TSA Screening 1 PSP 2 Auto-track 3 HR Corner 4 Black, Gold & Germs 5 Filling in the Blanks 6-7 USA Cares 8 WCPF 9 Woods & Water 10 Mark’s Music Corner 11 Custom Sports Center 12 Halloween Contest 14 Recipes 15 Did You Know??? Many species of butterflies fly south for the winter just like birds. Your hair grows slower in the winter than in summer. On average, one inch of rain is equivalent to 10 inches of snow. The number one forgotten thing to buy during the holidays – batteries! Jingle Bells is the most fre- quently played holiday song. White Christmas is second. Of the 1300 species of mistletoe, only two are native to America; the American Mistletoe and the Dwarf Mistletoe. The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and en- trances. In December 1901, Walt Disney was born in a cottage built by his father located at 2156 N. Tripp Ave., Chicago. At age 35, Martin Luther King Jr. was the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize. VOL IV No. 5 Dec. 2010 / Jan. 2011 The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com Hello Readers, Tis the Season for spreading good cheer and thinking of those less fortunate than you. Whether you are donating an item for our annual Toy Drive or serving meals at your local shelter, helping others is what makes this time of the year so gratifying. We would like to thank all of the people that “Make It Happen” at the Custom Companies for our continued success! Your dedication is greatly appreciated. And don‟t forget about „Finding Perry‟s Moustache‟ and your chance to win a $50.00 gift card. Please send your answer to [email protected]no later than Friday, December 17 th . The committee wishes everyone a Holiday filled with joy and a New Year of good health and wealth! Happy Holidays, The Newsletter Committee Custom Global’s New Cargo Security Measures by Matt Foley In an era with packages containing explosives, pat down procedures that are considered intrusive and the looming air of 9/11 in the not too distant past it appears that even more stringent TSA regulations are not only likely but inevitable. In the last issue we reviewed the mandatory 100% screening that went into place August 1. While Cus- tom Global has been engaged in “known shipper” procedures and is completely compliant with all TSA regulations, we too went a step further to ensure the safety of our associates, customers and the entire nation. To alleviate any potential con- cerns, each and every employee within The Custom Companies was given a security threat assessment (STA). This is an extension of the previous program which was limited to those who had access to air cargo shipments (all Custom Global Logistics associates, all drivers and select dock personnel). Each associate has also been trained in security risk assess- ment, training that will be refreshed annually. Each associate has also been issued an emergency whistle and has been trained on the proper use of the whistle should someone who does not display a Custom or CDN ID badge be seen on the premises. Our cargo handling procedures have been revised as well. For more than 5 years, many of you have been aware of our air freight “cage.” The purpose of that cage has not been to segregate or store high value cargo, but rather is to ensure that known shipper cargo that may travel on passenger planes is segregated from unknown shipper cargo. The procedures that are followed with known shipper cargo that will be travelling on passenger aircraft have been unwavering. All drivers that pick up this freight have STA’s and have been properly trained to accept cargo only from “known” individuals. To qualify a shipper as “known” is far more stringent that to simply “know” someone. It requires three ground shipments on non- consecutive days as well as a site verification form to be completed by a Custom Global representative. Once the ship- ment is recovered, it is transported in a locked and secured vehicle either directly to the airport or to our facility. If it is dropped at our facility, it is then placed inside the “known shipper” cage until it is re-loaded on another secured and locked vehicle and taken directly to the airport. These procedures have never been compromised or deviated from. To take our process and procedures to the next level, you may notice that we have installed a secondary cage “around” the original cage. What this means is that “ALL” Custom Global freight, deferred, expedited ground and true “air” freight is completely segregated from the rest of the facility. The original cage has been maintained and even within the “outside” cage the known shipper freight is still segregated from the unknown shipper freight inside the “inside” cage. We are excited about the additional steps that have been taken by Custom Global and confident that we will continue to protect the nation’s security one shipment at a time.
Transcript
TSA Screening 1
PSP 2
Auto-track 3
HR Corner 4
Black, Gold & Germs 5
Filling in the Blanks 6-7
USA Cares 8
WCPF 9
Woods & Water 10
Mark’s Music Corner 11
Custom Sports Center 12
Halloween Contest 14
Recipes 15
Did You Know???
Many species of butterflies fly south for the winter just like birds.
Your hair grows slower in the winter than in summer.
On average, one inch of rain is equivalent to 10 inches of snow.
The number one forgotten thing to buy during the holidays – batteries!
Jingle Bells is the most fre-quently played holiday song. White Christmas is second.
Of the 1300 species of mistletoe, only two are native to America; the American Mistletoe and the Dwarf Mistletoe.
The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and en-trances.
In December 1901, Walt Disney was born in a cottage built by his father located at 2156 N. Tripp Ave., Chicago.
At age 35, Martin Luther King Jr. was the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
VOL IV No. 5 Dec. 2010 / Jan. 2011
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
Hello Readers,
Tis the Season for spreading good cheer and thinking of those less fortunate than you.
Whether you are donating an item for our annual Toy Drive or serving meals at your local
shelter, helping others is what makes this time of the year so gratifying.
We would like to thank all of the people that “Make It Happen” at the Custom Companies
for our continued success! Your dedication is greatly appreciated.
And don‟t forget about „Finding Perry‟s Moustache‟ and your chance to win a $50.00 gift
card. Please send your answer to [email protected] no later than Friday, December 17th.
The committee wishes everyone a Holiday filled with joy and a New Year of good health and wealth!
Happy Holidays,
The Newsletter Committee
Custom Global’s New Cargo Security Measures by Matt Foley
In an era with packages containing explosives, pat down procedures that are considered intrusive and the looming air of 9/11 in the not too distant past it appears that even more stringent TSA regulations are not only likely but inevitable.
In the last issue we reviewed the mandatory 100% screening that went into place August 1. While Cus-tom Global has been engaged in “known shipper” procedures and is completely compliant with all TSA regulations, we too went a step further to ensure the safety of our associates, customers and the entire nation. To alleviate any potential con-cerns, each and every employee within The Custom Companies was given a security threat assessment (STA). This is an extension of the previous program which was limited to those who had access to air cargo shipments (all Custom Global Logistics associates, all drivers and select dock personnel). Each associate has also been trained in security risk assess-ment, training that will be refreshed annually. Each associate has also been issued an emergency whistle and has been trained on the proper use of the whistle should someone who does not display a Custom or CDN ID badge be seen on the premises.
