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Saugatuck Sweets Join Maritime Chevrolet this Friday, August 20th at 5:00 PM in front of Saugatuck Sweets in Fairfield, for the opportunity (3 throws for $5) to dunk our Service Manager, Ralph Cascella to raise money for the Fairfield Police Scholarship Fund! The fund began in 2014 and benefits the children of Fairfield Police Officers through scholarships. Learn more here. Annual Bluefish Tournament Maritime Chevrolet once again is a proud sponsor of the annual Bluefish Tournament, being held this year on August 28th & 29th. It is considered to have the most participants of any fishing tournament of its kind in the United States. Each year, WICC awards almost $40,000 in prize money, with $25,000 going to the heaviest fish caught! The goal of the tournament is, and has been, to promote the recreational greatness of Long Island Sound. The tournament's continuing popularity and success has brought tremendous economic benefits to the shoreline communities of Connecticut and New York. Learn more or register now here. Connecticut Auto Show Lastly, Maritime Chevrolet wants to invite you to the Connecticut Auto Show, returning this year on the weekend of November 13th & 14th, 2021. Located at the Mohegan Sun Expo Center, the Connecticut Auto Show is the perfect place to browse hundreds of new vehicles! It’s the premier showcase of the newest model year imported and domestic vehicles — cars, vans, crossovers, hybrids, light trucks and sport utilities – cars to suit every budget and lifestyle. We will be available with dealer representatives on hand to answer your questions in a no pressure environment, and with your favorite car lines all under one roof, it’s easy to compare prices and features, saving both time and money. The Connecticut Auto Show is great entertainment for serious shoppers, car buffs and the entire family! Learn more here.

Reduce the stress of your workday with these five simple tips Whether you work in an office, at a restaurant or on a construction site, work is always one of the major causes of stress. Small amounts of stress can sometimes be beneficial because it motivates workers to push themselves harder to reach goals, but too much stress can lead to depression and ultimately burnout if it is not properly dealt with. To avoid these feelings of overwhelming pressure and anxiety, consider trying these simple methods of reducing stress. Exercise when you can Exercising during the workday is an excellent method of relieving stress, according to WebMD. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to visit the gym or jog 10 miles before work. A simple walk around the office is enough to get the blood flowing, which allows mood-boosting endorphins to be released throughout the bloodstream. This can relieve stress and allow you to return to work in a better state of mind. In addition, Health.com reports that by taking a walk outside the office during lunch hours, the vitamin D from the sunlight can actually raise your body’s serotonin levels, which relieves stress. The smells, sounds and visuals also provide welcome distractions that allow people to get out of their own heads. Talk about your feelings If the stress of the workday is becoming unbearable, it could be time to pick up the phone to call a trusted friend or family member. According to the Mayo Clinic, sometimes the simple act of talking about stressful feelings can be helpful. In addition, the trusted person on the other end of the line could propose ideas on how to better deal with the situation. Also, once the conversation nears its conclusion, it could be a good idea to express your gratitude to the person on the other end of the phone call. Feelings of gratefulness can activate parts of the brain associated with dopamine, which also helps alleviate stress. Find an outlet Whether it’s taking your dog for a walk, writing in your journal or taking a bath each night before going to sleep, it’s important to create a relaxing routine away from the stress associated with work. Some people may argue that they don’t have time for these leisure activities, but setting time aside for fun events can help reduce tension, alleviate stress and avoid burnout. This allows people to be more productive when they do return to work. If you need help coming up with a hobby, WebMD suggests activities such as volunteer work, gardening or caring for pets. Listen to music Listening to music during stressful times has many positive effects on a person’s health. For starters, it can lower your blood pressure and also reduce certain hormones that are linked to stress. In addition, USA Today reports that listening to music can help improve overall sleep quality, help you eat less and reduce anxiety as much as a massage. In particular, listening to classical music can significantly help relieve stress, but if that genre isn’t your cup of tea, try listening to recorded sounds of nature. Drink tea instead of coffee While it’s true that caffeine provides a short-term rush of energy, after the effects of coffee finally wear off, coffee can make work-related stress even worse, according to Health.com. Instead of drinking coffee, try drinking green tea. This tea only has half the amount of caffeine as a normal cup of coffee and contains theanine, which is an amino that reduces agitation because it helps calm the nervous system. Two of the best ways to reduce work-related stress are to eat right and get a good night’s sleep, but if that still isn’t enough to keep you calm and steady at work, then consider using one or more of the tips from the list above in order to alleviate that unnecessary pressure and anxiety.

