GETTING ON WITH LIFE

Washington Island, Wisconsin -


The widespread and often complete destruction of homes and businesses in cities and rural areas throughout the south this past week by tornadoes is difficult to comprehend.  

Television footage has shown us what it looks like, but the smells, sounds (or lack of sound) and emotion experienced by those persons most affected can only be imagined.  In so many cases, it appears, homes and personal possessions vanished into the stew of rubble and trash.

Quite frequently, here on Washington Island, we remind ourselves of the safe environment we enjoy, generally free from threats of floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, or forest fires.  We tend to crab about the tourist season, the economy, the level of Lake Michigan, things that do impact our lives but that we can often adjust to until the pendulum swings another direction.

Reality TV and the show "Hoarders" has taught us how debilitating it can be to collect things, and to hang on to them for years, tied not by their usefulness but by the emotional bond we have with them.  Most items, it would seem, have not seen the light of day in those houses jammed with stuff, and the owners would be hard-put to say when they last used or saw a particular item.  But it's there, somewhere, and they know that, and the parting seems too painful, so the item stays, joined and buried by more of the same as days, weeks and years go by.   The accumulation eventually becomes a hazard to physical and emotional health.

This morning, I lightened my own load of stuff, saying good-bye to a teddy bear that had been in a closet in one house after another for some 62 years.   I think I got it as a Christmas present on my first birthday, because it was captured on an 8mm home movie taken by my father.  My mother, bless her, made some clothes for him (it), and I suppose those ties of my early birthday and the clothing Mom added to the teddy bear made it too hard to part with.  So, here I am at 63 years of age, and my bond with this toy...which has not been often viewed during the past 60 years because it was either in an attic or a trunk, is an object I still found hard to part with.   But this morning, the bear is on its way to the compactor at the Island Exchange, then from there to a landfill close to Green Bay, WI following a bouncing ride on the ferry and over highway by trash truck.  

Imagine:  it is harder in some ways to ditch an emotional piece of the past like that teddy bear, than old friends and acquaintances.  That's a screwy view of the world.

Good riddance!  I feel better already!  Did I think tossing that toy stuffed bear out with the garbage would hurt my mother's feelings?   (I won't tell her.  She is 94 and hard of hearing anyway.)

And another set of items also left my sight this morning, via UPS package:   two mementos from sailing days 40 years ago.  They had collected dust and got an occasional review from me when I stumbled upon them, but they will be much better appreciated by members of the Bonneville Sailing School in Utah, where the boat I sailed on now resides and is being restored.

A home run:  Get rid of more stuff, along with the emotional baggage, and that stuff being received by others who may actually use and appreciate it!

A friend who lives in Seattle is going through a similar experience of moving from one home to another and having to sort out, sell, or throw things collected or purchased over decades.   He said, "The ideal situation would be to go through a natural disaster that lets me escape with only my health and the clothes on my back."  

There is wisdom in that thought, the elimination of the emotional process that goes along with paring down our lives.   Although none of us would actually choose to go through the trauma experienced by folks who have lost everything but their lives and loved ones, there is a perverse envy in the fact we see they now have a clean slate, that is, assuming their emotional state will allow them to get on with their lives.

If we believe in prayer, in the transfer of positive spiritual energy, and the wise use of our wealth to help others, it is our wish that in the future we can live without debris and avoid the sometimes painful tripping over our past.  We can replace collected objects and their weight with great hope and prospect for what the future might hold.  

-  Dick Purinton

MAIN ROAD PROGRESS

Main Road, Washington Island, Wisconsin -

A four-man crew from Nation Roofers, Milwaukee, have made rapid progress with installation of the first stage of the new wrapper system on the Wilson and Carol Trueblood Performing Arts Center (TPAC).

Metal channel of a "hat-shaped" cross section has been screwed to the block walls half-way around the building, and a crew of three men using a second lift device followed up, screwing metal-clad foam panels to that channel framework.

A metal base channel that will accept the bottom of the long, vertical panels was fastened around the foot of the walls the entire perimeter of the building.  Doorways received special treatment, including foam to fill air gaps that might allow heat to escape easily and water shields over the openings.

This project, part of a larger effort to rectify shortcomings found in the original design and construction of the 2003 building, has progressed quickly thus far.   The final wrap of horizontal metal siding will follow the foam panel installation.  The end result will be a wind and water proof exterior, and a gain in insulation value from approximately R-4 to R-24.  

Photos were taken today, April 7th.
              - Dick Purinton

SPIRITUAL ENCOUNTER?

Washington Island, Wisconsin -

What can be made of a personal encounter with a bald eagle, an encounter in which that eagle seemed to lead me down the road?  

I’ve been wondering what that experience might mean since posting Saturday’s blog. 

Was the bald eagle fascinated with the green 2002 Dodge pickup I drove? 

 

Or had that eagle decided at that precise moment I drove past to dive from a nearby tree, swooping low over the cab where I sat at the wheel, to teach me a lesson?  If so, what lesson?  

Within seconds of overtaking me the eagle took the point position, never more than 200 feet ahead and  never more than 30 feet above the pavement as I followed south toward the ferry dock.

Was it coincidence that the eagle maintained a course over the centerline of the road, rather than vigorously flapping its wings to gain altitude and escape confinement from between the tree lines?  Why hadn’t it peeled off to the right when it came to the opening that was Green Bay Road and flown westward and upward?

My first thought upon seeing a bird overtake me from above and behind had been that an owl had descended, a bird type I’ve often seen sitting or flying along that road.  But this eagle’s white head and leg feathers were soon unmistakable, as was its beaked profile when it turned its neck to look back at me. The eagle alternately glided, then flapped its wings, then it glided some more, casual in its flight, never appearing hurried.

Ego would like me to say that this was my experience, just for me, a special treat because I must be special.   (And, I haven’t yet ruled this out!)   At the very least, Saturday morning I had a curious encounter with a bird.   I also recognize it as having been a singular moment, yet not unlike other special moments I’ve experienced in nature, events that have brought me greater appreciation for the continuum that is life on earth.

I am mindful of the extraordinary experiences people report to have had with pets and with wild animals, sometimes claiming to gaze into eyes filled with wisdom and inspiration, and also with inanimate objects or natural events where truth is imparted related in a way that can be intimate, personal and spiritual. 

I shouldn’t rule out the chance this eagle was in its own way communicating directly with me, and not simply reacting to my chromed pickup truck.  Could it see into the pupils of my eyes, or into my soul, even through the windshield safety glass and my bifocals, as it briefly but repeatedly glanced behind?   

I followed its movements closely, and I had all I could do to stay on the road, using my peripheral vision while taking the Point Road curves at 35 mph.   My eyes were glued on the eagle, and I was reminded of the X-wing fighter scene in a Star Wars movie as the gunships jockeyed back and forth between canyon walls.   If I was being toyed with, it was by a bird that seemed to enjoy its leadership role.

 

Then, after a half-mile of easy flight the bald eagle pulled up its wings in a stall and settled easily onto a large maple tree limb.  It was a high perch, and from there it sat and observed for the next hour or more, moving nothing but its head as vehicle traffic passed below and through the wooded corridor.

At home, later, I read a passage from a book by Steven D. Farmer, Ph.D., titled Animal Spirit Guides (Hay House, 2006).  The passage for eagles included these observations -

      

      If an eagle shows up, it means:

  *  There’s an opportunity for you that you’re considering, and it would be best if you take advantage of it soon.

  * There will be a new beginning in a positive direction following a recent period of strife, one in which you’ve gained a great deal of stamina and resilience.

   * Detach and rise above the mundane so that you’re able to see your life and circumstances with a broader perspective and greater vision.

   *  It’s a time for a great spiritual awakening, one where you experience a greater connection to the divine.

   *  This is an important time to get creative inspiration from the divine, so heed any guidance you receive.

   * Whatever you put out, positive or negative, will now return to you in some form, more quickly than ever.

   If it is a bald eagle:

    * You have an increasing ability to walk between the material world and that of spirit.

    * Dive into inner depths, paying close attention to any visions or inspirations that arise.

You are to call on EAGLE when:

     * You’re caught up in the little details of life and have lost sight of the big picture.

     * You’ve recently had some spiritual insights or revelations and want to integrate them into your daily life.

     * You have to face some major challenge as a result of massive life change.

    *  You’re in a period of struggle or difficulty, one where you get completely caught up in the mundane aspects of your life’s drama.  When an opportunity presents itself and you’re not sure whether to act on it or not.

…and finally…

  If EAGLE is your POWER ANIMAL:

   You’re a very spiritually evolved individual and a born leader, and people gravitate quite naturally to you.

   You’re willing to endure challenges and struggles because you’re confident that you can meet them, and you trust that they’re necessary for your spiritual development.

  Even though you’re an old soul, you must still go through various initiations throughout your life that will ultimately lead you to living a completely spiritually directed life.

  You’re passionate, and have a bit of a temper that you have to watch.

   One of your main life lessons is learning to conserve your energy and apply your focus to what’s truly important.

   You take advantage of opportunities without hesitation and with a strong faith that there will be lessons or gifts that you’ll discover in doing so.

   Pay attention to the sensations in your backbone as an instinctual trigger to be more alert to what’s going on around you.

These lines above used "for identifying and understanding your power animals and spirit helpers" tend to read something like fortune cookies in that many conclusions can be taken from them, but they also contain elements that are truthful and positive about our lives and our relationship with one another and our world.   

So, what do I believe happened yesterday?   Was I a participant viewing a display by an agile eagle, and that was all?  

The bald eagle is a wonderful creature, one small piece of an even more wonderful creation.   My bald eagle encounter caused me to ask questions:  what had I done that morning that was different? Was this a special message for me?  Why did I deserve this experience (instead of the driver in the white Chevy pickup who came along ten minutes later)?  

I believe my encounter was special because this eagle had my attention then, and it still does.

My experience was not a result of driving a green Dodge truck at 10:15 am on a Saturday.  For some reason (whether considered a force, circumstance, coincidence, or miracle) I was connected with this bird.  It floated and glided easily, and it controlled its movement within the narrow confines of the forested roadway, maintaining a comfortable and consistent distance between us.  This bird was having fun.

Was there an eagle spirit in that fun?  I rely on my reflection of events to get a sense of message.   I admit, my experience was far more special than if I had seen a snake or turtle in the road and had swerved to avoid it, or if I had spotted an eagle from afar.  This was intimate and meant for me. 

I believe that the universe is the work of a Creator, and that the bald eagle is one of the more beautiful and cherished of wild life creations.   This particular bird and its timing on an otherwise gray morning has made an impact by its presence.       

What do you think?

   -  Dick Purinton

ICY TREATS

Detroit Harbor, Washington Island -


Days this past week were marked by cold nighttime temperatures, frosty mornings, and then milder, sunny afternoons.  

As snow melted from the roofs, steam arose, water dripped and then froze.

Sparkling patterns of icesicles were too tempting for Aidan and Magnus to resist, trumping for the moment Oreos in the Ziploc bag.  

Toward week's end it warmed enough by noon to create respectable sap runs, this being the second major week - and likely the last - for local sap producers.

Detroit Harbor is still frozen over, and although ice shanties have been removed, a few fishermen still try their luck, making the trip out on snowmobile or four-wheeler.   Except for the soft edge where the ice sheet meets shore, this harbor still has a two-foot thick covering of hard ice.   But very little ice is seen along the ferry route these days, and a good thing, since the ferry schedule increased Friday to six daily round trips from the two trips of Jan-Feb-Mar.

There's more and more bird activity, now that spring is on its way.   Geese have moved in, staking out their claim along the marshy shoreline.  Swans can also be seen, dozens of them swimming in open water near the ferry dock.   Sandhill cranes are around now, too, squawking as they take off across the harbor.   We've had a hawk in the neighborhood that likes to bring its lunch of a small bird or rodent to the edge of the beach where Main Road ends.  Early one morning it gave chase to a gliding pheasant along the waterfront.  We think we've also spotted the first great blue heron of the season.

Eagles are seen near the islands year around, often sitting out in the open on protruding ridges of ice when the ferry passes by.  No longer a strange sight, eagles are still wonderful to spot, for their size, color, and commanding presence.

