Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Go Green with Gift Wrap

The Holidays are here, the most wonderful time of the year. Shopping, decorating, baking, and checking your lists twice. So much to do, so much anticipation.

But before you think about wrapping the gifts, consider this. Not all wrapping papers and gift bags are recyclable.

The City of Omaha recently started a new garbage and recycling, and program coordinators and conservationists are optimistic this will lead to a renewed enthusiasm for recycling. The extra-large, wheeled carts make recycling easy and convenient.

In the flurry of gift-giving and unwrapping, you may think all wrapping paper can be recycled together. But that is not the case. Just because they are paper doesn’t mean they can go in the recycling bin.

Wrapping paper that is metallic, glittery or textured is not recyclable; adding it to a bin of recyclables can contaminate the entire bin. While you may have bought your recipient a pretty thoughtful gift, like a diploma frame, from Jostens (you can read more about the shop here), the glittery wrapping paper may not make the gift seem as thoughtful. But if you really wish to present yourself as a thoughtful person, then why not go green with your wrapping?

If you’d like to do your part to Go Green and recycle this holiday season, here are a few tips to consider for your gift wrapping.

  • Look for wrapping paper that is made of recycled paper. Not only is this type of paper recyclable, using recycled materials prevents them from ending up in a landfill.
  • Do not include wrapping paper that is metallic, glittery or velvety. These need to be separated from paper and thrown in the trash, or saved to be used again.
  • Ribbon, bows and glittery cards are not recyclable. These should be separated and discarded into the garbage, or saved to be used again next year.
  • Crush recyclable wrapping paper into a ball – it’s more likely to be recycled.
  • When you shop for wrapping paper, opt for those made of recycled papers and avoid recyclable papers.
  • Consider reusing papers and gift bags from previous years, and save salvageable gift wrap as you unwrap gifts this season.
  • When you are wrapping, using only enough paper to cover the gift, minimizing scraps and excess that are discarded.

This season, remember one of the best gifts we can all give is the gift of conservation. Wishing you and yours the very best of the season!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Christmas Tree Safety Tips

‘Tis the season for holiday decorating and trimming the tree. The Holidays are here! If you like fresh cut Christmas trees listen up…..

Keep your tree watered A fresh cut tree will suck up more and more water the longer it remains in your home. For it’s first drink mix one cup sugar and one quart warm water then be sure to water regularly. The sugar mix is similar to sap to fool the tree.

Here are some other Christmas tree safety tips from the Prairie Construction team to ensure you and your family enjoy a safe holiday season.

  • Fresh is best. Visit a tree farm to cut your tree as opposed to a pre-cut tree from a lot or retail location. If cutting your own isn’t an option, check for brittle needles on a pre-cut tree and choose one with flexible needles instead.
  • Use a sturdy stand. Choose a stand that is big enough for your tree and will hold you tree firmly in place. A wider or taller tree may require a bigger tree stand.
  • Safe lighting. Make sure any lights you put on your tree are in good working order with no broken bulbs or frayed or split cords. Older lights, even in working order, should be disposed of for newer, safer lights. And leave the lights on to enjoy them, and turn them off before going to bed for the night.
  • Keep away from heat. A dry tree can catch fire if it is too close to a heat source. Avoid putting a real tree next to a heat vent, television, lamp or candle.

And remember Water Water Water.

Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy new start to the new year from Prairie Construction.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Giving Back this Holiday Season

The pandemic of 2020 has brought changes for all of us, but for some the impact has been significant. Failed businesses, lost jobs and illnesses have had devastating effects on many people in our community.

In the spirit of giving back to the community, if you’re able, we encourage giving to those who have been significantly impacted by the pandemic and here’s a great opportunity.

The Food Bank for the Heartland is hosting a Food Drive this Saturday, December 5. The community is encouraged to donate non-perishable food items or monetary donations in a drive-through event at the Food Bank located at 10525 J St. in Omaha from 9 am to 12 pm. Click here to see the most-needed items.

