Milwaukie businesses help keep vet’s ride rolling
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=132441464816292100
The explosion in Afghanistan that nearly killed U.S. Army MP Sgt. Edwin Claudio blew a crater 30 feet around and eight feet deep. It was a wonder that Claudio survived.
Today, he’s grateful to be alive and with his family this Christmas.
Claudio was on his second tour of Afghanistan in February when he and another soldier were critically wounded in the explosion. Of the three soldiers in his truck, one of them did not survive.
Claudio’s injuries included two hairline fractures in his spine, which have since been fused with titanium rods, a shattered right knee cap, shattered left femur, puncture wound in one elbow, loss of peripheral vision, broken teeth and other injuries.
After going through months of rehabilitation, Claudio, although wheelchair-bound, will regain the use of his right leg and will be able to drive.
That’s where Bernard’s Garage in Milwaukie and seven other local vendors enter the picture. Before he was injured, Claudio was slowly restoring his “dream car,” a 1968 Barracuda. But after the explosion, he was airlifted to Madigan Hospital in Tacoma and he and his family were moved into disability housing at Ft. Lewis. Because they no longer had a place to keep the car, family friends Tony and Donna Ruland agreed to store the Barracuda in their Gladstone garage.
Although the Claudios live on the Army base, his wife, Riki, grew up in Milwaukie, and graduated in 1996 from Rex Putnam High School. Her sister, Rika Conrey Warner, still lives in the area. Rika and the Rulands began to explore options to get the Barracuda repaired locally.
A complete overhaul
Warner eventually sent an email to Susan Lehr, president of the North Clackamas County Chamber of Commerce, who has business connections in the community, and finally word of the project came to John Sciarra, the operations manager at Bernard’s Garage in Milwaukie, who jumped at the chance to take on the challenge.
“I gathered information from other shops in the area, gathered my crew and said, ‘We have a project.’ They said, ‘Bring it on — let’s go,’ ” Sciarra said, adding that he called Jim Bernard, the owner of the garage, who said he was onboard to donate the labor.
“Many of the guys who work here or who have worked here are vets, or have family members who are vets,” Sciarra said. “Now we have someone who has come back with injuries he sustained — he’s beaten the odds. His wife’s family is from Milwaukie, and we wanted to give back to the community.”
The connection is also personal for Sciarra, who noted that his own son will be going to Afghanistan in 2012 or 2013.
The brilliant blue Barracuda was eventually towed to Bernard’s, where Sciarra figured out that he and his crew would need the help of other local vendors.
“We currently have the car’s major components completely removed from the body. This means the radiator, engine, transmission, drive shaft, fuel tank, rear differential and carburetor have all been removed and are being sent out to various shops around Portland, Gladstone and Milwaukie for complete overhauling,” he said.
The car will also be converted to electronic ignition, to make it easier for Claudio to drive it.
“All of this is being done by donation, at no cost to the family. Edwin will be liable for some parts, but Bernard’s is donating all the labor,” Sciarra said, adding that the crew will document all the work on video, and make a DVD to give Claudio when the restoration is complete.
“But we are still looking for a vendor to donate a new set of wheels and tires,” Sciarra said.
Milwaukie ‘steps up’
When Warner realized that her email set off a chain reaction of response in the community, she said she at first could not believe how much support was being shown from the number of businesses involved and how quickly everything was happening.
“I have volunteered in the North Clackamas School District and the Milwaukie community for many years now, so I wasn’t entirely surprised, because this is indicative of the character of our community. We may not be the demographic with the most money, but I believe what we do have is the biggest heart. When Milwaukie sees a need, we step up to the plate to fill that need,” said Warner, a 1989 Milwaukie High School graduate.
“I’ve never had anything like this happen — there is so much support. I can’t thank people enough,” Claudio said, adding that he has been in the service for 12 years, and would like to remain in the Army for eight more years.
Warner also noted that she and her family have military connections, going back to her paternal grandfather, who served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, and her father and uncle, who both served in Vietnam.
More recently, Warner served in the Navy and met her husband in basic training; her younger sister, Rie Conrey Heffron, a 1992 Milwaukie High School graduate, was in the Coast Guard; and even Claudio’s wife Riki, served in the Army.
“Through this process, my husband and I are inspired and motivated to start our own nonprofit organization that would bridge needs of veterans and their families with their surrounding community. I’d love to see this idea come to fruition,” Warner said.
