Sterling Auto Repair

It all began some 4,000 years ago. Ancient Babylonians are said to be the first people to make New Year’s resolutions as well as the first to hold celebrations in honor of the New Year. Way back then, though, the New Year began in mid-March, when the crops were planted. It was originally a 12-day religious festival known as Akitu, where the Babylonians crowned a new king or reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning king. Promises were also made to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. It is believed that these promises could be considered the forerunners of our New Year’s resolutions. A similar practice occurred in ancient Rome after the emperor Julius Caesar tinkered with the calendar (circa 46 B.C.) and established January 1 as the beginning of the New Year. As for early Christians, the New Year became a tradition for thinking about one’s past mistakes and resolving to do and be better in the future. Early Methodists held watch nigh ... read more

Fudge is a type of confectionery which is made by mixing sugar, butter and milk, heating it to a temperature of 240 °F, the soft-ball stage, and then beating the mixture while it cools so that it acquires a smooth, creamy consistency. Fruits, nuts, caramel, candies, and other flavors are sometimes added either inside or on top. Where did Fudge begin you ask? An American-style fudge was found in a letter written by Emelyn Battersby Hartridge, a student at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. She wrote that her schoolmate’s cousin made fudge in Baltimore, MD in 1889 and sold it for 40 cents a pound. Hartridge obtained the fudge recipe and, in 1890, made 30 lbs. of fudge for the Vassar College Senior Auction. This Vassar fudge recipe became quite popular at the school for years to come ... read more

Remember back in the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s when cars had vent windows? For those that don’t remember such a thing, vent windows are triangular windows in the front of the driver and passenger windows. They could be unlocked and then angled outward, so they would catch the wind and blow it directly onto your face. People really liked their vent windows, but manufacturers phased them out of newer vehicles since those days. Here’s why: Almost every car now comes with air conditioning. So if it’s so hot that simply lowering a window won’t cut it, you always have the option of rolling up the windows and turning the temperature down And the second reason why you don’t see vent windows anymore? Cars are actually more fuel efficient with all of their windows closed and the air conditioner on – even when you factor in the energy used to power the air conditioner

Giving back to the community is a real focus of ours here at Gill’s Automotive. Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for everything we have, and also a time to remember those in need. Yesterday, we delivered a yummy 25-lb cooked turkey to the Loudoun Homeless Services Center to assist them with a Thanksgiving dinner for those less fortunate. Many Loudoun businesses and residents also delivered turkeys, potatoes, vegetables and desserts. It really does take a village… https://www.voachesapeake.org/lhsc