OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) The Catholic community in OKC will have a new gathering place coming Fall of 2022. Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine is still under construction after the 22.5-ton dome was lifted and installed in place in August of 2021.

The Shrine will become the biggest gathering place for Catholics in the whole state of Oklahoma. The sanctuary itself is around 38,000 square feet and the whole site takes up 52 acres.

The church, located east of Shields Boulevard on Southeast 89th Street, will seat 2,000 people.

The 40 million dollar project is expected to attract visitors and pilgrims from all over the world.

The plan includes the construction of a pilgrim center with a museum displaying artifacts from Father Rother as well as a replica of the famous Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City.

The hill on the west side of the shrine will have the statue of Lady of Guadalupe, patron of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and of the Americas, as well as a statue of Saint Juan Diego, who witnessed 3 Mother Mary apparitions on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City.

The church will entomb the late Father Stanley Francis Rother, declared martyr of his faith in 2016 by Pope Francis.

Boldt is the construction company for the project and is currently working on the roof tile installation of the church.

Once the roof tile is installed, most of the exterior work will be done and make way for the dry-in process so workers can start doing dry-walls, floors, electrical, and other interior finishes like painting and moving in furniture.

Tepeyac Hill is mostly done and the pilgrim center building is starting to rise.

Boldt plans to finish the construction by the Fall of 2022 and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City will offer the first service soon after that.

Stanley Francis Rother was born in Okarche, Oklahoma in 1935.

After high school, the young Rother left his farmer upbringing and enrolled in a Texas Seminary hoping to become a priest.

Studying Latin proved challenging. After six years, he was advised to withdraw due to academic reasons.But, after that disappointment, he persuaded the bishop to allow him to find another seminary to attend which he did successfully.

That same year he was ordained and came back to Oklahoma to serve as an associate pastor.

After five years in Oklahoma, he moved to Santiago de Atitln, Guatemala, and became the priest of the village.

Father Rother also known as Padre Francisco, served the mostly indigenous community until he was murdered in the rectory of the church 13 years later.

Father Rother arrived in Santiago de Atitln in the Solal department (state) of Guatemala during an unfolding civil war.

Santiago de Atitln, mainly populated by the Tzutujil indigenous people, was the capital of the Tzutujil before colonial times.

He spent 13 years within the community learning both Spanish and Tzutujil language and connecting with the community at a time where social leaders were being targeted as enemies of the Guatemalan Government.

Throughout the many years of service, Padre Francisco helped the local community create crop co-ops and contributed to the opening of a radio station and school.

He also helped translate the gospel into the local Tzutujil.

As the civil war continued, the Guatemalan Army established a base next to Santiago de Atitln where the murders, tortures, and disappearances increased.

The situation took a dire turn for the rural Oklahoman priest when he found out his name was on a death list alongside his associate pastor.

After 12 years of serving the community in the small Guatemalan village, Father Rother traveled back to Oklahoma in response to the death threats.

In December of 1980, he wrote a letter to the Oklahoman Catholic community stating:

This is one of the reasons I have for staying in the face of physical harm. The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger.

He returned to Guatemala to spend Easter within his community.

Father Rother was shot twice by unknown assailants in the rectory of Santiago de Atitlns church around 1 am July 28, 1981, at the age of 46.

After his death, hundreds of Guatemalans showed up for his funeral service.

He was soon entombed in Okarche but his heart was kept in Santiago de Atitlns church where the community built a shrine in his honor.

His body was taken from Okarche to Oklahoma City where it rests near the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

The Catholic Congregation for the Cause of Saints approved Father Rothers status as a martyr with justified validity in 2012 after a long process of submitting information by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma with the help of the Archdiocese of Solal.

The congregation oversees the validity of the requests for priests to become saints.

The first step in the process of sainthood is to be accepted as a martyr which then clears the way for beatification.

Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints, celebrated the ritual of beatification in front of more than 20 thousand people in 2017 in downtown Oklahoma City, a year after Pope Francis approved Father Rothers martyrdom.

The sainthood, also known as canonization, of Father Stanley Rother will be granted after a miracle is proven to occur posthumously.

The Blessed Stanley Rother will be entombed inside the Oklahoma shrine once it is finished.

Last Updated December 23, 2021, 12:16 PM by Brett Dickerson Editor

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Construction continues on what will be the largest ...

For motorists racing south along Interstate 49, just a glimpse of the massive structure can prompt a double take. Pale stone walls form the broad base; in the center, smaller towering layers taper toward what will eventually be a spire stretching to the heavens.

"Impressive" could be the casual observer's description of what will be the only temple of its kind in Arkansas. Simon Keogh hopes other words are more closely linked: "inspiring" and "uplifting," for example. Keogh is president of the Bentonville Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"As a sacred place of worship, we want it to be uplifting, edifying and inspiring for people," Keogh says. "The building has the ability to inspire, but that is a reflection of what happens inside."

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, temples are distinct from the regular meetinghouses where worshippers gather on Sundays. Temples are specially set apart for sacred services and ceremonies, according to the website churchofjesuschrist.org.

Church members in Bentonville have previously traveled to temples in Kansas City, Mo., or Oklahoma City for covenant ceremonies that are central to the faith.

THE TEMPLE'S ROLE

Keogh says people may sometimes ask why church members desire to build a temple when they already have a meetinghouse or chapel in place. Keogh traces such a key sacred space to before the time of Jesus Christ. Israelites made covenants with Jehovah in the temple, he notes.

When Christ came, he went to the temple as a boy and was instructing the wise men, according to Luke, Chapter 2, Keogh recounts. Later, at the beginning of Christ's ministry, he was again at the temple. After Christ's death and ascension, his followers continued to attend temple, Keogh notes.

"Temple worship has been a pre-Christ ritual," he says. "It was a ritual in Christ's life, and it continued to be a ritual in the lives of his followers after Christ's life. That remains true today for followers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple becomes a central part of our connection with heaven and with God."

A tenet of faith within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that families can be together forever, and the temple plays a central role in making such permanent bonds possible. For example, Keogh says Latter-day Saints believe that when a marriage ceremony is conducted in a temple under the appropriate authority, marriage can be for time and all eternity.

