Tuesday, October 13th, 2008 - Dedication Day!

The parking lot of the new school is packed for the day of dedication. Folks from both the Lutheran Homes Society and LHS Family & Youth Services, Inc. boards of directors were present for the affair, as well as employees and even the local media.



Steve Plottner, Assistant Director, offers the Second Lesson during the dedication ceremony, from Romans 11:33 - 12:5.



Monica Flory, Education Director, receives a plaque from Lutheran Homes Society's President and CEO, David Roberts, during the dedication ceremony.




Steve Plottner, Assistant Director, and Bruce Flory, program director at the Maumee Youth Center, are present for the dedication of the new school.



Steve Plottner converses with Kent Buehrer, president of the Buehrer Group and architectural designer for the new school.



Paula Nowicki, a local art teacher, poses beside one of the several murals she guided ALCC East students in creating. These murals were framed and are displayed in the cafeteria area.





Dr. Neil Norris interacts with James Roemer during the refreshments after the dedication ceremony.



Pastor Gerald Labuhn and his wife Ilean enjoy refreshments and converse with others after the dedication ceremony.



Harry L. Blackmon, Executive Director of LHS Family & Youth Services, Inc., and architectural designer Kent Buehrer, are interviewed by the local TV media covering the dedication ceremony today.





Dr. Neil Norris takes a closer look at one of the larger skylights in one of the classrooms as he tours the school after the dedication ceremony. Natural light has been utilized as a primary illumination source, and several of the classrooms were equipped with over-sized skylights.



From left to right, Amy Dougan, Steve Plottner, Kelli Ratliff and Harry L. Blackmon enjoy a friendly chat at the afterglow reception, after the dedication ceremony.



Lutheran Homes Society President/CEO David Roberts (center) shares a conversation with an unknown attendee and Nancy Wellman (right) at the reception after the dedication.



Another unknown attendee shares a quip with Pat Bolman, human resources director for LHS Family & Youth Services.



Karen Blackmon and teacher Bob Rose share a lighthearted moment and pause for a picture at the reception.

Sunday October 12th, 2008

This blogger came by on a weekend day to check up on landscaping development. Grass is growing nicely on the grounds around the building. The official dedication of the building is coming up shortly, and the sprouting of flora is quite timely indeed.

Monday (Labor Day), September 1st, 2008

The parking lots and drive ways are now coated with a glistening layer of asphalt. The fences have been completed around the perimeter of the playground area to the back of the school, as well. Although the grounds have been seeded for grass, intemperately dry weather has not provided the irrigation necessary to make it spout! Still, nearly one year after this project's genesis, evidence of overall project success is clearly visible.









A lone cat scurries to get away from this writer after examining the playground area for a potential meal or shady spot.















Reminiscent of a biblical "dry and thirsty land," this run-off drain is very dry and very empty. Forecasts for the week are in the 90's, with some scattered showers, however.

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

On this parching-hot Wednesday (predicted high of 92 degrees), there is evidence that some of the landscaping has begun on the school grounds. Trees have been planted, along with shrubbery, and the mulch has been delivered to be spread in designated areas. The sidewalks on the side of the road have been installed, as well as the to the north side of the parking lot.

Saturday, July 5th, 2008

Some additional work continues outside of the new school. Maintenance men Jim and Steve have completed a significant portion of the fencing off of a playground area to the back of the school. Their work has stopped to make room for the equipment necessary to lay a patch of asphalt near the back door of the gymnasium, and after that the fence will be completed. Work has also been started on laying the sidewalk along the front of the property.

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

On this gorgeous Monday morning, greenery is beginning to peak out of the ground around the school, but much more appealing landscaping is planned once some other exterior construction is completed.







Maintenance man Jim Hayes (pictured on the right in the photo directly below this paragraph) works with his assistant, Steve Wesche (left), to put up the privacy fence that will establish the bounds for a playground area. Steve does "dual duty" as both a maintenance assistant and a front-line staff for the agency. Both of these gentlemen are familiar, friendly faces to the residents.











This blogger discovered therapist Kelli Ratliff working in her office this morning. It would seem she's made the transition into her new office rather nicely, and her new digs seem quite comfortable and "homey" for her young clients to relax and "be themselves" in.




Residents are busy painting murals which will be displayed in the school. Over the summer, residents from the Wynn and Oregon treatment facilities use the school building for "summer camp" and carry on their camp activities there.



Oooops! This blogger stepped out the wrong door from the garage, in his efforts to get back to his Jeep!



Sidewalks are works in progress out front of the school, running to the north and south along the property by the street.






Looking across the way to the south, construction continues on new additions to the independent living apartments, another Lutheran Homes Society project.