From the Southwest Corner Office

Well, I hope everyone had a joyous holiday season. Although mother nature did not allow us to enjoy a “White Christmas”, nor has she come through to date for all of us snowmobilers, we have a new construction season to begin real soon.

With the new season, we will be trying a different approach to how we acquire our equipment. In the past, we have normally rented equipment for as long as needed and either turned it back in, or purchased the machine. This upcoming season, we have worked out a deal with our suppliers to give us 3-year lease plans with the option to buy at the end of the term. These rates decreased the monthly rentals dramatically, while allowing us to be utilizing new, more efficient machines.

Following is equipment that we purchased in the fall of 2002:

· 1-CAT D400E Off Road
· 1-CAT D5G(LGP) Dozer
· 1-D6R(LGP) w/GPS system
· 5-2003 Chevy Pickups

On Lease for 2003 are:

· 1- CAT 163 Motor Grader
· 2-CAT D6R(LGP) Dozers
· 2- J.D. 400E Off Road Trucks
· 1- CAT D6N(LPG) w/GPS dozer

As the economy changes, businesses need to continually make changes and adapt to the times they are in. The strong will survive and Frattalone Companies is very strong and will be for years to come.

A positive sign for the upcoming year is the amount of work we are bidding on. The estimating staff has continued to stay very busy all winter. I would also like to take this opportunity to announce our new estimator, Jamie McLaughlin. Jamie started with Frattalone in 2001 as a Field Superintendent and has done an excellent job with that over the past two seasons. His experience and knowledge will be sorely missed in the field, but we feel we will get more in return while he is at his new position.

Have an enjoyable rest of the winter and I look forward to seeing everyone in the spring.

Tony Frattalone
President

Safety Column

Hello from the Safety & Training office!

The Frattalone Safety Committee has filled its positions. Filling the openings went very well. Enthusiastic volunteers came forward replacing the members completing their terms. Thank you for those completing a term as well as those stepping forward to begin a term. Your educated opinions and efforts are always appreciated. Creating an opportunity for better communication, the Safety Committee has a new bulletin board. The board is located in the shop by the south exit door. It will display the latest meeting minutes, the agenda for the next meeting, and your employee member representative’s names posted along with other safety and training information. Use this informational board to your advantage.

Congratulations to the winners of the injury-free and accident-free safety drawings presented at the company Christmas party. There were 4 runner-ups to the grand prize; one Home Depot gift certificate for $150.00 and one for $100.00 and two pairs of Wild hockey game tickets. Randy Zuleger won the grand prize, a Polaris ATV. Congratulations to all!

Also, a special thanks to everyone in the drawing who worked injury and accident free this year. Please be sure to continue your safe work habits this coming season so you and your family will be the big winners again, whether or not you win a prize in the drawing.

I would like to thank the company for providing such great prizes for the drawing. Once again, management demonstrates their commitment to the safety program.

We are in the thick of the training season. Some people have already completed their required trainings; others are just getting started. Regardless of where you are at in your training, if anyone has questions, comments or concerns, please contact me so I can help. Please turn in a copy of your training certificates immediately so I can document your hard work into your file. This is the only way I know if your trainings have been completed, and it ensures that your file is properly updated.

Together, as a company, we need to address the number of total injuries sustained over the past two years. Due to the higher number of injuries and our need to reduce the adverse effects toward the company, we are implementing an injury reduction-stretching program.

The Mechanics and Drivers will be starting this program in mid January. The Field Superintendents and Lead People will be introduced to the program at meetings in early February. The remaining employees will be shown the program and have it explained at the spring start-up meeting.
 
We feel this program will help our employees prevent injuries at work and improve their quality of life when they’re at home with their families. I am sure everyone will accept this change with an open mind and allow this program to help reduce injuries.

I would like to remind everyone of the biggest part of why Frattalone Excavating is and has been so successful…our people!
“Team Frattalone” means everyone working together from the employee with the most seniority to the most recently hired member of the team. Everyone creates the atmosphere worth being proud. Attitude, Cooperation, Commitment, Communication, Safety, Productivity- Lets pull together to make it even better!

At this point, I would like to thank everyone who has encouraged and assisted me during this transition time, making the change of positions smooth and efficient. Please stop in and say hello or give me a call to let me know how you are doing.

Be safe and I'll see you in the field!

Steven Kohler 
Safety & Training Director

For Sale?!?  

