Chadar Ochel (Dining Hall/Kitchen) Project - Monday 8/25/08

With the start of the new week, the work continues on the chadar ochel.  Here's what happened today:

-The trucks keep on coming!  The excavator continues to fill dump trucks with the concrete from what used to be the Chadar Ochel floor.  The concrete is being hauled to Eagle River where it will be ground and eventually reused.  Each time the trucks come back into camp, they arrive with a load of dirt which will be used to level the area for the Kitchen and Dining Facility.

-Sadly, the white pine tree that stood between the office and commissary staff quarters came down today.  When we originally designed the Chadar Ochel, we hoped the tree, which was over 140 years old, would remain untouched.  However, once the excavator started digging, the roots were damaged and it was clear that the tree would not survive long-term.  This morning Ken Schels, a local wood carver, came to camp to help take the tree down.  We gave the trunk of the tree and many of the limbs to Ken, who will use the wood for carvings and furniture items.  While Ken was at camp, he carved a little black bear which will remain in camp for all to enjoy (check out the video of this).  Once the new Chadar Ochel is built, there will be beautiful new landscaping including many trees planted to provide shade in the area.

At the same time that we are building the new Chadar Ochel, our maintenance staff will be building a new boys' double cabin next to the Ohel Yitzhak Synagogue.  Cabin 5 (the single cabin in that area) was torn down to make way for this new double cabin.  Some of today's photos show the area where the new cabin will be built.  It will be completed and ready to use for Summer 2009.

Videos from today (click to view):

1.  The white pine by the office coming down.

2.  Ken Schels carving the black bear.

Photos (click to view):

1.  Work on the chadar ochel site and tree coming down

2.  Cabin 5 demolition and site of new cabin

Benji Bearman
Business Manager