Vanessa Arellano Earns Hilbish Teacher of the Month Award for Kannapolis City Schools!

Vanessa Arellano is a very special teacher at Fred L. Wilson Elementary. She was the school’s very first foreign language teacher, and she’s changing lives in profound ways. She came to Fred L. Wilson from Lima, Peru and helped to make Kannapolis City Schools’ Spanish Language Immersion program a reality.

The parents who nominated Ms. Arellano said that she has helped to bring a world of diversity to her students. They praised her ability to give students a great foundation for learning not only a new language but also a new culture. They love the thoughtful instruction Ms. Arellano brings to the classroom and the way she combines her curriculum with incredible caring. In their words, “She truly loves her students and families and supports her students in every possible way.”

We’re very proud that Vanessa Arellano has come to Kannapolis to be part of our KCS family, and we’re delighted that Hilbish Ford has honored her excellence with the Hilbish Ford Outstanding Teacher Award for October. Congratulations!

Click here to nominate an outstanding KCS teacher for the Hilbish Teacher of the Month Award.

View the original article by KCS here.

A.L. Brown HS Teacher Earns Hilbish Teacher of the Month Award for March 2019

We would like to congratulate Mr. James Busse for earning the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award for Kannapolis City Schools! We are so proud of your achievements and we're thankful to have teachers like you in our community! 

Kannapolis City Schools shared this message: 

"James Busse is an amazing, versatile, and dedicated teacher at A.L. Brown High School. He is the school’s Carpentry teacher, and he helps coach the Wonders’ championship cheerleading squad. Mr. Busse makes a positive impact on students all across A.L. Brown.

The parent who nominated Mr. Busse praised his patience and excellence in teaching her son with special needs. She said, “My son, who is in the Occupational Course of Study Program with high functioning Autism, had Mr. Busse for Carpentry during the first semester of this school year. My son absolutely loved this class and loved Mr. Busse. While using caution with specific tools, Mr. Busse allowed my son to learn and participate in class just like the rest of the students. The self-confidence my child gained from being in the class has been fantastic. Mr. Busse always provides a huge smile, a warm welcome into his classroom, and positive attitude. He mailed postcards to my child congratulating him on passing his exam, his hardworking attitude, and his willingness to try new things. Mr. Busse is an outstanding teacher. His kindness has been heartwarming, and he is a true asset to A.L. Brown High School.”

James Busse epitomizes what it means to be a great teacher, and we’re extremely proud that he is part of our KCS family. We’re delighted that Hilbish Ford is honoring his excellence with the Hilbish Ford Outstanding Teacher Award for March. Congratulations!"

Click here to nominate the next Teacher of the Month for Kannapolis City Schools!

Brittany Banks of G.W. Carver Elementary Earns Hilbish Teacher Award

Congratulations to Brittany Banks for earning the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award for November 2018!

Kannapolis City Schools shared: "Brittany Banks is an amazing kindergarten teacher at G.W. Carver Elementary School. She is a master educator whose talent truly stands out. In 2016, Ms. Banks was named Kannapolis City Schools’ Teacher of the Year when she was part of the Shady Brook staff. Now, she has moved to G.W. Carver, where a new set of parents can experience her excellence and passion for teaching.

Ms. Banks is the first teacher from G.W. Carver to win the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award. The parent who nominated Ms. Banks complimented her enthusiasm, sensitivity to students’ needs, and her warmness towards the children in her classroom. The mom said, “Ms. Banks has made my daughter’s first year incredible, and my daughter loves to go to school every day!”

Having that kind of impact on children and building such a deep love of learning is why Brittany Banks is such a special teacher. We’re extremely proud that Brittany is part of our KCS family, and we’re delighted that Tim Vaughn of Hilbish Ford has honored her excellence with the Outstanding Teacher of the Month Award for November. Congratulations!"

Click here to nominate an outstanding KCS teacher for the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award.

When Should I Check My Brakes?

By the time you start hearing screeching or grinding, some brake damage has already occurred. 

You want to inspect your brakes regularly so that rotor damage (one cause of those not-so-lovely sounds) doesn’t become an issue. A good rule of thumb is to have your brakes inspected every time you have your oil changed.

Maintaining enough material on your brake pads protects the rotor. As your brake pads wear, of course, they get thinner. The fronts wear faster than the rear brake pads by a ratio of about 2:1 because there is more load placed on the front when stopping.

