Coughlin Ford, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac of Circleville

Ford Motor Co. says it will build its own diesel engine to power the next generation of its F-Series Super Duty pickups, ending a bitter relationship with Navistar International Corp.

The new, 6.7-liter turbocharged diesel V-8 will be manufactured at Ford's Chihuahua Engine Plant in Mexico. It is slated to debut on the 2011 Super Duty next year and promises significantly improved torque, horsepower and fuel economy. And Ford says it has made sure the new motor can manage 250,000 miles without a major hiccup.

"This all-new diesel engine has been so extensively tested both in the lab and in the real world that we're confident we're giving our customers the most reliable and productive powertrain available today," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president in charge of global product developmentfor the Dearborn automaker.

Navistar has been the exclusive diesel engine supplier to Ford's Super Duty program since 1979. But the 6-liter engine it began shipping in 2003 led to a storm of quality complaints. Ford bought back thousands of trucks and ultimately sued Navistar to recoup warranty costs. The supplier blamed Ford for the problems and countersued.

Navistar began producing a new diesel for Ford in 2007 that addressed those quality issues. But Ford announced last year that it would sever its relationship with Navistar, once production of the current generation of trucks ends in 2010.

Now, it has designed, tested and is ready to build its own replacement engine.

Analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP in Birmingham said the move makes sense.

"If you buy an engine from outside, that money leaves the company," he said. "Ford has gotten a lot of experience from its diesel joint-venture with PSA Peugeot Citroën in Europe. They should have the experience and capability to do it."

Ford's new motor will be ready in time to meet stringent new emissions requirements for diesels that take effect in 2011.

General Motors Co., trying to build confidence in the marketplace after a stint in Bankruptcy Court, unveiled its two-year product plan today. The highlights:

Chevrolet: A new small car, the Spark, will be positioned below the Aveo. The Volt plug-in hybrid is scheduled to arrive in November 2010.

? Buick: GM will rebuild the lineup with two new crossovers and two sedans smaller than the 2010 LaCrosse.

? GMC: A subcompact crossover is under study.

? Cadillac: A small model below the CTS is planned, along with a flagship to replace the DTS and STS. The CTS and the small model will get coupe versions.
 
During its 39-day bankruptcy, GM struck deals to sell the Saab, Hummer and Saturn brands. Pontiac is being killed this year.

What follows is GM's model-by-model plan for the remaining four brands for the 2010-12 model years. It was compiled from GM's presentation today and from company, supplier and industry sources. It will be published as part of our annual future product series in the August 17 print edition of Automotive News.

Buick's game plan: more style and vehicles

Here are highlights of Buick's product plans for the 2010-12 model years.

? Small sedan: Buick will market a compact car built on GM's global compact front-drive Delta platform. The platform will be shared with the Chevrolet Cruze and other GM models. Buick's model will have unique sheet metal and be slightly longer than the Cruze.

GM probably will sell the small Buick first in China as a 2011 model. The U.S. version is expected to be assembled in North America and marketed as a 2012 model.

Regal: Buick is resurrecting the Regal name for its version of the Opel Insignia, which it will get as a 2011 model.

The Insignia, Regal and 2010 Buick LaCrosse are based on GM's new global mid-sized, fwd vehicle platform, but the Regal and Insignia are 6.9 inches shorter than the 196.9-inch LaCrosse. The Regal is expected to be priced several thousand dollars less than the LaCrosse and offered only with a four-cylinder engine. The Regal is critical because GM expects the car to be the brand's top seller.
 
LaCrosse: GM is hoping the redesigned 2010 LaCrosse sedan will do for Buick what the Malibu has done for Chevrolet: raise transaction prices and sales volume. LaCrosse sales begin this month. The LaCrosse was developed on GM's new global mid-sized fwd vehicle platform.

GM sees this car as a key to Buick's renaissance. Prices start at $27,835, including transportation, and top out over $40,000. The LaCrosse will be Buick's flagship sedan when the Lucerne is discontinued.

Lucerne: The Lucerne will be discontinued in the next year or two because of poor sales.

? Small crossover: GM will offer Buick a small crossover developed on its next-generation global Gamma platform. That platform will be shared by the redesigned Chevrolet Aveo and other vehicles. The crossover is expected to appear in the 2012 model year.

