There isn’t anything much harder than seeing a child in pain and the entire staff at OLOL do an amazing job of comforting the pain of both their patients and their families. In their mission, they pinpoint the goal of employees and volunteers alike: “We call forth all who serve in this healthcare ministry, to share their gifts and talents to create a Spirit of Healing – with reverence and love for all of life, with joyfulness of spirit, and with humility and justice for all those entrusted to our care.”

Richards Honda has been a Baton Rouge business since 1971 continually striving to provide an exceptional customer service experience. This is evident by our A+ Better Business Bureau rating and all the wonder compliments our customer have said about us on Google reviews.

We are determined to make this donation and have been running several contests to increase our Facebook likes including our Pet Picture Pageants and our Pick the Score of the LSU game contests. Help us accomplish our goal by liking us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/richardshonda and asking your friends and family to do the same!

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FALL 2011 BAYOU FILM SERIES: Bayou Bijou Theater, 600 McKinley St., University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Show times are 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Mondays on the following dates: Sept. 12, 19 and 26; Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; Nov. 7 and 24. The program is dedicated to bringing provocative, adventurous and exciting films from throughout the world to the Lafayette community. This year’s films include Moscow, Belgium; The Secret in Their Eyes, A Somewhat Gentle Man, Meek’s Cutoff, Poetry, Another Year, Biutiful, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, Spider Baby, or The Maddest Story Ever Told; Farewell and Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. $20, whole season; $3, at the door for general public; $2, students and faculty of ULL. http://www.theind.com

SEPT. 16-17

9TH ANNUAL NATCHITOCHES MEAT PIE FESTIVAL: Riverbank Stage, downtown Natchitoches. The town’s famous meat pies, of course, along with live entertainment and children’s activities. The annual River Run along the downtown riverbank is also being held in conjunction with the festival. (800) 259-1714 or http://www.meatpiefestival.com.

SEPT. 17-18

OLDIES BUT GOODIES FESTIVAL: Noon-6 p.m., 2750 N. Westport Drive, Port Allen. State Championship Barbecue Cook-off. Live entertainment both days; costume, twist, jitterbug, and hula hoop contests. Antique car show on Sunday. http://www.westbatonrouge.net.

SEPT. 17-19

GRAND BOIS INTER-TRIBAL POW-WOW: Grand Bois Park, Bourg. Native American drumming and dancing, arts and crafts, Native American and southern foods. Sponsored by the Terrebonne Indian Association. (504) 468-7231.

SEPT. 18

ST. JOSEPH 24TH ANNUAL FAMILY FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Joseph Catholic Church, 76940 Gum St., Grosse Tete. Barbecue chicken dinners, $6; cold drinks, desserts, raffle, silent auction, bingo, plant store and general store, door prizes, horseshoe and volleyball tournaments, children’s entertainment. (225) 648-2977.

SEPT. 21-25

LOUISIANA SUGARCANE FESTIVAL & FAIR: various venues throughout New Iberia. The festival features carnival rides, fais-dodo, sugar cookery contest, art show, boat parade, Mass and blessing of the crop, live music, tastings, photography show, fireworks, children’s parade and more. Live entertainment provided by several bands. http://www.hisugar.org

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Original Story

You’re planning on buying a house in a few months and want to do everything possible to raise your credit score before you apply for a mortgage. What are the three most important things you can do today for a higher credit score tomorrow?

That’s the question I asked Fair Isaac, the company that created the most popular credit score, the FICO score. And if you’re wondering if working toward a higher score is worth the hassle, here’s a cut-and-paste from the FICO home page:

A 100 point difference in your FICO score could mean over $40,000 extra in interest payments over the life of a 30 year mortgage on a $300,000 home loan.

So what did Fair Isaac spokesperson Craig Watts suggest? Before making any suggestions, he started with a caveat. There is nothing you can do to change your score overnight. At best, plan on two months, maybe three to see an actual increase — that’s why you want to start the polishing process far in advance of any borrowing you intend to do.

Here were his three best tips.

