Summer Concerts in the Park is Underway!

Last Friday ACT’s Concerts in the Parks series opened with the Annandale Community Band.  

The band, led by longtime director Ken Rudolph, played a selection of its signature marches and concert band music starting at 7 p.m. Friday, June 12, in Annandale Municipal Park.

The second concert this month will feature singer-songwriter-instrumentalist Marienne Kreitlow of Howard Lake on Friday, June 26, performing mostly original songs, including a few about one of her favorite things, garlic.

The series of six concerts is sponsored by the Arts Committee of the Annandale Area Community Team and paid for by fundraising events.

As in past seasons, the concerts will all begin at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays in June, July and August.

They’ll be presented on the city’s portable stage at the north end of Oak Avenue, or Main Street, alongside the park and the shores of Pleasant Lake.

The community band opened the series’ first season in 2005 and three others since then and has performed every year for appreciative listeners.

Where to Eat? Where to Shop? Where to Exercise?

Click on image to enlarge.  Please feel free to print out map & insert, or look for free copies of the Annandale Dining &  Shopping Guide at local establishments!

Farmers Market is Open for Business!

The Annandale Farmers Market is now open!  Every Saturday, from 8 a.m. to Noon the centrally located downtown Farmers Market is ready for business.  The market is located in the heart of downtown, off Oak Avenue near the library and city hall in City Hall Square.  Parking is available on Oak Avenue aka Main Street or in the St. Ignatius Catholic church parking lot.

This year marks the second season of the downtown Farmers Market.  New at the market this season is the Farmers Market General Store which will showcase local products such as, honey, canvas bags with the market logo, hats, visors, plants, syrup, etc…  Also, this year the Annandale Arts & Culture committee is sponsoring “Music at the Market.”  Once a month, special musicians will play for patrons of the market.  We hope to demo more cooking this year at the market too!  Stay tuned for updates and announcements!

This year we have a variety of quality vendors, some which you might recognize from last season.  At the market for 2009 look for:

Artisan breads, scones, and caramel rolls from Garrett of Diamond City Bread!

Papa Tom’s of Lake Sylvia is back with his world famous sticky buns and fresh cookies!

Basic Care and Kim Gregoire is the person to turn to for any of your natural bath needs, and she is such a wise woman!

Organic produce is available from George Martin & Mary Heinz.

Fairhaven farm will be selling scones, pies, jams, syrups, apples, and berries again this year.

Denny & Julie will provide beautiful produce again this year (see pictures below, that’s their cabbage & tomatoes-yummy!).

New at the market this year is Leslie & Janelle Hoffman selling farm fresh eggs from happy hens, and homemade dog biscuits and pies.

Back again with those magic fingers is massage therapist Lori who is offering chair massage.  

Hollie Dagner will be offering make-overs and chemical free mineral make-up again this year.

Come and check out your local Farmers Market in downtown  Annandale!  Thanks for supporting local businesses.

Time for Your Opinion!

The Annandale Area Community Team is sponsoring a visioning session this August 21st in the park pavilion.  There will be pie and beverages catered by the lovely folks at Cottage Gourmets. You will get a chance to speak about your unique vision for the community you work, play, and live in!  Free speech and free pie!  How could it get much better?!

Here is a recent article from the Annandale Advocate:

ACT plans ‘re-visioning’ get-together Tuesday, July 29, 2008 By Chuck Sterling Circle Thursday, Aug. 21, on your calendar, Laura Hood Beckman says, and when you have dinner, leave room for a piece of pie.  Beckman chairs the Annandale Area Community Team, and it’s having a “re-visioning” session from 6:30 to 8:30 that night at the Annandale Municipal Park pavilion.  ’It’s going to be a pie social,” she said. “There will be complimentary pie and lemonade or coffee for those who attend.”  The meeting will take place exactly five years to the day that ACT first invited community residents to a “visioning” session to suggest improvement projects to make the Annandale area better than it is.  This time the group hopes to expand interest and volunteers in existing projects that developed out of the first session as well as identify new initiatives.  ACT grew out of leadership training for about 20 area volunteers under the Healthy Communities Partnership Program of the Initiative Foundation of Little Falls.  About 120 people attended the original visioning event, Beckman said. “That’s our goal, and if we can exceed that goal that’s wonderful.”  She pointed out the community covers the whole Annandale School District including Annandale, South Haven and the rural areas around them up to Clearwater.  Nadine Schnettler, a professional facilitator with the Initiative Foundation, will conduct the re-visioning.  ”It is very important for a community to take the time to, every five years, look at where things are and where they’d like them to go,” Beckman said.  Things change. “Our community is different than it was five years ago.”  Not many communities take the time to have a grass-roots gathering of citizens to discuss what their priorities are, she said. “So this is pretty special.”  Visioning sessions are also an opportunity for people to weigh in on what’s important to them and what areas they’re interested in participating in, she said.  ”We’re going to spend a little bit of time celebrating all of the accomplishments of the last five years.”   An information display will show the progress made including the purchase of a portable performance stage, establishment of a summer concert series and ongoing efforts toward a community center, trail system and skateboard park.  Beckman said she hopes the session will expand the interest in and the number of volunteers working on existing projects.  ”Re-energize” is a good way to describe it, she said.  She expects some new initiatives will emerge as well, but ACT will “absolutely not” abandon the old ones.  What new projects come out of the session is up to the community, Beckman said.  ACT invites ideas for new initiatives and people interested in working on them, she said, referring to “new ideas and the people power” to achieve them.  ”We have such a rich tradition of working together and volunteering to make things better, and this is a byproduct of that.”  Beckman listed the purchase of the portable stage by ACT’s Arts and Culture Committee in 2004 as “a huge accomplishment.” The stage, bought with donations raised by the committee and turned over to the city, continues to be used for area events.  Creation of the Annandale Area Chamber of Commerce’s Art Crawl each October has been important for the area, she said.   ”It also really showcases area artists and gives people the opportunity to visit them and see their art.”  Arts available  The series of free Friday night concerts in the park now in its fourth season “makes arts and culture available to everybody,” Beckman said.  A grass-roots effort by area youth established the skateboard park group, but new volunteers are needed, she said.  Seed money the group received from an Initiative Foundation grant is still available to help build a park if and when land is found.  ”The community center (committee) is working toward their goal,” Beckman said.  That project was the most popular and ambitious to emerge from the first visioning session.  The committee’s goal is to have something built or in the process of being built within the next 10 years, according to the members.  But two obstacles it will have to overcome are the need for land, which is scarce, and money, which will likely amount to millions of dollars.  The Heart of the Lakes Trails Committee has secured a state grant to establish a walking-biking trail along County Road 38, the extension of West Harrison Street, out to Southbrook, she said.  ”The time is right and it’s ripe to invest in those trails.”   People need to tell county and state leaders they want to see more trails for health, safety and economic reasons, Beckman said.

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Chamber Says “No Thanks”

The Chamber has decided not to invite any of their Arts and Crafts Fair vendors to the Farmers Market, and to return the entry fees and tell them the event is cancelled.

This is too bad, but without the Chamber’s help with this event, I can not see it attaining success.

Hopefully, we can work out a partnership some time in the future.

Arts & Crafts Fair Saved!

We’re working with the Annandale Chamber to save the Annual Arts and Crafts Fair from being totally cancelled.  We’ve invited Sue Heath to work with us and include these 17 vendors to the Farmers Market on Saturday, August 9th.  We hope to have music, good crafts, great foods, and more…

Stay tuned for more!

Can the 1922 Building be Saved?

Facts:

• The school board is at a crossroads regarding the future of the old 1922 building.
• They must commit to either addressing the years of deferred maintenance and repair it…or demolish the building.
• The building is structurally sound and does not HAVE to be demolished.
• The classic building is a treasure: architecturally, historically, and educationally.
• The time is to act NOW! Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

What Can You Do?

• You can sign one of the many petitions circulating through area businesses. (In Hot Water, Snooty Fox, etc…)
• You can write a letter to the Annandale Advocate.
• You can contact the members of the Annandale school board.