That is why I was taken by surprise this morning as I rounded the major curve on Lobdell Point Road and a mature bald eagle swooped down from a tree behind me, then led me for at least half a mile along the twisting Point road.   This eagle stayed over the centerline of the road, about 30 feet above the pavement, as occasionally it turned its head to one side or the other to see if I was still following.

When it had banked around the sharp corner at Gordon Court and passed the graveled Henning Road cut-off, the eagle coasted up to a perch in a large maple tree on a branch that overhung the roadside.

That was pretty amazing, I thought, following close behind a low-gliding eagle, with the bird leading me toward the ferry dock, so-to-speak.   I was just as surprised 45 minutes later when I drove the mail van from the ferry to the U.S. Post Office.   This same eagle was still on the same branch and was now posing for a couple who had spotted it as they drove along.  They were thrilled and amazed by their find.   After unloading the mail, I drove home to get my camera, then took a few photos of the eagle on my return to the dock.  (Unfortunately, my digital camera's telephoto feature no longer works.)  

Unsure of my photographic results, I drove on to the Ferry Office, picked up a small hand-held video camera, and then drove back to film the eagle.  He (it) was still in its perch.

Could this be the same eagle we've seen in summer each day sitting atop one of the two poles near the Plum Island fog signal building, the one the ferry crew calls "Walt," because he appears to routinely track  ferry activities?    This eagle from its Lobdell Road vantage point, whether it was Walt or another, had observed the string of cars discharged by the mid-morning ferry, as well as other vehicles passing to or from the ferry dock.  

Attentive. Interested. Patient. That is how this bird could be described.

This brings me to my last paragraph, a pitch for the Island Birding Festival, scheduled for the weekend of June 4-5-6.  For a listing of activities and a registration form, please go to this site:

    doorislandsbirdfest.org

Its a great way to enjoy the outdoors and to share information with other birders, and an opportunity to see parts of these Door islands not otherwise accessible to individuals.  And, this year there happens to be a guest speaker for Saturday evening's gathering who is an expert on bald eagles!
 
  - Dick Purinton

AN EXTRA NIGHT ON THE MAINLAND

Northport Pier, Door County, Wisconsin -

The best part about Wednesday's snowstorm was the sunrise that came afterward, as we drove north at dawn to meet the ferry at Northport, and later, as we crossed the Door waters.

When we headed south to Sturgeon Bay on Tuesday, the sky had been gray and heavily overcast, then by early afternoon, light sleet began and the NE winds picked up speed.  (By this time, it was a white-out in Green Bay, we were told.)

I attended a workshop Tuesday afternoon along with three other co-workers from the Ferry Line.  Later, we walked across the street to dinner from our motel through slush.  That evening, as cars pulled in from the highway for the night, islanders were among them, and there was speculation if they might get home the next day.  (My answer?  "I don't know!")  

Familiar faces circulated through the lobby of Sturgeon Bay's Maritime Inn like snowflakes under a street light.

By morning, a wide blue band that represented heavy snowfall on the TV Precision Weather Forecast ran west-to-east, South Dakota through Green Bay, Wisconsin, and on toward Detroit.  It was clear there would be little chance for a ferry home Wednesday.   40 MPH winds were whipping the snow, and that was the ultimate factor for not running the ferry that day.

We greeted a dozen or so island neighbors at breakfast and a few more as the day wore on.  City streets were plowed by noon, sort of, but the main highways up and down the peninsula weren't good, although a few did try driving north anyway, on the chance that winds would drop and the ferry might run.   But, it never happened, not on Wednesday.

So, through our cell phones we planned for an early departure from the motel to catch the extra-early ferry that was specially scheduled to absorb the backlog of traffic, mail and freight.  We met a couple more islanders we hadn't known about as we exited the Maritime Inn to our snow-covered car.   After a quick stop at McDonald's (windows were frozen shut so we went to the counter instead of the drive-thru), we were on our way to catch the extra-early ferry.

As we passed through Gills Rock and wound through the woods toward Northport and the ferry, the  sunrise was worth the drive.   Orange light over white snow and light ice.   A small raft of black ducks huddled in the crook of the breakwall.  With wind down to a mere draft, the half-full ferry backed away and took the short-route home, around Plum Island's north side, with not even enough sea to toss spray on deck.

By 8 o'clock, our familiar snow shovel was in hand, as we tackled a drift wrapping around the back door to our home.  Then, we unpacked from two nights with a snowstorm on the mainland.

  - Dick Purinton

Underway, Captain Erik Foss was one of ARNI J Richter's
several crew, who also got his quota of shoveling
for the day when decks were cleared. 

TPAC - PART II

Steel tubes for TPAC support columns were unloaded from a
Boldt Construction truck March 10, and have
since been installed.  (Chapman photo)

-             Main Road, Washington Island, Wisconsin

Washington Island’s Wilson and Carol Trueblood Performing Arts Center, referred to as the “TPAC,” is undergoing repairs at the present time, with a projected completion date of late May, in time for a Memorial Weekend event. 

Remediation is perhaps a much better word than repair to describe the work being done, because collectively this work will remedy, or stop, deterioration of the building from elements over time.  It will also make it a safe and sound structure after the work is completed.  

If you imagine a “repair” as removing a faulty part and replacing it with a new part, as you would with an auto repair, that is not exactly what is being accomplished.   Here at the TPAC the same, essential components will remain more or less in place, but they will be modified, supported, wrapped, better-drained, or in other ways treated so that the final, long term result will guarantee public safety, with a building that will not only be physically sound, but efficient to manage.  This remediation may also serve to greatly improve the outer appearance of the facility.

What are these remediation efforts, then, and why were they deemed necessary in the first place? How will they be accomplished?  Answers to these question will be the topic of this piece.

How we got here

The legal mediation process involving the TPAC, the original architect and original contractors, ended in an agreed upon settlement in October 2010.    Settlement funds were then transferred to an escrow account to be used for structure remediation. The challenge before the TPAC Board moved quickly from the legalities of the mediation process to the remediation/repair process, examining details for solutions that would lead to approvals from the State Department of Commerce, the agency responsible for Wisconsin's public building safety standards. 

A new architect of record, Jendusa Engineering Associates, Inc. of Milwaukee, and a new Owner’s Representative, Terry Patrick of Professional Project Services, also of Milwaukee, were hired.   Patrick had been extremely helpful when hired as a forensic engineer to represent the TPAC during mediation.  

