december 2018
About a year ago, I had an accident that put me out of commission. In an instant, I went from spending much of my waking life at the shop to being unable to come into work. It was a tough transition for sure, but a lot of good has come from it. I probably never would’ve stepped away from the day-to-day operations of the shop on my own, so the accident was a chance to get some perspective and see how things would go without me. Turns out, they went awesome, thanks to the work of Dustin and Nolan. Ever since the boys decided to join me in the family business, I knew a time would come when they’d steer the ship without me.Time only goes in one direction, and that direction leads to you getting older.There was never any doubt in my mind that Dustin and Nolan would do a great job taking over when the time came, but I never knew when that time would be, until it was decided for me. As my condition forced me out of the action and onto the sidelines, I took great pride in watching how Dustin and Nolan took the reins. They’ve achieved so much in the past year, helping our business grow in new and exciting ways. As I observed the passion and energy they put into their work, I realized that we’re at two different places in our lives. They’re full of vim and vigor, ready to take the business to greater heights. I’m at the point of my life when I’m slowing down and starting to take things a little easier. I don’t know if I would’ve recognized it if not for my accident, but now is clearly the perfect time to hand the shops over to them permanently. Now, I’ll still be stopping by here and there — for as long as I’m physically able, I can’t foresee a time when the shop won’t be part of my life.They’re still calling me for advice when they come across an old vehicle they’ve never worked on before, and I’ll never stop offering unsolicited advice, but running the business will be on them. It’s Easier to Step Away When the Next Generation Is Ready to Step In
Retiring from a business you’ve built is never easy, but I have a big advantage over other business owners. I don’t have to worry about selling my shops to somebody who will go back on everything we stand for, turning us into just another anonymous auto shop. Dustin and Nolan will undoubtedly start new initiatives and make changes, but I can rest assured knowing that they value local, personal customer care just as much as I do. As I reflect on the decades I’ve spent meeting people, fixing their cars, and learning about their lives, I realized it’s the customers who make us the shop we are. Some of you have stuck with us for as long as I can remember, through times great and tough alike.While cars have changed immensely since I started, the fact that we’re privileged to serve great people has remained constant. No matter how futuristic and computerized vehicles get in the next few decades, the people driving them will always be people. Serving them and treating them well will always be as important as servicing their cars. In closing, I want to thank every single person who’s walked through our doors over the years, either as an employee, customer, vendor, or visitor. It has been my humble honor to serve you. I only hope the next chapter of my life will be as rewarding as this one has been. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. -Donald Brown
1 www.brownsautoexperts.com • Brown’s Parts &Automotive, Inc.
Published byThe Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Ugly Sweater Parties A FUN TREND YOU CAN EASILY FOLLOW!
This is the only time of year when slipping into a lurid red sweater with a stuffed Santa sewn on the front is considered trendy. So adorn yourself in the frumpiest, tackiest sweater you can find, and have some fun this December!
back of your closet or a drawer, now’s your chance to give it new life. Arm yourself with a hot glue gun, thread, and needle, and patch Santa, Rudolph, or Frosty on it. And let it be known that an ugly sweater isn’t complete without sparkles, beads, and sequins galore. WHAT EXACTLY IS AN UGLY SWEATER PARTY? It’s rather simple — slip on your favorite Christmas sweater, gather all your friends and family members, make sure there are plenty of refreshments and games, and you’re guaranteed to have a top-tier party. A few ugly-sweater- themed games that should be on the agenda include an ugly gift exchange, which is similar to the white elephant exchange, except with the gaudiest gifts you can find; an ugly photo booth, complete with terrible, tacky props; and, of course, an ugly sweater contest.
It’s speculated that the first ugly sweater party took place in Vancouver, Canada, back in 2001. Since then, the trend has become one of the most popular holiday party themes. Come Thanksgiving, you’ll start to see racks in all types of clothing stores lined with hideous sweaters. If you’re ready to jump on the ugly-sweater-party bandwagon this Christmas season, here are a few things to keep in mind. YOURVERY OWN UGLY SWEATER Ugly sweaters come in all shapes, sizes, and prices.You can head to H&M or a local thrift store to pick one up. However, if you have a sweater that’s been cozied up for years in the
The Most Anticipated Cars of 2019 Rides Worth Looking Out For
Automobile enthusiasts always have an eye toward the future. With designers and manufacturers engaged in a perpetual game of one-upmanship, every year brings new creations designed to wow drivers. Here are a few eye-catching vehicles to look out for in the very near future. associated with one person: O.J. Simpson. While the Bronco’s notorious history may be inescapable, there have still been plenty of people clamoring for a new version of Ford’s mid-size off-roader. Their wish will soon come true, as Ford recently introduced a completely redesigned version of this famous (or infamous) classic. 2020 VOLVO POLESTAR 1 “Polestar” is one of those tags that inspires immediate intrigue in car lovers. Volvo only applies the label to its highest performance, most exclusive models. The Polestar 1, a 2020 FORD BRONCO For a long time, the Ford Bronco was
a fever pitch. Packing a 5.5-liter V8 turbo, horsepower on the new Corvette is expected to approach four digits. Oh, and it looks absolutely gorgeous. 2020 PORSCHE 911 Unlike the other entries on this list, the Porsche 911 looks positively familiar — but that’s kind of the point. If the styling ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Despite the ever-reliable design, expect Porsche to kit out the new 911 with all the latest in tech and performance.