August means back to school, and in a pandemic year fueled by the Delta variant, it’s inevitable that germs are going to spread when kids get back together. The CDC has advice for keeping children protected from this highly contagious version of the COVID-19 virus, and that is: mask up in schools and other crowded places, and make sure everyone age 12 and up in the family gets vaccinated. If your child wakes up feeling sick, it’s best to keep them at home and get them tested for the virus before letting them go back to school. Even if those symptoms turn out to be “just a cold”, try not to spread it! If your child tests positive for the coronavirus, don’t panic! The first thing to remember is that children are incredibly resistant to the virus. Think ahead of time about who will take care of whom - and how - if somebody gets sick. Of course, keep your child at home until they are no longer contagious. Your child may wear any mask that fits well - no gaps around the mouth, nose, or chin - and is comfortable. A cotton mask is typically the most comfortable, lightweight, and breathable for children in schools. If your child is unvaccinated and gets sent home from school after a possible COVID-19 exposure, quarantine your child, wear masks in the household, watch for symptoms and make sure they get tested! To learn more about keeping your child safe while going back to school this year, click here.

Maritime Chevy is proud to be Connecticut's #1 Electric Vehicle dealer! Shop now at Maritime Chevy to browse our great selection of certified pre-owned Chevy Bolt EVs for half of the price of a new one. We just received 14 GM Certified Pre-owned 2017 Chevy Bolt EVs with as little as 13,700 miles on the odometer and prices starting as low as $17,828!Here are just some of the many benefits there are to switching to a Chevy Bolt EV: Save Money on Gas; An electric car will save you $632 per year on average over its gas-powered counterpart. Generally, it costs $1,117 per year to run a new gas-powered vehicle, and only $485 per year to run a new electric one. Plenty of Range; with an EPA-estimated 225 mile range on a fully charged battery, the 2017 Chevy Bolt EV lasts longer than its main competitors. Reasonable Price Tag; with a starting price tag of $36,500 on the 2021 Bolt EV, you could purchase a GM Certified Pre-Owned 2017 Bolt EV for almost half that! Call, click, or visit Maritime Chevrolet now for a test drive and pricing. Don’t forget, you can also purchase and have your vehicle delivered right to your home using our Maritime Concierge Service. To learn more, click here. Don’t forget to ask us about any current federal, state/local electric vehicle incentives, and GM EV buyer rebates. You could be parking a GM Certified Pre-Owned Chevy Bolt EV in your driveway for way less than you thought! Browse our current EV inventory now at: https://www.maritimechevy.com/VehicleSearchResults?search=certified&model=Bolt EV

Use these tips to keep your pets cool for the summerTemperatures are rising across the nation and that means more people will be spending time outside with their loved ones, including pets. Unfortunately, pet owners sometimes don’t realize the effects of heat on their beloved animals, which can be fatal for their furry friends. Follow these easy tips to keep your pets safe from the heat this summer.Check the concrete before a walk If you’ve ever skipped across some asphalt or concrete because it’s too hot for your feet to handle, just think about your pets and their paws. Since most animals don’t wear shoes—although there are shoes available specifically for pets—the pads of their paws can become overheated fast. A quick tip to test if it’s too hot for your pet is to place the palm of your hand on the ground for ten seconds. If you can’t keep your hand there for the full amount of time or just feel that it is extremely hot, then you shouldn’t let your pet walk on that surface. Keep in mind, asphalt (which is usually black and used for driveways) can absorb heat better, so it may be hotter than a cement sidewalk. Save outdoor time for dawn or dusk To avoid hot pathways altogether, switch up walking times to either dusk or dawn. Temperatures are typically cooler in the morning and at night (peak temperatures usually happen around 2 to 3 p.m.). With the sun not blaring down on you, pet paws are more likely able to withstand the walkways that you would otherwise not notice with your sneakers on. Additionally, the air is easier to breathe for your pets when it is cooler. Find some shade to lounge in An obvious tip to keep your pets cool during the heat of summer months is to find a shady spot to sit. If your family plans on spending an extended amount of time at a park, try finding a shaded area where your pet can hang out and avoid being in direct sunlight. If you live in a humid environment, be on the lookout for ticks, which tend to live near wooded or grassy areas. Contrary to popular belief, ticks do not fall from trees. According to Prevention.com, they actually crawl up from the ground. Therefore, it may be a good idea to bring a blanket for you and your pets to sit on in the grass. Water is a necessity Just as humans require water to survive, so do animals. While humans can forgo drinking water for long periods of time, an animal can get dehydrated much quicker, and they often do not have the ability to get water for themselves. Always bring a water dish and clean drinking water for your pets when you plan on being outside for long periods of time. Dogs have a limited ability to sweat so they pant in order to expel the heat inside their bodies. Unfortunately, panting uses up a large amount of internal moisture and can lead to dehydration. Never keep them in the car This should go without saying, but you should never—under any circumstance—keep your pet in a car on a hot day. According to heatkills.org, even if it’s only 70 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can rise up to 104 degrees in just 30 minutes; after an hour, it rises to 113 degrees. To avoid the risk of overheating your pet, simply leave them at home in the air conditioning or find a friend to watch them for you. Be sure to follow these tips to keep your pets cool during the dog days of summer.

With more and more American’s getting the vaccine every day and pandemic restrictions loosening, people are going to be out and travel more this summer. With this comes many new aspects of travel that may have changed since last year for potential road trippers.As of April 2nd, 2021, the CDC has stated: “People who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the United States.” However, as you travel across state lines, it is still advised to bring a mask and monitor any symptoms while on your trip. For those who are not yet vaccinated, the CDC has created a website to offer advice on how to safely travel domestically this summer, found here. With many people tired of being cooped up in the house, popular US tourism destinations are expected to swell, with potentially record-setting crowds this year. This means that you should book tickets, rental cars, and reservations for any events way in advance for a chance to get a spot this summer. Experts recommend booking hotel rooms or rental cars at least two months in advance. Check out this detailed blog to get plenty of more tips on planning the perfect summer road trip this year: https://www.roamingaroundtheworld.com/road-trip-travel-tips-2021/. We hope these travel tips will help keep you and your family safe on the road this summer!

An Important Message From the Owner: We are pleased to now welcome fully vaccinated guests back to our showroom and service departments for in-store shopping and appointments. According to nationwide CDC recommendations, it is no longer required to wear a mask if you are fully vaccinated. It certainly will be nice to see our customers' faces again! We ask that if you have not received your vaccine yet, or choose not to get one, that you kindly please wear your mask at all times in our facility to protect yourself, our guests, and our employees from any potential transmission of the COVID-19 virus. I am happy to say that as things return to normal, you will notice many improvements in our level of service. I hope you continue to take advantage of our at-home test drives and our Pick-Up and Delivery Program for any vehicle service and maintenance. I have received some great feedback over the past months about the convenience and ease of doing business with us, and I am happy to announce that these new procedures are here to stay! If you are thinking about upgrading your current vehicle, we are here to help! You may find that our new vehicle inventory levels are lower than normal. The reason is due to supply chain issues that many industries are facing as we emerge from the pandemic. For your best choice of vehicle, we recommend planning ahead. If you are planning on looking for a new vehicle later this summer, fall, winter, or even next spring....now would be the time to place an order. Most inventory arriving over the next few months will be pre-sold. Thank you for your dedication and loyalty to our brand and our employees. We are extremely proud to serve you and we are looking forward to an even better future. Warm regards, Eric Sandstrom

