Buildings and Grounds
Buildings and Grounds News
Announcements |
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Christmas star atop the steeple
Once a fixer-upper
Now a fixer-downer
Our steeple star no longer
In strong wind can flounder
She’s bent and broken
But with good fortune
Will repair and light Our next Advent bright
The Christmas star on the steeple is leaning precariously out over the path below. It will need to be taken down and repaired. Who will "climb up" the steeple (or maybe lean out the window)? Of course Grandpa Dick Partch!
Poor armless star!!
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Lawn Mowing Volunteers Needed
We need volunteers throughout the summer who would be willing to mow the church lawn including the playground area. If you have your own lawnmower and are willing to do this, please sign up and list your phone number on the bulletin board outside the church offices. After you have mowed, please call the next person on the list. With a push mower, the job can be fairly lengthy, so two people are certainly allowed to work together to make our grounds look great. If you have questions, contact Rob Ewy: 315-212-9425, ewyrg@potsdam.edu
Summer Mowing Made Easier
Meet the new lawnmower! A member has graciously purchased a new self-propelled lawnmower to make it easier to volunteer to mow the church lawn. No longer do you need to bring your own mower to mow the church lawn. With the warm summer and ample rain that God has provided, the lawn is healthy and continues to grow. We still need volunteers to cut the grass so please sign up on the sheet located on the bulletin board outside the church offices. If you have questions, please call Rob Ewy at 212-9425 or contact me at ewy@potsdam.edu . |
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Thanks to Alice Cullen
Special thanks go to Alice Cullen for the wonderful job she does of maintaining the landscaping on the church grounds, especially the flowers! |
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Roof Renovation Kick-Off Dinner - May 1, 2009
(click on the photo to view some pictures)
 On Friday, May 1st we officially began our 3rd Century Roof Renovation Capital Campaign. The first event was a Kick-Off Dinner. The festivities for the evening included a potluck dinner & dancing. TURKEY was provided as the main dish. We “raised the roof!”
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Take Care of Our Buildings
This is a gentle reminder to committees, chairs, and organizations of First Church. As use of the Center has increased exponentially over the past year, a number of concerns have arisen. Because we all try to be faithful stewards of our buildings, energy used, and facility attractiveness, we try to be as attentive and caring as possible. Unfortunately, often lights are left on, rooms left in disarray or unclean, and doors left unlocked. This is not exclusive to groups from the community that use our building. Following some of our own groups, these occurrences have appeared. Because some groups will be using space the next morning, it is essential that we continue to provide an inviting and attractive area in which they can meet.
Please reinforce with committee chairs and other responsible individuals who use the Center and classrooms to go through a check list at the end of each meeting that addresses these concerns. We certainly appreciate your assistance in this matter. |
 Update on Summer 2010 Roof Renovations
The roofers were up working on the flashing around the windows in the week of June 21st.
can you spot them?
(Read more...about the 2010 and 2009 progress on the roof)
Check out this work crew!
Check out that new flashing aorund the windows!
2008 Roof Renovation Report
The slate roof has deteriorated over the years despite regular summer patch-ups by our previous roofers. There have been leaks in various spots in the sanctuary and the Head Start area.
The Session appointed a task force to diagnose and create a list of needs for renovating the building. That was completed and that task force was disbanded. Buildings and Grounds have taken care of many of the needs; especially cleaning and insulating the basement.
The priority now is the roof. Another task force now exists for the purpose of advising the Session about roof repairs and renovation. After research aided by the Potsdam Museum; and an assessment by Statewide Roofing out of Port Byron, NY, the decision was made to keep a slate roof rather than using other materials.
Statewide Roofing was asked to do permanent repairs on three areas in the summer of 2008. They replaced copper flashing and slates behind the steeple, above the organ, and by one of the dormers. They also did preliminary repairs over the Head Start area. Their expertise and work in general were excellent.
Back in the spring of 2008, RSI came to do an emergency repair. An insurance claim was filed and those funds were have been used to pay RSI, the summer work done by Statewide Roofing for $15,000, and the last two emergency repairs for $1,080 made necessary by two strong wind storms. The insurance money went into the second century account and was paid out from there.
The plan is to proceed in three phases. The first phase of permanent repairs is planned for the summer of 2009. It will cost $58,760. The first few rows of slate will be removed and replaced with ice and water barrier, copper flashing and new slate. This is well overdue as all of the wind damage lately has been in this area. The roof over Head Start has good metal roofing on it but needs to have a coating on it all.
The next two phases will be more specifically defined after that. Total cost is estimated to be $220,000. We need to keep in mind the plaster work needed inside after the roof is fixed.
Our pastor is eager and well-able to spearhead the fundraising campaign needed. A five-year pledge plan will be initiated right away as funds will be needed this summer.
