spare thoughts
11974 Willow Grove Rd., Camden, DE 19934 93C Saulsbury Rd., Dover, DE 19904 JANUARY 2019
www.integritytire.us | 302-747-7887
WHAT’S AHEAD FOR 2019? Our Goals as Integrity Tire
issues, so in these next few months, we’ll be working on revamping our phone and website customer interface to give you a better experience. Another part of our growth strategy is to find more investors that are willing to be part of our journey going forward. We are interested in talking to anyone that would like to invest in a small, successful, local business, and earn more interest than they could in a savings account at a bank. If the opportunity intrigues you, drop me an email at jesse@integritytire.us. I would be happy to explain our strategy and projections. So, the next question is — if all of this is in place — what about another location? It’s probably the most common question we’re asked, and while we do want to grow rapidly, we never want to get ahead of what might be most prudent. I will say this: Right now, most of my time is spent making sure our many operational systems are in place and clicking right along. I want to ensure that our employees, customers, and investors are all taken care of properly. Hopefully by mid- to late-2019, we’ll be looking at opening for
First, we want to thank all of our customers for a great 2018. Our sales growth was up 50 percent last year! We appreciate you and we are determined to continue earning your trust and business. Much of our sales growth comes from happy customers telling friends and family about their experiences with us. We’d like to ask that you continue to do so, and again add a big thank-you from all of us at Integrity Tire. When people support small, local businesses rather than shopping at larger corporations, it helps the local economy. It’s been simply amazing that so many here in our community supported us through 2018, and we look forward to your continued support in the new year. So, what’s next for 2019? In 2018, we invested heavily in the latest technologies, along with the best tire- changing and -balancing equipment. This helped us reach our goal to serve customers better while improving our speed and accuracy. And what’s the follow-up to that? Due to our rapid growth, our customer experience is not at the level we are aiming for, both on the phone and on our website. We want to address these important
business in a third location, but only when today’s locations — and systems — are in place and fully able to effectively handle more growth. Finally, it all comes down to what the Lord wills. James 4:13-15 is a verse we live by: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’ — yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” We plan and dream, but we hold these things with open hands. God knows the future, and we do not. We will go at his pace, growing where he plants us.
“When people support local small businesses rather than shopping at larger corporations, it helps the local economy.”
Jesse Zimmerman
302-747-7887 | 1
Get More Life Out of
Your Windshield Wiper Blades
may be caused by dirt or other grime stuck to the blades. If they continue to streak or skip after cleaning, they need to be replaced. Thankfully, wiper blades are typically the least expensive and easiest car part to replace. With this in mind, remember that you get what you pay for, and it pays to do research. There are many different blades on the market. Some are suited for icy conditions and some are designed for sunny weather. Take your time to read product descriptions to ensure you install blades that are right for your vehicle.
activating your wiper blades. Ice can shorten the life span of most wiper blades significantly. Every time you gas up your vehicle, take a moment to clean your windshield and the wiper blades. You can run the squeegee sponge over the wiper blade or use a paper towel. Watch your washer fluid levels and top it off regularly. When you run a cleaning cycle without washer fluid, the wiper blades deteriorate. How do you know when it’s time to replace your blades? The first sign is when they start streaking. However, in some cases, streaking • •
When was the last time you replaced your windshield wiper blades? If you’re like most people, you may not remember. As a general rule of thumb, you should replace your wiper blades about once a year, assuming they’ve been through a normal level of wear and tear. However, with a few easy steps, you can make your blades last longer without compromising visibility.
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Keep your windshield and wipers clean of debris, dirt, dust, and other particles. Anything on the window or the blades can cause damage. Simply wiping them off with a microfiber cloth can go a long way.
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In cold weather, always clear your windshield of ice and snow before
GET YOUR KIDS TO EAT HEALTHIER THAN EVER
and there can deliver those nutrients in a pinch, especially during a chaotic school week.
But, if you’re hoping to foster long-lasting healthy habits, the best thing you can do is offer your child a choice. Say something like “You can have the cauliflower, or you can have the broccoli. It’s up to you!” Let your child have that control. Psychologists and social scientists, including the famed Dr. Maria Montessori, argue that when kids feel in charge of a decision, they are more likely to embrace one of the options — even if it’s a vegetable.
presentation. A mound of plain old veggies is not appetizing — not to a 10-year-old and not to a 40-year-old.
Do your kids get enough nutrients in their diet? If they’re like most kids, the answer is probably no. You want your children to eat more vegetables and less processed junk, but they certainly don’t make it easy. Even getting the average kid to chow down on a serving of broccoli can be a huge chore. In fact, food manufacturers have built an entire industry that takes advantage of our kids’ penchant for sugary cereal and fast food. However, a diet of highly processed foods can lead to a host of problems. Not only do these poor dietary habits carry over into adulthood, but a poor diet can hinder brain development and may even cause behavioral issues. A study in the American Journal of Public Health found links between poor diet and the development of depression in kids and teens.
Instead of presenting vegetables as a boring side dish, think of them as an ingredient.
Take lasagna, for instance. This tasty, familiar dish is easy to modify. Instead of using lasagna noodles, use zucchini. Simply slice the zucchini into thin, noodle-like strips, then layer them as you would typical noodles. The same can be done with other pasta dishes, such as spaghetti. Zucchini noodles — or “zoodles” — are delicious in marinara sauce and decadent in Alfredo. If push comes to shove, you can easily hide vegetables in foods your children already know and love. Did you know you can make brownies with avocado and black beans? Slipping in a few healthier ingredients here
Ultimately, as a parent, you are in charge of your child’s diet. Help them explore new foods and foster a positive culinary
environment. Your kids will develop a taste for healthy
eating in no time!