Join us for the Maritime Chevy Open with Anna and Raven from STAR 99.9 FM, which will take place on Friday, July 16th, 2021; an 18 hole golf tournament to benefit the The Center for Family Justice held at the Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course in Bridgeport, CT. We recommend you register and buy your tickets now in advance, which are $99/person, with a 4-person scramble, and include breakfast and lunch for your group. The event will start with a continental breakfast at 7:30 am, followed by a shotgun start at 9 am. Lunch will be provided by Silver Sands Pizza truck, and the event will conclude with raffles and awards given away. Don’t forget to save the date for this event, taking place on Friday, July 16th, 2021! To register and buy tickets now, visit this link here: https://m.facebook.com/events/1748762595306444

The lazy days of summer do not give you permission to neglect your vehicle. In fact, after a long, harsh winter and tumultuous spring, your car desperately needs your attention to get ready to handle summer’s unique challenges of sun and heat as well as the demands of summer travel. According to AutoTrader.com writer Colin Ryan, the car maintenance tips below will help you and your car get ready for the open road quicker than you can say flip-flop.Keep it clean A dirty windshield can compromise visibility when the sun hits it, so you should regularly clean your windshield as well as the entire car. Nothing beats up a car’s paint job than hot sun rays, and the yuck from birds and insects will damage your vehicle’s exterior, too. After a thorough washing, a good-quality wax will help your car sparkle even more in the sun. Stock summer essentials Road trips and summer are best friends, so make sure your vehicle is stocked with summer essentials like water, snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen, hats, entertainment for the children, phone and tablet chargers, weather information, an emergency triangle, small tool kit and flashlight. A sunshade for the dash and/or shades for the rear windows will help keep the interior a little cooler in between activities. Number one on the road trip list, though, is a full check-up from an automotive professional especially if your car is due for a scheduled service or if your brakes seem iffy. If your serpentine belt shows signs of wear, cracks or gives up completely, add this fix to your service appointment. Kick the tires Tires should be on your radar all year long, but especially in summer make sure your tires are properly inflated, are not showing uneven wear or cracks and the tread is at the right depth. It’s also a good time to check the condition of the spare. Check the air Your car air filter takes a beating from the weather, and summer is a great opportunity to check its condition, clean it or replace it if necessary. Same goes for your windshield wipers—after surviving Spring showers, your wipers are probably due to be replaced. Keep it cool The last thing you probably worried about this winter and spring was the working order of your car’s air conditioning. But summer heats up fast, and if your air conditioner is lacking in cooling power, it’s time for a check-up; it might have a leak which definitely requires the expertise of a mechanic. While thinking cool thoughts, take a second to check the coolant reservoir and how your car’s hoses are holding up—if they feel soft, it’s time for a change or fix. Test levels Make sure your car‘s fluids are at the right levels—windshield-washer, power-steering, brake and oil fluids are constantly being drained, and without the correct amount, your car is at risk for damage. By performing these suggested maintenance tips on your car, you will be on the right path for a summer of fun.

This year, Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 20th, 2021! This holiday celebrates and honors the men who have embraced the essential role of fatherhood. On this date, we thank fathers and father figures for the sacrifices they make, for embracing the responsibility of nurturing and raising their children, and for dedication to their family. Father’s Day usually falls on the same day as the summer solstice, which makes it the perfect time to kick-off the summer season with some father-focused barbecue, a camping trip, beach day, or other outdoor activity. If you’re looking for some other fun stuff to do this holiday, try out some of our ideas below! Maybe you want to go fishing on Father’s Day? Good thing is, this holiday falls on one of the best fishing days of the year! Of course, camping is another great summertime activity to do with pops, and goes well with fishing! Lastly, you can always grill up some summertime grub, check out this list of recipes here! For more information and ways to plan the perfect Father’s Day, click here.

