Water Words
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FROM THEN TO NOW BUI LD ING RE I D & PEDERSON DRA INAGE My brother Kevin and I both started working when we were about 10 years old at my grandfather’s hardware store. We’d come in on Saturdays and during the summers to help out until we were about 18. Working with our grandfather made a huge impact on us and steered us toward what eventually became Reid & Pederson Drainage.
APR 2019
WWW. RE I D- PEDERSON . COM | 1 sewer and drain services, from sewer rodding and drain cleaning to complete sewer repair and cleanout installations. We manage a dedicated and skilled team of 22 employees, and we expanded the business in 2002 with the creation of our sister company, Trenchless Innovations, which specializes in trenchless sewer lining and air duct lining. Nothing is stopping us now. It’s been an amazing journey working with our customers and teammembers throughout the years. Without them, we know we wouldn’t be where we are today. –John Reid why. We were fortunate to have two great mentors and teachers in our lives who shared their knowledge with us. At one point, Mr. Pederson decided to open another business, and his son took over his drainage and sewer cleaning company. In 1999, his son reached out to us to ask if we would like to buy out his father’s business. He was looking to move on to other things, but he wanted to ensure that the reputation his father built in his company would continue. This March marks 20 years since we have merged companies and continued Mr. Pederson’s reputation through Reid & Pederson Drainage. When Kevin and I started this business, we didn’t expect it to be what it’s become. At first, we hoped that we’d get enough business to keep busy, but today, we offer a full range of
to operate our business the same way and be completely open with our customers. Sadly, in our line of work, there are a lot of companies who continuously take advantage of people. When we first spoke with our soon-to-be mentor, we went back and forth telling stories about how one company took advantage of that person, and how frustrating it was. We vowed that we would never do anything like that. Mr. Pederson gave us more than just business advice; he gave Kevin and I a purpose and goal to aim for while running a business of our own. He loved to share his knowledge with us, and the three of us even worked together on a few jobs. When sewer cameras first came out, Mr. Pederson was one of the first in our area to get one, and whenever we had to do a sewer repair, we’d ask him to come out and do the locating. Once the job was over, we’d sit by the truck and ask him how he would handle certain scenarios and situations. We met another great mentor, Mr. Marthaler (a local plumber and teacher at Prairie State College), in one of the many different classes we took when our business first picked up speed. Mr. Marthaler was very experienced in his field, and Kevin and I would talk to him for hours after class to pick his brain on how he would approach various situations and
Many people came into the store asking if we did sewer or drain cleaning, and the need for these services became apparent. We bought a van and all the equipment we needed, and we started working. In 1986, we had enough customers to operate the business full-time, so we stopped working at the hardware store to focus solely on the business. Neither of us expected our side business would grow as fast as it did. We started getting more and more jobs, and we continued to seek out better methods, techniques, and equipment to use. It was at this time that we met one of our mentors, Mr. Pederson. We met while Kevin and I were at a job. We happened to see his truck and pulled over to talk to him. Mr. Pederson’s company (Pederson & Sons) and his reputation for being an honest and valued business owner were well-known in our industry, and we wanted to see if he could give us any advice. We wanted
Reid & Pederson Drainage is proud of each and every member of our team. Every employee plays a huge role in the company by supporting the business and delivering exceptional experiences to our customers every single day. Several of our team members have been here for years and are just as passionate about what they do as John and Kevin are. Rico Guillermo, our supervisor here at Reid & Pederson, is one of our remarkable team members. 19 - Yea r Supe r v i sor a t Re i d & Pede r son Dr a i nage happened to apply here, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I thought the two of them were very personable, and now we’re like family. It feels like I’ve known them my whole life. They’re a great pair to work with and easy to get along with.” We truly value the strong connection among our team members, and that feeling is reciprocated by our employees, including Rico. “We have a tight-knit team and everyone works really well together,” he says. “You always hear people talk about being close with their coworkers, but it’s really true here. Everyone gets along; it’s pretty hard not to. We have a family-oriented vibe that we all really enjoy.” When Rico isn’t in the office or working on a job, he enjoys relaxing at home with his friends and family. “We do all sorts of things. With the summer coming up, we’ll have some cookouts, and we always make it to the pool to swim on those hot days.” Rico also enjoys riding through town on his motorcycle. “I don’t go out of state or travel too much on it. I usually ride around town to enjoy the day and the community.” We are proud to have such dedicated team members like Rico working here at Reid & Pederson. Because of them, we can continue to provide outstanding service to our customers and continue to grow as we look toward the future. MEET RICO GUI LLERMO Rico started at our company over 19 years ago and has grown close to Kevin and John over the years. “I just
DONATE WITH CARE
THE R IGHT WAY TO DONATE AFTER SPR ING- CLEANING
Spring is in the air, and it’s time to celebrate with another round of spring-cleaning. Banish the clutter and make room in your life for something new! Many charities see a sharp increase in donations as spring-cleaning season starts. Donating your used books, kids’ toys, and gently worn clothing allows your old items to have a second life. However, when filling that donation box, make sure you’re donating each item because it can do good and not just because you feel bad about throwing it away. Charities have a big problem with well-meaning citizens dropping off items that are better left in the trash. There are many items charities simply cannot handle. Most charities will have lists of items they can and cannot accept on their websites. Some items that you should not donate include: • Expired medications • Old TVs • Cribs • Loose remote controls • Personal care items, like soap, shampoo, or makeup • Mattresses • Carpets • Tangled cords or phone chargers • Any broken, damaged, or dirty items These items may be unsafe to sell, costly to ship, or impossible to refurbish effectively. When a charity regularly receives items they cannot use, they have to spend hours of manpower sorting through things that end up in the trash anyway. This process can be expensive for organizations with already-strained resources. Some local charities spend over $1,000 a year on dumpster and trash removal fees for unusable donations. While charities will have no choice but to throw unusable donations in the trash, there are services you can use to make your spring- cleaning eco-friendly, even for items you can’t donate. For example, if you have torn or stained blue jeans, reach out to Blue Jeans Go Green. This program keeps denim out of landfills by turning it into insulation. And while Goodwill can’t take your batteries or
old flip phone, you can check out Call2Recycle.
