GETALLCLEAN.COM 503-ALL-CLEAN
AUGUST 2019
How I Became a Reader It Only Takes One Book
didn’t turn me into a high-volume reader overnight, but it did light a fire that’s never gone out since.
As I grew older, the amount of time I spent with a book in my hand increased. One of the big catalysts was meeting my husband, Tim. He’s a huge sci-fi fan who knows all the authors and keeps up with all the series. He introduced me to the genre, and I was hooked. I could go on all day listing authors and titles I love, but if I had to pick one, it would be Hugh Howey. He’s amazing. Google him! His “Silo” series is as good as it gets. Last year, reports indicated that the AMC network was developing a TV series based on the first novel, “Wool.” Who knows if and when it will come to fruition, but my fingers are certainly crossed. Growing up in a house of readers, our daughter, Justine, took to books naturally. She wants to be a writer after college, and I think that’s so awesome. To be able to sit down and build an imaginary world is something I’ve always found incomprehensible. Whether they set their stories in a reality that resembles our own or some far-flung version of the future, authors have an incredible, inventive power. And even if Justine ends up finding a different path for herself, I’m sure her love of reading will serve her well for life. Reading is so many things: a chance to slow down in a chaotic world, a way to enjoy solitary leisure time, an opportunity to learn about empathy and see the world from perspectives other than your own, and so much more. No matter what you read or what purpose you read for, I hope you get the chance to sit down with a good book once in a while.
When you think back to your childhood summers, what memories come to mind? Great weather? Swimming? No homework? I guess that last point isn’t technically true. We may have been free from the shackles of nightly assignments, both useful exercises and rote busywork, but there was always summer reading. At the time, I probably regarded summer reading as a mild nuisance. Today, I’d kill for a summer reading list. In fact, reading for pleasure is something I do regardless of the season. This year’s been a busy one, so I haven’t been able to read as much as I’d like, but I normally devour books pretty quickly. It wasn’t always that way. As a child, I wanted to be a better reader than I was. My comprehension skills and reading speed were just fine, but I just lacked the ability to sit down and read for more than a few minutes. Even when I was young, though, there were flashes of the bookworm I’d later become. I can still remember the night I first fell in love with reading. I was in fourth grade, and we’d been assigned a book about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. I picked up the book intending to read a chapter or two, but I didn’t stop until I was finished. It was like an analog version of a binge-watch. As long as there was another page, I was going to turn it. That experience
Here’s to summer reading at any age.
–Jennifer Ricca
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3 Sustainable Moves Your Business Can Make Today
Going Green
you have a whole forest in your building waiting to be saved. With advances in technology that provide replacements for products like punch cards and spreadsheets, why not ditch internal paper altogether? INVEST IN A DISHWASHER After China announced in 2018 that it would no longer accept the majority of U.S. plastics for recycling, single-use plastics like cling wrap, water cooler cups, and plasticware became impossible to recycle in most cities. As a result, more than 6 million tons of those plastics end up in local landfills and the oceans each year. Buying a dishwasher for the office kitchen and providing reusable silverware, cups, and plates will cut down on that waste. OFFER ALTERNATIVES TO THE TRASH CAN If your city provides recycling and composting services, this step can be as simple as making sure the bins in your office are visible and educating your employees on what should be tossed where. Barring a local compost program, you can start your own company compost pile for things like coffee grounds, lawn clippings, and lunch leftovers. If you don’t know what can be composted or recycled or are unsure if you are allowed to create your own compost pile, city officials and the internet are there to help.
On May 15, 2019, more than 1 million students around the world skipped school to call attention to climate change. The effort included over 2,000 protests aimed at legislators in 25 countries, which is no small feat for a bunch of middle and high school students. For businesses, movements like these should be red flags because today’s students are tomorrow’s consumers and employees. Luckily, there are plenty of simple moves you can make to lower your business’s environmental impact. Just be sure to avoid “greenwashing” — a term for marketing initiatives that make companies look environmentally friendly, even when they’re making no effort. Here are some tips to better our planet and help your business attract today’s climate-conscious youth. GO PAPERLESS According to the EPA, the average office worker uses 10,000 pieces of paper per year. Multiply that by everyone in your company, and Meet Tara Searls Our Tigard Office Manager
Tara Searls joined All-Clean! in November 2018 to serve as the office manager for our Tigard location. She worked with Jenn at another company previously — there may have been some not-so-subtle courting to get Tara here — so she came highly recommended. It’s not hard to see why. She may have not been with us for a long time, but Tara is already a valuable member of our team.
Ever humble, Tara credits her teammates with helping her make a flying start at All-Clean! “A big part of what I love about All-Clean! is the people,” she says. “Everyone is friendly and helpful not just to customers but to their coworkers as well. We all believe in what we do and want to provide our best to the customers. The shared goals and willingness to collaborate make for an awesome work environment.” When she’s not working, Tara’s chief pursuit is studying to become a cicerone, or beer sommelier. “I spend a lot of time outdoors with friends, sharing a few beers and some laughs,” she reveals. “Over time, as my passion for beer grew, I decided I wanted to learn more about it — a lot more.” Tara is always a fan of IPAs, the style which got her into craft beer, but this summer, she’s all about Kolsch-style ales. “A Kolsch is subtle but flavorful beer that doesn’t come with enough alcohol to knock you off your feet. In my eyes, that makes it perfect for summer.”
“I don’t think I’ve had an average day since I’ve been here,” Tara says, “but that’s just the way I like it. Every day is different, new challenges arise all the time, and I get to have my hand in all the pots.” Tara helps out with crews, handles scheduling, puts out fires, and interacts with every department we can think of. We like to think of her as the hub of the All-Clean! SoftWash Tigard wheel. And that wheel is rolling along just fine, thanks in part to Tara’s wonderful efforts.
Cheers to you, Tara. We’re happy to have you on our team, especially if you pick the beer for our next event!
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Mold, Infestation, Leaks, and Rotting The Dangers of a Neglected Roof
We’ve all met those children whose favorite word is “why.” They ask it incessantly, needing to know the reason behind every action. As we get older, we are usually just as curious but perhaps less demanding of an answer. When something isn’t explained to us, we accept it as our fate. Our boss tells us to do something; we do it. Sure, we can ask why if we really want to, but the answer isn’t going to make much of a difference. However, at All-Clean SoftWash!, we believe that when it comes to maintaining your home, and especially your roof, you deserve to know why you should take it seriously. The easiest way to understand the value of regular roof cleaning is to consider it to be a way to insure against future losses. Your home is likely the largest purchase you will make in your lifetime, so, naturally, you want to protect it. And your roof is one of the most important areas to protect. Think of your roof as the helmet to your home. Just as you want a well-functioning helmet when riding a bike, you want to know that your home’s helmet works. Regular maintenance is the best way to do that. “Why?” you ask. Because the alternative is a disaster waiting to happen. An unregarded roof can begin to cause a plethora of problems in a hurry, ranging from the unsightly to the catastrophic. Mold and algae can eat away at wood, causing damage to structures like framing and decking. When moisture piles up, the roof can rot and cause serious leaking throughout your home, even damaging the
foundation. Additionally, unmaintained roofs are a haven for various vermin looking for shelter, including rodents, insects, and birds. It’s not just your roof, either. Seasonal gutter cleaning and inspections are essential for proper drainage. Replacing a roof or gutters after an unfortunate event is many, many times more costly than regularly scheduled professional maintenance. Now that you know why you need to have your roof cleaned, let us show you we’re the ones to clean it. Call All-Clean! today at 503-All-Clean for a free estimate. It just might be the smartest purchase you make all year.
INGREDIENTS • 2 1/2 lbs ripe tomatoes; cored, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks • 1 small cucumber; peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks • 1 red bell pepper; cored, seeded, and sliced into ribbons • 1 small Vidalia onion, peeled and cubed Gazpacho Summertime
Sudoku
Inspired by CookieAndKate.com
• 11/4 cup basil leaves • 11 clove garlic, peeled • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 2 tbsp sherry vinegar • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS 1. Place a blender and medium mixing bowl on your workstation. 2. Divide the tomato chunks, cucumber pieces, and bell pepper slices evenly between blender and bowl. Place entire onion in blender. 3. Add basil, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper to blender. Blend on low, gradually raising speed to high until smooth, about 2 minutes. 4. Add blender contents to bowl and mix until just broken up, about 10–20 seconds. 5. Let mixture sit in fridge for a minimum of 2 hours. Transfer to bowls and serve
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ALL-CLEAN SOFTWASH 15717 SW 74th Ave., Suite #400
Tigard, OR 97224 GetAllClean.com
Inside This Issue
THE MAGIC OF READING PAGE 1
GREENING UP YOUR BUSINESS
SPOTLIGHT ON TARA SEARLS PAGE 2
A RECIPE FOR A ROOF DISASTER
SUMMERTIME GAZPACHO PAGE 3
THE BEST MOVIES ABOUT DOGS PAGE 4
Dog Movies for Dog Days Beat the Heat With a Canine Movie Marathon
‘LADY AND THE TRAMP’ “Lady and the Tramp” is the classic story of two dogs who come from different worlds: the refined, loyal Lady and the rogue with a heart of gold, Tramp. This movie has music, laughs, and a spaghetti scene that rivals the balcony monologues from “Romeo and Juliet.” One of the few animated Disney classics about animals that won’t have you in tears, this is a movie the whole family can enjoy together. ‘HOMEWARD BOUND: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY’ Looking for a bit more action in your animal movies? “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” delivers! After three beloved pets are left behind when their family goes on vacation, they trek across the Sierra Nevada wilderness to be reunited with the humans they love. Their adventure has thrills, close calls, and a heartwarming ending that will make you want to hug your pets close. When it’s too hot to go outside, make some popcorn and enjoy these great movies with your family. Don’t worry, none of the dogs die at the end.
We’re well into the dog days of summer, the hottest, most humid days of the year. These weeks have nothing to do with real dogs; they were nicknamed after the “dog star” Sirius by the Greeks to reflect the hottest time of the year following the star’s heliacal rise. Still, it’s a pretty good excuse to escape the heat with a dog movie marathon. Here are the films we recommend.
‘AIR BUD’ Most people remember “Air Bud” for the wild loophole, “Ain’t no rule says a dog can’t play basketball,” but this movie is about much more than a dog playing ball. After the death of his father, 12-year-old Josh Framm feels depressed and distant from his family. Enter a stray golden retriever named Buddy, who teaches Josh how to open his heart again. The two bond and learn lessons in overcoming loss, fighting for what you love, and, yes, playing basketball. “Air Bud” spawned a number of sequels and spin-off movies, but this first film is a true classic.
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