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California Landscape Contractors AssociationSan Fernando Valley Chapter
Volume 31, Number 12December 2013
Valleyscape is now available online! www.eldoradocommunicationspublications.info
SWEEPSTAKES WINNER – The Stuart J. Sperber Memorial Sweepstakes Award – top prize in the 2013 CLCA Trophy Awards – was won by Richard Cohen Landscape and Construction, Richard Cohen (center). Presenting for Sponsor Valley Crest Tree Company are John Serviss (left) and State President Frank Niccoli. The Trophy Awards presentation was part of the CLCA Convention held November 13-16 in Carmel Valley. (See pages 6 through 9 for more Convention Photos.)
QUAIL LODGE GOLF CLUB was the beautiful and at times brisk site of the CLCA State Convention November 13-16 in Carmel Valley, California. Shown is the lake next to which the Welcoming Reception was held.
Save the Dates! January Board Meeting • Thursday, January 9, 7:30 a.m.• Coco’s Restaurant in Northridge• Details on Page 3
SVF Chapter Installation • Thursday, January 23, 6:30 p.m.• Location TBA
Don’t Miss CLCA’s LIS Show
JANUARY 29-30Los Angeles
Convention Center
2 December 2013 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
the western trade show and educational conference
for landscape architects, specifiersand design/build professionals
february 13th & 14th
early bird seminar rates
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
2-day seminar/hotel packages
long beach convention center
corporate seminar rates
FREE exhibit hal l admission - register to day at L andsc ap eO nline.com
For complete details on LA expo and online registration, visit or call 714-979-5276 x142
L A exp o sp onsors L AF charit y reception
Expanded exhibit hall · 1,000s of design elements · 8 major associations participatingEducational conference · 30+ educational sessions · Earn CEUs
february 13th ~ 6:00 pmParker’s Lighthouse
CLCA Nov HP.indd 1 11/15/13 8:01 AM
Free Techline®calculaTor appCalculating Netafim Techline InstallationsHas Never Been Quicker or easier – Download the app Today.
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[email protected]/GreenThumbGGwww.gtgrowinggrounds.com
19055 Abdera Street / Rowland Heights, CA 91748tel 626.965.5015 / cell 626.715.1757 / fax 866.591.5093
JOHN R. HERNANDEZPublisher / CEO
SFV CLCA Valleyscape December 2013 3
Coming Events, Contact Numbers & More
Subject to Change – Check with Chapter Office First
2014
Jan. 9 Board Meeting at Coco’s Restaurant in Northridge
23 Chapter Installation, location TBA, 6:30 p.m.
29-30 LIS Show (Los Angeles)
Feb. 13-14 LAX Show (Long Beach)
Board Meetings are held the 1st Thursday at Golden Oak Offices in Chatsworth; Dinner Meetings are the 4th Thursday of the month, unless otherwise noted.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Steven Kinzler
S K Landscape Design, Inc. 818-345-0492
818-266-3828 cell [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT PROGRAMS Nelson Colvin
Golden Oak Co-op Corporation 818-772-2262
818-772-2221 fax [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP Dan Dvorak
LCIS 818-772-2121 310-480-7803
SECRETARY Tommy Endres SPJ Lighting
800-314-3756 818-735-0564
TREASURER Martin Schaefer
Automatic Sprinkler Controls 818-994-1159
818-519-5702 cell [email protected]
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR Christine Leichentritt
Leichenritt Landscape Design & Services
(805) 338-1505 [email protected]
AMO REP Rigo Lopez
Ewing Chatsworth 818-620-3495
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rene Emeterio Specialized Landscape
Management Service, Inc. 805-520-7590
805-520-7592 fax [email protected]
David Junod Sheridan Landscape
818-768-6556 818-768-4648 fax
Gordon Larson Larson Landscaping
818-776-8197 [email protected]
Ted Sirkin Valvette Systems 818-887-1866
Mickey Strauss MSM Landscape Services, Inc.
818-402-4500 818-341-9236 fax
John W. Vorbeck John W. Vorbeck
Landscape Contractor 818-841-7779
818-652-2967 cell 818-848-9239 fax
Eric Watanabe Signature Pools and Landscape
(818) 993-0200 [email protected]
PRESIDENT Alfonso Castillo, Jr.
