Premier Subaru in Branford, Connecticut, reminds you that a simple inspection can give motorists peace of mind and save them from the inconvenience of a roadside breakdown.

"No one wants to experience car trouble when on vacation", said Dennis Cullen, Service Director, Premier Subaru. "A simple vehicle inspection can help avoid the inconvenience and potential safety hazarards of breaking down many miles away from home. In just 10 minutes, drivers can make sure their car is ready for travel and then take steps to have any problems fixed before heading out for vacation."

Right in their own driveway, motorists can identify how road ready their vehicle is with the 10-minute driveway inspection recommended by Premier Subaru in Branford, Connecticut. If repairs or maintenance is needed, they can be performed before hitting the road.  Here's what to look for:

• Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
• Check the hoses and the belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.
• Check the tires, including the pressure and the tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
• Check the wipers and the lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all the interior and exterior lighting is working properly and inspect and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

Premier Subaru also recommends that motorists re-stock their emergency kit and consider a tune-up to help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy.  

Premier Subaru in Branford offers complimentary vehicle inspections for all Subaru owners.   

- Robert J. Alvine, President & General Manager of Premier Subaru 

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Come to Premier Subaru at 150 North Main Street in Branford on Sunday October 2^nd between the hours of 11am and 4pm for an Award-Winning Shoreline Artists Art Exhibit. All of the artists involved are loyal Subaru owners and would like to display not only their excellent paintings but also show how they use only their Subaru's to get from "scene" to "inspirational scene".  We will showcase not only the artists extreme talent when it comes to painting, but also the cavernous cargo areas in their Subaru's in which they load up all of their gear.  The paintings and many Subarus will be available for purchase!

The featured artists will be "baring it all" (artistically speaking of course) with as many as 50 of their all "original" paintings on display. And they all have different styles, so there will be something for everyone.  

Joanne McCarty - Who resides in Clinton, CT, likes to paint En Plein Air and feel the character of the atmosphere. She has painted on the Connecticut shoreline, in the Caribbean, and Europe.  She feels her work has a certain naiveté and spontaneity about it. She is able to leave her real world behind when she starts a new piece. Painting truly "takes me out of myself" says Joanne. Joanne has studied with such artists as Judi Betts, the late Bill Steeves, Chein Fei, Joann Ballinger, and Natalie Pfannstiehl.  Her preferred media is watercolor and pastel.

Karen Wiesner - Lives in Madison, CT where she enjoys painting both in oil and pastel, especially En Plein Air whenever possible.  She has painted on location with Sam D'Aburoso in Tuscany and with Charles Gruppé in Italy, Portugal, Greece, and Spain. She has also studied with such artists as Lou Bonamarte, Jurgen Geith, Joann Ballinger and Gerald Caron, to name a few. The Poet, Archibald MacLeish, wrote, "A poem should not mean, but be." Karen feels this is also true of a successful painting.

Sandra Kensler - Sandra came to us from Indiana in 1990and currently lives and has her studio in Madison, CT. She has exhibited in New England all along the shoreline in Connecticut, in New York City, and Wisconsin. She says: "The world Excites me and I want to express how I feel about it by painting it. I simplify my paintings by exaggerating color and shape. I crop tightly and pare down whenever I can. The  buildings in cities and their light and shadows inspire me. I exaggerate long roads,       afternoon and morning shadows, and the shapes defined by trees in the country." Sandra  paints almost exclusively with oils.

Elizabeth "Mike" Boyd  - Works both literally and abstractly. She has a wide array of works in all media.  Her landscape and still life are done in acrylic, watercolor, pastel and oil.  They are very traditional and a joy to do.  Her abstract work is executed with mixed media and collage. These are cerebral and less predictable. The transitions between the literal and abstract reinforce each other, and, one hopes, bring out the best in each.  She has studied with various teacher such as Theodore Roszak and Frank Vincent DuMond who were the most influential to her works.

Nancy Schwartz - Nancy lives and maintains her studio in Madison, CT. She views her paintings as containing a sense of quietness. She paints to portray this quality and it provides the underlying theme for most of her work. She has studied drawing with the late Alan Wood-Thomas and painting with the late Robert Brackman. Nancy "considers painting a joy, a privilege and a necessary part of her life".

There will also be cider and donuts from our own local Bishop's Orchards.  As well as a chance at winning 6 free oil changes.  Don't miss this exciting event! 

- Jeff Irzyk, Award-Winning Shoreline Certified Subaru Sales Consultant & Event Organizer

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Subaru of Indiana is not like other vehicle manufacturers.  In its 22 year history, they have created 3 million new vehicles without a single layoff.  In fact, workers have had their wages increased every year, plus substantial other benefits including an on-site opportunity to earn a degree from Purdue University!  Also, there are 800 acres of land on its campus that is a nationally recognized wildlife habitat, and the vehicle has been in zero-landfill status now since 2004. 

"Everyone quickly saw the green dividend of not wasting anything," says Tom Easterday, the plant's executive vice-president. "You reduce packaging, negotiate a better deal from suppliers, and everyone then shares in the savings."

Last year, Easterday says, SIA saved approximately $5.3 million by obsessively reducing, recycling, composting, and incinerating, and it has been demonstrated that, by using zero-landfill discipline to reduce worker injuries and fatigue, the savings has been exponential. 

As a result of SIA's efforts, they have been able to maintain a normal work schedule despite the interruption in the parts supply chain due to the March earthquake in Japan.  With SIA operating at maximum capacity and with an expansion plan under way, Vice-President Easterday says this "experiment" in the middle of Indiana corn country could someday export its American-made Japanese cars to the rest of the world.   

For more on this article, you can visit www.businessweek.com and view the full article here.