Read The Rest Of The Article Here

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The Honda brand earned its best-ever ranking in J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) for 2011, finishing second among all surveyed brands, including premium makes, the company announced today. Honda also led the industry with seven models earning the highest initial quality ranking in their respective segments, including its top-selling Accord and Civic models.

The Acura brand finished third overall in the 2011 IQS.

In the manufacturing realm, the 2011 study recognized three Honda plants for superior quality, including Honda’s newest U.S. auto plant in Greensburg, Ind. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, producing the Civic Sedan, was one of only three plants around the world to earn the Platinum Plant Quality Award. The Suzuka, Japan plant, line 1, earned a Silver Plant Quality Award, Asia Pacific (tie), for production of Civic and Insight, while the East Liberty, Ohio, plant took home a Bronze Plant Quality Award, North/South America, for production of the Accord Crosstour, CR-V and Element.

“Creating products of the highest quality and value is the foundation of our business, and it begins with a deep understanding of the customer,” said Tetsuo Iwamura, president & CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “These results are an important demonstration of our focus on the customer and the tireless efforts put forth by Honda associates throughout our organization—in R&D, in manufacturing and in sales—to exceed their high expectations of Honda and Acura.”

Of the seven Honda models earning the highest initial quality score in their segment – the most segment leaders of any brand – five were manufactured in North America: the Civic (compact car); the Element (compact crossover SUV—followed by the CR-V in second place); the Accord (midsize car); the Accord Crosstour (midsize crossover SUV); and the Ridgeline (midsize pickup). Those five models were joined on the 2011 segment leader list by the Insight hybrid (compact car, tie) and Honda Fit (sub-compact car).

Honda automobiles made in North America are produced using domestic and globally-sourced parts.

J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality Study serves as an important tool for consumers in evaluating the quality and design of new vehicles. Since 1987, J.D. Power and Associates has been surveying owners to measure the initial quality of new vehicles after the first 90 days of ownership.

Read The Release HERE

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Nobody wants to see their pride and joy turn into a money pit and that’s where service contracts come in. Extended service contracts could be seen as health insurance for your car, in fact it works in much the same way and can possibly save you a ton of money in the long run.

Before purchasing an extended service contract consider the following:

1. Do you really need it?

When deciding to buy a service contract take into consideration if the vehicle you’re purchasing is still under factory warranty and if so how long is it for.  For instance if the warranty is for 5 years and 60 thousand miles but you plan driving it for just two years and you only put on 15 thousand miles per year then an extended service contract probably isn’t for you.

On the other hand if you plan on driving your new vehicle for a long time them a service contract might be for you. There is one caveat to keep in mind though and that is an extended warranty costs less while the vehicle is still covered under the factory warranty.

If you think of an extended service contract as a security blanket then you may not mind paying a fee up front if it means you save money in the long run.

2. Who is behind the warranty?

Who is backing the warranty is an important, but mostly overlooked step, when decided to purchase a service contract. It could be backed by an independent warranty company or the auto manufacturer. While the auto manufacturer can be more expensive they receive high marks, and you almost never have to worry about them not paying your claim. You may opt for an extended warranty backed by an independent due to price but make sure that they are reputable and their financials are in order by checking their rating with Standard & Poor, if they have at least an A then you should be good to go.

3. What is the deductible?

Make sure that you investigate the policy’s deductible before you sign your name on the dotted line. While the amount is important you must also take into considerations if its paid per visit or per repair. The difference being that a per visit deductible is paid per visit no matter how many repairs are done while a per repair deductible is just that, per repair.

4. What exactly is covered?

Is it a power train warranty or bumper to bumper? Pay as close attention to what’s NOT covered as to what IS covered. Before deciding on a plan take into account all of its ins and outs.

5. Do you have to pay out of pocket, up front?

Some extended warranty providers require that you pay for the repair up front then get reimbursed for it, sometimes months later. Ideally you want a service contract company that pays the dealership directly.

While there are other things to consider, we at Richards Honda hope that this list helps you to get started. Keep in mind that you should explore all of your options, ask lots of questions and make sure  that you are fully  informed before you ever make a decision.