Land Creations 818-833-7172
800-795-6110 fax [email protected]
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CHAPTER Jan Veis, Executive Secretary
(818) 772-7233 Chapter fax (818) 772-2221
VALLEYSCAPE PUBLISHER John Hernandez (626) 965-5015
19055 Abdera St. Rowland Heights, CA 91748
[email protected] FAX (866) 591-5093
ASSOCIATE EDITOR/ART DIRECTOR Jerry Robin (626) 794-2674
STAFF WRITER Jared Hernandez (626) 965-5015
San Fernando Valley Chapter
2013 Board of Directors
SAVE THE DATES!SFV Board Meeting January 9!There is a date and location change for the January Board Meeting. The No Host Breakfast Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 9, 7:30 a.m. at Coco’s Restaurant, 18521 Devonshire Street, Northridge, CA 91324; (818) 368-2911. RSVP to Jan at the Chapter Office to make sure there is enough seating.
Chapter Installation January 23Also, save the date for the SFV Chapter Installation Dinner, set for Thursday, January 23, 6:30 p.m. at as yet an undeter-mined location. One thing’s for sure, you can bet there will be good food and a lot of fun. Watch your emails and the January issue of Valleyscape for details.
San Fernando Valley Chapter
SPONSORSHIP RECOGNITION
SILVER SPONSORS
LCIS
BirchThank you for your support!
4 December 2013 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
Cherished Memories of Good FriendsHi EVERYONE,
What a year this has been! It started out like being on a treadmill. You begin at a very slow pace, and as the treadmill speeds up you begin to trot. Pretty soon you are running at full tilt just to keep up, just like the economy has done for businesses.
Now that the year is almost over, we ask “where has it gone?” Personally, I lost two great friends and mentors.
Cy Holden was one of the first people I met when I joined CLCA over forty years ago. He created a bookkeeping system that the association still uses today. When attending my first meeting, Cy took me aside and said that if you are going to get anything out of this association you better be ready to put something back into this association. He would call me and say the Chapter is going to do a philanthropic project – what an experience. When
I got to the project it was all owners of businesses ready to pitch in and help. We carried and laid sod, dug trenches for the irriga-tion system doing all of the work ourselves. Doing these projects created a camaraderie that bound us together like a giant family. The wives (Women’s Auxiliary) would show up around noon with a fabulous lunch and we picnicked together. Cy stayed my friend throughout those years. We lost Cy earlier this month and I, for one, will miss him.
Sam Abdulaziz was founder and partner in the law firm of Abdulaziz, Grossbart & Rudman. Sam wrote a large portion of the contract laws in California and knew as much about contract law as anyone. We met for breakfast periodically and I would sit and listen while he explained contract law to me. Sam served as parliamentarian at a few State general membership meetings and as tough as it was he was able to keep us in line.
I am honored to have been friends with both of these two brilliant gentlemen.
Now, I suppose you are wondering why I am writing this and not our President, Alfonso Castillo. Alfonso recently had back surgery and is now well on the way to recovery. Alfonso will chair the January Board Meeting at Coco’s Restaurant in Northridge on January 9. I am also happy to report that Jamie Alamillo is also recovering from back surgery and he is determined that he will be attending the Board Meeting as well. We hope to see you there.
We are all looking forward to 2014 being an exciting year. Mickey is already gearing up and eager to tell us about the 32 new laws that go into effect on 1/1/14.
WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND PROSPEROUS 2014. – Nelson
Guest President’s Message
NELSON COLVIN Vice President Programs Golden Oak Co-op Corp.
LEAF Scholarship Applications Available Online
The California Landscape Contractors Association is pleased to announce that the application for LEAF scholarships is now
available online. Since 1972, the California Landscape Contractors Association’s Auxiliary has been offering scholarships to college and university students majoring in landscape-related programs. In 1988, the Landscape Educational Advancement Foundation (LEAF) was formed to carry on the tradition of awarding financial aid to deserving students.
Eligibility: Any student attending an accredited California community college or state university majoring in a landscape-related program and taking a minimum of six units is eligible. Deadline to apply is April 15, 2014.
Please share this email address with students and encourage them to apply: clca.org/scholarship.
SFV CLCA Valleyscape December 2013 5
Celebrating Creation and Inspiration
This month I’m taking a moment in recognition of our Creator breathing the breath of life and love for all creation. The breath
of God energizes our thoughts, actions, and lives. Within us, we have the authority and ability to improve the quality of our lives.
Early in life, we learn of the celebration of the Christ Conscious-ness through Christmas lessons. We see the wonderful individual awareness with the Jewish Festival of Hanukkah. All around us, we can recognize spirituality in others, and it magnifies God’s love. The special meanings behind the holidays impact our lives and impart our Creator’s spiritual presence – whether we are aware of it or not. I believe this presence fills every religious belief and tradition…filling all space, time, and all things seen and unseen.
This time of year is also a time for reflection and planning for the year ahead. I’ve read that there is a divine spark at the core of all things: the spirituality within us is a great inspiration for finding our purpose and expressing our creativity. After all, we are each, in our own individual ways, a continuation of the creative medium in which we work, live, and play – and our potential is unlimited. You can be inspired to be more than you have been or even thought you could be, even if you go in a new direction.
Healing Energy for Our FriendsWhen recognizing our Creator, I also recognize our faith. Our faith gives us strength and optimism. You can see the optimism that Alfonso puts into his monthly President’s Messages – and will continue with us for another year! We know (we have faith) he will have a complete recovery from his recent surgery. He is a dynamic man with a firm belief and a supporting family. By faith, we expect the same miracle of healing in Jamie Alamillo who had recent back surgery as well.
We also know that John Vorbeck will have a fast and complete recovery from his banged-up knee, and Tommy will have a complete recovery for his leg rehabilitation.
It is a time to be oh, so thankful for the good our Creator has bestowed upon us and for the healing energies he gives us. Every cell of our body is energized and complete. Last but certainly not least, Maria and I are honored with your friendships – you are the best!
Life is good! – Dave
Just Takin’ a Moment
DAVID JUNOD Director
Sheridan Landscaping, Inc.
Netafim USA and Tucor, Inc. Form an Alliance• Tucor to Develop Web-Based Smart Controllers
for Netafim
Netafim USA and Tucor, Inc. have formalized a strategic alliance agreement in which Tucor will develop new web-based smart
control systems for Netafim’s Landscape Division. The announce-ment was made by Mauricio Troche, Netafim director of sales and marketing for landscape and turf products.
The innovative Tucor systems will be marketed by Netafim and will include controllers with multi-function capabilities, including conventional, two-wire (decoder) and hybrid operation. The controllers will be applicable to new and retrofit installations.
Netafim USA, which has manufactured landscape dripline products for 25 years, is a division of Netafim, the world’s largest drip irrigation manufacturer. Tucor, a well-known name in two-wire systems, has produced a line of smart controllers since 1995. The company was among the first to introduce two-wire technology to the U.S. from Europe. Tucor also manufactures conventional multi-wire controllers.
Netafim Techline® tubing is the industry standard for dripline irrigation. The company has also recently introduced a new series of water conservation products, including Netafim Hydrometers and Octave water meters. Visit www.netafimusa.com for more information.
Investment Firm Buys Majority Interest in Deere & Company
Deere & Company recently announced the close on the sale of a majority interest in John Deere Landscapes to Clayton,
Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), a highly respected private investment firm. The transaction will create a new, freestanding enterprise jointly owned by Deere and CD&R.
According to David Werning, Chief Executive Officer of John Deere Landscapes, “CD&R has been interested in John Deere Landscapes for quite some time and the firm’s focus on growth and deep experience with businesses like ours make the firm an ideal partner. Deere’s ongoing equity ownership reflects its strong interest in remaining part of a successful landscapes distribution business. We look forward to the future and executing on an aggressive growth plan.”
John Deere Landscapes is the nation’s leading supplier of wholesale irrigation, landscape lighting, nursery, and turf and maintenance supplies for Green Industry contractors. Dedicated to becoming the distributor of choice for landscape, irrigation and turf care professionals, John Deere Landscapes also offers addi-tional services that support the core businesses of Green Industry contractors.
6 December 2013 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
State Convention ScheduleCLCA Conventioneers Gather in Beautiful Carmel Valley
WORKING PIZZA OVEN used daily by visiting student groups, actually has plants
growing on it, and is examined by OC’s Steve Beckstrom Presidents Council (South).
RECOGNITION LUNCHEON reception provided time to catch up with old friends.
Here, Charles Nunley (right) chats with CLCA lobbyist Parke Terry.
HABITAT EXPLORERS – This hearty group of CLCAers braved the morning chill to become
one with nature on the very interesting and informative Convention site tour.
SITE TOUR DESTINATION – Thursday morning’s Convention site tour was to nearby Hilton Bialek Habitat…a naturalist’s dream of native plants, green roofs, conservation and
outdoor educational programs.
