Wayne County Parks maple-sugaring program offers sweet time

March is maple-sugaring month in Michigan and Wayne County Parks has a sweet Saturday program available for the entire family March 15 and 22. Bundle up and join park naturalists for the annual maple-sugaring program at the Cass Benton Park picnic shelter in Northville, where a historic “sugar bush” still exists. Learn the history of maple sugaring and take a short hike into the woods for an actual tree-tapping demonstration. In celebration of this early spring ritual, the group will enjoy pancakes with the “real thing” afterward. “The maple-sugaring program is another example of the diversity of activities available to the public through Wayne County Parks,” Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano said. “I encourage everyone to see, taste and experience the maple-sugaring program first-hand.” The practice of maple sugaring dates back to when Native Americans taught early settlers how to collect and boil sap during this time of year. The freezing nights and warm sunny days create pressure and force sap out of the maple tree. The duration of the program is approximately 90 minutes. Register for either March 15 or March 22 and choose a start time of 10 a.m., 11 a.m. or noon. Dress accordingly, as this is an outdoor program and the trail may be muddy. All ages are welcome. The program fee is $6 per child and $2 per adult for Wayne County residents. Add $1 per person for non-Wayne County residents. Advance registration and prepayment is required at the Wayne County Parks office, 33175 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland, or by phone at 734-261-1990. Cash, credit card or check payable to Wayne County Parks is accepted. For more information, call 734-261-1990 or visit www.parks.waynecounty.com. As read on: http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20140307/NEWS12/303070021/Wayne-County-Parks-maple-sugaring-program-offers-sweet-time

Jeep will hire up to 1,000 for part-time work

Chrysler Group LLC plans to hire up to 1,000 part-time employees for the Toledo Assembly complex to keep production rolling while giving regular employees the chance for a break. “Our people have been working a tremendous amount of hours,” Plant Manager Chuck Padden said. “To get them more time off is important to us, to make sure they’re refreshed, and can work safely.” With record demand for the Jeep Wrangler and the launch of the new Jeep Cherokee last year, employees are regularly working 60 hours a week. And while employees generally like the extra pay that results from working overtime, such lengthy stretches can wear on workers, he said. A company spokesman said Monday that Chrysler has hired 380 temporary part-time employees this year, though 50 have been converted to regular, full-time employees. Chrysler has collected applications for the jobs and is not currently accepting any more. Officials are in the process of conducting assessment testing and expect more employees to be brought on in the coming weeks. Most of the new hires will get between 10 and 30 hours per week. “It can vary, depending upon on the teams they’re on. Typically it’s a Friday-Saturday-Monday situation,” Mr. Padden said. “So if we’re scheduled for six days, TPT [temporary part-time] could be here three of them. Some of them might only work one day a week.” The TPT employees are paid $15.78 an hour, the same rate as new full-time hires. They’re also offered limited benefits, including health insurance. How long the new temporary part-time jobs last depends mostly on demand for the two vehicles built there. While it isn’t unusual for automakers to use part-time help to ease the burden at busy plants, it’s not typically done to this level. Officials from the company and the union both said it’s an innovative solution that will boost production, allow weary workers more time off, and bring new employees into the plant. Bruce Baumhower, president of United Auto Workers Local 12, said the help should take some of the load off employees who have worked long hours for a long time. “They’ve worked through the Christmas shutdown the last couple years; they’ve worked through summer shutdowns. Summertime’s coming; they’ve got kids in Little League and other things,” he said. “They’ve done an unbelievable job of carrying the load.” Mark Epley, UAW Local 12’s Jeep Unit Chairman and one of the key people in brokering the deal, said it’s important to get employees a little time off. “You’ve gotta remember, these people are working 10 hours a day, six days a week,” he said. The contract currently gives employees the right to take off a Saturday after working consecutive Saturdays. With the addition of part-time workers, employees will be able to take off other days as well. “It’s very important