MEMBERS CHAIR Mary Barkley Brown 12274 Greer Ave NW Maple Lake, MN 55358 (320) 963-5810 mbarkleybrown@annandale.k12.mn.us Elected 2006 Term Expires 2010 VICE CHAIR Michael Dougherty 80 Lake Drive East Annandale, MN 55302 (320) 274-3393 mike.dougherty@thedough.com Elected 2006 Term Expires 2008 CLERK Norman Planer 8804 State Hwy 24 NW Annandale, MN 55302 (320) 274-8636 norm.g.planer@honeywell.com Elected 2004 Term Expires 2008 TREASURER Bryan Bruns 520 Hickory St S Annandale, MN 55302 (320) 274-3000 bryanb@annabank.com Elected 2004 Term Expires 2008 MEMBER Jeannette Rieger-Borer 11754 Jarvis Ave NW Annandale, MN 55302 (320) 274-5316 jrr@malcotools.com Elected 2006 Term Expires 2010 MEMBER Douglas Kantor 18715 Eaglewood Road Clearwater, MN 55320 (320) 558-2706 douglas.kantor@amfam.com Elected 2006 Term Expires 2010

• You can attend the April 28th School Board Meeting at 7 p.m. in the Middle School Choir Room to show your support. This is very important!

Superstar Smackdown…or Better!

Thanks Richard, of Riches Down Under aka Russells Bar, for spearheading this exciting downtown event! The following venues will be participating:

JJ’s Bar

Wizzlers Bowling and Rec. Center

Tootsie’s Bar & Grill

Riches Down Under at Russells

I hope I can get my superstars together. Watch out karaoke here I come!

City council: Let the bar games begin

By Chuck Sterling

Russell’s Bar owner Richard Guerre is trying to breathe new life into an old Annandale tradition.

Guerre, along with Tootsie’s Bar & Grill, JJ’s Bar and Wizzlers

Bowling & Rec Center, is working to revive a celebration that was known as Super Stars back in the 1980s and early ’90s.

The series of 24 team events, also called the Bar Olympics, will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 26, and Guerre’s hoping it will generate lots of fun and bring hundreds of people to town.

He received the city council’s blessing at its Monday, April 7, meeting to hold some of the contests in Annandale Municipal Park and has the support of Police Chief Jeff Herr.

Super Stars was originally the idea of the late Tom Grega, the former owner of Russell’s, Guerre said.

“It used to be a big deal here,” he said. “Second to the Fourth of July.”

The competition involves teams of 10 people, five men and five women each, who face off against each other

in fun events like pool, fooseball, pinball, bowling, softball toss, tug of war, an obstacle course and arm wrestling.

The contests will take place in the sponsoring establishments and the park, where the tug of war, frisbee toss, basketball free throws and possibly the obstacle course will be held, Guerre said.

Teams will be awarded points, and the one with the most will be the winner. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place.

Guerre said he’s hoping to have 10 or more teams, and he urged people to come in to Russell’s and sign up early so he can figure out the schedule of events. There’s a $100 per team entry fee.

For more information, call Russell’s at 274-9992.

Spectators are welcome, Guerre said, and he’s hoping as many as 400 or 500 people come to Annandale to be entertained.

“I intend to be very vigilant about having people to watch for any sort of misbehavior,” he told the council last week.

“I’m not entirely sure what to expect,” Guerre said. “Hopefully it will just be a day to have a lot of fun, bring a lot of people to town.”

Herr said Super Stars was last held in 1993 or ‘94 in his second year as an Annandale officer, and it had taken place for years before that.

“We didn’t have any problems,” he told council members. “If we’re needed, we’ll be there.”

Herr said later he’s looking forward to it. “I think it’s a good thing and I’ve heard nothing but good things about it.”

Bar owners have done a good job of planning past events like street dances, he said. “They go really smooth.”

“It’ll be very good for the town,” Guerre said, and he hopes to make Super Stars an annual occasion here once again.

Group Tries to Save Middle School

This was taken from the Annandale Advocate article.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Group mobilizes to save 1922 building

By Brenda Erdahl

The fate of the 1922 portion of the Annandale Middle School is up for debate again, three years after it was first recommended that the school district tear it down.

On Monday night, April 28, a task force assigned the job of creating a plan to maintain quality facilities in the district will present a proposal to the school board that includes a long-term goal of abandoning the middle school site starting with demolition of the 1922 building.

Three years ago, few voiced opposition to the idea. That won’t be the case this time around.

A group of people who want to keep the 1922 building a viable part of the public education system and the community have banded together and will make their feelings known at the meeting.

“I’ve spoken to hundreds of people interested in saving the 1922 building,” said Jill Bishop, an outspoken opponent of demolishing the historical school.