Elder Jon Paget and Sister Debbie Paget are full-time missionaries assigned to the area to support the construction of the temple. They arrived on the day of the groundbreaking, Nov. 7, 2020, and will be departing in October of this year.

Elder Paget is an architect by trade, and though he doesn't have oversight authority on the construction work, he and his wife provide an important connection among the community, the Church and the construction project.

"We do have the opportunity to document the progress of the temple and to visit with people here in our visitors center who might want to know about our temple," he explains.

The visitors center is a small building adjacent to the temple grounds off McCollum Drive in northeast Bentonville. Inside the center walls is a collection of information about the purpose of a temple and specific features of the Bentonville structure. A sample board contains pieces of the stone being used -- sourced from Turkey -- the fabric patterns to be used in some of the seating, and the wall coverings for a special bridal room and for the celestial room, the most sacred of spaces in the temple and intended to be a place of quiet peace, prayer and reflection.

Keogh says that just as in the Old Testament, when the children of Israel built the temple of the finest materials they could source, Latter-day Saints seek to use the best construction and highest quality materials in constructing a temple.

"We try to build to the very highest construction standards," he says. "Some of that is a metaphor for what we hope our faith and devotion to be. We consider temples to be literally the house of the Lord and sacred."

Maps on the wall denote a mark for each of the temples in the United States and around the globe. The Bentonville temple is one of 265 such temples in place, under construction or announced.

When finished, the structure will have 25,000 square feet of usable space, Paget says. The height from the floor of the building to the top of the dome will be 100 feet, and the distance to the top of the spire will be 111 feet. Completion is estimated to be late this year.

Each temple's features include some customization unique to the region, Paget says. In the Bentonville temple, dogwood blossoms are etched in the stone around the windows. "Every window, even the ones in the tower, will have art glass behind the regular glass and will be backlit."

MOVING FORWARD

In addition to documenting the construction work and sharing information with visitors, the Pagets play additional important roles, Keogh says.

"They take the time to share with the contractors why this building is of such religious significance to us as the members," he says. "That gives them a chance to appreciate what they're building. They help us be connected with those artisans and construction workers. It brings a sense of community and oneness, and we feel like it brings the spirit of Jesus Christ to the process."

The Pagets also have organized special luncheons and gift baskets for special seasons to give to those involved in the work. "The little children have written lots of 'thank you' notes that we give to them," Debbie Paget says with a smile. "It's been wonderful."

When the structure is completed, there will be open houses and tours prior to dedicatory services. Once the temple begins its service as a functioning temple, anyone meeting the qualifications of faithfulness and preparation can enter, Keogh says. Local congregation leaders will issue a small "recommend," a card that validates one's readiness and preparation to enter into the temple.

Decisions about the location of a temple are based on need relative to the strength of membership, Keogh says. The growth of the church membership in Arkansas and southern Missouri was a factor. According to information provided at the time of the 2020 groundbreaking, the church counts more than 32,000 Latter-day Saints in Arkansas, spread throughout nearly 70 congregations.

A FOUR-HOUR DRIVE

The travel distance to the nearest temple also is considered in temple location decisions. Most of the members in North America live within a four-hour drive of a temple, Keogh notes. Previously, the trips to Oklahoma City or Kansas City, Mo., required members to allocate an entire day. The location in Bentonville provides greater access for the Latter-day Saints throughout the region.

Each temple is considered a "house of the Lord," where Jesus Christ's teachings are reaffirmed through baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. Keogh recalls his own marriage in a temple and being there when his daughter was married in a temple.

"It's quite the thing for families to gather together and enter in there," he says. The couple kneel across the altar from each other and someone with the authority to bind in heaven as well as on earth performs the marriage sealing ceremony, he said.

"That's perhaps one of the most uplifting and pinnacle blessings of our faith is to know that our marriages and our relationships as families will be recognized and in force in heaven," Keogh says.

Jon Paget says he has realized that the temple will perhaps be the first thing people entering Bentonville from the north will see from the interstate.

Keogh speaks of the beauty the structure and the planned gardens around it will provide to the community. That is in keeping with the nature of the temple -- an offering to God.

"For a place where you make covenants or promises, if you will, commitments with God that will be in effect out of this life, as well as in it, you would want it to be as beautiful and as uplifting and as edifying as possible," Keogh says. "Even the sense of the building, you would want it to bring permanency or even a sense of eternity and of stability to your worship. That's what the temple is for us."

Debbie Miller is a longtime writer and editor who now teaches college-level journalism. Email her at debmiller25@cox.net.

About the Temple

Location: 1101 McCollum Drive in Bentonville

Announced: Oct. 5, 2019

Groundbreaking and site dedication: Nov. 7, 2020

Groundbreaking ceremony: Presiding from a remote location, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the site for the Bentonville Temple. Bednar, once a professor at the University of Arkansas, has assisted in the organization of two Arkansas stakes, including the Bentonville Stake.

Temple Facts: The Bentonville Temple will be the first LDS temple built in Arkansas.

Source: churchofjesuschristtemples.org/bentonville-arkansas-temple/

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Temple takes shape: Sacred space will be first of its kind in Arkansas - Arkansas Online

By Matt Kyle | Staff Writer

Last week, Baylor University announced the recipients of the 2022 Alumni Awards. The university also announced that a celebration recognizing the recipients and honoring the impact of alumni around the world will be held on Feb. 18.

This years recipients include Thasunda Brown Duckett, MBA 01 as the Alumni of the Year and Alex Le Roux, BS 15 as the Young Alumni of the Year. Rebekah Naylor, BA 64, MD was the recipient of the Pro Ecclesia Medal of Service, and Susan Peters, BA 86 received the Pro Texana Medal of Service. Giancarlo Guerrero, BM 91 and Chris Charles Scott III, BA 04 each received the Medal of Service for Contributions to the Professions. Fran George was named the Merrie Beckham Alumni By Choice of the Year.

Amy Armstrong, associate vice president of alumni engagement, said the awards are meant to recognize graduates who excel in their field and have an impact on the world.

Baylor alumni do amazing things, Armstrong said. They come to Baylor, they learn, they study and then they go out into the world. Its our way to celebrate some of those alumni who are going above and beyond and have great success on all different kinds of levels whether its business or nonprofit within the Christian values.

