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Second Street Sinatra Perks up New Yorkers
Amidst the noise and disruption near the subway station on Manhattan's East Side , something beautiful has emerged from the construction yard and has many lunch goers smiling, applauding and wanting more. Gary Russo, the "Second Street Sinatra" as he is commonly referred to these days, is wooing on-lookers as he belts out some of Old Blue Eyes' favorite tunes. And he's giving ironworkers a new face in the Big Apple! Click here for an article on ABC News |
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Greetings!
I'm by no means a technophobe. In fact, I'm probably more likely to be classified as a technofanatic. I want the latest version of whatever emerges on the market - software, cell phone, television, laptop, etc. I, like most, have come to rely on the conveniences of technology and have always easily transitioned with advances and breakthroughs. The problem has never been adaptation, but rather reliance. Have we developed an unhealthy dependence to technology?
A few months ago when I was a guest lector at Cal Poly (my alma mater), I noticed the students' calculators are even more advanced, the internet is their first and likely only resource they access, and that they literally have engineering and construction computer software programs that calculate almost everything for you -the work, and therefore, the understanding seems lost. If you can only arrive at an answer by punching it into a computer, how can you really understand things conceptually? And furthermore, if you're facebooking during a lecture while connected to the University's wifi (which several students were doing), can you really concentrate on the subject at hand?
Ponder this: Have you ever looked around the office immediately after the power has gone out (thank you, California, for your rolling blackouts)? Everyone is frozen - paralyzed in their seats. They don't know what to do, what to work on or how to work on anything without their computer.
Have we lost all ability to pick up the phone or to just work without sitting face to face with a PC? I think there is something to be said for the human touch and human interaction - a phone call instead of an email, a hand shake instead of a meticulously drafted legally binding contract, a brainstorming session instead of a google search, and the list goes on...while I carry the efficiency torch and understand that some of these activities can be laborious and time-consuming, I also recognize the importance of not letting these skills and approaches slip out of our routines all together. I recognize the importance of combining technology with human capabilities/skills. I encourage you to pick up the phone today and have a short conversation with a client - you'll be surprised how much you can get done and how much better off you'll both be.
Sincerely,
Matt Seals
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City of Visalia's Transit Operations & Maintenance Facility Expanded
The City of Visalia's Transit Operations & Maintenance facility recently underwent an expansion just shy of $2.3 million. As the facility acts as the maintenance hub for the City of Visalia's transit busses, it was imperative that it remain operable during construction. For this reason, the project was divided into 11 phases to ensure it was running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The expansion project consisted of a 6,497 square foot addition to the shop building, 1,633 square foot addition to the wash building and 1,029 square feet of new office space. Adding to the list, was 100,000 square feet of site improvements including a storm drain, water lines, electrical underground and site lighting, and approximately 98,000 square feet of new asphalt paving. In addition to Seals/Biehle's general contracting services on the project, they also carried out the site and structural concrete, metal-stud framing, and the installation of drywall, doors and hardware.
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Construction Completed on Visalia's Newest Catholic Church
Saint Charles Borromeo, the newest addition to the Catholic Church community in Visalia, is officially welcoming new parishioners. This 17,000-square-foot multi-purpose parish center boasts eight classrooms, a kitchen, a sacristy, a conference room, a chapel and a hospitality desk, Featured on ABC 30 the other night, St. Charles Borromeo is making headlines in the south Valley.
View the ABC 30 video
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Book Review: Stop Workplace Drama
It can happen to any organization at any time. It can change the dynamics of your work environment. It can hinder productivity. The problem? Workplace drama. Whether employees are bringing their personal problems to the office or the relationship between boss and employee is strained, the drama that arises as a result can be deafening to an organization and notably expensive to solve. Communications consultant, national speaker and author of Stop Workplace Drama, Marlene Chism examines the route of workplace drama and the appropriate and professional ways to deal with it. She goes on to teach you how to create healthy boundaries, get your work needs met and make the most of your valuable time.
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"Mechanization best serves mediocrity." -- Frank Lloyd Wright
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