Director’s Thoughts – January, 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR! January 1st! Isn’t that the day when everyone looks in the mirror & says to themselves, okay, this is it, I really need to start getting healthier? I need to watch what I am eating, & get more exercise! Well, I was recently looking on the internet & came across a January calendar. I bet this is like no other calendar that you may have seen. Take a look at the newsletter insert. Happy New Year! The Holidays (Food Holidays That is) Are Just Beginning! (Remember, this is just for January!) A whole new year of food holidays means more than 365 days of different food festivities. Each month has foods w. entire dedicating feasting months, plus foods w/ special feasting weeks.

Well, I don’t know about you, but January sure doesn’t sound like a month to think about getting healthy. What do you think? One final thought: Time really does fly by. It has been 1 year since I was director of this fine club of ours. I have enjoyed every bit of it! I feel so fortunate to have found this club for Stacy & me to join. Everyone welcomed us & made us feel so comfortable. We have made a lot of really nice friends. I would like to take this opportunity to THANK everyone for their ongoing support. It is the constant support of each other that makes this club what it is. I hope, the next year will bring us a lot of exciting things to do. January, the first month of the year, is a time to move on to new beginnings.

Your Director, Don Sterner

“Free Spirit” Meeting Minutes, December 4, 2014
The “Holiday Gathering” was held in lieu of the monthly meeting.

Annual “Holiday Gathering”, December 2, 2014

33 joyous “Free Spiriters” thoroughly enjoyed a night of adventure. The annual “Holiday Gathering” was held @ the Starlite Diner & Lounge on the evening of December 2, 2014. Despite the cool & wet weather, everyone made it to & from without a hitch. As the social hour went rather quickly, everyone enjoyed their scrumptious selections of the evening. After dinner, the induction of the 2015 Officers & BOD took place. “Crazy Bingo”, as always, took off after the induction. Again, as in the past, there were a few items that were “HOT” during the game. As the evening came to a close, Don Sterner shared a few informative announcements. All in all, everyone had a bone chilling adventure.

On The Mend

The following members had short visits to the local hospital(s):
Katie Arnold, Clarence Getz, Ed Lenny, Paul & Shirley Schaffer

With Sympathy

Alfred F. Miller, Jr. (1936-2014)
Alfred F. Miller, Jr., 78, of Northampton passed away peacefully Friday, November 28, 2014 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Roseanne B. (Baab) Miller. Alfred was a Business Teacher at Palmerton High School for many years. He was also a Public Accountant & a Notary Public. Alfred was a former member of the Northampton Exchange Club & an avid model train & stamp collector.

Arnold C. Rapoport
Arnold C. Rapoport, 83, of Allentown, passed away Saturday, November 29, 2014 @ Kirkland Village, Bethlehem. He was a graduate of Muhlenberg College & Temple University Law School. He was a practicing attorney for many years before being appointed United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Pa. He retired in 2006. Mr. Rapoport was an avid collector of antique cars. He was one of the original Das Awkscht Fescht organizing committee members & a founding board member of the America on Wheels Museum.

What to do When Faced with An Auto Recall

New cars are purchased or leased to provide a reliable mode of transportation. But some vehicles malfunction even when they are fresh off of the dealership lot. Other times manufacturers or safety watchdog groups determine that certain cars & trucks have an issue that requires a recall to keep roadways safe. Vehicle recall statistics are difficult to pin down. That’s because there is no standard rate of recalls per year, as recalls depend on safety statistics for particular makes & models. For example, in 2009 > 40 million Toyota vehicles were recalled due to a faulty gas pedal.

An automobile recall is how manufacturers inform drivers that there could be something about their cars or trucks that presents a risk of injury or property damage. The recall may be independently conducted by the manufacturer or ordered by a safety group, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety administration. The recall involves the manufacturer providing a free, safe & effective remedy for the faulty component.

When a recall is announced, drivers may not have to immediately visit a dealership to have the problem corrected. Owners should wait for an official letter. The letter will narrow down which vehicles are affected. There should be a specific window of time presented in which can be repaired. Vehicle owners are urged to pay attention to the performance of their cars or trucks to see if they are exhibiting any problems. If so, schedule an appointment for repair according to the recall instructions provided.

The notification letter should include the risk of hazard posed by the problem as well as the free remedy & how long the repair should take. There also should be a description of what an owner can do if he/she is unable to have the problem remedied within a reasonable amount of time & without charge.

If repair work has been done on a vehicle prior to knowledge of the recall, owners may be eligible for reimbursement for their expenses, provided they kept their receipts. While reimbursement for damages that the defect may have caused are not covered by recalls, owners may be able to solicit reimbursement privately.

The following are steps to take when informed of a recall:
+ Contact the dealer service manager & explain that you are inquiring about work required as part of a recall.
+ If the manager has not remedied the situation & provided the next steps, contact the manufacturer, which should be able to handle the situation.
+If all else fails, Americans can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration @ www.recalls.gov.

