War Memorial Updates Subject: War Memorial Updates From: War Memorial Commissioner Date: 12/13/2024, 12:42 AM To: Richard Purcell , Ken Harstine , Don Andrejczyk , Jorge Santiago , Wilfred Melendez , 348@holyokepd.org, ronaldadietrich@comcast.net, Joshua Garcia , Rory Casey , kevin.m.thomas223@gmail.com, "dav41phil@gmail.com" , stphnght@gmail.com Good evening all, Happy Holidays! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season and spending quality time with your loved ones. We are entering an exciting phase for our beautiful and historic building! Renovations are in full swing, and we are welcoming new tenants. Several upgrades have been taking place on the second floor, and work is ongoing. With these improvements, the commission has been meeting for the past few months and is in the final stages of determining how to best utilize the spaces within the building. As part of this process, we have made the decision to temporarily relocate some tenants to new rooms until the renovations are completed and spaces are reassigned. We understand that these changes may cause some inconvenience, and we want to assure you that we have made every effort to minimize disruptions. Further planning will continue beyond the second floor, extending to the first floor and basement. In the meantime, we will schedule individual meetings with each occupant to conduct needs assessments, ensuring we have all the information necessary to create the ideal space and environment for everyone. Again, these relocations are temporary, and once the renovations are finished, we’ll return each office to its original setup, ensuring a space that supports your needs and the overall staffing requirements of the building. Below is a brief recap of what spaces have been reassigned and where items have been placed that were moved out of each room.  Attic:   Housing all office equipment and Historic Memorabilia from Room 201. Several pieces of old office materials and equipment need to be removed and dumped. Storage areas for "Emergency preparedness for Sheltering in Place". Second Level: Level 2 will now be housed by Hampden County Sheriff's Department Re-Entry Program and Race Street Opioid Task Force All rooms are painted (White & Sage) lighting replaced, windows cleaned, floors pending buff and shine once all rooms on level cleared out. Restroom and storage room pending design and upgrade Room 200: (Under renovation/ Post 25 old space) Future Tenant: Hampden County Sheriff's Department Re-entry Program All items in spaces will be tagged for rubbish removal or relocated to Room 6 in the basement. Items in file drawers need to be disposed off or boxed for storage and cabinets disposed of. Notification to be sent for final allocation of supplies and materials to former tenants. Room 201: (Under renovation) Current Post 25 Space/ Future Tenant: Race Street Space will need to be tagged by end of Business 12/20/24 or sooner to prep for removal and shift of items.  Commander Wilfredo to tag what items need to be shifted to shared space w/ DAV room 107 (Old Yankee Div space) for items that need to be used on a routine basis.  All old items/ unused need to be labeled to be disposed of. Items that need to be stored will be tagged and taken to the Projection room behind Balcony (Space has already been allocated). Room 202: Move in ready - Race Street Future Tenant Floor pending buffing and wax to be complete. Furniture was moved to room 201 (Needs to be tagged for disposal or storage). Room 203: Former DAV office - Future Tenant Race Street Tenant  Move in ready / Complete Floor pending buffing and wax to be complete. Heavy Steel Safe needs to be opened and moved to Basement room  Room 204: Move in ready / Complete - Race Street Tenant Floor pending buffing and wax to be complete. Furniture moved in on 12/11/2024 Level 1: Veterans Service, Commissioners Office, DAV, Post#25 All spaces will remain assigned as is w/ exception of Room 107 will be a shared space with DAV & Post#25 VSO will be working with DPW & Steve for removal of front desk, space needs a face light. Commissioner office will need also need to have office furniture upgraded, walls painted, floors done.  Commissioners will be rotating in weekly for coverage on site.  When office is not manned, Office Hours will be posted to allow VSO Volunteers to have a quite private space to allow for client privacy and independent work. Proposal to create "Waiting area" for Veterans/ Guest to be able to sit in hallway when visiting building. Basement Level: Current occupants: Auxiliary Police Unit All spaces are in need of upgrade and renovation.  Upon completion of assessment needs space will be reviewed and re-evaluated to consolidate space for staffing and use. Room B6 will be re-assigned and utilize to store upper-level equipment and materials as storage. Current use of space as shooting range needs to be evaluated for relocation as storage need expands. Going forward, we are working to create a Clutter-Free Zone! Our goal is to reduce outdated equipment, avoid storing unnecessary items, and maintain our spaces in excellent condition, ensuring they remain functional and well-kept. Lastly, I would like to thank our Environmental Specialist/ Custodian Steve!  He has been a phenomenal team player and been such a huge role in this transition. Thank You Steve for all your hard work and helping the Commission on best practices and dedicating your day to day to ensure we remain on track and in good standing! Thank you to Sgt. Zurheide for leading the entire project thus far and collaborating w/ the Sheriff's Department to move this project into fruition, being able to shar how purposeful the revamp of all our collaborated departments in one. We appreciate your teams help with the move and all the assistance we need to make the long awaiting upgrades to the building. Thank you to the Hampden County Sheriff's Department for exploring the War Memorial as your home and your plan to support or Veterans and community. We appreciate all the hard work that has been to uplift the building.  We deeply appreciate the respect and care provided to our spaces and the attention to detail to maintain it the preservation of building and your efforts to offer help beyond the spaces your organization will occupy. Again, we the War Memorial Commissioners thank you for your committed support and collaboration.   Further information to be shared to independent occupants with specific details regarding your space. If you have any questions, please feel free to connect. Very Respectfully,                     Laddy C. Rua Chairman, War Memorial Commission 310 Appleton St, Holyoke MA Mobile (413)885-0955 E/ commissioner@holyoke.org