We are proud to offer Maritime Chevy as an Authorized GM Financial Lease Return Center! As your current Chevy, Cadillac, Buick or GMC lease comes to an end, we want to make sure you’re as informed as possible about your options. Return & Upgrade Looking to upgrade into a new Chevy? We'll help you return your current lease and find your next Chevy in one seamless process. Don't currently have a Chevy? No problem, Maritime Chevrolet accepts any GMF auto lease. Simply contact us to get started on our website here, or call us at (203) 259-5221. Purchase Your Lease In love with your current leased vehicle? Maritime Chevy can help you purchase your vehicle with no strings attached! Return Your Lease Ready to return your lease but interested in a non-GM vehicle? Maritime Chevy will help you return your vehicle to us with no purchase necessary. Click here to learn more and read some lease return FAQs: https://www.maritimechevy.com/lease-return

Warmer temperatures invite us outdoors for activities that expose us to the sun’s warm but dangerous rays. Health specialists recommend using sunscreen to protect the skin from the risks of sunburn and skin cancer while enjoying the great outdoors; but not everyone understands how sunscreen works. To remedy these misconceptions, here is the truth about eight common sunscreen myths.Sunscreen doesn’t expire Although you might think sunscreen doesn’t have an expiration date, it actually does. According to Jon Johnson, contributor to Medical News Today, the active ingredients in sunscreen eventually break down and are no longer effective in protecting from the sun. Some sunscreen bottles will list an expiration date so you know how long you have to use them. For the ones that don’t, it’s a safe bet to use the contents within three years from when you purchased the sunscreen, according to Mayo Clinic member Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. One application is enough Although some sunscreen packages might claim that the product lasts all day, that’s not actually the case. According to Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, this is just “hyped up marketing,” as he explained in a Today article. He recommended applying sunscreen every two to three hours, no matter what type of sunscreen you’re using or how long it says it lasts. Some sunscreens are 100 percent waterproof Once again, this is another claim that sunscreens can’t deliver on. Although some types of sunscreen might be more resistant to water than others, no sunscreen can be totally waterproof, as Johnson also explains. It’s important to apply sunscreen at least 10 to 15 minutes before going swimming or engaging in a water sport, as well as reapplying it afterward. Drinkable SPFs are great substitutes for sunscreen lotion There’s a new trend to protect yourself from the sun: ingesting products like Osmosis Harmonized H20 UV Neutralizer, instead of applying conventional sunscreen to your skin. Per Rokhsar, there’s no scientific support that backs the claims of oral SPF products, so it’s best to stick with sunscreen lotion for skin protection. A dark complexion requires little or no sunscreen While pale-skinned individuals are more prone to sunburn, those with darker skin are not immune to the dangers of UV rays. As Boer Deng, contributor with The Washington Post, notes, while melanin in the skin acts as a mild defense against skin damage, it only offers an SPF value of 1.5 to 2.0, which isn’t strong enough to shield your skin from UV rays. Sunscreen is more effective than covering up It turns out, covering your skin with clothing or accessories like hats is a better defense against sun damage than sunscreen lotion, as Johnson identifies. For even more protection against UV radiation, Rokhsar suggests donning SPF clothing, which is 100 percent effective. SPF is the most important quality It’s easy to think that SPF is the most vital factor to consider when you’re browsing sunscreens at the store. According to Maya Guhan with Berkeley Wellness, that’s not accurate. While SPF relates to the sunscreen’s protective capacity against UVB rays, you also have to consider its protection against UVA rays. Make sure that the sunscreen you decide to purchase has “broad spectrum” written on the label, to ensure that the lotion will properly shield you from both UVB and UVA rays. Shelter is just as good as sunscreen It’s tempting to think that if you’re under a beach umbrella, you’ll avoid getting sunburnt. However, sand accounts for 17 percent of UV radiation, so you can still experience some level of skin damage even if you’re under the umbrella rather than in direct sunlight, Guhan warns. She cites a JAMA Dermatology study from 2020, which indicates that 80 percent of people who sat under a beach umbrella for 3.5 hours without sunscreen experienced sunburn that manifested itself the next day. Implement these helpful strategies to maximize the benefits of sunscreen and keep your skin healthy this summer!