Armstrong said the celebration in February will include a banquet dinner where President Linda Livingstone will present each of the recipients with a medal. Armstrong also said Baylors social media and web pages will share stories about each of the award recipients and their accomplishments throughout the spring, and the Baylor Magazine will feature similar stories about the recipients.

Alumna of the Year Duckett is the president and CEO of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America a Fortune 100 financial services organization. Duckett was included in Fortunes and Forbes list of the Most Powerful Women in 2021 and serves on the board of trustees for Sesame Workshop and on the board of directors for Nike. Inc, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the University of Houston Board of Visitors and the Deans Advisory Board for Baylor Universitys Hankamer School of Business. In 2013, she founded the Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation in honor of her parents.

Naylor, recipient of the Pro Ecclesia Medal of Service, is a doctor and retired medical missionary who is currently a distinguished professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She spent 35 years in India working as a doctor and church planter, and she was an administrator and chief of the medical staff at Bangalore Baptist Hospital. She also oversaw the construction of the Rebekah Ann Naylor School of Nursing, served as a professor of anatomy and physiology at the school and helped plant 900 churches in the state of Karnataka, India, between 1999 and 2009.

Le Roux is the co-founder and CTO of ICON, a construction technology company that uses 3D printing, robotics, software and advanced materials to build houses. He invented the Vulcan printer a large-scale 3D printer designed for constructing homes and other structures.

Peters, who received the Pro Texana Medal of Service, is the founder and executive director of Unbound Global, a multi-national organization focused on combating human trafficking that is headquartered in Waco. She founded Unbound out of Antioch Community Church in 2012 after seeing the effects of human trafficking around the world. She also serves as chair on the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition, which she also co-founded in 2014.

Guerrero is a six-time Grammy award-winning conductor and music director of the Nashville Symphony. Born in Nicaragua, Guerrero has appeared with many prominent orchestras and symphonies around the world.

Scott is the founder and head of documentaries at Strategy Films and has won awards as a director. He began his career in politics before finding a passion for filmmaking. Scott has directed Shape of Shreveport, What About Waco, Class Action Park and most recently Ode to Joy, The Death and Resurrection of Baylor Basketball.

George is the second-ever recipient of the Merrie Beckham Alumni By Choice of the Year, which is given to someone who was previously nominated and selected as an Alumni By Choice and has achieved distinction through service to the community. Georges daughters attended Baylor, and George helped form the North Carolina Chapter of the Baylor Parents Network. George and her husband were named Baylor Parents of the Year in 2018.

Naylor said she was surprised and humbled to receive the Pro Ecclesia Medal of Service. She also said her time at Baylor prepared her well for both her medical and theological missions.

I consider it all a great privilege that God let me do that, Naylor said. Seeing people come to faith in Christ, of churches being started, of people being healed physically, meeting needs that otherwise might not have been met those are privileges. God has directed me as He promised to do. I have submitted my life to Him. He directed my path. This recognition is so appreciated, and I want to bring honor and glory to God, who just made all of it possible.

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Recipients of 2022 Alumni Awards announced - The Baylor Lariat

James (Jim) Matthew Peter Hughes, 54, of Orange, passed away on January 21, 2022, in Port Arthur.

Funeral liturgy will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 24, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange. Officiating will be Father Joseph Daleo. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., with a recitation of the rosary at 10:00 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange.

Born in Orange, Texas, on December 18, 1967, Jim was the son of William Robert Hughes, Sr. and Martha (Monroe) Hughes. He attended St. Mary Catholic School through 8th grade and was a 1986 graduate of West Orange-Stark High School. Jim was also a Troop 1 Eagle Scout who loved spending time outdoors. After high school, Jim attended Texas A&M University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Science and proudly held the title of Fightin Texas Aggie, Class of 1990.

His career as a professional construction manager included positions in both FL and TX estimating and managing projects for municipalities, industrial plants and commercial buildings. Jim was married to Kaala Hughes for the last 5 years and loved being Jim Pop to their 3 grandchildren. He was previously married to the late Nancy Smith for 11 years.

Jim was an avid boater, fisherman, and hunter. He enjoyed camping out and cooking with friends. He loved sports and especially football. Jim was a longtime member of St. Mary Catholic Church and enjoyed praying at Eucharistic Adoration every chance he got. He loved dogs, loved his country and especially enjoyed reading US & world history. He loved his family dearly. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Robert Hughes, Sr.; brother, William Robert Hughes, Jr.; and niece, Tiffani Danielle Hughes.

He is survived by his mother, Martha Hughes; siblings, Cynthia Cindy Hughes, Theresa Hughes Blankinship and husband Brian, and Kenneth Hughes and wife Kelly; sister-in-law, Anna Hughes; 13 nieces and nephews; 4 great nieces and nephews as well as numerous other family and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Brian Blankinship, Michael Chalambaga, Delis Chalambaga, William Hughes, Spencer Hughes, John Hughes, Nathanael Hughes, Justin Hughes, Kolbe Hughes, and Carter Hughes. Honorary pallbearers are Jake Hughes, Brody Hughes and Derek Barbee.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Southeast Texas Hospice, St. Mary School Foundation, or to the American Diabetes Association.

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James Matthew Peter Hughes, 54, Orange - The Record Newspapers - TheRecordLive.com

Governor Tom Wolf today announced funding for environmental restoration projects focused on economic development or community revitalization at abandoned mine land (AML) locations across Pennsylvania. This year, $25 million will be made available for reclamation projects with economic development components.

These newly approved projects will bring economic opportunity and activity to Pennsylvania, and eliminate dangerous environmental scars left over from Pennsylvanias mining history, said Gov. Wolf. Removing the dangerous hazards from these sites also removes barriers to productive use. These sites will become hiking trails, farm fields, and solar farms a new future for sites still marred from past use.

The 2020 Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program (formerly known as the AML Pilot Program) will provide an additional $25 million of U.S. Treasury funds for Pennsylvanias AML program. First authorized by Congress under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94) the funds are to be used to accelerate the remediation of AML sites with economic and community development end uses. This is the fifth year Pennsylvania has received funding from the AMLER Program.

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell was joined by Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to announce the investment at an abandoned mine in Luzerne County today.

This program demonstrates that investments in environmental cleanup can have strong economic benefits to communities, creating new opportunities for recreation, land reuse, and clean energy development, said McDonnell. There has been $130 million invested into projects like these in partnership with local governments, other state agencies and private companies and these investments are paying dividends for the communities and environment of Pennsylvania.

The Federal Office of Surface Mine Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) recently approved the following projects:

Armstrong County:

Forks Church North

Reclamation of two dangerous highwalls at a combined length of 180 linear feet by backfilling the highwalls using the adjacent five acres of mine spoil to eliminate the health and safety hazards. A two-acre refuse pile will also be reclaimed. A DEP-approved alkaline material may be added to the refuse during backfill to neutralize the soil acidity and the reclaimed area will be revegetated. Multiple hazardous abandoned mine structures on the AML site will be demolished and also used in backfilling the highwalls. The project site is surrounded by a 90-lot seasonal, family-friendly campground and once reclaimed will be used for recreational and camping purposes. The primary project partner is the property owner of the AML site and owner of the campground.

Belnap South

Reclamation of a 1,700-foot dangerous highwall by using the adjacent 20-acre spoil area to backfill the highwall and eliminate the health and safety hazards. Once reclaimed the site will be repurposed for agricultural purposes to increase hay production. A DEP-approved alkaline material may be added to the spoil during backfill to neutralize the soil acidity to provide a more suitable pH required for agricultural purposes. Hay production will increase by approximately 42% to provide more local feed for cattle in the area, in turn keeping local beef prices down. The primary project partner is the property owner farming the property adjacent to the AML site.

Clarion County:

Wildcat Run

Reclamation of a 2,500 linear foot dangerous highwall by backfilling with the adjacent 19-acre spoil area to eliminate the health and safety hazards. A seven-acre refuse pile will also be reclaimed. A DEP-approved alkaline material may be added to the refuse during backfill to neutralize the soil acidity and the reclaimed area will be revegetated. The existing AML conditions are adjacent to property owned by the Redbank Valley Trails Association where the association possesses a 100-foot right-of-way for another section of the abandoned rail spur currently being improved and maintained by volunteers as an all-season trail. Portions of the reclaimed AML areas will be repurposed as a multi-use green space to be utilized by visitors of the trail and an existing parking lot is proposed to be resurfaced as part of the AML project to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility guidelines. The primary project partners are Redbank Valley Trails Association and the property owner of the AML site.

Clearfield County:

Thompsontown

Reprocessing approximately 140,000 tons of high British Thermal Unit (BTU) coal refuse from a 10-acre 240,000-ton abandoned coal refuse pile. The high BTU material will be used at a local co-generation facility. The remaining low BTU value refuse will be regraded on site to eliminate the health and safety hazards and to improve the watershed environment. A DEP-approved alkaline material will be added to neutralize acidity and re-establish vegetation. The current condition of the refuse pile is unstable and erodes acidic sediment into Wilson Run causing significant AMD. The watershed improvement will enable a local fishery to expand and improve their current operation that has been negatively impacted by the adjacent acidic refuse pile. The primary project partners are the Thompsontown Cooperative Trout Nursery and the property owner of the AML site.

Elk County:

Tyler Run

Reclamation of five dangerous highwalls, totaling 6,000 linear feet, through backfilling the highwalls with an adjacent 16-acre spoil area will eliminate health and safety hazards and improve the watershed environment. Portions of the proposed reclaimed areas will be repurposed as two public parking areas to enhance visitor access to multi-purpose recreational trails used for public hunting within the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA-DCNR) Moshannon State Forest. The primary project partner is the PA-DCNR.

Indiana County:

State Game Lands 332

Reclamation of two dangerous highwalls, totaling 5,800 linear feet, through backfilling the highwall with the adjacent 79-acres of combined mine spoil and refuse materials to eliminate the health and safety hazards. Once reclaimed the site will be repurposed and added to an adjacent 21-acre area to increase and improve approximately 100 acres of contiguous state game lands. A DEP-approved alkaline material may be added to the spoil during backfill to neutralize the soil acidity and the reclaimed area will be revegetated with native species to support wildlife. State Game Land 332 hosts many visitors from the Greater Pittsburgh Region and the improved 100-acre area will be immediately available for recreational hunting. The 2,500 linear foot construction access road will be repurposed for use by disabled sportspersons. On site acid mine drainage (AMD) will also be addressed with the design and installation of two passive AMD treatment systems. The primary project partners are the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Aultman Watershed Association for Restoring the Environment.

Blacklick Creek AMD Treatment Plant (Indiana and Cambria Counties)

Construction of an active AMD treatment facility will control, divert, and treat three major sources of AMD to improve the watershed environment. Up to a combined 7.2 million gallons per day of AMD from the Commercial No. 16 (Red Mill), Vinton No. 6, and Wehrum mine discharges will be treated and discharged to the Blacklick Creek just west of Vintondale, PA. Benefits of the project include enhancements to accessing the existing Ghost Town Trail, cleanup of 25 miles of stream of the Blacklick to the confluence of Two Lick Creek, and increased opportunities for recreational fishing and boating. Funding for the project will also be provided by the Pennsylvania Capital Budget Act 41 of 2008 and Act 82 of 2010. The primary project partners are the Indiana County Conservation District, Indiana County, Blacklick Creek Watershed Association, Cambria County Conservation District, Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority, and the C&I Trail Council.

Luzerne County:

Mocanaqua AML Recreation Access

Reclamation of a 165 linear foot dangerous highwall, a one-acre spoil area, several mining pits, industrial/residential waste, and ten mine openings to eliminate the health and safety hazards. The reclaimed areas will be repurposed for public parking areas to accommodate at least 30 cars for visitors of the state forest and game lands and gravel resurfacing improvements of an existing 2,400 linear foot access road will be performed along with the installation of historic information kiosks. The primary project partners are the PA-DCNR, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and Earth Conservancy.

Audenried Coal to Solar Phase 1

Reclamation of 185 acres of AML comprised of mine refuse, mining pits, multiple hazardous abandoned mine structures, and approximately 2.5 million yards of mine spoil to eliminate the health and safety hazards. The reclaimed area will be repurposed by Teichos Energy, LLC. to accommodate construction of their first of two phases of a utility scale solar photovoltaic facility. A future, Phase 2 project is planned to reclaim similar AML features covering an additional 125 acres and restoration of stream segments of Hunky Dory Creek. Once the second phase is completed, Teichos Energy estimates that the facility will support 150-300 fulltime jobs directly related to the solar construction and 6-8 permanent jobs related to facility operations and maintenance of the solar panels. The primary project partners are Teichos Energy, LLC, and the property owner of the AML site.

