11th annual BVC Playground Build

Words: Margaret Foster2013 marked the 11th annual playground build for the BVC of Charlotte and Hidden Valley Elementary School was the proud recipient. Due to the generosity of dozens of Charlotte area companies, many of which contribute year after year, this community event continues to thrive.

With more than 100 volunteers, this year’s playground build for Hidden Valley Elementary was completed by 3 pm on April 17, 2013. The volunteers gathered in the school gymnasium for the 8 am kick off where team leaders were introduced and each volunteer assigned to their team. Teams are built to ensure that each section of the build is covered by the appropriate amount of volunteers. In 6 hours, these teams covert a large patch of dirt to a completed playground.

Sakrete, Inc., has been a proud sponsor of this community event since 2007. Sakrete partners with the Carolina Panthers who donates monetary contributions to the BVC through the Sakrete Sack Program. The total number of 2012 Panther sacks contributed $4,000 to this year’s playground build. In addition to the monetary contribution, Sakrete donated 225 bags of Sakrete Fast Setting Concrete Mix which was used to set the equipment in place. Sakrete also partnered with sister company Oldcastle Lawn and Garden to provide 3400 bags of Soft Landing Mulch.

The Sakrete Team looks forward to this event every year and encourages everyone to find a community service program in your area. Take a look at the progress of the day at www.sakrete.com.
Why "The Software Can't Track That" Is Finally Going Away
August 2026

For as long as specialty contractors have used field software, most of them have kept a workaround somewhere: a spreadsheet on a foreman's laptop, a whiteboard in the trailer, or a text thread where crew leads send block counts at the end of the day becau

Monadnock Building
August 2026

Chicago’s Monadnock Building doesn’t dominate the skyline the way it once did. Surrounded by steel-and-glass towers, the dark brick structure can seem almost understated. But for anyone in the masonry industry, it remains one of the most important buildin

Britt Stokes, Acme Brick’s Director of Marketing, Retires.
August 2026

Fort Worth, Texas – After faithfully serving Acme Brick Company for 40 years, Britt has chosen to retire – although he will still be involved with Acme on various projects. Britt began his career with Acme as staff photographer and through dedicati

The First Paycheck
August 2026

Several years ago, Huntley Brothers hired a young apprentice. It was his first real job, and he had never had a paycheck before. Friday rolled around, and he got paid just like everyone else. Later that day, one of the guys told me something I have never