Friday, November 9, 2012

Location: Home of Nancy & Carl Miller, 1211 Centre St, Bellefonte

Attendance: JoAnn Knupp (president), Jim Dunne (Secretary), Dave Eggler (treasurer), Colina Seeley, True Fisher, Gay Dunne, Nancy & Carl Miller, Dave Kurtz, Melady Kehm

Minutes (10/12/12): Minutes approved (Carl, Colina).

Treasurer’s Report (Eggler, below): Approved. (Gay, Carl).

Sunday Afternoons at the Library (SAL) - Next Concert January 27, 2013 - Carolyn Gardner, flute

Gallery at the Gamble Mill - Black & White and Shades of Gray - until January 12

Membership Discussion: Consider BHCA parties for nonmembers. Have a booth at the Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Fair in March which would require an interest questionnaire, and photos of our activities. We should have a BHCA representative and a job description for each of our activities (Summer Sounds concerts, Sunday Afternoons at the Library concerts, Bellefonte Victorian Christmas Arts & Crafts Show, Gallery at the Gamble Mill, Talleyrand Park Committee, Edible Landscape Garden), and information on past activities: Old House Fair, Film Forum, fund raising concerts (Artie Shaw, Mills Brothers) and the Rob Gannon Memorial Jazz Concert. We can present and elicit ideas for new ventures, including the Garman Opera House.

Garman Opera House: Premier Bank has not initiated foreclosure yet, complicating any efforts at saving the Garman. Demolition by neglect may be an option. HBI has an interior covenant which might prevent alternate use. There is rumor of an effort to purchase the Garman, DoDe and the Cadillac building for low cost housing, an idea which Melady spoke against: we need more affluent housing for economic development of the downtown business district; we already have an abundance of low income housing in the downtown.

Structural integrity of the Garman: Bob Davis evaluated the Garman 2 years ago and found it structurally sound. We do not know its status after the fire.

A petition to Premier Bank was suggested to convey concern about the loss of a very important historic building. Consultants we may need: architect, structural engineer, lawyer, roofing contractor.

Saving the Garman should be a community effort. The CDT is an asset for getting community involvement. The State College Community Theater is losing the Boal Barn as its performance space. It may be a tenant for the theater space in the Garman. We expressed interest in preserving the DoDe facade as a front for a new building or a parking area. The current owner is considering demolishing it.

Melady will call Erin Hammerstedt and Sue Hannegan tor their ideas. The hole in the roof needs to be addressed soon. Colina suggested Habitat for Humanity as a resource for various construction contractors. Who is in a position to give permission for a temporary roof repair?

Melady suggested an early planning meeting and a posible town meeting. Dave Kurtz informed us that Chris Warner has some very fine architectural models of some Bellefonte historic buildings. We could consider a BHCA booth at the Middle School during the Christmas Arts & Crafts Show staffed by BHCA members with Mr. Warner’s models to promote our Garmen Opera House efforts. Dave K. will contact Chris Warner.

Fund Raising Letter: Discuss our activities. Talleyrand Park Committee and the Edible Landscape Garden could be included. Dave E. Will compose the letter. Jim will do the layout and photos.

Next Meeting: Monday, November 19 at 10:30 AM, at the home JoAnn & Dick Knupp, 441 N. Spring St., Bellefonte. Topic: The Garman Opera House

Respectfully submitted,
James Dunne, secretary
 

BHCA Financial Report

November 8, 2012

ASSETS 11/8/2012                                       

   Checking                               14,968                       General BHCA              31,011

   Savings                                          0                        Gannon Fund                   1,731          

   MM Fund                               8,101                        Talleyrand Park               1,576  

   Post Office Fund                       172                        Perform Arts Fund           2,062

   Vanguard Bond Fund            13,139                        TOTAL                        36,380

   TOTAL                                36,380                       

Notes:
(1) PRAA grant for $2,000 was received.

.

 Submitted: David H. Eggler, Treasurer