D&L Trail Wilkes-Barre Mountain Phase 2

Reclamation of a nearby abandoned mine opening through installing a bat friendly gate and backfilling pits situated immediately adjacent to the D&L Trail by utilizing onsite and borrowed material will eliminate the health and safety hazards. A 2.3-mile trail will be constructed and traverse through the Pinchot State Forest along an abandoned railroad bed and would begin where the existing Wilkes-Barre Mountain Section (Phase 1) trail ends about one mile from the PA-DCNRs Seven Tubs Recreation Area and would end near Laurel Run Park on East Northampton Street, Wilkes-Barre. The primary project partners are North Branch Land Trust and the PA-DCNR.

Schuylkill County:

Coal Castle Revitalization

A high priority water-filled pit, an 11-acre abandoned refuse pile and a 43-acre spoil area will be regraded on site to eliminate health and safety hazards. A DEP-approved alkaline material will be added to neutralize acidity and re-establish vegetation. The reclaimed areas will be regraded and compacted to suit the property owners plans to build an approximate 10,000 square foot campground office and welcome center and additional camping facilities. The proposed facilities will attract hundreds of visitors of Famous Reading Outdoors, offering an extreme, off-road trail riding experience. Temporary construction jobs will be created through construction of the facility and upon completion of the project an estimated 10-20 full and parttime jobs will be created. The primary project partners are Famous Reading Outdoors, the property owner of the AML site, and New Castle Township.

Washington County:

Muse

Reclamation of a five-acre abandoned refuse pile by regrading the pile on site to eliminate the health and safety hazards. A DEP-approved alkaline amendment will be added to neutralize acidity and re-establish vegetation. Additionally, four hazardous abandoned mine structures will be demolished and buried onsite. The regrading will allow the property owner to develop a storage facility business that will support the surrounding community, which is heavily populated with many housing developments. The primary project partner is the property owner of the AML site.

Walkertown

Reclamation and regrade of a seven-acre abandoned refuse pile on site and restoration of a two-tenths mile clogged stream segment of Little Pike Run to eliminate health and safety hazards. Refuse material will be moved away from the stream and will be regraded on site into a stable configuration. A DEP-approved alkaline material may be added to the refuse during backfill to neutralize the soil acidity and the reclaimed area will be revegetated. Once the area is revegetated, the property owner intends to divide the parcel and donate three to four acres to West Pike Run Township for recreational green space to be maintained by the Township. The site access road installed during reclamation will be converted into a walking path. The primary project partner is the property owner of the AML site and West Pike Run Township.

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Gov. Wolf Announces $25 Million Investment in Economic Recovery for Abandoned Mine Lands - pa.gov

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 6 reports active highway projects this week and advises motorists to be aware of possible delays and closures.

BOONE KENTON COUNTIES

KY 536 (Mt. Zion Road) Corridor 13.2 14.7/ 0 1 mile-marker The road is being widened from two to four lanes between U.S. 25 (Dixie Highway) and KY 1303 (Turkeyfoot Road). Two roundabouts will be built:at the intersection of Mt. Zion and Sigmon LaneOn Mt. Zion Road approximately one-thirdof a mile west of Turkeyfoot Road.

Utility relocation is currently taking place. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2022. Project completion is the end of 2023.

BOONE COUNTYKY 3159 (Ted Bushelman Blvd.) 0 0.6 mile-marker A widening and road improvement project on KY 3159 (Ted Bushelman Blvd.) is in progress.Motorists should be alert in the work zone.U.S. 42 Bridge (13.9 mile-marker) over I-71/75 (180 mile-marker) A project is in progress that will add a new westbound lane and pedestrian sidewalk. Both shoulders are closed within the project area for approximately one-quarter mile at the US 42 interchange on I-71/75 north and southbound. Also, traffic on US 42 westbound is shifted to the north while crews work on widening the south side of the roadway. No permanent lane closures on US 42 are anticipated while this work takes place. This travel pattern is expected to remain in place through spring 2022.

KY 237 (Pleasant Valley Road) A project is in progress on Pleasant Valley Road between Valley View Drive and Rogers Lane. The roadway is being widened and re-aligned and includes the construction of a bridge and roundabout. KY 237 is in its final configuration, with two lanes open in each direction from Oakbrook to Rogers lanes. KY 237 will remain in the current two-lane configuration from Oakbrook Drive south to the project limits at Valley View Drive. KY 536 (Mt Zion Road) Double Crossover Diamond (DCD) interchange Construction is in progress between Tiburon Drive and US 25 (Dixie Highway).

Biltmore Blvd. between Mt. Zion Rd. (KY 526) and the Biltmore Connector has been reopened.

Traffic moving eastbound on Mt. Zion Rd. will be able to turn right onto Biltmore Blvd., however there will be no direct access to Mt. Zion Rd. from Biltmore Blvd. drivers should continue to access Mt. Zion Rd. via Sherwood Lakes Dr. or Investment Way.Ongoing traffic impacts, weather permitting:

During the winter, as weather and temperatures allow, work may occur throughout the project area. Occasional lane closures may be put into place, but traffic will be maintained with flaggers when needed. Please be aware of construction vehicles entering and exiting the project area.

KY 338 (Richwood Road) Double Crossover Diamond (DCD) interchange and U.S. 25 Dixie Highway SPUI Work is in progress.Transport Dr. at US 25 is CLOSED. The closure is expected to remain in place through mid-2022.

The existing intersection of Richwood Rd. and Dixie Hwy. (US 25) is permanently closed.

Traffic on US 25 is using the new pavement between Duffel Ln. and Logistics Blvd. Signage has been put into place to direct drivers through the new traffic pattern, and a new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Best Pal Dr. and Richwood Rd.

This travel pattern is expected to be in place through project completion, which is expected in late summer 2023.The intersection of Paddock Rd. and Richwood Rd. (KY 338) has been reopened. Traffic on Richwood Rd. from the Frogtown Connector west to the new roundabout is using the new pavement to allow for improvements on the south side of the road.This travel pattern is expected to be in place through the end of 2022.

