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March is Women’s History Month in the United States, so what better time to brush up on our Mercedes-Benz history and talk about a woman who was monumental to the brand, Bertha Benz! Bertha Benz, at the time Bertha Ringer, was born in 1849, at a time when women were looked at as inferior, and denied access to a higher education. Unlike many women of this day and age who may further their education at Stonybrook University, NYU, SUNY Old Westbury, or Suffolk Community College, it was uncommon and abnormal to see a woman with a high education during her time. Bertha’s father, a carpenter, widely contributed to her interest in wanting something greater for herself through unconventional means for a woman. She was determined to show the world that women were highly capable of being equals. In the summer of 1869, Bertha met her soon to be husband, Carl Benz. Carl was a young engineer, who was working on a horseless carriage at the time, catching Bertha’s eye. The rest was history! Bertha and Carl’s lifestyle was not one of luxury given that Carl did not have much to his name. Bertha still prevailed. She even invested her dowry into the company that was built by Carl Benz. After a long period of struggle, the horseless carriage, now called the Motorwagen/ Motor Car, was finally registered under a patent. Although now the Motorwagen was official, no one seemed to be very interested. This was tough for a family of five, whose entire life had gone towards the creation of this brand new invention. Through adversity, Bertha decided that something had to be done. She decided she would take the first ever road trip known to any man or woman. The motorwagen would make its way from Mannheim to Pforzhiem in Germany, and show the world just what the future of automobiles could look like. Early one August morning, Bertha took two of her sons, Richard and Eugene, and embarked on her journey unbeknownst to her husband Carl. This road trip was to be no easy feat given that many of the roads were not suitable for any type of automobile. Unlike the paved roads of the Long Island Expressway, Northern State Parkwa y, or Jericho Turnpike that you see now, they were created for the use of horse-drawn carriages at the time and were rocky, uneven, and created upon dirt. Throughout the journey, Bertha and her sons faced many difficulties. Clogged valves, lack of fuel, and wire chafing were amongst the many problems solved by Bertha by unconventional and creative methods. With a garter, a hat pin, and the ligroin stock of all the pharmacies along the way as the star members of her toolbox, she was a woman on a mission. Bertha even had to push the motor wagen herself on multiple occasions when it had run out of gas! We are so blessed with many luxuries such as Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance for every time we face any problem, whether that be a battery jump, flat tire, or worse, that we can’t even imagine what that must have been like! Bertha’s hard work paid off. She and her mysterious new invention were the talk of many towns. Word spread about this new way to travel. After many decades, the motorwagen was widely accepted by the general public, with Bertha and Carl at the forefront of the start of the Automobile Industry. There was no denying that they were the pioneers of any automotive brand. It is absolutely mind boggling to see the evolution of our company starting at a simple little wagon such as the one that Bertha drove, make its way over to eventually having full-blown electric vehicles such as the Mercedes-EQ vehicles! Bertha’s hard work, determination, and strong beliefs that she could prove herself as intelligent regardless of her gender, are the key attributes to what was able to start the Mercedes-Benz brand, and those principles are still held through the company to this day. By the time of her 95th birthday, the Technical University of Karlsruhe proclaimed her an honorary senator. This was a crowning achievement for women everywhere due to the fact that Bertha herself was never allowed to study with the social constraints of her time. Bertha Benz is a role model for many women today, teaching them to never let their gender define them or persuade them they aren’t capable of any feat. We remember her strong resolve stepping into any model whether that be the entry level A-Class, the G-Class Wagon, AMG vehicle, or E-Class, as the very DNA that defines Mercedes-Benz. We are so lucky to have someone so powerful and inspiring as one of the founders of our company! Happy Women’s History Month, from your family over at Mercedes-Benz of Huntington!

Thanksgiving isn't all about turkeys, stuffing, football, and red wine. The name of the holiday is what it's really about. Giving thanks. (Even though all the food definitely adds a nice touch.) But that's the point. We should be thankful that we are able to put all that food on our table, that we have friends and family to share that table with us, and that we have a warm home to sleep in thanksgiving night. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our daily lives and hectic schedules that we forget to stop and take a moment to be truly thankful. And there's so much to be thankful for. Those jobs that we rush to every morning. The fact that we wake up in the morning. That special person we wake up next to in the morning. And so, so much more. Our dealership allows us to stop and take that moment to be thankful. Every year, the Buzzetta's take the time out of their busy schedules to stop and give each and every employee a turkey for Thanksgiving. (And these aren't little turkeys either - they're HUGE!) It's time like these that make us realize our job isn't just a job, it's more of a family. You can tell by the smiles on each and every employee's face that they are truly grateful for being able to work for such an amazing company. By the look on Jim Buzzetta and Bill Dodge's faces as they shake each employees hand, you can tell that they are genuinely grateful for each and every employee. It's a wonderful way of saying thank you. And we thank them. The Buzetta's don't only show their gratitude around Thanksgiving. They show it all year around. They're always donating to charities and supporting local business's - doing anything and everything they can to make our community a better place. This is something we should all try to do more often. Remember, often times, kindness is free. And even the smallest act of kindness can transform a person's entire life around. We hope you all have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday and hope you find many, many reasons to be thankful this season. We wish you the best on Thanksgiving and every day! "Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward

May is National Pet Month! What better way to let our pets know we love them than bringing them along on our trips? Instead of leaving your pet with a sitter, allow them the thrilling experience of a car ride. We all know how much pets seem to love them! (Some pets, that is.) However, a road trip with a pet takes a lot more than just loading them in the car and being on your way. Here are some tips to get you prepared for the next time you take your furry friend on a trip: Bring your pet for a check-up. Getting a check-up for your pet before going on a trip can go a long way. The last thing you need is your pet getting sick on a trip, so ensuring they have all their necessary vaccinations is very smart. The veterinarian can also issue a health certificate for your pet, in which you will need when crossing state lines. Go on trial runs. Before taking your pet on a long trip, take him/her on a few trial rides, gradually increasing the length of time in the car each time. That way, you can detect signs of anxiety or motion sickness before taking them on that long trip. Plan some restraint. Pets can get seriously hurt when reigning free in vehicles, as can humans when they're trying to control their pet while driving. A pet restraint will give you the freedom and relief of knowing that your pet is safe and secure. Restraints can be: pet barriers, pet seat belts, pet car seats, and pet travel crates. Make your pet familiar with whatever form of restraint you choose before going on your trip. Get an identification tag for your pet. When in unfamiliar territories, it's not certain how your pet is going to react. In the case of the unfortunate event that your pet runs off, an ID tag is very important. Listing your name, phone number, address, and where you will be staying is an absolute necessity. Also, bring along a photograph of your pet, just in case. It will make it a lot easier to ask around and find your pet with an actual picture. Remember all important things to pack. It's important to bring along an ample supply of food for your pet while traveling. Relying on picking up food along the way isn't going to cut it, being that you never know if a store along the way will carry the specific brand your pet is used to. Plus, it's not advisable to feed your pet food they're not familiar with while traveling. Traveling is known to sometimes upset a pets stomach, so keeping their food intake to a minimum is advised, as well as making sure your pet is only eating pet food and not human food. Packing a first aid kit for your pet is also essential. You never know when accidents will happen, so packing a first aid kit may come in handy. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Don't ever leave a pet unattended in your vehicle. In parked vehicles, the temperature can rise up to 120 degrees in just minutes, even with the windows open. Therefore, leaving a pet unattended in a vehicle is never okay under any circumstances. Don't let your pet stick their head out the window. Many pets find that the most exhilarating part of the trip is sticking their head out the window, but it's not safe to do it. They can get hit with flying objects/debris and get seriously injured. Make frequent pit stops. Making frequent pit stops for bathroom breaks and water breaks for your pet is crucial. Make sure they are always on a leash when letting them out of the vehicle, and make sure you bring bags to clean up after your pet. Lastly, have fun with your pet! Pets can make better travel companions than people, and they'll be much more appreciative that you brought them along. Happy National Pet Month to all those animal lovers out there!