“We have petitions at businesses. The coffee shop is going on its third page of names.”

Bishop and others hope to remind board members that you can get to the same goal by taking different paths, and that the goal for both parties is the same, an excellent place to learn and teach.

The question is which path will the six school board members choose to take the school district down.

Proponents of saving the 1922 building want to renovate the space to make it a place where kids can concentrate on learning and teachers can concentrate on teaching.

“Teachers love teaching there because of the natural light, the tall ceilings and the space,” said Laura Hood Beckman, the only member of the task force who voted against demolishing the school.

“But with that comes heating and cooling issues, leaky windows and roofs. Teachers and students shouldn’t have to put up with that.”

Certain updates that both groups can agree upon include new windows, tuck pointing, a new roof, a new heating, cooling and air exchange system, the addition of an elevator and a lift into the lower gym.

If it were to be renovated, the task force would also recommend putting a commons area and cafeteria in the old building, Supt. Steve Niklaus said. The current cafeteria is too small and lacks windows, up-to-date equipment and appropriate airflow.

All in all it would cost an additional $1.2 to $2 million to renovate the old building over building an entirely new school, Niklaus said.

To make the building more energy efficient, the superintendent would recommend the ceilings be lowered, which means there would be no room for the larger windows Beckman said the teachers so enjoy. The rooms are also too big for current class sizes and not an efficient use of space in his opinion.

Prime location

But architectural design is only one of the benefits Beckman and Bishop see. The 1922 building is in a prime location, close to downtown and all the amenities it has to offer including proximity to businesses, area churches, Bendix Elementary, the high school and the Annandale Care Center, places students often walk to.

“It’s safer than being way out on some acreage somewhere,” said Rose Mary Nelson, another proponent of saving the 1922 building.

The task force on the other hand sees the school’s location as one of its disadvantages. Not only is it landlocked, it is on a site that is too small, according to state standards.

What that means is that the district won’t have the option of adding on to the school if more space is needed in the future.

“The state has made it pretty clear to us that they would not approve any additions unless we tore something else down,” Niklaus said.

The general feeling in the school district for many years has been not to invest a large amount of money in the 1922 building, outside of keeping it functional, because its fate has always been unknown, Niklaus said.

Three years ago when an earlier task force first recommended the demolition of the building it received no indication that the community cared about the building.

Bishop remembers clearly when Jeff Lundquist, a member of the 2005 task force and the most recent one, told her that one day over coffee at In Hot Water.

It’s what inspired her to publish her first letter in the Advocate opposing demolition of the 85-year-old school and encouraging others to speak out.

There have now been two meetings at the Snooty Fox Gallery for those protesting the task force’s recommendation.

Close to 35 people attended the most recent meeting on Wednesday, April 9, including several members of the task force and Niklaus.

“We concluded that you can get to the same conclusion by taking different paths, which is excellent learning space and teaching space,” Beckman said.

The compromise

Members of the task force voted 18 to 1 against renovating the 1922 building because they didn’t want to get the school district locked into a long-term commitment at a site they saw as inefficient to their future needs.

But there’s an amendment in the task force’s proposal if enough of the community shows an interest in keeping the 1922 building alive, Niklaus said.

Within the next year or two the district expects to go to the voters for a bond issue for approximately $25 million based on information gathered by the task force.

The money would be put toward remodeling Bendix Elementary’s open-air classroom design, adding a sports complex and making improvements to AMS, which would include demolishing the 1922 building.

If the voters approve a bond issue, the money the district would have used to tear down the old school – $100,000 to $150,000 – would be given to the group of community members to fix up the old school as they deem necessary.

The district would essentially hand over the building for the group to do with as they please as long as it is compatible with the rest of the school, Niklaus said.

That would mean the group would have to get approval from the school board before making any renovations. Anything would be considered including turning the building into apartments, a community center, an art gallery or a private business. Those are just a few ideas Niklaus has heard.

In exchange, the district would no longer pay the utilities, but would hand that cost over to the group of community members as well.

The task force’s recommendation is to build an addition on to Bendix for the fifth grade. That would make the remainder of the middle school much roomier.

It would also alleviate congestion in the cafeteria, which would remain where it is. Eventually the district would move toward building a new middle school on a different site.

On April 28, school board members will have their first official look at the task force’s recommendation, but they are not likely to act on it until the May meeting, Niklaus said.