Our cargo handling procedures have been revised as well. For more than 5 years, many of you have been aware of our air freight “cage.” The purpose of that cage has not been to segregate or store high value cargo, but rather is to ensure that known shipper cargo that may travel on passenger planes is segregated from unknown shipper cargo. The procedures that are followed with known shipper cargo that will be travelling on passenger aircraft have been unwavering. All drivers that pick up this freight have STA’s and have been properly trained to accept cargo only from “known” individuals. To qualify a shipper as “known” is far more stringent that to simply “know” someone. It requires three ground shipments on non-consecutive days as well as a site verification form to be completed by a Custom Global representative. Once the ship-ment is recovered, it is transported in a locked and secured vehicle either directly to the airport or to our facility. If it is dropped at our facility, it is then placed inside the “known shipper” cage until it is re-loaded on another secured and locked vehicle and taken directly to the airport. These procedures have never been compromised or deviated from.
To take our process and procedures to the next level, you may notice that we have installed a secondary cage “around” the original cage. What this means is that “ALL” Custom Global freight, deferred, expedited ground and true “air” freight is completely segregated from the rest of the facility. The original cage has been maintained and even within the “outside” cage the known shipper freight is still segregated from the unknown shipper freight inside the “inside” cage. We are excited about the additional steps that have been taken by Custom Global and confident that we will continue to protect the nation’s security one shipment at a time.
Robert Barbosa Joshua Beckman Francisco Hernan-dez Matt Howard Eric Inman Jasson Lansdown Jacklyn Mandera Gerald McPherson German Melendez Marcus Molina Raldo Moralde Christian Olsen Arturo Perez Angel Rodriguez Jose Scott Elesa Tofi Joel Vences Jim Welsh
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011
Page 2
PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program) by Bruce Lenau
Full implementation of CSA 2010 (CSMS) Carrier Safety Management System is just around the corner, it will be replacing the
current SafeStat Carrier Safety Evaluation System (SEA’s) with Behavioral Analysis Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs).
Following the rollout of the CSMS, another system the (DSMS) Driver Safety Management System will be implemented, estimates on time line for the complete roll-out of this system place it later in 2011. The DSMS will assign point values and scores to individual drivers based on their performance in the same BASICS that the carrier system. Another part of the new program that FMCSA has made available to carriers and drivers but that is not rolled out completely as of yet is called the (PSP) Pre-Employment Screening Program. I have included a link to the portal that has the methodology for scoring in this new system which is important to drivers (starting at page A.4 of the document). Carriers have access to driver PSP’s already and are using them to make more informed hiring decisions. We pay to obtain a prospective driver’s PSP which includes:
DOT Recordable Accidents (Crash Indicator): Accidents and their scores remain on a driver’s (PSP) for a five year period. So if you have a
DOT recordable accident here, and leave our company, that accident remains visible on your PSP to prospective employers for 5 years. Violations are based by category (BASIC) which include: Unsafe Driving (traffic citations) Fatigued Driving (hours of service violations)
Driver Fitness (Suspensions, revocations, medical disqualifications, not possessing proper license or endorsement, etc.), Controlled Substance and Alcohol (failed drug /alcohol test, refusal to test, etc.), Vehicle Maintenance (Any equipment violation cited during a roadside inspection), and Im-proper Loading /Cargo Securement (No or insufficient securement, wrong type or number of tie downs etc.) Violation severity weight is the number of points assigned to the Driver and Carrier Safety score for each violation. Violation in the DSMS “Y” indicates the violation the points will be as-sessed to the Driver’s Safety score as well as the Carriers. Violations that results in an Out Of Service will be assessed 2 additional points for each infraction. Scores are also weighted by time, a specific violation that happened within the last year has a multiplier of x3, within 1-2 years has a multiplier of x2, within 2-3 years ago the multiplier is x1
The table above shows a violation of texting while driving (line 2); for this violation the driver would be assigned 10 points, plus 2 additional points would be added if the driver was placed Out of Service, making the total 12 points. For the first year after it occurred the driver point count would equal 36 points due to the x3 multiplier, the second year total would be 24 points, the third year total 12 points. After 3 years it falls completely off the driver PSP. Violations that increase the risk of accidents are scored higher point severity weights, which is why speeding and texting while driv-ing are higher point values than the others. They create a higher risk factor for being involved in an accident than the others. Only one violation on the above table would be assessed only against the carrier, and not the driver as indicated by the “N” in the far right column.
PSP profiles are requested after obtaining a signed release by the prospective driver, but must be ordered prior to making any offer of employment. A fee of $10.00 is charged for each order submitted. The profile contains basic driver information, 5 years of crash information, all roadside information data for 3 years including the date/location/inspection level and details of any violations cited, and a summary of all violations cited for the previous 3 year period. This provides an accurate picture for recruiters and hiring managers of the applicants’ compliance (or lack of) with the Federal Regulations. Trucking companies are not being required to obtain PSP’s at this point but many companies like ours are finding it to be an invaluable tool in helping to identify if potential drivers are qualified or unqualified for employment. With the changes instituted by CSA 2010 more carriers will be using this as a tool for basing their hiring deci-sions. All drivers need to understand that violations that are driver controllable will have a profound impact on their scores, employability, and future livelihood as Commercial drivers. Drivers interested in learning more about the PSP program, or who wish to see how their safety profile looks can contact me at x4766.
Congratulations go out to Louie (CHI Auto-track) and Madonna Clemente on the birth of their second son Jaden Tristan. Jaden was born November 23rd, weigh-ing in at 8lbs even, 21 inches long. Big brother Vincent wel-comes Jaden home.
Page 3
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake,
AUTO-TRACK OR BUST! By Daniel Leach
It’s 1:32 A.M. Danny, donning a signature Chicago Bears sock cap and sunny disposition, greets the 2nd shift associ-ates echoing how tonight, like every night, is a “fine evening for trucking”. Pulling a ballpoint pen from the side shelf and a clipboard from his briefcase, Dan gets the latest scoop on the freights tracked during the 2nd shift as he jots everything down. While waiting for the computer to load, Dan rips a Lysol sanitary wipe and begins cleaning his work station. A sip of coffee, and a brief moment to reflect, is all the time Dan needs before 2:00 AM strikes and the baton is passed.
Dan, like all of us in the Auto-track department, is but one of many pieces of the puzzle dedicated to the persistent task of tracking and tracing freight. But what many aren’t aware of are our department’s other contributions. Whether it’d be account management, internal customer service, external customer service or assisting drivers, The Custom Companies’ vision of ‘meeting shippers' needs by providing top quality service’ has manifested, and will continue to manifest, here.