“Since this is so close to me personally, I am filled with enormous pride and happiness for the depth of support that my brother-in-law is receiving. All of our active duty [personnel], veterans and their families deserve this kind of support; I wish we could do this for every one of them. Edwin and Riki still feel like this whole thing is surreal to them. In their words, ‘This kind of stuff doesn’t happen to us; we’re not very lucky people.’ ”
How you can help
These vendors have come together to help rebuild injured Army Sgt. Edwin Claudio’s 1968 Barracuda. Still needed is a vendor to donate four wheels and tires. Monetary donations will be accepted at Bernard’s Garage: call 503-659-7722, or stop by the garage at 2036 S.E. Washington St., Milwaukie.
Olson Bros Towing: Towed car and engine to Bernard’s Garage.
(Brad Olson ownwer 503-659-5141)
Mac’s Radiator: Rebuild gas tank and radiator supply new heater core and
fuel gauge sending unit.
(Brad Debray manager and Curtis Macdonald ownwer 503-777-4706)
Benz Spring Co.: Bill Benz rebuild rear leaf springs and u bolts to hold
rear end in.
(Bill Benz Owner 503-224-4865)
O.C. Transmission: Rebuild transmission.
(Rod ownwer 503-655-9392)
Superior Torque Convertor: Supplied new Torque convertor for transmission.
(Gerald owner 503-970-9433)
Portland Transmission: Supplied all transmission parts for rebuild.
(Gary General manager 503-233-4966)
Portland Engine Rebuilders: Tear down, inspect and rebuild engine, perform
all machine work for engine and manifolds.
(Ted owner and Lucas counterman and driver 503-230-1276)
Majhor & Murray LTD: Carburetor overhaul.
Bruce Murray ownwer 503-235-9821)
Holbrook Specialties: Rebuild rear differential and drive shaft.
(Gary Holbrook owner 503-655-4747)
North American Muscle Cars: Donated spider gears for rear end overhaul.
(Joe 503-775-5012)
Merle Ross Upholstery: Repair and Recover dash
(Merle Ross owner 503-502-3239)
Bernard’s Garage: Supply all labor to put vehicle back together from the
ground up.
(Jim Bernard owner 503-515-4322, John Sciarra and Mark Smith managers
503-659-7722)
Bernard’s Garage: Upgrade brake system to power brakes, convert to power
steering replace rear shock absorbers.
(Jim Bernard owner 503-515-4322, John Sciarra and Mark Smith managers
503-659-7722)
Wildcat Auto Wrecking: Donated steering box, column, power steering pump and
hoses for the power steering conversion.
(Vanessa, considered Miss Mopar 503-668-7786)
Oil filter service: Donated all new power steering hoses and brake lines.
(Dave Smythe and Fred Stanwood owners, Bill Herold office manager,
503-232-5126)
Automotive Products: Donated all parts for to put on the outside of engine.
(Scott Crum sales rep,503-522-2401 Linda, owner 503-234-5241)
Interstate Batteries: Donated a new 65 month battery.
(John Mckinnis, sales rep 1-360-977-2500)
Les Scwabb Milwaukie: Donating custom made wheels and supplying tires.
(George Thomas Manager 503-652-1900)
Auto Shop Owner and County Commissioner Helps Children at the Fair
Bernard’s Garage supported the Clackamas county fair this year. Jim Bernard, Bernard’s Garage Auto Shop Owner and current Clackamas County Commission is at the 911 booth helping children learn how to use the emergency response system.
Just as an aside, to emphasize how important these programs are, when I was 12, I arrived home to find my mom having a heart attack. Because of training I received from my community, I reacted immediately, dialing 911, helping my mother breath, and flagging down the ambulance. Without training like was given at this year’s fair, my mom would have died 30 years too early.
The 911 Safety booth also taught traffic safety lessons and how to safely cross1 a busy street. Bernard’s is an active member of our community and support children development, safety programs, environmental protection programs, and many other community activities. To us, being active is our community is what is meant by think local first!
We also do some really TASTY thing too! Here is Siri awarding the winner of the 2011 Clackamas County Fair Old Fashion Cake contest. Just a note, there is no truth to the rumor that the winner had to bake a cake for the mechanics at Bernard’s!
