Of Popsicle Socials and repairs…

It may never make it to into the Hallmark Calendar of ‘Days to give cards to people whom you love’, but nonetheless, the “Popsicle Social” marks the unofficial end of summer and heralds the beginning of a new year of school here at St. Ann’s. With the finishing touches going into the updated computer lab even as I write, a whole summer of upgrades and repairs are drawing to a finish. Let me say a HUGE word of THANKS to Dave Marstall for once more overseeing ‘the big picture’ in all the repairs that needed to be made. And for meeting the roofers and electricians and plasterers and tuck pointers and glazers and…

So, what have we done? Fixed the gutters in a few places where the rain would rush so quickly down the roof that it would ‘jump’ over the gutters, run down the brickwork and find its way into the plaster walls of the school. A kind of ‘splash guard’ is in place that should prevent a re-occurrence of those persistent plaster issues this caused in the school. And the bricks have been tuck pointed and sealed. Our own George Copp has done the repairs to plaster walls and ceilings, both to the front of the school and to the storm damaged areas of the school from the spring hail storm/rains. Blake flooring did the repairs to the damage flooring from the same storm in the gym. Dave M. and company did the usual refinish job to the wood floors in the gym.

Leaks and potential weak spots on the roof were sealed and painted with a reflecting paint to ease some cooling costs. Sr. Celene and Jane Patterson stripped and cleaned tile and terrazzo floors throughout the school building. Bud Casteel, a retired handiman, built a new cabinet (with a separate a/c unit) in the computer classroom to house the Server, firewall and switches that control our computer network in the school/rectory. Kevin Kirchgessner has spent uncounted hours configuring and installing the Server. He and Mr. Clark are finishing the hard work of the committee that oversaw the scope and planning of the Dinner Dance funded “Computer lab Extreme Makeover”, including the necessary dedicated electric circuits needed.

And then, to top it off, bright and early on Monday morning, the Albert Arno Heating and Cooling trucks showed up with the new boilers in sections (7 per boiler, weighing about 350 pounds each…) and have begun the work of building/installing our heat source for the winter. And this doesn’t even count the Men’s club remake of the Soccer field turf with a hearty hybrid grass that should wear well, even through the many, many games of the 51st Annual Sprenke tournament. Thanks to Ed Eisenhart for overseeing that project, and for Bob Reid’s help as his faithful sidekick..

To quote Garrison Keeler: Other than that, “it has been a quiet summer here in Lake Woebegone.” Thanks to one and all, named and un-named, who helped in this ‘extreme St. Ann Makeover’ kind of summer…