Winter Weather Driving Safety Tips

By Silvana | Published: December 7, 2011

The weather forecast calls for snow in Northern Virginia. I really like snow but only the nice and fluffy kind. Usually, in our area we get the wet and sticky kind with lots of ice … not so great. Many of our student may not be used to driving in wintery conditions and around here the traffic can get crazy when it snows. Here are some driving safety tips from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s office:

Loudoun County, VA:  A winter weather advisory is in effect for the area and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is reminding motorists that winter driving can be hazardous, especially in our area where we normally receive a mixture of ice, freezing rain and snow.   

The agency is advising motorists to make sure their vehicles are equipped with a well-stocked winter driving kit.

A winter driving kit should include the following items:  

  • Bag of sand or salt (or kitty litter)
  • Traction mats
  • Snow shovel
  • Snow brush
  • Ice scraper
  • Booster cables
  • Warning devices such as flares or emergency lights
  • Fuel line de-icer (methanol, also called methyl alcohol or methyl hydrate)
  • Extra windshield wiper fluid appropriate for sub-freezing temperatures
  • Roll of paper towels
  • Flashlight and a portable flashing light (and extra batteries)
  • Blanket
  • Extra clothing, including hat and wind-proof pants, and warm footwear
  • First aid kit
  • Snack bars or other “emergency” food and water
  • Matches and emergency candles. Only use these with a window opened to prevent build-up of carbon monoxide.
  • Road maps
  • “Call Police” or other help signs or brightly colored banners.

The Loudoun Sheriff’s Office reminds motorists to stay safe in the winter by also following these driving safety tips: 

  • Always keep the gas tank topped off. When it gets to half, fill it up.
  • Do not travel unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to make the trip, ensure someone is aware of your route of travel.
  • Carry a cellular phone. Your cell phone can be used during emergencies and for notifying those expecting your arrival in case there are weather delays.
  • Always buckle-up. Your seat belt can be the best protection against drivers who are tense and in a hurry because of weather conditions.
  • Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights – even the hood and roof – before driving.
  • Pay attention. Don’t try to out-drive the conditions. Remember the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.
  • Leave plenty of room for stopping.
  • Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows – stay back a safe stopping distance and don’t pass on the right.
  • Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Brake correctly. It takes more time to stop in adverse conditions.
  • Watch for slippery bridges, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridges will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.
  • Don’t use your cruise control in wintry conditions. Even roads that appear clear can have sudden slippery spots and the short touch of your brakes to deactivate the cruise control feature can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
  • Don’t get overconfident in your 4×4 vehicle. Remember that your four-wheel drive vehicle may help you get going quicker than other vehicles but it won’t help you stop any faster. Many 4×4 vehicles are heavier than passenger vehicles and actually may take longer to stop. Don’t get overconfident in your 4×4 vehicle’s traction. Your 4×4 can lose traction as quickly as a two-wheel drive vehicle.
  • Do not pump anti-lock brakes. If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, do not pump brakes in attempting to stop. The right way is to “stomp and steer!”
  • Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks will alert you quicker to problems and give you a split-second extra time to react safely.
  • Remember that trucks are heavier than cars. Trucks take longer to safely respond and come to a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.
  • Go Slow!

Know the current road conditions: http://511virginia.org/Default.aspx; for statewide highway information 24-hours-a-day, call the Highway Helpline at 1-800-367-ROAD or check local traffic incident information at www.loudoun.gov/traffic (www.loudoun.gov/mobiletraffic via your web browsing cell phone).

 

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Thanksgiving

By Silvana | Published: November 22, 2011

The first American Thanksgiving is said to have occurred in 1621 with the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts and the Wampanoag Native American tribe. They shared food with each other. The Wampanoags prayed and gave thanks for food and all blessings every day. The Pilgrims and other early colonists considered Thanksgiving an annual religious holiday. They prayed and fasted to show thanks for food and all their blessing. This may explain why nothing has been found written about this Thanksgiving until twenty years after it happened.

The food that was eaten at the first Thanksgiving was probably seafood; like lobster, clams, and oysters. This is because it was in the Plymouth area close to the Atlantic Ocean. They may have eaten deer, goose, or duck. Corn may have been on the table as well.

In 1863 Sara Hale was dedicated to making Thanksgiving a national holiday. She thought this would help unite the country during the Civil War which was going on at the time. She was successful in having President Abraham Lincoln sign a law making the last Thursday of November a national annual holiday of Thanksgiving.