to have the day off you want with your family,” he said. The added help will allow the plant to run the Wrangler line every Saturday, which they haven’t been able to do. That’s important to Chrysler, which is trying to squeeze even more Wrangler production out of the plant this year after a record year in 2013. That task falls on Mr. Padden, who took over as plant manager on Jan. 1. Mr. Padden, 54, has been with Chrysler since 1995 and is on his third tour in Toledo. He most recently served as the launch manager for the Cherokee, then took over the top position in the plant following former plant manager Zach Leroux’s promotion to head of assembly operations for Chrysler. “We’ve got a lot of good things going for us right now,” Mr. Padden said. “As the volume is picking up we’ll be one of the largest manufacturing sites in North America. We won’t talk specifics on the numbers, but we’ll be one of the largest manufacturing sites in North America with the two [lines] going at full tilt.” Mr. Padden said Chrysler’s goal for the plant is to build 2,000 vehicles a day. Currently, employees at the Toledo Assembly complex build about 840 Wranglers and 990 Cherokees a day. Mr. Padden said the Cherokee line should reach full capacity in the year’s third quarter. Right now the focus for Cherokee is on fine-tuning the build process and ramping up work on building international models. Jeep officials have said they plan to eventually sell the Cherokee in 150 countries. “Every country has its own unique specifications they want to see. Everything from the way VIN stamps are put into a car to the way to the dashboard reads and the way the radio reads,” Mr. Padden said. Chrysler expects about 15 percent of Cherokees built in Toledo to be destined for international markets. Mr. Padden praised the work force in Toledo and its good working relationship with the company. He also understands Jeep’s importance to the city. “It’s not just another company out there. We’re so integrated into the community of Toledo,” he said. “We recognize the interdependence of Jeep to Toledo. Continuing to work together, we hope to be here for a long, long time.” Read more at http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2014/03/11/Jeep-will-hire-up-to-1-000-for-part-time-work-Copy.html

2015 Nissan Juke Press Release

GENEVA, Switzerland – When it arrived a little more than three years ago, the Nissan JUKE used innovation to create a whole new market segment. Just as the Nissan Qashqai pioneered the original crossover market, the JUKE used dramatic design and advanced technology to break new ground in a more compact crossover package. The JUKE's combination of highly individual styling, strong driving dynamics and sophisticated interior equipment has allowed it storm from zero to 420,000 sales in less than 40 months, easily eclipsing its rivals. Now, following Nissan's established practice of constant development comes the next chapter in the JUKE story. Establishing itself as the original stand-out model in the growing small crossover market with premium style and refinement, the new JUKE is ready to once again stamp its authority on the segment it created. Already recognized as the design trend-setter, the new JUKE benefits from a series of design enhancements, new engines, new equipment and a wide-ranging personalization program. Among the changes are a new design at the front and rear with greater emphasis on both premium refinement and sporty design cues; a new downsized 1.2-liter turbocharged engine offering greater performance, economy and lower emissions; a revised 1.6-liter DIG-T engine; improved four-wheel drive with Torque Vectoring System; new alloy wheels; advanced equipment including a new audio system, the latest generation NissanConnect driver-vehicle interface, Nissan Safety Shield, Nissan's Dynamic Control system, plus the option of a new opening glass roof. Revisions in the luggage area have increased space by 40 percent in two-wheel drive versions up to 354L, while there's even greater opportunity for owners to really stamp their own personality on their JUKE. A range of new colors and interior themes are available with a number of different personalization packs. The changes and range additions will accelerate the growth of Nissan's second most popular model in Europe, helping it to emulate the remarkable achievements of its big brother Qashqai. JUKE is the best seller in the premium B-segment, outperforming all direct competitors including those from the top German brands. And it's not just the entry-level models which have helped JUKE to the top: the best selling engine to date has been the 1.6-liter petrol unit while the top Tekna grade accounts for more than one third of all sales. But the big NISMO news is the advanced preview of the extreme