News from Bennett Contracting, Inc.

Diggin' It!

ISSUE NUMBER 10 FEBRUARY 2011

In This Issue

Bow Wow!!! Woof!!

MEET THE PUPS OF BENNETT CONTRACTING!

If you have had a chance to stop by our office on 33rd Street you probably remember being greeted by our two four-legged office workers -- Jose and Sushi!

Both dogs are about 1-year-old and Jose (a Pit Bull mix who looks like he's mostly Black Mouth Cur) is a friendly 75 lb. bundle of energy who dotes on his "girlfriend," 5 lb. Yorkie, Sushi.
Next time you come by give them a scratch behind the ears... and if you really want to be popular with them be sure to bring some treats like our FedEx lady does!!!

RECIPES: GAME DAY GUACAMOLE & 'DEFENSE!' DEVILED EGGS

If you're getting ready to host a SuperBowl XLV party here are a couple of winning recipes to serve for guests! Whether you're rooting for the Steelers or the Packers these appetizers are sure to please!

GAME DAY GUACAMOLE

3 Medium ripe Haas avocados

1 Hard boiled egg, chopped fine

1 Small tomato on the vine, cubed small

1 Small yellow onion, chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

Mash avocados. Add egg, onion, tomato, salt & lemon juice. Serve with tortilla chips.

'DEFENSE!' DEVILED EGGS

12 cold hard-boiled eggs, peeled

1/3 cup light mayonnaise

1 tablespoon spicy mustard

2 teaspoons minced yellow onion

6 - 8 drops hot sauce (to taste, of course!)

1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish

Cut eggs in half, lengthwise. Remove yolks to mixing bowl. Mash thoroughly. Mix yolks with mayo, mustard and remaining ingredients. Fill egg whites, cover and chill for 1 hour. Garnish with paprika if desired.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.

-- Walt Disney

Greetings!

There's been a lot of talk as to whether our area has seen the "bottom" of this 'icky' economy and hopefully more of us in the construction business can say that things -- while not great -- seem to be steadily improving. In a recent report Moody's Analytics optimistically calls for significant job growth in our industry throughout the state by the third quarter 2011. University of Central Florida Economist Sean Snaith is a bit more pragmatic and predicts it will take until 2012 and 2013 for real improvement to take hold. We're just happy (and hopeful) the unpredictibility and uneasiness of the 2007 - 2010 period is possibly, maybe, kinda-sorta, over? (Yes, the question mark is there on purpose.)

JOB UPDATE: What We've Dug and Where We're Diggin' Now

Booker High Groundbreaking Ceremony

A ground-breaking ceremony for the new Booker High School was held on January 26th (see photo of Booker students "turning dirt" with Sarasota County School Board members above). The three-year $00 million project is being built by Willis A. Smith Construction in partnership with Jon F. Swift Construction. When the school is completed in 2013 it will be an amazing state-of-the-art facility for students for years to come. We are delighted to have been selected to handle the site work portion of this important project.

Just around the corner from Booker, work has begun by our crews on the North Sarasota Neighborhood Enhancement Project and Aqua Utilities of FL Utility Relocation project (see photo below) for Sarasota County Government. The project includes sidewalks, road widening, storm drainage and utility line relocations and will continue until December 2011. Additionally, our team is mobilizing for work at the Blake Hospital Trauma Center with PHM Group.

ROAR! Bennett Employees Lend a Hand at Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary

This past fall Bennett employees Jake Lough and Joe Zinkhan donated their personal time to work on site improvements (grading, parking improvements and the addition of a small pond) at one of the area's most unique and amazing destinations: Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary, a place where the legendary Rosaire Family (of circus fame) takes in unwanted and neglected animals and takes care of them, using unique educational programs to help raise money for their 501(c)3 organization. Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary is home to Lions, Tigers, Birds, Tortoises, Monkeys, Bears and even a Camel! For the month of February the Habitat is celebrating their 6th Annual Animal Extravagana Fundraiser, where every weekend in the month of February they have a Friday night show at 6 pm, Saturday shows at 2 pm and 6 pm and a Sunday show at 2 pm. Tickets are only $12 per adult and $7 per child -- parking is free! For more information or to make a donation to this terrific organization please visit their website at www.bigcathabitat.org.

We hope you enjoyed reading Diggin' It! Next month Bennett Contracting will be celebrating 11 years in business in Sarasota/Bradenton. We thank all of you for your continued support of our small business!

Sincerely,
Alisa Bennett & The Entire Bennett Team