 Elevator ProjectThe elevator project has caused quite a stir. It operates from the first floor to the fourth floor, and can hold up to 15 people. It is large enough to accommodate a full gurney and medical team. The project started on May 20, 2002 and wrapped up, seven months later, in December. The construction created a lot of concrete dust, noise, and plastic bubble rooms. All of that is now gone, the floors polished, walls painted, and money from the grants and donations restricted for this purpose spent. In all, the project cost $740,000. Had the elevator been installed in the original construction of a new building it would probably cost us about one tenth. We especially want to extend our thanks and heart-felt appreciation to the Wayne and Gladys Foundation, and the Y & H Soda Foundation for their combined contributions of $500,000, the Western Dominican Province for their contribution of $100,000, and the remainder from various donors, the most generous being Joaquin Nin-Culmell, Frank Heffernan and Heidi Cortese. The most notable changes, besides the elevator itself, involved making room for the elevator. The little phone room that was between the reception area and the main recreation room was displaced to near the front doors. The old confessional was converted to a phone room on one side, and on the other side, a closet accessible to the parlor. The mail room and parlors were unchanged. The reception area is now smaller, but quite accommodating and still enjoys the spacious window view of the garden. The kitchen is shorter in length, but deeper. Although there is more room to maneuver in the kitchen, there is now only one door. During construction, it was necessary to reroute power within the building for the use of the construction workers. We could eek out just enough to operate the elevator construction equipment. However, this meant we could not do any laundry or play the organ during the day, while the construction crews were on site. We needed to have a new transformer installed exterior to the building, and coordinating such a change-over turned out to be a colossal ordeal. PG&E finally was able to get the transformer installed, the electricians finished rerouting the power, and the elevator was up and running. Easier said than done. The new transformer should be much safer and last a long, long time. We should also be finished with squirrels blowing the transformer of old. We give thanks for the many people who have made this project possible. In days of old, we were not able to have elderly or infirm friars reside at St. Albert's, if they could not climb the stairs. The elevator brings new convenience and freedom. It will allow those friars, previously unable, to return home and live within the community to which they have dedicated their lives. These men have labored for many years as God's servants, and have dedicated much energy to building up the community life which we enjoy today.
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