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Based in Newport, Maine, Lakeside Concrete Cutting Inc. is a seasoned contractor specializing in concrete cutting, core drilling, and demolition services. With decades of experience and reliability, the company has grown into a key player in the regional construction industry.
The company began with founder Earle Peters, who moved to Maine in the late 1970s as a union electrician working at the Sappi paper mill. In 1980, he launched his own electrical business, Lakeside Electric. By the 1990s, recognizing a growing demand for specialized concrete services, Peters began transitioning the business toward concrete cutting and core drilling.
“He started core drilling for plumbing companies and eventually began cutting concrete,” said his son, Ryan Peters.
The evolution culminated in 2012 when the company officially rebranded as Lakeside Concrete Cutting Inc.
Ryan Peters joined the company early, working with his father during high school and college. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management Technology from
Lakeside Concrete Cutting purchased this NYE concrete pulverizer from National Attachments.
the University of Maine in 2006, he built a solid career in the construction industry. Between 2006 and 2012, he served as a field engineer and project manager for several firms across Maine, Massachusetts, and Maryland.
see LAKESIDE page 12
Spillway, Dam Reconstruction Finally Begins at UConn’s Mirror Lake in Storrs Lakeside Concrete Cutting Creates Legacy of Transformation, Growth
Spillway replacement and dam reconstruction on Mirror Lake got under way at the University of Connecticut in Storrs over spring break with workers fencing the project site.
The work is expected to last approximately one year and is starting eight months later than predicted, the Daily Campus, the school’s student newspaper, reported April 4, 2025.
Initial drafts of the improvement noted that hydraulic
dredging would be one action in addressing safety concerns regarding the lake’s water quality and flooding concerns. According to the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), dredging increases water capacity by removing sediment and debris from the bottom of a body of water. However, challenges in the university’s budget required a redesign of the plan that held off on the dredging and delayed construction, noted
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Project to Build $70M Fieldhouse+ in Dorchester Begins
Officials from across the Boston, Mass., area came together April 17, 2025, in Dorchester, a neighborhood on the city’s south end, to break ground next to heavy construction equipment on the $70 million Fieldhouse+ project, an athletics and community space complex.
The event was held with great fanfare, while also delivering a surprise announcement from Gov. Maura Healey of a new $12 million commitment to the facility’s ongoing fundraising effort.
The 75,000-sq.-ft. project, to be built on a city-owned parcel along Mt. Vernon Street at Columbia Point, will combine an expansive indoor athletic facility for young people and community members with a wellness and social-emotional programming space, in addition to delivering an inclusive environment for those with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Fieldhouse+ is the result of a partnership between the Martin Richard Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester (BGCD), and the City of Boston.
Healy’s announcement brought the fundraising total so far to $55 million as construction gets under way.
“I can’t think of a better investment to make than this investment,” she said at the ceremony. “With all the uncertainty now going on, let’s take a minute and take a break and enjoy something that is awesome and good and shows what we can do when we’re all rowing in the same direction.”
Bill Richard, co-founder of the Martin Richard Foundation and father of the late Martin Richard — who died at the age of 8 in the terrorist attack on the 2013 Boston Marathon — was so overcome with excitement at Healey’s announcement that he sprinted to the stage and gave the governor a high-five, according to the Dorchester Reporter.
It was one of many moments throughout the roughly 90-minute ceremony where tears of joy were shed in what was roundly described as a milestone moment for the neighborhood and the entire community.
“It was super-emotional for me when you called and gave us the heads up [on that commitment],” Richard later told Healy, “because I think we’d all have fallen off our chairs today if we hadn’t known ahead of time. I want you to know we won’t let you down, [and] we won’t let the state down because this is going to be an incredible project that will change lives.”
Upon hearing the news of the state’s contribution, Bob Scannell, president and CEO of BGCD, said, “Wow. That changes things a little bit. I don’t know what to say other than your investment to the youth of our city means we’re going to get there. We may not have gotten there without that kind of infu-
Fieldhouse+ is the result of a partnership between the Martin
(BGCD) and the city of Boston.
sion.”
He said that Fieldhouse+ will serve all 4,000 current members of BGCD and will likely add another 5,000 young people to the mix from the adjacent Ruth Batson 7-12 Academy, all of whom will have full access during the school day to play different sports at the complex.
