Everything You Wanted to Know but were Afraid to Ask...

NEW NARTHEX
Final flooring materials and lighting fixtures will be chosen this week for the narthex expansion. If you’ve been to the Duncan Center Chapel you probably recall the beautiful polished granite floor and labyrinth. We plan to install a similar floor to welcome all at our entry.

We have answered all of the city’s questions regarding our permit and expect it will be granted within a few weeks. Ground breaking as soon as possible after that.

You may notice that we have cut some access holes in the exterior narthex soffits and walls to confirm the current construction and to know how to connect to it. This has led to some discoveries, one being deteriorated wood under the high stained glass at the front of the church. This was caused by old water leaks that were fixed during the roof repairs and new cross installation earlier this year.

NEW PARISH HALL
Attention all church staff and ministry leaders - Your final input for the Parish Hall building, offices and meeting rooms needs to be completed with Ric this week, by 9-26-08.

A title search was completed last week with the help of Reeve Bright to confirm the legal description, existence and location of all recorded easements on our property.

We’ve ordered further surveys of some of our underground utilities by Ground Hound using ground penetrating radar, vacuum excavation and remote pipeline video observation. We’ll make sure our buried pipes are still in good shape. (If Jimmy Hoffa is down there we’ll find him!)

Final adjustments and additions are being included in the latest survey by Carol Baxter’s firm, O’Brien, Suiter & O’Brien.

This week alone we have had presentations by Nuvox on high capacity ultra reliable internet & phone service, William Andrews our energy consultant on solar cells, solar hot water and super efficient lighting, and Farnes Computers, our current IT provider regarding our computer support before, during build and for our move to the new building. Each one of these folks will be expected to improve service AND save us money in the process.

A few days ago Jeff Nurge (our resident Florida Friendly Plant expert) and I met with our landscape designer Dave Bodker. We plan on maintaining the feel and flow of our current garden area around the columbarium but refreshing some of the greenery. Jeff’s forte is to select plants that require little or no irrigation and minimal maintenance. Jeff is REALLY into being green…

Please continue to check the website http://www.stjoesweb.org/ for updates that happen more often than weekly. Or just find Ric or one of the Vestry and we’ll be happy to fill you in on the latest…

Peace,
Ric Filer