Volume 15, No. 1 A Quarterly Publication of Independence Excavating, Inc. Winter, 2002

Highland View Hospital DemolitionBeachwood, Ohio

MBNA Day Care Center, Phase IBeachwood, Ohio

John Carroll UniversityDolan Science Center University Heights, Ohio

Brookpark Waterline RelocationCleveland, Ohio

The Ohio Turnpike PlazasAmherst, Ohio

Dillard’s Expansion – Great Northern MallNorth Olmsted, Ohio

The Crossings at Golden LinkMacedonia, Ohio

Victor DiGeronimo, Sr.

LET US COUNT OUR BLESSINGS

On behalf of the entire DiGeronimo Family, I wish to extend

to all of you our wishes for a healthy and peaceful New Year.

It was nice to see all of our employees and guests who attended

our annual Christmas Party. My thanks to our entire dedicated

work force who put forth the extra effort to make the year

successful and profitable. I further extend my appreciation

to all who contributed to the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital

for Rehabilitation, or the United Way. As a member of the board

of the Children’s Hospital, I assure you the money will be spent

wisely. Hopefully, next year we can achieve 100% employee

participation. A list of this year’s contributors can be found

on page 8.

The terrorist attacks on our country last September have

had a humbling effect on all of us. We should be thankful to

live in a country whose government armed forces responded

immediately to protect us, and continue to do the utmost to

ensure our safety from future assaults by such lunatic,

unscrupulous individuals. Hopefully, we as a nation can

put an end to their destructive motives.

As we start this New Year, I think we should take note of all

that we have rather than that which we lack. Recently, we have

heard so often about people losing 25-30% in the stock market.

My view on this is to be grateful to have 70 or 75% left. I would

rather be the person who has lost much financially rather than a

victim, family, or friend of the many people who lost and gave

their lives in September.

One of the positive outcomes of the September events is

that our entire country realized the importance of God in our

lives. We see signs everywhere reading “God Bless America”.

It is interesting to note that only a few years back, one was

unable to use the phrase “One Nation Under God” in the Pledge

of Allegiance within our schools. Things change under duress.

Let us be mindful of our blessings in the year ahead.

Arrivederci

P r e s i d e n t ’ s M e s s a g e

The annual Christmas party, held at the Cleveland Browns

Stadium, proved a great start to the holiday season. Employees

from Independence Excavating, Independence Communications

and Precision Environmental all attended this most grand event.

We hope that all of you enjoyed yourselves, and wish you a

healthy New Year!

Holiday Cheer!

Holiday Cheer!

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938 Cat Wheel Loader

John Deere 330LC Excavator

(2) Volvo A40D Haul Trucks

Wirtgen WR2500 Stabilizer

(3) Cat 345B Excavators

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Linkbelt LS-318

(2) Cat CP-563C Rollers

Broom Bear Street Sweeper

Cat 375 Excavator

(2) Cat D350E Haul Trucks

John Deere 230LC Excavator

(9) John Deere 310G Backhoes

(2) John Deere 650 H Dozers

N E W P R O J E C T S

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WEST 3rd/SR 2 INTERCHANGE MODIFICATIONStart: 1/2/02; Complete: 7/19/03Owner: Port of ClevelandConstruction Manager: HNTBHNTB Representative: Tim SopenskiIndependence Excavating, Inc. Superintendent: Mike RiderScope of work: Modify existing interchange of West 3rd/SR2 for the installation of a new access road for Port Authoritytraffic. Install new access road, bridge, site utilities, tangentpile walls, relocate existing utilities, and site excavation.

SIX FLAGS WORLD OF ADVENTURE –GEAUGA LAKE RD. RELOCATIONStart: 12/18/01; Complete: 4/30/02Owner: Six Flags World of Adventure (SFWOA)Construction Manager: SFWOASix Flags Representative: Doug SheafferIndependence Excavating, Inc. Superintendent: John BeckmanScope of work: Install approximately 4,700 l.f. of new asphaltroadway through existing wetland and dump area. Soil stabi-lization/reconditioning of approximately 40,000 cy. Clear andgrub, storm sewer install, asphalt pavement and site grading.

MBNA BEACHWOOD IV – BEACHWOOD, OHIOStart: 10/01; Complete: 5/02Owner: MBNA of AmericaConstruction Manager:

The Whiting Turner Contracting CompanyIndependence Excavating, Inc. Superintendent: Ed WilkScope of work: Mass excavation for new office building andunderground parking garage. All related site work, includingbackfill storm sewers and final grading.

DILLARD’S EXPANSION – GREAT NORTHERN MALLStart: 10/01/01; Complete: 5/02General Contractor: Vratsinas Construction CompanyIndependence Excavating, Inc. Superintendent: Greg SpagnolaScope of work: Miscellaneous demolition, earthwork, siteutilities, concrete curbs and asphalt paving.

Continuing our relationship with Whiting-Turner and MBNA,

Independence Excavating was awarded the site work package for the

new MBNA IV building and parking garage this past October. Along

with Building II in 1995 and Building III in 1997, this will mark the

third identical building /parking garage completed in this partnership,

as well as the recently completed MBNA Daycare Building. This

project features another 160,000 s.f. of building and garage area

with excavation depths ranging from 10 to 27 feet. We are currently

completing the mass excavation portion of the project and will begin

storm sewer installation, backfill operations and the remaining site

work items through April of 2002. The project is under the direction

of the Whiting-Turner management team of Jeff Meader, Matt Wilson,

Graham Thompson and Lee Adams. Independence Excavating is

proud once again to be associated with this great project.

MBNA BEACHWOOD IVNick DiGeronimo, Project Manager

LAKELAND YARD, FLORIDAI.X. yard - 60,000 tons of 2" minus base material.

TAMPA YARD, FLORIDA I.X. yard - 70,000 tons of 2" base material.

ORLANDO YARD, FLORIDA I.X. yard - 20,000 tons stone and base material.

SCHAAF ROAD CRUSHING/INDEPENDENCE RECYCLING YARDValley View, Ohio50,000 tons of ODOT #304 base material.

KENMORE CONSTRUCTION CO.Bedford Heights, Valley View, Cleveland, Ohio200,000 tons of 1/ 2" minus RAP crushing.

JONES BROS. CONSTRUCTIONI-71 / Leesville, Louisiana50,000 tons of 2" minus base.

C r u s h i n g P r o j e c t s

APAC – GEORGIAAtlanta, Georgia RAP Crushing150,000 tons of asphalt RAP crushing.

JOHN CARLO, INC.Tampa Airport / Taxiway West and Airside “E”30,000 tons of P-209 base material

INDEPENDENCE RECYCLINGTwinsburg Quarry, Twinsburg, Ohio500,000 tons of sandstone crushing

FORT MYERS, FLORIDAIndependence Excavating, Inc. Yard30,000 tons of 2" minus base material

TRUMBULL CORP. / NATIONAL ENGINEERINGOhio Turnpike Bridge, Peninsula, Ohio25,000 tons of concrete crushed into 4" minus material

ANGELO IAFRATE CONSTRUCTIONI-81 Franklin County, Pennsylvania80,000 tons of PennDot #2A base material

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KELLSTONE LIMESTONE PRODUCTSKellys Island, Ohio100,000 tons of ODOT No. 304 and #1’s & 2’s

LANE CONSTRUCTION CO.Memphis International Airport, Tennessee140,000 tons of concrete crushed into subbase material

LASITER CONSTRUCTIONStuttgart Airfield, Stuttgart, Louisiana15,000 tons of concrete crushed into subbase material

SWANK ASSOCIATED COMPANIESS.R. 885, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania34,000 tons of concrete crushed into subbase material

KURTZ BROS.Engine Plant No. 1, Ford Motor, Brookpark, Ohio112,000 tons of concrete crushed into subbase material

S a f e t y

Chris Sicker, Safety Director

Independence Excavating, Inc. has always been very aggressive towardsafety and is committed to keeping our workers safe! In March 2001Independence Excavating and Precision Environmental held a CrisisManagement Presentation given by Janine Reid. The emphasis of thepresentation was the need to maintain and continue our companies safeand efficient work procedures.

The following excerpts, written by Janine Reed, were taken from theOctober 29, 2001 issue of the Engineering News Record Magazine andstress safety in the construction industry.

Beyond the ethical reasons, it makes good business sense foreveryone in the industry to help solve this problem. Our high fatality and injury rate is, undoubtedly, a major reason for our negative publicimage, and a large part of why we have difficulty attracting and retaininga quality work force. Year after year, construction records the most workplace deaths of any industry. Last year was no exception.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction wasresponsible for 1,154 deaths in 2000. This figure represented nearly one-fifth of all workplace fatalities in the country last year, despite thefact that construction employed only 7% of the country’s work force. To the industry’s credit, this was a 3% decrease from the previous year’s

fatality rate, even with an increased number of employees. Still, theindustry was responsible for delivering fatality notifications an average of 23 times per week. And let’s not forget about the injury and illnessnotifications, which are nearly as dismal. Clearly, there is room forimprovement.

To be fair, construction is not the country’s most dangerous occupation, based on a per 100,000 worker basis. Last year, it was themining-and-quarrying industry, with agriculture close behind. But miningand quarrying was responsible for 156 fatalities and agriculture for 720,far fewer than the construction industry’s 1,154 fatalities.

Particularly in the construction industry, we must collaborate to ensure that our workers go home at the end of each day alive and healthy. Yes, we have quite a challenge. But you only have to look at images of construction workers at the World Trade Center site

and the Pentagon, working around the clock alongside firefighters and other emergency personnel, to know

that our industry is ready to meet almost any challenge.

