The proposed Orcutt Aquacenter is making waves, and in the very nicest way. The Aquacenter held its 13th Annual Benefit Dinner on Jan. 24 at St. Joseph High School’s Hofschulte Gymnasium.
“We raised $14,000,” reported a very pleased Terri Lee Coleman, director of development.
More than 200 hundred-dollar tickets (two dinners per ticket) were sold, and between 200 and 300 people showed up for the barbecued top sirloin, silent auction, reverse drawing, and ever-popular 50-50 raffle. KCOY-TV’s affable meteorologist Jim Byrne was master of ceremonies. Dress was super casual.
Board member Stan Luis and his crew prepared the barbecue, and the Righetti High School boys’ water polo team members served the grub.
The best part of the event was arguably the turnout: “It was a great cross-section of the community,” commented Doug Coleman, an astute, trained observer. “People are excited about this project.”
Disclosure is called for here. Doug is the husband of and volunteer spokesperson for Terri Lee. Doug is also a retired forensics expert, accustomed to examining the evidence, which, as we all know from watching CSI, is the key to solving problems.
Doug went on to say that several organizations are awaiting the completion of the proposed, spacious (16,500 square foot) community building, the first part of the project set to be built.
“This building will be able to accommodate up to 500,” Doug continued. “Right now, we have only two places in town where groups of 400 can congregate: the Elks Club and the Fairpark.”
The Aquacenter will be, of course, a watery oasis with a 50-meter Olympic-size outdoor swimming pool, a 25-yard indoor recreation pool, a therapy pool, and an outdoor water play area with a water slide. Hiking trails and a soccer field are part of the total picture.
To garner financial support for this project, the Aquacenter staff has been writing grants and holding a series of fundraisers. To date, the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation of Santa Barbara kicked in $50,000 for the Aquacenter.
Because of the enormous cost of this project ($17 million is the projected price tag for the whole shebang), the Aquacenter will be built piecemeal, with the community building going up first. As funds are collected, other parts of the Aquacenter will undergo construction.
“We are anticipating groundbreaking for the community building sometime this summer,” Terri Lee said.
Doug noted that organizations like the Red Cross and Allan Hancock College have expressed interest in using the Aquacenter’s facilities for classes. St. Joseph’s athletic department has its eye on the pools for its water sports program.
Aquacenter supporters who showed up for the top sirloin were Stu and Jan Bartleson, Mark and Dorothy Smith, 4th District County Supervisor Joni Gray with husband George Wittenberg, and Guadalupe’s Mayor Lupe Alvarez.
Urban Planning Concepts planner Laurie Tamura, board president Tami Rabska, and Wayne Lippold of Pacific Architecture presented a project overview and a game plan for the future.
Orcutt has no public pool in its immediate area, but that is destined to change! Ever since 1992, when a very determined group of citizens decided that Orcutt needed a water recreation facility, the Aquacenter folks have been on the move.
Want to spring for a $100 annual membership or help in some other way? Call Terri Lee for particulars at 714-9292. m
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Feb 12-19, 2009.
