Update

For more than six months Liesl and I have been back and forth with the town of Uxbridge about this beautiful old school building. Liesl and I are hoping to lease the building from the town and finally have a permanent home for our school

 The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts"  A month ago the town managers office called and asked us to re-submit our proposal.  We did and last week we got a call from the chairman of the board of selectman.  They are interested in our proposal and in September we have to give a presentation to the entire board of selectman. The building was originally gifted to the town and is to remain an educational institution.  We want to create a vibrant craft center that embraces the community.  Hopefully we'll get the building and bring new life to it through the making of objects.  I'll keep you posted.  Please visit http://www.theblackstonevalleyschoolofcrafts.blogspot.com/ for updates.  Liesl and I received a call from Jeannie Hebert of The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce and from Bruce Larsen form The Small Business Development Association ( SBDA).  They are very interested in our school venture and are working with us to achieve our goal.  Apparently there are grants  and funding available for such initiatives as ours.  They met last week with the State on our behalf.  We should hear back from them soon.  I'll keep you posted.  So - as usual we have a lot of irons in the fire.

I'm not a citizen of this country so I can't vote, if I could I'm not sure which polotical party I would vote for especially in these tough times.  I have never endorsed a polotical candidate before and always try to hear both sides of an argument and give everyone  a chance.  This being said I must give praise and a huge thank you to a young State Representative.  Ryann Fattman is a State Representative, representing Sutton and parts of Uxbridge, MA.  When we originally didn't hear back from the town about our proposal I contacted a few offices.  Ryan's office was the only one to call us back and do something.  Ryan's office contacted the town managers office.  We heard back that same day.  Last Thursday evening I was invited to go to an event that Ryan was hosting.  Ryan meets hundreds of people each week but he came over, shook my hand and asked about the school.  He then proceeded to introduce me to Senator Scott Brown and Charlie Baker,

who ran for congressman.  I'm very impressed with this young politician.

 

Still Waiting

Yesterday we found out that we'll have to wait another two weeks before the town of Uxbridge makes a decision about the school occupying the old building.  I really want to get this venture under way and start offering craft classes to the community.  We are excited about becoming members of the local community.
Oh well- we'll just have to wait.  Thank you to those who follow our blog, we appreciate your loyalty and hope we can meet you all at the school's first open house.  Keep your fingers crossed for us'

Back yard playground and sculpture garden

This is the view from the second floor.  The back yard has a playground and a small sculpture garden.  If we get the building we will refurbish the playground and open it up to the community.

Third Floor

This is the top of the stairway on the third floor.  There is only one room on the third floor, a wonderful room with a stage, great for meetings,events or even a gallery.

Second Floor

These are more pictures of the space on the second floor.  All rooms have lots of natural light and all have chalk boards, awesome.

More views inside Hartford Ave School

These rooms are huge, they have lots of windows and all have tin ceilings. These room are upstairs on the second floor. There are also a few smaller rooms which will make great administrative offices.  Keep your fingers crossed that we can work out a deal with the town

Inside 1 Hartford Ave East

Today Liesl and I had a look inside the old Hartford Ave School.  W are considering leasing it from the town of Uxbridge for the future site of the craft school.  The school needs some TLC but it has great bones. There was fantastic woodwork and tin ceilings all over.  The school has three floors and a basement.  The third

 floor was the auditorium and has a great stage.