Ongoing Traffic Reminders:

The right lane of I-71/75 northbound is closed from approximately one-half mile south of the Richwood Rd. (KY 338) exit to the bridge over Frogtown Rd. (The length of the closure is approximately one mile.) This closure is expected to remain in place through the end of the year while improvement work continues in the northbound ramp area.

In addition, the right lane of I-71/75 southbound is closed at the Richwood Rd. (KY 338) exit for approximately one mile. This closure is expected to be in place through the end of the year.

Crews are working along Richwood Rd. (KY 338) between Triple Crown Blvd./Grand National Blvd. and Dixie Hwy. (US 25), and along the US 25 corridor. Occasional lane closures may occur, but traffic will be maintained with flaggers when needed. Please be aware of construction vehicles entering and exiting the project area.

Crews also are continuing work on Best Pal Dr., Winning Colors Dr., and Triple Crown Blvd. weekdays between 7 a.m. 5 p.m. During this time, temporary road closures may be needed, and short-term detours will be put into place.

Railroad Crossings Update:

The Old Lexington Pike railroad crossing just south of Richwood Rd. is closed.

All traffic will use Chambers Rd. to access US 25 and I-71/75. Temporary traffic signals have been installed at the intersection of Chambers Rd. and US 25 to help improve traffic flow. (Signals will remain flashing until operational.)

This traffic pattern is expected to be in place throughout the duration of our construction work, which is scheduled to continue through 2022, but options to reduce the length of this closure are being evaluated.The railroad crossing at Richwood Rd. and US 25 is now permanently closed.

During construction, traffic will cross the railroad tracks at the intersection of Shorland Dr./Winning Colors Dr., where new traffic signals are operational and timed to help ease congestion and support traffic flow through the intersection.This closure is needed so that temporary railroad tracks can be built in the project area to allow for major intersection improvements at Richwood Rd. and US 25.

New I-275 Graves Road Interchange The new DCD interchange is OPEN to traffic. Work will continue on a new road connecting to KY 20 (Petersburg Road). Graves Rd. has been reopened to local traffic only between Worldwide Blvd. and Sequoia Drive. The Graves Rd. leg of the KY 237 roundabout is CLOSED. A detour route using Worldwide Blvd. to Graves Rd. will be put into place and marked with signage. The intersection of Worldwide Blvd./Williams Rd. and Graves Rd. will be a new four-way stop.This travel pattern will remain in place as utility relocation and construction work continues at the new roundabout. Access to Graves Rd. from the KY 237 roundabout is expected to be closed through March pending completion of utility relocation and weather.

CAMPBELL COUNTY

I-275 Eastbound-Westbound (73.3 mile-marker) Duke Energy has scheduled a project for Sunday, Jan. 23 Wednesday, Jan. 26 that will require rolling roadblocks so that they can install new utility wires across I-275. The location is near KY 8 (Mary Ingles Highway) and the Combs Hehl Bridge. Law enforcement will assist with traffic control during the hours of 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists should expect short delays. Work is weather dependent.KY 8 (Mary Ingles Highway) 18 milepost A bridge rehabilitation project is in progress on the truss bridge that crosses Twelvemile Creek. Crews will be on-site clearing the area to prepare for construction. A total closure is in progress and the bridge will be closed to traffic for 150 days, the first part of June. Motorists will be encouraged to use the signed detour by taking KY 8 (Mary Ingles Highway) to KY 2828 (Ivor Road) to KY 9 (AA Highway) to KY 547 (4 Mile Road) to KY 8 (Mary Ingles Highway).U.S. 27 (0 1 mile-marker) A safety improvement project is in progress on U.S. 27. Construction will focus on three areas: the KY 177 intersection (17.1-17.5 marker ) going northbound to just past KY 3162 (Lock Road) intersection, the Boss Dunaway Road intersection (19 milepost) in northern Pendleton County and the intersection of Plum Creek Church Road (1 milepost) in southern Campbell County. Motorists should be aware of crews and lane closures in the work zone areas.

GALLATIN COUNTY

U.S. 42 (3.1 4.6 mile-marker) U.S. 42 IS CLOSED to traffic from the Markland Dam to Craigs Creek for a landslide repair project until Nov. 2023. A signed detour will be in place to direct vehicles onto KY 1039 to I-71 to KY 35.GRANT COUNTY

KY 1993 (Lawrenceville Road) 0 2.8 mile-marker) A slide repair project on a section of KY 1993 (Lawrenceville Road) is in progress. There is a temporary signal to help with traffic control from KY 22 to Bennett Road until work is complete. Work is weather-dependent.

KENTON COUNTY

KY 1303 (Bristow Road) 0.0 0.5 milepost Starting Monday, Jan. 24 through Friday, Jan. 29, KY 1303 (Bristow Road) will be closed to through traffic daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for ditching and shoulder work. The closure will be from KY 536 (Mt. Zion Road) to Timber Lane. Local traffic will have access. The suggested detour is U.S. 25 (Dixie Highway to KY 842 (Richardson Road). Work is weather-dependent.

KY 1501 (Hands Pike) Construction on a new, two-lane road will realign Hands Pike from the KY 17 (Madison Pike) and KY 3035 (Old Madison Pike) intersection to Crystal Lake Drive is in progress. Motorists should watch for construction crews and equipment in the project area. Blasting operations are in progress. Blasting may occur in the project area Monday Friday, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

John A. Roebling Bridge (KY 17) The John A. Roebling Bridge is completely closed to vehicular traffic for a lengthy restoration project to preserve the 154-year-old historic landmark. A pedestrian walkway will remain open during the project. Additional repairs have been added to the project. The bridge will be closed to motorists until work is complete.At this time, we can not confirm a date to open for traffic. Work will continue in the spring 2022 that will require lane closures. Motorists may use the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge (U.S. 25) or the 4th Street/Veterans Bridge (KY 8) to the Taylor Southgate Bridge (U.S. 27) as a detour.