new JUKE NISMO RS, a totally focused model with more power (218PS/160kW), upgraded brakes, a stiffer body and a limited slip differential on two wheel drive versions. Buyers have also been attracted by a strong range of special versions - notably the Shiro and the advanced n-tec models - and the Kuro and Ministry of Sound limited editions, while the sports oriented NISMO has added driving thrills as well as breadth to the range. On its way to a total of 420,000 sales, JUKE has achieved 135,000 sales in 2013 with its popular set to increase with the introduction of the new version. All JUKE models sold in Europe are built in Europe, at Nissan's highly productive plant in Sunderland, UK where three shifts per day are needed to cope with demand. Significantly for Nissan, JUKE has attracted a huge number of buyers new to the brand. As much as 85 per cent of sales have been to first-time Nissan owners, not only making it the highest conquest model in the Nissan range but a model that comfortably outperforms the B-segment average with many of those new buyers downsizing from larger cars. "We stunned the industry with Qashqai, the original crossover, and we've done it again with JUKE. If anything, JUKE is even more daring and different than Qashqai and appeals to a younger, more out-going audience. "The changes we have made to new JUKE will extend that appeal even further to cement Nissan's position as the leading brand in the crossover market," said Guillaume Cartier, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing for Nissan in Europe. New JUKE will go on sale across Europe in the summer, 2014. The changes in detail: Exterior Bold design has always set the JUKE apart from any rival, offering a mixture of crossover toughness with sporting appeal that has seen it become a design icon. To radically alter the proportions would undermine the JUKE's unmistakable presence, but designers have still managed to make significant changes to the car's styling. At the front, the upper lamps have been redesigned and now incorporate bi-intensity LED daytime running lamps while the headlamps now have Xenon bulbs for better visibility and new lens covers. The grille incorporates the new Nissan brand signature while the front has been toughened with new and more robust trim beneath the bumper. Door mirrors have been revised to include LED side turn strip repeaters and, where fitted, cameras for the Around View Monitor. At the rear the bumper has a more aggressive shape to match new revised boomerang tail lamps with LED light guide technology, giving the new JUKE a more distinctive appearance at night. The new color palette now extends to ten colors and includes three new shades: Sunlight Yellow metallic, Ink Blue metallic and solid Red. A new range of wheels completes the exterior revisions, with 16-inch steel and alloys available on entry-level Visia models and different styles of 17-inch alloys on Acenta and Tekna variants. A new 18-inch alloy wheel will also be available with colored inserts available allowing drivers to add their personal touch. In addition, the extensive new personalization packs include the opportunity to add drama with brightly colored inserts, which completely change the look and feel of the wheels. Different packs also allow contrasting colors to be applied to the mirror caps, side sills, roof spoiler and door handles. Interior personalization In the same way that the exterior styling differentiates JUKE from anything else on the road, so the interior has a number of distinctive features, including the center console inspired by a motorbike. And again, changing these features for the sake of it would be counter-productive. Instead Nissan designers have found ways to make the interior even bolder and more dynamic with different interior themes. In standard cars, the interior theme is a sophisticated grey, giving a technical feel to the car. Add one of the interior personalization packs and features such as the center console, door trims and other elements can be colored red, white, black or even a bright yellow. Depending on the model, there are two styles of fabric for the seat upholstery - comfort and sport - with leather trim on top versions. Practicality Changes have also been made to the shape of the trunk area in two-wheel drive models to boost luggage space by an impressive 40 percent, taking the overall capacity to a class-leading 354 liters ­­- unlike rivals, JUKE can carry a large and a medium suitcase at the same time, and is also deep and wide enough to carry a chassis-type pushchair. Versatility is further enhanced with flat folding rear seat, making it easier to load large objects, while the inclusion of a two-stage floor in the luggage area makes the space even more flexible. Equipment Standard equipment on all