But how can you encourage your kids to eat healthier? Often, it comes down to
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WHY JANUARY?
The Origin of New Year’s Day
January start date. Religious leaders saw it as a pagan holiday, and much of Europe chose to restart the calendar on March 25, during the Feast of Annunciation. Much of Catholic Europe officially recognized Jan. 1 as the start of the new year after Pope Gregory reformed the solar calendar again, correcting certain mathematical errors made in Caesar’s day. There were still holdouts, however. In fact, England and its American colonies continued to celebrate New Year’s Day in March until 1752. So there you have it — we were very close to having our fireworks celebrations in lovely spring weather. Ultimately, the ubiquity of the Gregorian calendar won out, as the demands of our increasingly interconnected world made a shared calendar a necessity. So if you struggle to start your New Year’s resolutions this winter, blame Julius Caesar.
Inspired by the Egyptian solar calendar, Caesar fixed the Roman year at 365 days and instituted the leap year to keep months aligned with the solstices. He moved the new year from the spring to the day that elected officials traditionally began their year-long terms, Jan. 1. This choice carried spiritual significance, since January was named for Janus, god of doors and gates. What better month to celebrate new beginnings? Under Caesar and subsequent rulers, the Roman Empire expanded its reach, carrying its calendar with it. While much of Europe adopted Caesar’s calendar, New Year’s Day remained a hot-button issue for centuries. Thanks in part to the spread of Christianity and to the colder conditions in Northern Europe, there was a lot of resistance to the
The month of January kicks off by welcoming the new year — there are countdowns, fireworks, and of course, the ball drop in a freezing-cold Times Square. But why? Why do we start our calendars when much of the U.S. is in the dead of winter? Why January? The short answer is Julius Caesar and Roman politics. The calendar had long been a political tool in Rome. Depending on who was in power, Roman pontifices would add or subtract entire weeks from the year, manually adjusting the term limits of elected officials. As you could imagine, this caused a lot of chaos, because months frequently slipped out of time with the changing seasons. After becoming emperor, Julius Caesar brought about some much-needed reforms.
PEANUT BUTTER AND BERRY FRENCH TOAST
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
1. On a large baking sheet lined
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8 slices brioche, 1/2-inch thick 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
with wax paper, place 4 slices of brioche and spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on each. Cover with remaining slices, creating sandwiches. 2. In a pie plate, beat eggs with cream and vanilla. In another, coarsely crush the cornflakes. 3. Lightly soak sandwiches in the egg mixture, then dredge in cornflakes, pressing to adhere. Return to baking sheet. 4. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Once melted and up to temperature, add sandwiches, cooking on one side until golden and crisp, about 2–3 minutes. 5. 5.Return sandwiches to baking sheet, add remaining butter, and repeat on other side. 6. Top sandwiches with berries, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve with maple syrup.
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2 large eggs
1/8 cup heavy cream 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 2 cups cornflakes
IT TAKES COURAGE
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
IT ALSO REQUIRES GOOD COMPANY. TO CREATE A MEANINGFUL LIFE OF INTEGRITY. AND PRACTICE.
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2 cups mixed berries
Powdered sugar, to sprinkle
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Maple syrup, for serving
Shelly Francis
302-747-7887 | 3
Inspired by Delish
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
11974 Willow Grove Rd. Camden, DE 19934 inside
302-747-7887
www.integritytire.us
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What’s Ahead for 2019?
Get the Most Out of Your Windshield Wiper Blades
Trick Your Kids Into Healthy Eating
3
Why Start the New Year in Winter?
Peanut Butter and Berry French Toast
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Events Near You!
Starting the New Year
during such events such as coastal storms and rising sea levels. For more information about this organization or the event, visit their website above. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Where: Second Street Players/Riverfront Theatre, Milford When: Feb. 1–3, 8–9 Website: secondstreetplayers.com/index.html Enjoy the stage production of the American classic “To Kill a Mockingbird,” adapted by Christopher Sergel. Join Scout Finch, Jem, and Dill in their adventures and encounters with the mysterious knothole in the tree and the Radley House. Whether you love Harper Lee’s novel or you haven’t read it yet, you’ll not want to miss this literary masterpiece take to the stage.
The new year is here at last, and what better way to celebrate than with these fun local events?
FIRST SATURDAYS AT JOHNSON VICTROLA MUSEUM Where: Johnson Victrola Museum, Dover When: Every first Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission: Free! Website: history.delaware.gov/museums/jvm/ jvm_main.shtml Recordings are easy to make with today’s technology, but it hasn’t always been that convenient. Eldridge Reeves Johnson is known for being a crucial pioneer in the recording industry and is remembered for founding the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1901. The Johnson Victrola Museum tours will guide you through memorabilia, paintings, and records that accentuate his success as a businessman
and innovator. Visit their website to learn more about the tour, Johnson’s life, and the museum itself. RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES Where: Dover Public Library When: Tuesday Feb. 5, 9:30–11:30 a.m Admission: Free! Website: www.derascl.org Coming together can strengthen and encourage a community. This event provides an opportunity to bring people together as a group to discuss ways we can improve. Join the Delaware Resilient and Sustainable Communities League to discuss how the community can band together
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