Weather doesn’t really affect how fast your brakes wear, but it’s important to know that in really cold weather, you might temporarily hear a grinding or squealing sound just the first few times you apply the brakes—on a cold morning as you’re pulling out of the driveway, for instance. The friction from applying the brakes warms them quickly, so you shouldn’t hear that sound once the brakes have been applied a few times. If you do, you’ll want to bring your vehicle to our Service Center for an inspection. 

"Are We There Yet?" – How to Keep Kids Entertained on the Road

Summer is here, which means: it's road trip season! These tips, tricks and activities will help maximize the fun, minimize the whining—and keep you sane while traveling with your family this summer.

1. Pack Kid-Friendly, No-Mess Foods.

Save money—and help nix between-meal crankiness—with easy-to-pack foods to go. If you don’t happen to drive a super-family-friendly Ford Flex, with an available built-in refrigerator (yes, that’s a thing), bring a small cooler. Use plastic snack bags for berries, grapes and baby carrots. Pack individual containers of hummus, milk and juice. For items that don’t need to be chilled, buy a clear plastic food-storage container with a lid and sectioned compartments. Fill each compartment with a small amount of a different treat—try cereal, cheddar crackers, small pretzels, granola, nuts, raisins, and slices of dried apple, banana or mango. For a sweet addition, add mini-marshmallows or candy-coated chocolate. Make sure to take lots of water for the whole family, as well as reusable bottles to fill up at rest stops. And throw in some wet wipes, paper towels and a small garbage bag for quick clean-ups.

2. Create a Surprise Travel-Activity Bag.

The dollar or discount store is your friend here. Choose puzzles and hidden-picture books, coloring books and crayons, kids’ mini binoculars, a deck of cards, comic books, fill-in-the-blanks books or magnetic games. Some parents like to dole out the surprises throughout the road trip, giving the children something new whenever enthusiasm wanes; other parents prefer to hand over the entire bag of loot at the beginning of the trip. Another fun twist: Wrap each item in inexpensive tissue paper to make it feel more special.

3. Control the Clutter.

You’re not going to want to have to stop and root through your luggage every time your child asks for something. Keep snacks, napkins and other light-weight items within your children’s reach by hanging multi-pocket storage units on the back of the front seats. (Make sure they don’t impede your supplemental restraint system.) Store extra goodies in a secured compartmentalized cargo organizer in the trunk, then replenish as needed. For the space between kids in the rear seat, you can use a storage unit that attaches securely to the seat between two kids. Never put heavy objects untethered in a mesh storage container, just in case you have to stop quickly—you don’t want anything flying through the air.

4. Create a Trip Journal.

Road trips are a great time to teach children about geography, local customs and the beauty of nature. Buy a simple paper journal. Encourage older kids to take photos on the trip, write journal entries or draw pictures of the places you visit. They can also collect maps, brochures, paper menus and other memorabilia to include. Give kids a small amount of spending money to buy “flat” souvenirs (stickers, a collectable pin, a patch, etc.) to add to the trip journal. Adding something as simple as a feather found on the ground, or a silly postcard purchased at a souvenir shop, can bring back fun memories for years to come. Pack glue sticks, tape and markers. Each evening when you stop for the day, encourage kids to journal and add the mementos from the day. Leave space to add photos when you get them printed.

5. Listen Up.

What’s your destination? Podcasts on everything from Yosemite National Park to the Alamo to the Statue of Liberty are available for free online. Listen to audio books the whole family will enjoy. Take turns letting each family member choose the music. Before the trip, take time—maybe with the kids’ help—to create fun playlists for the trip. Goofy songs could include “Gangnam Style” or “La Macarena.” Or you could make a list of songs from your children’s favorite movies or those that mention different states, such as “Midnight Train to Georgia” or “Nebraska.”

6. And Don’t Forget the Electronics. (As If You Could.)

Chances are, your children are going to be clamoring to use tablets, smartphones and portable DVD players while you’re on the road. These gadgets are great—in moderation. Encourage kids to play age-appropriate electronic games and local-player games that can be passed back and forth. And bring a stash of movies and cartoons—along with all the chargers you’ll need to keep the fun going. Don’t want to overhear the scenes from Frozen one more time while driving across Texas? Bring along headphones for the kids. If you’re headphone shopping, consider those with volume limits to protect young ears.