plug-in hybrid coupe with 591 horsepower and 739 pound feet of torque, will release with a shockingly low supply: only 500 units. However, Volvo plans to expand the Polestar line to include more affordable, all-electric offerings. That’s good news, because the Polestar 1 will be as rare as a unicorn. 2020 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Every Corvette release is an event, but when Chevy announced that the 2020 model would feature a mid-engine, excitement reached
2 Brown’s Parts &Automotive, Inc. • www.brownsautoexperts.com
Published byThe Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Recipe of the Month
Holiday Roast Prime Rib
3 True Crime Shows You Have to See Move Over, Sitcoms, There’s a New Trend in Town There’s a genre of entertainment that many Americans are afraid to admit is their secret obsession. It’s as if you’re hiding a secret that you desperately want to confess, but you’re afraid of the judgment and concerned looks from your friends.Then one day, you muster the courage to casually mention a docu-series you watched — hoping for absolution but concerned the jury won’t understand — and the floodgates open. Suddenly your closest friends and family have passionate opinions on the justice system and can tell you they know exactly who murdered who and how. Deep down inside, everyone loves a good mystery. Here are three of the best. ‘MAKINGA MURDERER’ Directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos take viewers through an experience that feels like the most maddening game of ping pong ever played — in any given episode, your view may bounce from one polarizing opinion to another. After watching 10 mind-bending episodes of Steven Avery and his attorneys going back and forth during the trial, you’ll have questions that demand answers. So many, in fact, that Netflix has confirmed the production of a second season and a spin-off series titled “Convicting a Murderer.” ‘THE JINX’ Forty years of conflicting reports on three murders make for one compelling HBO series. Robert Durst goes under the spotlight after speaking for the first time about the death of three people connected to him. A web of lies, convolution, and gritty storytelling comes to one bone-chilling conclusion that will make your jaw drop. ‘THE STAIRCASE’ Did Michael Peterson kill his wife? Did the American justice system tear apart the dream it so righteously attempts to protect? What is considered fact in a murder trial? These are just a few of the questions you’ll contemplate as you go on a 16-year journey told over 13 gripping episodes. Questionable expert testimony and crime scene evidence are juxtaposed with a competent defense team and a convincing defendant, making for a story that begs viewers to take sides. In the end, the only fact you’ll know to be true is that you can’t trust your intuition.
Looking for an easy holiday roast that still feels elegant enough for the occasion? Look no further than this delicious prime rib flavored with garlic, thyme, and red wine.
INGREDIENTS • 1 bone-in prime rib (6–7 pounds) • 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced • 2 cups red wine 1. 30 minutes before cooking, remove roast from fridge and let sit until it reaches room temperature. 2. Heat oven to 350 F. 3. Make small slits in prime rib and stuff with slices of garlic. Liberally season with salt and pepper. 4. Place a rack inside a roasting pan and roast prime rib for 2 hours, until medium-rare. DIRECTIONS
• 4 cups beef stock • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped • Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 5. To make au jus, place roasting pan with drippings from roast over 2 burners on high. Add wine and scrape pan as liquid reduces. Add beef stock and cook until reduced by half. Finally, sprinkle in thyme. 6. Slice roast and serve topped with au jus.
Inspired by Food Network
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www.brownsautoexperts.com • Brown’s Parts &Automotive, Inc.
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Inside
1
A New Chapter in My Life
2
Everything You’ll Need for an Ugly Sweater Christmas
2
The Hottest Cars of 2019
3
Memes and Recipe
3
True Crime Makes for Gripping TV
4
Holiday Decoration Tours
Christmas Tours
GET AWAY AND BE FESTIVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
RANCH CHRISTMAS IN JACKSON,WYOMING
tiny Midwestern town in January, June, or even October. Embracing its unique name, the town boasts a museum, holiday shopping center, and a Christmas theme park. In a moving tribute, the town’s residents also write responses to children’s letters to Kris Kringle himself. It’s impossible to avoid holiday cheer in this town. What better place to celebrate the most magical time of the year than in the most magical place on Earth? Walt DisneyWorld’s halls are decked to the max with a parade, gingerbread homes, strings of lights, and festive parties. Plus, costs to visit DisneyWorld can be cheaper during the Christmas season, so keep an eye out for a vacation steal. DISNEYWORLD’S CHRISTMAS MAGIC
There’s nothing quite like the magical lights of the holiday season, and some destinations in the U.S. have perfected the craft of holiday decoration. If you’re looking to get away this December and still engage in seasonal festivities, add one of these places to your must-visit list.
Jackson,Wyoming, takes its frontier culture to the next level during the Christmas season. All year, the city proudly displays four elk antler arches, but around the holidays, they are lit up with white string lights and flanked by snow.The Christmas decorations and lights surrounding the archway make for aWestern-themed holiday pulled right out of a JohnWayne classic. For holiday admirers looking for a unique spin, Jackson has you covered.
NEWYORK CITY’S ROCKEFELLER CENTER NewYork City is an iconic location for
Christmastime.The scene is like a Hallmark card: Ice-skating lovers whiz past miles of twinkling lights underneath an exceptionally tall and amply decorated tree.The tree is specially selected by Rockefeller Center’s landscaping crews, who scout out trees years in advance. It remains lit from November to early January, so you have plenty of time to check it out.
YEARLYYULETIDE IN SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA
This one’s for the Christmas lover. If you can’t make it out to Santa Claus, Indiana, this holiday season, you can still celebrate Christmas in this
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