Gulf Coast Works weblog

A giant shout-out to Peter Hilton and David Kramer for the outstanding leadership they’ve provided on this project; Peter for his skillful guidance of Bridge to Biloxi as an increasingly meaningful grassroots organization and David for his team leading and overall management of the rebuilding project in Biloxi. You guys have done so much in the last 4 or 5 months to make this project the success that it’s obviously become, and those of us back in Concord can’t thank you enough. Great work, which will, no doubt, lead to even greater things as Bridge to Biloxi moves on to its next phase…

Luke carries his weight

Originally uploaded by bridge to biloxi.

Today was another good day for B2B. The HVAC vents were installed, enabling us to sheetrock ceilings; our two new team members John and Ann from Wisconsin are hard and skilled workers. John brought down his tools and immediately added value to our team. He and David K have trimmed half the windows (exterior trim) and are preparing for siding the home. The rest of us finished the insulation and continued sheetrocking - we are about half way done now. Joannie went shopping with Cynthia and they selected kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures, appliances, … We are still hopeful of finishing by Dec 1.

Today Cynthia was awarded a grant for appliances. We are getting the sheetrock, insulation, and probably doors. This helps our effort a great deal and will enable us to come in well within budget and perhaps have some money to start another house in 2007.

I tried to change flights and stay longer but the cost was unreasonable so I am coming home tomorrow evening. I must tell you how thrilling it is to be down here working on the house. I want to do it again and I highly recommend it to all of you.

New team members

Originally uploaded by bridge to biloxi.

We have a big team - David K, David V, Dan W., Brittany, Tony R and Tony Senior , Jodi, Zara, Glen, Jan, Joannie and myself plus Luke and Suzanne and
Elaina (sp?) from CCHS - a long timer. We completed most of the insulation, about 20% of the sheetrock and the beginning of the exterior window trim work.
We are all tired and feeling good about our accomplishments. Cynthia’s excitement helps drive us on.

Two new team members just drove in from Wisconsin. The house is big enough and there are enough tasks to keep us and some Hands On guys busy without getting in each other’s hair.

I was too involved to step back and take pictures but others did and I hope we’ll be able to send you some this evening.

Wish you were all here.

Motley crew…

Originally uploaded by bridge to biloxi.

A short note for now. We are all tired after our first day of real work - sheetrocking and insulation. It feels great to be engaged in rebuilding Cynhia’s house and we could not have chosen a more appropriate and appreciative person. David came down about 1 PM and our confidence and pace picked up immediately.

Jane at Boys & Girls Club

Originally uploaded by bridge to biloxi.

We had a wonderful day off today. The weather was perfect. We went to a southern Baptist service this morning - mixed Black and White - great music and very moving. Then we went to Bay ST Louis - a beautiful coastal town that is being nicely rebuilt and then on to Passe Christian which needs lots of help Then we went on to Ocean Spring - a city that was much less impacted by Katrina - beautiful beach, nice harbor, art galleries and museum and a great catfish restaurant called Aunt Jeannie’s - we recommend it.

Yesterday, we refinished Cynthia’s upper kitchen cabinets - they are important to her as her father built them in the 40s and she was very pleased to see them refinished.

Tomorrow the real work begins - sheetrocking, siding etc. We have a big team and it should be exciting.

Bridge To Biloxi sign

Originally uploaded by bridge to biloxi.

Just a quick thanks to Dan Olsen and the guys at Olsen Images, a display and corporate graphics shop in Watertown, for donating the production of the sturdy and handsome signage for Bridge to Biloxi’s work site. I’ve known Dan and his brother Matt for over 20 years (yikes!) and they’re always willing to pitch in on the important things…

Jennifer, Meg, Martha and Beth arrived last night to join our team. We are about to go to introduce them to Cynthia and family, and to find out if we got inspected late yesterday afternoon. I certainly hope we passed so we can begin insulating and sheetrocking.

Glen and Janie Rifkin, Jodi and Zara, Joannie and I worked on the house yesterday. We helped put in windows and finished the wrapping of the exterior. We met Cynthia, Dan and their two younger children. What a great family!

Our new find is a Korean restaurant, where we celebrated Zara’s birthday on our first night at HOGC. Last night I went to the Shabbat service of Synagogue Beth Israel which is held at the same church that houses us as Beth Israel’s temple was destroyed in the storm. (They have plans to build a new at a safer location.). Later last night, the front portion of our tent blew down in the wind - we were in the back portion and were not impacted accept when we tried to find the exit. All is well now.

Framing 4 Amateurs

Originally uploaded by bridge to biloxi.

We had crews at the house for the last two days including appearances by Eddie, Jodie, Emily, Woody, Doug and Sean.  The rough electrical is done and Felix the local electrician has called for an inspection.  We finished tar papering the back of the house and it’s ready for siding.  The crew spent a lot of time taking apart the entrance porch and reframing it so the it will become a screen porch.  The door opening has been moved to the front of the house and the rest of the porch has been opened up so that screens can be put in.  The windows are being delivered tomorrow and should be completely installed by the end of the week.  After the windows are installed we will get the framing inspection.  At that point all hell will break loose and there will be plenty of work; insulation, wallboarding, siding, etc.

Cynthia, the homeowner, is as gracious and thankful as ever.  Good luck to the next crew coming down later this week.
 
John Solon

BlackoutOriginally uploaded by bridge to biloxi.

We had a good sized crew at the house, Barry, Bob, John, Harley from Wisconsin, his son Sam (Americorp) and Sam’s girlfriend Marla. We finished wrapping the house in tar paper except for a small section in the back where our ladders would not reach. Once the windows and doors are in we can start on the siding. John finished up the rough electrical and we will hopefully get inspected on Monday. Barry and Bob finished up getting the inside framing as square and as level as possible given the state of the house. Again, once the windows are in the walls can be insulated and then closed up. Cynthia was as gracious as ever serving coffee in the morning and helping to clean up. David, you were missed!

John’s first day wiring

Originally uploaded by bridge to biloxi.

I’m sitting in the dining hall listening to the not so talented open mike. It is usually done outside but it is too muddy from all the rain, so this is a good time to get this out.

We had a quiet day at 334 Crawford. We had so many people show up we sent half of them away to make room for the electrician to work. He didn’t come till 1pm and saw all the work that our new arrival John did he left. Back tomorrow I hope.

When the house floated off the foundation the floors in the LR and Boy room buckled in the middle. We have been trying to figure out what to do all last week. Well Sam’s dad Harley attacked it with the help of David. Now the 6 inch hump is flat, Thanks Harley. Most of phase one is complete. We maybe ready for dry wall next week.