Dick Scott Automotive

Nissan's all-electric Leaf hatchback has only been on sale in the U.S. for the past 15 months, but Nissan has already confirmed it will get some much-needed upgrades for the 2013 model.

Speaking to The Detroit News yesterday, Mark Perry, director of product and advanced planning for Nissan Americas confirmed that the 2013 Leaf will get an improved heating system and an upgraded interior fitted as standard.

Although the electric-powered air heater found in the 2011/12 Leaf is adequate enough to keep the interior warm in all but the coldest of temperatures, its use comes with a caveat: a drop in range of as much as 30 miles.

As we've found in the past, sacrificing heat for range is hardly pleasurable.

Neither Nissan nor Perry has detailed how the heating system in the 2013 Leaf will be different, but we do know it will improve winter performance.

"You may not see much change on the EPA rating, but in cold-weather conditions you may see 20 to 25 miles of improvements," Perry promised, although it is important to note Nissan hasn't mentioned a change in either battery pack capacity or chemistry.

The other major improvements -- aside from the 6.6 kilowatt charger that Perry promised last year -- are focused on the car's interior.

When the Leaf launched, its white seats made from recycled plastic bottles may have been environmentally responsible, but not everyone liked them, Perry admitted.

"We were like, 'Ah, let's do the clean, green recycled materials.'" Perry said. But as Nissan soon found out, customers wanted other options, especially those with children or pets.

As a consequence, the 2013 Leaf will be offered with optional Leather seats, as well as a choice of light or dark interior trim.

At the moment, little else is known about the 2013 Leaf, except that it will be manufactured in the U.S. at Nissan's Smyrna plant in Tennessee.

Some analysts have suggested that the domestic manufacture of the Leaf will also help Nissan keep its price down, but Nissan has yet to confirm official pricing.

If you're considering a Nissan Leaf, we're keen to know if the latest announcement will delay your purchase decision.

Or perhaps you've been looking at other electric cars and now think the 2013 Leaf may meet your needs?

As read on: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1074273_2013-nissan-leaf-better-heater-leather-option-6-6-kw-charger

It's ALMOST HERE!!! One of the biggest shopping weekends of the YEAR!!!
This year think SMALL to make a BIG DIFFERENCE!!!

Small Business Saturday is NEXT SATURDAY, November 26, 2011!! This time of the year
shopping SMALL can make a HUGE difference to a Small Business Owner. We are
pledging to Shop Small and we hope all of you will too!

Visit ANY Dick Scott Automotive Group Location during this years Shop Small,
Small Business Saturday Event, and when you use your American Express
you may qualify for a $25.00 statement credit!!

More than 200 organizations have already joined American Express OPEN, the company's small business unit, in declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday. Join us in making this "Small" event "BIG"!!

We hope you will shop "Small" this Saturday because in this economy a few purchases
from our local businesses is going to make a HUGE Difference in A LOT of peoples lives!!

See you Next Saturday!

Visit www.SmallBusinessSaturday.com for more information.

 

CLICK HERE
if you are a Small Business to get your FREE Tools, from Small Business Saturday, to promote your Small Biz!  

The Department of Municipal Services will be doing bulk leaf pick up this week (Week of October 24) in Area C. Area C is all streets South of Ann Arbor Tr., West of S. Main St., North of Ann Arbor Rd., and East of Sheldon Rd. See the city website for a map, www.ci.plymouth.mi.us.

Residents are required to have leaves neatly raked to the curb by 7:00A.M. on the Monday of your designated week. DO NOT place grass clippings, branches/limbs, corn stalks, pumpkins, etc. into the street with leaves. DO NOT place leaf piles over storm drains. Plugged grates will cause flooding. Please take special care to keep grates free of leaves. Your second designated week will be the week of November 21. Thank you for following these guidelines to make this season's leaf collection as efficient as possible.

A wine and cheese reception Thursday marks the opening of Oakland Community College Women Center's annual show.

Julia Kling wandered around the Smith Theatre Gallery at Oakland Community College (OCC) in Farmington Hills Thursday evening, poring over 34 art works in the "From Our Perspectives" national women's art exhibition.

"There's a lot of good work," said Kling, an au pair living in Bloomfield and studying at OCC's Highland Lakes campus. "It's really interesting to look at and think about."