Collecting non-perishable food is the purpose but monetary donations are always encouraged and appreciated as they can be stretched further. Donated funds made to The Food Bank for the Heartland are used to purchase food items that are most needed, including fruits, vegetables, and perishable items including dairy and meat products. Learn more about the drive-through Food Drive or other donation options to the Food Bank for the Heartland here.

Each year the need increases, and demand is always highest at the holidays. This year, the need is even greater as thousands of children are learning from home and missing school-provided meals.

If you’ve never given to The Food Bank for the Heartland before, now might be your time, a few dollars go can go a long way. Thank you.

 

Posted on By JM Online Categories Company News

Thanksgiving Greetings from Prairie Construction

For the Prairie Construction team, Thanksgiving is more than turkey and stuffing and football. It is a time to reflect on all that we are thankful for. And this year, more so than ever.

In a year of unexpected changes and uncertainty, we have so much to be grateful for.

We appreciate each member of the Prairie Construction team. Your loyalty and dedication are invaluable. You have worked hard, adjusted to safety protocols and provided excellent service to each of our clients throughout a year of certainty.

We are grateful for the many vendors, partners and subcontractors that we have been fortunate to partner with, this year in particular. Thank you for your collaboration, and shared dedication to meeting the client’s needs, providing quality service, and completing projects on deadline.

Thank you to each of our clients. We are grateful for the trust you have in the Prairie Construction team. Thank you for your business, and your referrals. We look forward to serving and working with you in the future!

2020 has taught us to expect the unexpected, and roll with punches. Thank you to each of you who have worked with us and helped us throughout the year. We wish each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Prairie Construction Employee Appreciation

The Prairie Construction team a few weeks ago with an employee appreciation lunch where several employees were honored for their loyalty and dedication to Prairie Construction.

Among them was Steve Vencil, who celebrated 30 years with Prairie Construction!

Each of these dedicated employees have helped Prairie Construction achieve our goals, develop relationships, and truly made an impact on our company. We recognize how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to celebrate the longevity of employees who are dedicated to our company, and we hope they feel our true appreciation.

Thanks for your commitment to Prairie Construction!

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Steve Vencil Celebrates 30 Years!

Prairie Construction recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of one of our first employees – Steve Vencil.

Steve joined the Prairie team as Paul and Frank were just building Prairie Construction. Steve brought his extensive experience as a construction and iron worker, and even a four-year stint as a stockbroker, to the Prairie team. Steve’s expertise in ironworking made him a crucial member of our early team, and he has played a vital role in numerous projects over the years.

Steve is now a trusted project superintendent for a variety of projects. He has managed jobs all over town, and has been a key player on many of the school projects we have completed. The addition of the third base grandstand at Rosenblatt Stadium is one of Steve’s favorite projects. Despite battling significant rain that threatened completion by the deadline – the start of the College World Series. Under Steve’s leadership – we completed the project before deadline!

These days you’ll find Steve at Mahoney State Park. He’s been there since last Fall when we broke ground on the Event Facility Project. Steve finds the quiet peace and rolling acres of the park a nice change of pace from other projects he’s been involved with.

“You don’t find guys like Steve everyday,” said Steve Rease. “He does a great job managing projects onsite, and our crews and subcontractors love working with him, and you always know where you stand with him.”

His experience is invaluable, but it’s his dedication to the team, commitment to quality work and personality that make him irreplaceable.  You always know where you stand with Steve.

“I love working at Prairie Construction, this is a just a great group of hard-working guys,” said Steve. “You don’t see younger guys going into construction like they used too, and that’s too bad because this is a great career!”

Thank you, Steve for 30 years of dedicated service to Prairie Construction!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Putting the Finishing Touches on our Office Remodel

We are excited to share an update on the remodel of the Prairie Construction offices. We are almost finished!

At the beginning of the year, we turned the tables on ourselves and became our own clients. We worked with many of our trusted partners to design an updated, efficient space for our team. We could not be happier with the results!

