MTA Today - Spring 2014

Summer is approaching quickly. Do you hope to take some time to recharge your batteries, rekindle your romance or enjoy a family getaway? At sea, the possibilities are endless. On a cruise, you can slip on your sandals or your dancing shoes, break a sweat in the fitness center or get a massage in the spa while your children enjoy the supervised kids’ club. Your day may start with soaking up the sun at the pool. Then, after a busy afternoon, you can enjoy the ultimate in fine dining. But the fun really begins after dinner, when you can hit the jackpot in the casino, see a Broadway-style show or unwind in a hot tub under the stars. There’s simply something fun for everyone. With prices that haven’t been this low in years, it’s time to take advantage of both sun and savings.

America’s largest cruise agency, CruisesOnly, offers the lowest prices in the industry. In fact, CruisesOnly backs up its promise with a 110% Best Price Guarantee. Shop and compare thousands of cruises from 18 of the world’s top fleets, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess, Holland America, Disney and others, departing from 22 U.S. ports with itineraries that include stops around the world.

Browse the latest in new promotions and last-minute offers or shop by category — weekend, family, honeymoon, river cruises and more. Check out customer reviews and travel tips.

Hurry — the best sailings fill up fast! Visit www.MTAvacations.com and click on CruisesOnly to start planning now!

All program and pricing information was current at the time of publication (April 2014) and is subject to change without notice.

As the nation’s largest online propane marketplace, Propane.pro has seen firsthand the personal and economic damage done by the recent propane shortage. Due to sustained cold weather and increased levels of U.S. exports of propane, prices have spiked to record highs.

Propane is a fuel that consumers and businesses use for everything from space heating to cooking. Roughly 8 million U.S. households rely on it for home heating, making the recent combination of frigid weather and supply disruption a potential public health emergency.

Andrew Heaney, the founder of Propane.pro, has called on the federal government to fund the establishment of a strategic propane reserve to ensure that a dangerous shortage never happens again.

“In 2000, the Northeastern U.S. experienced
a similar shortage of heating oil due to
extreme temperatures and frozen waterways
that prevented the delivery of product to
the region,” Heaney remarked. “Congress
responded with the creation of the Strategic
Heating Oil Reserve, which
continues to provide consumers
with a reliable supply.” Heaney
said that a strategic propane reserve
“would not only protect health and
property, but would be a boon to
the economy in the long term by
providing more stable fuel prices for
consumers and businesses.”
Heaney pointed out that the United
States has exported a record amount of
propane this past year as producers have
sought higher prices for their product abroad.

“The sad irony of this situation is that the United States has never produced as much propane as it does now, with all the natural gas exploration that we have in the U.S.,” Heaney said.

In recent months, Propane.pro’s website has experienced a huge spike in traffic as propane users seek relief from higher prices.

Propane.pro offers to connect consumers with
up to four prescreened propane suppliers in
their neighborhood. The suppliers compete
for the consumer’s business, usually resulting
in significantly lower prices.

Propane.pro, the endorsed propane supplier of MTA Benefits, offers members additional unique benefits, including a certificate for $50 of free propane when they sign up with a Propane.pro supplier as well as a $100 certificate toward the purchase of a new propane tank.

If you use propane, you know how expensive it can be. Visit propane.pro/mta or call 855.966.1444 today to see how much you might be able to save.

A cruise offers something (fun) for every traveler

Once the Quality Control Department clears the loan, it goes to the closer. The closer coordinates with attorneys and/or title companies and produces all documents to be signed at the closing. The attorney or title company personnel will contact the consumer to coordinate the closing date and the amount of money that the consumer will need for the closing. Remember, the attorney present at the closing represents the bank, though he or she is acting indirectly in your interest as well. You may wish to consider consulting with your own attorney at the time of closing.

Members have a direct line to Paul Gershkowitz of Greenpark Mortgage. “MTA members are welcome to contact me for more information at 866.475.HOME (4663), ext. 125,” said Gershkowitz. “We’re here to answer any questions — before, during and after the mortgage process.” Greenpark Mortgage in Needham, Mass., is a division of Berkshire Bank, a Massachusetts-based, FDIC-insured institution for more than 165 years, with approximately $6 billion in assets and 92 full-service branch offices throughout New England and New York. The newest branch will open in the fall of 2014 in Westborough.