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated by all people living in America. We still give thanks for all the good things in our life and the food on our table. This is a major American holiday where family and friends get together. The American table usually has a turkey. Turkey started being used because it is inexpensive compared with other meat. If you are having a lot of people for Thanksgiving a turkey is a good choice as they are usually very big. Also popular on the table are mashed white potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing (usually made from dried bread crumbs and herbs), cranberry sauce and corn. Each family may have their own food traditions. Dessert is usually pumpkin or apple pie.

There are a lot of football games on TV on Thanksgiving. There is also the Thanksgiving parade in New York City which started in 1924. We can watch this great tradition on TV.

This is my favorite holiday because it does not matter where you come from or what religion you are. We can all give thanks for all of our blessings. Enjoy Thanksgiving!

Submitted by Beth Friedman, ESL Instructor

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Field Trip to Washington DC

By Silvana | Published: November 14, 2011

On November 4, 2011 the American Culture and Lifestyle Class took its first field trip to Washington, DC to see some of the important sites and monuments we have discussed in class. We left around 9:30 a.m. from the front of Signal Hill. We were fortunate to have the use of the NOVA van driven by our program coordinators, Ms. Silvana Mehner and Ms. Keila Louzada.

Our first stop was to see the Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, Vietnam, Korean, and the Women’s Memorial. Next, we went to see the statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Martin Luther King Memorial. This is the newest of the memorials on the National Mall. It was grand. The wall area surrounding the large statue was engraved with various quotes of all the speeches he had given. The memorial is called “I Have a Dream”, which is a quote of his most famous speech.

We had learned about all of the monuments/people in class. I explained when each was made, who made it and what is was made from. It certainly had more meaning to the students to know about the history and culture when they saw the monuments.

Later, we drove by the Washington Monument. You can usually take an elevator to the top. It is now closed because of the earthquake we had a few months ago. Then, we went to lunch at the Old Post Office. There are many places to eat there. We also took two elevators to the top of the building to get a view the city. It was windy but interesting.  This is not the original Old Post Office. That is in another museum called the Smithsonian.

 After lunch we went to the Capital. There are two main parts to the Capital building. The Capital is where the lawmakers of the United States meet to make the laws or changes to the laws of the United States. We visited the Visitors side. I made reservations in advance so we did not have to wait in line. Inside, we saw a movie explaining what we would see on the Visitors’ Tour. We had a guide that took us through some of the most beautiful statues and paintings. The paintings were on the walls and the ceiling.

Most of the students in my class had been to Washington, DC before but they never toured the Capitol or saw the memorials up close as we did this day.

It was a fabulous day. It started out chilly, but warmed up in the afternoon. I want to give special thanks to our coordinators, Ms. Silvana and Ms. Keila. This trip would not have been possible without their hard work.

On behalf of the students and myself, I want to say a hearty thank to Silvana and Keila. Great day! Great fun! Great learning! 

 

 

Submitted by Ms. Beth Friedman and the students of the American Culture and Lifestyle class.

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Halloween – a blend of many cultures and old world traditions

By Silvana | Published: October 31, 2011

Halloween, as we know it today, has its roots in ancient ceremonies.  At first, it was celebrated by the Celts (modern day Irish). It marked the end of summer harvest and the beginning of winter and a new year.    On October 31st, the Celtic priests, would offer sacrifices of crops and animals. This festival would last for a few days.

Later, when the Romans ruled in Britain, they added their customs to those of the Celts.  The Romans celebrated the gods of the harvest on November 1st.  Over long periods of time, the customs of the Celts and the customs of the Romans were combined.

One more important change occurred when the Christian religion was spread to Britain.  They made November 1st a holy day – to honor the saints.  The day was called All Saints’ Day, or Hallowmas, or All Hallows. Years later, they would make November 2nd a day to honor the dead.  They called this All Souls Day. They celebrated with bonfires, parades, and people dressing up as saints, angels and devils.

But the spread of Christianity did not make people forget their early customs. On the eve of All Hallows, Oct. 31, people continued to celebrate their ancient festivals. Over the years, the customs from all these holidays mixed. October 31st became known as All Hallow Eve, Hallowe’en, and then – Halloween.

So, the Halloween we celebrate today includes traditions from all of these cultures.

Submitted by Cathy Vivona, ESL Faculty

Happy Halloween!

The Witches of Workforce Development

A tradition in our office - Happy Halloween from the Witches of Workforce Development

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