November E-Newsletter

We think you'll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for enhancing your Internet experience. As always, we appreciate your feedback and suggestions. Please send your thoughts, comments or questions to newsletter@gmavt.net.

The Green Mountain Access Team
Adam, Amanda, Eric, Kris, Phil, Richard, Seth and Scott

Company News

Win a Mad Card To Mad River Glen

Each month, we raffle off a prize from a local business, so be sure to enter your name for your chance to win. This month we are raffling off a Mad Card ($169.00 value) from Mad River Glen.  The Mad Card offers 3 transferable day tickets good any time during the 2018-19 ski season. Congratulations to Alison Lesure for winning our GMA monthly eNewsletter raffle - a $50.00 gift certificate to the Hyde Away Inn. To be entered into the raffle, simply click the link below and leave your name and contact information. The drawing will take place on November 19th.

Click here to enter for your chance to win

Maximize Your Home Wi-Fi

Looking to improve the Wi-Fi coverage in your home? Whole Home Wi-Fi from Green Mountain Access uses multiple Access Points to expand coverage to every part of your home.

Better Coverage Eliminates Dead-spots
Whole Home Wi-Fi improves coverage throughout your home and maximizes device connection speeds. Need additional coverage? No problem, simply add additional access points to increase coverage and eliminate “dead” spots.

How Much Does It Cost?
Whole Home Wi-Fi is just $10.90* per month and includes two AirTies 4920ac Wi-Fi access points (two access points cover the majority of installations). If needed for your specific installation, additional Wi-Fi access points can be added for $5.45* per month for each additional access.

Want To Learn More?
For more information, watch our video below or visit http://www.wcvt.com/services/wi-fi/residential to learn more about our Whole Home Wi-Fi or business Wi-Fi solutions.

*Whole Home Wi-Fi equipment requires Green Mountain Access high-speed Internet service and a modem/router. One-time $100 installation fee applies.

Thank You For Buying Local

At Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, we have a dedicated team of telecommunications experts working on your behalf every day. As your truly local provider, we live and work alongside you in this community and that local service is something our competitors can't offer. With us at your side, you can enjoy advantages such as:

Local, Personal Attention
Just stop in our office or give us a call when you have questions. You're not limited to 800 numbers answered by customer service representatives across the country or on the other side of the world. We bring a unique blend of local knowledge, expertise and support to everything we do.

Faster Response Times
We're nearby and ready to serve you, and we also value your time. So our team works hard to ensure that your needs are taken care of quickly. We understand how important your services are to you and work diligently to keep you connected to the world.

Commitment to Improved Services
Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom strives to provide you with the best telecommunications solutions available for a fair rate. After all, we're invested in the local communities we serve.

All of us at Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom want to thank you for choosing us as your provider and we look forward to continuing to serve your future needs.

WCVT In The Community

Bristol Halloween Party Was Spooktacular!

Thanks to everyone that came to our annual children’s Halloween Party in Bristol! Once again we had a great turnout. A special thanks to the Bristol Recreation Department for all of their help and the use of Holley Hall and to the community for supporting this great annual event.

Being a local business means that our customers are also our neighbors and friends. At Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, we feel strongly that community involvement is not just a nice thing to do; it is the right thing to do. If you have a community service project in the making and are looking for help, contact Lorraine Keener at 496-8379 or via email lkeener@corp.wcvt.com to see if we can lend a hand.

Community Events

Waitsfield Ski And Skate Sale - Saturday / Sunday, November 10 and 11 - Waitsfield

New and used equipment and clothing for skiers, riders, skaters, and winter lovers of all ages. All proceeds benefit the Waitsfield Elementary School PTA. Hours are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am - 2:00 pm on Sunday. For more information, call 496-3643 or visit http://www.waitsfieldschool.org/ski-and-skate-sale.php.

Annual Thanksgiving Farmer's Market At The Round Barn – Sunday, November 18 - Waitsfield

The annual Thanksgiving farmer's market will take place on Sunday, November 18th from 10:00am - 2:00pm at the Round Barn in Waitsfield. It is the perfect opportunity to purchase local and organic food for use at your Thanksgiving table or to purchase unique gifts for loved ones. There will also be live music, food to enjoy while shopping, and plenty of community spirit to add to the festive and fun atmosphere. For more information, click here.

21st Annual Louise Roomet Turkey Lane Turkey Trot – Sunday, November 25 - Hinesburg

Come out on Sunday, November 25 for a 4.25 mile fun run and walk along a scenic course in rural Hinesburg and Monkton. Proceeds benefit the Hinesburg Land Trust and its efforts to preserve land for public use forever! Registration begins at 11:45. Walkers go at 12:45 and runners at 1:00. There will be prizes from local sponsors. For more information, visit http://www.hinesburgrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29886.

