Life on the River : Climate Change

After moving our trucks to higher ground, we weathered last week's storm alright. Lots of water, and road closures that affected our business and forced us to close on Monday are barely worth complaining about, considering what our neighbors in Stony Point, Fort Montgomery, Highland Falls and West Point are still experiencing. 

But as legislators use terms like "Hundred Year Storms" to describe storms that are coming every decade, there is no denying that climate change is real, and it will affect our lives personally and professionally.

To work towards a better tomorrow, check out the following resources : 

UN Tips to Fight Climate Change

HEATED Newsletter

Indigenous Climate Action

Brooklyn Film Festival : The Fabricator

At the end of 2021, our friend Frank Vitale talked to us about doing an interview with WHK shop foreman, Dink Stalter. At first Dink shot down the idea, but eventually came around, and boy are we glad he did! In his short documentary, The Fabricator, Frank really captured Dink’s exceptional talent and stoic love for the work he does.

And now, the film will be shown at the Brooklyn Film Festival, on Sunday, June 12th at 2pm!

WE GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS...

IT’S BEEN A WHILE… WHAT DID WE MISS?

JUST KIDDING. WE ARE WELL AWARE THAT 2020 HAS BEEN A DUMPSTER FIRE.

OVER HERE WE ARE ACTUALLY VERY BUSY AND VERY GRATEFUL TO BE BUSY.

SO WE’RE GOING TO GET BACK TO WORK, BUT WANTED TO LEAVE YOU WITH THESE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES THAT OUR FRIEND DUANE REED TOOK OF THE STEEL AT OURSHOP DURING A MASKED, SOCIALLY DISTANCED VISIT THIS SUMMER. (I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING NEW YORKERS… YES, THAT IS HIS REAL NAME. HIS WIFE SANDRA IS AMAZING TOO.)

WE WILL POST AGAIN SOON, BUT UNTIL THEN, BE WELL.

WHK : 4th GENERATION

SORRY FOR THE RADIO SILENCE, BUT ELLIE HAS BEEN BUSY OVER HERE GROWING AND BIRTHING WHK’S 4TH GENERATION: MEET ZENZI! (PRONOUNCED ZEN-ZEE : IT’S SOUTH AFRICAN.) HE DOES A LOT OF SLEEPING ON THE JOB, BUT BOY DOES HE MOTIVATE THE REST OF THE TEAM.

HE JOINED THE WORLD ON NOVEMBER 26TH AND HAS BEEN ENJOYING MANY FIRSTS. IN OTHER WHK RELATED TRIVIA, HIS MIDDLE NAME IS WOLFGANG, AFTER OUR COMPANY’S FOUNDER.

HE GENERALLY COMES TO THE OFFICE IN THE AFTERNOONS, SO SWING BY IF YOU WANT TO MEET HIM!

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DID YOU KNOW : WHK IS ALL ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT

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IT PROBABLY DOESN'T TAKE TOO LONG KNOWING US TO KNOW THAT WE'RE A BUNCH OF OUTDOORS PERSONS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS OVER HERE AT W.H. KASSNER, INC.  WHAT'S MORE IS THAT WE REALLY WEAR OUR HEART ON OUR SLEEVES AND PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS WHEN IT COMES TO APPRECIATING OUT ENVIRONMENT. 

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN'T MISS OUR 9 KW SOLAR ARRAY SYSTEM ON TOP OF THE SHOP. 

FOREMAN, DINK STALTER, SPENDS MORE TIME IN THE WOODS OF HARRIMAN PARK THAN ANYONE WE KNOW AND KNOWS IT LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND.

ERIC AND ELLIE ARE CONSTANTLY TAKING OUT THEIR LITTLE SAILBOAT THE DWERG (ACCESSIBLE VIA THE S.S. NOODLE) ON THE HUDSON RIVER. 

DIRK RIDES HIS MOTORCYCLE THROUGH THE PARK REGULARLY. 

JUST THOUGHT WE'D SHARE THAT WE LOVE WHERE WE LIVE AND WORK, MORE THAN JUST SUSTAINING OUR 50+ YEAR OLD BUSINESS! 

Stunning view of Lake Welch (in Harriman State Park) on the way to a jobsite in Tuxedo Park, New York 

Stunning view of Lake Welch (in Harriman State Park) on the way to a jobsite in Tuxedo Park, New York 

Setting sail on the Hudson River

Setting sail on the Hudson River

photo courtesy of Mindshine Creative

photo courtesy of Mindshine Creative

REDC PTAC

EVER FEEL LIKE YOU'RE SWIMMING IN ALPHABET SOUP WHEN WORKING ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS?! US TOO. BUT IF THERE'S ONE YOU REALLY NEED TO GET TO KNOW IT'S REDC PTAC. THE ROCKLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HOUSES THE AREA'S PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN OFFERING SMALL BUSINESSES FREE RESOURCES TO PURSUE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING VIA COUNSELING, NETWORKING AND SO MUCH MORE. THERE IS NO BETTER TEAM TO TURN TO. 

CHECK OUT THEIR LATEST PROMO WITH A CAMEO FROM OUR VERY OWN, ELLIE KASSNER! 

ROCKLAND PLUS

NOT A LOT OF THINGS IN HIGH SCHOOL ARE COOL - BUT THIS IS SO COOL...

LAST WEEK, WHK PRESIDENT ELLIE KASSNER ATTENDED ROCKLAND P.L.U.S. (PLANNING LAND USE WITH STUDENTS) AS AN INVITED MENTOR. SUPPORTED BY KEEP ROCKLAND BEAUTIFUL, CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, SUEZ, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE AND MANY MORE, THE PROGRAM BRINGS TOGETHER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO BRAINSTORM IDEAS OF WHAT TO DO WITH OPEN LAND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.  

WORKING WITH A TEAM FROM NORTH ROCKLAND HIGH SCHOOL (RAIDER PRIDE!), THE TEAM OF STUDENT'S ELLIE WORKED WITH FOCUSED ON TEVA LABS FORMER CAMPUS ON QUAKER ROAD. WHAT WAS EVEN MORE AMAZING, WAS THAT WHILE THE STUDENTS HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO VISIT THE SITE, ELLIE WAS ABLE TO GIVE THEM INSIGHT AFTER WORKING ON THE SITE FOR OVER A DECADE. 

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OF THE EXPERIENCE, ELLIE SAID "STUDENTS ARE THE FUTURE - AND THE FUTURE CAN START AS SOON AS WE MOVE OUT OF THE WAY AND START INCORPORATING EVERYONE'S VOICES INTO OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT INCLUDES PLANNING. THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF PROGRAM OUR WORLD NEEDS AND IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THESE STUDENTS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE!"

LIKE WE SAID... SO COOL.

THE STONY POINT CENTER MEDITATION SPACE & ROCKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE

A FEW YEARS AGO (MAYBE 15?!), WE WERE INVOLVED WITH A PROJECT AT THE STONY POINT CENTER, AN MULTIFAITH RETREAT CENTER, RIGHT HERE IN OUR HOMETOWN, BUILDING A BEAUTIFUL, OPEN MEDITATION SPACE.

LAST WEEK, FORMER OWNER ERIC KASSNER MET WITH CAD & ARCHITECTURE PROFESSOR KHADER HUMIED OF ROCKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND HIS CURRENT CLASS TO LOOK AT THE SPACE AND DISCUSS SOME OF THE DESIGN ELEMENTS. 

ERIC MENTIONED THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS APPROACHED THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE SPACE FROM A MORE ARTISTICALLY INFORMED MENTALITY WHILE THE OTHER HALF OF STUDENTS TOOK A MORE MATHEMATIC ROUTE. 

IT'S GREAT TO REFLECT (OR SHOULD WE SAY MEDITATE?) ON A PAST PROJECT THAT HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF MANY, BUT IT'S ALSO GREAT TO GIVE BACK TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUILDERS!

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THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE PROJECT UPDATE

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WINTER IS HERE, AND TAPPAN ZEE CONSTRUCTORS HAS IMPLEMENTED WESTCHESTER LANDING SHUTDOWNS FOR A FEW WEEKS UNTIL THE WEATHER MELLOWS OUT. THAT GIVES US A CHANCE TO UPDATE EVERYONE ON THE PROJECT! IT'S BEEN SUCH AN HONOR AND AN AMAZING PRIVILEGE TO WORK ON SUCH A HISTORIC PROJECT THAT IS SO NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HOMES AND HEARTS. 