If you have any extended service contract questions please feel free to post any of your questions bellow.

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Don’t Top Off

We all like to get as full a tank as possible but studies show that by topping it off, that is filling it up as much as possible, even after the nozzle has clicked off a few dozen times, you are subject to a higher level of evaporation and seepage. So, save yourself some gas and stop pumping the first time the nozzle clicks off.

Tighten That Gas Cap!

Lose, cracked or broken gas caps cause the evaporation of 147 Millions gallons of gas per year, according to the Car Care Council. Be sure that you tighten your gas cap each time you fill up and if its cracked or missing,  replace it.

Put Her In The Shade

“If you let your car bake in the sun there’s going to be a greater amount of evaporative emissions that take place than if you park in the shade,” says Jim Kliesch, research associate at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and vehicle analyst for GreenerCars.com.

Heed that warning, park in the shade whenever possible. Also if you have a carport or a garage at home make sure that you utilize it. Maybe that will be the push you need to finally clean out that garage!

Fill You Tires To The Proper Level

Once a week check your ties pressure, in the mornings are best when your car has remained idle overnight. You can buy a digital gauge and keep in your glove box, if you are getting low (check your tire for recommended psi) then make sure that you fill it up.

Keep It Tuned

Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can boost gas mileage by about 4 percent. So be sure to give your car regular tune-ups. You’ll also want to watch out for worn spark plugs. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a car’s fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.

The air filter is another important factor in getting better gas mileage. Replacing a clogged filter can increase your miles per gallon by 10%.

Drive More Efficiently

• As your speed increases, your gas mileage decreases. For instance, driving at 62 MPH vs. driving at 75 MPH will reduce your fuel consumption by 15%, in other words, drive the speed limit.
• Don’t hard brake, coming to a stop slowly and steadily will also decrease your fuel consumption. Some studies show by up to 20%!
• Only use the A/C when necessary, it uses a lot of gas!
• Use cruise control whenever possible, maintaining speed will save on gas.
• If your at an idle for longer than a minute shut off the engine, it used less gas to restart than it does to idle.

What else can you add to this list?

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Joe of Norway, Maine is anything but average. While the typical driver clocks about 14,000 miles per year, Joe does that in about three months. But his 1990 Honda Accord has been up to the task, and now boasts nearly 1 million miles on the odometer.

What’s remarkable about Joe’s story, which is chronicled on Honda’s facebook page, is that it really isn’t that remarkable. Reliability has always been the cornerstone of Honda products, thanks to an unwavering commitment to quality over the past 50 years. This commitment not only allows Joe and Honda owners to rack up the miles, but it also has lest to “Best Resale Value” awards by Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com. The Accord has also been named to the prestigious Car and Driver 10Best list a record 25 times.

“Joe’s journey is a testament to his Honda’s reliability and how people have come to count on Honda for more than 50 years to get them to where they need to go,” said Tom Peyton, Honda brand manager for American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Honda was eager to share Joe’s story because of his dedication to his Accord. He averages nearly 62,500 miles a year and began keeping detailed records at around 300,000. He’s expected to cross the 1 million mile mark in September.

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Source: Honda in the News

In a head-to-head competition between redesigned 2011 minivans, car buyer resource Cars.com found the best contender to be the all-new Honda Odyssey. The Odyssey led the pack for its styling, comfort and overall ride.

Cars.com tested the minivans in Atlanta over a period of three days. Day one consisted of 175 miles of highway driving, which was helpful for testing fuel economy. On day two, the minivans were evaluated for ride, comfort, handling, style and functionality. Finally, the minivans were evaluated by a local family, to get the car shopper’s perspective.

“We wanted to put these minivans through real-life tests with input not just from the experts but from a family with children,” said Olsen. “This shootout takes into consideration the important insight of what the family thought was a good minivan and which one truly met their needs, because their opinions are important and reflect what all minivan shoppers would want.”

