BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
On Saw Mill Road

Tom Harry (right) Consults with Architect John Doyle on left.

2) Tom Harry Making Field Notes

As we reported in the winter months, the incredible Mechanical Contractors Association members, led by John Barrasso, Executive Vice President of the MCAC, donated a state-of-the-art heating and cooling system and the sprinkler system. We are happy to say those installations are now completed and, with the HVAV system up and running, we have been able to take the chill out of a cold spring. 


Their in-kind gifts represent an amazing savings for us. Member contractors who stepped forward include McKenney Mechanical, M.J. Daly, Tucker Mechanical and Grodsky. Trades participants included Tom Cassidy and the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 777 Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 777 and the United Associated Sprinkler Fitters Local Union 676.

Much of this project has been organized around getting materials and labor donated stage by stage, as we go. There are still opportunities to participate in the project with in-kind donations that help defray the increasingly high cost of construction. Importantly, your cash donations help us acquire materials to move forward even faster.

Donate now to be part of this amazing community project!
Your gift can help us complete this labor of love and furnish the building.

Donate now to be part of this amazing community project!

Interior finishing work is again moving along with the support of the Carpenters Union Apprentice & Training Program volunteers under the able supervision of Tom Klucik. This is truly a learning lab that provides commercial construction experience for the trainees as they encounter and solve real challenges in the field. The north and south stairwells have been constructed and installed by the trainees, along with some generous hours from enthusiastic journeymen carpenters who were without jobs.

Before the end of May, we expect to see the installation of our elevator, which came to us for a fraction of the standard pricing, from the generous ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas, the leading producer of elevators in North America. We appreciate the involvement of the Elevator Union in connecting us. Susan Blumenthal and Steven Silver at The Pennysaver are kindly sponsoring the elevator, which is helping to cover its cost and upkeep .

Paul P. Dinto, CEO of Paul Dinto Electrical Contractors, Inc., is Chairman of the Building Committee. Paul is coordinating the labor and management sectors of the construction and gathering statewide support for the project, with additional support from John Farnham, Executive Director of the Associated General Contractors of Connecticut.

Paul is coordinating the labor and management sectors of the construction. He has been supported in gathering support by John Farnham, immediate past Executive Director of the Associated General Contractors of Connecticut and his successor, John Butts, as well as William Shannon.

We salute the Associated General Contractors of Connecticut, the Fairfield County Building Trades Council and the Fairfield County Building Trades Association who have always kept our project close to their hearts. On May 24, the Gilbane Company will dedicate a portion of the proceeds from their annual golf tournament to Ann’s Place.

We thank Basia Pontello, who served as Project Manager for the early phases of construction from 2006 through 2009. During the time she supervised the construction, Basia accomplished much and attracted many in-kind donations. We wish her well in her new endeavors.