Louie Clemente, Head Supervisor of the Auto-track department, looks forward each morning to tackling the unique problems that occur during a normal work day.
“We are resolution-ists!” says Louie, “Everyday we’re dealing with problems. If we didn’t have problems with our shipments, there’d be no reason to track and trace them. Getting the opportunity to showcase one’s problem solv-ing skills is what motivates me to do this job.”
And, during the 1st shift, there are enough issues for all. Alfonso Reyes Jr. can hear the roosters’ crow when he starts making check calls and updating CLI. Danielle Pitsenbarger handles Quad Graphics, one of CDN Logistics promi-nent customers, by acting as a liaison to their customer service department, informing them of shipments, pick ups, freight occurrences and more. And, when he isn’t showcasing his impressive swing on the golf course, Scott Ten-Broeck works with Custom’s dispatchers and carriers to update both regarding their truckload shipments.
There’s a lot of activity that occurs in just a brief moment. Felix Torres, working close with Louie to wrestle pick ups and carriers breakdowns throughout the day, tears a post-it with a list of evening pickups for me to check. Alonzo Blanco quickly follows with his thorough report on the day’s check calls for Expeditors, Ropak and RR Donnelley. Then Oscar Aceves, after assisting CDN dispatchers, rummages to-gether all the information regarding Alberto Culver before entrusting me with the responsi-bility of updating these shipments throughout the evening. All happening moments before I take a seat across from Louie, who welcomes me with a quick joke to lighten the mood.
To me, humor is a necessity when working in any customer service position. Knowing that each of us must deal with situations, where emotions quickly rise, is an operational reality in any business. Yet, even through adversity, the Auto-track department has shown tremen-dous competence and perseverance. With tons of shipments to track, lots of carriers to call and many customers to care after, Auto-track demonstrates how a dedicated staff of professionals can promote integrity, professional courtesy and sound business judgment with class.
Johnathan Kofoed having worked both 3rd and weekend shifts can testify to how diverse, yet adverse, each sched-ule can be.
“During the weekends, it’s a whole different beast.” He says, “The phones do not stop ringing at all.”
Having to work 12 hour shifts to cover the whole weekend with incoming calls, and having to make outbound calls as well, can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Johnathan Kofoed and Raul Soto step up to the challenge each week-end and make it happen. Al Mendoza, weekend dispatcher, witnesses their stellar teamwork in covering check calls, using key moments to help maximize outbound call coverage while tending to incoming requests. This is but one of many examples of how Auto-track demonstrates their commitment to providing the best in customer satis-faction and support.
Though we are the new kids on the block, in just a short period of time, this department has grown into a focused community of impact players firm in its goal of keeping The Custom Companies a leader in the transportation field. We are resolute in our belief that we are a shining ex
ample of how this business continues to design crea
tive solutions to face shipping challenges headstrong.
So next time you see us; whether it be talking to
truckers, updating customer web pages or
troubleshooting freight issues; be no stranger! Stop
on by, extend a hand, we will always be lending ours!
NEW ARRIVALS!
Congratulations go out to Laura Montanez and Dennis on their bouncing baby boy! Jacob Jo-seph was born October 28th at 8:58 pm, weighing in at 8lbs 10oz. Jacob will be welcomed home by big sister Ashley!
Congratulations go out to Jo-seph Santos (CHI dock) and his wife Migdalia on the birth of their son, Gianni Joseph. Gianni was born on November 9th weighing in at 7lbs, 10 oz., 21 inches long. Big brother Anthony welcomes Gianni home.
Front row: Alonzo Blanco, Felix Torres, Al Reyes, Danielle Pitsenbarger Back row: Louie Clemente, Scott Ten-Broek, Oscar Aceyes Not Pictured: Johnathan Kofoed and Raul Soto
How to survive a Blizzard
The secret to staying warm in any emergency cold-weather situation is to breathe through
your nose, not your mouth, say survivor experts. Gulping cold, dry air will chill and dehydrate
you, but taking in air through your mucous-lined nasal passages warms and humidifies the
air before it reaches your lungs.
Page 4
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza
Getting a flu shot often protects you from coming down with the
flu. And while the flu shot doesn't always provide total protection,
it's still worth getting. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the
vaccines that will be available this fall to protect people against several seasonal
flu (influenza) viruses expected to be in circulation this fall and winter. The annual
flu shot won't contain protection against the pandemic swine flu (novel H1N1) vi-
rus. A separate vaccine has been developed for the swine flu virus; however
some providers have combined both the flu shot and the HINI shot in one shot. It
is important that you check with your provider.
Influenza is a respiratory infection that sickens millions of people each year and
can cause serious complications, especially in children and older adults. Fortu-
nately, the flu vaccine is available in the form of a flu shot or a nasal spray that
offers protection against the flu.
Here are the answers to common questions about flu shots.
When is the flu vaccine available?
The flu vaccine is generally offered between September and mid-December,
which is typically before the late-fall to early winter start of flu season. However,
getting a flu shot even later in the flu season may still protect you. It takes up to
two weeks to build immunity following a flu shot.
Why do I need to get vaccinated every year?
You need annual flu protection because the influenza virus changes from year to
year. The flu vaccine you got last year wasn't designed to fight the virus strains in
circulation this flu season. Influenza viruses mutate so quickly that they can ren-
der one season's vaccine ineffective by the next season. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory committee meets early in the year to esti-
mate which strains of influenza virus will be most prevalent during the upcoming
flu season, and manufacturers produce vaccine based on those recommenda-
tions.
HR CORNER by Tom Kennedy
Rich Quinn 12/4 Ramir Sison 12/5 Ronnie Jenkins 12/8 Laura Montanez 12/9 Juan Morales 12/13 John Severino 12/13 Sylwia Wozniak 12/13 Richard Vitez 12/14 Jason Montgomery12/17
Marco Solorio 12/17 Stephen Coffey 12/19 Petra Gumieniak 12/20 Dale Majcina 12/20 Jason Miner 12/28 Todor Kalemov 12/30
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
Page 5
Black, Gold, and Germ Protection by Tom Kennedy, Bruce Lenau and Carol Guarino
So you think the germiest place you’ll ever encounter is a public toilet? Think again! In one study, 80% of the grocery carts sampled had E. coli on the handle. But they are not the only microbe mag-nets, listed here are the top five most germ-filled places in your world and the best way to clean them.