Respectfully submitted,
Ranota Hewitson
Terry de la Vega
Gordy Theisen
Ron Kaiser
Church Renovation Task Force: Report of Findings 02/02/08 - (Read the full report)
ABOUT THE RENOVATION TASK FORCE:
The Session commissioned a Task Force to investigate and report on all aspects of the condition of our church sanctuary and Headstart facility, and to make recommendations for repair, replacement, renovation, etc. The goal was to insure a fitting place to worship and glorify God for generations to come.
Members of the task force are: Joe Randi, Gordon Theisen, Gordon Batson, Terry de la Vega, Dick Hutchinson, David Morrison, Bob Pickard, Kirk Severtson, Ron Kaiser, and Ray Toland.
The TF investigated everything from foundation to roof. To that end, Mr. Randy Crawford, of Crawford and Stearns, Architects, Syracuse, who specialize in building preservation and renovation, came to visit our church on January 15, 2008 and met with the Task Force for a detailed discussion that evening. This, together with further investigations and review, resulted in a report to the Session of the findings.
Anyone wishing to provide suggestions should contact any member of the TF or Ray Toland, Chair, at 265-0650. We will be providing updates on our progress throughout the investigative process.
THE FULL RENOVATION TASK FORCE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IN THE CHURCH OFFICE.
Where Your Pledge Money Goes
While it continues to be important to pledge to the Operating budget to maintain our church and its programs, please don't overlook the 2nd Century fund. A large portion of the Buildings and Grounds budget comes from the 2nd Century Fund. Your money that goes into this fund has been used most recently to purchase and install the wheelchair life, refinish the floors in the narthex, and work on the light repairs in the center. As a result, our 2nd Century fund is also now depleting quickly.
Additionally, please continue to observe ways that we can reduce costs. Turning off lights and reducing the heat when parts of the church are not being used is a way we can all help. If you observe any other ways that may assist us to reduce costs, please feel encouraged to contact Ron Kaiser, our sexton, on weekday afternoons or Gordy Theisen at 244-0326. A large part of Gordy's duties for Buildings and Grounds is to assist our church to run as efficiently as possible and he needs your help to do this.
2009 Buildings and Grounds Committee Report
Roof Project. This past summer work began to replace the roof on the Sanctuary. Statewide Roofing has agreed to replace the slate roof over a period of three years. In June 2009, the leak over the Head Start room was addressed as well as other parts of the roof. Over the next two summers, the work will be completed. Work should continue this coming June.
Heating System. In December, one of the boilers for the Sanctuary failed and needs to be replaced. We are currently studying our options, and as the sanctuary is not used for services during the winter months, we should be able to have this work done with a minimal disruption to Sunday services. One reason the boiler failed is that the pumps for circulating the heated water are positioned directly over the boilers so that when the pumps leak (and they eventually do), water falls onto the boilers, which hastens deterioration of the boilers. Thus we may need to have the piping moved so that the pumps are not directly over the boilers. The boilers are twenty plus years old and that one of them failed is not a surprise. We should consider replacing the other boilers as well. We will increase efficiency with new boilers, but it will take many years to recoup the investment through savings on fuel bills. So far bids have come in for 80% efficient boilers. To install higher efficiency boilers (90+%) we would need to abandon our chimney and install direct exhaust ducts through our foundation. This does not seem feasible at present although we will look at this option.
Summer lawn. mowing Doug Cooper graciously donated his time and machinery to mow the Church’s lawn during the 2006-2008 growing season. He has since sold his lawn care business, and so this past summer church members volunteered to mow the lawn. Gordon Thiesen (thanks!) initiated a sign-up sheet outside the church offices where people signed up to mow the lawn as needed. While not a perfect system, this worked out the best as it saved the church money as we did not need to hire someone to mow the lawn. This is the best system for the foreseeable future as it saves the church money, which can be used for other purposes (e.g. missions). A suggestion has been made that the church purchase a lawn mower to make it easier for members to maintain the lawn. One member has even graciously offered to maintain the equipment. At present, however, we do not have a place to store any mowing equipment on the church grounds, and currently, no there are no plans to purchase a mower.
Outside maintenance. There are several areas of stonework on the outside portion of the sanctuary that need tuck pointing, as one can easily remove mortar with a finger. Sandstone mortar has its own special properties and we will contact a qualified person to make the necessary repairs this spring, preferably after the roof repairs. This should be a relatively minor task, but with old beautiful buildings, one never can predict what problems lie below the surface.
This spring, the siding on the community room on the kitchen side will be replaced as some of it is rotting. Bids have been requested as we plan to get on a contractor’s schedule for early spring. This looks like a minor repair from the outside, but again, one cannot predict what problems lie underneath, and there may be more damage than to just the siding.
The railing for the steps leading into the back kitchen entrance are rusting and will replaced with a similar railing.
As you notice items around the church facilities that need repair, replacement, or other attention, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Ewy
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First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam, New York
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