EXAMINING the workings of a penlight, Nelson Colvin and Richard Cohen get ready for the Recognition Luncheon. Brighter lights ahead at the next evening’s Trophy Awards, as Richard
would take Sweepstakes honors.
MAKING A POINT with IE President Richard Daigle and Chapter Secretary Marcie Daigle is Valley Crest Tree’s
Robert Crudup.
LAUGHING IT UP at the Welcoming Reception are Gordon Larson, Tom Lucas,
Tim Pflueger and Terry Mahlman.
INSURANCE, ANYONE? – LCIS reps David and Darlene Bloodgood chat with CLCA Insurance Solutions reps Lance Perry and
Debbie Abele at the outdoor reception.
QUAIL LODGE GOLF CLUB hosted CLCA members from throughout the state, as they networked, politicked, learned, awarded,
feasted…and of course partied in the clear, cool air of Carmel Valley Nov. 13-16.
WELCOME TOASTS are offered at the Welcoming Reception by Don DeFever, Editor
John Hernandez, and Robert Crudup.
CLCA AMBASSADOR Charles Nunley networks with LA/SGV’s Dan Gromer and State
Secretary/Treasurer Ted Sandrowsky.
VALLEY CREST TREE COMPANY President Robert Crudup has some fun with his wife Jill, as he holds a bunch of grapes against her ear. This is
the wine country, you know.
SFV CLCA Valleyscape December 2013 7
State Convention ScheduleCLCA Honors its Achievers Amid the Food and Fun
2013 ASSOCIATE MEMBER DIRECTOR Rick Zinn (right), along with 2014 State
President Chuck Carr (left), congratulate Editor John Hernandez upon his election as 2014
Associate Member Director.
AWARDS RECEPTION drew contractors and suppliers from near and far. Shown are CI Chapter’s Daniel Wilson from Santa Barbara,
and Southland Sod’s Norm Lopez from somewhere in the San Gabriel Mountains.
GARTER CHECK – Women’s Auxiliary members make sure their Knights of the Garter
are wearing their symbols of service to the organization.
ENJOYING THE LCIS RECEPTION with lifelong friends, Nelson Colvin enjoys reminiscing
with Mary and Barry Cohen.
THREE AMIGOS – Shari Collins, Beth Burns and Gordon Larson enjoy each other’s company
and the pre awards festivities.
HUNTER/FX LUMINAIRE rep Jeff Calhoun and wife Meghan, enjoy the buzz about possible
Trophy Awards winners. Jeff would be one of those presenting awards later in the evening.
CONTRIBUTION AWARDS for Chapters supporting CLCA’s Legislation needs included the
San Fernando Valley Chapter, accepted by Nelson Colvin (center) from Legislation
Committee’s Mimi Cortes and Pete Dufau.
LCIS OPEN HOUSE VIPS – Scores of Conventioneers attended the LCIS Open House
on Thursday evening, including LCIS reps Connie and Steve Carpenter, and David and
Darlene Bloodgood.
HALF CENTURY AWARD recipient Roger Fiske (right) renews old friendships with
Nelson Colvin and Barry Cohen.
CLCA’S NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sandra Giarde is welcomed to the Association and to the LCIS Open House by Past State President
Nelson Colvin.
A-G SOD reps Bridgette and Brett Hill are joined by Marcie Daigle for some
Convention networking.
LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR – Legislation Committee Chair Mike Martin presents Legislator
of Year honors to Senator William Monning (D-Carmel).
8 December 2013 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
State Convention ScheduleTrophy Awards Winners Shine at Convention
RES ESTATE INSTALLATION – OA, Gardeners’ Guild (right). Presenting for Sponsor
Ewing is Tom Noonan.
DESIGN BUILD INSTALLATION – First Place, Ciro’s Landscaping (left). Presenting for
Sponsor Delta Bluegrass is Fred Hanker.
RES ESTATE UNLMTD INSTALLATION – First Place, EvLand LLC, Jim Everett. Presenting
for Sponsor Superior Sod is Frank Niccoli.
LG RES INSTALLATION – First Place, Lazar Landscape Design & Construction,
Mario Herrada (right). Presenting for Sponsor A-G Sod is Brett Hill.
CONDOS, TOWNHOMES, APTS – First Place and OA, Gothic Landscaping, Chris Wick.
Presenting for Sponsor Golden Oak Co-op is Nelson Colvin.
XERISCAPE – Wilson Environmental, Daniel Wilson (right). Presenting for Sponsor
CLCA is State President Frank Niccoli.
SPECIAL EFFECTS AWARD goes to Jonny Appleseed Landscaping, represented by
Roberto Castro and Jon Goldstein. Presenting for Sponsor Village Nurseries is Robert Melville.
HERB FRANK MEMORIAL AWARD goes to Gothic Landscaping, Chris Wick. Presenting for
Sponsor Kellogg Supply is Michelle Sykes.
HUMANITARIAN AWARD – These Special Awards actually came at the end of the evening.
Accepting for winner Marina Landscape, is Nelson Colvin. Presenting for Sponsor The
Women’s Auxiliary is Mary Cohen.
JON R. ALSDORF MEMORAL AWARD is received for winner Frank & Grossman Landscape Contractors by State President
Frank Niccoli. Presenting for Sponsor Norman’s Nursery is Michelle Sykes.
MED RES INSTALLATON – Prior to the Special Awards, these awards were presented: First Place, Jonny Appleseed, Roberto Castro, Jon Goldstein, Ernesto Lopez. Presenting is
Norm Lopez (left) for Sponsor Southland Sod.
BOB BAIER MEMORIAL AWARD is received for winner Equinox Landscape Construction by
Michelle Sykes. Reps for Sponsor Aquasave present the award.
SFV CLCA Valleyscape December 2013 9
State Convention ScheduleConvention: Some Business…Lots of Great Times!
SMALL RES MAINTENANCE – First Place, Johnson’s Tree & Garden Service. Receiving for
Johnson’s is Frank Niccoli. Presenting for Sponsor Zone 24 Landscaping is Beth Burns.
INCOMING STATE PRESIDENT Chuck Carr enjoys Awards Reception with Mimi Cortes
of the San Diego Chapter. Mimi assisted the Legislation Committee in its fundraising efforts
this year.
LIGHTING INSTALLATION – First Place, Richard Cohen Landscape & Construction,
Richard Cohen. Presenting for Sponsor Hunter/FX Luminaire is Jeff Calhoun.
CONGRATULATIONS from Executive Director Sandra Giarde to awards video
presentation creator Bronwyn Miller and husband Michael, for a job well done. Michael provided
technical assistance during the program.
KEYNOTER Beth Ziesenis, “Your Nerdy Best Friend,” offered a multitude of helpful apps
and websites for both business and personal use. Her Saturday morning presentation was both
interesting and funny.
CONDOS, TOWNHOMES, APTS MAINT – OA, Medallion Landscape Management,
John Gates. Presenting for Sponsor Landscape Contractors Insurance Services is Kim Ayala.
How to Attract the Right Employees Excerpted from an Article by Ed Laflamme & Bill Arman, The Harvest Group
There are many companies out there looking to recruit the right people. But most of those “right people” don’t have a compel-
ling reason why they should work for you, rather than the compe-tition.
Your problem may be that you don’t look any different than anyone else. As a result, you’re not finding and attracting the right people. Your work quality suffers. You lose jobs. You can’t grow the business. And you and your managers end up working harder and longer hours doing other people’s jobs. You need to BURP! Yes BURP: Build a Unique Recruiting Proposition. Building a unique recruiting proposition means determining why someone should work for your company over anyone else.
How do you BURP? Here are 4 questions to ask to help build your Unique Recruiting Proposition:
1. What makes your company special? For example, what about your culture sets you apart from others? Is your organization more successful? Does it have a better working atmosphere?
2. Where is the company going? For example, are you en route to becoming the “best in class” in your area? What are your goals? What is your reputation?
3. What types of people do you need? For example, are you looking for team players? For people who like to be recognized for their contributions? People who have a sense of humor?
4. What are the rewards – other than money – that you offer? For example, this might be the opportunity to grow or get training. It might be the opportunity to be on a team with a similar value structure. It might be career opportunities.
If you answer these 4 questions, you’ll be able to differentiate yourself from the competition and get more of the right people in your organization.
Ed Laflamme & Bill Arman are harvesters at The Harvest Group, and can be reached at http://harvestlandscapeconsulting.com.
BILL HARMAN (L) and ED LAFLAMME
The Harvest GroupYou need to BURP! Yes BURP: Build a Unique Recruiting Proposition.
10 December 2013 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
Senator Bill Monning Named CLCA Legislator of the Year By Michael S. Martin, Esq., Legislation Committee Chair, Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Feingold, LLP
Senator Bill Monning of Monterey is the recipient of this year’s
CLCA Legislator of the Year Award in recognition of his collaborative work in aggressively combating the underground economy and other illegal practices that have adversely affected the state’s construction industry.
Senator Monning is a Democrat serving his first term as the repre-sentative of the 17th Senate District which includes the central coast Counties Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo and a portion of Santa Clara County. Prior to his election to the Senate he served two terms in the State Assembly where he chaired the Assembly Health Committee. Before his legislative service, Senator Monning was a professor at the Monterey School of Law and a professor of International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. He earned his law degree at the University of San Francisco and holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley.
Senator Monning has a wide scope of legislative interests but the ones for which he was honored by CLCA are his ceaseless efforts
to pursue legislation to prevent persons who operate in the under-ground economy from gaining an unfair competitive advantage over law-abiding businesses that comply with labor, licensing, and payroll tax laws. He understands how unfair competition in the construc-tion marketplace forces legitimate contractors to pay higher taxes and higher premiums for Workers’ Compensation insurance. He under-stands how underground contractors cheat consumers by offering shoddy workmanship or take their money up front and never perform the contracted work.
Senator Monning has set the tone for collaborative, bipartisan legislative efforts to tackle the under-ground economy. He has worked across the aisle with Republican Assemblymembers Bill Berryhill and Katcho Achadjian to author or co-author measures to prevent Workers’ Compensation fraud and strengthen contractor licensing requirements and penalties for unlicensed contracting. He has a well-earned reputation for reaching out to contractor associations and labor organizations to resolve any conflict in their respective approaches to address common concerns about unlawful underground economy activi-ties.
Since his election to the Assembly in 2009 he has authored or co-authored nine bills relating to the underground economy in the construction industry and we expect he will continue to lead on this important issue for many years to come.
Michael S. Martin, Esq.is State Legislation Committee Chair, and Channel Islands Chapter Secretary. He is an attorney with Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Feingold, LLP in Ventura. He can be reached at (805) 644-7188.
LEGISLATION AWARD RECIPIENT – State Senator William Monning (center) was named Legislator of the Year at the recent
CLCA Convention in Carmel Valley. Shown with the Senator are Pete Dufau, Director of Legislation, and Michael Martin, Legislation
Committee Chair.
Legislation News
SFV CLCA Valleyscape December 2013 11
RICHARD BARTOLOS ANGELES / VENTURA TERRITORY MANAGER
1589 N. MAIN STREET, ORANGE, CA 92867800-542-0209 / 714-279-3171 / CELL: 714-920-4389 / FAX 714-279-3199
www.villagenurseries.com / [email protected]
R O O T E D I N Q U A L I T Y
Supplier Showcase
Village Nurseries Opens Super Landscape Center in San Diego• New Store is Exclusively for Landscape Professionals
Village Nurseries Wholesale, LLC, a specialty grower for landscape professionals, recently announced it has opened its
new Miramar Super Landscape Center at 5400 Governor Drive in San Diego.
The new Super Center combines the inventory selection of the company’s recently purchased 185-acre Miramar Nurseries with Village Nurseries’ 700 acres statewide to give the San Diego County landscape professional a huge plant palette to choose from. In-stock inventory includes time-tested favorites along with unique and patented plants available only through Village Nurseries. The Super Landscape Center offers 1 gallon through 36” box trees, shrubs, color, vines, natives, perennials, roses, citrus, shade plants, patio tree, specialty plants, and a wide array of hard-goods inventory.
To make it easier for professionals to quickly find what they need, Village Nurseries has consolidated its large diversity of plant material into a convenient seven-acre section where landscape professionals can drive through and pick up what they need. In addition, for faster check-out, the Center is installing special drive through check-out booths that will be operational by year’s end. Customers can also have their orders completely staged and ready for pickup, or they can have their plants delivered directly to the job site.
“Our new Miramar Super Landscape Center offers San Diego landscape professionals a higher quality and diversified plant palette,” stated Mark Marriott, executive vice president of Village Nurseries Landscape Centers. “In addition to the large inventory of plants Miramar produced, we’re adding 20 percent more variety from the huge selection available from Village Nurseries, including Monrovia® Nurseries, Sunset Western Garden Collection™, Southland Sod, and a full line of Kellogg Garden Products.”
The Miramar Super Landscape Center features a seasoned team of professionals including Operations Manager Ken Danzer, Sales Manager Dave Wright and Counter Manager Edna Coleman. Together, they offer customers over 80 years of plant and nursery knowledge and experience.
About Village Nurseries Landscape CentersVillage Nurseries Landscape Centers furnish landscape contrac-tors with the quality, service and selection they require at four California locations: Huntington Beach and Orange in Orange County, the Super Landscape Center at Miramar in San Diego County, and a facility in the Sacramento area.
With the support of Village Nurseries’ growing facilities in both Northern and Southern California, the Landscape Centers offer the most varied and complete plant inventory in the West. All locations offer same day pick up or next day delivery. For further information on products and services, visit www.villagenurserieslc.com or call the nearest local Landscape Center.
About Village Nurseries WholesaleFounded in 1976, Village Nurseries currently owns more than 875 acres of growing facilities located strategically throughout Northern and Southern California. In addition to California, the company serves markets throughout the western United States including Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Texas and Canada. Visit http://www.villagenurseries.com for more information.
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SFV CLCA Valleyscape December 2013 13
Beware of Backflow Theft By Aaron Kelley, Manager, Ewing-Clovis
28 seconds. What can you accomplish in 28 seconds? Maybe answer an email? Respond to a text? Could you remove a
backflow device in 28 seconds? That’s all it takes, according to a customer that came in to replace his this week. He has it on video.
His backflow device sat in an area of his property that is within the view of one of the surveillance cameras that monitor his residence. So, there it is, caught on camera: 28 seconds of the perpetrator – a shadowy figure dressed in black – illegally harvesting roughly $30 in brass from the mainline of my customer’s irrigation system in less than half of a minute.
His was one of five that were taken that night, along the same street. I listened to him estimate the time it would’ve taken this individual to walk between the residences that he knew had suffered the same fate his had. He figures it couldn’t have taken longer than 12-15 minutes for the culprit(s) to flee the scene with their prize.
He asked, “Who in the world would do such a thing?” I truly felt for him, and wished I could issue a legitimate answer.
An All-Too-Common OccurrenceHe’s not the first one to come in to see us with this issue. The City of Clovis has replaced 17 backflow devices in the past 12 weeks, with each one weighing between 26-32 pounds, depending on the size and manufacturer. This amount of brass yields approximately $60-$75 from the local recycling companies that I contacted.
A local church organization has come in to replace three of the units that have been stolen from their buildings around the Fresno area over the past four weeks. At least four other clients of ours came in over the summer to replace backflow devices that have been removed by vandals – some of whom have not only lost the device itself, but also the plant materials that didn’t survive the lack of water during the most consistently hot months of summer on record for this area.
Avoiding Backflow TheftSo how does one avoid becoming a victim of these rampant thefts? There isn’t an ironclad method of keeping your backflow in tact and safe from criminal activity; if they want it bad enough, they’ll just flat find a way to take it. However, there are several things you can do to significantly deter any would-be assailants.
Out of Sight, Out of MindIf a would-be assailant doesn’t see a backflow device in your landscape, they may continue right on past your property and try to find an easier target. The use of burlap tarps is an economical approach to covering a backflow device. When the ends are sealed with duct tape, burlap will keep your backflow out of sight.
For a more tailored disguise, cover the unit with a backflow blanket. These blankets offer a professional look (often dark green in color to blend well with landscapes) and can be ordered to match a specific backflow unit, or be custom-built for larger assemblies. Most backflow blankets also have an eyelet at the
bottom to allow for the use of a locking mechanism. This not only keeps the device out of sight, but also makes it difficult to reach the ball valves that would allow a thief to shut the water off to stay dry while committing the robbery.
The added bonus of using a burlap tarp or a backflow blanket is that either option will also serve to help protect your device from the cold of winter, and the possibility of the unit cracking if the water inside it freezes and expands beyond what the brass body will hold.
Another less obvious option for hiding your backflow unit is to plant something around it that would keep it out of the view of the public. Any number of different bushes or hedges could be used to prevent the possibility of the device being targeted by someone who might be looking to recycle the brass.
If You Build It, They Won’t ComeFor a substantially larger cost – but a much better deterrent, you can opt for a more industrial strength solution. Steel enclosures typically provide a larger and lockable guard for the protection of your device. These are usually painted with a powder coat in either black or green to help them blend in to their surroundings, and can be ordered in several different sizes, shapes and configurations. This approach typically requires a small concrete pad to be poured around the base of the unit, to which the enclosure is attached. While no solution is fool-proof, enclosures offer a sizable enough deterrent, causing most would-be perpetrators to look the other way.
Ignorance Is Not BlissYou are now aware that this type of theft is happening, and happening frequently in your area – so don’t fail to act. Ignorance, indifference, or a delay in action could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars from thieves and scrappers. Regardless of the method used, try to discourage the theft of your backflow assembly. Suppliers like Ewing Irrigation Products can assist you with a variety of theft prevention options.
Aaron Kelley serves as manager of Ewing Irrigation Products, located at 1599 Menlo Ave. in Clovis, Calif. He can be reached at (559) 298-4440 or [email protected].
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14 December 2013 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
Call Our Advertisers First!A-G Sod Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Automatic Sprinkler Controls, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Best/Simplot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Birch Equipment Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Coastline Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover
DIG Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
El Dorado Communications, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Ewing Irrigation Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover
Green Thumb Super Garden Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Gro-Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
LA eXpo (Long Beach) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover
Landscape Contractors Insurance Services . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 12
Netafim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Organo Gold Alkaline Coffees & Teas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Smith Pipe & Supply, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Southland Sod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Southwest Boulder & Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Village Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Vista Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
West Coast Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Yosef Amzalag Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Insert
2013 ADVERTISING RATESAd Agencies: These Rates Are NET and PRORATED for the calendar year.
Ad Size Yearly (12x) Business Card $425 1/4 Page black & white $1,0751/4 Page full color $1,345 1/3 Page black & white $1,500 1/3 Page full color $1,850 1/2 Page black & white $1,800 1/2 Page full color $2,200 Full Page (inside black & white) $3,400 Full Page (inside full color) $4,000 Full Page (back cover full color) $4,500 81⁄2 x11 Insert 1 mo. $325 $3,250(single or double sided, advertiser provided) 2 months free!
11x17 Insert 1 mo. $425 $4,250 (folded, advertiser provided) 2 months free!
NO LOCAL EMPLOYMENT ADS Ad Dimensions – Width x Height
Business Card 3 5/8” x 2”1/4 Page 3 5/8” x 4 5/8”1/3 Pg. vert. 3 5/8” x 6 5/8”1/2 Pg. horiz. 7 1/2” x 4 5/8”
1/2 Pg. vert. 3 5/8” x 9 1/2”Full Page 8 1/2” x 11” + 1/8” bleed all around
Advertiser Index
2013 CLCA State Board of DirectorsPRESIDENT – Frank Niccoli cwm (650) 592-9440
The Village Gardener, Inc., [email protected] – Chuck Carr (805) 732-3705
ValleyCrest Companies, [email protected] PAST PRESIDENT – Eric Watanabe (818) 993-0200
Signature Pools and Landscape, [email protected] – Ted Sandrowski (530) 345-6101
Sandrowski Landscaping, Inc., [email protected]. OF CHAPTER SERVICES – Richard Sheffield (661) 245-1147 Antioch Nursery Landscape & Tree Service, [email protected]
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS – Jessica Centeno (310) 768-4089 Centeno’s Landscaping Co., Inc., [email protected]
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION – Steve Jacobs clt, cwm, clp (760) 945-4321 Nature Designs Landscaping, [email protected]
DIRECTOR OF EVENTS – Eric Briner (559) 453-2539 Briner & Son Landscape Management, [email protected]
DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATION – Pete Dufau clt (805) 642-1239 Dufau Landscape, Inc., [email protected]
DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP – Javier Lesaca (661) 836-0229 Lesaca Landscape Co., [email protected]
DIR. OF RESOURCE MGMT. – Tom Noonan, cid, clia (916) 812-5034 Ewing Irrigation Products, [email protected]
ASSOCIATE MEMBER DIR. – Rick Zinn (925) 864-1088 Horizon, [email protected]
CHAPTER PRESIDENTS COUNCIL (North)Aaron Huxley (805) 235-9503
Hunter Industries/FX Luminaire, [email protected] PRESIDENTS COUNCIL (South)
Steve Beckstrom clt (714) 379-1140 Tierra Verde Landscape, Inc., [email protected] DIRECTOR – Sandra Giarde (916) 830-2780
SFV CLCA Valleyscape December 2013 15 www.ewing1.com/locations
Ingredients: Grass seed, fertilizer, AquaSmart, water-efficient nozzles, smart controller, soil moisture sensors. May contain traces of water and sunshine.
*Water and sunshine may vary state to state. Please see your local branch for more details.
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