Now is the time to approach the voters for money for major improvements to the schools because in 2009 the mortgage on the high school will be paid off, he said.

Letters to the Editor on Behalf of the 1922 Building-Keep ‘Em Coming Folks!

Here are a few of the latest Letters to the Editor of the local paper, the Annandale Advocate.

Building would be missed From: Sara Owen, Hastings

The “old” high school has very many memories for me and my family. I went to school there (1987-1991) and my grandfather graduated from there. I think it would be a great loss to tear it down. So old historic buildings with character are torn down and replaced with gas stations or strip malls. Please save the old school!

Building remains serviceable From: Judd and Barb Owen, Annandale
We would like to express our support of saving the 1922 school building. It remains a serviceable building and should be updated to become usable. Trends come and go in building styles, the 1922 building remains a classic.

We are unable to attend upcoming meetings concerning this issue but would like to express our support in saving this building.

Save the 1922 school building From: Barb Lundberg, Annandale

I have been following updates on the 1922 section of the Annandale Middle School and was aware that there is a community task force studying our school facility. So I am pleased to read statements written in the Advocate or sent to me via e-mail, by respected and reliable sources, de-bunking the myth that the building is to be condemned. Tearing down a three-story brick structure where Wold Architects has determined the building envelope to be solid does not make sense to me either. I feel it should continue to be a school. I also feel like others, that the middle school helps to create a sense of neighborhood. I work across the street from the school at the library and I invite you to come in around 3 p.m. and see for yourself the kids who have walked across the from the middle school school and are using the internet stations, working on school projects at the tables or being able to sit in comfy chairs to read a book or magazine, before their ride comes.

Take action to save building From: Jill Bishop, Annandale

The April 9 informational meeting regarding the upcoming recommendation to the school board by the Facilities Task Force to demolish the 1922 school building was well attended. In addition to Laura Hood Beckman, my co-leader in this cause, there were two other task force members, two former school board members, Supt. Niklaus and numerous supportive community members. Many expressed their various reasons for saving the building, and Mr. Niklaus provided a handout showing the costs associated with the various alternatives considered. Mr. Niklaus’s figures showed an additional cost of $1.2-$2 million to complete deferred maintenance on the 1922 building, compared with demolishing it and adding fifth-grade classrooms to Bendix. $1.2- $2 million is actually a small portion of whatever the final bond referendum will be. The task force members present agreed the reason for their proposal to demolish rather than do the deferred maintenance on the 1922 building had not been money, but location. As was indicated in Jeff Lundquist’s letter in the April 9 Advocate, the decision to demolish the building reflects the long-term plan to move the entire middle school to a different site in the future, away from the current location near downtown Annandale. Jeff served on both the 2005 and 2008 Facilities Task Force groups, and he is well versed on the subject. His words mean something. His letter said that in 15-20 years, because the site is “undesirable and too small … it is best to move away from this building and location and plan toward a new middle school.” With the fire marshal’s and inspector’s reports that the building is structurally sound, the myth has been put to rest regarding the inevitability of the building’s demolition; now we can move toward deciding what to do. It has become clear the decision to demolish the 1922 building is not about money but about continuing on the course set many years ago to move all students away from downtown. We learned that catching up with the deferred maintenance, the $1.2- $2 million figure, would increase taxes for an average homeowner about $14 to $23 per year. Can we convince the school board to add the restoration of the 1922 building to the upcoming bond referendum? As background, I began the April 9 meeting with an explanation of why I was there. Back in 2005 I spoke to Jeff Lundquist in the coffee shop one day. He said the task force had recommended demolition of the 1922 building because there hadn’t been any indication the community cared about saving it. That same year, school board member Mike Dougherty was quoted in the Advocate as saying he “doubted that there would be any backlash demanding the board save it.” At the time I was distraught and believed saving the building was probably hopeless. Along with many in the community, including some former school board members, I believed the myth that the ultimate demolition of the building was inevitable. When it then came to light the building was structurally sound, I resolved to try and rally the community to provide that “backlash” and make their desires about saving the building known. The meeting adjourned with spontaneous applause for a suggestion from Laura Hood Beckman that those interested in saving the 1922 building work diligently with the task force, school board and community to get the bond referendum passed. There are many serious needs, the worst being Bendix, of course, along with the lack of ball fields. But with the second- lowest tax rate in the area we can afford to ask our community for the teaching and learning environment our students and teachers deserve. We must have faith in our community and trust they will want quality educational facilities for our children. I am looking forward to the time when the enthusiasm and commitment I have felt from the community about saving the building results in our combined efforts to create the right package for voters and its passage in the upcoming bond referendum. So what now? If you are in favor of saving the 1922 school building from the wrecking ball, please do the following: 1. Most important, attend the Monday, April 28, school board meeting to make a strong statement from the community. 2. Sign one of the petitions around town. It is an easy thing to do and is one more indication to the school board that it is important to save the 1922 building. Petitions are at the library, In Hot Water, Snooty Fox and numerous other businesses around town. 3. Pass the word and share with me the names of people interested in saving the building. We will keep people informed and remind them to attend the April 28 meeting. 4. Contact school board members. See their contact information below to write or email or call them. 5. Write a letter to the Advocate. The email address of editor Chuck Sterling is news@annandaleadvocate.com, and the email address of publisher Steve Prinsen is advocate@lakedalelink.net. 6. Put April 28 on your calendar. The school board meets at 7 p.m. in the middle school choir room. Bring along as many people as you can. Remember: Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

