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The Glacier Restoration Log
UPDATED:
March 17, 2008
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RESTORATION
LOG #51 - 14 March 2008
The dream of
developing a new “Center of Marine Activity” in Bridgeport,
CT is moving forward. Developer Jimmy Bebon has volunteered to assist
our Team in adding new membership from the community to support
the Bridgeport Harbor Crusade. The GLACIER Society is also soliciting
the participation of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council for
support and guidance in this important endeavor.
Please
read an article in the Connecticut Post that fully explains
the background of the property and the opportunity we have to create
a Center of Marine Activity for Bridgeport.
The investment
group hopes to purchase the 26 acres of land, with 1,000 feet of
waterside currently owned by the Coastline Terminals of Connecticut.
When successful, the plan is for GLACIER Society to rent one of
the berths and adjacent space for a museum building and parking
lot. In a strong show of support, Mr. Bebon has agreed to become
a member of the GLACIER Society Advisory Board. We envision a new
ferry terminal will also be built near the GLACIER and the museum.
The entire parcel will be divided to provide a unified community
and tourist site with easy access from I-95.
The waterfront
played a significant role in the early days of Bridgeport, and it
can again. The group and the GLACIER Society are seeking volunteer
leaders from the business, maritime, historical and educational
communities to assist in creating this new program. Contact the
GLACIER Society at 203-375-6638 or Jimmy Bebon at 203-543-6014 if
you are interested in being part of Bridgeport’s Center of
Marine Activity.
Ben Koether
Chairman
RESTORATION
LOG #50 - 13 January 2008
Santa
brought us a great Christmas Present, a new Mayor for Bridgeport,
CT, Mayor Bill Finch. Upon assuming office he issued a letter to
the Society expressing his support for bringing the Glacier to Bridgeport.
MARAD and our Congressional supporters have that letter. Glacier
is safe once again!
Last
week we met with Mayor Finch & his staff. He subsequently named
a designate to sit on the Glacier Society Board of Directors.
We
met with the City Director of Economic Development and identified
potential berths for the ship. We engaged Joseph Lombardi, one of
the most experienced marine surveyors and experts on historic ship
restoration, to assist in our financial planning, the movement of
the ship, dry-docking, and transit to Bridgeport. Fortunately Joe
was leaving Mystic, CT where he was lecturing and made it to our
Stratford offices Friday afternoon. Joe is a prominent member of
HANSA. Please visit www.HNSA.org.
He has been engaged with many ship projects including the Battleship
Massachusetts, the German submarine U-505 in Chicago captured at
the end of WW-II, and is currently working on the restoration of
the Battleship Missouri in Hawaii. There is no better maritime expert
to assist our venture..
On
Friday we put together a budget that will serve as the cornerstone
for our new mission: “Restoration of Glacier as a Museum Ship
in Bridgeport Harbor.”
James
(Jimmy) Bebon, an entrepreneur from the local area and a familiar
face in Bridgeport, has joined the Glacier’s Board and begun
work on recruiting new members composed of community leaders.
Stanley
White of Ocean Coastal Consultants in Trumbull, CT is doing preliminary
design and budget estimates on berthing.
So,
we need the focused help of all our regular supporters, plus a renewed
energy from citizens of CT. We and Mayor Finch are counting on your
support! Fresh volunteers, grant writers, educators willing to help
create our education program, business leaders to assist in managing
this process, and marketing and advertising volunteers to help with
targeted publicity are welcome! Anyone and everyone is important!
Our Washington
teams of maritime architects, polar explorers, environmental crusaders,
world health experts and a few brilliant politicians have not given
up! Our dedication is steadfast, our mission noble, and the plans
are financially sound. We have been running silent and deep, focusing
our energy among the few and pushing toward our goal. As always,
we need financial support, COLD CASH would do better than the COLD
WEATHER! We were out on Long Island Sound yesterday with the Arctic
Scout training boat operators and some children as well.
Remember, the
Glacier Society has no paid employees. We are 100% volunteer and
depend upon your donations of material, labor and funds to maintain
our operations. Please include us in your year-end financial planning
and gift giving; our youth groups need your support.
Sherwin
Williams was the first of our core corporate contributors to respond
to the Mayor’s support. They provided all the paint for the
Arctic Scout, and have committed to support the Glacier.
Now
is the time to step up and bear a hand! Thank you all!!
Ben
Koether
Chairman
Come
join the party! IF YOU CAN NOT BE THERE IN PERSON, PLEASE
DONATE.
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