Property Maintained Headlights Vastly Improve Driver Safety

The importance of maintaining a vehicle cannot be understated. In addition to protecting their financial investments, drivers who properly maintain their vehicles are also protecting themselves & their passengers.
Many elements of vehicle maintenance become second nature to drivers once they have a few months of driving under their belts. Oil changes, routine checkups & periodic vehicle inspections can keep cars running smoothly & safety on the road. But few drivers remember to maintain their headlights, a potentially dangerous oversight that can compromise the safety of drivers & their fellow motorists.

Old or poorly maintained headlights can be hazardous for a variety of reasons. When coupled w/ inclement weather, outdated or dirty headlights can make it difficult for drivers to see pedestrians & other vehicles. In addition, drivers who struggle to see @ night may find their visibility further compromised by older headlights that don’t provide the light they need to navigate their vehicles safely once the sun has gone down.

Because headlights can have such a dramatic impact on driver safety, it’s important that motorists take the following steps to maintain their headlamps.

•  Recognize when bulbs start to dim. As headlight bulbs age, their light output is reduced by the effects of humidity, electrical resistance, filament fatigue, & general usage. The result is dim bulbs make it difficult for motorists young & old to see when driving @ twilight & @ night, when a driver’s visual acuity is naturally reduced by 70%. Drivers should pay attention to how their headlights are performing, replacing bulbs that are no longer providing adequate light.
•  Don’t just replace but upgrade your headlight bulbs. Bulbs that have started to dim need to be replaced, but auto enthusiasts or maintenance-savvy drivers know they can upgrade their bulbs when replacing them. Industry experts recommend replacing headlamps bulbs every 2 years, & replacing them in pairs to make sure the vehicle’s lighting is equally balanced. But rather than sticking w/ the bulbs provided by the car maker, look for a bulb that makes it easier to see @ night & during hazardous conditions. The Phillips Upgrade Headlights put out more light on the road, helping to make up for poor weather, dimly lit roads, aging headlights, & even the loss of night vision many drivers experience as they age. Capable of providing up to 100% more light than the standard halogen bulbs found on the majority of vehicles today. Upgrade Headlights create a better beam pattern that is dramatically longer than the standard bulbs, vastly improving driver vision & safety.
•  Buy the bulbs that match your driving habits. Some drivers spend a significant amount of time behind the wheel while others use their cars or trucks only to run errands or make short trips. When replacing bulbs that have dimmed, be sure to choose a bulb that fits your driving habits. Phillips makes a headlight bulb for every type of driver, be it the daily commuter, the soccer mom or those drivers who only rarely take to the highway. Phillips even lakes a special headlamp for motorcycles that creates a unique orange reflection that helps distinguish the motorcycle from other vehicles on the road.
  Numerous studies have shown that roughly 1/3 of auto accidents occur @ night, when driver visibility is most compromised. So in addition to maintaining their headlights, driver should take the following steps to improve their visibility.
• Keep wiper blades fresh. Wiper blades should be changed every 3 months, as they can become brittle over time &, depending on their frequency of use, can wear out, especially on older vehicles w/ pitting on the windshield. When inspecting the wiper blades, remember to inspect your windshield washer as well, making sure that the washers are operating effectively & that the washer fluid basin has been refilled.
• Avoid hanging items that compromise visibility. Many drivers like to hang trinkets, fuzzy dice or personal photos from their vehicles’ rear view mirrors. Avoid hanging such items, which can prove distracting & restrict your view of the road.
• Clean the interior glass & mirrors. Dirty interior glass & mirrors make it difficult or drivers to see fellow motorists, so make removing any film buildup on such surfaces part of your routine vehicle maintenance.

Snowed In

Recently our family was reminiscing about some of the good old snow storms we used to have years ago, especially during my childhood. Those of you who lived through the mid 90’s got a dose of some of that as several sizable storms shut roads & brought transportation to a standstill.

I remember thinking as my children were growing up, that they really didn’t know what a good snowstorm was like. That changes around 1993 when we experienced several years of major snowfalls & extreme cold. I recall shoveling a lot of snow off roofs during those years & constantly plowing open the drive. Many roofs collapsed under the weight of snow & ice. The piles of snow were so high it was getting difficult to find room to go w/ it all. It seemed like all we got done was plow & shovel. During those years my work required me to commute between Mt Aetna & Schaefferstown via Rt. 501. Those of you who are familiar with Rt. 501, north of Mt Aetna, know how blowing snow can bring everything to a standstill. It was during one of those storms that many motorists got stranded in their vehicles & needed to be rescued. One individual stayed in his car & was finally rescued 3 days later when the road was finally opened. That account eventually made Reader’s Digest as a “Drama in Real Life”, story. Opening the road was a slow process because of all the vehicles buried under the drifts. It was also during one of those winters that I witnessed the lowest temperature of my lifetime. My memory says it was -30 degrees but my wife wrote in her diary that it was -20 degrees, so suffice it to say it was cold!! Here in these parts of PA I never saw the temperature that low before or since & can’t say that I really care to either. Reminiscing back a bit farther to the 60’s & 70’s I recall my father parking our car at the end pf the country road we lived along, when things began to blow shut. That way we didn’t have far to shovel, to get out onto Rt. 422. The roads would be shut for days & we often drove through the fields to get out onto the main highway. I recall one time that we dug a large cave in the snow drift right by the side of the road. We would crawl inside & keep warm. The cave was finally destroyed when the loader came through to open things up several days later.