Referring to TPAC safety, Straus said, “This will be one of the more thoroughly inspected structures in Door County.   The State is very interested in this project.” 

Clarifications

There have been misconceptions about the TPAC going back to a time period that preceded the actual closing.  Some of these misconceptions grew from the void of hard information.  Not keeping the public fully informed wasn’t necessarily of the TPAC Board’s choosing, it turns out, but instead a result of the several years of ongoing legal embroilment that required confidentiality.   It can also be said that from the onset, no one knew for certain what the causes or solutions were until experts were called upon,  tests were conducted, and problem sources could be evaluated.  For a time, this list of apparent problems continued to grow, a period of great darkness for both the community and the TPAC Board as pressure increased to resolve the mess.  During this time, and even since, public misconceptions flourished. 

As a way of introducing the problems and their remedial solutions, here are some of those misconceptions:

Misconception #1 -   The TPAC walls were about to crumble due to faulty mortar or lack of re-rod. 

Faulty mortar or lack of steel reinforcement rods are not the case, although it took a while to eliminate elements of this claim. 

According to TPAC Building Committee member John Chapman, at one point the walls were x-rayed to determine placement of steel re-rod in the single-block walls.  The results were positive:  the rebar was where it was supposed to be.  

Then, “prism” samples of intact block and mortar from each wall were cut, bundled, and shipped to an independent lab using state certified methods for testing.

Conclusion:  The mortar between blocks is strong; it met lab strength tests.   

The ability of the mortar to resist water penetration, however, was a slightly different problem. 

Moisture during heavy rains had been observed running down inside TPAC walls, more than could be attributed to condensation.  This mortar deficiency was a problem of a different nature, caused by the lack of a waterproofing additive used in the mortar mix.  Only after attempts to reseal the roof cap joint at the top of the wall proved unnecessary, was leakage determined to occur by means of capillary action, through the mortar joints and not through gaps at the roof line or from other locations.   This elimination process took time to fully determine. 

Knowing then that moisture was finding its way through mortar joints brought suggested solutions such as the application of waterproofing products to the exterior.   But, this type of fix was rejected by the TPAC Board because the product life was relatively short, and it would require re-application every few years.  

The “wrapper system” currently planned for installation was then selected because it was a more permanent solution for waterproofing, and it will boost the R-factor from R-4 to R-24.

The wrapper system will consist of steel “hat-channels” fastened to the building, which creates a ¾” air space.  Then 3” thick, metal-skinned foam panels the height of the building will be stood upright, joined by a tongue-and-groove sealed joint, and clipped and screwed to the hat-channel, a process that Chapman says ought to go as quickly as a crane can set them up.  Chapman also noted that these panels alone are so substantial that some manufacturing structures have used just the composite panels for exterior walls. 

This huge step forward resulted from the close examination of walls which were then found to be sound, but admitted moisture through capillary action.  In the end, a major gain in function and appearance will be achieved. 

Misconception #2 -  But, isn’t the building sinking into the ground?   Can it withstand snow loads and high winds? 

There was great concern for the stability of the TPAC structure, especially the potential for heavy winter snow loads.   That’s why, given the uncertainty, the TPAC Board elected to close the building in the fall of 2009 and cancel future events until the issue could be properly resolved.   This is also why, several weeks later, the State Building Inspector placed the red-tags on the entry doors, forbidding access to persons other than specifically authorized contractor or TPAC representatives. 

 

It should also be stated that during the investigation of water through the walls, a second major problem that was a major design flaw was discovered as each responsible party reexamined structural design and engineering. 

This design flaw concerned undersized bearing plates that supported the two, deep-webbed steel trusses that divide the chamber roof roughly into thirds.  When these trusses were installed, their ends were set into the block walls and then secured with steel plates that carried the roof loads to footings.  It was the undersized steel plates that were determined to have potential for failure.  These would require remedy prior to State approval for reopening the building to the public. 

For a structure that ought to last a lifetime without need for drastic engineering changes – perhaps 100 years and more - this finding was a major setback.  But, to the credit of the responsible engineering firm, the error was reported as soon as it was discovered, and costs associated with repairs are being picked up by that firm. 

Boldt worker at bottom of excavated foundation,
measuring for installation
of tubular steel column.  (Chapman)

In order to remedy the undersized bearing plates, Oscar J. Boldt workers cut through the thick interior concrete walkways adjacent to the seating area and stage to reach the foundation below. Piers of high-density concrete were poured, tied by heavy steel bars to the foundation, upon which 8” x 8” tubular steel columns were erected.  Those tubular columns were set by Boldt ironworkers during the week ending 3/18 and welded to the trusses, prior to the transfer of partial roof load from walls to foundation.

This shifting of load from walls to steel columns was actually accomplished on this date, March 21, and was witnessed by the State Building Inspector.   With the steel columns in position, jacking screws raised the columns ever-so-slightly, just enough to take pressure from the sidewall fastenings, then shims were placed under the supports.  Later, a non-shrink grout will be poured under each column base to complete that phase of the project.

Detail showing one of four steel tubes
in place prior to being secured.

Below, the support at north side of stage has
been welded to the truss.  (Chapman)

Chapman has been duly impressed with the work done by Boldt, their rapid progress as well as their attention to detail.  Stage curtains were removed prior to the start of foundation work (the curtains will be cleaned, then treated with a fire retardant product);  the tall, red wing curtains were not removed, but were instead wrapped in plastic to keep them from dust;  all cement saw cuts inside the chamber were done using a concrete wet-saw and a vacuum;  seats were wrapped in protective plastic, and before welding and cutting took place, that material was replaced by another spark-retardant covering.   Soil excavated from beneath the floors, piled on tarps, was later backfilled.  Nearby floors were swept and mopped afterwards.  In many respects, according to Chapman, it was a cleaner building than when Boldt had arrived on scene.

Misconception #3 – The TPAC sits atop a swamp, or at least, active springs.

While this area might indeed be mushy, especially in the spring, no evidence of springs are to be found.  

When the Boldt crew excavated inside the TPAC foundation in four different locations, soils underneath the building were found to be completely dry.  There was no indication of moisture emanating from beneath the building floors or seeping under the foundation walls.   This was very good news, given the fact that public opinion had the TPAC sitting over active springs, or in a swampland.

