Year: 2019
Photo by Richard Hurd
32nd Annual Heat’s On Free Furnace Checks For Veterans Set For Oct. 19
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Contact: Julie Walsh, Julie.Walsh@mechanicalindustries.org
Phone: 608-288-1414
32nd Annual Heat’s On Free Furnace Checks For Veterans Set For Oct. 19
MADISON, WI – Madison Area Mechanical & Sheet Metal Contractors Association (MSC) and Steamfitters Local 601 will host the 32nd Annual Heat’s On event on Saturday, October 19, 2019. Over 60 area steamfitters will volunteer a day of labor to inspect and service heating systems in 60 qualified veterans’ homes throughout Dane County. Trucks and equipment used for the day are donated by local union heating contractors, and replacement parts are donated by area suppliers.
“Our veterans have laid their life on the line for our freedom, the least we can do is come over, clean their furnace, and make sure everything is running properly,” said Brad Werlein, President of General Heating and Air Conditioning. “We jump at the chance to volunteer for Heat’s On. Meeting and hearing stories from our veterans is the highlight of our year!”
Criteria to receive free maintenance:
- Veteran home owner, or surviving spouse
- Dane County Resident
- Gas Furnace
Heat’s On is seeking requests for veteran homeowners in Dane County to receive free furnace maintenance during this year’s event. Veteran home owners, or a surviving spouse of a veteran, that are interested in having Heat’s On come check their furnace, contact one of these sponsoring organizations by Wednesday, October 9, 2019, to be considered for free furnace maintenance:
- Dane County Veteran Service Office (CVSO), phone: 608-266-4158
- Madison VA Hospital – Patient Education Resource Center, phone: 608-280-2031
- MSC Office – Kim Chacos, phone: (608) 288-1414, email: kim.chacos@mechanicalindustries.org.
Homeowners who do not meet the criteria, but would like to have their heating systems serviced, can contact the MSC Office at 608-288-1414 for a union contractor referral.
Heat’s On has been serving Dane County residents since 1987, and have performed maintenance services on over 2,500 furnaces. The purpose of Heat’s On is to reduce the occurrence of veterans going without heat or facing other life-threatening emergencies associated with home heating systems.
“Furnaces are built to last many, many years, some even 30 years,” said Kendall Richards, President of All Comfort Services. “However, the lack of annual maintenance and dirty filters can shorten the life of a furnace very quickly. Heat’s On has not only saved hundreds of dollars for our veterans, but it has also saved lives too!”
Two years ago, Heat’s On replaced the furnace of a World War II veteran who had been taken to the hospital twice with carbon monoxide poisoning. The leak in the furnace that was causing the poisoning was discovered and fixed by Heat’s On.
Last year, amongst the many veterans that the program serviced, Heat’s On assisted with a furnace of a family with three generations of veterans.
Heat’s On will kick off the event at the Steamfitters Local 601 Training School at 6310 Town Center Drive, Madison, WI, starting with breakfast, provided by Gaylord Catering, for the service technicians at 7:00 a.m.
Agenda for Heat’s On – Saturday, October 19, 2019
7:00 a.m. – Breakfast
7:30 a.m. – Program
8:00 a.m. – Photos
8:15 a.m. – Service Calls
About MSC:
MSC is a non-profit contractor association representing union contractors in the heating, piping, air conditioning, and sheet metal industry. Their members are dedicated professionals who provide high-quality, cost-efficient products and services with a commitment to safety.
About Steamfitters Local 601:
Steamfitters Local 601 is comprised of approximately 2,400 members, and represents a 14-county area in southeastern Wisconsin. While the majority of membership is comprised of Steamfitters and Refrigeration/Service Fitters, they also represent other classifications such as gas distribution, helpers, and welders. Their members work on a variety of jobsites including residential and commercial heating and cooling systems, breweries, and power plants.
Participating Madison Contractors:
- 1901, Inc. (formerly H&H Industries), Owner Paul Christensen, phone: 608-273-3434
- All Comfort Services, President Kendall Richards, phone: 608-838-7300
- Bassett Mechanical, Area HVAC Service Manager Chad Warnecke, phone: 608-838-6362
- General Heating & Air Conditioning, Labor Manager Mike Polster, phone: 608-271-3900
- Illingworth-Kilgust Mechanical, Vice President Tim Wipperfurth, phone: 608-222-9196
- The Waldinger Corporation, Service Manager Tami Schultz, phone: 608-221-8886
Participating Supply Houses:
- First Supply, Sales Manager Mark Arrowood, phone: 608-222-7799
- Gustave A. Larson, Store Manager Aaron Demuth, phone: 608-221-3301
- Industrial Control, Matt Chicker, phone: 608-273-1717
- Johnstone Supply, Owner Dan Kunze, phone: 608-223-1499
- Temperature Systems, Sales & Refrigeration, Roy Kempfer, phone: 608-327-2345
For more information, please contact Julie Walsh, Madison Area Mechanical & Sheet Metal Contractors Association at 608-288-1414 or julie.walsh@mechanicalindustries.org.
###
Photo by Richard Hurd
OPN-built Polk County Justice Center honored by AIA
Thirteen projects demonstrate the latest trends in the design and construction of justice facilities in the United States. Seven of the recipients were awarded a Citation; the other six were selected for publication in Justice Facilities Review 2019. These projects demonstrate quality of form, functionality, and current architectural responses to complex justice design issues.
The juvenile justice center is the first of three projects that will address Polk County, Iowa’s overcrowded court system, improve safety, and reduce the county’s reliance on leased property. Juvenile court is just one of several user groups housed within the 174,000-square-foot abandoned office building, originally built in 1971 as a JC Penney. Strategically placing high activity spaces on first floor with the quieter functions on adjacent floors allowed a multi-user facility to operate cohesively.
“Brings a customer service model to the courtroom-metaphor works on many levels.”
— Jury Comment
Photo by Richard Hurd
M3 Named IIABA Best Practices Agency for 21st Consecutive Year
M3 Insurance has been named a Best Practices Agency by Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) in 2019 for the 21stconsecutive year. M3 was selected out of over 1,300 nominated agencies to receive the coveted designation in 2019.
To be named a Best Practices Agency, an organization must be nominated either by an IIABA affiliated state association or an insurance company. Qualification is based on exceptional customer retention, growth, stability, and financial management. Nominated agencies must be among the top-performing agencies in one of six revenue categories to be chosen for this designation.
The Best Practices Agency designation identifies M3 as an industry leader. IIABA partners with Reagan Consulting, Inc., Atlanta, each year to document the business practices of “best” agencies and encourages others to adopt similar practices.
M3 is proud to have retained this title for over two decades. We strive to lead the way in the insurance industry with innovative strategies and solutions. This designation validates that aim and motivates us to continue to provide world class resources and individual attention to our clients.
______________________
About IIABA
Founded in 1896, IIABA is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance – property, casualty, life and health – as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products.
______________________
About M3
M3 Insurance offers insight, advice and strategies to help clients manage risk, purchase insurance and provide employee benefits. We are committed to being experts in both the products we represent and the industries we serve. Our people advance M3’s competitive advantage in the marketplace, and our focus on community builds better places to live and work. M3 is ranked a top 50 broker in America.
Photo by Richard Hurd
Bachmann Construction Completes Restoration of Historic Garver Feed Mill; Currently Building Spaces for Additional Businesses at Garver Opening in September
Media Contact: Joan Collins Publicity, Inc. (608) 222-2899
Bachmann Construction, the Madison-based general contractor for the $15.5 million restoration of the historic Garver Feed Mill, behind Olbrich Gardens, has completed the core renovation encompassing 60,000 square feet of space at the Registered National Historic Landmark building.
Chicago developer Baum Revision, LLC, retained Bachmann Construction to turn the former beet factory and later a feed mill, into a hub for food producers and retailers plus wellness-focused businesses.
Bachmann is currently building individual spaces for Perennial Yoga and Surya Café, opening in mid-September, followed by Kosa Spa in late September, according to Naomi Kroth, Bachmann project manager.
Chris Quandt, Bachmann project manager who led the 18-month complex Garver renovation process said the strict restrictions on restoring a historic building on the National Historic Registry required approvals for windows, railings, brick and more from city, state and national preservation groups. Another challenge involved demolishing old walls with no roof overhead to provide stability. Because the 119-year old building was crumbling, Bachmann also had to take extra safety precautions for workmen.
Al Bachmann, president of Bachmann Construction, said the completion of the renovation, including a 13,500 square foot atrium event center, is a fitting way to celebrate Bachmann’s 65 years as a family-owned Madison-based business. Restoration is one of the specialties at the design-build firm, including renovation projects at the Capitol, Olin House, University Club, several area churches and restaurants.
Photo by Richard Hurd
Campus Farmers Market will bring local products to UW-Madison campus
Aug. 23, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications Director
Office: (608) 262-8862
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
CAMPUS FARMERS MARKET WILL BRING LOCAL PRODUCTS TO UW-MADISON CAMPUS
Wisconsin Union’s weekly farmers market to bring local vendors to Union South
MADISON – The Wisconsin Union team will host the Campus Farmers Market Thursdays, which will feature local and organic products, Sept. 5 until Oct. 24 at Union South from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Area vendors will sell their products during the market outside Union South at the corner of North Orchard Street and West Johnson Street. Featured vendors include Bloom Bake Shop, Chrysalis Pops, Munchkey Apples, Parrfection Produce, Porchlight Products and Savory Accents.
“It’s an honor and pleasure to support local businesses and increase food accessibility in the downtown Madison area,” said Wisconsin Union Associate Director of Dining and Hospitality Carl Korz.
The market will also feature Farm to Table bags that include fresh produce and a recipe tailored to the bag’s produce. Market customers will have the chance to sample the featured recipe at each week’s market.
Plus, at the first market, the Union team will give away Campus Farmers Market canvas bags while supplies last. In addition, on Sept. 5 and 12, team members will provide loyalty cards with which customers can receive $8 off their Farm to Table Bag purchases. If customers with loyalty cards purchase a Farm to Table Bag at every market this fall, they will receive their final bag free.
The Campus Farmers Market will include live music by singer-songwriter Frankie Pobar Lay. Available various dates throughout the summer will be button-making with Wheelhouse Studios, dogs from Dogs On Call, and new menu item samples from Union South restaurants.
For more information about the Union’s Campus Farmers Market and new recipes weekly, visit union.wisc.edu/cfm.
-###-
About the Wisconsin Union
The Wisconsin Union enhances the lives of members and visitors through recreational, cultural, educational and social opportunities. Formed in 1907, the Wisconsin Union is a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Union and its tradition of providing experiences for a lifetime: union.wisc.edu.
[Note to the editor: Click here to download a high-resolution photo of a 2018 Campus Farmers Market. Pictured: A Porchlight Products team member provides product samples to Campus Farmers Market customers at Union South. Photo provided by the Wisconsin Union. Photo by Owen Desai.]
Read this release online here: union.wisc.edu/about/news/campus-farmers-market-2019.