History of Labor Day – Video Blog

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”

But Peter McGuire’s place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

Compiled By: Josh Martin
Sources: Department of labor

Kia to Integrate Google Maps and Places Into Its Cars

By STAN SCHROEDER

January 2, 2013

Kia Motors America has signed a deal with Google to integrate Google’s content and search-based solutions into its UVO eServices telematics system.

The first vehicle to get the Google treatment will be Kia’s 2014 Sorento, with the first new features being driving directions and POI location powered by Google Maps and Google Places.

Users will also be able to send a POI or a destination to their car using a smartphone app, find the newest Kia dealership using Google Places, and control their on-board navigation system through voice commands.

“Due to the popularity and ease-of-use of Google Maps, owners can remain confident in the technology and information being delivered to them,” said Henry Bzeih, head of the connected car program and chief technology strategist at KMA.

After the Sorento, which is expected to go on sale during Q1 2013, Kia plans to introduce UVO eServices into other models in its lineup, including the 2014 Forte Sedan.

Source: ABC News
Compiled By: Josh Martin

Kia Motors America Partners With B.R.A.K.E.S. Teen Pro-Active Defensive Driving Instruction

Kia Motors America (KMA) recently partnered with B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) Teen Pro Active Driving Course to provide more than 150 teenagers ranging in ages 15 1/2 to 19 with advanced training to respond to real-world driving scenarios. B.R.A.K.E.S., with KMA’s support – which included a fleet of 2013 Kia Rios – provided the instruction at no cost in an effort to prevent injuries and save lives by educating teens and their parents about the importance of responsible driving habits.

“Kia’s partnership with B.R.A.K.E.S. is a reflection of the company’s commitment to give back to the communities in which we do business,” said Michael Sprague , executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA. “Reinforcing the importance of responsible driving in the first few months of licensure is essential to reducing the number of teen motor vehicle crashes and making the roads safer for everyone.”

B.R.A.K.E.S., a 501 c3 charity based in Charlotte, N.C., has provided safe driving instruction courses for more than 8,000 students in the U.S. and Canada. The school offers nearly four hours of hands-on training and a very low student-instructor ratio to ensure personal attention. The curriculum includes an array of defensive driving techniques and raises awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. Parents participate in the courses alongside their teens to ensure safe driving techniques are reinforced following the session.

“More than 5,000 teenagers lose their lives each year across the country in traffic accidents,” said Doug Herbert , B.R.A.K.E.S. founder. “The support of companies such as Kia is invaluable to reducing the number of injuries and saving lives through advanced training.”

Training includes the following:

Accident Avoidance/Slalom: The two-part course simulates an animal or object jumping out in front of a car. It forces students to make a split second reaction to help negotiate a quick, evasive lane change without losing control. Students must navigate their vehicle around cones while focusing on weight transfer, hand positioning and eye scanning.

Distracted Driving: In 2009 it was estimated more than 5,400 people died in crashes that were reported to involve a distracted driver and about 448,000 people were injured1. The course demonstrates the danger that cell phones, text messaging, and other distractions can pose.

Drop Wheel/Off Road Recovery: The drop-wheel recovery course teaches students how to effectively recover from a drop-wheel situation by regaining control of the car and safely returning to the roadway.

Panic Stop: Teens often lack the experience needed to judge a safe following distance. The panic stop course instructs students on proper techniques to help stop a vehicle in the shortest distance while maintaining control. Students experience firsthand the effects of ABS and its ability to help keep the wheels from locking while pulsating brake pressure.

Car Control and Recovery: A wet skid pad simulates maintaining control on moist roads. Students learn how to recover from both over-steer (rear wheel) and under-steer (front wheel) skids.

Source: Kia USA

Essential Winter Driving Tips For Teens

By: Treasure Valley Teen

Many people believe that quick reactions make a good driver. The world’s best drivers are trained to anticipate problems early and direct the vehicle appropriately before they become involved in a problem. Reacting too quickly can be dangerous if the driver’s response is inappropriate. Remember to anticipate problems, respond to them early, avoid panic, and remain calm. The driver and the vehicle are equally important to success on ice and snow. Winter driving can, and should, be an enjoyable, hazard-free experience for everyone.

