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• Christ our King Lutheran, Saline
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• King of Kings Lutheran, Ann Arbor
• Peace Lutheran, Ann Arbor
• St. Paul Lutheran, Ann Arbor
• Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, Ann Arbor
• Zion Lutheran, Ann Arbor
• Zion Lutheran, Chelsea
• St. Luke Lutheran, Ann Arbor
• Lord of Light Lutheran, Ann Arbor Campus
• St. Thomas Lutheran, Freedom Township
• Chelsea Church of the Nazarene

• Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley
• Habitat for Humanity International
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House - Update Log

6/12/2008

We resumed work today with just 9 volunteers, but where there is a willing heart, the work gets done. Siding on the south side of the home is progressing but had a very slight dip so off it came, back on it went, Andy was still not happy with the slight wave in the siding so off it will come again tomorrow and the starter strip will be reset in hopes of a perfectly straight siding application. Urgh! Weather is looming so we need to get the roof covered and secured with a tarp first thing tomorrow morning, before the predicted rain lets loose. Inside tradeswork continues including Mark the plumber who is on-site working alongside volunteers. More reports to come tomorrow.

6/7/2008

The roof is well underway, but it did not get completed so we hope more than ever that we don't have a bad rainstorm or we will have water in the house. Nearly all interior walls are completed except a few on the second floor. Rough trades work began, but much to do there. We will resume building next Thursday and please, bring a friend, we need more people day to day.

6/6/2008

Progress is being made as you can see from the pictures but the numbers of volunteers have dwindled some already and as a result, we are not as far as we would like to be. The windows are not yet in because they require some "assembly" as they are made to fit a number of situations but that means they can't just be popped into place. They are a Jeldwen window, very nice quality, but adjustable which means more work to get them in. The Church of the Nazarene folks are expected tomorrow and hope to get the roof on so we are dry inside. Siding should begin very soon, but will only go so far until all windows are in.

6/5/2008

Some of today's volunteers and the lunch was sponsored by our Thrivent Financial for Lutherans representative, Greg Ulmer and other reps from the area. T-shirts were made available to all volunteers as well as other Thrivent information.

6/4/08

Weekday volunteer numbers continue to dwindle so we are especially thankful for the five employees from Applied Environment who joined the Thrivent Builds crew today. They expect to raise the gable ends and get the roof ridge board up and the roof rafters that were pre-cut earlier in the week and ready for installation. Andy and Paul also have the second story stair stringers laid out and hope Wednesday’s crew will get those installed as well. More news to come after our site visit tomorrow morning.
Lynne Punnett, Faith Relations & Volunteer Coordinator

6/3/08

The rain held off to allow folks to work all day. However, the number of volunteers is already dwindling from the requested 30 each day to today’s 15 faithful. Despite fewer volunteers than expected, Tuesday ended with a productive report of completing the second floor deck and the roof gable ends (not yet up but ready to go) as well as interior wall framing getting pretty much done. Thanks and apologies go to both Zion Lutheran Church in Chelsea and Divine Shepherd in Ann Arbor who both delivered lunch on the same day thanks to my mix up. The crew tomorrow, which did not have a lunch sponsor, are now all set with what Divine Shepherd brought in big coolers.

6/2/08

At the end of this second build day, the second deck floor joists were up, porch headers were built and ready, interior wall framing was nearing completion including the half bath and bedroom in the basement and the tub was placed inside the framed first floor bathroom. Thanks to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor for the wonderful lunch.

5/31/08

Praise be to God! More than 40 volunteers turned out to work side by side with Tammie Weinberg and her family. The weather was beautiful, Trinity Lutheran provided a morning snack as well as a full lunch and dinner for all involved. After hearing a bit about HHHV and Habitat International, the very important safety information, Andy’s announcement (mandate) that everyone WILL wear hard hats on this site this year at least until we are closed in and the roof is on, family introductions, a blessing by Pastor Mike Walters from Zion Lutheran in Ann Arbor and the unveiling of the official Thrivent Builds sign, work commenced. As always, particularly on the first day with a very large crew, it took a little while for people to get going, find a buddy and a job and settle in but the pictures as of this morning (6/1) show the fruits of your labor. The first floor appears to be done with exterior walls covered in Dow insulation board on and one window installed. Monday work will continue with the second floor deck, interior and exterior walls and as the week progresses, stick-built roof trusses will go up, the windows will go in and siding will commence.

5/30/08

A wonderful volunteer crew from SKF turned out for the second week in a row to work HHHV. Today, they worked on the Thrivent Builds house but they also ran to the Good News House (2 lots over) whenever Bob Whitacre called. But back they would come to the Thrivent Builds site as needed. It was a great day with nearly all door and window headers completed for tomorrow’s kick-off.

5/29/08

We passed the Superior basement wall inspection and backfill is now done. Following the backfill, a path was cleared all the way to the back of the deep lot and the trailer was delivered and parked in place.

5/27/08

Per Andy Lakatos...
The basement floor was poured Friday morning, the first floor deck has the joists in place. We will finish the deck Tuesday with inspection Wednesday. Basement stairs will also be started on Tuesday. Hope for a backfill Thursday or Friday, prior to volunteers arriving.

Later 5/19/08

Per Construction Manager, Bill Dunphy...
Andy, There are some complications with the sewer installation on this job. The main line is 18’ deep and that is in itself a problem. However CCI is trying to get YCUA to agree for CCI to tap into the manhole and pipe from there. That way they only have to dig to the 9’ level. McGovern can still do their basement plumbing job but just have to stub thru to the outside of the walls and CCI can connect from there.

