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Happy New Year!

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Well, here we are heading into 2015.  Happy New Year!

Will & Kathy's Last Day
Will & Kathy’s Last Day

It’s going to be interesting starting the new year here with Will and Kathy‘s retirement.  We wish them the best.  We also lost several friends who passed away, including former employee Dave Epley, and two long time clients, Don Neidig and Richard Ford.  They will be missed.  Dave was a carpenter with Easterday Construction who was responsible for a lot of detailed work of which we’re quite proud.  A fair amount of Dave’s work was performed for Don and Richard, both of whom appreciated fine craftsmanship.

There’s no doubt that the new year will bring new challenges.  We can only hope they are ones that intrigue us and help us grow.  2014 brought us a mixed group of clients.  Some of these were repeat customers that we consider friends and some of them new clients where we hope we have created friendships.  Some of our work has been fairly mundane but necessary like replacing roofs, while others will be memorable such as the new Veterans Memorial at Fletcher Cemetery and the bowling alley we helped install in Yei-Yei’s Game Room.  For all of it, we thank our clients for their trust and confidence in us.

On the lighter side (hopefully), I ran across this article from Dorkly about all the things we should expect in 2015 per past science fiction movies.  None of the films they cite show rosey pictures for 2015, but at least we’ll finally get flying cars from Blade Runner and that cool hoverboard from Back to the Future II!  Then again, Arnold Schwarzenegger cloning himself is a bit scary.

Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous 2015 to all our friends and clients!

Kevin

 

Image Source:  Will & Kathy by Julie Heise

Image Source:  Terminator Arnold borrowed from giphy.com

Fond Farewell

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Kathy's First Check
Kathy’s First Check

Today is the last day for Kathy and Will Pearson at Easterday Construction.  They are retiring and moving on to another phase of their lives.  Talk about the end of an Era!  Kathy has been here since 1976.  38 years!  Will has been an employee off and on totaling about 25 years.  I knew them long before I started working for Easterday Construction.

Will and Kathy moved to town when Will took a job running the Inn at what was then Culver Military Academy.  Dad likes to tell the story of hiring them:

Kathy Picture
Kathy Pearson

“Kathy applied for a job with us.  I was impressed and decided to hire her, but told her, ‘You won’t be here long!’  None of the previous Inn managers had lasted more than a few years.  Unfortunately the same was true for Will.  But by then Kathy had proven herself so valuable that I had to hire Will to keep Kathy!  Guess she proved me wrong.”

When I was looking for someone in the office a few years back, I knew Will was unhappy where he was, but I was concerned about history and I was concerned about Will and Kathy working together in the office.  I asked Dad his thoughts on the subject:

“Will was always a good employee and I can’t imagine that has changed.  He wasn’t always the fastest estimator, but he stayed until he got the job done.  He was always loyal, conscientious and always did the right thing.  I don’t know that you can go wrong with him.”

Will Picture
Will Pearson

Dad was right in both cases.  I don’t know that he could have done better than hiring Kathy and I have been pleased that I chose to hire Will.

I discussed their exit with the crew and they agreed that they would like to do an Open House for them so that the community, clients and friends can wish them well.  Unfortunately (or fortunately for them) the Pearsons are headed to Alabama for a few months of warmer weather.  We’ll have to postpone the celebration until they return.  Keep an eye out here for a date sometime in March… but if you happen to catch them before they hit the road, please be sure to wish them well.  Everyone at Easterday Construction does…  Most of all me…  I am not just losing employees,  I am no longer going to see two good friends every day.

Kevin

 

Happy Jim Condon Day

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Jim Condon – Plymouth H.S. Principal

Last evening I attended a celebration for Jim Condon, Plymouth High School Principal.  He was being honored for being named Indiana High School Principal of the Year.  I’m not sure what one does to stand out amongst your peers in the field of High School Principals, but being named such by peer review from other principals makes it quite an honor.  Dan Tyree, Plymouth Superintendent of Schools, emceed the event where Jim received several awards and accolades.  Plymouth Mayor, Mark Senter, spoke and presented Jim with a proclamation of Plymouth’s appreciation for him, part of which was to name December 11, 2014 Jim Condon Day in Plymouth.

Mayor Senter Congratulating Jim Condon

I mainly know Jim through our association on the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) Board.  Jim came on the board several years ago and in the time since I have grown to respect his thoughtful approach to all matters.  I’m proud to call Jim a friend and also proud of his well-earned award.  Congratulations Jim!

Oh, and Happy Jim Condon Day to all!

Picture Source:  AM1050.com

Veteran’s Day 2014

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Tomorrow is Veterans Day.  Thank you to all our veterans that have served our country over the years.  Your service is appreciated.

Here is a list from Christian Carlson and the Friday Five that includes some businesses that are doing a little extra to show their support.  He suggests bringing your military ID or wearing your uniform to take advantage of these. Some offers may vary by location.

  • Ameristar Casino Hotel – Free Lunch (11-2) or Dinner (5-9)
  • Applebee’s – Free Thank You Meal
  • Bar Louie – Free meal up to a $12 value Monday and Tuesday
  • Bob Evans – All–you-can-eat hotcakes
  • Barrabba’s – Free Appetizer
  • Center for History and Studebaker Museum – Free admission
    Chili’s – Free meal from a special Veterans Day menu
    Chuck E. Cheese’s – 20 free tokens Sunday thru Saturday the 15th
    Drive & Shine Car Wash – Free Diamond Car Wash
    Flags International – 21% discount for veterans through Tuesday
    Golden Corral – Free buffet and beverage from 5 PM to 9 PM November 17th
    Great Clips – Free haircut Tuesday thru December 31st

    Grissom Air Museum – Free admission, gospel country concert by Rene Jones at 10am, honor guard at 3:30pm
    Hair Crafters – Free haircuts and root beer for veterans
    Honkers – Free Polish buffet from 2 to 8pm with beverage purchase
    IHOP – Free Red, White and Blue pancakes from 7am to 7pm (may also include eggs, bacon and hashed browns)
    Krispy Kreme – Free Doughnut & Small Coffee
    Martin’s Supermarkets – Free Honor Meal (two pieces of fried chicken, a side of mashed potatoes, a side of cold salad, a roll, a hot or cold 16-ounce deli beverage, a single serving of milk, a serving of ice cream and a slice of Martin’s cake while supplies last)
    Olive Garden – Free meal from Veterans Day menu
    Outback Steakhouse – Free Bloomin’ Onion® and a beverage
    Ponderosa – Free buffet on November 17th
    Red Lobster – Free appetizer from a special menu (Monday thru Thursday)
    Red Robin – Free Tavern Double Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries
    Ruthmere Museum – Free admission and free flags for veterans on Tuesday
    Ryan’s – Free dine-in lunch from open until 3:30pm
    Sport Clips – Free Haircut – Sport Clips is also raising money for the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ (VFW) Operation Uplink program and will donate a $1 for every haircut service to the program.
    Starbucks – Free tall brewed coffee (includes spouses)
    Texas Roadhouse – Free special veterans lunch menu including a beverage and sides between 11am and 2pm Tuesday
    TGI Fridays – Free Lunch from 11 am to 2 pm
    Travel Centers of America – All CDL Drivers who are Military Veterans eat free with valid ID

 

Image © 2011 Frank Glick, used with permission, all rights reserved. www.liketophoto.com