vacation dollar gets you at AAA. Even if you find the same cruise (without AAA Vacations ® benefits, of course!) at a lower price some-where else within 24 hours of booking your AAA Vacations ® cruise, AAA will match that rate and give you a $50.00 future-travel voucher... LOOK FOR guaranteed! THIS LOGO

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PAGE 13

Identity theft never takes a vacation ProtectMyID® Deluxe helps secure your private info

hile you’re taking in the sights on your summer vacation, identity thieves may be helping themselves to your personal information. Approximately 13.1 million U.S. consumers suffered identity fraud in 2013, according to Javelin Strategy & Research’s 2014 Identity Fraud Report. Identity thieves stole a total of $18 billion from these victims. There are several ways you can protect your personal data while traveling: • Before you leave, suspend newspaper and mail delivery to prevent anything from being stolen from your mailbox. • Never carry sensitive documents – such as your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport – in your purse or wallet. Other items to leave at home include your checkbook, extra credit cards, and anything with your Social Security number. • Password protect your mobile devices. Use additional passwords for individual apps that contain personal information, such as banking or social media accounts. • Visit a bank’s branch, rather than an ATM kiosk. ATMs located in hightraffic tourist areas can put you at risk for data skimming. • Delay online banking until you can access a secured WiFi connection.

TRAVELERS A TARGET — Everyone enjoys a relaxing vacation, but don’t let your guard down.

• Notification if change of address has been detected. • Daily Internet scans for signs of identity fraud. • E-mail alerts advising of changes to credit reports, as well as monthly “all clear” notifications. • Fraud resolution support. • Lost wallet and card protection and assistance. • $1 million identity theft insurance.* A free option, ProtectMyID Essential, is also available to AAA members. Comparable to plans costing $7.95 per month, this product includes several of the same features as ProtectMyID Deluxe. For more information, and to subscribe to ProtectMyID Essential or Deluxe, simply go to AAA.com/ProtectMyID or call 1.877.440.6943. To enroll, you must have a valid email address and be 18 or older. *Identity theft insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms, conditions and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.

ProtectMyID Deluxe, available to AAA East Central members at just $8.95 per month (a 56% discount) includes the following advanced features: • Daily monitoring of all three credit reports (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) for new credit cards, loans, delinquent payments and more. • Experian® credit report with score at the time of signup. • ChildSecure®: A feature that monitors minor children’s identities.

Thieves could intercept your credit card or banking information. • Do not post “check-ins”, photos or tweets on social media. These are a clear sign you are not at home. Share your vacation highlights online when you return. Even when taking these precautions, it is impossible for you to monitor your personal information 24/7. This is why it is crucial to have a professional monitoring product that can do just that.

Summer time is a prime time for motorcyclists More motorcycles means more emphasis on rider safety

ummer’s here and motorcyclists are hitting the roads in greater numbers than ever before. Safe riding and cooperation among all road users are essential to reducing deaths and injuries, but in the last decade motorcyclists are one of the few groups where no progress has been made. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports motorcyclist deaths increased to 4,957 in 2012, accounting for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities. On a per vehicle mile basis, motorcyclists are more than 30 times more likely to die in a crash than occupants of cars. Alcohol continues to be a factor in motorcycle fatalities. In 2011, 42 percent of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes had blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels of .08 or higher, higher than any other type of driver. Another disturbing trend is the decrease in states with universal helmet laws. NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of more than 1,600 motorcyclists in 2011, but only 19 states currently require all riders to wear helmets, down from 26 in 1997. There are effective strategies that can make a difference. To prevent motorcycle deaths and injuries, AAA and NHTSA offer the following safety tips:

• •

•

EASY RIDERS — Over 20 million motorcyclists will take to the road this summer. • •

•

For motorcyclists: Never ride impaired or distracted. Obey traffic laws, wear DOTcompliant helmets and other protective gear. Make yourself visible by wearing bright colors and using reflective tape. Avoid riding in poor weather conditions. Use turn signals for every turn or lane change and combine hand signals and turn signals to make your-

self more visible to traffic. Position yourself in the lane where you will be most visible to other drivers. For drivers: • Never drive distracted or impaired. Doing so can result in tragic consequences. • Don’t try to share the lane. According to NHTSA, when motorcycles crash with other vehicles, the latter usually violates the motorcyclist’s right of way. •

•

Always signal before changing lanes or merging with traffic. A motorcyclist can be hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot. Always look for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes and at intersections. Motorcycle signals are usually not self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to switch them off. Allow enough time to determine the motorcyclist’s real intention. Road conditions that are minor annoyances to motorists can pose major hazards to motorcyclists. Riders may suddenly change speed or adjust position within a lane in reaction to road and traffic conditions such as potholes, gravel, and wet or slippery surfaces. Allow more following distance, at least three or four seconds, when following a motorcycle so the rider has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Helmets may not be required by law in many states, but every government and safety organization strongly recommend them for all riders. Don’t forget the gloves and boots.

