June 26, 2026
Welcome to the 16th issue of our newsletter.
I hope everyone is enjoying the nice summer weather. If you have a project that you would like to feature in the next issue or know someone that would be interested in receiving our monthly newsletter, send us an email.
Ravenna Gemignani
Editor in Chief
Media Consultant
Project Spotlight
This month, we worked on a house in Hamilton for JRM Construction. The home has a wide kitchen area and large bathroom on the second floor with a separated bathtub and shower.
Builder Spotlight
JRM is one of the preeminent builders in Mercer County. For over thirty years, Jim McCagg has been delivering above average homes at affordable prices for his clients and potential homebuyers. We had the pleasure to sit down with supervisor Mike Yonkowski this month for a quick chat. Mike began his career by taking votech classes in high school. He started working for Jim in his early 20s as a framer. At the time, Jim only framed homes for clients. He soon expanded his business into a full general contractor and development of new homes. Seeing Mike’s talent, he advanced him to lead supervisor. Together, they have built hundreds of homes, worked on major developments and commercial projects. Throughout the years, they faced many challenges. Three major recessions, Hurricane Sandy, and a fickle building environment, yet they remained steadfast and became one of the most trusted builders in the area. We are proud to have worked with them for many years and look forward to a bright future. Thanks Jim and Mike.
Employee Spotlight
Lorenzo is one of our most important subcontractors at Louis & Sons Drywall, Inc. He’s been with us for over three years and leads a team of eight men, installing sheetrock in homes across New Jersey. One of his most challenging drywall projects here was a home in Eatontown that had shelves built into the walls and a rounded decorative ceiling. No design is ever too complex for Lorenzo and his crew and they always get the job done. When Lorenzo comes home from work, he loves spending time with his wife and his six kids. They love going shopping as a family and buying some new clothes. We are so grateful to have Lorenzo on our team.
Employee News
José Jr’s son, Jesé Damian, started his sticker collection for the World Cup! What teams are you rooting for?
Employee News
Norman’s daughter, Adriana, participated in the Girls on the Run program in Toms River. Girls on the Run is a national non-profit after-school program that uses running and physical activity to build social, emotional, and physical skills in 3rd through 8th-grade girls, leading up to a celebratory 5K event at the end of the year. We are so proud of Adriana for this important milestone!
News
DCA Announces NJHOMES Affordable Building Club
On June 3rd, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) launched the NJHOMES Affordable Building Club. This club is free to join and offers virtual education sessions on affordable housing topics such as identifying funding sources, exploring data tools, understanding life-cycle housing, efficient project development, positive community engagement, and more.
For any questions or comments, email NJHOMES@dca.nj.gov
Contact: Erin Knoedler, Legislative Analyst, eknoedler@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.
Source: njslom.org
Mike’s Message
Greetings everyone.
Wow what a month June has been for sports. Golden Tempo wins the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont! They should have ran the Preakness for a true Triple Crown. The Knicks beat San Antonio Spurs in Game 5, ending a 53 year drought. Game 4 was incredible that they came back from a 29 point deficit. Their whole story was about never giving up. I think that’s why everyone embraced them. I’m not much of a basketball fan and if I do watch, I usually root for the Nets because they used to be New Jersey. Nonetheless, I stayed up and watched all the games to the exciting end. Well, actually I fell asleep for most of the 3rd quarter but always woke up in time for the nailbiting conclusions.
It was great to follow and to see the greats like Patrick Ewing, Bill Bradley, Walt Frazier, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain. And who couldn’t tear up a little when Jalen Brunson got the MVP right alongside his dad and assistant coach Rick Brunson? We also had the Stanley Cup Finals. The Devils weren’t in it. Someone tell me who won.
Now, World Cup Fever is all around us and I love it. I am by no means a soccer fan. I mean, how can you follow a sport that can end in a tie? But, to see the enthusiasm of all the fans from different countries is really amazing. Did you see the Japanese fans actually bring bags and clean up the stadium after each game to show respect? What if football fans acted that way? I’m looking at you, Philadelphia. And how about the Scots in Boston? They are having too good a time. I think it’s great!
Sure, traffic will be a mess and prices for everything will go up at certain places, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see what the rest of the world loves and how they represent themselves. There is a lesson in that!
We will soon be celebrating our 250th birthday as a country and I am looking forward to that. I will be celebrating like I always do. A quiet contemplation on how fortunate we are to live in this country. A remembrance for those who fought for our freedom. A beautiful meal shared with family and friends and of course, lots of alcohol and dangerous fireworks. The perfect combination.
I remember the bicentennial in 76. I was 11 years old. It seemed back then we were more into it. Red, white, and blue was everywhere. Elton John sang “Philadelphia Freedom” and the song, “Skyrockets in Flight Afternoon Delight” was a hit. At the time, I thought that was about 4th of July, but now I’m not too sure.
People long for the old days and I do get nostalgic from time to time. But let’s be honest, New York City was a dump in the 70s. People were so divisive about politics. Gas was at an all-time high. And, mortgage rates were through the roof. Good thing that is not at all like that today.
Just kidding, I would like to point out that whatever side of the political fence you sit on, we are all Americans. We celebrate our independence and freedom on 4th of July, we celebrate America. Our neighbors, friends, and family. If you are for one party, I celebrate you. If you are for the other party, I also celebrate you. If you don’t belong to any party, let’s party together. I’ll bring the fireworks and beer. It will be fun!
Thanks everyone and be safe!
Mike Gemignani
President
Cartoon
Caroline’s Corner – Words of Wisdom
Anyone who has met or talked to our Office Manager will know that she is the most positive, optimistic and wonderful person you will ever meet. She often has quotes and stories that get us through our tension-filled days. Here is a monologue that she would like to share from the movie, The Father of the Bride (1991):
“I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say I do. I was wrong. That’s getting married. A wedding is an entirely different proposition. I know. I’ve just been through one. Not my own, my daughter’s. Annie Banks Mackenzie. That’s her married name: Mackenzie. You fathers will understand. You have a little girl. An adorable little girl who looks up to you and adores you in a way you could never have imagined. I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine. Then comes the day when she wants to get her ears pierced, and wants you to drop her off a block before the movie theater. From that moment on you’re in a constant panic. You worry about her meeting the wrong kind of guy, the kind of guy who only wants one thing, and you know exactly what that one thing is, because it’s the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then, you stop worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy. That’s the greatest fear of all, because then you lose her. It was just six months ago that that happened here. Just six months ago, the storm broke.”
Jokes
I can’t stop stealing stomach relief from the pharmacy
Call it Klepto-Bismol
One day, Canada will rule the world…
Then everyone will be sorry.
I just got a job at the US mint
It’s not very fulfilling, but I make a lot of money.
Quotes
“We must always set the bar high, otherwise we do not progress.”
― Kylian Mbappé, French soccer player
“It’s not about having the right opportunities. It’s about handling the opportunities right.”
— Mark Hunter, American salesman
“Dreams don’t work unless you do.”
― John C. Maxwell, American author and orator
Louis & Sons Drywall, Inc. 