Planned Repairs
After repeated leaks, two 100-year-old steam pipes in the basement were replaced. This required jack-hammering eight inches of cement over the pipes before any repairs could occur. The jack-hammering took place in December 2020 and replacing of pipes in March 2021, and was supervised by property moderator Werner Heck. The total cost approached $25,000.
Early in 2021, Nick Wallwork, Werner Heck, and Kurt Saunders took on the daunting task of cleaning and reorganizing the basement. For many years, items had been stashed in a variety of storage areas, closets, cupboards and crawl spaces. All of these were examined and out-of-date or damaged items were discarded.
Following Pastor Leggett’s retirement, books he had left behind were donated and his office renovated for the incoming pastor. Bloomfield College accepted Pastor Leggett’s large collection of books on a variety of subjects. Werner Heck, Bob Roe, and Kurt Saunders disposed of bulky furniture items. Pastor Margo Walter paid for and supervised the painting and renovation of the office, to usher in a new season at Grace.
Another step towards modernizing Grace was the installation of a digital lock system. This allows more controlled access to the church, especially during the pandemic, and eliminates any risk from keys being lost or stolen. Members of Session and other personnel can easily be added or removed from the system.
In the future, the focus will remain on the structural integrity and appearance of the church. To remedy some flooding at the Grove Street side entrance and of the Memorial Garden, two holly trees were cut down and the ground graded to redirect the water. Bob Roe supervised the tree removal, and is focused on enhancing the beauty of the Memorial Garden, together with other interested parishioners.
The next large project on the horizon is the maintenance and repair of the stained glass windows at the back and sides of the sanctuary. After repeated water and weather exposure, the paint on the window glazing is peeling, which could ultimately lead to the failure of the windows. The Property Committee and REACH are currently assembling funds to have the windows scraped, painted, and glazed by a specialized company, in order to ensure their beauty for years to come.
Emily Rishel
Flood Damage Mitigation
On September 1, Hurricane Ida left destruction in many parts of New Jersey, with flooding and multiple tornadoes. Lives were lost, with thirty deaths across the state. During the days that followed the storm, extensive damage was discovered by the Grace congregation and the surrounding community. Many members had property damage, with some losing their vehicles.
The morning after the storm hit New Jersey, Werner Heck went to inspect the church basement, and found 2 inches of water in the basement classrooms, the storage closets, the boiler room, the counting room, and the Sexton’s Office. Bob Roe and Werner Heck spent many hours wet-vacuuming the hundreds of gallons of water, which had to be laboriously poured into the sump pump. Heather and Dustin Kennedy donated bleach, disinfectant, and many other cleaning supplies to help with the effort.
Even once the water was gone and the floor cleaned, the work wasn’t done. A number of damaged items, including carpets, electronics, and printed materials, had to be discarded. Going forward, the rooms will need to be evaluated for mold and water damage, continuing the costs of Ida.
Emily Rishel