• Prepare for winter conditions. Car problems that are a nuisance in the summer can turn dangerous in the winter. A thorough check of the cooling, charging, braking and suspension systems is a must; don’t wait until the first winter storm.
• Use winter tires in winter conditions. An all-season tire is a compromise that will not perform as well as a winter tire. Two identical vehicles, one with all-season tires and one with purpose-built winter tires, will have very different performance levels; traction may vary by as much as fifty percent. If your car has all-season tires, remember that the car in front of you may have winter tires and be able to stop up to 50 percent faster.
• Have your battery tested before winter arrives. A dead battery is an annoyance during the summer but can become a life-threatening event in a winter blizzard. Even new batteries can lose as much as 40 percent of their cold-cranking ability in cold weather, and worn batteries lose even more.
• Check exhaust system for leaks. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Don’t let a simple exhaust leak ruin a trip or endanger the lives of you and your family.
• Winter wiper blades. Replace worn wiper blades with new winter blades. Many drivers replace the wiper blades annually when they put on their snow tires.
• Warm up your car and clear all snow and ice. Visibility is crucial. Safe and responsible vehicle operation requires that front, rear, and side windows are clear. Snow left on the hood will blow onto the windshield and clog wipers as speed increases. Snow left on the roof will blow off and obscure the rear window and the windshield of the car behind. Clearing headlights and taillights will allow you to be seen.
• Check for snow and ice in the wheel wells. Snow and ice in wheel wells could be detrimental to the control and health of your vehicle. Clear out any snow with a durable scraper. To help prevent snow build up on a slushy day spray the wheel wells with silicone.
• Be prepared for anything. Even if you don’t become stuck, you may be parked or delayed for extended periods due to accidents, road closures, avalanches or poor visibility. Make sure you are prepared with adequate winter clothes, supplies and emergency equipment. At minimum, carry these essentials items: winter boots, gloves, hats, food, water, cell phone charger, a blanket or sleeping bag, shovel, flashlight (with extra batteries), tow strap, and jumper cables.
• Test road conditions frequently. When driving in challenging conditions, determine how much traction, or grip, is available. Make sure that no one is behind you and hit the brakes firmly until the wheels lock up. This will give you a clear indication of the grip available at that particular point in time. Over the course of a long trip, repeat this test to continually monitor grip.
• Know your car, know your brakes. In everyday driving situations, cars with both anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traditional braking systems are basically identical. In an emergency stopping situation, two distinctly different techniques are required. With traditional brakes, the cadence, or pumping technique, is effective, but the driver must lift off of the brake if steering is required to avoid an obstacle. The beauty of ABS is that pressing the brake pedal as hard as possible and holding it there allows the computer to pump the brakes while still maintaining some steering effectiveness. Remember that ABS can’t perform miracles. If you feel ABS engaging during everyday driving, slow down, because you are exceeding the reasonable speed for the conditions.
• Anticipate difficult situations. Studies have shown that 80 percent of all accidents could be prevented with only one additional second to react. In many situations, this one second can be gained by looking far enough down the road to identify problems.
• Vehicle spacing on the road. Allow plenty of space between your car and other vehicles. It takes from four to ten times more distance to stop on ice and snow than on dry pavement. Following distances should be adjusted accordingly.
• Beware of “phantom shoulder” on roads. As snow plows clear the roadway, they use a side-mounted “wing” to push snow well off the side of the road. Many times what appears to be a very wide road or wide shoulder is in fact only snow plowed to the same level as the roadway, hiding steep drop offs. If you must pull to the side of the road, do so slowly and be prepared to steer smoothly back toward the road if the vehicle begins to sink.
• Use grip (traction) efficiently. When roads are slippery, use all of the grip (traction) available for one action at a time. Brake only in a straight line prior to the curve when the car is traveling straight. Taking your foot off the brake before you steer into the curve allows you to use all of the grip available just for steering. Accelerate only when you are able to straighten the steering wheel at the exit of the turn. This technique will allow you to be 100 percent effective at each maneuver – braking, steering and accelerating.
• Be alert at intersections and on hills. Intersections and hills are typically the most slippery portions of the roadway. With numerous drivers braking in the same area, ice becomes ultra-smooth and polished. In the case of hills, drivers may be spinning tires in the same area with an identical result. By identifying these areas, drivers can brake or accelerate in areas that offer better grip, such as in fresh snow, or areas that are not so polished. When stopping on ice, brake harder early and then become lighter on the pedal as the car slows. This allows for precise adjustment in the event that a surprisingly slippery spot is encountered.
• Turn on your headlights. Whenever daytime visibility is less than perfect, turning on your lights allows you to see, and just as important, to be seen by others. Use this rule of thumb: wipers on, lights on. When traveling in snowy weather, remember to clear your taillights, signal lights, and headlamps regularly. High-quality fog lights, mounted low and aimed properly, low and wide, offer a dramatic improvement in low-visibility conditions. Remember to turn fog lights off in city traffic; it’s not practical or polite to leave them on.
• When driving at night. Leave headlamps on low beam when driving in snow and fog. This practice minimizes reflection and glare, improves visibility, and reduces eye fatigue. When oncoming cars approach, focus on the right side of the roadway to help maintain good vision.
• Don’t overestimate the capability of SUVs. Many drivers mistakenly believe that four-wheel drive is a cure-all. SUVs do have specific benefits, but they have limitations, as well. Every type of vehicle, regardless of which wheels propel the car, depends on four small contact patches where the tire meets the road for traction. This small contact area is the limiting factor of any vehicle on a slippery surface. Four-wheel drive does not improve braking or cornering effectiveness.
• Learn to read the terrain. Bridges and overpasses ice over faster than normal roads because they don’t have the warmth of the earth underneath them. Shady areas cool more quickly than areas in full sun. At dusk or the onset of a winter storm, take notice of areas that never get direct sun and expect ice there. The shadows from large trees, buildings, mountains and even billboards can cause isolated icy spots. With just a bit of practice, drivers can identify these problem spots in advance.
• Use floor mats for traction. The floor mats of most vehicles can be used as a tool if you are stuck. Simply turn the mats upside down and place them under the drive wheels as a traction aid.
• Wear quality sunglasses. Good sunglasses help highlight changes in the terrain and road surface even in low-visibility conditions.

