by Kitty Merrill | Oct 4, 2017 | Building and Grounds
by Linda Pietrzak
There is another new addition to the kitchen! Take a peek at the kitchen improvement and be sure to thank Mike Sixbey, Bill Peltola, and Shelah Wilgus for getting it accomplished. It looks great and creates more enclosed storage when it is filled by the kitchen crew.
I learned, again, it is always a good idea to remind people to come out for the Work Party. I know I need reminding but somehow, I think everyone else will remember. This month Bryan Buck, Bill Peltola, Mike Sixbey, Sherry Anderson, Joyce Sattler, and Cindy Camillucci came and got quite a bit done.
Sherry and Bryan swept up the church entry making it ready for Sunday service. Sherry and Joyce Sattler removed weeds from the Ralston Street side of the property. Bryan raked pine needles in the rear of the church, filling. They said it was gratifying to see the results of their work. Cindy removed weeds along the meditation path and picked up trash in the trash enclosure. I filled soap dispensers, watered the olive tree, and directed incoming workers. Most people already know what they want to do and go right to work. We encourage people to find an area they want to work on, clear it with B&G, and have fun doing it. You can do that too. Come out and see how accommodating we can be.
by Kitty Merrill | Sep 18, 2017 | Building and Grounds
by Linda Pietrzak
I hope you have seen the new refrigerator in the kitchen. It looks so nice. There is extra temporary storage across from it where the extra refrigerator was, soon it will become permanent pantry storage with added counter space (Thank you Mike Sixbey).
The one part you may not notice is the money it is saving us. If it was just a replacement of one refrigerator for another it would be a saving of about $77 a year, BUT we replaced two refrigerators with one large one so we are saving so much more.
Thanks to Rob March for painting the whale’s tail. Darryl Marquez helped clean it last month. It has been a lot of work but it should look good for quite a while.
We had two new people at Building and Grounds Work Party, Chris Chalquest and Peggy Anders. They cleaned and changed the sign out front. It will be nice to see what inspiring words appear each month.
The rest of the crew was comprised of Geoff Dann, Mike Duffy, Michael Akseven, Cindy Camillucci, Joyce Sattler and Damian. They were so busy with a number of chores.
A large picture was hung in Rev. Dana’s office, the soiled recliner was moved out of Berg Hall, the fluorescent lights and emergency lights were checked, the olive tree garden was watered, the lost and found was organized, old flowers were removed from the sanctuary, the garage and the front entry were swept, trash was picked up and cans in the garage were emptied, pine needles swept up, trash was picked up around the property, the front entry swept, and weeds were pulled from around the sign out front.
by Kitty Merrill | Jul 29, 2017 | Building and Grounds
I learned something this week. A new member Rob March, who came out to Building and Grounds in May and again in July, shared a quote from Robert Ingersoll, “The hands that help are better than the hands that pray.” I never realized how much that applies to those of us who serve this church as volunteers. A few members of the church are drawn to service as a way of becoming part of the group and getting to know others. There are others who volunteer as part of their spiritual practice. They are giving back to the church community in a special way that can bring them the satisfaction of adding to the beauty and function of the church.
I look at the succulent gardens at the entrance of the parking and I remember Mario Martin and Denny Thomas and all the work they did to get them going. It’s a legacy they gave the church. There are many other people who work behind the scenes. You may not know them but many are involved in B&G. Some people do things during the week like keep the sprinkler systems working, paint the handicap parking spots and curbs, climb on the roof looking for why the gutters are leaking, and pick up trash as they walk by it on the church grounds.
I enjoy getting to know people while I am doing something with them. It is even better when I can learn from them. Doug Tate showed me a quick and easy way to remove weeds growing in cracks. Kitty Merrill told me how to kill the roots of the plants that were just beheaded. After Rob March swept the front parking lot and entry, he and I got to know each other while we cleared weeds out of one planting bed.
The Dynamic Trio, Mike Sixbey, Mike Duffy, and Bill Peltola do great projects together. They moved a kitchen cabinet down the wall 9 inches so a new refrigerator would fit into the existing space. Carol Simmons emptied the cupboards, and Shelah Wilgus and I put things back.