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This summer at the Chautauqua Institution 2014 season offers the best in education and the arts

ith more than 2,200 events taking place during the nine-week season, there is no such thing as a typical day at Chautauqua. According to historian David McCullough, “There is no place like it. No resort. No spa. Not anywhere else in the country, or anywhere in the world.” Nestled on 750-acres along the serene shores, the Chautauqua Institution’s gilded age architecture presides over a dramatic natural setting. It was founded in 1874 on the belief that everyone “has a right to be all that he can be — to know all that he can know.” Today, it welcomes thousands of visitors each summer — all within the beautiful confines of a historic lakeside village. Smithsonian magazine has named Chautauqua as the No. 1 “Best Small Town to Visit in 2014.” The Victorian village remains a time capsule of small-town Americana. Visitors stroll along winding brick lanes past gingerbread-style cottages and quiet gardens nestled under a canopy of maples. Visitors describe it as an experience rather than a vacation — a place for renewal. The experience comes in many forms. Minds are stimulated, faith restored. The human spirit is rekindled. The Institution’s 141st Annual Season, which runs from June 21 through August 22, offers visitors the best in fine and performing arts, education, recreation and religion. Each

LIVE AND LEARN — The Chautauqua Institution is located within the confines of a historic lakeside village. week’s lecture series features a theme ranging from the Ethics of Privacy, to the American West. The 2014 season opens in the Amphitheater with Tom Brokaw, one of the most trusted and respected figures in broadcast journalism on June 23. August 4-8 features “A Week with Ken Burns.” The best-known storyteller of our history, filmmaker Ken Burns returns to Chautauqua to host a week

of lectures and dialogues on the subjects his documentaries have brought to life. Join Loretta LaRocha, Jennifer Nettles, and many other top performers in Chautauqua’s open-air amphitheater. The Institution’s popular entertainment lineup also features special evening programs with the Music of ABBA by Arrival from Sweden; the Canadian Brass; The Orchestra, featuring former

Opera House, 9 Church Street, Fredonia. STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL AT MERRITT ESTATE WINERY — (June 14-15) The 35th edition of the Strawberry Festival celebrates the strawberry season with the introduction of Merritt Estate Winery’s 2013 Strawberry Festival wine along with strawberry shortcake and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Enjoy live music both days, plus craft vendors, free wine tastings and winery tours, and a classic car show put on by the Lakeshore Street Rod Association. For information, call 716-965-4800 or visit merritestatewinery.com. Location: 2264 King Road, Jamestown. WRECK N ROLL — (June 20) With the spotlight on Dunkirk’s unique geography on beautiful Lake Erie, enjoy a weekend on the Dunkirk Pier filled with multiple rock ‘n roll bands and a variety of delicious chicken wings. Take part in the annual “Build Your Own Boat Race,” ride the mechanical bull, watch the firefighters’ hose races, or get an autograph from a local sports star. There is also a bounce house Kids Zone to entertain the smallest guests. For information, call 716-366-9876 or visit visitdunkirk. com. Location: City Pier, Dunkirk.

RACCOON RALLY CYCLING FESTIVAL WEEKEND — (June 28-29) Allegeny State Park turns into a haven of everything “cycling” during the annual Raccoon Rally featuring the annual Road Race, Trials Competition and Blockbuster Cross Country and Kids Race. Competitive cyclists from surrounding states compete on a world class array of courses. USAC Road Races kick off at 9:30 a.m. at Camp Allegeny. Sunday Mountain Bike Cross Country races send competitors into several course options, including novice, beginner, sport and expert classes. For information, visit heartrateup.com. Location: Allegeny State Park, ASP 2 Camp Allegeny, Salamanca. ELLICOTTVILLE CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO — (July 3-6) Yeee-haw!! An honest-to-goodness rodeo, complete with bronco bustin’, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing and stick horse racing for the kids. Show times: July 3-5 at 7:00 p.m. and matinee show July 6 at 2:00 p.m. Gates open 2 hours prior to shows to shop the midway; plenty of food, including the ever-popular chicken BBQ. For more information, call 716-6994839 or visit ellicottvillerodeo.com.

