Reid & Pederson Drainage July/August 2019

Water Words

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MY OLDEST ENTERING PRESCHOOL THE START OF A SCHOOL EXPER I ENCE

AUG 2019

age. My parents actually enrolled me in a preschool program very similar to the one Gavin is starting, but I was only in it for about a week before they pulled me out. At that age, I usually spent the entire day with my mom after she helped my older sister get ready for school and sent her off. We had our own schedule throughout the day, and I loved spending so much time with her. However, when my parents told me that I was going to be starting school, my younger self was determined not to. From day one, I absolutely hated preschool. I cried all day every day I was there. It got so bad that, at the end of that first week, I would fight my dad when getting in the car, and sometimes I would go to the top of our stairs at home and cling to the banister, knowing they couldn’t pull me away from it. Finally, my parents decided to pull me out of the program, and I stayed home with my mom for another year. The funny thing was that the next year when I went into kindergarten, I loved it. Looking back, I don’t think I was as ready or nearly as excited as Gavin to go to school for the first time. While I might not have had the best time in my preschool program, I know that Gavin will have the best school experience. I’m excited for him to engage in school, and I can’t wait to watch him learn and grow.

This year, my oldest son, Gavin, is going to be entering school for the first time in his life. He turned 3 in December, so he’ll be 3 1/2 when he joins the preschool program this fall. I definitely think that he’ll be one of those kids who runs off before giving me a hug on his first day; he’s very, very excited for school to start. Back in January, we went to a two-hour open house at the school, and Gavin had the best time there. Many of you may know that an open house is typically a time where families come in and visit with the teachers to get an idea about how the classes will go. We ended up staying for the full two hours because Gavin was playing in their play area, eating pizza with the other kids, and making friends with everyone. All he’s been saying since is that he can’t wait to go back to school to see all his friends again. It’s the cutest thing ever, and I’m very excited for him. Before we went to the open house, I’ll admit I was a little apprehensive about him going off to school. But after seeing how interested he was and how he got along with the other kids and teachers, it’s helped me a lot. I know Gavin will do great in school, and, even though I might have a harder time when the day comes to see him off, right now I can’t wait for this next step in his life. Seeing Gavin so excited for school is a stark contrast to how I was when I was his

With the start of the new school year just around the corner, I want my marketing coordinator, Melissa Gabrano, whose oldest son is starting school this year, to write about this exciting and often nerve-wracking experience. I also want to encourage my readers to take the opportunity to enjoy what’s left of summer break with their families. Preparing your child for the new school year, or their very first school year, can be stressful, and taking a small break before it starts is a great way to refresh. Whether you’re planning a small vacation, camping trip, or even a last summer bike ride around the neighborhood, I hope all of you have a wonderful month.

–John Reid

–Melissa Gabrano

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F IND ING THE R IGHT COMB INAT ION TO PREVENT BASEMENT FLOOD ING SUMP PUMP, BATTERY BACKUP, OR A HOME GENERATOR?

system. If your home is situated on a high water table, then your pump will be forced to run more often, causing the battery on the backup system to drain faster than it otherwise would.

If your home has a basement, there’s a pretty good chance it has an electric sump pump or two in it. A sump pump operates by mechanically pumping rain and groundwater away from your home, so it doesn’t enter your basement and cause flooding. Since sump pumps are usually tucked away in your basement, they’re an out of sight, out of mind item that you simply expect to work all of the time, and many homes contain a primary pump that provides pretty good peace of mind during rainy weather. But what happens during extended periods of heavy rains and stormy weather, especially if your home is prone to losing electricity during bad weather? Without electricity, your primary pump will stop working, which can result in a flooded mess in your basement. The best assurance you can give yourself to make sure this never happens is to install a battery backup sump pump system or a whole-house generator. Let’s take a look at battery backup systems first. What exactly does a battery-powered backup system do? It’s simple — if your primary electric pump fails due to a power outage, the battery-powered pump kicks on, takes over, and ejects water from your home. How long can you expect your backup system to keep things dry in the event of a power outage? Well, the answer to this varies depending on how much water enters your sump pit and on how much battery capacity is available with the backup

When installing a battery backup pump, it is important to make sure you install one of the correct size and type for your basement and your drainage conditions. Here at Reid & Pederson, we recommend and install the Aquanot brand. Running around $1,800, this option may seem pricey, but, since you want a backup that will pump as many gallons as your primary, this system is a great choice and provides plenty of assurance. Installing just any brand of backup systems can lead to wasted money and a false sense of security if, in the end, it’s not pumping out the same number of gallons your primary pump does. If you’re unsure of this, give us a call, and we will be happy to discuss your situation with you. For complete peace of mind during power outages, a whole- home system generator is your answer. A whole-home generator turns on immediately after a power outage, leaving you with zero worry that your pump will stop working and your basement will flood. A home generator is especially useful if your home is prone to losing power because it keeps your entire house running during the outage. All home systems continue to operate with no worry of ruined food in the fridge, stifling heat, or freezing cold. Although a home generator can be pricey —anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 — the peace of mind and the money you can save is priceless. If you’re considering a home generator, we recommend installing two electrical sump pumps alongside it. That way, if your first pump stops working for any reason, the second pump will kick on, and you’ll always have a working pump and a dry basement. While a sump pump is useful for keeping your basement dry, it is important to remember that maintenance is critical to keep it working correctly. Simple steps you can take to maintain the operation of your pump are listening for any strange noises, replacing the battery every 3–5 years, and going outside to visually ensure it is pumping water away from your home. If you begin to experience any issues or suspect any problems with your pump, give us a call. We will solve your pump problems!

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DED I CATED WORKER AND MOTHER OF ( SOON- TO- BE ) 2 MEET MELISSA GABRANO

It wasn’t long afterward that Melissa found herself at Reid & Pederson Drainage. “I started looking for a job that specifically targeted marketing, and I found that here.” Looking back at her other jobs, Melissa is confident she has found the perfect fit for her. “I love it here; I really do. The environment is fantastic, and it continually pushes and motivates me so that I can do my best for the company. Kevin and John are a big part of that. They are very supportive and understanding, and I fully respect them and the way they manage their team and run their business. You can really tell that they truly care about the people who work here and are proud that the business is growing so much.” When she’s not in the office supporting our team, Melissa can be found at home spending time with her 3-year-old son, Gavin, and her husband, Matt. By the time this newsletter comes out, the family of three will have become a family of four as they welcome a new baby boy. “All my free time right now is preparing for the new baby. Gavin is really excited to be a big brother, and Matt and I are pretty busy keeping him from going too crazy because Mommy just can’t do much right now,” she says with a laugh. All of us at Reid & Pederson Drainage are looking forward to many more years working with Melissa and want to extend to her our congratulations on her newest addition to her family!

Reid & Pederson Drainage is a growing business, and more and more people are reaching out to us for our sewer and drain cleaning services. Through our growth, we continually ensure our customers are well taken care of in each of their unique situations. We wouldn’t be the company we are today without our customers, who repeatedly choose us and also refer us to their family and friends, and we certainly wouldn’t be the same company without our hardworking employees, including our marketing coordinator, Melissa Gabrano. Melissa joined our team in December 2017 and has proven to be a remarkable team member since day one. Her specialty is marketing, and it was her search to pursue a career in this area that led her to us. After returning from maternity leave at her previous job, she learned that her job description and duties had completely changed. While she took on the new full- time Salesforce.com administrator position she was assigned, it wasn’t what Melissa wanted to do. “I went to school for marketing,” she explains. “I got my undergraduate and master’s degree in marketing, and when they changed my position, I wasn’t doing what I wanted anymore.”

JUICY LUCY SLIDERS

The Juicy Lucy is a burger with cheese hiding in the patty, and it is a staple in Minnesota. We think it should be a Fourth of July favorite nationwide.

INGREDI ENTS

DIRECT IONS

1. Divide beef into 16 evenly sized balls. 2. Rip cheese into roughly equal pieces, creating 16 equal portions. 3. Using your index finger, create a small indentation in each ball. 4. Fill indention with cheese and pinch meat around to seal. Then gently form balls into 3/4-inch-thick patties. Season patties. 5. Meanwhile, heat a cast-iron skillet to medium-high. 6. Lightly coat skillet with oil and cook patties in batches. Brown one side undisturbed, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until desired doneness, about 3 minutes for medium. 7. Serve on toasted potato rolls with your favorite accompaniments.

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2 lbs ground chuck beef, 20% lean

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8 slices melting cheese (like American, Swiss, Muenster, or cheddar) 16 small potato rolls, toasted Salt and pepper, to taste

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Your favorite burger accompaniments

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Inspired by Bon Appétit magazine

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1249 E . BURV I LLE RD . SUI TE 2 CRETE , I L 60417

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MEL I SSA ’ S PRESCHOOL EXPER I ENCE WHAT PUMP I S R IGHT FOR YOU? TEAM MEMBER SPOTL IGHT JUI CY LUCY SL IDERS 3 CAMP STOVES FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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3 STOVES FOR YOUR NEXT OUTDOOR ADVENTURE COOKING AND CAMPING

MSR POCKET ROCKET DELUXE For the hunters and backpackers looking to minimize weight without sacrificing their morning coffee, the latest Pocket Rocket brings the heat. MSR has managed to stack many convenient features onto this burner, and it still comes in under 3 ounces. Sure, there are lighter kits out there, but the Deluxe comes with a built-in pressure regulator for high altitudes, decent wind resistance, a push-button igniter, and excellent simmer control. Its fast boil times mean you can have multiple cups of joe prepped in under four minutes, no matter how remote your campsite. strange little stove is sure to become a favorite of backwoods adventurers and car campers alike. Leave the propane tanks at home: BioLite burns twigs and sticks you can find right around your campsite, saving you weight and money. But the special feature of this stove is it can charge electronic devices. Using patented thermoelectric technology, the BioLite converts heat from the fire into electricity, allowing anything with a USB charger to top off its battery. As electronic devices become more and more common during camping trips, the added utility of this camp stove may soon prove invaluable. BIOLITE WOOD BURNING CAMPSTOVE One of the most innovative designs on the market, this

Whether you’re daytripping, car

camping, or outright backpacking, nothing makes the

wilderness feel more like home than a hot meal. Many summer fire bans put a damper on classic campfire s’mores, but a quality

propane stove will let you cook up some good grub in the great outdoors. Here are some of the best units to up your camp-cooking game.

CAMP CHEF EVEREST This is the ultimate two burner experience. Reasonably portable for its size, this dual stovetop features best-in-class wind resistance and incredibly fast boil times. With a range that can accommodate large cook pots and finely tuned controls that make simmering a snap, you can make some incredible meals from just about anywhere. For those wishing they could just bring their actual stove along on the journey, the Camp Chef has you covered.

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