Other vans competing in the Cars.com Minivan Shootout included the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country, the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan, the 2011 Nissan Quest, the 2011 Toyota Sienna priced at $41,144, and the 2011 Volkswagen Routan.

“Minivans haven’t always been so cool; in fact, some car shoppers have shied away from them,” said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com’s editor-in-chief. “The reality is that today’s minivans are sleek, practical and drive very well, which fulfills the needs of many families.  Looking at the Honda Odyssey, its overall package of innovative features, design and a great ride propelled it ahead of its competitors. The $42,000 price tag might seem steep, but the features that the consumer gets for that money are unbeatable.”

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Source: Honda in the News

Honda’s high-quality, high-value lineup earned further impressive kudos from noted industry third parties recently, scoring recognition in both the U.S. News & World Report Best Car for the Money ratings and the Strategic Vision Total Quality Index.

In the former, which rely on U.S. News automotive analysis and five-year total cost of ownership data from TrueCar.com, the Honda Civic was named the Best Compact Car for the Money as a “well-rounded car” that “offers a winning combination of substance and style that make it an exceptional daily driver.” In addition, with “one of the largest cargo holds in the class, innovative interior storage options, good fuel economy and spunky performance,” the Honda Fit took home honors as the Best Hatchback for the Money.

Notably, the Civic also was the co-leader in the Small Car segment in Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Index, finishing in a virtual tie with—the Civic. No, that’s no misprint. Strategic Vision considered the Civic and the innovative Civic hybrid as two different entries, and both finished with nearly identical scores that were some 20 points ahead of the next nearest finisher.

And three other Honda models topped their classes in the current Total Quality Index results, which were drawn from a comprehensive set of data provided by 111,212 new-vehicle buyers who had made their purchases between September 2009 and June 2010:

• The dynamic Honda Accord Coupe topped the Mid Specialty class.
• The Honda Odyssey, completely redesigned for the new model year, was a leader in the Minivan segment.
• The versatile Honda Ridgeline bested all competition among Standard Pickup entries.

For more information on the 2011 Honda lineup, visit your local Baton Rouge or New Orleans area Honda dealer today.

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Source: Honda in the News

Recognized for helping to make the daily grind a little less grueling, three Honda models were recently named to Forbes’ list of “Best Cars for Commuters, 2011.” The annual rankings are based on data from Consumer Reports’ evaluations, observed fuel efficiency in CR testing, and both front headroom and front legroom. As a result, the vehicles making the grade here are all ideal choices for the 42 million Americans who spend more than half an hour each morning on the way to the job—and the 7 million whose a.m. commute takes over an hour.

Accord—Honda engineers focused significant energy on improving the Accord’s fuel efficiency for the 2011 model year, and that effort paid off with both the EPA and with CR. The former rated Honda’s popular mid-size sedan as being capable of 23 mpg city/34 mpg highway/27 mpg combined, while the latter returned an as-observed highway mark of 37 mpg. The Accord also delivers an impressive 41.4 inches of front headroom and 42.5 inches of front legroom.

Civic Hybrid—One of the country’s fastest-selling hybrids—sales of the car jumped more than 155 percent to kick off the year—the Civic Hybrid returned a stellar highway fuel-efficiency mark of 47 mpg for Consumer Reports, while it’s EPA rated at 40 mpg city/43 mpg highway/41 mpg combined. And notably, the 2012 model, set to debut later this year, is slated to showoff an EPA combined rating of 45 mpg. Front headroom/legroom in the current model: 39.4 inches/42.2 inches.

Fit—Highly acclaimed for its surprisingly roomy interior—boasting 40.4 inches of front headroom and 41.3 inches of front legroom—the Fit can achieve EPAmarks of 28 mpg city/35 mpg highway/31 mpg combined, but CR upped the ante here by reaching 39 mpg highway in its own testing.

Plus, all three offer Honda’s traditionally high levels of standard and available content, including premium audio systems and advanced navigation systems, to help lower the tension levels during the trip to work.

Commuting to work may never exactly qualify as “fun,” but as this research clearly shows, it helps to have a Honda from a Louisiana Honda Dealer.

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