members of ELO; and the Time Jumpers, featuring Vince Gill. August 15 is “An Evening with Engelbert Humperdinck.” For more than four decades the iconic “King of Romance” has remained the consummate global entertainer selling over 150 million records worldwide. Chautauqua Theater Company opens its 31st Anniversary Season with Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking drama “A Raisin in the Sun,” June 27 through July 6. The company’s other mainstage productions include “The May Queen,” a new comedy by Molly Smith Metzler, July 18 through July 27, and Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” August 8 through August 15. Chautauqua Opera Company and Chautauqua Theater Company join forces with Chautauqua’s other arts programs for the Institution’s production of “Go West.” on Saturday, July 26, a spectacular multimedia investigation of the American impulse to pioneer.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Gate tickets are your passport to the Chautauqua Experience, entitling you to attend most events on the grounds, including all lectures, religious services, Amphitheater entertainment and performances by the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. There is a reduced rate for youth ages 13-25. Visit Chautauqua Institution’s website at www.ciweb.org or call 716.357.6520.

aroundtown VALVO CANDY FACTORY TOURS — (June 6-20) Tour the candy factory on Mondays and Fridays through June 20 and learn about Valvo’s specialty—sponge candy production—along with jelly beans, jellies, and “enrobing” confections. See 500 to 1,000 lb. vats of of chocolate. Free samples at the conclusion! 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fee is $5. For information or to register, call 716-934-2535 or visit tourchautauqua.com. Location: Valvo’s Candies, 1277 Route 5, Silver Creek. BACH & BEYOND BAROQUE MUSIC FESTIVAL — (June 13-15) This lively annual celebration of Baroque music, Bach & Beyond features spirited performances of some of the world’s greatest music in an acoustically-ideal Victorian setting will leave you applauding for more. Other great composers whose works reflect Bach’s inspirational influence are also featured. Reserved Seating Tickets: $20 ($48 Three-Concert Early Bird Subscription, $51 Three-Concert Subscription). Performances are at 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Call 716679-1891. Location: 1891 Fredonia

Location: 6319 Sommerville Valley Road, Ellicottville. CHAUTAUQUA LAKE OUTLET PADDLE — (through August 27) Group canoeing and kayaking every Wednesday evening from 6:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on this historic waterway. Blue herons and other waterfowl call it home. Frogs jump between lily pads, and turtles bask on logs. Serenity has replaced the bustle of earlier times. All paddlers with their own boats are welcome to join for no fee. If you need a kayak or canoe, the fee is $25. For information call 716-7632266 or visit tourchautauqua.com. Location: McCrea Point Park Boat Landing, Jones & Gifford Avenue, Jamestown. GREAT BLUE HERON FESTIVAL — (July 4-6) Annual music festival feaures over 100 performers like Donna The Buffalo, and The Horse Flies, a large dance tent, songwriters’ circle, instrumental workshops, square and swing dances. The expansive festival grounds offer 300 plush acres with marked hiking & biking trails, swimming, children’s activities and vendors. Location: Sherman, New York. For more information visit their website at www.greatblueheron.com.

JUNE 2014

AAA MOTORIST

California New Year’s Getaway morning, when millions of viewers around the world tune in to marvel at these intricate, ingenious and incredibly beautiful creations. The 126th parade (themed “Inspriring Stories”) will feature, as always, marching bands from throughout the nation (and some from around the world!), majestic floral floats and high-stepping equestrian units. AND THERE’S SO MUCH MORE! “California New Year’s Getaway” starts in Los Angeles, touring historic Farmers Market (begun during the Depression, it now features more than 30 dining opportunities and a variety of shopping experiences). See Downtown’s Disney Concert Hall, Cathedral of Our Lady, LA Live and Olvera Street (heart of the Mexican community). Enjoy a gala welcome dinner at Parker’s Lighthouse in Long Beach, close by your elegant hotel. Day 2 takes you to star-studded Hollywood and glitzy Rodeo Drive. At the Chinese Theatre (née Grauman’s, then Mann’s), see celebrity signatures LONG BEACH

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from page 1 ___________________

immortalized in cement. Follow the bronze medallions studding Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. At Hollywood & Highland, a shopping & entertainment complex housing the new home of Academy Awards extravaganzas, enjoy a great view of the iconic “Hollywood” sign from the upper level. In Burbank, tour Burbank’s Warner Brothers Studios for a behindthe-scenes look into making films and TV shows; be alert for star sightings! On Day 3, drive to Simi Valley’s Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, the nation’s largest and most elaborate; see a full-scale Oval Office replica, Air Force One, a re-created White House state dinner and numerous videos & displays. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway through exclusive Malibu to fun & funky Santa Monica; explore its variety of sights in your free time. Attend an exclusive New Year’s Eve party in Long Beach on the magnificent RMS Queen Mary — a luxurious setting for sophisticated dining, dancing and bidding farewell to 2014 in grand style. Usher in 2015