Happy travels!

Dimmed Lights? Whining Sound? Bad Smell? Uh Oh!

Let’s start by getting one thing out of the way: What is an alternator anyway? Your alternator is responsible for preserving your vehicle’s electrical equilibrium; its primary job is to generate an electrical charge that replenishes your battery as you drive. In summertime it’s essential to recognize the warning signs of a faulty alternator—because excessive heat and heavy use of the air conditioning can push your alternator to the brink. Ignore these symptoms, and you could find yourself experiencing the fine summer weather while stranded on the side of the road.

Dashboard Warning

You know that battery warning light that comes on when you turn on the ignition? (Check your owner’s manual for the exact location/appearance of the light in your vehicle.) It should disappear when the engine starts. When this warning light remains on, you have a charging system problem. That could mean you also have an alternator problem.

If this happens to you, head to your Ford Service Center for a battery and charging system test. This test can pinpoint whether the charging system is weak or not working at all—and whether you need a new alternator.

Dim Lights

Sometimes, a weak alternator can affect your car’s lights. If you notice your headlamps or dash lights are dimmer than normal, ask a buddy to help you do a quick test: Start your car, turn on the headlights and press on the accelerator. (Be sure to do this outdoors, not in your garage, to avoid dangerous carbon monoxide fumes.) Have your friend observe. Do the headlamps flicker, dim or get brighter? If the answer is yes, your alternator may be going bad. If the brightness of your lights stays consistent, the problem may lie with the battery, not your alternator.

Dead Battery

Speaking of batteries, it’s important to remember that they aren’t meant to provide long-term power. Instead, car batteries are designed to deliver enough of a jolt to get the car started and then pretty much just sit quietly while the alternator assumes its role as the ongoing power source.

If you turn the key and discover your car won’t start, that dead battery could be a signal that your alternator has flatlined. When the alternator fails, the battery is left to power the vehicle on its own. And eventually, even the most reliable battery will run out of juice.

Luckily, there’s an easy way to find out whether the battery or the alternator is responsible: Jump-start your car and then swiftly remove the cables. Wait a few minutes. If the car dies again, the alternator isn’t properly charging the system and it may need to be replaced. If the car keeps running, then the issue might be your battery. Head to your Ford Service Center, where you can buy a new battery or have a certified technician test your battery’s charge.

Noisy Belts

Do you hear whining even with no toddlers in your vehicle? Chances are, it’s the sound of a misaligned serpentine belt—the long, winding piece of rubber that drives everything from your air conditioning to your steering pump to…your alternator.

The alternator also features a pulley that spins on a shaft, which is supported by either bearings or brushings. An annoying droning sound could mean the pulley and the serpentine belt aren’t in correct alignment, or the bearings and brushings are worn. Consider the noise a wake-up call for an immediate inspection.

Strange Smells

A burning-rubber smell is another sensory cue that your alternator could be in trouble. Once again, the serpentine belt may be the culprit. If it’s not turning freely, it could push additional friction to the belt and generate heat, which, in turn, produces that scent. An overheated alternator can also trigger smells better suited for the racetrack than the interstate. Hold your breath and head over to Hilbish Ford.

Ford Only Automaker on Ethisphere Institute's List of 2016 World's Most Ethical Companies

Ford Motor Company is the only automaker named a 2016 World’s Most Ethical Company® by Ethisphere Institute – a distinction that comes as ethics in business increasingly affects customers and their purchase decisions.

“This honor celebrates our employees who are committed to doing the right things and making the right choices,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. “Ethics and corporate citizenship are the foundation of what drives us to make people’s lives better.”

This marks the seventh consecutive year Ethisphere Institute has named Ford a World’s Most Ethical Company.

Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, honors companies with top ratings in five categories – ethics and compliance, corporate citizenship and responsibilities, culture of ethics, governance and leadership and reputation.

For decades, Ford has recognized the importance of strong corporate citizenship and how that ties to success and building the company’s reputation. More than half of respondents to the 2016 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient said they learn more about a company before deciding to do business with them. More than one-third decided not to do business with a company if they perceive the business has a negative reputation.