School board members:

Mary Barkley Brown 12274 Greer Ave. NW Maple Lake, MN 55358 963-5810

Michael Dougherty 80 Lake Drive East Annandale, MN 55302 274-3393

Norman Planer 8804 State Highway 24 NW Annandale, MN 55302 274-8636

Bryan Bruns 520 Hickory St. S Annandale, MN 55302 274-3000

Jeannette Rieger-Borer 11754 Jarvis Ave. NW Annandale, MN 55302 274-5316

Douglas Kantor 18715 Eaglewood Road Clearwater, MN 55320 320-558-2706

Supt. Steve Niklaus 274-5602, ext. 2900 sniklaus@annandale.k12.mn.us

Member says its worth saving Laura Hood Beckman, Annandale

I am reminded every day why the Annandale area is such a wonderful place to live and raise a family. This community is rich in volunteerism, willing citizens that work hard to make this a great place to live, learn and grow. I was honored to be asked to serve on the school district’s 2007 Facilities Task Force. I know there were many people willing to sit on this group and so feel fortunate that I was asked. Myself and a dozen other area citizens, school district teachers and administrators including two school board members spent the last six months reviewing a lot of information. I learned many things about our school facilities, what constitutes good learning space, what are ideal school sizes to provide maximum successful learning and recommended standards from our State Department of Education. Our group had the opportunity to review information from Wold Architects regarding building needs, costs and a few potential design scenarios. Our job was to review the work of the last Facilities Task Force to determine if their findings were current for today. A number of things had changed including concerns with the 1922 building, which is the three-story structure that is currently being used as part of our middle school.

As someone that believes in recycling and great architectural design, I was thrilled to find out first and foremost that it is possible to renovate the building so that it can continue to be used for academic purposes. We had been told at the start of our meetings and prior that the building had so many fire and building code violations that it could not be repaired. However, when a building inspector and representative of the State Fire Marshal toured the facility last fall both indicated that many needed maintenance items could be addressed without having to upgrade to some of the current new construction requirements. Touring the building, we had the opportunity to see the spacious classrooms, fantastic natural lighting and architectural detailing that we could never afford to duplicate today in a new building. Although neglected, this building today is still within reason to renovate and continue to serve our community another 80 years. We also discussed the possibility of having a private party purchase the 1922 building. Unfortunately the legalities of having a private party utilize a building that is attached to a functioning school is not likely. Another issue that was raised was the land size of the middle school site. In today’s standards it is small, however, like many schools in small towns and urban areas the school continues to function well. All schools in our district are landlocked; and that happens eventually with any new site construction.

The group was varied in opinions and priorities with not only the 1922 building but also other school district needs. There are many ways to achieve the same goal, that being great learning facilities for our students and teachers. I commend all that spent time on this effort and gave of their time and viewpoints. At some point the group needed to close. Over the course of the six months we reviewed a variety of scenarios with many other variations not explored, however the group could not go on forever. At what ended up to be our last meeting we were provided a new proposal draft that included adopting a long-range plan to begin to abandon the current middle school site by demolishing the 1922 building. The majority of the group approved this recommendation that will be presented to the school board on April 28.

