Free brakes for food Signal Garage Auto Care in West St. Paul (84 E. Moreland Av., 651-457-2668) and St. Paul (2050 Grand Av., 651-690-1487) is offering free brake care through August in exchange for a donation of a full bag of nonperishable food or school supplies. The freebie includes a test drive, wheel removal, brake inspection and, if needed, brake pads and shoes. Rotors, hoses, calipers and drums are extra with labor and parts at the garage's regular rates.
Signal Garage gets an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and an A rating with Angie's List. Checkbook.org rated its overall performance as slightly above average and its hourly labor costs as slightly lower than average.
Donations are given to the Neighborhood House (www.neighb.org) in St. Paul and Neighbors (www.neigh borsmn.org) charities, which support causes in the area.
Need a new roof? Call your insurance agent Hail has been reported several times this summer in the Twin Cities area, but most of us don't bother to check our roofs for damage unless we see water dripping or damaged shingles on the ground. Even if your roof isn't leaking, it's a good idea to ask your insurance agent to check it if you've had hail in your area. A colleague with an old roof recently got a check for $6,300 due to hail damage. Call your agent regardless of the age of your roof, but it might be a nice windfall for those planning to replace a roof soon.
King Tut exhibit special Through Aug. 19, visitors who purchase a ticket to the King Tut exhibition at the Science Museum of Minnesota (www.smm.org/tut/promos, 651-221-9444) receive one free ticket for a child (ages 4 to 12), a $16 to $18 savings. The deal, available from the box office or by phone, is only for entry times after 3 p.m. The free ticket includes admission to the museum's general exhibit galleries, but not to the Omnitheater, mini-golf or other activities.
Cheap ice follow-up Two weeks ago I mentioned that Burger King offers a cheaper source of ice ($1.39 for 10 pounds) than discounters, gas stations and warehouse clubs. Several deal spotters mentioned that other fast-food restaurants have even cheaper prices. Some locations of Taco John's and Arby's offer 10 pounds of ice for $1. Not all locations participate, but fast-food restaurants that sell ice let you conveniently pick it up at the drive-through windows.
John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. If you spot a deal, share it at www.startribune.com/dealspotter.