? Compact crossover: Buick will get a version of the Saturn Vue, with a restyled front that will make it look like a Buick. The car will debut next year as a 2011 model. A plug-in hybrid will be added in 2011.

? Enclave: GM plans to freshen the Enclave for the 2012 model year. The Enclave is not in line to get a hybrid version because GM cannot fit the powertrain into the current model.

Cadillac aims to sell small, medium and large luxury
Here are highlights of Cadillac's plans for the 2010-12 model years.
 
? Small Cadillac: A small, entry-level Cadillac is expected for the 2012 model year. The car would be developed on GM's new global, rear-drive Alpha vehicle platform and positioned below the CTS. A hybrid version is being considered.

? CTS: The CTS added a wagon this year, called the Sport Wagon. A coupe is coming in the 2010 model year.

The next-generation CTS will be smaller and lighter, debuting in the 2013 model year or later.

DTS: Production will end in 2010 or 2011.
? XTS sedan: The 2012 XTS sedan will replace the DTS and STS.

GM's new global mid-sized, fwd vehicle architecture will be adopted for Cadillac. That architecture is used for the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, Opel Insignia and other vehicles. The platform for the Cadillac model will be widened 2.0 inches. GM executives determined that the interior would be too narrow to compete with the BMW 7 series or other luxury sedans.

The XTS -- if the name is kept -- will be approximately the same size as the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan. All-wheel drive is expected to be optional or standard on the Cadillac; the final decision has not been made.

GM revealed a picture of the XTS at a dealer meeting. One dealer described it as "a smaller, more efficient package. It'll be glamorous and good value at the same time."

STS: Production is expected to end around 2011.

? Plug-in hybrid: GM unveiled the Converj concept at the Detroit auto show in January. It is uncertain whether the vehicle will go into production.

? SRX: The redesigned 2010 SRX is smaller than the previous generation, seating five instead of seven. Weight was reduced, and fuel economy was increased; a V-8 no longer is available. The 2010 SRX was developed on a blend of GM's fwd Theta and global mid-sized vehicle platforms, called Theta Premium. The previous SRX was rwd. A freshening is expected for the 2013 model year.

? Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT: The Escalade family's future is on hold until GM determines how the new corporate average fuel economy regulations will affect GM's full-sized GMT900 truck program. The current Escalade model line is likely to continue into the 2011 model year, maybe 2012.

GM's next-generation trucks could appear in the 2013 or 2014 model year. Which Cadillac models if any will remain on the full-sized truck architecture has not been decided.

One option under review is extending the front-wheel-drive Lambda vehicle platform to develop one or two Escalade models, possibly for the 2012 or 2013 model year.

Chevy promises attractive small cars, crossovers

Camaro: The 2010 Camaro landed in dealerships this spring. A convertible, originally intended as a 2011 model, was pushed back to the 2012 model year because of problems with the roof supplier and GM's cost constraints. Now that GM has some operating cash after emerging from bankruptcy, insiders say, it will try to pull the convertible back to the 2011 model year.

A Camaro freshening is expected for the 2014 or 2015 model year.

? Corvette: Production of the next-generation Corvette, internally called C7, is expected to start in April 2012 for the 2013 model year. The front-engine layout will be maintained.

? Volt: GM's plug-in hybrid is on target for a November 2010 launch. GM plans to build only 200 to 400 cars in November and December 2010, as 2011 models. The production target for 2011 is about 10,000 Volts. A price approaching $45,000 is estimated.

A plug-in hybrid can charge its battery from the power grid, reducing the need for gasoline.

The Volt will share a fwd vehicle platform with the Chevrolet Cruze and Orlando and other GM vehicles.

? HHR: GM will discontinue the retro-styled wagon at the end of the 2011 model year.

GM is closing the Shreveport, La., plant that assembles the Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups in 2012. Sales have been disappointing for both vehicles. The Colorado and Canyon redesigns originally had been expected for the 2012 model year.

? Silverado 1500: GM put its full-sized pickup and SUV plans on hold when gasoline prices soared in the summer of 2008. Later, the tougher CAFE regulations were announced. GM's full-sized truck plans are expected to be made final in six to nine months. The delay means the next-generation pickups likely will be pushed back to 2013.