Tutorial / FAQ

Stay Alert - Watch Out For Fake Retail Websites

As you start your holiday shopping, you'll no doubt be looking for great deals that is, the best prices for the items you want to buy. Keep in mind, however, that some prices truly are too good to be true. Fake websites that advertise extreme bargains and mimic actual shopping sites are out there, and they want to trick you out of your money by not sending you the products you order or sending you shoddy look-alike products instead.

At these sites, you may be asked to "update" your credit card information before you make a purchase. Or you may complete a transaction, only to receive nothing and likely have your credit card number put up for sale on the dark web. Some fake sites may even install malware on your computer.

To spot fake sites, look for the following telltale signs:

~ Ridiculously low prices
~ Sloppy website design
~ Poor English usage
~ Requirement to pay via money order, cash, or wire transfer instead of by credit card
~ Requests for personal information such as your Social Security number
~ No refund policy

In addition to steering clear of sites with these characteristics, you should avoid clicking internet ads and email links. If you want to click a link found in a search, check out the URL carefully first. Most legitimate websites now use "https" rather than "http" at the beginning of their URL. Suspicious URLs may include the real retailer's name plus extra words like "deals." One example of this phenomenon is the site pandorapick.com, which mimics the legitimate site of the jewelry company Pandora, which is at pandora.com.

Short Tutorial / FAQ - Several People Messaged Me Recently Saying They Got A Suspicious Facebook Friend Request And I should Forward The Warning To Others. What's Going On?

Question:  A few of my Facebook friends sent me messages saying they got a Facebook friend request from me when we're already friends, and that I may want to check my account and forward the message to others. What should I do?

Answer: It's entirely possible that your friends did get a bogus friend request from someone who created a fake account with your name and photo.
It's easy enough to find out; simply do a search for your name on Facebook and see if another account with your name and photo pops up. If that's the case, then, yes, you should inform your Facebook friends that there is a duplicate account that may be trying to friend your friends.

You should also click on the Report This Profile button on the fake profile to report it to Facebook, which should shut the account down within 24 hours. A duplicate account isn't necessarily harmful to you, but the person who created it may be trying to get others to friend them so they can mine those accounts for personal information.

Another possible scenario is that your friends simply forwarded a message they got from another friend saying, "I got a bogus friend request from you. Forward this to everyone you know." Before you go spamming all your friends, you might want to message these friends back and ask if they really got a duplicate friend request from you, or if they just forwarded the message because they were asked to.

Sites of the Month

Fight The Flu

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm
This site provides information about preventing the flu, symptoms to watch out for, and what to do if you get the flu. You'll also find descriptions of current and past flu seasons. Remember, the flu can lead to more serious illnesses like pneumonia, so be sure to get your flu shot.

HGTV Dream Home

https://www.hgtv.com/design/hgtv-dream-home
Visit this site to see images of the HGTV Dream Home 2019 currently being built plus a video of the gorgeous Montana spot where it's located. You can sign up for email reminders to enter the HGTV Dream Home 2019 sweepstakes beginning on December 28.

Money-Saving Tips

https://www.wisebread.com/
Here you'll find advice for "living large on a small budget." Check out articles about credit cards, personal finance, best deals, and more. Read about planning a trip around the world, how brand loyalty programs might cost you money, or money questions you should be able to answer by age 30.

More...

Two to View - A Couple Amazing Videos You Don't Want to Miss

84-Year-Old Vermont "Super Athlete" Flo - She started in track and field at age 60 and is still going strong, winning medals and inspiring young athletes.

Military-Themed Dog Performance - This dog and trainer put on an impressive show including salutes, training exercises, and a simulated field rescue.

Go Pinterest-ing! - Cool Stuff to Pin on Your Pinterest Boards

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/129056345549612384/

Warm and Comforting Pumpkin-Carrot Soup
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775875097092/

27 DIY Centerpiece Ideas For Fall Décor
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775875097127/

You haven't started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started? To sign up, go to www.pinterest.com.

Free Featured Apps - These Three are Well Worth the Look

BigOven
With numerous search, inspiration, and organizational tools, BigOven provides one convenient place for all your food planning. Learn More Here: http://www.bigoven.com/mobile

KAYAK
This award-winning app can help you find flights, hotels, and cars. Use the measurement tool to check your carry-on for flights. Learn More Here: https://www.kayak.com/mobile

First Aid
Use this American Red Cross app to prepare for emergencies, address a medical situation, or find out where to call for help. Learn More Here: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html