“All these kids here deserve to have the same access to world-class facilities as their suburban peers,” he said. “It won’t matter where they come from, what neighborhood they live in, how much money they have, the color of their skin or anything else, this will be a place for them. We know we can do more, and this facility will allow us to do just that.”
Richard, speaking for his wife and two surviving children, noted that an indoor facility for Dorchester’s kids has been a long-standing dream. Years ago, he and a friend had conjured up an idea to buy the old Ashmont Tire shop in Peabody Square and convert it into a fieldhouse, but with no funding, he said, it was unworkable at the time.
“The Fieldhouse+ was born of necessity, of parents that wanted better for their kids,” he said. “We were tired and cold sitting together in worn facilities and, yes, we were envious when we went to those leafy suburbs for long weekend sports tournaments. The need was there, but it just took someone as crazy as me to say, ‘Let’s go for it.’ We
lost Martin 12 years ago this week and obviously he would love a place like the Fieldhouse. I think of him often playing in gyms, on the baseball diamond, shooting pucks and competing [while] meeting new friends and forging memories.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu called the new facility “game-changing, life-changing, city-changing” and will remain so for many years to come.
“We’re going to keep running forward through the finish line,” she said. “This Fieldhouse+ is going to be home for generations of kids who are going to turn into teenagers, who are going to turn into the leaders sitting in these seats and making the next round of changes that will shape our city for decades and generations to come.”
Building Facility’s Foundation to Last All Summer 2025
Dorchester’s Fieldhouse+ already had full approvals and a building permit, which allowed construction to begin right away, the Reporter noted.
RODE Architects and Lee Kennedy Co., the general contractor — both of which are based in Dorchester — worked together to coordinate the design and construction of the new facility.
Lee Kennedy, the CEO of his namesake company, also serves as chair of the BGCD board and has “his very best team” working on the project, Scannell told the Dorchester
Reporter.
The project’s initial work will be on the foundation, including driving in pressureinjected footings to support the weight of the building. That effort will last through the summer of 2025 as fundraising continues to secure the facility’s remaining $15 million.
Kennedy said that he believes his firm could possibly finish the project in 2026.
Rooftop Deck to Be Named After Long-Time BGCD Leader
A portion of the groundbreaking festivities focused on Quenette ‘Queenie’ Santos, who has lived on Columbia Point for 60 years and worked as a youth development leader at BGCD for half that time. During the program, Scannell revealed that an anonymous donor had requested that the rooftop deck and garden on the Fieldhouse+ be named in her honor.
“The opportunity in that space will be amazing,” said Scannell. “To me, your story is a wonderful story. For you to come though all you saw, the great stuff and not so great stuff, and now for the work you do, this anonymous donor wants to recognize you. It will be done with this very permanent space that will have your name on it.”
Moved to tears, Santos said, “Thirty years ago Bob did all the hiring and I told him I would give him one year as the teen director. It’s been 30 now and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Fieldhouse+ render
Richard Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester
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Ahearn Equipment to Sell, Service Hyundai Equipment in N.H.
Hyundai photo
HD Hyundai Construction Equipment North America has added Ahearn Equipment’s Hudson, N.H., location to its North American dealer network. (L-R) are Brad Wilkins, branch manager, Ahearn Equipment; Josh Ahearn, CEO, Ahearn Equipment; Brian Slavinski, northeast district manager, HD Hyundai CE NA; Justin Adams, director of sales, Ahearn Equipment; and Jonathan Wise, district service manager, HD Hyundai CE NA.
HD Hyundai Construction Equipment North America announced the addition of Ahearn Equipment’s Hudson, N.H., location to its dealer network to sell and service the full line of Hyundai equipment to customers across New Hampshire.
In business for nearly 50 years, Ahearn started operations in Massachusetts as an agricultural equipment dealership and eventually expanded to include locations in Rhode Island and New Hampshire. It began shifting toward construction equipment in 2011, changing its focus as the population changed. Josh and Jeremy Ahearn, sons of the founder, continued to grow the business, expanding beyond compact construction equipment to heavy equipment and most recently, equipment rentals.
“We’re genuinely excited to be carrying the full lineup of Hyundai construction equipment,” said Justin Adams, Ahearn Equipment’s sales director. “Josh and I really advocated to bring in the Hyundai brand. I worked with my dad in construction for many years, and we ran a Hyundai 2001 160-LC3 excavator for more than 6,000 hours with minimal issues. Hyundai equipment is easy to sell and service. It’s a product we believe in.”
Adams said, “The high-quality Hyundai machines provide the perfect complement to Ahearn’s service commitment. We aim to give our customers the best in industry service. We treat each other like family, and we try to treat our customers the same way.”
Brian Slavinski, HD Hyundai Construction Equipment North America’s northeast district manager, said, “Ahearn’s dedication to ‘on-time earthmoving solutions’ makes them a great fit for Hyundai and our customers in this area. With their 8,500-sq.-ft. facility in Hudson and their exceptional service team, we know our customers will be well served.”
Conn. MTA Station Delays Upgrades; Road Receives Funding
Renovations on the Darien Metro-North Railroad train station in Connecticut will not be completed until next year following multiple setbacks, according to Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky.
Construction is ongoing to extensively renovate the downtown station, with upgrades including platform replacements on both sides, new hydraulic elevators and the state’s first electrically-heated train platform, which would help the town to avoid salting it with ice during the winter, the Darien Times reported April 8, 2025.
Banton Construction Co. in North Haven is the contractor making upgrades to the Darien station, a key commuter stop on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Metro-North rail line, which connects Connecticut with New York City.
The project involves the complete historical renovation of the existing station, in addition to installing a pair of elevators and new canopy systems over the existing platforms, Banton noted on its website.
In order to construct the concrete structures for the new elevators, extensive work had to be performed on the existing railroad bridge over nearby U.S. Highway 1, which led to the use of driven horizontal tie-backs and soil nailing procedures.
Before the renovations, Banton also built
a fully operational temporary station.
The replacement of the station’s eastern platform is now slated to finish by the end of August 2025, while the entire project, originally slated to be finished in May 2025, will likely be pushed to March 2026 barring any further delays, Zagrodzky explained.
He said that the estimated cost of the project, which is state funded, is now closer to $40 million as a result of the impediments. The upgrades were initially budgeted at $34 million, but the slowdowns have added another $6 million to the cost.
One of the setbacks stems from production delays on the electric panels intended for the heated platform, which Zagrodzky said are difficult to manufacture.
Construction also reportedly ran into unexpected infrastructure while digging trenches for the electrical supply that would power the heated platform. Workers discovered the demolished remains of a 19th century building that was paved over, Zagrodzky said, which needed to be excavated to allow for the station’s electrical installation.
Crews also had to fix damage to the train station itself.
In the time between platform repairs — last replaced in 2003, Zagrodzky said — years of salting created worse damage than
anticipated, affecting not just the platform but the structure’s foundation as well.
Despite the delays, he told the Times that the Darien train station “really should look terrific by the time they’re finished.”
“After having met with the construction team and the leadership earlier this week, I’m confident that they’re on top of this,” said Zagrodzky in early April 2025. “They’ve also committed to keep us informed about any further delays.”
Manchester Gets $6.7 Million Funding for Tolland Turnpike Rebuild
Town officials in Manchester, Conn. are in the early stages of a plan to reconstruct part of the Tolland Turnpike, backed by $6.7 million in state and federal funding.
At a meeting on April 1, 2025, the Manchester Board of Directors allocated the grant from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) for the purpose of reconstructing Tolland Turnpike between Chapel Road and Buckland Street.
The funding consisted of $4 million from the federal government, along with $500,000 through the Surface Transportation Program Hartford and another $2.2 million in state funds through the Local Transportation Capital Improvement
Program.
In total, the project is anticipated to cost $7.2 million, with the remaining $500,000 to be covered by a local match allocated through a public works bond referendum approved by Manchester voters in November 2023.
Town Engineer Jeff LaMalva told the Manchester Journal Inquirer that the project involves reconstructing the pavement surface of a roughly mile-long stretch of Tolland Turnpike, including the two railroad crossings, as well as construction of a “shared-use path” on the south side of the road.
As for why the work is necessary, he said the targeted stretch of roadway is in poor condition with pavement conditions index ratings between 28 and 46, where 100 is the best condition possible and zero is the worst.
LaMalva added that the project is conceptual in nature, but the town will begin the design and permitting phase this summer, with the on-site construction anticipated to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. A public engagement meeting will be held as part of that work.