PHONES: Cell phones carry 500 times more bacteria than a public toilet seat. Many disease-causing microbes can survive for weeks on your rarely cleaned office or cell phone. Clean with a disinfecting wipe daily.
SOAP DISPENSERS: Ironically, this germ-fighting tool is a hot spot for E. coli and other fecal bacte-ria. But if you wash your hands properly after every time you finish using the facilities, you will get rid of the bugs.
KEYBOARD & MOUSE: Your co-worker’s germs can linger on your computer longer than any virus sent. Many bacteria can survive for hours to days on surfaces similar to keyboards. Wipe tech equip-ment and accessories down weekly with a disinfectant, even if you are the only one using the com-puter.
LOBBY-LEVEL ELEVATOR BUTTONS: These little knobs are teeming with germs. Wait for someone else to press the button, use your gloved finger or use your knuckle then clean your hands with a hand sanitizer.
SHOPPING CART HANDLES: Since up to 8 in 10 carts most likely have E. coli, take advantage of the free disinfectant wipes the store provides or use your hand sanitizer after shopping.
And don’t skip these surfaces – door knobs, remote controls, game controllers, light switches and banisters are often forgot-ten but touched frequently. Swipe them weekly with an antibac-terial wipe. Also, the bottom of a purse or handbag touches many germy surfaces so wipe this down every few days.
OTHER GERM FIGHTING TIPS:
Take your shoes off and put them on a rack or in a closet. The germs and other contaminants collected on shoes can be tracked throughout your house.
Keep your toothbrush and paste in the medicine cabinet. Flush-ing the toilet disperses microbes up to six feet away and many collect on the bathroom sink.
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011
Congratulations to Sharon Zych (CHI Biller) and Steve Klomfar as they tied the knot on October 16th,
2010. We wish them many years of marital bliss!!
Jonathan Kofoed 1/1 Ezequiel Ortega 1/1 David McAlpin 1/5 Arturo Ortega 1/5 Luis Tirado 1/5 Ivan Aguirre 1/7 Rommel Camahalan 1/9 Jose Cedeno 1/9 Vicente Sanchez 1/9 Don Weiner 1/14 Gregorio Montoya 1/17 Guillermo Moreno 1/17 Chris Nicholson 1/18 Francisco Felix 1/22 John Skiba 1/23 Juan Mata 1/25 Rich Ross 1/25 Tina Petrovic 1/29
DRIVER APPRECIATION WEEK
SEPTEMBER 20th - 24th
Drivers were provided lunch for the week
and enjoyed many handouts!
Page 6
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
FILLING IN THE BLANKS with Dave Gale
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011
Juan Mata 16 Steven Laue 15 Clete Janik 13 Jose Rentas 10 Ramone Dino 6 Elizabeth Gonzalez 6 Gerald Coleman 5 Andy Mc Donald 5 Richard Vitez 5 German Delgado 4 Fransisco Pelayo 4 Juan Espinoza 3 Lech Mruk 3 Mark Schiele 3 Eli Azzo 1 Jason Miner 1
I love Transportation because:...I enjoy a challenge. The qualities that make a “GRADE A” Dockhand are...Accuracy, common sense, speed and quality work ethic. The qualities that make a “GRADE A” City Driver are...Same as a Dockhand but with a better sense of direction. It’s hard to get lost on dock. When having a line haul trailer loaded it is important to...Count your freight like you count your money because you’ll know if you come up short, read the labels and load a maximum average of 800lbs per foot of floor space. I say “God Bless You” to the operations people. I feel that our fleet in California is...top notch just like our drivers. Using Bar scan technologies...improves accuracy and information flow. I kind of have a feeling the future of transportation will hold...Many innovations. As you get older...Financial security becomes more important. Custom Culture means...Customer First to me. In my opinion the top three things that separate The Custom Companies from our competi-tors...Technology, Services Offered, We Will Make It Happen Attitude I think that the government should do...less regulating of the industry to improve trucking. New technologies means to me...improved efficiencies. I feel that I make a difference by...offering common sense solutions to day to day issues. I would rather praise someone for a job well done then reprimand them for doing a poor job. What does “World Class Transportation provider” mean to you...One that provides a great ser-vice for fair price. The word Team means...“one for all and all for one common goal success” to me. Mutual Respect is the most important synergy between Sales and Operations. The surest sign that the economy is improving are...That the transportation of goods and prod-ucts is on the rise. The strangest transportation move that I was involved in was...When a shipment of live turtles escaped the liquid soaked boxes that they were shipped in. It seems that boxes split open over night on the dock and we had a turtle round-up in the morning. In my career in transportation, the wheel caused the most profound change in the industry. As Perry Mandera used to say...“MAKE IT HAPPEN” My father had good advice about...Fast cars and women but I didn’t listen. I don’t know...but I’ve been told if you never grow up you never grow old??? You wonder sometimes...Where did the last twenty years go? The biggest difference between when I started in the Transportation Industry and now is...the trailers are 13’ longer. You can’t stop...on ice quickly! Customers love...aggressive FAK structures and deep discounts. The best things that children teach you...are the simplest things that you are too busy to see. I would like to...retire financially set and early enough to enjoy it. I never did, but some day I will...figure out why I knew so much more about everything when I was 19 years old. I hope this cleared up some of the mysteries of the Transportation Industry and Dave Gale. REMEMBER TO SMILE AND BRIGHTEN SOMEONES DAY!
Robert Eldridge 14
Martin Bolanos 9
Julio Renteria 9
Gregory Robinson 9
Mark Dannhauser 6
Ron Boyles 5
Ruben Calvo 5
Larry Charnot 5
Tom Dunaj 5
Tim Gowin 5
David Herrera 5
Jeff Howard 5
Erick Lucena 5
Milly Rodriguez 5
Ruben Medina 4
Armando Ortiz 4
Blake Sterling 4
Arturo Abasta 3
Rick Bulaon 3
Eric Wiencek 3
Rich Ross 2
Milton Ayala 1 Borislav Savic 1
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
Page 7
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011
FILLING IN THE BLANKS with Lynn Koclanis
I love Transportation because...it is fast paced and always chal- lenging. Only the strong survive! When looking for agents to represent us in different areas the first thing that I look for is...carriers that will represent Custom and are interested in a true, long term partnership. It is an in vestment in our future and theirs. When starting a relationship with a line haul carrier the factors that I look for to grade them are...reliability, honesty and loyalty.
