Hi there,

The 2017 Sound Off Music Competition entry period has come to a close, but the voting phase is here! Maine is home to some incredible talent, and this year’s entrants are proof of that. Voting continues through 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 9 and YOUR vote matters! The top two vote-getters from each category with move on to the finals, where they will be joined by one wildcard entry. They will perform at the Sound Off Showdown before a panel of judges in the final battle to crowned the next Sound Off winner! The winners will receive $500 to Main Street Music Studios and a live performance at the 2017 Old Port Festival! Make sure you head over to the website to vote for your favorite artists, and help them kick off their music career!

Having fun on a budget during the colder months of the year can seem impossible. Buying a snowmobile can be as pricy as buying a car, and a day pass for skiing or snowboarding seems to get more expensive every year. Pond hockey gets me outside and having fun for cheap, as long as the weather is cooperating!

We still have a couple months of winter left, which means we have to battle the cold weather for a bit longer. It feels great when you escape from the cold air into your warm home, but that heat comes with a cost. Whether you have a furnace, pellet stove, heat pump or a fireplace, staying warm throughout the Maine winter isn’t a cheap task. According to the Department of Energy, heating costs account for just over half of the energy use in an average American home. Luckily, there are some easy adjustments you can make to reduce your heating costs!

I’ll be making another trip up to Aroostook County later this week! Fort Kent is once again hosting their Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races, and I’m so excited to be covering the event. I’ll be capturing the way of life in the County with interviews from credit union staff, and young snowmobile and sled dog riders. I’ll include beautiful scenes from Northern Maine, and I’ll be sure to stop at as many credit union branches as possible! Credit unions resonate so well in the Crown of Maine, and I think it all ties back to people helping people. People in the County are all about tradition. They work hard and play hard, and I look forward to making the trip!

In this It's a Money Thing video, Jen learns about the power of compound interest and the advantages of saving early and often.

Thanks for stopping by! Is there somewhere or something that I would be a fool to miss out on during my time in the County? I’d love to know!

Take care,

Jake Holmes
Young & Free Maine Spokester