Startup, WA – Press Release – Sky Valley Arts Council
The Startup Gym was built by volunteers in 1937 with donated materials. The Sky Valley Arts Council is restoring it in the same spirit. Volunteers
are coming to the property at 366th Ave SE, Startup to spend time bringing the grand old building back to life to serve as an art and
event center.
The number one priority was a new roof which was installed in December 2015. Last summer we replaced all the siding and windows. Our volunteers put
in over 1200 hours in 3 months! We are also working on the park in front of the building. We could still use painters and plumbers along with loads
of good hearted laborers.
This weekend we will be meeting at 9am on Saturday to begin painting the inside of the main area. The Home Depot Foundation awarded the Arts Council
with a grant to help restore this property to community service. This weekend their wonderful volunteers will join our volunteers to paint, load
the dumpster, and work on the park in front of the building. The Home Depot Foundation is providing all of the paint and supplies!
We will be serving lunch from 11:30am to 12:30pm. A photo of all the volunteers together along with a presentation by County Councilman Sam Low will
be around 2pm.
There are so many amazing stories about this place. For example, Frank & Nancy Roesler celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at
the gym even though it’s still in pretty rough shape in 2016. It was important for them to celebrate there because that’s where they met and where
they had their first dance. It is 62 years later, surrounded by friends, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren they had their dance.
Come experience the magic for yourself!
Organizer’s Note: We could use: lunch & snack foods, painters, weed trimmers, wheel barrows, etc. We
have paint and all painting supplies.