By: Treasure Valley Teen

Scott Hibb’s Amazing Baby Back Ribs Recipe

Prep Time:

20 Min

Cook Time:

2 Hrs 40 Min

Ready In:

3 Hrs

Servings  (Help)

 

Original Recipe Yield 4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 (2 pound) slabs baby back pork ribs
• coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon ground red chile pepper
• 2 1/4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 1/4 teaspoons liquid smoke flavoring
• 2 teaspoons whiskey
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon dark molasses
• 1/2 tablespoon ground red chile pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degree F (150 degrees C).
2. Cut each full rack of ribs in half, so that you have 4 half racks. Sprinkle salt and pepper (more pepper than salt), and 1 tablespoon chile pepper over meat. Wrap each half rack in aluminum foil. Bake for 2 1/2 hours.
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir the onions in oil for 5 minutes. Stir in water, tomato paste, vinegar, brown sugar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. Season with 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, liquid smoke, whiskey, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, dark molasses, and 1/2 tablespoon ground chile pepper. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer for 1 1/4 hours, uncovered, or until sauce thickens. Remove from heat, and set sauce aside.
4. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.
5. Remove the ribs from the oven, and let stand 10 minutes. Remove the racks from the foil, and place on the grill. Grill the ribs for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Brush sauce on the ribs while they’re grilling, just before you serve them (adding it too early will burn it).

Nutritional Information 

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 1043 | Total Fat: 68.5g | Cholesterol: 234mg

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/scott-hibbs-amazing-whisky-grilled-baby-back-ribs/detail.aspx

www.kiaofcheyenne.com

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Why we wear green on St. Patrick’s Day

[edit]Saint Patrick

Main article: Saint Patrick

Little is known of Patrick’s early life, though it is known that he was born in Roman Britain in the 4th century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father and grandfather were deacons in the Church. At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken captive to Ireland as a slave.^[12] It is believed he was held somewhere on the west coast of Ireland, possibly Mayo, but the exact location is unknown. According to his Confession, he was told by God in a dream to flee from captivity to the coast, where he would board a ship and return to Britain. Upon returning, he quickly joined the Church in Auxerre in Gaul and studied to be a priest.^{[citation needed]}

In 432, he again said that he was called back to Ireland, though as a bishop, to Christianise the Irish from their native polytheism. Irish folklore tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish people. After nearly thirty years of evangelism, he died on 17 March 461, and according to tradition, was buried at Downpatrick. Although there were other more successful missions to Ireland from Rome, Patrick endured as the principal champion of Irish Christianity and is held in esteem in the Irish Church.

[edit]Wearing of the green

Originally, the colour associated with Saint Patrick was blue. Over the years the colour green and its association with Saint Patrick’s day grew.^[13] Green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of St Patrick’s Day as early as the 17th century.^[14] He is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish, and the wearing and display of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have become a ubiquitous feature of the day.^[15][16] In the 1798 rebellion, in hopes of making a political statement, Irish soldiers wore full green uniforms on 17 March in hopes of catching public attention.^[13] The phrase “the wearing of the green”, meaning to wear a shamrock on one’s clothing, derives from a song of the same name.

[edit]In Ireland

According to legend, Saint Patrick used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish people.

Saint Patrick’s feast day, as a kind of national day, was already being celebrated by the Irish in Europe in the ninth and tenth centuries. In later times he became more and more widely known as the patron of Ireland.^[17] Saint Patrick’s feast day was finally placed on the universal liturgical calendar in the Catholic Church due to the influence of Waterford-born Franciscan scholar Luke Wadding^[18] in the early 1600s. Saint Patrick’s Day thus became a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics in Ireland. The church calendar avoids the observance of saints’ feasts during certain solemnities, moving the saint’s day to a time outside those periods. Saint Patrick’s Day is occasionally affected by this requirement, when 17 March falls during Holy Week. This happened in 1940, when Saint Patrick’s Day was observed on 3 April in order to avoid it coinciding with Palm Sunday, and again in 2008, where it was officially observed on 14 March (15 March being used for St. Joseph, which had to be moved from 19 March), although the secular celebration still took place on 17 March. Saint Patrick’s Day will not fall within Holy Week again until 2160.^[19][20] (In other countries, St. Patrick’s feast day is also 17 March, but liturgical celebration is omitted when impeded by Sunday or by Holy Week.)

A St Patrick’s Day religious procession inDownpatrick, 2010

Girls playing Irish folk music during a St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, 2010

Traditional St Patrick’s Day badges from the early 20th century, photographed at the Museum of Country Life in County Mayo
In 1903, Saint Patrick’s Day became an official public holiday in Ireland. This was thanks to the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act 1903, an act of the United Kingdom Parliament introduced by Irish Member of Parliament James O’Mara.^[21] O’Mara later introduced the law that required that pubs and bars be closed on 17 March after drinking got out of hand, a provision that was repealed in the 1970s. The first Saint Patrick’s Day parade held in the Irish Free State was held in Dublin in 1931 and was reviewed by the then Minister of Defence Desmond Fitzgerald. Although secular celebrations now exist, the holiday remains a religious observance in Ireland, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland.Sign on a beam in Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse, a commercial museum promoting the drinking of Guinness stout on St Patrick’s Day

Main article: St. Patrick’s Festival

In the mid-1990s the government of the Republic of Ireland began a campaign to use Saint Patrick’s Day to showcase Ireland and its culture.^[22] The government set up a group called St Patrick’s Festival, with the aim to:

– Offer a national festival that ranks amongst all of the greatest celebrations in the world and promote excitement throughout Ireland via innovation, creativity, grassroots involvement, and marketing activity.

– Provide the opportunity and motivation for people of Irish descent, (and those who sometimes wish they were Irish) to attend and join in the imaginative and expressive celebrations.