Cindy Camilucci kept us going and cleaned up vases from the sanctuary. We didn’t manage to find time to kick back, relax, socialize, and eat snacks; all our snacking was done on the run. But in the end the crew of eight got a lot done!
by Linda Pietrzak
by Kitty Merrill | Jul 10, 2017 | Building and Grounds
by Linda Pietrzak
If you want to meet some new people at church, come on out to a Building and Grounds Work Party held on the third Saturday of each month. Get to know someone new while doing something nice for the church.
In May, we cut down an Australian willow tree before it fell down, planted some shrubs by the church sign, swept, raked, and watered. Those who helped were Shirin Anderson, Lisa Connolly, Michelle Allen, Bryan Buck, Mike Sixbey, Mike Duffy, Merle Oberg, Kitty Merrill, Rob, Cindy Camillucci, Joyce Sattler, and Linda Pietrzak.
Joyce Sattler, Bryan Buck, Kitty Merrill, Mike Duffy, Mike Sixbey, Cindy Camillucci, Rev Dana Worsnop, Bill Peltola, Geoff Dann, Alan Peters, and Mia Michaels attended the June workparty.
They worked on many small projects: tightening a base on the wobbly gong, moving last month’s firewood to a location near the bike path so that anyone can help themselves, checking fluorescent lights, and adjusting a door stop.
The Lost and Found was updated, weeds and dead shrubbery were removed, plants were watered, the glass tables were moved to the trash, things were swept up, and pine needles raked.
I hope everyone who comes out feels good about the gift they have given the church. They are also welcome to come to a B&G committee meeting on the second Wednesday of the month. It is another level of commitment to the church and a really great group of people to work with.
by Kitty Merrill | May 27, 2017 | Building and Grounds
by Linda Pietrzak
The Building and Grounds team really appreciates all the members of the church who have come out to help at our monthly Work Parties. We have had members of a Covenant Group, people who want to beautify a specific part of the church and people who just want to check out a “work party.” Whatever the reason, we appreciate your being there with us.
Let me give you a brief picture of what the work party morning looks like. Whenever you arrive, someone, usually Joyce Sattler, will greet you in the garage. She will show you a list of jobs. If you have a particular area of interested will talk with you about it. Then she will the refreshments that (always have plenty) and the famous couches where we often take a break, especially at the end of the morning to go over all we have done and congratulate each other on a job well done.
If you would rather not work outside, there are all variety of inside jobs and we will help you find something that fits your interest.
As school is ending and a lot of the associated activities are winding down, think about some family time together working at the church. It is a way to show your children giving to the community is part of belonging. Hope to see you on the third Saturday of each month.
by Kitty Merrill | Apr 27, 2017 | Building and Grounds
by Linda Pietrzak
What a gift from one of the Covenant Groups! They selected helping at a B&G Work Party. Since they couldn’t all come on the same day, three members came to the April Work Party and more will come in May.
Bryan Buck chose to do trash pick-up around the property, Lauren Copus and Stephanie Tiffany planted succulents in the Olive Garden near the church entrance and in front by the church sign. The plantings look great and the trash pick-up is always a blessing. They also did some sweeping in front of the church entry so it would be welcoming for the Easter Service.
The B&G Committee has been working on completing tasks recommended by Church Mutual, our insurance company. We are down to the last three. Two of the three were fixes that didn’t work, but will be taken care of this month. Doug Tate discovered that the child safety outlet covers were more of a hazard than a fix. John Puccetti is getting covers for backflow valves.
The third is finally begun! You may recognize how big that is when I tell you that it is to clean out the B&G Storage Closet. Thank you Michael Akseven for starting the project and for taking the old paint to be disposed of.
The rest of the Work Party crew worked around the grounds. Sherry Anderson, also, planted succulents. Chelsea Tate and Linda Pietrzak tackled the rosemary bush (that was on its way to becoming a tree). Merle Oberg worked on some irrigation issues. Cindy Camillucci weeded the Meditation Path. Mike Sixbey did weed removal around the grounds. Joyce Sattler guided us to work opportunities and picked up trash around the parking lots.
During the week, Joyce and Linda painted over two sets of graffiti. And there was still time to Kick Back, Relax, and Enjoy Snacks.
