On Wednesday, the Coral Bay Community Council and the Viggo E. Sewer Post 131 of the American Legion kick off a campaign to give the Coral Bay Agriculture Station a much-needed dose of tender loving care as it is transformed into a community center.
“We can’t afford to build a new one so we started looking at existing buildings,” said Community Council member Nancy Stromp.
The volunteers will also work Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28. Work starts at 9 a.m.
Stromp asked that anyone wishing to volunteer call her to sign up so she can make best use of their talents and schedules.
The Community Council is paying for supplies to the tune of $12,000 raised at the group’s annual holiday season Bizarre Bazaar.
Stromp said it was a cooperative effort, with input from the Agriculture Department, Planning and Natural Resources’ State Historic Preservation Office, the American Legion and the Community Council.
The first phase of work in the building, built in 1945, consists of fixing the woodwork, doing repairs and painting, Stromp said.
“It’s about the external building,” she said.
She said phase two involves redoing the bathrooms.
The V.I. Agriculture Department occupies only the downstairs of one of the two buildings on the property, leaving plenty of space for community events. In addition to the American Legion using it for meetings, yoga and Pilates classes also meet there.
Stromp envisioned that it would serve as a place to hold community meetings. Meetings were held at Guy Benjamin School, but when it closed, government departments and agencies had no place to meet with residents.
She said it could also serve as a place to hold educational events.
To volunteer, call Stromp at 775-0533 or email her at nancy@pelicanbeachvi.com.