We would like to specifically thank some of our trusted partners who helped with our remodel project:

  • Avant Architects – Sara Jansen was instrumental is this project from start to finish. She understood what we wanted, and her vision and determination were invaluable on this project. Hannah Wignall, an interior designer, helped us choose colors, finishes, and furniture for the office, and she was extremely helpful. We look forward to working with Sara and Hannah and the Avant team on future (and current!) projects.
  • Quality Glass – The glass features have taken this remodel up a notch and the results are more than we could have imagined. Kevin Kuta and his team were easy to work with and we love the open, modern feel that the glass walls provide.
  • Universal Flooring – Flooring throughout the office was updated in the project, and we are thrilled with the clean, modern feel. We want to give a special thanks to Tim Flynn for all his help!
  • Signworks Inc. – Gaby Ryan and her team designed the interior sign in the lobby – and it has exceeded our expectations! The brushed medal sign is a focal piece and we are proud of how it represents our business!
  • Renze – Stephanie Magers and the Renze team designed and created a wall feature that you have to see to believe! The vinyl outline of the state of Nebraska and each county spans two entire walls in the lobby and makes a strong statement about our commitment to our roots and our community.
  • Block Electrical – we have worked with Steve Block and the Block team on numerous projects, and enjoyed working with them on our own remodel. The lighting in our newly remodeled conference makes a bold statement – and we love it!
  • Fred’s Heating & Air – An often overlooked, but crucially important, component of any remodel or construction build is the HVAC. Scott Williams and the Fred’s team were great partners to work with!

And we can’t say enough about the resiliency of our own Prairie team, particularly Jen and Cindy who worked through the dust and noise and distractions that come with a project like this, and they never missed a beat. They kept things business-as-usual and we are so grateful for their commitment to our team.

We are putting the final finishing touches on the project, and we can’t wait to invite you to the office to see it when the project is complete.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Happy Mother’s Day from Prairie Construction

We’ve been celebrating a special day for Moms in the US since 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill designating the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day.

The celebration of Mother’s Day can be traced back to 16th century England when “Mothering Sunday” was designated as a day for families to gather together to celebrate mothers and families.

These are unusual times, but looking forward to Mother’s Day helps things feel a little more “normal”. Now more than ever, the focus is on family – whether we are staying home together, or missing time spent with family.

Moms cherish time spent with loved ones more than anything. Whether it’s together, or through video and Facetime, help the Moms in your life connect with family this Mother’s Day. Show her how much you appreciate her love and support, especially during these challenging times.

All of us at Prairie Construction join you in honoring mothers everywhere, and thanking them for nurturing our families and bettering our community.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Do You Know the History of May Day?

May Day is the first day of May!

May Day is marked by maypoles and baskets of treats and flowers left anonymously on porches. Small gestures to celebrate the arrival of Spring!

But did you know May Day is significant for another reason? The history dates back to 1886 when thousands of American workers demonstrated in support of an 8-hour workday, and in 1889, the International Socialist Conference declared May 1 to be International Workers’ Day, an international holiday for labor.

In 1958, President Eisenhower signed a resolution naming May 1 “Loyalty Day” – declaring it a “special day for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States of America and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.”

On this May Day, and every day, we celebrate the hard-working members of the Prairie Construction team. While the coronavirus crisis has impacted all of us, and our community has been sheltering in place for several weeks, our crews have continued working hard and keeping projects moving forward.

With gratitude to everyone on the Prairie team, our vendors, clients and partners, we wish you all a Happy May Day!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Update from Prairie Construction

The threat of the coronavirus has impacted all of our lives and each of us has had to make adjustments to how we live, learn and work. These certainly are interesting times!

We want to assure you that the Prairie Construction team is here for you. As we continue to work on projects, the health and safety of our clients and our crew members is our top priority. We are carefully following safety guidelines outlined by the CDC and the US Department of Labor and we will continue to monitor the changing situation carefully.

We are committed to providing the same quality service that you have come to know and trust from Prairie Construction. We are working closely with our partners and suppliers to keep projects on track and we

We continue to schedule projects and are busy preparing for spring and summer construction projects. Contact us today to discuss your construction projects.

Take care and stay well!