I kind of have a feeling the future of transportation will hold… if I only had the answer to that! One thing is for sure, transportation will always be a very unique industry. As you get older...family becomes more important. Custom Culture means making things happen...Custom stands apart from many of our com-petitors as a service oriented company. We go above and beyond to insure we perform to our customers expectations. No employees work harder than Custom employees to ser- vice the freight. In my opinion top three things that separate The Custom Companies from our competitors: The employees of Custom- hands down, Cutting edge technology and forward thinking of technology based solutions to answer our customer’s needs, our ability to handle our customers demands not just in the LTL arena, but in every facet of transportation. Again we set ourselves apart from our competition: we offer a broad portfolio of services to our customers, we are the complete package. I think that the government should do...rethink to improve trucking: As an industry, with governmental support, we need to find a way to make driving a truck much more desirable. The backbone of our business is our drivers. With current and upcoming regulations in re-gards to driving, the government has made it harder than ever to want to become a truck driver. The driver is the heart of what we do, it is why we are all here. I feel that I make a difference...I enjoy what I do as an operator. I get the most satisfaction in helping to find solutions to issues and working as a team player with my peers. I would rather cook then eat out…I love to cook and spend most of my weekends in the kitchen. The word Team means... a group of people with a shared vision. Communication is the most important synergy between Sales and Operations. The strangest transportation move that I was involved in was...way too many to list. It is a daily exercise in strange! There is no industry like it…. In my career in transportation the most profound change in the industry is...truly technolo- gy. Twenty years ago we did not have a Blackberry, email, or computer technology that would allow us to analyze and improve our business. I have no idea how we got things done, but we did! As Perry Mandera says...Make it happen! It is not just a saying at Custom, it is a culture. The biggest difference between when I started in the Transportation and now...technology. It has made our industry so much more efficient and productive. You can’t stop Murphy’s Law in transportation. …it is the governing force….when things go wrong, they typically go really wrong. It is how you react that sets you apart. Customers love...integrity and the understanding that you care as much about their business as they do. The best things that children teach you...is unconditional love. I never did, but some day very soon I will...run the Chicago marathon. I al-most did three years ago, and tore my ACL training!
Dock Associate
Elias Sandoval
CHI Office Associate
Steve Paxton
LAX Office Associate
Petra Gumieniak
Driver Associate
Earl Hahn
Sept. 2010 MVP Winners
Page 8
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011
October 13, 2010
The Custom Companies, Inc
P.O. Box 2850
Northlake, IL 60164
Dear Friend of USA Cares:
Thank you for your generous gift of $15000 to USA Cares. Your commitment to helping post-9/11 military families weather their financial crises is appreci-ated by those who help them and, most importantly, by those who benefit from our services.
Founded in 2003, USA Cares help bear the burdens of service by providing post-9/11 military families and veterans with financial and advocacy support in their time of need. Assistance is provided to all branches of service, all components and all ranks while protecting the privacy and dignity of those military families and veterans who request help.
USA Cares has helped families in all 50 states and has received over 23,000 re-quests for assistance. It has responded with over $7,000,000 in direct grants providing “A Hand Up not A Hand Out”.
USA Care was able to provide financial assistance to this family in Moore, Okla-homa who wrote:
USA Cares was great… Very helpful and respon-sive to our needs. Without the care that we re-ceived, we would have lost our home. To all of those who were instrumental in the help we re-ceived, Thank you so much and God Bless!!!
Frankly, we could not do what we do without donors such as you. We, and those we serve, deeply appreciate your generosity.
Sincerely,
Bill Nelson
Executive Director
USA Cares, Inc.
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
Walter and Connie Payton Foundation Mission Statement: We are dedicated to the emotional healing of neglected, abused and underprivileged children by providing tools and opportunities to build self esteem and encourage a better family unit giving hope for a brighter future. What is the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation (WCPF)? Our foundation is about helping abused, neglected & underprivileged children in the state of Illi-nois. We strive to help boost these children’s self esteem and give them a reason to believe that tomorrow can be different ….. That tomorrow can be better WCPF Annual Holiday Giving Program: Our foundation is committed to giving new gifts to as many in-need children as we can each De-cember for the Holiday season. We work closely with the Department of Children and Family Service (DCFS) to ensure that the neediest children in the state of Illinois receive these gifts. We also respond to the needs of individual families throughout Chicago, as well as the surrounding area. Each year WCPF provides for approximately 16,000 children. These children are in great need and would possibly not receive any holiday gifts without our help and the donations of the generous community around them. This is our largest program we have at the present How Does The Holiday Giving Program Work? WCPF collects new, unused and un-wrapped toys. We rely on the help of businesses and indi-vidual people to host WCPF Toy Drives. Once Toy Drives are complete we collect all the dona-tions and bring them to our warehouse in Wood Dale to be sorted and distributed according to a report from DCFS. We provide to DCFS Agency’s and if we have extra items after filling the mandatory lists from DCFS, we then are able to lend a helping hand to individual families that contact us. Specifics On Toy Donations: All toys must be new in original packaging non-violent and un-wrapped. Donations are needed for children ages newborn up to 18 years old. Toys are asked to be donated un-wrapped to en-sure guidelines are met How can you Or Your Business Get Involved? Host a Toy Drive! At your work/ health club / on your own/ ANTWARE! To host a WCPF Toy Drive simply complete the registration form and fax it to WCPF at 630-552-7618 as soon as pos-sible “Gifts during the Holidays for abused and neglected children may not seem like a lot, but in terms of establishing self-worth confidence, and a feeling of pride, I believe it may mean every-thing. I want them to feel good about themselves and to have self-esteem and self-respect. They deserve just as much as the kid down the street. Can you imagine the impact this has on these kids?.... Can you imagine-Walter Payton Complete our Toy Drive Registration form to participate! Contact Nancy Wilson (WCPF Event Coordinator) With any questions or for further information [email protected]
Earl Hahn
Oct. 2010
MVP Winners
Dock Associate
Steve Coffey
Office Associate
Ron Boyles
Driver Associate
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011
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The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011
Bows by Eric Pocius
The sport of archery has grown significantly since the first recurve bow was used. Since that time, compound bows, released in 1970, have changed the game by utilizing new lightweight materials, but recurve bows have also evolved with improved technology.
Main differences between a recurve and compound bows:
Recurve bows are typically made from wood and / or fiberglass composite. Compound bows are typi-cally made from state-of-the-art materials like carbon and aluminum.