“Ford understands that trust is the cornerstone of everything it does, and their commitment to being an active part of a global community helps explain why they are the only automaker Ethisphere has recognized every year since 2010,” said Timothy Erblich, Ethisphere’s Chief Executive Officer. “Being honored for the seventh time is no small achievement. Congratulations to everyone at Ford for being recognized.”

Click here to see why Ford was named World's Most Ethical Company in 2016.

To view the complete list of 2016 World’s Most Ethical Companies, visit http://ethisphere.com/worlds-most-ethical/wme-honorees/.

In addition to this honor from Ethisphere Institute, Ford has received additional honors, including:
Forbes 2015 America’s Best Employers (133)
Human Rights Campaign 2015 Corp. Equality Index – 100 percent
Fast Company 50 Most Innovative Companies
Universum 2015 U.S. Most Attractive Employer – Engineering (18)
Universum 2015 World’s Most Attractive Company – Engineering (15)
Fortune Change the World List
Fortune World’s Most Admired
LinkedIn 100 Most InDemand Employers
Forbes Best Companies for Work-Life Balance

How to Maximize Your Ford's Fuel Economy While Driving

You may think that your vehicle’s fuel economy is set, based on its combined MPG rating.

 

But did you know that how you drive, as well as how you maintain your vehicle, can make a big difference in your vehicle’s fuel consumption?

 

Use the following tips to help maximize your fuel economy while driving:

 

Drive smoothly

Aggressive driving wastes fuel—especially while driving at highway speeds. So accelerate smoothly, brake softer and earlier, and stay in one lane while it’s safe to do so. Not only do these driving techniques save fuel, they can also prolong the life of your brakes and tires.

Slow down

Speeding wastes lots of fuel. Your fuel mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph. That equates to paying an additional 26 cents per gallon for every 5 mph above 50 that you drive.

Only use A/C on the highway

Your fuel economy drops when you use the air conditioner at low speeds—by up to 15%. So if it isn’t too hot, turn off the A/C around town, and roll down your windows instead. However, at 55 mph or higher, using the A/C is preferable to open windows for two reasons: Your vehicle has much lower wind resistance with the windows closed. And because the engine makes more power at higher revs, it’s able to run accessories like the A/C compressor more efficiently.

Remove the rooftop carrier

Your vehicle was designed for good aerodynamics—but attaching a huge carrier or bike to the roof adds more wind resistance. So if you spend lots of time on the highway or are planning a long trip, try to transport extra items inside the vehicle, or attached to the rear. Washing and waxing your vehicle can actually lower wind resistance too.

Remove excess weight

Carrying around an extra 100 pounds in your trunk or back seat can reduce your mileage by up to 4%. To travel as light as possible, keep only the most important items (like an emergency kit, jumper cables, a small toolset, and a small jack) in the vehicle.

Keep the convertible top up

As much fun as your convertible is, you should put the top up during highway trips. You’ll have less wind resistance, less turbulence, and a better hairdo.

Keep the windows and sunroof closed

Take advantage of mild weather by leaving the A/C off, using vent air, and keeping the windows and sunroof closed. You will have less drag, and better fuel economy.

Use cruise control

Activating your cruise helps you save fuel in two ways: It keeps you from mindlessly driving at faster—and less fuel-efficient—speeds. And it maintains a constant speed, and won’t use additional fuel while accelerating.

Note that many modern vehicles will let you monitor your miles per gallon while you’re driving. Try to set your cruise control at your vehicle’s most fuel-efficient speed, as long as it’s at or below the legal limit.

Stay in gear when stopping

While shifting into Neutral and coasting to a stop sounds like it would save fuel, the opposite is true: Many modern fuel-injected vehicles go into a “fuel cutoff” mode when the engine senses that the vehicle is in gear, the rpm is above idle, and the throttle is closed. Shifting to Neutral may cancel that mode, so keep it in gear.

Turn off the engine while waiting

If your non-hybrid vehicle is safely parked, and will be stopped for more than a couple of minutes, turn off the engine. This is even more effective if your vehicle is powered by a large 6- or 8-cylinder engine, as they typically will waste more fuel at idle than smaller engines.

Combine trips

Your engine is more efficient when it’s warmed up. Many short trips that start with a cool engine will use more fuel than a single, longer trip. So when you have to drive for errands, get as many accomplished as you can in one trip to maximize your fuel economy.

 

Get more tips about going further in your Ford by visiting www.hilbishford.com.