Said Chapman, “In springtime and in late fall there is definitely a rivulet of moisture that can be seen on the parking lot pavement, running from north to south, coming from the direction of school.  So there is runoff of some kind going on there.  But springs on the TPAC property aren’t the cause, and none of that moisture appears to be found under the building.  There, it was perfectly dry.”  

John Chapman checks for water in the inspection pipe
on the TPAC north side as Dick Clancy looks on.  (Purinton)

 

[I might add that when the school was built in 1986, it was determined that a thin layer of clay-like material, post-glacial deposit, lay several feet under the surface.  This acts like an impervious membrane which surface water seems unable to penetrate, and because of this the grounds have a very soggy feel following spring thaw or after very rainy periods.]

A further proof that the soil beneath or near the TPAC structure is not a source of water can be found at the inspection tube on the building’s north side.  Chapman noted that this six-foot deep culvert pipe, in which a sump pump is located, was installed in November 2010 when water diversion from the saddlebag roof and along the foundation wall perimeter was being addressed.  Until this recent March thaw, the tube hadn’t exhibited signs of significant water at its bottom, and then still not enough to reach the level of drain ducts, or enough to activate the sump pump.

This shows both the effectiveness of the drainage measures taken around the building foundation, as well as the lack of moisture from underground sources. 

In addition to the installation of foundation insulation (4" of blue foam board), the 26” diameter supply and return ducts that run underground from the HVAC units to the building were retroactively insulated with foam board, too, providing an R-20 value.   Chapman also noted that the air supply and return tubes directly below the HVAC units need further insulation, which will be added later this spring. 

Building Committee members Dick Clancy (L) and John Chapman
examine one of two HVAC units that supply heat and ventilation to
the TPAC facility. (Purinton)

The excavation work to install the plastic drain pipe and foam board insulation around the foundation and over air ducts was relatively inexpensive, and those costs were assumed by the TPAC apart from state requirements and the settlement agreement. 

Misconception #4 – Frozen walls? 

It has been said that if the TPAC walls were soaked through during heavy rain, surely the pockets inside the blocks had filled with water, and if they’ve been frozen, they will begin to deteriorate.

This one may be a bit harder to disprove, because visually we can’t see into each pocket, but the observations of two people regularly on the scene, Emmet Woods and John Chapman, help to dispute this viewpoint. 

Had the walls actually been “filled” with water, and had the heat been turned off, this could indeed lead to a disastrous consequence.  However, painstaking measures were taken to ensure this would not be the case.  Heat was kept at a sufficient level within the TPAC at all times, so that any moisture absorbed by the blocks and mortar would be drawn out. 

In a measure of economy, the building heat had been turned down in past winters to save on the LP and electrical bills.  However, meters were installed by Emmet Woods that measured and recorded temperature and humidity hourly, and readings were observed regularly to better monitor the building.   The winter building temperature has been maintained between 40 and 45 degrees F, and recently a bit higher with Boldt people working inside.

What about mildew and molds?  Will they be a problem? 

Here is a response from John Chapman:

  “Mold is an ongoing concern, and it is being dealt with.  Last summer, the building had been closed for ten months.  Mold was visible on the bottom of some backstage curtains and on bathroom and furniture surfaces.   An environmental company was hired to evaluate the TPAC for mold.  Interestingly, the first stage of the evaluation was a survey of moisture levels through the building.  The levels were high, likely because of water passing through the walls.  Mold needs moisture to grow.  The mold test was straightforward.  A known volume of air is drawn through a filter, which is then evaluated for the type and quantity of mold present.   The types of mold found are common to the island.  They are the same inside as outside the building.  However, the level inside the building was elevated.  The building was opened and aired out for several days in July.  The bathrooms and furniture surfaces were cleaned.  The AC units continued to run through the summer.  To date, no further mold deposits have been observed, possibly due in part to the low humidity of the winter months.

   “So, the first step is to reduce moisture levels in the building.  The wrapper system will do this.  Heat and dehumidifiers will accelerate the drying-out process.  The second step is to clean the building for a fresh start.  Funds from the settlement have been designated for building clean-up, which will begin shortly after the interior structural work is completed.  Air quality will be reevaluated before reopening.”

Also, as a part of their contract, Boldt will clean the entire building interior surfaces (likely to be subbed out to another party), for both construction dust and debris.  It is believed this thorough cleaning process will further aid in the restoration of the interior spaces to that of a highly functioning public space.

Misconception #5 – The TPAC is broke.  It can no longer function, given the cost of these many remedial items. 

 

Well, this is false, too, although Doug Straus admitted that this facility, like all similar facilities, must and will perpetuate itself through significant financial support from its community.   Receipts from the various performances are a part of balancing operating costs, but they don’t begin to offset long-term capital expenses of building management and upkeep. 

The TPAC funds remain, more or less, intact.  They are sufficient, according to Straus, for this non-profit organization to move ahead with what the TPAC Board believes is resuming an important role in the community, including activities with the Schools.   A sum from the TPAC endowment was used to help defray professional legal and engineering costs. The TPAC Board is anxious to put this phase behind them and again emphasize programming and use of their space. 

There will likely be more to add to this ongoing story.  But for now, public knowledge of the fact that there is quality work being done, and public confidence that there are skilled and dedicated people working in the best long-term interest of the TPAC, should go a long way toward restoration of the facility and its importance to the community. 

Although the dollar figures can only be guessed at, it is difficult to deny the economic impact this facility makes to the island’s economy when it is fully functioning, much less the cultural contribution it is capable of making through its offerings. 

 

-  Dick Purinton

SECOND CHANCE FOR ISLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

TPAC Building Committee members Jay Ward (L) and John Chapman
review details of conditional State-approved plans.  These men, plus other Board
members, have volunteered hundreds of hours to bring successful resolution
 to a building that has been unusable since late fall of 2009.
(Purinton photo)

 - Main Road, Washington Island, Wisconsin

REPAIRS UNDERWAY AT THE TPAC

A remarkable process is underway at the Wilson and Carol Trueblood Performing Arts Center located south of the school campus on Washington Island’s Main Road.  

After having been closed for fifteen months, solutions to the various physical building problems identified by the State and the TPAC Board are being addressed.  Provisional State plan approvals have been given, contractors were selected, and repairs are now well underway to restore this structure as a useful, vital island facility.