The tips of a recurve bow will curl away from archer while compound bows will have limbs that curve back to the archer.
Compound bows utilize technology to shoot faster, more accurate arrows at long distances. Recurve bows shoot arrows with more arc and at shorter distances.
Compound bow advantages As the bow is drawn, the draw weight increases to a peak and then "lets off". The let-off is usually between 65% and 80% of the peak weight. This enables the archer to hold the bow fully drawn and take more time to aim. When a compound bow is drawn, the limbs are pulled in toward each other, unlike a recurve where the limbs flex in the direction of the bow string. This difference allows modern compounds to have limbs that are horizontal instead of angled. The horizontal limb configuration minimizes the amount of vibration felt by the shooter when the arrow is released. The compound bow is resilient to temperature and humidity changes giving the bow superior accuracy, velocity, and distance in comparison to a recurve bow. The pulley system usually will include some rubber-covered blocks that act as draw-stops. These provide a solid "wall" that the archer can draw against. These draw stops can be adjusted to suit the archer's optimum draw-length. This helps
the archer achieve a consistent anchor point and a consistent amount of force imparted to the arrow on every shot, further increasing accuracy
Compound archers usually use a mechanical release aid to hold and release the string. The use of a release aid gives a more consistent release than the use of fingers on the string and improves accuracy.
Compound archers usually equip their bows with a sighting system. Traditional archers, who use recurve bows, do not typically use sights.
Compound disadvantages The relatively low holding weight of a compound bow compared to a recurve bow makes the compound
More sensitive to certain form faults when the archer is at full draw. In particular, it's easier for the archer
to torque the bow around the vertical axis, leading to left-right errors. Takes more effort to maintain and
difficult to do your own repairs and Cost.
Recurve advantages Recurve bows are much less expensive than compound bows. This is mostly due to their simplicity and the limited labor that is re-quired in making one. Many of these bows are just a piece of shaped wood with a string that is attached to both ends. There is very little maintenance that a recurve bow requires because of its lack of complicated parts and pieces. There is also no adjusting to be done like there is for a compound bow. There is only one string. That string already has the tension that is needed and cannot be changed unless another string is added to the bow. Another advantage of hunting with this type of bow is the marksmanship required. You must only rely on your own judgment when you are shooting a recurve bow. Recurve disadvantages
Slow speed Low impact Decreased accuracy at distances
Whitetail Deer Facts
A Whitetail has a top speed between 35 to 40 miles per hour.
Deer do not have a gall bladder on their livers. This allows them to eat vegetation that would kill domestic animals.
The members of the deer fam-ily are ruminants, having a four-compartmented stomach, which allows the deer to feed very rapidly.
About one deer in 30,000 is an albino.
A Whitetail buck will shed his antlers every year, usually sometime in late December through February.
Antler growth is usually com-plete by the end of August. The speed, at which antlers grow, also makes them the fastest growing structures in the animal kingdom.
A doe giving birth in areas of good food will often have twins.
According to scientists there are 38 Sub-species of Whitetail Deer.
Whitetail bucks usually weighs 130 to 220 pounds, but have been recorded at well over 350 pounds.
Deer need 10 to 12 pounds of food per day to satisfy their needs.
The Whitetail Deer is the most abundant Big Game animal in North America.
A deer can clear an 8-foot hur-dle from a standing position. Deer swim well and at a good pace. They have been clocked at speeds up to 13 miles per hour.
By the time the fawns are twenty minutes old, they can walk slowly on very shaky legs.
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake IL 60164 - www.customco.com
Page 11
ASSOCIATES
AT WORK
Pedro Escanio
CHI Driver
Moises Avila
CHI Dock
Amaury Garcia
CHI Driver
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011
By Mark Schiele This is a new column that will provide upcoming concert dates in Chicago and Los Angeles.
December is going to be an exciting and busy music month in both cities. I have provided a list
of my top concert events in Chicago and Los Angeles. **(Please check with the venues listed
below to make sure the shows aren’t sold out)**
My December Concert Picks for Chicago The Bodeans at the Vic Theatre – Chicago - Friday 12/3/10 at 8:00 P.M.
Usher at the Allstate Arena – Rosemont - Friday 12/3/10 at 8:00 P.M. Better Than Ezra at the House of Blues – Chicago - Friday 12/3/10 at 9:00 P.M.
Brendan Bayliss & Jake Cinninger at the Park West – Chicago - Saturday 12/4/10 at 8:00 P.M.
Michael Buble at the Allstate Arena – Rosemont - Saturday 12/4/10 at 8:00 P.M.
Dave Koz at the Chicago Theatre – Chicago - Saturday 12/4/10 at 8:00 P.M.
Roger McGuinn (Former Byrds Frontman) at Old Town School of Folk Music – Chicago - Saturday 12/4/10
at 8:00 P.M.
Indigo Girls at the House of Blues – Chicago - Tuesday 12/7/10 at 8:00 P.M.
Todd Rundgren at the Park West – Chicago - Thursday 12/9/10 at 7:30 P.M.
Rick Springfield at Joe’s on Weed Street – Chicago – Friday 12/10/10 9:00 P.M.
Killing Joke at the Empty Bottle – Chicago – Friday 12/10/10 10:00 P.M.
Justin Bieber and Others at the Allstate Arena – Rosemont – Saturday 12/11/10
Dweezil Zappa (Frank Zappa’s son) at the Congress Theatre – Chicago – Saturday 12/11/10 at 8:00 P.M.
Alter Bridge & Sick Puppies at the House of Blues – Chicago – Saturday 12/11/10 at 8:30 P.M.
New Riders of The Purple Sage at Mayne Stage – Chicago – Wednesday 12/15/10 at 7:30 P.M.
My Chemical Romance at the House of Blues – Chicago – Wednesday 12/15/10 at 8:30 P.M.
John Legend at the Horseshoe Casino – Hammond – Friday 12/17/10 at 8:00 P.M.
George Winston (Charles Schultz Peanuts Piano Player) Genesee Theatre- Waukegan – Friday 12/17/10
at 8:00 P.M.
Ludacris at the Allstate Arena – Rosemont – Sunday 12/19/10 at 6:00 P.M.
Joe Satriani at the Chicago Theatre – Chicago - Sunday 12/19/10 at 8:00 P.M.
