Author: Linda Steil

Parkinson’s disease affects more than five million people worldwide. The likes of Muhammad Ali, Michael J. Fox and others have brought the disease to the forefront of the American public, by educating and raising funds that allow researchers to continue the fight for a cure. A more recent, up and coming group is combining a love of cars and driving to raise awareness and money. Drive Toward a Cure has opened registration for their second event – a three-day southern adventure that kicks off in Asheville, North Carolina, and wraps up at the opening of the 2017 Atlanta Concours d’Elegance. Other highlights along the 600-mile path will include the beauty of the Blue Ridge and Smoky mountains as well as the infamous Tail of the Dragon. The inaugural event for Drive Toward a Cure took place in April 2016 and raised more than $26,000. But for founder Deb Pollack, it’s more than just a fundraising event. It’s a “passion with a meaningful cause [that] has taken on a whole new emotional meaning.” As someone who was personally affected by the disease, Pollack is riding on her love for all things automotive to build interest in battling Parkinson’s disease. “Through our inaugural ‘California Adventure’ drive, we learned that the friends that drive together, thrive together,” said Pollack. “We are looking to … Read More

Wouldn’t it be great if we could all own a sexy, Italian sports car? What if our lives could fit into a sexy, Italian sports car? In just a few, short weeks, we can, in a matter of speaking. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is scheduled to arrive on showroom floors across the United States later this summer. Developed and built off the Giulia platform, the Stelvio boasts 50/50 weight distribution, lightweight carbon fiber driveshaft and a low center of gravity that, when combined with its independent suspension, provide sports-carlike handling. All this and room to comfortably seat five. “The all-new Stelvio, named after one of the greatest driving roads in the world—the Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps—sets a new benchmark for the segment,” said Reid Bigland, head of Alfa Romeo. “Stelvio is uniquely engineered to challenge 2-door sports cars on the track, without sacrificing any of the characteristics you would expect from a premium SUV, resulting in the perfect mix of high performance, capability and Italian design.” Included in the list of standard features across the entire Stelvio lineup are: All-wheel drive Alfa DNA drive mode selector 18-inch aluminum wheels Leather seating backup camera with rear park sensors Remote start Passive entry with Keyless Go Power liftgate All of this at a starting MSRP of $41,995 (plus $995 destination … Read More

How often do you check your credit report? Perhaps the better question is, when was the last time you checked your credit report? There are plenty of people online that will tell you what a credit bureau is and how to fix whatever may be ailing it. I don’t claim to be any kind of expert when it comes to improving your credit score, nor is my intention to provide advice on how to do so. Ignoring your credit report, however, is something different altogether. And like most things, choosing to simply bury your head in the sand doesn’t make it go away, nor is it a good idea. Why is it important to check your credit bureau on a regular basis? Well, for starters, mistakes happen. No human or computer, as hard as we may try to make either one, is perfect. So, while every effort is made to ensure the information reported to bureaus is accurate, the hard truth is sometimes errors are made. In the event that an inaccuracy has been reported, the best way to catch it is by regularly reviewing your credit bureaus. Another good reason to check your credit report is, unfortunately, identity theft. Keeping an eye on what’s happening with the credit bureaus can give you an early warning if you have fallen … Read More

When you think Jillian Michaels, images of the television show The Biggest Loser come to mind, don’t they? Even if they weren’t before, admit it, they are now. It’s the show that made her a household name. But more than just a fitness trainer who worked with, encouraged and motivated not only her onscreen teammates, but also the millions who watched each week, to lose weight, Michaels is an author and business woman. Most recently, she has also partnered with Chrysler and Amazon Family to present the Ultimate Parent Sweepstakes. The grand prize winner will receive a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan, a personalized family training session with Michaels and a $1,000 Amazon gift card. But that’s not all! A total of 20 runner-up prizes will be awarded. Each runner-up will receive a $200 Amazon gift card. “Today’s parents want the very best for their children: the safest vehicles for their family and the environment, the best products and a healthy lifestyle,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands – Dodge, SRT®, Chrysler and FIAT®, FCA – North America. “However, the expectations and hectic lives modern parents face can make finding the time to achieve these priorities challenging. The Ultimate Family Sweepstakes, with partners Amazon Family and Jillian Michaels, gives us the opportunity to celebrate families and give one … Read More

A friend once told me, “The sign of a good shopping trip was walking outside and not remembering where you parked your car.” I’m not a shopper, so naturally I always just laughed and moved on to the next topic. Rarely did I come out of a store and not know where I parked. Once on a business trip, however, my travels were extended. Then they were extended again. When I finally returned home, two weeks later, do you think I could remember where my car was parked? And, of course, that was the one time I chose the multi-level, terminal parking, versus the less expensive remote where you can simply walk to the end of each row and press the panic button, then listen for your vehicle. The whole time I was walking between parking levels, trying to find my car, all I could hear was my friend’s voice in my head saying, “That must’ve been one heckuva shopping trip.” These days it’s nearly impossible to forget where you parked. By the time you’ve walked 10 steps away from your car, your smartphone is sending you a message to let you know you’re parked nearby. The first time this happened to me, I have to admit, it freaked me out a little. As a member of Generation Just-Old-Enough-to-Know-Who-Orson-Welles-Is-But-Young-Enough-To-Appreciate-Today’s-Technology, it … Read More

I frequently write about family road trips and/or getaways. But this summer, the Pumpkin, as I fondly refer to our daughter, is off to summer camp for two weeks and we are on our own. Suddenly I find myself researching unique vacation ideas for adults. I didn’t want to limit myself to places nearby, so I started researching fun places all over the United States using VacationIdea.com. Thanks to the staff there, I found some of the most amazing places. For example, have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend some time in a real lighthouse? Why not spend a night in one? The Heceta Head Lighthouse in Yachats, Oregon, offers the ability to do just that with six guest bedrooms, five bathrooms, parlors to relax in and even a guest kitchen in which meals can be prepared. If a lighthouse isn’t quite your style, what about a caboose? The Red Caboose Motel, in Ronks, Pennsylvania, has caboose cars (seems obvious, I know) fully-equipped with everything you need for a comfortable night’s stay. Imagining sleeping accommodations in a lighthouse or caboose may not be all that difficult in a lighthouse or a caboose, but what about a bank? I’m not talking about sleeping in a mattress full of money or anything like that, but L’Banca Albergo, in … Read More

So you want (or need) to buy a car and you’ve decided on a used vehicle. Being smart about your buying options means doing your research, but life is busy. Sometimes, you have to take stolen moments between innings at your kid’s baseball game to check out reviews of the SUV that was next to you at the red light on your way to the game. That’s when you turn to your smartphone and your trusted car-buying app. In today’s market, there are almost too many apps from which to choose. Which one is going to get you the information you want on the vehicles that interest you? More importantly, which one is the easiest to use? All great questions. I, of course, have my favorite. Rather than simply touting the virtues of the one I use, I thought it only fair to try out several that get rave reviews online. Here’s what I discovered:   CarMax App I’m a fan of CarMax. I like their no-haggle pricing and I particularly like the fact that I can sell them my car without the pressure of buying one from them. Their app is well thought-out and pretty straight forward. You can register and create saved searches and receive alerts about vehicles you like. One of the best features – you can … Read More