? Silverado 2500, 3500: The re-engineered heavy-duty pickups have been pushed back from the 2011 model year to the 2012 model year or later. One issue is how "heavy duty" will be defined in the new CAFE regulations.

? Express: No significant changes are expected in the next three years.

? Orlando: The 2012 Orlando is a small, seven-passenger crossover developed on the same platform as the Chevrolet Cruze. The Orlando will be powered by a four-cylinder engine and priced less than the Equinox.

? Equinox: The Equinox was restyled and re-engineered for the 2010 model year. Sales began in June. The previous generation offered only a V-6 engine, but the redesigned Equinox comes with a 2.4-liter, direct-injection, four-cylinder engine. The V-6 is optional. GM is counting on the more fuel-efficient engine to be a key selling point.

A freshening is expected for the 2013 model year.

? Traverse: No major changes are planned for the 2010-12 model years.

? Tahoe, Suburban: The full-sized SUVs were scheduled to be restyled and re-engineered for the 2012 model year. But GM put its full-sized SUV and pickup plans on hold when gasoline prices soared in the summer of 2008 and light-truck sales plummeted. Since then, the higher corporate average fuel economy regulations were announced, requiring an automaker's fleet average to be 35.5 mpg by 2016.

GM's plans for full-sized truck are expected to be made final in six to nine months. The next-generation trucks may appear in the 2013 or 2014 model year.

Several plans are being considered. The Tahoe may be dropped, or the next generation might be developed on the lighter fwd Lambda platform. The platform is used for the Chevrolet Traverse and three other crossovers.

The Suburban could survive sharing the Silverado platform because the SUV is used for a variety of commercial applications.

? Mid-sized pickup: A mid-sized, all-wheel-drive pickup developed on the fwd Lambda platform might replace the Avalanche. The vehicle would target Honda Ridgeline shoppers who need towing capacity but do not need a big body-on-frame truck. Timing has not been determined.

? Avalanche: The Avalanche will be killed by the 2013 model year because of poor sales, those familiar with GM's plans say. Through June, GM sold just 7,130 Avalanches, down 61.0 percent from 2008.

? Colorado: A global compact pickup platform is being developed by GM do Brasil. It is unclear whether GM will sell a pickup from that platform here as an import, will assemble it in North America or will abandon the compact pickup segment in the United States.

Dan Neil of the LA Times reviewed the 2010 Buick LaCrosse (in dealerships now) and said:

"GM's first new car since it emerged from bankruptcy is as good as or better than the ES350 in every way, and is actually desirable.  Fighter pilots call it "target fixation" when you become so focused on a single adversary that you lose situational awareness and fly into something large and obvious, like the ground. Buick's 2010 LaCrosse -- a near-luxury, mid-size-to-large sedan -- was built to put the cross-hairs on a single bogie, the Lexus ES350, and I'll tell you right now, it blows the Lexus out of the sky. Pow. Parachute. Smoking crater.

"Oh, you can quibble over one detail or another. The LaCrosse's roof A-pillars are huge and make it hard to look through a corner on a tight, two-lane road (it's also possible to lose sight of pedestrians in crosswalks). There are moments that the cabin, with its Aqua Velva-blue ambient lighting, thick chrome instrument bezels, luminous LCD screens and spread of glowing buttons, looks like the flight deck of some drug- addled dirigible.

"But no fair appraisal of this car can conclude anything but that the Buick is as good as or better than the Lexus in every way: It's as dead quiet, as thoughtfully designed, as this-minute in its technology. My top-of-the-line CXS had a 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 under the scalloped hood, a six-speed Aisin automatic transmission, continuously variable suspension damping with Sport mode, Harman/Kardon sound system, touch-screen navigation and adaptive headlamps. Out the door at $39,195.

"And yet with all of the semiconductor circuitry, servos, gadgets and displays, the LaCrosse feels deeply, foundationally sound. All is hushed and serene. Everything is damped. The whole car feels packed in ermine. It is an American Lexus."