models includes LED daytime running lamps, CD radio with an AUX-In socket, gear shift indicator to promote a more efficient driving style and tire pressure monitor. The Visia 1.5 dCi and 1.6 Pack versions add alloy wheels, manual air conditioning, drive computer and driver seat height adjustment. Acenta models are enhanced with front fog lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning, remote audio controls, Bluetooth connectivity for phone and audio streaming, cruise control and limiter, Nissan Dynamic Control System and chrome interior touches. Enhances for the new JUKE, Nissan Dynamic Control is an advanced driver control system giving the choice of three different driving modes - Normal, Sport or Eco ­- along with instant driving information and vehicle setting controls. Tekna models add power folding door mirrors, light and rain sensors, i-Key with Start/Stop and the latest NissanConnect with rear-view parking/reversing camera, Around View Monitor and Safety Shield. NissanConnect now offers smartphone connectivity with access to a variety of apps ranging from social media platforms to entertainment including Internet radio through a large, 5.8-inch color touch screen. The latest generation satellite navigation system integrates with Google® to reveal a host of useful information from weather forecasts to the location of fuel stations, hotels, restaurants and many other points of interest. A send-to-car function also allows drivers to search for their destination at home and send destination instructions to NissanConnect system at the click of a button. The system includes Bluetooth audio streaming and mobile phone integration as well as Aux-in and USB slots. When not in infotainment mode, the screen doubles as a monitor for the newest version of Nissan's pioneering Around View Monitor which gives a complete real-time 360 degree 'helicopter' view around the car to make maneuvering as safe and easy as possible. Using the AVM cameras together with sensors, radar and other advanced technology, JUKE's Safety Shield incorporates a number of features engineered to make the car as safe as possible. These include Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Moving Object Detection, which gives visual and audible warnings to avoid potential collisions. The final option opens a whole new world to Acenta and Tekna owners, literally. A large open-able glass panel allows not just daylight to flood into the cabin but also fresh air as required. When opened, the panel sits on top of the rear portion of the roof so as not to steal interior headroom. The glass panel measures 964mm wide by 837mm long to cover two thirds of the roof area. This is matched by an opening width of 693mm and an opening length of 301mm to add to the feeling of airiness in the cockpit. Engines and drivetrains Three engines are available for new JUKE in Europe, with changes to the two petrol options: one is new and the other extensively revised. The existing and acclaimed 1.5 dCi diesel with 110ps (81kW) continues unchanged. The Alliance-developed 1.2-liter DIG-T petrol engine, which replaces the outgoing 117ps 1.6-liter unit, is an advanced turbocharged direct injection engine delivering 115ps (85kW) and generating 190Nm of torque. Despite its modest size, the 1.2-liter (1197cc) turbocharged engine packs a real punch, offering sharper acceleration and greater torque (190Nm) for added flexibility than the outgoing 1.6-litrer naturally aspirated engine. Its lower weight, standard automatic Stop/Start feature and more fuel-efficient operation translates into cleaner and more economical performance. The 1.2 DIG-T engine emits 126g/km* of CO2 and has a fuel consumption figure of 5.5 l/100km*. The existing 1.6 DIG-T petrol unit has been further improved to deliver lower end torque below 2,000rpm. Producing 140kW, it is already Euro6 compliant with target emissions of 139g/km of CO2 for the 2WD versions. Among its new features are a higher combustion ratio (increased from 9.5 to 10.5:1), improved low friction technologies and cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation. As well as a six-speed manual transmission, new JUKE 1.6 DIG-T 4WD is optionally available with a new Xtronic transmission gearbox, which further improves fuel efficiency, acceleration and all-round performance. "New JUKE builds on the qualities that made the original such a success. Its unique crossover styling is even more energetic, and the interior makes a real statement. "The new drivetrain options and advanced technology on offer to the driver keep new JUKE ahead of the rest," said Guillaume Cartier. As read from: Nissan Press Release

2015 Jeep Renegade