The Trueblood Performing Arts Center (TPAC) had been closed since November of 2009.   At that time, a Wisconsin Department of Commerce inspector red-tagged the structure after water had been observed seeping through the single-block walls and a critical structural design defect had been identified.   Once red tags were posted on entry doors, no one except remediation engineers, contractor representatives, and representatives of the TPAC Building Committee have been allowed inside. 

Several weeks ago, three men from the Oscar J. Boldt Company, headquartered in Appleton, WI, including hands-on supervisor Greg Voss, began the strengthening process for key structural components.  All of Boldt’s work could be accomplished from within the building, despite winter weather, thanks to painstaking engineering and planning.  Because of their ability to work daily inside the building, Boldt's team will complete their phase of repair work by the end of March, after excavating through existing concrete, pouring several new concrete piers, and installing 8" x 8" steel columns that will accept the load from the two roof trusses. 

And before Boldt arrived on scene, island contractor Tom Jordan had completed most of Phase I, which consisted of digging away fill material in order to insulate the foundation’s exterior.  New plastic piping was also laid, adjacent to the building’s north and south walls, to divert problematic ground water.  Signs of concentrated roof runoff and ponding was discovered, believed to be a source of moisture discovered within underground heating and air conditioning vent ducts.   These problems have now been addressed, along with improved insulation for air handling components.

Tom Jordan dug a trench in November along south TPAC wall, observed by TPAC Board member Emmet Woods looked on.  Two-inch foam insulation was buried, 24" deep against the foundation and 16" outward, as frost barrier.   Exterior metal bracing will be removed prior to the erection of
foam panels and metal wrap system in April.
(Progress photos by John Chapman)

North TPAC wall with insulation added to foundation, and drain pipe
(green plastic) buried to divert runoff from "saddlebag"
roof that formerly flowed from single, white roof drain pipe
onto a splash board.

The final phase of repairs will begin in early April on the exterior walls as spring weather improves.  Structurally, the blocks and mortar of the exterior walls were determined to be sound through exacting lab "prism" testing.  Capillary passage of moisture through mortar joints, not gaps or obvious openings, had permitted penetration of rainwater through the walls.  All  solutions considered pointed toward waterproofing the exterior of the building's walls.  At the same time, improved insulation will be obtained.

The outer walls will be “wrapped” in 3-inch thick foam panels.  The metal-clad foam panels, in turn, will be covered with unique metal sections of deep-corrugated design.  This outer wrapper will shed water and further eliminate the transfer of air, reducing heat loss.

One further benefit of the new exterior metal covering is an opportunity to improve the building’s exterior visual appearance.  Through the use of darker panels on the top half, and the horizontally textured corrugation that will de-emphasize height, the building should become more attractive.  Current concrete block walls are rated a paltry R-4.  With the new foam panels plus metal barrier, in essence a windproof and waterproof wrapper, an additional R-20 rating will be gained.

Repairs Follow Months of Behind Scenes Negotiations

It was only after mediation brought about an agreed upon settlement at the end of October 2010, and funds (of an amount undisclosed to public) were transferred to a TPAC escrow account, that actual repairs began.   

The TPAC Board, led by Doug Straus (who is also interim administrator for Washington Island Schools), has established an Escrow Subcommittee that will monitor repair costs as they come in.  Members of the TPAC Building Committee worked closely with new engineers and the State of Wisconsin to obtain conditional certification, prior to moving ahead with actual repairs. 

It has been a long road, with much of the activity until now having taken place away from the public's eye, because of uncertainties and the need to remain confidential during negotiations. 

The Board’s goal, as stated by Straus, is to have the facility open for Memorial Weekend.  Confident that date will be met, the TPAC Board has begun adding event dates to its calendar, including such noted events as the Island Forum in June and the Island Music Festival in August.  

Said Straus, “The decision to close the facility was probably one of the most difficult I've seen a group of people have to make.  We all took that seriously, knew it would be damaging, embarassing, knew what the public perception would be.  But we had a commitment to return the building to a quality building."  He later added, referring to the current repair project, "We think we have a good solution to a complex problem.”

This shortened version of events as outlined above hardly does justice to the very complicated problems faced by the TPAC Board, the many physical deficiencies that had become gradually more evident during the life of the six-year-old TPAC building.

But, it took time and expertise to establish what the exact problems were, and as the list of defects grew in both number and complexity, there was never a clear guarantee that affordable solutions might be reasonably found.  Given their limited funds, the non-profit TPAC was hard-pressed to make their case for restitution.  The building’s original contractors seemed reluctant to pay for remedies for problems that might not be entirely theirs, with solutions that could be expensive. 

There are details the public may never be party to, given terms of the eventual settlement, but on the other hand, the general story with its significant volunteer effort is worth publicizing, because the alternative to a satisfactory settlement and a repaired building would likely have been… a major blight on the island landscape and hole in the island community. 

Detail of foam panels shows interlocking joint -
a bead of non-hardening caulk sealant will be added.
Panels are to be installed vertically, with metal clips and long screws
securing panels to hat-channel style grid.
 (Purinton photo)

Mediation success

The original TPAC contracts were written on standard American Institute of Architects (AIA) forms that included the requirement for an aggrieved party to file a claim.   If the claim for redress isn’t settled amicably between parties, the unresolved problem then moves to mediation. 

During mediation, a selected mediator moves between the dissenting parties to gain consensual approvals for a solution, a technique partly dependent upon the skill of the mediator, partly on the willingness of the parties to compromise.   Only when the mediation process fails to produce a satisfactory result does the process move to an arbitration process, whereby one or more arbitrators hear evidence and issue a decision which the parties are bound by the process to accept.

Several good things came about from the TPAC mediation process.  First, all parties and their insurance companies participated in the mediation, rather than requiring the TPAC to deal with each party separately, as would have been the case had the matter gone to arbitration.  This fact simplified the process and it reduced potential TPAC legal fees.  Secondly, the mediation proved successful, in that differences were satisfactorily resolved.  That is, the TPAC was ultimately supported through mediation in its goal to fully restore the structure, using quality repair measures, to an acceptable state of repair and purpose as a year-around facility. 