Wanted - good home for one 13 ton, 27 foot high, copper clad sculpture created in 1958 by John Rudd, an artist few have ever heard of.

This sculpture has been featured (very briefly) in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, and on WCCO radio. Approximate cost to move the behemoth within the 7 county metro area: $20,000.

Approximate value of preserving a "piece of Minneapolis history": ????

This sculpture is titled " The Scroll", but it reminds me of Marvin the Martian’s spaceship from Loony Tunes. Looking at the sculpture, I get the feeling that Buggs Bunny would remark "What's that Doc?”

We have had over 50 calls from people either wanting to buy the sculpture as artwork, have us give it to them so they can cut it up for scrap (they will do us a favor and "take it off our hands”), have us donate it to them as artwork (we pay for the move), or give them exclusive rights to "preserve it" and they will sell it (of course we don’t see any of the proceeds from such a sale). We had one call from a person who wanted to cut it up into 2-inch squares and sell the squares as mementos (kinda like the Berlin wall or seats from the old Met stadium, I guess). As of yet we have not made any decisions on the ultimate disposition of the statue. 

Jim Wutzke
Project Manger

From the hook...
Our 2002-2003 fishing contest is coming to an end soon. With only two months left, we haven’t had as many entries as in years past.

Rules: 
The same rules apply as in years past. There are 5 divisions: walleye, northern, bass, crappie and sunfish.
Employees and immediate family members are automatically eligible. Entries must be verified at a bait store and include the name and phone number of the person who weighed the fish. The fishing tournament starts every year on April 1st and goes thru March 31st. Turn in all entries to Shelly Boss in the office. 
Prizes:
1st place (in each division) $75.00
2nd place (in each division) $25.00
3rd place (in each division) T-shirt
*Every tenth entry will receive a T-shirt. There will also be one drawing for entries that did not place. Prizes will be awarded at the company meeting in April.

Results as of 1.29.03

	Walleye	1st 2nd 3rd	Kory Kunza Arlen Richter Kory Kunza	30" 29.5" 29"
	Northern	1st	Taylor Frattalone	28"
	Bass	1st 2nd 3rd	Cady Buche Al Mattson Dean Law	6 lbs. 5 lb. 3 oz. 5 lbs.
	Sunfish		no entries yet
	Crappie	1st 2nd	Justin Bass Justin Bass	1 lb. 10 oz. 12 oz.

Upcoming Tournaments:
Looking Ahead…
There will be two spring/summer tournaments in 2003. Details to be announced in March.

Thanks to our employees

A Special “thanks” to all of the drivers, operators, mechanics, laborers and superintendents who help out with the dome events that Frattalone Excavating contracts in the winter. All who work these events put in a lot of hours and do a tremendous job. THANKS!

Upcoming Dome events: 
The Supercross on February 15th, 2003

Robert Weyer
Truck Superintendent

Holiday Schedule

Listed below are the days that Frattalone Excavating will be closed.
· Memorial Day, 5/26/03
· Fourth of July, 7/4/03
· Labor Day, 9/1/03
· Thanksgiving Day, 11/27/03
· Christmas Day, 12/25/03

Bible Study Group

Bible Study meetings are held every other Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the office lunchroom. The next meeting is Thursday, February 6th. For more information, contact Dean Law at 651.248.7606.

Frattalone Company Picnic

Mark your calendars, the annual Frattalone company picnic will be held on Saturday, August 9th. The picnic will be held at Spooner Park in Little Canada again this year. The park has a big pavilion, a nice kids play area and a sand volleyball court. We will be having a moonwalk and 100-foot slip-n-slide, back by popular demand. Employees will receive more information in the mail in the spring.

Births

Samuel Michael son of Danielle and Eric Ross was born on November 21, 2002. He weighed 6 lbs, 2 oz. and was 18” long.

Greta Elizabeth daughter of Nick and Christi Frattalone was born on December 11, 2002. She weighed 6 lbs., 7 oz. and was 20¾” long.

Seth James son of Kory and Lisa Kunza was born on December 12, 2002. He weighed 9 lbs., and was 20¾” long.

Company Meetings:

Following are the dates for the all company safety and informational meetings for 2003. These meetings are a very important part of keeping you informed of company policies and procedures. Attendance is mandatory.

· Thursday, 4/24/03*
· Thursday, 8/7/03
· Thursday, 10/23/03

All meetings will start at 4:00 p.m.

