BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
On Saw Mill Road

August 2011 Update

Thanks to all our supporters; you continually amaze us! You come forward in good times and bad and are now helping us earn the $125,000 Challenge put forward in the Spring. We are making progress toward our goal, which can spur completion of the project.

Progress continues inside and outside, as we transitioned from one of the coldest winters to one of the hottest summers, conditions which sometimes impact our progress. We remain encouraged by the passion for this project, which has involved hundreds of hands-on people from across Connecticut and New York since we began. You and/or your company and friends can pull us over the finish line for the final phases of construction.

The Marian and Hans Kretsch Meditation Gardens are still incomplete this summer, but within two months we expect to have a lawn started and a clean-up of the nature trails and the addition of two small woodland gathering terraces created by volunteers using donated recycled cobblestones.

Earthmovers recently completed the sewer system, front sidewalks and phase 1 paving of the back 40 of the parking lot. Hooray!! A&J Paving Company in Brookfield reclaimed the Saw Mill roadway where the sewer excavation occurred, making it smooth riding again for local motorists. Great help from both Ed Kilian and Ray Boa! We now have a walkway in place from the parking lot to the lower level terrace, where tribute bricks will be installed this summer.

A bountiful summer of friends:

We are grateful to Boehringer Ingelheim, GE Capital and IBM for sending amazing teams of employee volunteers in June to work on preliminary landscaping, ceiling installation, site cleanup and moving donated fixtures.

Matrix Realty Group continues to show much appreciated leadership in their continual support with temporary housing of operations during this time and for the recent donation of 19 large lateral filing cabinets, which saved us about $10,000 over a new purchase.

Union Savings Bank, one of our top tier supporters, donated two complete workstations with installation support for our staffing area in July, saving us $12,000 over comparable new units.

Our new neighbors, Guideposts, has donated two beautiful conference tables, one pictured above in their offices, in July.

We hope to have running water soon. The Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 777 volunteers, led by business agent Tom Cassidy, have been working on installing plumbing fixtures. Tom and his associate, Mark, are shown installing our kitchen dishwasher. The appliances were donated with support from P.C. Richard & Son, the countertop from US Granite and the cabinets from Northeast Cabinet Design of Ridgefield and Cabico.

Wayne and Dave Fontaine are doing an awesome job of millworking in the library, chapel and on the fireplace. Peter, one of our volunteer electricians, is shown working on the fireplace surround.

Still to come are final paving of the parking area, installation of lighting, safety curbing and fencing and final landscape planning. Also on our plate is the installation of solar panels which will reduce our electric consumption by 40%, creating great savings over the life of the building.

We are so grateful to Stephen Hicks who has been an amazing construction manager over the last year. With the help of our friends far and wide, we hope to be able to bring this project to conclusion soon.

March/April 2011 Update

Thanks to all our supporters: you numbered in the thousands and faithfully voted for our building project entry in the Pepsi Refresh Contest in January. Despite our best hopes and your devoted efforts, Ann's Place came in #33 in that national contest with 1139 entries. However, we are committed to complete the project in a timely way. With the advent of the new $125,000 Challenge this month, we will surely reach the finish line.
Progress continued on the interior work over the winter, but we really need the stimulus of the Challenge on this final lap to bring it home, complete the exterior work and the interior finishes and set up. We are so close now! We remain encouraged by the passion for this project, which has involved hundreds of hands-on people from across Connecticut and New York since we began. Individuals, companies and foundation donations can pull us over the finish line for the final phases of construction.

Looking Forward:


In the Marian and Hans Kretsch Meditaton Gardens that are beginning to shape up, the Phyllis Speidel Daffodils are planted, the James Thompson Nature Walk is installed and awaiting more spring plantings. The promise of growing plants spells Hope for people facing a life-altering illness. The rewards of digging in dirt for an outcome tomorrow aid in stress reduction and will enhance the serene garden environment as Horticultural Therapy begins this year. The colors, textures and smells of the gardens will be a sustaining retreat for cancer survivors and their loved ones, a resource that we have not previously been able to offer. A lawn will be planted as soon as conditions permit. Tree plantings will come later in the spring after the paving and hardscaping can be finished. Tile work begun with apprentices learning the trade under John DeRose, Regional Director of the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers, Local 1, has progressed from this beginning to bathroom walls ready for fixtures.


Systems:

We could not complete the sewer system before the hard winter set in. Now that Spring has arrived, despite late snow showers, we can look to complete that long process. The unexpected presence of ledge slowed the project considerably and adds to the expense. We are hoping to get water into the building, complete the plumbing and ductwork and close the ceilings soon. The parking lot is still incomplete, along with its safety curbing and fencing, but hopefully all these incompletes can be addressed soon, with your help.

Paul P. Dinto, CEO of Paul Dinto Electrical Contractors, Inc., and Chairman of the Building Committee, has coordinated the labor and management sectors of the construction and gathered statewide support through the Construction Trades industry. Paul been aided by John Farnham and William Shannon. The Electricians Union has donated massive labor for the project and Paul's company has also donated much labor, as well as the wiring and some lighting materials, making his company one of the larger donors on the project. The Mechanical Contractors Association has also supplied substantial equipment for the building, as mentioned in earlier reports.

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, even in these challenging times.