Juror Shiva Ahmadi selected "Has Ear No Mouth", a haunting depiction of a geisha, by Hui Chi Lee of Lexington, KY, as Best of Show. Other honorees were:

President's Award: "Hard Work Never Killed Anyone", Suzanne Anan, Belmar, NJ

Purchase Award: "Untitled", Aspen Hochhalter, Charlotte, NC

Honorable Mention: "I'm Telling You Now", Ginger Burrell, San Jose, CA and "Reluctant Vessel: Final", Ann Smith, Plymouth MI

Smith attended the show's opening night reception. Her 2009 work, fabricated from new and reclaimed materials, uses a suspended overturned horseshoe crab as a metaphor, with its telson, or tail spine, (normally used to turn the crab back over) piercing a decorative golden platter.

The piece signifies a significant point in her career.

"It's a moment of resolve as regards my profession. I wanted to delve a little bit more into the art, and not to the designers' bidding," Smith said.

Two Farmington artists, Valerie McNeece and Sandra Shelly, also have works selected for the show among more than 300 entries from around the country. McNeece's photo is titled, "Front Yard Prayer Service"; Shelly's piece is "After the Fire".

The 21st annual exhibition runs through Friday, Oct. 14 at the Orchard Ridge Campus' Smith Theatre Gallery. Viewing hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As read on: http://farmington-mi.patch.com/articles/farmington-hills-campus-showcases-womens-art#photo-7780838

City council has approved a site plan for the 9/11 memorial sculpture that will soon be installed in front of the Brighton Area  Fire Department.  The centerpiece of the memorial is a twisted steel beam that was retrieved from the heart of the ruins of the World Trade Center towers.

According to the site plan, the steel beam, which measures roughly eight feet in length and is about three feet wide, will be suspended by four metal cables attached to crooked steel beams.

Broken pieces of concrete will lay beneath the beam. Surrounding the memorial a wall will stand, etched with the names of firefighters who parished that day and the words, "We will never forget".

The concept was designed free of charge by architect Pete Lindhout of Lindhout Associates.  Unilock, a local manufacturer of paving stones and retaining walls has agreed to install the sculpture at no cost to the city.

The beam was originally obtained through an application process that started in 2009.  The Brighton Area Fire Department sent in an outline of the memorial along with their application, including where and how the beam would be displayed to The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the organization that oversees the housing of the World Trade Center's ruins.

Captain Greg Mobray of the Brighton Area Fire Department, along with five fellow firefighters then went to New York City to pick up the piece of steel and to visit ground zero for the first time.

"It was very emotional since it was the first time any of us had been," Mobray said.  "Pictures just don't do it justice.  It was truly eye-opening to see the true magnitude of what happened that day."

The beam itself will remain unmodified and shall be preserved as it sits, twisted and cloaked in rust, Mobray said.

The city plans to host a county-wide 9/11 memorial ceremony on Sept. 11 this year.  During the ceremony, the memorial will be unveiled.

As read on: http://brighton.patch.com/articles/city-council-oks-911-memorial-site-plan

Wayne County Parks, Northville Parks and Recreation and Vietnam Veterans of America Plymouth/Canton Chapter 528 Proudly present the 16th Annual FISHING DERBY


Saturday, September 24
8:00 a.m. - Noon
Hines Park
Waterford Bend Area
(Northville Road, North of Six Mile in Northville)


- The Middle Rouge River will be stocked with 10"- 12" rainbow trout.
**Prizes will be given away in a variety of categories. Some fish will be tagged for prizes.**
- All anglers need to bring their own equipment and bait.
- There is a three fish limit.
- Pre-registration is NOT required.
- No fishing license is required for this event.

Schedule of Events
7:30-8:00 a.m. Registration on site
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Children 12 years old and younger can
fish and participate in the casting contest
10:30 a.m. Presentation of prizes to children
10:00 a.m. - Noon Fishing for all ages


For more info, call (734) 261-1990 or visit www.waynecountyparks.org
As read on: http://www.northvilleparksandrec.org/SpecialEvents/PDF/Flyer-FishingDerby.pdf