Shemekia Copeland (Daughter of Blues Legend Johnny Copeland) at the Space – Evanston – Friday
12/31/10 at 10:00 P.M. My December Concert Picks for Los Angeles Jon Anderson (Yes Frontman) at the Orpheum – Los Angeles - Wednesday 12/1/10 at 8:00 P.M.
Faith No More at the Hollywood Paladium – Hollywood - Wednesday 12/1/10
John McLaughlin (Miles Davis and Mahavishnu Orchestra Guitarist) at UCLA Royce Hall - West Los Ange-
les - Wednesday 12/1/10
Charlie Hunter Trio at the Mint – Los Angeles – Friday 12/3/10 at 9:00 P.M.
The Dead Kennedys at the House of Blues – West Hollywood – Friday 12/3/10 at 8:00 P.M.
The Posies at Club Nokia – Los Angeles – Friday 12/3/10
Wu Tang Clan at Club Nokia – Los Angeles – Sunday 12/5/10
Roger Waters performing The Wall at the Staples Center – Los Angeles – Sunday 12/5/10
Clint Black at the Grove of Anaheim – Anaheim – Wednesday 12/8/10
Natalie Cole at the Walt Disney Concert Hall – Los Angeles - Wednesday 12/8/10
The Dandy Warhols at Club Nokia – Los Angeles – Friday 12/10/10
Andrea Bocelli at the Staples Center – Los Angeles – Friday 12/10/10
Al Stewart at the Coach House – San Juan Capistrano – Saturday 12/11/10
George Thorogood at the Grove of Anaheim – Anaheim – Sunday 12/12/10
Michael Buble at the Staples Center – Los Angeles – Monday 12/13/10
Roger Waters performing The Wall at the Honda Center–Anaheim–Monday 12/13/10 & Tuesday 12/14/10
Leon Russell at the Coach House–San Juan Capistrano–Wednesday 12/15/10
Adam Lambert at Club Nokia–Los Angeles–Thursday 12/16/10
Killing Joke at the Wiltern Theatre–Los Angeles-Saturday 12/18/10
Rob Halford at the Grove of Anaheim–Anaheim–Sunday 12/19/10
The Tubes at the Coach House–San Juan Capistrano–Friday 12/31/10
Flock of Seaguls at the Canyon Club-Agoura Hills–
Friday 12/31/10 9:00 P.M.
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake IL 60164 - www.customco.com
Welcome to our newly created Custom Sports Center. We are going to try to feature “fun facts” about our local sports teams. If you have any “fun facts” that you might know, thoughts, ideas or suggestions that you would like to see in the future please contact us at [email protected]. We would appreciate any suggestions you may have. Thank you from The Custom Communicator.
The Chicago Bears are one of the oldest teams in professional football today. They adopted their current
name back in 1922, when the Chicago Staleys changed their name to the "Bears." The current team mascot’s name is “Staley.” They were the first football team in the country to:
Practice daily.
Film games to study for strategies.
Have their own team band and team song. Publish and distribute a club newspaper.
Broadcast games over the radio.
Have a homecoming dinner for all former Bears.
The Chicago Cubs have a World Series record of 2 wins, 8 losses. Their last World Series appear-ance was in 1945 in which they fell to the Detroit Tigers in seven games, 4-3. Their last World Se-ries Championship was in 1908, or over 100 ago. To put that in perspective, since 1908:
Radio was invented. Two atomic bombs were dropped. Television was invented. The US participated in two world wars, and four major armed conflicts. The NFL was founded. Man landed on the moon. Harry Carey was born and died. Wrigley Field was built, which now is oldest park in the NL. Lights were installed at all the other baseball stadiums, before Wrigley Field. Ten teams have been added to the major leagues. Halley's Comet passed twice. Communism was born, resulted in a Cold War, the Berlin Wall and the eventually demise of. A space station was developed, built and has orbited the Earth millions of times. A robotic Lander has traveled the surface of Mars. The Titanic was built, sank, was found and tourists can now visit the wreck.
Chicago Softball was invented in 1887, by George Hancock, a journalist for the Chicago Board of
Trade. He designed the game as a form of indoor baseball on a cold winter day inside the warm Farragut Boat Club. Harlem Globetrotters got their start in Chicago as the "Savoy Big 5." They played their first game at Chicago's Savoy Ballroom in 1926 and became the Harlem Globetrotters in 1927.
Chicago White Sox in 1906 defeated the Cubs 4 to 2 to win their first World Series. No starting player hit over .280 in that season. 1917 would see the ball club win their last World Series of the 20th cen-
tury. Albert Belle was the first White Sox player to drive in 150 runs in a single season. He had 152 RBIs in 1998
After 81 years at Comiskey Park they opened U.S. Cellular field on April 18 1991 by losing to the Detroit Tigers 16 to 0.
The Chicago Bulls have won every championship that they were in, a perfect 6 for 6. Of course a certain player with the initials MJ was in every one as well. They won 72 games in 1995-96 and followed it up with 69 wins, setting a new mark for the best back to back seasons in
NBA history.
The Chicago Blackhawks Bobby Hull and Stan Makita led them to their first Stanley Cup in 1961.
Glenn Hall was known as Mr. Goalie. He was also known for getting physically sick prior to each game. He played in 502
consecutive games during a time when goalies did not wear masks (he never missed a start for seven seasons, two with
Detroit and five with Chicago).
The LA Angels of Anaheim played their first game on April 11th, 1961 at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. They played their inaugural season at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, and finished with a 70-91 win-loss record, the most wins by any expansion team. In 1965, they became the California An-gels, and after four years as tenants at Dodger Stadium, moved to the newly constructed Anaheim Stadium near Disneyland in 1966. They started the 1997 season as the Anaheim Angels, and then adopted the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim name in 2005. Gene Autry was the original team owner when they started in 1961.
Don Baylor of the Angles became the first designated hitter to win the American League Most Valuable Player award.
The Los Angeles Kings On the night of January 19 2006 Lucky Luc Robitaille surpassed Marcel Dionne on the kings all time scoring list In 2006-07, Michael Cammalleri and Alexander Frolov became the first pair of Kings teammates to score more than 30 goals
in the same season since 2000-01.
The LA Lakers The franchise actually was nicknamed the Lakers in its days in Minneapolis, and decided to keep the name when it moved to
LA.
The Lakers have been represented in the All-Star game
almost every season since the first game in 1951. The only
games without a Laker were in 1978, 1993, 1994 and
1996.
Former player, Coach and General Manager Jerry West was
used as a model for the current NBA logo.
