ReStore

If you travel west of the Hutchinson Center on Route 3 in Belfast, you likely have noticed activity and progress at the site of the Habitat for Humanity of Waldo County ReStore site. Instead of a pile of dirt, there is now the makings for a foundation with radiant floor heat. A dedicated group of volunteers, working under the direction of super-volunteer Larry Jones, put down a layer of insulation foam sheets over the dirt, which had been prepared by Faulkingham Inc., followed by a layer of plastic. Then concrete bricks were put on the prepared surface, three feet apart, followed by rebar.

The bricks were donated by Gagne & Son Concrete Products and transported from Belgrade at no charge by Whitecap Builders. The rebar was purchased for half price from Harris Rebar and transported from Canaan, NH, by Stone Earthworks. And Moore’s Septic, Inc. has provided a porta-potty at no charge. Among other big donors to-date are First National Bank, Waldo County General Hospital, Viking Lumber, Robbins Lumber and Overhead Door Company of Bangor.

Since that workday, more rebar has been installed over the bricks in both directions and much of the tying of the rebar has taken place. Work on the tying is continuing with tubing for the heat to be put down and tied off next. When that is completed and a permit from the State Fire Marshal is received, a foundation will be poured and then a weekend of the “barn-raising” will be set with many area contractors volunteering to help with that process.

Volunteering on the first workday were John Gage, Richard Fiske, Sarah Garbe, Hadan Kaufman, Joel Krueger, Dan Mailloux, Sam Kirkpatrick, Jason Varney, and board members Ed Varney, Beth and Roger Haynes, Steve Alspach, and Toni and Randy Mailloux. Board members Dorothy and David Ailing and Dorothy’s twin sister, Marjorie, provided a delicious lunch. Since then, continuing to work at the site have been Dan Mailloux, Varney, the Haynes and Randy Mailloux.