This last point was key, in that merely accepting any repair “fix” would not do.  The building had proven substandard in so many different ways that glossing over real problems by taking the cheapest or most expedient approach was unacceptable to the TPAC Board.  Fortunately, the TPAC team included an excellent forensic architectural engineer and expert legal representation.  One member of the Building Committee, who is a retired specialist in construction litigation, played a critical role at the final mediation session. 

It should also be stressed that mediation did not allow for “improving” the structure beyond the original designed concept, other than to fix the shortcomings found to be substandard in such a public building.  “Upgrades” would, therefore, not become a part of the agreement.  Walking the fine line to determine how far a solution ought to go, and yet remain essential as a repair, became one more challenge in the negotiating process. 

The TPAC representatives worked hard to demonstrate need for redress, and they were rewarded with a settlement that recognized their efforts.  In actual practice, the two mediators hired to “knock heads” rotated through separate rooms, representing the positions of the several parties.  As the legal costs rose rapidly for each party involved, the necessity of settlement became more clear.  Cost of continuation became the ultimate hammer in bringing reality to each party’s position.

TPAC Building Committee member and attorney Jay Ward also credited the several legal representatives for the parties involved, and their insurance companies, for bringing a high level of ethical professionalism to the negotiations.  He believes that also contributed to a positive process. 

In the settlement there is a “disparagement clause” that obligates TPAC Board members to not speak untruths about the other parties.  TPAC representatives Straus, Ward and Chapman are careful to honor that tenet and see no reason to do otherwise.  Each stressed that they believed in being positive, moving forward, and that disparagement of the negotiating parties – or anyone connected with the TPAC's history, for that matter - wouldn’t serve them well as individuals or serve to improve the TPAC’s future. 

State Approved Repairs  

 

Details surrounding the actual repairs will require more column space.   They’ll be  outlined in a companion piece that will center around “solutions.” 

What can be said here in summation is that those solutions appear to have been extremely well thought through, almost elegant in nature, some of them, and that October’s settlement date allowed sufficient time for the development of engineering, plan details, approvals, and the opportunity to begin those repairs early in 2011. 

What will it take to restore this facility to a position of prominence?  

When economics of the island community are considered, the TPAC facility plays an extremely important role in drawing people to the island, and in providing an island experience to anyone who enters its doors.  A facility that has been vacant for fifteen months has likely reduced the public’s confidence, perpetuating a reputation already bathed in rumors that were based on skimpy or erroneous information regarding its closure.

[In Part II, we’ll describe the various repairs in greater detail, attempt to correct misinformation, and indicate the intended long term results for the TPAC rebirth.]  

-  Dick Purinton

March - On The Water

Gillnet tug Faith, Lyle and Larry Voight peering out the door, in the Door
(March 3 - photo by Joel Gunnlaugsson)

Death's Door and Washington Island - 

We're at the point in winter when we wish it would just go away.  If we could only have an early break-up of ice, with rain and warmer weather to help get rid of the snow.  Well, we're in the midst of an early break-up, it seems, although its still a good month or more before we're likely to enjoy true spring weather.

I noted the ice on the Northport breakwall Tuesday, formerly a thick covering over the stones and entrance lights, had diminshed greatly.  A few cakes of dirty ice floated in the harbor, swept along the lake shore by swells and currents, bobbing among pieces of cleaner, offshore ice.  All were signs of the gradual breakup process taking place in Green Bay.

Ice enroute hasn't been much of a problem this winter for the ferry Arni J. Richter.  But Thursday, thick pieces of broken ice, nearly three feet in thickness, flowed through the Door on a northwest wind, most likely brought down from Big Bay de Noc or the upper shore of Green Bay, formed early, then undisturbed, made thick through January and February's cold.   Such heavy bay ice, except when layered in ridges under pressure of the wind, had been seen for several years in the Door.  

The spacing between these cakes was loose and generous and it was easy for the ferry to keep moving.  But the much lighter hull and shallower draft of the fish tug Faith of Gills Rock, rather than parting the cakes in her way, foundered on top of one piece.  Her rudder was partly out of the water, with not enough propulsion to overcome the buoyancy of the piece beneath the keel.  A pull on a tow line from the Arni J. Richter was enough to settle the suspended tug's hull back down, allowing the Voight brothers to regain forward movement. 

A shift of wind Thursday evening to the southeast then cleared the heaviest ice from the passage, pushing it westward, back into the bay.   A few more wind shifts over the next few weeks, with sunshine and ever warmer temperatures, and these pieces will become progressively smaller, melting or turning into slush.   

This morning at the Potato dock, located outside the entrance to Detroit Harbor, loose ice filled the channel, but it was different ice, not thick, and the Koyen's fish tug See Diver could be seen heading out to lift nets in the lake.  Ice patterns change daily, and on the whole large openings far outweigh the amount of frozen surface as the bay gradually rids itself of ice.  As average winters go, these signs mean early open water and easier navigation.

Rich Ellefson and Nathan Andersen worked aboard the dormant Robert Noble setting steel base pedestals for new, aluminum benches.  These benches are being fabricated for us by Hi-Tech in Sturgeon Bay.  The aluminum benches will replace the original wooden-slatted benches from 1979, and customers will hopefully find them more comfortable.  They will also be easier for our crew to maintain.   Part of the impetus for replacement now is our plan to take down to bare metal all paint surfaces on the upper and lower outer decks, replacing the existing layers of older oil-based paint with new, more durable, epoxy coatings.   The grinding and welding associated with installing these new bench foundations will be completed in advance of that paint work.   

-  Dick Purinton

ISLAND WINTER PARTY

Detroit Harbor, Washington Island -

The Winter Festival drew a number of people from off the island, for ice fishing, to see the Island Players version of Our Town, and to enjoy both indoor (chili cook-off, bingo) and outdoor activities.   It was also an opportunity for Islanders to kick up their winter bootheels.

Saturday afternoon a large crowd assembled to celebrate a birthday party (not Lincoln or Washington) on Detroit Harbor and circled around a bonfire with food, drink and camaraderie.   Youngsters bounced, skidded and resisted centrifugal force as a four-wheeler towed them in a large satelite dish, about 8-ft. diameter, encircling the ice party.  The rumble of the metal dish over the hard, sometimes irregular ice surface, could be heard from afar nearly all afternoon, until fireworks and low sun signaled a slowdown to the afternoon's events.