OUR WORK ON THE PERMANENT MAINTENANCE FACILITY HAS MADE BIG LEAPS, AND ABOUT HALF OF OUR FABRICATIONS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. AFTER THE WEATHER STAY, WE WILL BE INSTALLING STAIR 1 AND THE REST OF OUR PROJECT SCOPE.

OUR WORK ON THE STATE POLICE FACILITY IS ALSO COMING ALONG. WE'RE ABOUT TO FINISH UP WITH SUBMITTALS AND WILL BE HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING AS SOON AS THE SITE OPENS BACK UP! 

CHECK OUT THE ARTICLES LINKED ABOVE FOR THE ARTICLES WRITTEN DIRECTLY BY TAPPAN ZEE CONSTRUCTORS THEMSELVES! 

BEHIND THE SCENES : HER BIG IDEA

HER BIG IDEA AIRS TONIGHT AT 8:30 ON NEW YORK CITY MEDIA, FEATURING OUR VERY OWN ELLIE KASSNER. WE FIGURED THAT WE'D COMPLIMENT THE EPISODE BY SHARING SOME "BEHIND THE SCENES" DETAILS ON THE FILMING AND THE OTHER WOMEN FEATURED ON THE EPISODE.

  • THE NYC MEDIA TEAM FILMED THE SEGMENT IN JUNE 2017.
  • THE BAR STOOLS WE'RE SITTING ON DURING THE INTERVIEW PORTION WERE MADE FOR ELLIE KASSNER BY SHOP CO-FOREMAN, LOREN STALTER.
  • WE HEADED OVER TO OUR FAVORITE BREWERY, INDUSTRIAL ARTS BREWING COMPANY, TO SHOW OFF SOME OF OUR FINEST PLATFORMING WORK. 
  • AT INDUSTRIAL ARTS BREWING CO. IT CAME OUT THAT NONE OF THE FILMING CREW DRINKS BEER! HERE AT WHK, WE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THAT KIND OF WORK ENVIRONMENT.
  • MALENE BARNETT AND ELLIE KASSNER HAVE SAT ON MANY PANELS TOGETHER INCLUDING EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN NEW YORK CITY AT THE BROOKLYN HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND LEVELING THE PAYING FIELD AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY (PHOTO BELOW).
  • ELLIE PERSONALLY HAS A RUG AND WALL COVERING OF MALENE B'S IN HER HOME. 
  • LEITH HILL OF ELLARY'S GREENS HOSTED A MENTOR GET TOGETHER LAST MONTH WHERE ELLIE AND LEITH HIT IT OFF!
  • AT THE MIXER LEITH SERVED ELLIE'S FAVORITE SINFUL DISH : BRUSSEL SPROUTS AND BACON WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE. DIVINE!

WELP, IF THAT'S NOT SOME INSIDER TRADING THEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. 

ENJOY THE SHOW AND THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF W.H. KASSNER, INC. WE'RE SURE FIRST GENERATION OWNER, WOLFGANG HUGO KASSNER, COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED THAT HIS GRANDDAUGHTER WOULD BE RUNNING THE BUSINESS OR ATTRACTING SPECIAL ATTENTION, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT HE'D BE SO PROUD. 

ELLIE KASSNER AND FELLOW WENYC MENTORS MALENE BARNETT, DEEPTI SHARMA AND CHRISTINE RICO AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY CONTRIBUTING TO LEVELING THE PAYING FIELD A PANEL DISCUSSION HOSTED BY THE COUNTRIES OF DENMARK AND PANAMA.

ELLIE KASSNER AND FELLOW WENYC MENTORS MALENE BARNETT, DEEPTI SHARMA AND CHRISTINE RICO AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY CONTRIBUTING TO LEVELING THE PAYING FIELD A PANEL DISCUSSION HOSTED BY THE COUNTRIES OF DENMARK AND PANAMA.

ELLIE AND MALENE ON SOME WENYC PRINTED PRESS. 

ELLIE AND MALENE ON SOME WENYC PRINTED PRESS. 

METALWORKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FAMILY TREE

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JUST BY COMING TO OUR WEBSITE, YOU MUST KNOW THAT WE'RE MULTIGENERATION AROUND HERE AT WHK. WE'RE PRETTY PROUD OF THAT.

BUT, ONE THING YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW, IS THAT OWNERS AND OPERATORS, TWIN SIBLINGS ELLIE AND DIRK KASSNER, INHERITED METALWORK FROM BOTH SIDES OF THEIR GENETICS POOL! THEIR MOTHER, AVIS KASSNER, WAS FORMERLY AVIS WOLFING, DAUGHTER OF ALBERT WOLFING WHO OWNED HAVERSTRAW SHEET METAL. FOUNDED IN THE 192Os BY HIS GRANDFATHER EMIL, ALBERT WAS A SECOND GENERATION TIN KNOCKER. HE SPECIALIZED IN FABRICATING CUSTOM COMMERCIAL SHEET METAL APPLICATIONS INCLUDING BY NOT LIMITED TO : OSHA GUARDS, DUCT WORK BACK SPLASHES AND COPPER ROOFS. IN FACT, HE DID A LOT OF WORK WITH THE GARNERVILLE ARTS COMPLEX, WITH WHOM WE STILL WORK TODAY AS WHK!

WHILE THE COMPANY WAS DISBANDED IN THE MID 1990s AS BIG AL's HEALTH DECLINED, HIS LEGACY LIVES ON!

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WHILE THIS CLASSIC RAGTIME CLIP DOESN'T GIVE ANYONE A WARM FUZZY FEELING, WE INCLUDED IT BECAUSE THE SHOP IN THE BACKGROUND IS THE WOLFING HAVERSTRAW SHEET METAL SHOP. CHECK IT OUT : 

TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE RIBBON CUTTING

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OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WE'VE WATCHED AND PARTICIPATED AS THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE WAS BEING BUILT. IT'S BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO BE INVOLVED IN A PROJECT THAT WE CAN SHOW OUR FAMILIES FOR YEARS TO COME. WHAT'S MORE, IS THAT THE PROJECT IS HAPPENING ON TIME, ON BUDGET, AND MEETING SUPPLIER DIVERSITY GOALS!!! 

CHECK OUT THIS WONDERFUL ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ABOUT THE PROJECT. 

NYC HERE WE COME!

THERE'S NO PLACE IN THE WORLD LIKE NEW YORK CITY AND WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON A PROJECT IN THE HEART OF IT ALL! 

EMPIRE CONSTRUCTION HAS HIRED WHK TO REPLACE THE HANDRAILS AT NONE OTHER THAN 34TH STREET, HERALD SQUARE STATION. 

IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO WORK WITH NEW CONTRACTORS, BUT ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO WORK IN THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL USE! (ALTHOUGH PROBABLY WITHOUT EVEN THINKING OF IT.) 

SUPPORTING FRIENDS & RECEIVING GIF(T)S

HANNAH HANCOCK RUBINSKY, OUR FAVORITE BARTENDER AT INDUSTRIAL ARTS BREWING COMPANY (SORRY NICK!) IS WORKING ON FILM PROJECT, SPLIT. IT'S ABOUT THE DIFFERENT LIFE PATHS A PERSON COULD TAKE. AS A CROWDFUNDING GIF(T) (SEE WHAT WE DID THERE?!), THIS WAS CREATED! WHILE IT'S NOT QUITE IRONWORK, WE THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING TO HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENT ROLES ENTREPRENEURS CAN PLAY, ALL IN THE SAME DAY!

STRATEGIC STEPS FOR GROWTH GRADUATION KEYNOTE

LAST NIGHT OUR PRESIDENT, ELLIE KASSNER, HAD THE PLEASURE OF ADDRESSING THE EIGHTH COHORT GRADUATES OF THE STRATEGIC STEPS FOR GROWTH PROGRAM RUN BY NYC SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES AND NYU. GRADUATES SUCH AS HEATHER AMAN OF AMAN ARCHITECTS, AND JENNIFER ANDREWS OF MASTERWORK PLAQUES, INC. DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO THE COURSEWORK AND ARE SO FULL OF PROMISE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GROUP AND BEST OF LUCK MOVING FORWARD!

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