* The safety shoe truck will be at the April meeting. Frattalone Excavating will compensate each employee $50.00 towards a pair of safety shoes purchased at the spring meeting, once per year. 

NADC and MUCA Scholarships

Frattalone Excavating is a member of the National Association of Demolition Contractors, as well as the Minnesota Utility Contractors Association, which entitles any employee and their family members eligible to participate in their scholarship program. These scholarships are awarded annually. For an application, please see Shelly in the office. 

Recipes that make the grade...

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. flank steak
1/4-cup soy sauce
1/4-cup Worcestershire sauce 
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1/3 tsp. pepper
1/3 tsp. salt

Directions:

• Trim off fat and sinew from the flank steak. Cut into 1/4-inch strips of meat and put in a Tupperware or quart jar. Mix all remaining ingredients for the marinade. Pour the sauce into the jar or Tupperware and place in refrigerator for 24 hours turning the jar or Tupperware after the first 12 hours so the meat absorbs the sauce thoroughly. The longer you let it marinate the more flavorful it will become. 
• Place the meat strips on the oven racks. (Messy - place aluminum foil on bottom of oven) Do not bake the meat, but dry out the jerky by leaving the oven on the lowest setting. If the oven is still too warm you can place a damp towel in the door to prop it open a crack. A dehydrator works the best. 
• Let the meat dry out for 10 hours or until it is of desired consistency. If the oven is too warm, the jerky will get brittle and greasy.

The “Next Best Thing to Your Valentine” Dessert
by: Mary Raiolo

Bottom Layer:
1 cup four
½ cup butter or margarine
1 cup finely chopped pecans

Middle Layer:
1 (8oz.) pkg. Cream cheese,softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 (12oz.) cool whip
2-3 drops of red food coloring

Top layer:
1 (4 serving size) pkg. instant vanilla 
pudding mix
1 (4 serving size) pkg. instant
chocolate pudding mix
3 cups milk

Optional:
1 small milk chocolate bar grated
Pink - white chocolate wafers grated (found at Maid of Scandinavia)

• Mix flour and butter together until they form small crumbs. Stir in pecans. Press into 9x13” pan. Bake at 350º for 20 minutes.
• Beat cream cheese and
  powdered sugar until smooth. Add food coloring. Fold in 1/3 of the cool whip and spread over cooled crust.
  Place contents of both packages of pudding mix into a large bowl. Add milk and beat on low for about 2 minutes. Spread on top of cheese mixture. Let stand for a few minutes.
• Spoon remaining cool whip
  over top and spread carefully. Sprinkle grated chocolate over top. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

For the "HEALTH" of it...
Warm up to winter fitness!

With a lot of you being laid off during the winter months, it is tempting to just hibernate indoors during those cold-winter months with your feet up by the fire. Sure sounds tempting, but not healthy. The main reasons to stay in shape in the winter are: to keep your weight down, your mental health up, and to maintain fitness.

Study after study shows that regular exercise cuts the risk of a heart attack, stroke, diabetes, colon cancer and high blood pressure. To maximize these health benefits, you have to exercise year-round, but exercising in the winter requires some caution. It has been reported that there are 53% more heart attacks in the cold months compared to the spring and summer. Heart attacks are particularly common in out-of-shape people who lumber out in the winter and attempt to shovel what amounts to hundreds of pounds of snow (well, in a normal winter, anyways). In cold weather, the arteries in the heart constrict and blood pressure rises, which can trigger a heart attack, especially in the elderly and those with heart disease. So, if you are exercising out in the cold, remember to go a little slower and keep up your hydration. 

Most of us know that there is a connection between fitness and physical health. Fitness is also critical to emotional health. Evidence shows that exercise reduces anxiety and depression, both of which are more problematic as the crush of holiday merrymaking collides with the gloom of winter.

The key to staying active in the winter is to seek out sports that will hold your interest. Some ideal cold weather activities are:
· ice skating
· skiing (Nordic or Alpine)
· tubing
· snow shoeing
· sledding

Seeing how cold it has been and the lack of snow, it might be a bit easier and more desirable to exercise indoors. Be it racquetball, basketball, indoor soccer or going to the club and getting on the treadmill or lifting weights, any activity helps. The key is not to let yourself get bored. Try something new this winter and vary your activities.

No more excuses!! And, if you can’t think of a better reason to get in shape during the winter, just remember, swimsuit season is right around the corner!