The Island Lions members organized many of the past week's ice fishing activities, as they do each winter, but this party was for Lee Franzen's birthday, and it drew as many as 100 persons, with some 40 cars and pickups parked nearby, plus 4-wheelers and snowmobiles.  

Further out on the harbor,  steadfast ice fishermen tried their luck ice fish in the 20-degree weather.   Large northern pike and perch had been caught throughout the week, with others bobbing after lawyers on the west side.  Saturday's weather was ideal for this social event on the ice, as well as for fishing.

The drama Our Town played Friday evening, a Saturday matinee, and again Saturday evening, with roles filled by local actors with a range of acting experience from first-time to seasoned veterans.  This was an excellent production, theater in-the-round at the Trinity fellowship hall with island townsfolk surrounding the performers.  There were memorable, standout performances.

Ice Access

I couldn't help but think how fortunate it was that the temperature had dropped since last Thursday when accumulated snow melted so rapidly that one fisherman described the swirl of meltwater running down his fishing hole as resembling a "toilet flushing."  The ice returned to a glare surface overnight with Friday's return of high pressure and colder air, and the mucky, rutted shoreline where fishermen entered and exited the ice froze hard over night.  It made the transition from Main Road's blacktop to the harbor ice once again negotiable.   Had temperatures remained above freezing through this weekend's activity, the muddy ruts would have worked even deeper under pickup tires, eventually becoming impassable.  Fresh access routes might have been created further down the beach.

With the Island's annual winter fish derby, plus private social gatherings on the ice as witnessed Saturday afternoon, drawing people of all ages, the importance decent public access to the harbor is underscored.  
At one time, there were many access points at various island shoreline locations, but many of these have now vanished, absorbed as private property, built upon, or otherwise no longer maintained by the Town.

The south end of Main Road remains the most heavily used water access in winter, but it's also a point for viewing in warm weather months.  If the Town has in the past prompted the Department of Natural Resources for permission to add aggregate to this stretch of beach and been refused, this past week and weekend's activities should encourage further attempts at access improvement.

Several loads of coarse stone, approximately 16-ft. wide, might actually reduce traffic impact over the present day "driver's choice."   As an inviting, safe access to Detroit Harbor, it would not only be winter sportsmen who would benefit.  There are occasional loads of materials headed to Detroit Island that are trucked over the ice.  Detroit Island's property owners, who ask for little and receive less direct return for their township taxes, like to occasionally snowmobile, cross country ski, or drive across the ice for a winter weekend retreat at their cabins.  Such access improvement would assist them, too.

While it may not be a given right to drive motorized vehicles across harbor ice, it is important to the island, to our limited winter economy, and for the sport and recreation of its citizens.  We estimate daily usage this winter as 50 vehicles (on the low side), to well over 100 passages from road to beach on a busy Saturday when fishing pressure increases.  We've looked out the window at midnight (and even 3 a.m.) and observed headlights out on the ice (probably not fishing!).   So, we would consider usage of this Main Road access as high on a daily basis, and nearly around the clock.

Low Lake Levels


Adding to the problem of ice access is the wider beach brought on by a very low Lake Michigan.  The current level is within inches of the record low, despite last summer having shown signs of a gradual, two-year rise.  The amount of exposed beach and harbor bottom is considerable.  Shallow areas utilized by bass and other fish for spawning in the early months of summer are exposed.  I walked over frozen mud flats today, routes never possible when water levels were higher.

Already this winter's cover of bay ice has, for all purposes, broken up and is on the move.  The fact is, it had never set up, except in sections of the upper bay.  (The lower bay, south of Chambers Island, was solid, shore to shore, by early January.)  There has been continual shifting of the ice fields with the winds, aided by large lake vessels still sailing to the Escanaba ore docks through early February, then heading south in the bay to Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay.   Already, as of this week, several lake freighters already fitted out will resume their regular runs from Escanaba to Indiana's steel harbors.  It is highly upper Green Bay's ice will ever re-freeze this winter.   Lack of an ice cover over upper Green Bay waters also allows evaporation from those same waters, not insignificant over many square miles of surface.   With the snow pack in the Lakes Michigan-Huron watershed currently negligible, we can only hope for more snow accumulation and heavy spring rains to help restore the supply.

At some point as ferry operators, we may become concerned that our dredging projects of 2007-08 may not be sufficient for unrestricted ferry access to landings.                               - Dick Purinton

Shoreline Show

Detroit Harbor, Washington Island -


After driving steel pilings along the shore near the former Ship's Rib late Monday, island contractor Tom Jordan tried to drive his Volvo excavator from the ice surface.  But the climb from ice to a rock-filled wooden crib proved too much of an angle for the excavator to negotiate.  Tracks spun, ice buckled, and the machine soon wallowed into the mucky bottom.

That is how Jordan's excavator spent the night, with exhaust pipe and top of the motor slightly above water level.   Help was on the way on the Tuesday morning ferry.  Jordan had contacted Harbor Construction of Baileys Harbor who offered to lend a hand by pulling with their larger machine.   It took nearly an hour and a half of tugging, trying different purchase points before the solution was found that offered enough leverage to lift the tracks from the muck and level the machine.   But still, the partially-submerged machine wouldn't skid or roll up and over the sharp ledge.  The excavator's tracks simply would not turn, not without applied power from the motor.

The morning's activity had proven to be an excellent diversion from ice fishing, from work, or from just about any other island thing going on, and a crowd of onlookers had gathered along shore to see when and if the extraction would work.   About the time a few of the spectators broke for lunch, a better purchase was obtained with one excavator arm chained to the other.

Hoping for a long-shot, Tom checked his excavator's motor fluids to see if it was prudent to start up the machine.  After several bursts of compression followed by puffs of white smoke, the Volvo was running, surprising, considering its submergence in the murky, icy water the previous twelve hours.

The final step went smoothly:  the combined pull from two upland machines, plus power applied to his excavator's tracks, brought Jordan's machine up and over the ledge to solid ground on the shore.

Above:  Started and under its own power, the Volvo crawls toward the beach;
Below:  Tom Jordan expresses thanks to the Harbor Construction crew.

Dick Purinton -