– Project, internationally, an accurate image of Ireland as a creative, professional and sophisticated country with wide appeal, as we approach the new millennium.^[23]

The first Saint Patrick’s Festival was held on 17 March 1996. In 1997, it became a three-day event, and by 2000 it was a four-day event. By 2006, the festival was five days long; more than 675,000 people attended the 2009 parade. Overall 2009’s five day festival saw close to 1 million visitors, who took part in festivities that included concerts, outdoor theatre performances, and fireworks.^[24] Skyfest forms the centrepiece of the festival.

The topic of the 2004 St. Patrick’s Symposium was “Talking Irish”, during which the nature of Irish identity, economic success, and the future were discussed. Since 1996, there has been a greater emphasis on celebrating and projecting a fluid and inclusive notion of “Irishness” rather than an identity based around traditional religious or ethnic allegiance. The week around Saint Patrick’s Day usually involves Irish language speakers using more Irish during seachtain na Gaeilge (“Irish Week”).^{[citation needed]}

As well as Dublin, many other cities, towns, and villages in Ireland hold their own parades and festivals, including Cork, Belfast, Derry, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, and Waterford.

The biggest celebrations outside Dublin are in Downpatrick, County Down, where Saint Patrick is rumoured to be buried. In 2004, according to Down District Council, the week-long St. Patrick’s Festival had more than 2,000 participants and 82 floats, bands, and performers and was watched by more than 30,000 people.^{[citation needed]}

The shortest St Patrick’s Day parade in the world takes place in Dripsey, Cork. The parade lasts just 100 yards and travels between the village’s two pubs.^[25]

Christian leaders in Ireland have expressed concern about the secularisation of St Patrick’s Day. In The Word magazine’s March 2007 issue, Fr. Vincent Twomey wrote, “It is time to reclaim St Patrick’s Day as a church festival.” He questioned the need for “mindless alcohol-fuelled revelry” and concluded that “it is time to bring the piety and the fun together.”^[26]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick’s_Day

www.kiaofcheyenne.com

Valentine’s Day in Denver

Valentine’s Day 2011 in Denver

Romance in the Mile High City

By Nina Davidson, About.com Guide

See More About:

• denver
• romance

Romance is in the air this Valentine’s Day in Denver. Show your sweetheart you care by indulging in one of these activities in the Mile High City. Take a carriage ride through LoDo, be pampered at a hotel, or dine at a romantic restaurant. For the more adventurous, try a couple’s massage class – or even take the ultimate plunge at Loveland ski resort.

1. Best Date Restaurants

About.com’s list of best date restaurants covers all bases, from best all-around date restaurant to best expensive date restaurant. Romance will be on the menu at any one of the dining establishments, although you might want to avoid the best cheap date restaurant for Valentine’s Day! Nominate your favorite date restaurant for our 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards.

3. Couples Massage Class2. Carriage Rides

A horse-drawn carriage around LoDo’s cobbled streets evokes the romance of a bygone era. Reserved carriage rides range from $75 – $100 for Valentine’s Day, depending on the route. Be sure to take note of Denver’s unpredictable weather before embarking on your horse-drawn journey – frostbite is not romantic.

Ahh, the gift that keeps on giving. Learn the art of couples massage from Colorado Free University. Classes are held throughout the year, including Sat. Feb. 12, 2011 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. and Sun. Feb. 13, 2011 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. The cost is $92 per couple for non-members or $79 per couple for members.

4. Loveland Resort

If your love of the mountains matches your love for each other, a day on the slopes might be just the ticket. If downhill skiing isn’t risky enough, you can take even more of a plunge and get married in a mass wedding at the top of the mountain on Mon. Feb. 14, 2011. Lift tickets at Loveland are $59 per person, and wedding participants get one ticket free.

5. Opera Colorado

Opera Colorado presents a performance of “Rusalka” on Sat. Feb. 12, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. The fairytale opera follows a water sprite who longs to be human after falling in love with a mortal man. Tickets range from $20 – $150.

6. Molly Brown House

The Molly Brown House offers Valentine’s Tart High Tea on Sat. Feb. 12 and Sun. Feb. 13, 2011. Tea costs $25 per person, and includes a tour of the museum. The mansion at 1340 Pennsylvania St. served as the residence of the Unsinkable Molly Brown, who survived the sinking of the Titanic.