JANUARY2 RUSSELL BROGAN3 KEVIN GORKOSKI3 DENNIS SWANSON3 JAMES VAN DUZEN7 DONALD BARROWS8 DAVID DAY8 STEVEN SLANSKY9 MARK CERNY9 ROBERT KLINK9 TERRY KONTRA13 JOHN PERCUN 14 WILLIAM BEHRENS14 ED BUTLER14 RAGS STALLARD16 JEFF GOLLWITZER17 TONY PAOLUCCI18 PATRICIA DAGATA18 RICK ROBERTSON20 RICHARD DEAN22 GEORGE BIHUN22 MICHAEL MCDONALD23 JAMES AUSTIN23 SHANA HANEY23 JAMES KRAMER24 PAMELA WIELAND-MOHER25 JEFFERY BREWSTER28 ADAM KIRSCH30 ROGER HERCL

FEBRUARY 1 LAWRENCE MALONE1 TODD THOMAS2 KEVIN WOOLHOUSE5 CLARENCE SAKO7 BRIAN DRAVES7 SCOTT LAMERE8 DENNIS LASALVIA9 JOHN BECKMAN11 MICHELLE MAHON13 LARRY JUDD14 XAVIER FRANKS14 GREGORY MORO17 EDWARD BOYLAN18 CHUCK BEGUE23 LISA DIGERONIMO23 ELLIS KINARD24 JAMES MONTAGNA27 HAROLD DEAL27 TERRY TOMASKO29 DANIIEL PAVELECKY

© Declaration of Independence2002 Independence Excavating Inc.

Editor: Stacey Bernas

Comments and suggestions can be submittedby letter to:

Independence Excavating Inc.5720 Schaaf RoadIndependence, Ohio 44131An equal opportunity employer

MARCH1 VINCE LASALVIA 2 NANCY DIGERONIMO2 VITO PAVIA2 RICHARD STREBIG3 JOHN GOLISH5 VICTOR DIGERONIMO, SR5 DONALD HOLBROOK5 JEFF RUDOLPH8 JUSTIN KING9 BEVERLY MIESZKOWSKI11 RICK EVANS12 NICK DIFILIPPO15 WILLIAM MCDONALD16 PATRICK REINBOLT17 BRIAN LOGUE17 MICHAEL MARES18 JOSH FRANEY20 JASON MORRIS22 ROBERT SIXTA23 ANDREW FETZER23 MICHAEL TODT23 BRIAN YOUNG24 ERIC RODRIGUEZ25 DOUGLAS BRYANT27 TODD MOYER30 CLAUDE PEDERSON

APRIL2 MARK KONTRA2 GINA TRIZIO8 LAWRENCE HROVAT9 DAVID GOODYEAR9 TED HOWARD9 JOHN ZUCHINSKI12 DOUGLAS BLACKMON12 SCOTT MAYER15 JOHN GLAD15 MICHAEL MYERS16 LINDA ZASTAWNY17 JOHN GEORGE17 THOMAS OLSIESKI20 THEODORE PEDERSON24 BARON WILLIAMS27 BEVERLY RAYMOND

BIRTHDAYS

UNITED WAY CONTRIBUTORS FOR THE YEAR 2001

The winner of the $1,000 drawing was Diane Graziano. Congratulations and thank you to all who contributed!

Aveni, NicoleBernas, StaceyBower, JamesBrocco, RonBucci, BradButler, EdCheney, MarkCielec, SandiCoulter, ScottDeLuca, AllanDeLuca, SherryDiGeronimo, NickDiGeronimo, RobDiGeronimo, Vic, Sr.DiGeronimo, Vic, Jr.Dombrowski, EricEvans, RickFox, CathyGarner, RobertGermano, AnthonyGolish, Jr., JohnGorkoski, KevinGraziano, DianeHaber, Ken

Howard, TedJeffries, GregKaderbek, RobertKinney, RobertKucko, RobertKyer, JamesLaslo, FrankMahnke, DonMeder, TimothyMiller, KeithMonnolly, DebbiMoscarino, MichelleMurphy, Jr., MurrillMyers, MichaelPaolino, MichelinoPappas, GeorgeRaymond, BeverlyReed, Jr., EarlRenfro, ScottRobertson, ShawnSalmen, KarenSheldon, HarrySicker, ChrisSparks, William

ANNIVERSARIESJANUARY1 GREG & SUSAN TOTH18 TED & KELLY WALLINGFORD24 DAVE & MARY BRONZA29 DONALD & STEPHANIE MAHNKE

FEBRUARY3 RICHARD & LISA DEAN10 THOMAS & ADA JANOSIK13 RAGS & LOIS STALLARD14 RON & PAMELA MICHAELOFF16 PASQUALE & MARIE CICCONE18 XAVIER & DEBBIE FRANKS23 JEFFERY & KAREN SCHAFER29 ERIC & SUSAN DOMBROWSKI

MARCH4 BEV & ROBERT MIESZKOWSKI17 BERT & ROBIN HINKLE22 JEFFERY & DONA SCHMITZ

APRIL1 JACK & PATRICIA HELBIG7 DAVID & KRIS BEVAN9 WALTER & BRENDA LAIRD11 FLOYD & VIRGINIA RYBICKI18 DAVID & GAIL STATEN19 JAMES & BARBARA KRAMER