Archive for the 'Special Projects' Category

Giving comes Full Circle - From New Canaan to Haiti and back

February 22, 2010Leo Karl III0 comments

Medical team from the Hopital Sacre Cuer in Milot, Haiti, transfer patients from a Helicopter to an awaiting ambulance that will bring them to the hospital’s complex.On January 12, 2010, an earthquake rocked the capital city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti and instantly this poverty stricken and desolate land became the center of much of the world’s media attention.  It is sad that it takes an epic event like this to shine a light on one of the neediest countries on our earth, but this is reality.

  

While the public outpouring of support, both thoughts and prayers as well as financially, is a sign of the true goodwill in all of us, I’d like to take a moment in the midst of this crisis to point out how critical charitable giving is on a year round basis.  Whether its home or abroad, in our backyard or around the globe, there are always needs far greater than any of our own at any moment in time.  As Americans, as members of the human race, we each need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we do enough for others.  And we need to ask this question every day; not just when the media shines a bright light on the latest natural disaster or epic event.

 

Why?  Because without constant vigilance, the truly needy only become more disadvantaged over time.  They need us.  Not just in times of crisis; but each and every day.

 

Allow me to share a story that may give the idea of charitable giving a new meaning.

 

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HOPE illuminates the sky around Fairfield County…

December 12, 2009Leo Karl III0 comments

\UPDATE: Due to the inclimate weather, the “Hope Lights Lives” Luminary Lighting Scheduled for December 13th has been postponed. The lighting will take place next Sunday, December 20th.

Nothing signifies HOPE more than a single illuminated candle – unless of course there are thousands of illuminated candles! KARL Chevrolet is proud to once again serve as the New Canaan distribution center for the 2009 “Hope Lights Lives” Luminary Campaign. Tomorrow evening, December 13, 2009 at 5:00pm, neighborhoods throughout lower Fairfield County will be illuminated by literally thousands of white luminaries in what has become one of the areas most visible and unique fundraisers.

This year’s campaign promises to be the most expansive yet, as dozens of additional neighborhoods in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Rowayton, Stamford, Weston and Wilton have already pledged their support by agreeing to set out luminaries on the lighting night. Here at KARL, we distributed almost 600 luminary kits containing a dozen candles each. That’s almost 7,200 luminaries that will light up neighborhoods all around New Canaan tomorrow night. Mark your calendar and take a ride – early Sunday evening will certainly provide some beautiful sites around the area.

Family Centers is a private, nonprofit organization offering education and human services to children, adults and families in Fairfield County. More than 1,000 professionals and trained volunteers work together to provide a wide range of responsive, innovative programs. Through our five Centers of Excellence, more than 17,000 children, adults, families and communities receive the care, encouragement and resources needed to realize their potential. The annual lighting of luminaries signifies area neighbors HOPE for a bright future for all those seeking assistance from Family Centers.

Photo (from L-R): Stephanie Radman, Carolyn Escherich, Ned Thunem (volunteer from NCHS S.L.O.Bs), and Steve Karl all assist in the effort at KARL Chevrolet in New Canaan to help distribute Luminary Kits fof the 2009 “HOPE Lights Lives” campaign to benefit the Family Centers organization. 
KARL Chevrolet in New Canaan distributes \

Toys for Tots 2009

November 30, 2009Andy0 comments

November 16th-December 22nd
Karl Chevrolet Hummer New Canaan

Karl Chevrolet Hummer once again will be a sponsor for Toys for Tots with the U.S. Marines collecting toys for children ages 6 months to 13 yrs old. It’s hard to think of a child waking up Christmas morning with no presents even one or two can bring such a happy smile to a child’s face.. Read more »

Toys For Tots 2008, THANK YOU!

January 2, 2009Andy0 comments

We would like to thank all of you who participated in the Toys For Tots 2008 toy drive. For the record, we collected 9 pickup truck loads worth of toys that were distributed to kids in need in the Fairfield county area during this past Christmas season. The pictures speak for themselves and we’d like to thank everyone for their generosity!

Toys For Tots 2008

November 25, 2008Andy0 comments

KARL Chevrolet HUMMER is proud to be a sponsor of Toys For Tots and an official drop spot for the toy drive.

To participate, please drop off a new unwrapped toy to our main Chevrolet showroom located at 261 Elm Street in New Canaan, CT between November 20th and December 23rd. A special request has been made for toys that are aimed at the 8 to 13 year old audience.

These toys will be distributed on Christmas to needy children in our local community by the U.S. Marine Corps.

For more information about Toys for Tots follow this link to www.toysfortots.org.

Got Nitrogen?

October 6, 2008Andy0 comments

Believe me, I am the first one to call something bogus if a claim seems too big, preposerous, or someone is trying to sell snake oil.

That said, I had the guys in our shop fill my 2006 Cobalt SS’s tires with Nitrogen to see for myself if the claims of better ride quality, better tire wear, less sensitivity to temperature would live up to the hype.

That was a few days ago, and now I’m here to tell you that I won’t run another vehicle ever again without putting Nitrogen in the tires and here is why. The way my car now rides with the gas is a suble but very detectable difference. The tires seem a lot more “consistant”. The ride has smoothed out a bit and with winter comming up fast it’s nice to know I won’t have to top off air in the cold months. Read more »

What’s the buzz about Ethanol?

