Published: March 27, 2008 11:02 pm            

TIM PRESTON: Spring car problems

Is it alternator season?

Nearly everywhere I’ve been in the last few days I’ve heard someone talking about a recent round of car troubles.

Apparently, this is the time of year when alternators and batteries decide they’ve gotten you through the worst of winter and just can’t go anymore. I’ve heard four stories about people having to make unexpected, long walks away from a disabled car in search of someone to lend a hand. In two of the stories, the stranded motorists were rescued by someone with a few tools and some know how, while others relied upon professionals.

Everybody got home eventually. I wonder if I should try to get someone to investigate that “Check Engine” light that came back on next to my soon-to-hit 100,000 mile odometer.

In business

Ed Stowe is working under the hood and behind the desk in his new role as a business owner at Ed’s Auto & Detailing in the old Ashland Fast-Lube building at 220 Russell Road. The job includes executive decisions, Stowe discovered this week as he found out there’s another “Ed’s Auto” in the area, and quickly adopted “& Detailing” to help customers distinguish the two.

A first-time business owner, Stowe is the former manager of the lube and repair shop and customer reports indicate he knows what he is doing. In addition to oil changes and lube jobs, Ed’s offers light mechanical work, transmission service and more with an emphasis on attention to the customer’s needs.

“Service is our specialty,” Stowe said proudly.

Going out

Cheryl Garlinger and Rose Ann Waddell, co-owners of Rosie & Cher’s Consignment Furniture and More in the Value City shopping center off U.S. 23, are calling April 12 the last day of business at their shop after nearly eight years in business.

When asked about decision to call it quits, Waddell and Garlinger sort of laughed and said, “There are just too many reasons,” before agreeing the move will allow them to pursue other interests.

Garlinger said the place “is still packed” and they are applying a graduated discount plan to their prices as the end draws near. Among the different items with special discounts already in place are crystal, jewelry, books and art prints. They’ll also have display pieces and store fixtures for sell if other business owners are interested.

Rosie & Cher’s Consignment Furniture & More is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call (606) 325-4603.

Treasure hunt

Since cars have been a theme this week, I’ll pass this along too. A reader who drives a 26-year-old vehicle reported great service from a business of which she couldn’t remember the name. On this particular car, she practices the martial art of buying and replacing used tires.

When one of those tires gave out recently along Greenup Avenue in Ashland, the driver got out of the car and walked to the nearest Stop sign and spotted a shop with a sign for used tires. She “wobbled” the car the half block to the shop and they took care of her with a discounted $5 tire with a 30-day warranty and spotted another tire with belts showing and gave her a real deal on a replacement for that one, too.

“No hidden fees,” the driver said, adding they even gave her a cup of coffee.

The mystery business is “by the flood wall on the far side of Scope Towers.” The shop apparently offers customizing and some repairs in addition to helping people in trouble without taking advantage of their situation.

If anyone knows their name, or cares to hunt the place down (doing my job for me), I’ll print it in a future column.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.

        

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