Our condolences go out to Marvin Gatton, Brandywine New Parts, on the loss of his Father and to Julie Finch, Title Department, on the loss of her sister.

Our prayers go out to the families of those who lost their lives serving our country:

In memory of Army Spc. David C. Lutes, of Frostburg, Maryland, who died on November 11, 2010 from injuries sustained in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan.

Brandywine Auto Parts and all it’s subsidiaries will be closed all day on Christmas Eve, December 24 and New Years Eve, December 31 so our employees can enjoy the holidays with their families.

OUR BABY CONTEST WILL CONTINUE FOR ONE MORE MONTH…
No one guessed who this cute little guy is (now there’s a clue!) Call Carol Waites with your guesses and you could win a $25 Wawa gift card!

A COMPANY IS KNOWN FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT MAKE UP THEIR TEAM
Congratulations to the following employees on their years of service:

LETTERS TO SANTA….What do kids ask Santa Claus for Christmas? Here are some of their letters…

I am trying to talk nice, and not say words I shouldn’t say. I am very good to my sister, Hannah
- Sara, 4, Eielson, Alaska.

can you please help the homeless children have a good Christmas with at least something really good to eat and maybe a small toy for them to love.
- Andrew, 7, South Hadley, Massachusetts

What type of fuel do you use for your sleigh or are your reindeers just hyper? Either way, I hope you won’t miss our house.
- Matt, 11, Greenfield, Ohio

I WAS AT THE MALL TODAY AND I WAS WAITING FOREVER IN LINE TO TELL YOU WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS. SO I REALLY LIKE THAT I CAN EMAIL YOU RIGHT AWAY WITHOUT LINING UP. WELL EXCEPT FOR AFTER MY LITTLE BROTHER.
- Nichole, 8, Tucson, Arizona

Santa, you know how it is nowadays, my parents are divorced, so please put me on your special delivery list to come 2 nights, Christmas Eve at Mom’s and Christmas night at Dad’s. Thank you!
- Ashley, 7, Granite Springs, New York

It is really cold here. Make sure Rudolph wears his sweater and Reindeer mittens.
- Donna, 9, Pennsboro, West Virginia

Dear Santa, I would love all the presents I asked for but my mom deserves them more. I have been getting presents all year from my mom and she works hard to get them for me. My mom doesn’t know how much I love her that’s why I want her to have all my presents. Love, Victoria
- Victoria, 12, Syracuse, New York

I have tried to be good Santa, but boys will be boys. You must know that cuz you are a boy.
- Henry, 8, Manchester, United Kingdom

If my brother been bad,do I get all his gifts?
- Bradley, 8, Frederick, Maryland

Please make sure the reindeers eat all their carrots, tops too! because they’re veggies are good for them!
- Tara, 5, Hartselle, Alabama

You are very good at keeping quiet on christmas eve, but I know you`re there.
- Edwina, 8, Londonderry, United Kingdom

I know that I may not get the bike because mom & dad said I had to wait until I was 9 to get a new bike.
- Brenna, 7, Albany, New York

My friends didnt beleive that I could email Santa. This is cool!
- Mikaela, 8, Bangor, Maine

Thank you for thinking of me and all the other kids around the world.
- Michael, 7, Davidson, North Carolina

I like your other countries uniforms!
- David, 9, Oakville, Ontario

My Dad did the naughty/nice test and was called a little stinker. Please give him somthing he did’nt mean to be bad.
- Saoirse, 10, Carbury, Ireland

Is rudolfs nose that way cuz he always has a cold?
- Lucy, 7, Southampton, United Kingdom

Dear Santa, I have been I good boy this year but I have had quarrels and even fights with my brother and I’m going to try and be better about stopping a fight instead of adding to it.
- Austin, 10, Middleburg, Virginia

I want everyone in the world to play nicer with each other. Mommy wants everyone to take better care of the world and Daddy just wants to read his Sunday paper in peace.
- Ellis, 7, Swindon, United Kingdom

Does your Mommy make you stop and brush your toothes after you have milk and cookies at each house?
- Celine, 4, Wilmington, Delaware

I will like to have snow in my country.Our country does not have snow.It is a tropical island.
- Laura, 11, Sangre Grande, Trinidad & Tobago

I heard you in my house this morning but I could not find you. I heard you twice.
- Candice, 9, Statesboro, Georgia

