Friday, April 30, 2010

Volunteer Day ... again...

Can you spare a few hours tomorrow morning?

We are going to have another work day tomorrow, Saturday, May 1st starting at 9 AM. We all have lots to do, so we will only go until noon or so.
lease bring hammers, sledge hammers, or any tools you think to take down interior walls with.

Please bring gloves and safety eyewear if you want.

Any questions call Judy at 924.3067 or on Saturday at 207.1240 (cell)

We had a great time last week, and we can have more fun tomorrow with your help ...
Hopefully the RFP is going out to the General Contractor in a couple weeks, so we have a lot to do.
Judy

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Generous offers

This week Tina Belair of Darby Creek (www.RandHillFarms.com) messaged me to say she has a display case, steam table and proofing racks that we may be interest in. Yipee!!!
AND Pam Fyrberg of DexterPrintShop.com offered her help in any print needs we may have.
It is so gratifying to have local businesses support our efforts for the Fossa General Store.
This afternoon talked with 2 of our interested farmers.
Gail from Leaves & Blooms in Dover-Foxcroft who has fresh veggies and baked goods for sale at her place on Rt 23.
New caller, Marie Kirven of Sweet Dreams Food & Farm in St. Albans. She is growing lavender, herbs, eggs, baked goods, jams, teas, and more. Can't wait to visit her place soon, but she is going to try and come to our meeting next Tuesday, May 4th!

FARMERS: If you haven't already, would you mind making out a survey for us? Your information will remain anonymous if you want.
You can find the survey at Dexter Farm Project website. Just fill out and send to Judy. Address is on the survey. This info will help us in knowing what we will have to offer our future customers.
thanks.... jc

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Wednesday update

Our 3 volunteer workers, Priscilla, Crystal & Stewart are doing a great job at the store. They are working on removing the tin today from the walls with great care. Not sure how we refinish it, I will check with our architects. They have done stuff like this before.
Roger Brawn, Dave Pearson and I went in the 'rabbit hole' today under and between the Dexter Cafe & the Fossa Store. Holy hanna, it is like a cave down there~ No man's land! Steve Wintle is coming up with a plan for the rabbit hole I guess.
that's it for now... have a great wet day!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Tuesday update

Dave and I did some banking today for a couple hours. We had to cash in our CD and started a new Checking account with Skowhegan Savings Bank. Thanks Val for all your help!
We also had 3 volunteers work at the store front today cleaning up the floors and moving debris that we tore out last Saturday.
They did a great job and will be going back tomorrow to gently take down the old tin wall covering that we are planning to reuse in the store. It was original to the building for many, many years.
If you would like to help, please give Judy a call at 924.3067
click for todays pictures

Monday, April 26, 2010

Dexter Farm Project update

Dexter Regional Development Corporation (DRDC) has been busy over the winter months working with regional farmers, farmer friends and QA13 Architects with plans for the rehab of the Fossa General Store.

A lot of GREAT businesses in the Dexter area have been helpful in giving us their expert advice on everything from heating systems, wood products, siding, flooring, environmental issues and more AND they expect nothing in return! They realize with our CDBG grant, almost everything has to go out to bid and it will be up to the General Contractor chosen to choose companies they will be working with. (in most cases)

We would like to thank them for their advice on quality, pricing and practicality in the commercial space: Steve Wintle our environmental guy, Louis Easler at Dexter Lumber, Matt Scott of Dave's World, for heating systems, Mark & Tom from AE Robinson, Jay Bradley of Bradley Heating, George McCourt, Tillson True Value, John Higgins at Yoder Lumber, Kris Kowel and so many more. Many have offered FREE services or "at cost" because they believe in our project!!! We appreciate all those people and more for their time in providing us with knowledge.

DRDC and supporting staff continue their efforts in writing grants and brainstorming on raising funds for the store. Currently Jason has applied for a USDA Grant for our Commercial Kitchen appliances & fixtures. If you have any fund raising ideas, let us know. We are currently looking for refrigeration units, display cases, etc. Donations are accepted for this Non-Profit project that reaches out across a 25 plus mile radius of Dexter and supports the local farmer while creating an agricultural economy.

On Saturday, April 24th 2010 we held our 1st work day when volunteers from DRDC, Farmers and friends got their hands dirty at the future home of the Fossa General Store.
The energetic crew demo'd some of the ceilings, took down some wall partitions out and hauled trash. We worked hard until our trash trailer was overly full and didn't want to just stack trash only to move it again. Craig P. took 1 or 2 loads of old metal to the Transfer Station.
Everyone was dusty, dirty and we worked hard in those hours and got so much done AND had fun. (LOTS MORE TO GO)
We will be having another work day soon, but really good news, in the meantime, Dave has arranged for the Charleston Correctional Center work crew to put in a full day at the store.
We set up an account at Tillsons and Norma and I kept running across to pick up tools, trash bags, broom etc. They joked with us every time we went in because we were dirtier than the previous visit.
Workers included: Steve Wintle, Fred Wintle, Jason Bird, Courtney Brown, Josh Doore, Norma Batchelder, Dave Pearson, Steve Craig, Lauraine & Craig Piquette, and Judy Wilbur Craig.
Supporters behind the scene or showing up later: Fred Sherburne brought his trailer & picked it up to take to the dump, Roger Brawn did behind the scenes planning (both had to work at real jobs, but helped a lot) and Sue Watson, Jonathan Wilbur, Amanda Flagg Lupo showed up to help, but the rest of us were done and spitting dust.
I think I am speaking for most of us, despite the dirty work, we had a great time and it is a step closer....
We have lots more to do before the General Contractor is chosen, so let me know if YOU can help and when. The RFP will be issued in the very near future for the GC and will be advertised for those interested.
Here is a link to some pictures taken on Saturday, April 24th: http://picasaweb.google.com/dexterdrdc/1stVolunteerDay
If you would like to get involved in this community project or would like to learn more about it, call Judy at 924.3067, email judy@DexterFarmProject.com or check out the website at DexterFarmProject.com
The next monthly meeting is Tuesday, May 4th at 7 PM at the Dexter Town Council Chambers. The informal meetings are open to farmers, friends of farmers and consumers. The Dexter Farm Project meetings are held monthly on the 1st Tuesday of every month.

April 8, 2010 meeting notice

We will be holding a special meeting for a variety of reasons on Tuesday, April 20th, one of which is a Public Hearing starting at 6:30 pm (text to follow)
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The Dexter Regional Development Corporation intends to file an application for federal assistance with the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
This assistance is needed for the purpose of financing the build out of the commercial kitchen and equipment for the year round farmer's market that will be created in the Fossa Building in Dexter.
Any interested party may attend an informational meeting at the Town of Dexter Council Chambers at 23 Main Street, Dexter Maine 04930 At 6:30pm on April 20th

We will follow the Public Hearing with a regular Farmers meeting to discuss the work that we are doing with our Architects QA13 and the progress they are making, the heating system, and the upcoming "volunteer work days" we need to get started ASAP and many other details.

I want to give a shout out to a lot of GREAT businesses in the Dexter area that are giving us their expert advice on everything from heating systems, wood products, siding, flooring, environmental issues and more AND they expect nothing in return! They realize with our particular grant that things have to go out to bid and it will be up the the General Contractor to choose companies in most cases.
But I would like to thank them for their advice on quality, pricing and practicality in the commercial space are Steve Wintle on environmental and heating systems, Louis at Dexter Lumber, Matt Scott of Dave's World, the AE Robinson guys, Jay Bradley, George McCourt, Tillson True Value, John Higgins at Yoder Lumber, Kris Kowel and so many more. Many have offered FREE services or "at cost" because they believe in our project!!!
I think I can speak for Roger Brawn and myself, we are learning a lot about a lot of things in a short few months and in many meetings. AND we appreciate all those people and more for their time in providing us with knowledge.

I also have been working with Insurance Companies (4 in total) to get Builders Risk Insurance & Liability. (How confusing it is!) Roger and I are meeting with some this coming week. I need help on this one... who know insurance could be so confusing and so expensive!!!

The Environmental Abatements (the asbestos pipes in the basement & the lead paint in the ceiling tile) have been completed. We also had to have the water & power turned on.

I hope you can come to the meeting this coming Tuesday & we will get you all caught up on the news and set up a few work days at the Fossa General Store. These need to be done before the General Contractor starts. The RFP for the GC will be going out, I expect, in the next few weeks.

If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call.... and hope to see you soon...
Judy