One of my concerns with this plan is that it commits taxpayers to purchasing land and building a new middle school in the future. The location would be farther out of the heart of town. Many people find the location of the middle school ideal as the children can walk to the public library or downtown to have something to eat after school or an activity. It is a convenient location for parents as well as they are able to run errands downtown while they wait for their children. Many of the churches are within a reasonable and safe walking distance for many kids that have church school on Wednesdays. The school’s present location is very favorable with current community design trends that promote safety, walkability, health and a sense of neighborhood.

The cost to build the 1922 building was $140,000. Over 84 years that is $1,666 per year. With the proper repair and maintenance we can enjoy another 84 years. I hope our other facilities can provide that type of return on our taxpayer investment. As a task force we were only a small group of people, recognizing there are many citizens with ideas, concerns and opinions. It will be up to the school board to decide how to best move forward. I sincerely hope the school board members decide to keep the middle school in its current location.

Building is central to community Nancy Spencer Hable, Annandale

The “1922 Building” (the brick three- story, older portion of Annandale Middle School), directly across from and east of the library, is a longstanding part of this town’s education and history. The need to preserve that structure as a vital part of Annandale’s history and identity is beyond refute. One need only look at other small towns which have not done so to see the difference.

One of its greatest advantages is the 1922 building’s central location in the community. Students can be independent enough to walk to their church, public library or to downtown to eat a meal after school and before their next event, all within a safe proximity. It is a three-quarter walk to the elementary school. It has good traffic flow, is well lit, has good sidewalks and fits within current community design concepts. Although its location on 11 acres of land limits great future expansion, our district is not projecting exponential growth that would require such additions. It is walkable to ball fields, the ice rink and does have green space in the rear.

Furthermore, remodeling/repair vs. demolition is sound and responsible stewardship. As with many structures of this type, the quality and architectural details simply cannot be replaced in today’s economy. The proposed cost of demolition does not include environmental effects from landfill or utilization of resources to produce the building materials for a new structure. To restore the existing building, left so long in disrepair, is recycling at its best.

While I did not attend school in Annandale, I would very much like my grandchildren to be educated in the 1922 Building, should circumstances permit. To preserve this historical treasure is affordable, good for Annandale and the right thing to do.

1922 building is basically sound From: Jill Bishop, Annandale

I learned a lot at a Wednesday, March 26, meeting of people interested in the future of the 1922 school building. Most significantly I learned that inspections by a fire marshal and a building inspector have determined that the building is basically sound – all of it – so the myth of the condemned third floor can finally be put to rest! And although it needs improvements, the cost of fixing up the 1922 building is not prohibitive. Yet the recommendation of the Facilities Task Force to the school board will include demolition of the 1922 building, then adding on to Bendix. Does that make sense?

At the meeting I was reminded of numerous virtues of the building, particularly the spacious rooms and large windows providing natural light considered so valuable in educational settings, unlike any of the other school district’s buildings. Surely we don’t have to lose this functional and classic school building just because it is old and has been neglected. Perhaps the best thing I learned that meeting was that many others share my feelings about the value of the building. Now if only the school board does too …

It was a good meeting. If you are interested in going to the next meeting, come to the Snooty Fox on Wednesday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. If you cannot make the meeting but would like to be kept abreast of efforts to keep the building from being demolished, e-mail me at jwbishop@lakedalelink.net.

1922 building is worth saving Jill Bishop, Annandale

Now that the school’s Facilities Task Force has been hard at work for several months on their recommendations to the school board and administration, it seems time to share my thoughts regarding the future of the 1922 building, the current middle school building – before the wrecking ball is swinging. I can’t forget the recommendation of the 2005 Task Force that said the 1922 portion of the middle school should be demolished. Will that be the recommendation of this committee too?

I strongly believe that demolishing this architectural and historic treasure would be a terrible loss to our community. The 1922 building is a precious part of Annandale, past and present, an irreplaceable building that should be preserved for the future. I care very much about Annandale and it pains me to think of losing this significant landmark.

If you agree that the 1922 school building is worth saving, for whatever reason, the people who make the decisions need to hear it. Telling the superintendent and/or someone on the school board will encourage them not to tear down this unique and distinct icon of our community. The time to make your feelings known is now, not after it is too late.