BEVERLY HILLS

From the parade of fashion and glamour on Rodeo Drive to the Parade of Roses in Pasadena, you’ll enjoy a wide variety of sights and experiences throughout the Los Angeles and San Diego areas on AAA Travel’s “California New Year’s Getaway.” Call 1-800-354-8761 or visit AAA.com/USA.

with a toast from the best seat in Long Beach for a gigantic fireworks display off the ship’s stern. Happy New Year! Day 4 finds you in Pasadena, at your reserved seat for the Roses Parade — flower-covered floats, marching bands, equestrians. Afterward, enjoy lunch at Universal Studios CityWalk, then drive to your all-suite hotel on San Diego’s waterfront. Explore San Diego on Day 5; see Cabrillo Monument atop Point Loma, with commanding views of the Pacific, the harbor and the skyline. Drive through Mission Bay, continue to Old

Town (California’s birthplace) and La Jolla, a chic beachside hideaway where you’ll have time to explore. Established in 1868, Balboa Park is the country’s oldest and one of its largest city parks. Take a guided tour of the San Diego Zoo on a doubledecker bus. On Day 6, visit the USS Midway, the longest serving aircraft carrier. Then cruise the harbor, viewing the skyline and Navy carriers, subs and aircraft along the way. Afterward, tour one of North San Diego’s wineries and continue to Escondido for dinner and a show at the Lawrence Welk Village.

Dec 29–Jan 4 AAA Member Rate: from $4,029

QUEEN MARY

Courtesy of Destinations Magazine

REAGAN LIBARY & MUSEUM

SAN DIEGO

Before-discount rate is per person (double occupancy), is subject to availability at time of booking and includes roundtrip flights (Buffalo–Los Angeles, San Diego–Buffalo), roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, accommodations, hotel luggage handling (1 per person), 11 meals, 2 cocktail parties, reserved parade seat, taxes/gratuities on included items, local tour manager and services of a AAA Tour Manager (if participation goal is met).

One-stop cruise shopping with AAA Travel Helping members plan and save on the perfect voyage

Enjoy exclusive benefits with AAA Vacations

AA Travel is a one-stop destination for everything cruise related. Members can rely on AAA to help them through each step of the cruise-planning process whether online, over the phone or in a local branch office. In addition, members can take advantage of cruise discounts and extras only available through AAA.

Find the right fit

A variety of factors can determine what cruise is your “perfect match” – including your interests, activity level, schedule, budget and age. A family with young children booking a fourday Caribbean cruise is probably looking for a very different experience than a retired couple searching for a monthlong, relaxing European river cruise, for example. AAA travel agents work closely with cruise lines and travel partners, so they can help you to determine what cruise best fits your specific needs.

Uncover the best deals

AAA travel agents are “in the know” about the latest cruise discounts and promotions. “There is no need to stress over finding the best cruise deal on your own,” said Tracy Edwards, AAA East Central Managing Director of Travel Sales. “Your local AAA travel counselors receive daily updates on the specials available from cruise lines.”

CHOOSE YOUR CRUISE — AAA Vacations cruises deliver extraordinary values and experiences. Your AAA travel agent may know of additional ways to save, including cruise-line loyalty programs, early-booking savings, military or group discounts, or reduced rates for AAA Member Rewards Visa cardholders. Check with your agent as offers vary.

Take care of the details

Once your cruise is booked, AAA can help you with all the details of

your dream trip. Your AAA travel agent can make your flight and rental car reservations, purchase travel insurance, and arrange for pre- and post-cruise accommodations and tours. They can help you obtain any documentation you may need for international travel. You can even have your passport photo taken at your local AAA branch office. Ask your travel agent about reduced airport parking rates, as well.

AAA Vacations cruises are select sailings that go above and beyond to deliver extraordinary values and experiences. Benefits vary by cruise line, and include amenities such as priority check-in, onboard spending credits, champagne on arrival, wine tastings, specialty dining and shore excursions. For extra peace of mind, AAA Vacations cruises come with 24/7 Member Care emergency phone assistance and the Best Price Guarantee. If you find a valid better rate for the exact same cruise itinerary and inclusions within 24 hours of booking, AAA will match to the lower rate and send you a $50 AAA Vacations Future Travel Credit Certificate. With more than 400 AAA Vacations departures to choose from, there’s an itinerary perfect for you. All that’s left to do is to sit back and enjoy. Ask your AAA travel agent for details, or visit AAA.com/aaavacations.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please see your AAA Departures Guide, visit your local AAA Travel Agency or log on to AAA.com/cruises for information on AAA cruise offerings.

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AAA MOTORIST

JUNE 2014