org to learn how to safely recycle your e-waste.
Your donations can be a big help to local charities. Just don’t “donate” your garbage.
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IN HARVEY , I LL INOI S A SEWER REPAIR THAT AVOIDED DISASTER
This was a very dangerous situation that the property owner was previously unaware of. With our repair, disaster was averted, and our customer was appreciative and relieved that we not only discovered the problem but also corrected it quickly and efficiently. Since the repair, she is happy with her results and vows to remain our customer for life.
Sometimes even the most routine sewer rodding jobs can lead to urgent and unexpected repairs. We recently experienced this firsthand when rodding a sewer at a housing complex in Harvey, Illinois. A property owner called our office to schedule a sewer rodding because her building was experiencing a backup. While our technicians were rodding from the basement, they hit a blockage they couldn’t get past in the overhead pipes at the back of the building. Pulling back, they discovered a tracer wire connected to the gas line had come out with their rodding equipment. Immediately recognizing a potentially dangerous situation, they sent a camera down the line and found a gas line running directly through the sewer line. If this gas line had been unknowingly cut during our sewer rodding, natural gas would have been released into the sewer system, creating a disastrous situation. We called the gas company right away and immediately repaired the sewer line to restore the flow of the system. During the repair, our team dug down to the damaged pipe and replaced roughly four feet of clay pipe with PVC pipe. We also installed a cleanout on the property for easier rodding in the future.
BEFORE
AFTER
EVERYTHING POPCORN
Who doesn’t love an “everything” bagel? Many argue it is the best bagel flavor around. Skip the bagel (and the carbs!) and sit down to watch your favorite team while enjoying a big bowl of this amazing “everything” popcorn instead!
INGREDI ENTS
DIRECT IONS
1. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast sesame seeds. Shake skillet often and cook until white seeds are golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and add garlic, onion, and salt. 2. In a large saucepan, combine popcorn kernels and oil. Cook over medium-high heat, covered, until popcorn kernels start to pop. Once popping, continue cooking and shaking the pan intermittently until popping ceases, about 3–5 minutes. 3. Transfer popcorn to a large mixing bowl. Pour in butter and toss to coat. Finally, add seasoning, toss again, and serve.
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3/4 cup popcorn kernels 2 tablespoons flaky sea salt 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds 2 teaspoons white sesame seeds 2 teaspoons granulated garlic 2 teaspoons granulated onion
1/3 cup canola oil
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
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Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
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OUR HI STORY WHY CHAR I T I ES HATE SPR ING- CLEANING INSIDE THIS ISSUE TEAM MEMBER SPOTL IGHT A DRAINAGE HORROR STORY EVERYTHING POPCORN 3 GREAT OPENING DAYS IN BASEBALL
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THE BEST OPENING DAYS IN BASEBALL HI STORY PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACKS
Baseball’s opening day has been an American holiday of sorts since the Cincinnati Red Stockings threw out the first major league pitch in 1869. To celebrate the start of the 150th season of professional baseball, here are three of the best opening days in baseball history. A NEW BEGINNING On April 15, 1947, an African-American man stepped up to the plate on opening day and
up baseball’s famous “Murderers’ Row.” With sluggers like Lou Gehrig, Earle Combs, Babe Ruth, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri, it’s no wonder this team went on to win its fifth championship that year. THE HAMMER TIES BAMBINO For decades, no one could match George Herman Ruth. The Great Bambino’s all-time home run record seemed like an impossible feat of strength — that is, until Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron came along. On opening day, April 4, 1974, Aaron smashed his 714th homer, tying Babe Ruth for the most home runs ever hit and extending the Atlanta Braves’ shutout lead over the Cincinnati Reds. Just four days later, on April 8, 1974, Aaron surpassed Ruth’s record, sending a high fastball from Dodgers’ pitcher Al Downing out of the park, prompting a ten- minute long celebration at the stadium and mobs of teammates, friends and family congratulating him at home plate.
changed the course of major league baseball forever. Donning a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American starter in a major league baseball game, erasing 60 years of racial discrimination in the sport. Mr.
Robinson went on to have a very successful career, playing 10 seasons with the Dodgers that included appearances in six World Series and six All-Star Games. However, his greatest impact was off the field, as his legacy created a new beginning for major league baseball and future African-American ballplayers everywhere. LOU, COMBS, AND BABE — OH MY! Considered one of the best teams in baseball history, the 1927 New York Yankees started their historic run and 25th season by dismantling the Philadelphia Athletics with a score of 8–3. The slugfest was true to form for the 1927 Yankees, whose players would go on to make
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