7. Warwick Denver Hotel

The downtown hotel offers a unique package for Valentine’s Day with its Toast to Love. The package includes chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne upon arrival, followed by a four-course meal for dinner at Randolph’s Restaurant. The Toast to Love package starts at $289 a night, and is available from Fri. Feb. 11 – Sun. Feb. 13, 2011.

8. JW Marriott Hotel

Treat your sweetheart to a romantic weekend in Cherry Creek at the JW Marriott Hotel. The Valentine’s Day package includes a $50 gift card to the Spa at Cherry Creek and a bottle of champagne. Rates start at $245 for the package valid from Fri. Feb. 11 – Sun. Feb. 13, 2011.

9. Omni Interlocken Resort

Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, Colo., offers an extra incentive over Valentine’s Day weekend for couples who get engaged at the luxury property. Couples will receive a voucher good for a weekend night stay for their honeymoon or other romantic getaway. The Sweet Rendezvous Romance Package starts at $185 per nigh10. Hotel Teatro

The Hotel Teatro, located across the street from the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Denver, offers a romantic getaway in the heart of the Mile High City. The boutique hotel’s Valentine’s Day package includes chocolates, strawberries and a bottle of Rosa Regale. A rose turn-down service and late checkout time also set the stage for romance. Rates start at $249 per night.

http://denver.about.com/od/artsentertainment/tp/valentinesday.htm

www.kiaofcheyenne.com

Winter Driving Safety Tips

Call the Public Works Department for a free Snow Removal brochure: 303-413-7162.

---

Use Caution When Driving

To make this a safer winter for you and your family:

• Give snow plows and spreader trucks plenty of room to operate.
• When driving, allow for more stopping distance between cars. It takes 3-12 times more distance to stop on icy or snowy roads. Avoid making last-minute decisions.
• Shovel your sidewalks within 24 hours after it stops snowing.
• Teach your children to be extra careful around traffic.

Snow plows are wider than one traffic lane

• You can avoid getting squeezed on the road (and avoid limited visibility caused by flying snow and ice) by NOT passing snow plows.

Spreader trucks have spinners which distribute traction materials across two lanes of traffic.

• Stay at least three to four car lengths behind spreader trucks to avoid windshield damage.

Spreader trucks weigh up to 54,000 pounds when loaded. Because the trucks are heavy, they drive slowly.

• When you are behind a spreader truck, allow for adequate stopping distance. Try to stay three to four car lengths behind spreader trucks.

Using alternative transportation during snow storms reduces the number of vehicles on the roadways and gives snow plows and spreader trucks more room to operate.

• You will also save wear and tear on your car, avoid the stress of driving, and probably enjoy the winter scenery much more!

  http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=177&Itemid=1703

  www.kiaofcheyenne.com

2012 Kia Forte

 

The 2012 Kia Forte sees minor trim but otherwise no major changes. This compact car consists of 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, and 4-door hatchback body styles. All come in EX and sporty SX trim levels; the sedan is available in base LX form. Two 4-cylinder engines are offered. LX and EX have a 156-horsepower 2.0-liter unit. SX versions have a 173-horsepower 2.4-liter engine. All are available with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. An optional “Fuel Economy Package” for EX sedans includes the 6-speed automatic and other body and powertrain tweaks designed to improve fuel economy. Safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. A wireless cell-phone link, auxiliary audio input, and USB port are standard on all models. Power windows and locks, a tilt and telescopic steering column, and remote entry are standard on the EX and SX. A sunroof, keyless access/engine start, automatic climate control, and a navigation system with rearview camera are optional on the EX and SX. Leather upholstery with heated front seats is optional on the SX.

Cooling System Maintenance

 

For most drivers, a new car is their second biggest financial investment after a house, and they need it to run reliably for many years. The cooling system is one of the most important, yet often neglected regular maintenance items in any vehicle.

 

“Coolant (also known as antifreeze) prevents engine freeze-up in winter, reduces engine temperature in the summer, and protects the cooling system from rust and corrosion year round,” according to the AAA website.

