|
Woodworkers
at Laurel Lake
unveil new Workshop, take on new projects
March
21, 2008 - Friday, March 14 was a banner day for woodcrafters and hobbyists living at Laurel Lake, the 150-acre retirement community located in Hudson.
On that day, the community officially opened its newly renovated
Laurel Lake Workshop, a “fully loaded” work environment that's
well equipped to handle all of the residents’ carpentry, woodworking and restoration projects.
With more than $25,000 in improvements, the new Workshop boasts top-of-the-line, industrial grade power tools including a table saw, band saw, large and
small disk sanders, belt sanders, jointer, lathe, and drill press.
A state-of-the-art Dust Collection System maintains healthy air quality in the shop, with sawdust vacuums at each workstation and a ventilation system
circulating filtered air every two minutes. Fresh paint, storage cabinets, gleaming work surfaces and the Laurel Lake equivalent of a “Great Wall of Tools” make it easy to stay organized.
The cost of renovations and top quality machinery and tools was covered by generous gifts to the Laurel Lake Foundation. Residents and staff
also chipped in weeks of volunteer labor to do the remodel
themselves.
The driving force behind this project is the 17-member Laurel Lake Workshop Committee, a talented bunch with
centuries of woodworking experience under their collective tool belts.
Les Massey, the committee’s current chairman, is excited about the
completion of the project.
“When my wife Rosanne and I arrived at Laurel Lake 14 years ago, I did all of my carpentry projects in the garage of our
villa. Then Laurel Lake gave the residents shop space, and kept expanding it. Today our workshop is a
woodworker’s dream. I feel like a kid in a candy shop!”
OFF
TO WORK WE GO
Residents are losing no time putting the new workshop to good use.
One team is busy building a collection of birdfeeders and nesting boxes to support Laurel Lake wildlife, with plans to show others how to make their own. Another is designing a custom shelving system to house the Laurel Lake Pub’s new plasma TV.
Others are filling requests to build wooden benches for a senior apartment complex in Stow, and another set of benches made from recycled plastic materials
for a local church.
And in a corner of the shop, one fellow has begun the process of restoring
a mahogany 1941 Chris-Craft motor boat, his Christmas gift from his
family.
Future plans for “Woodworking 101” classes, in which experienced craftsmen
teach beginners about basic woodcraft skills and power tool safety, are also in
the works.
The Laurel Lake Woodworkers are always looking to add new members, male or female, to their group.
“We want to encourage the men and women of Laurel Lake to learn new skills, and to use their creativity in a relaxing environment,” Les explains.
The first step to joining the Woodworkers or any other Laurel Lake club begins when you call the Welcome Center at 1-866-650-2100 to request information, or
schedule a tour.
Laurel Lake Retirement Community
is the smart choice for discerning adults who wish to continue leading
active lives filled with a variety of interests, including work, travel,
fitness, environmentalism, cultural and lifelong learning pursuits. This
not-for-profit continuing care retirement community offers multiple home
styles within a scenic 150-acre campus. For more information, call
1-866-650-2100 or visit www.laurellake.org.
|