Christmas in Australia is very hot, so remember to put on some sunscreen.
- Katie, 6, Sydney, Australia

Mommy is helping me gather together all the toys that I don’t play wth anymore to give to the children that don’t have any.
- Rebecca, 4, Cheektowaga, New York

I have tried to be very good all year, I only messed up a few times, but I tried my best, and thats what my mom and dad said counts.
- Heather, 8, Cape May Court House, New Jersey

I help my mom with the dishes and i help my grandma and grandpa by giving them lots of hugs …….So please give them something nice too!
- Katelyn, 6, Boston, New York

IF ANYONE HAS A CHILD OR GRANDCHILD 10 OR UNDER THAT WANTS TO WRITE A LETTER TO SANTA, BRING/SEND IT TO CAROL IN PAYROLL AND SHE’LL MAKE SURE THAT SANTA GETS THE LETTER AND REPLIES TO IT! Letters must be in no later than December 15.

From the owners of Brandywine Auto Parts, we’d like to thank everyone for yet another wonderful and prosperous year and we could not have done it without all of you. We understand that there are tough economic times for everyone and it was a particularly rough year for some but hopefully 2011 will be better for all of us. With heart-felt thanks, we are glad all of you are part of the Brandywine Team! Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Born October 2, 2010, Saturday, 5:00 p.m., 8 pounds, 4 ounces. Mom Ifeoma, brothers Daniel and Joshua as well as Dad Chidi are so excited to finally have a little girl!

The holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday season, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Please feel free to excerpt these tips or use them in their entirety for any print or broadcast story, with acknowledgment of the source.

Trees

• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.”
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
• Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
• Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.

Lights

• Check all tree lights-even if you’ve just purchased them-before hanging them on your tree. Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use. To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
• Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Decorations

• Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.
• Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked over.
• In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to prevent them from swallowing or inhaling small pieces. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat them.
• Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass “angel hair.” Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.
• Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons and bows from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened. These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child or can cause a fire if near flame.

Toy Safety

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
• Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
• To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
• Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
• Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems – including death — after swallowing button batteries and magnets. Keep them away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one.
• Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
• Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
• Parents should store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy chest, and keep older kids’ toys away from young children.

Food Safety

• Bacteria are often present in raw foods. Fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits.
• Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child’s exploring hands. Be sure that young children cannot access microwave ovens..
• Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same.
• Never put a spoon used to taste food back into food without washing it.
• Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separately, and use separate utensils when preparing them.
• Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the countertop.
• Foods that require refrigeration should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours.

Happy Visiting

• Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
• Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots.
• Keep a list with all of the important phone numbers you or a baby-sitter are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician and the national Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222. Laminating the list will prevent it from being torn or damaged by accidental spills.
• Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child’s stress levels. Trying to stick to your child’s usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress.

Fireplaces

• Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.
• Use care with “fire salts,” which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
• Do not burn gift wrap paper in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

Congratulations go out to Junior and Anita Williams (Brandywine Truck Parts) – their new addition to the family will be here in June, 2011.

Our prayers go out to the families of those we lost overseas:

Army Sgt. 1st Class Lance H. Vogeler, of Frederick Maryland, who died on October 1, 2010 in Bastion, Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Army Sgt. John F. Burner, III of Baltimore, Maryland, who died on September 16, 2010 in Iskandariya, Iraq.

Lance Corporal Terry E. Honeycutt, Jr., USMC, of Waldorf, Maryland, who died on October 27, 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

As we all know there are loads of makes and models of vehicles and trucks and many of our loyal customers throw our switchboard operators for a loop when they call. Here are some of the funny things our customers say and ask for….

• I need an intake manaface for my buick
• I need an engine for a 93 central
• My window was broken into
• Customer says: So this is not Comcast is it!!!!
• Hey do you guys sell car parts for the cars
• Hi is Mark Roach there?
• I need two out of control arms for my car
• I need reproduction parts
• I need parts for my Dodge Leon
• Do you have the address to 14000 Crain Highway?
• I need a rear for my rear end
• I need a part on a mercury stable
• I need a defrogger switch for my car

I just saw your commercial, how much does it cost for the free installation?


Customer: I need parts.

Operator: What type of vehicle?

Customer: Automotive

A company is known for the men and women that make up their team.

Congratulations to the following on their years of service: