|
|||||||
|
December Events
December 6th — St. Nicholas Day Celebrating Hanukkah In Iraq Because only a small percentage of our Armed Forces in Iraq are Jewish, celebrating Hanukkah can be a challenge. There might be only one or two Jewish people in a unit. Still they manage to do it. There were Hanukkah parties held in Baghdad and Camp Anaconda north of Baghdad last year. 
Although latkes and fresh sufganiyot (jelly donuts) are hard to find, the menorah lighting observance is easy and meaningful. Jewish friends often send simple candles and a holder. As part of a project last year, Boy Scouts from Pack 1190 from Congregation Emanu El prepared care packages with candles, menorahs, and dreidels, giving soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait a way to mark the holiday. Though there might be few Jewish men and women in a single unit, they say their comrades support them, ask questions about the celebration, and are interested in learning about it. |
 During this holiday season, we, at Marty’s Motors want to send best wishes to you and yours, whether you are celebrating according to religion, family customs, or just for the magical fun of Santa and gift-giving. We wish for joy, love, and peace, to all. However you observe the holidays, may they bring joyful times. As greetings ring out through halls and decorations bring color to every corner, a feeling of brotherhood surrounds us. 
The spirit of the holidays also reflects our dedication to helping those in need, to giving hope to those in despair, and to spreading peace and understanding throughout our own country and the world. We are reminded again of the men and women in our Armed Forces. We are grateful for their work and personal sacrifices in defending freedom and keeping our homeland safe. 
May the spirit of the holidays renew our commitment to harmony and working together for a future of success. To you and yours, we say "Happy Holidays!" "Season's Greetings!" and "Happy New Year!" Celebrating? Choose Your Ride! By Presidential Proclamation, December of each year is designated National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month. It is the most popular month for serving alcohol at parties, family gatherings, and social events. That makes December the most dangerous time of the year for alcohol-related traffic accidents and fatalities. Think about this: An alcohol-related motor vehicle crash kills someone every 31 minutes in the U.S. and nonfatal crashes injure someone every two minutes according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics for 2004. That's the annual average, but statistics for December show it to be more dangerous than other months. 
Most people enjoy holiday drinks, but driving home after a party can be a disaster. You can have your fun and stay safe if you arrange to have a designated driver, someone who will not be drinking and who can safely drive you home after the party. Your responsibility, however, does not end there. When you see that a person who doesn't have a designated driver is intoxicated, arrange a ride or drive him/her home yourself. Friends don't let friends drive drunk. Do You Have A Question About Car Maintenance That You Want Answered? We love to hear from all of our good friends and clients who enjoy reading our monthly newsletter. If you have a question about anything related to your vehicle, feel free to give us a call at 510-235-6000 or martysmotors.com |
|
|
|
Wireless Headsets Bluetooth technology has made wireless cell phone headsets possible. They are usually 3 or 4 inches long, weigh less than an ounce, and don't need to be plugged into a cell phone. People don't usually notice a user is wearing one in his ear. The wireless headsets can be used up to 30 feet away from the phone, but usually people keep the phone clipped to their belts or in a purse. While talking hands-free can be convenient, two problems arise. First, people think you are talking to yourself. And second, people think you are talking to them when you aren't. Wireless equipment makers say sales have increased sharply this year, partly because new wireless sets are easier to use. Additionally, many newer and inexpensive phones are equipped to work with them. Manufacturers expect a big spike in sales at Christmas time. Most Bluetooth sets cost $50 to $150. Users say the sound is good and sets are easy to wear. They run on batteries that last from 2.5 hours to more than 15 hours. 
“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” -Andy Rooney New Year's Eve Around the World At midnight Eastern Standard Time on New Year's Eve, millions of Americans watch the ball drop in New York City's Times Square. Other countries have their own traditions for observing the last night of the year. In Scotland, the celebration is called Hogmanay, and 100,000 people or more throng the streets of Edinburgh and Glasgow for dancing and revelry. In Spain, as the clock bells toll midnight, celebrants eat 12 grapes. At each peal of the bells, they put another grape in their mouths. When the clock stops chiming and the grapes are eaten, the old year is deemed officially over. 
In parts of South America, people make an effigy of a person out of old clothes stuffed with newspapers and firecrackers. At midnight, the dummy is set on fire, symbolizing that the old year is going up in smoke. Fireworks are the main attraction in Australia, where crowds gather around Sydney Harbour Bridge. Fireworks displays are staged near the Eiffel Tower in Paris; and in London, the fireworks focus is the London Eye, the largest Ferris Wheel (or observation wheel) in the world, built for the Millennium Celebration in 1999. |
Some Holiday Tips To Keep Kids Safe Here are some holiday tips from Dr. Phil Dreessen, a pediatrician with Texas Children’s Pediatric Associates:
Holiday Gingerbread In a pan, melt 1/2 cup butter, 2/3 cup brown sugar, and 1/3 cup molasses. Cool slightly, then beat in 1 egg. In a bowl, sift together almost one cup of white and almost one cup of whole wheat flour, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Stir into the melted mix. Mix 2/3 cup warm milk and 1 teaspoon baking soda and add to the mix. Stir in 1/2 cup dried fruit. Bake in a pan lined with wax paper for 1 hour at 300 degrees. Cool, remove from the pan, and discard the wax paper. For best flavor, store in an airtight tin for a week before serving. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Special thanks go out to all of our clients and friends who graciously referred our shop to their friends and neighbors last month! Our business is built based on the positive comments and referrals from people just like you. We just couldn’t do it without you. Paul Chow & David Golden Good Grades Can Lower Car Insurance Premiums Although teenage drivers often have the highest car insurance rates, Phillip Reed, author of Strategies for Smart Car Buyers, says that insurers often give discounts of as much as 10 percent to families with students who have a 3.0 or higher grade average. "Figure out exactly how much this saves you, and give that money to your teenager," he says. "It provides a direct reward for academic performance, and it motivates them to try to continue getting good grades." To get the discount, mail, fax, or drop off a copy of your child's report card to your insurance company. |
|
|
|
Congratulations To Our Client Of The Month! Client Of The Month! Every month, we choose a very special client of the month. It's our way of acknowledging our great clients and saying thanks to those that support our business with referrals and repeat business. This month's Client of the Month is John Rozance, for his positive energy and good spirits. Lines From Resumes We Hope Aren't True
Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions According to Kimberly and Albrecht Powell in an About Web site article, these are the Top 10 New Year’s resolutions:
Thanks For The Kind Words “Marty and his staff were able to improvise a solution to a problem that saved me a lot of money.” –Thomas |
Be Prepared For Winter Driving According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. If you will be driving/traveling in winter weather, reduce your risk by preparing your automobile before severe winter weather hits. FEMA advises having a mechanic check these items on your car:
Do You Want To Win A Free 3-day / 2-night Mini-Vacation? Take the trivia challenge and you just might win! Each month we’ll give you a new trivia question. The first 10 people to call with the correct answer will be eligible to win. At the end of the month we’ll draw one lucky name. That winner will receive a certificate good for 3 fun-filled days and 2 exciting nights of deluxe hotel accommodations. Here is this month’s trivia question: “In Spain they celebrate the New Year by eating how many grapes?” (Hint: the answer is somewhere in this newsletter) Call right now with your answer!
|
|
|
|
HOME | SERVICES | MONEY SAVERS | MOTOR TIMES | LOCATION | WHO IS MARTY?| CONTACT US
last update 11/02/05 |
|
