Property Committee

• Contents
• The Property Committee is
• We have recently
• We thank these people for their contributions during the summer
• We're looking forward to
• If you would like to help

The Property Committee is:

• Al Tosti (Co-Chair)
• Barbara Tosti (Co-Chair)
• Rainer Dressler (Co-Chair)
• John Chamberlain
• Frank Snyder Di Cesare
• David Landskov
• Susan Marsh

We have recently:

• Finished replacing ceiling tiles.  This looks better and lowers our heating bill. It's a visible sign of the kind of improvement we did in the next item.
• Upgraded the insulation in the R.E. wing to the R-49 level recommended for northern winters. We expect this project to pay for itself in two to three years and after that save First Parish $1000 or more in fuel bills each winter.
• Pruned 54 trees and shrubs, spread compost and mulch, removed invasive vines and trees, watered stressed trees and shrubs in the August/September drought, used white vinegar to remove weeds from between the bricks in the front walkway, planted golden corydalis and German irises, weeded, and otherwise improved the health and appearance of the First Parish grounds.
• Hired Boston Tree Preservation to prune six taller trees, remove a crabapple tree that was infested with fire blight, and fertilize stressed trees and shrubs.
• Had the Bailey Room tested for mold and confirmed that it does not contain toxic mold. Treated the Bailey Room and other basement spaces to reduce non-toxic mildew levels.
• Surveyed the staff to identify their needs, desires, and priorities for the First Parish buildings.
• Organized volunteers to celebrate St. Patrick's Day by fixing chairs, Passover and Easter by cleaning the sanctuary and grounds, and In Gathering Sunday by cleaning the sanctuary, vestry, parlor, and narthex.
• Took out the trash in the summer and the recycling year-round.
• Worked with the Social Justice committee to create a Green Sanctuary/Climate Change group.

We thank these people for their contributions during the summer:

On the building

• Jan Penney and Bruce Penney for painting the hallway.
• John Laurenson and Andrew Fischer for removing the damaged counters from the Parlor and repairing and repainting the wall.
• Andrew Fischer and Flip Sharff for repairing the fallen soffit on the Pleasant Street side of the building.
• Andrew Fischer and Randy Smith for repairing window locks.
• Randy Smith and Andrew Leonard for replacing ceiling tiles.
• Randy Smith for figuring out how to re-set the tower clock to show the correct time.
• Carolyn Stevens and Flip Sharff for getting the dehumidifier working again.
• Carolyn Stevens and Carolyn Hodges for helping make the place sparkle for In-Gathering Sunday.

On the grounds

• Bruce Penney for planting pachysandra.
• Scott Penney for volunteering every Saturday all summer long - mowing the grass and doing other useful things.
• Pat Magee and Oakes Plimpton for tending the Cleveland Garden.
• Andrew Leonard and Sharen Leonard for pruning the hedges and a sea of yews.
• Rainer Dressler and Mary Rosenfeld for removing the cables from the parking lot.
• David Desjardins, Rainer Dressler, Peggy Gardiner, Ted Live, Meg Muckenhoupt, Oakes Plimpton, Mary Rosenfeld, and Marianne Rowe for spreading compost.
• Andrew Leonard for spraying the poison ivy.
• Cecily Hancock for pulling weeds.
• Lyda Langford for mowing the grass.
• Gerri Pedrini of Sunshine Nursery for donating wood chips and tending a small garden near the Sunshine door.

. and everyone else who helped, in ways large and small, to make our collective home safe and attractive.

We're looking forward to:

• Painting the vestry.
  Friday October 26 and Saturday the 27
  The Property Committee cordially invites you to help us rejuvenate our vestry, known in English as the Community Room.  On Friday afternoon, October 26, we'll prep, spackle, and so forth, and on Saturday, October 27th, all day, we'll paint.  Break out your old clothes and join the crew! Contact Anne Goodwin at 781-643-3879, or email property .
• Researching possible improvements to the ceiling of the sanctuary: 
  lights with bulbs that can be replaced without the aid of a cherry-picker,
  fans that will make the sanctuary cooler in summer and more energy-efficient in winter,
  and perhaps a vent at the top of the space that would allow hot air to escape in the summer.
• Researching how to improve the sanctuary's sound system.
• Researching a possible water fountain for the use of members and renters, which would decrease our dependence on bottled water.
• Fixing the coat cabinets.
• Doing other repairs and improvements that we believe will benefit the First Parish community.

If you would like to help: