Depression at Dusk (Dawn, Too)

You will recall from the last posting, that the Detention Basin West was constructed to absorb the water that collects in it. That water is coming from the ground surfaces around the basin, including the neighboring property to the west of NDA’s, and the parking lot--quite a lot of water, as you can see. The filtration through the grasses and other plants that are being added to the sides and bottom of the depression is in full swing with all the rain we've been having. Kenton Water District is pleased. In fact, they have been on board in the project for several months, being also interested in, and instrumental in, the rain garden off the main parking lot. Yea for our teams! It’s so good to be ecologically effective; our good earth deserves this, at least.

Depression At Dusk

Actually, it’s there at dawn, too. We’re speaking here of the physical sort that has the technical name of Detention Basin West (“Dusk”)—what you have read about here before as the detention pond. What you will see in this posting and the one to come is the basin in process. As you will recall, the basin has been in place for months just west of the theater, waiting its turn for attention. (The Muses would say, “First things first.”) And attention has not been wanting in the last few months. The first step shown here was the spraying, if that is the right word, of a very fine top soil to the necessary depth, begun on August 18th. and taking several days. Next came the rolling out of seed “carpets” that were stapled to the sides of the basin. The placing of various plants to aid in the absorption process was the next step. It’s all in the knowing! Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of “Depression at Dusk (Dawn, Too)”.

Prop The Imagination

The theater is all about creating a world, usually one or a few persons' little world. A visit to the prop storage room reveals that the masters of illusion there are busy creating Annie's little world. So here's a peek. Amazing, isn't it! Our prop creators are masters indeed. The Muses are pleased.

If you wish to see more and haven't marked your calendar yet, here's a compelling reminder. Performances for the public are Oct. 9, 10, and 11. The three evening performances begin at 7:30, and Sunday afternoon's performance begins at 2:00. You won't see the Muses, but they will be in rare form (literally) for certain during those days.

Dedicated To The Glory of God

At last the big day comes--August 23, 2009: Dedication of NDA's Fine Arts Center and Fitness Center. While much went into the preparation of the event (a later posting), let's look at the event itself. The weather was amazingly cooperative, given its recent disposition. The principle actors were in good form. The supporting cast was very supportive. The crowd was large and enthusiastic. What more could we ask?

Principal actors: Bishop Foys, Ordinary of the Diocese of Covington; Sr. M. Shauna, President; Sr. Marla, Provincial of the Sisters of Notre Dame; Sr. Elaine Marie, Principal; Fran Carlisle, major donor, and Ann Buenger, another major donor, represented by Mike Keating. Board members, department chairpersons and support staff of the school, and Student Council representatives were also on stage, as God's favors were reviewed, the benefactors thanked, the contractors commended, the Sisters of Notre Dame along with the faculty and staff praised, and finally God's blessing on the new facilities invoked. It was a heady hour, but a glorious one for all who have worked so hard in the past few years to see these facilities realized. All this was graced by the NDA-CCH band performance and the choral renditions by the Singing Dames, as well as the display of art works by alums seen in the Alumnae Hall.

PRAISE TO OUR GOOD AND PROVIDENT GOD!

Formidale Partnership

Our newest completed feature on the NDA campus is the fountain garden dedicated to St. Francis in honor of Frances Catherine Carlisle, a great friend of Notre Dame. The "formidable partnership"? Why St. Francis, of course, with his partner--Mother Nature!

The development of the garden is shown here in photos. In the last posting you can see a very early stage with the construction of the fountain. Here we pick up with the delivery and planting of trees. Next comes the planting of flowers. On the very day this last operation is completed, the saint arrives and advances to his new station. Talk about timing! He's rather stern looking, signaling that he takes his mission of supporting Mother N. very seriously. With these two we're holding an insurance policy in effect. Now if we just had a little more control over the Mother.... (By the way, St. Francis is just to the left of the fountain in the photo of the finished garden.)

What Is In A Name...?

Plenty, if one traveling I75 has been wondering what the school is that's been so clearly visible on the expressway for the last several months. Of course, there have been signs for those who can read quickly, but the "real thing" is in place now adding a new polish to the theater and the school. The first photo shows a worker drilling holes in the brick using a paper template as a guide. The second, of course, shows the finished sign.

One would have to come onto the campus and drive close to the theater to really appreciate the new feature in the theater yard--a fountain. Life-giving water has become a repeated aspect of the academy expansion, evidenced in the retention pond being developed near the Sisters' cemetery, the rain garden off the parking lot, the soon to be developed larger rain garden in the depression near the theater. Aside from greatly pleasing the Water District, these areas will serve to educate our students in wet-land value, and as a laboratory for the sciences. In addition, they can remind us that just as water provides physical life, learning provides life for the the heart and mind. Nature is ever a master teacher.

Yes, We're Still At It

Since the theater has been finished, there has been activity on a few other fronts. An additional lab for the Science Dept., one of the promised improvements in the original building, is a reality on the third floor now, with just a few finishing touches and connections still to be made. You may recall that it involved breaking a door through the back of 309 to connect to an inbetween storage room off of 310. Then the storage room became two storage areas, one a passage way into 309 as well as storage, and the other a restricted chemical lab. The photos show the painting being done as well as the new lab tables. Plumbing connections will come soon.

Outside work, as anyone coming onto the campus is well aware, is still in order. Today's advance is the beginning of the laying of asphalt. Yahoo! It's been dodge-ems with some formidable depressions all year. In case you've wondered how the green machine gets all that asphalt, examining the photo will help you. The stuff is heavy and must be spread and leveled quickly, as you also see here. Stay tuned.

Seal And Clean

Sealing the soccer field after its long winter settling requires much machinery, as you see here. After about a week of these various earth movers and shakers moving up and down the field and rearranging the dirt, it is finally "sealed" and ready for the next step in draining. Notice how light the flattened soil looks. Blogger understands that more channels must be created, and imagines them draining water into the main channel already there. Who knows, she may have it right this time. Of particular interest whose purpose is still somewhat of a mystery, is the piece of revolving equipment on the tripod. It seems to be monitoring progress (or is it an alien here to study how Earth things are done?) .

Inside the theater a different kind of finishing process is going on--the complete cleaning up of all evidence of construction work and workers. The Muses are appreciative. Did they take a few spins around the stage with (and/or on?) the scrub bucket? One can only surmise.

Getting Down To Business...

Again, a newly finished project in our expansion program comes to use. Since the punch list was completed some days ago, the new theater has been turned over officially to the academy. It's first use is appropriately a meeting of the board, the people responsible for moving the school in the direction of expanding its fine arts program. The lobby, the site of the meeting, will be called Alumnae Hall. Is it coincidence that a number of women you see at the table are alums of NDA? The fire for their Alma Mater still burns, and we are the happy recipients of the warmth and glow. While the Muses don't quite know what to make of this assembly, they flutter with appreciation for the product of its efforts. They are, after all, Muses!

The Ball's In Our Court!

Yes, the first of three big finishes has arrived. On the beautiful afternoon of May 19th. at 5:00 p.m., in the Year of Our Lord, 2009, the Moloney-Shaughnessy Tennis Center of Notre Dame Academy is blessed and the ribbon cut. A goodly crowd of parents, friends, and donors is here to celebrate the grand event, with Fr. Brian Wigger asking God's blessing, and members of the administration and Mr. Moloney sharing their thoughts and feelings about the accomplishment. The couples whose photo you see are Doctors (Mr. and Mrs.) Moloney (left) and Mrs. and Mr. Shaughnessy. These two couples provided the impetus for the construction of the courts. Each court was given, then, by a family interested in NDA's pursuit of the sport--five in all. These donors each received an NDA tennis racket to acknowledge their contribution. How else to celebrate such an event than with a beautiful cake. The team members with their coach got down to business after the refreshments--there are games to be played yet, and the team is eager to use the new facility to sharpen their skill. Let the games go on--on the brand new and beautiful NDA Tennis Center! Be sure to go below for more photos.

The Ball's In Our Court! cont.

Upper Seats Available At Ticket Office

The plans on the floor of the lobby (please excuse position) alert us to the fact that all is still not yet in place It has taken some time, but the seats for the upper level have finally arrived and have been installed. See what they look like when only the backs are in place. The seat itself is just inserted into the screw holes. Patience pays off again as you can see in the "Ta-da" photo.

There must be a stronger word than excited to describe the agitation, good kind, that the Muses are generating as they view a movie on the lowered screen above the orchestra pit. Just wait, Muses; the best is yet to come!

From Doors To Dancers

Finally, the grout has been put in on the tile door frame in the lobby. The finishing touch! At least on the door from Heritage Hall. Inside the theater itself we find the carpet man getting the carpet in place in the left aisle as you face the stage. The next thing will be to find your seat. But before that, let's see the carpet in the orchestra pit. Yes, there's carpeting there, too. Speaking of the orchestra pit, will it always be used? No. Will performers ever wish for more stage space? Yes, especially dancers who almost always dance to recorded music here at NDA. Voila: the orchestra pit cover! In the prop room we find the men working on the support frames, and looking again from the audience we see the cover as it looks now. Smarts: that's what it takes.
For other smart developments, and to find your seat, be sure to read the posting below.