According to Fiat Chrysler, 2.7 million subcompact SUVs are sold globally every year. In America at least, the majority of those sales are going to Kia and Nissan, whose Soul and Juke dominate the urban-crossover landscape. But those funky boxes don’t have the off-road abilities implied by their SUV-inspired shapes, and that’s where Jeep sees itself coming in. Its all-new Renegade has the hipster looks and everyday efficiency to entice shoppers, while also offering the rugged capability for which Jeep is well known. Underneath the Renegade’s dorky but still sorta cool sheetmetal lies what Fiat Chrysler calls its Small Wide 4x4 architecture, which really is a modified version of the Small Wide platform that underpins the Fiat 500L. Unique suspension components and increased structural rigidity help separate the Renegade from the small Fiat people mover. The Renegade’s taller stance gives it longer suspension travel and front wheel-drive models offer 6.7 inches of ground clearance. The off-road-oriented Trailhawk 4x4 model sits 0.8 inch taller still and provides 8.7 inches of ground clearance as well as up to 8.1 inches of rear-wheel articulation and 19-inches of water-fording ability. Jeep also says that the Renegade has best-in-class approach and departure angles. But if the success of the Soul and Juke are any indication, the main points of appeal in this segment are urban usability and polarizing design rather than off-road capability. Despite its small size—7.2 inches shorter overall than the current Jeep Patriot—the Renegade offers 118.6 cubic feet of interior volume. Standard Koni frequency-selective shocks work with the Renegade’s four-wheel independent suspension, bleeding off damping on sharp jolts and firming up for good body control on the highway. And the Jeep uses triple door seals, an acoustic laminated windshield, and an isolated rear-suspension cradle to help quiet the cabin. The Renegade will be available with 16 powertrain combinations in markets around the world, but U.S. buyers will have just two options. The base engine is the 1.4-liter turbo four from the Fiat 500 Abarth, here producing 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque and paired exclusively with a six-speed manual. The step-up powertrain is a 2.4-liter Tigershark four-cylinder that makes 184 horses and 177 lb-ft, and which backs up exclusively to Chrysler’s nine-speed automatic. Both powertrains can be had in front- or four-wheel-drive form. Jeep claims a class-leading coefficient of drag, and says that its B-segment crossover will deliver 30-plus mpg on the EPA highway cycle. That would put the Renegade right on par with the mileage delivered by the Soul and Juke. The Renegade has two all-wheel-drive systems from which to choose. Jeep Active Drive is a full-time system that can send up to 100 percent of engine torque to any drive wheel as needed. Jeep Active Drive Low is standard on the Trailhawk 4x4 model and adds a low range that gives the Renegade a 20:1 crawl ratio in first gear. Jeep Active Drive Low also employs hill-descent control and Selec-Terrain traction control with Auto, Snow, Sport, Sand/Mud, and, on the Trailhawk model, Rock 4x4 driving modes. Jeep’s designers needed to toughen up what is really a wee little thing, and so the Renegade has short overhangs, trapezoidal wheel arches, and trinkets inspired by the military and extreme sports. The “X” design on the taillights suggests military equipment or jerry cans, while the “air-pod” vents that sit atop the dash are meant to look like the performance goggles worn by downhill skiers. And in what’s becoming a trend among Fiat Chrysler vehicles, there’s a hidden Easter egg meant to tie the vehicle to a spiritual home: The small storage bin beneath the center stack is lined by a rubber mat embossed with a topographical map of Moab. The IP features analog tachometer and speedometer gauges, and redline on the tach is displayed using a splatter-paint motif inspired by the Jeep design team’s weekend paintball romps. Those gauges flank either a standard 3.5-inch monochrome display or an optional and customizable seven-inch TFT display, which transmit vehicle, trip, and infotainment info to the driver. The latest iteration of Uconnect infotainment is displayed at the top of the center stack via a 5.0- or 6.5-inch touch screen. And like any new vehicle these days, the Renegade is available with a litany of driver-assist features, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, rear parking sensors, a backup camera, and rear cross-path detection. The second-row seats split 60/40 as standard, but a 40/20/40-split with cargo area pass-through is available. There are 12.4 cubic feet of storage space behind the rear seats, and that swells to 50.8 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. The front passenger seat can be folded flat, too. One nifty feature: The Renegade’s standard sunroof incorporates