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The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
CUSTOM SPORTS CENTER by Jeff Guthman
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011 SPORTS CORNER by Jeff Guthman Before every prediction of any sporting
event, there is always the disclaimer barring injuries. But sport injuries are
not for professionals alone. In the
United States, about 34 million children and teens participate in some form of
organized sports with more than 3.5
million injuries each year experienced by the participants. Almost one-third of
all injuries incurred in childhood are sports-related injuries… Obviously,
some sports are more dangerous than
others. For example, contact sports such as football can be expected to result in a
higher number of injuries than a non-
contact sport such as swimming. How-ever, all types of sports have a potential
for injury, whether from the trauma of
contact with other players or from over-use or misuse of a body part. There are
more head and spinal injuries from
cheerleading than from all other high school and college sports combined
(New York Times). According to ab-
cnews.go.com, there are about 16,000 serious injuries from cheerleaders per-
forming stunts and tumbles. Even
though most common injuries are strains and sprains (52% of injuries),
cheerleading injuries extend beyond
sprains to include concussions, frac-tures, and more.
The following statistics are the latest
available from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):
More than 3.5 million children
ages 14 and under get hurt annually
playing sports or participating in recrea-tional activities.
Although death from a sports
injury is rare, the leading cause of death from a sports-related injury is a brain
injury.
Sports and recreational activities
contribute to approximately 21 percent
of all traumatic brain injuries among American children.
Almost 50 percent of head injuries
sustained in sports or recreational ac-tivities occur during bicycling, skate-
boarding, or skating incidents.
More than 775,000 children, ages 14 and under, are treated in hospi-
tal emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year. Most of the injuries
occurred as a result of falls, being
struck by an object, collisions, and overexertion during unorganized or
informal sports activities.
Sports played by all ages are an impor-tant part of the fabric of American
society. The values that we teach our
children through sports, such as team work , sportsmanship and the value of
fair play as well as the physical well
being of the athletic are all great rea-sons to have our children playing
sports . To be in the best physical shape
we can be in is a great reason for all of us to continue playing sports. Sport
safety equipment has come a long way
from when football players used leather helmets. So play but play safely.
1 cup shortening nutmeg & ginger; gradually stir into the pan,
1 tablespoon ground ginger using your hands to work in the bit. Dough
1 cup white sugar should be stiff.
1 cup molasses 3. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 1/4” thickness, and cut out as desired.
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar Place pieces onto cookie sheets.
2 egg whites 4. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes in the preheated
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract oven. Let cool for several minutes on the
cookie sheet, then remove to racks to finish
cooling.
5. Once the gingerbread has cooled, make the frosting cement. In a medium
bowl, mix together confectioners’ sugar and cream of tartar. Add egg whites and
vanilla. Beat on high speed until frosting holds its shape. If necessary, add more
confectioners’ sugar to thicken the icing. Cover frosting with a damp cloth to pre-
vent drying.
Divine Intervention? By Mark Schiele
Saul Deluna works in the Accounting Department at The Custom Com-panies, Inc. Chicago office in Northlake, IL. Every day, Saul makes a trip from Northlake to the Melrose Park, IL Post Office to pick up the company mail from the PO Box. On Tuesday November 9
th, 2010 Saul made his routine scheduled trip to
the Post Office to pick up the mail. He parked his car and entered the Post Office. He walked over to the PO Box, unlocked it and gathered the company mail. He closed the PO Box door, locked it and walked out of the Post Office. Seconds after Saul exited the building; two Nuns from a local church lost control of their car and crashed through the front of the Post Office. The car entered the Post Office directly where the PO Boxes were located causing serious damage to the building and PO Boxes. Had Saul not exited the building when he did he would have been hit by the Nun’s car and been injured. Fortunately there were no serious injuries and Saul was unhurt, delivering the mail back to the Corporate Office. Could Divine Intervention have played a part in the timing of this accident?
Page 14
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
VOL IV No. 5 December 2010 / January 2011
December Holidays
2010
2nd – First Day of Chanukah
7th – Pearl Harbor Day
21st – First Day of Winter
24th – Christmas Eve
25th – Christmas Day
26th – First Day of Kwanza
31st – New Year’s Eve
WEIRD DECEMBER
OBSERVANCES
1st – National Pie Day
4th – National Dice Day
5th – Bath Tub Party Day
7th – National Cotton Candy Day
11th – Day of the Horse
18th – National Re-gifting Day
20th – Games Day
21st – Humbug Day
26th – National Whiners Day
31st – Make Up Your Mind Day
31st – No Interruptions Day
Halloween Winners!!
This year we had (3) random judges choose the winners for each category:
Individual Costume and Department Theme.
Thank you to our judges: Osmond Joseph, Alonzo Blanco and Mike Cruz
The winners of the costume contest are:
1st Place – Louie Clemente
2nd Place – Kate Dmitrieva
3rd Place – Dianna Ryan
The winners for the department theme: 3rd Place – CDN as The 70’s Disco
2nd Place – 1st Floor as The Roman Theme
1st Place – 2nd Floor as The Haunted Prison
And that’s not Perry’s hidden moustache! ->
The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 325 °. Grease and lightly flour cookie sheets. 2. In a large bowl, whip egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually
sprinkle in the sugar and keep whipping until the egg whites can hold a stiff peak, this will take about 5 minutes. Set aside about 1/2 cup of the egg whites. Add the lemon zest and cinnamon to the rest
of the meringue, and fold in the almonds until everything is evenly blended.
3. Drop mounds by spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. Top each cookie with a smaller dollop of the reserved meringue.
4. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Re-
move cookies from the baking sheets to cool on wire racks.
Garlic Prime Rib
Serves: 15
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cook Time: 1 hr. 30 min.
Ingredients Directions 1 (10 pound) prime rib roast 1. Place the roast in a roasting pan with
10 cloves garlic, minced the fatty side up. In a small bowl,
2 tablespoons olive oil mix together the garlic, olive oil, salt,
2 teaspoons salt pepper and thyme. Spread the mix-
2 teaspoons ground black pepper ture over roast, and let the roast sit
2 teaspoons dried thyme out until it is at room temperature,
no longer than 1 hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
3. Bake the roast for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce the tempera-
ture to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and continue roasting for an additional
60 to 75 minutes. The internal temperature of the roast should be at least 145
degrees F (53 degrees C) for medium rare.
4. Allow the roast to rest for 10 or 15 minutes before carving so the meat can re-
