Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
HURLEY K-12 School student Kaylyn King serves pasta to Jeanne Walston, of Kimball, Wis., during the Italian dinner fundraiser at the Iron County Memorial Building on Sunday in Hurley. Other student volunteers serving food are Tori Colassaco and Kirkie Pecotte. Proceeds from the event benefitted the Iron County Memorial Building Restoration Committee.
HURLEY - Local residents dined on Italian food on Sunday afternoon in support of the on-going restoration project at the Iron County Memorial Building in Hurley.
According to committee members Dorothy Walesewicz and Bill Thomas, the goal is to use the funding for "two big projects" - the flooring and acoustics.
"The flooring would be about $40,000," Thomas said. "And we're still waiting to hear on the acoustics."
Over the past few years, major changes have taken place in the building, including painting, new lighting and windows, renovated kitchens and other improvements.
"Every time people come into this building they say it's better and better," Walesewicz said.
According to Thomas, many people have commented on the acoustics and flooring.
"Most of our comments are positive, but there are still some that comment on the acoustics and flooring," he said. "We don't have $40,000 for the flooring and the acoustics are bad, but we are continuing to work on it."
Earlier this year the building, which is owned by Iron County, was leased to the committee for $1 after the American Legion could not longer afford to run the building.
"The (Iron County Board of Supervisors) has commented on how much they appreciate the work being done to keep this place open," Thomas said. "That is nice to hear."
Walesewicz said the community support has been crucial in keeping the building open.
"We need our community support because this is a community building," Walesewicz said. "I can't image Hurley without this building."
To help keep the doors open, local residents spent Sunday eating polenta, chicken, salad, pasta, fresh bread and dessert.
Students in the National Honor Society at the Hurley K-12 School also volunteered to help serve the meal, which was prepared by Scotti Pecotti's of Hurley.
"We want to thank the community for its continued support of this project," Walesewicz said.
Future events
The committee is hosting a Halloween fun frolic on Friday for area kids from 5 to 10 p.m. at the building.
The event is free to the public, and includes food and refreshments, Twinklz and Happy Daze, door prizes and a DJ starting at 7:30 p.m.
On Nov. 8, the committee is also hosting its annual craft fair, featuring numerous vendors, food and refreshments.
For more information, call Dorothy Walesewicz at 715-561-2459.
