Hospital expansion update

I had to spend some time waiting at the hospital on Friday, so I wandered out to see how construction was going. The west wall has had the facade of limestone block applied so it matches the main building. I am not sure why the fake windows are there--maybe the architects thought that a blank wall would be uglier.

Most of the rest of the new expansion is still cement block, but the wall nearest the back of the hospital has scaffolding for the masons and some of the block.

I was surprised to see what the blocks looked like as they came from the quarry. One of the workers said that they create them from slabs by appling pressure at the top. Notice how the top four pieces neatly fit together. (This look of limestone blocks has been replicated in cement blocks, for example in Dwenger Hall and in quite a number of other local buildings, especially garages, built early in the twentieth century.)

Stop by Sunday for a special post.

Some SJC happenings

SJC had a couple of concerts in the past few weeks. On November 7, the choir had its fall concert in the Chapel.
They have a new director this year and I like his style. However, no one has stepped up to the role of super soprano that was filled for the past few years by several very talented women.

On November 14th a jazz concert had two parts. The first was the vocal jazz ensemble.

That was followed by the jazz band under the direction of Paul Geraci. They have a lot of very good saxophonists.

There were not many band shows at football games because there were not many home games this fall. The band looked very good for the last home game.

Speaking of football, a couple of students who I saw in many classes won conference honors. Congratulations especially to Andy Adamiec and Wes Schroder, first team defense and offensive lineman of the year, respectively.

Also a cultural note, the senior art show is on display in the Core Building Lobby for another couple of weeks. This painting reminded me of this site, which I found when I was looking for things on the Internet appropriate for a two-year old. (She was not as impressed with it as I was.)

By the way, the mystery photo from a few weeks is just a few feet from this painting. The corner stone is on the right of the central entrance to the Core Building lobby. I think it was from the old administration building that burned a year or two before I arrived in Rensselaer, but that is just a guess.

(When I was on the SJC website to get a link for this post, I noticed that they were highlighting their bloggers.)

Around town-updated

After working at the computer most of the morning, I finally got out yesterday afternoon and looked around town. I was surprised to see that Irene's Consignment shop now is Amy's Attic. I thought the switch was supposed to be at the end of the month.

I forgot to congratulate the football team on their regional championship, won at Bremen in overtime. This Friday they will be in Fort Wayne facing Bishop Luers High School, the team that beat them last year at semi-state and the defending 2A champions.

I mentioned a week or so ago that the Ritz Theater was for sale. (Update: According to the Ritz Theater Facebook page, the theater has been sold.)

There was some activity in Weston Cemetery and Bicentennial Park this morning--some more foundations for the bridge that I thought would be built two years ago. The activity may not tell us that a bridge is imminent, but it does say that the project has not been abandoned. (I titled that old post "Part 1" because I expect a Part 2 would follow. It has not yet.)

Finally, there was a serious fire last night in a house on Susan Street. It was causing some traffic back up as the parents picking up their children at St. Augustine's School had to stop and take a look.

It is a reminder of how vulnerable we are to the unexpected.

Early shopping

Until last week I never have had a chance to try out the cute shopping carts at Strack and Van Til with a little kid. They are fun==this little girl liked the cart a lot, and was quite happy to drive the cart all over the store. It sure makes shopping better when the little ones are happy instead of whining.

For somewhat older kids, the store has these small, kid-sized carts. One mother gave each of her two kids a small cart and filled them with her shopping. She did not bother with a big cart and the kids were kept busy helping.

On the topic of shopping, on the way to the store I noticed that the space that was once the Doghouse behind Jordan Floral is now being converted into a beauty shop, Foxy's Hair Salon. (I once thought I should try to catalog all the beauty shops and salons in Rensselaer, and decided it would be too much work. There are a lot, they change constantly, and some are small and are part-time.)

Onward to winter

Last week we had some unseasonally warm weather, and the large piles of leaves were very inviting to this little girl. She thought it was great fun to be buried in the leaves. And also to stomp through them. (I still like to do that once in a while--it brings back memories of childhood.)

Most of the trees are bare, but this oak sapling (which is growing in the wrong place so I will soon have to cut it out) still had some very pretty leaves. I liked the golden brown and orange colors in them.

There is not much of fall left--we are halfway through November. The days are short, the sun is low, and soon we will be enjoying the beauty of freshly fallen snow.