Click to View the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study^SM (IQS)

The Buick nameplate ranks highest in a tie among all 37 industry nameplates in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study SM (VDS). Since 2003, Buick has ranked among the top 10 nameplates in this study,which evaluates owner-reported problems after 3 years of new-vehicle ownership. For this study, owner-reported problems are measured using a designation of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower PP100 score indicating a higher level of dependability. As shown in the name plate ranking chart to the right, Buick?s score of 122 PP100 is 28% above the industry average of 170 PP100.The 2009 VDS evaluates a total of 245 models industry-wide. Both Buick LaCrosse and Buick Lucerne are among the top five models in the entire industry in long-term dependability?LaCrosse is No. 5 and Lucerne is No. 4.

Buick LaCrosse
In the midsize car segment, comprised of 18 models,competition for buyer attention is fierce and hard won. According to owner feedback as reported in this study, Buick LaCrosse is the ?Most Dependable Midsize Car.? With a score of 101 PP100, LaCrosse performs 34%better than the segment average. The LaCrosse ranks No. 5 among all 245 models for long-term dependability.

Buick Lucerne
In the large car segment, Buick Lucerne ranks No.2 with a score of 97 PP100 or 34% above the segment average. Compared with all models rankedin the study, Lucerne is No. 4 in long-term dependability.

Click here for the The Power Report - J.D Power and Associates 2009 Special Report on Buick

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported the automaker had more vehicles than any other manufacturer on its list of safest vehicles sold today.

The IIHS reported that Ford had 16 of the top-rated vehicles, followed by Honda with 13. General Motors and Toyota each had eight vehicles on the list.

·         The 2011 Ford Mustang V-6 sets a new record by averaging 48.5 mpg on a track while completing 1,457 laps with an average speed of 43.9 mph

·         Mustang is powered by a new 3.7-liter V-6 engine that uses advanced engineering and technology to deliver great performance and fuel economy 

·         More than 51,000 entries were received for the Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge with 22 entries guessing the winning number of laps

·         A team of five drivers, including four Ford Mustang engineers and Ford NASCAR star David Ragan, drove the Mustang during its record run

 BRISTOL, TN., June 24, 2010 - The 2011 Ford Mustang, which made history when it became the first car ever to deliver more than 30 mpg and 305 horsepower, has set a new record by running 1,457 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway while averaging 48.5 mpg.

 The Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge was designed to demonstrate that a stock production Mustang V-6 could run 1,000 laps and 533 miles on a single of tank of fuel.  With the aid of fuel efficient driving techniques by Ford engineers, the Mustang far surpassed its goal of 1,000 laps.

 "To see a Mustang post average fuel economy of 48.5 mpg while running at Bristol is impressive," said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer.  "The new V-6 engine along with the advanced six-speed transmission in the car is a key element in delivering both fuel economy and performance for Mustang."

Ford is committed to being a fuel economy leader in every segment it competes in and Mustang's class-leading fuel economy along with other Ford fuel economy leaders like the Ford Fiesta, Fusion Hybrid and new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, America's most fuel efficient luxury sedan.

 The Challenge team, which included NASCAR star David Ragan and four Ford Mustang engineers, completed the challenge in 17 hours and 40 minutes, showing off the 2011 Mustang V-6's class-leading fuel economy by averaging 48.5 mpg over the course of the 776.5 miles logged during the Challenge.  That distance is more than the two complete NASCAR Sprint Cup events that take place in Bristol every year.

Ragan pushed the Mustang past the 1,000-lap mark at 7:26 p.m., 12 hours and 26 minutes into the Challenge, but the car wasn't close to being out of fuel.   Mustang engineer Seong Park was behind the wheel when it finally came to a halt (on the backstretch) of the famed NASCAR track at 12:41 a.m. local time.

Other Mustang Challenge team drivers included Tom Barnes, Jonathan Mehl, Carl Ek, who along with Park each took one-hour driving stints during the event, which took place at the world's fastest half-mile track.

 "When we hit 1,000 laps we still had a quarter of a tank of gas left," said David Ragan, driver of the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing, and the man who drove the 2011 V-6 Mustang past the 1,000 lap mark. "The last driving stint before I passed 1,000 laps I was averaging 43.7 miles a gallon and that is unbelievable. These guys have run the distance of more than two Sprint Cup races at Bristol and they still have fuel left. Congratulations to everyone behind the Mustang and to everyone at Ford, because this 2011 Mustang V-6 is really something special."
A team of Ford engineers prepared for the challenge by implementing fuel efficient driving tips like minimizing the use of air conditioning, steady and consistent driving, avoiding sudden stops/starts and by keeping the RPMs low.  The engine in the Mustang is powered by a lightweight, all-aluminum 3.7-liter dual-overhead-cam (DOHC) V-6 engine that uses advanced engineering to deliver its combination of power and economy. Twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) adjusts the valve train in microseconds depending on driver inputs, further contributing to the engine's overall efficiency.  The Mustang used in the challenge is a stock production vehicle that can be purchased through a Ford dealer.

"This is beyond our wildest dreams," said Tom Barnes, the lead engineer for the Ford Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge. "There have been a lot of people who have done a lot of things in preparing this 2011 Mustang V-6 to run the Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge and have the success we have had today. It was great when we went past the 1,000 lap mark with David, but nobody could ever imagine that we still had five hours ahead of us. This is a fantastic feeling and it shows again what a great car the 2011 Mustang V-6 is."
More than 51,000 consumers registered their guesses for the event at www.mustang1000lapchallenge.com.   One lucky consumer that correctly guessed 1,457 laps will be randomly drawn from all correct entries and will win their own 2011 Mustang V-6.

SAN JOSE, CA - Starting today, participating Chevrolet dealers in launch markets will begin taking customer orders for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the industry's first electric vehicle with extended-range capability.
 
Chevrolet is so confident in the overall value of the Volt that the brand will offer a lease program on the Volt with a monthly payment as low as $350 for 36 months at Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price with $2,500 due at lease signing, including security deposit based on current conditions, which could vary at time of delivery. The benefit of the $7,500 tax credit is included in the reduced lease payment, with the tax credit going to the lessor.  The Volt's MSRP will start at $41,000 ($33,500 net of the full federal tax credit, which ranges from $0-$7,500) including a destination freight charge of $720. Customer deliveries of the Chevrolet Volt are scheduled to begin in launch markets late this year with initial production limited.
 
"The Chevrolet Volt will be the best vehicle in its class?because it's in a class by itself," said Joel Ewanick, vice president of U.S. marketing for General Motors, who made the announcement at the Plug-In 2010 conference. "No other automaker offers an electrically driven vehicle that can be your everyday driver, to take you wherever, whenever. The Volt will be packed with premium content and innovation, standard."
 
The Volt will be initially available to Chevrolet customers in California, New York, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, New Jersey and the Washington D.C. area. To be among the first to purchase a Volt, customers can visit their nearest participating Chevrolet Volt dealer. A Volt dealer locator will be available later today at http://www.getmyvolt.com. The dealer will begin the order process, which will be followed up by contact from a dedicated Volt advisor who will be available to answer any questions and keep the customer apprised of the progress of their order. For customers needing general Volt information, Chevrolet will have a team of Volt advisors available to answer questions starting today at 1-888-VOLT-4-YOU (1-888-865-8496).
 
The Chevrolet Volt is the only electric vehicle that can operate under a range of weather climates and driving conditions with little concern of being stranded by a depleted battery. Volt has a total driving range of about 340 miles and is powered by electricity at all times. For up to the first 40 miles, the Volt drives gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free using electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt's battery runs low, a gas powered range-extending engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 300 miles on a full tank.
 
Depending on their tax situation, Volt owners can qualify for up to $7,500 in U.S. Federal income tax credit, as well as other potential state and local tax credits, depending on location. Owners in certain states may qualify for the added convenience of High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane access.  
 
While the Chevrolet Volt will come standard with a 120-volt charge cord that will provide owners with the ability to charge their Volt directly from a standard home electrical outlet, a total of 4,400 Volt buyers in launch markets could be eligible for a free 240-volt charging station, including home installation.  The installations are part of a program developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to install approximately 15,000 240-volt home charging stations across the U.S.
 