 

Gasoline and diesel four-cylinder engines can produce up to 15,000 explosions per minute with flame temperatures topping 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooling system has to efficiently remove that heat energy to prevent damage to cylinder heads, blocks, pistons and gaskets. The engineers that create these engines carefully design the coolant flow passages to ensure that temperatures stay even at all times with no hot or cold spots.

 

Whether you experience brutal cold, blistering heat or both, coolant has to flow through those passages without freezing or boiling to work properly. Specially formulated antifreeze – typically based on a blend of ethylene or propylene glycol and water – can function over a temperature range of −34°F to +265°F. Other additives in the coolant help to inhibit corrosion of metal parts and lubricate the water pump.

 

Over time, coolant degrades due to the limited lifespan of the corrosion inhibitors and exposure to all that heat. Without the corrosion inhibitors, scale builds up and restricts flow in the cooling passages, heater core and radiator tubes. When this happens, leaks can develop, temperatures can climb and internal engine components, including the head gasket, can be damaged, leading to very expensive repairs.

 

A failed head gasket can easily cost thousands of dollars, and potentially much more while periodic cooling system flushes are cheap by comparison. The traditional glycol-based coolants used in many cars and trucks should be replaced according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations, often about every two years or 30,000 miles. These coolants are easily identified by the fluorescent green or blue dye that is added to make it easier to identify leaks and spills. Many modern vehicles use newer, long life coolants that are designed to last five years or 150,000 miles. These coolants are usually orange or red, and should never be mixed with green coolants. Although the coolant itself lasts longer, these systems should still be checked and maintained regularly, according to the schedule in your owner’s manual.

 

The first step of cooling system maintenance is a pressure check. In order to raise the boiling point of the coolant above 250°F, all modern vehicles use pressurized systems. With the engine off and cold, a test device can pressurize the cooling system to check for leaks. The pressure ratings vary for different vehicles, but if the pressure holds steady at the recommended level, the system should be free of leaks. The pressure cap itself should also be tested to ensure that it holds and releases at the rated pressure. If it releases at too low a pressure, the coolant can boil while excessive pressure can cause hoses or gaskets to burst. Your dealer’s service department has the tools and the expertise to complete these tests quickly and accurately.

 

The rubber hoses that transfer coolant between the engine, radiator and heater core should also be inspected for cracks or bulges. The belt that drives the water pump and in some cases the fan should also be checked for cracks or stretching. Problematic hoses or belts should be replaced immediately. The front side of the radiator should also be carefully cleaned to remove the dead bugs and other road dirt that inevitably build up during driving. A thermostat in the system controls the flow of coolant between the engine and radiator and should be checked and replaced if it doesn’t open at the correct temperature.

 

The freezing and boiling points of the coolant can also be checked by testing the specific gravity. Using a special tool, coolant can be drawn out of the engine and tested. If the freezing point is too high, the coolant should be replaced. 

 

The coolant is drained using a plug on the radiator, although some vehicles also have a secondary drain on the engine block as well. Drained coolant should always be properly disposed of and never dumped in a sewer or waterway. The sweet smelling glycol is attractive to many animals, but it is toxic. After draining, the system should be thoroughly flushed with water until it runs clear and free of the color of the coolant. The flushing should be done in the reverse of the usual flow direction to help to loosen and remove any scale or other contaminants that have built up. 

 

After closing up all the drains, the system should be refilled with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water. With the radiator pressure cap still off, the engine should be run with the fresh coolant for about 10 to 15 minutes to bleed any air out of the system. Air in the cooling passages will limit the pressure, which will lower the boiling point and potentially cause damaging hotspots in the engine. During this bleed procedure, the interior heating system should also be turned on high to ensure that air is forced out. Once it has been bled, the system should be topped off with coolant mixture, typically through the reserve tank, and the pressure cap should be reinstalled.

 

Besides having the specific tools, experience and knowledge necessary to maintain your vehicle properly, our dealership’s service department will collect used coolant and send it to a recycling facility for reprocessing. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, service and parts personnel at our dealership can answer your questions and help you get the job done right.

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