KY 2373 (Bromley-Crescent Springs Road) 3.1 3.8 mile-marker A safety improvement project is in progress between Anderson Road and Amsterdam Road. Watch for crews, equipment and lane closures in the work zone. The road is closed to through traffic until Spring 2022, so that crews can do utility work and install a box culvert and retaining wall. Motorists may use Anderson Road (KY 2373) to Buttermilk Pike (KY 371) to Collins Road to Amsterdam Road as a detour.

PENDLETON COUNTY

U.S. 27 (17.1 19.3 mile-marker) A safety improvement project is in progress on U.S. 27. Construction will focus on three areas: the KY 177 intersection (17.1-17.5 marker ) going northbound to just past KY 3162 (Lock Road) intersection, the Boss Dunaway Road intersection (19 milepost) in northern Pendleton County and the intersection of Plum Creek Church Road (1 milepost) in southern Campbell County. Motorists should be aware of crews and lane closures in the work zone areas.

WORK ZONE TIPS

1. Expect the unexpected.2. Slow down.3. Dont tailgate. Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you.4. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the construction workers and equipment.5. Pay attention to the signs.6. Obey road crew flaggers.7. Stay alert and minimize distractions.8. Keep up with the traffic flow.9. Navigate traffic with GoKY TRIMARCor via Waze on your smartphone!10. You can follow us on the social media links below.11. Knowing where the construction zones are prior to the trip can minimize frustration and delays.12. Be patient and stay calm.

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Road report: KYTC District 6 update on this week's construction projects; be alert to delays, closures - User-generated content

The Village of Bluffton reported a total of $11.8 million in construction permits in 2021, with the $10 million Knowlton Science Center comprising the lions share of that figure. (see attached chart for details)

The commercial-residential split was $10,061,347.55 commercial construction, $ 1,786,193.62 residential construction. The following list ranks key commercial construction:

Owner, cost estimate

Bluffton University science center, $10,000,000.00

Bluffton Presbyterian Church accessory building (gazebo), $40,771.00

Southgate Lanes volleyball court and patio $17,000.00

Spectrum Salon accessory building, $6,434.00

Blanchard Valley Health System sign $1,748.00

Village of Bluffton gaga ball pit, $900.00

Beacon Life Ministries sign, $ 576.55

Residential construction included five new homes, with estimated costs ranging from $240 thousand to $344 thousand. Other residential permits were for these construction types: accessory building, addition, ADA ramp, covered porch, curb cut, deck, driveway, fence, flag pole, garage, pool, retaining wall, shed, sidewalk, solar panels.

A Building and Zoning Permit Application is required for any property improvement that exceeds $1,000.00 in cost and/or alters the exterior structure of a property, including fences. Applications must be approved by the Mayor prior to work commencing. The application fee is $10.00. Assistant Village Administrator Bryan Lloyd is the designated Zoning Administrator and can assist with applications and answer questions regarding the Villages Zoning regulations.

Prior years construction permit totals

2020 - Eighty permits totalling $4.4 million

2019 - Fifty-two permits totalling $2.4 million

2018 - Sixty-five permits totalling $13.6 million

2017 - Forty-six permits totalling $1.7 million

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$11.8 million in Bluffton construction permits issued in 2021 - Bluffton Icon

Baton Rouge Symphony finally returns to the River Center Theatre with a packed spring season

Image Courtesy BRSO

Consider it like couch surfing. Except at each new place, youre unpacking 18 violins, 23 wood instruments, a harp, a piano and all manner of drums and percussion instruments.

The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra has been hopping from various venues and churches for its performances over the last three years. The nearly 50 musicians have played everywhere but the orchestras home venue at the River Center Performing Arts Theatre, which closed for a massive renovation in 2018. Were over being a vagabond orchestra, says the symphonys executive director, Eric Marshall.

There were talks of a return to the theater at the beginning of 2021, then fall 2021, but supply chain issues and Hurricane Ida delayed construction and a reopening until this year. Now, BRSO takes the stage Jan. 27 with Andrew Grams conducting the orchestra alongside guest violinist Richard Lin. The show, initially scheduled to be the orchestras first performance back inside the updated River Center space, was recently moved down the street to First Baptist Church, 529 Convention St. The next performance on Feb. 12 will hopefully see the group return to the River Center.

While the phrase return to normalcy might be overused at this point, its especially true for the 75-year-old symphony, which had already been going through years of changes before the pandemic began.

Marshall took the helm as executive director in fall 2019, just as the organization was righting itself from financial struggles that had put it on the edge of extinction, he later told 225. Earlier in 2019, its longtime music director and conductor Timothy Muffitt announced his retirement. While the board began the search for a new conductor, the orchestra was set to finish its season in spring 2020 with a gala sendoff honoring Muffitts contributions.

Then, well, we all know what happened. The symphony was forced to cancel much of its spring season and delay Muffitts farewell concert multiple times. Its musicians took to social media for mini virtual concerts since they couldnt perform together in person.

As soon as it was able to, the symphony gathered for performances in area religious institutions like First Baptist Church and St. Joseph Cathedral.

It helps that we are incredibly low tech, Marshall says. We dont need to turn on a full sound system for you to hear the orchestra. As long as there are lights and a stage, were ready.

At these shows, patrons constantly approached Marshall and the symphony staff with questions about the status of the River Center Theatre.

Weve been fortunate that weve had these churches that have kind of taken us in. And we were fortunate that we had a resilient crew of musicians that were willing to work with us and figure out a path forward, Marshall says.

The River Center Theatres $16.2 million renovation includes a shiny new exterior; a larger lobby; central aisles to break up the 1,800-seat theater; and new box seats.

But Marshall explains the spaces already excellent acoustics wont be altered, though new wiring and fabric panels will accommodate a variety of other shows.

And while the symphony will still get out into the public for some performances, Marshall says the downtown venue provides an unrivaled experience for the musicians and attendees alike.

Now it can be more of a social experience, besides just the music, he says. You can go downtown, have dinner and get a drink before the concerts. Theres more mingling, especially with that big lobby. I think that will be really exciting for everyone.

And with a slate of several performances in the River Center Theatre this spring, there are plenty of chances to see the symphony in action. The season includes visits from three guest conductors while the symphony continues its search for a new music director. Its big gala in February features Grammy-winning pianist Emanuel Ax, who has performed and recorded with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma.

Closing out the season? That much-anticipated and much-delayed farewell to former music director and current music director laureate Timothy Muffitt, who will conduct the orchestra in a performance of Beethovens Symphony No. 9.