Supporting Our Community and Grounded In Tradition
Downtown Portland 1925
When you bring your car into Bernard’s Garage in downtown Milwaukie, you are supporting a local business that has been operating in the same location since 1925.
At Bernard’s Garage we use local (tri-county) parts suppliers to help the local economy and ensure high quality parts in a timely fashion.
Our hiring practices include hiring from the local colleges and school auto repair programs, with veterans receiving first priority.
Being in business for over 86 years shows that this auto repair shop has integrity, is honest and knows what they are doing. Our business model is “complete automotive repair”.
The old term “you get what you pay for” applies here. We will not under sell an auto repair job to “save a buck” or try to “get the job” from another shop. Bernard’s Garage always estimates the auto repair with all the parts needed for a complete repair that is ‘done right the first time.’
Offering steep discounts and incentives to our community, up to and including:
- AAA
- AARP
- Local business labor discounts
- School teacher discount
- school student discounts
- military discounts
Bernard’s Garage also donates gift baskets and product for fund raisers as well as volunteer time to churches, schools, local fund raisers and the local hot rod shows that start up every spring. Another great reason to support a local auto repair business in the Portland metro area!
Portland State University Students Visit Local “Green” Auto Shop
This summer a group of PSU students visited the shop to learn how Bernard’s Garage (and businesses like ours) help protect the environment. The goal of their study was to better understand how the Eco-logical Business Program is helping businesses and create marketing programs to help other businesses understand the business benefits of protecting mother earth!
The idea behind EcoBiz (short for Eco-logical Business Program) is a certification program recognizing businesses that reach high standards in environmental protection. The completely free and voluntary program is designed to prevent and minimize solid waste, air and water pollution.
Debra Taevs, Deputy Director of the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC), said “it is our hope to create a marketing program to promote the business benefits EcoBiz such that more businesses want to get involved.”
At Bernard’s Garage we have always valued protecting the environment, getting involved with EcoBiz was a natural fit with our business model and we are very happy to help PSU with their study.
Here is the full text from the grantproposal for the study:
The proposed project provides outreach, technical assistance, training and evaluation to small businesses. It extends the reach and evaluates the effectiveness of the Ecological Business (EcoBiz) certification program. Courses focused on greenhouse gas emissions reductions will be developed and offered to new and current EcoBiz clients.
a. Project Narrative:
This grant request is to fund the creation of a program partnership between the Portland State University (PSU) Center for Global Leadership in Sustainability (CGLS) and the EcoBiz Program. The EcoBiz Program targets unregulated business sectors that can be driven to more sustainable practices by customer pressure. This partnership will engage PSU undergraduate business students in management of the Automotive and Landscape EcoBiz Program. The PSU contribution will include: 1) increasing the number of certified businesses in the EcoBiz Program through targeted outreach to potential participants, and increasing the number of consumers that seek out certified businesses 2) increasing the number and frequency of evaluation of certified firms, and 3) developing measurement approaches to determine and quantify the impacts of the program.
The EcoBiz Program is sponsored by the Portland Area Pollution Prevention Outreach (P2O) Team, a group of seven local jurisdictions and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The program, which began in the mid-90s, first engaged with the automotive service business sector. The automotive program was the first multi-media certification program in its sector. Currently the landscape certification and the new automotive sub-sector certification for commercial carwashes are the only known multi-media certification programs for their sectors in the country. The EcoBiz automotive program has certified 132 firms; its second major initiative, the Landscape Program, has certified 18 firms. The EcoBiz model is successful and with targeted student input and dedicated staff assistance it will reach an even higher percentage of certified automotive and landscape sector firms.
In November of 2008, the Automotive EcoBiz Program for the first time acquired dedicated full-time outreach and technical assistance staff. In the first six months the number of firms contacted increased over 45% above the base program efforts of P2O Team agency staff. Currently, Clean Water Services funding provides part time staffing for the program within Washington County. Use of PSU students and expansion of a staff hire to cover the greater Portland metro area would be expected to yield similar if not improved results.
The EcoBiz Program already has strong working relationships with both automotive and landscape trade groups, three non-profits, and a variety of individual firms. Expansion to include student groups with learning objectives focused on increasing business participation and implementation of evaluation methodologies will: 1) allow students to gain real world experience working with small business owners, 2) expose future business leaders to environmental issues that will inform their future work, 3) expand the business participants in the EcoBiz Program, and 4) allow students to develop expertise around measuring and evaluating results of a green business program.
The EcoBiz Program has produced a comprehensive set of multi-media “best practices” that reduce or eliminate pollutants associated with automotive and landscaping businesses, minimize the use of toxics, water, energy and other materials. The project has been replicated throughout Oregon and been used as program support for pollution prevention efforts outside of Oregon.
This project meets all five of the P2 plan goals as well as all five of the national focus areas for P2 grants by providing multi-media P2 technical assistance through broad-based partnerships focused on regional environmental priorities.
Debra Taevs | deputy director
8040 SE 51st Ave. | Portland, OR 97206
T 503-336-1256 | C 503-889-6488 | F 206.352.2049
dtaevs@pprc.org | www.pprc.org
Twitter: twitter.com/PacNW_PPRC
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PaulaDelGiudice
LinkedIn Group: linkd.in/hjKoi3
Facebook Page: facebook.com/PacNW.PPRC
Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC):
20 years of helping Northwest businesses achieve sustainability
An auto shop is only as good as the auto mechanic who fixes cars
Without the proper people, it is impossible to get the job done right the first time. Bernard’s Garage has been getting it right for 86 years because we hire the right auto mechanics, like Dennis.
At Bernard’s Garage, we take pride in our employee retention and strive to keep the work place inviting so people do not want to leave. Our lube technician Dennis has been working at Bernard’s Garage since 1991.
Dennis is in charge of all the shop maintenance and cleaning as well as full time Lube technician spending a full hour under every car that comes in for our 14 point lube, oil and filter service, thoroughly inspecting your vehicle from bumper to bumper noting anything that needs attention.
Dennis has worked under Joe Bernard, second-generation owner of the Milwaukie based family owned business that is now owned and operated by his son, Jim Bernard who holds the Clackamas County Commissioner position # 5.
When asked why Dennis has been with the company for so long, his answer is simple.
“The Bernard family business takes care of me, so I take care of the Bernard family business reassuring our customers who come from all over the Portland area for auto repair and servicing that when they bring their vehicle in for servicing, they will always have the same person servicing their vehicle with 100% satisfaction and knowing people on a first name basis gives a personal touch to the auto repair.”
Portland auto shop keep good mechanic and still going after 32 years
Bernard’s Garage takes pride in retaining their employees for long term. One auto shop employee in particular, Kerry, who holds the ASE Master Technician position, started working at Bernard’s Garage in 1979 just out of high school as a fuel transfer specialist.
Going the route of attending various trade school programs in the local Portland metropolitan area, Kerry quickly established himself in the auto repair field. This was helped in part by Kerry’s upbringing. His father owns a well-established excavation service in Clacakmas called Jack’s Digger Service and as a young man Kerry was always around the heavy equipment, building and repairing cars and trucks.
Kerry worked under Joe Bernard, a second generation own of Bernard’s Garage, and quickly escalated through the ranks of the Portland auto shop. Joe’s son, Jim, currently runs the daily business while also serving as Clackamas County Commissioner position # 5.
Kerry has seen all the different changes in the automotive repair field over the years and has adjusted himself as a self-teacher, continually upgrading his mountain of tools and specialty equipment to overcome the constant changes with today’s vehicles.
Yesterday’s ignition distributor system has been replaced by today’s camshaft and crankshaft position sensor. When asked what keeps Kerry at an independent auto repair facility for so long, his response was that “there is no finer place to work when good people who want to make peoples lives better by solving problems on a daily basis surround you.”
Long term employee retention is just one of the many excellence in work ethics and standards that Bernard’s Garage has been practicing for the last 86 years.
Tips for saving some money at the gas pump
Tired of the crunch at the pump. Some simple maintenance can help ease the pain in your pocket book. Things like changing out a dirty air filter can increase you mileage by as much as 10%. Engines use up to 14,000 gallons of air per gallon of fuel. A restricted air filter block the flow and cause the motor to run too rich.
Another neglected area is the ignition system. Today’s manufactures are tooting 100,000-mile maintenance free ignition systems. It is my personal opinion that this is coming from the marketing department and not the engineers that design the engines. To convince consumers that their vehicles have a “Lower overall cost of ownership” manufactures are putting off what should be done as routine maintenance. I for one do not think it is a good idea to leave a steel spark plug threaded into an aluminum cylinder head for much longer then 30,000 miles. Replacing worn spark plugs can increase your fuel economy by 3-4 percent.
On modern fuel injected engines sensors at the throttle body, in the air intake hose and in the exhaust work together to tell the computer how long to leave the injectors open for. When these sensors become worn and don’t respond as fast it can impact fuel economy by as much as 10-25%
So with no end to high gas prices in sight, a few dollars invested now can save you money down the road.
Mark
Quality Auto Parts Make a Safer Whole Car
Would you go to a doctor that you knew did shoddy work?
Would you shop at a store that sold poor quality food?
Would you have an unlicensed contractor add on to your house?
The answer to all three questions are NO.
The same applies for having your auto repair done by a reputable auto repair shop that only uses quality vendors and parts suppliers.
Bernard’s Garage has been servicing all of Portland and the greater metropolitan area for over 86 years. We only use well-established and certified local business’s that have to pass strict guidelines and standards before we will use them.
A lot of auto repair shops in the Portland area use the cheapest parts for auto repair to make the most money while staying under the competition’s price. They don’t take into consideration that the part won’t last as long, they will probably have to replace the substandard part under warranty at a later date only IF there is still a warranty. Usually this kind of repair is referred to as “gambling marketing”. It is a simple tactic, they are gambling that the part does not fail during the warranty period so they can charge you twice later on.
Here at Bernard’s Garage the vendors we choose have to adhere to strict quality control standards and use the best parts to insure a long and durable repair. The parts we purchase for most repairs are equal to or exceed the factory standards. You pay a little bit more, but you get “more bang for your buck”. We will purchase a used part if it is a switch, taillight lens, mirror or something of that nature to utilize and recycle surplus car parts still sitting in the Portland metro area. With over 86 years in service, we know you are counting on out reputation.
Before Bernard’s Garage will use an outside vendor for such things as paint and body, collision repair, exhaust repair, upholstery, headliners, welding, windshield replacement, trailer hitches and various other “outside sourced vendors”, we inspect the facility and interview the staff to see if we want to do business with them. We always shop locally using long time Portland and Milwaukie established businesses with a good reputation.
John Sciarra
Operations Manager
Art A la Carte will be May 6th at Bernard’s Garage
This month Art A la Carte will be May 6th. We are exhibiting the artwork of our most talented young adults from Milwaukie High School. People will be amazed at the skill level of some of the exhibits. Come see the art AND hear the band.
As far as Portland Auto Shops, what makes Bernard’s Garage different?
While driving through downtown Milwaukie and Portland, I saw all the different auto repair shops lined up off McLoughlin blvd, Grand Ave and Martin Luther King. I asked myself, what make Bernard’s Garage different from all the other auto repair shop’s in the Portland metro area?
Slowing down to draw it in, I noticed three major issues right away. There was very little parking, the lighting was inadequate (with several bulbs burned out) and people loitering around customer cars (a huge security risk).
Following a friend’s advice, I decided to get out of my car and see the competition up close. Each auto repair shop I visited had a common theme, I could smell old gas, transmission fluid and the remanence of a greasy smelly auto mechanic that had just got up off of the floor to test drive a customer’s car. It also occurred to me that several of the Portland auto repair shops had “for lease” signs on them, there was old car parts and trash stacked up in each of the mechanics work space.
In one particular auto repair shop a kid, no more than 25 years old, greeted me. I asked him if he was the shuttle driver, he laughed and told me he was their lead mechanic. I asked him how many ASE certifications he holds, he looked at me funny and said they we’re not required to work there.
At Bernard’s Garage, we pride ourselves with the cleanliness of our auto repair shop and our auto repair technicians are clean, well groomed and dressed in professional uniforms. Our floors and building are clean and well maintained, just like the way we clean and maintain all of the car, truck, hybrid and electric vehicles that have been coming through these doors since 1925 at the same family owned location in downtown Milwaukie just a short distance from Portland.
The old time auto mechanic is replaced by an advanced automotive technician and all of them are ASE certified and they retest every two years to keep up with the most updated technology our the auto repair business.
Our lights are bright, we use the latest in ECO friendly technology to reduce our impact on the environment and the crew has been here for a combined total of 125 years! Bernard’s Garage has online internet security, indoor parking and complete pick up, delivery and shuttle service anywhere in the Portland metropolitan area.
John