manually removable roof panels that can be stowed beneath the floor. Jeep says that the Renegade, now that it has debuted at the Geneva motor show, will head into production late this spring. It will go on sale in Europe this summer before arriving in American showrooms in December. The brand expects initial sales volumes to be split 50/50 between Europe and North America, but ultimately sees the Renegade as its volume seller in Europe and for sales numbers there to outpace those in America. Which sounds about right. If the Cherokee and Compass/Patriot had Jeep purists gnashing their teeth, this thing just may have them wearing their chompers down to nubs, and people in our country prefer their crossovers and SUVs to be one or two sizes larger. But we say right on to Jeep (and Fiat Chrysler) for creating something interesting, and something that might finally make the brand truly global. If you hate it, well, you’re not alone. But you also don’t have to buy one. As read on: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2015-jeep-renegade-photos-and-info-news

Ready for Winter to End? Prepare for Potholes

Despite the proclamations of "Richard III," now is decidedly not the winter of our discontent. As weather forecasts for the Northeast and Midwest show continued freezing temperatures — between 10 and 30 degrees below normal for this time of year — no warm up is in sight at least into the first week of March. But if you think you're discontented by winter now, wait until the big thaw comes and you attempt to make your commute to work without your car becoming the stuff of a Shakespearean tragedy. Why? Potholes. Why You Shouldn't Complain About Construction Season Those car-hating craters thrive on winter's freeze-thaw cycle. First, water seeps into the soil and a road's subbase below the pavement, and during frigid temperatures the water freezes and expands, pushing the pavement upward. As the weather warms, the ice melts and forms cavities underneath, while the surface of the roadway remains elevated — that is, until cars travel overtop the cavities, crushing the compromised layer of pavement and forming a pothole. "Driving in these conditions is bad for your tires, your suspension and your vertebrae," a Feb. 23 editorial in the Chicago Tribune lamented. "Your regular commute feels like a minefield. It's not just a matter of dodging the giant potholes; you also have to dodge the cars that veer into your path while swerving around the giant potholes in their own lanes." States and cities in the nation's cold-weather states have been scurrying to keep up with damage control, which requires shoveling asphalt into the pothole and packing it down, leaving the top of the fill slightly above the pavement to settle. The Tribune's editorial reported Chicago city workers had filled 165,000 potholes since Jan. 1. According to Bloomberg, Indianapolis as of Feb. 24 had already outspent its winter maintenance budget by nearly $5 million, while New York crews have filled a record 113,131 potholes — more than double the number patched by the same point in 2013. In fact, about three-fourths of U.S. states have already depleted their budgets for winter maintenance, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials told Bloomberg. While that darned groundhog in Pennsylvania virtually guaranteed that our winter misery will continue for at least a couple more weeks, the pothole situation could stretch on for much longer once the weather warms up and the true extent of the damage gradually reveals itself. But while we can neither control the weather nor the damage it causes to our roadways, Allstate insurance says there are simple ways drivers can prevent damage to their vehicles. "One of the most important things people can do is to make sure their tires are adequately inflated," Anthony Royer, president of Allstate Roadside Services, said in a statement. "This helps to protect and cushion the rim of your tire from damage." Other pothole-related prevention tips from Allstate include: - Leaving plenty of room in front of your vehicle so you can avoid potholes without crashing. - In the event that you can't avoid a pothole, slowing down before hitting it, without braking, which can cause greater damage. - Holding the steering wheel firmly when driving over a pothole to avoid losing control. - Using caution and driving slowly over a puddle of water or through the snow, both of which could be hiding a deep pothole. - Contacting your car-insurance provider immediately if you do incur damage from a pothole to determine whether you should file a claim. Some cities offer reimbursement through the local government for pothole damage. As read on: http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2014/02/ready-for-winter-to-end-prepare-for-potholes.html