Welcome to our new quarterly newsletter! We are also excited to bring you a manufacturer-specific newsletter each month, so expect exclusive news and coupons about your favorite brands.

Winter's here again in full force with cancellations, icy driving conditions and cold steering wheels! In this edition of our eNewlsetter, we have included suggestions for activities both with and without the kids and relaxing ways to make the most of the winter months. Please feel free to contact us at any time to let us know your thoughts, whether you have ideas for comments or questions regarding a particular article. Your satisfaction is my main concern. Thank you for your support of and interest in our business.

Warmest wishes,

Damon Cartelli - President/GM

Fathers & Sons is proud to announce that our brands earned top safety awards by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2011, their annual list of the safest new vehicles. We carry 31 models of the 66 recognized this year, doubled from last year's recipients. No matter what size you are looking for, safety is always a top concern. Here at Fathers & Sons, we provide all winning models including: Kia's Optima, Forte, Soul, Sorento and Sportage; Volvo's S80, C30, XC60 and XC90; Audi's A3, A4 and Q5; and VW's Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen, the Golf and GTI, and Touareg and Tiguan. The VW Touareg is the only large SUV who was acclaimed among all manufacturers.

The vehicles are evaluated on front, rear, roof and side crash tests and must have anti-rollover electronic stability control (ESC) to earn top marks. These safety trends are just the beginning to push the limit and IIHS President, Adrian Lund, claimed automakers are "rising to the occasion" and he predicts even more models being awarded next year. We aim to serve your safety needs and hope you choose Fathers & Sons for your next car-buying decision.

On Wednesday, November 24, 2010, Fathers & Sons dealer group donated a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta for a raffle to raise money for the Open Pantry of Greater Springfield. Bax & O'Brien's annual Mayflower Marathon aspires to fill three 48-foot trailers with non-perishable food donations for the Open Pantry of Greater Springfield. This year, donors also had a chance to win a brand new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta provided by Fathers & Sons, by making a suggested donation of $10 or more.

To date, cash donations total $17,554 with money still coming in. All of the canned goods and groceries are scanned, so the total amount of food donated has a definitive cash value. The total donations of cash and food combined stand at $86,289.40. Joe O'Rourke from Rock 102 was quoted as saying, "It was far and away the most successful Mayflower Marathon, and I heard it said repeatedly that the Jetta was a big reason why." The winner was announced and he picked up his new car on Friday, November 26 at Fathers & Sons Volkswagen, located at 434 Memorial Avenue in West Springfield.