June 13, 2008Leo Karl III0 comments

ethanol.jpgExactly what is ethanol? And what’s the buzz about?It seems there are many ‘rumors’ but few current facts floating around about Ethanol and more specifically about e85 Ethanol. So let’s discuss the basics:

E85 Ethanol is a renewable fuel made up of 85% man-made renewable Ethanol fuel and 15% Petroleum. With only 15% petroleum, you would naturally expect Ethanol to cost less than gasoline.  Eventually, you will be correct.  But first, we need to get e85 Ethanol distribution available to the public.  Ethanol can be produced from many different sources; among which are corn and sugar cane. Here in the U.S. there is a widespread myth that Ethanol is only made from corn - and when folks talk about corn they think of the yellowish corn kernels we eat. FALSE.

Ethanol is made from the stalks and husks of corn - not the food stock that we would eat. Thus, ethanol is NOT responsible for the rise in food prices. If you stop and think for a moment, it is pretty easy to understand why our food prices continue to rise. How much has it been costing you to fill up your car’s tank these days? More each week, right? Well consider the truckers who must deliver food, particularly perishable food items, from farm to super market. The cost of diesel fuel that truckers use has risen faster than even the unleaded gasoline your car uses. That increased cost has to be recouped someplace, and that is in higher food prices. Read more »

Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell at KARL Chevrolet HUMMER

May 9, 2008Andy0 comments

equinox_fuelcell_front.jpg equinox_fuelcell_back.jpg

Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell at KARL Chevrolet HUMMER 5/8-5/9
Hydrogen-Fueled Concept Vehicle will be at New Canaan Fair on Saturday 5/10

What:  Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Vehicle Concept Vehicle in New Canaan
Public Viewing: KARL Chevrolet HUMMER, 261 Elm St., New Canaan May 8 (9 am - 8 pm), May 9 (9 am - 4 pm) and, St. Mark’s May Fair, New Canaan, Saturday May 10 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m)

NEW CANAAN,  CT,   (May 8, 2007)  –   KARL Chevrolet HUMMER in New Canaan has received a Chevrolet® Equinox® Concept Vehicle, an electric vehicle powered by GM®’s fourth-generation fuel cell system, GM’s most advanced fuel cell propulsion system to date.  The vehicle will be on display at the dealership on Thursday and Friday May 8-9 and at the St. Mark’s May Fair in New Canaan from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.

Chevrolet is committed to introducing advanced technology solutions in drivable and practical vehicles that decrease our dependence on petroleum and reduce our emissions. No petroleum is used to power Equinox Fuel Cell. With hydrogen as the fuel, Equinox Fuel Cell will emit zero greenhouse gases, only water vapor. Read more »

Tracking The Chevy Volt

April 8, 2008Andy0 comments

gm-volt.jpgThe Chevy Volt has been called many things by many people. Some say it is the first great American hope for breaking foreign oil dependency and possibly the first really viable, mass-produced, all-electric car. Others say that it is vaporware, a car that will never be produced, and even if it is, it will be late to market and overpriced. Whatever your stance on the vehicle, the good folks at www.gm-volt.com are putting together the scraps of info that escape GM into a relevant and interesting website. Take a look at the info the have collected and make up your own mind. Do you think the Volt will be here at KARL Chevrolet HUMMER by 2010? Would you buy a car that can go 40 miles without burning any gas? How much would you be willing to pay if they bring to market the Volt with all the capabilities they are shooting for? Drop us a comment…

Excerpt from www.gm-volt.com:

WHAT IS THE VOLT?:

The Volt is radically different than any on the road today. Although agreement about definitions vary, GM doesn’t not consider it a hybrid. Current hybrids cars, such as the Prius, are defined as parallel hybrids, meaning they have a small electric motor that moves the car when it is going slowly, but when speed or acceleration increases, a gasoline motor kicks in. The Volt, however, is considered an extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV). It has a very powerful all-electric 161-horsepower 45KW (53 KW peak) motor that is the only engine to power the car at all times. This engine should be capable of moving the car from 0 to 60 in 8.5 seconds, and have a top speed of at least 100 mph. Read more »

The Race For The Battery Of 2010

April 3, 2008Andy0 comments

battery.jpgGM may yet beat Toyota in plug-in cars, but its breakneck development pace is fraught with risk.

At a General Motors research laboratory in Warren, Mich. engineers are simulating real-life wear and tear on a pair of prototype batteries that lie at the heart of GM’s riskiest technological gamble ever. By repeatedly drawing energy out and pouring it back in every ten minutes, they want to know how much stress the batteries can handle. Dialing up the torture, they’ll soon move those tests to a “shaker table,” where they will subject the batteries to jarring vibrations, extreme temperatures and corrosive road salt, to name just a few hazards.

GM is working feverishly to prove that one or both of these lithium-ion batteries will be capable of powering a hybrid car for up to 40 miles without burning any gasoline, that they’re safe and that they can last ten years and 150,000 miles. Today’s hybrids use a wimpy battery by comparison, and they can’t be plugged in for recharging. By spring GM aims to road test the batteries in prototype versions of its forthcoming plug-in, the Chevrolet Volt. Read more »

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