5/19/08

Per Field Supervisor, Chris Kaczkowski...
Today the foundation for the Thriveant house was set in place. And with a friendly bribe they put the beam in place too! The floor kit will be delivered tomorrow morning. Access to the site on this very narrow street is extremely limited and caused many problems so it will be extremely important that volunteers not proceed down Firwood and instead park in the grassly lot at the corner of Firwood and Michigan.

May 8, 2008

House Location is 360 Firwood
Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48197

We are excited to begin the 2008 Thrivent Builds home. Comcast employees dug a trench and installed the silt fence for May 3 as part of their nationwide Conast Cares Day! Excavation is scheduled for May 15 with basement walls scheduled to be put in place May 19. The underground plumbing will commence immediately and SKF employees are scheduled to build the floor and put the deck on May 23. If the basement concrete floor has not been poured by the 23rd, an opening will be left in the deck and finished the next week. The schedule is very tight to be sure. Our first objective is to have the deck on and backfill done prior to the May 31 kick-off.

To register as a volunteer, go to http://h4h.volunteerhub.com

Prior Builds

Let's get the families moved in by Christmas! Energetic volunteers still needed this week!

Cornerstone Update:

Thursday - Saturday Nov. 30 - Dec. 2nd Volunteers will be installing trim, cabinets and exterior steps in the Taylor home.

The Sartor home is almost complete and we are awaiting the final electrical inspection this week.

Last week all of the landscaping was planted around both homes - Thank You to Andy Lakatos & crew! The Sartor punch list was whittled down as well.

REMINDER:
Cornerstone/Thrivent Builds Planning Meeting - Wednesday, Nov. 29th 7p.m. at the Habitat Office 170 Aprill Drive, Ann Arbor Please join us for the discussion of Cornerstone 2007!

Thrivent Builds has awarded one home to Washtenaw County for 2007. So one more hard- working family will have a home to call their own!

Thursday - Saturday Nov. 16- Nov. 18th

Both Homes - trees & bushes were laid out
Sartor Home: all shoe molding was installed & the sidewalk forms were laid out
Taylor Home: Hard surface floors were laid out and most doors hung. Painting continues on the Taylor's trim

Need to burn off some of those Thanksgiving Calories????
We will be working Friday, Nov. 24th & Saturday, Nov. 25th Join Us!

Taylor Home Projects: Rest of the door to be hung, interior work continues and possible concrete pouring

Sartor Home Projects: Fine tuning will take place - the carpet is soon to be installed

Both Homes: Landscape planting will take place if the weather cooperates

Cornerstone/Thrivent Builds Planning Meeting - Wednesday, Nov. 29th 7p.m. at the Habitat Office 170 Aprill Drive, Ann Arbor Please join us for the discussion of Cornerstone 2007!

This coming week: Nov. 16 - 18th

Skilled carpenters (and energetic volunteers willing to take direction) are needed at the Taylor home. Cabinets installation, trim work and door "hanging" will be the primary tasks.

Landscaping may also take place if the weather cooperates.

Last Week almost 60% of the punch list for the Sartor home was completed. Many thanks to the groups who assisted on Saturday. Paul said they were awesome!

Please join us!

Cornerstone/Thrivent Builds Update

The Sartor Dedication on Saturday, Nov. 4th was a wonderful event. Please take some time to look at the pictures of the elated family and many, many volunteers who were there for the celebration.

This week: Nov. 9 - 11th A small group from Toyota Motors will join us on Saturday morning. Shoe molding needs to be completed on the Sartor home as well as the porch handrails. Only a few tasks will be addressed on the Taylor home this week as we wait on some of the skilled trades as they do their tasks.

Next Week: Nov. 16 - Nov. 18th

Taylor Home - painting and running trim, etc.

Friday 8-10 people are needed and Saturday 8-10 people are needed. Paul Hines will be working with the volunteers. Please join us!

Last Week: Oct. 12 - Oct 14th Much was accomplished! On Friday a group from Ford Motor Company joined a group from Holcim Inc. to work on the houses and on Saturday a large group from Zion Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor were on hand. Many thanks to all who came out!

This Week: Oct. 19th - Oct. 21st We need skilled painters and skilled carpenters to do finish trim and painting in the Sartor home. There are also a few tasks still to be completed outside with the sheds. The Taylor home is awaiting inspection and then the insulation and drywalling can begin. So large groups of volunteers will not be needed.

But there will be plenty to do the week of Oct. 26 -Oct. 28th. Hope you will be able to join us!

The date of the dedication (s) is still to be determined. As soon as it is set, we will let everyone know.

Other News! The Thrivent Build Mobile will be at Concordia University on Geddes on Thursday, Nov.2 & Friday Nov. 3rd from 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. each day. There will be lots of fun activities at this multi-media traveling exhibit about the Thrivent/Habitat for Humanity projects accross the nation, admission is free! Please plan to drop by.

Calling All Lutheran Volunteers

We need volunteers for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays - please join us as we complete the Taylor and Sartor Homes on Watling Street in Ypsilanti! We still need your help. We want to meet the Thrivent Financial requirement that 50% of all volunteers be Lutheran and, of those Lutheran volunteers, 25% should be Thrivent members!

Confirmed Volunteers: Sunday, October 8th a group from Univ. of Michigan Health Sciences are scheduled from noon - 6p.m.

There are still many open dates remaining.

This week - Thursday, Oct. 5 - Saturday Oct. 7th Volunteers will be working on the following: