Keep Geauga Music open in Chardon
Donation protected
It's been a long, crazy five years! We've laughed, we've cried, we've sweated, we've been very creative, we've made new friends, and reconnected with old ones, but mostly, we've been very, very lucky.
Five years ago this Maple Festival weekend we moved into our current location. We had reached an impasse regarding the proper clean up of mold and leak issues with our old location and our previous landlord gave us 10 days to clear out. I really didn't want us to stay somewhere dangerous any longer and I thought we could make it happen.
I always have my eye out for that perfect place so, I was already aware of the only buildings the right size staying in Chardon. 215 Cherry Avenue was the only one that would do. It would need a lot of work, but at least it had floors and plumbing. The landlord had just put a new roof on and was in the midst of clean up. He was a fellow musician and had sentimental attachment to the building. He was excited to see it put to such a good use!
It was a whirlwind Maple Festival! Friday we viewed the building once more, took measurements, picked up the keys, and enough Home Depot gift cards to purchase insulation, drywall, and such materials to cover the bare cinder block walls. Due to the roof leaking for years, the drywall and ceiling tiles had been removed. We then created a temporary lay out, filed for permits, and had some inspections. We also sent out a massive plea for help!
Saturday we had a crew of four volunteers that were hanging drywall. Later we sent over more volunteers to pull out to gross carpet and start clean up. At the old place we had a bunch of people throwing everything in boxes and trying to keep them organized and labeled was no small task. We had a few lessons being given and we sent out the relocation e-mail and notices on social media. I was divided between the two locations as well as fetching items we would need for moving pianos and arranging for the moving truck and new signage. That was the first of a very long series of very long days.
Sunday we had a our drywall hangers back to work, there was a lot of drywall! And we had different crew of volunteers that came in and helped finish packing as well as loading the truck and moving all those pianos!! We only had the one day so, we were being very fast. We made several trips back and forth and more than once we wondered if we couldn't just roll things down the hill. We were only moving nine driveways! We also had a couple of volunteers calling and leaving messages on everyone's phones to make sure they knew where we were moving to and whose lessons would be where the following week. We only had one injury, I still have a dent in my shin from a less than perfectly functioning piano dolly, but many sore backs. Some minor set backs when the truck broke down. We rallied and took things by car for a bit plus had lunch and a little rest. Eventually everything that could be moved was in the new location. Another long day.
Monday was another set of volunteers although some very kind folks were back. We had to clean the old place and leave it in the best condition possible. I wanted our deposit back! (We never did get it back. In fact they sent me a bill a month later! I sent them copies of the lease and reminded them of my deposit. I never heard from the old landlords again. Oh! They wanted me out in such a hurry so they could clean and re-rent the space over the summer before they left for Puerto Rico, they're snowbirds. It sat empty for years.) We also had our last lessons and at the end of the day each teacher packed up what was left in their rooms and we had a parade down to the new space. It was the first time most of the teachers had seen the new building so we had a short tour! It had grown dark by this time and, of course, started to rain so the last of the move was not so pleasant. We had everything done though! We even had time to take our precious doors with us. After all that though, we had to get some walls on the bathroom. We had a very helpful volunteer who stayed into the wee hours with me moving the wall and hanging some drywall. We'd hang the door the next day.
Tuesday was supposed to be our first day in the new building! We almost made it. We had just a few things to do at the old place and turn in the keys and then we needed to get a few things unpacked and set up at the new place. However, they demanded that we return the doors. What were they going to do with them? No one that rented that space was going to want those rooms. They were just going to tear them out and the landlords didn't pay for those doors, we had! I had too much going on to argue and I wanted that deposit back. So instead of getting things set up at the new place, we had to move and reinstall the doors. Aargh. We had to cancel lessons for one day, really, that wasn't too bad considering. It gave us time to set things up, set up utilities, put our new sign on the building, finish making the bathroom functional, and do a little unpacking.
The next few months were the same. Get to the new place early in the morning to get projects or cleaning done or meet contractors for estimates. After everyone left for the day we'd get another project or some cleaning done. Weekends were long days. We'd work until we couldn't, then crash and get up the next day and work until we had to get home to get enough sleep for work the next day. We had so many volunteers that came in to lend a couple hours, a whole day, or just come and make sure we ate something and offer some encouragement on the progress.
It was a lot of work! Mike and I were not contractors and we had a lot to learn. The biggest projects we had to hire contractors to do. I would end up on the crew though, just to make sure things went according to plan and went fast enough. When the electrician came to rough in the wiring for the studios I was there with him at 5:30 a.m. and he taught me how to unroll Romex and mc cable, how to measure out the wire, drill the holes, and how to staple the wires to the studs. We didn't go home until it was done and I made sure we had our inspection before the office closed for the day. The electrical work had to done, I had volunteers coming the next day to hang drywall! You should have seen all the tiny metal splinters in my hands from the mc cable. I bought gloves the next day and now I won't touch the stuff without them.
By Christmas we had a paint party for the showroom! The following Christmas we had the drywall finished and the ceilings textured for the studios and hallway. By spring break we had finished all the painting we could. Then everything came to a bit of a slow down. Mike and I had our own house and it needed some major work, we weren't afraid...we knew what we were about by then. Just when we were returning our focus to finish up the store renovations, I was in a major car accident and I haven't really been able to do much construction work for the last two years. I'm quite on the mend now and we will hopefully be back at it soon!
While all of these extensive and necessary renovations were happening our landlord became more typical. He expected rent to be payed every month regardless of what repairs we had made to the building that month. When we absolutely couldn't pay he would say we would owe it eventually. I asked repeatedly that we sit down and negotiate these terms. Then these relations went downhill. The property owner had passed away and her will was being contested. All assets of the estate were frozen and controlled by the executor of the estate. In fear of being deemed incompetent by the contestors all accounts were to be brought current immediately.
Hence the start of this GoFundMe campaign 2 years ago. We were given to the end of the month to bring our rent account current. The executor would not consider the equity we had put into the building. I hired an attorney, but the executor was taking a stand. At that point I had nearly $50,000 in receipts for materials and contracted labor, not including sweat equity from my family, friends, and volunteers. No consideration for the conditions we were subjected to from delays from the landlord and outright refusal to pay for necessary items to bring the building to code or repairs that would normally not befall a tenant. For example, in August of 2013 our hot water heater caught fire as we were leaving after a long day of renovations. To this day, the hot water heater has not been replaced. A man was hired by the landlord to replace it, he merely painted over the scorch marks and wired the tank in a different, yet unsafe, manner and removed all of the existing wiring to that room. Four years to replace a 2 gallon hot water heater.
What have we been doing in the meantime? We've been bouncing this debt around 0% interest accounts and making minimum monthly payments. Our rent has been promptly paid each month. Renovations have been pretty much on hold. Any fundraisers I had the intention of having were also put on hold with the exception of a few days of a Yard Sale which yielded around $500. It's too difficult for me to get through a regular day. The thought of running a spaghetti dinner or pancake breakfast makes me ache and cringe. I'm back to physical therapy and I hope this fall will yield some different results in the fundraising endeavors.
For now I will keep the GoFundMe Campaign open in the hopes that it might gain some attention and we'll keep working hard to make a difference in the lives of our local children and their families. We do good works and our teachers are absolutely amazing. I couldn't be more blessed. To work with these people and to see children loving music is what keeps me opening the door every day.
*Contributions to our cause are not tax-deductible and while contributors using GoFundMe cannot be anonymous to me they can remain private to the public.
Five years ago this Maple Festival weekend we moved into our current location. We had reached an impasse regarding the proper clean up of mold and leak issues with our old location and our previous landlord gave us 10 days to clear out. I really didn't want us to stay somewhere dangerous any longer and I thought we could make it happen.
I always have my eye out for that perfect place so, I was already aware of the only buildings the right size staying in Chardon. 215 Cherry Avenue was the only one that would do. It would need a lot of work, but at least it had floors and plumbing. The landlord had just put a new roof on and was in the midst of clean up. He was a fellow musician and had sentimental attachment to the building. He was excited to see it put to such a good use!
It was a whirlwind Maple Festival! Friday we viewed the building once more, took measurements, picked up the keys, and enough Home Depot gift cards to purchase insulation, drywall, and such materials to cover the bare cinder block walls. Due to the roof leaking for years, the drywall and ceiling tiles had been removed. We then created a temporary lay out, filed for permits, and had some inspections. We also sent out a massive plea for help!
Saturday we had a crew of four volunteers that were hanging drywall. Later we sent over more volunteers to pull out to gross carpet and start clean up. At the old place we had a bunch of people throwing everything in boxes and trying to keep them organized and labeled was no small task. We had a few lessons being given and we sent out the relocation e-mail and notices on social media. I was divided between the two locations as well as fetching items we would need for moving pianos and arranging for the moving truck and new signage. That was the first of a very long series of very long days.
Sunday we had a our drywall hangers back to work, there was a lot of drywall! And we had different crew of volunteers that came in and helped finish packing as well as loading the truck and moving all those pianos!! We only had the one day so, we were being very fast. We made several trips back and forth and more than once we wondered if we couldn't just roll things down the hill. We were only moving nine driveways! We also had a couple of volunteers calling and leaving messages on everyone's phones to make sure they knew where we were moving to and whose lessons would be where the following week. We only had one injury, I still have a dent in my shin from a less than perfectly functioning piano dolly, but many sore backs. Some minor set backs when the truck broke down. We rallied and took things by car for a bit plus had lunch and a little rest. Eventually everything that could be moved was in the new location. Another long day.
Monday was another set of volunteers although some very kind folks were back. We had to clean the old place and leave it in the best condition possible. I wanted our deposit back! (We never did get it back. In fact they sent me a bill a month later! I sent them copies of the lease and reminded them of my deposit. I never heard from the old landlords again. Oh! They wanted me out in such a hurry so they could clean and re-rent the space over the summer before they left for Puerto Rico, they're snowbirds. It sat empty for years.) We also had our last lessons and at the end of the day each teacher packed up what was left in their rooms and we had a parade down to the new space. It was the first time most of the teachers had seen the new building so we had a short tour! It had grown dark by this time and, of course, started to rain so the last of the move was not so pleasant. We had everything done though! We even had time to take our precious doors with us. After all that though, we had to get some walls on the bathroom. We had a very helpful volunteer who stayed into the wee hours with me moving the wall and hanging some drywall. We'd hang the door the next day.
Tuesday was supposed to be our first day in the new building! We almost made it. We had just a few things to do at the old place and turn in the keys and then we needed to get a few things unpacked and set up at the new place. However, they demanded that we return the doors. What were they going to do with them? No one that rented that space was going to want those rooms. They were just going to tear them out and the landlords didn't pay for those doors, we had! I had too much going on to argue and I wanted that deposit back. So instead of getting things set up at the new place, we had to move and reinstall the doors. Aargh. We had to cancel lessons for one day, really, that wasn't too bad considering. It gave us time to set things up, set up utilities, put our new sign on the building, finish making the bathroom functional, and do a little unpacking.
The next few months were the same. Get to the new place early in the morning to get projects or cleaning done or meet contractors for estimates. After everyone left for the day we'd get another project or some cleaning done. Weekends were long days. We'd work until we couldn't, then crash and get up the next day and work until we had to get home to get enough sleep for work the next day. We had so many volunteers that came in to lend a couple hours, a whole day, or just come and make sure we ate something and offer some encouragement on the progress.
It was a lot of work! Mike and I were not contractors and we had a lot to learn. The biggest projects we had to hire contractors to do. I would end up on the crew though, just to make sure things went according to plan and went fast enough. When the electrician came to rough in the wiring for the studios I was there with him at 5:30 a.m. and he taught me how to unroll Romex and mc cable, how to measure out the wire, drill the holes, and how to staple the wires to the studs. We didn't go home until it was done and I made sure we had our inspection before the office closed for the day. The electrical work had to done, I had volunteers coming the next day to hang drywall! You should have seen all the tiny metal splinters in my hands from the mc cable. I bought gloves the next day and now I won't touch the stuff without them.
By Christmas we had a paint party for the showroom! The following Christmas we had the drywall finished and the ceilings textured for the studios and hallway. By spring break we had finished all the painting we could. Then everything came to a bit of a slow down. Mike and I had our own house and it needed some major work, we weren't afraid...we knew what we were about by then. Just when we were returning our focus to finish up the store renovations, I was in a major car accident and I haven't really been able to do much construction work for the last two years. I'm quite on the mend now and we will hopefully be back at it soon!
While all of these extensive and necessary renovations were happening our landlord became more typical. He expected rent to be payed every month regardless of what repairs we had made to the building that month. When we absolutely couldn't pay he would say we would owe it eventually. I asked repeatedly that we sit down and negotiate these terms. Then these relations went downhill. The property owner had passed away and her will was being contested. All assets of the estate were frozen and controlled by the executor of the estate. In fear of being deemed incompetent by the contestors all accounts were to be brought current immediately.
Hence the start of this GoFundMe campaign 2 years ago. We were given to the end of the month to bring our rent account current. The executor would not consider the equity we had put into the building. I hired an attorney, but the executor was taking a stand. At that point I had nearly $50,000 in receipts for materials and contracted labor, not including sweat equity from my family, friends, and volunteers. No consideration for the conditions we were subjected to from delays from the landlord and outright refusal to pay for necessary items to bring the building to code or repairs that would normally not befall a tenant. For example, in August of 2013 our hot water heater caught fire as we were leaving after a long day of renovations. To this day, the hot water heater has not been replaced. A man was hired by the landlord to replace it, he merely painted over the scorch marks and wired the tank in a different, yet unsafe, manner and removed all of the existing wiring to that room. Four years to replace a 2 gallon hot water heater.
What have we been doing in the meantime? We've been bouncing this debt around 0% interest accounts and making minimum monthly payments. Our rent has been promptly paid each month. Renovations have been pretty much on hold. Any fundraisers I had the intention of having were also put on hold with the exception of a few days of a Yard Sale which yielded around $500. It's too difficult for me to get through a regular day. The thought of running a spaghetti dinner or pancake breakfast makes me ache and cringe. I'm back to physical therapy and I hope this fall will yield some different results in the fundraising endeavors.
For now I will keep the GoFundMe Campaign open in the hopes that it might gain some attention and we'll keep working hard to make a difference in the lives of our local children and their families. We do good works and our teachers are absolutely amazing. I couldn't be more blessed. To work with these people and to see children loving music is what keeps me opening the door every day.
*Contributions to our cause are not tax-deductible and while contributors using GoFundMe cannot be anonymous to me they can remain private to the public.
Organizer
Anne Marie Wolfe
Organizer
Chardon, OH