Technologies Keep Volt Customers Connected
 
When it comes to advanced technology, Volt customers are on the leading edge. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt has standard technology features that link and entertain in innovative ways, starting with standard seven-inch touch screen navigation and an energy-efficient Bose premium audio system.
.
The Volt is the first GM vehicle to offer five years of OnStar Directions and Connections service, which includes Automatic Crash Response, stolen vehicle assistance and connected navigation, all standard.  Volt will expand on OnStar's foundation of leading-edge safety and security technology through the introduction of an OnStar-enabled mobile app that connects the vehicle to the owner's smartphone.
 
"We wanted to make the Volt ownership experience unlike anything we've done at Chevrolet, because the Volt is unlike any vehicle we've offered," said Tony DiSalle, director of Chevrolet Volt product marketing. "We want customers to fully enjoy the Volt lifestyle by providing unprecedented connectivity to their vehicle through the Volt mobile app."
 
Unprecedented Warranties Bring Value and Peace of Mind
 
Volt owners will be provided outstanding battery and vehicle limited warranties. The Volt's 16-kWh lithium-ion battery is covered by an industry-leading transferable warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles. In addition, Chevrolet will provide:
 
·         3-year / 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage
·         5-year / 100,000-mile roadside assistance and courtesy transportation
·         5-year/100,000-mile limited gas engine coverage
·         6-year/100,000-mile corrosion protection coverage 
 
 
The Volt also has an array of standard safety features, including eight air bags -- dual-stage frontal, side-impact, knee, and roof-rail side-impact-and StabiliTrak electronic stability control with Traction Control.  The Volt is constructed of 80 percent high-strength steel for additional safety and protection.
 
Chevrolet will also provide customer assistance via a Volt advisor available 24/7 by phone or Internet. Dealers will also provide on-site dedicated Volt service and sales experts who will be able to address inquiries.

The Licking County Family YMCA's Western Branch is two thirds of the way to meeting its fundraising goals, almost assuring the facility will remain in Pataskala.

Through Jan, 20, the YMCA had raised $100,000 of the needed $150,000.

Pledges from Coughlin Auto Group and two anonymous donors, among others, enabled the non-profit organization to raise the money.

"I'm not worried at all (about raising the remaining money)," said Edward Bohren, executive director of the Licking County Family YMCA. "This helps us build momentum to get that final $50,000 we need."

Bohren and other YMCA officials kicked off the fundraising campaign late last year.

The organization sought to raise the $150,000 to replace a damaged roof at the Western Branch's facility at 355 W. Broad St. In addition, it wanted to repave the facility's rough parking lot, install an air-conditioner in the Wellness Center and add some equipment.

YMCA representatives announced at a November public meeting that if they could not raise the money to make the needed improvements -- on rainy days, buckets catch water in parts of the Broad Street facility -- they would have to consider leaving Pataskala. They set June as the fundraising deadline.

Western Branch Program Director Dana Ruble credited an anonymous grant writer with helping the YMCA secure $24,000 of the $100,000 it has raised to this point.

The grant came from the Columbus Foundation, and the act of kindness touched Ruble.

"(The grant) didn't come from us," she said. "Someone actually did this -- and writing a grant is not easy. I'm speechless."

The YMCA filled a void when it first located in Pataskala in 2000. The organization initially operated out of a trailer on Ohio 310 and used area churches and other sites for programming space. It later moved to the former Jersey Elementary in Jersey Township before buying its current site on Broad Street, which had been a manufacturing facility. A family's pledge of $1 million enabled the move.

Membershipwise, the Western Branch has grown from catering to dozens in its infancy to more than 1,200 today.

The facility offers numerous youth and adult programs, in addition to a Day Camp, before- and after-school care and a spacious Wellness Center, filled with workout equipment.

YMCA leaders undertook a larger-scale fundraiser close to four years ago, with the idea of raising millions to completely renovate the Broad Street facility.

While that campaign stalled and the YMCA had to return the money it raised, Bohren expressed hope the new campaign will help the organization make the needed repairs at its Western Branch, enabling it to attract more members and offer more programs.

Ruble, meanwhile, said people do not have to donate money to contribute to the Western Branch's restoration effort. Materials or labor also would help, she said.

"We definitely still have needs, but I'm really excited to be two-thirds of the way (toward our fundraising goal)," Ruble said.

*Source: Chad Klimack, http://NewarkAdvocate.com

Focus Makes it Four at 40 ? MPG! By