Coming to Terms with Asbestos

Think about it: the connector wing was built in 1952...that's 59 years ago, when asbestos was one of the greatest things since sliced bread! So, what do you suppose we have to deal with as we deconstruct the connector wing? ASBESTOS, that's right!

Eric Mercer from ECS Mid-Atlantic was at WPC today collecting samples of asbestos from the connector wing. ECS specializes in all kinds of environmental issues, from geotechnical to construction materials to facility use. Here's Eric, getting a sample (of course I'd have my camera handy for such photo ops!)...


Eric Mercer, Environmental Manager, ECS Mid-Atlantic

I've learned right much about asbestos recently. Asbestos is a Greek word, ἄσβεστος, which delights this student of Greek language! Its meaning is close to "unquenchable". Asbestos is a formation of 6 minerals strung together in crystal fiber-like formations. Here's a picture of asbestos I found online:

It's pretty, isn't it? Hard to tell by looking at it that people can become sick by inhaling it. As I was told by one trusted doctor, you can actually eat asbestos and not get sick (who would even want to?); it's in the inhalation of asbestos that people may develop lung problems.

So, the long and short of my asbestos education is that it has to be carefully removed from the connector wing as part of our demolition process. That's why Eric was on site this morning. We'll have a report from the asbestos analysis in the next few days, and then we'll know how to proceed with abatement.

Fascinating, huh?

Where's the Nursery?

All it takes is one parent who can't find the Nursery to make me realize that we've got a lot of publicity to do to make the Building transition go more smoothly! After worship today I learned that a parent couldn't find the "new" Nursery space on the 2nd floor of the education wing. Yikes!


 MENTAL NOTE TO SELF: MAKE SIGNS!


We've tried to be careful and thorough about the transition, thanks in great part to Ray Powell. You should see his hundred-page Transition Plan! (OK, slight exaggeration...)


Please contact Ray or me if you see something we missed! We want our babies and small children to feel welcome and at home in their "new" Nursery space....Thanks to those who let me know we need to do better!


"New" Nursery on 2nd Floor, education wing