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05/23/2018 09:00 AMDespite some rather spectacular winter weather this year, construction at the Guilford Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7666 is still moving along at a brisk pace. With volunteers hoping to wrap up construction by July, project officials are looking for residents to step up and make a donation to help complete the construction and support the goals of the VFW.
The VFW Post, located on Mill Road, had long been in need of repairs. Conversations about rebuilding the structure began more than a decade ago, but hit a snag during the 2008 recession. In 2014, then-state representative Pat Widlitz secured a $1,347,479 state grant for extensive repairs to the 1925 building.
“It makes me feel good about the state of Connecticut and its willingness to help out people who have given service to our country,” Widlitz said in a June 2014 press release. “There are many veterans returning home now, and this VFW is so supportive of not only Guilford veterans, but those in surrounding communities who need help.”
With the money in hand, there were a few more hurdles to jump. In an interview with the Courier earlier this year, Steve Spurrell, a long-time supporter of the project, explained the challenges of working with state money for a construction project.
“What we didn’t know, what we learned the hard way...is because it’s state money, the contractor has to be bonded for 100 percent of his bid, so that takes it away from all of the local contractors, and gives it to those with a higher overhead. So the first [proposal] came out 30 percent over budget,” says Steve. “We came to the conclusion to take down the hall portion of the building, rebuild it substantially in just about its same footprint, and remodel the kitchen and members’ bar.”
The project was redrawn, Northeast Building Group out of Wallingford was brought onboard as contractor, and on Nov. 29, 2017, Widlitz, State Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-12), State Representative Sean Scanlon (D-98), former first selectman Joe Mazza, VFW Commander Larry Santamaria, project architect Russ Campaigne, members of Northeast Construction Group, and Spurrell gathered to put some ceremonial shovels in the ground.
The old hall section of the building has been demolished and completely rebuilt and the original section of the building has been gutted and renovated. The new structure has roughly the same square footage as the old structure, but is now more open and is ADA accessible.
As of mid-May, the new structure is up, the floor has been poured, the windows and doors are in, and the electrical, plumbing, and heating and cooling systems are in. Spurrell said crews are just triple checking everything before moving onto the next step.
“Construction will go very fast once the sheetrock goes up,” he said.
While the costs for the actual structure are covered, the team is looking for help from the community with donations to help furnish the building and with landscaping. Spurrell said escalating costs and some unforeseen expenses put the project $50,000 behind budget, but the team has secured $12,500 of that amount to date. Now Spurrell said the team is looking for monetary donations to help with purchasing things like tables, chairs, equipment, and audio-visual needs.
Ensuring that new VFW facility is all that it can be is key to supporting the mission of the VFW, according to Spurrell. In a letter going out to all residents this week requesting donations, the letter reminds residents that the VFW, which currently has 235 members, strives to “honor the dead by helping the living.”
“Their goal at the VFW is to make sure that every veteran knows they are never alone and their service to our country has not been forgotten,” the letter reads. “There is always a support system to help them when they are in need. They are also fortunate enough to have a hall that can be available to many organizations and groups in town. They regularly host events for youth athletic groups as well as scouting groups and others who need a place to meet or to hold a fund-raising event.”
Contributions can be sent to the VFW New Building Fund at P.O. Box 173 Guilford, CT 06437. Spurrell said all contributions are tax deductible and a plaque acknowledging donations will be included in the building design.
For more information or to donate, contact Larry Santamaria at 203-535-6640 or Steve Spurrell at 203-627-4404.