“We are very grateful for the federal and state funding for this project as this would likely need to be completed in phases if entirely funded locally,” LaMalva said.
Equipment Plays Key Role in Company’s Diversification
LAKESIDE from page 1
“I worked as a field engineer for PC Construction and Treviicos Corporation, and as a project manager for Blaine Casey Building Contractor,” said Peters.
In 2012, Ryan began the process of taking over the family business. He became president and sole owner in June 2015, following his father’s retirement. Under Ryan’s leadership, the company experienced steady growth.
“When I first became involved in 2012, there were four of us total,” he said. “We increased our staff to six over the first two years.”
Today, Lakeside Concrete Cutting employs between 25 and 40 people, managing around seven projects daily.
Expanding Into Demolition
The company’s entry into demolition was unexpected but transformative.
“We were cutting concrete at Brewer High School,” Peters said. “It was a school renovation, and we had a $30,000 contract to cut a slab in the kitchen. The general contractor called and told me the demolition contractor wouldn’t release the concrete cutting from his scope. He offered me $2,000 to walk away from the job.”
Instead of walking away, Peters asked about bidding on the demolition itself — and won the job.
“The demo added $70,000 to the original $30,000, turning it into a $100,000 project,” Peters said. “That was our first demolition job. After that, we started bidding more demo work, hired more people and focused on labor-intensive demolition — tearing down walls, ceilings, and pulling up flooring by hand.”
Since then, Lakeside’s demolition capabilities have grown
Lakeside Concrete Cutting cuts steel with NYE steel scrap shear on a Hyundai HX
Massive tanks at the paper mill site await demolition.
significantly. A recent high-profile project includes the tank demolition at the former Great Northern Paper mill in Millinocket, a Brownfields project funded by the EPA. The project involves the demolition of infrastructure around the paper mill including two 2.3 million gal. tanks.
“We bid the project at just over $2 million, though the EPA grant was $1.5 million,” said Peters. “We were awarded $800,000 for the initial phase.
“We are also engaged in a Brownsfield project in Waterville to demolish an old pub and a housing development,” Peters added.
Diversifying With Abatement Services
In 2018, Lakeside earned its asbestos abatement license, opening the door to new opportunities.
“We were invited to bid on an 11-story hotel in Portland. Other contractors were too busy, so we jumped in,” Peters said.
That project marked the beginning of a new chapter. In September 2020, the company acquired Abatement Professionals, Maine’s first and leading asbestos abatement firm.
“Our staff doubled from 25 to 50, and our workload did too,” said Peters.
The acquisition expanded Lakeside’s service offerings to include asbestos abatement, mold remediation, lead abatement, vermiculite removal, roll-off disposal, and indoor air quality services.
The NYE grapple makes short work of infrastructure demolition.
The NYE concrete pulverizer separates rebar from concrete.
380.
TANA Names Lorusso Heavy Equipment Authorized Dealer
Humdinger Equipment announced Lorusso Heavy Equipment as the newest authorized TANA dealer.
This partnership expands TANA’s presence and support in the New England region, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
With a reputation for excellence in customer service and long-term experience with heavy equipment, Lorusso Heavy Equipment is well-positioned to deliver TANA’s premium line of landfill compactors and shredders to the area, according to Humdinger.
“We choose to partner with dealers who consistently deliver exceptional, reliable service,” said Dusty Zeigler, director, dealership development of Humdinger Equipment, TANA North America. “Lorusso Heavy Equipment is a strong addition to our dealer network and we’re confident they will provide outstanding support to our customers in the region.”
As an authorized TANA dealer, Lorusso Heavy Equipment will provide sales, service, rentals and technical support for TANA equipment.
For more information, visit tananorthamerica.com.
Turner Construction Leads Project at UConn’s Mirror Lake
an article in UConn Today.
Stephanie Reitz, a university spokesperson, said that this redesigned plan, due to financial considerations, does not detract from the demand for dredging in the lake.
“The project was delayed as UConn reviewed its financial constraints and determined that the proposal involving [a full dredge of] Mirror Lake was cost prohibitive at this time,” Reitz said in an e-mail to the Daily Campus. “While we agree on its benefits, the resources were needed elsewhere as we prioritize our academic and research missions and our student services amid budget challenges.”
Turner Construction Co. in Shelton, Conn., is the contractor making the improvements at Mirror Lake.
