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Lamont Community Center eyes improvements |
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Written by Publisher
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Wednesday, 08 April 2009 |
Photo by Joseph Bell
National Fuel Gas presented a $5,000 to Alan Asp, a representative of the Lamont Community Center at the beginning of yesterday morning's Elk County commissioners meeting. From left to right is Tracy D. Gerber, Matthew Quesenberry, Daniel R. Freeburg, Matt Stricker, Asp, Ronald T. Beimel, and Laurie Storrar.
By Joseph Bell
Record Staff Writer
County officials gathered yesterday morning for a check presentation from National Fuel Gas, a western New York and Pennsylvania gas provider which donated $5,000 to the Lamont Community Center for building improvements.
According to Alan Asp, a representative from the center, the donation is quite a generous gesture during tough economic times.
"This is more money than we've had in a long time," Asp said. "(Jones Township supervisor) Laurie (Storrar) deserves a lot of credit for this as well as the planning commission.
"It started out with a handicap toilet and we got one, we got one after all the paperwork and everything else. Then the planning commission decided that they would talk to National Fuel and see if we could get some money. They came through with the money for us to help fix up our building."
Elk County commissioner Daniel R. Freeburg acknowledged county officials for also assisting the center's representatives.
"We'd like to recognize the Elk County planning office for their assistance also, Tracy Gerber and Matt Quesenberry," Freeburg said.
Quesenberry, whop works as the county's senior planning director, also shined the spotlight on Jodi Foster, currently the Community & Economic Development Coordinator.
"(Foster) did a lot of legwork for this and a lot of behind–the–scenes work," Quesenberry said. "(Foster) did a lot of the letter–writing and phone calls and things like that so we appreciate her contributions as well."
But for Asp, the building represents a long–standing tradition.
"What it boils down to is I am probably the fourth generation that has been in this building," Asp said. "My great–grandfather went to school in this building so, to me, it's very important.
"We vote there, we have receptions there, and everything else."
While the building's immediate future is secure, Asp said he does not know what the future holds for the Lamont Community Center.
"I don't know what's going to happen when I'm gone and I don't know what my kids are going to do, but it's very important to me and there's a handful of us who want to keep it going," Asp said. "This is really going to help and we're going to decide now whether to get a roof or get siding, or whatever happens.
"I appreciate it and appreciate everyone who had a hand in this and we're going to do the best we can with what we're going to get."
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 30 July 2009 )
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