Nissan LEAFTM NEWS August 2011

Reservations for the 2012 Nissan LEAFTM have now been opened in more states across the country. They include, CA, WA, OR, TN, HA, TX, AS, MS, AL, IL, FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, MD and Washington D.C. If you live in any of these states, you can just go to the Nissan LEAFTM website and click "reserve". Once you reserve, you'll automatically be able to request a quote from a Nissan dealer and place your order. the 2012 Nissan LEAFTM features upgrades based on feedback from early LEAFTM drivers, such as making quick charging and cold-weather features standard. to find out about all the markets the Nissan LEAFTM is expanding to, and to learn more about the various feature upgrades, just click below.     learn more Nissan delivers 5000th Nissan LEAFTM Nissan has delivered 5,000 100% electric Nissan LEAFsTM to excited owners. while this zero-emission, no-gas car is being enjoyed across the country, competitors Ford, Chevy, Toyota and Honda have yet to deliver any fully electric vehicles. Nissan LEAFTM earns the five-star crash-test rating the Nissan LEAFTM is the first 100% electric vehicle to earn five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)*. in 2011, the NHTSA introduced tougher requirements for five-star ratings, but that wasn't a problem for the Nissan LEAFTM, which is also an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick**.     read more      read more Nissan insider featuring Nissan LEAFTM walkaround check out the Nissan Insider video featuring a Nissan LEAFTM walkaround. learn about the unique features that come with being a 100% electric vehicle, and find out about its roominess, technology and more. Nissan LEAFTM drive electric tour is on the road the 100% electric, zero-gas Nissan LEAFTM is coming your way, with upcoming stops all over the country. click below to check out the complete list of stops and sign up for a test drive near you.      watch video     see stops Nissan partners with City Ventures Nissan and City Ventures - a builder of affordable, eco-friendly homes - have announced a cooperative venture to pre-wire townhomes currently under construction in Southern California. This will allow for easy installation of a Level II charger, the recommended and most efficient charging dock for the Nissan LEAFTM. Nissan LEAFTM wins historic Pikes Peak veteran Nissan off-road truck racing champion Chad Hord and the 100% electric Nissan LEAFTM were the first winners of the Electric Production Class at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado in June. The race is 12.42 miles, begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak.     learn more      read more INNOVATION FOR THE PLANET.INNOVATION FOR ALL. NISSAN LEAFTM

As read on: http://dcm2.dll1.com/displayDcm8.asp?am=1&id=3A4E9F594B0A3168AE3AD2A2BECC07E62B4D72A63433C738

Don Nicholson has done his share of car shows and cruises, but he has to admit that he's "blown away by the day" by the response to next Sunday's inaugural Cruisin' Hines Drive.

"I've been told that this will be the Dream Cruise of Wayne County," the Westland resident said of the Aug. 28 event. "I've had more hits to print the registration form on the website that there should be 5,000 cars bumper to bumper from Ann Arbor Trail to Outer Drive."

Hines Park will be closed Sunday, Aug. 28 to "normal" traffic from Westland to Dearborn, and that section of roadway will be limited to classic cars and hot rods. A classic is any car that is 25 years and older, while a hot rod is anything that is modified, said Nicholson, the cruise organizer.

The event is drawing interest from in and around the metropolitan area as well as outstate and out of state. Inquires have come from Lansing, London, Ontario and Ohio.
"People seem to really like it because it's the only cruise where you'll see just classic cars and hot rods," Nicholson said.

Nicholson is asking cruisers to download the registration form at www.DonNicholson.net and fill it out in advance to make registration move faster at the Nankin Mills pavilion on cruise day. All cars will have to enter and register at the Ann Arbor Trail entrance. There is no charge for registration.

Spectators will enter at Merriman, Telegraph and Warrendale. All three of the pavilions in those areas will be free to spectators during the cruise. Vendors will set up in those areas, and several car clubs have rented locations "to do their thing," said Nicholson.

"The bike path will be open so people can still ride their bikes," said Nicholson. "There will be cars along the route so we ask people to be kinds to the cars, if they're on their bikes."

There will be parades of one brand or model of car in single file on the hour and Henry's Field in the Nankin Mills area is reserved for all pre-1931 vehicles. The Motorsports Hall of Fame will have Kenny Bernstein's top fuel funny car on display and the original Monkeemobile and Ghostbuster car will also be there.

The Six Foot Poles will perform from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the band stand in the Nankin Mills area. It's sponsored by Gordon Chevrolet. WOMC will be doing live remote feeds from the same stage from 2 to 6 p.m.

"Six Foot Poles was the cruise band for Cruisin' Michigan Avenue and for my Wayne Skills Center car show," said Nicholson. "I think they've become the official car show and cruise band."

Mixed in with the vendors will be charitable groups like the Wayne Rotary Club, which will be doing fundraising for Fallen Soldiers. They're being sponsored by Tennyson Chevrolet.

Nicholson wants to see the public come down and watch what he says will be a "moving car show." He would love to see 15,000 cars come for the cruise, While he doesn't think he'll see that for the inaugural event, he "would like to make Hines Drive into one big traffic jam."

"The park lends itself to this; it's so natural," he said. "I wish I had done this sooner."

As read on: http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20110821/NEWS16/108210472/Crowds-expected-inaugural-Hines-Drive-cruise