The revised construction plan focuses on repairing the lake’s dam and spillway rather than dredging. Repairs will occur as a response to the safety concerns brought up in a 2019 Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) survey that classified the lake as a hazard, the Hartford Courant has reported.
In addition, UConn Today noted that sediment runoff contributed to the hazardous conditions by reducing the capacity of Mirror Lake. As a result, water was over-
flowing near the spillway and pooling within drainage pipes downstream. A spillway is defined as a part of a dam designed for water to flow freely over the dam during floods.
An ArcGIS StoryMap created by UConn faculty for an environmental storytelling course said that the hazardous conditions of the lake can be explained by the history of development around Storrs.
“Runoff increases with development because while rainwater can be absorbed by natural groundcover like trees, grasses and shrubs, [it] cannot be absorbed by impervious surfaces like buildings, streets, parking lots and other paved surfaces,” the StoryMap said.
In her e-mail to the Daily Campus, Reitz said that only some of the sediment causing this overflow can be characterized by human development.
“The material that has built up on the lake’s bottom is a deep layer of muck containing sediment [made up of dirt and sand] that has flowed into the river over time along with leaves and other vegetation, [plus] waste from the ducks and birds that frequent the lake and other runoff,” she said.
While wildlife sources are a naturallyoccurring source of sediment in the water,
the dirt and sand creating the lake’s layer of muck likely flows into feeder streams from nearby roads, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Mirror Lake Critical to Managing UConnÊs Stormwater Runoff
While the dam construction is designed to improve Mirror Lake’s ecosystem, the process that UConn must go through to make these changes will not come without its downsides, noted the Record of Decision for the lake’s improvements, which said, “Limited unavoidable temporary impacts are anticipated during the construction phase, including construction-related impacts to traffic, air quality, noise, hazardous materials, solid waste, aesthetics, turbidity and stormwater.”
Reitz said that UConn will manage some of these obstacles for its students, such as keeping Connecticut Highway 195/Storrs Avenue, which runs along the east side of Mirror Lake, open during the construction.
The work will be paused during the busiest high-traffic periods on campus over the next several months, including commencement activities, the days when students move out of their dormitories at the end of the current term and when they move-in again next fall, she said.
Students may see workers near the dam, spillway or in the water as they set up temporary dams and other equipment, but Reitz said that there will be no reason for concern. Mirror Lake is a key component of the Roberts Brook watershed, according to the UConn StoryMap.
While not technically a “lake,” the approximately 5-acre stormwater basin serves a crucial role in the management of campus runoff and is within the Roberts Brook watershed. Rainfall runoff and snow melt flows off hard surfaces at the university into Mirror Lake and on to Roberts Brook before flowing into the larger Fenton River. Each of these watersheds are located within drinking water supply areas.
UCONN from page 1
UConn photo
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Attachments Lend Big Assist On Lakeside Concrete’s Projects
Investing in Equipment, Local Partnerships
To support its growing demolition operations, Lakeside has invested in state-of-the-art equipment.
“We have two 2021 Hyundai excavators — a 380 and a 160,” Peters said. “The 380 weighs 90,000 lbs., and the 160 weighs 44,000 lbs.”
The company also purchased high-performance attachments from National Attachments, including a steel shear, concrete pulverizer and hydraulic ditching buckets.
“National Attachments came to us very highly recommended,” Peters said. “Even though they do business all over the world, for us they are a local company and we wanted to build local relationships,” Peters said. “Gabe Guimond of National Attachments gives us a great sense of comfort working with him. He has been around demolition tools for a long time, and it shows.”
“The Nye demolition grapple and pulverizer are massive and incredibly overbuilt,” Peters added. “We had some minor issues with a steel scrap shear, but Gabe resolved them quickly. We have used the products on
several severe-duty projects and they do not show any signs of wear.”
Building strong local relationships remains a core part of Lakeside’s success.
“It’s important to have support from people you can trust locally,” Peters emphasized. “Gabe came highly recommended and has been very responsive and helpful. If you go shopping around to try to save a nickel now, it’s going to cost you more later, so you’re better off building a relationship with someone who will be there for you when you need them.” CEG
(All photographs in
are
Seen here is some infrastructure that will need to be removed around the mill. LAKESIDE from page 12
Lakeside Concrete Cutting’s NYE grapple on its Hyundai
