The Wednesday morning event began several years back inside Bank of the West. Then it moved to IHOP. When IHOP was no longer an ideal location, it seemed as though the group could fold. That’s when Gerald Wicklund offered the upstairs conference room at his automotive shop.

Each week, between 15 and 30 individuals, mostly small business owners, attend. Aside from each person having time to promote his or her business, each week individuals pair up to sit down and discuss their businesses.

Those in regular attendance cover many industries. For instance, those at the Jan. 11 meeting included Tosha Jackson with GRFX Creative, who was promoting her typographic art, and Dan Walker, who owns a few businesses and was spreading the word about C&D Disaster Readiness.

Each meeting also has a featured speaker. Shannon Hodge, a health coach, spoke about body transformation last week. She emphasized that the way a person eats and their overall health can affect their work.

“When I’m feeling good, I’m going to have a much easier time talking to people and creating relationships,” Hodge said. “If you’re not feeling good, it shows. People are not drawn to you.”

THE DETAILS

• What: Liberty Small Business Network

• When: 8:30 a.m. every Wednesday

• Where: Wicklund’s CARSTAR & Glass, 941 Sutton Place

• Why: To bring business professionals together and grow their businesses

• More info: Contact Ken George at 419-1931 or kgmobilenotary@hotmail.com.

Staff writer Nancy Hull Rigdon can be reached at 389-6628 or nancyrigdon@npgco.com.

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts Offer Tips for Safe Driving in the Winter Months

OVERLAND PARK, KS (January 20, 2012)  – Cold weather can create some of the harshest driving conditions of the year. And, months between October and February top the list for accidents, vehicle damage and injuries.

When the temperature dips and the snow rises, it is important for drivers to increase their attention to safety on the road.  With proper preparation, some preventative driving measures and an eye on the weather report, drivers can protect themselves and their vehicles during the winter months.

The experts on winter driving accidents, CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, repairs thousands of vehicles each year damaged in snowy, icy accidents.  Gary Boesel, owner of Alpine CARSTAR and Jordan Road CARSTAR in Colorado, and CARSTAR Advisory Board member, offers drivers some helpful tips to make winter driving safer.

Check Your Visibility: 

- Add de-icer to your windshield wiper fluid

- Make sure your windshield wipers are free of ice before heading out on the road – and consider updating with new flexible windshield wipers before the snow hits

- Make sure all mirrors are clear and properly adjusted for visibility

- Clean your headlights and check the bulbs in all of your vehicle lights – front and rear

Slow Down and Stay Back:

- When there is snow or ice on the ground, drop your speed to a safe limit

- Leave extra distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you for additional safety

- Do not use cruise control on icy roads

- Use caution on bridges, overpasses, and infrequently travelled roads because these may be slippery from ice

- Use extra caution when driving on one-lane roads

Skidding Safely

If your rear wheels skid…

- Take your foot off the accelerator

- Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right

- If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control

- If you have standard brakes, pump them gently

- If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal

If your front wheels skid…

- Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don’t try to steer immediately.

- As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently

Prepare for a Snow Day:

- If your vehicle has rear wheel drive, put bags of sand or kitty litter to help keep your vehicle easier to control

- Pack a snow day kit just in case you get stuck.  Important items to include are a blanket, gloves, hat, water, granola bars, flashlight and extra batteries, extra cell phone battery, flares, wooden matches in waterproof container, compass, scissors, rope and first aid kit.

- Prepare a toolbox for digging your car out with foldable shovel, 2×4 planks to put under tires, ice scraper and snow brush, reflective triangles, flares and exterior windshield cleaner

“You can never be too careful when driving in winter weather,” said Boesel.  “Accidents can happen so quickly on slick, icy roads, so slowing down and taking the extra precautions can really make the difference.”

If the unfortunate winter accident does occur, Boesel recommended having a collision plan in place so you aren’t stranded on the roadside waiting for assistance.  CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts offers high-quality, reliable repair service in 31 states and 10 Canadian provinces.  Just call 1-800-CARSTAR when you have an accident and they will send the tow truck, contact your insurance company, arrange for a rental car and repair your car. For information and store locations visit www.CARSTAR.com.