Many times the neighboring farmers would help to get the roads open so they could ship their milk. The real drawback to opening the roads was the fact that most of the equipment was inadequate. They just didn’t have the massive plows, loaders, & snow blowers that we have today. In fact, if we just go back a few years farther, my neighbor talks about how they would all get together & shovel the road open. When it was too deep they would work on several levels which meant shoveling the snow up to one level & the next person shoveling it up from there. Talk about doing the work twice & sometimes 3 times. There were several benefits, however, such as learning to know your neighbors & getting plenty of exercise. There was no sitting around getting bored. Everyone grabbed a shovel and dug! Wouldn’t that be an experience where we all could benefit?

And so it is that each & every winter, I somehow hop for a big one. A big one, meaning a foot or more of snow along w/ blowing & drifting, so that it keeps you at home for at least 1 day. A big one that brings everything to a crawl & causes you to stop and notice the other folks who live @ the same address as you do. A big one, where you get out a 2,000 piece puzzle & drink tea & converse & play games & find contentment for a change just looking out the window. No, winter isn’t my favorite season but since it comes once a year I’m open to a good snowstorm that will create some memories. Looking back, I don’t recall much about those winters w/ little or no snow, but the big ones I remember.

Now, notice that I only asked for 1 snowstorm. 2 is 1 too many. 3 is excessive. 4 is over the top. This part of the country isn’t Buffalo, NY. Snow removal is costly for business owners. It is costly for municipalities & when the money gets used up for snow removal there is none left to fix potholes. So take into consideration, that when you wish for 2 snowstorms, you may need to be content to live with potholes next spring, because there may be no money left to fix them. Take your pick. Or then again, live with what you get. Aren’t you glad we don’t get to make the call?

I did find it interesting & humorous as well, that researchers on a mission to study “Global Warming” needed to be rescued from their ship, which ironically, was trapped by ice. I conclude that seasons come & go. They vary in intensity from year to year, but not one has missed its cycle. So, get out your gloves, your scarves, your boots, & your coats. Its wintertime! Bundle up & enjoy the great outdoors! It won’t be long until the temperatures warm up, the snow will melt & spring will be on its way! That’s my version of “Global Warming”.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JANUARY 2015                 (WEATHER PERMITTING)

6 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 78/100, supper @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.

16-18 – Auto Mania, Ag Hall, Allentown, PA

FEBRUARY 2015              (WEATHER PERMITTING)

3 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 78/100, supper @ 6pm, business meeting @ 7:30pm.  Guest speaker is a representative from the Camelot House of the Lehigh Valley.

22 – Hamburg Swap Meet, Hamburg, Pa.  Ontelaunee Region AACA.

27-March 1 – Atlantic City Car Show

MARCH 2015                     (WEATHER PERMITTING)

3 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts 100/78.  Supper @ 6pm, business meeting @ 7:30pm.  Guest speaker is David Webster on “Theft”.

21-22 – Lehigh University Stabler Arena event.  Place your car(s) on display.  Let’s let the public know that a BUICK club is out there!

                             CARS/PARTS “FOR SALE”

1917 Buick Roadster All restored.  $25,000.00, 860-982-3001.
1927 Buick Sport Roadster (54) 3p, very rare car.  Jack Bennett, representative for Rose Nemeth, (Erno’s wife,) Ringoes, NJ 908-303-5391
1956 Buick Century Riviera Series 60 – 4 dr htp.  Original 322 “Nail Head” V8 Road Master engine (255hp) w/ “Dyna Flow” A/T & factory dual exhaust.  PS, PB, PW & S.  Sonomatic push button radio, factory deluxe lighting pkg.  72,700 original mi.  Frame/body solid.  Garage kept.  Pics available.  $15,000.00/negotiable.  570-309-2367, Robert.stavish@gmail.com
1969 Skylark Convertible – kimberly.pavlick@scranton.edu
1981 Buick Regal – 4 dr dark green.  Garage kept.  75,000 mi. 717-576-7588
2006 Buick Rainier CXL-110,000 highway miles, silver w/ grey leather int., 4.2 L V-6, AWD w/ tow pkg.  Dealer serviced, immaculate condition, $8,400.  April @ 610-417-8647
1937 MINT Buick Owner’s Manual, $35.00.  kriebel12@verizon.net
b>1972-’87 pr. of NOS brake rotors for FS Buick, $45.00. 610-489-1253

1983-’86 Buick Regal NOS headlight frame LF in original GM box, $25.00.  kriebel12@verizon.net, 610-489-1253