In the green industry, there is a lesson to be learned every day, according to Frank Mariani, CEO of Mariani Landscape based in Lake Bluff, Ill. And to make the most of these lessons, landscape contractors need to apply them in ways that work for their businesses. Mariani shared his business philosophy at the Oct. 19 meeting of the Ohio Landscape Association held at Southwest Landscape Management and Land Creations Landscaping in Columbia Station, Ohio.

State Project Contractor Pleads Guilty

NEW HAVEN -- A construction-firm owner who authorities say received a no-bid contract for a state office renovation project and then used taxpayer money to purchase televisions, a refrigerator and other goods that state employees took home, pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to filing a false tax return.

Louis F. Testa, 65, of Woodbridge, became the fourth person involved in the New Haven Union Station renovation project to plead guilty. He admitted that he failed to pay $100,382 in personal income tax between 2001 and 2004, the U.S. attorney's office said.

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Editor's Notebook: One Death Too Many

This is the first time I've attended the funeral of a worker killed on the job. I write about such tragedies all the time. I write about preventing such tragedies.

For people working in downtown Cleveland on Sept. 6, it nearly was impossible not to attend the funeral of this particular worker. You see, the death of Cleveland Police Detective Jonathan "A.J." Schroeder made headlines when he was shot and killed attempting to arrest a suspect in a rape and aggravated robbery on Cleveland's near-West side, not far from where I live.

Contractor Ready to Turn Over $54 Million Vegetable Processing ...

SUGAR LAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas). The world's largest producer of fruits and vegetables, privately held Dole Fresh Vegetables, Incorporated, will soon begin operating from a new $54 million vegetable processing plant and distribution center in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is a Marketing Information Service company that has been doing business for over 23 years. IIR is respected as the leader in providing comprehensive market intelligence pertaining to the industrial processing, heavy manufacturing, and energy-related industries throughout the world.

Students gain insight into construction careers

A recent event hosted by Persimmon Homes in conjunction with National Construction Week saw students from schools across South Wales cross trowels in an annual bricklaying competition!

Nine teams from schools including, Mountain Ash Comprehensive in Rhondda Cynon Taff and Bryntirion Comprehensive in Bridgend, took part in the competition where they were tasked with building a brick barbeque to a set design and within a time limit. Competition was fierce but the title eventually went to students from St Illan Comprehensive in Caerphilly who were commended for their teamwork and attention to detail.

Alongside the bricklaying competition, the action packed day also gave the students a thorough insight into the wide of range of exciting occupations on offer in the construction industry.

Samy Vellu Asks Highway Contractor To Repair Landslide Area

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has asked the contractor of the Duta-Hulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE) to undertake remedial work at the site of the landslide in Wangsa Maju. "I have directed the contractor to start work as soon as possible. I have also asked the Highway Authority of Malaysia to investigate the landslide and submit a full report on the incident," he told Bernama when contacted in London where he is attending the 13th International Transportation System World Congress. The minister said although the cause of the landslide was not known yet, the main contractor of the expressway had been asked to take all measures to complete the remedial work fast. The landslide, which occurred at about 7.10pm Monday following a downpour, resulted in the evacuation of nearly 700 people living in four blocks of low cost flats.