Its a fitting choice, as Beethovens final complete symphony.

This article was originally published in the January 2022 issue of 225 magazine. It has been updated to include new information about performance locations.

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Baton Rouge Symphony finally returns to the River Center Theatre with a packed spring season - [225] - 225 Baton Rouge

Alessandro Bruno

Teaneck - BRUNO, Alessandro, age 98, of Teaneck, NJ passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2022.

Beloved husband of (the late) Antonietta. Devoted father of Anthony Bruno and his wife Donna T., Basil Bruno and his wife Linda, and his daughter, Matilda Bruno. Loving grandfather of Antonietta, Alessandro, Cassandra, Antonia and Giulia. He is survived by many cherished nephews and nieces in the United States and Italy.

Alessandro is a Veteran of the Italian Army during World War II. He began his career as a stone mason artisan from an early age, following in the footsteps of his father, Antonio. He was always very proud of his work on many churches throughout Italy. He initially came to the U.S. in 1955 to work and finally immigrated, with his wife and son (Anthony), to the United States in 1962. He continued his artisanal work here for others and then finally started his own business in 1970 called The Bruno Construction Corporation. He prided himself on his craftsmanship and was well known for his impeccable work throughout the Northern New Jersey area, especially Teaneck. He was a member of the Teaneck Knights of Columbus and was a longtime parishioner of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Bogota, NJ.

Since his retirement in 1989, Alessandro spent most of his time helping his children with their various businesses, continuing other masonary projects and enjoying wood work crafting. Of course, he loved making bottled home-made tomato sauce and spending time with his adored grandchildren.

Friends and family are invited to visit on Tuesday from 4-8PM at Volk Leber Funeral Home, 789 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ. Services from the funeral home on Wednesday at 9AM and then to St. Joseph RCC in Bogota for a 10AM Mass of Christian Burial. Entombment to follow at Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, NJ. For further information and to view Alessandro's tribute page, please visit volkleber.com

Posted online on January 23, 2022

Published in Record and Herald News

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Alessandro Bruno Obituary - The Record/Herald News - NorthJersey.com

Working feverishly inside a fenced construction site at Long Beach on Jan. 15, a group of volunteers from St. James Church was determined to fend off the surprise arrival of Saturday morning showers with shovels, pipe wrenches, and paintbrushes.

Due to the pandemic, it had been nearly two years since volunteers from the Redondo Beach parish could join the Catholic Coalition team at the ongoing building site with the Habitat for Humanitys Greater Los Angeles chapter. Theyve been as anxious to finish up the 10 two-story Craftsman-style homes by the spring as the families have been after several years of applying, qualifying, and often having to re-apply because of delays. Just two blocks away, an empty lot awaits another 36 houses to go up.

The pandemic amplified the perils of job loss, mortgage struggles, and chronic homelessness in the region. Those focused on resolving Southern Californias continuing housing crisis cite the availability of affordable homes as a critical component to turn the tide.

For the last eight years, the Catholic Coalition has been hammering that home as well.

St. James Church volunteers Andrea Fowler and Jim Whelehan dig a trench at the Long Beach site. (Barry Smith/Habitat for Humanity Catholic Coalition)

Catholics from parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles have spearheaded local volunteer opportunities with Habitat for Humanity since the nonprofit started in 1976 and the Greater LA Chapter launched in 1990. Volunteers from St. Monica Church in Santa Monica also went to New Orleans in 2007 to help with Hurricane Katrina recovery.

The idea of combining financial, labor, and strategic resources in 2014 led more than two dozen churches, schools, and service organizations teaming up in the Our Lady of the Angels, San Fernando and San Pedro Pastoral Regions.

Retired St. James pastor Father Jim Kavanagh eventually broached the subject to Archbishop Jos H. Gomez, who endorsed the idea, having worked with Habitat for Humanity during his time in San Antonio.

Christine Gerety, the associate director of outreach and pastoral care at St. Monica, and co-chair of the Catholic Coalition, said they could measure success simply by the 36 houses already built, but were in constant discussion in our Zoom meetings we know we can be more successful. The only tragedy is we arent able to do more with the great need.

Habitat for Humanity estimated that some 60% to 70% of the families approved for Habitat homes in Southern California are Catholic. The coalition encourages Catholic parishes in underserved areas to support a parish family applying for a Habitat home, explained co-chair Carol Sanborn.

Think about how some Catholic parishes have schools closing and the community is absorbed by commercial business, said Sanborn. If those parishes were guided to having families own their homes and invest in the community, its win-win for everyone.

Volunteers from American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach and St. Cornelius Church in Long Beach have been back to the site in recent months, while others from the Catholic Coalition are lining up again.

The two sites located in the Washington District neighborhood of Long Beach under construction need $1.5 million more in funding. The Catholic Coalition is in the process of raising more than a third of that.

Holding the banner is partner family Logan Chavez, Valdemar Chavez III, mom Cynthia Evangelista and father Valdemar Chavez Jr.Left to right: David Palos, Matt Olivet, Moises Perez (kneeling), Andrea Fowler, Jim Whelehan, Yolanda Nunez, David McIntyre, Ana Alamaraz-McIntyre, Tom Miller, John Bauer, Louise Ramirez, Deacon Mark Ramirez, Chris Untiet and Belen Giron. (Barry Smith/Habitat for Humanity Catholic Coalition)

The neighborhood serves the Catholic parishes of Holy Innocents Church, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, St. Anthony Church and St. Lucy Church. A Catholic Charities office across the street from the site handles outreach to the homeless, and has set up temporary shelter on the sidewalks around the Habitat site.

Long Beach natives Valdemar Chavez Jr. and Cynthia Evangelista, and their two children, Valdemar III, 12, and Logan, 10, are recipients of the first completed home at this site, expected to be finished in June. They came Saturday morning to express their thanks to the St. James volunteers.

We thank God we are getting to live in this house, and know it is getting built with love, said Evangelista.

For Gerety, the work is rooted in the Christian imperative to love ones neighbor as oneself.

Its critical to who we are. Jesus was a carpenter. What better way to do something in his image?

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Parishes partner with Habitat for Humanity to take on LAs homeless crisis - Angelus News